Is There A Conflict of Interest in Medical Research?

The simple answer to this is YES. Most medical research in the United States is a sponsored research type; it is supported by the pharmaceutical industry. The pharmaceutical company chooses who will conduct its research on its chemicals (on their way to become drugs), it keeps and controls the data resulting from the research, decides when and where the data will be published, writes the article to be submitted for publication and attaches the names of prominent academic scientists/physicians in the field as "ghost-authors". Negative results never see the light of day, and only those results that support the drug "wanted" action are published and promoted. When the results reach the FDA for a decision, oftentimes sitting on the same panels to decide the fate of the "proposed drug" are physicians/scientists with affiliations to the same sponsor drug company. Once the drug reaches the market, the drug is promoted to physicians to prescribe it, offering free samples and generous gifts and "trips to Honolulu". The Company then injects its "unbiased" sponsoring through the CME (Continuing Medical Education), where it sponsors indirectly educational companies for the purpose of promoting its drug. Although the claim is always that all speakers are not selected by the sponsor company but selected by the educational entity, no education company with a clear mind would choose "speakers" who would not support the drug's actions (not if they want to stay in business). And, the pharmaceutical company, under the disguised of "education", showers "small gifts" on medical students and residents to "help" them with their education. Right, their education! Next time I am window-shopping for a car from a Ford dealer I will ask the salesman if he recommends a Ford car for me to buy. You will never know, perhaps he'll recommend a Honda. When I visit my physician and receive a prescription I often ask myself who was really the writer of the prescription, is it him or the pharmaceutical industry? I would not know, the handwriting is so bad I cannot tell.

Happy Halloween: It Is SUNDS-Day. Be Scared...Be Very Very Scared... It Is Real...It Lives

When I lived in Charles River Park area (Boston, MA), my apartment was located in a high-rise building that was constructed in an area where low-income housing was located. The developer replaced all the low-income housing units by new high-rise buildings. My bedroom had a walk-in closet where I hanged my cloths. Oftentimes during the night I used to "force" myself to wake-up because I used to have this repeated nightmare that an entity would come out of the closet and sit on my chest. It was so heavy that I would not be able to breath at times. I did not tell this story to anyone fearing ridicule, not even to my brothers and sister. After I got married, my younger brother occupied my bedroom, and thereafter he got married and he lived there with his family for few years in the same unit. My brother now lives somewhere else outside Boston. Years after, my brother and I were jocking about ghosts and he began to tell me how he used to wake up at night because this "thing" would come out of the closet and sit on his chest. Like me, he would fight it and try to wake up, a struggle I knew very well. I looked at my brother face and starred for seconds that seemed years and said "oh my God", it is real. Later on, I was reading this book I bought from a "Goodwill" store and was just flipping the pages until something caught my eyes. I stopped reading, I collected myself, and continued reading. The words as I read them were heavy and seemed to last for eternity. The pages in this book were describing a similar experience some Asian immigrant men felt when they moved to this country with their wives and children. The pages continued to reveal these men story about how they felt "less than men" because in this country women liberation allowed their wives to be more vocal and independent. The words kept getting heavier and heavier as I continued reading. These Asian men described an experience of an "entity" sitting on their chest while they are sleepping at night. This entity sits there with its heavy weight on their chest making their breathing almost impossible. They would feel suffocated and try to wake-up, a struggle I knew very well. The book names this condition "SUNDS" or "Sudden Unexpected Nocturnal Death Syndrome". Dr. Herbert Benson, the author of this book "Timeless Healing", states that "...SUNDS...affecting 92 per 100,000 ... men...these figures would make it the fifth leading cause of natural death in the U.S. male population." Scary words, isn't it? Dr. Benson believes that SUNDS is related to the emotion of "fear". I do not argue with that at all. It is FEAR alright. If you would like to read more about SUNDS, just click on Dr. Benson's book picture above to get this book (the link is from Amazon.com) (ISBN 0-684-83146-5). Happy SUNDS Halloween.

Colonoscopy and Colorectal Cancer

The overall mortality rate from colorectal cancer was found to be 29% lower in patients who undergo regular colorectal screening than that of the general population. However, for proximal cancer, the mortality rate was estimated to be the same as that for the general population.

Aspirin and Prostate Cancer

The wonder drug Aspirin (ASA) has been found to be useful beyond headaches and fever. New studies point out that patients with prostate cancer also benefit from taking ASA. Those who take ASA can expect a reduced risk from dying from the disease, a reduced risk for the cancer to metastasize, and a lower risk for cancer recurrence after remission.

Voting this Tuesday (November 2, 2010)

Do not forget to vote this Tuesday for the candidates of your choice. It is the American way of exercising our freedom. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, a Tea Party member or Liberal, a Conservative or Libertarian, vote this Tuesday. And, yes, specially if you are Independent, please vote because all the others want you on their side.

Prostate Biopsy

Prostate biopsy is done by a urologist guided by ultrasound. A needle is inserted in different locations to sample tissues from the prostate gland. Some physicians believe that the biopsy procedure itself carries the risk of "spreading" cancer cells to other areas of the body, thus making the situation worse than what it is. Unfortunately, the biopsy procedure is the only "test" possible to confirm or rule out prostate cancer for sure.

The PSA Saga

It seems there is no end to this business about PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen). Almost daily, or so it seems, there is a new study coming out either supporting the test or declaring it worthless. A recent study from Cleveland Clinic emphasizes the importance of PSA test on saving the burden of cancer metastasis (spreading of cancer cells to other areas of the body). In this study, researchers have compared patients with prostate cancer before the PSA test was discovered/implemented and after its widespread use in the clinic as a routine screening test. The results showed that patients without the PSA test had 8%-24% higher number of cases with metastatic disease than patients who were tested with PSA.

Cancer Types and Prognosis: The Case for Pancreatic Cancer

Different cancer types differ in their "aggression." For example 100% of prostate cancer patients survive at least 5 years from diagnosis compared to 89% for breast cancer and 65% for colorectal cancer. However, for pancreatic cancer the prognosis is much worse; only 6% survive the 5-year period. New research in this field has pointed out that despite this poor prognosis, pancreatic cancers are "slow growers" lasting about 21 years on average before they become deadly. Thus, early detection is vital for this disease. Currently, persons with a family history of pancreatic cancer are screened with MRI and/or ultrasound. However, a more practical test is needed to allow for routine screening of the entire population. Scientists are hopeful that such a test may be made possible within the next decade.

Morgellons

Chances are that you have not heard of this condition, Morgellons. It is a skin "condition" in which sufferers claim to have fiber-like objects produced/secreted through their skin. The CDC is currently preparing a report on Morgellons which will be published sometimes in 2011. When President Obama was a Senator, he demanded that the CDC initiate medical investigations on this condition. I have seen some videos on YouTube.com about this condition.

Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is on the increase in California. The disease has already claimed the life of 10 infants. The total number of cases infected as of yesterday (October 29, 2010) is 6,257. It is the highest recorded number of cases for over 60 years.

What Is a %?

Oftentimes the symbol "%" is found on labels of botanicals. It is used to express the concentration of a "surrogate" component in the plant available in the formulation. It is a way to standardize the herbal formulations. Say we have on a capsule formulation the term (0.3%) for a specific substance, this means we have 0.3 g of that substance in every 100 g of powder present in the capsule shells. (The symbol percent here means percent by weight.) For example, if the powder inside a capsule weighs 300 mg, this means there is 0.9 mg of the "surrogate" compound per capsule. Other "%" terms are %w/v and %v/v. The former is defined as the number of grams of a substance in 100 milliliters of solution. Whereas, %v/v is the number of milliliters of a component in 100 milliliters of solution. There is also the concentration unit "%mg" which is known as milligram percent. This one is defined as the number of milligrams of a substance in 100 milliliters of solution.

Could the Human Race Be One Day Extinct?

As a species, human could also one day get extinct from planet Earth. It is possible that a major natural disaster such as a large asteroid hitting our planet will result in killing every living thing on Earth. However, our planet has always allowed some sort of life to exist on it. Perhaps a new creation will be born. Perhaps a better one than the human race. We have done so much destruction and caused so much pain that perhaps any other creation would be a better one. Does God have a plan like that for us? Don't tell that to the Dinosaurs, they thought too that they were the "be all end all" until they were gone, all gone, and for good.

Can 40 Equal 60?

It could be if 40 and 60 were averages. Let me illustrate my point. Suppose we measured the weight of 9 pieces of chicken wings and their average weight was 40 g. Also suppose that the normal average chicken wings weight is 60 g with a standard deviation of 25 g. Now, is 40 g as an average statistically different from 60 g? To answer this question we will use the normal distribution (the bell-shape curve) and report our finding with 99% confidence. The estimation goes like that: z-score = (40 - 60)/(25/3) = -2.4; Since the probability of obtaining a z-score of (-2.4) by chance alone is greater than 1%, we declare that the average weight of 40 g for our sample of 9 chicken wings is the same as that of the population (the 60 g average).

How to Convert From Molar Concentrations to Grams Per Liter?

This can be illustrated by the following example: A solution for HCl is labeled as 0.1 M. This means it contains 0.1 mole of HCl per one liter of solution. Since the molecular weight of HCl is 36.5 g/mole, then (0.1 mole/liter) x (36.5 g/mole) = 3.65 g/liter, or can be written as 0.365% w/v. (The symbol %w/v is for percent weight per volume which is defined as the amount of a substance in grams in every 100-milliliter volume of solution. One deciliter is 100 milliliters.)

The pH Scale

The pH scale is used to express the concentration of hydrogen ions (also known as hydronium ions) in solution. The higher the value of the pH the more basic the solution is. Thus, acidic solutions like soda drinks have low pH values. A neutral pH at room temperature equals to 7. The concentration of hydrogen ions is expressed in moles/liter. For example, if a solution contains (E-5) mole/liter of [H+], then the pH of the solution is 5. Inversely, if the pH of a solution were 2, then the concentration of [H+] in solution would be (E-2) mole/liter. Normal blood pH is 7.4. Normal empty stomach juice pH is between 1 and 3, and that of the small intestine is about 5-6. (It is interesting to note that cola drinks have similar pH values as that of stomach juice.) Healthy human skin surface has also a pH between 5-6. Life itself depends on maintaining body fluids' pH constant. A too large deviation from a blood normal pH of 7.4 could result in death. Not only human cannot survive without a healthy pH for his blood, but Earth itself depends on a natural pH of the soil for plants' survivor. The pH scale is indeed a scale for life.

Avogadro's Number: How was It Calculated?

Avogadro's Law for gases states that under the same temperature and pressure the number of molecules of any gas per unit volume is constant. Experimentally, this number was determined to be (2.70 x E22). Also, for ideal gases, the volume of one mole of a gas under 1 Standard atmospheric pressure and at the ice point equals 22.414 liters. If we multiply (2.70 x E22) by (22.414) we would obtain the Avogadro's Number. The currently accepted value for Avogadro's Number is (6.0225 x E23) molecules/mole.

States of Matter

Everyone knows that matter can exist as gas, liquid, or solid. However, a fourth state of matter known as liquid crystal is very abundant in nature. As the name implies, this state is an intermediate state between liquids and solids. Liquid crystalline state is also known as a mesophase. There are three types of mesophase state: Smectic, Nematic, and Cholesteric. They differ in their molecular arrangement of the molecules. Much of the lipids in our body is made of one of these mesophases. Thus, life is rich in mesophase structures. Is not that interesting that liquid crystal is not as popular as the other three? It is time for the mesophases to be recognized for their contribution to life itself and take their rightfull place among the states of matter.

Tea Tree Oil

Tea Tree Oil (TTO) is the essential oil extracted from Tee Tree Plant. This plant is native to Australia and has been used as antiseptic for many years by the Australian natives. It is also an excellent remedy for acne and nail fungal infections. It may be used for yeast and bacterial vaginal infections as well. The oral ingestion of a teaspoonful of TTO is fatal. Thus, the use of TTO in mouthwashes is highly NOT recommended. It is very effective in the treatment of minor cuts and wounds.

Red Yeast Rice

Red Yeast Rice is an excellent natural substance for lowering serum cholesterol level. The normal dose for adults is 1600 mg/day. Consult with your physician before taking Red Yeast Rice as serious side effects may develop from its use.

The Definition of Placebo

Placebo is defined as an inert substance with no pharmacological activity. Yet, the medical establishment has always known the impact of placebo effect on health. Psychiatrists would tell you that 50% of the activity of many medications they use is due to a placebo effect. In Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), we consider "placebo effect" to be a very valuable tool for healing. We consider this effect as a sign that the inner healing power of the body is being awaken. Each one of us possesses this inner power to heal one-self. However, various stressors in life, be it physical or emotional, subdue this inner ability to heal. Botanicals and other CAM modalities cause this inner natural healing power in us to rise again to the surface and does its work to restore us to health. Placebo effect is a real effect; it is our body's own healing power.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol is found in the grape-skin and in red wine, among other sources. Studies have shown that this agent has the ability to stop cancer in all of its different stages: initiation, promotion, and invasion. It is in particular useful in halting the progression of prostate cancer. Overall, Resveratrol is an excellent natural substance for cancer prevention.

Toys Story 3: The Movie

I went and saw Toys Story 3 yesterday. It is a five-star movie (*****). Make sure to bring with you enough tissue papers.

Why Do Some Patients Do Not Respond Well to Anti-Depressive Medications?

The answer to this question may be found in genetics. A gene with the name MKP-1 may hold the key to whether a patient will respond to anti-depressive medications or not. Patients who do not respond to the anti-depressive medications have twice as much of MKP-1 in their brain as those who respond to medications. This finding may explain why up to 40% of patients suffering from depression do not do well on anti-depressive drugs. The answer may be as simple as having too much of this "depression gene" in their brain.

Why Do Some Women Have Difficulty in Getting Pregnant in Their Thirties?

New genetic research may have the answer for why some women may experience difficulties in getting pregnant if they delay having babies until they are in their thirties. It appears that there are four genes that cause 1 out of 20 women to experience an early menopause (in their forties). These genes explain that women's ability to bear children begins to decline at least 10 years of becoming menopausal. Say, if a woman with the four genes is set to have her menopause at age 45 (the average age for menopause in industrialized nations is 50), then her ability to bear children is diminished starting at age 35. This 35-year old woman will have a hard time to conceive versus another woman who does not have the four genes. Genetic testing for the presence of the four genes may become available in a clinic near you soon.

Niacin Effect on Platelets: Actual Data From One Subject

A steady decrease in platelets count was observed while taking niacin (300 mg/day). Once niacin stopped, a sharp rebound in platelets count was observed. The data are actual observations taken over a period of approximately 6 months.

Total Cholesterol vs. LDL Level: A Predictive Model

A predictive model is suggested for estimating the Serum LDL concentration (mg/dL) from Total Serum Cholesterol (mg/dL) in the same person. The predictive model has the following mathematical expression:

LDL Level = -26.92 + 0.808 (Total Serum Cholesterol)

The p value for this model was less than 0.0001. Also, 88.7% of the variability in LDL is explained by the Total Serum Cholesterol. For example, a person has a Total Serum Cholesterol of 200 mg/dL. His estimated LDL concentration in serum is:

LDL Level = -26.92 + 0.808 (200) = 134.68 mg/dL

The clinically acceptable range for Total Serum Cholesterol in adults is 100 to 199 mg/dL and that for LDL is less than 100 mg/dL. It should be emphasized that other factors also contribute to the Serum LDL level, however their contributions to the variability in Serum LDL according to this model is less than 12%.

What Do Poll Results Mean? A Simple Explanation

We are less than 2 weeks away from voting this year. November is approaching fast. Polls are everywhere. The Tea Party, an outspoken segment of the Republican Party, is already announcing its winners this November. You would wonder how do they know? The answer to this question is based on polling a sample from the population and asking them for whom they are going to vote for this November. This is an example: Suppose that 3,000 individuals selected by random from the population asked about their voting target. Also say that 53% of them indicated that they would vote for candidate Y this election season. Well, the 53% figure is just an "observed" value from a sample. To predict what would happen in November based on this figure we will need to know the margin of error for this measurement. Suppose that the margin of error was 4 percentage points, then we could predict that the "true percentage" of voters in November who would vote for this candidate will be anywhere between 51% and 55%. This is always qualified by stating the degree of confidence we are reporting our estimate [51% - 55%]. The common confidence level for these estimates is 95%. In summary, and according to the polls, 53% indicated in a sample of 3,000 that they would vote for candidate Y in November. Our estimate is that the true percentage of people voting for this candidate will be anywhere between 51% and 55% in November, with 95% confidence (i.e., there is a 5% chance that our estimates are incorrect).

Catholic Faith and Evolution

Just for the sake of clarity, Catholic faith does not teach that evolution is not real. The Catholic Church recognizes that God created everything including evolution of species. I was never taught in the Catholic Church that evolution is a theory we are supposed to oppose. While it is important to stress on the fact that a supreme being, God, has created the universe and everything in it, it is also of importance not to contradict scientific facts just because they are not found in the Bible. Yes, God created the human being according to the Book of Genesis, however it does not tell us exactly how Adam and Eve looked like. God created man in his image; that is the spirit of man was pure. Do you really think that God physically looks like us. Think again. The Bible talks about the spiritual birth of man in the image of God. Biology explains how man evolved over time.

Is Evolution Real?

Yes. Evolution is no longer a theory. It happens daily. There are species that vanish and others replace them every day. If you are not watching you would not have known it. For politicians who do not believe in evolution I feel sorry for you. I really do. Are you serious you do not believe in evolution? Okay. Here is another one, Earth is not flat; it is a globe. Surprised! I think neither of these two facts are in the Bible, but they are true. The Bible was not meant to be a textbook for biology. Do not confuse it with your high school biology text. It is a religious book. For evolution, I recommend reading a biology book or two. Happy reading.

Chile Gave Us A New Hope

The latest miners rescue in Chile gave everyone of us a renewed faith in the human race. For a while I thought trust is a dying commodity, that goodness is becoming a rarity, and optimism is a thing of the past. But, here came the rescue mission in Chile. If you were human at all, you would have felt the same emotions that I felt. Being scared and worried, hopeful, scared again, more hope, praying, a tear or two, claustrophobic, feeling joyful, smiling again, crying one more time, hugging the coach and waiting, mesmerizing, laughing with tears, and joyful again because I felt human again. Chile gave me hope that we are not turning back to monkeys. For a while I thought evolution is going backward. Human beings are acting like animals. Hate, wars, destruction, abuse, neglect, fear, sadness, torture, famine, crimes, abandonment, but HOPE concurred them all. Chile, perhaps you are a small country, but you acted like a GIANT. A giant of hope. Thank you.

Monday is Columbus Day

This coming Monday is Columbus Day. It commemorates the discovery of America by Columbus, the first "illegal alien".

Are We Alone?

Logic dictates that planet Earth cannot be unique in the Universe. Whether you believe in a creator or you do not, it is highly improbable that our beautiful planet is the only one that supports life. Scientists just discovered a new planet "similar" to ours some 20 light-year away. (If we could travel by the speed of light it would take us 20 years to get there.) Many believe that our planet is being visited by extraterrestrial aliens (ET). The intention of their visits, if they are true, remain unknown. I would argue that such ETs have mastered the ability to prolong their lives so much so that they could travel long distance and reach their destination alive. I hope it is true that we are being visited by such beings. Perhaps they could teach us a thing or two about extending our lives, a matter I get interested in it by the day as I get older. ET, if you are reading this blog post, please leave me a comment. Wouldn't you? I am waiting.

Where to Get Organic Herbs

A new list on this site will include herbal resources. Please check this list often on this page as we will be updating the information on it periodically. BMP does not have any affiliation with any of these companies. This list is provided as an educational information. Always investigate the quality and the safety of herbal products on your own before you make the purchase. Many herbs/botanicals have interactions with drugs or on their own they could result in severe injuries and even death. Always (no exceptions) consult with your physician before you take anything related to your health. He/she is the one who "supposedly" has all the information on your medical history and can make a decision whether an herb or botanical is good for you. Wishing you the best of healthy life.

Papaya Leaves Tea Infusion

Papaya leaves are known to produce an increase in the blood platelets count. A tea infusion of Papaya dry leaves may be prepared by boiling a cup of water and then adding one teaspoonful of the dried leaves. Cover the tea and let it sit on the counter for about 8-10 minutes. Drink while it is hot. For sweetening the tea, add some organic honey. Purchase the organic variety of Papaya leaves.

Proton Pump Inhibitors

New studies are emerging on the link between heart attack and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These studies are showing an increase in the risk of heart attack by 25% for those patients who take PPIs on a daily basis for a long time. PPIs are normally used to suppress acid secretion from the stomach for those who suffer from acid reflux disease (GERDS). Some of the PPIs are now available over-the-counter and do not require a physician prescription. Consult with your primary health provider about your use of PPIs before initiating treatment.

Happy Sunday Morning

Early Christians used to go to church to attend a service early Sunday morning. The few thousands of early Christians had greater faith than all the millions of Christians living today. It is true we are away from the risen Lord by about 2000+ years, however we keep forgetting that the Holly Spirit lives with us as he had lived with all the generations following Christ. The Holly Spirit is here. We probably do not see him, but he is walking the streets with us, at work with us, at churches, at the grocery stores, etc. The Holly Spirit gives strength and encouragement. He has spoken through the prophets in the Old Testament and lives within the church, in each one of us, despite our failures. This is the Season of the Holly Spirit. Let us rejoice. Hallelujah.

Preventive Care

According to Western medical doctors (allopathic physicians) the extent of "preventive care" is simply the annual physical exam. While the annual physical may be a part of prevention, but by itself is just a tiny portion of preventive health. Prevention includes living healthy: mind, body, and spirit. It includes eating the healthy food, having positive thinking, and keeping in touch with the Creator. Our Creator is the source of life. He feeds us with spiritual nourishment to keep our spirit away from destruction. Being in contact with source of light gives clarity to our mind which yields a prosperous and happy life. In turn, happy life nourishes the immune system, the body's source for defence. Happy life does not allow stress to overcome it. Since stress is the cause of 80% of diseases--a scientific medical fact, happy life is also a healthy life. Physical exam may be part of preventive care, but by itself is useless. It is time for the allopathic medical establishment to realize that an 8-minute annual visit to the doctor does not, on its own, prevent disease. Health and maintaining it requires a whole life change, and a brief annual visit to the doctor cannot teach people how to live healthy. It is time for the medical establishment to emphasize on health and not on disease. It is time for the doctors to once again become teachers of health, the true meaning of the title "doctor".

Niacin Side Effects

Niacin is Vitamin B3. In addition to lowering platelets count, niacin has the potential of causing liver damage. Patients who are taking niacin should be monitored for their liver functions at minimum every three months.

Downers

Have you ever had the experience of talking to people that always bring up the negative stuff? These people focus on the bad and the ugly, the distressing and the stressing, the sad and the miserable, the stuff that really make you hate your life and yourself. There are people like that living in your neighborhood, school, place of employment, church, tennis club, soccer club, football club, baseball club, etc. that part of their enjoyment is to make you feel miserable. When they want to congratulate you on your birthday, for example, they tell you how old you are now and how fast you are closing in on the end of your life. They remind you with death and sadness, tears and miseries. Perhaps some members of your family are like that (don't we all have one or two of those?) Avoid them if you can. Avoid them like a plague. Keep them from "contaminating" your happiness. We are not created to be miserable. We are made in the image of the Almighty Joyful God. We should be joyful and happy. Keep away from those downers and enjoy life to its fullest. Amen.

Coffee and Parkinson's Disease

Drinking coffee is associated with a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease. About one-fourth of the population carries a version of the gene GRIN2A that is helpful in protecting individuals from developing the disease.

Colon Cancer Detection

The most useful technique for colon cancer detection currently is colonoscopy. Researchers from a Denmark-based institute are working on a simple blood test to detect colon cancer in its earliest stages. This test utilizes the "microRNA" method for detecting biomarkers that are specific for colon cancer. This technique is about to be tested in clinical trial on a relatively large scale. Most colonoscopy procedures are done on a three-year or a five-year schedule which could miss early cancer development during the period between testing. The good news is that for most colon cancer, their development from polyps into malignant tumors is slow and takes literally years to be completed.

A New Poll on BMP

We began today a new poll on Botanical Medicine Posts (BMP). This with respect to a proposed meeting for the Bloggers in the area of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM). Even if you are not a Blogger in CAM but interested to participate, please respond to the poll. The poll will end on December 10, 2010 at midnight. Depending on the interest we will or will not meet in Boston, MA next year. Thank you for participating. BMP

Aspirin and Niacin

Taking one aspirin tablet a day may overcome the problem of face flushing associated with taking niacin. However, the concomitant administration of these two chemicals together has a great potential for harm. They both affect the platelets in a negative way, causing potential spontaneous bleeding. In addition, taking aspirin for a relatively short period of time (several weeks) may cause ulcers in the gastrointestinal tract. These ulcers may bleed and require hospitalization. Consult with your physician before taking these agents and follow his/her advise.

Giving

According to some christian churches (not all of them), there are four ways for giving. These are Tithing, First-Fruit, Alms, and Seed. The first two are acts of obedience (if you still think that you still are under the Mosaic Law). Alms is an act of charity, whereas Seed is an act of faith. Some believe that if you give, God will reward you with more. They even cite verses from the Bible to prove their point. While I am not oppose to giving per Se, I do have an issue in "marketing" and misleading folks for telling them they are going to get rich if they donate $1000 to a TV station. As I am writing this Post, a Christian TV station is having a fund drive to support their mission. I have no problem with people giving for this noble cause. It is great to have a TV station devoted to preaching the Bible. What I found it unnecessary is to propose the idea that if you give $1000 to this station, God will reward you with a multitude of money and make you rich. I just do not think Jesus died on the cross for this stuff. Is not it better to just tell the people we need an "X" amount of money to keep this station on the Air, and then let everyone make up their decision on how much to give? Perhaps, they should say we need 300 person to donate $1000 each this year (I think they said it, but it was in fine print). Then, those who could afford it let them send the money. If you are prompted to give just for the sake of getting it back or getting more of it, you have missed the whole idea why the good Lord died for all of us on the cross. God does not print dollars. This duties was given to the Federal Government. You get dollars by working for it. You donate money for the goodness of your heart, not because you want to get rich. Yes, God wants you to prosper, but by working hard and honestly earning your living. Thank you for your donation.

Elul

Elul is a word found in the Bible. Elul, in Arabic or Hebrew, means the month of September.

Cat's Claw

Cat's claw is an anti-inflammatory herb that is commonly recommended by herbalists for the management of osteoarthritis.

Colonoscopy Procedure: What to Expect

Many people are advised to undergo a colonoscopy procedure. This test includes the placement of a flexible tube with a camera for the physician to scan the large intestine (the colon) and detect if any tumor growth (malignant or benign) is present. The physician is then able to remove any polyp encountered on the surface of the colon and send it for pathological testing. The patient has to clear his system by taking a laxative the day before the procedure. In addition, no solid foods or colored liquids are allowed the day prior to the test. On the day of the test, after normal checking in, the patient is escorted to a divide in a big hall separated by blinds from other divides. The patient will be asked to get undressed, put a hospital gown on, and lay on a hospital bed covered with sheets. The nurse comes in and take vital signs on the patient. Then the nurse asks the patients questions while she/he enters them in a laptop computer. The questions are related to previous health, surgical, and family history. A catheter is then placed in one of the hand's vein (this can be a bit uncomfortable, but really is not bad). Then they will start giving the patient intravenous fluids through this catheter. The colonoscopist and the anesthesiologist visit with the patient and make sure everything is okay. The patient is then rolled into the test room where the instrument is located. The room temperature there is always kept a bit on the cold side. After a casual chat with the nurses, an oxygen liner in placed on the nostrils to help the patient breath during the anaesthesia. They ask the patient to role on his/her left side and bend his knee upwards. Anaesthesia is then given intravenously, and as the patient watches the nurse giving him the anesthesia injection, the next thing he remembers is waking up in the big hall again. They make sure that the patient passes gas and burbs before they give him something to drink. Afterward, a family member comes in to drive the patient home. The physician comes in and explain what occurred during the test and if there were any polyps removed. The patient gets dressed and a nurse aid escorts him out the facility to the car waiting for him up front. The first 24 hours following the procedure, the patient should introduce foods slowly in his system; no big meals or "seedy" foods, and NOT TO DRIVE OR MAKE IMPORTANT DECISIONS. The patient is instructed to call his physician if any bleeding or unusual discomfort occurs (not common). The worst thing about this test is the prep given the day before the procedure. But yet, even that it is not that bad. People with family history of colon cancer, blood in the stool, or over 50 years old should undergo this test. Contact your primary care physician if you have any concerns of taking it. It is a great test to have available for the public. It is simple to do, almost no discomfort at all, and it is truly a life saver. You won't feel a thing. Go do it.

President George W. Bush Does Not Like Red Jelly

Mr. Rush Limbaugh, the radio talk icon, once said that he got invited to the White House when then President George W. Bush (43) was still in office. It was to celebrate Mr. Limbaugh's birthday. During the dinner, Mr. Limbaugh had several items to choose from for his meal. Mr. Bush wanted a "peanut butter and jelly" sandwich. The President said to the waiter to make sure "none of this red jelly stuff, I want the grape one." Mr. Limbaugh's birthday cake was a replicate of his "Golden Microphone." This happened the last year President Bush was in office.

Christian Positive Thinking

The same part of the brain that occupies us with worry and negative thoughts is the one that helps us meditate. Although none of us, except for the monks, is able to read the Bible the whole day, meditating on what we already read in the Bible the whole day keeps our mind clear, sharp, and fully in communication with God. Negative thoughts may occasionally come and go; just ignore them. Remember, there is an eternal war between the goods and the evils, between the light and the darkness, between choosing to do the right thing or the wrong act. As a person, you have to choose on what side you are. A lukewarm person is always on the wrong side. When we meditate on the Bible, we make the princesses of darkness extremely mad at us. We become even more so the subject of their attacks. When we occupy our mind with positive thoughts, all our actions become positive. Not only that, but we develop clarity in our actions. This lead to a prosperous and happy life. The Lord said in so many ways that we should pray without ceasing, or to meditate. And, He also invited us to be on His side, because the weight He places on us is light. The source of Light does not have in Him any darkness. Be part of it and change yourself and the world around you. It is never too late. It is not even the 11th hour yet.

Valerian and Hops

Valerian and hops combination has been shown repeatedly effective in improving the sleep quality and the sleep latency for those who suffer from insomnia.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disease that has a huge economical impact. One area of misdiagnosis is that the failure of physicians to look "outside the box". Certain slow growing cancers can mimic the symptoms of CFS, and unless the physician does a thorough evaluation of the patients, these cancers may be missed.

Retrovirus and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A recent study reported a possible link between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and a retrovirus known as XMRV. However, more recent works from the NIH, the FDA, and the CDC failed to show such link. Expert virologists believe that the link between XMRV and CFS was caused by a "contamination" of the samples with the virus.

AD/HD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) is a disorder commonly associated with "bad parenting" or "eating the wrong foods". Recent research in this field link AD/HD with genetic disposition. The genetics profile of AD/HD individuals has similarities with those who suffer from autism and schizophrenia.

What is PEG 3350?

PEG 3350 is a synthetic polymer. The "PEG" symbol stands for polyethelene glycol. The "3350" is for its average molecular weight. PEG 3350 has a very high affinity to water and it is not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Because of this effect, PEG 3350 is commonly found in "colon preps" used before colonoscopy procedures. It does not have a strong taste, and drinking solutions of PEG 3350 in water are found acceptable by most people. Severe diarrhea ensues after consuming PEG 3350 solutions.

Niacin

Niacin, a B vitamin, is commonly prescribed to patients with high blood lipid profile. It is effective in reducing blood cholesterol level among other benefits. It does cause flushing, however, studies have shown that this minor side effect subsides over time. Other concerns with using niacin are interactions with medications taken for hypertension and diabetes drugs. Its flushing effect, in part, is responsible for a reduction in blood pressure. Other side effects of its use are a decrease in platelets count and a false-positive test for billirubin (i.e., indicates that billirubin level is high where in fact it is not). Do not take niacin with alcohol. Consult with your physician or pharmacist before taking niacin as it does have multiple interactions with many drugs.