Mindful Wellness
  • Home
    • Start Here >
      • Look Around
      • Find Your Why >
        • Affirm Your Values
      • Psychology >
        • Biological >
          • Sensation & Perception >
            • Stress
            • Visualization
        • Behavioral >
          • Emotions
        • Cognitive >
          • Conscious Mind
          • Subconscious Mind
        • Social
        • Personality >
          • Ego >
            • Cognitive Dissonance >
              • Anxiety
      • Identify Imbalances >
        • Shift Your Paradigm
  • Learn
    • Pages >
      • Inner World >
        • Awareness >
          • The Human >
            • Awareness Systems >
              • Mind
              • Body >
                • Anatomy >
                  • Organ Systems >
                    • Endocrine System >
                      • Pineal Gland
                    • Fascia
                • Physiology >
                  • Bioenergetics
                  • Bone Biomechanics
                  • Inflammation
              • Spirit >
                • Altered States >
                  • Entheogens
                • Intention >
                  • Creating Reality
                • Parapsychology
            • Core Pillars >
              • Happiness
              • Nutrition >
                • Nutrients >
                  • Macronutrients >
                    • Carbohydrates
                    • Fat >
                      • Cholesterol
                    • Protein
                    • Water
                  • Micronutrients >
                    • Vitamin D
                  • Antinutrients >
                    • Mycotoxins
                  • Phytonutrients
                  • Energy Metabolism >
                    • Alcohol
                    • Caffeine
                    • Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
                  • Nutrient Timing >
                    • Intermittent Fasting >
                      • Calorie Restriction
                • Steps to an Optimal Diet >
                  • Optimal Diet Foundation
                  • Create Your Own Food >
                    • Impact of Supplements >
                      • BCAAs
                      • Creatine Monohydrate
                      • Diatomaceous Earth
                      • Omega-3 Fatty Acids
                      • Probiotics
                      • Spirulina
                  • Whole Foods >
                    • Alkaline vs. Acidic >
                      • Acidic Foods
                      • Alkaline foods
                  • Plant-Based >
                    • Animal Products >
                      • Dairy
                    • Vegetarianism
                  • Organic
                  • Local & Seasonal
                  • Biochemical Individuality
                • Sample Meal Plans
                • Obesity >
                  • Cholesterol
                  • Weight Management
              • Fitness >
                • Active Warmup
                • Concurrent Training >
                  • Aerobic Exercise >
                    • HIIT
                  • Resistance Training >
                    • Push
                    • Pull
                    • Legs
                    • Abdominals
                    • Accessory Muscles
                  • Sports-Specific Training
                • Stretching
                • Exercise Adherence
              • Silence >
                • Sleep
          • Remedies & Therapies >
            • Ayurveda >
              • Detoxification >
                • Basti
              • Doshas
              • Chakras
            • Functional Medicine >
              • FODMAP
              • Testing
              • Parasites
            • Physical Therapy
            • Herbalism >
              • Tea
              • Cannabis
              • Ginkgo biloba
              • Ginseng
            • Subtle Energy >
              • Earthing
          • Risk Factors >
            • Chemicals
            • Cigarettes
        • Lifestyle Applications >
          • Conscious Creations >
            • The Basics >
              • How to Shop
              • Kitchen Essentials
            • Food >
              • Sprouting
              • Vegetables >
                • Cruciferous Vegetables >
                  • Maca
              • Fruits
              • Whole Grains >
                • Gluten
            • Recipes >
              • Appetizers >
                • Appetizers
              • Breakfast
              • Entrées >
                • Entrées
              • Sweets
              • Beverages >
                • Beverages
              • Dressings
          • Mindful Movement >
            • Breathing
            • Mobilization
            • Stretches
            • Stabilization
            • Exercises
            • Program Design
          • Personal Growth >
            • Communication
            • Effectiveness >
              • Goal Setting
            • Meditation >
              • Mindfulness
            • Motivation
            • Human Relations
            • Simple Living >
              • Self-sufficiency
              • Minimalism >
                • Quality Over Quantity
              • Basic Needs
      • Outer World >
        • Relationships
        • Community Concepts >
          • Development >
            • Decentralization
            • Infrastructure
            • Sustainability >
              • Permaculture
          • Values >
            • Do No Harm
            • Cooperation
            • Sense of Community
            • Service
          • Culture
        • World concepts >
          • Geopolitics >
            • Agriculture
            • Government >
              • Politics >
                • Systems >
                  • Agorism
                  • Democracy >
                    • Voting
              • Military Industrial Complex >
                • Declassified Projects >
                  • Bluebeam
                  • Highjump
                  • Manhattan
                  • MKUltra
                  • Mockingbird
                  • Northwoods
                  • Paperclip
                  • Popeye
                  • Stormfury
              • Healthcare >
                • Pharmaceuticals
                • Vaccines
                • Water Fluoridation
            • Infrastructure >
              • Energy >
                • Hydrocarbons
            • Economy >
              • Banks >
                • Federal Reserve >
                  • Money
              • Corporatocracy >
                • Alphabet
                • Facebook
          • Technology >
            • Biotechnology >
              • Genetic Engineering
            • EMFs >
              • Cell Phones
              • Microwaves
              • Smart Meters
            • Geoengineering
            • Internet >
              • Smart Grid >
                • Artificial Intelligence
                • Biometrics
              • Social Media
            • Zero-Point
          • Media >
            • Context >
              • Mainstream Media
            • Advertising >
              • Television
            • Propaganda >
              • Education >
                • Conditioning
                • History of Humanity
              • Psychological Operations >
                • False Flag Attacks >
                  • 9/11
              • Symbols >
                • Language
        • Cosmological Concepts >
          • Philosophy >
            • Hermetic Philosophy >
              • Mentalism >
                • Law of One
              • Correspondence
              • Vibration
              • Polarity
              • Gender
              • Rhythm
              • Cause & Effect
            • Metaphysics >
              • Cosmology
              • Ontology >
                • Hidden Messages >
                  • Numeric >
                    • Numerology
                  • Visual >
                    • Sacred Geometry >
                      • Fibonacci Sequence
            • Logic
            • Knowledge
          • Science >
            • Life >
              • Biology
            • Physical >
              • Physics >
                • Astronomy >
                  • Contents >
                    • Solar System >
                      • Earth
                      • Sun
                • General >
                  • Entropy
                  • Time
                  • Frequencies >
                    • Dimensions
                • Theorectical >
                  • Quantum Mechanics
                  • Multiverse
                  • Holographic Universe
          • Phenomena >
            • Extraterrestrials
            • Interplanetary Climate Change
    • Domains >
      • I >
        • Awareness
        • Lifestyle
      • We >
        • Relationships
        • Community
      • All >
        • World
        • Cosmos
  • Store
    • All Products >
      • Body Care >
        • Bath Salts >
          • Relax
        • Soap Bars >
          • Gentle Lavender Soap
        • Salves/Lotions >
          • Relief Body Butter (CBD + Magnesium)
          • CBD Body Butter - Herbal Salve
          • Dirty Chai Body Butter
          • Sweet Rose Cream
          • Golden Body Butter
          • Boo-Boo Salve
          • Loving Sister Salve
          • Sacred Moon Body Butter
      • Tinctures >
        • Mycelium Mix
        • Balance Formula
        • Respire
        • Endurance
      • Tonics / Syrups >
        • Fire Cider
        • Nutri-Tonic
        • Sour Cider
        • Bitter Tonic
        • Elderberry Immunity
        • Resilience
      • Herbal Tea >
        • Afternoon Delight
        • Happy Tummy
        • Homestead Garden
        • Mystic Garden
        • Nutri Tea
        • Serenity
        • Sleepy Tea
        • 5th Chakra Evolved Chai
    • Wellness Programs >
      • Movement Program
      • Nutrition Program
      • Lifestyle Program
      • Integral Wellness Program
    • Leave A Review
  • About
    • How to Use This Website
    • Resources >
      • Sponsors
      • Questionnaires >
        • Nutrition & Lifestyle Questionnaire
        • Toxicity Questionnaire
      • Film & Literature
      • Quote Archive
      • Notes
      • New Page
    • Disclaimer
    • Support

Awareness

Dr. Zach Bush: Chemical Farming & The Loss of Human Health

6/5/2021

0 Comments

 
Zach Bush, MD is triple board-certified physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care. He is the founder of Seraphic Group, an organization devoted to developing root-cause solutions for human and ecological health in the sectors of big farming, big pharma, and Western Medicine at large. And he is also the founder of Farmers Footprint https://farmersfootprint.us/, a non-profit coalition of farmers, educators, doctors, scientists, and business leaders aiming to expose the deleterious human and environmental impacts of chemical farming and pesticide reliance - while simultaneously offering a path forward through regenerative agricultural practices.
0 Comments

Dr. Zach Bush: The Reincarnation of Hippocrates

12/29/2020

0 Comments

 
Zach Bush MD is a physician specializing in internal medicine, endocrinology and hospice care. He is an internationally recognized educator and thought leader on the microbiome as it relates to health, disease, and food systems. Dr Zach founded Seraphic Group and the nonprofit Farmer’s Footprint to develop root-cause solutions for human and ecological health. His passion for education reaches across many disciplines, including topics such as the role of soil and water ecosystems in human genomics, immunity, and gut/brain health. His education has highlighted the need for a radical departure from chemical farming and pharmacy, and his ongoing efforts are providing a path for consumers, farmers, and mega-industries to work together for a healthy future for people and planet.

Show Notes
  • A trip to the Philippines changed Zack’s life mission and how he viewed allopathic medicine afterward. (10:07)
  • “The scientific method is nothing more than a technique for exploring truth, but at no point is science a body of knowledge or truth…” (28:16)
  • Zach’s bedrock spiritual philosophy: I am. (41:06)
  • Homo sapiens is an adaptive species and not a stagnant one. (55:09)
  • What’s the difference between a rishi and a reishi mushroom? (1:14:00)
  • A quantum physics fellowship. (1:23:20)
  • Healing relationships at death’s door. (1:36:32)
  • Random event generators and the death of George Floyd. (1:40:15)
  • Do humans have the raw potential to co-create something magnificent? (1:50:21)
Resources
  • Zack’s articles co-written with Deepak Chopra on June 1 and June 8 in the SF Gate
  • Antoine Béchamp vs. Louis Pasteur
  • The work of J.R.R. Tolkien and John Archibald Wheeler
  • Mycorrhiza
  • Superstring theory
  • The Abdominal and Pelvic Brain by Byron Robinson
  • Intestinal Gardening for the Prolongation of Youth by James Empringham
  • Universal Sufism by H.J. Witteveen and Scott Sattler
  • Streams of Wisdom by Dustin DiPerna and Ken Wilbur
0 Comments

mRNA Vaccination Concerns

11/27/2020

0 Comments

 
From RT:

​Now, we have a thing called a messenger RNA vaccine (mRNA). RNA is, effectively, a single strand of DNA – the double helix that sits within our cells and makes up our genetic code. Many viruses are made up of a single strand of RNA, surrounded by a protein sphere.
​
They enter the cell, take over the replication systems, make thousands of copies of themselves, then exit the cell. Sometimes killing the cell as they do so, sometimes exiting more gently. Covid19 (Sars-Cov2) is an RNA virus.

Knowing this, rather than attempting to create a weakened virus, which can take years, or break the virus into bits, the vaccine researchers decided to use Sars-Cov2’s RNA against itself. To do this, they isolated the section of RNA which codes for the ‘spike’ protein – which is the thing the virus uses as a ‘key’ to enter cells. 

They then worked out how to insert this small section of RNA, messenger RNA, into the cell, where it takes over a part of the protein replication mechanisms that sit inside all cells. They turn the mechanism into a 3D printer, churning out copies of the spike protein.

These spike proteins then leave the cell – somehow or other, this bit is unclear. The immune system comes across them, recognises them as ‘alien’ and attacks. In doing so, antibodies are created, and the immune memory system kicks into action. If, later on, a Sars-Cov2 virus gets into the body, the immune system fires up and attacks the remembered spike protein. Hopefully killing the entire virus.

This is all, certainly very clever stuff. What, as they say, could possibly go wrong?

The first thing to say is that, with something this new, we don’t really know. It could be that it is absolutely 100 percent safe. We are told that none of the mRNA can get into the nucleus of the cell, where it could become incorporated into the DNA. I hope so. Could it trigger an immune cascade? I hope not.
​
I know that the researchers will be looking very, very, closely at the novel safety issues that could emerge. If they are not, they damned well should be. However, the timelines here are very short. It normally takes many years to create safe and effective vaccines. Here is it happening in, effectively, weeks.
Read the entire RT Article: "As a doctor, people ask me if it’s safe to take a new Covid vaccine. Given that criticism is risky, here’s my very careful answer"
0 Comments

Deuterium Depletion

12/24/2019

2 Comments

 
Hydrogen comes in two “flavors”: regular hydrogen, which is actually called protium, and deuterium. Deuterium has all of the same properties as hydrogen, except that it's twice as big and heavy. This is due to an added neutron paired with the proton in the nucleus. Because of this, deuterium is also referred to as "heavy hydrogen," and it actually behaves quite differently from regular hydrogen in chemical reactions and in our bodies.

In nature, deuterium helps things grow. For example, deuterium is biologically necessary for growth in babies, teenagers, and developing plants and animals. But once you stop growing, having too much deuterium in your cells can result in mitochondrial dysfunction and lead to premature aging, metabolic problems, and disease.
Picture
Image from ddcenters.com
Deuterium is like thick, gluggy oil  - when you put thick oil into an engine, the engine sputters, makes strange noises, and eventually breaks.


Nature has put systems in place to deplete deuterium and protect the nanomotors, or "little engines," in our cells’ mitochondria from coming into contact with this thick oil.


However, the side effects of a modern life - pollution, global warming, processed foods, less healthy lifestyles, etc. - have resulted in many people having way too much deuterium inside their cells. This results in an inability to effectively deplete deuterium and the destruction of our nanomotors.


This starts a vicious cycle of deuterium building up and breaking more of our nanomotors. Fewer nanomotors means less energy and more sickness and disease.
While deuterium is a natural and essential element, its presence has increased in the modernized environment within the food, atmosphere, and water. Deuterium levels is food will vary based o where that food is grown - deuterium is highest in the equator and in low elevations. Foods high in fat, as well as green plants, including algae and spirulina, which contain high amounts of chlorophyll, are lower in deuterium than fruits, roots, and underground vegetables. As it turns out, GMO foods tainted with glyphosate, as well as processed, synthetically made foods, possess high amounts of deuterium.

There are various lifestyle practices that have led to increased deuterium levels including a lack of sleep, particularly deep REM sleep. In addition, breathing shallow and fast via the mouth and chest also contributes to elevated levels of deuterium.

Researchers have demonstrated that elevated of deuterium can contribute to:
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Diminished deep and REM sleep
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Increased aging, leading to to diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's
  • Increased cancer cell growth
  • Immune dysregulation

Learn More About Deuterium Depletion

Deuterium Depletion Podcasts
Deuterium Depletion Videos
Deuterium Depletion Research Papers

References

Understanding Deuterium - The Center for Deuterium Depletion. (2019). Retrieved 24 December 2019, from https://www.ddcenters.com/about-deuterium-2-2-2/
2 Comments

Microwave Radiation

11/20/2019

0 Comments

 
It is widely recognized that radiation exposures such as X-rays and gamma radiation can increase the risk of cancer in humans and animals. These types of radiation are referred to as ionizing radiation (Ionization energy is defined as the minimum amount of energy required to remove an electron from an atom or molecule in the gaseous state). This is different from nonionizing radiation, which includes ultraviolet (UV), visible light, extremely low frequency radiation (ELF), and radiofrequency or microwave (RF) radiation. Conventionally, researchers believed that nonionizing radiation is not harmful or carcinogenic, despite evidence surfacing regarding the relationship between UV radiation and skin cancer.

Research evaluating the exposure to RF radiation was conducted primarily by military agencies. Due to the advent and use of cellular telephone systems, which involve widespread public exposures, reevaluation of exposure risk has become urgent.

Four types of physiological effects has been observed by researched in multiple studies:
  1. Increased spontaneous abortion,
  2. Shifts in red blood cell and white blood cell count,
  3. Increased somatic mutation rates in lymphocytes, and
  4. Increased childhood, testicular, and other cancers.

These findings suggest that exposure to RF radiation, including from devices such as microwave ovens, are potentially carcinogenic and have other health effects. An important point to consider is that low dose radiation exposure over time has damaging effects, rather than one large exposure to radiation.

Alternatives to Microwaves

Rather than using a microwave, consider using a stove or convection oven. These methods take a bit more time, but it is well worth it! Consider using headphones to talk on cell phones rather than placing the device directly to your head. If possible, request to avoid airport scanners by opting for a pat-down. Lastly, try to reduce overall radiation exposure over time.

References

Goldsmith, J. (1997). Epidemiologic Evidence Relevant to Radar (Microwave) Effects. Environmental Health Perspectives, 105, 1579. https://doi.org/10.2307/3433674
0 Comments

The 6 Stages of Dis-ease Development

2/12/2019

0 Comments

 
No one wakes up one day a disease: it takes time to become sick, there is a process. As described in Ayurveda, there are six different stages of disease and it is interesting to think how these could supplement and enhance the approach of modern medicine. The problem is that in our Western medicine mindsets we often only look at the last two stages where the disease manifestation is already apparent.
Picture
Ayurveda offers insight into the earlier stages and enables those monitoring their health to take care of any small imbalances well before developing any serious illness. The length of the each stage may vary from weeks, to months, even years, depending on the person and the degree of aggravation.

The six stages of disease development are:
  1. Accumulation
  2. Aggravation
  3. Dissemination
  4. Localization
  5. Manifestation
  6. Complication

1. Accumulation

The first stage, accumulation, represents imbalance, a build up or collection of something in the body. Being exposed to and acquiring a pathogen via the external environment is an example of accumulation. This stage can also be caused by the internal environment, such as from eating an imbalanced diet leading to excess inflammation or mucous. Accumulation in the body leads to the the next stage, aggravation.

2. Aggravation

As the imbalanced elements continue to increase, the symptoms become more aggravated and will begin to be noticed throughout the body. This stage is a sign of continued accumulation. This stage can manifest, as seen in the Kapha state, as loss of appetite, indigestion, nausea, excess saliva, oversleeping, sluggishness; or as seen in the Pitta state, as increased acidity, burning sensations in the abdomen, lowered vitality, or insomnia; or as seen in the Vata state, as pain in the lower abdomen, excess flatulence, and light-headedness.

3. dissemination

Once the site of origin is full with excess accumulation and is aggravated, it will begin to overflow into or disseminate throughout the rest of the body using different channels of transportation. Overflow typically begins in the GI tract, then spilling into the circulating plasma and blood, allowing the accumulation to spread systemically, and eventually seeping into the organs and tissues (dhātus). Simultaneously, the symptoms at the site of origin will grow worse.

4. Localization

The excess accumulation will then move to wherever a weak site exists in the body. This is where and when diseases begin to develop. This stage is also where genetics matter; the weak spots are determined by genetics - as the saying goes, genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger. This stage can manifest, as seen in the Vata state, as arthritis. In a Pitta state, this can be seen as an ulcer, and in the Kapha state, manifestation may begin in the lungs. At this stage, healing is still regarded as simple.

5. Manifestation

This is the first state of the development of illness for which modern Western medicine can detect signs of disease. It is at this stage where diseases progress and become fully developed, showing signs of clinical features. Manifested imbalances are given names at this stage, such as arthrosclerosis, cancer, colitis, etc. It is at this stage where conventional medicine attempts to mask the symptoms by offering pharmaceutical drugs.

6. Complication

Complications of the dis-ease begin at this final stage. Often times, conventional medicine attempts to solve the problem by simply removing the affected tissue (e.g., small intenstine, colon, thyroid, etc.) from the body. The symptoms become clear enough so that the elemental cause (i.e., dosha constitution such as Vata, Kapha, Pitta) may be determined. Some medical professionals describe this stage as the chronic phase of development. For example, if one develops inflammation in the manifestation stage, in this stage, complications set in, and the inflammation may grow worse into a chronic problem.
Being aware of the stages of the dis-ease process is helpful because one can gain a better understanding in how prevent, and perhaps even reverse, it. To be clear, the information provided here is not claiming to treat, cure or diagnose disease.

References

Cabral, S. (2018). The 6 Stages of the Disease Process (Ayurvedic Principle). [podcast] The Cabral Concept. Available at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/cabral-concept-by-stephen/id1071469441?mt=2

Tirtha, S. (2007). The Āyuveda encyclopedia. Bayville, NY. Ayurveda Holistic Center Press.
0 Comments

10 Americans Study

12/27/2018

0 Comments

 
The environment that we live in is toxic. It is worrisome to think that the status quo has occurred with the help of corporations knowingly dumping harmful chemicals into the environment.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has studied the current state of our world in great detail and has discovered that before a child is even born they already have approximately 287 toxins in their blood and tissues. These results came from 10 newborns whose parents gave permission to have their toxins measured at birth.

The results of this study indicate that an average of 200 chemicals was found in each newborn. Of the toxins tested, 47 were consumer ingredients such as cosmetics, 212 were industrial and pesticide byproducts. In this study, only around 400 total chemicals were actually tested for - thousands of others may have been found if larger parameters were used.

Many of the toxins measured in the newborns included plastics, flame retardants, and other chemicals that disrupt brain function, IQ, hormones, and the nervous system of the child. Some of the toxins observed like DDT, have actually been banned since 1972 (over 3 decades ago), but are still being measured in laboratory samples. Certain chemicals never fully degrade in the environment.

So, there is not question about it, the environment we live in is toxic. All of us have disease-creating toxins inside of our bodies, the question boils down to which ones and how much.

But there are some solutions: lab tests and detoxification.
Show me the Toxicity Test
0 Comments

Blue Light Explained

12/17/2018

0 Comments

 
Transcript:
"You hear all this talk about blue light being harmful, but do you know what blue light actually is?

Blue light is one of the types of light that form the white light we get from the Sun. Together with
red, orange, yellow, green, violet, and indigo. This is called the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum of visible light. At the end we have the UV light, which can't actually be seen by the human eye. The energy of these waves increases as we go towards the end, which makes blue lights one of the highest intensity types of visible light.

Light is made of EM waves that emit energy and it's this energy that we perceive as light. These waves come in different wavelengths, which means we get different colors of light. These are the different colors of light that we can perceive from the EM spectrum. So blue light is actually everywhere; it's in the light that travels from the Sun all the way to the Earth.

Because the wavelength of blue light is so small they collide with air molecules a lot more than any other color and they get scattered everywhere - that's actually what makes the sky blue. That's why your body uses this blue light from the Sun to make the difference between day and night and
regulate your sleep cycle. But our eyes natural filters barely provide us with enough protection from blue light on a particularly sunny day.

The blue light from your devices is even worse. LED devices emit much stronger blue light than we get from the Sun. Spending hours staring at a screen can cause eye damage and fatigue. This is due to most lower energy waves being absorbed by the cornea, the eyes outer membrane. Blue light goes straight through due to its high energy and slowly deteriorates the retina. And because our brains use blue light to differentiate between day and night and boost alertness, spending time on your phone tablet or laptop late at night fools your body into thinking it should keep you awake. It's all of them - phones, tablets, any gadget with an illuminated display. They all use blue LEDs because they are energy efficient and cheaper to produce, but your body disagrees.
Picture
Basically, what keeps you awake and alert during the day can severely affect the quality of your sleep at night. Blue light has also been shown to suppress secretion of melatonin, a hormone that is produced at night and helps your body prepare for sleep. Melatonin isn't just linked to poor
sleep, scientists have also managed to find a correlation between melatonin deprivation and conditions like cancer, diabetes and clinical depression. Do you still think your tablet is that harmless?

Well there is a way you can prevent it. Scientists have now designed special screen protectors that stop the blue light from reaching your eyes and causing damage to your retina at a microscopic level. This glass has tiny ridges that block blue waves and let the other less harmful light go through. These glasses can block up to 60% of blue light and 99% of UV rays. People have reported that their sleeping patterns were significantly improved after only a few days. There was also significant reduction in eye strain and headaches. Or you can go for full protection and buy eyewear that you can use for all blue light-emitting devices: computers, TV laptops, or your phone. These work in a slightly different way - the protectors as the yellow, absorbs rather than blocks blue and UV light, and lets other types of light go through.

No matter what you do, whether its buying a protective glass or reducing the time you spend on your device make sure you stay on the lookout for the unseen damage that your day-to-day gadgets can do to your health."
0 Comments

Remedy: The Quest For Lost Medicine

9/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Welcome to the first episode of our brand new docuseries - Remedy: Ancient Medicine for Modern Illness.

(If you are not registered for the full Remedy docuseries yet, click this link to join us for all 9 episodes - https://remedy.thesacredscience.com/r... )

Episode 1 is called “The Quest For Lost Medicine” and it lays the groundwork for the entire series - some of what you will witness may shock you… Over the 9-part Remedy series, we’ll be uncovering powerful herbal remedies for major diseases - but first, we need to understand why this vital healing information has been kept from us.

Here’s some of what we will reveal in this first episode…
  • Why many effective green medicines are not finding their way to the people who are in critical need of them - and the powers who would like it to remain this way
  • The unsung heroes (women) who have safe-guarded this healing information for centuries and who are now bringing it forward to heal a world in crisis
  • Why 82% of the world uses herbal remedies as their primary medicine… BEFORE turning to modern approaches
  • Why the U.S. is one of the ONLY countries in the world where it is illegal to practice herbalism
  • How a belief about chemical “heroic medicine” took root in the public consciousness and why it is blocking many from accessing true medicines
  • The overwhelming scientific proof that plants are perfectly designed to heal the illnesses and challenges we humans face - with very few side effects

This eye-opening episode sets the stage for everything else we cover in the Remedy docuseries. Again, if you are not registered for the full series, click here - https://remedy.thesacredscience.com/r...
0 Comments

Top Cancer Researcher Fails to Disclose Corporate Financial Ties in Major Research Journals

9/8/2018

0 Comments

 
From The New York Times:

One of the world’s top breast cancer doctors failed to disclose millions of dollars in payments from drug and health care companies in recent years, omitting his financial ties from dozens of research articles in prestigious publications like The New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet.
Picture
Dr. José Baselga, the chief medical officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, in 2015. Image from Cindy Ord/Getty Images
The researcher, Dr. José Baselga, a towering figure in the cancer world, is the chief medical officer at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He has held board memberships or advisory roles with Roche and Bristol-Myers Squibb, among other corporations, has had a stake in start-ups testing cancer therapies, and played a key role in the development of breakthrough drugs that have revolutionized treatments for breast cancer.

According to an analysis by The New York Times and ProPublica, Dr. Baselga did not follow financial disclosure rules set by the American Association for Cancer Research when he was president of the group. He also left out payments he received from companies connected to cancer research in his articles published in the group’s journal, Cancer Discovery. At the same time, he has been one of the journal’s two editors in chief.

At a conference this year and before analysts in 2017, he put a positive spin on the results of two Roche-sponsored clinical trials that many others considered disappointments, without disclosing his relationship to the company. Since 2014, he has received more than $3 million from Roche in consulting fees and for his stake in a company it acquired.

Dr. Baselga did not dispute his relationships with at least a dozen companies. In an interview, he said the disclosure lapses were unintentional.

He stressed that much of his industry work was publicly known although he declined to provide payment figures from his involvement with some biotech startups. “I acknowledge that there have been inconsistencies, but that’s what it is,” he said. “It’s not that I do not appreciate the importance.”

Dr. Baselga’s extensive corporate relationships — and his frequent failure to disclose them — illustrate how permeable the boundaries remain between academic research and industry, and how weakly reporting requirements are enforced by the medical journals and professional societies charged with policing them.

A decade ago, a series of scandals involving the secret influence of the pharmaceutical industry on drug research prompted the medical community to beef up its conflict-of-interest disclosure requirements. Ethicists worry that outside entanglements can shape the way studies are designed and medications are prescribed to patients, allowing bias to influence medical practice. Disclosing those connections allows the public, other scientists and doctors to evaluate the research and weigh potential conflicts.

“If leaders don’t follow the rules, then we don’t really have rules,” said Dr. Walid Gellad, director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing at the University of Pittsburgh. “It says that the rules don’t matter.”

The penalties for such ethical lapses are not severe. The cancer research group, the A.A.C.R., warns authors who fill out disclosure forms for its journals that they face a three-year ban on publishing if they are found to have financial relationships that they did not disclose. But the ban is not included in the conflict-of-interest policy posted on its website, and the group said no author had ever been barred.

Many journals and professional societies do not check conflicts and simply require authors to correct the record.

Officials at the A.A.C.R., the American Society of Clinical Oncology and The New England Journal of Medicine said they were looking into Dr. Baselga’s omissions after inquiries from The New York Times and ProPublica. The Lancet declined to say whether it would look into the matter.

Christine Hickey, a spokeswoman for Memorial Sloan Kettering, said that Dr. Baselga had properly informed the hospital of his outside industry work and that it was Dr. Baselga’s responsibility to disclose such relationships to entities like medical journals. The cancer center, she said, “has a rigorous and comprehensive compliance program in place to promote honesty and objectivity in scientific research.”

Asked if he planned to correct his disclosures, Dr. Baselga asked reporters what they would recommend. In a statement several days later, he said he would correct his conflict-of-interest reporting for 17 articles, including in The New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet and the publication he edits, Cancer Discovery. He said that he did not believe disclosure was required for dozens of other articles detailing early stages of research.

“I have spent my career caring for cancer patients and bringing new therapies to the clinic with the goal of extending and saving lives,” Dr. Baselga said in the statement. “While I have been inconsistent with disclosures and acknowledge that fact, that is a far cry from compromising my responsibilities as a physician, as a scientist and as a clinical leader.”

The corporate imprint on cancer researcher

Dr. Baselga, 59, supervises clinical operations at Memorial Sloan Kettering, one of the nation’s top cancer centers, and wields influence over the lives of patients and companies wishing to conduct trials there. He was paid more than $1.5 million in compensation by the cancer center in 2016, according to the hospital’s latest available tax disclosures, but that does not include his consulting or board fees from outside companies.

Many top medical researchers have ties to the for-profit health care industry, and some overlap is seen as a good thing — after all, these are the companies charged with developing the drugs, medical devices and diagnostic tests of the future.

Dr. Baselga’s relationship to industry is extensive. In addition to sitting on the board of Bristol-Myers Squibb, he is a director of Varian Medical Systems, which sells radiation equipment and for whom Memorial Sloan Kettering is a client.

In all, Dr. Baselga has served on the boards of at least six companies since 2013, positions that have required him to assume a fiduciary responsibility to protect the interests of those companies, even as he oversees the cancer center’s medical operations.

The hospital and Dr. Baselga said steps had been taken to prevent him from having a say in any business between the cancer center and the companies on whose boards he sits.

The chief executive of Memorial Sloan Kettering, Dr. Craig B. Thompson, settled lawsuits several years ago that were filed by the University of Pennsylvania and an affiliated research center. They contended that he hid research conducted while he was at Penn to start a new company, Agios Pharmaceuticals, and did not share the earnings. Dr. Thompson disputed the allegations. He now sits on the board of Merck, which manufactures Keytruda, a blockbuster cancer therapy.

Ms. Hickey said the cancer center cannot fulfill its charitable mission without working with industry. “We encourage collaboration and are proud that our work has led to the approval of novel, lifesaving cancer treatments for patients around the world,” she said.

Some disclosures are required; others aren’t. After the scandals a decade ago over lack of disclosure, the federal government began requiring drug and device manufacturers to publicly disclose payments to doctors in 2013.

From August 2013 through 2017, Dr. Baselga received nearly $3.5 million from nine companies, according to the federal Open Payments database, which compiles disclosures filed by drug and device companies.

Dr. Baselga has disclosed in other forums investments and advisory roles in biotech start-ups, but he declined to provide a tally of financial interests in those firms. Companies that have not received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for their products — projects still in the testing phases — do not have to report payments they make to doctors.

Serving on boards can be lucrative. In 2017, he received $260,000 in cash and stock awards to sit on Varian’s board of directors, according to the company’s corporate filings.

ProPublica and The Times analyzed Dr. Baselga’s publications in medical journals since 2013, the year he joined Memorial Sloan Kettering. He failed to disclose any industry relationships in more than 100, or about 60 percent of the time, a figure that has increased with each passing year. Last year, he did not list any potential conflicts in 87 percent of the articles that he wrote or co-wrote.

Dr. Baselga compiled a color-coded list of his articles and offered a different interpretation. Sixty-two of the papers for which he did not disclose any potential conflict represented “conceptual, basic laboratory or translational work,” and did not require one, he said. Questions could be raised about others, he said, but he added that most “had no clinical nor financial implications.” That left the 17 papers he plans to correct.

Early-stage research often carries financial weight because it helps companies decide whether to move ahead with a product. In about two-thirds of Dr. Balsega’s articles that lacked details of his industry ties, one or more of his co-authors listed theirs.

In 2015, Dr. Baselga published an article in the New England Journal about a Roche-sponsored trial of one of the company’s drugs, Zelboraf. Despite his financial ties to Roche, he declared that he had “nothing to disclose.” Fourteen of his co-authors reported ties to Roche.

Dr. Baselga defended the articles, saying that “these are high-quality manuscripts reporting on important clinical trials that led to a better understanding of cancer treatments.”

Industry ConnectionsSome of Dr. José Baselga’s known relationships with health care companies. He has failed to disclose any industry ties in dozens of research articles since 2013.
Picture
The guidelines enacted by most major medical journals and professional societies ask authors and presenters to list recent financial relationships that could pose a conflict.

But much of this reporting still relies on the honor system. A study in August in the journal JAMA Oncology found that one-third of authors in a sample of cancer trials did not report all payments from the studies’ sponsors.

“We don’t routinely check because we don’t have those kind of resources,” said Dr. Rita F. Redberg, the editor of JAMA Internal Medicine, who has been critical of the influence of industry on medical practice. “We rely on trust and integrity. It’s kind of an assumed part of the professional relationship.”

Jennifer Zeis, a spokeswoman for The New England Journal of Medicine, said in an email that it had now asked Dr. Baselga to amend his disclosures. She said the journal planned to overhaul its tracking of industry relationships.

The American Association for Cancer Research said it had begun an “extensive review” of the disclosure forms submitted by Dr. Baselga.

It said that it had never barred an author from publishing, and that “such an action would be necessary only in cases of egregious, consistent violations of the rules.”

Among the most prominent relationships that Dr. Baselga has often failed to disclose is with the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche and its United States subsidiary Genentech.

In June 2017, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago, Dr. Baselga spoke at a Roche-sponsored investor event about study results that the company had been counting on to persuade oncologists to move patients from Herceptin — which was facing competition from cheaper alternatives — to a combination treatment involving Herceptin and a newer, more expensive drug, Perjeta.

The results were so underwhelming that Roche’s stock fell 5 percent on the news. One analyst described the results as a “lead balloon,” and an editorial in The New England Journal called it a “disappointment.”

Dr. Baselga, however, told analysts that critiques were “weird” and “strange.”

This June, at the same cancer conference, Dr. Baselga struck an upbeat note about the results of a Roche trial of the drug taselisib, saying in a blog post published on the cancer center website that the results were “incredibly exciting” while conceding the side effects from the drug were high.

That same day, Roche announced it was scrapping plans to develop the drug. The news was another disappointment involving the class of drugs called PI3K inhibitors, which is a major focus of Dr. Baselga’s current research.

In neither case did Dr. Baselga reveal that his ties to Roche and Genentech went beyond serving as a trial investigator. In 2014, Roche acquired Seragon, a cancer research company in which Dr. Baselga had an ownership stake, for $725 million. Dr. Baselga received more than $3 million in 2014 and 2015 for his stake in the company, according to the federal Open Payments database.

From 2013 to 2017, Roche also paid Dr. Baselga more than $50,000 in consulting fees, according to the database.

These details were not included in the conflict-of-interest statements that are required of all presenters at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, although he did disclose ownership interests and consulting relationships with several other companies in the prior two years.

ASCO said it would conduct an internal review of Dr. Baselga’s disclosures and would refer the findings to a panel.

Dr. Baselga said that he played no role in the Seragon acquisition, and that he had cut ties with Roche since joining the board of a competitor, Bristol-Myers, in March. As for his presentations at the ASCO meetings in the last two years, he said he had also noted shortcomings in the studies.

The combination of Perjeta with Herceptin was later approved by the F.D.A. for certain high-risk patients. As for taselisib, Dr. Baselga stands by his belief that the PI3K class of drugs will be an important target for fighting cancer.

References

Ornstein, C & Thomas, K. (2018). Top Cancer Researcher Fails to Disclose Corporate Financial Ties in Major Research Journals. [online] Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/08/health/jose-baselga-cancer-memorial-sloan-kettering.html
0 Comments

How Cannabis Kills Cancer

7/5/2018

0 Comments

 
The anti-cancer assertions made by medical cannabis advocates are no longer just based on anecdotal success stories. In the following video, Dr. Christina Sanchez, a molecular biologist at the Complutense University of Madrid, explains how her research supports the claim that cannabis kills cancer.

Through several human and animal experimental observations, researchers, such as Dr. Sanchez, have discovered that the application of the popular psychoactive compound found in cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has the potential to induce apoptosis in carcinogenic cells; in other words, THC kills cancer cells. This treatment significantly differs from other cancer treatments, such as chemotheraphy, because THC is able to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy cells, whereas chemotherapeutic agents cannot, resulting in a myriad of undesirable and deleterious side effects.

According to Dr. Sanchez, "One of the advantages of cannabinoids, or cannabinoid based medicines, would be that they target a specifically, tumor cells. They don’t have any toxic effect on normal, non-tumoral cells. This is an advantage with respect to standard chemotherapy that target basically everything."

Sanchez has further revealed that the cancer-killing effect of THC is potentiated by the presence of cannabidiol (CBD), a very potent antioxidant that protects the brain from stress and oxidative damage. These synergistic effects of both THC and CBD could make for a very safe and effective cancer concoction.

Sanchez states, "I cannot understand why in the states cannabis is under schedule I, because it is pretty obvious not only from our work but from work from many other researchers that the plant has very wide therapeutic potential."

Cannabinoids and the Endocannabinoid System

The human body responds to the cannabinoids found in cannabis because it also makes its own endogenous cannabinoids. These endocannabinoids, which are lipid-based retrograde neurotransmitters that bind to cannabinoid receptors and proteins that are expressed throughout the mammalian central and peripheral nervous system, have been observed to mediate homeostasis via a variety of physiological and cognitive processes. This endocannabinoid system, named after the plant that led to its discovery, is a biological system of the body has many important regulatory functions affecting fertility, pregnancy, reproduction, appetite, pain-sensation, mood, locomotor behavior, exercise-induced euphoria, and memory.

The endogenous cannabinoid system is perhaps the most important physiologic system involved in establishing and maintaining human health. Endocannabinoids and their receptors are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells. In each tissue, the cannabinoid system performs different tasks, but the goal is always the same: homeostasis, the maintenance of a stable internal environment despite fluctuations in the external environment.

A growing body of evidence continues to validate the miraculous healing capabilities of cannabinoids. Supporting the cultivation of cannabis and continued scientific research will lead to more availability of various cannabis strains specifically designed to have high doses and specific ratios of certain cannabinoids to serve as a safe and effective therapeutic treatment for a variety of disorders and diseases. The use of medical marijuana and cannabis-derived medicines in the treatment of diseases such as cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, depression, etc., will continue to grow. Cannabis may yet become one of the most useful natural remedies to some of the most crippling diseases of mankind.

References

Hunt, Anna. (2018). Molecular Biologist Explains How Cannabis Kills Cancer Cells. [online] Waking Times. Available at: http://www.wakingtimes.com/2017/12/21/molecular-biologist-explains-cannabis-kills-cancer-cells/ [Accessed 6 Jul. 2018].
0 Comments

The Power of Fasting

4/13/2018

0 Comments

 
Fasting, much like exercise, is a biological stressor that initiates metabolic processes that promote overall health. By reintroducing periods of time without food into your daily life and mimicking the eating habits of your ancestors who did not have access to food around the clock, you can restore your body to a more natural state that allows a  whole host of biochemical benefits to occur.
Picture
Image by chicagohealthandwellness.com
Physiologically, fasting:
  • Stabilizes blood sugar
  • Reduces insulin levels and improves insulin resistance
  • Recovers and regenerates the gastrointestinal and immune system
  • Increases ketone production
  • Increases metabolic rate
  • Removes damaged cells
  • Reduces hunger
  • Reduces excess body fat
  • Reduces level of hormones thought to promote cancer
  • Reduces the rate of aging
  • Sheds excess body fat
  • Protects brain function
What Happens in the Body When You Eat
What Happens in the Body When You Fast
Energy (aka fat) is stored
Energy (aka fat) is burned
Insulin rises
Insulin falls
Human growth hormone is increased
Human growth hormone is released
Free radical production is increased
Free radical production is decreased
The only other strategy that has so many research-baked benefits for longevity is long-term calorie restriction, which requires a significant long-term reduction in the amount of food you eat so that you are essentially living on the brink of starvation. Compliance with calorie-restricted diets is abysmal. Fortunately, there are many ways to fast, and there is likely a form of fasting out there that you will be able to tolerate and incorporate into your life. It's important for you to remember that fasting can provide nearly identical benefits without the pain, suffering, and compliance challenges of calorie restriction.

Instead of regulating how much food you eat, as with long-term calorie restriction, you only need to modify when you eat - and of course wisely choose the foods you do eat.Simply cycling between periods of eating and fasting on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule has been shown to provide many of the same benefits as long-term calorie restriction. Choosing when to eat and when to fast in this way is known as "intermittent fasting."

"Don't eat less - eat less often."
Dr. Dan Pompa

Different Types of Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent fasting is rapidly growing in popularity for the simple reason that it works. It does so whether you're trying to loss excess body fat or improve biofeedback for optimal health. As a general rule, intermittent fasting involves cutting calories, in whole or in part, either a couple of days a month or a week, every other day, or even daily.
 
There are many ways to fast, from consuming nothing but water for two to three days each month to eating a normal amount of calories every day but during a restricted window of time so you still get a good long stretch without food intake during each 24-hour period.

Here's a brief overview of a couple of different options:

2- to 3-Day Water Fast
It is generally not recommended to go without food for any period longer than about 18 hours. However, if you are overweight and have serious health challenges, a medically supervised water fast may be appropriate.

A water fast consists of consuming nothing but water and some minerals for a finite period of time. This type of fast can give you a shorter transition into fat burning because the body will rapidly burn through glycogen stores and begin using fat for energy.

This fast may be appropriate if you have just received a very serious diagnosis, such as brain cancer. Although if you are limited by any of the following conditions, consult with your health care practitioner before embarking of this type of fast:
  • Already underweight
  • Nutritionally compromised
  • Taking diuretics or blood pressure medications
  • Have low blood pressure
  • Have diabetes, thyroid disease, chronically low sodium levels, or cardiovascular disease

5-Day Fast
This fast consists of spending five consecutive days of each month on a modified fast. You do not abstain from food entirely during these days. On the first day, you eat about 1,000 to 1,100 calories, followed by 725 calories on the remaining four days. As with all fasting options, the foods you do eat should be low in net carbohydrates and protein, and high in healthy fats.

Researchers have observed when people who have fasted five consecutive days once a month for three consecutive months saw improvements in biomarkers for cell regeneration. Risk factors for diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease., and aging also declined (Brandhorst et al., 2015).

Beware that is can be quite challenging to go for a full five days with very little food, especially if you've never fasted before, so you may want to work your way up slowly to this type of fast. Remember, "low and slow."

1-Day Fast
With this fast, you skip eating for one day of every week, consuming only water on that day. Your fast should be broken with a regular-sized meal, and you can maintain your regular exercise program without any special diet recommendations for workout days.

Fasting for 24 hours can be rough for some people, but eating a high-fat low-carb diet can make a 24-hour fast easier, as a higher fat diet will tend to normalize your hunger hormones and provide improved satiety for longer periods of time. You can also fast from dinner to dinner, skipping a full 24 hours of eating while still eating each day.

Alternate-Day Fasting
This program consists of eating on one day, and not eating on the next. During fasting days you restrict your eating to one meal of about 500 calories. On nonfasting days, you can eat normally.

When you include sleeping time, your fast can end up being as long as 32 to 26 hours. According to Krista Varady, Ph.D., author of The Every-Other-Day Diet, alternate-day fasting can help you lose up to two pounds of body fat per week.

Another benefit to alternate-day fasting is that your body tends to adapt to the regularity of the program. In clinical trials, about 90% of participants were able to stick to alternate-day fasting, whereas the other 10% dropped out within the first two weeks.

Peak Fasting
This form of fasting is by far the easiest to maintain once your body has shifted over from burning sugar to burning fat as its primary fuel, and it also appears to support steady circadian rhythms.

Peak Fasting is done every day rather than a few days per week or month. However, you can certainly cycle in off days to suit your schedule or social commitments - this flexibility is another major benefit of Peak Fasting. If circumstances allow, it is recommended implementing this type of fasting about five days a week. The process is quite simple.

The crux of Peak Fasting is to restrict your eating each day to a 6- to 11-hour window. As a result you will avoid eating for 13 to 18 hours every day. The simplest way to implement this type of fasting is to stop eating at least three hours before bed and then delay your first meal of the following day until at least 13 hours have passed since you last ate.

This may seem like an awfully long time to go without eating on a daily basis, but once you have transitioned to burning fat as your primary fuel, you won't experience those frequent hunger pains. Another benefit of Peak Fasting is that you will be able to go hours without a dip in energy because fat provides a continuous source of fuel. This is in contrast to glucose, which triggers glucose/insulin spikes, frequent hunger pains, and energy crashes as cues to consume more high-carb foods.
Picture
Image from evelynd.com

Avoid Eating Hours Before Going to Bed

Regardless of the fasting program you choose, or even if you choose not to adapt any formal type of fasting, you should stop eating at least three hours before you go to bed. This simple change can help optimize your mitochondrial function and prevent cellular damage. Many factors influence why you will reap health benefits if you develop the habit of not eating within three hours of bedtime:
  • When you are sleeping, your energy needs are at their lowest, and providing excess fuel at this time will result in the production of excessive amounts of damaging free radicals.
  • Sleep is your body's time for detox and repair, and needing to digest a meal during sleep will impair these important processes.
  • Nighttime is a common time for your body to use ketones for energy, since glycogen stores are typically depleted within 18 hours (13 hours if you are eating low quantities of carbohydrates), and eating too close to bedtime can replenish glycogen stores and prevent the body from burning fat for overnight fuel.
  • Not eating for at least three hours before bed enables you to extend that period of time without eating food on a daily basis.

A compilation of scientific literature published in 2011 provides much of the experimental work supporting the advice from eating too close to bedtime. The message is clear: since the body uses the least amount of calories when sleeping, eating close to bedtime adds excess fuel which will generative excessive free radicals that will damage the tissues, accelerate aging, and contribute to chronic disease (Pamplona, 2011).

Fasting Contraindications

Although intermittent fasting, particularly Peak Fasting, is a powerful way to improve your physiological function all the way down to the mitochondrial level, it is not for everyone. Individuals taking medications, especially those with diabetes, need medical supervision; otherwise there is a risk of hypoglycemia.

If you have serious adrenal challenges or chronic renal disease, are living with chronic stress (adrenal fatigue), or have cortisol dysregulation, you would likely need to resolve these issues before implementing intermittent fasting. Also, if you have a disease called porphyria, you should not fast.

If you goal is to build large muscles or engage in competitive sports such as sprinting that require glucose for anaerobic fast twitch muscle fibers, intermittent fasting is not likely to be your best strategy.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should not practice intermittent fasting, as the baby needs a wider range of nutrients during and after birth.

Children under 18 should also not fast for extended periods. Moreover, anyone of any age with concerns of malnutrition, or who is underweight (with a BMI less than 18.5), or who has an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa should avoid fasting.

When implementing intermittent fasting, keep your eye on any signs of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which include:
  • Light-headedness
  • Shakiness
  • Confusion
  • Fainting
  • Excessive sweating
  • Blurred vision
  • Slurred speech
  • Feelings of an atypical heartbeat
  • Pins and needles sensation (neuropathy) in the fingertips

If you suspect that your blood sugar is low, make sure to eat something that will not impact your blood glucose levels, such as foods with a lower glycemic index quantity, including coconut oil in black coffee or tea.

Tips For Adapting to Fasting

The most challenging part of any intermittent fasting plan is getting through the initial transition, which can take anywhere from a week to two months. In some people this transition may take even longer, depending on how insulin resistant they are and other factors such as weight, blood pressure, and how consistent they are with their fasting regimen.

Roughly 10% of people report headaches as a side effect when they first begin fasting, but the biggest complaint is hunger. This is why it is so important to remain hydrated, especially while adding extra magnesium. It may be helpful to remember that one reason you're craving food is because your body has not yet made the switch from burning sugar to burning fat as its primary fuel. As long as you're running on sugar, frequent hunger pains will be the norm. Fat is far more satisfying, as it's a much slower-burning fuel.

Another factor that can cause disruption during the transition period is purely psychological. If you're used to grazing in the evenings, it may take some time to break the habit. One trick is to make it easier to go longer periods of time without eating is to drink more water. Oftentimes people mistake thirst for hunger.

It typically takes a few days to work up to 13 hours of fasting, but once you start activating your fat-burning system you will easily achieve this. The most effective way is to keep to your fat-burning plan by limiting your net carbs to under 40 grams per day and not exceeding more than 1 gram of protein per kilogram of lean body mass.

References

Brandhorst, S., Choi, I., Wei, M., Cheng, C., Sedrakyan, S., Navarrete, G., Dubeau, L., Yap, L., Park, R., Vinciguerra, M., Di Biase, S., Mirzaei, H., Mirisola, M., Childress, P., Ji, L., Groshen, S., Penna, F., Odetti, P., Perin, L., Conti, P., Ikeno, Y., Kennedy, B., Cohen, P., Morgan, T., Dorff, T. and Longo, V. (2015). A Periodic Diet that Mimics Fasting Promotes Multi-System Regeneration, Enhanced Cognitive Performance, and Healthspan. Cell Metabolism, 22(1), pp.86-99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2015.05.012

Mercola, J. (2017). Fat for fuel. 1st ed. Hay House, pp. 216-236

Pamplona, R. (2011). Mitochondrial DNA Damage and Animal Longevity: Insights from Comparative Studies. Journal of Aging Research, 2011, pp.1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2011/807108
0 Comments

The Hidden Dangers of Wireless Technology

2/26/2018

0 Comments

 
More than 2000 references on the biological responses to radio frequency (RF) and microwave radiation, published up to June 1971, have been documented. Devices that emit RF and microwave radiation include, but is not limited to, cellphones, two-way radios, Wi-Fi routers, cellphone towers, smart watches, bluetooth devices, Smart meters, cordless cell phone base stations, wireless baby monitors, microwave ovens, and any WiFi-connected smart devices that receives and transmits data. Particular attention has been paid to the effects on man of non-ionizing radiation at these frequencies.

Reported Biological Phenomena (*Effects') and Some Clinical Manifestations Attributed to Microwave and Radio-Frequency Radiation

A. Heating of Organs*
(Applications: Diathermy, Electrosurgery, Electro-coagulation, Electrodesiccation, Electrotomy)
  1. Whole Body (temperature regulation defects), Hyperpyrexia
  2. Skin
  3. Bone and Bone marrow
  4. (a) Lens of Lye (cataractous lesions - due to the avascular nature of the lens which prevents adequate heat dissipation (b) Corneal damage also possible at extremely high frequencies
  5. Cenitalia (tubular degeneration of testicles)
  6. Brain
  7. Sinuses
  8. Metal Implants (burns near hip pins, etc.)
The effects are generally reversible except for 4a.

B.  Changes in physiologic function
  1. Striated Muscle Contraction
  2. Alteration of Diameter of Blood Vessels (increased Vascular elasticity, Dilation
  3. Changes in Oxidative Processes in Tissues and Organs
  4. Liver Enlargement
  5. Altered Sensitivity to Drug Stimuli
  6. Decreased Spermatogenesis (decreased fertility, to sterility)
  7. Altered Sex Ratio of Births (more girls!)
  8. Altered Menstrual Activity
  9. Altered Fetal Development
  10. Increased Lactation in Nursing Mothers
  11. Reduction in Piuresis (Na+ excretion, via urine output)
  12. Altered Renal function (decreased filtration in tubules)
  13. Changes in Conditioned Reflexes
  14. Increased Electrical Resistance of Skin
  15. Changes in the Structure of Skin receptors of the (a) Digestive, and  (b) Blood Carrying Systems
  16. Altered BIood Flow Rate
  17. Alterations In the Biocurrents (EEG?) of the Cerebral Cortex (in animals)
  18. Changes In the Rate of Clearance of Tagged Ions from Tissue
  19. Reversible Structural Changes In the Cerebral Cortex and the Diencephalon
  20. Electrocardiographic (EKG) Changes
  21. Alterations In Sensitivity to Light, Sound, and Olfactory Stimuli
  22. Functional (a) and Pathological (b) Changes in the Eyes: (a) decrease in size of blind spot, altered color recognition, changes in intraocular pressure, lacrimation, trembling of eye-lids; (b) less opacity and coagulation, altered tissue respiration, and altered reduction-oxidation processes
  23. Myocardial Necrosis
  24. Hemorrhage in Lungs, Liver, Gut, and Brain (At Fatal Levels of Radiation)
  25. Generalized Degeneration of all Body Tissue of Radiation (At Fatal Levels of Radiation)
  26. Loss of Anatomical Parts
  27. Death
  28. Dehydration
  29. Altered Rate of Calcification of Certain Tissue

C.  Central Nervous System Effects
  1. Headaches
  2. Insomnia
  3. Restlessness (Awake and During Sleep)
  4. Electroencephalographic (EEG) Changes
  5. Cranial Nerve Disorders
  6. Pyramidal Tract Lesions
  7. Conditioned Reflex Disorders
  8. Vagomimetic Action of the Heart; Sympaticomimetic Action
  9. Seizures, Convulsions

D.  Autonomic Nervous System Effects
  1. Degenerative Disorders (e.g., alteration of heart rhythm)
  2. Fatigue
  3. Structural Alterations in the Synapses of the Vagus Nerve
  4. Stimulation of Parasympathetic Nervous System (Bradycardia), and Inhibition of  the Sympathetic Nervous System

E.  Peripheral Nervous System Effects
  1. Effects on Locomotor Nerves

F. Psychological Disorders ("Human Behavioral Studies") - the so-called "Psychophysiologic (and Psychosomatic) Responses"
  1. Neurasthenia - (general "bad" feeling)
  2. Depression
  3. Impotence
  4. Anxiety
  5. Lack of Concentration
  6. Hypochondria
  7. Dizziness
  8. Hallucinations
  9. Sleepiness
  10. Insomnia
  11. Increased Irritability
  12. Decreased Appetite
  13. Loss of Memory
  14. Scalp Sensations
  15. Increased Fatigability
  16. Chest pain
  17. Tremor of the hand

G. Behavioral Changes (Animal)
  1. Reflexive, Operant, Avoidance, and Discrimination Behaviors

H. Blood Disorders
changes in:
  1. Blood and Bone Marrow
  2. Phagocytic (polymorphs) and Bactericidal Functions
  3. Hemolysis Rate (increase), (a shortened lifespan of cells)
  4. Sedimentation Rate (increase), due to changes in serum concentration levels or amount of fibrinogen. (?))
  5. Number of Erythrocytes (decrease), also number of lymphocytes
  6. Blood Glucose Concentration (increase)
  7. Blood Histamine Content
  8. Cholesterol and Lipids
  9. Gamma (also alpha and beta) Globulin, and Total Protein Concetration
  10. Number of Eosinophils
  11. Albumin/Globulin Ratio (decrease)
  12. Hemopoiesis (rate of formation of blood corpuscles)
  13. Leukopenia (increase in number of white cells), and Leukocytosis
  14. Reticulocytosis

I. Vascular Disorders
  1. Thrombosis
  2. Hypertension

J. Enzyme and Other Biochemical Changes
Changes in activity of:
  1. Cholinesterase
  2. Phosphatase
  3. Transaminase
  4. Amylase
  5. Carboxydismutase
  6. Protein Denaturation
  7. Toxin, Fungus, and Virus Inactivation (at high radiation dose levels), Bacteriostatic  Effect
  8. Tissue Cultures Killed
  9. Alteration In Rate of Cell Division
  10. Increased Concentration of RNA in Lymphocytes, and Decreased Concentration in  Brain.  Liver,  and  Spleen
  11. Changes in Pyruvic Acid, Lactic Acid, and Creatinine Excretions
  12. Change in Concentration of Glycogen in Liver (Hlyperglycemia)
  13. Alteration in Concentration of 17- Ketosteroids in Urine

K. Metabolic Disorders
  1. Glycosuria (sugar in urine; related with blood sugar?)
  2. Increase in Urinary Phenol (derivatives? DOPA?)
  3. Alteration of rate of metabolic Enzymatic Processes
  4. Altered Carbohydrate Metabolism

L. Gastro-Intestinal Disorders
  1. Anorexia (loss of appetite)
  2. Epigastric Pain
  3. Constipation
  4. Altered Secretion of Stomach "Digestive Juices"

M. Endocrine  Gland  Changes
  1. Altered Pituitary Function
  2. Hyperthyroidism
  3. Thyroid Enlargement
  4. Increased Uptake of Radioactive Iodine by Thyroid Gland
  5. Altered Adrenal Cortex Activity
  6. Decreased Corticosteroids in Blood
  7. Decreased Glucocorticoidal Activity
  8. Hypogonadism (usually decreased testosterone production)

N. Histological Changes
  1. Changes in Tubular Epithelium of Testicles
  2. Gross Changes

O. Genetic and Chromosomal Changes
  1. Chromosome Aberrations (e.g., linear shortening, pseudochiasm, diploid structures, amitotic division, bridging, "sticky" chromosomes, irregularities in chromosomal envelope)
  2. Mutations
  3. Mongolism
  4. Somatic Alterations (changes in cell not involving nucleus or chromosomes, cellular transformation)
  5. Neoplastic Diseases (e.g*, tumors)

P. Pearl Chain Effect (Intracellular orientation of subcellular particles, and orientation of cellular and other (non-biologic) particles) Also, orientation of animals, birds, and fish in electromagnetic fields

Q. Miscellaneous Effects
  1. Sparking between dental fillings
  2. Peculiar metallic taste in mouth
  3. Changes in Optical Activity of Colloidal Solutions
  4. Treatment for Syphilis, Poliomyelitis, Skin Diseases
  5. Loss of Hair
  6. Brittleness of Hair
  7. Sensations of Buzzing Vibrations, Pulsations, and Tickling About the Head and Ears
  8. Copious Perspiration, Salivation, and Protrusion of Tongue
  9. Changes in the Operation of Implanted Cardiac Pacemakers
  10. Changes in Circadian Rhythms

References

Glaser, Z. (1971). Bibliography of reported biological phenomena ('effects') and clinical manifestations attributed to microwave and radio-frequency radiation. Navel Medical Research Institute. http://safeschool.ca/uploads/Navy_Radiowave_Brief_1_.pdf
0 Comments

Sugar Industry Suppressed Research Linking Sugar to Heart Disease and Cancer

12/3/2017

0 Comments

 
In 1965, researchers conducted an experiment on rats exploring the health effects of sugar and fat. The rats were divided into two groups: one group of rats was a fed diet containing 75% fat and no sugar, while the other group was fed a diet containing 15% fat and 60% sucrose. The results of this experiment led the researchers to believe that rats fed sucrose, a simple carbohydrate, developed thiamine deficiency, often leading to cardiovascular disease, while more complex carbohydrates helped create gut bacteria that synthesized thiamine (Nutritional Reviews, 1965). Based on internal documents, the Sugar Research Foundation (SRF) has discounted evidence linking sucrose consumption to cardiovascular disease.

This research prompted funding, among the SRF, to understand the relationship between sugar and any metabolic effects related to chronic disease beyond its caloric effects. The foundation (which has organizational ties to the Sugar Association, the International Sugar Research Foundation [ISRF], and ISRF's successor, and the World Sugar Research Organization) led a group of researchers, referred to as Project 259, to study the effect of sugar on gut bacteria in 1967. The researchers observed a positive association between rodent sugar-rich diets and triglyceride levels, which contributed to higher urinary concentrations of beta-glucoronidase, a well-established  marker of bladder cancer (Paigen, Peterson and Paigen, 2017). Albeit, the Sugar Association has consistently denied that sucrose has any metabolic effects related to chronic disease.

In 2016, the Sugar Association issued a press release criticizing findings from a study published in Cancer Research using multiple mouse models that suggested that dietary sugar induces increased tumor growth and metastasis when compared to a nonsugar starch diet. The Sugar Association stated that no credible link between ingested sugars and cancer has been established. In contrast, evidence suggests that that the sugar industry terminated funding of an animal study that was finding unfavorable results with respect to the association between dietary sugars and cancer, with possible translational importance to humans (Sugar Association, 2016).

Researchers have discovered internal documents that suggest the sugar industry muffled research indicating a significant relationship between sugar and adverse health effects including, heart disease and cancer (Kearns, Apollonio & Glantz, 2017). And this isn't the first time the sugar industry has been caught in the act. Researchers uncovered evidence suggesting the sugar industry systematically misrepresented research linking sugar to cancer, obesity, and heart disease (Kearns, Schmidt and Glantz, 2016).

In response to the study, the sugar industry released a statement, saying: “The article we are discussing is not actually a study, but a perspective: a collection of speculations and assumptions about events that happened nearly five decades ago, conducted by a group of researchers and funded by individuals and organizations that are known critics of the sugar industry” (Foley, 2017).

References

Basu, T. (2017). Researchers Publish Bombshell Report That Suggests Sugar Industry Conspiracy. [online] The Daily Beast. Available at: https://www.thedailybeast.com/researchers-publish-bombshell-report-that-suggests-sugar-industry-conspiracy?source=twitter&via=desktop [Accessed 3 Dec. 2017].

Foley, K. (2017). An investigation suggests Big Sugar hid evidence of sucrose’s health effects. [online] Quartz. Available at: https://qz.com/1134313/sugar-health-effects-50-years-ago-the-sugar-industry-hid-evidence-from-the-public/ [Accessed 4 Dec. 2017].

Kearns, C., Apollonio, D. and Glantz, S. (2017). Sugar industry sponsorship of germ-free rodent studies linking sucrose to hyperlipidemia and cancer: An historical analysis of internal documents. PLOS Biology, 15(11), p.e2003460. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.2003460

Kearns, C., Schmidt, L. and Glantz, S. (2016). Sugar Industry and Coronary Heart Disease Research. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(11), p.1680. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2016.5394

Nutritional Reviews. (1965). Dietary fats and intestinal thiamine synthesis in rats. Nutrition Reviews, 23(11), pp.334-336. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.1965.tb02053.x

Paigen, K., Peterson, J. and Paigen, B. (2017). Role of Urinary β-Glucuronidase in Human Bladder Cancer. [online] Cancer Research. Available at: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/44/8/3620.long [Accessed 3 Dec. 2017].

The Sugar Association. (2017). The Sugar Association Response to University of Texas MD Animal Study Linking Sugar to Cancer - The Sugar Association. [online] Available at: https://www.sugar.org/the-sugar-association-response-university-of-texas-md-animal-study-linking-sugar-to-cancer/ [Accessed 4 Dec. 2017].

0 Comments

Eating To Starve Cancer

9/5/2017

0 Comments

 
Ideally, you want your plate to look like a mosaic, painted with various colors from different foods. Create a rainbow of colors on your plate, with fruits and vegetables. Eating a variety of different foods offer more nutrients.

In this powerful TED talk, Dr. William Li discusses the powerful synergistic effects of combining food.
0 Comments

The Hazardous Reality of Sunscreen

8/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Each time you become exposed the warm sunlight, the sun's ultraviolet radiation bombards your skin, which in moderation may optimize your health, or in excess, may lead to sunburns, rapidly aging skin, and potentially, skin cancer. To lower one's risk, many will often turn to sunscreens—sprays, lotions, and even powders—to protect their skin from the worst of the sun's effects. Unfortunately, researchers have collected data showing that you should be very cautious when choosing sunscreen to apply to your skin.
Picture
Image by fabio lf petry on Flickr
Ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth as UVA and UVB light, and has been classified as a human carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) (National Toxicology Program, 2000). UVA is generally considered to be less carcinogenic than UVB. Originally, it was believed UVB light was more dangerous, thus sunscreen products were first developed to filter UVB and not UVA. However, recent research has demonstrated UVA radiation actually plays an important role in the development of malignant melanoma, the most aggressive form of skin cancer.

Skin Cancer on the Rise - No Proof That Sunscreen Prevents Skin Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, the rate of new melanoma cases among American adults has tripled since the 1970s, from 7.9 per 100,000 people in 1975 to 25.2 per 100,000 in 2014 (National Cancer Institute, 2017). A similar trend can be observed in regards to melanoma death rate for white American men, the highest risk group, which has escalated sharply, from 2.6 deaths per 100,000 in 1975 to 4.4 in 2014. From 2003 to 2012, the rates of new melanoma cases among both men and women have been increased by 1.7 and 1.4 percent per year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016).

While the exact cause of melanoma is unknown, researchers have established that risk factors for melanoma include family history, indoor tanning, the number of moles on a person’s skin, fair skin, freckles, blue or green eyes, blonde or red hair and a history of severe sunburns, among others (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). People are able to modify only three of these risk factors: indoor tanning, exposure to UV radiation and severe sunburns.

In December 2012, the Food and Drug Administration began to enforce new laws designed to improve sunscreens and consumer protection. The new laws restrict certain bogus label claims, but they allow most sunscreens to advertise “broad spectrum” skin protection. Sunscreen manufacturers are permitted to tell consumers, that with proper use, their products can help reduce the risk of skin cancer. However, the FDA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer have concluded that the available data does not support the assertion that sunscreens alone reduce the rate of skin cancer (Food and Drug Administration, 2011; IARC 2001).

It's Not the Sunscreen, It's the Additives

Recent research by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found 96% of the U.S. population has oxybenzone in their bodies, a common chemical used in sunscreens; a chemical that is a known endocrine disruptor, linked to reduced sperm count in men and endometriosis in women (Environmental Working Group, 2017).

Researchers have observed that adults who put on sunscreen containing 4% oxybenzone (the US allows up to 6%) in the morning and evening—mimicking what they’d do while on vacation—continued to excrete the chemical in their urine for five days afterwards, suggesting that it was being stored in the body (Gustavsson Gonzalez, Farbrot & Larko, 2002).

Aside from oxybenzone — which is found in 70% of sunscreens — other commonly used chemicals that can enter your bloodstream and can cause toxic side effects, including hormone disruption, include but are not limited to:
Octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC)
Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
Octyl salicyclate
Phenylbenzimidazole
Octocrylene
Octisalate
Dioxybenzone
Menthyl anthranilate
Homosalate
Octinoxate
Cinoxate
Parabens
Other chemicals, such as retinyl palmitate, may actually increase your risk of developing skin cancer. This product is a form of vitamin A that may speed the development of tumors and lesions when exposed to sunlight (National Toxicology Program, 2012).

It is also advised to avoid using personal care products that contain synthetic fragrance, as this term describes any number of harmful chemicals that do not have to be listed individually on the label. Some common "fragrance" chemicals include:

  • Parabens: Synthetic preservatives known to interfere with hormone production and release.
  • Phthalates: Another synthetic preservative that's carcinogenic and linked to reproductive effects (i.e., decreased sperm counts, early breast development, and birth defects) and liver and kidney damage.
  • Synthetic musks: These are linked to hormone disruption and are thought to persist and accumulate in breast milk, body fat, umbilical cord blood, and the environment.

Mineral Sunscreens May Contain Nanoparticles

Mechanical sunscreens, including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, have proven over years of use to be safe and effective mechanisms for blocking both UVA and UVB light. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG) - a non-profit environmental organization that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of toxic chemicals, agricultural subsidies, public lands, and corporate accountability - sunscreens made with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are better alternatives because they provide strong sun protection with few health concerns and they don’t break down in the sun. Zinc oxide is EWG’s first choice for sun protection. Most studies to date have shown that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are safe and unlikely to penetrate your skin when applied topically, as long as they are not nanosized. However, in an attempt to meet the desire of their consumers for products that don't leave a thick film on the skin, some manufacturers have reduced the size of the molecules, creating nanoparticles (microscopic particles measuring less than 100 nanometers).

This nanotechnology has several different effects. Some are concerned that the particles have become so small that they may be absorbed directly into your skin. Although mixed, some studies have found significant negative health effects from the absorption of nanoparticles (European Union Public Health, 2006). While these nanoparticle technologies may make an excellent drug delivery system, it is questionable for use in sunscreen (De Jong & Borm, 2008).

Titanium dioxide is more effective in UVB range and zinc oxide in the UVA range, therefore the combination of these particles assures a broad-band UV protection (Smijs & Pavel, 2011). Zinc oxide is beneficial because it remains stable in heat, but as a nanoparticle, the problems with toxicity probably outweigh the benefits to sun protection. Upon systemic distribution, toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles may affect the lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach, pancreas, spleen, heart and brain (Tian et al., 2015). Findings have also demonstrated that aging has a synergistic effect with zinc oxide nanoparticles on systemic inflammation and neurotoxicity, affecting your brain and neurological system. In other words, the older you are, the higher your risk of neurotoxicity from zinc oxide nanoparticle absorption.

Spray-on sunscreens, containing zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, pose an additional hazard by releasing these toxic nanoparticles into the air. The FDA has previously expressed concern that inhaling these products may be risky, especially to children, and has warned parents to avoid spray-on sunscreens (Food and Drug Administration, 2006).
While these two minerals are the safest topical sunscreen agents around, inhaling them is a whole different story. When these minerals are inhaled, they have been shown to irritate lung tissues and potentially lead to serious health problems, and the finer the particles, the worse their effects appear to be (Grassian, O’Shaughnessy, Adamcakova-Dodd, Pettibone & Thorne, 2006). The lungs have difficulty clearing small particles, and the particles may pass from the lungs into the bloodstream. Insoluble nanoparticles that penetrate skin or lung tissue can cause extensive organ damage. Some researchers speculate that the toxic effects of nanoparticles relate to their size being in the range of a virus, which may trigger your body's immune response (Buzea, Pacheco Blandino & Robbie, 2007).

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified titanium dioxide as a "possible carcinogen" when inhaled in high doses. According to IARC:

"Titanium dioxide causes varying degrees of inflammation and associated pulmonary effects including lung epithelial cell injury, cholesterol granulomas and fibrosis. Rodents experience stronger pulmonary effects after exposure to ultrafine titanium dioxide particles compared with fine particles on a mass basis (IARC, 2006).

The use of nanoparticles in cosmetics poses a regulatory challenge because the properties of nanoparticles may vary tremendously, depending on their size, shape, surface area and coatings. A number of manufacturers sell products advertised as containing “non-nano” zinc oxide and titanium dioxide - these claims are generally misleading. While particle sizes vary among manufacturers, nearly all would be considered nanomaterials under a broad definition of the term, including the definition proposed in 2011 by the Food and Drug Administration (Food and Drug Administration, 2011b). According to the available information, these mineral sunscreens must be delivered in nanoparticle form to render a layer that is reasonably transparent on the skin.

According to EWG, even with the existing uncertainties, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide lotions are among the best choices on the American market. Here’s why:

  • The shape and size of the particles affect sun protection.
The smaller they are, the better the SPF protection and the worse the UVA protection. Manufacturers must then find a balance: small particles provide greater transparency but larger particles offer greater UVA protection. The form of zinc oxide most often used in sunscreens is larger and provides greater UVA protection than the titanium dioxide products that appear clear on the skin.

  • Nanoparticles in sunscreen may not penetrate the skin.
Some studies indicate that nanoparticles can harm living cells and organs when administered in large doses. But a large number of studies have produced no evidence that zinc oxide nanoparticles can cross the skin in significant amounts. Researchers found that less than 0.01 percent of either form of zinc entered the bloodstream. The study could not determine if the zinc in the bloodstream was insoluble nanoparticles, therefore the European regulators concluded it was most likely zinc ions, which would not pose any health risk (Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, 2012). However, more research should be conducted to reach definitive conclusions.

  • It is unlikely that nanoparticles in sunscreen cause skin damage when energized by sunlight.
Titanium dioxide, and to a lesser extent zinc oxide, are photocatalysts, meaning that when they are exposed to UV radiation they can form free radicals that damage surrounding cells. Nanoparticle sizes of these minerals are more affected by UV rays than larger particles. Sunscreen manufacturers commonly employ surface coatings that can dramatically reduce the potential for photoactivity, with data suggesting that they reduce UV reactivity by as much as 99% (SCCNFP..., 2000). In sunscreens, problems may arise if particles are not treated with inert coatings, if the coatings are not stable, or if manufacturers use forms of zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that are not optimized for stability and sun protection. However, tests of living skin from human volunteers and animal testing suggest that these hazards are not a concern for human safety because the free radicals that are generated by nanoparticles on skin are quenched by the skin’s own antioxidant protections (Popov et al., 2009).

Currently, all available evidence suggests that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide can be safely used in sunscreen lotions applied to healthy skin and pose a lower hazard than most other approved sunscreen ingredients.

More human studies need to be conducted in regards to the health effects of inhaling of zinc oxide particles, especially at lower levels, such as from brief exposure to sunscreen spray. However, using these spray-on products are clearly an unnecessary risk since safer options are readily available. Your safest bet is to use topical zinc oxide or titanium dioxide that does not contain nanosized particles.

High SPF is "Inherently Misleading"

In theory, applying sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 100 would allow sunbathers to be exposed to the sun 100 times longer before suffering a sunburn. For example, an individual who would normally redden after 30 minutes in the afternoon sun could theoretically stay out for 50 hours.

But for high-SPF sunscreens, theory and reality are two different things. Researchers have observed that people are misled by the claims on high-SPF sunscreen bottles. They are more likely to use high-SPF products improperly and as a result may expose themselves to more harmful ultraviolet radiation than people relying on products with lower SPF values. The FDA has long contended that SPF higher than 50 is “inherently misleading” (Food and Drug Administration, 2007).

Here are some reasons against applying sunscreens with SPF values greater than 50:

  • Marginally better sunburn protection.
Sunbathers often assume that they get twice as much protection from SPF 100 sunscreen as from SPF 50. In reality, the extra protection is negligible. Properly applied SPF 50 sunscreen blocks 98% of UVB rays, while SPF 100 blocks 99%. When used correctly, sunscreen with SPF values in the range of 30 to 50 will offer adequate sunburn protection, even for people most sensitive to sunburn.

  • Consumers misuse high-SPF products.
High-SPF products tend to deceive users into staying in the sun longer and overexposing themselves to both UVA and UVB rays. Saturated with a false sense of security, people extend their time in the sun well past the point when users of low-SPF products would head indoors. As a result, they get as many UVB-inflicted sunburns as unprotected sunbathers and are likely to absorb more damaging UVA radiation.

Researchers have conducted numerous studies on sunbathers and have observed that high-SPF products spur “profound changes in sun behavior” that may account for the increased melanoma risk found in some studies. The researchers confirmed that European vacationers spent more total time in the sun if they were given an SPF 30 sunscreen instead of an SPF 10 product (Autier et al., 2000). It is assumed the difference would also apply to products with SPF values greater than 50.

Solutions: Sunscreen Should be the Last Resort

You can boost your internal ability to offset UVA and UVB radiation through the consumption of specific nutrients each day. Antioxidants found in colorful fruits and veggies have been shown to have protective effects, but the omnipotent nutrient here is the fat-soluble carotenoid astaxanthin (asta-ZAN-thin), which is what gives krill, salmon, and flamingos their pink color (Ambati, Moi, Ravi & Aswathanarayana, 2014).

Astaxanthin is produced by the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis when its water supply dries up, forcing it to protect itself from ultraviolet radiation. It is this "radiation shield" mechanism that helps explain how astaxanthin can help protect you from similar radiation.

When you consume this pigment, you are essentially creating your own "internal sunscreen." Researchers have confirmed astaxanthin is a potent UVB absorber that helps reduce DNA damage, reduce inflammation, oxidative stress and free radical damage throughout your body.

Each of these health-promoting effects of astaxanthin improves the ability of your skin to handle sun without burning, while giving your body the best advantage to manufacturing vitamin D. However, it is still advised to seek physical protection from the sun, such as hat and long-sleeved clothing, but consuming more astaxanthin will provide a healthier alternative to using synthetic chemicals to filter UV radiation.
Here are some helpful tips to help protect yourself from the sun's harmful UV rays:
Wear Clothes
Shorts, hats, shorts and pants can shield you skin from the sun's UV rays, reducing sun burns by 27%
Plan Around the Sun
Go outdoors in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is lower in the sky
Find Shade - Or Make It
Find a tree or bring a canopy
Don't Get Burned
Red, sore, blistered skin means you have gotten far too much sun exposure
Sunglasses Are Essential
Polarized sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays
Check the UV Index
The UV index provides helpful information to help you plan your outdoor activities without the risk of too much sun exposure

When Purchasing Sunscreen

Your safest and best choice for sunscreen protection is zinc oxide. However, avoid nanoparticles, which are common in spray sunscreens, to circumvent potential toxicity. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to find a product without other chemical additives. To help you choose the safest product, EWG performs an annual sunscreen evaluation based on effectiveness and safety.
EWG's Sunscreen Purchasing Guide & Safety Ratings

References

Ambati, R., Moi, P., Ravi, S., & Aswathanarayana, R. (2014). Astaxanthin: Sources, Extraction, Stability, Biological Activities and Its Commercial Applications—A Review. Marine Drugs, 12(1), 128-152. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/md12010128

Autier, P., Doré, J.-F., Reis, A. C., Grivegnée, A., Ollivaud, L., Truchetet, F., … Césarini, J.-P. (2000). Sunscreen use and intentional exposure to ultraviolet A and B radiation: a double blind randomized trial using personal dosimeters. British Journal of Cancer, 83(9), 1243–1248. http://doi.org/10.1054/bjoc.2000.1429

Buzea, C., Pacheco Blandino, I., & Robbie, K. (2007). Nanomaterials and nanoparticles: Sources and toxicity. Biointerphases. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from https://arxiv.org/ftp/arxiv/papers/0801/0801.3280.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). What Are the Risk Factors for Skin Cancer?. Cdc.gov. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/risk_factors.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Skin Cancer Trends. (2017). Cdc.gov. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/statistics/trends.htm


De Jong, W. H., & Borm, P. J. (2008). Drug delivery and nanoparticles: Applications and hazards. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 3(2), 133–149.

Environmental Working Group. (2017). EWG's 2017 Guide to Safer Sunscreens. Ewg.org. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from http://www.ewg.org/sunscreen/report/the-trouble-with-sunscreen-chemicals/#.WYKSS4UnHPp

European Union Public Health. (2006). What are potential harmful effects of nanoparticles?. Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/en/nanotechnologies/l-3/6-health-effects-nanoparticles.htm

Food and Drug Administration. (2011). Labeling and Effectiveness Testing: Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use. Regulations.gov. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FDA-1978-N-0018-0698


Food and Drug Administration. (2011b). FDA Draft, Not for Implementation: Guidance for Industry. Enforcement Policy – OTC Sunscreen Drug Products Marketed Without an Approved Application. Available at www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM259001.pdf

Food and Drug Administration. (2006). PETITION REQUESTING FDA AMEND ITS REGULATIONS FOR PRODUCTS COMPOSED OF ENGINEERED NANOPARTICLES GENERALLY AND SUNSCREEN DRUG PRODUCTS COMPOSED OF ENGINEERED NANOPARTICLES SPECIFICALLY. FDA.gov. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from https://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/06p0210/06p-0210-cp00001-01-vol1.pdf

Food and Drug Administration. (2007). Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use; Proposed Amendment of Final Monograph; Proposed Rule - FR Doc 07-4131. (2017). Fda.gov. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from https://www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/07-4131.htm

Grassian, V., O’Shaughnessy, P., Adamcakova-Dodd, A., Pettibone, J., & Thorne, P. (2006). Inhalation Exposure Study of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles with a Primary Particle Size of 2 to 5 nm. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(3), 397-402. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.9469

Gustavsson Gonzalez, H., Farbrot, A., & Larko, O. (2002). Percutaneous absorption of benzophenone-3, a common component of topical sunscreens. Clinical And Experimental Dermatology, 27(8), 691-694. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2230.2002.01095.x

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). (2006). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. IARC.fr. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol93/mono93.pdf

IARC. (2001). IARC Summary Recommendations for Public Health Action. IARC. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from http://www.who.int/uv/resources/recommendations/en/IARCSum.pdf

Mercola, J. (2017). Is Your Sunscreen Doing More Harm Than Good?. Mercola.com. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/04/26/hazardous-chemicals-in-sunscreens.aspx

National Cancer Institute. (2017). Melanoma of the Skin - Cancer Stat Facts. Seer.cancer.gov. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/melan.html


National Toxicology Program (NTP). (2000). Broad-Spectrum Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation and UVA, and UVB, and UVC. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved 3 August 2017, from https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/newhomeroc/roc10/uv_no_appendices_508.pdf

NTP Technical Report on the Photococarcinogenesis Study of Retinoic Acid and Retinyl Palmitate [CAS Nos. 302-79-4 (All-Trans-Retinoic Acid) and 79-81-2 (All-Trans-Retinyl Palmitate)] in SKH-1 Mice (Simulated Solar Light And Topical Application Study). NTP TR 568, National Institutes of Health, 2012. Available at ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/LT_rpts/TR568_508.pdf

Popov, A., Haag, S., Meinke, M., Lademann, J., Priezzhev, A., & Myllylä, R. (2009). Effect of size of TiO[sub 2] nanoparticles applied onto glass slide and porcine skin on generation of free radicals under ultraviolet irradiation. Journal Of Biomedical Optics, 14(2), 021011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/1.3078802

SCCNFP, Opinion Concerning Titanium Dioxide. Opinion: European Commission – The Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products Intended for Consumers. (2000). Retrieved 3 August 2017, from http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/sccp/documents/out135_en.pdf

Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety. (2012). Opinion on Zinc oxide (nano form).  Retrieved 3 August 2017, from http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_103.pdf

Smijs, T. G., & Pavel, S. (2011). Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles in sunscreens: focus on their safety and effectiveness. Nanotechnology, Science and Applications, 4, 95–112. http://doi.org/10.2147/NSA.S19419

Tian, L., Lin, B., Wu, L., Li, K., Liu, H., & Yan, J. et al. (2015). Neurotoxicity induced by zinc oxide nanoparticles: age-related differences and interaction. Scientific Reports, 5(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep16117
0 Comments

Chemotherapy May Help Spread Cancer

7/11/2017

0 Comments

 
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer. Metastasis, or the development of a secondary malignant growth distance from a primary site of cancer, greatly increases the risk of death from cancer. Researchers have investigated the entry of cancer cells in the blood vessels, a process known as intravasation, and discovered that chemotherapy treatment can also increase this process causing the malignant cells to migrate. In other words, chemotherapy may increase the aggressiveness of cancer by spreading it throughout the body - thereby increasing the disease's fatality.
Picture
Image from Kielcoloncancer.org
Groups of cells, collectively known as tumor microenvironment of metastasis (TMEM), can serve as gateways for tumor cells entering the blood vessels. The researchers observed that several types of chemotherapy can increase the amounts of TMEM complexes and circulating tumor cells in the bloodstream (Karagiannis et al., 2017).

Dr. Karagiannis, the lead author of the study, found the number of doorways was increased in 20 patients receiving two common chemotherapy drugs. It should be noted such a small sample size constitutes a major limitation of this study, the results and implications of this research are very significant.

Solutions

While prevention is by far the best cure for chronic disease, not everyone has this luxury. A number of modifiable risk factors are responsible for many premature or preventable diseases and deaths. Modifiable risk factors fall into three main groups (Danaei et al., 2011):
  • Lifestyle risk factors, such as tobacco smoking, physical activity, and alcohol use.
  • Dietary risk factors, such as a high salt intake or a low intake of fruits and vegetables.
  • Metabolic risk factors, such having high blood pressure or blood cholesterol and being overweight or obese.

In regards to dietary interventions, numerous studies have substantiated the chemopreventative effect of increasing cruciferous vegetable intake against cancer. As a chemoprevention agent, sulforaphane, the active molecule in cruciferous vegetables, possesses many advantages, such as high bioavailability and low toxicity (Li et al., 2010).
Click Here for More information about Cruciferous Vegetables
Increasing the consumption of cruciferous vegetables is only one of the many preventive measures that can be taken when taking control of your health. Remember, the health of your environment reflects the health of your body; you are the product of your environment.

References

Karagiannis, G., Pastoriza, J., Wang, Y., Harney, A., Entenberg, D., & Pignatelli, J. et al. (2017). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy induces breast cancer metastasis through a TMEM-mediated mechanism. Cancer, 9(397). http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aan0026

Li, Y., Zhang, T., Korkaya, H., Liu, S., Lee, H., & Newman, B. et al. (2010). Sulforaphane, a Dietary Component of Broccoli/Broccoli Sprouts, Inhibits Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Clinical Cancer Research, 16(9), 2580-2590. http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-09-2937

0 Comments
    The Awareness domain contains research, news, information, observations, and ideas at the level of self in an effort to intellectualize health concepts.
    Mind
    Body
    Spirit
    The Lifestyle domain builds off intellectual concepts and offers practical applications.
    Lifestyle
    Taking care of yourself is at the core of the other domains because the others depend on your health and wellness.
    Community
    World
    Cosmos

    Archives

    June 2023
    July 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    March 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    Categories

    All
    5G
    Adductors
    Anxiety
    Autism
    Ayurveda
    Body
    Cancer
    Cannabis
    Carbohydrates
    Cardiovascular Disease
    Children
    Chronic Disease
    Cognition
    Consciousness
    Coronavirus
    Covid
    Cryotherapy
    Depression
    Deuterium
    Dietary Guidelines
    EMFs
    Emotions
    Endocrine Disruptors
    Environment
    Exercise
    Farming
    Fasting
    Fats
    Fluoride
    Food
    Food Like Product
    Food-like Product
    Forest
    Gardening
    Genetics
    Glyphosate
    GMOs
    Hamstrings
    Healing
    Health
    Herbalism
    HRV
    Immunity
    Infertility
    Laughter
    Lockdowns
    Loneliness
    Masks
    Meditation
    Microbiome
    Microwave Radiation
    Mind
    Mortality
    Musculoskeletal System
    Nature
    Neuroplasticity
    Nutrition
    Omega 3
    Omega-3
    Organic
    Pelvis/Thigh
    Pesticides
    Physical Therapy
    Placebo
    Positive
    Prevention
    Processed Foods
    Psi
    Quadriceps
    Retirement
    Salt
    Sleep
    Spine/Thorax
    Spirit
    Sugar
    Technology
    Touch Screens
    Toxicity
    Vaccines
    Well Being
    Well-Being

    RSS Feed

  • Home
    • Start Here >
      • Look Around
      • Find Your Why >
        • Affirm Your Values
      • Psychology >
        • Biological >
          • Sensation & Perception >
            • Stress
            • Visualization
        • Behavioral >
          • Emotions
        • Cognitive >
          • Conscious Mind
          • Subconscious Mind
        • Social
        • Personality >
          • Ego >
            • Cognitive Dissonance >
              • Anxiety
      • Identify Imbalances >
        • Shift Your Paradigm
  • Learn
    • Pages >
      • Inner World >
        • Awareness >
          • The Human >
            • Awareness Systems >
              • Mind
              • Body >
                • Anatomy >
                  • Organ Systems >
                    • Endocrine System >
                      • Pineal Gland
                    • Fascia
                • Physiology >
                  • Bioenergetics
                  • Bone Biomechanics
                  • Inflammation
              • Spirit >
                • Altered States >
                  • Entheogens
                • Intention >
                  • Creating Reality
                • Parapsychology
            • Core Pillars >
              • Happiness
              • Nutrition >
                • Nutrients >
                  • Macronutrients >
                    • Carbohydrates
                    • Fat >
                      • Cholesterol
                    • Protein
                    • Water
                  • Micronutrients >
                    • Vitamin D
                  • Antinutrients >
                    • Mycotoxins
                  • Phytonutrients
                  • Energy Metabolism >
                    • Alcohol
                    • Caffeine
                    • Sugar-Sweetened Beverages
                  • Nutrient Timing >
                    • Intermittent Fasting >
                      • Calorie Restriction
                • Steps to an Optimal Diet >
                  • Optimal Diet Foundation
                  • Create Your Own Food >
                    • Impact of Supplements >
                      • BCAAs
                      • Creatine Monohydrate
                      • Diatomaceous Earth
                      • Omega-3 Fatty Acids
                      • Probiotics
                      • Spirulina
                  • Whole Foods >
                    • Alkaline vs. Acidic >
                      • Acidic Foods
                      • Alkaline foods
                  • Plant-Based >
                    • Animal Products >
                      • Dairy
                    • Vegetarianism
                  • Organic
                  • Local & Seasonal
                  • Biochemical Individuality
                • Sample Meal Plans
                • Obesity >
                  • Cholesterol
                  • Weight Management
              • Fitness >
                • Active Warmup
                • Concurrent Training >
                  • Aerobic Exercise >
                    • HIIT
                  • Resistance Training >
                    • Push
                    • Pull
                    • Legs
                    • Abdominals
                    • Accessory Muscles
                  • Sports-Specific Training
                • Stretching
                • Exercise Adherence
              • Silence >
                • Sleep
          • Remedies & Therapies >
            • Ayurveda >
              • Detoxification >
                • Basti
              • Doshas
              • Chakras
            • Functional Medicine >
              • FODMAP
              • Testing
              • Parasites
            • Physical Therapy
            • Herbalism >
              • Tea
              • Cannabis
              • Ginkgo biloba
              • Ginseng
            • Subtle Energy >
              • Earthing
          • Risk Factors >
            • Chemicals
            • Cigarettes
        • Lifestyle Applications >
          • Conscious Creations >
            • The Basics >
              • How to Shop
              • Kitchen Essentials
            • Food >
              • Sprouting
              • Vegetables >
                • Cruciferous Vegetables >
                  • Maca
              • Fruits
              • Whole Grains >
                • Gluten
            • Recipes >
              • Appetizers >
                • Appetizers
              • Breakfast
              • Entrées >
                • Entrées
              • Sweets
              • Beverages >
                • Beverages
              • Dressings
          • Mindful Movement >
            • Breathing
            • Mobilization
            • Stretches
            • Stabilization
            • Exercises
            • Program Design
          • Personal Growth >
            • Communication
            • Effectiveness >
              • Goal Setting
            • Meditation >
              • Mindfulness
            • Motivation
            • Human Relations
            • Simple Living >
              • Self-sufficiency
              • Minimalism >
                • Quality Over Quantity
              • Basic Needs
      • Outer World >
        • Relationships
        • Community Concepts >
          • Development >
            • Decentralization
            • Infrastructure
            • Sustainability >
              • Permaculture
          • Values >
            • Do No Harm
            • Cooperation
            • Sense of Community
            • Service
          • Culture
        • World concepts >
          • Geopolitics >
            • Agriculture
            • Government >
              • Politics >
                • Systems >
                  • Agorism
                  • Democracy >
                    • Voting
              • Military Industrial Complex >
                • Declassified Projects >
                  • Bluebeam
                  • Highjump
                  • Manhattan
                  • MKUltra
                  • Mockingbird
                  • Northwoods
                  • Paperclip
                  • Popeye
                  • Stormfury
              • Healthcare >
                • Pharmaceuticals
                • Vaccines
                • Water Fluoridation
            • Infrastructure >
              • Energy >
                • Hydrocarbons
            • Economy >
              • Banks >
                • Federal Reserve >
                  • Money
              • Corporatocracy >
                • Alphabet
                • Facebook
          • Technology >
            • Biotechnology >
              • Genetic Engineering
            • EMFs >
              • Cell Phones
              • Microwaves
              • Smart Meters
            • Geoengineering
            • Internet >
              • Smart Grid >
                • Artificial Intelligence
                • Biometrics
              • Social Media
            • Zero-Point
          • Media >
            • Context >
              • Mainstream Media
            • Advertising >
              • Television
            • Propaganda >
              • Education >
                • Conditioning
                • History of Humanity
              • Psychological Operations >
                • False Flag Attacks >
                  • 9/11
              • Symbols >
                • Language
        • Cosmological Concepts >
          • Philosophy >
            • Hermetic Philosophy >
              • Mentalism >
                • Law of One
              • Correspondence
              • Vibration
              • Polarity
              • Gender
              • Rhythm
              • Cause & Effect
            • Metaphysics >
              • Cosmology
              • Ontology >
                • Hidden Messages >
                  • Numeric >
                    • Numerology
                  • Visual >
                    • Sacred Geometry >
                      • Fibonacci Sequence
            • Logic
            • Knowledge
          • Science >
            • Life >
              • Biology
            • Physical >
              • Physics >
                • Astronomy >
                  • Contents >
                    • Solar System >
                      • Earth
                      • Sun
                • General >
                  • Entropy
                  • Time
                  • Frequencies >
                    • Dimensions
                • Theorectical >
                  • Quantum Mechanics
                  • Multiverse
                  • Holographic Universe
          • Phenomena >
            • Extraterrestrials
            • Interplanetary Climate Change
    • Domains >
      • I >
        • Awareness
        • Lifestyle
      • We >
        • Relationships
        • Community
      • All >
        • World
        • Cosmos
  • Store
    • All Products >
      • Body Care >
        • Bath Salts >
          • Relax
        • Soap Bars >
          • Gentle Lavender Soap
        • Salves/Lotions >
          • Relief Body Butter (CBD + Magnesium)
          • CBD Body Butter - Herbal Salve
          • Dirty Chai Body Butter
          • Sweet Rose Cream
          • Golden Body Butter
          • Boo-Boo Salve
          • Loving Sister Salve
          • Sacred Moon Body Butter
      • Tinctures >
        • Mycelium Mix
        • Balance Formula
        • Respire
        • Endurance
      • Tonics / Syrups >
        • Fire Cider
        • Nutri-Tonic
        • Sour Cider
        • Bitter Tonic
        • Elderberry Immunity
        • Resilience
      • Herbal Tea >
        • Afternoon Delight
        • Happy Tummy
        • Homestead Garden
        • Mystic Garden
        • Nutri Tea
        • Serenity
        • Sleepy Tea
        • 5th Chakra Evolved Chai
    • Wellness Programs >
      • Movement Program
      • Nutrition Program
      • Lifestyle Program
      • Integral Wellness Program
    • Leave A Review
  • About
    • How to Use This Website
    • Resources >
      • Sponsors
      • Questionnaires >
        • Nutrition & Lifestyle Questionnaire
        • Toxicity Questionnaire
      • Film & Literature
      • Quote Archive
      • Notes
      • New Page
    • Disclaimer
    • Support