MedWorm: Alternative Medicine Practitioners

Mumps break out in highly immunized population

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:17:00 +0100

Much like the Pertussis outbreak in Washington, DC in the late 90's, we have another example of immunizations not doing there job. There are more stories just like this around, you just have to look for them. Don't just accept what your pediatrician or family says you should do with regard to immunizations. Make sure you educate yourself and make your own decisions. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

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Choline and reduced risk of breast cancer

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:45:00 +0100

Excerpted from NewsMaxCholine Reduces Risk of Breast CancerCholine, an essential nutrient found in foods such as eggs, is associated with a 24 percent reduced risk of breast cancer, according to a study supported by a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), to be published in The FASEB Journal’s print issue in June.(1) This study adds to the growing body of evidence that links egg consumption to a decreased risk of breast cancer.In this new case-control study of more than 3,000 adult women, the risk of developing breast cancer was 24 percent lower among women with the highest intake of choline compared to women with the lowest intake. Women with the highest intake of choline consumed a daily average of 455 mg of choline or more, getting most of it from coffee, eggs and skim milk. Women with the lowest intake consumed a daily average of 196 milligrams or less.“Choline is needed for the normal functioning of cells, no matter your age or gender,” says Steven H. Zeisel, MD, PhD, University of North Carolina, who is an author of the study and a leading choline researcher. “Increasing evidence shows that it may be particularly important for women, particularly those of child-bearing age.”Only ten percent of Americans currently meet the recommended intake for choline, identifying a need to increase choline intake across the population.(2) According to the Institute of Medicine, adequate choline intake is 550 milligrams per day for men and breastfeeding women, 425 milligrams per day for women, and 450 milligrams per day for pregnant women.(3) One egg contains 125.5 milligrams of choline, or roughly a quarter the recommended daily supply, making eggs an excellent source of this essential nutrient.(4) Choline is found exclusively in the egg’s yolk. Other top food sources of choline include liver, wheat germ and cauliflower.“While choline is an essential nutrient to the human diet, most people haven’t even heard of it,” says Gerald Weissmann, MD, Editor in Chief of The FASEB Journal and research professor of medicine and director of the Biotechnology Study Center at the New York University School of Medicine. “Given that in the U.S. there is a real need to understand how much choline we require in our diet, we hope that research, education and awareness about choline will increase as a result of this study published in The FASEB Journal.”Eggs and Decreased Risk of Breast Cancer:Two previously published studies, supported by NIH grants, have shown that women who eat eggs have a lower risk of developing breast cancer: * A study published in 2003 by researchers at Harvard University found that women who reported higher consumption of eggs, vegetable fat and fiber during adolescence had a smaller risk of developing breast cancer as adults. Specifically, eating one egg per day was associated with an 18 percent reduced risk of breast cancer.(5) * A study of Chinese women published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention in 2005 showed that those who consumed the most fruit, vegetables and eggs were significantly less likely to have breast cancer. For those that reported eating at least six eggs per week, the risk of developing breast cancer was 44 percent lower than for those who ate two or less eggs per week.(6)Other Benefits of Choline:In addition to playing a role in the normal functioning of all cells, including brain and nerve function, liver metabolism and the transportation of nutrients throughout the body, choline has been shown to: * Prevent Birth Defects: According to population-based research, infants from mothers whose diets were deficient in choline were four times more likely to have neural tube defects such as spina bifida. This increased risk was observed even when other nutrients that help prevent birth defects, such as folic acid, were in adequate supply.(7) * Improve Memory: Research suggests that choline is essential for proper fetal and infant brain development. It appears that choline affects the areas of the brain responsible for memory function and life-long learning ability.(8) * Reduce Heart Disease Risk: Choline, like folate, is involved in breaking down homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood that may be associated with an increased risk of heart disease. In fact, research shows that choline deficiency results in increased homocysteine levels.(9) This may help to explain why 30 years of research have shown that healthy adults can consume eggs without increasing their risk of heart disease.(10)I believe that Standard Process has the best source of Choline and you can click the link above for help (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Rjl analysis and weight loss

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 19:33:00 +0100

This machine is used in our office for analysis and repeat analysis in patients who are wanting to lose weight naturally. It works great and is so much more valuable than other forms of fat/weight analysis. When you are in next time mentioned we will begin your road to weight loss and a better happier life. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

The amazing autistic....should we "cure" them

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 06:22:00 +0100

This is amazing. I hope you will be inspired and awed as I was when I watched this. There are some abilities of man that I still can't wrap my mind around but it makes you wonder how little of our brains we are actually using. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Fasting and chemotherapy damage

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:58:00 +0100

This is an preliminary study on fasting and the effect it has on chemotherapy damage. I thought it was interesting that there was some admission here that chemotherapy is so damaging to the human organism. Sometimes the cure is worse than the condition and chemotherapy often fits this bill. You may have heard the old joke, "We cured the cancer but killed the patient." Well, for those of you who are in a situation where chemo is your choice or last resort this information may be good to read. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Low testosterone and diabetes

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:44:00 +0100

This was an interesting link between low testosterone levels and type 1 diabetes. Insulin resistance is so prevalent now and there appears to be so many ways to develop the resistance. I think you will find this article interesting. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

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Ear infections in children

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:22:00 +0100

I decided I have to post on this because of what I see as an ever increasing trend in my office. This is the trend of placing children on repeated antibiotic use over the course of the first 3-5 years of life. This pattern appears to start early in life with medical/pharmaceutical intervention and continues on a path of health decline over the next few years. Below I will describe the first five years of life that I see these young children experiencing. You might see your child or a friend or family members child in this same situation. My goal in practice is to reverse this trend so that children can live a happy drug free life that is full of activity and happiness. Below is the first five years pattern in the child that is pharmaceutically or medically treated. This doesn't hold for all children but for many it does.1. Child gets sick with virus or bacterial infection2. Infection starts in the lungs but moves the oral and nasal passages and travels into the middle ear.3. Child is taken to the pediatrician and given an antibiotic based on symptoms alone without culturing the saliva or ear discharge.4. Antibiotic kills off most or all bacterial and NO viral load in the child also destroying the healthy gut flora in the process5. The child apparently heals but really has a temporary suppression of symptoms6. Now the childs gut flora is destroyed and their immune system is suppressed which allow a secondary or additional infection to occur. This lands the child back in the pediatricians office for the second round of anitbiotics.7. Repeat Steps 1-7 at least three to 12 times within a calendar year.Then after complete or partial destruction of the immune system the parent of the child is told that ear tubes are a necessity otherwise the child could lose their hearing. Of course, the parent that wants to avoid this is challenged by the pediatrician and told that they could be responsible for causing their childs hearing loss. However, the real causative culprit for the repeat ear infectioin and immune supression were the antibiotics that were prescribed by the pediatrician. Of course no liability is placed with the pediatrician but solely with the parent who is not once again using antibiotics that have proven not to work the previous 12 rounds etc.As I say, "When all else fails, blame the patient or the parent, even if you were the cause of the problem." 8. Later in life this same child develops allergies and asthma as a complication of ongoing immune system suppression and everyone wonders why. 9. Then as an adult there is some thought that some chronic and degenerative diseases are more prevalent as a result.This is a sad tale that is often repeated and doesn't need to be. If would like our help in finding a different solution than the one above, please email or call. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Finding happiness again

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:55:00 +0100

This link is helpful if you have lost your way with happiness in your life currently. Giving has always been a sort of "golden rule" for everyone. This article shows how to find this happiness again. Even giving as little as five dollars a day to someone seems to raise the "happiness qoutient". Check out the link and enjoy. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Vaccinations or no vaccinations that is the question

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:27:00 +0100

The following post is no substitute for the advice of a licensed professional or for your own education. It is in no way intended to sway or direct a reader to make any particular choice regarding immunizations and vaccinations. The information contained here is for the purpose of education and is not in any way a conveyance of advice of specific treatment.Link 1Link 2Link 3Link 4I have not included many pro vaccination links because this is the information that is regularly churned out by the medical associations and public health agencies. You can get lots of information on TV, Radio, and billboards if you would like it. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Stroke of insight

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 00:37:00 +0100

This post is for all of my readers and patients who have had a family member or friend that has suffered a stroke. It is an amazing video clip on someone explaining how a stroke affects the brain and its right and left hemisheric function. Jill Bolte is the presenter and neuroanatomist who suffered the stroke. It is a neat mix of science and experiental description of stroke and its affects. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

I couldn't believe it .... but its true

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:45:00 +0100

I will not comment here other than to say this is major craziness. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

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Tips for getting better sleep

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:06:00 +0100

This article gave a few really good ideas for getting better sleep. As a side note, if you are taking pharmaceutical sleep aides or aides for restless leg syndrome, you might want to comb both medical literature or natural health literature. I suggest that you consider looking at Standard Process' Magnesium Lactate. Magnesium is well documented in high doses to end restless leg syndrome and improve sleep patterns. However why get magnesium when you can pay more for a prescription medication and enjoy all the harmful side effects (me tongue in cheek). If you want more information, email me and I will get it to you. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Chemotherapy and its effects

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:33:00 +0100

I don't agree with all the information in this article that references and journal article about chemotherapy. There seems to be a bias against certain foods which I don't agree with, however, the information on chemotherapy and its devastating effects is very accurate. Hope you find it interesting too. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Interesting lecture on brain function

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:05:00 +0100

Take a look at this video of some very interesting thoughts regarding brain function and some of our uniquely human abilities. We are learning so much about our brain function right now by use of functional MRI's etc. I think even the lay person will find this lecture very impressive and understandable. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Estrogen dominance and breast cancer....what about progesterone

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:53:00 +0100

Interesting article once again showing the effect that high estradiol levels have on previous breast cancer survivors. Is it possible that estrogen dominance could be shifted by reducing exposure and increasing the level of progesterone to counterbalance estrogen dominance. To avoid a long post here, if you want more information about how to deal naturally with this situation just email me at drclouthier@gmail.com. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

George goodheart

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:28:00 +0100

George Goodheart, a man who revolutionized natural and chiropractic health care practice by developing the technique called Applied Kinesiology has passed. He will be looked back on as one of the greatest minds to ever exist in the health care arena and his presence in this world will be greatly missed by so many of us who loved him. I owe a great debt to him for allowing me to practice in the way I do now and to have the wonderful profession and life that I have. He was a great man among greats and he will always be looked to by many as the father of modern natural medicine that is extremely effective and honors the bodies wisdom to heal itself.Today is a sad day but a day of great honor for George Goodheart. Our prayers and love are with his family and all those whose lives he has touched. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

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Could all those crazy parents be wrong ?

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:22:00 +0100

Finally we have some confirmation from the ivory tower boys that vaccinations lead to autism. Many of us natural health practitioners have been seeing tens of hundreds of parents in our offices that have stated that their child's autism began days after a vaccination. The medical community has told these parents that they are mistaken and misguided in their associations for years. We have known this is not true but the medical and pharmaceutical machine is big and loaded with cash to deal with these assertions so the individual parents have been silenced. I think this current happening may blow the lid off the issue. We shall see but at least it is an interesting read (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Spanking and deviant sex

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 02:48:00 +0100

This article is a hoot. If everyone who was ever spanked exhibited deviant sexual behavior our country would be in really bad shape. It was worth a good laugh, especially in light of its' complete lack of credible scientific support. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Medication only helps with severe depression

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:48:00 +0100

This article begs the question of why antidepressants are prescribed for everything under the sun seemingly, including even mild depression. Why do we keep using them if they don't work. Seems like considering other options might be a much better idea, rather than suffering the serious side effects that can occur. check out this web site if you get a chance (www.netmindbody.com). It may be the best way to get to the bottom of what appears like depression. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Flu vaccine craziness continued

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:39:00 +0100

This is one of the craziest headlines I have seen in a long time. This would be like me telling my patients that they should take echinacea to strengthen their immune system even though it is completely ineffective for strengthening the immune system. I got a real chuckle out of this article and thought you should get one to. You will also notice that there are no statistics anywhere in the article that support the need for the flu shot in the first place. If you have a lead on some real statistical analysis of the flu vaccines and their effectiveness I would love to see them. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Psychiatry is a modern nightmare

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:37:00 +0100

I think this may be enlightening for many. I will let you draw your own conclusions. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

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Mercury and autism

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:50:00 +0100

This article is interesting but somewhat misleading. I don't think most educated people who believe there is a connection with autism and vaccines think that it is related to blood levels of mercury. Most I think would say that they believe that it is mercury's effects where it deposits itself in soft tissues (organs, brain, intestines etc.) Have a read but make sure you see the other side of the story on the internet about this issue. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

When do we start questioning modern psychiatry

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 13:16:00 +0100

I really can't say much about this. 25-30% of my patients now seem to be on some type of psychiatric or anti-depression medication. If I were to look at the patients that see a psychiatrist, the percentages would be much higher. My question is: "If you are going to the psychiatrist for some severe psychological condition or you are suicidal, does becoming more suicidal worsen your condition or is it a good thing ? The answer seems obvious but these drugs are being pushed with new vigor and strength by many in the psychiatric world. Please take a read, the article was a little troubling for me. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Nutritional deficiencies and the birth control pill

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:45:00 +0100

This is an interesting journal article on the negative effects of the birth control pill on the nutritional status of women. We have known for a long time that there is an increase risk of stroke and liver toxicity. This article sheds light on some of the lesser known effects and it is worth the read. I hope that this will help you as you make educated decisions about types of birth control that you choose in your relationships. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Cough medicine and cold medicines for kids

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:00:00 +0100

Have you noticed that we are seeing more and more of this type of warning. It seems whenever we think we have found a great miracle cure in the pharmaceutical or medical industry we see quickly that it was too good to be true. Of course you will hear the occasional knock on natural remedies too. Many times when you try to find factual support for the arguments against the natural cures there is minimal substance. For instance, there were some claims two years ago that a specific herb had caused a basketball players heart to race and become irregular. This was splashed all over the national media outlets however it was never confirmed that the herb was the cause. With regard to say, cold and flu medications, there is actually injury or death in child cases on more than one occasion. Of course this is only the over the counter variety. My immediate question is: What about the prescription varieties ? These are brought up briefly in the news and are quickly buried with no thought as to responsibility for these injuries. This is the reason that I use only natural and organic food supplements that are pharmaceutical grade. I never have to worry about someone eating too many whole organic beets for instance. Takes a big weight off my shoulders and lets me sleep easy knowing that I am not harming my patients now or in the future. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Maybe a cure for alzheimers

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 02:38:00 +0100

This is an interesting journal study that may herald a new day in Alzheimers Treatment. It appears that one of the main things we may be dealing with is Central Nervous System inflammation. Its reduction appears to potential reverse the effects although more in depth studies are needed. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

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Information to save a life

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:39:00 +0100

New research appears to support the fact that when doing CPR for a suddenly collapsed individual it may be better to only use chest compressions and forgo mouth to mouth resuscitation. It appears that some researchers in the study of this area have felt this way for years. It is a good read and something important for most of us to know. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Reflections from mitch albom

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 15:07:00 +0100

I thought this was a great article about honoring those who have gone before us. I think many times, due to our busyness and our personal issues with previous generations ,we can lose our honoring of those who have gone before. It is also a testament to how an idea spawned in genuine love and joy can bring forth such an effect and leave such an impression on so many. Enjoy the article (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Is your lipstick full of lead ?

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:40:00 +0100

If you are reading this I suggest calling a local Arbonne International representative. They have a whole line of lead free and natural lipsticks and cosmetics. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

When these things happen ............

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:56:00 +0100

When products, that are just common over the counter use medications, are being pulled because of adverse affects we have some real problems. Over the counter implies to most of the public "safety", which appears to be anything but the truth. I am once again asking each of us to really evaluate what we are doing personally and with our children in regard to drugs, both prescription and over the counter. As more and more of these cautions come out, I believe we have to start looking at what decisions we are making with regard to our healthcare. Please evaluate yours now and see if the risks are worth continuing to trust the medical community with your non emergency health care. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Protect your heart

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Fri, 12 Oct 2007 03:13:00 +0100

Researchers have finally confirmed that it is able to die of a broken heart. I have seen this phenomenon in patients who have had a spouse die for whom they were married for a long period of time. I truly believe that the best way to insulate your heart from damage is to always express emotions at the time they are felt. This way there is no holding of emotions in the heart meridian. In NET the heart meridian is primarily associated with the feeling of being "frightfully overjoyed" which means scared and excited at the same time. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

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A must read.... pottengers cat's

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 01:06:00 +0100

Pottengers' cats will tell you all you need to know about the differences between whole food and synthetic nutrition and nutritional support. It is worth buying and reading when you have a chance. It will explain why I only use two supplement manufacturers and never send my patients to healthfood stores or GNC/Walmart to purchase junk nutrition. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

A research study on the health benefits of writing about goals and dreams

One Year of Writing and Healing — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:57:06 +0100

In 2001, Laura King, one of the researchers in the field of writing and health, conducted a study in which she looked at what happened when college students wrote about something she calls “their best possible future self.” By this time, a large amount of data had already been collected on the benefits of writing to work through difficult past experiences. King became interested in exploring what other kinds of writing might be beneficial to health. Her study is one that I don’t think has been written about enough. She looked at 81 undergraduate students, randomly dividing them into four groups: a group which wrote about their most traumatic life event; a group which wrote about a best possible future self; a group which was asked to write about both; and a group which wrote about a non-emotional or control topic. Each group wrote for 20 minutes a day for 4 consecutive days. Those students selected to write about a best possible future self were instructed to write in response to this prompt: Think about your life in the future. Imagine that everything has gone as well as it possibly could. You have worked hard and succeeded at accomplishing all of your life goals. Think of this as the realization of all your life dreams. Now, write about what you imagined. A couple of interesting results came out of this study. First, when students were tested three weeks after writing, it was found that writing about a best possible self was significantly less upsetting than writing about a traumatic life event. Second, the distress of writing about a traumatic life event was short-term. It had dissipated by five months. Third, both kinds of writing were beneficial. That is, when students were studied five months after writing, those students who wrote about a traumatic life event, those students who wrote about a best possible self, and those students who wrote about both—all of them experienced a decrease in illness. Only those students who wrote about a non-emotional topic showed no change. The study is published in the July 2001 issue of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. In her discussion, King draws the following conclusion: The act of writing down our deepest thoughts and feelings is key to the benefits of writing. However, and importantly, the contents of our deepest thoughts and feelings need not be traumatic or negative. Quite the contrary, examining the most hopeful aspects of our lives through writing—our best imagined futures, our ‘most cherished self-wishes’—might also bestow on us the benefits of writing that have been long assumed to be tied only to our traumatic histories. I think this an enormously interesting and useful study. What I do not think is that this study should be used as a reason to counsel anyone and everyone to “move forward” to “think about the future” and “let go of the past.” Rather, I think what this study does is offer evidence that both are fruitful. Looking back toward unfinished business in the past is fruitful. Looking forward to a possible future is fruitful. And it seems reasonable to conjecture that in the best possible circumstances, each person would be permitted to choose for themselves—perhaps at times with some guidance—when to look back—and when it might be time to look forward. In my own experience, as a writer, and as a person who’s had the privilege to listen to lots and lots of stories of healing, it strikes me that after one has looked back and resolved unfinished business it becomes increasingly possible to feel free to look forward. This the reason that I’ve placed Looking Ahead not at the beginning of One Year of Writing and Healing but at its culmination. I’ve often thought of it this way: that one may have to look back in order to truly go forward. And King’s research, I think, offers guidance—a starting point—a way to use writing as a tool—a kind of blueprint—when one is ready to go forward. (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

Respite

One Year of Writing and Healing — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:57:04 +0100

[graphic courtesy of Visual Thesaurus] (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

September at one year of writing and healing

One Year of Writing and Healing — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Well, the weather has finally dropped below ninety degrees here, the school buses are back on the road, and I wanted to let you know (if you don't already) that I've returned from sabbatical and have started another year of Writing and Healing---- Writing and Healing: Year 2. Perhaps the most pertinent thing for you to know now, in terms of logistics, is that this new site will have a different feed. In plain English, this means that your email subscription to One Year of Writing and Healing is coming to an end. If you'd like to receive emails to my new site over the next year--which will be weekly this time around instead of three times weekly---you simply need to visit Year 2 and RESUBSCRIBE You can visit Writing and Healing: Year 2 here:Writing and Healing: Year 2 And then enter your email address in the left sidebar and respond to the confirmation email as before. Meanwhile, One Year of Writing and Healing has not disappeared. I've done some renovation at the site and hopefully you will find it a bit cleaner looking and more spacious and easier to navigate. I welcome your feedback and suggestions about the new look. (I will periodically be adding material to OYWH and as I do so will probably offer a list on my new site pointing to this added material.) Finally, thank you to all of you for your support of One Year of Writing and Healing in its first year--and for helping it to grow. This is wishing you well in the next year in all writing and healing adventures. (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

Leona helmsley a petty climber

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:31:00 +0100

I gave the woman the benefit of the doubt during her trial and incarceration that I had attributed to class warfare and rich-people hatred, but now, I'm beginning to think that she is one of those mean, petty, vindictive, manipulative, condescending, imperious people who would be little less than nothing were it not for loads of money. I suspect she came from the plebe class and despised her working-class roots. They're the worst sort when endowed with unearned cash.Ah, and after a little peak at Wikipedia, what do you know? I swear I did not look at this entry before typing the above. Of course, this doesn't make me a genius. She's pretty easy to deconstruct:She was born Leona Mindy Rosenthal in Marbletown, Ulster County, New York, to Polish Jewish immigrants, daughter of a hatmaker, and raised in Brooklyn. As an adult, she legally changed her surname to Roberts, according to an obituary in the New York Times.[1]. Helmsley would later claim that she appeared in billboard ads for Chesterfield cigarettes, but there is no evidence of this, and her claim remains entirely unsubstantiated.So this woman pretends at wealth and fame and will do anything to get a name. Ambitious in the extreme and tyrannical to those "beneath" her, her disrespect of the help just masks her own fear of loss and self-loathing. To mask her powerlessness, she feels powerful by abusing everyone around her. Her family makes nice soft targets. Most people attempt to be nice to grandma, but she would have none of it. No doubt, kindness was viewed with suspicion. Anyone nice is just after money--just like Leona was herself. That's what people do, project their secret weaknesses on others. (Watch what the Clintons accuse others of, it's very telling.) Anyone who met her disdain with disdain was cast aside. Her child and grandchildren had no chance with her. She was only about herself.Her only child, a son from her first (lesser) marriage died of a heart-attack. This is what Leona did:On March 31, 1982, her only child, Jay Panzirer, died of a heart attack. Leona then sued her son's estate for money and property that she said he had borrowed, and her son's widow Mimi received an eviction notice. Mimi Panzirer - the mother of Leona's four grandchildren - later said the legal expenses wiped her out and "to this day I don't know why they did it."I know why. Her son was not of sufficiently bred stock. She hated her past and he was one big reminder of that. Once he died, she could absolve herself of bringing his wife and family to nothing.It looks like many of us who were Leona defenders (the legal case was weak) were wrong. She might just be one of those people who deserve to spend time sleeping on bunk with a public toilet. Seems Paris Hilton learned more lessons from her bunk-time than Leona did. Justice is cruel, though. She may have stipulated a golden sarcophagus, but she's still dead. Even Leona's money and arrogance can't save her from that humble fate. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

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Breast fed baby killed by effects of codeine

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 01:01:00 +0100

Another alert about the side effects of prescription drugs. There were so many of these similar articles on the web today that I don't even want to count them all. What a shame that the penalties for these drug companies are negligible. Who pays ? Those people who continue to take these drugs, their children and their families who have to deal with the effects of the damage in their lives. Please make different choices now while your health is intact. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

August 2007: writing and healing: the thirteenth month

One Year of Writing and Healing — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the thirteenth month of One Year of Writing and Healing, a month in which I’ve returned from sabbatical and am beginning some renovation work at the site. Adding. Shaping. Rearranging. The photo is from Wildacres Retreat Center, where I spent a week at the end of July, staying in the cabin there—a snug cabin in the mountains that stayed a cool seventy degrees most days, and, nearly every afternoon, a shower of rain fell on the metal roof. The entire week offering a kind of writer’s paradise. My sabbatical, which included time at the beach as well as this week at Wildacres, has been a true gift--offering renewal in the best sense--and my hope is to bring that sense of renewal to Writing and Healing: Year 2 which I will begin on September 1st. My plans also include creating a site on Mind-Body Medicine which will include information about my medical practice and about mind-body health in general. Meanwhile, One Year of Writing and Healing is a site where you can continue to find writing ideas, selected summaries of research on writing and health, books of interest, poetry that bears on writing and healing, and some of my own reflections. (I’m a physician and I learn a lot about healing from my patients. I’ve also taught writing in a wide variety of settings and I like to read a lot.) Please feel free to look around. And please know that I welcome your comments and questions via e-mail. One Year of Writing and Healing was created month by month with each month adding another layer to what is possible in the use of writing to foster healing. To give you a sense of what the site covers, here is The Year at a Glance: Month One: Creating a Healing Place Month Two: Gathering Resources for Healing and Writing Month Three: Finding a Healing Language and Images for Healing Month Four: Healing Grief Month Five: Discovering Form(s) Month Six: Figuring Out the Good Part of the Story Month Seven: A New Perspective: Thirteen Different Ways of Looking Month Eight: Healing as a Quest Month Nine: Two Steps Forward and One Step Back: Dealing with Resistance Month Ten: Writing as Part of a Healing Conversation Month Eleven: Practicing Revision and Creating Something New out of the Revision Month Twelve: Looking Ahead: Writing about Goals and Dreams (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

Predicting the future

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 01:43:00 +0100

I will boldly predict the future. We will continue to see more and more of these warnings regarding medications and drugs that are prescribed regularly in the medical community. At my office we will continue to educate our patients on natural forms of health care and the best ways to maintain health in a world of increasing toxicity. Going back to the basics are key.1. Rest2. Peace 3. Organic and Whole Food nutrition4. Healthy relationships5. Hydration with healthy water6. Spiritual practice7. Belief in something greater than yourself (God) (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Best nutrition site going

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 02:59:00 +0100

If you want to begin your true education in nutrition, this web site is the place to start. If you want to take all the confusion out of the supplement/nutrition/herbal therapy world use this site. It is simple and accurate in its truth. Please use it as a resource regularly. It will debunk all the multilevel marketing schemes that are out there and explain why I use Standard Process supplements and very little else. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Looks like the ada is finally admitting mercury fillings do harm

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:39:00 +0100

The following is a post that my wife forwarded to me regarding ADA recent comments on Mercury Fillings.Garry F. Gordon MD,DO,MD(H)President, Gordon Research Institutewww.gordonresearch.comFrom:Terry J. Lee D.D.S.Ph. 480-545-8237tjleedds@cox.netADA warns members: Trouble ahead for mercury fillings.The American Dental Association sends out an ADA Update to its members only, but of course we have several Fifth Columnists who wheel it on to us. Gone is the old ADA braggadocio about the Food & Drug Administration finding mercury fillings to be safe. Gone is the time-worn assurance to its members that the good old ADA will take care of any problems those "anti-amalgamists" are stirring up. Instead, the ADA meekly advises its members that warnings are likely, and a ban is conceivable. Below is their entire message on this issue. Note the quotations – again, folks, this is straight from the American Dental Association:·We don't know the direction the FDA will take,"·FDA could issue "a mandatory brochure or even limited warnings," ·FDA could even issue "a ban," though "we don't expect the latter."Charlie Brown7/8/07Note our new address & ph #Charles G. Brown, National CounselConsumers for Dental Choice316 F St., N.E., Suite 210, Washington, DC 20002Ph. 202.544-6333; fax 544-6331charlie@toxicteeth.org, www.toxicteeth.orgParagraph from ADA Update, July 1, 2007 "The FDA has been contemplating regulatory action for several years to reclassify dental amalgam as either a class 2 or 3 material. (Components of encapsulated amalgam currently are classified separately.) The ADA has supported classifying dental amalgam as a Class 2 device in the past. We expect the FDA will issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) this summer, seeking input from interested parties. An ANPR is the beginning of the regulatory process. After consideration of input generated by the ANPR, the FDA will likely issue a notice of proposed rulemaking, setting forth a specific proposal for public comment. Only after that would a new regulation be issued. At this point, we don't know the direction the FDA will take. The agency could simply reclassify amalgam as a Class 2 material, adding special controls to its use, such as a mandatory brochure or even limited warnings, or classify it as a Class 3 material, which could result in a ban. We don't expect the latter. We're closely monitoring these developments and of course will offer appropriate advocacy comments and develop strategies for addressing the ANPR. We'll also keep you updated as this process plays out." (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

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Dr. mercola's video on state of healthcare in us

Dr. Steve Clouthier — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 14:19:00 +0100

When you get a chance watch this video. It is eye opening and should be a educational experience to the truths that are inherent in the medical system as we know it. I did not produce this, it was produced by Mercola, so please don't be mad at me for the information it contains. (Source: Dr. Steve Clouthier)

Writing and healing idea #44: rest hour

One Year of Writing and Healing — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100

When I was at summer camp as a girl we were required every day after lunch to go back to our cabins and take a rest hour. I didn’t like rest hour then as much as I would probably like it now, but I did like it that before rest hour was Store, and this meant that you could prepare for rest hour by lining up at the small store window and buying one of those long flat striped pieces of taffy, and then, if you wanted, you could make the taffy last most of the hour. For this particular writing idea, consider giving yourself a respite---a reprieve—a break---from writing----or from healing—or from something. Consider a Rest Hour. Or a Rest Day—or a Rest Week—you get the idea. You can launch this rest time by first writing about it—what you would most like for it to be. Or you can launch this by going to the store and laying in a few key supplies. Taffy? A good book? Lemon-ade? Or you can launch this time of rest by, well, resting. (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

Stronger than dirt: a recommended book [part two]

One Year of Writing and Healing — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100

In early August, in spite of obstacles, Chris Losee and Kim Schaye harvest at their flower farm for the first time. They cut zinnias and cosmos along with a scattering of wildflowers from the roadside, and they drive down to the city in a van loaded with five-gallon buckets of cut flowers and zucchini. They’re headed for a market in Greenwich Village where they’ve reserved a space. They’re optimistic. They don’t think they’ve harvested quite enough to make the one thousand dollars they’d hoped for from a first market, but they figure they’re probably carrying eight hundred dollars worth of produce, give or take. They arrive in Greenwich Village at the greenmarket, set up a card table, put out their sign and they begin making and selling bouquets of flowers. And people buy them. Things seem to be moving. They’re a little thrilled—understandably. Then, at the end of the day they count their money. 160 dollars. That’s their gross take. They subtract the day’s expenses—the market fee and gas and the money they paid a friend to help out—and their net take is zero. Zero. Their expectations have been confounded. Which provides yet another plot point in their story, and is yet one more reason why I like this book. Chris’s stated vision all along has been “to create a situation in which the land could support us.” They’d borrowed from Kim’s retirement fund to make a downpayment on the farm. They’d grown those three thousand tomato and pepper plants in their bedroom. They’d invested two years of their lives, and a fair chunk of their savings. And the net take on their first market day: zero. Kim admits, in the book, to some panic after this first market. Perhaps Chris was panicking too, inwardly. But what he also does is to make another meticulous notebook entry. In this entry, “First Greenmarket,” which he includes as in illustration in their book, he lists the date of the market, the location, the contents of the buckets, the market conditions, the gross take, the expenses—in other words, the data of the first market. Then, at the very bottom of the entry, beneath the data, he writes a terse reflection: “Conclusion: Bring more good flowers.” At the next market they take in three hundred and twenty dollars. By September a few cherry tomatoes have managed to ripen, and a variety of wildflowers had come into bloom around their cultivated crops. One Saturday in September they manage to take in six hundred. At the end of the season, after the first frost, Chris makes a final tally: a total gross for the first year of 4435 dollars. Before expenses. Chris’s first response? “. . . you can’t support a family of hamsters for a year on that sum of money.” His second response? He begins figuring out a plan for the next season. This is what I like about this book—the way they keep reflecting on their data—and revising their plan—and the way they’re able to make this process so transparent in their book. They build a greenhouse so they can start crops earlier. They choose flowers and vegetables that they know now will grow well and sell well. They become more skilled at cutting and arranging flowers. The second year they take in a net of 7000 dollars—a significant improvement but still not enough to support a family. And there’s a new wrinkle. Kim is trying to become pregnant and she’s come to suspect that the stress of her job at the newspaper might be contributing to her infertility. She’s seriously considering quitting. And with only seven thousand dollars in annual income from the farm in its second season, and with expenses cut to the bone, Chris writes of having to take a hard look at the dream he’d had for the farm. His initial vision had been that they would support themselves—and possibly children—entirely from the land. But four years from the time he’d first conceived the notion of the farm, and with two arduous growing seasons behind them, he realizes he’s going to have to amend their original vision: “I had to face the possibility that the farm alone could not support us.” And so they continue. They revise their vision a bit. And they keep going. If I continue writing now I’m going to end up telling you the rest of the book. So I won’t do that. I’ll simply say that they keep going---- (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

Stronger than dirt: a recommended book [part one]

One Year of Writing and Healing — Sun, 08 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100

This is a book about a flower farm. It’s written in two voices, that of Kim Schaye and Chris Losee, a married couple in Brooklyn who moved out of the city to upstate New York to realize a dream—a vision. I’m quite sure that one reason I’ve enjoyed this book so much is because I get a kind of vicarious pleasure out of reading about someone—anyone—cultivating acres of flowers. But I also like the way this book begins at the beginning—when the flower farm was no more than a notion—and it proceeds to articulate the process of going from nothing—from scratch—into the realization of a vision. Interestingly, the story of the farm begins in failure. Chris, the husband, had been running his father’s construction business in New York for several years, business was booming, when in 1994, and rather abruptly, the construction boom busted and he found himself running the business out of his home and without the benefit of an income. In July of that year a concerned friend took him out to the tip of Staten Island to visit a place called Gericke Farm, a tiny farm which had once been a working farm and was now preserved as a demonstration farm inside a state park. They walked among the rows of crops. They picked tomatoes and zucchini and large bunches of flowers, and his friend told him he could show him how to make ten thousand dollars a year working part-time and on half an acre. The seed was planted. Between July and October of that year, and with a stack of books about small farming growing on his nightstand, Chris became convinced that he had stumbled upon their next venture. Of note, writing played a key role in moving what began as an idea—a dream—a vision—to a thriving farm. Chris writes: I’m not actually sure what made up my mind, but it might have had something to do with all the paperwork I was creating. I still have a time line, printed in choppy type on my old Apple dot-matrix printer from this period. It shows the months July 1994 through December 1996, and for each quarter of the year there’s a two- or three-sentence plan of action and a one-sentence goal. My wife says that I’m an obsessive list maker. But for me there is a quality of lists that is something like magic. Items on lists can acquire a certain inevitability. These are things that are supposed to happen, that will happen if given time and effort. And perhaps the gradual accumulation of books and lists had reached some critical mass that made the decision inevitable: write something down enough times and it becomes a fact. With writing as a catalyst, the facts begin to accrue for this couple. They find and then purchase thirty acres in the Hudson Valley with a stream running through it. Chris begins building them a house. He pores over seed catalogs. He orders seeds. He rigs up a system of plywood benches and grow lights—and a watering system no less—in the attic of their row house, and, after a decision to grow some vegetables along with the flowers, proceeds to start over three thousand tomato and pepper plants. They put up a fence at the farm, hire someone to plow. They begin laying down plastic for mulch. They plant by hand, setting individual flower seeds into holes they punch in the plastic mulch, and then, after they tire of mulching, they transplant their three thousand tomato and pepper plants into the un-mulched rows. Then—in mid-July—now two years after Chris had visited the demonstration farm on Staten Island—he reports matter-of-factly, “we lost the crops.” This is one of the things I like about Chris and Kim’s story. It has a plot. It has complications. It does not describe a straight line of points headed directly toward a desirable future. The story swerves. Chris and Kim are both new to farming. They stumble. Things happen. They’d planted the tomatoes and peppers in the rows without mulch and by mid-July weeds had engulfed them. They in fact lost the tomato and pepper plants because they literally couldn’t see them any longer. They also had bugs. Squash bugs and blister beetles. Mexican bean beetles. Colorado potato beetles. Luckily, at this point, Kim still had a steady income, as a journalist. And Chris was philosophic: “I was consciously trying not to have great expectations for the farm the first year, and I’ve found that if your expectations are low enough, it’s hard to be really disappointed.” [to be continued] (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

On looking ahead: pema chodron’s teaching on living life as an experiment

One Year of Writing and Healing — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100

To have a vision is risky. To say aloud what one wants—or to dare to write it down—is to take a risk. This seems especially true when one is daring to find words for one’s deeper goals and dreams. And it seems to me that this kind of thing should be acknowledged somewhere at the outset. Two summers ago, my daughter, then fifteen, volunteered for Horse-Sense, a nonprofit organization which then offered horse therapy—the grooming and riding of horses—to children and adults with developmental disabilities. It was a small operation—a pasture, a single riding ring, and a barn—fueled primarily by the sweat and energy of one woman, Kat, a woman whom we met when I first drove my daughter out one Friday afternoon in June. I was impressed that first day by how neat Kat kept the barn, how much she cared about the horses, and also her sense of vision for the place. She walked us around back and showed us trails she was clearing for clients. She told of setting up tables at horse shows on weekends to sell cookbooks and fund-raise. Later, doing chores with my daughter, she told her that she felt that God had called her to do this work. For several weeks my daughter went out once a week, and helped with horse chores. Later, she got an opportunity to work at a clinic, this with a group of children with disabilities who’d ridden up in a yellow school bus from Salisbury, North Carolina. Susan, a behavioral therapist was there, along with a number of volunteers from Kat’s church. Kat and Susan had set up three stations for the clinic. One station in the ring, this where my daughter was working, leading children around the ring on the ponies. Another station where the children were able to groom the ponies. And a third station, this in the shade, where the children were gathered around a table with crayons and paper, drawing pictures. It was hot, but all of the children—and most of the volunteers—seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves. There was a sense of purpose and energy. I knew that Kat had moved out to this space less than a year ago, and I knew that she did not yet have the number of clients that she hoped for, but on that particular day, watching the children move through the various stations and then pull out in the school bus, I could see Kat’s vision—the thriving place that she imagined, with the horses at the center and something of value being offered to the children. I was glad that my daughter could be a small part of it. It seemed all good, if tenuous, with the success of the venture resting primarily on Kat’s shoulders. Then, some time in late July, Kat called. My daughter was out. I ended up talking to Kat a bit. “I need to tell you,” she said, “that we’re going to close.” Just like that. In order to keep the place afloat, she said, she really needed at least thirty clients a month. She hadn’t been able to reach those numbers and she’d tried everything she knew and it just wasn’t happening. And just like that. It was over. The risk of vision is failure. This seems to me another one of those things that doesn’t get talked about quite enough. Personally, I hate failure. I especially hate it when I’m right smack in the middle of it and it feels—for that moment—that day—sometimes that whole week—like failure just could be the end of the story. I don’t mind failure quite so much if it’s somewhere in the middle—one element in a more elaborate plot. This is where Pema Chodron comes in. Pema Chodron is a Buddhist nun whom I have never met but who I often think of as one of my teachers. And there’s this spin that she puts on failure that I especially like. Live your life as an experiment, she says. I like this teaching very much. I like it because it takes the whole notion of failure (and success for that matter) and simply reinterprets it as new data. With this teaching in mind, it strikes me that vision can simply be considered as a hypothesis—an educated guess. And one can then use the scientific method—and the process of writing—to test the hypothesis. • First designing the plan—the methods for testing the hypothesis. • Then carrying out the experiment. Collecting the data. • Then reflecting on the data. (What is the data saying? What might it mean?) • And then, finally, using this reflection to formulate the next hypothesis—perhaps a slightly revised vision—or a more radically revised one. • And then designing the next experiment, and the next, so that life might become defined by a series of experiments. Rather like doing a series of science fair projects, but projects in this case that you really care about, and without having to make the poster. (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

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A research study on the health benefits of writing about goals and dreams

One Year of Writing and Healing — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Writing and healing idea #43: imagining the future

One Year of Writing and Healing — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Imagine for a moment that you’ve been handed a ticket. And imagine that this ticket grants you admittance aboard a vehicle which can then carry you to any point in your future that you desire. Six months from now? One year? Five years? The vehicle is navigated by a kind and skilled conductor. You simply need to tell him to which period of time you would like to travel. Then close your eyes. And let yourself begin to go there. Imagine that upon your arrival at this moment in the future, you discover that everything has gone as well for you as it possibly could. Imagine that things have gone the way that in your deepest heart you have most wished for them to go. Imagine the details. You may find that a particular scene emerges in your mind’s eye. Notice yourself in this scene. What are you doing? Who and/or what is around you? What does a typical day look like? What else do you notice? And what else? (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

July: now what?

One Year of Writing and Healing — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 04:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the twelfth month of writing and healing, a month in which I'm going to explore a bit ways to use writing to look ahead--toward what might be coming next--or what you would like to be coming next. A way to use writing to explore the next chapter of one's life. I should say here, on a practical note, that as I look ahead, one of the things I'm looking ahead toward is a brief sabbatical I plan on taking from this site. I've decided that in order to prepare for--and rejuvenate myself for--a second year of writing and healing, I'm going to take a bit of a break from adding new entries to this site: from mid-July to mid-August or so. With a plan then to do a bit of site renovation in August and then begin again on September 1 with Writing and Healing: Year 2. (A year during which I will probably post one time per week rather than three times.) So perhaps this is also a month in which to consider the benefits of sabbaticals--and vacations--and rejuvenation. The yellow flower in the photograph this month is a snapdragon that appeared in our yard this spring--a welcome surprise--an entire colony appearing from some seeds that fell last year. Since then, a few other colonies have shot up at different sites and are continuing to flourish. The year of the snapdragon? I continue, as always, to welcome your thoughts and questions via e-mail. All of it, in different ways, contributes to the flourishing of this site. Thank you. (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)

Nine images for writing as healing

One Year of Writing and Healing — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 04:00:00 +0100

A Visual Counterpart to My Last Post Writing as a clean well-lighted place. A cafe that is always open. Writing as a pumpkin--that sense of possibility. Writing as a broom--sweeping out the guest house that is the self. Writing as a map to a healing quest. Writing as a pensieve--a container in which to spot patterns and links. Writing as a small beautiful boat--a vehicle for a healing quest. Writing as a way to remember the sky. Writing as a Refuge. Writing as an unwinding ball of string. [Please note that the sources and links for the above graphics are the following: The cafe painting is by Linda Paul. The pumpkin photo is my own. The broom photo is from a site called shelterrific. The map image, is from Wikipedia. The pensieve is from the Harry Potter Lexicon. The sailboat photo is from 72 Seconds. The wild geese photo is found here. The cottage painting is by Thomas Kinkade. And the string photo can be found here, where you can also learn how to measure the distance to faraway galaxies.] (Source: One Year of Writing and Healing)