May 2015

Hello, and welcome to this edition edition of my Natural Alternatives Newsletter!

I hope you will enjoy reading this issue.

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“The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.” ~Hippocrates

IN THIS ISSUE:

1) 5 GOOD REASONS YOU SHOULD AVOID FLUORIDATED WATER

2) ACUPUNCTURE FOR FIBROMYALGIA

3) THE HEALING VALUES OF SOURSOP

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1) 5 GOOD REASONS YOU SHOULD AVOID FLUORIDATED WATER
by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

Fluoride was originally added to water supplies back around the time of the end of World War II, but this well-intended practice to improve dental health is still around today, and more and more people are recognizing the possible dangers. Certainly, a lot of people out there will tell you there’s no problem with fluoridated water, but these people are simply repeating outdated studies that are not backed by current evidence.

Why You Need to Avoid Fluoridated Water

Drinking fluoridated water may seem like a good idea, but it’s actually anything but. Not only can consuming fluoride harm the brain, it also has severe impacts on hormonal health. Here are 5 reasons to avoid it like the Plague.

1. Fluoridated Water Can Damage the Thyroid

A recent study reported water fluoridation in England is linked to a 30 percent increase in the rate of underactive thyroids; still, other reports suggest 2 to 5 mg of fluoride over months can actually reduce thyroid function. Close to 70 percent of the U.S. water supply is fluoridated. But should we really be putting an endocrine disruptor like fluoride into the water we drink?

2. Fluoridated Water is Linked to ADHD

With a more than 50 percent increase in the past 10 years, ADHD is becoming a big problem in the U.S. So what’s causing this increase? Well, if you live in a state with fluoridated water, that could even be a factor. For the first time, scientists have “found that states with a higher portion of artificially fluoridated water had a higher prevalence of ADHD,” and it seems like more than just a fluke: the trend even “held up across six different years examined.”

3. Fluoridated Water Lowers IQ

New data suggests fluoridated water could even lead to brain damage and lower IQs in kids. As a neurotoxin, fluoride could even cause damage equivalent to that from a traumatic brain injury. Some experts believe that adding fluoride to the water supply is not only reckless, it’s immoral. Unfortunately, many of the individuals in control of fluoridating water are unaware of the hazards of the toxin.

4. Fluoridated Water Can Cause Fluorosis

Too much fluoride can affect teeth and bones. The World Health Organization (WHO) says ”fluoride levels above 1.5 mg per litre cause pitting of tooth enamel and deposits in bones. Levels above 10 mg per litre cause the crippling skeletal fluorosis.” In the U.S., we’re often exposed to levels in the 2 to 5 mg range, but in India, fluorosis is such a concern that, in 2008, the government had to create a national health plan to combat excess fluoride in the water. With the way the U.S. loves its fluoride, why couldn’t that happen here?

5. Fluoridated Water Damages the Pineal Gland

Fluoride damage to bones and teeth isn’t the only issue; the toxin can also build up in very high levels in the pineal gland. Located in the brain, this gland is responsible for melatonin synthesis and production. While it’s not known just how fluoride can damage the gland, one thing melatonin controls is the start of puberty in girls, and some evidence suggests the build-up could be a factor in early onset.

Avoid Fluoride at All Costs

Fluoridated water is causing all sorts of damage to our bodies—maybe even more than we know. Sure, there’s an old argument that taking the fluoride out of the water supply would significantly damage oral health; but, in the 21st century, is that still the best argument?

2) ACUPUNCTURE FOR FIBROMYALGIA
By Cathy Wong, ND

For help in treating fibromyalgia, many people turn to the alternative therapy known as acupuncture. It's thought that undergoing acupuncture can help alleviate symptoms such as widespread pain, tenderness, and fatigue. In addition, acupuncture is said to improve mood and improve daily functioning for people living with fibromyalgia.

It's estimated that one in five fibromyalgia sufferers use acupuncture treatment within two years of diagnosis.

Why Is Acupuncture Used For Fibromyalgia?

Although fibromyalgia is a relatively common musculoskeletal disorder, an effective treatment plan for this condition has yet to be established. Some medical experts suggest that the best approach to fibromyalgia treatment may involve a combination of pharmacological treatments (such as use of antidepressant and pain-relieving medications) and non-pharmacological approaches (such as acupuncture and other alternative therapies).

Proponents of alternative medicine state that undergoing acupuncture can help reduce pain sensitivity in fibromyalgia patients and, in turn, improve their quality of life. Indeed, emerging evidence suggests that acupuncture may help control chronic pain, possibly by stimulating the release of pain-relieving chemicals found naturally in your body.

According to the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture may help reduce pain by freeing up blockages in your body's flow of vital energy (also known as "chi"). In order to remove these blockages, acupuncture practitioners insert needles into specific points said to be connected to energy pathways called "meridians."

The Science Behind Acupuncture and Fibromyalgia

For a report published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2013, researchers analyzed nine previously published trials (with a total of 395 participants) testing the use of acupuncture in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Noting that most of the studies had considerable flaws in their design, the report's authors found "low- to moderate-level evidence that compared with no treatment and standard therapy, acupuncture improves pain and stiffness in people with fibromyalgia."

The available clinical trials on acupuncture's potential benefits as a fibromyalgia treatment include a small study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings in 2006. For the study, 50 patients with fibromyalgia were split into two groups: one group received six treatments of acupuncture over the course of two to three weeks, while the second group received six treatments of simulated acupuncture (in which practitioners did not focus on points believed to be connected to the body's energy pathways).

In their analysis of data gathered on study participants immediately after treatment (as well as at one month and seven months after treatment), researchers found that those who received acupuncture experienced significantly greater improvements in total fibromyalgia symptoms (compared to those who received simulated acupuncture). While fatigue and anxiety were found to be the most significantly improved symptoms during the follow-up period, activity and physical function levels did not change.

Caveats

Although acupuncture is generally considered safe when administered by a qualified practitioner, it's not appropriate for everyone. Talk to your doctor for help in finding a qualified practitioner and incorporating acupuncture into your fibromyalgia management plan.

Alternatives to Acupuncture for Fibromyalgia Relief

Certain lifestyle practices are considered essential for managing fibromyalgia symptoms. These include getting enough sleep (which may lessen fibromyalgia-associated pain and fatigue), working out regularly (including walking and other gentle forms of exercise), and following a balanced diet.

There's some evidence that alternative therapies like massage therapy and chiropractic may also benefit people with fibromyalgia. Practicing mind-body techniques like yoga may be helpful as well.

Some research suggests that dietary supplements like S-adenosylmethionine and 5-hydroxytryptophan may provide relief of pain and other fibromyalgia symptoms. If you're considering the use of dietary supplements in treatment of fibromyalgia, make sure to consult your physician prior to starting your supplement regimen.

Beyond Fibromyalgia: More Benefits of Acupuncture

Acupuncture may help treat many pain-related conditions apart from fibromyalgia, including arthritis, back pain, and migraines.
Source: about.com

Learn more about traditional chinese medicine and acupuncture

3) THE HEALING VALUES OF SOURSOP
by G. C. Ihesie

Botanical name: Annona muricata, Family: annonaceae (annona family), Common names: Soursop, Graviola, Brazilianawpaw, Prickly custard apple, etc.

Description

Soursop is believed to be indigenous to most of the warmest tropical regions of the world. It is a small upright evergreen tree that grows up to 6 metres tall. It has large dark and shiny green and leathery leaves, which has a pungent odour when crushed. The flowers are large, with yellow or greenish-yellow colour. The fruit of the tree (soursop) is large and has a heart-like shape, covered with small spine-shaped structures.

The pulp is fleshy, soft and white in colour, with a slightly sour-acid taste and it can be eaten out-of-hand. The fruit may contain up to 100 black seeds. In most tropical regions of the world, where the plant grows, it is often referred as a miracle tree.

Parts Used

In natural medicine practice, all parts of the soursop tree are used as medicine, including the roots, barks, stems, leaves, fruits and the fruit-seeds. Each part of the tree has long been shown to have different therapeutic properties. Chemical Constituents Many scientific analyses have shown that soursop contains many nutrients, including protein, sugar, fatty acids, dietary fiber, Vitamins C, B1, B2, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium chloride. It also contains many bioactive compounds and phytochemicals, such as alkaloid, citric-acid, malic-acid, stearic-acid, stepharine, tannin, vinblastine, etc.

Therapeutic Properties

Generally, it is known that soursop has a broad spectrum antimicrobial, antispasmodic, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, astringent, cardio tonic, diuretic, emetic, galactagogue, immunity boosting, laxative, liver tonic, sedative and activities. Besides these activities, the main interest in this plant is because of its strong anti-cancer or anti-tumour properties and effects.

Medicinal Uses

Cancer And Preventive Agent

Various parts of the plant- leaves, stems, fruits and seeds- have been shown to contain phytochemicals, which are cytotoxic against various types of cancer cells, including colon, breast, ovarian, uterine, prostate, lung, pancreatic, anal, kidney, liver, lung and skin cancers.

Soursop fruit or the fruit juice can be taken to prevent or treat cancer. The fresh leaves and stems of the plant can also be used for the same purpose. In these cases, about one handful of the fresh leaves and stems of soursop is cut into pieces and boiled in 1 (One) litre water until the water is reduced to half. This is then strained and up to100 ml is taken orally morning and night. The decoction can be sweetened with pure honey.

Soursop has been proven to be a miraculous natural cancer cell killer and it is said to be 10,000 times stronger than most chemotherapy drugs.

A recent study conducted at Catholic University of South Korea shows that one chemical (acetogenins) present in soursop was found to selectively kill colon cancer cells at10, 000 times the potency more than the commonly used Adriamycin (a chemotherapy drug).

Unlike chemotherapy, which indiscriminately destroys both cancerous and normal cells, the compound extracted from the soursop selectively kills only cancer cells without harming the healthy and normal ones.

Other Uses Of Soursop

The fruit juice of soursop is creamy, with musky, sub-acid to acid flavour, sometimes used in ice cream.
It is rich in Vitamins B and C. It is commonly taken after childbirth to help increase mother’s breast milk to cool down feverish conditions, chill and flu, as an astringent for diarrhea and dysentery and for intestinal parasites.
The alkaloid-rich fresh leaves and bark/roots of soursop can be prepared as a standard infusion (one cup 2-3 times daily); decoction (1-3 times twice daily or 6 grams of powdered leaves in capsules in 3-4 divided dosages) for the following conditions:
Digestive Problems: Constipation, indigestion, as emetic, diarrhea, dyspepsia, peptic ulcer, diabetes, liver and gallbladder disorders.
Bacterial and fungal infections (as broad spectrum antimicrobial), cold, flu, catarrh and fevers.
Nervous disorders: nervousness, edgy nerves, insomnia (as tranquilizer or sedative).
Heart problems, palpitation, hypertension with insomnia and nervousness and anemia.
Various menstrual disorders and difficult childbirth.
Respiratory tract problems: cough, asthma, chest problems and bronchitis.
In some rural communities, infused oil prepared from the fresh leaves and unripe fruit of soursop is mixed with olive oil or virgin coconut oil and used externally for massaging in cases of arthritic/rheumatic pains, gout and neuralgia.

Caution

Soursop has been found to be a potent uterine stimulant. Therefore, it should be avoided during pregnancy.
High doses of the infusion (tea) or decoction may cause nausea and vomiting.
Presently, the plant has not shown any recorded drug interaction. However, those taking prescription antihypertensive and antidepressants drugs are advised to be careful with soursop, because it may potentiate these drugs.

Source: www.ngrguardiannews.com

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PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!

Thank you for reading.

Livia
https://www.natural-health-and-healing.com
Brampton, Ontario, Canada

P.S. If you have a comment or suggestion, just reply to this e-mail. Your feedback is important to me.

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This newsletter is for educational purposes only. It is your right to educate yourself in health and medical knowledge, to seek helpful information and make use of it for your own benefit, and for that of your family. You are the one responsible for your health. You must educate yourself in order to make decisions in all health matters. My views and advises are not intended to be a substitute for conventional medicine, but simply a help you to make educated changes in order to help your body heal itself. If you have a medical condition or concern you should consult your physician.