People with a higher level of intake of vitamin K are less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study conducted by researchers at the University Medical Center Utrecht, in the Netherlands, and published in the Journal Diabetes Care.
Vitamin K, known to have an important role in blood coagulation, comes in two different forms - K1 and K2. Vitamin K1 is found mainly in leafy green vegetables, as well as some fruits such as kiwi and avocado. Vitamin K2 is found primarily in meats, eggs, and dairy products, and is synthesized by the human body as well. Because vitamin K2 is able to be produced by the body and is only required in small amounts, deficiencies are relatively rare, except in people with underlying medical conditions.
In the study, the researchers followed more than 38,000 Dutch adults for a period of more than 10 years, tracking their dietary and lifestyle habits, as well as their overall health information. At the end of 10 years, it was found that study participants who had the highest vitamin K1 intake were about 19% less likely to have developed Type 2 diabetes than those who had low intake. On the other hand, those who had the highest levels of vitamin K2 intake were about 20% less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than those with the lowest levels of intake.
Vitamin K1 appears to be related with decreased diabetes risk only at very high doses. Conversely, each 10 microgram increase in vitamin K2 intake, resulted in a decrease in diabetes risk.
News, articles, and views on the field of alternative health including naturopathy, herbal supplements, holisitc medicine,
homeopathy, magnetic therapy, energy healing, acupuncture, and others.
News and discussions regarding the use of, history of, and research on alternative medicines and therapies.
Alternative Health Industry Thriving in Central New York
In the last decade, the alternative health care industry in Central New York has exploded. A few examples to consider:
Hematology/Oncology Associates, the region's largest cancer treatment facility, has an exam room available for patients who want massages or energy treatments, such as reiki.
Once the doctors realized that traditional medicine wasn't helping everyone at CNY Fertility Center, the area's largest fertility center, they began to offer "integrative fertility care," which includes both massage and acupuncture.
Syracuse's Crouse Hospital offers reiki. Rome Memorial Hospital offers harp-therapy. The syracuse V.A. Medical Center includes a "Center for Integrated Health."
The change is also reflected in various, local small health-related businesses: a pharmacist began Bare Bones Health & Wellness, in Manlius, to give out nutrition and lifestyle advice; a local nurse runs Speedy Greens, an organic restaurant, in Cicero, which also provides reflexology and reiki; a retired investment banker is now a reiki master at The Spring, in Fayetteville, a spiritual/cultural center.
Perhaps doctors, newfound openness to "alternative" medicine and therapies is because of an increase in their patients' interest. About 40% of Americans use some form of alternative medicine, according to a 2007 survey taken by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Source: Syracuse.com
Hematology/Oncology Associates, the region's largest cancer treatment facility, has an exam room available for patients who want massages or energy treatments, such as reiki.
Once the doctors realized that traditional medicine wasn't helping everyone at CNY Fertility Center, the area's largest fertility center, they began to offer "integrative fertility care," which includes both massage and acupuncture.
Syracuse's Crouse Hospital offers reiki. Rome Memorial Hospital offers harp-therapy. The syracuse V.A. Medical Center includes a "Center for Integrated Health."
The change is also reflected in various, local small health-related businesses: a pharmacist began Bare Bones Health & Wellness, in Manlius, to give out nutrition and lifestyle advice; a local nurse runs Speedy Greens, an organic restaurant, in Cicero, which also provides reflexology and reiki; a retired investment banker is now a reiki master at The Spring, in Fayetteville, a spiritual/cultural center.
Perhaps doctors, newfound openness to "alternative" medicine and therapies is because of an increase in their patients' interest. About 40% of Americans use some form of alternative medicine, according to a 2007 survey taken by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Source: Syracuse.com
Homeopathic Remedies to Treat Insomnia
Over one-third of Americans suffer from insomnia, and it is the single most common sleep complaint. I nsomnia is characterized by the inability to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake refreshed. Homeopathy has been found to have a number of remedies which can be used to treat acute insomnia.
Homeopathic Dosing
For most acute diseases, homeopathic remedies should be taken in 6x, 6c, or 30c potencies. Most people have no problems with taking these small doses up to a few times a day. However, for the 10% of American who suffer from chronic insomnia, the seeing a professional homeopath or medical professional is advised.
Aconite napellus - Aconite napellus is used to treat a variety of nervous and panic disorders, and is especially useful for insomnia caused by pain or fear. It is useful for people who awaken from sleep due to anxiety, panic or fear.
Arsenicum album - Arsenicum album is made from elemental arsenic. People needing this remedy can be greatly fatigued, but too restless to fall asleep. They tend to be anxious about small things, and they wake unrefreshed. Those needing arsenic wake frequently during the night and may have many dreams.
Belladonna - Belladonna is made from Nightshade, a plant in the Solanaceae family. This remedy helps those who are very restless and who are woken up by nightmares. They may also experience jerking while sleeping. They may experience a pounding in the blood vessels of the head or be kept awake by hearing the blood pulsing in their head. Their dreams are also anxious and vivid.
Calcarea phosphorica - Calcarea phosphorica is a mineral remedy that can be used to treat children who wake up due to growing pains in the legs. Aches in bones and joints that disturb or prevent sleep may be helped by this remedy, in both children and adults. Those needing this remedy have difficulty falling asleep because of pain and discomfort, and then have difficulty waking from sleep.
Source: Natural News
Homeopathic Dosing
For most acute diseases, homeopathic remedies should be taken in 6x, 6c, or 30c potencies. Most people have no problems with taking these small doses up to a few times a day. However, for the 10% of American who suffer from chronic insomnia, the seeing a professional homeopath or medical professional is advised.
Aconite napellus - Aconite napellus is used to treat a variety of nervous and panic disorders, and is especially useful for insomnia caused by pain or fear. It is useful for people who awaken from sleep due to anxiety, panic or fear.
Arsenicum album - Arsenicum album is made from elemental arsenic. People needing this remedy can be greatly fatigued, but too restless to fall asleep. They tend to be anxious about small things, and they wake unrefreshed. Those needing arsenic wake frequently during the night and may have many dreams.
Belladonna - Belladonna is made from Nightshade, a plant in the Solanaceae family. This remedy helps those who are very restless and who are woken up by nightmares. They may also experience jerking while sleeping. They may experience a pounding in the blood vessels of the head or be kept awake by hearing the blood pulsing in their head. Their dreams are also anxious and vivid.
Calcarea phosphorica - Calcarea phosphorica is a mineral remedy that can be used to treat children who wake up due to growing pains in the legs. Aches in bones and joints that disturb or prevent sleep may be helped by this remedy, in both children and adults. Those needing this remedy have difficulty falling asleep because of pain and discomfort, and then have difficulty waking from sleep.
Source: Natural News
Magnetic Therapy: Another Way to Treat Depression
A new treatment called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was approved by the FDA in October 2008. The treatment involves focusing electromagnetic pulses on the area of the brain that is believed to control depression. The idea, according to Dr. Och, president and medical director of Island Counseling Center in Worcester, is to attempt to get some of the benefits of electro-convulsive therapy, without the side-effects that come with inducing seizures in a patient under general anesthesia.
In TMS, a curved device attached to a metallic arm is placed against the left side of the head, and the patient looks at a dot on the far wall. For about 37 minutes, the magnet is activated, making 6 loud pinging sounds, then pausing for about minute, and then sounding again. The patient wears earplugs to muffle the sound.
This treatment has been effective for treating people with serious depression who have not had positive results with other treatments.
“Of the 5 patients we’ve treated, 4 have had great success, and have become well enough to stop treatments,” Dr. Och said. The treatment did not alleviate depression for the fifth patient, but it also didn't have any negative side effects.
Dr. Och said Island Counseling is currently considering using the TMS machine to potentially treat other psychiatric illnesses, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The TMS treatment has only been FDA approved for depression, he noted, so patients would have to understand the risks before treatment.
Source: Telegram.com
More information and resources regarding biomagnetic therapy.
In TMS, a curved device attached to a metallic arm is placed against the left side of the head, and the patient looks at a dot on the far wall. For about 37 minutes, the magnet is activated, making 6 loud pinging sounds, then pausing for about minute, and then sounding again. The patient wears earplugs to muffle the sound.
This treatment has been effective for treating people with serious depression who have not had positive results with other treatments.
“Of the 5 patients we’ve treated, 4 have had great success, and have become well enough to stop treatments,” Dr. Och said. The treatment did not alleviate depression for the fifth patient, but it also didn't have any negative side effects.
Dr. Och said Island Counseling is currently considering using the TMS machine to potentially treat other psychiatric illnesses, such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The TMS treatment has only been FDA approved for depression, he noted, so patients would have to understand the risks before treatment.
Source: Telegram.com
More information and resources regarding biomagnetic therapy.
Nearly 40% of Americans Use Alternative Medicine Therapies
In the United States, a growing number of patients are turning to alternative and complementary medicine as part of their health care. According to the National Institutes of Health, almost 40 percent of American adults have used some type therapy that isn't considered traditional. More than 40 U.S. universities, including Stanford, UCLA, Duke and The George Washington University have integrative medicine centers.
With more Americans turning to alternative medicine, the U.S. government founded The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as part of the National Institutes of Health. "Our job here at the National Institutes of Health is to bring really good science to these really interesting practices," says Dr. Josephine Briggs, the center's director.
Practices that are considered outside mainstream medicine, include the use of dietary supplements, meditation and yoga, as well as acupuncture, reiki - or therapeutic touch - and massage therapy. A survey by the NIH in 2007 indicated nearly four in 10 Americans use one of these practices, generally to treat pain.
Source: VOA News
With more Americans turning to alternative medicine, the U.S. government founded The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine as part of the National Institutes of Health. "Our job here at the National Institutes of Health is to bring really good science to these really interesting practices," says Dr. Josephine Briggs, the center's director.
Practices that are considered outside mainstream medicine, include the use of dietary supplements, meditation and yoga, as well as acupuncture, reiki - or therapeutic touch - and massage therapy. A survey by the NIH in 2007 indicated nearly four in 10 Americans use one of these practices, generally to treat pain.
Source: VOA News
Alternative and Complementary Medicine
Alternative medicine is any health practice that replaces, or isn't compatible with, "Western" medicine. Complementary medicine may involve alternative health practices, but is taken along side contemporary healing approaches. Alternative medicine implies using only non-traditional therapies and methods.
Alternative medicine includes a wide range of practices and therapies. Some of them are based on Ancient Chinese beliefs, like acupuncture and the use of natural herbal supplements. Others focus on Ayurvedic therapies including changes in diet, practicing yoga, and the emphsis of the connection between body, mind, and spirit. Body, mind and spirit healing is also defined as "holistic health", and it can be either alternative or complementary.
Other examples of alternative medicine and therapies include massage, meditation, energy healing (crystals and gemstones), magnetic (biomagnetic) therapy, naturopathy, exercise practices like Tai Chi, and aromatherapy, among others. Many people employ a form of alternative medicine when they take vitamins or natural herbal supplements without the direction of a physician. For example, many people who contract a cold use Cold-Eeze or Zicam, nutritional supplements, instead of going to see a doctor. With no traditional, or Western, medical advice, users of these supplements practice alternative medicine.
Alternative medicine users can often point to the fact that certain alternative practices have thousands of years of anecdotal evidence, suggesting that they are successful. The Western medical establishment generally opposes such practices, but as complementary medicine has continued to advance, there are now exist medical schools that teach alternative practices. Many physicians are now beginning to embrace complementary medicine and therapies because they provide more options for addressing a number of health conditions.
Many people turn to alternative health practices when the traditional Western medical community can offer them no treatment or cure for a particular condition. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some therapies may help improve quality of life for some of these people. Western doctors acknowledge many of the more established methods and therapies of alternative medicine, and recommend them for patients who they cannot treat with traditional medicine. While many physicians continue to remain skeptical, alternative medicine is often looked upon as a treatment of last resort.
Alternative medicine includes a wide range of practices and therapies. Some of them are based on Ancient Chinese beliefs, like acupuncture and the use of natural herbal supplements. Others focus on Ayurvedic therapies including changes in diet, practicing yoga, and the emphsis of the connection between body, mind, and spirit. Body, mind and spirit healing is also defined as "holistic health", and it can be either alternative or complementary.
Other examples of alternative medicine and therapies include massage, meditation, energy healing (crystals and gemstones), magnetic (biomagnetic) therapy, naturopathy, exercise practices like Tai Chi, and aromatherapy, among others. Many people employ a form of alternative medicine when they take vitamins or natural herbal supplements without the direction of a physician. For example, many people who contract a cold use Cold-Eeze or Zicam, nutritional supplements, instead of going to see a doctor. With no traditional, or Western, medical advice, users of these supplements practice alternative medicine.
Alternative medicine users can often point to the fact that certain alternative practices have thousands of years of anecdotal evidence, suggesting that they are successful. The Western medical establishment generally opposes such practices, but as complementary medicine has continued to advance, there are now exist medical schools that teach alternative practices. Many physicians are now beginning to embrace complementary medicine and therapies because they provide more options for addressing a number of health conditions.
Many people turn to alternative health practices when the traditional Western medical community can offer them no treatment or cure for a particular condition. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some therapies may help improve quality of life for some of these people. Western doctors acknowledge many of the more established methods and therapies of alternative medicine, and recommend them for patients who they cannot treat with traditional medicine. While many physicians continue to remain skeptical, alternative medicine is often looked upon as a treatment of last resort.
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