By Michelle Stevens

Therapeutic use of essential oils in the alternative health and wellness arena is on the rise; more and more people are venturing beyond mainstream ‘aroma’ therapy and finding the value in true therapeutic grade Aromatherapy products. Education regarding the efficacy of essential oils in treating certain illness has been hard to come by in the US, a symptom of much of the natural health industry. There is in fact, legislation floating around Congress (which has already been enacted in Europe) to limit your access to natural medicines, which may include essential oils. Why? Because the pharmaceutical companies in the highest-profit industry on earth, want your business. This is one reason Aromatherapy has not gotten beyond the ‘aroma’ part, and why essential oils have yet to take their proper place in your holistic medical care.

Alternative therapies make up nearly ALL of the medicine ever used on Earth, and in many respects, we’re doing very well as a species — we must have been doing something right all that time. Many folks consider our connection to nature critical to our continued success on the planet, and that natural medicine must play a leading role. Essential oils turn out to be some of nature’s greatest gifts; they are potent chemicals created naturally by plants and are easily accessible to us. They’re also easy to use, relatively safe, and just happen to smell wonderful. What really is the science of Aromatherapy, and how might you learn to employ it in your wellness program? Let’s have a look…

There is an amazing disregard for natural healing in the mainstream media - despite the fact that so many of today’s ‘modern medicines’ are derived directly from plant compounds. There are HUNDREDS of plants that are known to contain anti-cancer compounds, for example. Many of these without the side-effects of chemotherapy (it takes a skilled, knowledgeable Naturopathic doctor to develop an effective personal protocol for this type of work, but success is certainly possible). This brings us to the amazing derision placed upon the science of Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is purely the science of therapeutic use, for physiological as well as psychological imbalances and disorders, of naturally-produced volatile aromatic plant chemicals. It may be that the term ‘Aromatherapy’ lends itself to being pigeon-holed into mystical ‘new age’ hocus-pocus, but in reality, it is simply the practice of using a particular class of natural compounds to improve one’s health, wellness and well-being.

The education seems inevitable, however. As more folks get fed up with the costs and red tape of our Allopathic medical system, they are paying more attention to reports on the efficacy of natural remedies. The use of essential oils has been shown as, if not more, than any other available medicine in certain instances. For Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a painful and debilitating condition, Peppermint essential oil taken during and after bouts of the disease has profound effects on pain, duration, and recurrence of the illness - more so than the most commonly used modern medical treatment. Patients using Peppermint oil felt better than those using conventional treatments, in part because the natural antibiotic effect leaves much needed intestinal flora in balance. It is this balance that is inherent in knowledgeably practiced natural medicine; a facet which occurs with essential oils and many other so-called alternative therapies.

Another well documented treatment using essential oils is the use of Melissa essential oil on Herpes Simplex viral legions. The legions are outbreaks of the virus during times of undue stress; the virus is typically under control of the immune system and remains dormant in nerve endings of the skin - the disease is considered ‘incurable’ by conventional medicine. A great many university studies have evaluated Melissa (and other essential oils containing similar molecular components) and it’s efficacy in treating Herpes - and the results have been astounding. A majority of study participants have less pain, along with shorter and less-frequent outbreaks. One professor claims that the disease has gone into complete remission in some study participants with regular use of Melissa oil; no more outbreaks at all! Further, Melissa is very well tolerated, has no known toxic effects, and is readily available. This is true aroma-’therapy’ taking it’s place in the world of natural health, wellness and fitness.

The ‘aroma’ therapeutic effects of essential oils are not to be overlooked, however. As the importance of the mind-body connection is developed in conventional medicine, natural medicine has taken it into account all along. And the connection between the olfactory sense and the emotional centers of the brain are a strong one - more direct than any other of the five senses. Many studies have resulted with participants noting improved moods, sharper minds and lowered stress levels after inhaling essential oils. Lavender is well documented in its effects for improving sleep and bringing a sense of relaxation without sedation. As research continues, we’ll be reading more and more about the true therapeutic effects of smells, and the synergistic psychological and physiological effects of essential oils.

Aromatherapy in a natural health, wellness and fitness regime is not a cure-all, miracle path to health, however. Like any other medicine or treatment, it has it’s place, and should be used when it provides the best combination of safety and efficacy. How do you find out if essential oils can help you, your friends or your loved ones? Educate yourself! There are several wonderful books available on medical and clinical aromatherapy. Some will deal mostly with the psychological aspects, others mainly in treatment of infectious illness, and others touch on every conceivable application. Buy them, get them from your library, borrow them from friends - but educate yourself as much as possible, and find a degreed practitioner if need be. But most of all, give Aromatherapy a chance. The particular class of plant compounds called ‘essential oils’, which just happen to smell nice, have as much validity as any other field of medicine, and deserves to be appreciated with the same respect. Whether they work for you is up to your own knowledge and dedication to the practice!

About the Author:

The author is the co-owner of www.anandaapothecary.com - More aromatherapy resources are available on this site.

written by:

By Jessica Ravitz
The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated: 07/21/2008 06:49:21 AM MDT

With wires protruding from electrodes glued to her scalp, Rebecca Boucher stared at a computer screen, trying to quiet those pesky delta and theta frequencies dancing in her head.

    She wasn’t on the set of some sci-fi thriller but in the back of an easy-to-miss storefront at 1055 E. 3300 South in Millcreek, home to Brain Harmony Technology. Here, beside cinder block walls painted with words including “peace,” “soul” and “joy,” Boucher said she was improving her marriage, beating depression and finding sleep-filled nights.

    “Once I am balanced, I should never go back to the place I was,” the Kearns resident said the evening before her 16th session last month. “It’s made a world of difference . . . I’m a much happier person.”
    Boucher is part of a growing trend of neurofeedback junkies, people who pay thousands of dollars to have their brains conditioned or harmonized. By measuring brainwave activity, then feeding back appropriate sounds through headsets, recipients can learn to modify their thoughts, behaviors and emotions. The benefits, proponents say, can be life-changing. But the question arises: Who’s qualified to be slapping electrodes on people’s heads?

    The neurofeedback business, which is raking in about $1 billion a year according to Siegfried Othmer, chief scientist of The EEG Institute in Woodland Hills, Calif., is still “going through its Wild West phase.”

It’s a field that has been largely unregulated and developed by people not licensed in psych or neuro fields, explained Othmer, who has been dedicated to neurofeedback work - training others and devising equipment - for more than 20 years. So while neurologists, psychiatrists and psychologists are increasingly incorporating neurofeedback in their practices, as the work’s efficacy and promise becomes more proven, there are plenty of others swimming in brainwaves.

    That has Judy Crawford scared. She’s with the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America (BCIA), which establishes and maintains standards recognized by the leading biofeedback and neurofeedback associations. While practitioners who are neither certified by BCIA nor members of associations might be legitimate, she said she would never trust her head to just anybody.

  “How can you recreationally work with a brain?” she asked. “Do you want to recreationally take out my appendix?”
    Alex Hoggan, owner of Brain Harmony Technology, studied film at the University of Utah and got on board with brain training as an offshoot of his Water & Wellness Center, which he operates next door to Brain Harmony. He can leave a visitor’s head spinning with information about the “consciousness” within water crystals.
    Dipping into this work seemed a good fit for Hoggan, 42, so he spent three weeks in Scottsdale, Ariz., training at Brain State Technologies, a business that has trained practitioners and issued its own licenses to 114 offices in 15 countries, said owner Lee Gerdes. About $100,000 in business set-up expenses later, Hoggan’s conditioning brains.
    Gerdes, who had worked in computers and software for 40 years, said his inner geek set him on a path more than seven years ago to explore brain patterns and processing. To find a baseline to develop algorithms to help optimize the brain, he said he enlisted the heads of longtime Tibetan Buddhist monks. A quest for deeper meditation practice is, in part, what brought Marilyn Phipps, of Salt Lake City, to Brain Harmony Technology.
    “I can get rid of all the chatter,” she said. “I can literally empty my mind.”
    Hoggan’s business claims to subscribe to the spiritual model, not medical model, of neurofeedback. The weight of words became apparent when the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing in January ordered him to stop “practicing mental health therapy . . . without a license.” He said the order was due to language, including the words “depression” and “anxiety,” that had been used in a now-discontinued pamphlet.
     One of the biggest critics of outfits such as Brain Harmony Technology is D. Corydon “Cory” Hammond, a professor and psychologist at the Universithy of Utah School of Medicine.
    He explained the intricacies - much more complex than the Hoggan method - of the neurofeedback work he has used in his clinical practice for 16 years. Hammond heads the standards committee for the International Society for Neurofeedback & Research, one of the two overarching membership organizations, and said his concern is rooted in consumer protection.
    “In the last four or five years, we’ve started to really see an increase in unlicensed, unqualified practitioners,” he said. “Neurofeedback can really do some wonderful things, but it is a buyer-beware marketplace.”
    In a piece Hammond wrote for The National Psychologist, he said there’s evidence that “inappropriate neurofeedback training” can “increase seizures, depression, anxiety” and more. But he acknowledged in an interview that these problems could be remedied with proper neurofeedback.
    None of this work, no matter where people go, comes cheap. Sessions, which usually need to be committed to in bulk (somewhere between 10 to 20-plus sessions), can run up to about $150 a pop, and that doesn’t include the initial brain mapping. All told, someone can easily spend a couple thousand dollars, and they might need tune-ups down the road.
    There will come a time, Othmer predicted, when insurance companies will cover neurofeedback treatments and drug companies, which have made a fortune on anti-depressants, may run scared.
    Licensed therapists, he added, need not worry about job security. The professionals, he said, simply need to get on board and “be better than everyone else.” As neurofeedback goes mainstream, he said demand for professionals - with insurance-covered services - will boom.
    All of this, however, is of no concern to Lance Campbell, 47, of South Salt Lake. What matters to him is that he’s functioning again, out of his fog, after a FedEx truck he was driving rolled in December and “kind of scrambled my head a bit.”
    “I noticed some results right off the bat,” he said of his initial visits to Brain Harmony. “Until you try it, you have to be open minded . . . You just never know.”
    jravitz@sltrib.com
   
   
   The battle for the brains
   
   Around for about 40 years, biofeedback gained popularity in the late 1960s as a way to reach “altered states” and “enter your own domain of spirituality,” said Siegfried Othmer, chief scientist of The EEG Institute. “It was a way to have the LSD experience without the LSD,” he said. And it was summarily written off as “too weird” and considered “fool’s gold” by university psychologists, he explained. So it was the professionals who let biofeedback fall out of their grasp, he added. All these years later, now that they’re discovering “it’s real gold,” he said they want it back, they want to own it, which is why there’s a brewing struggle over who has the right to dole out neurotherapy.
   
   
   Neurofeedback: How it works
   
    * Brainwave activity is measured through electrodes placed on the head.
    * Instruments “feed back” information via sounds to train the brain to modify thoughts, behaviors and emotions, and change physiological responses, without use of instruments.
    * A brain-trained individual prone to panic attacks, for example, would reportedly learn to recognize signs of an upcoming attack and then think him or herself out of it.
    Source: Approved by an alliance of AAPB, BCIA and ISNR
   
   Reported benefits of neurofeedback
   
    * Improved memory, motivation and focus
    * Greater emotional capacity and ability to love
    * Increased intelligence and weight loss
    * Reduced stress, anxiety and anger
    * Heightened spirituality
    * Eliminated addictions and antisocial behaviors
    * Cured or greatly improved conditions, including high blood pressure, epilepsy, insomnia, stuttering, and, in some head-injury cases, loss of sight
    * With time and research, proponents say neurofeedback may prove an answer to Parkinson’s disease, bipolar disorder, autism, maybe even cancers
   
   For more information
   
    To learn more about the companies and associations mentioned or alluded to in this article, visit:
    * Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback at www.aapb.org
    * International Society for Neurofeedback & Research at www.isnr.org
    * The EEG Institute at www.eeginstitute.com
    * Brain State Technologies at www.brainstatetech.com *
    * Brain Harmony Technology at www.brainharmonytech.com
    * Two of the three listed Utah companies, Brain Map and Brain Gate, are not in business.
    To find a practitioner registered with the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America, visit www.bcia.org.

The body, under direction of the mind has the power to heal itself. The problem is that while scientists have spent endless hours coming up with medicinal remedies, we have yet to learn how to master, or even more completely utilize, our minds.

You as Your Healer

We are walking, talking, moving, thinking, and healing machines. Because we intrinsically have the ability to heal, medical practitioners are beginning to employ the mind, learning to tap into the unconscious mind (also known as our “cellular wisdom”) in order to harness its power through techniques like Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Creative Visualization & Relaxation (CVR). Putting those practices into play and activating the mind has been shown to give the injured, sick, and stressed the ability to mend their own wounds.

If you’re looking for a new way to tap into your healing potential, why not tap into your mind?

For more information visit www.nlp.com or www.newreality.com

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Although millet is often considered a bird feed, it is generally used as human food. Millets are packed full of nutrients. It comes in various shapes and colors, but it’s commonly available as pearled and
hulled in nearby stores.

Millet contains various mineral nutrients such as manganese, tryptophan, magnesium, and phosphorus, with high calories. A cup of cooked millet provides 26.4% of the daily value for magnesium and 24% daily value for phosphorus.

1. Like all other grains, rinse millet thoroughly under running water.
2. Add 1 part of millet to 2½ parts boiling water. You can add broth to taste.
3. When the water is absorbed, turn down the heat, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.
4. When it’s finished, you’ll get soft and light grains like rice.

If you want the millet to be creamier, stir it frequently, and add a little extra liquid during cooking, and you’ll get a dish that resembles rice porridge or mashed potatoes. You can add any flavor to it.

For a crispy texture, you can roast the millet grain before boiling. You can add some vegetables, chicken, and any other beans to have highly acceptable taste and aroma.

Millet makes a delicious alternative to rice, potatoes, and oats.

You can grind the millet and mix it with baking powder for your breakfast bread. You can also use the grinded millet together with some seasoned-flavored fruits to make cake.

Millet is more than any alternative to the common grains because of its valuable nutrients.

Millet is known to protect your heart by lowering cholesterol contents in the blood. Millet is also recommended for asthma and migraine patients. Millet is known as brain rejuvenator in Japan.

Is it true that people who ate millet during the World War II are more talented? This is a comparison with today’s young generation eating lots of junk foods. Someone told us that a millet diet can
prevent gallstone as well as breast cancer and some cancerous diseases. Now isn’t that good news?

———————————————————-
About the Author:
Junji Takano is a Japanese health researcher involved in
investigating the cause of various diseases since 1960. In 1968, he
invented Pyro-Energen, the first electromedicine device that
eradicates viral diseases, cancer, and diseases of unknown cause
effectively without side effects.
Free newsletter: http://www.pyroenergen.com/newsletter.htm
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Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as the entire
article remains the same as well as the resource box.

Water Wellness

The reality of toxins in tap water have long been a subject of discussion. They include, but are not limited to, Organic Pollutants such as hydrocarbons, insecticides and detergents / Metals such as lead, zinc and manganese / Inorganic Fertilizers / and Radioactive Isotopes. Several pollutants are carcinogenic, which means they can induce cancer in the bodies of humans and animals. Carcinogenics can play a role in one or more of the stages of cancer development. These pollutants can be inductors, meaning they introduce cancer-forming properties into the cells, or they can be promoters, by promoting the growth of cells that already have cancer forming properties. They can also be progressors, which means they stimulate unrestrained division and spreading of cancer cells. It is widely believed that when one of these substances is absent, cancer cannot be induced. For more detailed information on pollutants found in our water supplies log on to www.lennteck.com.

Roe Gallo, M.A., www.livingnutrition.com discusses the importance of drinking distilled water as opposed to tap water, filtered water or spring water. He recommends a vapor compression distillation process for purifying water and discusses its role in transporting inorganic minerals, that would otherwise be rejected by the cells and tissues, out of the body.

 

Gary has been drinking distilled water for many months and feels confident that it is a great help to his system and a contributor to his healing. He has utilized the Water & Wellness Center on 1055 E. and 3300 S. in Salt Lake, and Wild Oats Market on 1100 E. and just south of 2100 S., also in Salt Lake.

DR. MASARU EMOTO: THE HIDDEN MESSAGES IN WATER

Much of the information Gary and I obtained on the subject of water as a healing agent came from the work of Dr. Masaru Emoto, who studied the highly impressionable molecular structure of water based on what outside influences were affecting it at the time. After over a decade of research in studying the crystal formations in water with high speed photography, Dr. Emoto discovered that water molecules are significantly affected by our thoughts, words and feelings. The implications of these research findings are enormous when we consider that over 75% of our bodies are made up of water. In his book, The Hidden Messages in Water, Dr. Emoto makes this statement:

The realization that water has the ability to copy information has changed my life. After making this discovery in America, I brought it back with me to Japan, and have since used the information- copying function of water to help people recover their health.

At that time, however, doctors would not even con- sider the possibility that water by itself had healing capabilities. I was and am fully convinced that water is able to memorize and transport information, but this suggestion has been met with complete re- jection by the medical community… I long wondered if it might be possible to find physical evidence of this…

 

Dr. Emoto then went on to conduct his many years of research and did, indeed, find the supportive evidence he was looking for. He found that water crystals exposed to negative or hostile expressions formed incomplete, asymmetrical patterns. In contrast, water exposed to affirmations of love and gratitude formed brilliant, complex and beautiful snowflake patterns. His findings are well documented and explained in his book and DVD, The Hidden Messages in Water. Both his book and DVD contain an array of photographs that illustrate his work. We picked ours up at the Water & Wellness Center on 1055 E 3300 S. in Salt Lake City.

For Gary and I, this had significant implications. I thought of the role of fear in perpetuating cancer and realized how distinctly and literally it feeds the disease Straight from the mental-emotional center right into the cell tissue. Now there was evidence for something I had felt for many years. Not only did Gary change from tap water to distilled water (aside from its purification benefits, distilled water is neutral in its molecular composition and therefore optimally impressionable), but he utilized containers with positive, affirmative statements attached to them. We became more conscious of the words we spoke and did not indulge our fears with a lot of expression. I, personally, refocused negative thinking on an almost continuous basis, realizing that my water based composition was literally taking notes on everything I was thinking and saying.

From Meridian Health Center

* Alex Hoggan is the owner of the Water and Wellness Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Alex can be reached at
1055 E 3300 S
Salt Lake City, Utah
(801) 484-2518

Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual. These guidelines can help ensure you drink enough fluids.

How much water should you drink each day? A simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.

Though no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body’s need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.

Health benefits of water

Water is your body’s principal chemical component, making up, on average, 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.

Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don’t have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.

How much water do you need?

Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.

Several approaches attempt to approximate water needs for the average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate.

• Replacement approach. The average urine output for adults is about 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) a day. You lose close to an additional liter of water a day through breathing, sweating and bowel movements. Food usually accounts for 20 percent of your total fluid intake, so if you consume 2 liters of water or other beverages a day (a little more than 8 cups) along with your normal diet, you will typically replace the lost fluids.
• Eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Another approach to water intake is the “8 x 8 rule” — drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (about 1.9 liters). The rule could also be stated, “drink eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day,” as all fluids count toward the daily total. Though the approach isn’t supported by scientific evidence, many people use this basic rule as a guideline for how much water and other fluids to drink.
• Dietary recommendations. The Institute of Medicine advises that men consume roughly 3 liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day and women consume 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day.

Even apart from the above approaches, if you drink enough fluid so that you rarely feel thirsty and produce 1.5 liters (6.3 cups) or more of colorless or slightly yellow urine a day, your fluid intake is probably adequate.

Factors that influence water needs

You may need to modify your total fluid intake depending on how active you are, the climate you live in, your health status, and if you’re pregnant or breast-feeding.

• Exercise. If you exercise or engage in any activity that makes you sweat, you need to drink extra water to compensate for the fluid loss. An extra 400 to 600 milliliters (about 1.5 to 2.5 cups) of water should suffice for short bouts of exercise, but intense exercise lasting more than an hour (for example, running a marathon) requires more fluid intake. How much additional fluid you need depends on how much you sweat during exercise, the duration of your exercise and the type of activity you’re engaged in.During long bouts of intense exercise, it’s best to use a sports drink that contains sodium, as this will help replace sodium lost in sweat and reduce the chances of developing hyponatremia, which can be life-threatening. Also, continue to replace fluids after you’re finished exercising.
• Environment. Hot or humid weather can make you sweat and requires additional intake of fluid. Heated indoor air also can cause your skin to lose moisture during wintertime. Further, altitudes greater than 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) may trigger increased urination and more rapid breathing, which use up more of your fluid reserves.
• Illnesses or health conditions. Signs of illnesses, such as fever, vomiting and diarrhea, cause your body to lose additional fluids. In these cases you should drink more water and may even need oral rehydration solutions, such as Gatorade, Powerade or CeraLyte. Also, you may need increased fluid intake if you develop certain conditions, including bladder infections or urinary tract stones. On the other hand, some conditions such as heart failure and some types of kidney, liver and adrenal diseases may impair excretion of water and even require that you limit your fluid intake.
• Pregnancy or breast-feeding. Women who are expecting or breast-feeding need additional fluids to stay hydrated. Large amounts of fluid are used especially when nursing. The Institute of Medicine recommends that pregnant women drink 2.3 liters (about 10 cups) of fluids daily and women who breast-feed consume 3.1 liters (about 13 cups) of fluids a day.

Beyond the tap: Other sources of water

Although it’s a great idea to keep water within reach at all times, you don’t need to rely only on what you drink to satisfy your fluid needs. What you eat also provides a significant portion of your fluid needs. On average, food provides about 20 percent of total water intake, while the remaining 80 percent comes from water and beverages of all kinds.

For example, many fruits and vegetables, such as watermelon and tomatoes, are 90 percent to 100 percent water by weight. Beverages such as milk and juice also are composed mostly of water. Even beer, wine and caffeinated beverages — such as coffee, tea or soda — can contribute, but these should not be a major portion of your daily total fluid intake. Water is one of your best bets because it’s calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available.

Staying safely hydrated

It’s generally not a good idea to use thirst alone as a guide for when to drink. By the time you become thirsty, it’s possible to already be slightly dehydrated. Further, be aware that as you get older your body is less able to sense dehydration and send your brain signals of thirst. Excessive thirst and increased urination can be signs of a more serious medical condition. Talk to your doctor if you experience either.

To ward off dehydration and make sure your body has the fluids it needs, make water your beverage of choice. Nearly every healthy adult can consider the following:

• Drink a glass of water with each meal and between each meal.
• Hydrate before, during and after exercise.
• Substitute sparkling water for alcoholic drinks at social gatherings.

If you drink water from a bottle, thoroughly clean or replace the bottle often.

Though uncommon, it is possible to drink too much water. When your kidneys are unable to excrete the excess water, the electrolyte (mineral) content of the blood is diluted, resulting in low sodium levels in the blood, a condition called hyponatremia. Endurance athletes, such as marathon runners, who drink large amounts of water are at higher risk of hyponatremia. In general, though, drinking too much water is rare in healthy adults who consume an average American diet.

If you’re concerned about your fluid intake, check with your doctor or a registered dietitian. He or she can help you determine the amount of water that’s best for you.

Contact: Alex Hoggan
(801) 484-2518
Water and Wellness Center
1055 E 3300 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84105

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Antiaging Study Using Haelan 851 Nutritional Product

AntiAging Study using Haelan 851

 

 

For more information on Haelan Research Foundation, call 425-482-2645.  To view the informational video, go to:

 

1. Examining the benefits of fermented soy nutraceutical supplement, Haelan 951 in improving symptoms of cachexia, anorexia, fatigue and overall functional status of cancer patients

Rationale and potential patient impact:

The purpose of this study is to examine whether or not the addition of an adjuvant fermented soy nutraceutical supplement such as Haelan 951 can ameliorate the symptoms of cachexia, anorexia, and gatigue symptom and the overall functional status of patients with advanced stages of cancer. This new nutritional treatment has the potential to extend life significantly and improve compliance with conventional cancer treatments.

 

2. Does exposure to dietary phytoestrogens influence breast cancer treatment, prognosis, and progression of disease state

Rationale:

The rationale for this project is to demonstrate the feasibility of a new therapeutic approach using fermented soy, Haelan 951 to specifically kill breast cancer cells. The goal of this study is to determine if dietary soy supplementation can affect biochemical parameters known to be associated with breast cancer

Potential Patient Impact:

Millions of premenopausal women supplement their diets with soy products in the hope of lowering their risk of breast cancer. This is a significant expense to the public yet the value of soy in this setting has never been confirmed in a research study. These investigators will evaluate the importance of soy to reduce breast cancer and provide valuable information to women regarding its use. This strategy relies on a gene that induces cell suicide as the killing mechanism in breast cancer cells. This approach is unique as it “turns on” the killing gene thus eliminating any non-specific killing of normal, healthy cells in breast cancer patients. If soy has value we will be able to add an important and inexpensive modality to the prevention of the most common cancer in American women and potentially save millions of lives.

 

3. Investigation of the reliability of 24 hour unrine excretion as a biomarker of isoflavone exposure over time and over a wide range of isoflavones

Rationale:

The rationale of this project is to investigate the reliability of 24 hour urine excretion as a biomarker of the fermented soy nutraceutical, Haelan 951, isoflavone exposure over time and over a wide range of Haelen intake.

Potential Patient Impact:

Phyto-oestrogens are compounds capable of mimicking the biological effects of oestrogens (Mazur & Adlercreutz, 1998). Two principal isoflavones in the diet are genistein and daidzein, mainly found in soy. Populations consuming soy, especially fermented soy (such as the Japanese) have much lower rates of breast and prostate cancer (Griffiths et al, 1996) and hence the potential anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties of the soy isoflavones have been the bases for extensive research in this area of phytochemistry and nutrition.

Although previous studies (Arai et al, 2000; Nagata, 2000; Verkasalo et al, 2001) have indicated a relationship between isoflavone intake and urinary excretion or concentrations of isoflavones in plasma, there appears to have been no investigation of this relationship over a large range of dietary isoflavone intakes (0-50 mg/d) over a considerable period of time that is, several weeks to several months. This time course study was designed to investigate the variation in total genistein/daidzein intake and 24 hour urinary excretion (i.e. test the reliability of the biomarker) over 6 months during which time subjects should be exposed to a range of isoflavone intakes.

 

4. Phase II Randomization Trial of Haelan 951, a Novel Fermented Soy Dietary Supplement, in Patients Receiving Palliative Chemotherapy for Refractory or Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Rationale:

This phase II randomized study will attempt to systematically study the tumor response rate in patients with refractory or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma teated with the soy dietary supplement Haelan or placebo. We hope to show a response rate of 20% or more; a response rate of 5% or lower would indicate that the supplement is not worthy of further study. Secondary outcomes of interest include chemotherapy-induced fatigue, nausea and vomiting and other selected clinical side effects associated with chemotherapy. Additionally, the pilot will asses the feasibility of accrual, randomization, adherence, and data collection procedures and will also evaluate the quality of life for all patients.

Potential Patient Impact:

Cancer patients frequently experience a number of adverse side-effects and reactions associated with the administration of chemotherapy. Cancer related fatigue is reported as being a major distressing symptom during treatment, in the advanced stages of the disease and after curative treatment (Servaes et al 2002) and gives rise to adverse physical, psychosocial, and economic consequences for both patients and caregivers. Given the impact of the chemotherapy induced side effects, treatment options should be routinely considered in the care of patients with cancer. We propose to systematically study the tumor response rate in these patients and assess the effectiveness of the soy dietary supplement, Haelan, in reducing chemotherapy-induced fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and other selected clinical side-effects associated with chemotherapy in patients diagnosed to have advanced cancers. We also want to document accrual, to evaluate safety, and to assess the effects of Haelan on general health outcomes, cancer-related symptoms, and quality of life.

A June 30, 2005 report from the Seattle Times reports that a large portion of doctors diagnoses may well be influenced by large drug companies looking to improve their bottom line.  The expose, authored by Susan Kelleher and Duff Wilson points out that many of the criteria used for making a diagnosis have been changed in order to classify more healthy people as sick, and therefore sell more medication.               The article notes that researchers at Dartmouth Medical School estimate that during the 1990s, tens of millions more Americans were classified as having hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes or obesity simply because the definitions of those diseases were changed.  The Seattle Times article uncovered that the experts writing the treatment guidelines that for a broad spectrum of diseases had drug-company ties ranging from research contracts to consultancies to stock ownership. The result of this drug industry promoted disease reclassification is that tens of millions more Americans were classified as having hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes or obesity during the 1990s, simply because the definitions of those diseases were changed. The net results are huge increases in sales of prescription drugs, overall soaring health-care costs, escalating patient anxiety, as well as millions of people taking drugs that may carry a greater health risk than the underlying condition they were prescribed for. The article notes that currently, due to the expanded diagnosis parameters, three out of four Americans technically have at least one of the commonly medicated diseases. But millions of them are not truly sick and may never be, even without medication.  Dr. John Kitzhaber of The Foundation for Medical Excellence in Portland, who was also Oregon’s governor from 1995 to 2003 stated, “We have a system that nobody but Big Pharma is happy with.”   Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, a Dartmouth medical professor and editor of Effective Clinical Practice, a journal of the American College of Physicians, voiced his concern that more healthy people are being classified as sick only to increase drug sales.  He commented, “You can’t tell me that three-quarters of my population is sick before I start.  That just doesn’t pass the laugh test.” Welch continued, “Our business is in a hard place right now. A lot of docs know it’s not right.”

A new study finds that almost two-thirds of those who take allergy drugs don’t need them.  Dr. Sheryl Szeinbach of Ohio State University studied 265 patients taking allergy medications. The study found that 65 percent did not actually suffer from allergies. The consequences are that people who are misdiagnosed can waste as much as $80 a month for the prescription drugs, taking medicines they don’t need. Additionally, side effects from these medications can also be a factor while the medications these people are taking fail to relieve the real symptoms.

Dr. Beth Corn, an allergist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York says, “It’s very obvious to anyone who practices in the field of allergy that there are many patients who walk around who are misdiagnosed.”  Dr. Corn tries to explain, “There’s also an incredible influence for marketing where patients will watch television and they’ll see commercials or they’ll be on a bus and they’ll see ads for medications and they want these medications.”