Copyright Dr. Deborah
Baker-Racine, D.C., MSc., DIHom. 2004
CASTOR OIL - Natural
Protection from Deadly Viruses - Dr. David G. Williams ALTERNATIVES -- v6 n1, July 1995
Moving on to more "exotic" techniques to increase immune system efficiency, we
come to castor oil. I can remember my dad telling me time after time about his
mother's devotion to castor oil when he was growing up. At the first sign of any
illness in one child, she would immediately give all the children a quick oral
dose of castor oil. There's no doubt it provided a quick solution for constipation,
and from what I can tell, it must have a positive effect on memory too. My dad
can vividly remember the taste and effects of castor oil to this very day.
In many ways, castor oil is a very unique substance. While most of us are familiar
with its use as a remedy for constipation, folk healers in this country and around
the world have used castor oil to treat a wide variety of conditions. Its effectiveness
is probably due in part to its peculiar chemical composition. Castor oil is a
triglyceride of fatty acids. Almost 90 percent of its fatty acid content consists
of ricinoleic acid. To my knowledge, ricinoleic acid is not found in any other
substance except castor oil. Such a high concentration of this unusual, unsaturated
fatty acid is thought to be responsible for castor oil's remarkable healing abilities.
Ricinoleic acid has been shown to be effective in preventing the growth of numerous
species of viruses, bacteria, yeasts and molds. (J Am Oil Chem Soc 61;37.323-325.)
This would explain the high degree of success in the topical use of the oil for
treating such ailments as ringworm, keratoses (non-cancerous, wart-like skin growths),
skin inflammation, abrasions, fungal-infected finger- and toenails, acne and chronic
pruritus (itching). Generally, for these conditions the area involved is simply
wrapped in cloth soaked with castor oil each night, or if the area is small enough,
a castor oil soaked Band-Aid can be used. (For persistent infections and those
finger- and toenails that have discolored and hardened, a good 10 to 20 minute
soak in Epsom salts, prior to applying the castor oil, usually speeds up the healing
process.) Castor oil's antimicrobial activity, while very impressive, comprises
only a small part of the story concerning this mysterious oil. While castor oil
has been thoroughly investigated for its industrial uses, only a minimal amount
of research effort has been directed toward its medicinal benefits.
In Russia the oil is known as "Kastorka." The stem of the plant is used in the
textile industry. The extracted oil has a very consistent viscosity and won't
freeze even in Russia's severe climate. This makes it an ideal lubricating oil
in industrial equipment. Medicinally, the oil is added to products to restore
hair (one part oil to 10 parts of grain alcohol), treat constipation, skin ulcers,
some infectious gynecological conditions and eye irritations.
The castor bean plant is actually native to India, where it is called "Erand."
There we found it being used extensively for all types of gastrointestinal problems
like constipation, dysentery and inflammatory bowel disease. It was also used
to treat bladder and vaginal infections and asthma. We were told the seed kernels
or hulls (without the actual seed) could be boiled in milk and water and taken
internally to relieve arthritis and lower back pain accompanied by sciatica.
We also found early reports of nursing mothers in the Canary Islands using poultices
made from the leaves of the castor bean. They applied the poultice to their breasts
to increase milk secretion and relieve inflammation and milk stagnation in the
mammary glands. Applying the poultice to the abdominal area promoted normal menstruation.
While I find all of these uses of castor oil very interesting, the most exciting
use deals with ways to increase topical absorption through the use of castor oil
packs or poultices. Much of the current use of castor oil packs, in the U.S. anyway,
can be attributed to the late healing psychic, Edgar Cayce. Time after time he
recommended their use. Based on his reports, I began to use them in my practice
over 12 years ago. But even though I, and numerous other doctors, have continued
to experience remarkable results, the technique is still practically unknown and
shunned by most health care professionals today. This is probably due to two reasons.
First, it's just too simple. It's hard for most people to imagine that something
as simple as castor oil packs could have a profound effect on any health problem.
Secondly, in our present health care system, positive results alone do not constitute
the critical factor in determining whether a treatment will be accepted by the
medical establishment. Everybody (except probably the poor patient) now seems
to be more concerned about how something is supposed to work, than whether it
actually works at all. Recent research data presented by longtime follower of
Edgar Cayce, Dr. William McGarey of Phoenix, Arizona, might help shed some light
on how castor oil works.
If you're not particularly interested in how castor oil enhances the immune system,
feel free to skip the next couple of paragraphs. Anyone suffering from AIDS or
other serious viral or bacterial diseases may find this information helpful, however.
Numerous AIDS patients have been able to increase their T-cell counts and clear
up many of their problems by using the techniques I'll be describing. Others have
found it useful in eliminating chronic problems with epilepsy, hyperactivity,
liver and gallbladder diseases and chronic fluid retention. (Fortunately, to benefit
from this and other natural therapies you really don't have to understand how
they work.)
McGarey has reported that, when used properly, castor oil packs improve the function
of the thymus gland and other areas of the immune system. More specifically, he
found in two separate studies that patients using abdominal castor oil packs had
significant increases in the production of lymphocytes compared to increases among
those using placebo packs.
Lymphocytes are the disease-fighting cells of your immune system. They are produced
and housed mainly in your lymphatic tissue. This includes the thymus gland, the
spleen, the lymph nodes and the lymphatic tissue that lines the small intestine
(called Peyer's patches, or more commonly, aggregated lymphatic follicles). Strangely,
other than knowing it produces the body's white blood cells, most doctors are
not very knowledgeable about the lymphatic system.
The lymphatic system is an amazingly complex structure. It works hand in hand
with both the blood circulatory system and the digestive system.
In the circulatory system newly oxygenated blood from the lungs moves from the
heart along smaller and smaller arteries until it reaches the smallest vessels
called capillaries. It is in these microscopic tubules that the blood exchanges
oxygen and nutrients for cellular waste products with surrounding body cells.
The capillaries then gradually become larger and form veins through which the
unoxygenated, waste-carrying blood returns back to the lungs and then to the heart
to be recirculated time and time again. Much of the fluid accompanying the blood
and large protein molecules leak from these capillaries. Additional fluids and
waste products are expelled from every cell in the body. These fluids accumulate
in the small spaces between the cells. If all of this material weren't somehow
removed we would begin to swell like a toad and die within a matter of 24 hours.
Fortunately, we have a completely separate circulation system, called the lymphatic
system, that is able to absorb and remove these fluids, proteins and waste materials.
With the exception of the brain, where these proteins and fluids flow directly
into the fluid that surrounds them, the extensive lymphatic network has hundreds
of miles of tubules that cover the entire body. Through these tubules all of this
material is returned to the blood so it can be utilized or eliminated from the
body. (There is no pathway, other than the lymphatic system, that excess protein
molecules can use to return to the circulatory system.)
Also, along these lymphatic tubules you'll find bulb-shaped masses called lymph
nodes, which act as filters and produce antibodies when foreign proteins are encountered.
I'm sure you've experienced the tenderness and swelling of an inflamed lymph node
at one time or another. It is usually a result of antibodies fighting an infection
either in the node itself or somewhere in the draining area of that particular
lymph chain.
In addition to returning leaking fluid from the circulation system and creating
antibodies for the immune system, the lymphatic system also performs another very
important function. Clumps of lymphatic tissue, called Peyer's patches, are spread
throughout the small intestine. Unlike other nutrients, fat molecules are generally
too large to be absorbed directly from the intestine. Instead, they are absorbed
by these patches and transported along the lymphatic system and then released
into the blood stream where they can be carried throughout the body. Between 80
to 90 percent of all the fat absorbed from the gut requires the help of the lymphatic
system. When it comes to treating the majority of health problems, the status
of your lymphatic system is rarely given any consideration whatsoever. Medical
students are taught that a failure of the lymphatic system is obvious to detect
because it is accompanied by "pitting" edema (the accumulation of fluid in the
tissues, i.e. swelling, usually in the feet, ankles or hands). The test for "pitting"
edema is rather simple. A finger is pressed into the skin at the area of the swelling
and then quickly removed. The skin stays depressed, forming a small "pit", which
remains until the fluid outside the cells has time to return to the area (this
can take anywhere from 5 to 30 seconds). Unfortunately, research studies have
shown that "pitting" edema and other signs of fluid retention can't be observed
until fluid levels outside the cells reach 30 percent above normal. In other words,
you can have a serious lymphatic drainage problem long before it can be detected.
Several problems occur when the lymph drainage slows and fluids begin to accumulate
around the cells. First, the individual cells are forced further and further away
from the capillaries. The amount of oxygen and nourishment they receive is decreased.
Under exertion or stress some cells may die. Additionally, cells are forced to
survive in their own waste and toxic by-products. This situation can eventually
lead to the degeneration and destruction of organs. For example, poor lymphatic
drainage of the heart can lead to tissue damage and even heart failure. Similar
problems occur in the liver, the kidneys and other organs.
A good analogy would be if you confined yourself to one room of your house. Someone
could bring you food and water, but not remove any of your waste products. Eventually
you would have difficulty remaining healthy in such an environment. As your waste
accumulated, not only would you become sick, those around you would begin to experience
the same fate. Just like it is for each cell, in addition to nourishment and oxygen,
the removal of waste products is essential for continued health of the entire
body. Fluid accumulation outside the cells also stretches the tissue in the area.
The more it stretches and the longer it remains that way, the harder it becomes
to correct the problem.
Regardless of the health problem, most doctors generally assume the lymphatic
system is working adequately. This assumption is made at the peril of the patient.
Research has shown that as we age certain organs begin to degenerate. The thymus
gland is a key component of the immune system. It is initially responsible for
the proper development of the lymphatic system and is practically absent in older
individuals. Peyer's patches, those clumps of lymphatic tissue found in the small
intestine, begin to get smaller with age and are often destroyed by certain diseases
like typhoid fever. (Cayce felt that the overall health and well-being of an individual
was directly related to the health of these Peyer's patches. He stated on several
occasions, that a certain compound formed in these patches was necessary for maintaining
the integrity of the nervous system. He may very well be correct. To this day,
we still don't totally understand the functions and importance of either the thymus
gland or Peyer's patches.)
Efforts should be taken to improve the function of the lymphatic system in every
health problem. This applies to AIDS, as well as heart disease, hemorrhoids and
everything inbetween. No drug exists that has the ability to improve lymphatic
flow; however, the job can easily be handled through the topical application of
castor oil.
When castor oil is absorbed through the skin, several extraordinary events take
place. The lymphocyte count of the blood increases. This is a result of a positive
influence on the thymus gland and/or lymphatic tissue.
The flow of lymph increases throughout the body. This speeds up the removal of
toxins surrounding the cells and reduces the size of swollen lymph nodes. The
end result is a general overall improvement in organ function with a lessening
of fatigue and depression.
As toxicity is reduced, the pH of the saliva becomes less acidic, indicating improved
health. The Peyer's patches in the small intestine become more efficient in their
absorption of fatty acids, which are essential for the formation of hormones and
other components necessary for growth and repair.
Common Methods of Using Castor Oil
The most common way to use castor oil (and most objectionable, I might add) has
been to take it orally. Generally, oral doses are used to correct constipation.
The recommended dose is usually 1 tablespoon for adults and 1 teaspoon for children.
You can usually expect a "purging" of the system in about four to six hours.
Rubbed or Massaged Directly Into the Skin
For several conditions I'll mention later, the oil can simply be rubbed into the
skin. It can also be used as a massage oil which seems to be especially effective
when applied along the spinal column. If the oil is massaged into the body, the
direction of the massage should always follow the same path as the underlying
Iymphatic drainage system. The diagram below shows the proper direction to massage
the oil and further facilitate lymphatic drainage. [Vater and Asdonk, Gesaltschaft
for Manuelle Lymph Drainage (Essen, Germany).]
Conditions Responding to Topical Application
Oftentimes there is no need for castor oil packs; amazing results can be obtained
by simply applying it directly to the skin. The following is a short list of some
of the more common ailments it can remedy:
skin keratosis
ringworm
fungal and bacterial infections
wounds
abdominal stretch marks (prevention)
bursitis
sebaceous cysts
warts
senile lentigo ("liver" or "aging" spots)
muscle strains
ligament sprains
itching
Castor Oil Packs
One of the most useful and least utilized methods of using castor oil is to employ
packs. Packs are an economical and efficient method of absorbing the ricinoleic
acid and other healing components of castor oil directly into body tissues. (The
following basic procedure was outlined in several of the readings of Edgar Cayce.)
To make a castor oil pack you will need the following items: cold pressed castor
oil, a standard heating pad, a plastic garbage bag, two or three one-foot square
pieces of wool or cotton flannel and one large bath towel.
1. Start by placing the heating pad on a flat surface and turn the setting to
high.
2. On top of the pad lay the plastic garbage bag. Next, soak the flannel pieces
with castor oil generally about 1/2 cup) and lay them on top of the garbage bag
and heating pad.
3. The entire pack can now be placed against the body with the oil-soaked flannel
on the skin. For general conditions the pack should be placed on the abdomen.
(For treating lower back problems, the pack can be placed there.) To help hold
the pack in place and to keep oil from getting on bedding, etc., the body can
be wrapped in a large bath towel.
4. The pack should remain in place for at least one hour and the temperature of
the heating pad should be kept at the highest temperature tolerable to the patient.
5. When you remove the pack, the remaining oil can be massaged into the skin or
cleaned off using a little soda water made from 1 quart of warm water and 2 tablespoons
of baking soda.
6. The flannel can be reused if stored properly after removing the pack. Put the
flannel in either a plastic bag or zip-loc container and place it in the refrigerator.
Before using it next time let it warm up and always add another 1 or 2 tablespoons
of fresh cold pressed castor oil. (After a month of use I would recommend using
new flannel.)
Conditions Responding to Castor Oil Packs
Due to the many effects of its fatty acid component, ricinoleic acid, the use
of castor oil can be used topically to treat a wide variety of health complaints.
Lymphatic Congestion
Obviously, conditions known to be related to poor drainage of the lymphatic system
will tend to benefit from this type of therapy. These would include complaints
such as:
1. chronic fluid retention with swollen joints and pain
2. arthritis
3. upper respiratory infections involving the sinuses, tonsils and inner ear
4. colon problems like Crohn's disease or colitis
5. gallbladder disease
6. boils
7. liver cirrhosis, hepatitis, enlargement or congestion
8. menstrual-related congestion
9. appendicitis
10. hyperactivity
11. constipation, bowel impaction or adhesions
12. swollen lymph nodes
13. bladder and vaginal infections
Neurological Problems
Several neurological problems have also been responsive to castor oil. These include:
1. nerve inflammations such as sciatica, shingles, etc.
2. Parkinson's disease
3. multiple sclerosis
4. migraine headaches
5. cerebral palsy
AIDS
Conditions that stress or compromise the immune system will very often benefit
from castor oil packs. Nowhere is this more obvious than with AIDS. I have talked
with several AIDS patients who have added castor oil packs (usually for one hour
a day) to their treatment regimen with very positive results. Within two weeks,
it was not uncommon for them to see increases in their WBC counts (white blood
cell counts), platelet counts, hematocrit readings and RBC counts (red blood cells).
I should mention also that in addition to the castor oil packs most of those I
talked to are also drinking a combination of olive oil and lemon juice to further
stimulate lymphatic flow and liver activity. It can be made by blending the following:
1 clean whole lemon, (pulp, rind, seeds and all)
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups of distilled water
4 rounded tablespoons of frozen orange juice concentrate
The blended material is then strained through a wire strainer to remove the pulp,
which is discarded. The remaining liquid is divided in four equal portions of
approximately 1/4 cup each and a portion is consumed with each of the three daily
meals and before bedtime.
In addition to stimulating lymphatic flow, the drink increases the flow of bile
from the liver and gallbladder, which, in turn, enhances one's ability to digest
essential fatty acids through the Peyer's patches in the small intestine. It is
not uncommon for AIDS patients to experience weight gain and a reversal of a long
list of complaints often associated with fatty acid deficiencies.
Buying Castor Oil
Any oil that enters your body either orally or through the skin needs to be of
the highest quality. Castor oil is no different. Check your local health food
store for cold-pressed castor oil. If you can't find it there or they can't order
it for you, then it can be ordered through the mail from Heritage Store, P.O.
Box 444, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23458. They can also be reached by calling 1(800)862-2923.
Conclusion
In his readings, Cayce attributed several actions to castor oil. Most were in
one way or another related to the body's lymphatic system. However, he also alluded
to the idea that castor oil has a vibrational quality that helps harmonize and
promote healing within body cells. Based on statements like these, many people
labeled his psychic readings as quackery. As we gain new knowledge about the workings
of the human body, however, these explanations don't seem so far fetched.
Dr. Johanna Budwig has related much of the healing properties of flax oil to its
unique chemical bonds that vibrate at the same frequency as the wavelengths of
sunlight. She feels the essential fatty acids in flax oil have the ability to
absorb and store the energy from sunlight. It's possible that the special bonding
in castor oil's unique ricinoleic acid works in a somewhat related method.
Regardless of exactly how it works, I think you'll be more than satisfied when
you experience the amazing feats that can be accomplished with the simple oil
of the castor bean. Centuries ago the castor bean plant was referred to as the
"Palma Christe." It was called this because the shape of the plant's leaves were
thought to resemble the palm of Christ. Knowing the healing power of this plant,
the name may be one of the most accurate descriptions ever.
DID YOU KNOW???????
1) Apples, not caffeine, are more efficient at waking up in the morning.
2) When you sneeze, all your bodily functions stop, even your heart.
3) Our eyes never grow, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
4) The thumbnail grows the slowest, the middle nail grows the fastest.
5) One ragweed plant can release as much as one billion grains of pollen.
The New York Times
Copyright 1999 The New York Times Company
October 15, 1999, Friday
HEADLINE: Brain May Grow New Cells Daily
BYLINE: By NICHOLAS WADE
In a new challenge to the longstanding belief that adults never generate new brain
cells, biologists at Princeton University have found that thousands of freshly
born neurons arrive each day in the cerebral cortex, the outer rind of the brain
where higher intellectual functions and personality are centered. Though based
on research in monkeys, the finding is likely to prove true of people, too. If
so, several experts said, it may overturn ideas about how the human brain works
and open new possibilities for treating degenerative brain diseases.
If the new brain cells, or neurons, are involved in memory and learning -- perhaps
with each day's batch of new cells recording that day's experiences -- scientists
will have to make major revisions in the longtime view that the adult brain's
neurons are static in number and that memory is stored only in the way they interconnect.
In addition, if the brain's cells are in constant turnover, as the new finding
suggests, physicians may discover ways to use the brain's natural regeneration
system for replacing cells that are lost in diseases of aging.
The discovery, by Dr. Elizabeth Gould and Dr. Charles G. Gross, is reported in
today's issue of the journal Science. The belief that the adult brain does not
make new cells rested on careful, well-known studies by Dr. Pasko Rakic of Yale
University, who looked for the formation of new neurons in the monkey brain and
found none.
But the Princeton work is likely to be convincing, because it builds on previous
reports of brain cell turnover, notably by Dr. Fernando Nottebohm of Rockefeller
University, who showed that canaries grow new neurons to learn new songs, and
recent studies showing that new cells are formed in the hippocampus, a brain region
where initial memories of faces and places are formed.
Dr. Gould, who has studied new cell formation in the hippocampus, and Dr. Gross,
an expert on the cerebral cortex, injected macaques with a chemical that is incorporated
in the new DNA formed when a cell divides.
They found that a stream of new neurons were generated in the monkeys' brains
in a zone just above the brain's fluid-filled central chambers. This zone was
recently identified by other scientists as the home of the brain's stem cells,
the source cells from which an organ is replenished.
The new neurons migrated toward the cortex, matured and sent out axons to make
connections with other brain cells, the Princeton biologists found.
The researchers looked for new neurons in four areas of the cortex, and found
them in three areas where memories are known to be stored: the frontal cortex,
used for decision-making, and two areas on the side of the brain used for visual
recognition. No new neurons were detected in the fourth area, the striate cortex,
a region at the back of the head that simply processes visual information from
the eyes and passes it on to other parts of the cortex.
Whatever the new cells are doing in the cortex, they affect regions of the brain
that are central to human thought and identity. The Princeton work, said Dr. Ronald
D. G. McKay, an expert on brain stem cells at the National Institutes of Health,
"places new neurons in the region of the brain involved in the highest level of
personality: it's the frontal cortex that is important in determining who you
are in a very human way." ...
DID YOU KNOW????????
Coca Cola is consumed over 190 million times every 24 hours in more than 35 countries
speaking 80 languages. Colas have a higher physiological dependency than smoking
and alcohol and is harder to give up. The Coca Cola Company is the world's largest
purchases of sugar and vanilla. The vanilla is mainly supplied by Madagascar which
went in to panic when Coke started producing the 'New Coke" which had no vanilla.
Luckily for Madagascar the New Coke was rejected and they had to put the vanilla
back in!
Mercury in Vaccines:
Cause for Concern
The Question
Should infants be given vaccines with mercury or vaccines without mercury?
Today, infants and young children are being given vaccines containing mercury,
even though vaccines without mercury are readily available for all CDC-recommended
pediatric immunizations. Given the known toxicity of mercury and its harmful effects
on the developing brain even at low doses, prudent medical practice suggests the
use only of vaccines without mercury to meet immunization requirements.
The Facts
Mercury: one of the most dangerous chemicals on earth and a known neurotoxin,
mercury (Hg) is especially harmful to the developing brain
(1). Thimerosal: a preservative comprised of 49.6% ethyl mercury by weight, thimerosal
is routinely used in vaccines and other biologic products
(2). Harmful substance: since the 1970's, researchers and clinicians have described
the harmful effects of thimerosal on humans
(3). In 1982, an expert FDA panel concluded that thimerosal was an ineffective
bactericide and unsafe, and it recommended that thimerosal be removed from all
over-the-counter products
(4). Exposure from vaccines: in 1999, under Congressional mandate, the FDA calculated
the amount of mercury in pediatric vaccines from thimerosal. By the age of 2 years,
a child could receive 237.5 mcg/Hg in repeat, acute doses if following the CDC's
recommended immunization schedule. The FDA concluded that the amount exceeds Federal
safety guidelines
(5). Neurodevelopmental effects: in July 2000, a study commissioned by the CDC
utilizing the Vaccine Safety Datalink database of 400,000 children found a statistically
significant association between exposure to thimerosal in vaccines and attention
deficit disorder, speech delay, tics, and neurodevelopmental disorders in general.
A dose response relationship was observed
(6). Toxic dose:
SAFE MINDs, a non-profit organization investigating the role of thimerosal in
neurodevelopmental disorders, has calculated using a biokinetic model that the
amount of mercury in vaccines is predicted to result in hair Hg concentrations
exceeding the EPA/NAS safety guideline of 1 ppm from birth to age 12 months, with
several peak elevations above 5 ppm in some cases, and, for the smallest babies,
peak concentrations of 10 ppm
(7). A level of 5 ppm is indicative of toxicity
(8) and levels of 10 ppm have been associated with neurological deficits in children
exposed prenatally
(9). Sensitive populations: sensitive groups may be even more vulnerable to the
thimerosal in vaccines
(10). Using studies measuring blood Hg concentrations in newborns after a vaccine
injection
(11) and hair Hg concentrations of neurodevelopmentally delayed children
(12), it can be estimated that some proportion of children will have blood levels
exceeding 20 ppm and hair levels exceeding 10 ppm. Blood levels of 15-30 ppm and
hair levels of 10-20 ppm have been associated with neurological deficits in children
(13). Non-thimerosal vaccines: vaccines without thimerosal are readily available
for all recommended childhood immunizations. At a June 2000 meeting of the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices, manufacturers stated that they have enough
vaccine supply to immunize all children 6 months and under with thimerosal-free
vaccines
(14). In sworn testimony before Congress, Roger Bernier of the CDC testified that
there were sufficient supplies of non-thimerosal vaccines to fully immunize all
children
(15). Thimerosal vaccines: despite the availability of non-thimerosal alternatives,
vaccines which contain thimerosal are still available on the market, either because
some manufacturers continue to make vaccines with thimerosal (diphtheria, pertussis,
and tetanus products)
(16) or because older, thimerosal-containing versions are still stocked for use
(17). Other biologic products routinely given to pregnant women, such as immune
globulin injections and flu vaccines, are still manufactured with thimerosal
(18). The Answer
When all infants can be fully immunized with thimerosal-free products, prudent
medical practice would dictate that the FDA support these products and require
that thimerosal-containing vaccines be discontinued; that is, children should
be vaccinated without thimerosal rather than be vaccinated with thimerosal. Additionally,
given the known dangers of mercury to the developing brain and the toxic levels
of Hg to which most children in the past decade were exposed through vaccinal
thimerosal, the possible role of this exposure in the increasing numbers of children
with neurodevelopmental delays should be investigated thoroughly.
1 Clarkson, T. The Toxicology
of mercury. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 1997; 34(3): 369-403. 2Egan, W. M. Thimerosal
in Vaccines. Presentation to the FDA, September 14, 1999. 3Fagan et al. Organ
mercury levels in infants with omphaloceles treated with organic mercurial antiseptic.
Arch Disease Child 1977; 52: 962-964; Haeney, M.R. et al. Long-term parenteral
exposure to mercury in patients with hypogammaglobulinaemia. Br Med J 1979;
2: 12-14; Matheson D.S. et al. Mercury toxicity (acrodynia) induced by long-term
injection of gammaglobulin. J Pediatr 1980; 97: 153-155. 4Food and Drug Administration.
Mercury-containing drug products for topical antimicrobial over-the-counter
human use; establishment of a monograph. Federal Register 1982; 47(2): 436-442
5Hepatitis B Control Report. Uproar over little-known preservative, thimerosal,
jostles U. S. hepatitis B vaccination policy. Summer 1999; 4(2). 6Verstraeten,
T. Risk of neurological and renal impairment associated with thimerosal-containing
vaccines. National Immunization Program, CDC. Presented to ACIP, July 1999.
7Redwood, L., Bernard, S. Predicted mercury concentration in hair from infant
immunizations: cause for concern. Neurotoxicology Conference 2000 Sept 25. 8Katz,
S.A., Katz, R.B. Use of hair analysis for evaluating mercury intoxication of
the human body: a review. J App Tox 1992; 12(2): 79-84. 9Grandjean,P. et al.
Cognitive performance of children prenatally exposed to "safe" levels of methylmercury.
Environ Res 1998; 77: 65-172. 10Stern, A. H. Re-evaluation of the reference
dose for methylmercury and assessment of current exposure levels. Risk Analysis
1993; 13: 355-364. 11 Stajich ,G.V. et al. Iatrogenic exposure to mercury after
hepatitis B vaccination in preterm infants. J Ped 2000; 36 12Bernard, S. et
al. Autism: a novel type of mercury poisoning. Coalition for SAFE MINDs 2000
13National Research Council, Committee on the Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury.
The Toxicological Effects of Methylmercury. National Academy Press 2000 14ACIP
meeting, Atlanta, June 2000. 15Bernier, R.. Testimony before the House Committee
on Government Reform, July 2000. 16Egan, W., FDA, personal communication. 17CDC,
personal communication. 18Manufacturers' product inserts.
DID YOU KNOW?????????
Some Household Tips:
1) Nail Polish getting sticky? Keep it in the fridge…last longer and goes on
smoother.
2) Painting cabinet..put some Vaseline on the hinges to remove paint "mistakes"
easily.
3) Storing leftover paint? Blow up a balloon the size of the space inside the
can and cover. Really helps keep air out and the paint in good condition.
4) Your old cedar chest doesn't smell "cedary" any more? Rub the inside with
fine sandpaper before storing those clothes.
From Murlene Brake DAMS (Dental Amalgam Syndrome) dentaltruth@knology.net
Doctors Are The Third Leading Cause of Death in the US, causing 250,000 Deaths
Every Year (see JAMA statistics below)
This week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
is the best article I have ever seen written in the published literature documenting
the tragedy of the traditional medical paradigm.
This information is a follow-up of the Institute of Medicine report, which hit
the papers in December of last year, but the data was hard t reference, as it
was not in peer-reviewed journal. Now it is published in JAMA, which is the
most widely circulated medical periodical in the world.
The author is Dr. Barbara Starfield of the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and
Public Health and she describes how the US health care system may contribute
to poor health.
ALL THESE ARE DEATHS PER YEAR:
12,000 -----unnecessary surgery (8)
7,000 -----medication errors in hospitals (9)
20,000 ----other errors in hospitals (10)
80,000 ----infections in hospitals (10)
106,000 ---non-error, negative effects of drugs (2)
These total to 250,000 deaths per year from iatrogenic causes!! What does the
word "iatrogenic" mean? This term is defined as induced in a patient by a physician's
activity, manner, or therapy. Used especially of a complication of treatment.
Dr. Starfield offers several warnings in interpreting these numbers:
First, most of the data are derived from studies in hospitalized patients.
Second, these estimates are for deaths only and do not include negative effects
that are associated with disability or discomfort. Third, the estimates of death
due to error are lower than those in the IOM report.
(1) If the higher estimates are used, the deaths due to iatrogenic causes would
range from 230,000 to 284,000. In any case, 225,000 deaths per year constitutes
the third leading cause of death in the United States, after deaths from heart
disease and cancer. Even if these figures are overestimated, there is a wide
margin between these numbers of deaths and the next leading cause of death (cerebrovascular
disease).
Another analysis (11) concluded that between 4% and 18% of consecutive patients
experience negative effects in outpatient settings, with:
116 million extra physician visits
77 million extra prescriptions
17 million emergency department visits
8 million hospitalizations
3 million long-term admissions
199,000 additional deaths
$77 billion in extra costs
The high cost of the health care system is considered to be a deficit, but seems
to be tolerated under the assumption that better health results from more expensive
care.
However, evidence from a few studies indicates that as many as 20% to 30% of
patients receive inappropriate care.
An estimated 44,000 to 98,000 among them die each year as a result of medical
errors. (2) This might be tolerated if it resulted in better health, but does
it? Of 13 countries in a recent comparison, the United States ranks an average
of 12th (second from the bottom) for 16 available health indicators. More specifically,
the ranking of the US on several indicators was:
13th (last) for low-birth-weight percentages
13th for neonatal mortality and infant mortality overall 14 11th for post neonatal
mortality
13th for years of potential life lost (excluding external causes)
11th for life expectancy at 1 year for females, 12th for males
10th for life expectancy at 15 years for females, 12th for males
10th for life expectancy at 40 years for females, 9th for males
7th for life expectancy at 65 years for females, 7th for males
3rd for life expectancy at 80 years for females, 3rd for males
10th for age-adjusted mortality
The poor performance of the US was recently confirmed by a World Health Organization
study, which used different data and ranked the United States as 15th among
25 industrialized countries.
There is a perception that the American public "behaves badly" by smoking, drinking,
and perpetrating violence." However the data does not support this assertion.
The proportion of females who smoke ranges from 14% in Japan to 41% in Denmark;
in the United States, it is 24% (fifth best). For males, the range is from 26%
in Sweden to 61% in Japan; it is 28% in the United States (third best).
The US ranks fifth best for alcoholic beverage consumption.
The US has relatively low consumption of animal fats (fifth lowest in men aged
55-64 years in 20 industrialized countries) and the third lowest mean cholesterol
concentrations among men aged 50 to 70 years among 13 industrialized countries.
These estimates of death due to error are lower than those in a recent Institutes
of Medicine report (and as said if higher estimates are used, deaths due to
iatrogenic causes would range from 230,000 to 284,000).
Even at the lower estimate of 225,000 deaths per year, this constitutes the
third leading cause of death in the US, following heart disease and cancer.
Lack of technology is certainly not a contributing factor to the US's low ranking.
Among 29 countries, the United States is second only to Japan in the availability
of magnetic resonance imaging units and computed tomography scanners per million
population. Japan, however, ranks highest on health, whereas the US ranks among
the lowest.
It is possible that the high use of technology in Japan is limited to diagnostic
technology not matched by high rates of treatment, whereas in the US, high use
of diagnostic technology may be linked to more treatment.
Supporting this possibility are data showing that the number of employees per
bed (full-time equivalents) in the United States is highest among the countries
ranked, whereas they are very low in Japan, far lower than can be accounted
for by the common practice of having family members rather than hospital staff
provide the amenities of hospital care.
Journal American Medical Association, (Vol. 284), July 26, 2000
COMMENT: Folks, this is what they call a "Landmark Article". Only several ones
like this are published every year. One of the major reasons it is so huge is
that it is published in JAMA which is the largest and one of the most respected
medical journals in the entire world. I did find it most curious that the best
wire service in the world, Reuter's, did not pick up this article. I have no
idea why they let it slip by.
I would encourage you to bookmark this article and review it several times so
you can use the statistics to counter the arguments of your friends and relatives
who are so enthralled with the traditional medical paradigm.
These statistics prove very clearly that the system is just not working. It
is broken and is in desperate need of repair.
I was previously fond of saying that drugs are the fourth leading cause of death
in this country. However, this article makes it quite clear that the more powerful
number is that doctors are the third leading cause of death in this country
killing nearly a quarter million people a year. The only more common causes
are cancer and heart disease. This statistic is likely to be seriously underestimated
as much of the coding only describes the cause of organ failure and does not
address iatrogenic causes at all.
Japan seems to have benefited from recognizing that technology is wonderful,
but just because you diagnose something with it, one should not be committed
to undergoing treatment in the traditional paradigm. Their health statistics
reflect this aspect of their philosophy as much of their treatment is not treatment
at all, but loving care rendered in the home.
Care, not treatment, is the answer. Drugs, surgery and hospitals are rarely
the answer to chronic health problems. Facilitating the God-given healing capacity
that all of us have is the key. Improving the diet, exercise, and lifestyle
are basic. Effective interventions for the underlying emotional and spiritual
wounding behind most chronic illness are also important clues to maximizing
health and reducing disease.
Related Articles:
Medical Mistakes Kill 100,000 per year
US Health Care System Most Expensive in the World
Author/Article Information
Author Affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins
School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Md. Corresponding Author and
Reprints: Barbara Starfield, MD, MPH, Department of Health Policy and Management,
Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, 624 N Broadway, Room 452,
Baltimore, MD 21205-1996 (e-mail: bstarfie@jhsph.edu).
REFERENCES
1. Schuster M, McGlynn E, Brook R. "How good is the quality of health care in
the United States?" Milbank Q. 1998;76:517-563.
2. Kohn L, ed, Corrigan J, ed, Donaldson M, ed. "To Err Is Human: Building a
Safer Health System." Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1999.
3. Starfield B. "Primary Care: Balancing Health Needs, Services, and Technology."
New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1998.
4. World Health Report 2000. Available at: http://www.who.int/whr/2000/en/report.htm.
Accessed June 28, 2000.
5. Kunst A. "Cross-national Comparisons of Socioeconomic Differences in Mortality."
Rotterdam, the Netherlands: Erasmus University; 1997. 6. Law M, Wald N. "Why
heart disease mortality is low in France:
the time lag explanation." BMJ. 1999;313:1471-1480.
7. Starfield B. "Evaluating the State Children's Health Insurance Program: critical
considerations." Annu Rev Public Health. 2000;21:569-585.
8. Leape L. "Unecessarsary surgery." Annu Rev Public Health. 1992;13:363-383.
9. Phillips D, Christenfeld N, Glynn L. "Increase in US medication-error deaths
between 1983 and 1993." Lancet. 1998;351:643-644.
10. Lazarou J, Pomeranz B, Corey P. "Incidence of adverse drug reactions in
hospitalized patients." JAMA. 1998;279:1200-1205.
11. Weingart SN, Wilson RM, Gibberd RW, Harrison B. "Epidemiology and medical
error." BMJ. 2000;320:774-777.
12. Wilkinson R. "Unhealthy Societies: The Afflictions of Inequality." London,
England: Routledge; 1996.
13.Evans R, Roos N. "What is right about the Canadian health system?" Milbank
Q. 1999;77:393-399.
14. Guyer B, Hoyert D, Martin J, Ventura S, MacDorman M, Strobino D. "Annual
summary of vital statistics 1998." Pediatrics. 1999;104:1229-1246.
15. Harrold LR, Field TS, Gurwitz JH. "Knowledge, patterns of care, and outcomes
of care for generalists and specialists." J Gen Intern Med. 1999;14:499-511.
16. Donahoe MT. "Comparing generalist and specialty care: discrepancies, deficiencies,
and excesses." Arch Intern Med. 1998;158:1596-1607.
17. Anderson G, Poullier J-P. "Health Spending, Access, and Outcomes: Trends
in Industrialized Countries." New York, NY: The Commonwealth Fund; 1999.
18. Mold J, Stein H. "The cascade effect in the clinical care of patients."
N Engl J Med. 1986;314:512-514.
19. Shi L, Starfield B. "Income inequality, primary care, and health indicators."
J Fam Pract. 1999;48:275-284
HOMEOPATHIC FLU PREVENTION
This is the time of year when people are pressured to take the traditional "Flu
Shot". This like other vaccinations is preserved with Thimerasol which as mentioned
above is a mercury based chemical.
Visit my site http://www.y2khealthanddetox.com and click on "Flu Prevention"
for a complete description of the programme I use for my patients. Totally safe
and very effective..for all ages.
New! In the next month I will make available a downloadable book on Health and
How Get There Without Giving Up Your Life! My goal here will be to address the
changes we are all facing to regain health and live a healthy "Golden Age" and
still enjoy our favourite things.
Stay Tuned…and check back often!
Thanx
Dr. Deb.
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Disclaimer
- Newsletters and information on this site are based upon the opinions of Dr.
Deborah Baker-Racine.
They are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified
health care professional
and they are not intended as medical advice. They are intended as a sharing
of knowledge and information
from the research and experience of Dr. Deborah Baker-Racine. Dr. Deborah Baker-Racine
encourages you
to make your own health care decisions based upon your reading and under the
guidance of a qualified health care professional.
