Green Living for Better Health

Remembering Our Neighbors

2010-12-21T13:57:00.000-08:00

As we sit snug in our warm homes, I ask that you turn your mind to the less fortunate. Our society is faced with high unemployment and underemployment. Many people are without homes. Please think about those who do not have a place to live.
On these long cold winter nights, please think of those who have paid the price of our society's failure to provide for those in need. Today I honor those who have died on the streets. I was lucky and was homeless was only during the summer. I will strive harder this year to help provide for those in need.

One concrete way that I can help is to volunteer with The Warming Place in The Dalles. The Warming Place, which is open when the temperature dips below freezing, is housed in St. Vincent dePaul Community Meal Dining Room, and is open when the flag is out, from 7pm to 7am. It is staffed by two volunteers each night. A church or an organization is responsible for a day of the week. Volunteers have participated in a brief training session. Hood River is also starting a warming shelter program in January.
No matter where you live, I encourage you to check into local ways that you can help out others in need. Please remember to encourage you legislators to create laws to help protect the homeless. For more information on homelessness, please visit the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Invisible, but not alone

2010-09-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

In earlier posts, I've mentioned the invisible illness that haunts me daily. I'm thankful that it is relatively mild, but the associated conditions that may develop in later years frighten me. Knowing that its not myself that faces it, but my daughter deeply saddens me.

My daughter was initially diagnosed with Selective IgA Deficiency days after her first birthday, and was recently reconfirmed. We were concerned because our healthy baby girl dropped in weight from the 50th percentile to the 3rd, while simultaneously developing a chronic cough and mucousy diarrhea. My first fears were of Cystic Fibrosis and Celiac. It was during the testing for Celiac, that we discovered my daughter has no IgA.

Hers is a fairly common primary immunodeficiency disease. Thankfully, her symptoms are pretty mild. She is still prone to a chronic cough. Her weight is starting to come up, as long as she avoids certain foods. She primarily has a food allergy to dairy, casein to be more specific. Dairy allergy is a common occurence in people who have Selective IgA Deficiency.

Exposure to casein results in days of diarrhea. Unfortunately, many people don't realize hidden sources of dairy and casein. Most people can accept that she can't eat cheese, but don't realize that she also reacts to soy cheese. In child care settings, she's constantly being exposed to these hidden sources. The diarrhea has made it very difficult to potty train her. Its hard for a child to learn to use the toilet when their belly hurts and they cannot control their bowels.

I worry about the future for my daughter. Will she catch a virus at school thats benign to everyone else, but more threatening to her? Will she develop autoimmune disorders? Systemic Lupus Erythematosis is already present in the family. Will she develop asthma? If she ever needs a transfusion, will she go into anaphylaxis? Then there's the fear that she will go on to develop a more severe combined immunodeficiency.

For now I simply try to be a good mother. I treat my daughter like any other child. I make clear to caregivers that she cannot have dairy/casein. I remain patient with the potty training, and hope that one day her diet will be free from hidden casein. I feed her a good diet and make sure she lives an active life. I let her be the wonderful vivacious child that she is.

I share our story with you so you might realize that there are many of us who live daily with invisible diseases. Even happy seemingly healthy pre-schoolers can be effected. I hope that this will serve as a reminder to parents, please don't send sick children to school/child care. Remember, one of your children's classmates may have an immune deficiency.

I welcome comments by others who face an invisible disease. I hope that another parent in a similar situation will read this post and find companionship. If you are facing an immune deficiency disease, please visit the Immune Deficiency Foundation to get more information.

For more information about dealing with invisible diseases please visit, http://invisibleillnessweek.com/. Remember, you are not alone.

Access to Health Information

2010-09-08T14:11:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaHow much of your health information do you get by reading? How would your health be effected if you couldn't read?
Today is International Literacy Day. With this in mind, I want to remind all of you of a skill that many of us take for granted, our ability to read. Did you know that one in five adults cannot read, and 2/3 of them are women! We need to help reverse this.
One organization I recommend is Reach Out and Read. They have partner groups all over the US. If you have some time, or money, to spare please consider contacting them. If you have a spare dollar, there is currently a fundraiser being hosted by BloggersUnite to buy books for children who are being taught to read.

What have you done to help teach people to read? What are ways to get health information to those who can't read? Do you know of any good resources?

A peak into what I see daily

2010-08-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

My time here at TrueNorth is ending. I'm excited to return home to my family. I've seen some amazing results while here. Below you will see a video of Christina, a person here with an amazing story.

BPA

2010-07-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

By this point, most people have heard about bisphenol A (BPA) and the negative impacts it may have on health. Nation-wide protest occurred to get BPA out of beverage containers, especially baby bottles. Although the desired legislation did not always pass, most companies have now given in to consumer demands and started making alternative BPA-free containers. However, BPA is not just limited to plastic bottles.

The Environmental Working Group(EWG) released a recent study which found high levels of BPA in 40% of cash register receipts. The receipts do not need to contain BPA. The leading manufacturer of thermal paper in the US, Appleton Papers, Inc does not use BPA.

The exposure to the consumer from BPA laden receipts is very low, however cashiers are being exposed to a large amount of BPA laden paper. According to EWG, retail workers carry an average of 30% more BPA in their bodies than other adults. Retail outlets and receipt manufacturers are being urged to switch to BPA-free alternatives.

In the meantime, EWG has some advice for consumers:
Don’t let infants or children handle receipts.
Avoid paper receipts entirely when electronic or email alternatives are available.
If you save receipts, keep them in a separate envelope.
After handling receipts, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before preparing and eating food (and that’s a good practice even when you haven’t handled receipts).
Don’t use alcohol-based hand cleaners after handling receipts; they can increase absorption of BPA through the skin.

People First

2010-07-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

All to often we forget to include people differently abled from ourselves. The few times when our society remembers, it generally focuses on the disability and not the person. Many people would instinctually say the blind man, rather than the man who is blind. We need to change this way of thinking, and put people first! People should come first in language and action.

Starting around 12 years of age, I became a Special Olympics volunteer. I credit this early exposure to people with varying abilities to my ability to honor everyone. I highly suggest that people volunteer with Special Olympics, or at least attend an event.

When I was 15, I met a gentleman who had lost his right hand. I was the only person in the group who thought to shake with my left hand. That simple action really impressed the man by honoring his humanity, it also forever impacted me by reminding me that simply actions do make a difference.

I strongly encourage people to at least think about what life is like for others. During my gerontology training, I learned how to evaluate buildings for their accessibility. Simple things, like flooring choice can have a major impact on people. I am a strong supporter of universal design; we should try to design things with a wide group of humanity in mind. I do not want to be singled out for my disability, nor should others be. I wish electronic manufacturers would have taken red-green color defective people into account when they designed LED charging indicators.

I admit that I am not completely aware of how various things can effect peoples lives. Admittedly, this blog is not fully accessible. The Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool (WAVE) is a great resource to check if your site/blog is accessible. I've changed everything I can on this one and the rest is up to Blogger to change.

Please share any information you have on how to empower all people!

Gulf Oil Spill

2010-07-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

I try to avoid reposting others, but this is one of those times when it is needed. Many of us do not live on the Gulf coast, and aren't seeing the devastation. Today, I'm sharing a post with you from Washington's Blog. The photos are striking. Please consider what you can do to help with the clean up, and prevent more disasters like this in the future.

SUNDAY, JULY 11, 2010
You Are Not Authorized to See These Pictures of the Oil Spill, Citizen ... Do Not Look!
Preface: The title is a parody of the fact that the government has effectively made it a felony to take pictures of oiled wildlife.
While most of these pictures have previously been published by the mainstream media - and presumably will remain publicly available - that assumption is not 100% certain. By way of analogy, the government sometimes reclassifies as top secret information which was previously declassified.

More importantly, while some of these photos have been widely seen, most have not, and I have never seen them rounded up in a single page before.
Jonathan Elinoff has rounded up rarely-seen videos and pictures of the gulf oil spill:

A pod of Bottlenose dolphins swim under the oily water Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana, Thursday, May 6, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
This is a photo of a dolphin pulled from the gulf....
Below you will find a picture of millions of dead fish. These are small fish, possible baby fish. They are slowly washing ashore and towards the ports. Over 9,000 species of animals will be under threat of extinction in this region, we might not ever see again on the planet. Click the image to enlarge it.

A Greenpeace activist steps through oil on a beach along the Gulf of Mexico on May 20, 2010 near Venice, Louisiana. (John Moore/Getty Images)
A Brown Pelican sits in heavy oil on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast Thursday, June 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A pair of Brown Pelicans, covered in oil, sit on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast, Thursday, June 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A dead turtle floats on a pool of oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill in Barataria Bay off the coast of Louisiana Monday, June, 7, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A sea bird soaked in oil sits in the surf at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast Thursday, June 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A Brown Pelican is seen on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast on Thursday, June 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A bird covered in oil flails in the surf at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast Thursday, June 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A Brown Pelican is mired in heavy oil on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast on Thursday, June 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A Brown Pelican covered in oil sits on the beach at East Grand Terre Island along the Louisiana coast on Thursday, June 3, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A ship's wake cuts through a pattern of oil near the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico Monday, May 17, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill pools against the Louisiana coast along Barataria Bay Tuesday, June 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) #

APTN photographer Rich Matthews dives into the water to take a closer look at oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill on June 7, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico south of Venice, Louisiana. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A dead Northern Gannet covered in oil lies along Grand Isle Beach in Grand Isle, Louisiana May 21, 2010. A member of Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research tagged the spot of the location of the incident. (REUTERS/Sean Gardner)
Collected oil burns on the water in this aerial view seven miles northeast of the Deepwater Horizon site over the Gulf of Mexico, May 18, 2010. (REUTERS/Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace)
Oil is seen on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico about six miles southeast of Grand Isle, Louisiana May 21, 2010. (REUTERS/Sean Gardner)

A sea turtle is mired in oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Grand Terre Island, Louisiana June 8, 2010. (REUTERS/Lee Celano)
Oil floats around booms and through marshlands of the Mississippi Delta on May 23, 2010. (REUTERS/Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace)
Maura Wood, Senior Program Manager of Coastal Louisiana Restoration for the National Wildlife Federation takes a sample of water in a heavily oiled marsh near Pass a Loutre, Louisiana on May 20, 2010. (REUTERS/Lee Celano)
A suction hose is used to remove oil washed ashore from the Deepwater Horizon spill, Wednesday, June 9, 2010, in Belle Terre, Louisiana. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) #
An oil-soaked pelican takes flight after Louisiana Fish and Wildlife employees tried to corral him on an island in Barataria Bay on Sunday, May 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Oil is scooped out of a marsh impacted by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in Redfish Bay along the coast of Louisiana, Saturday, May 22, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A sheen of oil sits on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico close to the site of the BP oil spill as a boat uses a containment boom to gather the oil to be burned off approximately 42 miles off the coast of Louisiana May 18, 2010 (REUTERS/Hans Deryk)
Crews try to clean an island covered in oil on the south part of East Bay May 23, 2010. (REUTERS/Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace)
A ship maneuvers and sprays water near a rig in heavy surface oil in this aerial view over the Gulf of Mexico May 18, 2010, as oil continues to leak from the Deepwater Horizon wellhead. (REUTERS/Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace)
An outboard boat motor breaks up a thick layer of oil as Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser toured the oil-impacted marsh of Pass a Loutre on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill coats marsh grass at the Louisiana coast along Barataria Bay Tuesday, June 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

A brown pelican coated in heavy oil wallows in the surf June 4, 2010 on East Grand Terre Island, Louisiana. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
A shrimp boat is used to collect oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico in the waters of Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana on May 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
A helicopter flies over surface oil in this aerial view over the Gulf of Mexico, May 18, 2010. (REUTERS/Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace)
A young heron sits dying amidst oil splattering underneath mangrove on an island impacted by oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in Barataria Bay, along the the coast of Louisiana on Sunday, May 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Seawater covered with thick black oil splashes up in brown-stained whitecaps off the side of the supply vessel Joe Griffin at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill containment efforts in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana Sunday, May 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A tugboat moves through the oil slick on May 6, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. (Michael B. Watkins/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Oil burns during a controlled fire May 6, 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S. Coast Guard is overseeing oil burns after the sinking, and subsequent massive oil leak, from the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform off the coast of Louisiana. (Justin E. Stumberg/U.S. Navy via Getty Images)
Dark clouds of smoke and fire emerge as oil burns during a controlled fire in the Gulf of Mexico, May 6, 2010. The U.S. Coast Guard working in partnership with BP PLC, local residents, and other federal agencies conducted the "in situ burn" to aid in preventing the spread of oil. (REUTERS/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg-US Navy)
The crew of a Basler BT-67 fixed wing aircraft releases oil dispersant over parts of the oil spill off the shore of Louisiana in this May 5, 2010 photograph. (REUTERS/Stephen Lehmann/U.S. Coast Guard)
A man holds a plastic bag with seawater and oil from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill south of Freemason Island, Louisiana May 7, 2010. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria)
Oily water is seen off the side of the Joe Griffin supply vessel at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill containment efforts in the Gulf of Mexico on Saturday, May 8, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
One of the New harbor Islands is protected by two oil booms against the oil slick that has passed inside of the protective barrier formed by the Chandeleur Islands, as cleanup operations continue for the BP Deepwater Horizon platform disaster off Louisiana, on May 10, 2010. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Blobs of oil from the massive spill float on the surface of the water on May 5, 2010 in Breton and Chandeleur sounds off the coast of Louisiana. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Mississippi River water (left) meets sea water and an oil slick that has passed inside of the protective barrier formed by the Chandeleur Islands, off the coast of Louisiana, on May 7, 2010. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill makes its way to shore on Chandeleur Islands in Louisiana on May 7, 2010. (AP Photo/The Dallas Morning News, Vernon Bryant)
This image provided by NASA shows the Mississippi Delta (top right) and the growing oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico on May 5, 2010. Photo was taken by International Space Station Expedition 23 flight engineer Soichi Noguchi. (AP Photo/NASA - Soichi Noguchi)
Oil and oil sheen are seen moving past an oil rig, top right, in the waters of Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana, Wednesday, May 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
An oil soaked bird struggles against the oil slicked side of the HOS Iron Horse supply vessel at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana Sunday, May 9, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
An aerial view of the oil leaked from the Deepwater Horizon wellhead, May 6, 2010. (REUTERS/Daniel Beltra)
Dark clouds of smoke and fire emerge as oil burns during a controlled fire in the Gulf of Mexico May 7, 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg/Released)
Bruce Padilla, left, and Adam Shaw, Louisiana oilfield divers, return through blackened seawater from watching a controlled oil burn in the Gulf of Mexico May 7, 2010. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Justin Stumberg/Released)
Oil, scooped up with a bucket from the Gulf of Mexico off the side of the supply vessel Joe Griffin, coats the hands of an AP reporter at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, May 10, 2010. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Shrimp boats are used to collect oil with booms in the waters of Chandeleur Sound, Louisiana, Wednesday, May 5, 2010. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Note: The descriptions are Elinoff's and/or of the sources from which he obtained them. However, I have edited to remove many of Elinoff's editorial comments and arguments regarding BP's wrongful actions or potential future scenarios, to focus on the present effects of the oil spill itself.

All photographs and text are copyright of their respective owners. They are being reproduced under the Fair Use exception to copyright law, 17 U.S.C. § 107, as it is for educational purposes and is intended as political commentary on important social events of the day.

In addition, use of such images is also protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Specifically, reproduction is protected under the "Mai Lai/Zapruder line of cases", since:
(1) The images are of historical significance;

(2) They show facts which cannot be conveyed effectively in any other manner, and

(3) Therefore the Constitution trumps copyright law.

Living your Values

2010-07-01T13:04:00.000-07:00

Its important that what we do matches our values. Many people work at jobs that do not match their values and live unhappy lives. I want to encourage people to truly live their ideals. There are many places that can help you learn how to do this.

The Northwest Earth Institute offers a variety of wonderful classes that can help you focus on what matters to you. I took part in one of their Voluntary Simplicity classes several years ago, and still benefit from it! I kept the workbook and often re-read it for inspiration. I also recommend the book with a similar name, Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That Is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich. Another great book is Your Money or Your Life: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence.

Some career choices that I strongly encourage people to investigate are naturopathic medicine and renewable energy related. Those of you who are drawn to healing know who you are. I encourage you to learn about naturopathic medical programs.

Image via Wikipedia

For those of you who want more physical labor I encourage you to research training in renewable energy technology. One of my readers recommends the Wind Energy Technology program at Redstone College in Denver. I would also like to put in a word for the Renewable Energy Technology program at Columbia Gorge Community College, in my hometown of The Dalles, Oregon.

There are several other careers that I can think of that can help you live your values, for instance organic farmer and politician. What do you do? What is your dream job? Are you living your dream, if not what can you do to make it a reality?

NRDC: Bug Spray -- DEET vs. Newer and Natural Repellents

2010-06-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

Image by Zac Declerck via Flickr

The recently published NRDC: Bug Spray -- DEET vs. Newer and Natural Repellents is a great addition to my previous article/post Take Precautions Against Mosquitoes. As we enter the summer months, I encourage you to review the information presented in these posts.

What do you do to avoid mosquito bites?

Oil

2010-06-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

Live Video streaming by Ustream

As I see oil pouring into the Gulf, I can't help but think of ways to reduce my reliance on petroleum. I already have taken a major step by not owning a car. I still however buy things with plastics, but have been trying to avoid them. What are some ways that you are trying to break your dependence on oil? How has the current spill in the Golf effected your life?

Staying Cool This Summer

2010-06-10T17:10:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

As summer approaches my mind turns to ways to keep cool. Humans are ingenious creatures and have come up with a variety of ways to stay cool. Of course, some of these are better for ourselves and the planet than others.

"Air conditioning takes indoor heat and pushes it outdoors. To do this, it uses energy, which increases production of greenhouse gases, which warm the atmosphere. From a cooling standpoint, the first transaction is a wash, and the second is a loss. We're cooking our planet to refrigerate the diminishing part that's still habitable."

So, how do you stay cool without A/C? Here's a list of my favorites:

Drink plenty of cool water
Wear light weight light colored natural fabrics (or nothing at all when possible)
Keep your hair off your neck
Get a hair cut
Wear a wide brimmed hat when in the sun
Soak a bandana in cool water then place around your neck or head
Play in water
Plant deciduous tress around your house. The leaves will keep it cool in summer, while in winter the bare branches will allow the sun to warm your home.
Air-dry your dishes
Avoid using your oven
Keep your windows open to the cool air at night and close them during the heat of the day
Relax in the shade of a tree at a park
Hang out in your basement
Use ceiling fans. Please note that they don't actually cool the room, so please turn them off if no one is around to enjoy the breeze.

Dirty Hairbrush? A Step-by-Step Cleaning Guide

2010-06-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

How often do you buy a new hairbrush? Why do you get a new one? If you're buying new brushes because of lint build-up, stop! There's no need to create more trash simply because your brush is dirty. Cleaning a hairbrush is a rather simple process that doesn't take much time.

I've had the same hairbrush since at least 2000. I remove loose hair from it, when it builds up, probably every 1-2 weeks. I know other people who clean out the hair after every use, but you don't have to. Many people recommend thoroughly cleaning your brush every 1-2 weeks, but I didn't do it until this week after a decade of use.

Remove all the loose hair from the brush. A wide tooth comb is useful for this step, but not necessary.
Fill your bathroom sink with hot water and add a squeeze of your shampoo to it.
Place your hairbrush, bristles down, into the sudsy water.
Sleep! :)
In the morning drain the water and remove build-up from the brush with a wide-tooth comb, nail brush, or fingers.
If there's still build up, repeat the next night.

What clothes should we buy?

2010-06-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

Almost all of us wear clothing at some point in the day. For most people its a lifelong expense that can have a huge impact on our health and the environment. What are the best clothing choices that we can make?

I was raised on second hand clothing. Panties, bras, and socks were the only things that were purchased new. My parents did this because they couldn't afford to buy me new clothes, however I feel it was the best thing they could have done. Very little waste was generated in me getting the clothing.

By the time something is ready to be given away, most of the chemical burden is removed from the fabric making it healthier for the wearer. Of course, this system does rely on someone getting new clothing, but several people can wear clothes before they become scraps. One of my favorite examples of clothing reuse is Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback. I highly recommend this children's book to everyone!

What are the best choices when buying new clothes? There are so many choices now. Should we buy conventional clothing from small independent stores, or organic fair-trade clothes from a website? What materials should we buy? Organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, etc? I debate these decisions every time I buy something new.

The newest material that has come to my attention is made from beech trees. Ellen at Thrifty and Chic Mom is currently running a Body Bark Ecofriendly Style Giveaway. Body Bark seems like an interesting company, but I always wonder about greenwashing.

Body Bark claim that wearing their products under dry clean only clothing will allow you to go longer between visits to the dry cleaners, thus saving you money and helping the environment. Nice idea, but how many of us dry clean our clothes? I haven't been to a dry cleaners in over 8 years, and the only things I've ever had dry cleaned were second hand gowns.

I also wonder how sustainable is it to grow beech trees? I'm sure they're being grown on monocultured tree farms. How much water do they require? Fertilizer? I love the idea of the material, but must question what the true impact is.

I would love to hear your opinions on what types of clothes to buy. If you have experience with any of the eco-friendly materials out there, please share it with us!

Stylish?

2010-05-28T21:01:00.000-07:00

By now, we all know that smoking is bad for you. Every year on May 31st, the World Health Organization (WHO) urges us to observe World Tobacco Free Day. This year, the focus is on women. For too many years, we have been the focus of advertising trying to convince us that smoking is somehow sexy. It's time for us to wake up!

Smoking is not chic, no matter what the form. Many young women do realize that smoking cigarettes is dangerous, they fail to realize that hookahs are just as dangerous. Many people reason that hookah smoking is not as dangerous. A recent article by the Canadian Press, points out the dangers of hookahs. Smoking sessions with hookahs generally last for over an hour, with the smoke exposure being equal to 100-200 cigarettes!

Image via Wikipedia

Waterpipe smoke contains harmful constituents- nicotine, carbon monoxide, carcinogens. And it may contain greater amounts of tar and heavy metals, including cobalt, chromium and lead...Waterpipe use has in fact been linked to lung cancer, heart disease, infectious disease and pregnancy related complications. So that's a list that would certainly raise my anxiety.

The smoother smoke experienced with hookahs is a result of the moisture content. The water provides moisture, but does not effectively filter out toxins! Unfortunately, myths about hookahs spur their widespread use.

Why is your diet so restrictive?

2010-05-23T12:05:00.000-07:00

Life here is a blur. It's hard to mark the passage of days. I enjoy watching the steady improvement in the health of our guests, and am sad each time one leaves to return to life in the bigger world. I really hope people are maintaining the diet they started here, and with it their good health.
I freely admit that the diet here seems very restrictive. Not only is it a vegan diet, it's a healthy one without added salt, sugar, and oil. I've seen vegans come in and improve on the diet. Why the limitations?

Photo courtesy of Theodore Fields, Gout:Risk Factors, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Meat seems strongly linked to many of the prevalent diseases of today. Americans, and others, now face diseases of affluence. Gout is a prime example of a very painful diseases that is obviously influenced by meat and alcohol consumption.
Salt intake is strongly associated with elevated blood pressure. If you consume sodium, your body will work to maintain the correct percentage in the blood. To do this, you retain more fluid. Adding more fluid to a closed system (your blood vessels) will cause the pressure to go up.
Sugar is sticky. We all know this fact. We tend to forget though that sugar is sticky inside of us as well. When things in our bodies become sticky with sugar we call them glycosolated. Common things that get coated with sugars are our red blood cells (hemoglobin A1c measures how coated they are), blood vessels, and eye lenses (cataracts).
Fats are tasty. They are high calorie foods rich in flavor. However, fats in excess are bad for our health. If we meet our energy needs, extra fuel is stored as fat. Many of us live rather sedentary lives. People drive to work, sit at a desk, drive home, and relax on the couch. The food we eat provides more than enough calories to meet our needs.

Celery Root Slaw

Eating large quantities of fresh vegetables and fruits, with small amounts of nuts, seeds, and grains, provides all of our nutritional needs. However, the traditional salad bowl is not big enough. You should eat a good quantity of plant based foods. You will feel full, while eating a fraction of the calories a typical meal provides.
This is a quick overview of reasons to eat the diet we promote at TrueNorth. To find out more about the food visit, the TrueNorth Kitchen. If you would like me to expand on something please post a comment!

PS For those following my weight, its 121.6. I seem to be holding steady at this point. For those of you worried this diet would make me too skinny, I think its safe to say you were wrong.

The Diet Here

2010-05-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

I'm enjoying a day off, so I figured it's time to post a new entry. Although most people think of TrueNorth as a fasting center, food is a key component here. Many people come here to re-acclimate their taste buds to healthy food.

The difference a good diet can make is amazing. One of the most striking things I've seen so far is the changes in blood pressure. One person here has dropped from about 180/130 (on medication) to about 130/70 (without meds) in 7 days! This is an amazing change, especially since it is so easy and cheap to do.

Photo credit: deanjenkins from morguefile.com

The food here is vegan and free of added salt, oil, and sugar. A large portion of the food is raw, but there are also steamed vegetables, and grains. At first a lot of the food seemed bland to me, but now it tastes normal. I've been going through some bread withdrawal, but am starting to get over it. The past few days fruit has started tasting extremely sweet. My weight has slightly decreased to 121.4. I'm working hard to get in at least 30 minutes of exercise daily.

The vast majority of places do not serve food that meets the dietary criteria we have here. Most vegan food has added salt, oil, or sugar. After leaving here people are advised not to eat out. Preparing your own food insures high quality, and is cheaper than eating out. People living in certain areas of California can have food from the kitchen here delivered to them.

Vegetable Stock

2010-05-08T14:46:00.000-07:00

During the last week I have started to settle into my new life at TrueNorth. My days here can be long. We start rounds at 7:15 am and may not finish documentation until after 9 pm. I'm enjoying the food, but miss bread! For those of you monitoring my weight, it really hasn't changed (124.0).

I enjoy living onsite as I get to see how well people are progressing. It's amazing to watch chronic conditions disappear. Admittedly, not everyone sees complete remission of symptoms, but many do. During my short time here I have seen ANA on a lupus patient go from positive to negative!

During their stay patients have access to a large DVD library of health promoting lectures. Various doctors lecture daily and are able to answer questions. There are cooking demos in which people can learn healthy ways to cook.

The cooking demo yesterday is a great example of how living a "green" lifestyle can promote health. Using vegetable stock is a great way to flavor dishes without adding extra sodium. Its a wonderful additional to soups, rice, polenta, etc. You simply replace the water you would normally use with stock.

Vegetable stock is made from kitchen scraps that many people throw away, or hopefully compost. Examples of some scraps are pepper cores, corn cobs, celery tops, and cabbage leaves. Things to leave out because they can make your stock bitter include artichoke, eggplant skin, and the dry outer layers of onions. Vegetable trimmings are placed in a pot which is then filled with water, about 1 inch over the top of the scraps. The pot is then brought to a boil, and then simmered for 30 minutes. The liquid in the pot is the stock! While the pot is simmering you can add whatever herbs you would like.

Photo credit: wax115 from morguefile.com

In less than one hour you have created cheap healthy vegetable stock! An added benefit to making your own is that you know what is in it. There won't be any vegetables you can't eat, or mystery "natural flavors." Vegetable stock will keep in a fridge for several days, and in a freezer for around 6 months!

It begins

2010-05-03T07:07:00.000-07:00

After a beautiful, but exhausting, train trip I finally arrived in Santa Rosa. I've been very busy since I arrived. Hopefully, I'll get used to the work pace and won't be so exhausted soon.

Arriving here is shocking and comforting. The weather and plants here are a complete change from what I'm used to. It seems like everything is in bloom! The center is in a converted apartment complex that surrounds a central courtyard. I am currently sharing a 2 room suite with another person, although I have rarely seen her. Everyone here is very friendly, so I have no reservations about living here for the next 6 months.

My day starts with rounds at 7:15 am. Once rounds are finished I get to eat breakfast. About the time I finish eating, its time to start the first presentation. The morning presentations are often on video, so I have to find the correct one and start it. I want to stay and watch all of them, so I know what information the patients are getting. It's then time for lunch. After lunch I have some time until the afternoon presentation. Once the afternoon presentation is over it's time for evening rounds. I eat after checking everyone, but before data entry. So far, I've been exhausted after data entry and go to bed, which is around 8 pm. As you can see, there's not much down time during the day!

The food has been interesting. The main portion is an ever changing raw salad bar. There's also a variety of fruits. There are then a few steamed vegetables and cooked grains to choose from. You won't find any croutons here since we don't serve refined carbohydrates.

Now on to the guesses on my weight. I'm no longer biking and I'm eating 3 prepared meals a day, so my weight may go up. I do have to go up and down a lot of stairs since its a 2 story complex. I'm not sure how its going to balance out, but I'm still guessing that my weight will remain stable, or hopefully drop to my usual weight of 115. This morning my weight is 123.4.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

2010-04-28T17:17:00.000-07:00

With Mother's Day approaching many people are starting to think about gifts for moms. This is an opportunity to thank the mothers in your life. While thinking about what to do for Mother's Day, remember to consider the environment and health!

The ladies at GladRags recently posted a wonderful blog entry about giving green. Many people don't need any more physical possessions. If you do find something perfect for a mother in your life please consider buying something second-hand. For wrapping you can buy or make a reusable cloth gift bag. I personally love using Wrapsacks! I'm a sucker for the track-a-sack feature. For me its rewarding seeing how many times my bags get reused. GladRags also sell reusable gift bags, and are offering 20% off bags until 5/9 (coupon code MAMAMIA). If you get one of their bags, please let me know how you liked it!

For many busy mothers out there, the gift of service is the best. Simple acknowledgment of the hard work that mothers perform is very appreciated. You can treat her by performing some of her usual duties, of course doing this for more than one day is really appreciated!

The gift of health is a wonderful gift. Many places offer gift certificates, and if they don't you can simply offer to pay! Treat the mother in your life to a massage, acupuncture, dental visit, eye exam, or doctors visit. Many of these are especially appreciated by the underinsured. Imagine how happy she will be to have the gift of health.

Still struggling for ideas? I don't know anyone who could resist a weekend stay at Breitenbush Hot Springs! Cooking and cleaning performed by someone else, natural hot springs, massage therapy- an amazing getaway. Don't forget to arrange a carpool!

TrueNorth

2010-04-23T16:16:00.001-07:00

I'm excited to start my residential internship at TrueNorth Health Center next Saturday, May 1st. I will be there for 24 weeks studying how to medically supervise fasting. At the end of the 6 months I hope to earn certification by the International Association of Hygienic Physicians in fasting supervision.

This will be a nice addition to my previous training with Dr Steven Bailey, which focused on juice fasting. Some of you may be familiar with his book, The Fasting Diet: A Practical Five-Day Program for Increased Energy, Greater Stamina, and a Clearer Mind. I'm looking forward to getting experience in supervising water fasts in addition to juice fasts.

While at TrueNorth I will have many wonderful opportunities. I'm excited to be one of the first at the center to work with their new electronic medical records system. The one drawback is it will likely be Windows based, while I prefer working with Macs and Linux. I may also have the opportunity to assist in a research study.

During my time at TrueNorth I will be eating a wonderful vegan diet prepared by chef Ramses Bravo. Many people have commented that I will come back as a twig. I seriously doubt this, and suspect that I may actually gain weight. I'm going to start documenting my weight in my blog posts. I usually weigh around 115, but I put on weight this fall and am currently 123.

I hope to update my blog at least a couple of times a month during my internship. Please feel free to post any questions in the comments section. I hope to share my experiences and insights with you.

Antibacterial Soap Update

2010-04-08T15:45:00.001-07:00

Since my post on triclosan containing soaps, new information has been released. A new article in the Washington Post, "FDA says studies on triclosan, used in sanitizers and soaps, raise concerns" states that

The FDA said that recent scientific studies raise questions about whether triclosan disrupts the body's endocrine system and whether it helps to create bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. An advisory panel to the FDA said in 2005 that there was no evidence the antibacterial soaps work better than regular soap and water.

Photo credit: npclark2k from morguefile.com

This is definitely a time to think about stopping your relationship with triclosan. The Environmental Working Group has released a new Guide to Triclosan. Please look at their guide for great suggestions.

TB and War

2010-03-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Today is an important day on two blogging fronts. It's World TB Day and War and Peace Action Day. Many people see these as two separate events, but they are intimately related.

Since 2004, rates of illness and fatality from TB have dropped, but tuberculosis is still a threat. Over 33% of people infected do NOT get timely diagnosis and treatment, allowing this disease to spread. It is up to all of us to come up with ways to stop the spread of TB! One of these ways, is to try to limit armed conflict, and to utilize DOTS in these areas.

People in conflict areas are even more likely to delay treatment, than those in non-conflict areas. This makes sense because resource allocation is shifted to the military, rather than to civilians. Healthcare services may no longer be available in the area, and accessing them can be dangerous. This means that even people who recognize the symptoms of TB, may not be able to get treatment. Many of these people attempt to treat themselves before they are able to seek medical care. This delay in getting the correct medications can result in further disease progression and transmission.

We tend to picture wars as killing only via weapons-caused wounds. We forget that normal disease processes are still happening. The social upheaval that armed conflict causes, allows disease to have a greater negative impact.

In this age of quick international travel, it is vital that we pay attention to disease progression on a global scale. As humans, we reach out to others to offer aid and comfort. Rather than offering a bandage, we should try to prevent injury in the first place. We need to focus on preventing armed conflicts, and when they do occur, we need to help people receive timely high quality care.

For more information on World TB Day events please visit the Stop TB Partnership and Bloggers Unite World TB Day.

Antibacterial Soap

2010-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Do you really need to use antibacterial soap? Does it protect your family more than conventional soap, or is it harming them?

Many people fell into the fad of using antibacterial products. Numerous products hopped on the bandwagon- soap, toothpaste, children's products, etc. However, this was a trend that may have actually resulted in harming the health of the public, rather than protecting it.

Multiple studies have shown that triclosan (the most common antibacterial product) containing soaps are no more effective at reducing the symptoms of illness, or bacterial levels on hands, than ordinary soap! We have a populace that has been fooled into believing that antibacterial products are better, when they have the same efficacy as conventional products. However, there is a dark side to using antibacterial products that doesn't exist with conventional ones.

Research has shown that many common bacteria are resistant to triclosan! These products that people are using to protect themselves from bacteria have instead created antibiotic-resistant strains. In a world where pathogens are rapidly gaining antibiotic resistance, why are we increasing the chance? People using antibiotic soaps are using products that are no more effective than conventional ones, while putting the entire population at risk for antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Do yourself and society a favor, stop using antibacterial products!

I’m participating in Kitchen Stewardship’s Spring Cleaning Carnival, Get the Antibacterials Out.

Spring Cleaning: Get the Junk Out! Carnival

2010-03-11T12:23:00.000-08:00

I just learned about a wonderful opportunity happening during the next couple of months. Beth Terry at Fake Plastic Fish clued me into the “Spring Cleaning: Get the Junk Out!" Blog Carnival. The organizer, Katie at Kitchen Stewardship, describes the Carnival as the following:
Instead of focusing on your physical space, we’ll look at a myriad of issues that you may want to get out of their diets, cleaning cupboards, bad habit collections or mental baggage. Each week, a different blog will host a theme that fits their mission and a linky for YOU to link up any pertinent posts.

Related posts for the linky might include a tips post, a recipe, a personal story of getting that issue “out”, or even questions you have about the issue.

Here’s the list of hostesses and weekly themes so you can plan to participate. There will be giveaways for each week, with entries both for linking up at your blog and for leaving comments for all you non-bloggers. New and old posts welcome!

3/23 Katie @ Kitchen Stewardship: antibacterial soap/bleach
3/30 Amy @ Simply Sugar and Gluten Free: gluten
4/6 Beth @ Fake Plastic Fish: plastic food containers
4/13 Donielle @ Naturally Knocked Up: refined sugar
4/20 Micaela @ Mindful Momma: parabens
4/27 Lenetta @ Nettacow: food additives
5/4 Kelly the Kitchen Kop: CAFOs
5/11 Laura @ Heavenly Homemakers: pesticides
5/18 Mandi @ Organizing Your Way: clutter
5/25 Claire @ Saving Money Plan: debt
I encourage all of my readers to participate in this "spring cleaning." I will try my best to participate, but will be busy with moving and starting my new internship at TrueNorth.

Haiti

2010-01-16T07:44:00.000-08:00

Haiti is a country that was facing massive poverty before the quake hit. They have neither the money, nor infrastructure for rescue work and rebuilding. I urge you to donate what you can to help Haiti.

Naturopaths can have a role in the relief work. Natural Doctors Internation (NDI) is sending in relief teams. I would love to join one of these teams myself, but I don't have a passport! There is something that I can do though, I can donate to the group.

Please consider donating to NDI for their Haiti Relief Effort. Here's a message from NDI

We have all been deeply distressed by the news and images of the destruction in Haiti resulting from the earthquake some 48 hours ago. Within our own family, Dr. Sabine Thomas is still trying to establish communication with many of her relatives who live in Haiti. NDI is coordinating with Dr. Sabine Thomas, Bastyr University and many other volunteers in the naturopathic community to purchase supplies and organize a disaster relief team to travel to Haiti to give care. Our goal is to fundraise money to create a sustainable effort to send food, medical supplies and teams of interdisciplinary health providers (ND's, LAC's, LMP's, CNM's, MD's, ARNP's, etc) to Haiti. We are organizing our first trip for February or March of 2010. If you would like to participate in the trip or volunteer in any way, please email us at haiti@ndimed.org.

Free Reuseable Menstrual Pads

2010-01-05T11:38:00.000-08:00

I don't think I've posted about one of my favorite companies. I've had their link posted on the side bar at least! I am a proud GladRags Guerilla.

GladRags is a woman-owned company out of Portland. They make all sorts of reusable menstrual products. I've used GladRags pads since 2002 and they are all still in great shape. The company states that they last at least 5 years, and I can verify that!

I suggest starting to wear the pads at night to increase your confidence. The inserts are great, you can control the thickness to match your flow. After a few months of no leaks I was confident to wear them out and about. They're also great for post-partum use. GladRags are discreet and comfortable, try them you'll see!

I love not having to budget for menstrual products! Having a bathroom garbage that rarely needs to be emptied is also great. They can be machine or hand washed. I always line dry mine and they are really comfortable!

I'm posting now because there is a give-away going on. Woman Tribune is offering a color pad sampler worth $75.99! This sampler will get you started with everything you need. Head on over to their site and submit your free entries. The give-away ends today. If you miss it, you should consider ordering from GladRags.

Simple Energy Saving Tips for the Office

2010-01-04T10:57:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2010! For this post I'm attaching an article I wrote for the January issue of the CHD Newsletter. Many people use the new year as a time to focus on making changes in their lives. This article focuses on energy conservation in an office environment. This information is universally applicable. Try instituting these simple changes in your life!

Always look for the win-win
A lot of changes are happening at CHD. The move will cause a change in all of our habits. It is during this time of change that I suggest we change our habits for the better. I would like everyone to focus on ways to conserve energy.

Energy conservation is a win-win. By conserving power we help the environment and save money. Conservation allows us to continue “working for healthy communities.”

Need some ideas of easy ways to conserve energy at work?
Turn off the light when you’re not in a room. If you’re going to be gone for longer than 30 seconds, turning off the lights will save energy, even with the most inefficient bulbs. There’s even an old Mythbusters episode about this! Another thing to check is if the natural light in the room is enough to see by. Sometimes you don’t need to turn on artificial lighting.
Unplug your cell phone when it’s done charging. Your phone will continue to draw power while it’s on the charger. The charger by itself draws power when its plugged in. It’s not much energy, but when multiplied by 24 hours/day 7 days a week, it’s a real energy drain.
Turn off your computer when you leave at night. By this I don’t mean just logging off, but fully shutting down the system including turning off the power at the bar. According to Tech Services, for most people here this is a good option. The main exception is VPN users. Those with desktop and laptop systems may notice slower start-up times as the computers do their routine maintenance. Thin client users will not experience any slowing.
Use your own power to go short distances. There’s no need to drive a car to go a few blocks, unless you transporting large or heavy equipment. Walking and biking are great ways to save oil and keep in shape. If you live close to the office you can also use your own power to get here! There are several of us who don’t arrive by car. We’ll gladly share tips with you on how to commute using people power!

Busy Year Ahead

2010-01-01T18:16:00.001-08:00

2010 is lining up to be an interesting year. There are a lot of changes that will be happening in my life and practice. I will be continuing my work at the Center for Human Development (CHD) Union County Public Health until April 16th. After that I will be moving to Santa Rosa, California to start a six month internship. I will end the year back in my home town of The Dalles, Oregon.

In the next few months I will continue to focus on teen pregnancy prevention. A coalition has started in Union County, and should be self-sustaining by the end of my service. The county is in desperate need of help in this area. If you're interested in joining the coalition please call 541-962-8836.

I will have 2 weeks between leaving CHD, and starting my internship. I will be doing a residential internship at TrueNorth Health Education and Fasting Center. At the end of my time there, I will be eligible to be certified by the International Association of Hygienic Physicians in Therapeutic Fasting Supervision.

I'm looking forward to this internship. Fasting is an area that is lacking in the education of most physicians. Learning more about this, often misunderstood, method of healing will be a wonderful experience. In the coming year I plan to post more entries about fasting.

Medical Care is a human right

2009-12-10T05:00:00.000-08:00

For this year's Human Rights Day I want to draw people's attention to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The declaration clearly guarantees the right to health and medical care. The same article also declares the right of mothers and children to special care and assistance.

Article 25.

(1) Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.
(2) Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.
(You can read the declaration online at http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml)

Some countries do a wonderful job of providing these rights, others do not. In the US we barely meet these obligations. People are entitled to life-saving medical treatments, but not with care to promote and maintain health. Mothers and children do get some special care through SCHIP, and other state programs, but this assistance is very meager and many families suffer.

The US needs to provide health care (not just emergency disease care) to everyone. Why are we having a debate about this issue? It is our obligation to the citizens of the world to work to insure that human rights are met. The right to health care was clearly articulated over 60 years ago.

I urge you to spread this information to everyone you know. Have discussions with people about what you think this right guarantees. Attend demonstrations, blog, write letters!

Find out candidates opinions on health care. Talk to your elected officials about health care. Check their voting records! Do they support the meager legislation that we have, or have they repeatedly rejected renewing SCHIP? What about maternity leave? If their actions don't match their words, don't re-elect them!

It will never happen to me

2009-12-01T07:12:00.000-08:00

It will never happen to me. I'm straight, and so is my partner. We don't do IV drugs and we're monogamous.

We were together for 5 years. We tried having a baby and then things fell apart. Now I've met someone new. My partner wants me to get an HIV test before we have sex. What's the point? I know that I'm not infected...

It's been a while since I've done the whole condom thing. I went to buy condoms and discovered that the lambskin ones don't protect against sexually transmitted infections. Who knew?! What's the point of a condom that doesn't stop the spread of HIV?

Today I am Facing AIDS for World AIDS Day. Today I remember all who are infected without knowing they are at risk. The above stories highlight many of the ways people unknowingly put themselves at risk. There are so many people who assume that heterosexual serial monogamy will protect them. Others use lambskin condoms, assuming that all condoms prevent the spread of HIV.

In most cities, the only non-latex condoms that grocery stores sell are lambskin. People with latex allergies have very little choice. Luckily, public health departments and internet retailers can provide fairly easy access to non-latex condoms that do prevent the spread of HIV and other STIs.

How many people go without HIV testing between relationships? Serial monogamy does not prevent HIV transmission. Everyone should have an HIV test at the end and beginning of every relationship. I don't care if you're 12, or 92. Do it for your partner.

To find an HIV test site, text your ZIP to “KNOWIT" (566948), or visit www.HIVtest.org. On this World AIDS Day join me in facing AIDS for yourself, your partner, and your community. Together we can fight AIDS.

Take Local Action- Support a Farmer's Market!

2009-11-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

Today I'm urging you to take local action to support your health. The action I would like you to focus on is supporting local farmer's markets. In most areas this is the off season for markets, but its a great time to prepare for their return in the spring/summer.
Is there a farmer's market in your area? In La Grande we have a market that runs June through October. I recommend that you search around and see if there's one you can attend. If there isn't one, consider trying to get one started (post a comment and I'll connect you to resources to do so).
There are multiple ways to support your local market. The easiest is as a consumer. At the farmer's market you can have access to fresh healthy produce. You are able to talk to the producer and find out how they produce the food. Is it organic? Organically grown, but not certified? Do they use chemicals? How is it harvested? Many of these producers harvest the food themselves, often the morning of the market!
By buying locally produced foods directly from the growers you are able to provide your neighbors with income, that is a living wage. Local foods are fresher and less resources are used to move the foods from the point of production to consumption. A lot less oil is needed to transport grapes from a vineyard that's 10 miles away, than from one in Argentina.
On a budget? The prices at farmer's markets are often comparable to stores and the food is a lot fresher! Most farmer's markets are now accepting food stamps. Go to the information booth and ask! If your local market doesn't accept food stamps, now is a great time to start talking to the manager to get them to take food stamps.
Many smaller markets will welcome occasional sellers. If you have a bumper crop, consider getting a booth at your local market and selling your excess! There are many people who live in apartments, and other situations with limited space to grow food, who will appreciate your extras.
Already a market vendor? Does your market have an agreement with a local food pantry to distribute extra food? If not, start planning it now! Talk to everyone you meet about the benefits of them shopping locally. The public needs to know that they are making a huge difference by purchasing your products.
Farmers markets benefit the health of individuals and society.

Cell Phone Radiation- What phones emit, bodies absorb

2009-11-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

I recently came across a wonderful blog post about cell phone radiation. I wanted to share this post with you. You can find the original at: http://www.enviroblog.org/2009/11/cell-phone-radiation-series---part-4-what-phones-emit-bodies-absorb.html. I personally try to avoid cell phone usage. I prefer to use a land line or Skype.

Cell Phone Radiation Series - Part 4: What phones emit, bodies absorb
By Amy Rosenthal
November 19, 2009
Research is not yet settled on exactly how dangerous cell phone radiation is to your health. But we at Environmental Working Group have seen enough studies with enough troubling results that we think it's worth your while to reduce your exposure to cell phone radiation.
When we talked a few weeks ago about insufficient government cell phone regulations, we discussed "SAR" values and the legal limits the government has set for the amount of radiation a phone can emit. But SAR values aren't always easy to pin down - so today we're going to look closely at what they are and how they can vary by phone.
What does SAR mean, anyway? "SAR" stands for "specific absorption rate" - it's a measure of how much radiation is absorbed by your body, given in Watts per kilogram (W/kg). Scientists test for SAR values using models of the human body filled with viscous fluid designed to mimic human tissue. The phone is placed next to the mold, and while the phone transmits a signal, a probe inside the human model measures the absorbed energy levels. The phone's SAR value is designated as the highest amount of radiation detected during these tests. What determines a phone's emission level?A phone's SAR value is largely determined by the design of its inner hardware and antenna. But, since the SAR measures how much radiation is absorbed by your body (heartening, huh?), the value is determined by both a) the amount of radiation emitted by the phone, and b) what body part is doing the absorbing (yes, some absorb radiation more than others).
SAR values for an individual phone can vary, based on several factors:
Network & frequencyMost phones sold today can operate on several networks (e.g. 2G v. 3G) and at different frequencies (which band of the network the phone is using to send and receive signals). The same phone can emit different levels of radiation depending on which network and which frequency it's being used on at any given time.
Where you're using itPhones emit radiation when they're transmitting signals from your handset to a base station (cell tower), so the harder a phone has to work to send a signal, the more radiation it will emit. As a result, when you're using your phone far from a base station (say, in a rural area) or if there are physical obstacles in the way, the SAR value would be higher.
How you're using itA phone also uses more power to transmit a voice signal, so texting emits less radiation than talking.
Where you're holding itOriginally, SAR measurements focused primarily on values when held at the head. But over time, cell phone use has changed - now we're carrying phones in our pockets and often leaving them there while talking on a headset or not using them.
This means less radiation to the brain (that's good) but more to the lower torso. SAR values vary based on the type of body tissue absorbing the radiation, and research has shown that skin and muscles absorb more radiation than fat and bones. This raises concern about exposures at the waist, particularly to reproductive organs that don't have a protective layer of bone (like a skull provides the brain) shielding them from cell phone radiationAlso, as you'd instinctively assume, the farther away the phone is from you, the less radiation you'll absorb from it. Holding the phone 10 inches away can reduce radiation exposure by a factor of 400. (Another reason texting and a headset are good ideas - you'd be yelling to get heard while holding the phone that far away.)
SAR testing not perfectScientists acknowledge that SAR testing has significant precision problems, and current research is lacking in many ways. For instance, we don't know much about SAR values when phones are in "data mode" (you know you love those iphone apps), when they're held at various orientations (say, flipped around in your pocket) or how SAR values change for people of different ages and body types.
Children may be especially at risk, because their tissue conducts more (it has more ions than that of adults). Also, their thinner skulls don't provide as much of a radiation shield - one recent study showed that a child's head could absorb twice the amount of radiation as an adult's. As a result, kids using high-emitting, perfectly legal cell phones could be exposed to radiation over the legal limit.
You can make it better More research is needed, but the U.S. currently lags behind Europe when it comes to knowing what's going on with cell phones (surprise!). Tell the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to update their cell phone regulations (which they haven't done since their introduction in the mid-1990's) by sending them an email using EWG's easy form.
And in the meantime, since SAR values vary so much, you can make choices to reduce your exposure. Use EWG's 8 tips to reduce your cell phone radiation exposure - they'll make good sense now that you understand the "why" behind them all.
Stay tuned for more on cell phone radiation in coming weeks -- including finding a phone that has low SAR values to start with.

Balancing the H1N1 Risk with Vaccination

2009-11-10T08:11:00.000-08:00

The following article was written by Dr. Heather Zwickey, National College of Natural Medicine Dean of Research and Director of the Helfgott Research Institute. Dr Zwickey was my immunology professor. I highly respect her opinions and wanted to share her work with you. This article can be downloaded at http://www.ncnm.edu/images/NewsAndEvents/H1N1_vaccination_NCNM_10302009.pdf

Balancing the H1N1 Risk with Vaccination
By Dr. Heather Zwickey,
NCNM Dean of Research
Director, Helfgott Research Institute

The H1N1 influenza outbreak has people nervous all over the world. The media has overwhelmed people with information. As a result, many people are afraid of getting the flu this year. In order to prevent the flu, people are turning to the H1N1 flu vaccine. However, some people question the safety of the flu vaccine and are reluctant to be vaccinated. At NCNM, we’re getting questions like:
"If I’m a healthy adult, should I get vaccinated? What if I’m pregnant? What if I’m breastfeeding? "
"Should I vaccinate my kids? What if they have asthma? What if they under 3 years old?"
"I’m on medication for Multiple Sclerosis. Should I be vaccinated?"
While flu vaccines are relatively safe, there are still a number of things to consider before you receive a flu vaccine. We’ve tried to include the most recent data as we weigh-in with rationale opinions on the H1N1 vaccine. As always, we consider the risk of getting the disease with the risk of the vaccine. We also consider individual risk and alternatives to vaccination.
Healthy Adults
Most years, between 5-10% of healthy Americans between the ages of 18-50 experience the flu. A larger number of healthy adults (30-50%) are infected with the flu but don’t experience any noticeable symptoms. If you have a healthy immune system, you should be able to fight off the flu. Your immune system protects you from dozens of viral and bacterial infections each year. Therefore, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself from flu is to keep your immune system healthy by eating nutritious food, exercising, and engaging good hygiene skills like regularly washing your hands.
If you are a healthy adult, you may still want to be vaccinated if you are taking care of people who fall into a high-risk category. Healthy adults can infect others 24 hours before they develop symptoms and up to five–seven days after becoming sick. It is also possible to be infectious and never develop symptoms. Thus, if you are a health-care worker, you can spread the flu to others. Since patients are often fall into high-risk categories, health care workers should strongly consider being vaccinated. Also consider being vaccinated if you are taking care of an elderly person or an infant who is less than 6 months old. Finally, if you are healthy, but you also smoke (cigarettes or marijuana), are an alcoholic, or you are obese, you may be more susceptible to getting pneumonia with flu infection, so you may want to be vaccinated. The vaccine is 80-96% effective in healthy adults under 65 years of age. (Science Daily, Sept. 13, 2009)
You should NOT be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu if you have had severe reaction to a past flu vaccine. If you are allergic to eggs, you should also avoid
the flu vaccine. You should NOT be vaccinated if you have an illness with a fever. Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician.
Often the decision to be vaccinated is more economic than health related. Can you afford to miss one–seven days of work if you should get the flu? Do you have a partner to help with the kids if you are sick in bed? If these are situations that would threaten your personal economic stability, you should consider being vaccinated.
Pregnant Women
There are several reported cases of pregnant women who have developed severe complications from the H1N1 flu. Even though H1N1 flu seems to be mild in healthy adults, some pregnant women have lost their pregnancies, and have been hospitalized as a result of flu.
The H1N1 vaccine has not yet been tested in pregnant women. The National Institutes of Health will be testing the vaccine in pregnant women in October 2009. Previous flu vaccines have been safe in pregnant women. If you are pregnant and choose to be vaccinated, your biggest consideration will be the characteristics of the flu vaccine you receive. The vaccines are made in multi-dose vials that contain mercury or pre-filled syringes that do not contain mercury. If you are pregnant, request the pre-filled syringe. All of the vaccine manufacturers make a version of the vaccine that is mercury (Thimerosal) free—however you must request it. While there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that Thimerosal has negative effects on a fetus, the Environmental Protection Agency reminds pregnant women that a fetus is very sensitive to mercury. Therefore, to be safe, get a Thimerosal-free vaccine. Also avoid the intra-nasal influenza vaccine. The intra-nasal vaccine (called LAIV) is a live attenuated vaccine and is not considered safe for pregnant women.
Regardless of whether or not you are vaccinated, if you’re pregnant, you should try to stay away from people with the flu. If you have an appointment with a physician or other health care professional (acupuncturist, chiropractor, massage therapist, etc), you should ask the doctor’s office to keep you separated from other patients or clients who may have the flu. You may also consider wearing a respiratory mask if you have a doctor’s appointment.
Breast-feeding Women
If you’re a woman with a newborn, your breast milk is protective for your infant. Therefore, if you are vaccinated, your immunity will be passed along to your child for as long as you breast feed. If you get the flu, your breast milk will still be protective for your child. However, be careful of exposing your baby to the flu. Some pediatricians recommend expressing your breast milk and having someone else feed the infant while you are sick.
Children
Children under five tend to be at higher risk for developing flu symptoms. An average of 20% of kids under five develop flu each year. Initial reports suggest that a higher percentage of kids are developing flu symptoms from H1N1. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that people between the ages of six months and 24 years are vaccinated. The vaccines are not approved for children under six months of age.

The H1N1 vaccine is being tested in three groups of kids: 10-17 year olds, 3-9 year-olds, and 6-35 months-olds. While testing is still in preliminary phase, so far the vaccine appears most effective in 10-17 year old kids. 76% of 10-17 year olds were protected with a single 15 microgram dose of vaccine. In children under nine years of age, only 36% of the kids were protected by the vaccine. And 25% of kids aged 6-35 months were protected with a single dose of vaccine. (Science Daily, Oct. 5, 2009)
Are these vaccines risky for kids? Perhaps the biggest risk is the illusion of protection. Because the vaccine doesn’t appear to be very effective for kids, the likelihood of it protecting your kids is low. Herd immunity will also be low. Some parents are concerned about mercury (Thimerosal) in vaccines. All four manufacturers who make flu vaccines have a mercury-free version. If you do choose to vaccinate your kids, make sure you ask for the pre-filled syringe as this the type that does not contain mercury.

There is a nasal version of the H1N1 flu vaccine. The nasal spray vaccine is called LAIV for live-attenuated influenza vaccine. Rather than inactivated (dead) virus, LAIV contains a live version of the H1N1 virus that has been mutated to be less dangerous. Parents often like the idea of a nasal spray vaccine because it means that kids don’t have to get a shot. However, this vaccine should not be administered to children with asthma, or children under 2 years of age. Because the vaccine is alive, LAIV should also not be given to anyone with a compromised immune system (like a pregnant woman, or someone with HIV.)

If you decide not to vaccinate your kids, there are things you can do to help protect them. Make certain they are eating a good diet with lots of vegetables. Vitamin D is helpful—so get your kids outside to play, or make sure they’re taking their vitamins. Ensure they are washing their hands often. Teach them how to sneeze and cough into their shoulder and bent elbow. And teach them how to breathe into their shirt if someone sneezes around them.
Asthma
Flu often causes upper-respiratory symptoms including a dry cough, sore throat, and runny or stuffy nose in addition to a high fever, headache, and muscle aches. The flu vaccine may cause milder versions of these same symptoms. Because people with asthma already have breathing issues, it is not yet clear whether it is safe for people with asthma to be vaccinated with H1N1 vaccine. A study to evaluate the safety is under way. In the meantime, the safest way to address flu prevention is asthma is to promote a healthy immune system.
Other Illness
Lung diseases like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and emphysema make people especially susceptible to influenza. If you have respiratory problems from being overweight or obese, you may also be at higher risk for influenza. In these cases, vaccination with H1N1 vaccine may prevent hospitalization if you are exposed to the flu.
There are several other illnesses that make people prone to hospitalization if they get the flu. These include:
Cardiovascular disease (but not high blood pressure)
Liver problems
Kidney problems
Blood disorders and sickle-cell disease
Neuromuscular disorders
Neurologic disorders
Diabetes and metabolic disorders
Immune suppression, including HIV and immuno-suppressive medications
There are a number of instances when someone would be taking immuno-suppressive medications. If you have received a transplant or if you have an autoimmune disease such as lupus, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, you may also be taking immuno-suppressive drugs. In these cases, the flu shot is safer than getting the flu.
Residency in a nursing home or other chronic-care facility is also a high risk for developing complications from H1N1 flu. Thus, if you live in a nursing home or a chronic-care facility, you may want to strongly consider being vaccinated.
Flu Symptoms
Flu can cause a variety of symptoms and may differ in how it presents in different people. People are sick for different lengths of time. Symptoms of seasonal flu include:
fever (often high)
headache
extreme tiredness
dry cough
sore throat
runny or stuffy nose
muscle aches
Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults. Some people who have been infected with the new H1N1 flu virus have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
Side Effects of Flu Vaccine
The side effects of the H1N1 Flu Vaccine are a milder form of the symptoms caused by the flu. Approximately 45% of people are expected to have side effects. Side effects usually only last one-two days, if they occur at all.
The H1N1 flu shot side effects include soreness, redness, or swelling in the muscle where the shot was given. In addition, a low-grade fever and muscle aches and headaches could occur.
The H1N1 nasal spray side effects include runny nose, wheezing, headaches, vomiting, and fever. In adults, the nasal spray may also cause a sore throat and cough.
About Dr. Zwickey:
Dr. Heather Zwickey is the dean of Research and director of the Helfgott Research Institute at NCNM, where she is an associate professor of Immunology. She also has an adjunct appointment in the Department of Neurology at Portland’s Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), where she collaborates with researchers and physicians. Dr. Zwickey trained at the world-renowned National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver and received a PhD. in Immunology and Microbiology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Dr. Zwickey completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Yale University.

Dr. Zwickey’s research in Colorado examined innovative vaccine methods for tuberculosis (TB). In this context, she travelled in several developing countries where TB is endemic and thousands of people die each year from vaccine preventable diseases. The need for safe and effective vaccines was readily apparent in her travels. As NCNM’s dean of Research, Dr. Zwickey learned of the large population of people in the US opposed to vaccination, who questioned whether vaccines were harming their children. Having witnessed both sides of the debate, Dr. Zwickey began her own research on how developmental biology, public health, capitalism, and individualized medicine collide within the vaccine field. Thus, Dr. Zwickey brings a unique outlook to the vaccine debate because she has examined the issues surrounding vaccination from multiple perspectives.
Maintaining her passion for global health, Dr. Zwickey serves on the Board of Directors of Natural Doctors International. She collaborates with researchers and physicians in Brazil, Nicaragua, and Tanzania. She is currently writing a book about vaccines.

More Influenza Fear Mongering

2009-10-27T08:43:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to get tired of the various conspiracy theories that are floating around on the internet. People take half truths and use them to fuel their own beliefs. The newest theories I'm seeing are that the US bought a stockpile of antivirals that need to be used up, so the CDC is padding flu case numbers. Of course, anti-virals can be used to treat other viral illnesses besides H1N1 and seasonal influenza viruses. Do people not realize that the government buys a stockpile of anti-virals every year as a precaution?

People on both sides of the influenza debate are using scare tactics to try to make their points. Why can't people simply use honesty and logic?

Dr Mercola's newest fear-based H1N1 post (http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/27/Obama-Declares-Swine-Flu-Emergency.aspx) contains an out-right lie 2 minutes into the recording. It also claims "CBS has been trying to obtain state-by-state numbers for Swine Flu cases compiled, by the CDC, BEFORE the testing was stopped. The CDC has refused to come across with those numbers. It's been stonewalling CBS for the last three months." These numbers are easily found on the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/.

A few minutes into the audio, Barbara Loe Fisher, states that "[The CDC] stopped confirming the cases of hospitalization and deaths that were H1N1 related and this information is on the CDC website." Really? When I look on the CDC website I find provider guidance urging testing in cases involving hospitalization and deaths for H1N1 (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/diagnostic_tests.htm).

The change that has been made is in what the weekly flu report is tracking. You can read more about the CDC FluView and surveillance changes at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/reportingqa.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/surveillanceqa.htm. Basically, it comes down to the number of cases that meet the criteria for H1N1 testing, is far less than the number of cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) that's in our communities. The cost, time, and availability of H1N1 diagnostic testing make it ridiculous to test every case. To help get a more accurate picture of the true breadth of illness in the nation, the report of flu activity includes all people that physicians have diagnosed with ILI. The World Health Organization had declared H1N1 a pandemic almost 2 months before the CDC changed the surveillance system.

The fatalities are off between the current chart, and what's being reported for the year because the numbers were reset on Aug 30, when the reporting system was changed. You have to add the old numbers to the current ones to get the total. The CDC is being honest with the facts. They were being completely honest and reset the case counts when the surveillance system became inclusive of ILI.

President Obama declared the emergency in order to allow hospitals to deal with possible mass flu outbreaks. If this was originally authorized in July, or October, does it matter? Why are we upset that President Obama is trying to allow hospitals to be able to handle mass influxes of patients? If the American people are being lied to about the severity of H1N1 outbreak, what harm does allowing hospitals to see more patients do?

Response to "Do NOT Let Your Child Get Flu Vaccine -- 9 Reasons Why"

2009-10-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

I keep seeing "Do NOT Let Your Child Get Flu Vaccine -- 9 Reasons Why" as interpreted by Dr Mercola get posted. The problem with this list is most of the reasons are misleading or wrong. Please make sure that your facts are straight! The original post is from Bill Sardi and is a longer list that can be found at http://www.lewrockwell.com/sardi/sardi119.html. It at least has some research to support the assertions, but it was theoretically-based and is now outdated.

The number of flu related deaths for this time of year is increased over normal years. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm
Neither seasonal nor H1N1 vaccine require 2 doses, except in children 9 and under, who need the repeated stimulation to mount a full immune response. http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/public/vaccination_qa_pub.htm
In the US no adjuvants are being used. http://www.flu.gov/myths/index.html
The vaccines that were tested this summer are the ones that are being given to the public. http://www.flu.gov/myths/index.html
Vets have issues with booster doses not initial dosing. http://www.naturalvetforpets.com/vaccines.html#a2
There are many things that could be causing an increase in autism rates. High fructose corn syrup has recently been implicated as another possible contributor as it contains mercury. Flu Mist does not contain thimerosal, but the injectable form does. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-crossfield/one-more-link-in-the-merc_b_162202.html
Anti-virals are better at preventing flu than actually treating it, any pharmacist will tell you this. Not sure how this relates to vaccination, except not vaccinating may lead to more people becoming sick and being given antivirals which could lead to resistance. (See my previous post on this topic http://docmock.blogspot.com/2009/09/using-anti-viral-pharmaceuticals-to.html)
This is really the same as #7. Basically, not vaccinated has a higher possibility of breeding resistant strains than vaccinating.
More should be done to teach about prevention. However, most people in public health are nurses who are not allowed to give this type of advice without orders from a doctor. This is really a reason to fix our healthcare system, rather than not vaccinate. I totally agree that preventative measures besides vaccination should be taught to the public. Presently, it looks like this teaching needs to come from primary care physicians, rather than public health.

I ask that people do their research before buying into scare tactics. I don't care if the scare tactics are to get you not to vaccinate, or to vaccinate. You are responsible for your own health! Do the responsible thing and do research into things that frighten, or confuse you.

Climate Change

2009-10-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

Today is Blog Action Day '09 with a focus on climate change. Today I urge you to visit www.blogactionday.org. Once there, you can ask President Obama to take actions to limit climate change. Climate change is a threat to our way of living. As any agriculturist will tell you, a small change in precipitation levels can be disastrous for crops. Low yields will cause increased food shortages and hunger.

Even if you don't believe that climate change is being impacted by human activity, you should still support efforts to try to limit our impact on the environment. After all, what harm will come from it? Most efforts to reduce climate changing impacts, also reduce the amount of illness causing pollutants in our environment and stimulate the economy.

You should also take actions to stem climate change in your daily life. Buy locally produced foods (this stimulates the local economy and gives your neighbors jobs too!), turn off power to things when not in use (saves you money on your power bill), and use www.freecycle.org (give away or find free items). These simple actions can curb climate change, and if you don't believe in human influenced climate change they will still have a positive impact on your wallet!

Flu: To vaccinate or not to vaccinate?

2009-10-06T14:21:00.000-07:00

I am not an automatic nay-sayer on all vaccines. I think that there are people who are good candidates for vaccination, but others who are not. The decision to vaccinate is up to each person, with the guidance of their care provider.

This flu season I have an interesting dilemma. Should I be vaccinated? Should my daughter? These are separate, yet related questions.

Let's start with me. I'm a healthy woman in my 20s who has never had a flu shot. I'm not currently involved in patient care, but do work in a clinic, and in public venues where I can easily be exposed. So far, not very convincing that I need either shot, but there is a small concern.

The trick is entering my child into the equation. I'm a single mother. If either myself, or my child get sick, there will be missed work. If I get sick, who will watch my active preschooler? Now I'm starting to waiver, after all keeping my daughter healthy is very important to me. Hmmm...let's switch to thinking about my daughter now and see if there's more clarity.

My daughter is a highly active preschooler, who goes to daycare full time and is exposed to children of all age ranges. This puts her at an extremely high risk for contracting and spreading all sorts of illnesses. Some of the children there are under 6 months old and cannot be vaccinated. Their parents are relying on the other children to be immunized to protect their little ones. For the good of society it appears that my child should be vaccinated.

Here comes the problem, my child is immune compromised. She's at a high risk of catching respiratory and GI illnesses. You're thinking duh you should definitely do it. Problem being, immune compromised individuals should not receive flu mist because it contains live virus.

I prefer the live attenuated forms of vaccines. Flu mist provides exposure to the antigens, where the body would normally encounter them. It also provides a wider variety of antigens than the shot usually does, which makes it better able to protect people during antigenic drift. Since the virus is live, many of the questionable vaccine additives aren't used as they would inactivate the virus. Of course, live virus poses a very remote risk of reversion to the wild type, or infection with the weakened form (like has been seen with Polio.) I should avoid using the live form myself, to limit my chance of passing on the attenuated form of the virus to my daughter.

So my daughter could be vaccinated with both flu shots. She is 3 and has never had a flu shot, so she will require 2 shots for seasonal, and 2 shots for H1N1, flu coverage. See where this one is going? The shots contain a lot of the things that could possibly be dangerous. For instance, most of the flu shots are from multi-dose bottles. Since they are drawn from multiple times, they contain thimerosal as a preservative. So my child could be receiving 4 doses of thimerosal in less than 2 months time. After reading the research, I'm still not convinced whether thimerosal is safe, or harmful. To be prudent, I would rather avoid it.

There will be some single dose H1N1 shots available, which will be thimerosal free. When they will be available, and if they will be available in my county, is an unknown at this point. The other issue is that flu shots contain antibiotics. I avoid the use of antibiotics, and don't particularly want myself, or my daughter, to be exposed to them unless necessary.

I'm still facing my quandary. My daughter is the one who needs the most protection. She's the one who has the highest risk of exposure, and the greatest chance of infection. If I get vaccinated, she'll still have a major exposure at daycare, but I will hopefully stay healthy and able to care for her. Of course, its likely that I will remain healthy without vaccination.

I want to choose the option with the least harm. At this point, I'm favoring vaccinating my daughter, but waiting for thimerosal-free shots to be available. As for me, maybe I should just look into a back-up provider, like a family member, who can care for her if I get sick. After all, the flu isn't the only bug out there! I'll continue to keep us in the best of health by following basic wellness guidelines, no matter what my decision.

Using Anti-Viral Pharmaceuticals to Treat the Flu

2009-09-16T10:59:00.000-07:00

Anti-viral pharmaceuticals will not miraculously cure the flu. They are decent at prophylaxis (prevention,) but not in treating. Most people who become sick with influenza will recover at home without the need for pharmaceuticals.

An analysis published in the Lancet (Jefferson T et al 2006: 367: 303-313) showed that Amantedine prevented 61% of influenza A cases and 25% of cases of influenza-like illness in non-vaccinted individuals. Treatment trials of Amantadine and Rimantadine showed fever duration decreased by 1 day. There were no effects on viral shedding, so people were contagious for the same amount of time.

A meta-analysis by NJ Cooper et al (BMJ. 2003 Jun 7; 326 (7401): 1235-42) focused on Zanamivir and Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) use in households where a case of flu was confirmed. Symptomatic influenza cases had a relative reduction of 80-91%. Thus Zanamivir and Oseltamivir appear to be better at preventing flu than Amantedine. Treatment with Zanamivir and Oseltamivir reduces time of symptoms by 0.4-1.5 days, once again not a very dramatic change. Their use did decrease the amount of antibiotics used to treat secondary bacterial infections.

What does this tell us? We need to work hard to prevent catching and transmitting the flu. We do not need to use pharmaceuticals to treat most cases of the flu. Everyone should continue basichabits that promote good health- drinking plenty of clean water, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, sleeping 8 hours a day, exercising, frequent hand washing, and using stress reduction techniques (yoga, meditation, exercise, prayer, etc).

Talk to your healthcare provider about other options to prevent the flu. There are many natural substances that may help, as well as the vaccine. You are unique and deserve to have expert advice on what is best for you!

Group B strep poses risk for newborns

2009-07-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

Published Friday July 10, 2009
The Observer, La Grande, OR

Focus on Health
Tristin Mock, N.D.

Group B strep poses risk for newborns

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a bacterium that can cause serious illness and death in newborns.

Approximately one quarter of women in the U.S. are carriers of the bacteria. These women often do not have symptoms, but can pass the infection on to their children during the birth process.

Group B strep is the most common life-threatening infection in newborns. It can be avoided, but there is no vaccine to prevent infection. GBS is more common than rubella, congenital syphilis, and spina bifida, yet many people have never heard of it. In 2001, around 1,700 newborns were infected.

Group B strep can infect and be carried by anyone. GBS is not the same infection as strep throat. It’s usually found in the gastrointestinal tract (guts) and can then spread to the vagina and rectum. GBS is not a sexually transmitted infection.

Most women are screened for group B strep during the 35th to 37th week of pregnancy. Infected women generally have no symptoms, although some may have a bladder infection. If the mother tests positive for GBS she will need IV antibiotics during labor to prevent passing the infection on to her child. The bacteria regrow rapidly, so antibiotics before labor are ineffective. According to the CDC, “a C-section should not be used to prevent early-onset group B strep infection in infants.”

Group B strep can be contracted at times other than birth, although the birth process is the most common time for transmission. Pre-natal transmission often leads to stillbirth. Late-onset cases can occur in children more than one week old. GBS can cause babies to catch pneumonia, get meningitis (inflammation of the brain), suffer sepsis (blood infection), have lifelong handicaps or die.

If you’re pregnant, please talk to your healthcare provider about testing for group B strep. Not all babies born to infected mother’s contract group B strep, but it is devastating for those who do.

For more information about group B strep please visit http://www.groupbstrep.org/ or http://www.groupbstrepinternational.org/.

Tristin Mock, N.D., is an Americorps VISTA volunteer with the Center for Human Development in La Grande.

Increasing Health Literacy: Two VISTAs in Rural Oregon

2009-07-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

Viewfinder July 2009: Volume II, No. 4

Increasing Health Literacy: Two VISTAs in Rural Oregon

In newspapers and magazines across the country, articles covering the future of health care in America are prevalent. You can find articles like these in the Observer, the major newspaper for rural Union County in Oregon. But you will also discover another type of health care story. These stories focus on increasing health literacy for at-risk communities. Two VISTAs, Billie Jo Craigsmile and Dr. Tristin Mock, are behind this effort (read one of Billie Jo’s articles in the Observer), as well as many other activities to help the local population increase health awareness.

The task of informing the community about these issues is not an easy one. Billie Jo is in her second year of VISTA service, and much of her first year was researching the specific health needs within the community and the readiness of the community members for learning, developing, and implementing prevention programming. From this research, Billie Jo and Tristin are working on six social marketing projects: substance abuse, teens at risk for mental illness, household smoking, general communicable diseases, family planning, and immunization.

The research also shows that the readiness level of Union County is very low for many of these issues, to the point that many community members are in denial that problems even exist. The county has the lowest immunization rate in the state, and while teen pregnancy rates have been going down statewide, Union County’s rate has been increasing.

To take on these issues, Billie Jo and Tristin are using a six phase approach (problem description, market research, market strategy, interventions, evaluation, and implementation) for their social marketing projects. As part of this, they are reaching out to the community through multiple avenues. They are meeting with community groups, such as the Rotary and Kiwanis Club. They are holding presentations for teens, parents, coaches, and teachers. They are even reaching out to school bus drivers, as they recognize the positive connections many have to the students.

In addition, these VISTAs are also using opportunities and resources available to them. As word of the H1N1 (commonly referred to as the swine flu) made its way through the major media outlets, Tristin used this opportunity to talk with local leaders about general communicable diseases, as many were more willing to listen as concerns increased. Instead of creating a new social marketing campaign regarding family planning, she is adapting the efforts of a state-wide campaign for her needs in Union County.

In her second month, Tristin recognizes that her biggest hurdle is “Trying to figure out where you are going and how to get there is the hardest…looking, listening, and finding out what’s going on is very helpful.” Having already served in an AmeriCorps State/National program that included direct service of health care to an underserved community, she has a good understanding of how to approach these issues and build relationships with the population she is serving.

Billie Jo, having a VISTA year under her belt, is setting a goal of having her efforts complete by the end of year two so that in year three, continued implementation of the program will be in effect. To a point, she recognizes she is “territorial” about her project, and is really nervous about handing them over to her replacement next April (a mother of four, her protectionist nature has found its way into her VISTA project!).

Knowing their VISTA service will end before all of the goals for the social marketing projects are achieved, Tristin and Billie Jo are laying the foundation for their projects to be sustainable for years to come. They are creating user-friendly manuals and developing databases that contain the social marketing materials. Additionally, they have been engaged in agency education about their programs and are thinking about who they can train and hand the program over to in order to continue their success.

The Observer may soon be in need of something else to write about.

National HIV Testing Day

2009-06-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

June 27th is National HIV Testing Day. Since its on a Saturday, many places are doing tests a day early. Today in La Grande, CHD is offering HIV tests for a $5 donation! The tests are available during their normal walk-in hours, 9-11:30 am and 1-3 pm. Annual testing is recommended for everyone who is sexually active that is not in a long-term monogamous relationship.

Of the estimated 1 million people infected with HIV in the US, 25% don't know they are infected! Take control. Take the test.

National Men's Health Week

2009-06-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

June 15-21 is National Men's Health Week. This is a good time for men to remember to schedule their annual physicals. Annual screening can catch illness early while its still easily treated. Not a male? Give the gift of health! Include a gift certificate for a check-up in your Father's Day cards.

There is a silent health crisis facing men in the US. On average, men die almost 6 years earlier than women. Men are more likely to be uninsured, and less likely to see a physician, than women.

Men can take other preventative measures, besides going to a doctor. Younger men need to do monthly testicular self exams. Men should check their mouths from any funny looking spots that could indicate cancer. Breast exams are not just for women, men can get breast cancer as well!

Take precautions against mosquitoes

2009-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Published 11 June 2009 The Observer, La Grande, OR

Focus on Health
Tristin Mock, ND

Take precautions against mosquitoes
Tristin Mock, ND
AmeriCorps VISTA

As we enter the warm days of late spring, mosquito season is starting. Now is the time to start taking precautions to protect yourself from bites. Not only are mosquitoes annoying, they also can transmit West Nile Virus.

West Nile Virus can be transmitted by mosquitoes to humans, horses, and birds. In humans symptoms can vary widely. Some people may have a mild fever, or flu-like illness. In others the disease can progress to encephalitis (brain inflammation) and possibly death.

Killing mosquitoes should not be your goal. They provide food for animals including fish, frogs, birds, and bats. Mosquitoes can even pollinate flowers! Instead, focus on preventing mosquito bites and eliminating mosquito breeding sites around your home.

There are several simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from West Nile Virus. You should avoid mosquito bites by using repellant, covering up, and staying indoors at dusk and dawn. Classic synthesized repellants include DEET and picaridin. Repellants need not contain harsh chemicals. Some naturally derived mosquito repellants recommended by the CDC are oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD (para-Menthane-3,8-diol), and IR3535 (3-[N-Butyl-N-acetyl]-aminopropionic acid, ethyl ester). No matter what type of repellant you use, be sure to read and follow the label directions before applying it!

You should also mosquito-proof your home. This includes installing or repairing screens, avoiding standing water, and cleaning up possible sources of standing water. Remember to clean your gutters so water doesn’t collect in them. Water sources, like bird baths and water troughs, should be cleaned at least once a week.

The last step in limiting the spread of West Nile Virus is to report dead birds. The virus can infect birds. If you find dead crows, ravens, jays, magpies, hawks, eagles, or red-breasted robins please report them to Union County Vector Control at 963-2974. These reports aid in tracking the spread of West Nile Virus in Union County.

Together we can prevent the spread of West Nile Virus. For more information on the virus, please visit the Center for Human Development, Inc website www.chdinc.org, or call 962-8801.

Formulary Modernization Act Passed!

2009-06-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone who contacted your legislators about this bill! The Oregon ND formulary modernization act, SB 327, unanimously passed the house on June 2. The bill is now waiting for the governor's signature to become law. It will go into effect on January 1, 2010.

All drugs used in the primary care setting will now be on the naturopathic formulary! This will allow us to provide the highest quality of care to our patients. This bill allows us not only to prescribe more drugs, but most importantly to be able to remove patients from them. We're only allowed to remove people from drugs that we can prescribe.

Once again, thank you everyone for your help in passing this landmark legislation!

Teen pregnancy prevention needs to be a priority

2009-06-01T15:46:00.000-07:00

Below is a copy of an article I wrote that was published in the La Grande Observer on Friday May 29. They have not posted the article online yet.

Health Matters
Tristin Mock, ND

In the US, 3 out of every 10 girls will be pregnant as least once before the age of 20. According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, in 2004, at least 5,832 teenage girls became pregnant in Oregon. In comparison, in 2003, there were only 3,117 new cases of breast cancer, in all ages and sexes, in Oregon. Many people are ignoring this disturbing trend that allowed over 2% of teenage girls, including 106 girls under the age of 15, in our state to become pregnant.

DHS reports that around 30% of teen pregnancies end in legal abortion. Of those girls who underwent abortion procedures, 68.5% were not using contraception! Most teens wait 6-12 months after becoming sexually active to seek contraception. During this time they are at increased risk for pregnancy and contracting sexually transmitted infections.

There is hope in slowing this trend. Research has shown five things that result in teens using birth control regularly, or postponing sexual activity. These five simple things are easily provided by supportive parents, schools, and communities.

Teens that have adequately discussed sexuality, pregnancy and birth control with their parents have lower pregnancy rates. Some parents may want to avoid discussing sexual health with their teens, but it is important. As the state pregnancy rate shows, it’s never too early to start these discussions. Be open and honest with your child. Age appropriate information can be found from a variety of sources including at http://www.chdinc.org/.

Another protective factor is having had a comprehensive sexuality education course. These courses are available in schools and the general community, including at churches. These classes are important to reinforce the message parents are giving children, and to provide a venue where children can ask questions they may be embarrassed to ask their parents.

Having realistic life options are important. Recently, increasing amounts of teens have decided that it’s cool to have a child. Many of these children do not realize the true impact of their choice. Of the families started by unmarried teen moms, 2/3 are poor. Children of teen mothers are more likely to be born prematurely, suffer abuse and neglect, and end up in foster care compared to children of older parents.

Living in a supportive environment that contributes to an individual’s self-esteem can protect teens from pregnancy. High self-esteem can give teens the strength they need to resist sexual activity, or to assert their choices regarding safer sex practices. Being a community that offers varied activities for youth can help improve the self-esteem of teens.

Finally, sexually active teens are more likely to use contraception if there is guaranteed confidentiality and easy access to birth control. In Oregon, there are no laws limiting access to contraceptive services; family planning services are free for those who qualify through FPEP. Please call public health to see if you qualify and to schedule an appointment, 541-962-8801. Free condoms are available at public health for those who need them.

For more information about how to become involved in teen pregnancy prevention, or if you would like to participate as a member on the Union County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition, contact Sandra Leavitt at the Mt. Emily Safe Center, 963-0602.

Tristin Mock, N.D., is an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer with the Public Health Team at Center for Human Development

Free IUC (IUD) Insertion!

2009-05-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

I plan on attending an intrauterine contraception training on Monday June 22 in Hillsboro. During this training I will have the chance to insert an IUC, either Paraguard or Mirena, for free!

If you are interested in several years worth of free birthcontrol, please let me know. For more information on IUDs click here. You must be available in Hillsboro on June 22 in the afternoon. Carpooling is a possibility. E-mail or call 541-663-6962.

Remembering our Food

2009-05-18T21:11:00.000-07:00

My toddler is currently cuddled in my lap. She's recovering from the discovery that food comes from other living things. This is a hard lesson to face, but one we all should remember. Our world of industrial farming and supermarkets have distanced us from realizing that the dollar menu once lived in a feedlot, or grew in fields.

If we all take the time to remember the lives that were sacrificed, so that we could eat, the world would be a better place. Truly knowing the source of our food forces us to eat more humanely. Some of us forgo the violence of meat and choose to eat lower on the food chain, while others buy meat from local small farmers who humanely raise and slaughter their animals.

Maybe we all should go fishing and see the spirit of the fish as it fights the hook. We can do as my daughter, and notice that fish have eyes like people. Whatever your choice, remember the sacrifice of the plants and animals that feed us. The next time you buy food, find out its story. Learn where it came from and how it was raised, try growing your own, the meal will be more satisfying because you know what went into it.

Formulary Reform is Progressing!

2009-05-07T17:25:00.000-07:00

It's time to email your Representative!

Thank you to all who contacted your Senators in support of OANP's bill to modernize the ND formulary to include all drugs used in a primary care setting.

The bill passed out of the Senate on a strong 22-7 vote, and has now moved on to the next step in this process. For those of you living in La Grande, Senator David Nelson did vote yes on this bill! The Oregon House of Representatives has now begun deliberating the bill.

Once again, we need you, your family, and friends to contact your REPRESENTATIVES this time to urge their support for SB 327.

Please click on the following link to send an email to your Representative. http://capwiz.com/naturopathic/issues/alert/?alertid=12990641

Naturopathic Doctors Call For Real Health Care Reform

2009-05-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today, over 100 naturopathic physicians and their supporters are gathering on Capitol Hill. They are asking that our healthcare system focus on health, rather than disease. H. CON. RES. 58 expresses "the sense of Congress that any effort to reengineer the healthcare system in the United States should incorporate sustainable wellness programs that address the underlying causal factors associated with chronic disease."

According to Karen Howard, Executive Director of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, “Today, our definition of ‘wellness’ is limited to drug screening, vaccinations, and other preventative strategies such as drug therapy, but we drastically undervalue how changing behavior can prevent disease. If the nation is to move past the current health care crisis, we must adopt a patient-centered health care model that will restore and maintain optimal health.”

Please join me in supporting healthcare by taking action. To learn more about naturopathic medicine please visit the AANP.

H1N1 (Swine) Flu

2009-04-27T20:42:00.000-07:00

Prevention is always the best medicine!

Protect yourself and your community. There are simple (green) ways to prevent the spread of swine flu, and other communicable diseases.

Wash your hands frequently
Cover your mouth and nose during coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your arm
Avoid sick people
Stay home if you're ill
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Sleep!
Drink plenty of water and eat well
Exercise
Minimize stress

If you find yourself getting sick, please do not go to work! Call your doctor and discuss your condition. Some doctors are willing to do house calls, like Dr Drew at Golden Leaf Clinic in La Grande.

The CDC reports that the presently circulating H1N1 flu is susceptible to two antiviral medications. With only 40 confirmed cases in the US, we don't know how difficult to treat this virus will be. Luckily, naturopathic physicians have multiple treatment modalities to draw upon that are not limited to pharmaceuticals.

For more information on swine flu please visit the CDC website.

World Autism Awareness Day

2009-04-02T06:00:00.000-07:00

April 2, marks World Autism Awareness Day. This is one of only 3 days approved by the UN to recognize a medical condition. Autism impacts the lives of the entire global population. I think we all know someone who suffers from an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or who has a family member that does. It is estimated that 1 out of every 150 people will be diagnosed with ASD. In most countries, ASD effects more people than pediatric cancers, diabetes, and AIDS combined!

There is hope! Early intervention can lead to drastic improvements in children. I have witnessed this myself. I've watched a child diagnosed at a young age who received treatment, go from the autism end of the spectrum to Aspergers. At this point, people who don't know his past just assume he has a learning disability.

If your child is slow in developing communication and social skills, please mention it to your healthcare provider! These are observations that can be hard for a physician to make, since many children are shy at doctors appointments.

For more information please visit the WAAD website.

Help me help you!

2009-03-30T00:13:00.000-07:00

In response to the demands of its members over the years to modernize the naturopathic formulary, the Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians has been working with Senator Laurie Monnes-Anderson (D-Gresham) on a bill that would allow naturopathic physicians the authority to prescribe all pharmaceuticals that would typically be used in a primary care setting.

The bill would maintain the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiner's oversight of the formulary, but would allow the Formulary Council to consider adding synthetic pharmaceuticals to the formulary.

SB 327 is poised to be voted on in the Oregon State Senate, and we need your help to make sure that it receives a resounding majority of votes!

Please write your state senator here.

World TB Day is March 24

2009-03-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a devastating infection. In the US we tend to think of TB as a disease of the past. "Consumption" is something from the old west, or Moulin Rouge. However, tuberculosis is still a deadly threat to the world.

1/3 of the world's population is infected with TB
TB is a worldwide leading killer of women
1 person dies from TB every 20 seconds
TB is the leading killer of people infected with HIV
90% of people who test positive for HIV will die within months of contracting TB, if not properly treated
the drug regimen for treating standard TB in the developing world is only $20 per patient!

Treating TB takes a long time. People need to be able to afford to continue treatment, so drug resistant strains are not created. It will take the global community working together to prevent the spread of TB.

Tuberculosis is often spread through the air. It can occur in many parts of the body, but classically occurs in the lungs. Symptoms include:

night sweats
chest pain
coughing up blood
fatigue
unexplained weight loss
loss of appetite
chills
fever
cough lasting longer than 3 weeks

If you have any of these symptoms, or have possibly been exposed to TB please get tested! Testing is a simple process that involves injecting a small amount of fluid into your skin. It is much less painful than a blood draw. Since TB can be easily spread, please get tested as soon as you suspect you may be infected. Early detection and treatment are key ways to preventing the spread of TB.

I urge you to learn more about TB by visiting StopTB.org and Action.org.

Help a New Family

2009-03-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

As a community, we should be supportive of breastfeeding mothers. Especially in the early days after a birth, providing food to the new family is a wonderful gift. However, always check with the family for food preferences.

Some common foods that many breastfeeding mothers avoid are cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc) and chocolate. These foods are often avoided because they may contribute to colic. I recently had someone tell me that this is an old wives tale; women have known this wisdom for centuries, and it is true. There are several journal articles that support these ties. You can read more about foods associated with colic in:

"Primary Care from Infancy to Adolescence" Pediatric Clinics of North America - Volume 54, Issue 6 (December 2007)
Lust K.D., Brown J.E., Thomas W.: "Maternal intake of cruciferous vegetables and other foods and colic symptoms in exclusively breast-fed infants." J Am Diet Assoc 96. 46-48.1996
Cambria S., et al: "Hyperexcitability syndrome in a newborn infant of chocoholic mother." Am J Perinatol 23. 421-422.2006

Please support new families. Preparing a simple meal, or doing a load of laundry, can be an amazing gift to a new family. Simple gifts have great value, and so does the knowledge of our foremothers.

If you have questions about breastfeeding please contact your local La Leche League. For those of you in La Grande, our chapter is currently inactive. However, I am currently in the process of becoming a LLL leader. Hopefully, our chapter will be active in the near future.

I am available to consult with breastfeeding mothers about any questions they may have. Please feel free to call Golden Leaf Clinic at 541-663-6962.

Beautiful Cervix

2009-03-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Its important for people to understand their own body. Everyone is unique, and doctors rely on people knowing when something is abnormal in themselves. Most people are familiar with their own body by virtue of living in it. However, their is one body part that most women know about, but have never seen.

A woman's cervix is often a familiar, yet mysterious part. Most women go through their lives without seeing what a cervix actually looks like. All of my patients are given the option to view their own cervix during a speculum exam. Its really amazing to watch the face of a woman as she sees her cervix for the time. There is a sense of connection and ownership, no longer is her cervix a mysterious part "down there."

I encourage women to ask their doctors about viewing their cervix. Until you have the opportunity to view your own, I've found the second best thing. A young woman has posted photos of her cervix on the web. I encourage you to visit www.beautifulcervix.com and view the cervix pictures.

Get to know your own body. To schedule an appointment with me, to view your cervix or otherwise, call 541-963-6962.

Diets and Weight Loss

2009-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that calorie restriction resulted in weight loss regardless of focus on carbohydrates, fats, or proteins. This idea is not new and supports the benefit of a healthy varied diet.

Diet should focus on receiving a variety of vitamins and nutrients, rather than restricting them. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are all needed to maintain health. The focus on fast food in the US has resulted in a high calorie nutrient poor diet. People should focus on eating a variety of foods, especially of plant origins. Plant based foods tend to provide the highest amount of nutrients for the fewest calories. They also are bulky, which means that your stomach fills up on less food, resulting in a lower caloric intake.

To schedule a nutritional consultation please contact me at 541-663-6962.

Colds in Young Children

2009-02-26T09:47:00.000-08:00

Many parents turn to Vick's VapoRub when their children are sick, either as a rub or in a vaporizer. However, recent research has discovered that Vick's may be damaging to the respiratory health of young children. Vick's can cause an increase in mucus production, which may then cause airways to become overly narrow. This is a case where many people do not read the label. The Vick's VapoRub label states that it is not to be used in children under 2 years of age.

Simple treatments are best when treating young children. If your child begins struggling for breathe get them medical attention. Otherwise, rest and fluids are ideal. Neti pots and nasal suction are ideal for relieving sinus congestion. Hydrotherapy is a great way to treat general congestion. Golden Leaf Clinic offers classes on home treatments, sign-up for our newsletter to get information on our class schedule.

ZZZZZs

2009-02-22T13:49:00.000-08:00

For years, I have been telling my patients to make sure they get enough sleep. I recommend at least 8 hours of sleep every night. Many people rebel at this recommendation because they have "too much to do."

I understand that fitting in 8 hours of sleep can be difficult in some situations. To maintain your health you must prioritize sleep! Even throughout my years as a full-time student, and mother, I prioritized sleep and on average slept at least 8 hours every night. Being fully rested helped me to maintain not only my concentration, but also my health.

Think of how far you fall behind when you get sick. Many people try to continue their normal activity level when sick, but this is a bad idea. They simply stay sick longer and may spread the infection onto many other people.

A recent study found that people who slept under 7 hours every night were 3x as likely to catch a cold as those who slept longer. Other studies have recommended at least 7 hours of sleep to reduce the risk of heart disease. I think that sleeping at least 8 hours is a simple cheap way to maintain health. Why spend lots of money on drugs to treat illnesses that can be prevented by adequate sleep?

SUPPORT H.R. 676

2009-02-11T18:47:00.000-08:00

Our health care system desperately needs to be changed. We need universal health care!

As a physician I have seen patients who lost their employer-sponsored health care because of the recession. One patient was denied insurance coverage because they had not had their screening colonoscopy performed. This routine exam had already been schedule to occur in a month, but the patient couldn't afford the exam without insurance! They were caught in a situation of not being able to get insurance without the exam, but not being able to get the exam without insurance. This is an all too common and frustrating experience.

Many patients are unable to afford to be seen for routine preventative visits. They need universal health care! An inexpensive visit that covers diet may prevent someone from developing diabetes, and later having a toe amputated. Just think how much money society could save by providing preventative health care. Lives can be saved by providing universal health care.

Everyone deserves access to health care. Ongoing wellness care can help prevents illnesses, costing everyone less money. It is deplorable that a 20 year old type I diabetic could be denied access to life saving insulin because its too expensive. It is morally repugnant to send home widowed seniors hours after surgery for a fracture because they don't have insurance. The current health care system is leaving doctors with no time to see patients; and patients are receiving suboptimal care

Please join me in by participating in the National Call-in Day for HR 676
February 12, 2009: Call Congress, and the President Congressional switchboard: 202-224-3121 (ask for your representative's office)

If your member is a current co-sponsor, thank your rep. and ask him or her to stand firm for HR 676 and actively seek additional co-sponsors.

If your member was a co-sponsor in the last Congress, ask him or her to sign on immediately as a co-sponsor in this Congress.

If your member has yet to co-sponsor HR 676, ask him or her to please become a co-sponsor, select one or two talking points here.

In a letter to Col. William F. Elkins written November 21, 1864, Lincoln wrote: "I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. . . . corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

In celebration of Abraham Lincoln's birthday, remind your member of Congress to honor his words and heed his warning as we look to reform his precious nation's healthcare system. Urge your member to accept testimony from panelists to explore the serious flaws in the Massachusetts health plan and examine why it cannot serve as a national model for providing universal and comprehensive care, on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 2:00pm-4:00pm, 2226 Rayburn House Office Building.

Hemorrhagic Fever in the US

2009-02-09T09:36:00.000-08:00

The CDC recently released a retrospective study disclosing that a Colorado man had bee infected with Marburg. Marburg is a hemorrhagic fever that is around 80% fatal. We got lucky on this case. The man recovered from his illness, and apparently did not spread the infection. This is the stuff that horror movies are made of, think Outbreak.

This infection terrifies me since the man was not diagnosed for an entire year! The damage that could have happened in a months time is pretty serious. I do not know what symptoms he presented with, but I would think that someone presenting with signs of a hemorrhagic fever would be at the top of the CDCs priority list, especially someone with a history of recent travel to Africa. That's why I'm terrified that it took them a year to determine the diagnosis.

In this age of quick and easy international travel, we all need to take precautions. According to the CDC, people traveling internationally should

Avoid contact with bats and other wild animals. Travelers should not enter caves or mines where bats may live.
Go to a doctor right away if you have a fever AND you had contact with animals or sick people, or visited bat-infested caves in Africa during the past three weeks.
If you are bitten or scratched by an animal or if body fluid (such as saliva) from the animal gets into your eyes, nose, mouth, or a wound, take these steps:
- Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
- Go to a doctor or hospital right away.
Consider buying medical evacuation insurance if you are visiting a country where there may not be good access to medical care.

We all need to consider the risks of international travel. People are able to quickly travel and can be on a different continent before developing symptoms. We've seen this repeatedly, most notably with SARS and now Marburg. Before traveling please consider not only your own health, but that of your friends and family. Visit your doctor before departure for recommendations specific to the area you are traveling to. A naturopathic physician can help you with not only travel vaccines, but also trying to strengthen your immune system.

The fight against human obesity

2009-02-06T09:38:00.000-08:00

Our society is being overrun by an obesity epidemic. There are many studies underway to fight it. One recent study suggests that arginine may prevent obesity. We need to be cautious in our use of arginine though.

Dietary arginine can exacerbate herpes outbreaks. By the age of 50, 90% of Americans may be infected with herpes. Herpes can present genitally and orally. Oral outbreaks are commonly called cold sores, or fever blisters.

People should focus on cheap, simple, and effective treatments. A healthy diet and excercise will treat and prevent obesity in many cases. We must put personal effort into our own health. There are very few magic pills out there. Most pills have possible negative side effects, including supplements.

People need to be aware that arginine may make their herpes worsen before starting to supplement arginine. Naturopaths are experts in supplements and can assist you in finding a treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs. To schedule a consult with me please call 541-663-6962.

Lead Exposure

2009-01-30T18:38:00.000-08:00

Many parents are becoming more aware of the presence of lead in various items. The Consumer Product Safety Commission sends out e-mails on various recalls on an almost daily basis, and most of the recalls are due to "lead hazard." I recommend that everyone subscribe to the CPSC e-mail recall announce list.

I assumed that most people realized that the biggest exposure to lead is home remodeling. After all, we used to use leaded paint. I guess this wasn't so obvious since a report was just released on it. My advice is to consider postponing remodeling if you have any children in your home under 3 years of age.

If you live in an older home, or have any other lead exposures, please consider getting your child's lead levels tested. I can assist you in evaluating risk hazards, testing your child, and provide treatment if needed. Please call 541-663-6962 to schedule an appointment.

What to do with your old stuff

2009-01-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

Did you get a new items recently? Have you figured out what to do with your old belongings? You should try to give away your old treasures, they may no longer suit you, but may be someone else's dream. If you don't find a taker for your old electronics, don't throw them away, E-cycle them!

The La Grande Freecycle list allows people to offer items for free. If you are not in the LG area don't worry, there are freecycle groups worldwide. A quick web search should be able to put you in contact with one. There are several thrift stores in La Grande. The one by the recycling center is a no hassle drop-off site and sells items very cheaply. They accept a wide variety of items. Trying to get rid of old building supplies (lumber, nails, coat hooks, appliances, etc)? Contact the The Habitat for Humanity ReStore at 541-963-2414!

If you still haven't found a taker for your old electronic equipment, or its broken and unrepairable, E-cycle it! La Grande offers two E-cycle locations for computers, monitors, and TVs, The Habitat for Humanity ReStore and the City Garbage Service Transfer Station. Click here to find out more about E-cycling in Oregon. Effective January 1, 2010, all computers, monitors, and TVs will be banned from disposal in Oregon. Before E-cycling you can also try to do craft projects with the parts.

Remember the 3 R's. They are in a specific order for a reason!

Reduce
Reuse
Recyle

Healthy Kids Campaign

2008-12-17T09:21:00.000-08:00

We need to start considering the safety of our children's toys and the effects they are having on our population. The Oregon Environmental Council has launched the Healthy Kids Campaign to bring awareness to this issue.

Some facts according to the Oregon Environmental Council:

Recent testing of over 1,200 popular children's toys revealed that 60% of these products contained lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury or PVC, including many toys made in the United States.
Canada has declared that bisphenol-A (BPA) is a toxic substance and is moving to ban the chemical in plastic baby bottles. In lab studies, even small amounts of BPA have been linked to reproductive damage, hormone disruption and reduced sperm count.
Recent studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that BPA is present in over 92.6% of Americans.
Big industry (and the Food and Drug Administration) has been claiming that the amount of the toxic chemical that leaches out of these products is not a threat to humans. However, this opinion has been roundly dismissed by the FDA's own advisory board.

One of the toughest issues with riding our homes of these potentially harmful toys, is what to do with them? I would normally donate unwanted items so they can be reused, but in this case I don't want to expose other children to them. OEC has provided an elegant solution to this problem.

OEC will hand deliver these unsafe products to your legislator to illustrate the need to close the loopholes that let these products get on our shelves and into our homes. Don't worry, they'll recycle them after they make your point! Since recycling these plastics can be difficult, especially in rural areas, this solution is great.

To take action look through your toy collection, and the rest of your belongings, for hard #7 plastics. You can check items in the Healthy Toy Database. When you find offending items collect them together and mail them to:
Oregon Environmental Council
222 NW Davis Street, Suite 309
Portland, Oregon 97209

Prepare for cold weather with emergency check-lists

2008-12-16T19:20:00.000-08:00

Below you will find information from DHS. Please prepare yourself for hazardous conditions, and be prepared to help others in need. There are many people who rely on electric heat, and if the power goes out they will need the help of others.

With another storm front moving into Northwestern Oregon and snow and sub- freezing temperatures predicted for the next few days, this is a good time to think about preparing for emergencies.

Experts at the Oregon Department of Human Resources Public Health Division warn that cold can kill as well as injure. Preparation can assure that you are safe and warm.

Stock up on emergency supplies for communication, food, safety, heating and car travel in case a storm hits. Here are lists of supplies and precautions you should consider during severe winter weather.

At home:

• Battery-powered radio. Have extra batteries.
• Listen to emergency broadcasts.

Know what winter storm warning terms mean:

• Winter weather advisory: expect winter weather conditions to cause inconvenience and hazards.
• Frost/freeze warning: expect below-freezing temperatures.
• Winter storm watch: be alert; a storm is likely.
• Winter storm warning: take action; the storm is in or entering the area.
• Blizzard warning: seek refuge immediately! Snow and strong winds, near-zero visibility, deep snow drifts, and life-threatening wind chill.

Food and Safety Checklist

Have a week's worth of food and safety supplies. If you live far from other people, have more supplies on hand:
• Drinking water
• Canned/no-cook food (bread, crackers, dried fruits)
• Non-electric can opener
• Baby food and formula (if baby in the household)
• Prescription drugs and other medicine
• First-aid kit
• Rock-salt to melt ice on walkways
• Supply of cat litter or bag of sand to add traction on walkways
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery-powered lamps or lanterns

(To prevent the risk of fire, avoid using candles.)

Water Checklist

Keep a water supply. Extreme cold can cause water pipes in your home to freeze and sometimes break.
• Leave all water taps slightly open so they drip continuously.
• Keep the indoor temperature warm.
• Allow more heated air near pipes. Open kitchen cabinet doors under the kitchen sink.
• If your pipes do freeze, do not thaw them with a torch. Thaw the pipes slowly with warm air from an electric hair dryer.
• If you cannot thaw your pipes, or if the pipes have broken open, use bottled water or get water from a neighbor's home.
• Have bottled water on hand.
• In an emergency-if no other water is available-snow can be melted for water. Bringing water to a rolling boil for one minute will kill most germs but won't get rid of chemicals sometimes found in snow.

Heating Checklist

• Have at least one of the following heat sources in case the power goes out: Fireplace with plenty of dry firewood, portable space heaters or kerosene heaters.
• Never place a space heater on top of furniture or near water.
• Use electric space heaters with automatic shut-off switches and nonglowing elements.
• Keep heat sources at least 3 feet away from furniture and drapes.
• Never leave children unattended near a space heater.
• Have safety equipment including a chemical fire extinguisher, working smoke alarm carbon monoxide detector.
• Never use an electric generator indoors, inside the garage, or near the air intake of your home because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Cooking and Lighting Checklist

• Never use charcoal grills or portable gas camp stove indoors-the fumes are deadly.
• Use battery-powered flashlights or lanterns.
• Avoid using candles.
• Never leave lit candles alone.

Car and Emergency Checklist

First, avoid driving and use public transportation if possible. If you must drive use chains or other traction devices. You can avoid many dangerous winter travel problems by planning ahead.

Prepare your car with emergency supplies:
• Cell phone
• Shovel
• Windshield scraper
• Battery-powered radio
• Flashlight
• Water
• Snack food
• Extra hats, coats, mittens
• Blankets
• Chains or rope
• Tire chains
• Road salt and sand
• Booster cables
• Emergency flares
• First aid kit
• Tool kit
• Road maps
• Waterproof matches and a can (to melt snow for water)
• Paper towels

Fall prevention on icy surfaces

• Plan ahead, plan your route, and give yourself extra time.
• Wear shoes with non-slip soles.
• Wear cleats that attach to shoes.
• Walking sticks can help you maintain balance.
• Take short steps or shuffle for stability – penguins are good walkers because they shuffle!
• Walk slowly.
• Take shorter steps and plant your whole foot gently down instead of using the typical heel strike that we use when we're walking.
• Avoid inclines.
• Keep hands out of pockets for balance.
• Use handrails where possible.
• Test potentially slick areas by tapping your foot on them.
• Be cautious entering or leaving buildings as ice and water accumulating inside and out create slick conditions.

Finally, check on neighbors, particularly the elderly to make sure that they are warm and safe. Offer to shovel walkways and paths, shop, or take out the garbage for older adults in your neighborhood.

Natural Childbirth

2008-12-12T17:58:00.000-08:00

I wanted to post an update for those of you who have been following my efforts to add natural childbirth to my practice. I was hoping to start classes in January, but will not be able to. The program I was hoping to enter does not accept people who have already received their ND. They are working on changing this rule, but I won't be able to start my training until fall '09 at the earliest. My training will take at least a year to complete, so I will not be able to assist women with their births, as the primary care taker, until fall '10 at the earliest.

I still strongly support a woman's right, and ability, to have a birth wherever she chooses. I urge everyone to watch The Business of Being Born, especially those who are pregnant or are planning on becoming pregnant. This documentary focuses on the birth industry and how in-hospital births can cause more harm than home births. Netflix subscribers can watch this movie instantly.

Winter Vibrancy Class

2008-12-11T15:04:00.000-08:00

Please join us for our winter vibrancy class next Thursday evening at 6 pm. Everyone will leave with a copy of our lecture, which explains why certain supplements should be taken in winter, and how much to take. We will also discuss cautions that should be taken with certain supplement usage. We will allow time for questions and discussion.

To reserve a spot please call 541-663-6962 or stop by the office at 1405 Washington.

World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T09:42:00.000-08:00

Please join me in ending HIV prejudice. Today, across the globe, we join in honoring and remembering those afflicted with HIV/AIDS.

Make sure you know the facts about HIV.

It is not spread through casual contact! You will not get HIV by hugging someone who is infected.
People with HIV do not necessarily look sick. You cannot tell if someone is infected simply by looking at them!
Respect yourself and your sexual partners by using condoms every time you have intercourse.
Don't use IV drugs! If you do, make sure you have a new needle every time.
Get tested.
If someone tells you they have HIV/AIDS treat them with respect and honor confidentiality.
HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence, people are living long meaningful lives after diagnosis.

For more information about HIV/AIDS please visit http://www.aids.gov/. If you are interested in testing please call and make an appointment, 541-963-7435. In honor of World AIDS Day I am offering 50% off appointments focused on HIV/AIDS testing and treatment during the month of December.

Greening your Holidays- Greeting Cards

2008-11-22T09:58:00.000-08:00

Want to "green" your holiday celebration? Try sending e-cards rather than paper holiday cards. This will not only save paper, but also the fuel that would be burned to deliver your mail. There are several places online that offer free holiday e-cards.

One thing to consider when sending an e-card is who will benefit from the card. Many environmental groups offer cards, which can help the recipient focus on the environment and possibly become active with the group that provided the card. I support the efforts of The Nature Conservancy and they provide many free gorgeous e-cards.

Another great opportunity is to send a card through the Robeez site. Robeez are wonderful soft soled shoes for children with cute designs. They are only offered in leather, which is the biggest drawback. Robeez is currently celebrating the Season of Giving in which each card sent equals a $5 product donation to Kids in Distressed Situations. This is a win-win situation, you send your cards and kids get their needs met.

Environmental Health

2008-11-10T10:33:00.000-08:00

Residents of La Grande now can receive daily e-mail updates with the local air quality index during the winter months. The use of wood stoves during the winter months contributes to poor air quality that can have negative impacts on respiratory and cardiovascular health. Attention to the AQI is especially important for people with asthma. Remaining indoors during poor air quality days can help protect you from the negative effects.

The negative effects of poor air quality can include

coughing
wheezing
phlegm
chest tightness
shortness of breath
chest pain
palpitations
unusual fatigue

I urge everyone to receive these updates and act accordingly to protect their health. I also urge people to invest in weather proofing their homes and using forms of heat that do not pollute the environment. To sign up for these updates visit http://www.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm.

Cell Phone Use and Children

2008-10-28T22:00:00.000-07:00

A recent study from the UK stresses the importance of keeping our children away from cell phones. I must admit that I have fallen victim to allowing my child to hold and talk on a cell phone. The modern world is immersed in a sea of invisible transmissions from a variety of sources- phones, TVs, satellites, radios, WiFi, etc. Time will undoubtedly reveal unknown risks to these transmissions. In the mean time, moderation is a key to almost all things.

Here is the article.

Mobile phone use 'raises children's risk of brain cancer fivefold'

Alarming new research from Sweden on the effects of radiation raises fears that today's youngsters face an epidemic of the disease in later life

By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Sunday, 21 September 2008

Getty

The Swedish research was reported this month at the first international conference on mobile phones and health
Children and teenagers are five times more likely to get brain cancer if they use mobile phones, startling new research indicates.

The study, experts say, raises fears that today's young people may suffer an "epidemic" of the disease in later life. At least nine out of 10 British 16-year-olds have their own handset, as do more than 40 per cent of primary schoolchildren.

Yet investigating dangers to the young has been omitted from a massive £3.1m British investigation of the risks of cancer from using mobile phones, launched this year, even though the official Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) Programme – which is conducting it – admits that the issue is of the "highest priority".

Despite recommendations of an official report that the use of mobiles by children should be "minimised", the Government has done almost nothing to discourage it.

Last week the European Parliament voted by 522 to 16 to urge ministers across Europe to bring in stricter limits for exposure to radiation from mobile and cordless phones, Wi-fi and other devices, partly because children are especially vulnerable to them. They are more at risk because their brains and nervous systems are still developing and because – since their heads are smaller and their skulls are thinner – the radiation penetrates deeper into their brains.

The Swedish research was reported this month at the first international conference on mobile phones and health.

It sprung from a further analysis of data from one of the biggest studies carried out into the risk that the radiation causes cancer, headed by Professor Lennart Hardell of the University Hospital in Orebro, Sweden. Professor Hardell told the conference – held at the Royal Society by the Radiation Research Trust – that "people who started mobile phone use before the age of 20" had more than five-fold increase in glioma", a cancer of the glial cells that support the central nervous system. The extra risk to young people of contracting the disease from using the cordless phone found in many homes was almost as great, at more than four times higher.

Those who started using mobiles young, he added, were also five times more likely to get acoustic neuromas, benign but often disabling tumours of the auditory nerve, which usually cause deafness.

By contrast, people who were in their twenties before using handsets were only 50 per cent more likely to contract gliomas and just twice as likely to get acoustic neuromas.

Professor Hardell told the IoS: "This is a warning sign. It is very worrying. We should be taking precautions." He believes that children under 12 should not use mobiles except in emergencies and that teenagers should use hands-free devices or headsets and concentrate on texting. At 20 the danger diminishes because then the brain is fully developed. Indeed, he admits, the hazard to children and teenagers may be greater even than his results suggest, because the results of his study do not show the effects of their using the phones for many years. Most cancers take decades to develop, longer than mobile phones have been on the market.

The research has shown that adults who have used the handsets for more than 10 years are much more likely to get gliomas and acoustic neuromas, but he said that there was not enough data to show how such relatively long-term use would increase the risk for those who had started young.

He wants more research to be done, but the risks to children will not be studied in the MTHR study, which will follow 90,000 people in Britain. Professor David Coggon, the chairman of the programmes management committee, said they had not been included because other research was being done on young people by a study at Sweden's Kariolinska Institute.

He said: "It looks frightening to see a five-fold increase in cancer among people who started use in childhood," but he said he "would be extremely surprised" if the risk was shown to be so high once all the evidence was in.

But David Carpenter, dean of the School of Public Health at the State University of NewYork – who also attended the conference – said: "Children are spending significant time on mobile phones. We may be facing a public health crisis in an epidemic of brain cancers as a result of mobile phone use."

In 2000 and 2005, two official inquiries under Sir William Stewart, a former government chief scientist, recommended the use of mobile phones by children should be "discouraged" and "minimised".

But almost nothing has been done, and their use by the young has more than doubled since the turn of the millennium.

A Weaning Story

2008-10-14T22:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been quiet lately. The fall season brings in more people to keep me busy, plus its high season for my political campaign.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful opportunity to increase the health of both mother and child.Below I'm reposting a wonderful weaning story from the La Leche League website. I'm a strong supporter of breastfeeding and find this story a close mirror to my own. I hope that you are inspired by this touching story.

Letting Go
A Weaning Story

Lu Hanessian
Englewood NJ USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 21 No. 1, January-February 2004, pp. 4

My son was barely out of my womb when people asked me how long I planned to breastfeed. A year and a half later, people ask when I plan to enroll him in school, whether he throws tantrums, if he's a picky eater, if he's waking up dry yet. Then they find out he still breastfeeds.

"I can't imagine nursing such a big baby," laughs my neighbor.

"Agh! How do you do it with all those teeth?" shudders my friend Jennifer.

People are curious, I suppose. And probably a little concerned about a nursing child who can also feed himself with a fork. "You still have milk?" a girlfriend asks incredulously.

Occasionally, my father-in-law teases me that Nicholas will still be breastfeeding when he's 35. "You're coddling him," he jests. And I kindly remind him that he was nursed until he was four.

"Why?" people ask, half-afraid of the answer. Why nurse him when he can walk? I guess the answer is so simple that it's kind of complicated.

My son loves to nurse. He gets giddy. He takes my hand and pulls me to his favorite Red Flower Chair in the corner of our living room. "Ana nuss, Mah-mee," he declares. Translation? I want to nurse. Yes, at a mere 18 months, the boy knows what he wants. Or rather, he knows what he needs. He plays like a Whirling Dervish, then comes to my lap and asks to breastfeed for a minute, like an Indy 500 race car coming in for a pit stop.

He wakes up from a midday nap, and my husband, Dave, brings him downstairs where I'm writing. He looks at me with his nap hair and pillow-creased cheeks and gasps, "Mah-mee!" And he runs to me from across the room in his superhero way, arms suspended, fists high, eyebrows raised, mouth open, his eyes glistening with anticipation. We spin in my swivel chair, reveling in the moment, both of us wearing silly, sloppy grins of deep, deep satisfaction. And then, he sits up suddenly, like a Pavlovian bell has just rung, and says, "Nuss!" For him, nursing is a tonic, a stabilizer, an elixir, a magic potion. Society tends to find it weird.

Some people think attachment to the breast means attachment to the mother, which means too much dependency on the mother. And too much dependency on mama? Well...we all know what that means.

I suppose some people get nervous because they think that a child who doesn't "learn to soothe himself" will never learn how. I think about that logic applied to anything else a child learns. For example, if you feed a baby, he'll never learn to feed himself. Or, if you dress him, he'll never learn to dress himself.

I'm warned that if I don't wean him early, he'll never wean himself. In other cultures around the world, however, it's not unusual for children to breastfeed as toddlers. And they do, eventually, stop breastfeeding.

Our Western society, however, frowns at the thought of a walking, talking child at the breast, because it's generally perceived as inappropriate. Sexually inappropriate. As if physical arousal was the goal of toddler nursing-or the effect! Maybe people are uncomfortable with the emotional intimacy of nursing a toddler. It's easier to sexualize the breast than to confront and resolve their own intimacy issues. People who find a breastfeeding mother's motives suspect just don't understand that no toddler can be forced to breastfeed against his will. If he doesn't want to nurse, nobody can make him take a breast any more than someone can force him to eat his lima beans.

In my mind, there is absolutely no confusion whatsoever about a toddler's motivation to nurse. At 20 months now, my son's motivation is clear, because he tells me. I can determine by the tone and inflection of his voice, and in what particular context, the actual reason he wants to nurse. He wants to soothe himself. He wants to connect. He wants to meditate. He wants comfort. He wants to gather his wits. He wants to restore himself.

He comes to me and asks, "Mahmee, pleez nuss?" And he whimpers in triplets under his breath like he's bravely trying to stifle a meltdown. And then he adds, "A lidda bit..." He's becoming aware of time and timing. He is beginning to understand the unspoken and spoken dynamics of relationship, and the language of his needs-and mine. "I have to go to the bathroom first, sweetie," I explain. "One, two, fwee, fo…" he counts, rocking back and forth on his little heels.

I am deeply convinced that the only reason he is even half-heartedly able to exhibit this small vestige of patience at 20 months is because I breastfed him whenever his little heart desired until he was old enough to understand "not right now." In other words, I can occasionally and lovingly say "no" to him now as a toddler because I consistently said "yes" to him as a baby.

This was my first blinking "a-ha!" moment that shined a floodlight for me on the very origins of trust. He trusts me, not because I am his mother, but because I am the mother that responds to him.

We breastfeed in silence. We breastfeed in dialogue. We breastfeed asleep. We breastfeed in a chair at the end of the day until all the light is gone from the room. I hold him, knowing, wistfully, that he will never remember this. But somehow, I feel in my intuitive heart that this will have helped shape his perceptions of himself and me, and give him some kind of internal compass that leads him along a path that is always lit even if it's dark.

In spite of my poetic musings about nursing and the call of the human spirit, I still get flak. Lots of flak. When he was a year-and-a-half old, many people thought my son was just too darn old to nurse because he was apparently not a baby anymore.

But he cried when I wiped his nose. (Still does.) He didn't put his fingers in the right glove holes. (Still can't.) He got upset when his hands were sticky. (Right.) He fell apart when his play-date left. (Yup.) Time passes.

Now, at two years old, people really think he's too old to breastfeed because he's a self-sufficient toddler. But he wears a bib when he eats. He wants to play outside without clothes. He wants his scrapes kissed better. He is afraid of velcro.

People at the mall, in the park, on the airplane, at my pediatrician's office, and sometimes in my own home, are upset with me. A friend visiting from out of town counted how many times my boy nursed in a day. "Six," she says. "Like a newborn baby," she adds. As if I've been giving him Coca-Cola every hour, on the hour.

He cries upon my return from an appointment one day, and a friend shakes her head, and mumbles that she's "worried" about his breastfeeding. It seems everything can be blamed squarely on the breast. Any unseemly toddler behavior. International crises. Traffic jams. Inclement weather. If my son is the slightest bit unruly, it's got to be the breast. Clingy? The breast. Anti-social? You got it. Doesn't want to go outside today? Yep, it's because the breast has lulled him into a state of agoraphobia. Wants to play in the park until dark? It's the breast's fault for not setting better limits on his recreation.

Left breast turned off its plumbing? "There are women who nurse on one side," the doc reassures me. "But at this point, it's time for you to wean him," he advises. "There are no medical benefits to nursing at this stage. There are actually no benefits at all, other than maybe psychological. But it's very controversial."

My son, who is strapped in his stroller in the room with me while the doctor states his case, is now crying so hard I can see his epiglottis. The doctor then proceeds to tell me that I've put myself in a "very difficult position" by nursing my child "this long."

"I'm not here for your support of my nursing," I say calmly. "I'm here for a medical checkup."

"Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying I don't support nursing. I think nursing is great. I'm your adversary!" he assures, surely meaning to say "advocate."

I don't bother to correct him. Sometimes, I feel like a marathoner hopping on one good leg to the finish line.

It's bedtime. My son and I are in the rocker. He's nursing while doing his version of Cirque du Soleil. My last nerve is frayed. I have little scratches all over my stomach, almost as if I've wrestled a cat. He likes to press his thumb into my navel when he's nursing like it's a milk dispenser. My tolerance is depleted. I feel forsaken for feeling depleted. Resentful for feeling forsaken.

His eyes are wide open. Even in the dark, I can still make out two blinking black pools. I "shhh" him softly. I tell him to close his eyes now. He puts his paw over his eye as if to let me know that even if he won't close his eye, he can at least cover it.

My breast begins to feel sore, and I tell him I can't nurse him anymore right now. He manages to stop long enough to blurt quietly out of the side of his mouth, "No..." He believes he owns my breast.

Sometimes, I wonder if it's really mine. For a moment, I feel a flash of ambivalence. I see how nursing my baby has helped him flourish. I see how comfortable he is in his own skin because he has gotten the kind of comfort he wants. I see how helpful it is to both of us to be able to breastfeed him when he's not feeling well, when we're in the emergency room with croup at 11 pm, and he's feeling hot, scared, and confused.

I see how he finds his peace. Orders his world. I see how blissful it is to sit with him at dawn and nurse him into another day. I see how breastfeeding him for comfort has made him more comfortable in general. More patient. More respectful of my needs. More able to calm himself. More centered. Happy.

I see how it has made me more patient, more centered, able to calm myself. I see the look of deep knowingness in his eye, as if we've been walking the planet together for a couple of hundred years. I see how breastfeeding has become part of our rhythm, our rhyme, our understanding of each other. How it has given our relationship a whole other layer of connectedness. And how that connectedness has influenced my parenting choices, how I perceive him, and how he responds to me.

I can also see how he won't go down to sleep at night with anybody else but me. At least, not at this point. Not now. Not yet.

Sigh. I hear the chorus of friends, strangers, and pediatricians who warned me about becoming a "human pacifier." I can hear the wave of "I-told-you-so" sweeping across the landscape like a hot wind. Is that them-or me?

Two seasons have passed. The trees are barren in anticipation of our first snowfall of the season. My two-and-a-half year old is watching an old Ed Sullivan show on TV, the Beatles' first appearance. My son is sitting cross-legged on the couch mouthing the words. "I wanna hold your hand, I wanna hold your ha-a-and."

We haven't nursed in a long time. Three whole weeks. An eternity. I think he's weaned himself. He has been going to sleep without breastfeeding for months now. My breast is no longer needed for soothing. For sleep. For comfort. For peace.

Gradually, he asks less. His need diminishes in phases. The "gotta-make sure-they're-still-there" phase. The "20 seconds phase." The phase where he asked me if my breasts are "feeling okay." If they're "tired."

The first time we go a full day without. A full week without, The first time I rock him in my arms without nursing. The first time I comfort him without nursing. The first time he sees a friend's baby breastfeeding, watches in recognition, and goes on with his activities.

I used to think of breastfeeding as the essential connection between us. I couldn't imagine, and sometimes worried about, how we would relate to each other after he was no longer breastfeeding. It was part of our language. Our understanding of each other.

Now, in retrospect, I realize that nursing is only one aspect of motherhood. One way of connecting. One way of comforting. On the other side of the nursing journey now, motherhood continues, of course. And, in some ways, for me, it is just beginning again.

In letting my son decide when to stop nursing-when to let go-I have learned about letting go, too. About letting go of one thread while holding on to others. Letting go, letting go, until more threads are loosened, unraveled, untethered, like a dancing kite that has set itself free.

Osteoporosis

2008-07-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

Osteoporosis is a potentially devastating disease that effects many older Americans, both women and men. Many activities done while in the teens and early 20's (like drinking carbonated beverages) can have an impact on whether a person will develop osteoporosis. It is important to live a healthy lifestyle throughout your lifespan. Of course, it is never to late to change your habits to improve your health.

Popping pills is not the answer to stronger bones. The body must be provided with the correct nutrients and specific stresses to build strong bones. As with almost everything in life, diet and exercise are key components to preventing and treating osteoporosis.

The naturopathically based FOOT Plan is focused on optimizing bone density, quality, and micro-architecture. We're discovering just how important proper micro-architecture can be. The convention use of bisphosphonates (Fosamax, Actonel, and Boniva) can cause weaknesses in the micro-architecture leading to bone fractures. This fracture risk is highest after 5 years of bisphosphonate therapy. For more information about this correlation read this article.

Prevention is the best course of action. Eat your vegetables- dark green leafy vegetables contain calcium; enjoy the outdoors- sunlight stimulates vitamin D production; and exercise- which promotes bone density!

Talk with your doctor about your risk factors. Together you can design a plan that will keep your bones healthy and allow you to maintain an active lifestyle.

AANP Response to AMA Resolution 303

2008-06-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

The following is an e-mail I received from the AANP. It is in regards to an important issue that I believe all medical practitioners and their patients should be aware of.

The American Medical Association is poised to make a move that could have a huge impact on our ability to call ourselves Naturopathic Doctors.

(Please note: The AANP's formal response to the AMA can be read in full at the bottom of this post)

The AMA House of Delegates is scheduled to vote on Resolution 303 to restrict the use of "Doctor," "Resident," and "Residency" to MDs, DOs and Dentists. The resolution targets the growing number of nurses who are obtaining advanced degrees (including that of Doctor) and specialty training.

Intended or not, resolution 303 clearly excludes naturopathic physicians, along with Doctors of Nursing, from using the title of Doctor, even though they receive their degrees from accredited institutions. It ignores state laws already on the books, discounts federal standards, and ignores a simple and dangerous fact that in unlicensed states anyone can call themselves an ND - regardless of training or a lack thereof.

As many of you know, the AMA is no friend of naturopathic medicine. It has passed previous resolutions opposing licensure of NDs, and the Scope of Practice Policy, which is being used to "evaluate" all state legislation relating to expanding the scope of licensed practitioners - including naturopathic doctors. I think it's fair to say they don't want NDs to be "Doctors" either.

Why is it important for you to know what the AMA is up to? Because the AMA is creating a national agenda to ensure the current hierarchy in health care is maintained - regardless of a shortage of primary care practitioners, the obvious need to transcend from disease management to a wellness-based system, and the rising numbers of consumers who are choosing non-conventional treatment. Our efforts to increase access to naturopathic medicine, delivered by well-trained physicians from accredited institutions is constantly challenged by their well-funded and powerful lobbying efforts. In New York and North Carolina they've actually proposed NDs be redefined and licensed as certified naturopathy practitioners. Enormous personal and financial resources are expended to preserve title and defend the quality of our training. Each and every one of these challenges to our legitimacy from the AMA make our success that much more difficult.

The actions of the AMA are deeply rooted in an old story and worldview that simply does not reflect today's reality. As you know, MDs, NDs and Nurses already work side by side, collaborating on patient care in venues across the country. Several of our professional organizations that share a commitment to a new health care paradigm are engaged in conversation with state and federal policy makers. It's time everyone acknowledges that the key to reform is the consumer. Once the AMA and legislators realize what naturopathic doctors and your colleagues already know - that the patient is primary care give - then we can transform our health care system to one that emphasizes wellness over disease management.
AANP Comments in opposition to AMA Resolution 303 June 11, 2008

The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) strongly opposes the American Medical Association House of Delegates Resolution 303, Protection of the Titles "Doctor," "Resident," and "Residency." Naturopathic physicians are currently licensed as physicians and/or doctors in 15 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Our graduates obtain their Doctorate of Naturopathy from four-year, graduate-level, residential programs that are approved by both programmatic and regional accreditors who are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The Council for Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), the approved programmatic accreditor for naturopathic medicine, also approves naturopathic residencies.

The Department of Education, all licensed jurisdictions, the private sector and consumers across the country recognize the Doctorate of Naturopathy as a degree on par with that of a conventional medical doctor. The Department of Education, through its new degree categories, will now include naturopathic degrees as "Doctor's degree - professional practice." Naturopathic medical students are entitled to the same federal loans as their colleagues in conventional medical school, as evidenced in May of 2005 when the Department of Education expanded access to unsubsidized federal loans to students at CNME approved schools, on par with medical schools. The Princeton Review Best Medical Colleges of 2007 includes the six accredited naturopathic medical schools. The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools, whose membership is restricted to CNME-approved schools, actively participates on the Advisory Council of the National Association of Health Professions Advisors, and the AANP is an affiliate member of the American Medical Student Association. In fact, the AMA itself stands in recognition of the quality of training afforded the profession. In September 2007, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians joined the AMA, the American Association of Medical Colleges, and more than 50 other physician specialty groups and health care associations to petition the Secretary of Education for an increase in the Stafford Loan limits to ensure a "sufficient supply of well educated and trained health professionals to provide quality care for all Americans."

Resolution 303 indicates that title protection is necessary to prevent confusion amongst patients. During the past 88 years of regulation, in any of the states that regulate naturopathic doctors, there is no record of public confusion, or a documented pattern of public harm caused by naturopathic doctors. As opposed to creating confusion, recognition and regulation of naturopathic doctors is absolutely essential for the protection of the public, particularly in unlicensed states where thousands of individuals are able to proclaim the title of Naturopathic Doctor legally despite the fact they are informally trained, obtain degrees from diploma mills, and/or have absolutely no supervised clinical training. The AANP contends that any health care professional who has achieved the highest degree awarded by an accredited institution has the right to utilize the title conferred, in this case "doctor," regardless of medical specialty. Similarly, the naturopathic profession does not own the terms "resident" and "residency" any more than nurses or conventional doctors do. We contend that consumer protection will be achieved through continued demarcation of qualified health care professionals with doctorate-level education and training as determined by the authorized agencies of the U.S. Department of Education. Resolution 303 will only serve to unfairly penalize legitimately trained providers of primary care services from practicing their trades and in so doing deprive consumers of obtaining qualified naturopathic health care. The AANP recommends withdrawal or unfavorable consideration of this resolution.

Respectfully,

Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO
President, Board of Directors
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
4435 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 403
Washington, DC 20016
202.237.8150 phone
866.538.2267 toll-free
202.237.8152 fax
Email: member.services@naturopathic.org
www.naturopathic.org

New Location

2008-05-14T09:59:00.000-07:00

I want to let everyone know that I will be opening my practice in La Grande shortly, most likely in June. It will be located in the Blue Mountain Academy for the Healing Arts (1405 Washington Ave). I will be taking over the practice of Dr Meg Perry. I'm excited about this opportunity and look forward to serving the residents of eastern Oregon.

Mad Cow/Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

2008-05-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

This is a bit of a follow-up to the downed cattle post from a few months ago. In the US we tend to deny the existence of Mad Cow Disease, and its related illness. One suspected case of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, the human equivalent of MCD, made it into the news recently. I find it odd that it didn't get more coverage on national news, especially since it occurred so soon after the downed cow incidents made the news. I find it more disconcerting that I can't find any follow-up on this story.
Read more about this possible current case in Virginia.

Tips to avoiding CJD:

Know your food!
Take action to improve the downer cow situation in the US.
Avoid eating meat.

Prions pass mainly by ingestion.
Our current agricultural industry often feeds parts of animals to other animals.
Grow your own, or have someone you know raise it. Make sure that the animal is vegetarian fed.

Avoid manure based fertilizer.

Prions may be able to spread from manure onto food; remember the recent E coli spinach outbreak. This is still a tenuous link, but a possibility. Once again knowing your source is important.

Health Care Industry Lobbying

2008-05-05T08:03:00.000-07:00

This entry focuses more on the politics of health care in the US, than on individual actions you can take. I urge you to become politically active to help make the US more friendly to "alternative" medicine. Two major steps that need to be taken are getting naturopathic medicine and midwifery licensed nation-wide. Licensing ensures standards of training and procedure, protecting people from inadequately trained practitioners. To help get these professions licensed nationally please visit the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and The Big Push for Midwives. Both of these groups are fighting the well funded lobbying efforts of the conventional health care industry.

According to a Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, the health care industry is the top spender among lobbying groups in the US, for the second year in a row. Health insurance companies spent $138 million on lobbying in 2007, imagine how much lower costs would be under a single payer system. All the recent horror stories from the pharmaceutical sector (heparin that was not quality tested, drugs approved without full safety testing, etc) makes me think that they should be spending their lobbying money, $227 million, on identifying the safety of their products. I guess pharmaceutical companies find it more economical to get congress to protect them, rather than fully safety testing their products.

The US needs to realize that it should be protecting its citizens, and not big corporations. We protect the financial interests of pharmaceutical companies, while forbidding women to deliver babies in their homes. The health care industry needs to stay focused on life, rather than profit. Life is an unalienable right, not money.

Breastfeeding

2008-04-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

One simple way to green living and better health is breastfeeding. Mothers naturally produce milk for their children, and although science has tried to match human milk it has failed. Breast milk meets the nutritional needs of children and in time changes as your child changes. Breastfeeding provides children with the closeness, both physical and emotional, that they require. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement advocating breast milk as the ideal, exclusive food for babies in the first six months of life. They also recommended that breast-feeding continue for at least 12 months, or longer if mutually desired. A great resource for information on breastfeeding is the La Leche League.

There are some rare circumstances when a woman is unable to feed her child. There are resources in these circumstances. There are worldwide milk banks that can supply breast milk to these children. Milk banks are also a great resource if you're lactating and would be interested in donating extra milk. For more information visit the National Milk Bank.

Our society needs to change its views on breastfeeding. In the last century we managed to reverse the natural way that children feed. Here is a great video that focuses on public breastfeeding.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Protect Drinking Water Quality

2008-04-09T11:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the shortage of recent postings, I've been focused on my congressional campaign. Below is information from the League of Conservation Voters on the safety of drinking water. Please contact your representatives to maintain high quality drinking water for every American. Clean water is a basic requirement for health.

Did you know that polluters are actually allowed to contaminate
your drinking water?

The Supreme Court and the Bush Administration have recently
sided with polluters to strip vital protections from the Clean
Water Act. That means that pollutants like E-Coli, bacteria,
mercury, PCBs and dioxin could be contaminating the drinking
water of more than 110 million Americans.

Congress will hold hearings in the coming weeks on the Clean
Water Restoration Act, which would restore the Clean Water Act's
original protections to all bodies of water. Even a handful more
co-sponsors would build the momentum we need get to winning
votes of 218 in the House and 60 in the Senate.

Will you contact Congress and ask them to support this critical
legislation?

Click below to contact your Members of Congress and ask them to
support the Clean Water Restoration Act.
http://action.lcv.org/ct/11_I3_91LRT8/

Developers and corporate polluters want to keep dumping
contaminants linked to cancer, birth defects and other health
problems into our water, because dealing with chemical waste,
oil spills, and other pollution would cut into their profit
margin.

Congress has a choice between standing with polluters or
standing up for the health and well-being of millions of
Americans. No doubt they will be hearing from polluters - they
need to hear from constituents as well.

Don't wait until it's too late - the Senate hearing on clean
water is on April 9 and the hearing in the House is on April 16.
Ask your Members of Congress to support the Clean Water
Restoration Act TODAY.
http://action.lcv.org/ct/11_I3_91LRT8/

Tens of thousands of LCV supporters have already contacted their
Members of Congress to demand an end to this reckless
contamination. Please add your voice today.

Downed Cattle

2008-03-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

I wasn't going to post on this topic, however my conscience is forcing me to. You're probably aware of the meat recall that occurred earlier this year after the results of a Humane Society of the United States’ investigation of a dairy cow slaughter plant in California were released. If you didn't see the video I encourage you to watch it now.

There is a reason that downed animals are not eaten. The floors of slaughter houses are often covered with excrement. Dragging an animal through this can lead to contamination with a wide variety of fecal contamination- including E. coli. In the aftermath of the recall, I heard a lot of reports that no illnesses had been reported from consumption of the recalled meat. Dr. Dick Raymond, USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety stated that "We don’t think there is a health hazard, but we do have to take this action."

No hazard!? One of the main reasons downed animals are not eaten is the risk they pose of carrying BSE (Mad Cow Disease.) This disease is very slow to develop and it could take decades before human transmission is evidenced. If Westland disregarded the inspection safeguard on non-ambulatory cattle, for two years, how can we be sure that specified risk materials were removed?

I am outraged that this situation was allowed to happen. How could a plant that provides meat to the federal food and nutrition program do this? Large amounts of this meat was given to the most vulnerable in our society. According to the USDA, this meat was used in the National School Lunch Program, the Emergency Food Assistance Program, and the Food Assistance Program on Indian Reservations.

People need to start caring about their fellow man, rather than focusing on the bottom dollar. We need to care for our vulnerable populations not feed them meat that is not suitable for human consumption.

What can you do to protect yourself?

Limit meat consumption. Most Americans consume more protein than is optimal.
Grow your own. This is truly the best way to obtain food of any type. If you're the grower you know the state of health that your food supply is in.
Buy from a small local producer. Check around you may find someone who has a small herd of cattle and sells off whole or partial cows. Ask if you can inspect the animals.
Tour a local packing plant. If the public is watching, repeats of this type of gross violation of health standards are less likely to repeat. A tour will also keep you more in touch with where your food comes from.

Children and Pesticides

2008-03-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

Study Reveals Pesticides from Foods in Children's Bodies
Here is yet another example of why we should try to feed our children organic foods. Research is still inconclusive about the effects of low level pesticides on children's health, however prudence suggests that we should not be feeding these chemicals to the most susceptible members of our society.
Organic foods can be more expensive, but there are ways to cut costs while protecting your health.

Avoid conventionally grown peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, nectarines, strawberries and cherries. These foods tend to be chemically intensive.
Grow your own foods. Plant a fruit tree, this can provide you with not only healthy fresh food, but years of happy memories.
If you can't grow your own foods, find someone in your community who can. Talk to your neighbors and visit your local farmers market. Often people will sell produce that is grown without chemicals, but isn't certified organic yet, which can take several years. These products are often cheaper than their certified counterparts.
Join a co-op or CSA program.

Sorry for the delay

2008-03-09T13:25:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay between posts. I am currently kicking off a congressional campaign, so my energies have been directed towards that. I will hopefully begin posting entries here on a more regular basis in the near future. I have a file started of topics to discuss, but writing and researching takes time.

If you are interested in my campaign please visit: www.votemock.com or www.newmenu.org/votemock.

Reducing Car Trips

2008-02-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

Apparently I'm on a kick this week about reducing car trips. I think we all realize that cars contribute a large portion of green house gas emissions. It has also become common knowledge that car exhaust is contributing to various respiratory disorders, especially asthma. One study concluded that there was a consistent association between car exhaust and coughing/asthma in children. ("Locally generated particulate pollution and respiratory symptoms in young children." Pierse N - Thorax - 01-MAR-2006; 61(3): 216-20)

The obvious answer to living greener and improving health is to avoid driving cars! Exercise can improve general physical fitness as well as cardiovascular and respiratory health. Going on a short trip? Try walking. Walking provides great opportunities to get to know you neighbors. You can bring an extra bag along and collect any trash you find. This helps to beautify your neighborhood as well as recycle discarded items.

Is your trip a bit longer? Ride a bike! Cycling can be an amazing experience. I've become an avid cyclist at this point, but I haven't been for long. I didn't even learn to ride a bike until I was in 8th grade. The embarrassment of training wheels gave me an incentive to learn quickly. My bikes in the past were always the cheapest ones I could find. This was okay to begin on, but I didn't like to ride very far because my bike was so heavy. Hills were a nightmare even when I geared all the way down. I was finally able to upgrade to a lighter bike, and now love to ride! It can be cheap and simple to commute by bike. Here are some steps to successful bike commuting.

Going on a longer trip where walking and biking aren't possible? Try taking public transit, carpooling, riding the bus (Greyhound, charter), or train (Amtrak). In many areas there are several options to arrange rideshares/carpools. Most local governments can provide help. In the Portland Metro region my favorite resources are Carpool Match NW and Craigslist.

It's great when you can benefit your own health and the environment. Changing your mode of transit just 1 day a week can have a beneficial effect.

Beginning to Bike Commute

2008-02-09T12:04:00.000-08:00

Steps to successful bike commuting:

Find a light weight bike
Add a rear rack
Get bags/bungies
Lights
Clothing

Nice bikes can be found in a variety of places. Try looking at pawn shops, garage sales, Craigslist, and local bike co-ops. Look around and compare prices, styles, and weights. Many used bikes will already be equipped with rear racks.

Rear racks are necessary if you ever plan on carrying anything. Yes you can just wear a bag, but a rack is extremely useful in the long run. You can use a rack to carry specially designed bike bags. Small bungies should be kept on your rack so you can carry unexpected items.

There are a variety of bag, generally called panniers, that fit on racks. One simple easy solution, that is weatherproof, is buckets with mounting brackets. These panniers can be made from old buckets, so the environmental impact is low. You can purchase these ready made, or make them yourself! If you'd prefer a bag, look around for used ones. They can be hard to find, but the price savings are amazing, not to mention the minimization of the environmental impact!

Lights are a necessity. I don't care if you think you're only going to be riding in daylight, you need to get them! You'd be amazed how early, and quickly, it becomes dark in the fall. Lights also provide a measure of safety on rainy days, when it's harder for people to see.

Try to find lights that use AA batteries, since they're easy and cheap to replace. I run my headlight off of rechargeable AAs. You should try to carry extra batteries with you. In Oregon, you are required to have a white light on the front of your bike if you're out in the dark. This allows cross traffic to see you more easily at intersections. You should also have red lights for the rear of your bike. I would not want to ride without these, since it makes me feel safer knowing that drivers behind me can see me. I have a great red light that is attached to me helmet. This way I always have a light with me, so I'm prepared for unexpected lighting changes.

You don't really need specialized clothing for biking. You do need a helmet. Purchase one at a bike shop where they will fit it for you. Wear your helmet every time you bike! They're light weight and fairly inexpensive. $30-35 is a small amount to pay for something that can save your life. You don't look stupid with one on. It's the people who don't wear them that are showing their stupidity.

If you live in the NW you will want rain gear. I quickly learned that jeans are the last thing you want to wear in the rain. I bought a set with a simple yellow rain jacket and pants at the local army surplus store. I quick trip to the local bike co-op and I had reflective tape to apply to my rain gear. For under $25, I have gear that keeps me dry and visible.

If you're in the Portland Metro regions here are some helpful links:
byCycle provides bike route planning. I use this site all of the time to plan various trips.
City Bikes one of the local bike co-ops. Sells the buckets pictured above.

Flu Vaccines

2008-01-28T16:24:00.000-08:00

I saw an article today stating that the rate of flu vaccination is lower than the government wants. I wonder if this is a freak chance, or if people are starting to realize that most flu vaccines contain mercury. At the beginning of flu season this past year the Organic Consumers Union reported that over 80% of flu shots in the US contain thimerosal. The full article can be found in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

For more information about the thimerosal content of vaccines visit this site by the FDA. I think most parents will be surprised to learn that Hep B, the only vaccination scheduled by the CDC to be given to children at birth, contains thimerosal. Compounded with the fact that most people are not exposed to Hep B until they are at least teenagers, the timing of this vaccine is questionable.

We're still researching the effect of mercury in humans. The University of Calgary has done some interesting research that shows how mercury damages brain cells. You can watch video of it here. I can't say that thimerosal is to blame for the increased rates of autism and ADD, however I can't say that it is not at least part of the cause either.

Welcome to Green Living for Better Health

2008-01-27T17:40:00.000-08:00

I've been urged to create a blog to share my insights into "green" living and health. I hope to post entries at least once every week. It's going to be pretty sparse for the next few weeks as I prepare to take part 2 of the NPLEX exam and the Oregon licensing exam. Once I pass these exams I will be a licensed naturopathic physician in the state of Oregon. For more information about these exams visit NABNE and the OBNE. For more information on naturopathic medicine visit the AANP and OANP.

In the future look for more information on green living.

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Lu Hanessian
Englewood NJ USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 21 No. 1, January-February 2004, pp. 4