Three months ago I sounded the alarm about dangerous calls in the media to repeal the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). I explained then how the DSHEA actually protects our rights as consumers and why supplements should not be regulated in the same fashion as prescription drugs.
Now, Senator McCain (R-AZ) and Senator Dorgan (D-ND) have introduced a bill called the Dietary Supplement Safety Act (DSSA) which dismantles key provisions of the DSHEA.
If passed, the FDA would be granted broad new powers to curtail the sale of vitamins, minerals, herbs, fish oils and other supplements along with the potency of those sold. In fact, many supplements already available would suddenly become illegal to purchase.
How’s that? The new legislation mandates all dietary supplements must undergo a new process of governmental review just to stay on the market. Just imagine having your glucosamine and chondroitin supplement suddenly pulled off the shelves simply because the FDA wishes to run it through the same multi-million or even billion dollar review process prescription drugs undergo.
Would it be fair to place supplements under the same testing restrictions as drugs? Not at all. Prescription drug companies can afford this costly process as their products are patent protected. Supplements, derived from food and other natural sources, don’t enjoy that luxury. This cost prohibitive requirement would cause supplements you rely upon to keep you healthy to either disappear or become much more costly.
The existing law already provides for supplement safety. Most supplement ingredients have already stood the test of time — in many cases, centuries of use. Supplements with any new ingredient must be reported to the FDA with scientific proofs before product release. The current DSHEA law strikes the right balance between product safety and the consumer’s right to choose the supplements that can improve their health.
Don’t confuse the mislabeled Dietary Supplement Safety Act with real safety. If passed, the new DSSA bill would interfere with your right to safe and affordable health supplements and should be vigorously opposed. Your health just may depend on it.
A group of researchers in Denmark recently discovered a 90-day course of antibiotics led to a 75% success rate in reducing or eliminating lower back pain for 29 patients who completed the study.
All participants had been diagnosed with a herniated disc and modic changes (MRI indicated swelling of vertebral bone tissue) in an earlier study. The working theory, now being tested in a larger study, is anaerobic bacterial infection in the patients’ herniated disc tissue led to inflammation and lower back pain.
This is promising news for chronic lower back pain sufferers. But like many conventional medicines there’s a downside. Antibiotics, including Amoxicillin-clavulanate used in this study, often come with side effects. Three of the participants (out of 32 who started the treatment) dropped out due to severe diarrhea. No word on how many had the trouble but put up with it in an attempt to end their back pain. Other undesirable side effects of amoxicillin can include fever, nausea, headache, thrush, hives and even seizures.
Antibiotics are also associated with a potentially more dangerous weakening of the immune system. Think of your immune system like a muscle. As it is used it grows stronger. Allowing your body’s natural defense mechanisms to fight off bacterial invaders builds immunity. Using antibiotics to fight your body’s battles essentially atrophies your body’s immune response leading to a harder fight the next time the same bacteria come back.
So yes, antibiotics kill bad bacteria. But they also kill off good flora in the intestines. This breakdown of the normal intestinal balance between good bacteria, bad bacteria and yeast in the intestines increases risk of malabsorption syndromes, food allergies, and parasitic infection.
Perhaps most frightening, antibiotic use is also linked to cancer. A recent Finnish study published in the International Journal of Cancer tracked over 3 million individuals with no history of cancer. It found increased use of antibiotics directly increased risk of cancer — by as much as 37% over the following six years.
Fortunately there is another option for helping your body naturally fight off bacterial infections with less risk of side effects than even “milder” antibiotics. Unlike antibiotics it even helps fight off viral infections, which can also lead to painful vertebral inflammation and lower back pain. This alternative is called systemic enzyme therapy.
Also called proteases, systemic proteolytic enzymes taken on an empty stomach enter the circulation system through the stomach or intestinal lining. There they break down excess fibrin which causes internal scar tissue to form, breaks down virus carrying proteins, and fights inflammation from bacterial origin as well.
Antibiotics can be an important tool for fighting off life threatening bacterial infections. Too often they are used when unnecessary to the detriment of the patient. While systemic enzyme therapy isn’t for everyone — including those taking antibiotics — it is a useful natural alternative to antibiotics worth exploring when looking for relief from lower back pain and other inflammation related ailments.
Related Clinical Studies:
Albert, HB; Manniche, C; Sorensen, JS; Deleuran, BW. Antibiotic treatment in patients with low-back pain associated with Modic changes Type 1 (bone oedema): a pilot study. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2008 Dec;42(12):969-73.
Albert, HB et al.: Modic changes; possible causes and relation to low back pain. Medical Hypotheses. 2008;70(2):361-8.
Kilkkinen, A et al.: Antibiotic use predicts an increased risk of cancer. International journal of cancer. 2008 Nov 1;123(9):2152-5.
Netti, C; Bandi, G. L.; Pecile, A.: Anti-inflammatory action of proteolytic enzymes of animal, vegetable or bacterial origin administered orally compared with that of known antiphlogistic compounds. II Farmaco Ed. Pr. 27: 453 (1972).
Inderst, R.: Systemic enzyme therapy. Journal of Pharmacy 52 (1992).
Coenzyme Q10, commonly shortened to CoQ10, is a vitamin-like fat soluble substance found in every cell in your body. In fact, its scientific name ubiquinone means ubiquitous quinone, literally the quinone found everywhere.
It acts like a miniature “power switch”, acting as a critical part of the electron transport chain used to generate 95% of all energy in the body.
Without CoQ10 your cells simply don’t have the ability to perform their function. Heart cells can’t pump blood… liver cells can’t purify toxins… brain cells can’t send signals to through the nervous system… and so on.
While CoQ10 is created by the liver, production drops off at an increasing rate starting by age 30 or earlier. Unless enough CoQ10 is then obtained through diet or supplements, chronic deficiencies can lead to significant health issues. Fortunately most can be reversed by restoring adequate CoQ10 levels.
While there are actually many more reasons to consider taking a quality CoQ10 supplement, here are my personal top 10:
#1: You’re over 30 years old. As you get older CoQ10 production plummets. In later years your liver may only make as little as 20% of the CoQ10 your body needs to maintain adequate levels. #2: You’re taking a cholesterol-lowering drug. The most popular class of cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins cause a dangerous reduction in CoQ10 levels. Columbia University documented a 50% drop within just 30 days of starting one of the most popular statin drugs. #3: You have high blood pressure. One clinical trial studied 109 cardiology patients with high blood pressure. Even though patients averaged over 9 years with hypertension, over 50% were able to drop from one to three of their regular blood pressure medicines within 5 months as a result of improvement after adding CoQ10 to their drug regimen. #4: You’ve had a heart attack. Heart attack patients at research hospitals in England and Germany were given either CoQ10 or a placebo for five days in addition to standard mild hypothermia treatment. Survival rates in the CoQ10 group were more than double the placebo group after three months. #5: You regularly feel tired or out of energy. Low CoQ10 levels prevent the body from generating the energy needed to power your day. Increasing CoQ10 levels is like turning the power switch back on. #6: You suffer from migraines. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in Switzerland tested the usefulness of CoQ10 in treating migraine sufferers. Nearly half of CoQ10 recipients reported a significant drop in frequency and severity of migraines by the third month. #7: You have poor circulation in your hands and feet. Low CoQ10 levels are often to blame for poor circulation in extremities. The heart requires as much as 10 times the amount of CoQ10 as other organs due to its high energy requirements. When it doesn’t get enough, it can’t fill and pump efficiently leaving your hands and feet poorly supplied with freshly oxygenated blood. Congestive heart failure is associated with low CoQ10 levels, with lower CoQ10 levels corresponding with more severe disease. #8: You want to protect your memory and thought clarity. CoQ10 protects the memory and learning processes in the brain. There is even some evidence CoQ10 can protect against the ravages of Alzheimer’s related brain damage. #9: You want maximum support for your immune system. CoQ10 supports liver function in cleansing toxins out of the body, helping your body remain disease free. #10: You want to age gracefully. CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant fighting off the attacks of free radicals which can cause premature aging. It also works to revitalize exhausted Vitamin E in the body to provide even more antioxidant protection.
Again, there are many more reasons than these to consider taking a CoQ10 supplement. The best CoQ10 supplements are usually sold in a soft-gel form using Omega-3 rich fish oil. Since CoQ10 is a fat soluble substance, this allows the body to absorb the CoQ10 even when on a low-fat diet.
Finally, look for fish oil based CoQ10 supplements with added Vitamin E. Besides being a complementary antioxidants to CoQ10, the Vitamin E prevents the fish oil from becoming rancid by blocking oxidation.
A Real Life Energy Pill… That’s Safe!
CoQ10 has earned its reputation as a natural
energy booster. But instead of hurting your body like some energy supplements it brings an incredible array of health benefits including:
- It’s a powerful antioxidant
- It helps reduce inflammation in the body
- It works wonders on high blood pressure
- It helps your heart beat strong and regular
As if that’s not enough, we’ve combined CoQ10 with three more ingredients to give you even more energy, boost your immune system, and provide maximum protection for your heart.
Arnica is a member of the daisy family native to mountainous regions of Europe and Siberia. Its flower has been used in herbal medicine preparations to treat muscle aches and inflammation for nearly five centuries.
Although arnica is available as a homeopathic remedy to be ingested, most scientific evidence points to topical application as a cream to be the most effective way to get the plant’s anti-inflammatory and pain relieving benefits. Those benefits, according to multiple studies, rival the effectiveness of NSAIDs like ibuprofen.
Arnica as an anti-inflammatory
The main therapeutic effects of arnica are derived from its compound helenalin. Although the complete process by which helenalin works is not fully understood yet, it appears to play a role as an inhibitor in the complex process of protein regulated immune response which leads to inflammation.
Arnica improves circulation and stimulates white blood cells to eliminate congested blood (such as hematomas) for faster relief of swelling and bruising. This decreased pressure typically results in less pain at the site of injury.
Medicinal uses of arnica
Besides treating muscle aches and pains, arnica has also been found effective at providing tendon and joint pain relief for conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. Some preparations have taken advantage of arnica’s antibacterial and fungicidal properties for treating other external conditions as varied as eczema, acne, and burns.
How to take arnica
Arnica is most commonly used as a component in topically applied pain relief creams which usage has been scientifically proven to benefit the recipient when applied externally. Some homeopathic remedies are sold with extremely diluted arnica in forms safe for internal use including tablets, liquid, powders and teas.
Cautions
Arnica should never be directly ingested except in standard homeopathic preparations. Arnica should not be used while pregnant or breastfeeding, particularly as some compounds found in arnica may induce labor. Avoid rubbing arnica into open wounds or broken skin.
Don’t look now but heavy metal is threatening your health. Not the head banging kind floating invisibly across the airwaves (though prolonged listening may lead to some serious neck cramps). Instead we’re talking about the more insidious kind of toxic heavy metals inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through your skin — or even purposely implanted in your body.
Once absorbed into the body, heavy metals become embedded in soft tissue or bones. What makes heavy metal poisoning particularly scary is it not only can cause severe disease but it can even lead to irreversible damage to your DNA.
While there are treatments to help remove heavy metals from the body, it can take several difficult months to recover completely. Clearly the best line of defense is to recognize the danger and prevent heavy metal poisoning in the first place. Here are a few of the most common heavy metals to watch out for.
Mercury
Topping the list of dangerous heavy metals is the neurotoxin mercury. It has been associated with autism and many neurological disorders. Mercury is so hazardous that a tiny drop the size of one grain of sand would contaminate an entire swimming pool.
While an excellent source of nutrition, sadly most fish — both wild and farm-raised — is heavily contaminated with mercury today. As a result, fish are now the most significant source of mercury toxicity. Larger and older fish typically have higher concentrations, so avoid eating shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tile fish, and white albacore tuna. Haddock, tilapia, cod, pollock, salmon, and sole are better alternatives though intake should still be limited.
Another very significant source of mercury in the body are dental amalgams, or “silver fillings.” Don’t believe the lie the American Dental Association continues to publish that they are safe. A full 50% of these fillings consist of mercury. The materials themselves are shipped as hazardous waste to your dentist and treated like hazardous waste after removal. Good move, but should you use your mouth as a hazardous waste storage facility? Insist on your dentist using only non-mercury based fillings.
One more top source of mercury gets injected directly into your bloodstream with many vaccines. Thimerosal, a mercury based vaccine preservative, is used in many vaccines including a number of the H1N1 swine flu vaccines. Mercury is considered by many to be a factor in the skyrocketing incidents of childhood autism and neurological disorders. This is just one of many reasons to avoid vaccinations, or at least carefully weigh the risks before accepting them. Some vaccinations have thimerosal-free forms which should always be preferred.
Aluminum
Associated with osteoporosis, memory loss, and forgetfulness, aluminum is also found in levels as much as 4x higher than average in the brains of patients who have died from Alzheimer’s.
Aluminum is absorbed through the skin. One of the biggest culprits are underarm antiperspirants and deodorants containing aluminum. Switch to a baking soda based deodorant instead.
Many people ingest much more aluminum than they realize. Aluminum cookware, aluminum foil, soda cans and even some processed foods contain aluminum. It may also be present in your tap water. Minimize exposure by avoiding products with aluminum and have your water tested or drink purified water.
Lead
Once absorbed, lead often settles in the bones interfering with red blood cell production. Exposure can result in severe health problems including anemia, severe learning disabilities, behavioral problems and kidney disease.
Although lead-based paint has been outlawed for use in residences for over 30 years, millions of homes across the United States built before 1978 still have lead paint. Chips or dust from this paint can be ingested or inhaled causing lead poisoning.
Tap water is another common source of lead poisoning, particularly when the water travels through older pipes which have begun to break down. Again, test your tap water for the presence of lead or drink only purified water.
Maintain your built-in detoxification system
Your body was marvelously designed to cleanse itself of impurities. Just like any other system, you need to maintain your detoxification system in good working order for it to work properly. Here are some steps you can take to help your body naturally eliminate heavy metals and fight their harmful effects:
Eat more protein which helps supply essential amino acids used by the liver to create glutathione, a key antioxidant and detoxifying molecule
Eat your veggies, particularly dark colored ones like broccoli, Brussel sprouts, and artichokes which also help build detoxifying molecules in the body; chlorella is a form of algae shown to have a very beneficial effect on removing toxins from the body, usually taken as a supplement
Drink plenty of pure water — preferably purified by a water filter or recently bottled from a pure source — and eat more fiber, together which will help ensure normal bowel movements which are particularly important for removing heavy metals such as mercury
Increase intake of antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E through diet or supplementation to counter some of the most harmful effects of heavy metal poisoning – the creation of numerous free radicals in your body which can damage your DNA and increase your chances of getting cancer
Use heat therapy to sweat out toxins — a sauna works great or you can try localized heat such as with a far infrared heating pad which increases blood circulation throughout the body
The Healthy Back Institute - 333 Main St. Suite #201 Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Phone: 800-216-4908 Fax: 866-843-4319
The Healthy Back Institute is a Get Healthy and Fit Company
Three months ago I sounded the alarm about dangerous calls in the media to repeal the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA). I explained then how the DSHEA actually protects our rights as consumers and why supplements should not be regulated in the same fashion as prescription drugs.
A group of researchers in Denmark recently discovered a 90-day course of antibiotics led to a 75% success rate in reducing or eliminating 
Coenzyme Q10, commonly shortened to CoQ10, is a vitamin-like fat soluble substance found in every cell in your body. In fact, its scientific name ubiquinone means ubiquitous quinone, literally the quinone found everywhere.
CoQ10 has earned its reputation as a natural
Arnica is a member of the daisy family native to mountainous regions of Europe and Siberia. Its flower has been used in herbal medicine preparations to treat muscle aches and inflammation for nearly five centuries.
Don’t look now but heavy metal is threatening your health. Not the head banging kind floating invisibly across the airwaves (though prolonged listening may lead to some serious neck cramps). Instead we’re talking about the more insidious kind of toxic heavy metals inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through your skin — or even purposely implanted in your body.
