Science Confirms Benefits of Herbal Brews

Researchers Say, "Drink Up!"

Enjoy your next cup of herbal tea while toasting to better health. U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded researchers have confirmed the science-based health benefits of three of Americans’ favorite herbal teas. Chamomile Herbal Tea has long been said to soothe a troubled belly and restless mind. After reviewing scientific literature on the herb’s beneficial bioactivity, the study team published an article in Agricultural Research describing test-tube evidence that the beverage also offers moderate antimicrobial and significant anti-platelet-clumping action. They found that peppermint tea also shows significant antimicrobial, plus antiviral, antioxidant and antitumor actions, and even some antiallergenic potential. After reviewing human clinical trials, the researchers further reported that drinking hibiscus tea lowered blood pressure in a group of pre-hypertensive and mildly hypertensive adults.

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Study shows medical marijuana laws reduce traffic deaths

A groundbreaking new study shows that laws legalizing medical marijuana have resulted in a nearly nine percent drop in traffic deaths and a five percent reduction in beer sales.


"Our research suggests that the legalization of medical marijuana reduces traffic fatalities through reducing alcohol consumption by young adults," said Daniel Rees, professor of economics at the University of Colorado Denver who co-authored the study with D. Mark Anderson, assistant professor of economics at Montana State University.

Read More....

Following on Twitter - Dr. John L Turner

Medicine, Miracles, and Manifestations: A Doctor's Journey Through the Worlds of Divine Intervention, Near-Death Experiences and Universal Energy is a nonfiction narrative about the surgical career and spiritual quest of Dr. John L. Turner and his evolutionary journey into the field of Integral Medicine. After graduating from the Ohio State University with a degree in engineering physics, Dr. Turner continued in graduate school at the Ohio State University, Department of Physics.

Three years into the PhD program, he was given a book about Edgar Cayce, The Sleeping Prophet. This changed the course of his life! He was excited about the existence of a spiritual world and made immediate plans to attend the Ohio State University's College of Medicine where he earned his M.D. He completed his internship year in general surgery and his first year neurosurgical residency at Ohio State University. He completed the remaining four years of neurosurgical training at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Read More....

Dr. John L Turner - Twitter
Dr. John L Turner - Website
Dr. John L Turner - Facebook

Celine Dion returning to Vegas for 3-year stint

By Oskar Garcia, Associated Press

LAS VEGAS — Celine Dion is returning to the Las Vegas Strip in 2011 to begin a three-year run at Caesars Palace.

The Grammy award-winning singer announced Wednesday she'll return to the 4,300-seat Colosseum, home of her previous show, A New Day. It grossed more than $400 million and was seen by nearly 3 million fans over five years before closing in December 2007.

The new show begins March 15, 2011, with tickets for the first 54 performances going on sale Friday. Officials say ticket prices will range from $55 to $250 before taxes and fees. Read More....

Brittany Murphy's death ruled an accident

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Actress Brittany Murphy's death was an accident caused by a combination of pneumonia, an iron deficiency and "multiple drug intoxication," the Los Angeles County coroner said Thursday.

The 32-year-old actress was found dead in her Hollywood Hills, California, home December 20.

The short statement issued by the coroner's office Thursday did not list the drugs involved, but assistant chief Ed Winter told CNN no illegal drugs were found in Murphy's system.

The full autopsy report would be available within two weeks, the coroner's office said.

The primary cause of death was "community acquired pneumonia," but drugs found by the toxicology screening were believed to "play a role in her death," said coroner's spokesman Craig Harvey. "They just were not the primary cause, so they figured into the cause of death, so that's why it's an accidental death." Read More....

Jets Owner’s Daughter Died of a Complication of Diabetes

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Casey Johnson, a daughter of the Jets’ owner, Woody Johnson, died of a complication of diabetes, the Los Angeles County coroner said Thursday.

Johnson, 30, died of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is caused by a lack of insulin and very high blood sugar, the coroner’s office said in a brief statement.

Johnson’s body was found at her home Jan. 4, and an autopsy was performed the next day. The coroner’s office said it would not be able to discuss specifics until the autopsy report and toxicology results become available within two weeks.

A message left for a family spokesman was not immediately returned.

Johnson had been an insulin-dependent diabetic since childhood. Read More....

'Bone-Crushing' Fever Risk MUCH Greater Threat than Swine Flu

Posted by Dr. Mercola

According to the World Health Organization, there are about 50 million new cases of dengue fever around the world each year and about 2.5 billion people, two-fifths of the world's population, are at risk.

Dengue fever is a threat to people in more than 100 countries. It is a flu-like disease that produces a high fever, pain in the eyes and joint aches that can last a week.

Dr. Renu Daval-Drager of the World Health Organization says some cases of what is sometimes called "break bone fever" can be fatal. Read More....

Your Complexion Reveals How Good Your Diet and Health Is

Posted by Dr. Mercola

Researchers have found that your complexion affects how healthy, and therefore how attractive, you appear. What’s more, your diet may be crucial to achieving the most desirable complexion.

Using specialist computer software, study participants were asked to manipulate the skin color of male and female Caucasian faces to make them look as healthy as possible. They chose to increase the rosiness, yellowness and brightness of the skin.

Skin that is slightly flushed with blood and full of oxygen suggests a strong heart and lungs, supporting the study's findings that rosier skin appeared healthy. Smokers and people with diabetes or heart disease have fewer blood vessels in their skin, and so skin would appear less rosy. Read More....

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Motivational speaker charged in sweat lodge deaths

By FELICIA FONSECA
The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 3, 2010; 7:58 PM

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Motivational speaker James Arthur Ray was arrested Wednesday afternoon on three counts of manslaughter for deaths that happened after a sweat lodge ceremony he led in northern Arizona last year. Ray was taken into custody on an indictment at his attorney's office in Prescott, and was to be booked into the Yavapai County jail in Camp Verde, sheriff's officials said. His bond was set at $5 million.

Ray's attorneys said Wednesday he surrendered to authorities but that the charges were unjust and they were confident he would be exonerated in court. Read the full story....


James Ray - Twitter
James Ray - Official Website

Top 'Safe' Cell Phones That Aren't Safe

By Camilla Rees, Founder of Electro Magnetic Health.org

Just prior to the recent Senate hearings on cell phone safety, Chaired by Senator Tom Harkin, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a new database for consumers ranking over 1,000 cell phones by the Specific Absorption Rate, known as the SAR value.

The SAR value is a measure of the power of the cell phone and its potential for heating tissues.

The SAR value has been available for some time through the FCC’s own databases but has never before been made available in one central, easily accessible source in the United States. Nor is the SAR value listed on box packaging of cell phones at the point of sale for comparison purposes.

All that has changed. Read More....

FDA Warns About Eyelash Thickener Claims

Posted by Dr. Mercola

The U.S. FDA has warned Allergan Inc. that the Web site for its eyelash thickener Latisse is misleading. The site downplays or fails to mention risks associated with the product.

The Latisse site either doesn't mention potential side effects including bacterial eye infections, allergic reactions, excess hair growth outside the intended treatment area, and permanent changes in iris and eyelid pigmentation, or presents them in very small text.

The drug is approved to make eyelashes thicker, fuller and darker. Latisse, or bimatoprost, was already on the market as a treatment for glaucoma. Read More....

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Muscle is Hard to Build and Easy to Lose

Posted by Dr. Mercola

As you age, it becomes harder to keep your muscles healthy. They get smaller, which decreases strength and increases the likelihood of falls and fractures. New research is showing how this happens, and what to do about it.

Researchers have already shown that when older people eat, they cannot make muscle as fast as the young. Now they've found that the suppression of muscle breakdown is blunted with age. This may explain the ongoing loss of muscle in older people -- when they eat they don't build enough muscle, and in addition, their insulin fails to shut down the muscle breakdown that rises between meals and overnight.

However, weight training may "rejuvenate" muscle blood flow and help retain muscle for older people. Read More....

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A Misunderstood Skin Condition Sweeping the Baby Boom Generation

Article by Dr. Mercola

Rosacea (pronounced roh-ZAY-sha) is a disorder of your facial skin. While it is similar to acne, it is distinctly different and is characterized by some or all of the following indicators:

* Redness on your cheeks, nose, forehead and/or chin
* Small but obvious blood vessels on your face
* Facial pimples
* Watery, irritated or bloodshot eyes

Rosacea is a chronic, progressive disorder which is often distinguished by flare-ups fol­lowed by remissions. The condition isn’t life threatening, but it can certainly be life al­tering due to its effect on your personal appearance. According to the National Rosacea Society, over 75 percent of people with rosacea feel the condition has affected their self-esteem. Many rosacea sufferers are uncomfortable in public settings and avoid so­cial activities.

Read More....

References:

Rosacea.org
Clinique NEW Redness Solutions
WebMD
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Common Skin Ailment Might Be Caused By Immune Response

Some Dog Foods Deliver Toxic Doses of Poison

Article by Dr. Mercola

With the memory of the melamine pet food scare still fresh in the minds of many, the Environmental Working Group is publicizing a new threat: potentially toxic doses of fluoride in dog food.

An EWG analysis found troubling levels of fluoride in 8 of 10 dog foods tested. The concentration of fluoride was up to 2.5 times higher than the safe level the EPA sets for drinking water. Some puppies may be exposed to five times this limit.

The fluoride in dog food originates in bone meal and animal by-products. EWG recommends choosing dog food brands free of bone meal and meat by-product ingredients like chicken by-product meal, poultry by-product meal, chicken meal and beef meal.

Sources:

The Daily Green June 30, 2009

Environmental Working Group June 26, 2009 [Full Report]

'Life Force' Linked to Your Ability to Withstand Stress

Article by Dr. Mercola

Your ability to withstand stress-related, inflammatory diseases may be related to your personality. Especially in aging women, a lack of the personality trait known as extroversion may signal that blood levels of a key inflammatory molecule have crossed over a threshold linked to a doubling of risk of death within five years.

A study found that that extroverts, and in particular those high "dispositional activity" or engagement in life, have dramatically lower levels of the inflammatory chemical interleukin 6 (IL-6). Extroverts tend to be focused on the world around them and are most happy when active and surrounded by people. Introverts look inward and are shy.

For the study, degree of extroversion was determined by standard tests, including the NEO Five-Factor Inventory. The study found that the difference between the 84th percentile of dispositional activity and the 16th translated roughly into a 1.29 picogram increase in IL-6 per milliliter of blood.

Sources:

Eurekalert June 17, 2009

Brain, Behavior and Immunity July 2009; 23(5):636-42

5 Ways to Set Your Goals in Stone

Post by Dr. Mecola

Setting a goal doesn’t automatically mean getting the result. Sometimes goals are gradually forgotten about and fade away into the back of our minds. After a few weeks or even days, your enthusiasm dies down, and that spark of inspiration becomes a memory.

To achieve goals that take time, you need to stay motivated, and you need to keep the inspiration flowing. Here are five suggestions on how to do just that. Read More....

Can Selenium Cause Diabetes?

Posted by Dr. Mercola

Americans with diabetes have been found to have high levels of selenium in their bodies, leading some experts to believe that it could contribute to development of the disease. A research team has now recommended that U.S. residents stop taking supplements that contain selenium.

Most Americans ingest large amounts of the mineral because soil in much of the U.S. contains high levels that are absorbed by crops. Selenium occurs naturally in soil, and leaches onto farm fields from irrigation and streams.

A research team examined the diabetes rate and selenium levels among nearly 1,000 people over the age of 40. They found that most had a good deal of selenium in their blood, but those with diabetes had substantially more.

Selenium is an essential element and antioxidant, but medical experts say there may be a fine line between the amount that your body needs and the amount that is harmful. Read More....

How Some Web Sites Sell Your Information to Drug Companies

Posted by Dr. Mercola

RealAge, a Web site that promises to help shave years off your age, has become one of the most popular tests on the Internet. More than 27 million people have taken the site’s test, which asks 150 or so questions about lifestyle and family history to assign a “biological age,” how young or old your habits make you.

Then, RealAge makes recommendations on how to get “younger,” like taking multivitamins, eating breakfast and flossing your teeth.

But while RealAge purports to promote better living through non-medical solutions, it makes its money by selling better living through drugs. RealAge acts as a clearinghouse for drug companies, including Pfizer, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline.

The companies pay RealAge to compile test results of RealAge members and send them marketing messages by e-mail. The drug companies can even use RealAge answers to find people who show symptoms of a disease, and begin sending them messages about it even before the people have received a diagnosis from their doctors. Read More....

The Five Reasons Why You Are Not Fulfilling Your Potential

Posted by: Dr. Mercola


Very few people can claim that they have achieved all that they are capable of. Do you have a nagging feeling that you could do much, much more with your life and career?

What is that is stopping you right now from making a much greater contribution to society? What is that is preventing you from fulfilling your potential? Read More....

Journal Retracts 1998 Paper Linking Autism to Vaccines

By GARDINER HARRIS
Published: February 2, 2010

A prominent British medical journal on Tuesday retracted a 1998 research paper that set off a sharp decline in vaccinations in Britain after the paper’s lead author suggested that vaccines could cause autism.

The retraction by The Lancet is part of a reassessment that has lasted for years of the scientific methods and financial conflicts of Dr. Andrew Wakefield, who contended that his research showed that the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine may be unsafe.

But the retraction may do little to tarnish Dr. Wakefield’s reputation among parents’ groups in the United States. Despite a wealth of scientific studies that have failed to find any link between vaccines and autism, the parents fervently believe that their children’s mental problems resulted from vaccinations.

Tom Skinner, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, called the retraction of Dr. Wakefield’s study “significant.”

Read More....