Session Notes

For anyone who is starting to rethink the whole idea that everyone needs to be on the internet…

A Huge Number of Illnesses are Caused by Inflammation:

“One last point – do we want to ‘boost’ our immune system if it is already ‘over-active’ due to inflammation? The answer is yes and no! There is only one PART of the immune system which gets over-active and begins to create problems with inflammation. Another part of the immune system works along a different line of attack; it does not create inflammation, but does a very important job fighting off bacteria, parasites, cancers cells and viruses. Many people today have signs of inflammation, yet also come down with yeast infections, viruses, dental infections and so on. In a sense their immune system needs modulation, reduction of the pro-inflammatory side, and a boost to the other side which fights off the baddies without inflammation. Risk factors which promote inflammation: -A poor diet can create micro-nutrient deficiencies. Type ‘B’ malnutrition is rampant in the Western countries. This is a diet high in calories but deficient in nutrients, resulting in obesity and poor health. Micro-nutrient deficiencies make us more susceptible to low grade infections such as helicobacter pylori (the cause of stomach ulcers), gum disease, recurrent urinary tract infections, and Chlamydia. All low grade chronic infections can set up a chronic inflammation in the body. -Poor gut health. A significant part of the immune system is found in the gut. The immune system in the gut is one of the most important first lines of defense against the outside world; after all, it is the area where matter from the outside is brought inside the body. The gut contains many billions of bacteria; most of them are good and help promote good immunity as well as good digestion, and they help with the absorption of nutrients. However, if there is an over-growth of ‘bad bacteria’, these produce toxins and trigger the immune system. This is known as gut dysbiosis and can trigger a systemic low grade inflammation throughout the body’s immune system. A symptom of poor gut health are food intolerances. A diet low in fiber and high in saturated fat and sugar promotes gut dysbiosis. Constipation is very bad for your health! -Stress causes inflammation through worsening gut health, makes the body more susceptible to chronic low grade infections and lowers the immunity to bacteria, viruses, parasites and so on. All of this can trigger inflammation. Stress can also reduce cortisol hormone levels if adrenals are exhausted, which is a natural anti-inflammatory hormone. -Obesity. Fat cells behave like immune cells, spewing out messages to increase the inflammatory immune response. Therefore a sedentary lifestyle and a diet high in fat and sugar promote inflammation. - Environmental pollution such as pesticides, heavy metals and other toxic chemicals from things like exhaust fumes and electrical appliances. -Excessive sunlight since sun burn is free radical stress. -Excessive exercise since the process of energy production produces free radicals as a by-product. Some exercise is good for you but overdoing it at the gym every day is very bad for you. -Trans and hydrogenated fats made from over-heating vegetable oils. These are also found in processed and refined foods and deep fried foods.”

Vitamin D: How to Determine Your Optimal Dose:

“Make sure you are getting the right test. You must test for 25(OH)D, not 1,25(OH)D. They look similar, but 1,25(OH)D is a measure of kidney function, and is not the test you want for measuring vitamin D levels. -Ideally, your blood level should be around 60-80 ng/ml, as this allows the body to have some vitamin D in reserve, and it duplicates the higher levels found in young, healthy individuals who spend a decent amount of time in a sun-rich environment. -Begin taking vitamin D at least eight weeks prior to being tested. This will help you customize your dose once you receive your test results. To determine a basic, starting dose, it has been suggested, as per Dr. John Cannell of the Vitamin D Council (7), that you take 1,000 IU per 25 pounds of body weight. A person who weighs 150 pounds, for instance, would take 6,000 IU per day as a starting dose (150/25 = 6. 1,000 x 6 = 6,000). Do this for at least eight weeks, and then test. Perhaps this dose will put you in the ideal range, but there`s no guarantee since we are all so different, and have unique vitamin D receptor genotypes. The idea is to hopefully get somewhere in the ballpark with this method and then tweak your daily dose once the test results come back”

Acupuncture: Traditional Chinese Medicine Effectively Treats Insomnia:

“This is what makes acupuncture so individualized and effective: there is no one prescription for a condition. Each time a patient comes in, they are re-evaluated, and each treatment is specifically selected. This is also why it is so common to see all sorts of symptoms clear up – not just the one someone has come in to treat. Rarely do acupuncturists just work on one symptom alone; in every treatment, the whole person is being addressed and treated. However, some points are so useful in treating insomnia that they will be strongly considered no matter what the cause, including: Heart 7 (Shen Men), on the wrist, which helps calm the heart and spirit An Mian, an extra point translated as Peaceful Sleep, which is on the back of the head, where the head meets the neck Yin Tang, another extra point which is between the eyebrows and promotes relaxation “

Alberta Health Services | Health Professionals | A Summary of Changes:

“Health Professionals Home > Health Professionals > Mental Health Amendment Act > A Summary of Changes Mental Health Amendment Act – A Summary of Changes The Mental Health Act of Alberta was proclaimed January 1, 1990. There have been a number of amendments since that date related to treatment; however, the involuntary and detainment provisions, known as criteria for certification, have remained unchanged. To ensure the act remains responsive to the needs of involuntary patients and to provide a community treatment option that continues to provide safeguards, supports and supervision, the Minister of Health and Wellness initiated the process to examine the Mental Health Act in 2004. The Mental Health Amendment Act (MHAA) is the result of that review. Based on input from written and oral submissions, a number of amendments were put forward to the legislature. The Mental Health Amendment Act received Royal Assent on December 7, 2007. Proclamation for the first two amendments (1) Change in Criteria for Certification (2) Notification to Physicians will occur September 30, 2009. The third amendment, Community Treatment Orders, will occur January 1, 2010. This document provides an overview of the three major amendments to the Mental Health Act. The criteria for involuntary admission changes from ‘danger’ to ‘harm,’ including mental or physical deterioration or impairment, which will permit earlier intervention (September 30, 2009), Ongoing treatment plans/recommendations are to be provided to an individual’s family physician, if known, upon discharge from a facility (September 30, 2009), and The introduction of community treatment orders to encourage compliance and success with mental health treatment in the community (January 1, 2010).”

CBC News – Consumer Life – Labelling deadline may keep natural health products off shelves:

“Natural health producers today are being asked to supply double-blind studies and human clinical trials to back claims made on the labels, even when safety has been established, he said. It’s a very expensive requirement for small- to medium-sized firms. ‘Back in 2004 some products were approved very quickly, but if the same applications were made in 2008 or 2009, they might not have gotten their licence,’ said Carter. New Brunswick pharmacist John Staples said he’ll have to stop selling several herbal and homeopathic medicines in April — not because they’re unsafe but because the producer considers Canada too small a market to invest in the licensing procedure. ‘Crazy’ standards, says N.B., pharmacist He expects herbal and homeopathic medicines to be the most affected and says it’s ‘crazy’ for Health Canada to apply the same standards to both pharmaceuticals and natural health products. ‘Pharmaceutical drugs are far more potent and just a slight deviation in dosage can be dangerous,’ said Staples, whose Moncton pharmacy Staples Drugs, has sold both types of drugs for 40 years. ‘A doctor can prescribe the arthritis drug Celebrex for you, but it can also cause a heart attack,’ he said as an example. ‘With homeopathic drugs, you can take 10 times the dosage and there’s no problem.’”

Hemochromatosis: Tests and diagnosis – MayoClinic.com:

“Blood tests At any stage — even before symptoms appear — doctors can detect iron overload with two blood tests: Serum transferrin saturation. This test measures the amount of iron bound to a protein (transferrin) that carries iron in your blood. Transferrin saturation values greater than 45 percent are considered too high. Serum ferritin. This test measures the amount of iron stored in your body. If the results of your serum transferrin saturation test are higher than normal, your doctor will check your serum ferritin. Because a number of infectious and inflammatory conditions other than hereditary hemochromatosis can cause elevated ferritin, both tests are needed to diagnose the disorder. You may need the tests repeated for the most accurate results.”

8 INFANT SLEEP FACTS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW:

“Nightwaking has developmental benefits. Sleep researchers believe that babies sleep ‘smarter’ than adults do. They theorize that light sleep helps the brain develop because the brain doesn’t rest during REM sleep. In fact, blood flow to the brain nearly doubles during REM sleep. (This increased blood flow is particularly evident in the area of the brain that automatically controls breathing.) During REM sleep the body increases its manufacture of certain nerve proteins, the building blocks of the brain. Learning is also thought to occur during the active stage of sleep. The brain may use this time to process information acquired while awake, storing what is beneficial to the individual and discarding what is not. Some sleep researchers believe that REM sleeps acts to auto-stimulate the developing brain, providing beneficial imagery that promotes mental development. During the light sleep stage, the higher centers of the brain keep operating, yet during deep sleep these higher brain centers shut off and the baby functions on her lower brain centers. It is possible that during this stage of rapid brain growth (babies’ brains grow to nearly seventy percent of adult volume during the first two years) the brain needs to continue functioning during sleep in order to develop. It is interesting to note that premature babies spend even more of their sleep time (approximately 90 percent) in REM sleep, perhaps to accelerate their brain growth. As you can see, the period of life when humans sleep the most and the brain is developing the most rapidly is also the time when they have the most active sleep. One day as I was explaining the theory that light sleep helps babies’ brains develop, a tired mother of a wakeful infant chuckled and said, ‘If that’s true, my baby’s going to be very smart.’ 7. As they grow, babies achieve sleep maturity. ‘Okay,’ you say, ‘I understand this developmental design, but when will my baby sleep through the night?’ The age at which babies settle – meaning they go to sleep easily and stay asleep varies widely among babies. Some babies go to sleep easily, but don’t stay asleep. Others go to sleep with difficulty but will stay asleep. Other exhausting babies neither want to go to sleep nor stay asleep. In the first three months, tiny babies seldom sleep for more than four-hour stretches without needing a feeding. Tiny babies have tiny tummies. Yet, they usually sleep a total of 14-18 hours a day. From three to six months, most babies begin to settle. They are awake for longer stretches during the day and some may sleep five-hour stretches at night. Between three to six months, expect one or two nightwakings. You will also see the period of deep sleep lengthen. The vulnerable periods for nightwaking decrease and babies are able to enter deep sleep more quickly. This is called sleep maturity. NIGHTTIME PARENTING LESSON #4: An important fact for you to remember is that your baby’s sleep habits are more a reflection of your baby’s temperament rather than your style of nighttime parenting. And keep in mind that other parents usually exaggerate how long their baby sleeps, as if this were a badge of good parenting, which it isn’t. It’s not your fault baby wakes up. 8. Babies still wake up. When babies mature into these adult-like sleep patterns varies among babies. Yet, even though babies achieve this sleep maturity some time during the last half of the first year, many still wake up. The reason? Painful stimuli, such as colds and teething pain, become more frequent. Major developmental milestones, such as sitting, crawling, and walking, drive babies to ‘practice’ their new developmental skills in their sleep. Then between one and two years of age, when baby begins to sleep through the above-mentioned wake-up stimuli, other causes of nightwaking occur, such as separation anxiety and nightmares. Even though you understand why babies are prone to nightwaking, you realize it’s still important for parents and babies to get a restful night’s sleep, otherwise, baby, the parents, and their relationship won’t thrive.”

Ok, just for the record, I have no idea if this is the only credible thing this guy ever said or if his book is pure nonsense. So please don’t take this as an endorsement of the book…

But, some statements are so dead on I couldn’t care less about the credibility of the source. It still needs to be posted:

Today’s Christianity is caught up in making money off of a parallel universe. We have our own music. We have our own publishing companies. We have our own book stores and we even have our own cruises so you don’t have to hang around with those pesky persons. This isn’t what Jesus intended it to be. Jesus intended to transform people so we could enter the world as a loving transforming presence. Jesus came to love the world — not to condemn the world.

How to Tell Liver Spots from Moles and Cancer – Yahoo! News:

“How to Tell Liver Spots from Moles and Cancer Buzz up!7 votes SendSharePrint Play VideoCancer Video:Miraculous Cancer Survivor in ROUTINE MIRACLES by Conrad Fischer Expanded Books Play VideoCancer Video:Disappearing Cancerous Tumors in ROUTINE MIRACLES by Conrad Fischer Expanded Books Play VideoCancer Video:Can Breastfeeding Prevent Breast Cancer? ABC News Fred Cicetti The Healthy Geezer LiveScience.com – Thu Aug 6, 7:42 am ET This Week’s Question: Do liver spots have anything at all to do with the liver? No. This is a common question and a great starting point for a column about all those doohickeys that grow on our skin as we age. LIVER SPOTS: The official name for liver or age spots is ‘lentigines’ from the Latin for ‘lentil.’ These are flat, brown with rounded edges and are larger than freckles. They are not dangerous. KERATOSES-Seborrheic keratoses are brown or black raised spots, or wart-like growths that appear to be stuck to the skin. They are harmless. Actinic keratoses are thick, warty, rough, reddish growths. They may be a precursor to skin cancer. CHERRY ANGIOMAS-These are small, bright-red raised bumps created by dilated blood vessels. They occur in more than 85 percent of seniors, usually on the trunk. These are also not dangerous. TELANGIECTASIA-These are dilated facial blood vessels. SKIN TAGS-These are bits of skin that project outward. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or more deeply pigmented. They can either be raised above the surrounding skin or have a stalk so that the tag hangs from the skin. They are benign. Now we get into the cancers of the skin. SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS-These are in the outer layers of the skin. They are closely associated with aging. These are capable of spreading to other organs. They are small, firm, reddened nodules or flat growths. They may also be cone-shaped. Their surfaces may be scaly or crusted. BASAL CELL CARCINOMAS-These are the most common of the skin cancers. They develop in the basal layer below the surface of the skin. Basal cell carcinomas seldom spread to other parts of the body. They usually appear as small, shiny bumps or pinpoint, red bleeding areas on the head, face, nose, neck or chest. MELANOMAS-This is the deadliest form of skin cancer. Melanomas can spread to other organs and can be fatal. They usually appear as dark brown or black mole-like growths with irregular borders and variable colors. They usually arise in a pre-existing mole or other pigmented lesion. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. About half of all Americans who live to 65 will have skin cancer. Although anyone can get skin cancer, the risk is greatest for people who have fair skin. Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. All skin cancers can be cured if they are treated before they spread. The most common warning sign of skin cancer is a change on the skin, especially a new growth or a sore that doesn’t heal. Check your skin often. Look for changes in the size, shape, color, or feel of birthmarks, moles, and spots. And don’t be reluctant to go to a doctor whenever you see anything on your skin that you suspect might be a problem. Dermatologists recommend that, if you are a fair-skinned senior, you should get a full-body skin exam once a year. This kind of check-up isn’t a bad idea for any senior. 5 Things You Must Know about Skin Cancer 40 Years After Moon Landing: Why Can’t We Cure Cancer? More Cancer News & Information The Healthy Geezer column publishes each Wednesday on LiveScience. If you would like to ask a question, please write How to Tell Liver Spots from Moles and Cancer LiveScience.com chronicles the daily advances and innovations made in science and technology. We take on the misconceptions that often pop up around scientific discoveries and deliver short, provocative explanations with a certain wit and style. Check out our science videos, Trivia & Quizzes and Top 10s. Join our community to debate hot-button issues like stem cells, climate change and evolution. You can also sign up for free newsletters, register for RSS feeds and get cool gadgets at the LiveScience Store.”