The H1N1 Swine Flu virus is still at the top of the news in the USA and throughout the world. A few weeks ago I posted a column about several natural ways to support the body’s defenses against any type of viral infection. There was a tremendous response to that blog. So, I’ve been asked to provide a brief update on what’s currently known about the H1N1 virus. I’ll also add some information about another natural option that may offer additional protection against influenza.
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We don’t know where we are. Bursts of light and muted images of people move in and out of focus. It soon becomes clear that we’re lying in a hospital bed. There’s quite a commotion going on around us. We wonder, “What are we doing here?”. Is this all just a vivid dream or perhaps a nightmare?

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly puts us inside the body and alongside the thoughts of a man named Jean-Dominque Bauby (“Jean Do”). He’s not a fictional character. Jean was the editor of French Elle magazine in the 1990′s until he suffered a massive stroke that left him completely paralyzed with the exception of the use of his left eye and a fully functioning mind. This is an extremely rare state of being that is known to neurologists as “locked in syndrome”.
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One of my goals in writing this blog is to present a wide variety of topics that address the health we see, the inner workings of the body that we often take for granted and the quality of life that we perceive. All three of these areas impact one another. That’s a basic tenet of natural medicine. Today’s update focuses on the external aspects of health (weight loss and wrinkles) and the internal battle for wellness (breast and prostate cancer). Approaching these issues in a proactive way will likely provide a psychological boost as well.
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Every article I write is based on the most current scientific information that I’m aware of. But medical research is a never ending process. New studies are constantly being released and information that was up-to-date just a few months ago cannot possibly provide the entire picture today. Because of this reality, I’m going to take the opportunity to update several past blogs with new information that you should know about.
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Rooibos is a green shrub that is found almost exclusively in South Africa. There, its leaves and twigs are frequently used to brew a medicinal tea. But it isn’t very well known anywhere else. I believe that’s going to change in the near future, thanks to a strong trend of positive scientific findings, the most recent of which suggests an application for rooibos in the management of diabetes.
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Massage is a dramatically under utilized healing modality. Maybe it’s just hard to imagine that something that feels so good can actually provoke tangible benefits in the body and mind. There is also the common perception that a massage is an indulgence. Given the current economic climate, the likelihood of “indulging” in such a treatment becomes even more remote.

The reality is that therapeutic massage provides very real and quantifiable health effects that help us live happier and healthier lives. In addition, it can offer a viable alternative or synergistic support to conventional treatments. The issue of cost can also be managed by strategically using your health insurance and/or engaging in home based, amateur massage with a trusted partner.
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Summer is nearly upon us and that means that many us will be spending more time outdoors in the sun. While this is a good thing in many respects, it also increases the likelihood of sun damage and premature aging of skin. Another very real concern is skin cancer. But these risks may be significantly reduced if we protect ourselves from excessive UV radiation during the peak hours of the day and by supporting the body from the inside out.
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Every time we ride in the car with the raining pouring down we benefit from the “flash of genius” of one Mr. Robert Kearns. Like many inventors before him, he found a flaw in a commonly used device that has since improved the lives of countless drivers and passengers throughout the world. That fact alone is enough to make him a notable individual. But that’s just the starting point of his life’s story.
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I’ve discussed the importance of probiotics in the past. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that primarily inhabit the digestive system. They play a role in everything from helping to break down food to improving immune function, and even supporting healthy mood. Eating cultured and fermented foods and supplementing with probiotic supplements is one way to increase the number of these desirable microbes. But there’s another strategy that can support the growth and population of these intestinal helpers – by eating and supplementing with prebiotics.
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