Health Blog

I recently was asked at a hospital fundraiser, whether I am for Eastern medicine or Western medicine. I stopped to think about the response and how my perceptions have changed over time. “Neither” I responded “I am for Integrative Medicine”

In the rather lively discussion that followed I was amazed at how many view points there was on the efficacy of one vs. the other. As the conversation progressed I kept saying it is not one vs. the other but rather which one is appropriate for the given situation and for the patient. It struck me that I was debating on the merits of my right to make a choice. The essence of this debate was not whether Eastern medicine was better than western Medicine, but rather that I was better of to have a choice.

I think like many others I am becoming more interested in this right to chose. The key to making the right choice is information. One argument that was continually raised was that my choice was not “informed” I didn’t know as much as a doctor so I was less capable of making the right choice. One doctor asked “Do I as a parent allow my child to chose whether he can see an R rated movie?” to which I responded “There is a difference, at his age I don’t think he has the capacity to separate what he wants (because of what his friends want) and what is in the end going to cause him nightmares or expose him to violence that he is not capable of understanding. Also it is my right of choice that I invoke when it comes to my child. I don’t question or judge what other parents chose for their kids” I followed that up with a question: “Am I uninformed because I lack the capacity to understand what you know, or because you chose not to educate me about the facts and my options?” …

It struck me in the days that followed that Integrative medicine is about choice. the more I considered that possibility the more I wanted to ask for feedback.

Consider my personal experiences and how they lead me to my current position on the subject of health. Initially I grew up in the house of a doctor (my dad) with a fully stocked medicine cabinet and a fundamental belief that Western Medical Science was fact based and therefore the right way to look at treating conditions. However in the past 10 years I have had several specific incidents where my foundational facts were not only challenged but shattered.

When I look back, I am amazed at how different my perspective on alterative treatments is today as compared to 10 years ago. I have numerous successes which have made me question assumptions I once viewed as fact. In investigating this I found many other parents, adults were on a similar track of discovery. I use the Internet as a primary research vehicle, but have found information on alternative treatments sporadic at best, and often it is of a questionable nature. Yet my personal experiences cannot be easily dismissed with the power of the mind, or theory on the placebo effect.

I feel empowered by the information I find on the internet, with it I can chose a treatment(s) option for myself, my family and my friends, and I can engage in an informed discussion of these options with my care-givers (both Eastern and Western). In my experience these discussion often leads to a more acceptable outcomes. (Sometimes the outcome is the same but my understanding makes it more acceptable)

I recently was asked at a hospital fundraiser, whether I am for Eastern medicine or Western medicine. I stopped to think about the response and how my perceptions have changed over time. “Neither” I responded “I am for Integrative Medicine”
In the rather lively discussion that followed I was amazed at how many view points there were on the effecacy of one vs the other. As the conversation progressed I kept saying it is not one vs the other but rather which one is appropriate for the given situation and for the patient. It struck me that I was debating on the merits of my right to make a choice. The essense of this debate was not whether Eastern medicine was better than western Medicine, but rather that I was better of to have a choice.

I think like many others I am becoming more interested in this right to chose. The key to making the right choice is information. One arguement that was continually raised was that my choice was not “informed” I didn’t know as much as a doctor so I was less capable of making the right choice. One doctor asked “Do I as a parent allow my child to chose whether he can see an R rated movie?” to which I responded “There is a difference, at his age I don’t think he has the capacity to separte what he wants (because of what his friends want) and what is in the end going to cause him nightmares or expose him to violence that he is not capable of understanding. Also it is my right of choice that I invoke when it comes to my child. I don’t question or judge what other parents chose for their kids” I followed that up with a question: “Am I uninformed because I lack the capacity to understand what you know, or because you chose not to educate me about the facts and my options?” …

It struck me in the days that followed that Integrative medince is about choice. the more I considered that possibility the more I wanted to ask for feedback.

Consider my personal experiences and how they lead me to my current position on the subject of health. Initially I grew up in the house of a doctor (my dad) with a fully stocked medicine cabinet and a fundemental beilef that Western Medical Science was fact based and therefore the right way to look at treating conditions. However in the past 10 years I have had several specific incedents where my foundational facts were not only challenged but shattered.

When I look back, I am amazed at how different my perspective on alterative treatments is today as compared to 10 years ago. I have numerous successes which have made me question assumptions I once viewed as fact. In investigating this I found many other parents, adults were on a similar track of discovery. I use the Internet as a primary research vehicle, but have found information on alternative treatments sporadic at best, and often it is of a questionable nature. Yet my personal experiences cannot be easily dismissed with the power of the mind, or theory on the placebo effect.

I feel empowered by the information I find on the internet, with it I can chose a treatment(s) option for myself, my family and my friends, and I can enage in an informed discussion of these options with with my care-givers (both Eastern and Western). In my experience these discussion often leads to a more acceptable outcomes. (Sometimes the outcome is the same but my understanding makes it more acceptable)

A British man named Andrew Stimpson has apparently rid himself of the HIV Virus through a daily vitamin regimen and maintaining strong physical health. Several sources in Europe have written about his story of this man who in 2002 tested positive and then recently tested negative. DNA Tests on both samples have documented this as a fact. While several cases in Africa have been reported to be cured this is the first one with such clear documented evidence.

Ok this is where my full skepticism comes into conflict with the eternal optimist in me. Why won’t he submit to further testing? While a voice in my head wonders “Can it be true?” the engineer in me wants corroborating evidence to the role that vitamins really played in treating or managing AIDS and HIV. Certainly this would be an example of integrating the best of eastern and western medicine that was at the core of starting Gold Bamboo. So I spend some time digging. There is actually a foundation for Integrative AIDS Research! Wow

I start looking into it for more anecdotal evidence and for a pattern. There are several discussions on the topic and articles that support the use of Vitamin therapy in Africa( slowing the progress of AIDS in African Women.), India (There are several hospitals that have specialized in the treatment of HIV/AIDS from one of them here is a link to more information about their treatment for , slowing the progress of the disease

At least 28 million people worldwide have died from Aids – their bodies’ defense systems ravaged by the HIV virus to the point where everyday infections become life-threatening.

More than 20 years since HIV was first recognized, there remains no vaccine against HIV and no cure for Aids, although a new generation of drugs has dramatically extended the life expectancy of those who contract HIV and many promising results from integrative approach to treating this modern scourge.

Back to Andrew for a moment; I am really glad that he is willing to undergo more rigorous tests to determine the specifics of his situation and if in fact the key to the cure lies within his body. I will look forward to reading more about his story and the test results.

New Orleans as we know it is gone. I see the surreal pictures and was glad it wasn’t my back yard. Then comes the rain and more rain. I see the banks of the Ipswich River Swell. I see the Merrimack at 6 feet over it’s limit. I watch with the rest of Massachusetts to see if a 173 year old dam in Taunton MA will hold. as the water level reaches record heights in my state.

As I help my parents clean up their basement after water overpowered their sump, I wondered about health issues due to flooding. I found a great article on what steps to take after a flood at the EPA’s website http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/flood.html

It all adds up to varying types of stress, economic, hydrostatic, and mental. I wonder if the rains of October will result in long reaching health issues? As Dam’s and Sump’s fail I start to think about the failure of personal coping mechanisms for stress. I did some quick research about stress mangement. I wonder if post traumatic stress disorder is possible in the wake of massive flooding, I also wonder if the incidences of stress related disorders like GERD, High Blood Pressure, and depression will go up. Personally, my favorite stress management tool is yoga. (Note to self start practicing Surya Namaskar daily again!)

I was at dinner with my parents and their friends. (Affectionately known as the senior curcuit) after dinner there was a healthy, heated discussion about the new Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, and which of them were going to use it. I was amazed at the interest and confusion that permeated the room.

While there were doctors, lawyers, entrapreneurs, and pharmacists precent, when they regressed into their common role as seniors and benificiaries, the only I could conclude is this was an important topic to all of them and there was no clear knowledge about the topic.

I wondered was this an isolated incedent? I found lots of stories that mirrored my own expeirence the other night with my parents and their friends. Here are a few from various locations around the country:

• Oregon
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Illinos

I wondered how hard could this really be? As I researched the topic, I realized that Medicare is a vast and confusing topic, with multiple plans (levels of coverage) where the new prescription drug coverage is Plan D. I saw some news about an outreach program this would be a good place to start, A Guide to Getting Started

Their advice:

Gather information about your current coverage for health
care and prescription drugs. Make sure you know what
coverage you have now.

Gather information about the drugs you use, including their
names and dosages. Think about other things that matter to
you about coverage, like whether you want more protection
if your drug needs change, or whether you want coverage that
has a lower premium. This will help you compare plans later.

Remember the key Medicare dates.

Apply for extra help if you think you might qualify.

Watch for the Medicare & You handbook arriving in your
mail in October. Read it carefully and talk about this new
coverage with people you know and trust.

Then went to google news to search on medicare plan d… results i found interesting:”

• Public outreach story - Bob Dole First viagra now this! I like him so much more since SNL!

Anyways this is going to take some time. Please let me know what specific areas you are concerned with so we can focus on clearing up the confusion regarding this new initiative.

I am going to look for more articles like the following that support the notion of integrative medicine. Google News had an intriguing report from the UK about a specific antioxidant in green tea helping decrease the production of a specific protein called beta-amyloid, “a protein that forms the plaques that clog the brains of Alzheimer’s victims.”

It was interesting that the article quickly sited reasons why green tea alone isn’t enough. Flavonoids prevent the benefits of controlling the production of EGCG.

Green tea contains many antioxidants, including those known as flavonoids that can protect against free radical damage to the brain. However, Dr. Tan and colleagues demonstrated that other flavonoids in green tea actually oppose naturally-occurring EGCG’s ability to prevent the harmful build-up of beta-amyloid. Thus, Dr. Tan said, drinking green tea would not likely have a beneficial effect through the same mechanism that EGCG works.

Another study published in 2000 in the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease is based on the premise that the mind is not just memory; that emotion, feelings, and tactile response all contribute to the complex biochemistry of the human mind. This report articulates the bias of labels and definitions that polarize the debate of medical systems and alternative approaches.

The very language continues to polarize Eastern and Western approaches to medicine. Why can’t the discovery be embraced as scientific support for Eastern approaches? Why not acknowledge that the research of the particular benefits of green tea must be grounded in the popular belief that green tea does help. I started looking at discussion boards for Alzheimer’s and was not surprised to see several posts dating back to 2001 that discuss the benefits of tea — specifically green tea — in calming and helping with memory.

Anyone care to wager that Gingko is being studied as well?

Recently I read an article about the discovery of a new immunity mechanism discusses the role of nanotubes as communication pathways to allow the body to transmit waves of small molecules over a much larger range than previously thought. The nanotube network represents communications highways that allow for locallized imune response. This discovery provides important scientific insights into the communication networks used by the body. As I read this article, I saw significant similarities was reminded of similarities to Meridian Theory of energy pathways at the root of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Acupuncture as a treatment is build on the meridian theory of energy pathways. Maybe Nanotubes are the building blocks of meridians.

interest in acupuncture has been growing in popularity in the West for some time, an increasing number of medical doctors have been learning about it and are considering incorporating acupuncture into their practice. This increases so does the ability to use an integrative treatments approach for the treatment of complex systemic conditions like autism, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue which have for the benefit of the patient. As western medicine struggles to address

I admit that the connection between Nanotubes and Qi pathways is a stretch. But it is a first step, in time more discoveries may allow scientific support for acupuncture as a treatment method. Until that occurs there is still plenty of observational evidence to support integrative approach to health. I will look forward to science discovering the why of eastern medicine.

Some habits are best formed early. Proper skin care is one of them. I think my generation (I am 38) looks at skin care as my fathers generation looked at ciggarettes. I would never smoke knowing what I know now, but wearing sunblock, I often forget and think what is the harm.

I am glad my kids know better (thanks to their mother) We went to a pool party yesterday and I forgot the sunblock. Both my boys asked about it and borrowed a friends. (they are 7 and9) However older girls at the event were out tanning discussing how great tan skin looks in the summer and that the rainy spring prompted them to go to tanning salons. I asked them if they knew the dangers of tanning. They looked at me as an out of touch old man (that look will be seared in my brain for a while mind you!) Still after my questions they all put on sunscreen.

So I looked into the statistics about teenagers and tanning. I was surprised with the results. Most teens feel that Melanoma is treatable and curable. Others feel tan skin is healthy skin. I wonder how my sons and their friends will adapt their simple requests to use sunscreen as they grow older. I hope awareness of the issues is enough but if not I will show them what pictures of melanoma looks like.

Understanding Skin cancer
Article on Teens surveyed about tanning

There are several stories in the news linking Viagra to going blind. This to me is both ironic and funny. It is ironic in that it brings a common wives tale to mind of another activity that leads to blindness. It is funny in that I really believe most men would find blindness an acceptable side-affect to taking the popular drug.

I think it is interesting to note that competitors have jumped on this and clearly stated their ED Products don’t cause such side affects. but I think that is a function of both being newer. It will be interesting to see what comes next.

I am sorry if this offends anyone, but as a married man of some years I have learned that laughing about sex is often therapeutic. Besides, you know you were thinking the same thing!

I discussed the study on vitamin D and its affect at prolonging the life of terminally ill patients with my father this weekend. (Read about it He was quite for a moment and asked me if the study measured their quality of life. I stopped and thought about it. What did it matter. I thought of the Dylan Thomas poem I said that it was a matter of choice. For those who wanted more time it was an option.

My father asked if I had seen what cancer patience (especially Pancreatic Cancer patients) go through. He said that he would rather die. That it was worse to be incapacitated and a burden than to go quickly without treatment to prolong the inevidible.

I started to wonder what would I do. Again knowing ones options is the key to an informed choice. I think the answer would depend on the situation. (Duh, Talk about stating the obvious) Then I started to read about terminally ill patients and the importance of getting their affairs in order. I don’t know what I would choose to do. I think I would do everything in my power to treat the disease from all fronts. I would want to beat it.

The question of quality vs quantity is an important one being disucssed in medical ethics, as well as discussion and support groups. I for one welcome the discussion.