Welcome to Dr. Barbara's

I plan on sharing general health advice that is of a holistic nature, based on the best of different sources of medical practices. The musings will cover subjects of a spiritual, physical and mental nature.

For example I plan on talking about the treatment of problem drinking and alcoholism with the medical model using a  medication called Naltrexone and the most effective treatment, Acu-detox based in, but updated with modern technology, acupuncture.

Watch for nutritional based program for the cure of osteoporosis.

Or an introduction to Neural Therapy.

This blog is not meant to be used for medical advise or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please see your own physician.


Stay tuned

Remember this: Multivitamins may boost memory according to a new study

Multivitamins may boost memory: RCT data

A daily multivitamin and mineral supplement with added herbal ingredients may boost memory in older women, but no effects were seen for other mental processes, suggest data from a randomized controlled trial from Australia.

Read more here.

http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Multivitamins-may-boost-memory-RCT-data

5 Ways to Afford Whole Foods on a Budget

I talk a lot about eating good healthy whole fresh foods to stay healthy and to improve ones health.

People do mention that they think eating healthy is more expensive. But there are some basic habits that make eating healthy affordable 

Dr. Mercola writes about five ways to make your foods more affordable and make it fit a budget. I can vouch these habits work.

Whole food -- that is to say, unprocessed and unrefined food -- has the reputation of being expensive. But there are many ways to add whole food to your diet while sticking to your budget. Seattle PI suggests a few:

1. Buy seasonal: Fruits and vegetables are both cheaper and tastier when purchased in season.
2. Use the bulk bins: You won't pay for packaging, labeling and advertising.
3. Grow your own: A sunny yard or even a window box can add cheap, fresh food to your plate.
4. Use your freezer: Stock up and freeze when whole food is on sale.
5. Reduce waste: Don't let leftovers go to waste.

To read more about their suggestions, you can click on the link here.

Homemade Ketchup

There are many reasons to make one own ketchup least of them being it tastes so much better.

I make some with nearly the same ingredients, but now I know I will have a more nourishing Ketchup if I leave it at room temperature for a few days before putting it into the frig.

Sarah Smith has a neat blog called "Nourished and Nurtured" that also carries GAPS recipes.Read her Ketchup recipe here:

My Family's Favorite Homemade Ketchup (and it's GAPS-legal!)

Homemade ketchup is much more nourishing than ketchup from the store.  We've enjoyed a few different fermented ketchup recipes (including the one in Nourishing Traditions), but I wanted something a bit more basic, without the strong flavor imparted by the fish sauce.  This recipe is bursting with tomato flavor, with just the right tang from the cider vinegar and garlic.  My family prefers this ketchup to the other recipes I've tried. Since this recipe includes whey, it is also a great probiotic condiment. It will keep for several months in the fridge.

This recipe is also a great base for homemade cocktail sauce.  Just add a bit of prepared horseradish to taste, and then dip away!

My Family's Favorite Homemade Ketchup
Makes about 3.5 cups ketchup

• Three 7-oz jars of tomato paste, preferably in glass jars to avoid BPA
• 1/4 cup plus 2 Tb raw honey
• 3 Tb raw apple cider vinegar 
• 3 small garlic cloves, pressed
• 6 Tb whey
• 2&1/4 tsp finely ground celtic sea salt
• pinch cayenne pepper
• Equipment needed: one quart mason jar, or two pint mason jars

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl (if using a quart mason jar, you can save on dirty dishes by mixing this up directly in the jar). Stir well to combine. If using pint mason jars, pour the ketchup into the jars.
2. Ensure that the top of the ketchup is at least 1-inch below the top of the jar(s). 
3. Using a clean cloth or paper towel, wipe the top of the jar above the ketchup clean. 
4. Put lid on jar and leave at room temperature for 3 days; then transfer to the refrigerator.

History of Chickenpox and more!

Chickenpox was first identified by the Persian scientist Muhammad ibn Zakariya ar-Razi (865–925), known to the West as "Rhazes", who clearly distinguished it from smallpox and measles.

Keep your risk low of getting sick from chicken pox and it's repeat manifestation called shingles, by keeping your intake of vitamin D steady.

Dr. R. Veith of the University of Toronto, a vitamin D specialist, suggested we all take 10,000 iu's a day  as a proper dose to stay well. 
And read another paper recommending the safety of 10,000 iu's a day. 


And if you want to read more about chicken pox here is a Wikipedia link.

To your health

UK Scraps Pneumonia Vaccines for over 65's Because They 'Don't Work'

Think twice if you are over 65 and are offered a vaccine to prevent pneumonia.These vaccinations are soon to be halted by the UK government, on the grounds that the injections are not effective enough  and do not save lives.The pneumonia vaccine for people over 65 is called Pneumovax, and it is a pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine which is said to work against 23 common types of pneumococcal organisms.

Millions of people were injected with the vaccine, which was supposed to offer ten-year protection against an infection that causes pneumonia. But independent experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the UK Government, say the program has had 'no discernible impact' on rates of pneumococcal disease. According to the Daily Mail:

"... [T]he protection provided by the vaccine is poor and not long-lasting in older people."
Pneumonia jabs for the over-65s are to be scrapped by the Government because they do not save lives.
Millions of pensioners have been vaccinated with a one-off jab that was supposed to give ten-year protection against an infection that causes pneumonia.

But independent experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the Government, claim it has had ‘no discernible impact’ on rates of pneumococcal disease.It said the protection provided by the vaccine is poor and not long- lasting in older people.It has told the Government’s director of immunisation, Professor David Salisbury, there is little benefit in continuing the programme and it should be stopped.

However, the jab should still be given to children and people with risk factors such as respiratory and heart disease as the evidence is more ‘robust’, says the JCVI.The jab for older people has been linked to 30 deaths and more than 3,300 reported side effects, including heart disorders and joint and muscle pain, according to official figures from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
The jab is meant to work against 23 common types of pneumococcal disease bugs but there has been mounting evidence it does not cut the risk of pneumonia in over-65s.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1392594/Pneumonia-jabs-pensioners-scrapped-dont-work.html#ixzz1QRAfUkk3

Esophageal Cancer double in Bisphosphonate (Fosamax,Actinel) use if up to 5 years!!

This result is reported from the team of Jane Green et al from Cancer Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LF published in BMJ. 2010 September 1; 41:c4444. This particular study reported in the British Medical Journal involved 80,000 patients tracked for more than seven years on average. This documents the long-term harm of these very toxic, inflammation producing drugs that do not build or rejuvenate healthy bone but poison osteoclasts, a type of bone cell.

Bisphosphonates are used for the treatment of osteoporosis as diagnosed, usually, by a bone density x-ray which measures quantity, not quality, of bone.

Bisphosphonates are not very effective and have some very severe side effects, and now we know one of those side effects is the shocking increased incidence of esophageal cancer. It is hard to diagnose and it has a very high mortality rate.

Dr. Jane Green and her team at Oxford write :( my bold)

"Oesophageal cancer is not common in Western countries, but it has a high morbidity and is often fatal. On the basis of incidences for Europe and North America published by the World Health Organization in 2007,6 a doubling of risk of oesophageal cancer associated with about five years’ use of oral bisphosphonates would mean an estimated overall increase in incidence of oesophageal cancer in people aged 60-79 years from 1 case per 1000 population over five years in both sexes combined (in women 0.5 and in men 1.5 per 1000) in non-users to 2 cases per 1000 over five years (in women 1 case and in men 3 cases per 1000) in users.

If confirmed, an association between use of oral bisphosphonates and risk of oesophageal cancer would add to our knowledge of the risks and benefits of use of oral bisphosphonates. Treatment and prevention of osteoporotic fracture is a subject of increasing public health importance with large scale clinical and economic implications. Further research is warranted to confirm or refute our findings and in particular to examine the associations between use of different types and formulations of bisphosphonates and risk of the different histological types of oesophageal cancer".




Bisphosphonates poor effectiveness, same as or worse than lifestyle and dietary changes, is a finding reported in a January 2008 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine (full article here). The conclusion of the study states: “Although good evidence suggests that many agents are effective in preventing osteoporotic fractures, data are insufficient to determine the relative efficacy or safety of these agents.” 

And what if bisphosphonates are not the first line of therapy for osteoporosis? So says a University of Illinois study which finds that an effective first course of action is increasing dietary calcium and vitamin D or taking calcium and vitamin D supplements.“For many people, prescription bone-building medicines should be a last resort,” said Karen Chapman-Novakofski, a U of I professor of nutrition and co-author of a literature review published in a recent issue of Nutrients, May 2011.The study reported that adults who increase their intake of calcium and vitamin D usually increase bone mineral density and reduce the risk for hip fracture significantly. "These results were often accomplished through supplements, but food is also a good source of these nutrients, she said".There are many other hazards of bisphosphonates including the direct side effects of osteonecrosis of the jaw, atrial fibrillation ( which requires long term use of blood thinning drugs to prevent strokes), pain syndromes and severe inflammation of the esophagus. See Byron Richard’s excellent summary of the hazards of bisphosphonates found here, at “The Delusions of Bone Drugs".

How to treat Osteoporosis?

Dr. Gaby's book "How to prevent and treat Osteoporosis" is wonderful resource and can be purchased at any book store.

Even one prescription for any type of bisphosphonate drug increases the risk of esophageal cancer by 20%. However, when a person fills 10 or more of these prescriptions for longer than a three year period, which is standard medical protocol, then the risk increases 98%

With osteoporosis, think celiac/gluten sensitivity!

To read more about this go to Celiacbrain, May 23, 2011.