Archive for May, 2009

Flu Vaccine Effectiveness Is A Myth

28 May 2009

2 Comments  Infections, Uncategorized

Our medical authorities propagate the idea that flu shots save lives.  They want us to believe that the elderly and the young are in grave peril each flu season and that flu shots are essential for their survival – such, according to them, is the power of flu vaccine effectiveness.  However, the evidence does not support their story.

A scientific study published in 2008 in the American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine  found that there was no significant relationship between flu shots and reduced mortality.  The authors of the study looked at more variables than just age and vaccination status.  They looked at preexisting conditions, as well as factors such as smoking, drinking, and exercise habits that help to indicate the overall health of a person.  When they took these factors into account, they found that sick people did badly in flu season; healthy people did well; and flu shots had no effect on mortality.  What a surprise!

Natural doctors maintain that we do not “catch” flu, we “earn” it, and that healthy people tend not to get flu, and if they do become infected, it is not difficult for them to get over it.  The solution for patients is to improve their wellness, not go in search of some magic potion that will make everything okay, even as they continue to degrade their health with frankenfood and other poor lifestyle choices.

Our medical authorities posture as being in the “healthcare” business, but their real interest is in disease.  When a person has a disease the dollars roll in.  Until then, there is no business to be had.  They are not in the healthcare business, they are in the disease business.  It is up to you to avoid becoming one of their customers.

It is helpful to understand the environment in which the medical authorities operate, so you can judge better for yourself as to where your best interests can be served.   The myth of flu vaccine effectiveness is driven by commercial interests, not by science.  I invite you to consider these natural flu remedies as an alternative approach to assuring your wellbeing.  As always, the more responsibility you take for your own health, by educating yourself and taking effective action, the closer you will come to optimum health and longevity.

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The Key To Natural Prostate Health

10 May 2009

No Comment  prostate

I recently added a page to my web site about natural prostate health.  The tricky thing about topics like that is that they can become too focused on a single part of the body and people can get the idea that they can treat parts of themselves in isolation from their whole nature.

So I wrote another article called “the key to natural prostate health” in which I pointed out the need to first of all deal with the whole body before using condition-specific remedies and programs.  I wrote a similar article about natural cures for hepatitis C.  Again, the gist of it was that the whole environment of the body is the primary focus.  Once that has been addressed, specific remedies for this or that condition can be a lot more effective.

I do not think I can write a better article about this issue right now, so I am quoting it here for those who are interested.

Most men will encounter prostate problems. They show up mainly in the form of a reduced stream when urinating and they can develop into truly troubling issues. Some men find it painful to urinate. Others find their sexual performance and enjoyment are reduced. Frequent urination, especially during the night, can become habitual. All of this adds up to a significant decline in the quality of life - and it can signal grave health risks. The choices of conventional therapy are not attractive. The usual trio - drugs, surgery, and radiation - with their usual downsides, are what are on offer from the medical industry. Given the expense and hazards of this kind of treatment, it is not surprising that more and more men are looking for a natural prostate health program, rather than an invasive or toxic intervention.

The good news is that these troubles are usually due to non-malignant enlargement of the prostate and there are good natural alternatives to work with. But before going into the key to natural prostate health, I should point out that the symptoms of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer are very similar, so it is always advisable to rule out malignancy before going any further. Even if prostate cancer is present, there are natural approaches to restoring health that can be used, as I will point out shortly.

Modern medicine works on the premise that organs and body parts can be isolated from nature and treated as if they are separate stand-alone things. This kind of thinking even determines the way hospitals are laid out. For instance, often the place where you get treatment for breathing disorders is in a completely different building from where treatment is given for heart problems. It’s as if your lungs and your heart are best viewed as separate from each other!

The same approach applies to pharmaceutical drugs. An herb is found to be beneficial for a given condition. Chemists then isolate what they believe is the “active” compound in the herb, patent it, get it approved as a drug, and make a fortune. Saw palmetto is an herb that helps with enlarged prostate. Exactly this process was applied to it, and a prescription drug was born - complete with unfortunate side effects and profit margins to pay for all of the “research and development” needed to create this cash stream. The whole herb does not have the side effects but it can be just as effective in many cases, at a fraction the cost.

The point is that whole systems, like plants and human beings, are more than the sum of their isolated parts. When we break things apart, they often do not behave in the same way as they do when embedded in their natural whole environment.

So how does this apply to the search for natural prostate health? Well, obviously, the use of whole herbs, minus toxic side effects, is a better place to start than with expensive prescription drugs. But beyond that, there is a deeper understanding to be gained.

The prostate gland does not exist in isolation. It shares the blood supply, the hormonal and chemical ebbs and flows of the rest of the body, and all of the other factors that give rise to health and illness. No doubt there are “condition-specific” herbs such as Saw palmetto and African plum that have known benefits for the prostate, but any true natural prostate health program will take into account the whole of the body in which the prostate resides, and not pretend that it lives alone.

So the key to natural prostate health is to treat the prostate in its natural environment - your body - and care for your whole body, including your prostate gland. This is the way in which natural cures can be found for the three main areas of concern: prostate cancer, prostate enlargement, and prostate infections. Anything else is no more than first aid.

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