Alternative Mental Health News -- Issue 48

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> Safe Harbor

> <ezine

 

> Alternative Mental Health News -- Issue 48

> Mon, 12 Jul 2004 11:57:49 -0400 (EDT)

>

---------------------------

>

> THE ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH NEWS

> Issue 48, July 2004

>

> An ezine brought to you by

> AlternativeMentalHealth.com and Safe Harbor, a

> nonprofit corporation.

>

> Dan Stradford, Editor

> Alan Graham, Assistant Editor

>

> SafeHarborProj

> www.AlternativeMentalHealth.com

>

> Feedback: We'd like to hear your comments and views.

> Please forward them to the e-mail address above.

> Contact information is below.

>

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>

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> ezine

> or contact us in any of the ways listed in this

> newsletter.

>

> Complete management instructions are located at the

> end of this e-mail.

>

> All PAST ISSUES of the Alternative Mental Heath News

> are available at

>

http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/Ezine/EzineArchive.htm.

>

>

>

================================================================

> TABLE OF CONTENTS

>

================================================================

>

> 1. ABOUT SAFE HARBOR

> 2. EDITOR'S NOTE

> 3. DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER, DR. DORIS RAPP HEADLINE

> SAFE HARBOR EVENT, OCT. 7

> 4. PROF. JAMES CROXTON SPEAKS FOR SAFE HARBOR,

> L.A., JULY 14

> 5. DR. WILLIAM WALSH SPEAKS FOR SAFE HARBOR NY,

> JULY 26

> 6. NON-PHARMA 3 (NP3) CDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

> 7. BOOK REVIEW: TAKE TWO APPLES AND CALL ME IN THE

> MORNING

> 8. ARTICLE: STRIDE FOR BETTER HEALTH By Patricia

> Wagner

> 9. ARTICLE: AUSTRALIAN PSYCHIATRISTS' CONFERENCE TO

> FOCUS ON COMPLEMENTARY APPROACHES

> 10. ARTICLE: SAFETY ALERT EXPECTED ON ADULT USE OF

> ANTIDEPRESSANTS IN UK

> 11. ARTICLE: " BRAIN BOOT CAMP " DEVISED TO COMBAT

> MEMORY LOSS

> 12. ARTICLE: SLEEP FOUND ESSENTIAL FOR CREATIVITY

> 13. ARTICLE: 50 WAYS TO IMPROVE A CHILD'S BEHAVIOR

> AND ATTENTION SPAN

> 14. ARTICLE: PAXIL VICTIMS' ATTORNEY APPLAUDS

> LAWSUIT BY NY ATTORNEY GENERAL

> 15. ABOUT ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM

>

>

================================================================

> ABOUT SAFE HARBOR

>

================================================================

>

> Safe Harbor was founded in 1998 in the wake of

> growing public dissatisfaction with the unwanted

> effects of orthodox psychiatric treatments such as

> medication and shock therapy. Seeking to satisfy he

> desire for safer, more effective treatments, Safe

> Harbor is dedicated to educating the public, the

> medical profession, and government officials on

> research and treatments that, minimally, do no harm

> and, optimally, cure the causes of severe mental

> symptoms. Our primary thrust is education on the

> medical causes of severe mental symptoms and the use

> of nutritional and other natural treatments.

>

> CONTACT INFO:

>

> SAFE HARBOR

> 1718 COLORADO BOULEVARD

> LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90041

> U.S.A.

>

> (323) 257 7338

> SAFEHARBORPROJ

> WWW.ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM

>

> WE WELCOME YOUR DONATIONS. AS A NONPROFIT

> ORGANIZATION, SAFE HARBOR IS SUPPORTED SOLELY

> THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF THE PUBLIC. DONATIONS CAN

> BE MADE ONLINE AT OUR WEB SITE OR MAILED TO THE

> ABOVE ADDRESS. WE ALSO ACCEPT VISA/MASTERCARD BY

> PHONE. THANK YOU

>

>

>

================================================================

> EDITOR'S NOTE

>

================================================================

> As an adolescent, I recall my mother pointing a

> finger in my face, her hand still wet from the

> evening dishes and smelling of onions and

> dishwashing liquid. " As ye sew, so shall ye also

> reap, " she'd quote from the Bible. I would snicker

> to myself, thinking how silly her words were.

>

> Of course, in my adult years I would learn over and

> over and over the bitter lesson that, yes, as we sew

> so do we reap. What we do in life has an amazing,

> almost mystic, way of coming back to haunt us or

> nurture us, depending on the legacy we have left

> behind us.

>

> It is a lesson that the pharmaceutical companies

> will need to learn, if they wish to survive.

>

> For decades public outcry has been at their doors

> for many reasons. They are marketing to

> relentlessly drug the behavior of more and more

> children. The antidepressants which they have

> pushed into medicine cabinets across America turn

> out to be not only nominally effective but may

> actually increase suicide rates.

>

> Well, the good times appear to have come to an end.

> This ezine gives two articles covering

> investigations in New York and the United Kingdom.

> That is only a quick glance at the trouble Big

> Pharma has gotten itself into.

>

> A recent Harris poll finds the public's approval of

> drug companies is now at the same level as tobacco

> companies, with a 35% drop in popularity since 1997.

> The New York Times reported on July 8, " No industry

> has fallen as far or as fast in public esteem in

> recent years as the pharmaceutical industry,

> according to the Harris Poll. "

>

> Federal legislators are buzzing on all this like a

> cracked hornet's nest. The American Medical

> Association is proposing that drug companies be

> required to register and publish all clinical trials

> so they can't just select the favorable ones for

> public view.

>

> The sad part of this is that drugs can be quite

> valuable if used when they are truly needed (as

> compared to being marketed to the whole population).

> Big Pharma could be heroes if they would market

> their drugs ethically.

>

> But the dominoes have already started to fall. Drug

> execs around the world are huddled in board rooms

> sweating out their PR and legal strategies. They're

> lucky my mom isn't around. She'd have her finger in

> their faces: " As ye sew... "

>

>

>

================================================================

> DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER, DR. DORIS RAPP HEADLINE SAFE

> HARBOR OCTOBER EVENT

>

================================================================

>

> Mark your calendar for October 7, Safe Harbor's

> remarkable Fourth Annual Awards Benefit - this year

> featuring two bestselling authors who are legends in

> their fields.

>

> Dr. Doris Rapp, author of the blockbuster books Is

> This Your Child? and Is This Your Child's World?

> plus the recent Our Toxic World, is the world's

> leading spokesperson on how allergies affect child

> behavior. Her work on Donahue, Oprah, and through

> lectures around the world has dramatically impacted

> a generation of children. One television appearance

> alone prompted over 100,000 letters from viewers.

>

> Safe Harbor is privileged to honor Dr. Rapp with our

> 2004 Lighthouse Award, presented annually to men and

> women who benefit humanity by forwarding truly safe

> and effective mental health treatments.

>

> Dr. Laura Schlessinger, America's top radio

> therapist with over 10 million weekly listeners, has

> generously agreed to donate her time as our keynote

> speaker. Dr. Laura finds common ground with Safe

> Harbor as a champion of children, a public voice

> encouraging the use of psychiatric drugs only as a

> last resort, and a promoter of the philosophy that

> full recovery comes from taking responsibility for

> one's health and one's life.

> Dr. Laura, author of seven New York Times

> bestsellers, including her recent mega-hit The

> Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, will answer

> questions from the audience.

>

> Also honored will be Melvyn Werbach, M.D., renowned

> nutritional psychiatrist and editor of numerous

> internationally popular texts such as Nutritional

> Influences on Illness and Nutritional Influences on

> Mental Illness.

>

> Ticket prices: $95 in advance; $125 at the door

>

> Special seating at Dr. Laura's or Dr. Rapp's table:

> $500

>

> SEATING IS LIMITED so book early!

>

> Where: Glendale Hilton, 100 W. Glenoaks Blvd.,

> Glendale, California

>

> When: 7:30 PM, Thursday, October 7.

>

> Prizes, including jewelry made by Dr. Laura, will be

> raffled off.

>

> Tickets can be purchased at the Safe Harbor office:

> (323) 257-7338 or mail checks to Safe Harbor, 1718

> Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041

>

>

>

================================================================

> PROF. JAMES CROXTON SPEAKS FOR SAFE HARBOR, L.A.,

> JULY 14

>

================================================================

>

> How The World Gets Into The Brain

> With Professor James Croxton, M.A.

>

> Wednesday, July 14, 2004

> Safe Harbor Office, 1718 Colorado Blvd. Eagle Rock

> (Los Angeles)

>

> This topic does NOT deal with how ideas or

> experiences enter the brain - that would be related

> to learning and memory, etc. This discussion will

> center, instead, on how chemical substances

> (molecules, mineral ions, etc.) get through the

> protective tissues of the brain that normally screen

> for " invaders " . Our world is a home of chemicals and

> substances we did not have to process just a short

> " time-line " ago. Come join us as we learn more

> about the functioning and biochemistry of our

> brains.

>

> Prof. Croxton, MA, has taught Physiological

> Psychology at Santa Monica College for 25 years, a

> course he designed based on his extensive study of

> biological psychology. The study of the brain and

> how it's biology affects behavior and mood, remains

> an ongoing passion for Professor Croxton. His

> course includes the role nutrition plays in our

> mental processes.

>

> Based on his strong affinity for this subject, for

> 12 years Prof. Croxton led an educational group in

> Los Angeles called MANA, (Mind and Nutrition

> Awareness). This group sponsored talks by leaders in

> the field of nutritional psychology/psychiatry.

>

> Prof. Croxton is always very generous with his

> knowledge. Bring your questions to ask him during

> the question/answer part of our meetings!

>

> The Los Angeles monthly Support/Educational Group is

> held on the second Wednesday evening of each month,

> from 7 to 9 pm at the Safe Harbor office, 1718

> Colorado Blvd in the city of Eagle Rock. Parking is

> available on Colorado or on side streets. Various

> health practitioners present topics related to

> alternative treatments for mental health with time

> for questions and sharing among the group

> participants. This group is not for therapeutic

> interchange, but as a forum for persons interested

> in alternative mental health to gather, learn, and

> share. It is open to the public, and all are

> welcome. An RSVP phone call or email is appreciated

> to give us a idea of attendance. One can call the

> Safe Harbor office at (323) 257-7338, email Safe

> Harbor SafeHarborProj ; or contact Jeri

> Marston, RN (310) 822-2895, jerimarston

>

>

>

================================================================

> DR. WILLIAM WALSH SPEAKS FOR SAFE HARBOR NY, JULY 26

>

================================================================

>

> Safe Harbor New York City presents:

>

> The Role of Nutrients in Mental Health

> a talk by William Walsh, Ph.D.

>

> Biochemical imbalances are often an underlying

> factor in anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder,

> schizophrenia, and attention deficit disorder. Learn

> how nutrients can help with symptoms related to

> these imbalances.

>

> When: Monday, July 26, 6:30 - 8:30

>

> Where: 83 Spring Street between Broadway and

> Lafayette Streets

>

> Donation (to help pay for the cost of room, PA, and

> projector rental): $5

>

> Please RSVP to:

> Safe Harbor NY

> ny

> 212-302-9811

>

> William J. Walsh, Ph.D., recipient of Safe Harbor's

> 2002 Lighthouse Award, is a scientist with more than

> 30 years of research experience. After graduating

> from the University of Notre Dame in 1958, he went

> on to earn a master's degree at the University of

> Michigan and a doctorate in chemical engineering

> from Iowa State University. Dr. Walsh worked for

> some of the most prestigious scientific institutions

> in the country, including Argonne National

> Laboratory, where he spent 22 years as a researcher.

>

> His research and volunteer work involving

> biochemical predisposition to behavior disorders led

> to Dr. Walsh's foundation of the Health Research

> Institute in 1982 and the Pfeiffer Treatment Center

> in 1989. Pfeiffer is a nonprofit center that

> provides individualized biochemical therapy to

> patients looking for a natural treatment for

> imbalances associated with behavior disorders,

> learning problems, autism, depression, and

> schizophrenia. www.hriptc.org

>

>

>

================================================================

> NON-PHARMA 3 (NP3) CDS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

>

================================================================

>

> Safe Harbor's Non-Pharma 3 (NP3) CDs are now

> available, and the special 10% discount (NP3 CDs

> only) is extended till the end of July by popular

> demand. Order the CDs now and pay only $234.00

> (regular price $260.00) plus shipping and handling

> ($10.00) and applicable tax (CA only). Course

> syllabus included with full CD set. Titles include

> the following and more:

>

> * Peter Muran, M.D.: Holistic Approach to Mental

> Health Through the Balance of Neurotransmitters,

> Hormones, and Nutrition

> * Andrew Levinson, M.D.: Natural Treatments for

> Autism Spectrum Disorders

> * Barbara Massey, R.N.: Reversible Dementias -

> Detecting and Treating Common Medical Causes of

> Dementia Symptoms in the Elderly

> * David Steenblock, M.S.,D.O.: Reversing

> Psychiatric Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

> * Denis Wilson, M.D.: Hidden Thyroid Conditions

> That Commonly Affect Mental Health - And How to

> Treat Them

> * Randy Martin, Ph.D.: Homeopathic Treatment of

> Anxiety and Depression

> * Raymond Silkman, D.D.S.: Is It Mental or Is It

> Dental? How Mercury Fillings, Root Canals,

> Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Syndrome, and Other

> Dental Issues Affect Mental Health

> * Gottfried Kellermann, Ph.D.: Laboratory Testing

> for Neurotransmitters and Its Clinical Application

> * Karen Barth Menzies, Esq.: The Rising Tide of

> Pharmaceutical Lawsuits: What the Practitioner Needs

> to Know About the Future of Psychiatric Drug

> Litigation

> * Victoria L. lbric, M.D., Ph.D.: EEG Biofeedback

> Treatment for Depression, Anxiety, Addiction and

> Other Disorders

> * Michael Lesser, M.D.: Nutrition and the Mind

> * Safe Harbor's 2004 Recovery Panel - 6 people, now

> leading drug-free lives, tell their remarkable

> stories of recovery from mental disorders.

>

> Also available are the Mood Cure Workshop CDs, from

> the workshop in January featuring Julia Ross, M.A.,

> M.F.T., author of The Mood Cure. The full CD set

> including course syllabus is $169.00 plus shipping

> and handling ($10.00) and applicable tax (CA only).

> The course covers the following topics:

>

> * How to recognize which of four key

> neurotransmitter deficits - in serotonin, in the

> catecholemines, in GABA, or in endorphins - is

> generating a particular negative, or false, emotion.

> * What optimal neurotransmitter function looks and

> feels like, and how you and your clients can

> distinguish true from false moods.

> * How to use targeted amino acids to eliminate

> depression, anxiety, irritability, chronic sadness,

> apathy, over-stress, obsessiveness, and many other

> symptoms of neurotransmitter deficiency.

> * How amino acids compare with drugs like Prozac and

> Wellbutrin, and how those on antidepressants can

> most safely experiment with the aminos and switch

> over to them.

> * How addictive cravings for carbohydrates can be

> generated by false moods and how amino acid therapy

> can normalize appetite as well as mood.

> * How conditions such as hypothyroidism, hypo- or

> hyper-cortisolemia, parasite or yeast overgrowth,

> and sex hormone imbalance can affect the utilization

> and effectiveness of the aminos.

> * When certain amino acids should not be used. For

> example, glutamine is often contraindicated in

> someone with bipolar tendencies.

> * How to quickly counteract any adverse reactions to

> aminos.

> * How and when to augment protocols with essential

> fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and such nutrients

> as SAM-e and St. John's wort or medications such as

> SSRIs.

> * How psychotherapy and nutrient therapy interact.

>

> This CD set is not a substitute for actually

> attending the workshop. It will give much of the

> lecture portion, without the hands-on practice of

> diagnosing, recommending various aminos, and

> witnessing (and correcting) their effects under

> supervision.

>

> To order either CD set or any other materials,

> books, tapes or CDs, you may order online at

> www.AlternativeMentalHealth.com (type the items you

> want in the Comments box on the Donations page),

> call 323-257-7338 or send check to Safe Harbor 1718

> Colorado Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041. For more

> information, contact

> wendy. Thank you!

>

>

>

================================================================

> BOOK REVIEW: TAKE TWO APPLES AND CALL ME IN THE

> MORNING

>

================================================================

>

> After applying the concepts of smart nutrition to

> her clients, therapist Judy Stone tells us, " So

> dramatic were these changes that I began to feel I

> could do more to help people in less time as a

> nutritionist than as a psychotherapist. "

>

> Her book, Take Two Apples and Call Me in the

> Morning, is an excellent tutorial on how food

> affects mind and body and what you can do about it.

> She discusses all the basics such as balancing blood

> sugar, hormones, exercise, fatty acids, etc., as

> well as some of the fine points for people with

> specific conditions.

>

> For those looking for a very readable text on how to

> live healthier (and why you should!) Judy Stone's

> book lays out a compelling explanation of how the

> body functions and how you can use this knowledge

> for greater physical and mental well-being.

>

>

>

================================================================

> WALKING: AN EASY WAY TO BOOST MENTAL/PHYSICAL HEALTH

>

================================================================

>

> © 2004 by Patricia Wagner

>

> Did you know that walking is one of the best

> activities you can do to dramatically increase your

> level of health?

>

> Many people today are afflicted with

> " couch-potato-itis! " They come home from work,

> switch on their TVs and forget that their bodies

> need maintenance. But one day reality comes crashing

> through when their doctors say, " You have a

> problem! "

>

> This article will show you a simple strategy for

> improving your health through a fun and inexpensive

> walking program that promises many benefits.

>

> First, it will increase your energy level. Since

> walking is an aerobic exercise, it helps the heart

> and lungs become more efficient.

>

> Both PCOPF (the President's Council on Physical

> Fitness) and the National Institute of Diabetes and

> Digestive and Kidney Disease (NIDDK) state that a

> regular walking program can lower resting heart

> rates and blood pressure. It can help burn excess

> calories and increase muscle tone too.

>

> Second, walking can enhance your mental health.

> Taking regular walks can help reduce stress and

> enable you to sleep better. It can also help relieve

> symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. When you

> walk, your body produces endorphins which produce a

> feeling of wellbeing.

>

> Third, it's fun! The President's Council on Physical

> Fitness (PCOPF) calls walking the most popular form

> of exercise. It can be very enjoyable taking walks

> with a friend or loved one or even in groups. My

> husband and I often take walks at night and discuss

> our day. It's a special time for me.

>

> Here's what you'll need as you begin your new

> walk-for-health lifestyle. Purchase a pair of

> comfortable shoes, sunscreen or a hat and

> sunglasses. Choose loose-fitting garments. Bring

> along a bottle of water on warm days.

>

> But before you briskly stride out the door to begin

> your new adventure, you'd better check with your

> doctor first if you experience any of these

> symptoms: -persistent dizziness -chronic shortness

> of breath -high blood pressure -heart problems

> -chest pain

>

> When you're ready to begin walking regularly, there

> are some precautions to take. Walk during daylight

> hours or at night only in well-lit areas. Be sure to

> obey all traffic rules for pedestrians. If you

> decide to wear headphones, make sure you can still

> hear what's going on around you - like cars honking.

> Stop and rest if you start feeling sick to your

> stomach, dizzy or experience unusual pain.

>

> Try to walk whenever possible as part of your daily

> activities.

>

> * For example, park a distance from stores so you

> can get some extra exercise going to and from your

> destination.

> * Why not visit local parks to enjoy the beauty of

> nature while you're exercising?

> * Check out the neighborhood where you live to find

> good routes.

> * On rainy days you can walk in malls instead of

> doing without your exercise time.

> * It's a good idea to make a habit of selecting

> stairs instead of elevators when you need to spend

> time in office buildings.

> * It's more fun if you have a companion. This is

> good exercise for dogs too - they love to go for

> walks!

>

> Experts recommend thirty minutes of brisk striding

> per day. It's best to walk every day, but you only

> really need to walk five days a week. This can be

> broken down into smaller segments of time - three

> ten-minute walks instead of one long 30-minute one.

>

> Try to stride as fast as you can without

> overexerting yourself. You can tell when you are

> going at a brisk pace because your heart will beat

> faster and you'll breathe deeper. However, your

> heart should not be racing and you should still be

> able to carry on a conversation.

>

> So get off the couch, put those chips down, slip on

> your comfortable shoes and start striding your way

> to better health!

>

> Patricia Wagner offers informative tips on living a

> more energetic lifestyle at

> http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com and through her free

> " A to Z Health Tips " newsletter. Subscribe at

> http://www.a-to-z-wellness.com/.htm.

>

> Contact Patricia at wagner.art.

>

>

>

================================================================

> 14TH CONFERENCE OF AUSTRALIAN PSYCHIATRISTS

> TO FOCUS ON " COMPLEMENTARY APPROACHES TO PSYCHIATRY "

>

================================================================

>

> The Institute of Australian Psychiatrists has

> announced that its fourteenth annual conference,

> scheduled for November 12-14, 2004, will be devoted

> to " Complementary Approaches to Psychiatry. "

>

> " This conference is the first in Australia dedicated

> to the exploration of complementary approaches to

> Psychiatric treatment and Psychotherapy, " begins the

> announcement on the Institute's website,

> http://www.astmanagement.com.au/iap04/.

>

> " Its objective is to examine the foundation of

> current beliefs about effective options in

> psychiatry in the treatment of mental illness, and

> present some complementary approaches.

>

> " At least fifty percent of the Australian population

> utilize complementary approaches toward their

> health; these involve a range of treatments which

> include acupuncture, multivitamins, herbs,

> nutriceuticals, breathing, bodywork, mediation,

> energy field based therapies, ... to name just a few

> modalities.

>

> " Medical and psychiatric opposition to alternative

> approaches is often based as much on ideological

> factors, as lack of information or training.

>

> " The aim of this conference is to open a dialogue,

> and provide an arena where psychiatrists,

> psychotherapists, and practitioners of naturopathy

> and complementary medicine can come together and

> develop an overview of current thinking in this

> area, review the effectiveness of various

> approaches, and examine how these various modalities

> might complement existing treatments, and/or replace

> some. "

>

> Topics and speakers will include:

>

> * Reviews of mind-body paradigms to accommodate

> recent advances in our understanding of brain

> function.

> * Biorhythms in psychiatry (Dr Hans Stampfer and

> Prof Jack Pettigrew)

> * The place of " energy field " paradigms in

> psychiatry (Dr Ruth Doherty, Prof Timkin of the

> Ukranian " Institute of Man " , Dr Leon Alexander and

> Russian colleagues)

> * Complementary medicines in psychiatry (Prof Tim

> Lambert)

> * Nutriceuticals in the treatment of stress, and

> mental illness (Presenter to be arranged)

> * Homeopathic treatment in psychiatric care

> (Presenter to be arranged)

> * Acupuncture in psychiatric treatment (Dr Stefan

> Neszpor)

> * Spirituality and psychotherapy (Dr Bill Wilkie)

> * Meditation and psychotherapy (Dr Michael Huxter

> and A/Prof Leon Petchkovsky)

> * Women's Indigenous healing practices (Prof Judy

> Atkinson)

>

>

>

================================================================

> SAFETY ALERT EXPECTED ON ADULT USE OF

> ANTIDEPRESSANTS IN UK

>

================================================================

>

> Sarah Boseley, health editor for The Guardian, wrote

> on June 14 that the British government's Committee

> on the Safety of Medicine (CSM) was expected to

> follow its recent warning against antidepressant use

> in children with a similar caution about prescribing

> the drugs for adults.

>

> An expert working group of the CSM has already

> warned of risks of children becoming suicidal,

> aggressive and suffering mood swings through the use

> of SSRIs, adding that the drugs were not very

> effective in any case.

>

> " Now the committee is close to completing its review

> of the safety and efficacy of the SSRIs in adults, "

> writes Boseley. " The Guardian understands that it

> has found a similar picture and that the drug

> regulatory body, the Medicines and Healthcare

> Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), is likely to

> impose restrictions on the use of some of them. "

>

> Just a week earlier, the British Times Online

> reported that officials of the MHRA had launched an

> investigation into charges that GlaxoSmithKline hid

> the juvenile suicide risks found in clinical trials

> of Seroxat (Paxil), with criminal prosecution a

> likely outcome.

>

> Yet the MHRA, in a move characterized by Richard

> Brook, chief executive of the mental health charity

> Mind, as " a fundamental breach [of impartiality]

> that the [health] minister must investigate, " has

> approached Eli Lilly - Prozac's manufacturer - to

> apply for a license to treat children with

> depression in the UK and Europe.

>

>

>

================================================================

> " BRAIN BOOT CAMP " DEVISED TO COMBAT MEMORY LOSS

>

================================================================

>

> " Preventing the loss of memory will always be easier

> than restoring it, " writes Gary W. Small, M.D., in

> his book The Memory Bible: An Innovative Strategy

> for Keeping Your Brain Young.

>

> Small's new book, The Memory Prescription,

> introduces his " boot camp for the brain " program,

> which combines four proven strategies for physical

> and mental well-being: physical conditioning, mental

> activity, stress reduction, and a " healthy brain

> diet " rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fruits, and

> vegetables.

>

> In a study, Small evaluated 17 volunteers who had

> reported minor memory problems. Eight of the study

> participants were randomly chosen to take part in

> the two-week " brain boot camp " program while the

> other participants continued their usual activities.

>

> Light stretching, walking and stress-relieving

> exercises are performed many times throughout the

> day. Memory exercises are practiced for around 15

> minutes a day.

>

> Results from brain scans, which were taken before

> and after the participants completed the program,

> showed dramatic improvement with brain activity in

> the frontal portion of the brain, which is

> responsible for daily memory functions.

>

> One participant, 43-year-old Kimberly McClain,

> though far from an extreme case, had been troubled

> by memory lapses. " I'd walk into a room and wonder,

> 'Why did I come in here again?' Or I'd put something

> down and not be able to remember for the life of me

> where I'd put it. "

>

> To the married, employed mother of two young

> children who also pursues demanding volunteer work,

> nothing less than the razor-sharp memory she once

> enjoyed was acceptable.

>

> Thanks to the " boot camp " program, she now has it

> back.

>

> " This memory problem was getting in the way, and now

> it's not, " she says. " I feel so much more

> conscious. "

>

> Other scientists are cautiously optimistic about

> Small's approach, the findings of which are largely

> subjective.

>

> " It sounds promising, " says Robert Wilson of Rush

> University Medical Center in Chicago. Wilson is a

> researcher on a long-term study of members of

> religious orders that has found that mentally

> stimulating lives can postpone memory problems.

> Fatty diets, sedentary living, stress and little

> mental challenge all have been linked to higher risk

> of dementia, Wilson says, " and so he may have hit on

> a good combination. "

>

> In addition to doing a larger study, Small plans to

> try just one or more of the four elements of the

> program in future studies to see whether one part is

> more important for certain types of memory.

>

>

>

================================================================

> SLEEP ESSENTIAL FOR CREATIVITY, STUDY CONFIRMS

>

================================================================

>

> In January 2004, a group of German researchers

> announced what they consider the first hard evidence

> that the mind continues solving problems during

> sleep and that the right answer may come more easily

> after eight hours of rest.

>

> " A single study never settles an issue once and for

> all, but I would say this study does advance the

> field significantly, " said Dr. Carl E. Hunt,

> director of the National Center on Sleep Disorders

> Research at the National Institutes of Health. " It's

> going to have potentially important results for

> children for school performance and for adults for

> work performance. "

>

> Scientists at the University of Luebeck in Germany

> found that volunteers taking a simple math test were

> three times more likely than sleep-deprived

> participants to figure out a hidden rule for

> converting the numbers into the right answer if they

> had had eight hours of sleep. The results were

> released in the journal Nature.

>

> The study involved 106 people divided into five

> separate groups of equal numbers of men and women

> ages 18 to 32. One group slept, another stayed awake

> all night, and a third stayed awake all day for

> eight-hour periods before testing following training

> in the main experiment. Two other groups were used

> in a supplemental experiment.

>

> The study participants performed a " number reduction

> task " according to two rules that allowed them to

> transform strings of eight digits into a new string

> that fit the rules. A third rule was hidden in the

> pattern, and researchers monitored the test subjects

> continuously to see when they figure out the third

> rule.

>

> The group that got eight hours of sleep before

> tackling the problem was nearly three times more

> likely to figure out the rule than the group that

> stayed awake at night.

>

> The changes leading to creativity or problem-solving

> insight occur during " slow wave " or deep sleep that

> typically occurs in the first four hours of the

> sleep cycle, Born said. " Even gradual decreases in

> the total time for slow wave sleep and deep sleep is

> correlated to a kind of decrease in memory function,

> and in turn to a decrease in the ability to

> recognize hidden structures or the awareness of such

> things. " The results also may explain the memory

> problems associated with aging because older people

> typically have trouble getting enough sleep,

> especially the kind of deep sleep needed to process

> memories, Born said.

>

>

>

================================================================

> THE MANY WAYS TO IMPROVE A CHILD'S BEHAVIOR AND

> ATTENTION SPAN

>

================================================================

>

> Thomas Armstrong (author of The Myth of the ADD

> Child) offers " 50 Ways to Improve Your Child's

> Behavior and Attention Span without Drugs, Labels,

> or Coercion " at his website,

> www.thomasarmstrong.com. Here are half of them:

>

> 1. Provide a balanced breakfast.

> 2. Consider the Feingold diet

> 3. Limit television and video games

> 4. Teach self-talk skills.

> 5. Find out what interests your child.

> 6. Promote a strong physical education program in

> your child's school.

> 7. Enroll your child in a martial arts program.

> 8. Discover your child's multiple intelligences

> (link)

> 9. Use background music to focus and calm.

> 10. Use color to highlight information.

> 11. Teach your child to visualize.

> 12. Remove allergens from the diet.

> 13. Provide opportunities for physical movement.

> 14. Enhance your child's self-esteem.

> 15. Find your child's best times of alertness.

> 16. Give instructions in attention-grabbing ways.

> 17. Provide a variety of stimulating learning

> activities.

> 18. Consider biofeedback training.

> 19. Activate positive career aspirations.

> 20. Teach your child physical-relaxation techniques.

> 21. Use incidental learning to teach.

> 22. Support full inclusion of your child in a

> regular classroom.

> 23. Provide positive role models.

> 24. Consider alternative schooling options.

> 25. Channel creative energy into the arts.

>

> " Over the past ten years, " Thomas writes, " attention

> deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit

> hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has emerged from the

> relative obscurity of cognitive psychologists'

> research laboratories to become the 'disease du

> jour' of America's schoolchildren. Accompanying this

> popularity has been a virtually complete acceptance

> of the validity of this 'disorder' by scientists,

> physicians, psychologists, educators, parents, and

> others.

>

> " Upon closer critical scrutiny, however, there is

> much to be troubled about concerning ADD/ADHD as a

> real medical diagnosis. There is no definitive

> objective set of criteria to determine who has

> ADD/ADHD and who does not. Rather, instead, there

> are a loose set of behaviors (hyperactivity,

> distractibility, and impulsivity) that combine in

> different ways to give rise to the 'disorder.' These

> behaviors are highly context-dependent. A child may

> be hyperactive while seated at a desk doing a boring

> worksheet, but not necessarily while singing in a

> school musical.

>

> " These behaviors are also very general in nature and

> give no clue as to their real origins. A child can

> be hyperactive because he's bored, depressed,

> anxious, allergic to milk, creative, a hands-on

> learner, has a difficult temperament, is stressed

> out, is driven by a media-mad culture, or any number

> of other possible causes. "

>

>

>

================================================================

> PAXIL VICTIMS' ATTORNEY APPLAUDS LAWSUIT BY NY

> ATTORNEY GENERAL

>

================================================================

>

> In response to the lawsuit filed June 2, 2004, by

> New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer against

> Glaxo SmithKline (GSK), which alleges that GSK

> suppressed evidence that Paxil failed to demonstrate

> efficacy and increases the risk of suicide in

> children and adolescents, Baum Hedlund attorney,

> Karen Barth Menzies, stated:

>

> " Hopefully this will set an example to other drug

> companies who are guilty of the same malfeasance.

> There is no difference between what GSK has done

> regarding Paxil and what Pfizer has done related to

> Zoloft. Quite frankly, there has been a huge fraud

> perpetrated against the public by these companies.

> They tout the benefits as huge and the risks as

> minimal in an extremely deceptive way. It's about

> time this fraud was exposed.

>

> " We have been trying for years to raise public

> awareness about these issues because we have seen,

> through our litigation, the secret internal company

> documents that no one ever gets to see, not even the

> FDA. Even now, we are prohibited, due to

> confidentiality orders, from disclosing these

> documents. But you can only hide the truth for so

> long. Too many people have been harmed by these

> drugs, too many lives have been shattered.

>

> " Internal company documents demonstrate that the

> companies have been well aware of their respective

> drugs' safety issues and that they lacked efficacy,

> however, they have continued to tout the drugs as

> highly effective, despite their risks. This has left

> doctors incapable of conducting a proper

> risk/benefit analysis. On the efficacy issues, one

> internal FDA document points out 'the lack of

> robustness' of the clinical evidence supporting

> Zoloft's efficacy ...' and stressed that the FDA

> itself might come 'under attack by constituencies

> that do not believe [the FDA] is as demanding as it

> ought to be in regard to its standards for

> establishing the efficacy of antidepressant drug

> products.' "

>

> A study published in 2002, which analyzed the

> clinical trial data submitted to the FDA to

> establish the efficacy of six of the most widely

> prescribed antidepressants (including Prozac, Paxil,

> and Zoloft), found the efficacy of these drugs to be

> 'clinically negligible.' (The Emperor's New Drugs:

> An Analysis of Antidepressant Medication Data

> Submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,

> by Irving Kirsch, Thomas J. Moore, Alan Scoboria,

> and Sarah S. Nicholls.) That is not to say the drugs

> have no effect, but that they lack effectiveness in

> treating the conditions for which they are

> prescribed (e.g., depression).

>

> Karen Barth Menzies, a partner in the national law

> firm of Baum Hedlund and a recent speaker at Safe

> Harbor's Non-Pharma III Conference, is the lead

> attorney on dozens of antidepressant (SSRI) suicide

> and violence cases and is spearheading the Paxil

> withdrawal/dependence cases in the United States.

> Ms. Menzies and her firm represent more than 5,000

> Paxil withdrawal victims. Her firm has been involved

> in SSRI-induced suicide/violence litigation for 14

> years. Ms. Menzies filed the first Paxil

> withdrawal/dependence class action against the

> makers of Paxil, Glaxo SmithKline, in 2001 and has

> subsequently filed class actions, mass joinders and

> individual death cases in over 25 states across the

> United States. She is Lead Counsel and a member of

> the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee in charge of the

> MDL-1574 in re Paxil Products Liability Litigation

> (Paxil withdrawal/dependence litigation).

>

> For background on the Paxil Withdrawal Litigation,

> see

> http://www.baumhedlundlaw.com/Paxil/paxilupdate.htm.

>

>

>

================================================================

> ABOUT ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM

>

================================================================

>

> ALTERNATIVEMENTALHEALTH.COM IS THE WORLD'S LARGEST

> WEB SITE DEVOTED exclusively to alternative mental

> health treatments. It includes a directory of over

> 300 physicians, nutritionists, experts,

> organizations, and facilities around the U.S. that

> offer or promote safe, alternative treatments for

> severe mental symptoms. Many of the physicians

> listed do in-depth examinations to find the physical

> causes behind mental problems.

>

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> topics ranging from the medical causes of

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>

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>

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>

> AlternativeMentalHealth.com has been created to

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> officials on the medical conditions that create

> " mental illness " and the many safe resources

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>

>

=====================================================================

>