In fact, the most recent news sightings about HGH are about National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell, predicting that the players and team owners in the NFL will soon agree to regular random (blood and urine) tests designed to detect the presence of this evil substance. In an ESPN interview earlier this week, he expressed his regret that this evil PED has not already been declared “illegal” by the NFL Players’ Association; however, he said he expected to see the new policy accepted and in place in the very near future.

However, if you speak to a physician or even someone who knows a little about biology, you’ll likely get a very different story. Moreover, if that doctor is also an endocrinologist, you may even find that recent studies of HGH have shown it to be effective not only in enhancing physical growth, and healing injuries more quickly than normal, but in even more important areas of medicine and wellness.

What is HGH?

In reality, HGH is not some laboratory-concocted Pharma-created designer-drug; it’s a substance that occurs naturally in the human body. In fact, without it, we would probably never move physically beyond our immature childhood forms. Human growth hormone is essential for the expansion and generation of body-parts, without which we cannot grow into adult-sized bodies.

Up until the age of about 30, we all have high levels of human growth hormone running through our bodies. Without it, we’d never grow from our child-bodies into adult forms. However, since HGH is no longer required for body-growth by the time we’ve reached that age, its levels by then are reduced, by nearly 80 percent.

At the same time, however, HGH is also responsible for the repair and regeneration of human tissue throughout our lives. As we continue to age, we lose about another 12 to 15 percent of that remaining amount each decade, so we no longer have all the internal weapons to bring to bear for rapid healing, as we did when we were younger. As HGH decreases, we start to experience weight gain, loss of muscle mass, decreased energy levels, and other slight diseases related with aging. In addition, the process of body-damage without normal repair (what we call “natural aging”) continues to accelerate. (This is also why it’s become an issue for aging athletes, seeking to prolong their careers or just recover quickly from injuries sustained, as discussed below.)

Some physicians have even prescribed HGH injections for patients who suffer from chronic injuries and diseases that tend to waste away body-tissues. In some well-documented (though admittedly anecdotal) cases, the effects of Lyme Disease have been curtailed (and sometimes even reversed) through these regular shots. However, since the cost of such treatments can be as much as $1000 per injection, this use of HGH is still very limited at this point.

HGH and the sports world

The controversy around the use of HGH supplements by professional athletes stems from the value of this substance (which once again occurs naturally within the body during our youthful years) in promoting rapid recovery from bodily injuries, both major and minor. As more than a few doctors have already discovered, the addition of HGH to the regimen of an athlete recovering from injuries can actually accelerate the healing process considerably.

Among the most famous of those who in recent years availed themselves of this boon to health and healing is former New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte.

During a period a few years back when Pettitte was recovering from a malingering arm injury, his doctor prescribed and administered at least one HGH treatment. Unfortunately, Andy later acknowledged this to his team and the honchos at Major League Baseball (considering full-disclosure as the better part of valor, in light of the controversy over “performance enhancement drugs”); instead of being commended for his  honesty, he was upbraided and condemned as a PED felon, and has been linked with “steroid use” every since, thanks to ignorant and uncaring sports media and others. (Somehow this attempt (even on the advice of a licensed physician) to get back to better health sooner, using something his younger body once naturally produced, is now considered to be in the same class as taking steroids to artificially enhance his normal physique.)

One question begs to be asked: As noted above, NFL Commissioner Goodell is hoping the NFLPA and owners add HGH testing to their approved league regulations. As yet, however, there is no explanation, from Goodell or anyone else, as to how these tests will distinguish among:

(a)    the natural levels of HGH, as produced in the bodies of younger players (up to the age of about 30);

(b)   synthetic or natural supplements, now available both over the counter and by prescription, designed to promote natural HGH production; and

(c)    actual “live” HGH injections, administered into the bloodstream, whether under a doctor’s care or not).

We might recall, meanwhile, that the proposed banning from baseball of Manny Ramirez earlier this year (to which he responded by retiring from the game) was due to his failed drug-test, and the discovery of  … not actual steroids in his bloodstream, but other substances (normally used by pregnant women to divert possible miscarriage) that were found there, which have among their side-effects the “masking” of steroid-use. Could HGH discovered in the bloodstream of aging (over-30) athletes soon receive similar circumstantial treatment?

HGH as life-extender?

Of course, as private business entities, both the MLB and the NFL (along with the National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, U.S. Tennis and Golf associations, et alia) have the right to decide what is or is not permitted among their professional athletes. Whatever they and their respective players’ associations arrive at, in terms of labor-contract negotiations, is their decision and nobody else’s. However, the demonization of human growth hormone must seem a bit extreme, especially to those working in the naturopathy and wellness realms.

For example, natural-healing and life-extension experts have been making inroads toward either synthesizing HGH, or assisting the body in other ways, to restore production of this valuable substance to its earlier levels. While the research continues, many sites currentlypromote something called “HGH Activator,” which simply combines various existing amino acids and other healthful ingredients into a capsule or powder, which is reported to enhance a natural increase of HGH production within the body.

Among the contents of this particular remedy are a laundry-list of health supplements, most of them already available individually at your local health store: L-Glutamine, L-Arginine, L-Lysine, L-Glysine and Colostrum, among other things. Each of these substances occurs naturally in some form or percentage within the human body. The supplement is designed to trigger HGH production, not only for the healing of injuries, but for actually extending life, by slowing down (or even reversing?) the “aging process” that accompanies the ‘natural” breakdown of the body as it wears out over time.

If any of these breakthroughs proves successful, the odds are that rather than trying to ban HGH in professional sports, they’ll be trying to produce it as an essential part of the average diet.

- Steve Trinward, Wellness Correspondent

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia — also referred to as fibromyositis or fibrositis — is a common syndrome in which a patient has long-term and wide-spread pain and tenderness of the muscles, joints, tendons and other soft tissues.

Fibromyalgia is also frequently associated with

• depression
• anxiety
• headaches
•  fatigue
•  difficulties sleeping

While the exact cause of fibromyalgia is unknown. Possible causes include emotional trauma, physical trauma, abnormal pain responses, viral infections and sleep disturbances. Fibromyalgia is a condition that is most common in women — especially between the ages of 20 and 50 — according to the National Institutes of Health.

Symptoms of fibromyalgia often mimic symptoms of other conditions. These conditions include

• chronic fatigue syndrome
• chronic neck or back pain
• depression
• Lyme disease
• hypothyroidism

Your doctor will conduct tests – such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans or blood work to help role out other potential conditions causing your pain.

Suffers of fibromyalgia are most likely to experience pain that ranges from mild to severe in intensity. Pain may be aching, shooting or burning. It can affect multiple joints of the body including:

• chest
•  neck
• shoulders
• shins
•  elbows
• knees
• lower back
• hips

Symptoms of fibromyalgia tend to be worse in the morning and improve throughout the day. Symptoms may become more noticeable at night. Physical activity, cold weather, wet weather, stress and anxiety are known to trigger fibromyalgia flare-ups. Irritable bowel syndrome, memory problems, neuropathy of the hands and feet, migraine headaches, heart palpitations and a lack of ability to participate in exercise have also been reported as symptoms.

To diagnose fibromyalgia, doctors may perform blood and urine tests. These tests often common back with negative results and are generally used to rule out other conditions that may mimic fibromyalgia. To be diagnosed with fibromyalgia, you must experience wide spread pain throughout your body for a minimum of three months. Pain must be present in 11 of 18 areas of the body. Some of these areas include the

• arms
• chest
• buttock
• knees
• neck
• shoulders
• lower back
• rib cage
• thighs

The goal of treatment for fibromyalgia is to control the symptoms and pain that are associated with this condition.  Your doctor may also recommend ways of helping you to cope with your condition. Physical therapy and fitness regimes are often used to help reduce the muscle, tendon and nerve pain associated with fibromyalgia. Stress relief methods may also be used for patients with fibromyalgia. If non-prescription treatments do not work, patients may be prescribed muscle relaxants and antidepressants — to improve pain and allow a patient to better sleep. Medication should be used in conjunction with exercise. Fibromyalgia is often a long-term condition that may require treatment for one’s entire lifespand.

How Does Yoga Help Fibromyalgia?

Research indicates that yoga can be effective for women suffering from fibromyalgia. Yoga is a mental, physical and spiritual discipline that focuses on a mind-body connection. Originating in ancient India, the goal of yoga is to reach a state of perfect tranquility. Yoga is also a strengthening exercise and has been used as a rehabilitation method for many different health ailments.  Yoga has been used for cancer patients to decrease depression, reduce pain, aid with sleep and helps to deduce stress and increase sleep. Yoga has also been used for those suffering with heart disease. The relaxing and deep breathing techniques of yoga may help reduce high blood pressure, enhance a cardiac rehabilitation program, improve symptoms of heart disease and lower risk factors for heart failure. Yoga has also been used in schizophrenia patients. It is believed that yoga can help to improve the cognitive function and reduce stress in patients, allowing patients to increase their quality of life — with better social and occupational functioning. Yoga practitioners also indicate that yoga can help improve conditions of the musculoskeletal system, therefore improving one’s mental state and quality of life.

With not much known about fibromyalgia, little research has been conducted on alternative treatment methods for this condition. In a study released in the 2011 “Journal of Pain,” researchers – Curtis, Osadchuk and Katz – studied the effects on female fibromyalgia patients. Curtis, Osadchuk and Katz looked into musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, depression and decreased levels of cortisol – also known as hypocortisolism.

Twenty-two participants were recruited for the study to participate in two 75 minute yoga classes weekly for eight weeks. Curtis, Osadchuk and Katz measured the cortisol levels of participants prior to beginning yoga. Study participants were also given a survey to complete prior to beginning yoga classes. The survey pertained to pain levels. Participants were asked to rate pain based on quality, intensity, areas of pain, acceptance, disability, unpleasantness and catastrophizing. This survey was also filled out at the middle of the study and at the conclusion of the eight week yoga program.

The type of yoga class completed during this study was known as Hatha yoga. Hatha yoga was introduced by Yogi Swatmarama – a Hindu sage in 15^th century India, who also comprised the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. The term hatha comes from the Sanskrit words “ha” and “tha.” “Ha” means sun and “tha” meaning moon. Hatha yoga units pairs of the opposite and refers to positives and negatives. Hatha yoga focuses on postures, energy control, purification, centers of energy, instinct, muscle force, channels, symbolism gestures, channels, sacred force and technique. Yoga practitioners often use Hatha yoga to cure and prevent minor issues of the musculoskeletal system. Hatha yoga can also help to reduce stress and other issues of the mind.

The results of this study were measured by statistical analysis. Repeated measures of analysis of variance – or an ANOVA test – indicated that the mean standard deviation – SD – scores improved significantly from the start of the eight week yoga program to the end of the yoga program. Participants saw a decrease in continuous pain, pain acceptance, catastrophizing and mindfulness. This study also yielded results on the levels of cortisol in participants. Cortisol levels where significantly higher at the end of the program than they were pre-intervention.

The results of this study are encouraging for females who suffer from fibromyalgia. The study suggests that participation in Hatha yoga can reduce pain and catastrophizing. Hatha yoga can also help to increase pain acceptance and mindfulness. Hypocortisolism was also able to be reduced.

As with any study, there are limitations. A lack of control group is one limitation to this study. Twenty-two participants in a study is also a relatively small sample size. The gender of study participants is also a limitation. While more women suffer from fibromyalgia than men, this study cannot generalize findings across the board.

Regardless of limitations, this study has positive outcomes that suggest the use of yoga can be beneficial in managing the psychological as well as the physical pain in women suffering from fibromyalgia.

If you are a female – or a male – suffering from fibromyalgia, talk to your doctor prior to beginning alternative treatment methods for fibromyalgia. Your doctor can determine if you are healthy enough to participate in yoga, suggest a type of yoga for you to participate in and determine how frequently you should participate in yoga. With little research conducted on the use of yoga for fibromyalgia patients, it is important to remember that results may vary. A treatment method that works for one individual may not be successful for another individual. While participating in yoga, never work through extreme pain. Should you experience extreme pain or discomfort during yoga, discontinue yoga and contact your health care provider.

References

Curtis, K., Osadchuk, & Katz, J. (2011). An eight-week yoga intervention is associated with improvements in pain, psychological functioning and mindfulness, and changes in cortisol levels in women with fibromyalgia. Journal of Pain Research, 189. doi:10.2147/JPR.S22761

National Institutes of Health: Fibromyalgia  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001463/

According to a Medical News Today report, a modified form of MDMA (the primary ingredient in Ecstasy) may be showing remarkable results in treating myeloma, lymphoma and leukemia, three of the deadliest forms of cancer known to humankind. The story cites a recent study at the University of Birmingham, England, whose results were published in the journal Investigational New Drugs.

By Steve Trinward, Wellness Correspondent

Contrary to the recent pronouncements of the Drug Enforcement Administration, marijuana may indeed have “medicinal properties”—just as countless shamans, natural healers and extensive anecdotal accounts from pain-sufferers and other patients have been telling us for centuries.

According to a story this week in Medical News Today, recent scientific efforts have succeeded in sequencing the genomes of both cannabis sativa and cannabis indica, unlocking the genetic codes to both variants of marijuana. This could lead to further innovations using these psychoactive substances, deriving therapeutic compounds made by the plant, and eventually making it easier to produce these cannabis-derived compounds in the laboratory. Medicinal Genomics is the company that released these genetic results.

The article cites the work of GW Pharm, a cannabinoid therapeutics research firm that has produced Sativex, an oromucosal cannabinoid spray (already approved in several countries, including the U.K., Canada, New Zealand, and Spain). This spray has been approved as an enhancer to treatments for improving the symptoms of spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients, and is also being investigated as a possible treatment for chronic pain, whether cancer-related or neuropathic. Sativex is in either approval or pre-launch status in the Czech Republic, Germany, and Denmark, while licensing efforts for the new drug are underway almost throughout the world.

Meanwhile, in other studies, Phase III trials are reportedly ongoing in patients with cancer pain, along with earlier-stage clinical trials, to evaluate cannabinoid medicines for a wide variety of ailments—neuropathic pain, diabetes, metabolic syndromes, inflammation, to name just a few. Other studies, involving cancer therapy, epilepsy and psychiatric disorders, are also in progress or development. GW Pharm’s own scientists are also studying cannabinoid extracts as potential treatments for central nervous system disorders, as well as in oncological applications. The company also established the GW Metabolic Research Laboratory at the University of Buckingham in 2009, on behalf of this endeavor.

What symptoms does medical cannabis address?

Of course, this is not news to some people who’ve been using medical marijuana, legally or not, to treat a variety of physical ailments for decades now. A story by Gradi Jordan at the Medical Marijuana in Salt Lake City Examiner Web site cites the 2011 Medical Marijuana Survey sponsored by Legalize Utah, which asked among other questions, “Do you use Medical Marijuana to treat any physical or psychological conditions and if so, which conditions?” The initial responses to the survey noted cannabis use for treating everything from Asperger’s syndrome to glaucoma to nausea to chronic pain. Additional respondents reportedly cited its effectiveness in dealing with both anxiety and depression.

Others pointed to relief from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Anorexia, Insomnia, Social Anxiety and general stress. Still others were treating their temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) with cannabis. A whole range of neurological disorders, including fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis, were also noted as being relieved somewhat by cannabis use. The author noted responses had come from “throughout the county, whether medical marijuana is legal or not.” A full spectrum of ailments involving chronic pain (scoliosis, degenerative disc disease, arthritis, hip prosthesis, etc.) were also being treated by some respondents.

By Steve Trinward, Wellness Correspondent

Once again, the laboratories of Big Pharma have found something new, and it might even one day serve to help reverse the loss of muscle-tone (and strength) that comes “naturally” with the process of aging. According to a Fox News article, there is now a possible cure for age-related muscle loss.

This “ailment” even has a name: sarcopenia (from the Greek, meaning poverty of flesh). Thanks to research by doctors at Columbia University Medical Center, the cause of this condition has been traced. The study, performed on mice, showed that sarcopenia reportedly occurs “when calcium leaks from a group of proteins within muscle cells, the ryanodine receptor channel complex. These leaks then trigger a chain of events that ultimately limits the ability of muscle fibers to contract.”

Another source explains it this way: Muscle cells use calcium to contract, and each cell has a little “gas tank” of calcium within it. The ryanodine receptor acts like a fuel pump and releases calcium into the cell, where it’s used to pull muscle fibers together. When the brain tells the muscle to relax, the receptor pumps calcium back into the tank, and the fibers separate. “As we age, the mechanism becomes damaged from stress and allows an unusual amount of calcium to leak out of the cell. Think of it in terms of a rusty old gas tank developing a small leak. Eventually enough calcium (gasoline) leaks out that the muscle (car) can’t function properly.  Basically, the muscle runs out of gas and over time, withers away.”

Study leader Andrew R. Marks, M.D., chairman and professor of physiology and cellular biophysics, is also Clyde and Helen Wu Professor of Medicine, and director of the Wu Center for Molecular Cardiology at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC). Dr. Marks had apparently been studying ways to alleviate (or even reverse) the debilitating effects of muscular dystrophy, which is closely related to this ryanodine receptor leakage.  Since this disease has some commonalities with sarcopenia,  he suspected this receptor issue might also be involved in it. “This is a completely new concept,” Marks is quoted as saying. “As we age, we essentially develop an acquired form of muscular dystrophy.”

The study also points to a possible therapy for sarcopenia: an experimental drug (developed by pharmaceutical startup ARMGO Pharma) called S107, which acts by stabilizing calstabin1, a protein that binds to the ryanodine receptors to prevent this calcium leakage. In the experimental study, Marks reportedly treated mice 24 months old (the equivalent of 70 in human-years). The mice, which were becoming weak and sedentary, could spend 50 percent more time on the exercise wheel than before. The study was reported in the online edition of Cell Metabolism. (ANI)

When asked whether early use of this drug (as a preventive beginning at age 50) might result in the prevention of age-related muscle loss, Dr. Marks called it “very possible.” S107 is currently in Phase II trials for yet another purpose, treatment of heart failure. He hopes to begin Phase II trials among people of advanced age for muscle-weakness/loss within a year.

Treatments for Sarcopenia

The Fox News story presents this situation as pretty much a given with growing older: “As we age, our muscles become weaker. It starts at around age 40 and progresses until 75, when muscle strength pretty much falls off a cliff.”

The actuality is, much of the effects of sarcopenia can be combated, with varying effect, with a combination of exercise and dietary choices (along with a few vitamins, hormones and other supplements to make the natural processes work better).

For example, an article at the Longevity and Anti-aging Secrets Web site begins by acknowledging the “common sense” allopathic claim that “As we age, the natural tendency even with proper nutrition and exercise is to lose muscle over time.” It then follows with a more proactive view: if this were not happening, our lifespans could expand almost indefinitely, and so “maintaining homeostasis is literally a matter of life and death.” It then declares sarcopenia to be “the number one enemy that threatens your antiaging and longevity efforts.” It cites the advance of everything from osteoporosis to problems with managing blood sugar, along with general loss of mobility and strength to do everyday tasks, as the primary negative effects of this ‘disease.’

The site then lists several things you can do to forestall, and even perhaps reverse, the onset of sarcopenia: eating, exercise, and maintaining sufficiently high hormone levels — all of which are interrelated.  (Also advised is a visit to an antiaging doctor, to help “assess your present hormonal status and recommend strategies to optimize your levels safely and effectively,” before embarking on any radical dietary changes.)

Therapies like biosignature modulation and bioidentical hormone therapy can also be used, together with proper exercise and eating (making sure of sufficient proteins, good fats and quality sources of carbohydrates). Nutritional supplements (vitamin-d, acetyl-l-carnitine, the amino acid glutamine, fish oil, creatine, etc.) can also have positive benefits, as can protein supplements. The primary thing is eating the right way, and exercising properly (especially with strength-training).

The article cites another study, done only a year ago at Washington University, finding that omega-3 fish oil may help reduce this age-related muscle loss. The dose used in the study was a mere four grams of fish oil per day (the FDA-approved level for lowering triglyceride levels in heart patients). The group getting the omega-3 supplement reportedly had twice as much muscle building activity as the group receiving a placebo.

Another possible sarcopenia remedy was noted in Natural News about two months ago: it may be that simply eating more apple-peels may help to keep your muscles in shape.  Apparently, there’s a natural compound in apple peels could be the key to preventing this muscle wasting. Additionally, it can reduce body fat and lower your cholesterol levels. The article cites a study of muscle atrophy, led by Christopher Adams, M.D., Ph.D., a University of Iowa (UI) endocrinologist.  After making the usual disclaimers about there being “no medicine for that,” Dr. Adams goes on to note that one of the chemicals that seemed to have positive effect on muscle-loss was ursolic acid, which is “particularly concentrated in apple peels.”

The researchers reportedly fed mice ursolic acid and found the apple compound protected them from muscle atrophy. Furthermore, healthy mice that ate ursolic acid tended to develop larger, stronger muscles than mice that didn’t receive the substance. It also increased muscle weight without adding to body mass; in fact, it was found to reduce body fat in the mice who ingested it.

Back in the allopathic arena, when asked for his take on these more natural methods for staving off the ravages of sarcopenia, Dr. Marks readily admitted that they do build muscle mass. However, he said, they don’t necessarily “improve muscle function the way this drug does.” (Full disclosure: Dr. Marks is a founder of ARMGO Pharma.)

To the mainstream media, of course, these are all nothing but delaying actions: As the Fox News story put it, “Doctors recommend exercise to counter the loss, but it inevitably progresses. Some people have tried hormone supplements—testosterone, human growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1—to hold off Mother Nature. But the long-term safety of those therapies is in question.”

Seems like fish oil, apple-peels, and proper eating and exercise might be at least a little safer than Pharma’s latest concoctions.

- Steve Trinward, Wellness Correspondent

It’s not a very common disease, but that doesn’t make it any less devastating for those who suffer from it, or their parents. It’s called progeria (from the Greek, meaning “prematurely old”), and it makes young children look and feel many times their chronological ages. The good news is, there may be treatments that can combat this horrific ailment, from things that already exist for other purposes.

According to a news story at the everydayhealth.com Web site, an existing drug (currently used to combat the rejection of organ transplants) might also serve to reverse the DNA cell damage that progeria (more formally known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS)) causes.

A study has reportedly been done by researchers from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and several universities and hospitals, using the antibiotic rapamycin on skin cells taken from children with the disease (which typically kills sufferers during their teenage years). In the study, the rapamycin appeared to heighten the cells’ ability to remove a toxic protein called progerin. This is considered to be what causes children with progeria to develop skin and joint problems; as they reach their early teens, they most often contract advanced cardiovascular disease, which quickly proves fatal, usually by the age of 13. (Note: Progerin is present in small amounts in all normal human cells, and accumulates with advancing age.)

The results of this study were published June 29 in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

As noted above, progeria is far from being an epidemic. Since the disease was discovered in the late 1800s, only about 100 cases have been documented. However, this does nothing to lessen the anguish of those few parents who discover that their presumably perfectly healthy baby is afflicted with this malady, nor of the children themselves for their abbreviated and pain-filled lives. Reported symptoms include poor growth, skin conditions, pinched-looking faces, skin wrinkles, baldness, and those eventual cardiovascular issues.

According to an analysis at righthealth.com:

“The disease can often be spotted early, when a baby fails to thrive. Although the body of a person with progeria ages with abnormal speed, the mind does not. Currently, there is no known cure for progeria, and no effective treatment for the condition itself, although symptoms (such as heart problems) can be treated. Death is usually due to atherosclerosis, generally heart disease. Progeria is such a rare condition that it might occur as infrequently as once in every eight million births.

“The cause of progeria,” it further notes, “may be a mutated gene that results in a defective Lamin A protein. The condition is apparently not hereditary. A genetic test can confirm that a child is suffering from progeria.”

From another source, we learn that, “Children with progeria … generally appear normal at birth. By 12 months, symptoms develop such as slow growth and hair loss, begin to appear.”

Although the disease is as noted very rare, Barbara Walters did a special on it in 2010, “7 Going on 70,” featuring the stories of two young girls, Kaylee Halko and Lindsay Ratcliffe, both of whom suffer from Progeria.

Prior efforts to fight this rare yet horrible disease include a study performed in 2005, in which researchers found that farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs, a class of cancer-fighting drugs) might also be of use in preventing the cellular flaw behind progeria. Rapamycin, on the other hand, targets a different pathway than FTIs, so the combination might someday prove to be a dual path in fighting progeria.

Among the happy doctors involved in this effort is Dr. Leslie Gordon, medical director and co-founder of the Progeria Research Foundation and the mother of a teenage son with the disorder. She’s quoted in the article as saying, “We’re incredibly fortunate here … [and] we have a wealth of information to draw from. We have the potential to attack progeria from different angles. I like that this comes at progerin in a completely different way.” She also notes that, since both drugs have already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for other conditions, their safety is well-established. The approval process, in order to be repurposed for progeria, might therefore be streamlined.

NIH Director Dr. Francis Collins, co-author of the study, echoes these sentiments, and takes it a step further. “We found it pretty exciting that this drug has such a profoundly positive effect on cell cultures,” he says, adding that work like this “makes it a very exciting time to be a physician.”

He also points to the potential value of these studies for revealing clues about the normal aging process and how to potentially slow it down. “It’s clear that this is the same toxic protein also made by you and me. … It would be interesting to contemplate if what we learned here can be used to extend our own lifespans.”

By Steve Trinward

It is possible to reduce your chronic pain without conventional drugs.

Many people deal with chronic pain that cannot be helped by surgery. Eager to help Doctors often prescribe various opioid painkillers in order to help patients manage their symptoms. Taking opioids, such as morphine for a few days is one thing, but taking them long-term is simply not healthy. In addition, opioids can cause a slew of unwanted side-effects, including: constipation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, dry mouth, confusion, itching and a decrease in respiratory capacity. The continuous use of over-the-counter painkillers can also cause problems such as liver damage, gastric ulcers, bleeding, myocardial infarction and even death. If you are currently dealing with chronic pain, you may be thinking that you need those medications in order to cope, luckily there are things that you can do help reduce your pain naturally. According to the July 14th edition of CNN Health, applying a warm compress, exercising and obtaining adequate amounts of sleep can all help. Certain supplements can also help to manage your chronic pain, and they do so without the dangers and troublesome side-effects that often accompany conventional painkillers.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is a popular dietary supplement that can help to relieve chronic pain. The omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil help to reduce the inflammatory response and thereby reduce pain. A study cited in the Surgical Neurology Journal, examined the usefulness of fish oil for the management of neck and back pain. There were no reported side-effects from the fish oil and after approximately 75 days of taking it, 80 % of the patients reported a notable reduction in pain, and 59 % of the patients were able to discontinue their prescription painkillers all together. The recommended dose of fish oil is 1 to 2 g daily.

Boswellia

Boswellia is a popular Ayurvedic herb. It has considerable anti-inflammatory properties and has been proven equally as effective as conventional drugs for the treatment of chronic pain, whilst being less toxic and causing fewer side effects. Boswellia may not only help to significantly reduce pain and swelling but also to repair the damaged blood vessels that surround inflamed connective tissues. The recommended dose of boswellia is 350 mg to 400 mg, taken three times daily.

DLPA

DL-Phenylalanine, commonly referred to as DLPA, is an amino acid found naturally in food and also sold in supplement form to help improve mood and/or relieve pain. More research needs to be done to confirm the effectiveness of DLPA but anecdotal evidence suggests that it has potent pain relieving properties. DLPA appears to increase your body’s ability to naturally kill pain by both activating and inhibiting the breakdown of endorphins which have a “morphine-like” effect. The recommended dose is approximately 2,000 mg per day, taken in divided doses. It should be noted that it may take up to two weeks before noticing the full beneficial effects of DLPA.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a popular Indian spice that is derived from the roots and rhizome of the curcuma longa plant. It has been used medicinally for over 4,000 years and it has potent anti-inflammatory properties. Dr. Mercola explains that turmeric reduces inflammation by blocking inflammatory pathways, thereby preventing the production of the protein that triggers swelling and pain. In addition to reducing pain, turmeric also helps to decrease stiffness, increase mobility and enhance your body’s ability to heal itself. For the best results, choose as turmeric supplement that contains at least 95 % curcuminoids, and take 200 mg of it daily.

Glucosamine

Glucosamine is a substance that is synthesized in your body from glucose and the amino acid – glutamine. It is also extracted from the shells of shellfish and taken orally for the management of pain, amongst other things. Glucosamine plays an important role in the health of many bodily tissues, particularly the tendons, bones and ligaments, where it is highly concentrated. Taking a glucosamine supplement will help to reduce inflammation and it is especially beneficial for the treatment of joint and arthritic pain. In fact, over 300 studies have confirmed that glucosamine not only reduces joint pain but also helps to rebuild healthy joint cartilage and offset the destruction of joint cartilage that often occurs from the long-term use of prescription pain medications. The recommended dose of glucosamine is 1.5 grams per day. It should be noted that it may take a few weeks before you notice the therapeutic benefits of glucosamine.

MSM

MSM (methyl-sulphonyl-methane) is a naturally occurring sulphur compound that has powerful pain-killing and analgesic properties. It helps to reduce inflammation and muscle spasms and inhibits the transmission of pain impulses. It is especially beneficial for the managements of arthritic, joint and/or back pain and research suggests that it may help to prevent joint and cartilage degeneration. It is available as a cream for topical application and also as a dietary supplement. For the best results, you should start with a 1.5 to 3 g daily dose, and gradually increase to a twice daily dose of 3 g. Research suggests that combining MSM with glucosamine produces a synergistic effect, enhancing the beneficial properties of both supplements.

Precautions

Although supplements are generally less toxic then conventional medications, some may produce unwanted side effects or interact negatively with prescription drugs and taking all of the above supplements together is not recommended. Instead, you should consult with a healthcare practitioner to find out which supplement/s will be safest and most useful for your particular condition.

References

Will exercising without eating really help you lose weight?

The Theory

Many popular fitness books advocate working out on an empty stomach in order to encourage your body to burn more fat. According to these books, exercising without food in your stomach forces your body to dip into its fat stores for energy, as opposed to using carbohydrates from a recent meal. Although this explanation appears to make sense, following this approach can actually backfire and cause you to lose less weight in the long run.

The Problem with Not Eating Before Working Out

A study cited in the “Strength Conditioning Journal,” examined the effects of exercising on an empty stomach and it found that you burn roughly the same amount of fat regardless of whether or not you eat before a workout. However, trying to exercise on an empty stomach is like trying to drive your car without gasoline. Fitness expert Sarah Brown explains that when you exercise on an empty stomach, you deplete the glucose stores in your blood and muscles. A steady flow of glucose is required for your brain to run properly and when that supply becomes depleted, the hormone cortisol will start to break down protein from your muscles. In other words, without food to fuel your workout, your body is forced to break down muscle mass. In fact, the “Strength Conditioning Journal” study found that 10 percent of total calories burned were derived from muscle mass when participants worked out on an empty stomach. This is problematic for weight loss because muscle mass increases your metabolism, and when you lose muscle your metabolic rate drops. A drop in your metabolism means you will burn less calories on a daily basis, which is the last thing you want if you are trying to lose weight.

Additional Drawbracks of Not Fueling Up Before Exercise

Another problem that the study found with working out on an empty stomach is that you will not have as much energy to follow through with an intense workout. Instead, you will tire quickly and your workout will likely be shorter. You will also be less inclined to put 100% into the exercise activity that you engage in, and this will result in less overall calories burned. In addition, when you have no glucose left to fuel your brain and your body, your body goes into starvation and conservation mode and it holds onto everything it can – especially fat, states Sarah Brown.

The Bottom Line

Pre-exercise nutrition is vital in order for you to maximize weight loss and get the most bang for your exercise buck. Carbohydrates from fruits such as apples and bananas are a good choice because they can be easily digested and will provide you with a healthy source of glucose in approximately 30 minutes. An additional benefit of consuming a carbohydrate containing snack before a workout is that you will end up eating less throughout the rest of the day, reports The New York Times.

References:

http://www.thatsfit.ca/2009/04/16/ask-a-fitness-expert-is-it-ok-to-exercise-on-an-empty-stomach/

http://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/Abstract/2011/02000/Does_Cardio_After_an_Overnight_Fast_Maximize_Fat.3.aspx

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/does-exercising-on-an-empty-stomach-burn-more-fat/?ref=healthm

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/can-i-work-out-on-an-empty-stomach/article1741097/

Tea helps to increase the ability of your pancreas to produce insulin

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, second only to water. Oolong and green tea are closely related and they are both produced from the camellia sinensis plant. Both teas are used medicinally to help prevent and treat a number of health conditions, one of which is diabetes.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition that is characterized by chronic high blood sugar levels due to insulin problems. Insulin is the hormone that is responsible for regulating blood-sugar levels and individuals with type 1 diabetes, which is sometimes referred to as Juvenile diabetes do not produce enough insulin to properly control blood sugar levels. Individuals with type 2 diabetes may produce enough insulin but they are insensitive or resistant to it. Oolong and green tea are helpful for managing type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and green tea can also help to reduce your risk for developing both types of diabetes.

Green Tea for Prevention

Many studies have been conducted to examine the antidiabetic effects of drinking green tea. The “Journal of General Internal Medicine” conducted a meta-analysis of 9 such studies to evaluate the association between green tea consumption and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The journal concluded that a high intake of tea can in fact help to reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. In fact, people who drank four or more cups of green tea per day had a 20% lower risk or developing type 2 diabetes, compared to those who drank less than 4 cups or no tea at all. Animal studies also suggest that green tea can help prevent the development of type 1 diabetes and slow its progression if it has already developed. It should be noted that only green tea produced a preventative effect and black and oolong tea do not appear to reduce the risk.

How Tea Helps to Prevent Diabetes

The exact way that green tea helps to reduce the risk for developing diabetes is unknown. However, studies done on mice suggest the polyphenols in green tea, in particular a catechins called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), mimic the effects of insulin. In so doing, they increase the body’s ability to metabolize glucose and thereby help to keep blood sugar levels from soaring too high. In addition, green tea appears to increase fat metabolism and prevent obesity, which is helpful because obesity sets the stage for diabetes.

Tea to Help Treat Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes usually begins during childhood and it is incurable. These individuals require insulin shots and there is currently no substitute for this treatment. However, drinking green or oolong tea daily can work adjunctively with insulin shots. Tea can help to enhance the body’s ability to utilize insulin and drinking 4 to 6 cups daily may therefore help to reduce the dose of insulin that is required. In addition, the regular consumption of tea has been found to help slow the progression of type 1 diabetes once it is established.

Tea to Help Treat Type 2 Diabetes

Type-2 diabetes is a disease that results primarily from lifestyle factors. Following a proper diet and exercise routine can reverse type 2 diabetes and both green and oolong tea can work adjunctively to facilitate the reversal. Green tea has been found to improve sensitivity to insulin and enhance glucose tolerance. It also helps to block the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream and prevent blood glucose levels from rising too high.

Oolong tea is also beneficial for the management of type 2 diabetes. In fact, a one month study done on type 2 diabetics found that drinking 6 cups of oolong tea daily reduced participants blood glucose levels from 229 to 162 milligrams/deciliter. Another study used 4.5 cups of oolong tea daily, and it resulted in a marked decrease in A1C levels, which is the measure used to calculate an individuals average blood glucose levels over a three month period.

According to the American Diabetes Associations, oolong tea is especially beneficial as an adjunct to oral hyperglycemic drugs. A study done on individuals taking oral hyperglycemic drugs along with oolong tea, found a significant lowering of blood glucose levels over participants who were taking the drugs with water alone.

Tea and Secondary Diabetic Disorders

Obesity and diabetes are often intertwined, with obesity being both a cause of, and an exacerbating factor of, diabetes. A recent study cited in the June 2011 edition of “Alternative Medicine Review” journal, examined the effects of a decaffeinated green tea extract providing 865 mg of EGCG daily on obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. The individuals taking the green tea extract experienced not only an improvement in insulin levels but also a significant reduction in waist circumference. Other studies have confirmed that green tea improves the metabolism of fat and aids in weight loss. This is significant because weight loss helps to reverse type 2 diabetes and to slow the progression of type 1.

A high intake of tea can also help to reduce blood pressure, as well as the unhealthy LDL and total cholesterol levels; all three of which can lead to, or worsen, cardiovascular disease. In addition, tea has been found to increase the healthy HDL cholesterol levels, help prevent atherosclerosis and to promote overall cardiovascular health. This is important because cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in diabetics, and diabetics are also as at a greater risk for developing it.

How to Optimize the Antidiabetic Effects of Tea

Studies suggest that 4 to 6 cups per day of tea is the optimum amount for both preventative and curative purposes. For the best results, do not to add cows milk, soy milk or any other type of milk to your tea, because they will decrease the positive effects that tea has on insulin (see reference 1, page 149). On the other hand, adding a squeeze of fresh lemon juice has been found to enhance the antidiabetic effects of both green and oolong tea.

References

Cranberry juice has been used for centuries as a remedy for UTIs, but does it work?

A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is a painful and annoying infection caused by harmful bacteria and it most often affects the bladder or urethra. Cranberry juice is a well known folk remedy for UTI’s but you may be wondering if it really works. Scientific research has found that cranberry juice does in fact help to prevent UTI’s and it may help to prevent a current UTI from worsening, however, if you are suffering from a UTI, cranberry juice alone is unlikely to cure you.

How Cranberry Juice Works to Prevent UTI’s

Cranberry juice helps to prevent UTI’s in three ways. Firstly, a substance found in cranberry juice called proanthocyanidin, changes the molecular structure of harmful bacteria in the urinary tract and the structural alteration prevents the bacteria from being able to latch onto cells and cause an infection. In fact, a study published in the June 2011 edition of “Urology Journal” found that extracts of cranberry reduced the adherence of harmful bacteria to urinary tract cells by 70%. In addition, phytochemicals in cranberry juice bind to the bacteria and help to safely flush them out from the body. Cranberry juice is also a good source of vitamin C, and vitamin C helps to boost the immune system so that it can prevent the proliferation of harmful bacteria. Unfortunately there is no evidence that cranberry juice can remove the bacteria from the urinary system once they are stuck, states Ruth Jepson, who is a researcher at the University of Stirling. Drinking cranberry juice when you have a UTI, will therefore not cure you, however it may be beneficial as an adjunct to antibiotics by helping to flush out the bacteria that the antibiotics have killed off.

How to Take Cranberry Juice for Prevention

Unfortunately there is currently no recommended dose of cranberry juice for the prevention of UTIs. However, the study done by Camesano found that although low amounts of cranberry juice exhibit a moderate preventative effect, high concentrations of cranberry juice made it almost impossible for the bacteria to latch onto tissue in the urinary tract, suggesting that the more juice the better. For the best results it is suggested that you choose a drink that has at least a 30 percent concentration of cranberries. Also, be careful when choosing your cranberry juice because many are loaded with sugar, and a high intake of sugar can trigger a UTI. Luckily, “diet” and “sugar-free” cranberry juice beverages have been found to be equally as effective as regular cranberry juice.

Cranberry Juice Versus Antibiotics

Antibiotics are given to treat a UTI infection and prevent it from spreading to the kidneys where it can cause serious damage. If you are a frequent UTI sufferer however, taking antibiotics repeatedly may be counter-effective. This is because your bladder and intestinal tract have billions of beneficial bacteria which help to fight-off harmful bacteria and prevent them from causing infections such as UTIs. Antibiotics do not discriminate between helpful and harmful bacteria, and every time you take them, you deplete your supply of healthy bacteria which makes you more susceptible to future UTIs. Cranberry juice, on the other hand, targets only the harmful bacteria but does not appear to affect the helpful bacteria in your urinary system. In addition, you can become resistant to antibiotics, and according to the “Urology Journal” study, cranberry juice can effectively inhibit these drug resistant strains of bacteria from adhering to your urinary tract cells. If you are prone to UTIs, it is therefore far better to prevent them by drinking cranberry juice daily then it is to treat them with antibiotics.

References
i) http://www.wpi.edu/news/20101/cranstaph.html
ii) http://www.newsweek.com/2008/01/31/can-cranberry-juice-cure-urinary-tract-infections.html
iii) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21688109