WDDTY e-News Service - 6th May 2004

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WDDTY e-News Service - 6th May 2004

Thu, 6 May 2004 23:48:29 +0100

 

WHAT DOCTORS DON’T TELL YOU - E-NEWS BROADCAST No. 81 - 06 May 2004

 

Please feel free to email this broadcast to any friends you feel would

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CANCER TREATMENT: Did they tell you it could cause infertility?

 

Those who take the first steps down the rocky road of medical care sometimes

find it can be a journey without end.

 

One example is the cancer patient who undergoes the horrors of chemotherapy and

radiotherapy. Hundreds of thousands of women who have endured this therapy then

find themselves infertile. Ovarian failure and permanent uterine damage are

common side effects of the therapy, although it would be interesting to know

just how many patients are warned about this beforehand.

 

According to Johan Smitz at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine in Brussels,

those who survive the treatment are often 'devastated' to discover they are

functionally castrated. This suggests that few, if any, patients are told of

the likely consequences.

 

So what to do? One solution is cryopreservation of ovarian tissue. Follicles

are taken from the ovaries before cancer therapy begins, and then frozen and

stored at a temperature of minus 196 degrees Centigrade. After treatment, they

are then placed back in the woman.

 

The transplant has been carried out on one 30-year-old woman at a New York

hospital whose ovaries began functioning normally within three months of

transplantation.

 

Does this one success give the green light to mass transplantation? Probably

not, and longer term effects need to be monitored before it can be said to be a

safe and effective remedy.

 

More to the point, the oncologist would have to tell the patient likely

reactions before beginning therapy. And would quite so many elect for

treatment, we muse?

 

(Source: The Lancet, 2004; 363: 837-40).

 

 

 

 

 

BLOOD PRESSURE: Check the equipment before you check the patient

 

What's the first thing that'll probably happen to you if you're rushed into

hospital? Apart from waiting for hours in some freezing corridor, someone will

probably take your blood pressure.

 

It's standard procedure, and hospital staff takes a measurement almost on

auto-pilot. Trouble is, it's hopelessly unreliable, as a recent study has

discovered.

 

Researchers followed the progress of 171 patients in one emergency room whose

blood pressure was taken either manually or using automated devices. The

automated devices all failed to meet even the basic criteria as laid out by the

British Hypertension Society or the Association for the Advancement of Medical

Instrumentation. In other words, they were faulty.

 

Not surprisingly, the readings were all over the place, and blood pressure

levels decreased enormously as more tests were done.

 

While on the subject of blood pressure screening, researchers have found it

doesn't help predict a heart attack or stroke. The study says, and we quote,

" although high blood pressure can cause heart disease, it is not present in most

people with heart disease. " (ED: Anyone out there who can explain this,

please?)

 

Instead of screening, it's better to teach people how to lower their blood

pressure, the researchers conclude.

 

(Sources: Hospital study: Academic Emergency Medicine, 2004; 11: 237-43; Heart

disease study: Journal of Medical Screening, 2004; 11: 3-7).

 

 

 

CAESAREAN: If you follow the guidelines, make sure you don't face a murder rap

 

If you live in the UK, you're probably aware of the move to reduce the number of

caesarean sections being performed. It should be an emergency procedure, and

not just an option for any woman who doesn't want to give birth naturally.

 

With this in mind, we were bemused to read of a case in the USA of a mother who

is being charged with murder because she followed the UK guidelines and declined

a caesarean.

 

One of the twins she was expecting died because she refused a caesarean. To be

fair, she had been advised by doctors to have the caesarean as they feared for

the safety of the child. It's the first time in Utah, where the woman lives,

that such a case has been instigated.

 

The new guidelines in the UK are welcome, but they do create a legal grey area,

as the Utah case demonstrates.

 

 

 

 

 

FIBROMYALGIA: Self-help is as good as drugs

 

A simple self-help programme can do as much for fibromylagia patients as

standard medical care.

 

One study tracked the progress of 84 sufferers, half of whom had the usual

medication, while the rest went on a self-help programme of swimming, simple

exercise, relaxation and simple dietary changes.

 

The self-help group said they were less fatigued, depressed or anxious, and had

greater vitality, whereas the group under medical care reported no improvement

in their condition.

 

(Source: Annals of Rheumatic Disease, 2004; 63: 290-6).

 

 

 

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Statins, the cholesterol-lowering drugs, could be behind the rise in heart

failure, the latest issue of What Doctors Don't Tell You reveals. Another major

cause could be dental amalgam fillings.

 

To find out why this is happening, and what you can do to protect yourself,

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TYPE I DIABETES: We think it's preventable, but how?

 

Although type II diabetes grabs the headlines, type I has quietly reached

epidemic levels. Type I, or insulin-dependent diabetes, tends to afflict

children and young adult.

 

Although it cannot be treated, tests have indicated that it can be prevented.

Unfortunately, all these tests have been carried out on animals, and everyone

knows what we think about those.

 

The best hope of treatment occurs during the remission period, which can last

for months or even longer. Most doctors will try to treat with

 

The best hope offered by conventional medicine is high-dose nicotinamide. It

shouldn't be given to children, but doctors may feel they have little option,

and it can cause anaphylactic shock.

 

Worse, according to a new study, it doesn't work. They tracked a group of

children who were genetically disposed to develop diabetes. Of the 552 in the

original group, 159 went on to develop diabetes, 82 of whom were given

nicotinamide and the rest had a placebo. Sadly, the progress of the disease

didn't differ between the two groups.

 

So while we cling to the idea that type I diabetes is preventable, we still do

not know how.

 

(Source: The Lancet, 2004; 363: 925-31).

 

 

 

READERS' CORNER

 

X-rays: First off, your responses for the woman who wanted to know how to limit

her exposure to x-rays and reduce levels already accumulated in her body.

Several readers suggest homeopathic nosodes, and especially x-ray 30. Others

suggest Radium Bromide, another nosode particularly recommended by homeopaths

immediately after any x-ray exposure.

 

 

Cystic fibrosis and antibiotics: Several have rushed to the aid of one woman

whose son is reacting to antibiotics given to him for cystic fibrosis. Try

Ambrotose Glyconutrients from Mannatech, which is being trialled among 100

children with cystic fibrosis. To counteract the effects of the antibiotics,

another reader suggests homeopathic Bowel nosodes, although it's best done in

consultation with a homeopath. Other nosodes that could help include Nux Vomica

6C, while the standard de-tox option is Sulphur 6C. Nutritionally, try

Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Lactobacillus Bifidus. Another reader has a

similar remedy, but suggests Biocare's bifido infantis, which should be kept in

the fridge.

 

 

Raw carrots: The reader who was worried about getting parasites from organic

raw carrots is a victim of a hoax, believes another reader. The story was put

about by non-organic producers several years ago. The Soil Association carried

out a survey and found no contaminants on any organic vegetables they tested.

 

 

Genital herpes: Your suggested antidotes keep flooding in. Among the latest

remedies include a plant called Larrea Tridentata, which apparently has been

proven to work in a range of trials. It's promoted by the Larrea Medical

Society. Nosode therapy is another option, which works well with homeopathic

drainages. One reader recommends a product called Herpecin L, produced by

Chattam Inc. of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Interestingly, his disease wasn't

sexually transmitted, but feels it could be hereditary. His grandparents came

from Scotland and Ireland, which, of course, explains everything.

 

 

Glue ear: There's plenty to be done for glue ear, as our story last time

suggested. First reduce the dairy in any child's diet, says one reader, while

osteopathy can help, as can auricular therapy, performed by a kinesiologist.

 

 

Hearing problem: The woman who hears her own voice 'in her head' can be helped

in several ways. One reader believes the problem is associated with excess

mucus in the eustacean tubes, and is most likely caused by a food allergy,

possibly to chocolate, cheese, or dairy. Smoking can also cause excess mucus.

Another suggests Hope candles, although we assume she means Hopi candles.

 

 

Any other business: Try asparagus to reduce mercury build-up; turmeric, the

sage often used in Indian cuisine, might help with cystic fibrosis; the Bowen

technique has a 68% success rate with migraine; hyaluronic acid has dramatically

reduced knee pain for one reader.

 

 

 

READERS' QUESTIONS

 

A sackful of questions this week, which is a great compliment to all of you and

your many health insights. Keep your remedies coming, please!

 

Mobile phone itch: One reader has noticed an eczema-type rash since using a

mobile phone. The skin itches, and it gets flaky and dry. At times it gets

'weepy' and discharges water. She's tried ear drops that have been prescribed

by her doctor, but without success. Any suggestions (apart from not using a

mobile phone, presumably)?

 

 

Endometriosis: She feels pain during intercourse, and especially in certain

positions. She also feels a pulling sensation when she stretches or moves. Any

advice for getting rid of the adhesions?

 

 

Pain after sex: More pain after sex (hey, we thought sex was meant to be fun).

One woman suffers excruciating pain after orgasm, which her doctor says is

fairly common. Any better advice on offer?

 

 

Iron in the blood: One reader's brother-in-law has been diagnosed as having too

much iron in his blood. Blood is being removed every two weeks, but is there a

better way?

 

 

Prickly heat: One reader is suffering prickly heat symptoms even when it's not

hot. It is persistent and is particularly bad at nights. The reader has tried,

without success, surgical spirit, talc, calamine lotion, anti-histamine cream,

homeopathic cream and pills, and is currently testing camomile and peppermint

cream. Anything that does work, readers?

 

 

Threadworms: One reader suffers from recurrent threadworms. She's tried

acidophilus, garlic, pumpkin seeds and over-the-counter pills. Her diet is low

in refined sugar, and now she's gone on to develop candida. She's pregnant so

she can't try remedies such as wormwood. Anything that can work?

 

 

 

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