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Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE – Mad Cow Disease

BSE is a disease that primarily occurs in cattle that basically melts the animal’s brain and spinal cord. The origin of this disease is, at present, unknown; but it was discovered that the BSE epidemic through much of the European cattle population was caused primarily by feeding the remains of dead cows to living cows in the form of meat and bone meal (MBM). This BSE infection then spread to humans who ate the infected beef and caused something that science has termed New Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (or NVCJD).

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease basically causes an infected individuals brain to become porous (great big holes develop), and the individual begins to exhibit signs of dementia, memory loss, speech problems, loss of balance, loss of motor control, seizures, and finally death. While NVCDJ is not Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, it does exhibit the same symptoms in both bovines and humans, which lead to the name ‘Mad Cow Disease’.

Where NVCDJ was found to be present in humans there was a 100% mortality rate, and currently 171 people around the world have died from the disease. Another variant of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is quite common in the native population of Papua New Guinea, primarily in societies that are prone to cannibalism. This proves that Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease is easily spread by eating infected animals/people, and that you should always be careful of what you eat.

The thing that is so disturbing about NVCJD is that there is the possibility that it still exists in the worlds cattle population as the condition has an incubation period of 4 – 5 years, and that infected cattle will usually be slaughtered for consumption prior to displaying any symptoms. In this vein, while the disposal of 4.4 million cows during the height of the infection was a confidence inspiring move, it makes us wonder if the next burger we eat could ultimately lead us to developing BSE.

. Necrotizing Fasciitis - Flesh eating bacteria

Despite not being the biggest killer out there Necrotizing Fasciitis is just scary. Imagine this, you’re in an accident and you cut your hand. Now the cut may be severe and require the help of a medical professional, or you may not even notice it, what has happened though is that you are now infected with a bacterium that causes Necrotizing Fasciitis. Depending on how deep the cut is you may not know that this has even happened, until you start vomiting and the cut starts to weep puss. Your skin might start to change color, and blisters form around the outside of the cut, while inside your tissues are slowly dying as toxins are released by this, now, thriving bacterial colony. Eventually this colony will grow up your arm and reach your torso where, if you havn’t received medical help, you have a 30% chance of surviving.

If you are grimacing at that idea, don’t worry, we are too. The worst thing about Necrotizing Fasciitis is its ability to spread extremely fast, so fast in fact that even if you do receive medical attention in time, your chances of survival are still extremely low. And if you do survive the infection you will more likely than not be permanently scarred for the rest of your life.

The most common form of treatment for Necrotizing Fasciitis is the use of next generation antibiotics or, if the infection occurs on your limbs, amputation of the affected body part. The biggest risk of death from Necrotizing Fasciitis actually occurs when the bacterial toxins are released into your blood, resulting in sepsis and ultimately death. At present Necrotizing Fasciitis has a 25% mortality rate for individuals who seek medical attention in a timely manner. Basically, its one of those things you hope the doctor never says.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – MRSA

MRSA (pronounced Mursa), is the acronym for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is probably why this scourge of the hospital was abbreviated. Back in the 1800’s people were legitimately scared of going to the hospital. It wasn’t because of all the funky smells or sick people however, but rather because they didn’t want to catch any nasty illnesses. MRSA is the modern day equivalent of Typhoid and Cholera (two diseases that, due to their penchant for infection spread rapidly in medical facilities) for the hospital community.

MRSA is a mutation of the common Staphylococcus Aureus bacterium, except that this mutation is resistant to most modern day antibiotics including Penicillin, Methicillin and cephalosporins, meaning that once you have it, its probably not going away. Discovered in 1961 in the United Kingdom MRSA has become a huge problem for hospital staff around the world. It has become such a big problem in-fact that a 2007 study by the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) suggests that MRSA infections are responsible for more deaths in the USA every year than AIDS, quite a staggering statistic. At present there are no definitive numbers on how many people have died from MRSA infections since it was discovered, but latest figure place the death rates in the USA at around 278,000 in 2005.

Staphylococcus aureus most commonly infects an individuals nose, and you could actually have a Staphylococcus aureus (we’re going to abbreviate this to SA now) colony in your nose and never know it. One of the only ways to tell if a person has a SA infection is to swab the inside of their nose and run tests on the gold that is found. However if you do present with a fully developed MRSA infection, expect rashes and puss filled boils which can spread rapidly and cause flesh eating pneumonia.In order to treat a MRSA infection the boils have to be lanced and drained, the patient needs to be isolated and basically you have to be treated with a whole bunch of really sophisticated, really expensive, antibiotics, which may or may not work.

. Mononegavirales Filoviridae – Ebola and the Family

Many have seen the Dustin Hoffman film Outbreak and when you think about this fun organism,that is exactly what you should be imagining. In the most layman terms possible, the Ebola family of viruses spreads via bodily fluids (although it has been known to spread through skin or membrane contact), and then hides in its host for between 5 – 10 days. After this an infected person will usually spike an extreme fever, become weak, and complain of abdominal pain. The problem with these initial symptoms is that they can be linked to a whole host of tropical diseases, so until the secondary symptoms appear the treatment given to a patient is usually wrong, one of the main reasons for the virus’ high mortality rate.

The secondary symptoms are just too horrible to list you may also begin to bleed from your eyes, ears, nose, etc. as well as suffering from what scientists like to refer to as ‘a million tiny internal cuts’ (the main cause of death, due to hemorrhaging). Nice huh?

The hemorrhagic virus family (which includes the Marhburg Virus, Zaire Ebolavirus, and Hanta Virus), contains some of the scariest illnesses to ever infest the earth. One of the things making this virus family so incredibly unnerving is that fact that most of the diseases in it have stupidly high mortality rates (90% in the case of Zaire Ebolavirus), and extremely short incubation periods. In fact, its only due to the short incubation period that these viruses have been contained, as people are usually too sick to travel. But if Ebola ever got into a major city near you then it might be time to have a party and see the world out in style.

Since 1976 more than 1,800 people worldwide have died due to the Ebola virus, and this illness is still hanging around in Uganda, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In fact, in 2007 all three of those countries reported outbreaks with a death toll of 157, not much, but considering the disease, pretty scary.

Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax – Malaria

Planning a fun filled holiday in an exotic destination? Don’t forget the bug repellant, and even then you are running a major risk. Malaria is endemic in over 100 countries around the world and is a huge risk for approximately 40% of the population. This disease may not be as high profile or fear inspiring as, let's say, hemorrhagic fever or BSE; but according to WHO estimates Malaria causes 300 – 500 million infection cases every year, of which, 1 million result in the death of the patient. Current statistics show that in any calendar year about 10% of the worlds population will suffer from Malaria..

Malaria is a vector borne disease, meaning that it is not spread directly from person to person. The illness is instead spread through mosquitoes carrying parasites and infected blood, and as such it is extremely hard to stop an outbreak once it begins (think the Black death on a much larger level). If Malaria was any more virulent then the chances are that humanity wouldn't t have made it to the 21st century and that we would have become extinct as soon as the west made it to Africa and Asia.

Despite this, and despite the fact that almost 1 million people die from the disease every year (almost the entire population of Trinidad and Tobago), Malaria is largely forgotten by society as a horrific killer. But just in case, make sure you have your injections before going on holiday.

. Dengue Fever

Located in the same regions as Malaria, this tropical virus is a relative of West Nile Virus, Viral Encephalitis, and Yellow Fever. However it has one major difference, while most viruses have been eradicated from metropolitan areas, Dengue Fever manages to spread rapidly through urban centers mainly through mosquitoes.

There is vaccine available for Dengue Fever, and the only medical support that patients receive is targeted at managing the diseases symptoms. The symptoms of dengue fever display as high temperature, vomiting and bloody diarrhea, low red blood count, and low plasma count, all of which can contribute to the death of the victim.

Dengue fever first came onto the global scene in the 1780's and immediately proved what an incredibly serious organism it was, causing three simultaneous epidemics in North America, Africa, and Asia. Since then global outbreaks of the Dengue virus have tended to occur every 5 - 6 years, during which time the virus mutates, creating a whole new level of worry for the medical profession.

Influenza A Virus Strain H1N1 – The Spanish Flu

We all know that during a flu season you are probably going to get sick. In fact outside of the actual sickness part, many people love the flu season, as it gives them a fairly valid reason to stay at home and play the newest Xbox game all day long. However, if you came down with the flu from March 1918 until June 1920, you had a good chance of dying. The scariest thing about the Spanish Flu (which actually originated in France, Sierra Leone, and the USA), was that young healthy people were more likely to die from the illness than old unhealthy people.

The H1N1 flu strain actually attacked the body's immune system, and individuals who had stronger immune systems actually gave the virus more ammunition in its war to control their body. It was this effect that ended up killing approximately 50 – 100 million people world wide (the combined populations of Italy and South Korea), and creating one of the scariest epidemics of the 20th century.

The thing about the Spanish Flu that has scientists and healthcare professionals literally running for the hills is that it hasn't died out. If you watch TV, or read the news, at all  you have noticed a lot of fuss being made over the flu and the various vaccines that accompany the flu season. The thing about the flu is that it can rapidly mutate and become a whole other level of scary in the space of about six months, and if that happens then it's Spanish Flu time all over again.

In case you were wondering, Bird Flu or H5N1, is just the latest attempt by the flu virus to permanently remove us from the planet, and despite its lowly 213 death count (don't forget that there was a global mortality rate of 62%), has proven that it has what it takes to make the Spanish flu look like the common cold.

Yersinia Pestis – The Black Death

First exposed to western civilization in the 6th century AD, The Plague of Justinian, as it was first known, managed to kill 40% of all people living in Constantinople (claiming up to 10,000 lives a day), and a full quarter of the total population of the Eastern Mediterranean. The Plague of Justinian, and a later outbreak of the disease in 588 AD, where responsible for 25 million deaths across Europe, and was one of the first major disease epidemics in human history.

The Black Death, or Bubonic Plague, made a triumphant return to Europe in the 14th century, and hung around until the 1700’s growing in strength and virulence every time it made an appearance. After a plague outbreak it was not unusual for up to 50% of the population in major urban areas to have died, leaving large portions of Europe deserted ghost towns. According to modern estimates the Plague claimed approximately 137 million lives (slightly more people that the total current population of Nigeria) in its successful 400 year run, and had firmly instated itself as one of the most vicious diseases to ever manifest itself on earth.

In the late 1700’s European society began to change and because of that hygiene standards started to improve. People stopped hanging out with rats (the source of the disease) and started washing their hands, loosening the disease' grip on western civilization. However, this bacteria continued to wreak havoc in Asia well into the 20th century causing mortality rates in excess of  75% whenever it struck.

Bubonic plague is characterized by blackened bumpy nodes appearing in the areas of a sufferers lymph nodes. It was these nodes that gave rise to the name ‘The Black Death’ as anyone exhibiting these blackened spots was almost certain to die. The bacterium that causes the Plague is spread predominately by the bites of infected fleas that have been living on rats carrying the disease. If you're concerned about plague in the modern world, just look for large numbers of dead rats and rodents, as that'sa pretty good sign that it is about to strike.

. Variola major/Variola minor – Small Pox

This lovely relative of chicken pox and the measles is now extinct (we hope) outside of two WHO reference laboratories, meaning that this virus has been relegated to helping scientific research. However Small Pox (not to be confused with the ‘Great Pox’, Syphilis) was one of the most deadly diseases of all time, and if there ever was another outbreak of this disease the consequences would be disastrous. In fact, Small Pox is single handedly responsible for annihilating entire societies.

It is estimated that during the 20th century, until 1979 when it was deemed to be completely irradiated, small pox killed between 300 – 500 million people, or the equivalent of the total current population of the United States or European Union. The Small Pox variation, Variola major, had a mortality rate of 30 to 35% and both strains were responsible for killing up to 400,000 Europeans each year during the 18th century, giving this virus the title of worst disease ever.

One of the major problems in controlling the spread of Small Pox is the fact that the disease spreads through the air, and not purely on contact with infected pustules, leading to its ability to rapidly move through a population. However, a large scale vaccination effort in the mid 20th century relegated this disease to the path of the Dodo bird, and outside of the weaponized versions contained in many military arsenals; most ordinary people do not have much to fear from Small Pox any more. However, while Small Pox may be the only illness that has ever been removed from nature by humanity, it did cause more deaths during its reign as the King of viruses than anything else experienced before AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome – HIV/Aids

HIV/Aids is the pandemic that is currently effecting every man, woman and child on the planet. Originating in Sub-Saharan Africa during the mid 20th century, Aids has spread to every country on earth and current infection estimates state that approximately 33.2 million people worldwide are living with the virus, and that more than 25 million people have died as a result of infection since 1981 (slightly more people than the current population of Malaysia).

Caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Aids is spread via contact with infected bodily fluids (blood to blood, or sexual transmission). The progression from HIV to Aids can take up to 10 years, which is one of the biggest concerns about this disease as individuals infected with the virus may not know that they have it, increasing the risk of the infection spreading. Once the disease has progressed to full-blown Aids, without antiviral therapy, a persons life expectancy is only about 9 months.

The scariest thing about HIV/Aids, outside of the fact that it is incurable, is that the virus itself does not actually do anything apart from attack and weaken an individual's immune system. Once your immune system is weakened however, any infection from any malevolent organism (bacterium or virus) can have a deadly effect. On top of this, HIV uses your own immune system to reproduce, staging a type of stealth warfare inside your body to the point where white blood cells start to attack each other. Once this happens and once the virus has developed into Aids, there is not much that can be done.

Out of all the diseases on this list HIV/Aids probably scares more people, only because it is a real, ever present threat. But if you practice safe sex, and stop playing with other people's blood, you should be marginally safer than the rest of the population.

There you have it, the Scariest Diseases of all time….

Sources: PrimetimeBlog 

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Visit our Natural Product Pharmacy for top prices and FREE SHIPPING on hundreds of natural products from professional brands like: Metagenics, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations, Integrative Therapeutics, Thorne Research, and Carlson Labs!

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  IS the Neti Pot in part responsible for brain eating amoeba deaths which occurred in Louisiana recently?

Louisiana's state health department has issued a warning about the dangers of improperly using nasal-irrigation devices called neti pots, responding to two recent deaths in the state that are thought to have resulted from "brain-eating amoebas" entering people's brains through their sinuses while they were using the devices.

Both victims are believed to have filled their neti pots with tap water instead of manufacturer-recommended distilled or sterilized water. When they used these pots to force the water up their noses and flush out their sinus cavities — a treatment for colds and

Jonathan Yoder, an epidemiologist with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the Louisiana cases are still being investigated to ascertain that the deaths did indeed result from exposure to treated tap water in neti pots, rather than exposure to untreated water in a pond or lake. If so, they are the first known incidences of the disease in the U.S. resulting from　N. fowleri　organisms surviving the water treatment process.

"Nearly all the cases have resulted from exposure to warm recreational water, such as　lakes and ponds

, and the kind of exposure where the water would be forced up the nose — for example, diving and water sports," Yoder told Life's Little Mysteries, a sister site to LiveScience. The amoeba thrives in natural waterholes, especially those in the South, and several Americans die every year from swimming in these waterholes, or using untreated water from them. However, "in the last 15 years, I'm not aware of other cases [in the U.S.] associated with　treated　drinking water," he said.

Municipal water undergoes a rigorous purification process to make it potable, including being treated with chlorine to kill microorganisms, he explained. "We consider chlorination to be effective in killing [N. fowleri]. I can't comment on any water system in Louisiana, but in general … you may start out with 1 million amoebas and your goal is to reduce it with chlorine, and you might get 99.9 percent out. But you're probably never going to eliminate 100 percent.

That goes for amoebas, parasites, bacteria, viruses. So while we say our drinking water is safe, it's not sterile."

But if you only use distilled or previously boiled water in your neti pot, and you avoid snorting water when diving into waterholes, can you be sure you won't get PAME simply by splashing your face with the water out of your faucet — especially if you live in Louisiana?

Yoder said the CDC maintains that the risk of getting PAME from normal exposure to tap water is very low, but they are helping Louisiana's health department investigate the water treatment process in the state.

"In general, what we're committed to is even though there are very few cases, CDC is very committed to learning more about the organism so we can prevent further infection by developing science-based prevention methods. But it is a very tragic infection and we're very sad for the families."

Information derived from Natalie Wachova-Live Science, and NBC news.

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Mold: Frequently Asked Questions

The information found in the following Frequently Asked Questions was developed through a joint effort between the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin Section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association whose contributions are kindly acknowledged.

Health

How can mold affect me?

Health effects associated with airborne mold exposure are allergic reactions, eye and respiratory irritation, infection and toxicity. About 10% of the population is allergic to one or more types of mold. Many of these people will be affected by outdoor as well as indoor exposures to mold.

Respiratory mold infection (growth in the lungs) can occur, but is rare. Occurrence is limited almost exclusively to immune-compromised patients, including those with transplants, chemotherapy, AIDS, neonates, etc. Toxicity is related to the ability of some molds to produce mycotoxins.  Anyone suspecting they are ill from environmental indoor mold exposure should seek treatment and advice from a medical doctor. It should also be noted that other factors can influence indoor air quality such as other organisms, chemicals such as solvents and pesticides, or gases such as carbon monoxide.

When is mold considered toxic?

 Molds may produce substances called mycotoxins that modify their environment. Some of these substances are useful as antibiotics; but others are potentially harmful, especially if eaten. However, there is some evidence that breathing mycotoxins in mold-contaminated buildings represents a health hazard.  One mold, Stachybotrys, is frequently singled out. Initially thought related to cases of a lung disease called idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis among infants, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has stated, "In a further review of our first investigation, CDC reviewers and an external panel of experts determined that there was insufficient evidence of any association between exposure to S. atra or other toxic fungi and idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in infants." Current guidance of federal and professional organizations is that mold growth should be controlled in an appropriate manner, regardless of the type of mold

Can mold affect people with allergies and asthma?

A person with asthma who is sensitive to molds could have an asthma attack triggered by either indoor or outdoor exposures. People with mold allergies have frequently been overprescribed antibiotics at some point. With respect to allergy, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) states, "While indoor molds are well-recognized allergens, outdoor molds are more generally important

For people with asthma, controlling allergies is paramount!  A common health strategy is to avoid exposure by minimizing the amount of dust in the home. Humidity control is also very important. ACOEM supports indoor moisture control and the broad array of indoor respiratory challenges it affects. Moisture control is also strongly supported by the National Academy of Sciences as outlined in its report, Damp Indoor Spaces and Health.

For those with depressed immune systems, it is important to minimize exposure to dust & mold both at work and at home.  Care should be taken to minimize dust using wet cleaning methods and HEPA vacuuming. In particular, exposure to soil and plant materials such as compost should be avoided as they can have large numbers of mold.  Raking leaves should also be avoided.

If your seasonal allergies are acting up, NOW is a great time to schedule an appointment to get them under control with supplements and/or acupuncture, before your respiratory tract becomes more chronically inflamed.

Call us at 847-577-4455 to schedule an appointment TODAY!  We also have a variety of homeopathics appropriate to desensitize people to environmental mold counts that cannot be avoided.

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Before delving into this week's topic please check your emails in the next couple of days for some exciting halloween treats! Also mark your calendar for Saturday 10/27 9:30-??? to come to our natural Book Fair. I need to thin my personal inventory and you will find many exciting books for your fall and winter reading pleasure at very low prices.

This week's topic is how to waste your money on alternative medicine.

The Chicago Tribune reported earlier this month that an obscure federal agency, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, has spent $1.4 billion over the last 12 years studying folk remedies as coffee enemas, acupuncture and ginkgo biloba.
Some critics say much of the money has been misspent looking at cures so obviously ridiculous that no research should be necessary. The coffee enemas – purported to treat pancreatic cancer – are an example.

Actually, the money may be well-spent – but according to the government, only to the degree it subjects outside-the-mainstream therapies to rigorous, skeptical review. Tens of millions of Americans dump $34 billion a year into alternative medicine, according to a 2007 survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Not all of the money is wasted. “Alternative medicine” is an overbroad label that covers just about any treatment that doesn't originate in a physician's office or hospital. Some of those treatments have track records of efficacy: Acupuncture, for example, is demonstrably effective in relieving back pain. Yoga can be a powerful stress-reliever.
It is a governmental concern that many of those billions of dollars wind up in the pockets of people peddling dubious alternative nostrums. The United States may lead the rest of the world in Nobel prizes, but legions of skeptical Americans are suspicious of “complementary medicine” and believe consumers, suckers for cures rooted in ludicrous notions – think homeopathy – or outright mysticism.
Remedies from China – herbal mixtures and manipulations of mysterious energy flows – seem especially alluring to the credulous. Alternative medicine can be harmful as well as a waste of money. Some Chinese potions, for example, have been shown to be toxic.
More often, the concern is the danger comes from diverting patients from maligned conventional treatments that might heal them or save their lives. 

I have practiced alternative medicine, IE nutrition and herbal medicine, supplements, flower essence therapy, acupuncture and Chinese medicine for 15 years and have seen it work frequently.  I have also seen many clients throw a lot of money away due to their own issues and that is today's topic of discussion.  I wanted to summarize some of the ways that my unsuccessful clients waste their time and money on alternative medicine.  I hope you will not join this population.

#1.  Be a “doctor hopper”:  These clients flit from expert to expert and modality to modality committing to nothing and no one.  These folks are intent upon gathering opinions, and never doing anything about their problem.  They return from time to time to “check in” and flit off again.

#2. Believing that MLM companies can help them.  Multi Level Marketing companies provide anecdotal information regarding their product: supplement, herb, magnet, etc…and the gullibility factor as well as laziness factor has many people believing that they are participating in some level of alternative care and treatment where instead they are just buying snake oil which reported heals everything wrong with the world.  If it sounds too good to be true…well it is!

#3 Becoming an expert on your problem.  This person is so fixated on their problem they have little time or interest in getting a resolution.  They have attached to their illness and label and spend all their time gathering the latest data about it.  They may check out an alternative provider from time to time as they will any expert but have no interest in solving their problem.

#4 Treating oneself.  Most, if not all people  and even professionals should not attempt to treat themselves. First, they do not have the knowledge, and clinical expertise which takes many years.  Second they lack objectivity, with respect to their issue and this is true even of professionals.  Occasionally, a person arrives at my clinic with their own erroneous plan of treatment which they would like me to put a magical stamp on….this is a waste of time and money.

The most important ways to avoid these problems as well as others is to choose wisely.  Choose the modality you believe is most effective for your problem and seek out an experienced practioner who has had clinical success in that area.  Make certain your personalities meld, and then commit fully to your treatment plan.  If you do these things I think you will find complementary medicine to be a great bargain in your health quest.  Want to SAVE money?  Visit our Natural Pharmacy for great prices, discounts and FREE shipping on all orders!

Best of Health!

Visit our Natural Product Pharmacy for top prices and FREE SHIPPING on hundreds of natural products from professional brands like: Metagenics, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations, Integrative Therapeutics, Thorne Research, and Carlson Labs!

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

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Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

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Arlington Heights, IL

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Before we get into this week's topic a couple announcements..First watch your emails for this months Halloween Promotions and second we are having a natural book sale on Saturday 10/27 from 9:30 until the books are gone.  These are books from my collection and priced to MOVE...I must thin the herd! Hope you'll join us ...great fall and winter reading material at bottom prices.

The Chicago Tribune reported earlier this month that an obscure federal agency, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, has spent $1.4 billion over the last 12 years studying folk remedies as coffee enemas, acupuncture and ginkgo biloba.
Some critics say much of the money has been misspent looking at cures so obviously ridiculous that no research should be necessary. The coffee enemas – purported to treat pancreatic cancer – are an example.

Actually, the money may be well-spent – but according to the government, only to the degree it subjects outside-the-mainstream therapies to rigorous, skeptical review. Tens of millions of Americans dump $34 billion a year into alternative medicine, according to a 2007 survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.
Not all of the money is wasted. “Alternative medicine” is an overbroad label that covers just about any treatment that doesn't originate in a physician's office or hospital. Some of those treatments have track records of efficacy: Acupuncture, for example, is demonstrably effective in relieving back pain. Yoga can be a powerful stress-reliever.
It is a governmental concern that many of those billions of dollars wind up in the pockets of people peddling dubious alternative nostrums. The United States may lead the rest of the world in Nobel prizes, but legions of skeptical Americans are suspicious of “complementary medicine” and believe consumers, suckers for cures rooted in ludicrous notions – think homeopathy – or outright mysticism.
Remedies from China – herbal mixtures and manipulations of mysterious energy flows – seem especially alluring to the credulous. Alternative medicine can be harmful as well as a waste of money. Some Chinese potions, for example, have been shown to be toxic.
More often, the concern is the danger comes from diverting patients from maligned conventional treatments that might heal them or save their lives. 

I have practiced alternative medicine, IE nutrition and herbal medicine, supplements, flower essence therapy, acupuncture and Chinese medicine for 15 years and have seen it work frequently.  I have also seen many clients throw a lot of money away due to their own issues and that is today's topic of discussion.  I wanted to summarize some of the ways my unsuccessful clients waste their time and money on alternative medicine.  I hope you will not join this population.

#1.  Be a “doctor hopper”:  These clients flit from expert to expert and modality to modality committing to nothing and no one.  These folks are intent upon gathering opinions, and never doing anything about their problem.  They return from time to time to “check in” and flit off again.

#2. Believing that MLM companies can help them.  Multi Level Marketing companies provide anecdotal information regarding their product: supplement, herb, magnet, etc…and the gullibility factor as well as laziness factor has many people believing that they are participating in some level of alternative care and treatment where instead they are just buying snake oil which reported heals everything wrong with the world.  If it sounds too good to be true…well it is!

#3 Becoming an expert on your problem.  This person is so fixated on their problem they have little time or interest in getting a resolution.  They have attached to their illness and label and spend all their time gathering the latest data about it.  They may check out an alternative provider from time to time as they will any expert but have no interest in solving their problem. Remember your health problem is not health resolution.  You will need to seek out someone who has a track record in health resolution...IE treatment.

#4 Treating oneself.  most, if not all people  (and even professionals) should not attempt to treat themselves and their families. First, they do not have the knowledge, and clinical expertise which takes many years.  Second they lack objectivity, with respect to their issue and this is true even of professionals.  Occasionally, a person arrives at my clinic with their own erroneous plan of treatment which they would like me to put a magical stamp on….this is a waste of time and money.

So in conclusion, the government may help to protect you from unscrupulous people to a degree but who can save you from yourself?  When using alternative treatments effectively it is important to form a therapeutic alliance with a person of experience and clinical success in the area you require help.  Make certain your personalities meld, and that you commit fully to your plan of treatment and do your part to the best of your ability.  Then, I believe you will find complementary medicine a great ally and a bargain to boot in your health quest.

Best & Blessings,

Visit our Natural Product Pharmacy for top prices and FREE SHIPPING on hundreds of natural products from professional brands like: Metagenics, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations, Integrative Therapeutics, Thorne Research, and Carlson Labs!

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

We specialize in Acne, Skin, and Digestive disorders!  Please contact us for a free consultation!  I do work long distance.  Thank you from the bottom of our cart!  We truly appreciate your product purchases, visits, and referrals!  They enable us to give people the help they need and continue our valuable work.

Wednesday, October 03, 2012

View your rating page at www.talkofthetownnews.com/awards2012/8475774455
  

APPLE-A-DAY Clinic has been Rated Among the Best in Region and Receives the
2012 CMUS Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award  
 

Awarded to:  APPLE-A-DAY Clinic

Star Rating:  4

City:  Arlington Heights   State: Illinois

Category:  Health and Medical                                                                                 

Presented by:  Celebration Media U.S. (CMUS) and Talk of the Town News

Congratulations!  Only the very best businesses have been chosen to receive the 2012 CMUS Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction Award. The award was created to showcase companies that excel in serving their customers and getting their high marks. Based on our research gathered during the past 12 months, APPLE-A-DAY Clinic has earned top honors and now has its very own award page on our website:  www.talkofthetownnews.com.    Press releases and other promotional information will be sent to regional and national wire services announcing winners.

Best of Health!

Visit our Natural Product Pharmacy for top prices and FREE SHIPPING on hundreds of natural products from professional brands like: Metagenics, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations, Integrative Therapeutics, Thorne Research, and Carlson Labs!

Join Our weekly BLOG for free Natural health tips!

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

We specialize in Acne, Skin, and Digestive disorders!  Please contact us for a free consultation!  I do work long distance.  Thank you from the bottom of our cart!  We truly appreciate your product purchases, visits, and referrals!  They enable us to give people the help they need and continue our valuable work.

It's been a technically challenging day to welcome in October and I hope you will check out all the great forums and events we have planned...even a Natural BOOK SALE!  I appreciate your ordering refills online. Check your emails soon for a treat not a trick for this month only. 

Also earn $25.00 towards your next visit by giving us a review on google find the link on top of the events page right here...there is a beautiful new meditation room and more. One more heads up...we are getting much busier and already I've turned a few of you away and I expect it to get much more so so make your appointments NOW!

Apple-A-Day Clinic has won the Talk of the Town Award for 2012 for Medical & Acupuncture in Arlington Heights.  This award is the second we've won in a month and is given to less than 5% of businesses.  I will publish more about it this week. No, I do NOT solicit these honors.

Our first Forum in October is:  How to Get and stay sick, and here is the scenario: While I do not concur with this...if you want to get and remain sick here's the way to do so....

Best of Health!

Visit our Natural Product Pharmacy for top prices and FREE SHIPPING on hundreds of natural products from professional brands like: Metagenics, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations, Integrative Therapeutics, Thorne Research, and Carlson Labs!

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

We specialize in Acne, Skin, and Digestive disorders!  Please contact us for a free consultation!  I do work long distance.  Thank you from the bottom of our cart!  We truly appreciate your product purchases, visits, and referrals!  They enable us to give people the help they need and continue our valuable work.

PS:Thanks for your interest in the Apple Stem Cell solution....Your orders will ship out in a couple of days! You will LOVE IT!

Don't Forget to redeem your 10% online coupon by 9/30!

PSST: I was just advised that Apple-A-Day Clinic has won the "talk of the Town Award for top service in Arlington Heights...thanks for the great online press! More about this this week.

Join our weekly health blog for FREE Natural Health tips!

Interested in saving a TON on awesome, professional products with FREE shipping and Volume discounts??? Then:

Visit our Natural Product Pharmacy for the best prices and FREE SHIPPING on hundreds of natural products from professional brands like: Metagenics, Douglas Laboratories, Pure Encapsulations, Integrative Therapeutics, Thorne Research, and Carlson Labs!

Taryn DeCicco, ND, LAc, LDN

Naturopath

Acupuncturist

Clinical Nutritionist

Dietitian

Professional Vitamins and Supplements

Chinese Herbs

Natural Skin Products

Arlington Heights, IL

www.apple-a-day-clinic.com

We specialize in Acne, Skin, and Digestive disorders!  Please contact us for a free consultation!  I do work long distance.  Thank you from the bottom of our cart!  We truly appreciate your product purchases, visits, and referrals!  They enable us to give people the help they need and continue our valuable work.