Where's the Shame?

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" HSI - Jenny Thompson " <hsiresearch

HSI e-Alert - Where's the Shame?

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 13:30:58 -0500

 

 

 

HSI e-Alert - Where's the Shame?

 

Health Sciences Institute e-Alert

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February 07, 2006

 

 

Dear Reader,

 

Is it possible to surgically remove the ability to feel shame?

 

It must be. That's the only reasonable explanation that might account

for a recent petition submitted to the FDA by representatives for

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Wyeth is calling on the FDA to impose broad

restrictions on bioidentical hormones.

 

This is supposedly a safety issue, but Wyeth executives have an

obvious motive for trying to curb the use of this natural therapy.

Wyeth just happens to manufacture the synthetic hormone replacement

therapy (HRT) drugs Premarin and Prempro.

 

Sales of these drugs have dropped off considerably since the 2002

bombshell study that found they significantly increase the risk of

serious health problems, including breast cancer and heart attack. In

the past few years, many women have started using bioidentical

hormones as a safe and effective alternative to synthetic HRT.

 

So is this a safety issue, or a business issue? I'll let you make the

call on that one. But on this point there's no question: If Wyeth's

petition is successful, women may lose their right to choose between a

synthetic drug and a natural therapy.

 

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Finding the balance

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As the name implies, bioidentical hormones (derived from estrogen-like

plant compounds) are identical to natural hormones in the body. The

chemical makeup of synthetic HRT is not identical.

 

Jonathan V. Wright, M.D. was the first doctor in the U.S. to recommend

bioidentical hormones to his patients. Since 1982, Dr. Wright has been

prescribing this therapy with great success. In the May 2002 issue of

his Nutrition & Healing Newsletter, Dr. Wright offered some hormone

basics, beginning with three primary types of estrogen that are

present in a woman's body between the onset of menstruation and

menopause: estrone, estradiol, and estriol.

 

Dr. Wright explains: " It's been found that estradiol, when prescribed

by itself (as sometimes happens in conventional HRT) can raise the

risk of cancer after several years. Estriol, on the other hand, is

anti-carcinogenic. Healthy women naturally excrete much more estriol

than estradiol and estrone. But when hormone production slows down

during menopause, it's important to replace all three estrogens in the

same proportions your body would produce on its own if it could.

 

" With natural hormone replacement therapy, these estrogens are used

along with natural progesterone in proportions as close as possible to

those produced in the body. "

 

As Dr. Wright notes, pharmaceutical progesterone raises the risk of

heart problems, whereas natural progesterone provides the same

benefits, but virtually no risks. According to Dr. Wright, the natural

form also helps rebuild bone mass, another key advantage over using

synthetic.

 

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In her own words

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Many HSI members are already familiar with bioidentical hormones. In

an HSI Healthier Talk community forum thread, a member named Seana

shares her experiences with synthetic and bioidentical therapies.

 

" I have been on a variety of hormone replacement options over the

years. Regardless of what I tried, I had many unwanted side effects

(acne, sweating, fluid retention, etc. etc.). After reading up on

bio-identical estrogen, I asked to be switched to a bio-identical

tri-estrogen compound. All side effects I experienced with other

therapies went away almost immediately.

 

" I have been very happy with the results whereas I had been miserable

for years with other therapies. My doctor prescribes these

bio-identical hormones through a compounding pharmacy called Women's

International Pharmacy. They mail me both the estrogen and

testosterone each month. "

 

A compounding pharmacy prepares customized medications, following

specific guidelines prescribed by doctors. According to a press

release from the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists

(IACP), the Wyeth petition inaccurately charges compounding pharmacies

with " trying to dupe an unsuspecting patient population. " And the

press release adds: " To suggest that pharmacists who prepare

customized medicines based on doctors' orders are duping patients is

an insult to all physicians, patients and pharmacists. "

 

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Leading the way

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In April 2006, FDA officials will make a decision on how to proceed

with the Wyeth petition. Until then, the agency will accept comments

from interested parties on the bioidentical hormone issue.

 

If you're a doctor or a woman who's had an experience with

bioidentical hormone use and would like to submit an opinion with the

FDA, you can do so until April 4, 2006. Use this link to file comments:

 

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/dockets/comments/commentsmain.cfm?EC_DO\

CUMENT_ID=794 & SUBTYP=NEXT & CID= & AGENCY=FDA

 

For more information about bioidentical hormone therapy, you can visit

the web site for Dr. Wright's clinic: tahoma-clinic.com.

 

 

 

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....and another thing

 

You're teeth aren't truly clean until bacteria is addressed. And

there's a simple way to do that.

 

An HSI member named George writes: " Can you comment on using hydrogen

peroxide on one's teeth and gums to inhibit periodontal disease? "

 

As I've mentioned in previous e-Alerts, alternative medicine pioneer

William Campbell Douglass II, M.D., recommends using a hydrogen

peroxide (H2O2) solution as a mouthwash twice daily. This is an

excellent way to neutralize bacteria that develop along the gum line

and contribute to periodontitis.

 

If allowed to build up, these bacteria may accumulate in the throat.

If the immune system is not functioning at optimum levels, these

bacteria can trigger respiratory problems such as pneumonia.

 

According to several different sources, a mouthwash of H2O2 solution

is easy to make. Mix one ounce of 35 percent food-grade hydrogen

peroxide with 11 ounces of water. For flavoring, a few drops of liquid

chlorophyll can be added. But a word of caution: Do not allow

undiluted hydrogen peroxide to come into contact with your skin while

mixing the solution.

 

To Your Good Health,

 

Jenny Thompson

 

 

 

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Sources:

 

" IACP Finds Numerous Flaws With Wyeth Citizen Petition Regarding

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy " International Academy of

Compounding Pharmacists press release, 10/27/05, prnewswire.com

" Stop Wyeth and the FDA from Denying Your Right to Choose

Bio-identical Hormones " American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine,

worldhealth.net

" News Flash on Hot Flashes: Think Twice Before Undergoing Synthetic

Hormone Replacement Therapy " Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Nutrition &

Healing, Vol. 9, No. 5, May 2002, wrightnewsletter.com

 

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