Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Litebook as effective as prozac for SAD sufferers

Why do many people feel depressed as the nights get longer and what can we do about it?

It is all about Melatonin

Melatonin production increases as light intensity falls and it is responsible for inducing sleep. Clearly Melatonin, as the sleep inducing, hormone, slows us down making us less alert and depresses our mood. Anybody who wakes up at 4 o’clock am will testify that this is not the happiest time to wake up. Melatonin production is stimulated by low exposure to sunlight.

Sunlight has the reverse effect, it suppresses the production of Melatonin which is produced from the feel good hormone, Serotonin. Thus, exposure to Sunlight results in increased Serotonin levels and reduced Melotonin levels. We all know how much better we feel when the sun is shining.

The problem for those of us living in Northern latitudes, is that we go to work in dark, grey, drizzly weather, sit in the office all day, well away from the sunlight and then return home at night. Little wonder then, that many of us suffer from the winter blues or seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

So what is the solution?


Light Therapy
Light therapy first became an option for the treatment of seasonal onset depression (SAD) following the discovery in 1971 that very bright light could influence the control of the hormone melatonin.
40% of the population suffers from SAD usually defined as winter blues.

Light deprivation symptoms are also experienced by those who live in conflict with their body clock such as night workers, shift workers and international travellers (jet lag). For physiological reasons the body clock is also shifted at two key life stages. It moves forward by 4 – 6 hours at puberty meaning that teenagers and students do not feel sleepy until the early hours and cannot wake before noon, Later on in life the body clock shifts back leading to poor sleep patterns and a tendency to wake in the very early hours.
Research in the last few years has also confirmed that melatonin suppression is under the control of very specific wavelengths of light. 460-470nm at the non-visible blue end of the spectrum activates melatonin and green light at 540nm resets the receptor. Bright sunlight peaks at 470nm with a second smaller peak at 540nm.

Bright White light therapy works but has a few pitfalls. SAD lights can be very expensive, very bulky, very bright and not portable. Although in theory they should work, in practice does exposure to them give the user sufficient exposure to the right wavelengths that trigger Melatonin suppression?

Litebook
These questions have been answered by one particular manufacturer, who has “put their money where their mouth is”. The manufacturers of Litebook have done several very well conducted clinical trials on their product where the Litebook has been shown to be better than placebo and as effective as Fluoxetine (Prozac) for the treatment of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). (Am J Psychiatry 2006; 163:805-812) but with a lower incidence of adverse events.

The white light LED used in the Litebook produces light in a narrow range that peaks at 470nm with a second peak at 540nm, thus mimicking bright sunlight but without creating a very bright glare. The Litebook white light LEDs are totally free of ultra violet light and are therefore safe for long term use.
The other huge advantage of using these special LEDs is that they do not require large amounts of energy to make them work, thus they can be powered by rechargeable batteries making for a very portable system. The trials also indicate that only 15 to 30 minutes per day exposure is required in contrast to other SAD lamps which require all day exposure. The price of the Litebooks, while not cheap, is still reasonable by comparison with most other SAD lamps and those SAD lamps which are cheaper remain to be proven effective.


The Litebook
The stylish, new compact design is ultra-light weight. Each of the 24 bright white light LEDs each with individual Fresnel lens to focus beam and a diffuser to reduce glare. The Rechargeable Lithium ION Battery gives 2 hours use per charge and there is an inbuilt battery level indicator. A timer function stores 15, 30, 45 or 60 minute treatment times.
The Litebook comes complete with a smart black carry case and Mains Adaptor.
A Worldwide AC mains adaptor (US/Europe/Australia/UK) makes the Litebook perfect for jet lag applications.

For further information just click on this link and http://www.naturalfigure.co.uk/ they will send you the full Litebook information pack.
RRP £149.99 inclusive of VAT or £127.65 excluding VAT

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

School Dinners Depressing Kids

A lot going on in the news just now reagarding nutrition, creativity, IQ and behaviour all related to the food we eat.

The Scotsman Newspaper carried a story about it today titled:
Scots eating even less fruit and veg despite health drive

The BBC News Web site lead with a story titled:
Junk food poisoning childhood.

Dinner ladies hear throb, Jamie Oliver has his web page about it here

Companies like Natural Figure offer products such as Omega 3 DHA Junior to help supplment a childs diet, but a more fundamental shift in our thinking needs to take place first in what we feed our children so as they get the best butrition from the food provided for them at home.

A good place to start is with a book by Sue Palmers Toxic Childhood
"...but the results of so many ill effects coming together for children is startling."

"The author has interviewed experts on all the areas concerned -- from diet, sleep and exercise through to marketing and the electronic media -- and brought everything parents need to know together in one place. An absolute godsend!"

Thursday, July 06, 2006

Painless Cancer Cures

Was reviewing a press release I'd done on the 3 different detox foot spas that we offer at The Detox Team and checked out some of the PR's round about.

This is the one that really got my interest
I'd heard of Essiac Tea a few years ago so I checked out this post and discovered what looks like a little jem of a book on "Painless Cancer Cures".



It seems to talk about things I know that are already good for you, "non-toxic preventions and remedies for every major cancer" so of course the non toxic buzz word got my attention, seeing this mentioned with alkalising the body and the use of chlorophyll in green drinks

Just reading the reviews:
"This nurse did her homework and then some. She emphasizes genuinely harmless ways to prevent and treat all cancers. Can't say when I have picked up a book this knowledgeable and brimming over with so much vital information on cancer. I've read several books on natural cures, but this one has got to be the cream of the crop."

Think this one will definitely be coming with me on holiday next time.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Toxic Potatoes, irradiation and chemicals

I had an interesting talk with someone the other day about supermarkets using chemicals to prevent potatoes from sprouting in your cupboard during the warm summer months.

While it made sense it could easily just have been a good yarn and a bit of hearsay.

So I decided to google for it and see what I could turn up to substantiate it...

I found an interesting reference from the food standards agency regarding natural toxins in green potatoes but nothing about the use of chemicals to stop them sprouting.

Jackie French seems to have it covered for how to grow your potatoes but again nothing on chemicals.

I Found some more about the naturally occurring glycoalkaloid toxins when potatoes are turning green, still nothing on chemicals.

Found a well written article on food irradiation which I think is what comes closest to the story I was told and quite possibly more the case than a chemical having been used.

"Strawberries last weeks instead of days. Potatoes and onions sprouting is delayed, because the cellular 'software', the DNA, of the eyes' cells are short circuited. These potatoes
and onions will sprout, it is just delayed."


Think this will make a good post in itself on irradiation, like the article says

"This method is treating food with radiation. Many folks have a knee-jerk
reaction when they hear this word."


Well I'm certainly one of those people that.

My reservation is concerning the effect of the irradiation process on the life energy of the food, any one that's grown their own will know the splendor of the taste of something that has come out of the ground that day, but for the rest of us it may well be the case of a lesser of two evil.

Conclusion: Was a good yarn / urban myth, possibly just a story made up around the observed evidence caused by irradiation.

Ps For anyone who does grow their own, I was speaking to these guys over at the Seer Centre the other day.

I heard of them a couple of years ago and am now getting the rock dust to prepare a patch of ground for a late crop and compost for next year.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Using Honey and butterbur for Hayfever

A client was having a Cell Med Detox treatment the other day and telling me of the benefits of using local honey for hayfever.

The thinking being that the pollen in the honey builds up a resistance to the alergens that agrevate the symtoms of hayfever. I found a great discussion of it on the British Beekeepers' Association forumn

Seems to be some balanced view points in the discussion with one experienced voice speaking out that the theory doesn't hold water for him.

Nevertheless the experience and results are showing that people are having reduced symptoms of hayfever

Had come across a product a couple of years ago from Webber and Webber on their Linpharma site which mentioned :
"A course of therapy with Butterbur petasin extract has been scientifically proven to be beneficial in the alleviation of hayfever symptoms."

It can be hard to find a local honey supplier if you're not plugged in to the green scene.

I know these guys are good for the patch-it detox foot pads, they also stock webber and webber's Linpharma Butterbur

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Wekroma Hair Tonic

Back my holidays now, had been hoping to post on the wonders of a nettle soak for hair regrowth but I had to postpone doing it as I didn't want it to interfere with my trying out Wekroma Hair Tonic.

Had been using it for the previous month twice a day and although it had given body back to my hair it hadn't helped with any regeneration, untill day two of my holidays when I spent ten hours working outside in the garden in the sun and the next day I certainly had a clump more hair on top!

Over the next couple of days there definetly was a lasting improvement :-) which is still with me, not a massive regrowth but enough to be more than happy with and pleased with the product.

I took a before picture and am hoping to get an after picture next week when I'll post them both up then.

Looking forward to using my second bottle to see if there is any further regrowth. If I get the same spurt again it will have basically regenerated the hair thinning I suffered last year when I went through a lot of stress becoming self employed.

Proof'll be in the pudding and will post the pics when I've got them.

Will see if I can get a couple of other folk to try the product over the summer months and get pictures also.

:-)

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Foot Patches Quicken recovery time

I'm on holiday at the moment and doing lots of heavy lifting work outside, overdid it on Tuesday and worked ten hours cutting back brambles and mucking out a sheep hut.

Was beginning to feel very soar at the end of the day with aching muscles so I put a couple of patches on each foot and one on the small of the back and while I wasn't 100% yesterday it certainly took the sting out of it all and my recover time was much quicker.

I think the only problem I'm going to have is that I might run out of patch it before my holiday is over so might have to ration them and bring 2 boxes next time ;-)

Saturday, April 15, 2006

Laetrile (B17) Cancer and the FDA


Following on from A Town Called Allopath, I read a great book recently "Alive and Well" by Philip E. Binzel, Jr., M.D. ISBN: 0912986174

It is the story of "One Doctor's Experience with Nutrition in the Treatment of Cancer Patients". Again like the video from Dr Mercola's site it was shocking to hear of the behavior of the FDA in trying to suppress the use of Laetrile also kown as B17 and Apricot Kernal.

Here's an excerpt from the chapter 1 of the book Alive and Well.


Dr. Halstead then took the stand. He carried with him a book which he put in his lap. Under direct questioning from Mr Coe, Dr Halstead explained how all substances known to man can be toxic. He showed that while some oxygen is necessary to maintain life, too much oxygen can be fatal. He went through the same procedure with water, salt and other substances. He then showed that aspirin, sugar and salt were, milligram-for-milligram, hundreds of times more toxic than Laetrile.

On cross-examination, the FDA attorney asked Dr Halstead to give the toxicity figure for some substance (I don't remember what the substance was). Dr. Halstead said, pointing to the book in his lap but never opening it, "on page 311, Table 2, in this book you will find that the toxicity of that substance is ..." (whatever it was). The FDA attorney then named another substance and asked for its toxicity figure. Dr Halstead answered, "On page 419, Table 3 shows it to be ..." (whatever it was). The attorney tried a third time. Again, Dr Halstead came up with the page number, table number and toxicity.

The three FDA attorneys stared at each other for a minute, then one of them said, "How do you know all of this?" Dr Halstead calmly replied. "Because I wrote the book." "Impossible!" yelled the attorney. Without saying a word Dr Halstead took the book from his lap and handed it to Judge Bohanon. The Judge opened the book to its first page and read the following. "textbook of Toxicology, written by Dr Bruce Halstead, as commissioned by the food and Drug Administration of the United States." The Judge said to the FDA attorneys, "You fellows should have known that. You didn't do your homework very well." The FDA attorneys had enough of Dr Halstead. They dismissed him from the stand.

When Mr Coe informed Judge Bohanon that the defense concluded its testimony, the Judge turned to the FDA attorneys and said, "The court is now prepared to hear your witnesses and view your evidence." One FDA attorney replied, "Your Honor, we don't have any." The rest of the dialogue went like this:

Judge: "You are telling me that you have filled suit in this court that Laetrile is toxic, and you don't have a single witness or a shred of evidence to support such a suit?"

Attorney: "Yes that is correct, Your Honor."

Judge: "Then why have you filed such a suit?"

Attorney: "Because, Your Honor, Laetrile may be dangerous."

Judge: "Dangerous to whom?"

Attorney: "Dangerous to the Federal Government, Your Honor."

Judge: "How could Laetrile possibly be dangerous to the Federal Government?"

Attorney: "Because, Your Honor, the Government may lose control."

With this the Judge, now obviously angered, slammed down his gavel and said, "Case dismissed!"

As Mr. Coe, Dr Halstead, Bob Bradford, Betty and I left the court house, we saw a six-foot by four-foot poster on the wall in the lobby. It read in large letters, "BEWARE OF LAETRILE! IT IS TOXIC!" At the bottom, in small print was the statement, "Must be posted in all Government buildings by order of the Food and Drug Administration of the United States."

Is it possible that the FDA was lying to the people?


This is one of them books that's a right riveting read as well as being informative, well researched and presented.

What I found very balanced about the book is that it was very clear in not making Laetrile out to be a magic bullet but that it was a complete Nutritional plan that was called for and that the dosages of each vitamin needed to be in the correct ratio's.

As a final sanity check the reader is absolutely deterred not to self diagnose and try and treat themselves for cancer from this book.

Friday, April 14, 2006

A town called allopath


Most people who are health concious likly have already had an insight in to the pharmaceutical industry and the FDA. All the same if you haven't seen it yet it makes for good watching

You can watch the complete video here

Dr Mercola's has been a leading voice in the natural health industry for a number of years and his site is a great resource.

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

Cleansing your inards

To me cleansing is more about purgative treatments and remedies, I would think of doing a liver cleanse as cleansing (guess the name is a bit of a give away), but I'd also include gravity enemas, colonic irrigation and various herbal teas as doing cleansing type things, if you think about it, it can really just be the context you say something in or the way you say it.

The ultimate cleanser has to be water, well we're made of the stuff, if you can get a good source of drinking water you're on you're way. If you use a water filter, be sure it filters out chlorine, fluoride and heavy metals.

I did my first Liver Cleanse at the Harmonology Centre up in the Black Isle of Scotland, and what a place to do it in, roaming hills, pine forests and dolphins, made drinking epson salts and sitting on the bog all morning worth it. These results aren't mine but I was there the morning this prize winning marrow was expelled, urgh.

Parasites definitely come in to the cleansing category for me, I just hope Dr. Hulda Clarks Zapper took care of the likes of this little guy in the photo and all his cousins ;-)

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Detox's claims face probe: Review

Well, it was interesting enough. Basically manufacturers need to toe the line on what they can claim to say and what they are allowed to say before they need a medical license.

I've used similar products to the Slim Life foot pads, patch it, where the ones I have used and found them to work a treat, but the point being made was not necessarily the effectiveness of the product but its conformance to advertising guidelines.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Detox's medical claims face probe

Well, this one's going to be interesting, tonight on BBC 1, detox products are going to be getting put through their paces.

Article Snippet:
The marketing of detox products is to be investigated by the government after the BBC drew its attention to some of their medical claims.

The Medical Health Care Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is taking action based on investigations by BBC One's Doctors on a Detox programme.

Some detox products claim to enhance the immune system, relieve pain, flush out toxins and stimulate circulation.

But the programme said they had not undergone proper medical tests.

Medical claims can only be made after rigorous testing.

Any product making a medical claim has to prove that quality standard
Medical Health Care Products Regulatory Agency

It is a criminal offence under the Medicines (Advertising) Regulation Act 1994 to issue an advertisement relating to a relevant medicinal product without a licence.
A spokesman for the MHRA said: "Licenses will only be granted after the safety and efficacy of products have been shown in clinical trials.

"Any product making a medical claim has to prove that quality standard. The consumer has to be able to trust what they buy."

The MHRA is now writing to a number of detox product manufacturers to ask them to withdraw any unproven medical claims.

Read the full article here on the BBC news site


The advertising standards agency flagged up similar issues for the Aqua Detox


Will be waiting with baited breath to see how the industry fairs.

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Detox Foot Spa Colours

Well I suppose a good way to blast off this detox blog is to prattle on a bit about the colours you see after having a Cell Med Detox treatment.



Firstly; the client should always be told that the colour change will happen even if their feet are not immersed in the detox foot spa and it is more important what physical symptoms that they notice following the treatment. Positive benefits commonly reported include:

Feeling clear headed, Uplifted, Better nights sleep, Relief from PMT, Relief from PMS, Improved Mobility, Relief from arthritis pain.


I was personally convinced after about three weeks of using the Cell Med Detox when I saw someone walk out of the room a lot easier than they had walked in.

And the fact that people keep coming back suggests there is something more than just a placebo at work.

Before I get flamed I agree that the colour change happens because of the array.

But what you do see happening; when people have a poor diet, are heavy smokers or are over weight is more of the colour change taking place, green frothing and generally the water turning black.

The real acid test is to do a treatment without your feet in the detox spa and see what happens.

You will get a colour change happening similar to as if your feet where in but generally not as much.

The important difference is that the client will not feel any of the benefits that can be varied and many.


You can see more about this kind of stuff over at