A Painful Reminder of Shingles?
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: Do you have any advice for dealing with postherpetic neuralgia? -- Reg W. A: Postherpetic neuralgia is a complication of shingles that affects the nerve fibers and skin and can be extremely painful. The symptoms are usually confined to the area where the shingles occurred and may include a sharp, burning or deep, aching pain, extreme sensitivity to touch and temperature change, or itching and numbness. These problems can go on for months, in some cases years, and are most likely to occur among older people. In fact, the older you are when you develop shingles, the more likely you are to develop postherpetic neuralgia. This complication rarely occurs before the age of 50 but does develop in at least 50 percent of shingles patients over 60 and in almost 75 percent of those 70 or older.
Conventional medicine treats postherpetic neuralgia with skin patches that release the pain killer lidocaine and relieve pain for four to 12 hours. Antidepressants, in doses smaller than those used to treat depression, especially tricyclics like amitryptaline (Elavil), seem to make the pain easier to tolerate. Other allopathic options are anticonvulsant drugs such as neurontin, prescription pain medications, and TENS units (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation), which involves placing electrodes in the painful area to deliver tiny electrical impulses to nearby nerve pathways.
I suggest trying acupuncture or hypnosis, both of which can help relieve the pain of postherpetic neuralgia. You can also use topical capsaicin, a cream made from hot chili peppers. This medication depletes nerve cells of "substance P," a natural chemical that is involved in sending pain signals to the brain. You rub the cream on the affected area of skin three times a day. Capsaicin cream is sold over-the-counter as Zostrix or Capzasin-P.
Andrew Weil, MD
Sunday, May 28, 2006
A Blood Test for Breast Cancer?
A Blood Test for Breast Cancer?
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I understand that there's a new blood test for breast cancer that is a big breakthrough. Who should have it? When? -- Glenda R. A:
A promising new test for breast cancer patients can count malignant cells in the bloodstream and thus tell doctors whether or not treatment is working. The fewer cancer cells found, the better the outlook, and vice versa. The test is not for screening healthy women for the disease. At this time, it is intended only to assess the status of women who are already being treated in order to help make decisions about whether additional treatment is needed.
The test method was studied at 20 medical centers in the United States, and results were published in the August 19, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. A total of 177 women took part, all of whom already had stage 4 breast cancer, the most advanced form of the disease.
Until now, doctor and their patients typically had to wait months before doing bone scans or x-rays to see if a particular treatment was working. The new test reportedly will reduce the waiting time to just weeks.
Cells from malignant tumors can break off and travel through lymphatic and blood vessels. Cancer spreads when these cells begin to grow in other areas of the body far from the spot where the disease originated, a process called metastasis. Once this happens, cancer becomes much harder to treat, and the chances for a cure decrease. If the new test shows that a woman has no circulating cancer cells, she may not need further treatment. If the test shows that lots of cells are circulating, more aggressive treatment is indicated.
Researchers also plan to investigate whether the new test also works for patients with colon, lung and prostate cancer.
Andrew Weil, MD
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I understand that there's a new blood test for breast cancer that is a big breakthrough. Who should have it? When? -- Glenda R. A:
A promising new test for breast cancer patients can count malignant cells in the bloodstream and thus tell doctors whether or not treatment is working. The fewer cancer cells found, the better the outlook, and vice versa. The test is not for screening healthy women for the disease. At this time, it is intended only to assess the status of women who are already being treated in order to help make decisions about whether additional treatment is needed.
The test method was studied at 20 medical centers in the United States, and results were published in the August 19, 2004 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. A total of 177 women took part, all of whom already had stage 4 breast cancer, the most advanced form of the disease.
Until now, doctor and their patients typically had to wait months before doing bone scans or x-rays to see if a particular treatment was working. The new test reportedly will reduce the waiting time to just weeks.
Cells from malignant tumors can break off and travel through lymphatic and blood vessels. Cancer spreads when these cells begin to grow in other areas of the body far from the spot where the disease originated, a process called metastasis. Once this happens, cancer becomes much harder to treat, and the chances for a cure decrease. If the new test shows that a woman has no circulating cancer cells, she may not need further treatment. If the test shows that lots of cells are circulating, more aggressive treatment is indicated.
Researchers also plan to investigate whether the new test also works for patients with colon, lung and prostate cancer.
Andrew Weil, MD
The Safest Way to Cut Fat?
The Safest Way to Cut Fat?
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: Are no-fat sprays such as PAM safe? -- Nelly A: Cooking sprays were introduced in the 1950s and have since been used as a way to cut the amount of fat used in preparing food. While these sprays are safe, I strongly recommend that you buy them in pump bottles rather than as aerosol sprays. In 1978 the United States government banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), propellants commonly used in aerosol sprays of all kinds because of evidence that they were causing holes in the ozone layer. Today's propellants aren't as damaging to the environment, but there is evidence that some of the replacement propellants (not necessarily those in cooking sprays) may contain chemicals that pose health risks if inhaled.
On the plus side, cooking sprays can cut the amount of fat you use in baking, grilling and stovetop cooking, but you do have to be careful not to spray too liberally. For example, if you spray for five seconds, you could add as much as 35 calories to your food. The trick to using these sprays is to follow directions on the can and spray for the amount of time specified, often a third of a second (which can be difficult to calculate).
Incidentally, you can make your own cooking spray by pouring olive oil in a pump bottle or combining olive oil with lecithin (derived from soy), which acts as an emulsifier. If you just want to cut back on the amount of oil you use, instead of pouring it, apply it to pans with a pastry brush.
You also have to be careful about how you store cooking sprays. Be sure to keep them away from light and heat (but don't refrigerate) and, although some manufacturers say these products are good for two years, you're better off replacing a can after six months. Over time, the oil will go rancid.
Andrew Weil, MD
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: Are no-fat sprays such as PAM safe? -- Nelly A: Cooking sprays were introduced in the 1950s and have since been used as a way to cut the amount of fat used in preparing food. While these sprays are safe, I strongly recommend that you buy them in pump bottles rather than as aerosol sprays. In 1978 the United States government banned the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), propellants commonly used in aerosol sprays of all kinds because of evidence that they were causing holes in the ozone layer. Today's propellants aren't as damaging to the environment, but there is evidence that some of the replacement propellants (not necessarily those in cooking sprays) may contain chemicals that pose health risks if inhaled.
On the plus side, cooking sprays can cut the amount of fat you use in baking, grilling and stovetop cooking, but you do have to be careful not to spray too liberally. For example, if you spray for five seconds, you could add as much as 35 calories to your food. The trick to using these sprays is to follow directions on the can and spray for the amount of time specified, often a third of a second (which can be difficult to calculate).
Incidentally, you can make your own cooking spray by pouring olive oil in a pump bottle or combining olive oil with lecithin (derived from soy), which acts as an emulsifier. If you just want to cut back on the amount of oil you use, instead of pouring it, apply it to pans with a pastry brush.
You also have to be careful about how you store cooking sprays. Be sure to keep them away from light and heat (but don't refrigerate) and, although some manufacturers say these products are good for two years, you're better off replacing a can after six months. Over time, the oil will go rancid.
Andrew Weil, MD
Preventing Kidney Disease?
Preventing Kidney Disease?
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I have been told I have a high reading of protein in my urine. My doctor prescribed lisinopril. I don't like the side effects. Is there anything natural I can take to decrease the protein level? -- Anonymous A: Proteinuria - protein in the urine (determined by urinalysis) - often indicates some type of kidney disease. The first thing you have to determine is what is causing the problem. Normally, the kidneys filter waste products out of the blood so they can be eliminated from the body. Most proteins are too big to pass through the kidneys' filtering system unless the filters have been damaged in some way.
Among the possibilities: some variety of nephritis, a group of diseases, usually autoimmune, that cause inflammatory damage to the kidneys. Diabetes can also result in kidney damage, as can high blood pressure. In fact, elevated blood pressure often accompanies kidney disease and accelerates it.
If you have proteinuria and high blood pressure, you do need drug treatment to bring it down. The drug you were prescribed, lisinopril, is an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor, a type of blood pressure medication that works better than other drugs to reduce the pressure in blood vessels in the kidneys and increase the flow of urine, which helps lower blood pressure. I know of no natural alternative to drug treatment for this problem. Jonathan Dranov, MD, a nephrologist in State College, PA, tells me that 15 to 20 percent of patients taking ACE inhibitors develop a cough as a side effect. Unfortunately, if this happens to you as a result of taking this medication, you'll likely have the same cough with other ACE inhibitors. In that case, an option would be to try angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), another type of medication. These two types of drugs appear to work to protect kidney function better than other medications used to treat high blood pressure.
It is very important to work with your doctor to find a treatment that you can tolerate that is effective for the kidney problem causing proteinuria. Otherwise, it is likely that your kidney function will deteriorate, and you'll be in very big trouble, eventually requiring dialysis.
Andrew Weil, MD
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I have been told I have a high reading of protein in my urine. My doctor prescribed lisinopril. I don't like the side effects. Is there anything natural I can take to decrease the protein level? -- Anonymous A: Proteinuria - protein in the urine (determined by urinalysis) - often indicates some type of kidney disease. The first thing you have to determine is what is causing the problem. Normally, the kidneys filter waste products out of the blood so they can be eliminated from the body. Most proteins are too big to pass through the kidneys' filtering system unless the filters have been damaged in some way.
Among the possibilities: some variety of nephritis, a group of diseases, usually autoimmune, that cause inflammatory damage to the kidneys. Diabetes can also result in kidney damage, as can high blood pressure. In fact, elevated blood pressure often accompanies kidney disease and accelerates it.
If you have proteinuria and high blood pressure, you do need drug treatment to bring it down. The drug you were prescribed, lisinopril, is an ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitor, a type of blood pressure medication that works better than other drugs to reduce the pressure in blood vessels in the kidneys and increase the flow of urine, which helps lower blood pressure. I know of no natural alternative to drug treatment for this problem. Jonathan Dranov, MD, a nephrologist in State College, PA, tells me that 15 to 20 percent of patients taking ACE inhibitors develop a cough as a side effect. Unfortunately, if this happens to you as a result of taking this medication, you'll likely have the same cough with other ACE inhibitors. In that case, an option would be to try angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), another type of medication. These two types of drugs appear to work to protect kidney function better than other medications used to treat high blood pressure.
It is very important to work with your doctor to find a treatment that you can tolerate that is effective for the kidney problem causing proteinuria. Otherwise, it is likely that your kidney function will deteriorate, and you'll be in very big trouble, eventually requiring dialysis.
Andrew Weil, MD
Lost Your Sense of Smell?
Lost Your Sense of Smell?
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I just heard of lawsuits being brought against manufacturers of various nasal sprays containing zinc gluconate. The lawsuits charge that the zinc gluconate is causing the loss of sense of smell in certain people. What is your take on this? -- Willis P. A: It is true that a number of lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of two nasal-spray cold remedies containing zinc gluconate, claiming that use of these products caused a loss of the sense of smell, a condition called anosmia. These incidents and the suits were first brought to light by a television station in Denver which has reported that consumers in five states have targeted the manufacturers of Zicam nasal spray and Cold-Eeze nasal spray, both of which contain zinc gluconate.
I understand that the FDA is looking into the complaints. Anyone with a loss of sense of smell (or any other adverse reaction) related to the use of these products (or any drug, prescription or over-the-counter) should report the problem to the FDA's Medwatch program.
So far, the companies that manufacture the nasal sprays in question have denied an association between use of their products as recommended and the anosmia reported by users. However, the company that makes Zicam has admitted that there have been no studies examining the connection between use of its product and a loss of the ability to smell. Physicians at the University of Colorado's Taste and Smell Clinic have been tracking reports that use of zinc gluconate nasal sprays are linked to cases of anosmia. No such claims have been made with respect to other, non-spray cold remedies containing zinc gluconate, which studies suggest can shorten the duration and severity of colds if taken at the first sign.
Until this question is carefully examined in scientific studies, there's no way to prove that the nasal sprays actually are responsible for the problem. However, zinc in other forms has been used to eliminate the sense of smell in lab animals, and some specialists have speculated that the anosmia reported may stem from misusing the nasal sprays by sniffing too deeply while spraying.
Andrew Weil, MD
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I just heard of lawsuits being brought against manufacturers of various nasal sprays containing zinc gluconate. The lawsuits charge that the zinc gluconate is causing the loss of sense of smell in certain people. What is your take on this? -- Willis P. A: It is true that a number of lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of two nasal-spray cold remedies containing zinc gluconate, claiming that use of these products caused a loss of the sense of smell, a condition called anosmia. These incidents and the suits were first brought to light by a television station in Denver which has reported that consumers in five states have targeted the manufacturers of Zicam nasal spray and Cold-Eeze nasal spray, both of which contain zinc gluconate.
I understand that the FDA is looking into the complaints. Anyone with a loss of sense of smell (or any other adverse reaction) related to the use of these products (or any drug, prescription or over-the-counter) should report the problem to the FDA's Medwatch program.
So far, the companies that manufacture the nasal sprays in question have denied an association between use of their products as recommended and the anosmia reported by users. However, the company that makes Zicam has admitted that there have been no studies examining the connection between use of its product and a loss of the ability to smell. Physicians at the University of Colorado's Taste and Smell Clinic have been tracking reports that use of zinc gluconate nasal sprays are linked to cases of anosmia. No such claims have been made with respect to other, non-spray cold remedies containing zinc gluconate, which studies suggest can shorten the duration and severity of colds if taken at the first sign.
Until this question is carefully examined in scientific studies, there's no way to prove that the nasal sprays actually are responsible for the problem. However, zinc in other forms has been used to eliminate the sense of smell in lab animals, and some specialists have speculated that the anosmia reported may stem from misusing the nasal sprays by sniffing too deeply while spraying.
Andrew Weil, MD
Friday, May 26, 2006
Does Drinking Milk Lead to Breast Cancer?
Does Drinking Milk Lead to Breast Cancer?
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: Is there any correlation between milk-drinking and breast cancer? I've been reading vegetarian Web sites online that say there could be a link. -- Allison P.
A: Evidence connecting milk consumption to breast cancer is contradictory, but results of a recent study from Denmark suggest that it may play a role in the increasing incidence of the disease during the past 50 years.
In a study involving more than 117,000 women, researchers from the Statens Serum Institut found that height is a risk factor for breast cancer, particularly when it stems from a growth spurt between the ages of eight and 14. In Japan, an increase in women's average heights over the last 50 years may be related to milk consumption.
During that time breast cancer incidence doubled from 40 to 80 cases per 100,000 women. The findings were published in the October 14, 2004, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Commenting on the results in the same issue, two experts from Harvard Medical School noted that milk consumption increases circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, a growth hormone associated with higher stature.
It isn't known yet exactly how this might contribute to childhood growth and breast cancer risk. But if milk drinking is to blame for the increased incidence of breast cancer, the amount consumed during childhood could be the key, not the amount adult women are drinking today.
To confuse matters, an earlier study had suggested that the vitamin D and calcium women get by consuming low-fat dairy products, including skim or low-fat milk lower the risk of breast cancer before menopause but not afterward.
These findings came from data drawn from the famed Nurses Health Study, which began in 1976 and includes more than 120,000 nurses in 11 states. In 2002 Harvard researchers published an analysis of information from more than 88,600 of the women showing that consumption of dairy products - either before or after menopause - had no effect one way or the other on the breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. The study was published in the September 4, 2002, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Another study, from Norway, published in 2001 also suggested that milk consumption was protective. Data from more than 48,000 premenopausal women researchers showed that childhood milk consumption (regardless of the type of milk and its fat content) was associated with a lower breast cancer risk among women aged 34 to 39 but not among women in their forties. Adult milk consumption also seemed to lower the risk. Among women who drank more than three glasses of milk per day, risk was lowered by about half. The study was published in the Sept. 15, 2001 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
I recommend against using cow's milk and products made from milk if you have a personal or family history of eczema, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, or autoimmunity. If you do drink milk, I urge you to buy only organic brands without the residues of antibiotics and hormones found in conventional brands. In my opinion, those hormone residues may be the factor responsible for increased risks of cancer, especially hormonally driven cancers.
Andrew Weil, MD
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: Is there any correlation between milk-drinking and breast cancer? I've been reading vegetarian Web sites online that say there could be a link. -- Allison P.
A: Evidence connecting milk consumption to breast cancer is contradictory, but results of a recent study from Denmark suggest that it may play a role in the increasing incidence of the disease during the past 50 years.
In a study involving more than 117,000 women, researchers from the Statens Serum Institut found that height is a risk factor for breast cancer, particularly when it stems from a growth spurt between the ages of eight and 14. In Japan, an increase in women's average heights over the last 50 years may be related to milk consumption.
During that time breast cancer incidence doubled from 40 to 80 cases per 100,000 women. The findings were published in the October 14, 2004, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Commenting on the results in the same issue, two experts from Harvard Medical School noted that milk consumption increases circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor 1, a growth hormone associated with higher stature.
It isn't known yet exactly how this might contribute to childhood growth and breast cancer risk. But if milk drinking is to blame for the increased incidence of breast cancer, the amount consumed during childhood could be the key, not the amount adult women are drinking today.
To confuse matters, an earlier study had suggested that the vitamin D and calcium women get by consuming low-fat dairy products, including skim or low-fat milk lower the risk of breast cancer before menopause but not afterward.
These findings came from data drawn from the famed Nurses Health Study, which began in 1976 and includes more than 120,000 nurses in 11 states. In 2002 Harvard researchers published an analysis of information from more than 88,600 of the women showing that consumption of dairy products - either before or after menopause - had no effect one way or the other on the breast cancer risk among postmenopausal women. The study was published in the September 4, 2002, issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
Another study, from Norway, published in 2001 also suggested that milk consumption was protective. Data from more than 48,000 premenopausal women researchers showed that childhood milk consumption (regardless of the type of milk and its fat content) was associated with a lower breast cancer risk among women aged 34 to 39 but not among women in their forties. Adult milk consumption also seemed to lower the risk. Among women who drank more than three glasses of milk per day, risk was lowered by about half. The study was published in the Sept. 15, 2001 issue of the International Journal of Cancer.
I recommend against using cow's milk and products made from milk if you have a personal or family history of eczema, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis, or autoimmunity. If you do drink milk, I urge you to buy only organic brands without the residues of antibiotics and hormones found in conventional brands. In my opinion, those hormone residues may be the factor responsible for increased risks of cancer, especially hormonally driven cancers.
Andrew Weil, MD
Living with Leg Ulcers?
Living with Leg Ulcers?
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I was wondering what you would recommend for treatment and prevention of leg ulcers. My grandmother has a real problem, but I have a hard time getting her to do the things I recommend. -- A. Elmore A: The most common kind of leg ulcers are called venous stasis ulcers and usually occur in people who have a medical history of leg swelling, varicose veins, or blood clots in veins in the legs. These account for between 80 to 90 percent of all leg ulcers. They typically develop below the knee, most frequently on the inner part of the ankles and can occur on one or both legs. They often weep fluid and are easily infected.
Another type of leg ulcers are ischemic or arterial ulcers which usually show up on the heels, tips of the toes, between the toes or wherever protruding bones rub against socks or shoes. These can be very painful, particularly at night. They tend to develop in people who have poor circulation in their legs, usually as a result of smoking, atherosclerosis and diabetes.
Diabetic ulcers tend to develop at pressure points on the bottom of the feet and may occur as a result of trauma from pressure, injury or dry skin. Because of nerve damage that can go along with diabetes, affected people may not feel pain due to trauma (this is the reason why it is essential that diabetics carefully check their feet for injury every day and never go barefoot).
Regardless of what kind of ulcer you have, treatment requires keeping the affected area clean by bathing it gently with warm water and mild soap. This will help loosen and wash away dead skin and any debris from the ulcer. Comfrey root ground into a powder with a blender and mixed to a paste with water or aloe vera gel, then packed in the ulcer can help with healing. Cover the paste with a bandage and change the poultice once a day, washing out the wound with hydrogen peroxide to prevent infection. In addition, venous ulcers should be helped along by compression with a stocking or ace bandage.
Your grandmother should see her physician to find out what kind of leg ulcers she has in order to get appropriate treatment. If the ulcers stem from a circulatory problem in her legs, she may need treatment, possibly surgery, to restore circulation.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: March 2005
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I was wondering what you would recommend for treatment and prevention of leg ulcers. My grandmother has a real problem, but I have a hard time getting her to do the things I recommend. -- A. Elmore A: The most common kind of leg ulcers are called venous stasis ulcers and usually occur in people who have a medical history of leg swelling, varicose veins, or blood clots in veins in the legs. These account for between 80 to 90 percent of all leg ulcers. They typically develop below the knee, most frequently on the inner part of the ankles and can occur on one or both legs. They often weep fluid and are easily infected.
Another type of leg ulcers are ischemic or arterial ulcers which usually show up on the heels, tips of the toes, between the toes or wherever protruding bones rub against socks or shoes. These can be very painful, particularly at night. They tend to develop in people who have poor circulation in their legs, usually as a result of smoking, atherosclerosis and diabetes.
Diabetic ulcers tend to develop at pressure points on the bottom of the feet and may occur as a result of trauma from pressure, injury or dry skin. Because of nerve damage that can go along with diabetes, affected people may not feel pain due to trauma (this is the reason why it is essential that diabetics carefully check their feet for injury every day and never go barefoot).
Regardless of what kind of ulcer you have, treatment requires keeping the affected area clean by bathing it gently with warm water and mild soap. This will help loosen and wash away dead skin and any debris from the ulcer. Comfrey root ground into a powder with a blender and mixed to a paste with water or aloe vera gel, then packed in the ulcer can help with healing. Cover the paste with a bandage and change the poultice once a day, washing out the wound with hydrogen peroxide to prevent infection. In addition, venous ulcers should be helped along by compression with a stocking or ace bandage.
Your grandmother should see her physician to find out what kind of leg ulcers she has in order to get appropriate treatment. If the ulcers stem from a circulatory problem in her legs, she may need treatment, possibly surgery, to restore circulation.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: March 2005
Coping with Grief?
Coping with Grief?
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: My 18 year old son was killed on February 29, 2004 in a horrible automobile accident. It has been hell for my family. We are in grief counseling. My daughter is still afraid to go to sleep. She told my husband that she thinks God is mean and doesn't trust him because he took her brother. I am at a loss. What do I say or do? -- Madeline A: The death of a child is one of the worst tragedies life can bring. I am truly sorry for your terrible loss. I also applaud you for seeking grief counseling, which can help you work through the pain, accept the death of your son and find meaning in your loss. I hope you are aware that during this difficult time medication, if necessary, is an appropriate way to help you sleep or deal with anxiety. Speak to your physician if you think that you or other members of your family need this kind of help.
As hard as it may be to focus on your health habits in the aftermath of your son's death, you should know that grief can impair immune function and thus negatively affect your health. Try to get some exercise daily and to eat healthy, balanced meals. You might also consider taking the herbal remedy astragalus throughout the flu season.
In terms of dealing with your daughter's loss of faith, I suggest that in addition to grief counseling you seek some spiritual counseling, perhaps from your clergy or from a counselor in some other tradition. You might find some support by accessing www.goodgrief.org, the Web site of noted grief counselor Deborah Coryell.
Your daughter's fear of going to sleep is understandable given the trauma your family has suffered, but lack of sleep can eventually lead to health problems. If this persists, you might consult her physician to see if psychological treatment beyond grief counseling would be appropriate to help her better cope with the stress of her brother's death.
As devastating and painful as your loss is, it seems to me that you have made positive steps in coping with it in a healthy, productive manner. I wish all the best for you and your family.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: March 2005
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: My 18 year old son was killed on February 29, 2004 in a horrible automobile accident. It has been hell for my family. We are in grief counseling. My daughter is still afraid to go to sleep. She told my husband that she thinks God is mean and doesn't trust him because he took her brother. I am at a loss. What do I say or do? -- Madeline A: The death of a child is one of the worst tragedies life can bring. I am truly sorry for your terrible loss. I also applaud you for seeking grief counseling, which can help you work through the pain, accept the death of your son and find meaning in your loss. I hope you are aware that during this difficult time medication, if necessary, is an appropriate way to help you sleep or deal with anxiety. Speak to your physician if you think that you or other members of your family need this kind of help.
As hard as it may be to focus on your health habits in the aftermath of your son's death, you should know that grief can impair immune function and thus negatively affect your health. Try to get some exercise daily and to eat healthy, balanced meals. You might also consider taking the herbal remedy astragalus throughout the flu season.
In terms of dealing with your daughter's loss of faith, I suggest that in addition to grief counseling you seek some spiritual counseling, perhaps from your clergy or from a counselor in some other tradition. You might find some support by accessing www.goodgrief.org, the Web site of noted grief counselor Deborah Coryell.
Your daughter's fear of going to sleep is understandable given the trauma your family has suffered, but lack of sleep can eventually lead to health problems. If this persists, you might consult her physician to see if psychological treatment beyond grief counseling would be appropriate to help her better cope with the stress of her brother's death.
As devastating and painful as your loss is, it seems to me that you have made positive steps in coping with it in a healthy, productive manner. I wish all the best for you and your family.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: March 2005
Spotting Trans-fatty Acids?
Spotting Trans-fatty Acids?
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I'm confused. I see food-packaging claiming 'no trans-fats', but when I read the label, the ingredients list 'partially hydrogenated oil'. I thought they were the same thing. Can you explain? -- J. Brinkley A: Trans-fatty acids (TFAs) and partially hydrogenated oils are not the same, but they are related. The process of hydrogenation, which turns liquid fats into solid ones, creates TFAs, making them one of the components of partially hydrogenated fats. (Fully hydrogenated fats do not present this problem.) Chemically, TFAs are individual molecules of fatty acids that have unnatural configurations. They are just as bad as, if not worse, for the heart and arteries than saturated fats. They increase total cholesterol, raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol. Beyond that TFAs may have adverse effects on cell membranes and the immune system and may promote inflammation, cancer and aging.
Trace levels of TFAs are found naturally in milk fat (created by bacterial action in the stomachs of cows), but, even in butter, the amounts are so small that they are probably not a concern.
Partially hydrogenated fats include such products as margarine and vegetable shortening. In addition to the hardening effects, the process of hydrogenation makes fats more stable. This extends the shelf life of the foods that contain them - principally, commercial baked goods as well as other processed foods including French fries, chips, microwave popcorn and other snack foods, most frozen meals, breakfast cereals and low-fat ice cream.
Beginning in 2006 food manufacturers will be required to include on labels the amount of TFAs their products contain, but the fact that fewer processed foods may contain these unhealthy fats doesn't mean that partially hydrogenated ones are acceptable in a healthy diet.
Partially hydrogenated oils contain mixtures of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Even if some labels claim that foods include no TFAs, I would avoid those listing partially hydrogenated oils. They are markers of low-quality foods that are often unhealthy in other ways and have no place in the optimum diet.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: March 2005
Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: I'm confused. I see food-packaging claiming 'no trans-fats', but when I read the label, the ingredients list 'partially hydrogenated oil'. I thought they were the same thing. Can you explain? -- J. Brinkley A: Trans-fatty acids (TFAs) and partially hydrogenated oils are not the same, but they are related. The process of hydrogenation, which turns liquid fats into solid ones, creates TFAs, making them one of the components of partially hydrogenated fats. (Fully hydrogenated fats do not present this problem.) Chemically, TFAs are individual molecules of fatty acids that have unnatural configurations. They are just as bad as, if not worse, for the heart and arteries than saturated fats. They increase total cholesterol, raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol and lower HDL ("good") cholesterol. Beyond that TFAs may have adverse effects on cell membranes and the immune system and may promote inflammation, cancer and aging.
Trace levels of TFAs are found naturally in milk fat (created by bacterial action in the stomachs of cows), but, even in butter, the amounts are so small that they are probably not a concern.
Partially hydrogenated fats include such products as margarine and vegetable shortening. In addition to the hardening effects, the process of hydrogenation makes fats more stable. This extends the shelf life of the foods that contain them - principally, commercial baked goods as well as other processed foods including French fries, chips, microwave popcorn and other snack foods, most frozen meals, breakfast cereals and low-fat ice cream.
Beginning in 2006 food manufacturers will be required to include on labels the amount of TFAs their products contain, but the fact that fewer processed foods may contain these unhealthy fats doesn't mean that partially hydrogenated ones are acceptable in a healthy diet.
Partially hydrogenated oils contain mixtures of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Even if some labels claim that foods include no TFAs, I would avoid those listing partially hydrogenated oils. They are markers of low-quality foods that are often unhealthy in other ways and have no place in the optimum diet.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: March 2005
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Another Wacky Idea of How Conventional Medicine Thinks
Another Wacky Idea of How Conventional Medicine ThinksA "non-drug" procedure to treat asthma that essentially burns off muscle tissue on the inside of the lungs is being tested. The procedure is called bronchial thermoplasty, and researchers have compared it to a microwave oven, which cooks meat on the inside but doesn't scorch the outer layers.
What happens during a bronchial thermoplasty? A lighted catheter is inserted into your nose or throat and into the airways that fill the lungs. The tip, a wire basket, is inflated to touch the airway walls, then radiofrequency (RF) waves are beamed through the wires. The RF waves heat the muscle tissue to 149 degrees, causing some of it to disintegrate, while apparently not scarring the airway's thin lining.
The idea is that overgrown muscle tissue in air tubes inside the lungs is responsible for some asthma cases, and bronchial thermoplasty can get rid of half of the thickened muscle. Side effects that are known include coughing and wheezing, but no one knows what the long-term effects -- such as late scarring or weakened airways -- of burning away muscle tissue inside the lungs will be.
Ironically, while researchers are touting this procedure as the "first non-drug treatment for asthma," they've also stressed that this is not a replacement for asthma medications.
But why subject yourself to either? Normally, asthma is not that difficult to treat if you address the underlying cause by:
- Optimizing your diet, including eliminating sugars and grains
- Making pure water your beverage of choice
- Adding a regular source of animal-based omega-3 fats to your diet
- Recognizing the emotional component
Yahoo News May 22, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
How Dangerous is Avian Flu?
How Dangerous is Avian Flu? Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: Is bird flu really as dangerous as we're being told? I'm skeptical. -- Aidan M.
A: There is cause for great concern. Avian flu is an infectious disease that affects birds, but it is caused by the same strain of the influenza virus responsible for most types of human flu. The strain now spreading in Asia, H5N1, is very dangerous - it kills nearly 100 percent of the birds infected and has been very damaging to poultry farms.
It also can infect humans, causing severe disease and even death. To become infected, you probably would have to eat raw, infected poultry or have had prolonged exposure to the virus. So far, at least 60 people in Asia have died after contracting H5N1. Most of these cases resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces, although health officials believe that, in some instances, the flu spread from person-to-person contact.
A chilling account of the worldwide pandemic that could occur should the virus that causes avian flu mutate in a way that would allow it to become an airborne infection that can affect humans was published in the Feb. 28, 2005 issue of The New Yorker.
Author Michael Specter wrote that while it is rare for a virus to mutate so that it is capable of infecting other species, the fact that H5N1 has already spread among a growing number of species besides poultry makes it more of a threat than other viruses that have emerged in the past few decades.
We are overdue for a global flu pandemic, and the one potentially brewing in Asia could be up there with the flu of 1918 that killed at least 50 million people. (See "The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History," by John M. Barry for a gripping account.)
Monitoring the spread of the virus and studying its genetic structure may enable scientists to develop a vaccine to protect against it. Efforts to produce and test a vaccine in the United States that will be capable of protecting humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005. With luck, we won't need it.
In the meantime, flu season is fast approaching; you can help protect yourself by taking a daily antioxidant, multivitamin-mineral supplement, as well as astragalus, a well-known immune-boosting herb that can help ward off colds and flu. Be sure to wash your hands often and keep them away from your eyes and nose, and try to avoid contact with people who have respiratory illnesses.
If you're in Asia or planning to travel to countries with known outbreaks of avian flu, be sure to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals. And don't eat any local foods made with the blood of fowl, such as duck blood pudding.
At present, we have no vaccine capable of protecting against the avian flu although urgent efforts are underway to develop one. That doesn't mean that the currently available vaccine isn't worthwhile against other strains of the flu virus, which may be all we have to worry about this year.
I recommend flu shots for those over 65, as well as anyone with a weakened immune or respiratory system, nursing home residents, and health care workers who have regular contact with patients.
Pregnant women whose last two trimesters fall during flu season (generally November to April) might consider getting the shot.
Andrew Weil, MD
Q: Is bird flu really as dangerous as we're being told? I'm skeptical. -- Aidan M.
A: There is cause for great concern. Avian flu is an infectious disease that affects birds, but it is caused by the same strain of the influenza virus responsible for most types of human flu. The strain now spreading in Asia, H5N1, is very dangerous - it kills nearly 100 percent of the birds infected and has been very damaging to poultry farms.
It also can infect humans, causing severe disease and even death. To become infected, you probably would have to eat raw, infected poultry or have had prolonged exposure to the virus. So far, at least 60 people in Asia have died after contracting H5N1. Most of these cases resulted from contact with infected poultry or contaminated surfaces, although health officials believe that, in some instances, the flu spread from person-to-person contact.
A chilling account of the worldwide pandemic that could occur should the virus that causes avian flu mutate in a way that would allow it to become an airborne infection that can affect humans was published in the Feb. 28, 2005 issue of The New Yorker.
Author Michael Specter wrote that while it is rare for a virus to mutate so that it is capable of infecting other species, the fact that H5N1 has already spread among a growing number of species besides poultry makes it more of a threat than other viruses that have emerged in the past few decades.
We are overdue for a global flu pandemic, and the one potentially brewing in Asia could be up there with the flu of 1918 that killed at least 50 million people. (See "The Great Influenza: The Epic Story of the Deadliest Plague in History," by John M. Barry for a gripping account.)
Monitoring the spread of the virus and studying its genetic structure may enable scientists to develop a vaccine to protect against it. Efforts to produce and test a vaccine in the United States that will be capable of protecting humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005. With luck, we won't need it.
In the meantime, flu season is fast approaching; you can help protect yourself by taking a daily antioxidant, multivitamin-mineral supplement, as well as astragalus, a well-known immune-boosting herb that can help ward off colds and flu. Be sure to wash your hands often and keep them away from your eyes and nose, and try to avoid contact with people who have respiratory illnesses.
If you're in Asia or planning to travel to countries with known outbreaks of avian flu, be sure to avoid poultry farms, contact with animals in live food markets, and any surfaces that appear to be contaminated with feces from poultry or other animals. And don't eat any local foods made with the blood of fowl, such as duck blood pudding.
At present, we have no vaccine capable of protecting against the avian flu although urgent efforts are underway to develop one. That doesn't mean that the currently available vaccine isn't worthwhile against other strains of the flu virus, which may be all we have to worry about this year.
I recommend flu shots for those over 65, as well as anyone with a weakened immune or respiratory system, nursing home residents, and health care workers who have regular contact with patients.
Pregnant women whose last two trimesters fall during flu season (generally November to April) might consider getting the shot.
Andrew Weil, MD
Time to Tune Out TV?
Time to Tune Out TV? Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: At 64, I'm still so busy all day long (working full-time) that I just veg out in the evenings for an hour or two in front of the TV. Television does help me to unwind, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't be doing something healthier. Any thoughts? -- Walt A: Television can be relaxing, depending on what you watch. It can also fire you up, especially if you're watching news or shows with lots of violence. Even the commercials can unsettle you unless you're adept at putting your attention on hold while the messages blare.
I often watch movies at home in the evenings, but I don't substitute that, enjoyable as it is, for practicing the relaxation techniques I recommend.
In fact, I don't recommend any substitute for relaxation techniques as the best means of reducing the stress in your life. Television can be much too stimulating, and when you're stimulated, you're not really relaxed. Alcohol, used in moderation, can be relaxing, and, in moderation, can benefit your health. However, the more of it you drink, the greater the chance that instead of relaxing you it will become toxic and addictive. The same goes for other substances, prescription or over-the-counter, that some use to deal with day-to-day stress. Even exercise can work against relaxation, if you're competing or if you use your workouts to defuse anger or reduce aggression that may build during the workday or on the road during your commute.
For many years, I have been recommending breath work as the simplest, most efficient way of taking advantage of the mind/body connection to improve both physical and mental health. Breathing allows you to use the conscious mind and voluntary nerves to modify the unconscious mind and involuntary nerves. I urge you to learn the relaxing breath that I have recommended before on this site, in my books and audio tapes. Practice this exercise at least twice a day, more often whenever you feel stressed, anxious or off-center. In time, I think you'll find it a powerful and effective method of relaxation that can benefit you in other ways: lowered blood pressure and heart rate, increased circulation to your extremities and skin, and improved digestion. You may also find that it helps you better control your emotions and cravings.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: October 2005
Q: At 64, I'm still so busy all day long (working full-time) that I just veg out in the evenings for an hour or two in front of the TV. Television does help me to unwind, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't be doing something healthier. Any thoughts? -- Walt A: Television can be relaxing, depending on what you watch. It can also fire you up, especially if you're watching news or shows with lots of violence. Even the commercials can unsettle you unless you're adept at putting your attention on hold while the messages blare.
I often watch movies at home in the evenings, but I don't substitute that, enjoyable as it is, for practicing the relaxation techniques I recommend.
In fact, I don't recommend any substitute for relaxation techniques as the best means of reducing the stress in your life. Television can be much too stimulating, and when you're stimulated, you're not really relaxed. Alcohol, used in moderation, can be relaxing, and, in moderation, can benefit your health. However, the more of it you drink, the greater the chance that instead of relaxing you it will become toxic and addictive. The same goes for other substances, prescription or over-the-counter, that some use to deal with day-to-day stress. Even exercise can work against relaxation, if you're competing or if you use your workouts to defuse anger or reduce aggression that may build during the workday or on the road during your commute.
For many years, I have been recommending breath work as the simplest, most efficient way of taking advantage of the mind/body connection to improve both physical and mental health. Breathing allows you to use the conscious mind and voluntary nerves to modify the unconscious mind and involuntary nerves. I urge you to learn the relaxing breath that I have recommended before on this site, in my books and audio tapes. Practice this exercise at least twice a day, more often whenever you feel stressed, anxious or off-center. In time, I think you'll find it a powerful and effective method of relaxation that can benefit you in other ways: lowered blood pressure and heart rate, increased circulation to your extremities and skin, and improved digestion. You may also find that it helps you better control your emotions and cravings.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: October 2005
Does Hair Coloring Cause Cancer?
Does Hair Coloring Cause Cancer? Provided by: DrWeil.com
Q: First I heard that hair dye causes cancer. Now I hear that it doesn't. What's the story? Would it be safe to color my hair? -- Siri K. A: The latest word on this ongoing question comes from a study in Spain in which investigators analyzed data from 79 scientific studies conducted in 11 countries and determined that there's no strong evidence showing that the use of hair dye increases the risk of cancer. Specifically, the research team found that, worldwide, the use of hair coloring products has no apparent effect on breast and bladder cancers, but may slightly increase the risk of leukemia and multiple myeloma. However, they said that the causal effect was too weak to be a major concern. Those who might be at greatest risk are individuals whose work exposes them to hair dyes over a prolonged period of time. The study was published in the May 25, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Last year, a study from Yale University reported that long-term use of dark hair coloring among women who began coloring their hair before 1980 may increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a malignancy that occurs in the body's lymphatic system. Risks were highest among those who dyed their hair a dark color eight times a year or more. The study, published in the Jan. 15, 2004, issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, found no increased risk of lymphoma among women who began dyeing their hair after 1980 - no matter how often they applied color. This may be due to changes in the dye formulas (perhaps as a result of the elimination of coal-tar ingredients after they were found to be carcinogenic when fed to lab rats and mice). But the Yale researchers also raised the possibility that women who started coloring their hair after 1980 may not have used the dyes long enough to see any adverse effects. They're now studying whether any genetic factors might make women who use dark hair dye more likely to develop lymphoma.
The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been on the upswing, rising 73 percent between 1973 and 1991 and continuing to increase ever since. Incidence rates are 60-percent higher than normal among AIDS patients. Exposure to pesticides and other environmental toxins also seem to play a role (pesticides have been linked with the disease among farmers and higher than normal rates occur among dry cleaners, rubber workers, aircraft maintenance workers and petroleum refining workers).
In general, I discourage people from using hair dyes containing artificial coloring agents, which to my mind are as suspect in cosmetic products as they are in food. When you apply hair dyes to your head, they're absorbed through the scalp, where there's a very rich blood supply that may carry them throughout the body. I'm sure the new study from Spain won't be the last word on this subject. I'll keep you posted as further evidence comes in.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: October 2005
Q: First I heard that hair dye causes cancer. Now I hear that it doesn't. What's the story? Would it be safe to color my hair? -- Siri K. A: The latest word on this ongoing question comes from a study in Spain in which investigators analyzed data from 79 scientific studies conducted in 11 countries and determined that there's no strong evidence showing that the use of hair dye increases the risk of cancer. Specifically, the research team found that, worldwide, the use of hair coloring products has no apparent effect on breast and bladder cancers, but may slightly increase the risk of leukemia and multiple myeloma. However, they said that the causal effect was too weak to be a major concern. Those who might be at greatest risk are individuals whose work exposes them to hair dyes over a prolonged period of time. The study was published in the May 25, 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Last year, a study from Yale University reported that long-term use of dark hair coloring among women who began coloring their hair before 1980 may increase the risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a malignancy that occurs in the body's lymphatic system. Risks were highest among those who dyed their hair a dark color eight times a year or more. The study, published in the Jan. 15, 2004, issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, found no increased risk of lymphoma among women who began dyeing their hair after 1980 - no matter how often they applied color. This may be due to changes in the dye formulas (perhaps as a result of the elimination of coal-tar ingredients after they were found to be carcinogenic when fed to lab rats and mice). But the Yale researchers also raised the possibility that women who started coloring their hair after 1980 may not have used the dyes long enough to see any adverse effects. They're now studying whether any genetic factors might make women who use dark hair dye more likely to develop lymphoma.
The incidence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been on the upswing, rising 73 percent between 1973 and 1991 and continuing to increase ever since. Incidence rates are 60-percent higher than normal among AIDS patients. Exposure to pesticides and other environmental toxins also seem to play a role (pesticides have been linked with the disease among farmers and higher than normal rates occur among dry cleaners, rubber workers, aircraft maintenance workers and petroleum refining workers).
In general, I discourage people from using hair dyes containing artificial coloring agents, which to my mind are as suspect in cosmetic products as they are in food. When you apply hair dyes to your head, they're absorbed through the scalp, where there's a very rich blood supply that may carry them throughout the body. I'm sure the new study from Spain won't be the last word on this subject. I'll keep you posted as further evidence comes in.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: October 2005
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Thailand put on watch list for efforts to control web
AFP
Beijing - Governments in Asia are considered among the world's worst ''enemies'' of internet freedom, as they increasingly censor websites and jail people who express views deemed dangerous online.
In comments marking World Press Freedom Day, today, experts said several countries including China, Vietnam and Nepal are feeling more threatened by cyberspace than ever as internet use booms among their populations.
Of 15 ''enemies of the internet'' named by Paris-based rights group Reporters Without Borders late last year, five were in East or South Asia - China, North Korea, Vietnam, Burma and Nepal. The 10 ''countries to watch'' included Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.
Experts warn that, with less freedom of information, Asian societies risk seeing more corruption and abuse of government power, while public discontent will grow, leading to more social instability.
''They fear the internet will spread Western ideas of freedom and democracy which will lead to an overthrow of their power,'' said formerly imprisoned Chinese journalist Gao Yu, who won Unesco's Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom award in 1997.
Employing sophisticated filtering technology, forcing internet cafes to register users and internet service providers to reveal user information, the governments were trying to rein in a medium they realise they must also embrace to spur modernisation and economic growth.
In China, the world's biggest jailer of journalists, the number of cyber dissidents imprisoned has exceeded the number of reporters locked up.
Vietnam, which lacks China's money and technology, has employed internet police to filter out ''subversive'' content and spy on cybercafes.
Burma blocks not only foreign news sites but also web-based email services and forces internet cafes to monitor their computer users.
North Korea only allows a few thousand privileged people to have access to a heavily-censored version of the internet.
Asian countries on the watch list, despite being perceived as more modern and open, also displayed worrying signs of trying to control the internet, the group said.
For example, in Thailand, the government extended its fight against internet pornography to censoring online news sites as part of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's effort to rein in the media. Defamation suits that once targeted newspapers now hit writers who publish online, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance said.
Beijing - Governments in Asia are considered among the world's worst ''enemies'' of internet freedom, as they increasingly censor websites and jail people who express views deemed dangerous online.
In comments marking World Press Freedom Day, today, experts said several countries including China, Vietnam and Nepal are feeling more threatened by cyberspace than ever as internet use booms among their populations.
Of 15 ''enemies of the internet'' named by Paris-based rights group Reporters Without Borders late last year, five were in East or South Asia - China, North Korea, Vietnam, Burma and Nepal. The 10 ''countries to watch'' included Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.
Experts warn that, with less freedom of information, Asian societies risk seeing more corruption and abuse of government power, while public discontent will grow, leading to more social instability.
''They fear the internet will spread Western ideas of freedom and democracy which will lead to an overthrow of their power,'' said formerly imprisoned Chinese journalist Gao Yu, who won Unesco's Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom award in 1997.
Employing sophisticated filtering technology, forcing internet cafes to register users and internet service providers to reveal user information, the governments were trying to rein in a medium they realise they must also embrace to spur modernisation and economic growth.
In China, the world's biggest jailer of journalists, the number of cyber dissidents imprisoned has exceeded the number of reporters locked up.
Vietnam, which lacks China's money and technology, has employed internet police to filter out ''subversive'' content and spy on cybercafes.
Burma blocks not only foreign news sites but also web-based email services and forces internet cafes to monitor their computer users.
North Korea only allows a few thousand privileged people to have access to a heavily-censored version of the internet.
Asian countries on the watch list, despite being perceived as more modern and open, also displayed worrying signs of trying to control the internet, the group said.
For example, in Thailand, the government extended its fight against internet pornography to censoring online news sites as part of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's effort to rein in the media. Defamation suits that once targeted newspapers now hit writers who publish online, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance said.
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