Find People Licensed to Practice Naturopathic Medicine

KTVX Tue, 23 Nov 2004 4:01 PM PSTÂ Authorities charged a practitioner of alternative medicine who allegedly discouraged a woman with breast cancer from getting chemotherapy. Â 61 year old David Eugene Pontius faces three felony charges of unlawful and unprofessional conduct. He saw the woman for six months before she died last
http://www.4utah.com/local_news/featured_websites/story.aspx?content_id=943F44B4-36EF-49C5-92CA-BB82EF17929A

Few Kids Get Alternative Medicine

HealthDay via Yahoo! News Tue, 23 Nov 2004 4:02 PM PSTTUESDAY, Nov. 23 (HealthDayNews) -- Many pediatricians don't feel comfortable discussing or recommending complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies for their patients, says a Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center study in the November issue of Ambulatory Pediatrics.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/hsn/20041124/hl_hsn/fewkidsgetalternativemedicine

Belleville - Osteoporosis can be prevented, says naturopathThe

Community Press Wed, 24 Nov 2004 3:10 PM PST
Naturopath Michelle Durkin told the Brown Bag Lunch crowd at Corby Library on November 17 that osteoporosis can be prevented.

Few Kids Get Alternative Medicine

Forbes Tue, 23 Nov 2004 6:24 AM PST
TUESDAY, Nov. 23 (HealthDayNews) -- Many pediatricians don't feel comfortable discussing or recommending complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies for their patients, says a Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center study in the November issue of Ambulatory Pediatrics .

Regulation pondered for natural healers

By MARK BALLARDCapitol news bureau A study group looking for a way to regulate voodoo priests, traiteurs, shamans and other natural healers bogged down Tuesday over whether the state should license them like medical doctors.
Practitioners of alternative medicine probably won't be licensed, said state Rep. Sydnie Mae Durand, D-St. Martinville, who chairs the Naturopathic Medicine Task Force.
Instead, she is considering proposed legislation to regulate them and protect them from prosecution, Durand said.
South Louisiana's long tradition of relying on natural remedies to health problems almost was outlawed during the spring session of the Legislature, Durand said.
The task force is charged with drafting proposed law governing alternative medicine to debate during the legislative session beginning in April.
Historically many Louisiana residents may have turned to voodoo priests, traiteurs and herbalists.
Alternative medicine also includes nutritional interventions, yoga, prayer, meditation, herbs, even fad diets.
A National Institutes of Health survey of 31,000 Americans, released in May, found that 62 percent of U.S. adults used some form of alternative medicine.
During the 2004 legislative session, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners, which licenses doctors, pushed bills that would have made it a felony to practice medicine without its license.
That legislation passed the House.
The bills were being considered in a Senate committee when alternative medicine providers discovered the language that would make them criminals when they do business.
Under the language sought by the medical board, a clerk who recommended a vitamin to combat, say, stress or tension headaches would have broken the law, said Conrad Adams of the Infinity Hypnosis Institute in Baton Rouge.
The clerk would have faced prison, large fines and the loss civil rights, he said.
"The language was the challenge. We were concerned that there was a potential to become a felon because what we do is technically the practice of medicine," Adams said.
Rep. Durand said Louisiana's medical establishment does not want to criminalize a historic tradition but wants to protect the public from quack medicine.
For instance, a federal court on Aug. 25 sentenced Gregory James Caton of Lake Charles to 33 months in federal prison for defrauding customers and skirting federal health laws.
His Internet business, Alpha Omega Labs, made $950,000 selling what were billed as natural remedies, according to federal prosecutors.
But the state medical examiners board had not fully considered the long tradition in Louisiana of relying on herbal, nutritional and other holistic approaches.
Durand said she hopes to draft a proposed law that protects consumers while not harming the centuries-old traditions.
"It was not a witch hunt that the Board of Examiners were going out to get people," Durand said. "There's absolutely no definition in the law at this time."
Durand said she herself has used the services of a traiteur, an old French word that Cajuns still use for a person who uses herbs to treat illness.
Durand said she once suffered from severe headaches, particularly when in the sun. But a Cajun traiteur in rural St. Martin Parish gave her a string to put in her cowboy hat.
"You know what? It worked. I still have that string," Durand said.
At Tuesday's meeting, naturopathic physicians who have attended one of the six colleges in the hemisphere that provide such training ran into opposition from traditional medical doctors and from natural medicine practitioners without the education.
The naturopathic physicians want the legislation to license the practice of natural medicine, which is licensed in 12 other states.
But Louisiana doctors argued that naturopathic physicians have not undergone 12 years of extensive, science-based training. Rather, naturopathic physicians complete four-year curriculums and in some states can hold themselves out as medical doctors that practice holistic medicine.
Naturopathic physician Jeanette Gallagher of Mandeville said she studied at the Southwest College of Natural Medicine in Tempe, Ariz., then spent two years practicing at a clinic on the Navajo Reservation.
Gallagher argued for the need of licensing, saying that the public should know who is trained and who is not.
Noting that Louisiana's rural parishes suffer an acute shortage of physicians, Gallagher said, "I could set up a clinic tomorrow. You have to let me help these people."
Gallagher said that poverty of rural areas can be helped by natural medicine. For instance, the prescription medicine for diabetes is manufactured from sugar cane.
"If they can't afford the drugs in the rural areas but they need to know about the nutrition and the herbs that will work," Gallagher said.
Other practitioners of alternative medicine want the legislation to allow natural medicine alternatives, provided that the practitioners disclose their credentials and their specialties.
"We want to make sure people have the right to choose, as long as they don't do so in a harmful way," said Samuel Bridges with Community Health Foundation of Gonzales. Click here to return to story:http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/111004/new_healers001.shtml

Leeches, worms will now treat diseases

Leeches, worms will now treat diseases : HindustanTimes.comHindustan Times Tue, 09 Nov 2004 4:35 AM PSTBlood sucking leeches, flesh eating maggots and venomous lizards - they are not a part of any horror movie plot but "offbeat treatment" which is slowing finding its way back into alternative medical practice.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1097615,0050.htm

Sometimes the quick fix doesn't always work

Asia-Pacific Biotech Fri, 12 Nov 2004 3:18 PM PST
Surveys conducted by medical institutions show that 49% of patients cannot be cured by western medicine and 20% of patients have side effects when using western medicine

http://www.asiabiotech.com.sg/readmore/vol08/0821/golden.html

Doctors told to say sorry and avoid lawsuits

I guess the obvious isn't always so obvious

The Manila Times Sat, 13 Nov 2004 7:06 AM PST
CHICAGO—It’s a lesson children learn even before their ABCs—say you’re sorry when you hurt someone. But it’s now being taught in the grown-up world of medicine as a surprisingly powerful way to soothe patients and head off malpractice lawsuits.
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/nov/14/yehey/opinion/20041114opi5.html

Naturopaths back 'sweat lodges' but warn of dangers

Friday November 5, 09:04 AM

Natural therapists have warned of the dangers of the "sweat lodge" practice at the centre of an outback tragedy on Wednesday, but say the incident should not deter people from using it.
A 37-year-old Melbourne man died from dehydration at a property near Leigh Creek, after using a sweat lodge, which involves pouring water on hot coals in a teepee.
Adelaide naturopath Marni Morrow says those with health conditions such as heart problems should avoid the practice.
But she says others can benefit as long as they stay well-hydrated.
"[It's] exceptionally good for weight control, it's very good for detoxifying the whole system, it can be wonderful," she said.
"But there's two things, not just the dehydration, you've got to also be worried too that you don't leach out all the natural body salts or tissue salts, so you may need to look at that as well, especially if you're doing it repeatedly."

Challenging quacks and frauds

Normally, I don't like these quackbusters, but I checked out this guy's site and it's pretty good. I suppose he doesn't have anything on unscrupulous MDs because it would take up too much of his site.

Dr. Terry Polevoy is a self-appointed health watchdog. He investigates and challenges products, services and theories that are marketed with claims he believes to be false, unsubstantiated or even illegal
By Barbara Kermode-Scott
Doctors across Canada and around the world become angry when they hear of dishonest people or businesses that prey on the sick.
Unfortunately there are those out there who will unscrupulously raise the hopes and ruthlessly take the money of patients who cannot find a cure from conventional medicine.
Ontario physician Dr. Terry Polevoy is certainly angered when he comes across evidence of fraudulent claims, con tricks or other health scams. Unlike most of us, Dr. Polevoy taps into that anger and takes action to protect consumers against health quackery.
Although Dr. Polevoy runs an acne clinic in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont., and practises part-time at a walk-in clinic in London, Ont., he still devotes many hours each week to his role as a health watchdog. He investigates and challenges products, services and theories that are marketed with claims that he believes to be false, unsubstantiated or even illegal.
"I think that medicine—generic medicine—any kind of medicine—healing arts medicine—has a responsibility to be honest, to publish and to study things that work and disprove them if they don't work," Dr. Polevoy said in an interview. The industries that really need to be watched are those industries where there are no written laws to protect the public, he added. "Whether it's a method that people are using as doctors, chiropractors or naturopaths or whether it's a mom-and-pop down the street selling a product that allegedly cures all sorts of ills, consumer help is lacking in Canada," he suggested.
"There are very few enforcement officers around to look at drugs or devices. We need a separate agency, like they have in England and Australia, to look at false claims and advertising. . . . Until we get that in Canada . . . literally nothing will be done to control the quackery, the bad pills, the herbals and all the other kinds of other stuff, despite the tens of millions of dollars being spent on these."
Needless to say Dr. Polevoy's war on health quackery tends not to win him popularity awards or medals. He and his colleagues have incurred the wrath of individuals, corporations and others.
He says he has been threatened with lawsuits and even sued by a company Polevoy claims provides shady weight-loss producers with rented mail drops. Further, Dr. Polevoy is frequently attacked on the Internet and other places by those whose medical treatments he has savaged.
But he gives as good as he gets, often using words such as quackery and fraud to attack those he believes are scamming the public. He is presently involved in a California libel suit against a group of people he believes posted defamatory remarks about him on the Internet.
He has often endured personal attacks that question his professionalism, family life and sexual conduct.
"Sometimes it's the chiropractors who don't like me. . . . Sometimes it's people in naturopathy. Sometimes it's a weirdo. . . . Right now we're a target for hate by the chiropractic fundamentalists."
Born and raised in the United States, Dr. Polevoy undertook his medical degree at the Wayne State University school of medicine in Detroit. While a medical student he became interested in social activism and was involved in protests against the Vietnam War. Afterward he moved to Canada and did a pediatric residency at the University of Western Ontario and at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto.
From 1977 to 1990 he practised in the United States, in Florida, in the U.S. Navy and in Ohio.
In 1990, he moved back to Canada to work in walk-in clinics in Ontario. In 1992, Dr. Polevoy opened an acne care clinic in Kitchener. Although he had a keen interest in holistic and alternative medicine early on in his practice in both the U.S. and in Canada, Dr. Polevoy later on became very disillusioned with the growth of "blatant quackery" in medicine, and the acceptance of "bogus practices" by mainstream medical organizations and government-funded institutions.
His skepticism grew following the death of his second wife from skin cancer. She had received both alternative and conventional therapies for a malignant melanoma.
In 1997, Dr. Polevoy started his first Web site about "alternative" medicine, www.healthwatcher.net. He now spends several hours daily online investigating quackery and monitoring media reports on alternative medicine. He then posts information about incidents of health fraud, diet fraud and alternative medicine on healthwatcher.net and his various other web sites (www.DietFraud.com, www.HerbalWatch.com, www.ChiroWatch.com).
"What I do is, I monitor the quack industry and I file complaints with the colleges . . . because people are being hoodwinked. . . . What bothers me most is the gullibility of the media to swallow stories that have no basis in fact," he said.
Dr. Polevoy has campaigned against consumer health fraud, cancer quackery, diet scams, herbal product dangers, chiropractic problems, alternative medicine and assorted fraudulent practices. To honor his second wife, he also tries to educate the public and politicians about the dangers of using sun beds, particularly for children and young adults.
He worries as well about holistic health clinics doing chelation and intravenous procedures. "No one stops them. I don't know why no one stops them. Isn't it an assault on a patient to inject them with an intravenous that's not approved for use? No one cares. Until someone drops dead in a naturopath's office in Alberta or British Columbia or Ontario from doing a quack chelation therapy nobody's going to hear about it.
"The other thing that annoys me is the people that are doing chelation therapy and using 'vega' testing machines. Vega testing machines are total quackery. . . . People who use fake PhDs really piss me off. There are people who buy their diplomas off-shore in Sri Lanka or India—they claim to have a PhD and use vega testing machines."
In April 2003, Dr. Polevoy co-authored an E-book called Pig Pills, Inc. with medical reporter Marvin Ross, and former Health Canada inspector and private detective Ron Reinhold. The book was the result of a two-and-a-half year investigation of Empowerplus, a nutraceutical sold to customers with serious mental health and other disorders. Following the book's publication, Health Canada issued a health advisory on the potential risks of Empowerplus and raided the offices of Truehope Nutritional Support Limited/Synergy, the company marketing Empowerplus in Canada. In July 2004, Truehope was charged on six counts under the Food and Drugs Act for allegedly importing and selling its product without government approval.
Dr. Polevoy will continue his war against companies like Truehope, as well as against any individuals, organizations and corporations he believes are hoodwinking consumers and patients. Sometimes, as with Truehope, he will be able to see the results of his efforts, other times not, but he'll carry on fighting for the underdog.

Public Want Alternative therapy: BBC News Nov. 4 2004

Public want alternative therapy
Patients want to discuss complementary medicine with GPs but many do not as they are embarrassed, research shows.
Some 71% said they want to talk about therapies such as hypnotherapy and herbal medicine with pharmacists or doctors, a poll of 1,000 people showed.
But 38% said they felt most doctors disapprove of the use of such medicine, according to health education charity Developing Patient Partnerships (DPP).
DPP said GPs needed to offer patients advice on complementary treatment.
Dr Terry John, spokesman for the charity, said: "Patients and health professionals are crying out for more information on complementary medicine.
"It is crucial that health professionals have information to hand when necessary, and likewise patients need the necessary information to make informed choices about their treatment."
Safety
But a separate poll of 100 GPs found only just over half (52%) of family doctors routinely asked patients about their use of complementary medicine, with 47% saying they believed they should not be the ones providing information and advice on the subject.
Some 85% said they did not have enough information about the safety and efficacy of complementary medicines.
The complementary medicine market has been growing in recent years.
Some of it [complementary medicine] has an evidence base, some of it doesn't and some is quite frankly dangerous Dr Jim Kennedy, Royal College of GPs
Britons spend £130m a year on alternative therapies such as acupuncture and reflexology and that is expected to rise by £70m over the next four years.
DPP has now launched a new campaign - Talking About Complementary Medicine - as part of Ask About Medicines Week to provide more information on the subject and encourage communication between doctors and patients.
Michael Fox, chief executive of The Prince of Wales's Foundation for Integrated Health, set up to promote the integration of complementary medicine into mainstream treatment, said: "Complementary and conventional medicine can work safely alongside each other as long as there is effective communication between all practitioners as well as between patients and practitioners.
"For patients to receive the best treatment, it is essential to make sure that complementary practitioners are aware of any conventional treatment they are having and that other health professionals are aware of any concurrent complementary treatments."
Doctors
Dr Michael Dixon, chairman of NHS Alliance, added: "Patients should not be forced into an either/or situation.
"Orthodox medicine must accept that an increasing number of patients choose to use complementary therapies.
"That means doctors need to learn more about them, and discuss the benefits and disadvantages with their patients."
But Dr Jim Kennedy, prescribing spokesman for the Royal College of GPs, warned complementary therapies were a "broad church" and should not a replacement for traditional medicine.
"Some of it has an evidence base, some of it doesn't and some is quite frankly dangerous.
"As doctors, our first priority is always to protect the health of our patients"
Story from BBC NEWS:http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/3979567.stmPublished: 2004/11/04 01:23:24 GMT

For all you lovely potheads

THC is fat soluble, and it gets stored in your fat cells. Cleaning it out of your lipid tissue is very difficult. Many herbal products claim to clean out your system, yet they do nothing to remove THC byproducts from fat cells. A study was done in Germany in 1993 on 50 of the most common herbs used by people trying to pass the test. All 50 herbs failed to cause a negative. Unfortunately, this rumor will not die. Goldenseal (plant) is useless; yet it's the most common thing for people to use. The only way to extract THC from fat cells is to exercise
(5.8). Fat cells secrete fat with THC metabolites at a constant rate, regardless of what herbs you consume. You may be able to temporarily clean THC metabolites from your bloodstream, or dilute your fluids to yield a larger urine/THC ratio, but your bloodstream will continue collecting THC metabolites from fat. Your urine will continue collecting THC metabolites from your bloodstream.
6.1 Dilution:Hyper saturating your body with fluids will dilute metabolites possibly below the 50 ng/mL threshold, depending on your metabolism. Be aware that creatinine levels are often tested, and will show that the sample has been diluted. Diluting your sample will also produce clear urine, with virtually no yellow color. They will assume that you've diluted your sample, and they may reject your sample on the basis of color alone. It's only necessary to start drinking just before the test. Those who drown themselves in fluid days before a test are only causing unnecessary discomfort. Those who stay up all night drinking don't have any better chance than one who drinks heavily first thing in the morning. Get up early if the test is early, but don't lose sleep over a test that's given in the daytime.
6.1.1 Water: Drink at least eight hefty glasses of fluid (preferably water) just prior to the test. Many people start drinking water several days before the test; which is useless. Water does *not* clean any THC metabolites out of your system because THC is not water soluble. Water only dilutes urine temporarily. Do not over do it; you can get water intoxication. People can actually overdose and even die from water intoxication. It's very hard to do, and you'll vomit before anything gets serious.
6.1.2 Creatinine level: Eating red meat will boost creatinine levels. If you eat a lot of red meat for the 3 days prior to the test, your creatinine level will be normal, and the lab won't know that you've diluted your urine sample.
6.1.3 Vitamin B: Color your sample yellow by taking 50 to 100 milligrams of vitamin B. Many vitamins will work, but B-2 or B-12 (found in B-complex vitamins) are the most effective, though some will argue that vitamin C is better. This will also help if you plan to dope your sample (section 7). This does not guarantee that dilution will work. Diluted samples have been red-flagged when specific gravity and creatinine levels are tested and below normal. If you're taking vitamins at the last minute, check to see if they're time release. If so, crush it up and consume the powder. Coloring your urine isn't all that important because it's normal for people to have clear urine even when they don't consume much fluid.
6.2 Diuretics: Diuretics make people urinate frequently. Coffee, cranberry juice, beer, iced tea, herbal tea, and Pepsi are all good diuretics. Grapes are known to be very good diuretics. Diuretics without caffeine or alcohol are recommended because caffeine and alcohol have negative side effects. Cranberry juice is also the cheapest. Avoid salts. Herbal diuretics do better than home remedies like juices. 6.2.1 Ultimate Blend (c):This product used to be known as Test Free, but the name was changed. Ultimate Blend is a diuretic designed for the test, but works no better than other diuretics. Ultimate Blend is sold by Zydot Unlimited Inc.
6.2.2 Detoxify Carbo Clean (c): This is a very new product, untested by a third party. It claims to absorb toxins, however, experts say that absorbing THC metabolites from fat cells is impossible. Here is a copy of the ad from Party Hut Enterprizes: [Detox] Is a scientifically formulated carbohydrate blend that works by absorbing toxins and imuurities[sic]. It has been featured in High Times, and we are so confident of the results that we are offering a double-your-money-back guarantee for any failed results. This is the most complete program for the cleanest results! Precleanse (tm) herbal capsules are enclosed in every box of Carbo Clean. This extra advantage helps you begin cleansing the evening before the deadline. B-Complex tablets complete the program.
6.2.3 Naturally Klean Herbal Tea (c): Naturally Klean claims to clear any drug metabolites for a few hours after taking. Drink this shortly before the test. Naturally Klean was also listed as a drug screen in previous versions, but according to Nightbyrd, "it will do NOTHING to help you pass a urine test;" with the exception that it will dilute your urine. You can get Naturally Klean from Martha Butterfield-Jay Foundation or J&J Enterprizes. An anonymous user provided the ingredients list: dandelion root, burdock root, red clover top, chamomile flower, alfalfa leaf, licorice root, slippery elm inner bark, hibiscus flower, dog rose hips, natural fruit flavors. Dandelion root is said to be the effective diuretic.
6.2.4 Goldenseal: Goldenseal is a plant and you can get either the root or the leaves in pill form. It's also a liquid or tea. The liquid is rumored to absorb slower than the capsules. Goldenseal is a diuretic, but works no better than other diuretics. Furthermore, NORML reports that Goldenseal is now being tested for. Taking Goldenseal is a foolish waste.
6.2.5 Certa or Certo: This is an untested diuretic. Certa "has something to do with canning. Some people swear by it. Trouble is, it's always somebody else, a third party not present during the conversation, who uses it" (Pearson). I've heard rumors about people who smoked right up to the day before the test, consumed fruit pectin (a canning substance similar to Certa), and passed the test. However, there hasn't been any tests to validate those claims. Will someone with a lab at their disposal please test this stuff?
6.2.6 Vales Original Formula: Another herbal remedy like Goldenseal. It does nothing. The water you must take with it does everything Vales claims to do.
6.2.7 Lasix: Take an 80 milligram dose of prescription diuretic lasix (furosemide). Prescription diuretics are the most potent. Some over the counter diuretics will color your urine blue and should be avoided. WARNING! -Diuretics can be harmful to people with kidney problems, pregnant women, and diabetics.-
6.3 Vinegar:There is a myth that drinking vinegar will mask drugs; it won't. However, vinegar lowers the pH of urine. Amphetamines are excreted up to 3 times as fast when urine is acidified. So vinegar could reduce the detection time period for amphetamines. The effects on detection time are generally insignificant, and it in my opinion it really wouldn't be worth it to drink vinegar. If you do decide to drink vinegar, I hear it's easiest to get a shot glass and do it in shots. It will cause diarrhea.
6.4 Dexatrim:There is a myth that taking phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim's active ingredient) will work. It won't. In fact, Dexatrim is a false positive, and may work against you. The myth may have originated because Dexatrim was claimed to speed metabolism. However, the fact that Dextrim causes a positive makes it useless.
6.5 Fiber: A high fiber diet will help by redirecting fat soluble metabolites to the colon rather than bladder. "THC is eliminated primarily in the stool via bile acids. Both EMIT and RIA detect a secondary metabolite which is reabsorbed from the intestines. Thus a person with a high fiber diet will excrete a majority of THC [metabolites] in the stool" (anon1). A fiber-based laxitive will also help by binding bile-acids. Use caution. Fiber laxitives can alter one's bowel schedule and lead to dependancy.
6.6 Vitamin lecithin:A recent method that's still under development is to take vitamin lecithin. This vitamin breaks down your stored fat and disperses it into your blood stream, to help clean out drugs that store themselves in lipid tissue, such as THC. NORML recommends taking Lecithin right up to the day of the test. To me it sounds as though this would work against you because by putting THC back in your blood stream, you are increasing metabolites in the urine. Someone has suggested that you take vitamin lecithin on a regular basis to clean lipids of THC metabolites. Then quit before the test, which seems to make more sense. It MAY be useless to take lecithin supplements orally. I've been told that the digestive system breaks it down too much before entering the blood stream. Most aren't willing to take vitamins intravenously. (If you do decide to take lecithin, you might as well take B5 with it. B5 aids in the process of turning lecithin into acetylcholine.) Another solution is to take nutrients which help the body manufacture lecithin. Lipotrophics cause the liver to produce lecithin. A good source for this information is Austin Nutritional Research page.
6.7 How to give a clean sample: Don't give urine from your first urination of the day. It's the dirtiest, and can be heavily filled with metabolites. Urinate a couple of times before giving a test sample. Also, don't give the beginning or end of the stream. Piss in the toilet, then quickly stop and go in the cup. Stop, and shift back to the toilet for the last portion. Only give a midstream sample. Just be sure to give 60 cc's.
6.8 Exercise: Athletes have a big advantage over normal civilians. When fat is burned, THC byproducts are released into the blood. This is the only way to get THC metabolites out of lipid tissue. "Normal living will burn them slowly, as your fat reserves get turned over" (Dr. Grow). Due to an athletes high metabolic rate, THC moves through an athletes system significantly faster. Exercising between drug tests will clean THC metabolites from the system at a faster rate, thus lowering the detection period. It is important to stop burning fat cells near test time. On test day, it doesn't matter what's in your lipid tissue. What's in your blood and urine does matter. Exercise increases the amount of THC metabolites in the urine; so quit exercising a week before the test. Be lazy, and eat big. This will put the body in an anabolic fat-storing stage. At this point, the "buried" THC metabolites won't escape and go the the urine. There are drugs that will increase metabolism the way exercise does, but these are the same drugs that they are usually testing for. Exercise should only be considered when the subject knows that he or she will not be given a pop quiz in the near future.
6.9 Beta-2 agonists:Studies have shown that Clenbuterol reduces fat, which would help rid lipid tissue of THC metabolities. Clenbuterol also increases metabolism. No studies have directly shown that Clenbuterol will help pass a drug test. However, provided that it reduces fat, I would assume that the fat breakdown would result in less fat soluble substances in the system. Caution: Clenbuteral is labeled as a performance enhancer, and it's on the banned list for athlete testing. If are being tested as an athlete, avoid Clenbuterol!
6.10 Beta-3 agonists:Beta-3 agonists are drugs that stimulate the beta-3 andrenergic receptors on brown fat cells. The beta-3 andrenergic receptor is located on the surface of fat cells, and controls the amount of fat the cell releases into the bloodstream. When brown fat is stimulated, white fat is burned (converted into heat). Many people have mutant beta-3 andrenergic receptors, causing calories to be burned too slowly; thus leading to obesity. These people will benefit most from beta-3 agonist drugs. If the drug works as claimed, I believe it would reduce the detection time of fat soluble drugs by continually excreting metabolites into the bloodstream at a faster pace. As with vitamin lecithin and exercise, you would take beta-3 agonists between tests, and quit a couple days prior to the test. Beta-3 agonists have been in the development phase for the past 13 years. One firm is already testing a beta-3 drug in early clinical trials. It's not on the market yet.
6.11 Low dosaging:If you're an athlete and get tested for steroids, you can still use anabolic steroids and possibly beat the cutoff. The body naturally produces testosterone (a steroid), and small amounts of testosterone show up in urine by default. Some athletes are able to keep their steroid intake low enough to indicate a natural level of steroids. A study was done finding that 67% of steroid users take more than the recommended amount, and they stack (meaning they take two or more different kinds of steroids). Steroids are only meant to be used in small amounts to begin with. Anything over a normal dose goes unused. Also, no study has shown stacking to be beneficial

What to do for the flu : The Columbian Nov. 2, 2004

By ANNIE PIERCE RUSUNEN, Columbian staff writer
The flu vaccine may be in short supply this year, but that's no reason to get the chills. Doctors, nutritionists and naturopaths say there are plenty of ways to ward off sickness and boost immunity as the flu and cold season blows in.

"There is a lot of panic, unfortunately, and what people need to realize is that the flu isn't likely to be any worse this year than in years past. We just have less of the vaccine," said Dr. Jim Little, medical director for Vancouver's Family Physicians Group.

He added that a flu shot is no guarantee that people will be protected from all strains of the flu anyway.

He said the vaccine is important for people in high-risk categories (including adults age 65 and older, children 2 and younger and people with immunity disorders and chronic medical conditions such as heart or lung disease). The average healthy adult, however, has no reason to fret, he said.

Even in years without a vaccine shortage, the Centers for Disease Control estimates that only about 5 to 20 percent of the U.S. population is inoculated for influenza.

"The flu for a healthy adult is an unpleasant thing, but for most people it's not deadly. … And there are many ways to decrease the chances of getting sick," Little said.

Adds Dee Sandquist, manager of Southwest Washington Medical Center's diabetes and nutrition center: "With all the media attention to the flu vaccine shortage, it's a good time to remind ourselves that the best way to prevent the flu is to eat right, exercise, get plenty of sleep, reduce stress and wash hands frequently."

In addition to following common sense flu-fighting suggestions, such as maintaining good hygiene and drinking plenty of fluids, many people are raiding natural food stores and the vitamin aisles at supermarkets for vitamins, herbs and other natural remedies.

Physicians like Little are a bit skeptical. ("Echinacea isn't likely to hurt you, but will it help you? I'm not so sure," he said). Multivitamins, however, can be beneficial for stocking the body up on essential vitamins and minerals, he said.

There are also other natural remedies that naturopaths recommend.

Laura Schissell, a Vancouver naturopath who runs her own business and does consultations at east Vancouver's new Wild Oats store, suggests Oscillococcinum (Oscillo for short). The product is said to stimulate the body's immune system to fight off the flu virus and can be found at most natural food stores.

She also recommends echinacea and elderberry, which can be beneficial for upper respiratory ailments, she says. Zinc can fight off sore throats. Vitamin C gives the immune system a charge.

"It's best to stock up on these things before you get sick, so you have them on hand for when you feel (the illness) first coming on," Schissell said. "When you get sick it's hard to want to get out and go to the store."

In addition to herbal options and homeopathic remedies, nutritionists, doctors and naturopaths suggest eating a diet filled with vitamin C-rich foods such as oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, carrots, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.

Vitamin E (found in nuts, avocados, wheat germ and fatty fish such as tuna) also boosts immunity by creating an abundance of infection-fighting white blood cells.

Garlic is another good bet for its antibacterial and anti-viral properties.

Health gurus also say it's a good idea to avoid sugar, fructose and simple carbohydrates (think white bread and crackers) because they can lower immune function.

Regular exercise is also a good cold and flu-fighting habit because it speeds up the heart to pump larger quantities of blood and helps increase the body's virus-killing cells.

Workers who do find themselves battling body aches, runny noses and sore throats this season, however, ought to follow this simple piece of advice stay home.

Many employers are learning that "presenteeism" is bad for business.

The biggest drain on productivity does not come from flu-related absenteeism, it comes from sick workers who come to work and infect everybody else.

"Everybody is going to be exposed to the flu at some point, but once you know you're sick, people really should stay home," Schissell said. "It's not only a matter of protecting your co-workers it's a matter of taking care of yourself and getting better."

And besides, as Little said, "Who wants to be sneezed on?"


Did you know?

In an influenza survey conducted by Opinion Research Corp. for Kimberly-Clark Professional, "respiratory etiquette" was clearly expected of co-workers. More than three quarters of employed respondents said it bothered them when sick co-workers sneezed or coughed without covering their faces or touched common surfaces with contaminated hands.

In the same survey, the top answer from employees to the question "What should employers do to reduce the spread of germs in the workplace?" was you guessed it sending people home at the first signs of illness.

The Centers for Disease Control reports there are more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths from flu complications each year.

The germiest areas are not in restrooms. Telephones, doorknobs and keyboards harbor the most bacteria.


Oh flu-ey

So you've come down with the flu. Drat. Here's some suggestions from doctors and nutritionists for possibly shortening the duration of your body aches, stuffy nose and chills and protecting others from sharing your misery.

Flu germs spread when a person with the flu sneezes into the air, coughs or touches something with germ-ridden hands. Rather than sneezing or coughing into your hands, then touching a doorknob or shaking someone's hand, hack into your sleeve or a tissue, then throw the tissue away immediately.

Wash hands vigorously, with soap and water, for at least 15 seconds.

Don't be a martyr. If you're sick with the flu, don't go to work and expose all of your co-workers. Once the cough and fever subside, it's typically safe to head back to the workplace.

Get plenty of sleep the immune system recharges itself while you're getting your zzz's.

Feed a cold, starve a fever? The answer is neither according to Becky Hand, head dietitian at SparkPeople.com, a health and wellness Web site. The best advice, she said, is to simply follow your appetite. "Starving" an illness is a particularly bad idea since the body needs key nutrients to recover.

Drink up. Water not only rehydrates the body, but it flushes out the system of poisons and germs.

Eat lots of phytochemicals. Fruits and veggies, which are full of these immunity boosters ("phyto" means plant), are the best sources of powerful vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Annie Pierce Rusunen

Flu Fighters: Eat, drink and sleep your way to health: Greenwich Time Nov.2 2004

Flu fighters: Eat, drink and sleep your way to health

By Beth CooneyStaff WriterNovember 2, 2004

Here's a strategy for avoiding the flu that doesn't involve standing in long lines or begging for an injection you might not need.
The approach begins with consistent hand washing, eating lots of garlic, and keeping those germy paws out of the leftover Halloween candy. Also, try cutting cut back on the morning java, sleeping more and stocking up on echinacea, elderberry, zinc lozenges and instant hand sanitizer. Oh, and work out and meditate.
If you think of the flu as an opportunistic bug, one that breaks down the body's defenses when its guard is down, then the best way to prevent it is to bring on some reinforcements, says Dr. Bronner Handwerger, a naturopathic physician affiliated with Peak Wellness, an integrative medical center in Greenwich. "I liken it to bringing on some extra security," he says. "The more cops you have, the better the chance that no one is going to break in."
While traditional practitioners offer flu shots and good old-fashioned hand washing as the best preventatives, nutritionists and specialists in alternative medicine say there are plenty of natural ways to keep yourself healthy in the cold and flu season."
The single best strategy you can employ is finding ways to build up your immune system so it's stronger," says Dr. Paul Epstein, a naturopathic physician in private practice in Norwalk.
Epstein, like many naturopathic practitioners, shies away from making blanket recommendations, saying much of his advice is based on patients' specific needs. You won't hear him recommending daily doses of an herb like astragalus or sharing a recipe for a meal based around fresh garlic. (Although he sometimes eats garlic to bolster his immune system.).
"While I love something like carrot juice," Epstein says by way of example, "I hesitate to recommend that because what you need may be to exercise, eat better, talk to your husband more or cut back on the hours." His fervent belief: "Stress is the single biggest challenge to our immune system and the chief reason why we get sick."
That said, there are some natural vaccines, homeopathic remedies and dietary changes that could help the average healthy person keep the flu at bay.
Handwerger and Dr. Joanne McGary, also a licensed naturopathic physician in private practice in Stamford, are among those who offer patients Dolivaxil and Oscilla (oscillococcium), anti-viral homeopathic remedies touted as natural flu vaccines."
They have been shown to improve the immune system's response to the virus," says McGary.
Handwerger concedes both are controversial options. "Like the flu vaccine itself. There are people who believe they are very effective and people who think they are not. I recommend them to people who really want an option to the flu shot."
McGary says nothing beats a good quality multivitamin as a basic booster for the immune system. "Plenty of people just need to start there," she says.
Dr. Tim Frank, medical director of the Health & Healing Center at the Noelle Spa for Beauty and Wellness in Stamford, is big on basics like vitamins, sipping organic green tea and good hygiene. "Hand washing is about the best place to start," he says, adding a cautionary note. "Here at the spa, we're pretty scrupulous about hygiene. But some people overdo it. They wash too much or use anti-bacterial soaps too much and end up with skin problems."
So even the best preventive strategies can go too far.
The same is true with nutrition, notes Peter McKnight, chief clinical dietitian at Stamford Hospital. People stock up on zinc during the cold and flu system, with good and bad results. "Some is fine," he says. "But too much can actually deplete your immune system."
We asked these health and nutrition experts to suggest some do's and don'ts for preventing the flu. Here are their top recommendations.*
Cut back on sugar. This was the advice of all the naturopaths interviewed. As a rule of thumb, they say too much sugar depletes the immune system. Of course, this means Halloween candy is not a great flu-buster."
But when I say sugar I mean all kinds of sugar," says Handwerger, who tells his patients to avoid natural fruit juices, refined breads, pastas and other sugar sources when building up their immune system. His rule of thumb: "If sugar is the first thing on the ingredient label, you don't want it. If it's fourth or fifth, it might be OK."
Nutritionist McKnight is a bit dubious about the sugar connection. "I don't know what impact it has on the immune system. I don't think a little will hurt."*
Cut back on caffeine. "Coffee taps out the adrenals," says Epstein. "It creates stress in the body and you don't need it." If you need a little caffeine, go with green tea, says Frank. "It's a much better choice because we know green tea is good for the immune system and has lots of antioxidants."* Eat yogurt. McKnight is fond of any good quality yogurt that has lots of natural bacteria and acidopholus, which is good for the immune system. He thinks the Stonyfield Farm brand is a good choice. (Some might object to its sugar content.)*
Eat garlic. Frank makes a tea with garlic and ginger. Handwerger eats it by the handful, raw and chopped. (He doesn't chew to spare his breath.) Add garlic to soups, salads and entrees. "If you are in a restaurant and one entree has garlic and another one doesn't, get the one with garlic," says Epstein. "It's an easy way to get more into your diet."*
Take the best multivitamin you can find. McKnight recommends Centrum Silver if you are shopping at the drugstore. McGary sells vitamins in her private practice, but recommends New Chapter or Herb Pharm brands if you are shopping in a health store.*
Take zinc. But not too much. Sunflower seeds are a good natural source. More than 90 milligrams a day is probably too much, says Frank. And pregnant women should avoid it. "If a zinc supplement makes you sick to your stomach, then you probably don't need it," says Handwerger.*
Take Vitamin C. But again, not too much. Talk to your health care professional or a nutritionist about appropriate doses.*
Consider natural flu vaccines. But be an informed consumer. Not all health care practitioners are convinced of their efficacy, but some naturopaths (and patients) swear by them.* Ingest essential fatty acids. Epstein recommends flax seed and olive oils. Handwerger gives orange-flavored cod liver oil to his kids. "It's great," he insists. And serve salmon for dinner as long as it's not farm-raised. "It lacks the Omega 3s," says Handwerger.* Try natural echinacea, goldenseal and elderberry or astragalus. All are considered potential boosters to the immune system. Talk to a qualified naturopath or nutritionist about appropriate doses. Be especially careful with echinacea, which after two weeks is no longer effective. "I recommend people take it in cycles, two weeks on, one week off," says Frank.* Exercise. "It improves circulation, which naturally boosts your immune system," says Handwerger.* Eat lots of fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins. "In the elderly, it's the people who subsist on tea and toast I worry about," says McKnight. "I also worry about women who subsist on muffins and Diet Coke."* Be more vigilant about hygiene. Carrying an instant hand sanitizer or wipes is probably a good idea, as is regularly cleaning your phone and carrying your own pen, says Frank. He also likes to drop essential oils, like lavender, on his phone receiver or on a handkerchief for sneezes. Then again, don't be hypervigilant. "Eliminating all the bacteria on your hands can help make you sick," says Handwerger.* Manage stress. Epstein points to studies that note people who are HIV positive have better outcomes and immune responses when they have support and are given reason to be hopeful. "Stress management is a basic, common sense prescription for disease prevention," says Epstein. "You can do more for your health with good, regular sleep, some exercise and good nutrition than you can do with any pill or flu vaccine."