In Memoriam - Stephen E. Straus, M.D.

Stephen E. Straus, M.D., 60, the first director of the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), died of brain cancer on May 14th, 2007, at his home in Potomac, Maryland.

‘As NCCAM's first Director, Dr. Straus articulated an uncompromising and compelling agenda for scientific research and research training that engendered broad interest and collaboration,’ noted Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director of the National Institutes of Health. ‘His success stemmed from the fact that he understood that the commitment to help patients had to be constantly evolving in order to meet their needs. The NIH has lost a great leader and an outstanding scientist. Most of all, we have lost a dear friend.’

‘As the founding Director of NCCAM from 1999 to 2006, Dr. Straus built a comprehensive research enterprise, championing the efforts to establish the efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices while upholding the rigorous standards of science for which the NIH is known. Under his leadership, CAM research at NIH grew threefold, facilitating his vision of an evidence-based integrative approach to health care for the benefit of the public. As a friend and fellow virologist, I will sorely miss him. I am proud to have been chosen to be the Acting Director of NCCAM to uphold and further his vision for the Centre,’ said Ruth L. Kirschstein, M.D.

An internationally recognised scientist, Dr. Straus also held the position of Senior Investigator in the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). His bench-to-bedside research yielded original insights into the pathogenesis and management of several viral and immunological diseases.

‘Dr. Straus was a superb physician-scientist who constantly sought new answers to improve the health of patients,’ said Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director of NIAID, where Dr. Straus had a long and successful career, notably as Chief of the NIAID Laboratory of Clinical Investigation.

‘Steve also was one of the kindest and most compassionate clinicians I have known, and served as a mentor for many young investigators who have become extraordinary physician-scientists in their own right.’

Under Dr. Straus' leadership, CAM science began to evolve beyond the advocacy and skepticism and polarisation it once engendered to earned legitimacy as a research area to help improve public health in an area that encompasses a wide range of CAM practices including mind-body medicine, biologically based and manipulative practices, and energy medicine.

‘The Centre has done much to assure CAM critics and cheerleaders alike that our interests are their interests-and the public's interests-to establish the evidence that a CAM practice works for the purposes that it was designed for and is safe to use, and if not, why not,’ wrote Dr. Straus in the foreword of NCCAM's strategic plan for 2005-2009.

A native of New York, Dr. Straus had extensive basic and clinical research experience related to many conditions including chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease, HIV/AIDS, chronic hepatitis B virus, and genital herpes infections and chronic post-herpetic pain. Under his leadership, scientists demonstrated that acyclovir suppresses recurrent genital and oral herpes. Recently, he was part of the nationwide research team that showed that a vaccine was effective in preventing shingles (herpes zoster virus) in older adults.

His studies of patients who failed to recover from infectious mononucleosis led Dr. Straus to characterise rare, fatal chronic Epstein-Barr virus infections. These studies also led to his recognition of the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS), the first disorder of lymphocyte apoptosis. His investigations of over 200 such patients form the basis of most of what is known today of this disorder's clinical and biological features, including its pronounced risk of lymphoma.

Dr. Straus' academic training began at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in life sciences in 1968. In 1972, he received his medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Four years later, he became a fellow of Infectious Diseases at Washington University in St. Louis.

His career at the National Institutes of Health began in 1979, when he joined NIAID and where he continued his research while also heading NCCAM. Dr. Straus was board certified in internal medicine and infectious diseases.

Dr. Straus' achievements were recognised by election to many prestigious professional societies, including the Association of American Physicians and the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and by appointment to the editorial boards of several scholarly journals.

He was the recipient of five medals and other commendations from the U.S. Public Health Service, including the Distinguished Service Medal for innovative clinical research, and the HHS Secretary's Distinguished Service Award. In 2007 he received the gold medal in academic medicine from his alma mater, the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He was a member of the Clinical Research Roundtable of the National Academies' Institute of Medicine and served on the National Institutes of Health Steering Committee.

Dr. Straus published more than 400 original research articles and edited several books.

Survivors include his wife Barbara Straus; daughters Kate Straus and Julie Straus; son, Benjamin Straus; mother Dora Straus; sister, Miriam Wallach; and brother, Marc J. Straus, M.D.

Wendy Arnold Stepping Down as FHT President

Following 2 years in the post, Wendy Arnold has decided not to stand again for re-election as President of the Federation of Holistic Therapists. A full member since 1967 Wendy stepped into the role after the death of Wallace Sharps, founder of the FHT. Wendy's successor, to hold the high profile position within the largest Multi-disciplinary Association in Europe, will be elected at the forthcoming AGM on the 3rd July.

Wendy Arnold has headed up the FHT through a period of transience over the last two years. In addition to helping the association adjust after the unexpected and sudden death of Mr Sharps, Wendy has also recently supported the Association through the appointment of a new Chief Executive, John French. John comments:

‘I think everyone at the FHT would like to extend their thanks to Wendy for the sterling work she has put in over the past two years. She has consistently upheld the image of the FHT as a professional organisation and enhanced the perception of Complementary Therapy in the UK. We would like to give Wendy our best wishes for the future.

Wendy Arnold has been a member of the FHT and its predecessor - The Society of Health & Beauty Therapists, since 1967 after training at the Du Barry School under the direction of Mr Wallace Sharps.

Her extensive experience includes working in busy London salons and Health Farms, teaching for over thirty years, and running her own clinic and training academy.

As an experienced assessor and external verifier for VTCT she has worked hard to uphold high standards of professionalism for those just starting out in their careers.

Web: http://www.fht.org.uk

New CMA Research Division

In response to the constant cries of: ‘There is no research in complementary medicine’, the CMA is in the process of setting up a research division, says CMA President Jayney Goddars.

‘We have on our team a research scientist who is currently working in Big Pharma and has had enough! In addition, we have a top flight statistician to analyse any trial results. Both of these individuals are highly experienced and highly credible with impeccable scientific credentials.

‘One of the big problems facing us in complementary medicine is that it is such an enormous field. While many scientists consider the placebo-controlled, double blind trial to be the gold standard of scientific endeavour, this approach doesn't apply well to many complementary medical approaches-especially the more energy medicine orientated techniques. Of course disciplines such as nutrition and herbalism have the advantage as they deal with substances that have measurable molecules and these can be measured in a conventional manner and their biological effects can be easily monitored in the body-so these trials should be very easy to conduct indeed.

‘Back to the thorny issue of energy medicine disciplines such as Bi-Aura/Bio-Energy, Qi-Gong, reflexology, reiki, healing, acupuncture, and so on. In fact, it is actually really easy to design robust trial protocols for these approaches-I know because I have done it, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Social Sciences at Durham University-and we got meaningful, credible results.

‘I am occasionally dismayed though by the apathy displayed by some members of the complementary medical profession who constantly say that we can't compete with Big Pharma as they have all the money and power. It is time to overcome this negative thinking and to stand up and get on with the job of proving that what we do works. It is the only way that ultimately we will be able to protect our profession. No one is going to do it for you-take responsibility! We need affimative action from individuals to seize the initiative.

‘So, if you, or any one you know wants to begin to run trials of any kind do contact us. I will happily and positively guide you towards the best way of doing meaningful trials which will push forward the boundaries of complementary medicine.’

Web: http://www.the-cma.org.uk

Road Traffic Crashes Leading Cause of Death among Young People

Road traffic crashes are the leading cause of death among young people between 10 and 24 years, according to a new report published by WHO. The report, Youth and Road Safety, says that nearly 400 000 young people under the age of 25 are killed in road traffic crashes every year. Millions more are injured or disabled.

The vast majority of these deaths and injuries occur in low- and middle-income countries. The highest rates are found in Africa and the Middle East. Young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are at greatest risk in every country. Young males are at higher risk for road traffic fatalities than females in every age group under 25 years.

Unless more comprehensive global action is taken, the number of deaths and injuries is likely to rise significantly. Road traffic collisions cost an estimated US$ 518 billion globally in material, health and other expenditure. For many low- and middle-income countries, the cost of road crashes represents between 1-1.5% of GNP and in some cases exceeds the total amount the countries receive in international development aid.

Youth and Road Safety stresses that the bulk of these crashes are predictable - and preventable. Many involve children playing on the street, young pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, novice drivers and passengers of public transport.

The report points out that children are not just little adults. Their height, level of maturity, their interests, as well as their need to play and travel safely to school, mean that they require special safety measures. Also, the report says, protecting older youth requires other measures such as lower blood alcohol limits for young drivers and graduated license programmes.

Special safety measures for children
As part of the First United Nations Global Road Safety Week (23-29 April 2007), WHO launched the report to draw attention to the high global rates of death, injury and disability among young people caused by road traffic crashes. Youth and Road Safety highlights examples in countries where improved measures such as lowering speed limits, cracking down on drink-driving, promoting and enforcing the use of seat-belts, child restraints, and motorcycle helmets, as well as better road infrastructure and creating safe areas for children to play have significantly reduced the number of deaths and injuries.

‘The lack of safety on our roads has become an important obstacle to health and development,’ said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. ‘Our children and young adults are among the most vulnerable. Road traffic crashes are not 'accidents'. We need to challenge the notion that they are unavoidable and make room for a pro-active, preventive approach.’

Youth and Road Safety is accompanied by a second and more personal document, Faces behind the figures: voices of road traffic crash victims and their families. Developed jointly by WHO and the Association for Safe International Road Travel, this book presents first-hand accounts of the experiences of victims, their families and friends following road crashes. The stories place a highly moving human face on the statistics provided by many road safety reports around the world. They reveal the physical, psychological, emotional and economic devastation that occurs during the aftermath of road traffic deaths and injuries. In particular, these accounts deepen our understanding of the enormous suffering that occurs behind each death and injury every year. They also highlight some of the initiatives undertaken by groups and individuals to improve road safety by sharing their concern, frustration and anger in order to prevent the same from happening again.

Complaint Against Avon Cosmetics Ltd Upheld

A complaint objecting to a catalogue ad for Avon detox patches was upheld according to information published by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

Ad
An ad in the Avon catalogue, for detox patches, read ‘PLANET SPA ... take the spa experience home. detox the easy way’. A box below contained text that stated ‘' ... Think that to detoxify and get glowing skin you need to spend hours in the bathroom and glug gallons of water? Think again. Avon's Dead Sea Detox Patches work while you sleep! When you wake up in the morning you'll have healthy revitalised skin.'‘ Text continued ‘How? Toxins are carried around the body in your blood and lymphatic fluids. These clever patches 'catch' the toxins at their furthest point from your heart - your feet. This prevents toxins being pumped back into your system. Purifying your body in this way means big benefits for your skin and your wellbeing in general ... Step 1 place a detoxifying patch under each foot. Step 2 get a good night's sleep: keep patches on for up to 12 hours. Step 3 yuck! remove the patches in the morning - along with all those nasty toxins.’ The ad also featured a picture of a woman's foot with a used detox patch partially peeled back to show the ‘toxins’, a dark area on the patch, that had been removed from her body. Text along the arch of the foot read ‘clever patches help remove toxins’.

Issue
The complainant challenged the efficacy of the product.

The CAP Code: 3.1;7.1;50.1

Response
Avon Cosmetics Ltd (Avon) said the detox patches were manufactured by a third party. They submitted information about the detoxifying properties of the product's ingredients - dead sea salt, wood vinegar and green tea - that they believed supported the claims in their brochure.

They assured the ASA that the ad would not appear again in its current form.

Assessment
Upheld
The ASA noted the ingredient information submitted by Avon in support of the efficacy of the foot patches.

While we noted their belief that the patches contained ingredients that had detoxifying properties, we were concerned that Avon had not supplied evidence to support the claim that the patches aided detoxification, nor had they supplied evidence to show that the ingredients were present in sufficient quantities to achieve the claimed effects. We therefore concluded the ad was misleading.

The ad breached CAP Code clauses 3.1 (Substantiation), 7.1 (Truthfulness) and 50.1 (Health and beauty products and therapies - General).

Action
We told Avon to consult the CAP Copy Advice team for guidance with future ads.

Adjudication of the ASA Council (Non-broadcast)

Low-cost Vitamin D Supplement Blocks TB

Scientists have shown that a single 2.5mg dose of vitamin D may be enough to boost the immune system to fight against tuberculosis (TB) and similar bacteria for at least 6 weeks. Their findings came from a study that identified an extraordinarily high incidence of vitamin D deficiency amongst those communities in London most at risk from the disease, which kills around two million people each year.

The research, funded by the Wellcome Trust, the Department of Environmental Health at Newham Council and Newham University Hospital NHS Trust Respiratory Research Fund, is published online in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Whilst a diet of oily fish can provide some vitamin D, the main source of the body's vitamin D comes from exposing the skin to sunlight. In Britain, however, the amount of sunlight is usually insufficient to make vitamin D in the skin between October and April, and much of the population becomes deficient during the winter and spring.

Researchers from Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, and the Wellcome Trust Centre for Research in Clinical Tropical Medicine, Imperial College London, studied patients at Newham University Hospital and Northwick Park Hospital in London who had been exposed to TB. They found that over 90% of such patients had a vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D was used to treat TB in the pre-antibiotic era, when special sanatoria were built in sunny locations, such as the Swiss Alps. But until now, no study has evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on immunity to mycobacteria, the family of bacteria that cause TB.

The researchers performed a randomised control trial on a group of volunteers who were given either a 2.5mg supplement or a placebo. Samples of the volunteers' blood were then tested in Dr Robert Wilkinson's Wellcome Trust-funded laboratory at Imperial College, to see whether the supplement affected the immune system's ability to withstand infection by mycobacteria.

‘We found that a single large dose of vitamin D was sufficient to enhance a person's immunity to the bacteria,’ says Dr Adrian Martineau from the Division of Medicine at Imperial College London, who co-ordinated the study. ‘This is very significant given the high levels of vitamin D deficiency in people at the highest risk of TB infection, and shows that a simple, cheap supplement could make a significant impact on the health of people most at risk from the disease.’

According to the Health Protection Agency, the incidence of TB in the UK is increasing, with around 8,000 new cases a year. Cases in the UK are predominantly confined to the major cities and about 40 per cent of all cases are in London. TB is also a major global problem: an estimated one-third of the world's population - nearly two billion people - are infected. Nine million people a year develop the active disease worldwide, which kills two million each year.

‘Most cases of TB in London arise from people who have already become infected with the bacteria but in whom it lies latent,’ says Professor Chris Griffiths from Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry. ‘Our results indicate that vitamin D supplementation may prevent reactivation of latent TB. Identifying people with latent TB and providing supplements could be an important strategy for tackling the disease.’

Treatment is both very cheap - about 60p per dose or 10p per week - and safe. Vitamin D supplements could be prescribed for patients with or at risk of latent TB through GP surgeries.

Dr Martineau points out: ‘Our work adds to the growing evidence that vitamin D may have a wide range of important health benefits, including preventing falls and fractures and reducing risk of cancer and diabetes, as well as boosting the immune system against infection. Population-wide supplementation needs to be considered by public health planners.’

‘Milk and orange juice could be fortified with vitamin D, as in the US and Canada,’ he says. ‘At present only margarine is supplemented in the UK, and recent studies show that this is not an effective way to prevent vitamin D deficiency.’

Additional information about the healing effects of vitamin D are found in the exclusive NewsTarget guide, ‘The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D.’

Web: http://www.NewsTarget.com

Vitamin D - the New Wonder Vitamin

New research about vitamin D reports the findings of a study by Winthrop University Hospital in New York which claim that boosting vitamin D intake may be the most effective way of warding off infections that cause colds and flu – even more effective than vitamin C.

The articles advise readers to take single supplements of the vitamin as opposed to taking it as part of a multivitamin, on top of what we gain from our diets and sunshine. Healthy Direct (http://www.healthydirect.co.uk) makes a bespoke supplement of vitamin D which provides you with 200% of the RDA.

Henrietta Norton, Senior nutritionist at Healthy Direct explains:

'Recent research has confirmed that vitamin D’s potent health properties are enhanced over and above its current recommended daily dose. Up to 100,000ius of vitamin D has demonstrated health benefits without side effects. However this level of supplementation is not recommended for every nutrient per se and still needs to be exercised with caution. Supplementing vitamin D as a single supplement in addition to your regular multivitamin will ensure you are increasing your intake of vitamin D without taking unnecessary higher doses or other nutrients.'

Other advantages of 'the wonder vitamin' after a 40-year review of research found a daily dose could halve the risk of breast and colon cancer. It has also been shown to play a vital role in heart disease, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, schizophrenia and multiple sclerosis as well as being essential of bone health.

FSA Begins UK Business Guidance Review

The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced the start of a review of its own guidance, which aims to make regulations easier to understand and follow for firms.

The FSA issues guidance to firms across the food industry and the review's principle objective to find out whether this assistance is delivered in a coordinated, understandable way. Guidance attempts to ensure firms comply with food safety and other regulations designed to protect the public.

Philip Clarke, head of the FSA's regulation and consultation branch, announcing the review, said it is part of the effort to make to compliance with regulations easier for businesses, which will benefit everyone overall.

‘We want to look at whether the guidance imposes unnecessary burdens on business, as well as the benefits of assisting businesses to comply with the law,’ he said.

Bomel Consultants, which is conducting the review for the FSA, will be contacting firms to gather information on the experiences businesses have when receiving and complying with guidance.

The review will also be examining whether any current guidance goes beyond the law, thereby placing unnecessary burdens and costs on companies attempting to comply.

One issue the FSA wants to address is the impact of different approaches to the production of guidance in the four countries of the UK. Country-based FSA offices do issue guidance at a local level and the review is an attempt to reassure businesses across the UK that these are not only in line with EU regulations, but are also aligned to those followed by other domestic competitors.

The Agency is interested in the potential burdens these may add businesses in trading across the UK and abroad.

FDA Drug Safety Bill Passes in the U.S. Senate

The U.S. Senate passed the FDA ‘drug safety’ bill earlier this month (S.1082) with a 93-1 vote. A key amendment that would have called for genuine drug safety protections for consumers - the Grassley amendment 1039 - was defeated by a single vote (47 to 46). The new law deepens financial ties between Big Pharma and the FDA, doubling the amount of money directly paid to the regulator by drug companies, but it fails to explicitly protect foods and nutritional supplements from overreaching FDA regulation efforts. The new law also failed to end Big Pharma's monopoly stranglehold on American consumers, further blocking the ability of citizens, businesses, cities and states to import equivalent medications from countries like Canada (where drugs are far safer than those sold in the United States, by any measure).

Health freedom advocates such as Byron Richards of Wellness Resources (http://www.WellnessResources.com), John Hammel of the International Advocates for Health Freedom (http://www.IAHF.com), and myself (http://www.NewsTarget.com) sought to garner enough grassroots support for achieving the inclusion of key amendments in the bill, such as the Dorgan amendment which, for four days, appeared to end the medical monopoly that currently forces American consumers to pay the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs. Although hundreds of thousands of consumers contacted their lawmakers to demand an end to the monopoly price fixing currently operating in the United States, lawmakers seemed confused and could not bring themselves to support any amendment that would have threatened the profits of Big Pharma. Ultimately, the Dorgan amendment was quickly defeated by the Cochran amendment, trapping Americans in a monopoly medical market that would be considered illegal by nearly everyone if a corporation like Microsoft attempted something similar.

S.1082 ultimately passed with amendments that primarily support the agendas of Big Pharma and the FDA, expanding the powers of both. Very few provisions were accepted that addressed the serious issues of corruption, conflicts of interest, television drug advertising or genuine drug safety.

Health freedom advocates are now characterising the final bill as the, ‘Big Pharma Protection Act of 2007’ due to its emphasis on protecting the monopoly drug market in the United States while doing very little to accomplish its stated goals of increasing the ‘safety’ of prescription drugs.

Analysis by Mike Adams (opinion)
The passage of S.1082 is a terrible defeat for Americans, but a huge victory for Big Pharma and the FDA. The bill expands the FDA's powers and keeps in place a hugely profitable Big Pharma monopoly over U.S. consumers that is right now bankrupting our nation.

At every step, Big Pharma-funded lawmakers voted to minimise any real safety scrutiny and chose instead to dress up their drug-promoting agendas as ‘public safety’ measures. In the end, the only thing that's really safe is the revenue stream of drug companies. An illegal monopoly on prescription drugs has now been officially sanctioned by the U.S. Senate, and organised medicine today is now unquestionably operating as a system of organised crime. Lawmakers have been paid off, regulators have been influenced, and the media is being bought with advertising dollars. Big Pharma now has a near-total chokehold over everything to do with medicine in the United States, from what is taught in medical schools to what's accepted as ‘scientific’ by the medical journals. The takeover of America by drug companies is now nearly complete.

Of note, the most profitable corporations in the world - the drug companies - have now demonstrated majority control over the United States government. From this point forward, government and private industry will now act as one incestuous, unstoppable entity to trap American consumers in a system of fraudulent medicine designed to do nothing more than extract dollars from their pockets. No meaningful reform will be tolerated. No limits on FDA tyranny will even be openly discussed.

During this rare window of opportunity for real, positive change that could have protected Americans from the predatory marketing practices of criminally-operated drug companies, our lawmakers utterly failed us. Our Senators have sold out to Big Pharma influence, and through their votes, they have doomed the United States to inevitable medical bankruptcy that threatens the future of the nation itself.

As corporations continue to flee the U.S. due to overwhelming health care costs, our own Senators believe a monopoly drug racket should continue to be protected!

They believe that the FDA should have even more power over consumers, and that the American people should be treated as medical guinea pigs, involuntarily taking part in a massive drug experiment called, ‘Test the drugs on the population.’ Any real safety issues will only be dealt with after the fact - after they've killed hundreds of thousands more Americans.

New Rule Could see More Ingredients Permitted for Organics

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing to add a number of ingredients to the list of substances permitted for use in organic food products, in a move designed to prevent disruption to business when new regulations come into place next month.

The additional 38 proposed substances include non-organic colours, starches and oils, which may be used only when an organic counterpart is not available commercially.

The proposed amendments to USDA's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) are a result of recommendations submitted by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), based on petitions made by industry.

According to USDA, these substances are already being used in organic food production, due to a misinterpretation of current National List regulations. Until recently, organic producers and handlers may have thought that any non-organic agricultural substance could be used in organic products if this was determined unavailable in organic form by an accredited certifying agent.

However, in June last year, a final rule was published clarifying that only ingredients appearing in the National List are permitted for use in organic products. The final order, which will become effective on June 9th 2007, will mean that as of this date any products containing ingredients not specifically listed in the National List will be in non-compliance with organic certifications.

‘Because these substances are critical to organic production and handling operations, producers and handlers should be able to use them in their operations as soon as possible,’ wrote the USDA in a notice published in the Federal Register.

‘Loss of the use of any of these products would disrupt the trade of food products currently being labelled as 'organic'. Therefore, the continued allowed use of these products as ingredients in foods labelled as 'organic' is necessary to prevent possible significant business disruption for organic producers and handlers.’

Ginseng Cold-fx to be Used by Canadian Emergency Crews

CV Technologies announced that Canada's sixth largest city, Edmonton, will stockpile Cold-fx for emergency workers as part of a broad pandemic preparedness plan.

The ginseng supplement has had blockbuster success in Canada where it quickly became a household name and somewhat of a phenomenon. In the United States Cold-fx is marketed as an immune enhancing dietary supplement, whereas in Canada it is now marketed as an over-the-counter remedy.

The endorsement by the city's emergency departments represents positive advertising for the product at a time when supplement marketers are increasingly leaning towards using spokespeople or sporting events to increase awareness of their supplements.

As part of CV Technologies social responsibility programme, a C$250,000 supply of Cold-fx will be made available to the city of Edmonton through a cost-sharing arrangement with the company. The supply will then be available for use by police, fire and emergency medical personnel.

Cold-fx has a treatment claim that is approved by Health Canada, stating the product ‘helps reduce the frequency, severity and duration of cold and flu symptoms by boosting the immune system.’

The supplement is a standardised extract developed by the spin-off company of the University of Alberta. It contains 80 percent poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides and 10 percent protein from the ginseng roots. It is freeze-dried and encapsulated to contain 200mg/capsule.

‘This is one more tool we can add to our pandemic preparedness toolkit,’ said Bob Black, director of Edmonton's Office of Emergency Preparedness.

Report Faulty Medical Equipment – and Help Save Lives

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is calling on healthcare professionals, as part of a new campaign in England, to encourage people to report medical equipment that has developed faults or that does not perform as claimed. The MHRA, in co-operation with community pharmacists, GP’s and hospitals, is aiming to reduce the number of adverse incidents with medical equipment. Currently, the MHRA handles 8,500 incidents related to faulty medical equipment annually, approximately 1,500 of which result in serious injury or death.

The MHRA has produced new leaflets and posters designed to highlight the dangers of faulty medical equipment and how people can report them. Faults can be reported by phone, email or post. These are now available from healthcare outlets, such as GP’s surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals.

Medical equipment may become unsafe for a number of reasons. The MHRA has recently raised concerns regarding dangerous medical equipment in different situations, for example:

· Ear thermometers, which, by giving inaccurate readings, result in patients not receiving the right treatment;
· Blood glucose meters giving out a false high reading, leading to patients self-administering an insulin overdose;
· Exploding heat patches, which can potentially cause serious burns; and
· Burning mobility scooters

If any medical equipment or device has a fault, or the user suspects that the device may be faulty, the MHRA needs to know as soon as possible. The MHRA will investigate all reports and take necessary action, including removal of the faulty equipment from circulation where necessary.

The MHRA can, within its operative remit, give advice to healthcare provider services, ensure that instructions for use are correct, discuss changes with manufacturers or, in extreme cases, stop equipment being sold.

Dr Susanne Ludgate, MHRA Devices Clinical Director said, 'By working with healthcare professionals to encourage people to report their experiences of faulty medical equipment, we can improve their safety and protect public health.'

Web: http://www.mhra.gov.uk

Post-Bachelor's Certificate in Complementary and Integrative Therapies

The Certificate of Advanced Study in Complementary and Integrative Therapies (CIT) is designed to provide practicing healthcare professionals with an ‘evidence-based programme’ in complementary and integrative therapies. This knowledge will allow them to assess, guide and evaluate patient use and to integrate CIT into their professional practice. The programme provides students with the cultural and theoretical basis for applying complementary and integrative therapies while focusing on the skills and techniques of specific therapies.

This programme is applicable to a wide range of healthcare professionals including nurses, nurse practitioners, physician's assistants, creative arts therapists, couple and family therapists, women's health practitioners, members of oncology organisations, members of AHNA and more.

The programme content is congruent with the educational standards set forth by the American Association of Holistic Nurses (AHNA) and the Foundations in Clinical Aromatherapy course adheres to the educational standards (level one) set forth by the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA).Certificate in Complementary and Integrative Therapies key program features and benefits:

* Quality: Courses are taught by clinical practitioners with credentialed expertise in CIT - add the Drexel name to your resume
* Flexible: Programme provides the convenience of online learning with the relative experience of a ‘live’ classroom setting
* Affordable: Special tuition for online students. Special tuition rates apply for employees of partnering corporations and members of partner professional associations

For more information, get a PDF version of the programme brochure here:
http://www.drexel.com/uploadedFiles/online-degrees/CrtvIntThrps_factsheet_03-28-07_FINAL.pdf

‘We are now accepting applications for classes beginning on September 24th, 2007. All application materials must be submitted by the September 7th, 2007 deadline.’

http://www.drexel.com/online-degrees/nursing-degrees/cert-cit/index.aspx

Fluoridation Doing More Harm Than Good, Studies Show

Contrary to belief, fluoridation is damaging teeth with little cavity reduction, according to a review of recent studies reported in Clinical Oral Investigations.

Pizzo and colleagues reviewed English-language fluoridation studies published from January 2001 to June 2006 and write, ‘Several epidemiological studies conducted in fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities suggest that [fluoridation] may be unnecessary for caries prevention...’

They also report that fluoride-damaged teeth spiked upwards to 51% from the 10-12% found over 60 years ago in ‘optimally’ fluoridated communities. Dental fluorosis is white-spotted, yellow, brown-stained and/or pitted teeth.

Fluoridation began in 1945 when dentists thought that ingested fluoride incorporated into children's developing tooth enamel to prevent cavities. However, Pizzo's group reports that fluoride ingestion confers little, if any, benefit and fails to reduce oral health disparities in low-income Americans.

Also, any difference in fluoride tooth enamel surface concentration between fluoridated and low-fluoridated areas is minimal. And the relationship between higher enamel fluoride levels to less tooth decay was not found.

‘Some risk of increasing fluorosis may be attributed to the ingestion of powdered infant formula reconstituted with fluoridated water... [and] foods and beverages processed in fluoridated areas...
Furthermore, the use of dietary fluoride supplements during the first 6 years of life is associated with a significant increase in the risk of developing fluorosis,’ they write.

Lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation says, ‘Recent news reports claiming fluoride-free bottled water caused the cavity increase trends in toddlers are implausible because rising fluorosis rates clearly indicate that children are over-fluoridated, not under-fluoridated.’

‘There's no dispute that too much fluoride damages teeth, actually making them more decay-prone. Research is indicated to see if fluoride is causing the cavity escalation,’ says Beeber.

Some studies Pizzo reviewed focused on communities that stopped water fluoridation. ‘...after the cessation, caries prevalence did not rise, remained almost the same or even decreased further,’ writes Pizzo's group.
‘In most European countries, where [water fluoridation] has never been adopted, a substantial decline [75%] in caries prevalence has been reported in the last decades,’ they report.

To avoid dental fluorosis, the American Dental Association and the Centres for Disease Control advise against mixing concentrated infant formulas with fluoridated water.

‘Fluoride is bone- and health-damaging as well,’ says Beeber. (2)

In 1999, researchers found that children in Connersville, Indiana, consumed over recommended levels of fluoride even though their water supply wasn't fluoridated. (3) Organised dentistry still successfully instigated fluoridation and the American Dental Association bragged about it, carelessly putting more Connersville children at risk of developing dental fluorosis.

Reference:
1) sCommunity Water Fluoridation and Caries Prevention: A Critical Review,s Clinical Oral Investigations, by Giuseppe Pizzo & Maria R. Piscopo & Ignazio Pizzo & Giovanna Giuliana 2007 Feb 27; [Epub ahead of print]
http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/Pizzo-2007.pdf

2) fluoridealert.org/health/epa/nrc/carton-2006.pdf

3) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10403089&dopt=Abstract

'Telecare' to Help People to Continue to Live in their own Homes

Assistive Living Technology or, Telecare, as it is widely known to care professionals provides a host of devices aimed at monitoring and aiding 'at risk' individuals - who wish to remain living independently in their own homes.

'Care Directions has long felt that potential users of Telecare technology have not been adequately informed of the uses and advantages – nor had their fears and concerns around implementation properly addressed. We are delighted, therefore, to launch a dedicated ALL ABOUT TELECARE section on the Care Directions' website – specifically aimed at end-users and their caring families.'

Focusing on the needs of the user
'In targeting this communications' initiative, we were greatly encouraged to find a kindred spirit in The Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt MP. At an interview granted to Care Directions at her Leicester West Constituency launch of the new Atdementia website, The Secretary of State stressed how supportive she was of the requirement to 'focus on the needs of the end user.' She went on to say that 'there will be a concerted effort to talk to end users during and beyond the Telecare projects being introduced within the government's £80 million grants' programme.'

'The selective grants' programme means, of course, that it will be some time before Telecare is available at a consistent capacity throughout the UK. Even the pilot schemes suffer from inconsistency of provision and scope of implementation as each local authority had autonomy to develop what they feel is appropriate for their own community – and, as we stressed to Patricia Hewitt, our understanding is that the grant funds are not being 'ring-fenced' to Telecare projects.'

Exciting Telecare developments
When addressing the Atdementia launch, Patricia Hewitt extolled the virtues of the new technology introductions – singling out the successful Tunstall programmes in West Lothian and Kent. She contrasted this with the time some years' ago when, as Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, she had met the Tunstall CEO, who was finding great frustration in not being able to work with the NHS.

'Well, now this has all changed dramatically,' said Patricia Hewitt.

'The very exciting developments in Telecare are achieving highly significant cuts in, just for example, fracture incidences and hospital admissions'.

The Secretary of State clearly understands how important it is for people to be able to stay living in their own homes whenever possible. She went on to relate her own experiences with her constituents and, indeed, her mother age 91 and father who is approaching 90. 'They want to stay at home – and it is so much better for them. We need to give vulnerable people access to and understanding of the full range of assistive technology, to help them do so.'

Telecare changing the quality of lives
Patricia Hewitt summarised her address by saying 'In an ageing population, something extraordinary is possible with Telecare – something that will change the quality of life for dementia sufferers, their families and carers.'

At the same Atdementia launch, 'Living with Dementia' Team Advocate, Keith Turner spoke of his experience of having early dementia and how supportive he was of new technology. 'If you're safe, your carer can give you more rein – and with that, more independence. It helps our carers too, by freeing up just some of the immense time they have to devote to caring.'

The comprehensive ALL ABOUT TELECARE feature is now available to view on the Care Directions' website: http://www.caredirections.co.uk

Splenda Ad Slogans Banned in France

A European court has said that the marketing of the sweetener Splenda is misleading to consumers, and has ordered that its advertising slogans be ceased.

The Commercial Court of Paris found that certain advertising claims used by McNeil Nutritionals, the marketers of the ingredient, violate French consumer protection laws.

The slogans in question are ‘Because it comes from sugar, sucralose tastes like sugar’ and ‘With sucralose: Comes from sugar and tastes like sugar’.

The case had been brought against French subsidiaries of US-based McNeil Nutritionals by the French subsidiary of competing sweetener firm Merisant.

The court awarded Merisant €40,000 in damages, and ordered McNeil to cease the advertising claims. The firm now has 30 days to amend all packaging of Splenda.

In addition, the Court prohibited the distribution of any products under the trademark Splenda with unchanged packaging after a period of four months.

‘We're pleased the Court held McNeil accountable for Splenda advertising that we believe has intentionally fooled a significant number of consumers into thinking Splenda contains sugar and no calories, and that it is a natural product; both are completely false,’ said Paul Block, chief executive officer of Merisant.

‘We want to ensure fair competition through accurate advertising so that consumers can make informed decisions about the products they're buying ... Splenda is a synthetic compound - created in a lab and manufactured in a chemical plant - and is no more natural than any other low-calorie sweetener.’

McNeil said it intends to appeal the court's decision, saying it ‘continues to believe in the validity of its claims’. It also said it plans to ‘continue to ensure its advertising represents the products in an accurate and informative manner.’

Tate & Lyle, the UK-based manufacturer of Splenda, said it was ‘disappointed’ that the court ruled in favour of Merisant. It added: ‘However, Tate & Lyle was not a party to the action and it is not in dispute that our ingredient, Splenda Sucralose, is made from sugar.’

The ruling came just a day before a similar case between Merisant and McNeil in the US resulted in a settlement agreement between the two firms.

Integrative Medicine Consult Service Established at the NIH Clinical Centre

The National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has established an Integrative Medicine Consult Service at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Centre, the world's largest hospital devoted to research. This service will provide physicians, nurses, and other members of the Clinical Centre health care team the ability to discuss complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies with knowledgeable medical staff from the consult service and learn how various CAM practices might complement or interact with a patient's care as a research participant at the Clinical Centre.

CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine, such as herbal supplements, meditation, chiropractic manipulation, and acupuncture. Integrative medicine combines treatments from conventional medicine and CAM for which there is high-quality evidence of safety and effectiveness.

The 2002 National Health Interview Survey showed that more than one-third of all American adults use some form of CAM. And a recent consumer survey of older Americans revealed that less than one-third of those who had used CAM discussed this information with their physicians. Since patients at the Clinical Centre are participating in research studies, it is important to know what CAM therapies are being used and how they might affect the treatments being studied.

‘Volunteers who participate in clinical research at the NIH Clinical Centre are partners in medical discovery. We are committed to providing excellent care for them,’ said John I. Gallin, M.D., Director of the Clinical Centre. ‘This new consult service will help enhance the care they receive and the research conducted here.’

CAM is not a new concept at the NIH Clinical Centre. The Clinical Centre's Pain and Palliative Care Service and the Rehabilitation Medicine Department offer acupuncture, Reiki, hypnosis, guided imagery, massage therapy, acupuncture, tai chi, and qi gong training. The Pharmacy Department consults on herbals and herb/drug interactions and has conducted research in these areas. The Integrative Medicine Consult Service will coordinate the resources of these existing services to meet the needs of the Clinical Centre staff and its patients. In addition to offering clinical consultation regarding CAM therapies, the service will establish a research programme embedded in NIH's clinical and translational research structure and provide CAM education for NIH staff, patients, and their families.

The director of the consult service will be Patrick J. Mansky, M.D., a clinical oncologist and researcher at NCCAM. Dr. Mansky received his medical degree from Witten/Herdecke University Medical School in Germany, where he also gained experience and received instruction in Anthroposophical Medicine including herbal therapies, art therapies, and physical applications. After a postdoctoral research fellowship in immunogenetics at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, he completed clinical residency training in pediatrics and internal medicine at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Mansky joined NIH in 1997 as a clinical and research fellow in pediatric hematology/oncology and medical oncology at the National Cancer Institute.

‘I am delighted that Dr. Mansky accepted the position of head of the consult service. This service will provide a focal point for CAM evaluation, research, and education in the NIH intramural community,’ said Robert B. Nussenblatt, M.D., Acting Scientific and Clinical Director of NCCAM's Division of Intramural Research. ‘I hope the larger medical community will find this an important new addition to the evaluation and treatment of our patients.’

In 2001, Dr. Mansky joined NCCAM as a staff clinician and clinical investigator leading the Oncology Programme in NCCAM's Division of Intramural Research. He conducts research on the application of CAM interventions in the care and treatment of cancer patients and survivors, such as electroacupuncture for nausea from chemotherapy, use of mistletoe in combination with gemcitabine for treating advanced cancers, and effects of tai chi and exercise in cancer survivors.

‘We are pleased with the creation of the Integrative Medicine Consult Service and the role we hope it will play in providing Clinical Centre patients with the best possible integrated care,’ said, Ruth L. Kirschstein, M.D., Acting Director of NCCAM. ‘Dr. Mansky's blend of clinical and research experience at the crossroads of the CAM and conventional medicine fields makes him an excellent choice to lead this consult service.’

Time to Clear the Air on World Asthma Day

Vehicle paint sprayers are 96 times more likely than the overall workforce to develop occupational asthma, through breathing in harmful chemicals in paint mist. To raise awareness of the problem the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) issued a health alert to the industry in support of World Asthma Day on May 1st.

HSE's advice to paint sprayers is 'don't expose yourself' to the risk. Vehicle paint sprayers should know how long it takes for paint mist to clear in their workshop - it can vary from 25 minutes for a spray room to 10 minutes for a spray booth. They need to display the 'clearance time' so that all workers are aware of it, and then ensure that air-face masks are worn for the duration of the 'clearance time'.

Steve Coldrick, Head of Disease Reduction Programme at HSE said: 'We know that levels of occupational asthma are particularly high in this industry but they don't have to be. The problem is that air-fed masks are removed too soon, so we want vehicle paint sprayers to wear their protective masks until the paint mist has cleared.'

He continued: 'Our advice about clearance times is simple. Know it. Show it - and then Do it.'

Vehicle paint sprayers are at most risk because almost all lacquers and base coats, as well as some water-based paints contain harmful chemicals which are breathed in through paint mist. Wearing air-fed masks is common practise but will only protect people if they are kept on until the invisible paint mist has completely cleared.

Asthma is a serious health problem and symptoms such as severe wheezing, coughing and a tight chest, often prevent sufferers from doing everyday tasks like walking up stairs. Occupational asthma occurs when a person reacts to a substance they are exposed to at work and it can be prevented by taking simple steps to eliminate exposure to harmful substances.

More information on occupational asthma is available at: http://www.hse.gov.uk/asthma/index.htm

Dietary Fibre Colon Cancer Risk Link still Unclear, says Study

A diet rich in fibre could cut the risk of developing colon cancer by about 40 per cent, but appears to have no significant effects against rectal cancer, says a new study that highlights the need for clarification.

‘This prospective study supported potential protective effects of dietary fibre against colorectal cancer, mainly against colon cancer,’ wrote lead author Kenji Wakai from the Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute.

The link between colorectal cancer and dietary fibre was first proposed in 1971 by Denis Burkitt (Cancer, Vol. 28, pp. 3-13). The field has been littered with conflicting views ever since.

The new study, published in the new issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, investigated the link between dietary fibre intake, both soluble and insoluble, and the risk of colon and rectal cancer in a population with a high incidence of cancer and a low fibre intake.

Almost one million new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed every year worldwide, according to the European School of Oncology, with the cancer claiming 492,000 lives annually. Countries such as Japan have seen a rapid increase in the incidence of the cancer, linked to the ‘westernisation’ of the diet.

The Japan Collaborative Cohort Study followed 43,115 men and women aged 40 to 79 for an average of 7.6 years, with some 443 cases of colorectal cancer recorded during this time. Dietary assessments were performed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

In all participants, the researchers observed a decreasing trend in colorectal cancer risk with increasing intake of total dietary fibre, with the highest fibre intake associated with a 27 per cent reduction compared to the lowest fibre intake.

Further analysis showed that the trend was exclusive for colon cancer, with the highest fibre intake associated with a 42 per cent reduction compared to the lowest fibre intake.

No significant differences were observed when the researchers classified the fibre as soluble or insoluble.

Fruit and vegetable fibres are soluble, while cereal fibres are typically insoluble. In animal tests insoluble fibres have shown to be protective towards colorectal cancer, but soluble fibre tends to increase the incidence of cancer. In human epidemiological studies the inverse has been reported.

‘The role of dietary fibre in the prevention of colorectal cancer seems to remain inconsistent, and further investigations in various populations are warranted,’ concluded the researchers.

The study does have several limitations, most notably the use of food frequency questionnaires to measure dietary intakes. Such questionnaires are subject to some error from the participants when required to recall or estimate dietary intakes of certain food items. Additionally, colorectal cancer is known to have a latency period of between 10 and 20 years, with none of the participants diagnosed with the cancer at baseline.

Source: Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention
April 2007, Volume 16, Number 4, Pages 668-675; doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-06-0664

‘Dietary fiber and risk of colorectal cancer in the Japan Collabortative Cohort Study’

Authors: K. Wakai, C. Date, M. Fukui, K. Tamakoshi, Y. Watanabe, N. Hayakawa, M. Kojima, M. Kawado, K. Suzuki, S. Hashimoto, S. Tokudome, K. Ozasa, S. Suzuki, H. Toyoshima, Y. Ito, A. Tamakoshi for the JACC Study Group
Web: http://www.FoodNavigator.com

Black Raspberries Effective in Preventing Cancer

A new study conducted by Ohio State University researchers has documented the power of black raspberries to prevent the development of tumours in the oesophagus and colon. The study's findings were presented at the March 2007 national meeting of the American Chemical Society.

Gary Stoner, Ph.D., a professor of internal medicine at Ohio State University, led the study. Stoner and his co-workers prepared a powdered, freeze-dried extract from black raspberries then gauged its effect on rats that had been exposed to a cancer-causing substance. The research team measured the prevalence of malignant tumours. Compared to a control group, the rats fed black raspberry extract showed a 60 percent reduction in tumours of the oesophagus and up to an 80 percent reduction in colon tumours.

‘That's a much higher reduction than I thought we'd see,’ Stoner said, ‘This suggests that berries bind up a good portion of free radicals, preventing them from causing damage in the body.’

Black raspberries are rich in vitamins A, C, E, and folic acid and contain the minerals selenium, zinc, and calcium. In addition, black raspberries have a higher content of anthocyanins than most other berry types, as well as phenols, such as ellagic, coumaric and ferulic acid. All of these substances are recognised as ‘chemopreventive agents,’ Stoner said.

‘We do know from epidemiologic studies that vegetable and fruit consumption is protective against cancer and, from our work, we would suggest that berries be one of those helpings, at least two or three times a week,’ said Stoner.
Clinical trials are underway to examine the potential of black raspberries to prevent oesophageal and colon cancer in humans. Stoner and his team have begun analysing the effects of the fruit in people with Barrett's oesophagus (a condition of the oesophagus that increases risk of oesophageal cancer) and precancerous colon polyps. Preliminary results show the berries are well tolerated at doses similar to those used in animals.

Web: http://www.NewsTarget.com

Switched On Hayfever Machine!

Being allergic means that certain substances, in themselves harmless, affect some people adversely. When the victim meets his particular 'enemy' a chemical reaction is triggered off. In the case of hayfever or rhinitis (dust allergy) this is the release of histamine. It is present in all the tissues and is harmful only when its output is excessive.

Too much free histamine in the blood causes fluid to leak from the cells. That is why, right now, many people have red eyes, a streaming nose and bouts of sneezing. All the symptoms of a cold, in fact, except that the nasal discharge is clear and watery - never thick or offensive.

The word 'hayfever' is a misnomer. The complaint is not caused by hay and is rarely accompanied by fever. Grass pollen is the real culprit. True hayfever comes on dramatically at the first hint of pollen in the air. Some people insist they are subject to the condition all year round. Although the symptoms may be identical, this is allergic rhinitis which has a vast number of trigger factors, including dust, house-mites, blanket fluff, certain cosmetics and pet hairs.

Hayfever, rhinitis, allergic asthma and even some types of allergic migraine can be controlled by avoiding the trigger but, as they are in the atmosphere that is seemingly impossible to achieve. The most usual treatment is the use of anti-histamine drugs. However, over the years, a small electronic device known as an ioniser has proved to be effective and a considerable number of people now enjoy symptom-free evenings within their own homes, without the drowsiness associated with anti-histamine drugs.

The outdoor atmosphere contains electrically-charged air molecules known as ions. Some are positively-charged, some are negative. As long ago as 1931 scientists discovered they were essential to life - without any negative ions rats would die within 3 weeks. Invisible, odourless and silent, their significance has been disregarded for too long. It is only recently, with the proliferation of hermetically-sealed office buildings and the fashion for heat-saving double-glazed homes which preclude the ingress of natural ions, that their significance has become apparent in the form of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).

SBS symptoms include headaches, sore eyes, runny nose, breathing difficulties, skin rash, lethargy, irritability and depression - symptoms which are relieved to a great extent when the negative ion level is increased with an ioniser. Hampshire company Air Ion Technologies has been quietly producing ionisers for the past 38 years and reckons the company has seen it all: tens of thousands of individuals suffering from asthma, bronchitis, hayfever, migraine, rhinitis, emphysema, anxiety and insomnia claiming to have found relief; average 70% reductions in sickness and absenteeism amongst thousands of call centre, computer and office staff; 82% reductions in headaches in a police control centre; and, most recently, 100% reductions in acinetobacter infections in an NHS Intensive Care ward where 6 or 7 new cases were being recorded each month. The ionisers have kept the ward free of this resistant bacterium for over 5 years now.

Ionisers work by replacing the depleted ions which charge particles in the air and cause them to settle. Pollen, dust, pollutants and airborne germs are all removed from the breathable air and the ensuing health benefits are entirely understandable. But there's more. Researchers have established a clear link between the level of ions in the air and the amount of 'free' histamine in the blood-stream. As the negative ion level increases, so the histamine level decreases. So ionisers tackle allergic conditions in two ways: by removing the 'trigger' and damping down the body's reaction.

Despite its years of experience Air Ion Technologies appears to have made a breakthrough in this already impressive 'therapy'. The company has recently launched 'myairZone', the world's first re-chargeable personal ioniser that can be worn. The original concept was to provide travellers and commuters with an ioniser that would afford protection from infection in crowded confined spaces - trains, tubes, buses and planes. What has surprised everyone is the increased speed of relief from hayfever symptoms afforded to people who wear their ionisers permanently.

At last year's Allergy Show, hayfever sufferers were amazed to find symptoms disappear within 10 minutes of entering the company's ionised stand. But no-one was more surprised than Alison Davidson who bought a myairZone for her 13-year old son who has been a life-long chronic hayfever sufferer and had been unable to attend school for the previous three days.

Alison put the ioniser by Michael's bed and in the morning he was absolutely clear. The challenge then was to get him to school - 14 miles by school bus through the rape-seed fields of rural Hampshire. Clutching his ioniser Michael made it, still breathing freely. By lunchtime he was feeling bold and went into the playground and remained clear whilst all around him other hayfever sufferers with streaming and wheezing.

News of the success flashed round the small farming community where the Davidson's live. Reports are now arriving of farmers with hayfever who have been doing everything except hay-making without any breathing difficulties. ‘The enhanced benefit would appear to derive from placing oneself at the centre of the ionised air zone,’ says Julian Laws of Air Ion Technologies, ‘hence our choice of name - myairZone. Apart from the re-chargeability, which allows people to use it continuously without buying expensive batteries, the product employs sophisticated monitoring and regulating circuitry which ensures that ion output is always maintained at optimum level and, should it falter through dust build-up, the ioniser flashes an alert. It is without doubt the most sophisticated ioniser ever designed.’

MyairZone, it seems, could relegate allergies that are triggered by airborne particles to the history books. Additionally, there is an obvious role for this technology within hospitals, where airborne infections are causing death and suffering to thousands, and a £1 billion bill to the community.

Tel: +44 (0) 1425 638169
Email: julian.laws@airiontechnologies.com
Web: http://www.myairzone.com
Web: http://www.airiontechnologies.com

Pine Bark Extract Shows Promise Against Heart Failure

Extracts from French maritime pine bark may protect against heart failure, if a new study with mice can be translated into humans.

The results of the new study, published on-line in the journal Cardiovascular Toxicology, add to a growing body of research reporting potential health benefits of the pine bark extract, Pycnogenol.

‘We propose that a therapeutic effect of Pycnogenol may help to limit cardiac remodelling in patients predisposed to congestive heart failure - such as in the aged,’ wrote lead author Sherma Zibadi from the University of Arizona.

Hypertension, defined as when the sufferer has blood pressure higher than 140/90 mmHg, means that the heart is over-worked, resulting in weakening of the heart muscle and increasing of heart chamber volume. This process (known as cardiac remodelling) may eventually cause heart failure when the heart insufficiently supplies the body with oxygenated blood.

The researchers used elderly female mice (18 months old) and randomly divided them into four groups: control mice, mice receiving Pycnogenol only (30 mg/kg per day), mice receiving N-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) only (a substance which causes arterial constriction), and mice receiving both Pycnogenol and L-NAME.

Two groups of hypertensive mice were assigned to receive either Pycnogenol in drinking water for four weeks or left unsupplemented. After five weeks, the researchers observed that the hearts of the latter control group had significantly increased in size as a result of hypertension. In the French maritime pine bark extract group, hypertension and heart function parameters resembled those found in healthy control mice with healthy blood pressure.

Web: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com

Omega-3 and Vitamin D Linked to Better Eye Health

Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-3 rich fish could slash the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by 40 per cent, says a new study.

The new study, published in the Archives of Ophthalmology, also adds further support for increasing the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids with the finding that arachidonic acid (AA, omega-6 fatty acid) is associated with an increased risk of AMD.

‘These results and those from other observational analytic investigations suggest that modifying diet to include more food rich in omega-3 [long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids] could result in a reduction in the risk of having [severe] AMD,’ wrote the researchers from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) occurs when the macula, the area at the back of the retina that produces the sharpest vision, deteriorates over time. It is the most common cause of blindness among the over-50s.

According to the researchers, the prevalence of the condition is likely to increase as the population ages. While there is currently no known way of preventing the condition, more and more research is focusing on potentially modifiable risk factors and nutrient-based approaches, most notably on the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.

Another class of nutrients showing promise is omega-3 fatty acids. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study Research Group assessed 4,519 individuals aged between 60 and 80 at the start of the study. The researchers took photographs of the subjects' retinas to determine whether they had AMD, and if so, to which one of four stages the condition had progressed.
Diets were assessed using a 90-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ).

Web: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com

Smoked, BBQ Meat Linked to Breast Cancer

Postmenopausal women who regularly consume smoked and barbecued meats may be increasing their risk of breast cancer by at least 50 per cent, suggests a new study.

The study, published in the journal Epidemiology, is said to be the first to report and association between lifelong consumption of such meat and breast cancer risk, and must be confirmed in many more studies. The study also does not establish that the link is causal.

The study adds to a growing body of epidemiological studies linking meat consumption, particularly red meat with breast cancer risk. Indeed, Harvard researchers recently reported that eating more than one and a half servings of red meat per day may double their risk of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, compared to women who eat less than three servings per week (Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 166, pp. 2253-2259).

Over one million women worldwide are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, with the highest incidences in the US and the Netherlands. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 13 percent of American women will develop breast cancer during their lives.

Lead researcher Susan Steck and co-workers from the University of South Carolina in Columbia recruited 1508 women with breast cancer and 1556 healthy controls and estimated their lifetime intakes of grilled or barbecued and smoked meats using interviewer-administered questionnaire data.

No effect was observed for premenopausal women, but a modest increased risk of 47 per cent was observed among postmenopausal women with the highest consumption of smoked and grilled or barbecued meats over their life.

In a subset of postmenopausal women with high consumption of the meats and low fruit and vegetable intake the associated risk of breast cancer was increased to 74 per cent.

Web: http://www.FoodQualityNews.com

Johns Hopkins Nursing Explores Complementary and Alternative Nursing

Johns Hopkins Nursing in Baltimore is exploring the wide variety of complementary and alternative therapies used by Hopkins nurses and outlines how the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing is ‘building opportunities’ for its faculty, students, and staff (http://www.son.jhmi.edu/jhnmagazine/spring2007/).

Nursing the Whole Patient
Attending to the patient as a whole person is not a new concept in the nursing profession-and it's not surprising that Hopkins nurses are increasingly looking outside the scope of conventional training to explore Complementary and Alternative Therapies. In an effort to broaden their methods for healing, faculty, alumni, and students share their experiences with holistic nursing, massage, humour, acupuncture, Reiki, and more. (http://www.son.jhmi.edu/jhnmagazine/spring2007/pages/fea_nrsgwholept.htm)

Second Opinion: Why Recommend Complementary and Alternative Medicine?
Readers share their opinions on whether - and why - they have recommended complementary and alternative therapies to their patients. The poll this issue finds that 91.4 percent of respondents have recommended CAM; 68.3 percent of those did so because CAM would improve health when used in combination with conventional medical treatments. In the next issue, readers are asked, ‘What are the essential components of a 21st century nursing education?’ (http://www.son.jhmi.edu/jhnmagazine/spring2007/pages/secondopinion.htm)

Building Opportunities
An ambitious expansion of the school, set to unfold over the next decade, will transform the Johns Hopkins University East Baltimore campus, bringing the weight of education and research to balance and complement the soaring towers of the new Johns Hopkins Hospital. The planned light-filled, congenial environment for students and faculty sets the stage for forging connections with colleagues from across the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions and University. (http://www.son.jhmi.edu/jhnmagazine/spring2007/pages/fea_bldgoptys.htm)

About the School of Nursing
The Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing is a global leader in nursing research, education and scholarship. The nurses who are part of the School's tradition of excellence exemplify the best practices in patient care and become innovative national and international leaders in the evolution of the nursing profession and the health care system. Its nursing graduate programmes are ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, with the community health and nursing service administration graduate programs continuing to hold positions in the top tier of rankings. The research programmes at the School have achieved eighth position among the top nursing schools for securing federal research grants.

For more information, visit http://www.son.jhmi.edu/

Mangosteen Superfruit Juice More than just a Fad, says XanGo

In its ‘Flavours and Ingredients Outlook 2007’ report, market research company Packaged Facts stated that consumers will continue this year to focus on health and wellness. One anticipated area of emphasis is juices made from exotic fruits such as pomegranate, goji berry, lychee and mangosteen.

Utah-based XanGo LLC believes that the movement toward purchasing exotic fruit juice will be a lasting one. ‘I believe that the mangosteen this year is transcending the trend,’ said XanGo's senior vice president of sales and marketing, John Digles.

XanGo, which imports mangosteen juice and processes it in the U.S., introduced its namesake juice in 2003. The name is derived from two words: ‘Xan’ from xanthones (nutrients found in the rind of the mangosteen fruit) and ‘Go’ from mangosteen.

The company sells XanGo juice via direct marketing (also known as "multilevel marketing") throughout Europe, Mexico and North America. It has even achieved strong sales in Asia, one of the places where the fruit grows naturally.

An Internet search for ‘XanGo ingredients’ yields various resellers' interpretations of what is included in the drink. One seller lists the ingredients as ‘reconstituted garcinia mangostana juice from whole fruit puree, apple juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, grape juice concentrate, pear puree, blueberry juice concentrate, raspberry juice concentrate, strawberry juice concentrate, cranberry juice concentrate, cherry juice concentrate, citric acid, natural flavour, pectin, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate.’ Another replaces ‘juice concentrate’ with the term ‘fruit juice.’

Though XanGo's resellers often point out that ingredients are listed in order of quantity, the actual percentage of mangosteen juice included in XanGo is not officially published and is, instead, referred to as proprietary.

‘While I'm a strong supporter of superfruits and nutritional supplementation, I urge consumers to look carefully at the juice content that goes into the various superfruit juice products available today,’ explained consumer health advocate Mike Adams, executive director of the Consumer Wellness Centre. ‘Some superfruit juice products are made mostly with apple juice, pear juice or grape juice, with only a hint of the superfruit juice. And many of the companies marketing superfruit juices will not reveal the percentage of actual superfruit juice in their blends. I would not personally recommend any product from a company that does not reveal the percentage of superfruit juice in their product,’ Adams said.

‘Mangosteen is an amazing fruit, but unless you really know how much is in the drink, you're probably just paying for overpriced apple juice with a hint of mangosteen.’

In his article ‘Defining an Emergent Category,’ Paul M. Gross, PhD, lists fruits that fall into the 'superfruit' category: acai, blueberries, cranberries, red grapes, Guarana, mangosteen, noni, pomegranate, seabuckthorn and wolfberry (or goji). These superfruits are defined as being rich in nutrient value and antioxidants and as offering potential health benefits.

Web: http://www.NewsTarget.com

Indiana Bill Threatens Natural Health Freedom

'A dangerous tide is cresting at the Indiana Statehouse and our natural health freedoms are in danger', says Desiree Yoder at IndyStar.com, a media site in Indiana, USA. She goes on to explain that Senate Bill 320 dealing with massage therapist certification has passed a House committee and may be considered by the full House.

Massage therapy is a natural method used to reduce stress and structural pain by therapists with varied training experiences. By limiting new therapists and defining the term 'massage therapist' in statute, yet another natural health choice will be controlled by the government instead of decided by the people.

Indiana's own Professional Licensing Agency, which would oversee a massage board, testified against SB 320 at Senate and House hearings because implementing it would waste taxpayer funds with no benefit to the public and reduce the ability to manage already regulated occupations, including nurses, chiropractors and cosmetologists.

After a Cancer Diagnosis: Crucial questions to Consider

Mike Adams writes: 'It is widely known that an increasing number of consumers are turning to alternative medicine for treatment for diseases like cancer, depression, diabetes, heart disease and so on. What are generally not known are the circumstances under which many consumers make this switch from conventional to alternative medicine'. The following article outlines some of the choices.

The truth about that is rather surprising and, perhaps, even a bit frustrating because many consumers only switch to alternative medicine after conventional medicine has failed them. That's when many people begin investigating medicinal herbs, acupuncture, or chiropractic care. It is only after they have tried everything with conventional medicine - drugs, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy - that they finally realise they are not getting any healthier and need to do something different.

It is interesting how conventional medicine can so strongly motivate people to check out alternatives because most of the therapies in conventional medicine simply do not work. Even worse, they actually cause tremendous harm to patients even while promising to help them.
During conventional cancer treatment with toxic chemotherapy drugs, for example, the patients are told they are getting help. They're told they are getting better. The American Medical Association, the FDA, and all the authorities in medicine tell them they are receiving a scientifically-validated form of treatment.

What they are not being told is the chemotherapy is destroying the normal, healthy functioning of vital organs, such as the liver, heart, brain, and kidneys. Yes, it might also be shrinking a tumour, but the point here is not simply to emerge from cancer treatment with only small tumours. The point is to emerge as a healthy human being with a strong immune system and cellular balance that prevents or eliminates tumours altogether. That kind of outcome is not at all offered by conventional medicine.

After cancer treatments nearly kill them, they reach out for alternatives
When cancer patients finally make that decision to embrace alternative medicine, they often do so in a near-death state because they have been so utterly harmed by the treatments espoused by conventional, Western medicine. Then, even more frustratingly, they begin to take a few herbs or experience some kind of alternative treatment and end up dying from organ failure caused by the toxic chemotherapy given to them by their conventional medical doctors. That is why I tell people you have to make a choice sooner. Do not wait until you are at death's door to wake up and choose alternative medicine. By then it may be too late.

If you remain a prisoner of the conventional medical system and you allow all of these toxic drugs, chemicals and harmful procedures to maim your body and cause permanent damage to your vital organs (such as your liver), then you are handicapping all the support systems in your body that alternative medicine normally recruits to create a healing outcome.

You see, alternative medicine believes in supporting the body's own natural healing processes. That means helping the liver function better, not destroying liver function like pharmaceuticals do. It means allowing the body to regulate its own cholesterol, blood pressure, and brain chemistry in a healthy, supportive way. Not hijacking blood pressure, cholesterol, or brain chemistry with toxic chemicals that happen to be called ‘medication.’

Choose natural medicine from day one
You have to make this decision early on. You cannot choose conventional medicine for six months then hope to switch successfully to naturopathic medicine or alternative medicine after you have been maimed, harmed, and poisoned by your doctor or your oncologist.

It is important to make the switch before ever being poisoned. Embrace natural medicine from day one and you'll never have to endure the permanent damage of chemotherapy, the extremely harmful side effects of pharmaceuticals, or the lifetime maiming and scar tissue associated with surgery.

If you choose natural medicine or alternative medicine (I am using the terms interchangeably here), you always have the potential to return to a perfect state of health, because you have not harmed your vital organs in the process.

First, do no harm
It is interesting that conventional medicine claims it abides by the concept of first do no harm, yet it openly contradicts that claim in practically everything it does. Most conventional doctors and oncologists actually harm patients. They harm them by prescribing drugs, by cutting into them when it is not necessary, by scaring patients with authoritative fear. Even seeing a conventional oncologist to discuss your cancer test results is in itself extremely harmful because they brainwash you into thinking you won't live more than six months (for example) unless you submit to their extremely toxic and sometimes deadly treatments.

That is why I strongly encourage people to avoid any interaction whatsoever with conventional cancer doctors, because they can actually worsen your outcome simply by telling you that you only have three months to live. The mind controls the body. To support the mind AND the body, visit a naturopathic physician who can offer you supportive, healing therapies that offer real solutions without destroying your health in the process.

Read the rest here
http://www.NewsTarget.com/z021813.html

More Bliss for the Over-50s

Ayurveda describes three phases of life:

* Kapha phase (age 0-20), when the body is growing and structuring;
* Pitta phase (age 20-60); a time for doing and achieving - building a career, raising a family, paying the mortgage;
* Vata phase (60-120); a time for being, for awakening within.

Transition times and imbalances
In the same way that there are transition periods between the seasons, for example in December/January when Vata season is turning into Kapha season, there is a transition time between the stages of life. In the case of the transition to the Vata stage this can be up to ten years, starting at 50.

During any transition, accumulated imbalances can manifest as health problems. For example, in December/January during the transition from Vata to Kapha season the body tends to be more prone to coughs and colds and flu.

So during the transition from Pitta to Vata time of life it is advisable to pay attention to accumulated Vata imbalances to ensure the establishment of a balanced physiology for the coming period.

To balance Vata, do the opposite
The qualities of Vata are dry, cold, rough and irregular. Vata imbalances can result in restlessness, an unsettled feeling, light interrupted sleep, a tendency to over-exert, fatigue, constipation, anxiety, worry, being underweight. To balance, do the opposite:

* take rest, be settled (meditation, meals in a settled atmosphere)
* better sleep (regular early bedtime and waking time)
* take it easy (no rushing, or being caught up in deadlines)
* be regular in daily routine (meals on time, sitting after lunch, time to properly digest before eating again)
* take Vata-balancing food (warm, moist, heavy, with Vata-balancing spices - turmeric, cumin, fenugreek, asafoetida).

Five subdoshas of Vata
The five subdoshas of Vata - Prana, Udana, Samana, Apana, Vyana - operate in specific areas of the body.

Prana Vata governs the head and its imbalance may result in respiratory disorders, cognitive problems, tension headaches, worry, anxiety, insomnia.

Udana Vata governs the tongue and throat and imbalance may lead to disorders of speech and throat, and fatigue. Too much talking, or strain, or overwork, exacerbate Udana Vata. To bring balance, have an occasional quiet time.

Samana Vata governs absorption and metabolism. Imbalance may result in weak or irregular digestion, anorexia, and bloating. Protect the digestive fire by being sensitive to when food is taken and 'stoke' the fire with spices, such as ginger with lemon and salt before the meal.

Apana Vata governs elimination, and if out of balance you may experience constipation, diarrhoea, gas, lower back pain, PMS, or prostate problems. To keep the elimination moving well, use Triphala regularly, take stewed fruit with a little ghee and get a short walk or light exercise.

Vyana Vata regulates circulation, so symptoms of imbalance can be high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, as well as nervous disorders. Recommendations to balance Vyana Vata include regular oil massage, travelling comfortably (with your Vata Tea) and no rushing.

Blissful ageing
Balance brings a feeling of joy, of youthfulness and of health, and Vata time of life is a time to be especially aware of what your body tells you. Vata is sensitive to change, and can quickly go out of balance, and come back to balance quickly.

Tissues can be infiltrated by excess Vata, especially the Vata tissues - bone, marrow, reproductive fluid - and more so at the Vata time of life. Cracking nails, dry fragile hair and osteo problems can get hold. Recommended are foods nourishing for the bones and which keep Vata settled: hot milk and ghee, cooked dates, nuts and sesame seeds.

About thirty minutes' regular walk as exercise is very important: Vata types should do this three times a week; Pitta types five times a week and Kapha types seven times a week.

After 50, if life is anything less than bubbling bliss, something needs doing to bring more balance. During Vata time of life rasayanas become more important (after 70, panchakarma is less important).

Products for balance of:
Vata in general: Maharishi Amrit Kalash, Men's Rasayana, Women's Rasayana, Genitrac tabs (MA2) for vitality, Vata Tea, Churna, & Aroma Oil, Sesame oil, Rejuvenation Massage Oils for Men and for Women (especially for Vyana), Revitalising Skin Care Cream, Gandharva Music

Prana: Peace of Mind tablets (MA1401), Peace of Mind Aroma Oil, Prana Balancing Aroma, Gandharva especially on Shehnai, Peace at Night tablets (MA107)

Udana: Udana Balancing Aroma, Inhalation Oil (also helps Prana)

Samana: Herbal Digest tablets (MA927), Aci-Balance tablets (MA575).

Apana: Triphala with Rose (MA505), Apana Balance tablets (MA3347), Digest Mild tablets (MA593), Prostate Balance (MA1595), Apana Balance Aroma.

Vyana: Healthy Hair and Nails tabs (MA953), Youthful Skin tabs (MA989), Healthy Scalp tabs (MA995).

To buy these products and for a fuller treatment of this subject, see http://www.maharishi.co.uk/VataTimeOfLifeProducts.htm

ORDER: by phone on 01695 51015 online at http://www.maharishi.co.uk

Research Grant Targets Complementaries

Turn up at the office of professor Stephen Myers complaining of a burning gut, acid reflux or a peptic ulcer, and you may just find yourself slurping a glass of slippery elm juice.

The finely ground inner bark of the great elm tree, colloquially known as slippery elm, may not be standard treatment for many doctors – scientific research on the plant has been minimal – but it is a remedy that's been traditionally used by Native Americans for hundreds of years. Myers, a doctor, naturopath, and director of NatMed Research at Southern Cross University in Lismore, northern NSW, swears by it.

‘There's not yet a large amount of evidence, but it's one of the complementary medications I wouldn't dream of doing without,’ Myers says.

Mix the powder with water and it forms a compound strikingly similar to mucus. That may sound unappetising, but it lines the gut with a protective coating.

‘I've had patients sitting in my office doubled over in pain and 15 minutes later they're feeling immense relief,’ Myers says.

Complementary and alternative medicines and therapies – a category that spans herbal, traditional and homeopathic medicines, vitamins, supplements, acupuncture, aromatherapy, naturopathy, and therapies that involve massage and manipulation – are hugely popular in Australia.

More than half of Australians use some form of complementary medicine in any given year, and collectively spend more than $1.8 billion out of their own pockets on them.

As in the case of slippery elm, research into complementary and alternative medicine has often been less extensive and less rigorous than research into pharmaceutical medicines. The reasons are varied, ranging from greater difficulty in getting anyone to bankroll such research, to challenges in setting up the clinical trials themselves.

The result has been that many doctors have been sceptical and reluctant to recommend alternative therapies, and often don't discuss them either. A study published in the Medical Journal of Australia last year found more than 53 per cent of South Australians who were taking complementary medicines were doing it without the knowledge of their doctor (MJA 2006;184:27-31).

Meanwhile, natural therapies that may be as effective as pharmaceutical medications – and have fewer side effects – are never fully explored. And therapies that do have significant evidence backing them up are rarely researched for cost effectiveness or quality assurance, or compared to mainstream treatments for efficacy and safety.

But things are beginning to change.

Last November the National Health and Medical Research Council, the federal government's peak funding body for medical research, allotted $5 million to investigate the use and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM).

But that $5 million is still dwarfed by funding by some other countries. Only about a third of Americans use complementary medicines, compared to 52 per cent of Australians, but the US has committed more than $US120 million annually for the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine alone.

Still, the $5 million grant is the first allocation of significant Australian taxpayer funds for CAM research. The NHMRC has also put CAM on its three-year strategic plan.

That's particularly significant because the private pharmaceutical companies that fund the bulk of research into new drug development often see little profit in alternative medicine, says Marc Cohen, professor of complementary medicine at RMIT and president of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association, a non-profit organisation that promotes integrating complementary medicine into mainstream medical practice.

‘With complementary medicine, very often there's no product at the end, or there's a common plant that is not able to be patented, or it's a lifestyle intervention such as yoga – so there's no incentive for them (to fund research).’

Designing clinical trials for complementary medicines can also pose difficulties, as procedures that are often taken as a given – such as comparing treatments with an alternative therapy or a placebo – are challenging and sometimes impossible, Cohen says. It's difficult to devise a ‘placebo massage’ – something that patients think might be massage, but isn't.

Trials need to take differences in pharmacology into account as well. In conventional medicine researchers are usually looking at a single compound with known characteristics, but herbal medicines often involve multiple compounds, and researchers may not know which of them are responsible for any beneficial effect.

Scepticism aside, there's no doubt some of the early research into complementary medicines is promising.

Recently a review published in the online version of the Journal of Human Hypertension analysed 12 studies of the effects of co-enzyme Q10 for hypertension, from the 1970s to today, and found all of them showed it had positive effects on blood pressure – in some cases lowering systolic pressure by 17mm of mercury, about the same reduction achievable with prescription medication.

Systematic reviews of acupuncture show it can be very effective for treating nausea, vomiting and pain – and it's already being used in emergency departments at two Melbourne hospitals, though as yet there has been no research on its cost-effectiveness.

And at least 15 complementary herbs and natural supplements have ‘a high level of evidence’ that they are as safe and effective as the equivalent pharmaceutical medicine, Cohen says. The Therapeutic Goods Administration classes evidence as high when there has been either a systematic review of all the relevant randomised controlled trials, or one properly designed trial where the subjects have been randomly allocated to treatment and control groups, and ‘blinded’ so neither patients nor their treating doctors know who is receiving the substance under investigation and which the placebo or comparator product.
Some natural therapies are already receiving quite a bit of attention.

Glucosamine is entering widespread use for osteoarthritis, particularly in the wake of safety concerns over Vioxx and the Cox-2 family of anti-arthritis drugs drugs. Ginkgo biloba has been investigated for a role in reducing risk of dementia, fish oils for preventing cardiovascular disease and even depression, and the list goes on.

Doctors themselves are also starting to change their perceptions.

‘There's increasing acceptance at the coalface,’ says Myers. ‘More than 30 per cent of GPs practise some sort of complementary medicine.

The movement towards policy makers taking complementary medicine seriously has been a gradual one – as use of CAM has become more widespread among the public, GPs and to a lesser extent some specialists have taken note, Myers says.

Still, Myers, Cohen and Rosenfeldt agree there's still a ways to go before research and the funding that supports it reaches levels that are proportionate to the widespread use of CAM in Australia.

‘There's extremely high public utilisation, yet we put next to nothing into research – it seems out of step with the degree of community use,’ Myers says.

Coca-Cola Settles in Benzene Lawsuit

Coca-Cola has reformulated two of its soft drinks in the US to halt a lawsuit alleging they may contain the cancer-causing chemical, benzene.

Coca-Cola,, while still denying the allegation, said it changed formulas in its Vault Zero and Fanta Pineapple drinks last September to minimise benzene formation, the settlement document says.

The move means Coca-Cola joins several other soft drinks makers who have reformulated products to avoid benzene litigation. PepsiCo, Coca-Cola's arch-rival, still has action against it pending.

Benzene is a known carcinogen and concerns over its presence in drinks went public last year, following an investigation by BeverageDaily.com and US lawyer Ross Getman.

It confirmed that widely used preservative sodium benzoate may break down to form benzene in drinks also containing either ascorbic acid (vitamin C) or citric acid.

America's soft drinks industry and food safety officials had known this for 15 years, internal memos show, although levels found were not considered a risk to consumers' health.

Coca-Cola has agreed that it will no longer sell Vault Zero or Fanta Pineapple with both sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid.

And to inform consumers, the firm said it would ensure anyone performing a Google search for 'benzene', together with either of the products, would be directed to a special message on the Coca-Cola website.

News of Coca-Cola's reformulation is likely to spark more questions as to why the combination of ingredients was still being used in drinks.

America's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) struck a private deal for the soft drinks industry to ‘get the word out and reformulate’, according to Greg Diachenko, an FDA chemist present at meetings with soft drinks firms over benzene in late 1990 and early 1991.

Yet independent testing, as well as probes by the FDA and food safety officials in the UK, last year again found benzene in some drinks. Levels were again not thought to endanger public health, but reformulation was required.

Bradshaw Hails New EU Chicken Welfare Rules

New rules to improve the welfare of chickens across Europe have been welcomed by UK Minister for Animal Welfare, Ben Bradshaw.

For the first time, chickens reared for meat production will be covered by strict regulations governing the conditions in which they are kept, after European farming ministers agreed a package of new measures, including:

* The introduction of limits on stocking density
* Cross-European Union (EU) training for the industry
* A possible new welfare labelling regime
* Cross-EU data coll