Guest guest Posted September 5, 2004 Report Share Posted September 5, 2004 --- Safe Harbor <ezine wrote: > Safe Harbor > <ezine > Alternative Mental Health News -- Issue 50 > Sun, 5 Sep 2004 15:41:27 -0400 (EDT) > --------------------------- > > THE ALTERNATIVE MENTAL HEALTH NEWS > Issue 50, September 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. > > Did someone forward this ezine to you? You can > receive your own copies of the Alternative Mental > Health News directly. Use the sign-up form at > http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/signup.htm > > You can also e-mail your request to... > 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. ANNOUNCEMENT: DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER, DR. DORIS > RAPP > HEADLINE SAFE HARBOR EVENT, OCT. 7 > 4. ANNOUNCEMENT: SAFE HARBOR LOS ANGELES TALK AND > SUPPORT GROUP, SEP. 8 > 5. ANNOUNCEMENT: FREE PFEIFFER SEMINARS ON MOOD, > LEARNING > AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS > 6. ANNOUNCEMENT: 6-WEEK WORKSHOP IN CHINO, > CALIFORNIA > TO DISCUSS PHYSICAL CAUSES UNDERLYING MENTAL > DISORDERS > 7. ANNOUNCEMENT: SAFE HARBOR TO PRESENT AT > ALTERNATIVES 2004 CONFERENCE, DENVER, OCT. 14 > 8. ARTICLE: GRANT AWARDED FOR NATUROPATHIC MENTAL > HEALTH TREATMENTS > 9. ARTICLE: CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN PHARMACEUTICAL > COMPANIES > HITS NEW LOW > 10. ARTICLE: STUDY CORRELATES HYPERACTIVITY > WITH FOOD COLORINGS, PRESERVATIVES > 11. ARTICLE: FDA FOLLOW-UP STUDY CONFIRMS CHILD > SUICIDE RISKS > 12. ARTICLE: EAT TO BEAT DEPRESSION > 13. ARTICLE: CHILDREN+VITAMINS=INCREASED SCHOOL > ATTENDANCE > 14. ARTICLE: MERCURY TO BE BANNED FROM BABY VACCINES > IN BRITAIN > 15. ARTICLE: PROZAC FOUND IN BRITAIN'S DRINKING > WATER > 16. TESTIMONIAL: BIPOLAR RECOVERY THROUGH SAFE > HARBOR > 17. HELP THROUGH SAFE HARBOR > 18. 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 COMMENT > ===================================================================== > > At the end of this month's issue you will find two > testimonials about two people whom Safe Harbor has > helped. It makes my day every time one comes across > my desk because it let's me know that we are > fulfilling our slogan of " Changing lives every day. " > > On many a call that I receive, it is not uncommon > for me to ask the person to keep me posted on his or > her progress as the person walks that sunlit road to > wellness. Months go by. Then the call or email > comes in, commonly beginning with, " You may not > remember me, but... " And, yes, I do remember them. > > I have often told my children that I believe it is > incumbent upon all of us to contribute more to life > than we take out of it, so that at the end of our > days, we can look back and know that the world is > better off for us having passed through. > > For those of us at Safe Harbor, our way of making > that better world is to do all we can to point the > way to recovery for so many who suffer from deep > emotional and mental turmoil. > > We donate our time, sometimes our evenings and our > weekends, and often from our own pockets to keep > this work robust and to reach as many as we can with > our message of hope. > > But running a nonprofit requires more than just hard > work and good hearts. In our society, we have bills > to pay for our phones, postage, stationery, travel > costs, printing, equipment, and a host of other > small and large items. In short, we require money. > > We make one annual effort at fundraising and that > time is now, culminating in our Fourth Annual Awards > Benefit (see below). Many individuals have donated > their time and talent to make this event happen. > All of those who will be presenting want to see Safe > Harbor's efforts prosper in the world. > > You can help by buying your tickets early, buying > them for someone else, helping us cover the cost of > the event or by generously donating to our cause in > general. Our target is to raise $250,000 because > there is so much more work to do. > > The next time we publish one of those emails that > starts, " You may not remember me, but... " I hope > that it can bring a smile to your face, knowing > that, through your donations, you too are changing > lives every day. > > ===================================================================== > ANNOUNCEMENT: DR. LAURA SCHLESSINGER, DR. DORIS RAPP > HEADLINE SAFE HARBOR EVENT, OCT. 7 > ===================================================================== > > Mark your calendar for October 7, Safe Harbor's > remarkable Fourth Annual Awards Benefit - this year > featuring three internationally-recognized 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 - THIS EVENT IS GENERATING A LOT > OF BUZZ SO BOOK EARLY! > > > THIS EVENT WILL NOT BE VIDEOED - THIS IS A ONE-TIME > OPPORTUNITY! > > > 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 online at > https://nt7.corpsite.com/secure_alternative/conference.htm > or at (323) 257-7338 or mail checks to Safe Harbor, > 1718 Colorado Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90041. > > ===================================================================== > SAFE HARBOR LOS ANGELES TALK AND SUPPORT GROUP, SEP. > 8 > ===================================================================== > > Come see a showing of " Underlying Physical Causes of > Mental Disorders " by Dan Stradford, president of > Safe Harbor. This talk was originally delivered and > taped in Boston. > > We also meet for an hour for our support group. > > 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 Eagle Rock section of Los > Angeles. Parking is available on Colorado Blvd. 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 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 > > ===================================================================== > ANNOUNCEMENT: FREE PFEIFFER SEMINARS ON ROLE OF > NUTRIENTS IN MOOD, LEARNING AND BEHAVIOR DISORDERS > ===================================================================== > > Learn about the benefits of nutrient therapy for > ADD/HD, Autism, Behavior Disorders, Depression, > Anxiety, and Schizophrenia. > > Two Free 2-hour seminars > > Monday and Tuesday, September 20th and 21st, 6:30 pm > to 8:30 pm > > Embassy Suites Hotel > 150 Anza Blvd. > Burlingame, CA > 650-342-4600 (for directions only) > > Dr. Bill Walsh and his team from the Pfeiffer > Treatment Center will share their work on the > Peninsula. The Pfeiffer Treatment Center > (Naperville, Ill.) has treated over 18,000 children > and adults with nutritional therapies for a wide > range of behavioral and mental health disorders. > Dr. Walsh will speak at the Embassy Suites Hotel in > Burlingame, CA (150 Anza Blvd.) on Monday and > Tuesday evenings, Sept. 20th and 21st from 6:30 p.m. > to 8:30 p.m. His seminar, " The Role of Nutrients in > Mood, Learning and Behavior Disorders, " is free. > Monday's seminar will focus on mental health and > behavioral disorders, while Tuesday's seminar will > be on Autistic Spectrum Disorders. > > For more seminar information call 630-505-0300. > > ===================================================================== > ANNOUNCEMENT: 6-WEEK WORKSHOP IN CHINO, CALIFORNIA, > TO DISCUSS PHYSICAL CAUSES UNDERLYING MENTAL > DISORDERS > ===================================================================== > > Learn the science behind nutritional treatments for > mental disorders in a series of Saturday morning > workshops with: > > * Nancy Mullan, MD, Burbank psychiatrist > * Stuart Shipko, MD, Pasadena psychiatrist > * Prof. James Croxton, educator, physiological > psychology > * Dan Stradford, President of Safe Harbor > > Week 1: Stress and Neurological Structures and > Processes > Week 2: Nutritional Factors Relative to Brain > Structure and Function > Week 3: Hormonal Issues, Cerebral Allergies, and > Food Intolerances > Week 4: How Pollutants and Toxins Affect Brain > Function > Week 5: Medical Causes of Mental Disorders > Week 6: Resources for Alternative Mental Health > Care > > PLUS hear the personal stories of people who have > recovered from mental disorders through nutrition, > diet changes, and other natural means. > > Presented by NAMI (National Alliance for the > Mentally Ill) Chino Valley (formerly NAMI Chino > Hills), in partnership with Safe Harbor, the > nation's leading nonprofit agency for > non-pharmaceutical mental health education. > > Schedule: Each Saturday, Sept. 25 through Oct. 30, > 2004, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM. > > Location: 6251 Schaefer Ave., Unit G, Chino, > California. > Fee (all six weeks): $38 / two attendees together: > $58. > Each additional family member: $10. > Seating is limited, so register early! > > Phone numbers: > NAMI: (909)923-7517 > Safe Harbor: (323) 257-7338 > > Make checks payable to " Safe Harbor " or " NAMI Chino > Valley " and send to Safe Harbor, 1718 Colorado > Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90041 > > VISA, MasterCard, AMEX accepted. > > For more information contact > www.alternativementalhealth.com or call the above > numbers. > > ===================================================================== > SAFE HARBOR TO PRESENT AT ALTERNATIVES 2004 > CONFERENCE, DENVER, OCT. 14 > ===================================================================== > > Safe Harbor New York chapter president Dana Barnes > and Safe Harbor founder Dan Stradford will present a > workshop at the Alternatives 2004 Conference in > Denver, Colorado, on Thursday, October 14, from 2:00 > PM to 3:15 PM. The topic will be " Natural > Alternatives for Mental Health Recovery. " > > Alternatives 2004 is a national mental health > conference organized by and for mental health > consumers. This year's theme is " Achieving the > Promise of Recovery: New Freedom, New Power, New > Hope. " For more information on the conference, go > to http://www.mhselfhelp.org/alt2004.html > > ===================================================================== > GRANT AWARDED FOR NATUROPATHIC MENTAL HEALTH > TREATMENTS > ===================================================================== > > The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester was > recently awarded a $40,000 Ittleson Foundation grant > designated to support the agency's efforts to > integrate naturopathic medicine among the array of > treatments available for behavioral and mental > health concerns. The two-year grant will support > efforts to develop a program model, treatment > protocols and educational materials that can be > replicated by other mental health programs > throughout the country. > > A year ago, The Center became one of the first > community mental health centers in the United States > to offer naturopathic medicine as a treatment > option. At a time when more people are seeking > alternatives to traditional medical care and, in > particular, looking to rely less on medication to > manage their symptoms, the demand for complementary > therapies like those provided by naturopathic > medicine is growing. > > According to The Center's Medical Director, Daniel > P. Potenza, MD, " The Ittleson Foundation grant > affords us an exciting and unique opportunity to > establish a first-of-its-kind program model. Dr. > Jeffrey Sager, the naturopathic doctor on our staff, > will be developing the program model, treatment > protocols, educational and program development > materials that will be an invaluable tool for other > mental health organizations locally and nationally > who want to replicate the program. " > > Dr. Sager, a licensed doctor of naturopathic > medicine, joined the staff of The Center's Bedford > Counseling Associates one year ago. He is also on > the staff of the Center for Life Management, the > community mental health agency located in Derry. > > Since 1932, The Ittleson Foundation has been serving > the needs of the underprivileged and providing > resources for not-for-profit organizations. Today, > The Foundation continues a commitment to bringing a > " venture capital " approach to philanthropy and is > particularly interested in the areas of mental > health, AIDS, and the environment. > > For more information regarding Naturopathic Medicine > services, contact The Mental Health Center of > Greater Manchester at (603) 668-4111 or visit > www.mhcgm.org. > > ===================================================================== > CONSUMER CONFIDENCE IN PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES HITS > NEW LOW > ===================================================================== > > Pharmaceutical companies were ranked in the bottom > half of industries considered to be doing " a good > job of serving their consumers, " 11th out of 15 in a > recent Harris Poll; only health insurance companies, > oil companies, managed care companies, and tobacco > companies had a worse ranking. The annual poll, of > 978 adults, shows that the proportion of respondents > saying they have a positive attitude towards the > pharmaceutical industry fell from 79% in 1997 to 44% > in 2004 - a bigger drop than for any other industry. > See www.harrisinteractive.com/. > > ===================================================================== > STUDY CORRELATES HYPERACTIVITY WITH FOOD COLORINGS, > PRESERVATIVES > ===================================================================== > > The results of a double blind, placebo-controlled > study of the impact of artificial food colorings and > benzoate preservatives on hyperactivity in preschool > children by B. Bateman et al, University of > Southampton, UK, were published in the June 2004 > issue of " Arch. Dis. Child " > (http://adc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/89/6/506, > http://adc.bmjjournals.com/cgi/reprint/89/6/506.pdf). > > After a baseline assessment for allergies and > hyperactivity symptoms, a sample of 1,873 > 3-year-olds were given a benzoate-free and > artificial coloring-free diet for one week, followed > by periods of either a placebo or a drink containing > 20 mg daily of artificial colorings and 45 mg daily > of sodium benzoate. > > Behavior was assessed by parents' ratings. There > were significant reductions in reported hyperactive > behavior during the one-week withdrawal phase, with > significantly greater increases in hyperactive > behavior resulting from being fed the chemicals than > from the placebo. > > The researchers concluded that artificial food > coloring and benzoate preservatives have a general > adverse effect on the behavior of 3-year-old > children, detectable by parents though not by a > simple clinic assessment. These results held true > for the whole population regardless of history of > atopy (allergic reactions), hyperactivity, both, or > neither. > > ===================================================================== > FDA FOLLOW-UP STUDY CONFIRMS CHILD SUICIDE RISKS > ===================================================================== > > Six months ago the Food and Drug Administration > withheld an internal finding that antidepressant > medications were associated with an increased risk > of suicide among children, pending the results of a > second staff analysis. Those results are in, reports > the Wall Street Journal, and the news is not good. > > Agency officials continued to withhold publication > of the data pending a scheduled meeting in > September. By then, the FDA will have dragged out > its deliberations nine full months after British > authorities warned physicians not to prescribe > Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, and similar drugs to > depressed children. > > Steven Hyman, former director of the National > Institute of Mental Health, reviewed both FDA > internal analyses at the request of The Washington > Post and voiced " concern about the risk-benefit > ratio of antidepressants in children. " Prior to > reviewing the documents, Hyman had thought the > British authorities were overreacting. > > " It would be premature to discuss any conclusions > and results, " said FDA spokeswoman Kathleen Quinn. > " Other people are going to have an opinion about it, > but we are still reviewing it. " > > The new analysis does little to allay the concerns > of district attorneys and other public officials > that crucial information about the safety and > effectiveness of the drugs has been withheld from > public scrutiny. Two-thirds of the trials conducted > by drug manufacturers found that the medications > performed no better than sugar pills, but details of > the negative trials were kept from doctors and > parents under the claim of safeguarding drug > companies' trade secrets. > > Joseph Glenmullen, a Harvard psychiatrist and author > of Prozac Backlash, a book about the side effects of > antidepressants, said one company, Wyeth, had itself > warned doctors not to prescribe its antidepressant > Effexor for children, adding: " The companies are > coming to this conclusion, and the British came to > this conclusion, and the Canadians and the rest of > Europe and the FDA's own reviewer have come to this > conclusion; why have they dragged their feet for > over a year? " > > The new " interim review " by FDA medical reviewer > Tarek A. Hammad is a compilation of data with no > narrative or interpretation. But both Hyman and > Glenmullen said it showed an increased risk for > children taking the drugs similar to that found in > February by another FDA scientist, Andrew Mosholder. > > Hammad's review found that compared with depressed > children who got placebos, children under > antidepressants were 1.78 times as likely to attempt > suicide or prepare for suicide. Mosholder found that > children getting antidepressants had 1.9 times the > risk of " serious suicide-related events. " > > In a memo dated Feb. 18, Mosholder warned the new > analysis would waste time: " In my view, it is > unlikely that the new information will alter the > basic finding of an association of ... serious > suicide-related events with active treatment. " > > Given the risks, he urged the agency to take the > interim step of officially discouraging the use of > antidepressants other than Prozac for children. The > FDA declined to do so but called for stronger > warning labels to remind doctors to be vigilant > about suicide. For more than a decade, the agency > has said that depression, not antidepressants, > causes suicidal behavior. > > Multiple congressional investigations are underway > into the controversy. The chairman of the Senate > Finance Committee, Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa), > said in August: " ...it's fair to ask if the Food and > Drug Administration is taking too much time to draw > a conclusion. " > > Glenmullen pointed out that no antidepressant apart > from Prozac had demonstrated superiority to placebos > in treating children's depression. This may be why > the British authorities excluded Prozac from their > warning to doctors. The subject of their warning was > that drugs, despite the billions being spent on > them, did no measurable good at all - and increased > suicidal behavior significantly. > > All the company-sponsored trials, according to > Hyman, excluded children who were suicidal to begin > with. Thus the negative impact of these drugs - > Prozac included - could be a great deal worse than > disclosed in the reports that prompted British > authorities to act. > > ===================================================================== > EAT TO BEAT DEPRESSION > ===================================================================== > > Almost half of adults in the UK eat to stifle > feelings of loneliness, boredom and stress, finds a > recent survey of 2,000 people. Yet, ironically, > eating the right foods, plus appropriate > supplementation, may be the very answer to beating > the blues. > > America's CBS News recently reported on the > breakthroughs being made in the treatment of > depression by Patrick Holford's Brain Bio Centre at > the Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London. This > short film follows the success story of a > 21-year-old girl who experienced severe side-effects > and withdrawal effects on anti-depressants and has > found incredible improvement through the Brain Bio > Centre's diet and supplement strategy. > > You can download the film and see it for yourself at > www.mentalhealthproject.com. > > Also see the new and expanded > www.patrickholford.com. > > ===================================================================== > CHILDREN + VITAMINS = INCREASED SCHOOL ATTENDANCE > ===================================================================== > > Murrieta, CA - Teacher Johnnie Hill of Haworth, OK > has been distributing Vitamin Relief USA > vitamins everyday in her classroom for three years. > She reports, " We had a very severe flu outbreak in > our area this [past] winter. Some schools in our > area closed due to high absenteeism. But because of > the vitamins, not a single student in my classroom > became ill. The students also seem to learn > better...[which] may be related to the fact they are > here every day. " > > Ms. Hill is just one of hundreds of teachers and > parents praising Vitamin Relief USA, a national > initiative of The Healthy Foundation, which provides > free daily multi-vitamins to thousands of at-risk > children throughout the country. In fact, half of > all parents participating in this year's Vitamin > Relief USA observational survey reported that > their children were sick less often since taking > daily vitamins. Almost one-third said their children > earned higher grades. But the good news didn't stop > there. Marked improvements in the behavior, energy, > appetites, and self-image of almost 2,900 children > were also reported. > > " Though this is only an observational survey, > reports from teachers and parents indicate that many > children taking our daily vitamins show noticeable > improvements within 30 days. In addition, children > who have taken our daily vitamins for three years > exhibit even greater improvements - particularly in > immune strength. " states Michael Morton, Executive > Director of The Healthy Foundation. > > In December 2002, Congress awarded The Healthy > Foundation an earmarked appropriation of $500,000 to > conduct a scientific research study to measure the > impact of vitamin intake on at-risk youth and their > school performance. " Next year, we look forward to > presenting the conclusive results of this study > which will substantiate through formal research the > impact that daily vitamins have on at-risk children > and their academic performance. " > > The Healthy Foundation provides daily vitamins to > nearly 17,000 at-risk children at over 500 sites in > 40 states. Its national initiative, Vitamin Relief > USA - Children First, is a public/private > partnership that distributes daily children's > chewable multivitamin/mineral supplements to > children at risk for malnutrition and nutrient > deficiency. Other Vitamin Relief USA programs > include Senior Support which provides daily > multi-vitamins to 1,000 low-income seniors in > Riverside, CA. and Healthy Families which > provides daily vitamins to almost 2,400 at-risk > teens and adults. > > The Healthy Foundation, a tax-exempt, non-profit > foundation, is committed to improving the health > status of children, seniors and adults through > vitamin supplementation. To support The Healthy > Foundation or for further information, please call > 877-935-5348 or visit www.vitaminrelief.org. > > ===================================================================== > MERCURY TO BE BANNED FROM BABY VACCINES IN BRITAIN > ===================================================================== > > Mercury will be banned from vaccines given to > babies, Britain's Department of Health announced > Aug. 6, responding to fears of links between the > metal and autism. > > Doctors nationwide are being contacted over changes > to the infant vaccine program for eight-week-old > children. They are also being told to switch from a > live polio vaccine taken orally to an injection to > avoid rare cases of contamination. The injection, to > be administered at two months of age, will combat > diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hib and polio. > > The whooping cough vaccine had contained a form of > mercury called thiomersal. > > John Hutton, a health minister, said: " I can confirm > that later this year we will be introducing a new > form of childhood vaccination for diphtheria, > tetanus, whooping cough, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae > type b) and polio. " > > ===================================================================== > PROZAC FOUND IN BRITAIN'S DRINKING WATER > ===================================================================== > > Britain's Environment Agency has revealed that > Prozac is building up both in river systems and > groundwater used for drinking supplies, The Observer > reported Aug. 8. > > Environmentalists are calling for an urgent > investigation into the revelations, characterizing > the antidepressant accumulation as " hidden mass > medication. " The government's chief environment > watchdog recently held a series of meetings with the > pharmaceutical industry to discuss any repercussions > for human health or the ecosystem. > > The discovery raises fresh fears that GPs are > overprescribing Prozac, Britain's antidepressant of > choice, according to The Observer article. In the > decade up to 2001, overall prescriptions of > antidepressants rose from nine million to 24 million > a year. Prozac was the only leading antidepressant > not covered by the British government's warning to > doctors not to prescribe these mind-altering > chemicals to children due to suicide risks. > > A recent report by the Environment Agency concluded > Prozac could be potentially toxic in the water > table. Whether or not it has reached toxic levels > remains unknown. The government's Drinking Water > Inspectorate (DWI) was optimistic that the drug > would be too " watered down " to be toxic. > > Dr Andy Croxford, the Environment's Agency's policy > manager for pesticides, told The Observer: " We need > to determine the effects of this low-level, almost > continuous discharge. " > > Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrats' environment > spokesman, said the revelations exposed a failing by > the government on an important public health issue. > He added that the public should be told if they were > inadvertently taking drugs like Prozac. > > " This looks like a case of hidden mass medication > upon the unsuspecting public, " Baker said. " It is > alarming that there is no monitoring of levels of > Prozac and other pharmacy residues in our drinking > water. " > > Experts say that Prozac finds its way into rivers > and water systems from treated sewage water. > > European studies have also expressed disquiet over > the impact of pharmaceuticals building up in the > environment, warning that an effect on wildlife and > human health " cannot be excluded. " > > " Advanced treatment processes installed for > pesticide removal are effective in removing drug > residues, " a DWI spokesman said. > > ===================================================================== > TESTIMONIAL: BIPOLAR RECOVERY THROUGH SAFE HARBOR > ===================================================================== > > I feel that I have been extremely blessed by finding > the nutritional information on > AlternativeMentalHealth.com. My life was a wreck of > constant chaos and drama before I figured out I > could use a healthy diet and nutritional supplements > to heal my mental problems. I couldn't finish school > and constantly ran from one interest to another, not > finishing anything. I couldn't get into healthy > long-lasting relationships - I had drama > relationships. For many years I dropped most of my > classes in junior college every semester, and then > started again the next semester. I couldn't > concentrate or focus. I had mood problems. I got > suicidal thoughts for two days right before my > period every month. One cup of coffee could send me > into a elevated rush where I couldn't fall asleep > all night. I was hospitalized five times in the > county mental health system, about once a year. > > My family gave up on me and finally kicked me out of > the family. They made me go to a special residential > program - which I don't recommend because they cost > $5,000 a month and don't use nutritional medicine. > That program, despite the huge cost, didn't work. I > then became homeless. Then I was put in the system > and was put on SSI. I was diagnosed first with ADD, > then as bipolar, and then bipolar with > schizoaffective. I was aimless in the system on > medication. I still had problems with life, and had > major food and internet and shopping addictions. My > life was going nowhere and I felt the huge burden of > stigma from society. I felt like an outcast and that > no one would love me or understand me because I was > not well on meds and I was going nowhere. At least > at this point I did have a roof over my head, and > less stress because I didn't have to go to school or > work. > > Then one day I decided to use Google to search for > alternative treatments for mental illness. I found > this website and started to research the > information. Also, by chance, an acquaintance > recommended that I read Julia Ross's book The Diet > Cure. I read The Diet Cure cover to cover in a > period of one or two days really thoroughly. I > decided that it sounded a little too good to be > true, but I thought I would go out and buy the > supplies and give it a chance. I already knew I had > a gluten allergy because I had been tested in grade > school. And my mom fed me organic veggies as a kid. > So part of it already made sense. I took out a loan > and bought all of the food and supplements I thought > I would need. There were a lot of them. I went to > work and started following the diet exactly. I cut > out all sugar, wheat, dairy, chocolate, and > caffeine. Incidentally, I never do alcohol or drugs > so I didn't have to quit those. > > After that my whole life changed around. I started > being much more friendly and out-going. I started > going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. I had > control of going to sleep when I wanted to for the > first time in years. The drugs never quite > accomplished that. This was a major victory for me > because I know that one of the major precursors to > having my manias with delusional features was losing > a night of sleep. I was always scared to lose sleep > because I feared going nuts the next day. The next > major thing I noticed, besides being in a good mood > most of the time and being able to focus much, much > better, was that I lost about 40 pounds. I went from > a pants size of 13 down to a size seven or 10, > depending on the brand. I had much, much more energy > and constantly just felt exuberant and joyful about > taking very long walks outside. I started working > part-time to pay for my organic food and > supplements. This was also a miracle because I had > always been too apathetic to really hold down a job. > I'm an artist and I started painting big acrylic > paintings on canvas. I had always been encouraged in > the arts by my family, but had never actually made > much artwork. I drew maybe one picture a year at the > most, most of my life. After I changed my diet I > started painting all the time on a regular basis and > I've shown my work twice since. I've painted at > least 30 full paintings and some of them are quite > large, around 30 by 40 inches. I started studying > nutrition at an accredited nutrition college, but I > plan on studying it in a independent study style to > give me more free time and flexibility to make more > artwork and develop my creative talents. > > My relationships have blossomed and I have held onto > and maintained many real friendships with people who > are my good friends in good times and bad. I have > completely changed my role in my family from the > " problem child " to the supportive, happy, > enthusiastic-about-life grown woman that I am now. I > actually get along with my family now, which is a > total miracle. I never could get along with my > mother very well my whole life. > > We actually can have a good time with each other and > laugh now. I've had one long-term relationship that > was meaningful and lasted around a year. > > All in all, I feel that I've worked hard to create a > state of wellness for myself in most aspects of my > life. I feel that wellness is a process that one has > to work on every day. I still work on my nutrition, > my relationships, and my work every day. And I > don't take it for granted. I'm very thankful and > grateful that I found this information about > nutrition that I feel saved my life. I feel very > happy and fulfilled in many ways and it wouldn't be > possible with out AlternativeMentalHealth.com. > > ===================================================================== > HELP THROUGH SAFE HARBOR > ===================================================================== > > Dear Safe Harbor, > > We have a patient who came to us after looking us up > on your site. He was depressed, anxious and on > several psychiatric medications. In the last 21/2 > months, he is off his medication. He is doing so > much better emotionally. He is happier, less > anxious, sleeps better and has hope for the future. > Thank you for being there and referring others to > get help. > > Sincerely, > > The office of Dr. Anita Pepi, DC, Los Angeles > > ===================================================================== > 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. > > Also included on the site is an array of articles on > topics ranging from the medical causes of > schizophrenia to the effects of toxic metals on > mental health. > > Special AlternativeMentalHealth.com T-shirts and > bumper stickers are available at our online store. > > A bookstore page lists top books that cover many > areas of alternative treatments with titles like > " Natural Healing for Schizophrenia and Other Common > Mental Disorders " and " No More Ritalin. " > > AlternativeMentalHealth.com has been created to > educate the public, practitioners, and government > officials on the medical conditions that create > " mental illness " and the many safe resources > available for addressing and often curing severe > mental symptoms. > > ===================================================================== > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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