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.

A Super way to get your good bacteria, Vitamen C and Vitamen K in one food.

I know, when I mention that super food is Sauerkraut, many of you will turn up your nose.
But I'm going to tempt you to try home made or naturally fermented Sauerkraut found at health food stores. I recently started making some at home and find it easy. I find it quite sweet with a slight hint of sour. If it's too sour one could rinse it off a bit. But not too much because you don't want to wash away the good bacteria.

And you can even make chocolate cake from it!

Linda Joyce Forristal, CTA, MTA writes in her article on the Weston A Price Foundation web site called
Sauerkraut: The Miracle Cabbage :


With winter upon us, I think it's a good time to talk about sauerkraut--one of man's most ingenious ways of enjoying the garden bounty during the months when fresh fruits and vegetables are unavailable. In my mind, the miracle of sauerkraut is that the brine does not have to be inoculated with bacteria for the process to work; the best sauerkraut is made simply with shredded cabbage and salt that is magically inoculated with atmospheric bacteria.

According to Harold McGee, the author of On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen, the ideal salinity for sauerkraut brine is 2.25 percent, with temperatures between 65-70ºF. These conditions produce the best environment for a bacterium called Leuconostioc mesenteroides to grow and produce lactic acid. When the acidity of the brine reaches about 1 percent, another bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum, takes over to finish the job. The end result is tangy, crunchy bits of cabbage to top off a sandwich or round off a heavy meal.
A new book on sauerkraut, A Passion for Sauerkraut: The Humble Vegetable for Good Health by Sam Hofer, (Hofer Publishers, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, 2001) is full of interesting sauerkraut lore and fascinating recipes, including one for Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake!




The recipe can easily be doubled.

Sauerkraut, from Nourishing Traditions published by New Trends- Promotes Weston A Price philosophy.

1 half a head of cabbage shredded ( I use the food processor)

1 TBsp of sea salt.

1 tsp caraway seed (optional)

4 TBsp of whey ( optional, if used, use 50% less salt)

Crush or pound the cabbage with a meat hammer with the salt until there is a little bit of liquid. Transfer to a mason jar that can be sealed and punch down the cabbage so that it is covered with a layer of liquid. It should be at least 1 inch below the opening of the jar. Seal and leave at room temperature for 4-5 days before transfering to cold storage. The sauerkraut may be eaten immediately, but it improves with age. http://www.westonaprice.org/food-features/612-sauerkraut-miracle-cabbage?



Best of all  sauerkraut is nutrient dense and has a strong reputation for preventing illness. With the erosion of our soils and the gradual decline in the nutrient levels in our foods, it's always best to look for nutrient dense foods.

Read more about it's use for preventing illness and death here. 

To your health
Dr. Barbara   

You heard it first here: nicotine, main culprit in diabetes complications among smokers

This important study was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim on March 27, 2011.
Xiao-Chuan Liu, Ph.D., who presented the results said. “It is the first study to establish a strong link between nicotine and diabetes complications. If you’re a smoker and have diabetes, you should be concerned and make every effort to quit smoking.”
I would add that if you have any family history of diabetes or you have symptoms of pre-diabetes such as weight gain around your middle, hypoglycemic spells, mood swings and other mood issues such as depression, then you should stop smoking immediately. And if you have been using the nicotine replacement products for some time, more than a few weeks, you should stop them too and find an alternative....like acupuncture or laser, or a precription from your doctor.


ANAHEIM, March 27, 2011 — Scientists today reported the first strong evidence implicating nicotine as the main culprit responsible for persistently elevated blood sugar levels — and the resulting increased risk of serious health complications — in people who have diabetes and smoke.
“Nicotine caused levels of HbA1c to rise by as much as 34 percent,” said Liu, who is with California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, Calif. “No one knew this before. The higher the nicotine levels, the more HbA1c is produced.”

HbA1c is a form of red blood cell that shows an average of the blood sugar over 3 months or 120 days. It can show if one has an elevation of the blood sugar over time and so is useful in determening pre-diabetes and diabetes in those whose fasting blood sugar may not be elevated.

You can read more here.....


To your health
Dr. Barbara

The Hidden Diabetes Link No One is Telling You About... Statins

Here is an article describing another serious side effect of Statin drugs used to lower blood cholesterol levels writen by Suzy Cohen, R.Ph..

NEW Studies Reveal Alarming Hidden Cause of Breast Cancer

Every woman is afraid of breast cancer. For good reason. It is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women worldwide and breast cancer rates are increasing rapidly.
Recent studies have shown that free iron or iron toxicity found in breast tissue are associated with the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Dr Russell Blaylock MD  writes about this iron toxicity, the recent studies on breast cancer and the disturbing, suspected source of the iron toxicity: alcohol consumption and aluminium exposure especially from vaccines. He makes a compelling argument.

"Vaccines are a Major Source of Aluminum for Many


Many inactivated vaccines contain aluminum salts to boost the immune reaction. Studies have shown that this aluminum is slowly dispersed all over the body and may be concentrated in breast ducts.11
The amount of aluminum in vaccines is tremendous, especially in such vaccines as the anthrax vaccine, hepatitis vaccine and tetanus vaccine.
Since many American children are being exposed to multiple doses of aluminum containing vaccines by the time they are 6 years old, one would expect very high exposures to injected aluminum.
A recent study by Lucija Tomljenovik and Chris Shaw found that a newborn receives a dose of aluminum that exceeds FDA safety limits (5mg/kg/day) for injected aluminum by 20-fold, and at 6 months of age a dose that was 50-fold higher than FDA safety limits.12
Aluminum at this young age will accumulate in various tissues and with new vaccine recommendations, children and young adults may be exposed to many more aluminum containing vaccines every year throughout life.
With the ability of aluminum to displace iron from its protective proteins, we may not only see a dramatic increase in breast cancer, but also other iron-related diseases, such as liver degeneration, neurodegenerative disease, diabetes, heart failure and atherosclerosis.13 No one is addressing this very real danger. "

Iron toxicity secondary to aluminium exposure may be a leading cause of severe chronic diseases like Alzheimers!

Read more at NEW Studies Reveal Alarming Hidden Cause of Breast Cancer

To your health
Dr. Barbara