Women with high cholesterol live longer, have fewer heart attacks and strokes!

by Mike Adams

If the diagnosis of high cholesterol sounds like a death sentence to your ears, you may be the victim of cholesterol propaganda. It's not uncommon to believe that lower is better when it comes to cholesterol, but new research shows otherwise. In fact, a recent study in Norway says women with high cholesterol live longer and suffer from fewer heart attacks and strokes than those with lower cholesterol.

Can high cholesterol save your life?

Researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology looked at 52,087 individuals between the ages of 20 and 74. After adjusting for factors like age, smoking and blood pressure, researchers found women with high cholesterol (more than 270 mg/dl) had a 28 percent lower mortality risk than women with low cholesterol (under 193 mg/dl). Risk for heart disease, cardiac arrest and stroke also declined as cholesterol levels rose.

The researchers involved in the study admit this contradicts commonly accepted beliefs about cholesterol. They say current guideline information is misleading because the role of cholesterol in heart disease is overestimated.

These results fly in the face of what most of us have been told about cholesterol. Our misconceptions about cholesterol may in fact be endangering countless lives. For instance, millions of people are prescribed statin drugs to lower their cholesterol levels, believing that this will save their lives. Not only do statin drugs come with a plethora of dangerous side effects, but now the very premise of their existence is also brought into question.

Our focus on lowering cholesterol to prevent heart disease and mortality is misplaced. It also fails to serve in the best interest of our health and wellness. In fact, the dogmatic belief that cholesterol must be lowered appears to best serve pharmaceutical companies, which profit from cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Better results will be achieved when we develop a more well-rounded focus on other risks for heart disease, which include stress, toxins, a sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet. As an added bonus, these factors aren't treated with dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, but with simple, healthful lifestyle changes.

Learn more here...

La Santé Grâce aux Abeilles

Intéressant pour tous ceux qui veulent mieux comprendre les vertus des produits des abeilles...

Journée Auterivaine d'Apitherapie : La santé grâce aux abeilles

Samedi, 5 Novembre 2011 

Salle du Belvédère 

Auterive près de Toulouse 

- 9h45 Les différents produits de la ruche et leurs thérapies dédiées : par James Poulain, consultant en apiculture et en apithérapie

- 11h00 La médecine traditionnelle chinoise : Une référence utile et pertinente pour la théorie et la pratique de l’Apithérapie" par Claudette Raynal, spécialiste en médecine traditionnelle chinoise et en apithérapie

- 14h00 Propolis et cancer : Une approche thérapeutique innovante" par Dr Lilian Ceballos, chercheur au CNRS, membre du conseil scientifique d'eau future et spécialiste en apithérapie

- 15h00 Massage au miel : Une technique de détoxication par Catherine Millet

- Démonstrations : massage au miel, masque du visage, Apithérapique  (piqûres d’abeilles)

Renseignement et réservation au 06 16 91 18 05 - rucherdusoleil@aol.com

Censorship by any other name! Egged on by the enemies of homeopathy the ASA sails into uncharted waters without a navigator and gets out of its depth!

The Advertising Standards Authority has recently made an Adjudication against parts of a fully referenced New Statesman press release last year by the homeopathic charity, H:MC21 [Homeopathy for the 21st Century] urging integration of homeopathic practitioners into front-line healthcare whilst monitoring both clinical and cost benefits. There are serious concerns both over the manner in which the ASA arrived at its assessment, using discredited sources often quoted by denigrators of homeopathy, and the twisted logic and lack of fairness in the conclusions it arrived at. It took it a staggering 10 months to get there with some clear shifts of goalposts in its challenges of H:MC21 on the way. Its staff seemed hellbent on finding spurious ways of attacking purely factual statements. The outcome flew in the face of commonsense; it is without doubt an unashamed attempt at censorship of facts being published to support the case for an expanded use of homeopathy within the NHS alongside conventional medicine. This is unacceptable in a democratic society which cherishes the principle of freedom of expression1.

Separately the ASA has been attempting with threatening letters to bully a number of individual homeopaths into self-censorship of some of the content of their websites. And at http://asa.org.uk/ASA-action/Adjudications/2011/10/Ana-Durning/SHP_ADJ_156642.aspx 
you will also be able to read the ASA’s attack against a qualified herbalist who is stating certain long recorded truths about the benefits of natural herbs such as echinacea, astragalus, goldenseal etc. I have used all these personally on myself. They are part of the wide and very effective range of natural remedies that can often support your immune system sufficiently to enable it to throw off rapidly flu, colds, sore throats, gastro-intestinal problems etc without you having to bother your doctor for chemical drugs and risking the possibility of side effects. They are the remedies every human being has a right to elect to have access to information on, to discuss freely with others on websites or elsewhere, and to be able to purchase at a reasonable price, thereby ensuring that he/she can self-medicate should he/she so wish without accepting blindly the dictates of others.

A bit more about the ASA and its method of operating.

The ASA is a non-statutory body set up and paid for by the advertising industry to regulate advertising. It has no statutory powers to enforce its adjudications. It has only recently extended its activities to websites. We know from what ASA staff have said to H:MC21 and some homeopathic associations that they have inadequate in-house expertise to be able to understand, and accept, that there are significant differences between the homeopathic and conventional medicine paradigms, and the different test methods each of these two medical systems considers most appropriate for testing the effectiveness of its remedies and prescribing procedures. They did not find a suitable external “expert” to advise them in the H:MC21 case. So they defaulted to applying, wrongly, to the H:MC21 case the current mindset of conventional medicine’s controlling clique.

This means that despite the fact that homeopathic medicine is far older than conventional medicine and has been safely practised with much success since the 1800s, and as part of the NHS since 1941, the ASA are unable, or unwilling, to accept that the historical record of homeopathic medicine - two centuries worth of observations, clinical reports and case studies in Europe, the USA and the rest of the world by some of the finest medical minds (fully qualified MDs and other professionals) of their era, including the present - is itself more than sufficient proof for both general and specific statements about its usefulness in treating a very full range of ailments, and certainly to confirm the truth of the statement “Homeopathy has a history of success in chronic illness”. In order for this not to be true i.e. that homeopathy is no more effective than slipping a patient a placebo we would have to assume the greatest case of medical self-delusion across continents and time in the history of science.

References in the text of the ASA adjudication make it clear that their reasoning has been well and truly misinformed by these two things:
1. The very hostile approach taken by the Chairman, Phil Willis, and Dr Evan Harris, both of whom were already wellknown for their extreme anti-homeopathy views, in the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee review which fed through into every paragraph of the Committee Report (Evidence Check 2)3 dated Monday 22nd Feb 2010.
2. The (conventional medicine) notion that the gold standard4 of scientific evidence for their, and hence, in their view, every, medical paradigm is a double blind RCT (randomised controlled trial). As far as we can tell, since they wouldn’t tell H:MC21 (in itself a breach of due process), the ASA justify the upholding of some of the challenges to H:MC21’s statements by reliance on just one flawed meta-analysis in 2005 by Shang et al.

1. Evidence Check 2

As Lord Baldwin of Bewdley, chairman of the House of Lords’ Science and Technology Committee which had carried out a review of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2000, commented in a typical British understatement, “The (S&T) Committee however has been less than rigorous in its approach to this evidence. Its choice of witnesses favoured a medical media opponent of homeopathy over a research centre of excellence. It was unwise to rely heavily on the interpretations of one professor of CAM [Ernst], some of whose statements are unsound or in conflict with other statements of his, and who is not without his critics in the worlds of research and academia whose views were given less prominence. The 2005 review by Shang et al has been inaccurately represented as ruling out specific effects of homeopathy, in a summary statement by the Committee that goes beyond present evidence......These limitations make the Committee’s report an unreliable source of evidence about homeopathy”. That is a polite euphemism for saying the conclusions of the report were BS, as 70 MPs also subsequently signalled by supporting the Early Day Motion on 23rd Feb 2010 against the report (extracted at the end of this posting), and as no one reading the report with an open mind could be in any doubt about.

How large and impartial was this socalled Science and Technology Committee?
For the sake of completeness, I would remind the ASA staff and Council in case they overlooked just what a “kangaroo court” lay behind this report and the reason for the follow-up EDM, that the Chairman and Dr Evan Harris were known in advance for their extreme anti-homeopathy views and that out of the THREE MPs who voted for the eventual report (Ian Cawsey, Evan Harris and Doug Naysmith5, now all ex-MPs), two hadn’t even attended the hearings and one of the two was not even a member of the Committee when the hearings were held6! Talk about a stacked deck! See http://www.homeopathyworldcommunity.com/forum/topics/first-they-came-for-the
to understand how blatantly biased the proceedings were and consequently rather irrelevant to a proper consideration of those of H:MC21 statements that have been challenged by homeopathy’s “professional” detractors.

The Government itself followed up in July 2010 when the Secretary of State for Health presented to Parliament the “Government Response to the Science and Technology Committee report 'Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy’ “. Overall, he too was far too polite in responding to the recommendations of the anti-homeopathy Gang of Three MPs, but in doing so he properly stressed the legal requirement under EU directive that patients must have access to the medicinal products of their choice. In his words

“37. Homeopathy has a long tradition in Europe and is a recognised and
widely used system of medicine across the EU. The Government takes
the view that consumers who choose to use homeopathic medicines
should be fully informed about their purpose and assured that standards
of quality and safety are maintained. If homeopathic medicines were not
subject to any kind of regulatory control consumers would not have
access to such information or assurances. Conversely, if regulation was
applied to homeopathic medicines as understood in the context of
conventional pharmaceutical medicines, these products would have to be
withdrawn from the market as medicines. This would constrain
consumer choice and, more importantly, risk the introduction of
unregulated, poor quality and potentially unsafe products on the market
to satisfy consumer demand.
38. The concern to achieve consumer choice while protecting public health is
also reflected at a European level. Thus Recital 9 to Directive
92/73/EEC7 made clear the overall policy position concerning
homeopathic products in the EU: “Whereas, despite considerable
differences in the status of alternative medicines in the Member States,
patients should be allowed access to the medicinal products of their
choice, provided all precautions are taken to ensure the quality and
safety of the said products.”

2. The differences in the two medical paradigms and the relevance of RCT evidence

It has been said that there are two laws of healing –- the law of opposites (allopathy/conventional medicine) and the law of similars (homeopathy).

Conventional medicine is based on the treatment of a diagnosed disease and suppression of its symptoms with material doses of chemicals. Pharma drugs work through the Law of Opposites, eg. antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, anti-convulsants, anti-hypertensives, anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, etc. This can be effective, especially the use of antibiotics for bacterial acutes, but it risks giving the semblance of healing and sometimes plays havoc with the internal ecology of the body, trusting one supposes that the body’s innate immune system is strong enough to come to the rescue. Whatever ... it is a system of medicine for all its faults. Many have benefited from it, though many also have not, and a million Britons are hospitalised by prescription medicines every year, costing the NHS £2 billion8.

Homeopathy is different. It is not suppressive of symptoms. It focuses on triggering the best possible healing reaction from the immune system with the minimum remedy dose (highly diluted and vigorously shaken to ‘energise’ it) after an individualised casetaking of all the symptoms and case history of the patient has identified a remedy known to produce similar symptoms in a healthy person (the law of similars). Importantly, one or more remedies may be prescribed in succession, sometimes in different potencies as symptoms change, and over what may be an extended period.

The mechanics of an RCT based as they are upon the reductionist principle of dividing the whole into ‘parts’ small enough to be measured or monitored in isolation, hence restricting the test to a single remedy, and not taking account of the patient’s overall experience of the treatment being trialled, do not lend themselves well to testing the homeopathic process. For this reason, as well as the very high cost of RCTs, the substantial body of evidence for homeopathy very properly comes from clinical research, from outcome studies9, from cost-effectiveness studies and from empirical evidence (i.e. from practice ‘on the job’). It is therefore truly “evidence based”10. This has been possible because homeopathic remedies won’t kill or damage the patient.

Notwithstanding the above, there are a considerable number of RCTs of individual homeopathic remedies for specific conditions which have been conducted vs placebo11. Of those which came up with conclusive results, more are indeed positive (44%) than negative (7%), as H:MC21 stated; a factual statement which the ASA considered couldn’t be stated, unless accompanied by the information that 49% were (for unexplained reasons) inconclusive.

In the end however the ASA’s hands were over their ears because they wanted only to hear evidence that said that homeopathy was no better than placebo, the corollary to which is that all the people it had helped cure through history had been duped idiots.

The Adjudication says that the ASA had been given “a substantial review of over 100 placebo controlled trials (which) showed no convincing evidence that homeopathy was superior to placebo”. The ASA told H:MC21 about this very late in the investigation and refused to say exactly what review that was (another lack of due process). The only review it could have been was the 2005 Shang et al review which was a meta-analysis which selectively eliminated all but 8 RCTs out of the 110 they started with in order - surprise surprise - to come to a conclusion which would say homeopathy was no better than placebo. Shang et al’s methods and conclusions have - no surprise - since been found to be flawed as HMC21 pointed out [A.L.B.Rutten and C.F.Stolper, ‘THE 2005 meta-analaysis of homeopathy: the importance of post-publication data’, Homeopathy, 97 (2008), 169-177, - “Re-analysis of Shang's post-publication data did not support the conclusion that homeopathy is a placebo effect. The conclusion that homeopathy is, and that conventional is not, a placebo effect was not based on comparative analysis and not justified because of heterogeneity and lack of sensitivity analysis. If we confine ourselves to the predefined hypotheses and the part of the analysis that is indeed comparative, the conclusion should be that quality of homeopathic trials is better than of conventional trials, for all trials (p=0.03) as well as for smaller trials (p=0.003).” and Lüdtke R, Rutten AL , J Clin Epidemiol. 2008 Dec;61(12):1197-204. Epub 2008 Oct 1. “Homeopathy had a significant effect beyond placebo ..... Shang's negative results were mainly influenced by one single trial on preventing muscle soreness in 400 long-distance runners“].

In conclusion, if one was overly suspicious one might suspect that the ASA needed 10 months to find some stretched “interpretations” of the true facts in plain English which H:MC21 had used in its press release (see previous post), which could, just possibly, provide them with an excuse to Uphold some of the challenges which the rather nasty Nightingale Collaboration and fellow travellers had made. Something which would allow them to say, with fingers crossed behind their backs and ignoring the length of their own noses, “we note that you H:MC21 believe that you have provided evidence for certain factual statements known already by millions around the world that e.g. “Homeopathy has a history of success in chronic illness” and that “In Cuba, an integrated approach to healthcare has led to homeopathy being used to enable 2.3 million ... to be cheaply and effectively protected against endemic Leptospirosis”, but we, the ASA, concluded (after referring to the skewed information the kind people at the Nightingale Collaboration gave us) that you hadn’t supplied sufficient evidence.”

“Phew! (sighs of relief). That got us out of a possibly embarrassing position with the companies which help pay ASA salaries and spend such a lot of money on advertising in the UK, and have such close links with important people in government and the medical profession”.

But, hang on a moment fellows. Isn’t what you have said the same as saying "we don’t believe that your metal boat can float because we have seen no convincing evidence" when it has merrily been floating in sight of everyone for over 200 years and the majority of those choosing to be carried by it are very happy with the boat's progress!" And didn’t the homeopathic associations, including one, the BHA,that represents 400+ qualified doctor homeopaths, send you loads of evidence in 2008?

So now we are awaiting The Independent Reviewer’s decision whether to hear H:MC21’s appeal, and, if he does, what he will make of this Big Muddle. Could he indeed decide that what we have here is in fact a clash between two ideologies, and point out to the ASA that the CAP Code specifically states “IV These criteria apply to the Code: ... j. the ASA does not arbitrate between conflicting ideologies.” ?

Whatever the Independent Reviewer says, what we have seen here is an attempt at CENSORSHIP, which incidentally if allowed to pass through would be a considerable assistance to one medical paradigm - conventional medicine - which already has a near monopoly within the UK, enjoys well over 99% of the funds available from H.M Government for healthcare, and wants the remaining percent, and no competition, please - regardless of some of their taxpayer patients' wishes. Time for the OFT to step forward. And, on judicial review if it comes to that one trusts the ASA will get another heavy ruler on the knuckles. 11




Early Day Motion
EDM 908
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE REPORT ON HOMEOPATHY
23.02.2010

Tredinnick, David


That this House expresses concern at the conclusions of the Science and Technology Committee's Report, Evidence Check on Homeopathy; notes that the Committee took only oral evidence from a limited number of witnesses, including known critics of homeopathy Tracy Brown, the Managing Director of Sense About Science, and journalist Dr Ben Goldacre, who have no expertise in the subject; believes that evidence should have been heard from primary care trusts that commission homeopathy, doctors who use it in a primary care setting, and other relevant organisations, such as the Society of Homeopaths, to provide balance; observes that the Committee did not consider evidence from abroad from countries such as France and Germany, where provision of homeopathy is far more widespread than in the UK, or from India, where it is part of the health service; regrets that the Committee ignored the 74 randomised controlled trials comparing homeopathy with placebo, of which 63 showed homeopathic treatments were effective, and that the Committee recommends no further research; further notes that 206 hon.Members signed Early Day Motion No. 1240 in support of NHS homeopathic hospitals in Session 2006-07; and calls on the Government to maintain its policy of allowing decision-making on individual clinical interventions, including homeopathy, to remain in the hands of local NHS service providers and practitioners who are best placed to know their community's needs.

1 For another recent case involving Freedom of Expression which the ASA lost at judicial review see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12818480 . Art 10 European Convention on Human Rights: Judge Treacy - “Article 10 protects not only the content and substance of information but also the means of dissemination since any restriction on the means necessarily interferes with the right to receive and impart information.”
2 The Adjudication mentions this report as having been “noted” by the ASA, in a paragraph headed Assessment, which precedes their findings on each challenged statement, which makes it clear that the “noted” is code for “we believed the S&TC report and not HMC21‘s evidence”
3 Sir Michael Rawlins (Chair of NICE and no supporter of homeopathy/CAM) pointed out - Harveian Oration 2009,
"RCTs, long regarded as the 'gold standard' of evidence, have been put on an undeserved pedestal. Their appearance at the top of hierarchies of evidence is inappropriate; and hierarchies are illusory tools for assessing evidence. They should be replaced by a diversity of approaches that involve analysing the totality of the evidence base."
4 in an earlier life an immunologist at Beecham Laboratories. Later a researcher at Edinburgh and Bristol Universities.
5 http://vonsyhomeopathy.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/stop-funding-nhs-homeopathy-mps-urge-who-are-these-mps/#more-293
6 http://eurex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!CELEXnumdoc&numdoc=392L0073&lg=en
7 Sarah Boseley, The Guardian
8 such as the Bristol Homeopathic Hospital study of 6,500 patients mentioned in H:MC21’s press release where the researchers recorded that 50.7% of patients reported that improvement in their symptoms was “much better” and, in all, 70.7% reported a degree of improvement.
9 See Dr Lionel Milgrom http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/memo/homeopathy/ucm0402.htm
10 Up to the end of 2010, 156 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in homeopathy have been reported in 135 full papers in peer-reviewed journals. This represents research in 75 different medical conditions. Of these 156 RCTs, 41% were positive, 7% negative and 52% non-conclusive.http://www.facultyofhomeopathy.org/research/
11 I am indebted to James Panozzi, Dana Ullman, and Lionel Milgrom, and NaturalNews for excerpts from material they have posted on the internet

Propolis Extracts May Allow Inexpensive Cancer Treatment

a very concise peer-reviewed article, confirming ONCE AGAIN, that propolis has very real potential to save lives. In the meantime, take your propolis regularly!!!

Cytotoxic Constituents of Propolis Inducing Anticancer Effects: A Review

J Pharm Pharmacol, 2011 Nov;63(11):1378-86

Objectives:
Propolis is a honeybee product used extensively in traditional medicine for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anticancer effects. Propolis exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities because it is a complex mixture of natural substances. In this review, the antitumour effects of propolis extracts and its constituents (e.g. flavonoids, terpenes and caffeic acid phenethyl ester) are discussed.

Key findings:
The effect of propolis on experimental carcinogenesis is discussed, as well as its possible mechanisms of action against tumours, involving apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and interference on metabolic pathways. Propolis seems to be efficient against different tumour cells both in vitro and in vivo, which suggests its potential in the development of new anticancer drugs.

Summary:
Propolis extracts may be important economically and would allow a relatively inexpensive cancer treatment. Preclinical investigations are needed to further elucidate the benefits of propolis and its anti-tumour properties.

H:MC21 New Statesman Homeopathy Cares ad 2010

As the ASA has been asked by the anti-homeopathy Nightingale Collaboration and fellow travellers to attack some factual statements made by the charity Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century in its 2010 New Statesman advert, I have posted the full text of the ad below. A follow-up blog will discuss the ASA response.

Homeopathy Cares

Homeopathy has a history of success in chronic illness
• At Bristol Homeopathic Hospital 70.7% of 6,500 patients with chronic conditions
  benefited from homeopathic treatment and had reduced need for conventional
  medication. [1]
• Other clinical outcome studies indicate similar levels of benefit, and more randomised controlled trials are positive than negative. For more see www.britishhomeopathic.org.
• In Cuba an integrated approach to healthcare has led to homeopathy being used to enable 2.3 million people, including the elderly, to be cheaply and effectively protected against endemic Leptospirosis. [2]
• About 6 million people in the UK choose homeopathy despite the fact that for the vast majority this means that they have to pay for their treatment. [3]

Homeopathy offers a caring alternative
• The NHS spends £11 billion annually on conventional drugs out of a budget of £100 billion, and this cost keeps rising, as there is an increasing need to treat long-term conditions. [4]
• Only 0.001% of the NHS drugs budget is spent on homeopathic medicines, but these are mainly used to treat patients with chronic health problems who have not been helped, despite great cost, by conventional means. [5,6]
• The NHS also spends £2 billion annually on treating the adverse side effects of conventional drugs. Homeopathy has no side effects. [7]
• Even a small increase in spending on homeopathy could produce dramatic benefits, reducing care needs and increasing patient quality of life.

Opposition to homeopathy is based on propaganda
• Homeopathy has a growing evidence base, but according to the British Medical Journal, of the 2,500 most commonly used treatments in the NHS, 51% have unknown effectiveness, and only 11% have been shown to be beneficial.[8,9]
• The leading so-called ‘expert’ and critic of homeopathy, Professor Edzard Ernst, has admitted that he has no qualifications in homeopathy.[10]
• The leading organisation opposing homeopathy, Sense About Science, is funded by pharmaceutical companies and relies on a strategy of propaganda stunts rather than scientific research.[11,12]
• The leading popular book critical of homeopathy (Trick or Treatment?) has been shown to be scientifically unreliable. It was co-authored by Simon Singh (a trustee of Sense About Science) and Professor Ernst.[13]
• The recent Science and Technology Committee report on homeopathy was voted for by only three MPs. Of these only one attended the hearings and he has strong links to Sense About Science (Dr Evan Harris).[14,15,16]

A vision for an economic and effective medical future

H:MC21 believes that the NHS should increase the integration of homeopathic practitioners into front-line healthcare whilst monitoring both clinical and cost benefits.

H:MC21 believes that, by sharing clinical experience and skills in this way, homeopathic and conventional practitioners can provide the safest, most economic and most effective service to patients.

H:MC21 believes that this will allow the NHS to confirm the benefits of homeopathy in the real world of clinical practice.

References
1. D.S. Spence, E.A. Thompson, S.J. Barron, ‘Homeopathic Treatment for Chronic Disease: A 6-Year, University-Hospital Outpatient Observational Study’, JACM, 2005, 11:793-798.
2. G. Bracho et al., ‘Large-scale application of highly-diluted bacteria for Leptospirosis epidemic control’, Homeopathy, 99 (2010),156-66, available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20674839.
3. Professor Kent Woods, Chief Executive of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), response to Q211, House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, Evidence Check: Homeopathy (2010), p. Ev 70, at
 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmsctech/45/45.pdf
4. Mr Mike O’Brien, Minister for Health Services, Department of Health, response to Q244, Evidence Check, p. Ev 73.
5. O’Brien, response to Q244, Evidence Check, p. Ev 73.
6. Spence et al.
7. Sarah Boseley, ‘Adverse drug reactions cost NHS £2bn’, The Guardian, 3 April 2008,
  http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/apr/03/nhs.drugsandalcohol, accessed 14 November 2008.
8. http://www.britishhomeopathic.org /research/
9. ‘How much do we know?’, BMJ Clinical Evidence at http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/about/knowledge.jsp.
10. ‘Interview mit Professor Edzard Ernst, Exeter’, Homöopathische Nachrichten, April 2010, 1-3, translation at http://www.hmc21.org/ #/edzard-ernst/4543212059.
11. Funding information taken from the annual accounts at the Charity Commission.
12. Strategy information from the ‘Memorandum submitted by Sense About Science’ (HO36), Evidence Check, pp. Ev 7-8.
13. William Alderson, Halloween Science (Stoke Ferry: Homeopathy: Medicine for the 21st Century, 2009), available at http://www.hmc21.org/#/ halloween-science/4535659799.
14. ‘Formal minutes’, Evidence Check, pp. 48-50.
15. Register of Members’ Interests, available at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/regmem/?p=10261, accessed 22 May 2010.
16. http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/other/491/, accessed 22 May 2010.

Truth

The truth may upset you at first, but it will ultimately set you free. 
A.R. Bernard.

Propolis, a Natural Remedy Against Cancer?

Protect yourself and get your propolis by any means possible... 

Propolis, a Natural Remedy Against Cancer?

Article written in French by:

• Nicolas Hubin, licenced in chemical sciences;

•  Professeur Roch Domerego, Vice-President of the Apitherapy Commission of Apimondia, Co-author of l’Apithérapie” aux éditions Amyris,;

•  Liéna Hernandez Orizondo, Doctor in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Member of the Apitherapy Commission of Apimondia.

(Translation by Th. Cherbuliez, MD)

Source: www.apitherapyreview.org

  

In the last three decades, our understanding of cancers has undergone a fundamental change by the discovery of the genes responsible for the development of these conditions. Nowadays research focuses seriously on the transducers of these genes and more specifically of the PAK1. The PAK 1 is understood to be responsible for the activation of molecules fostering cellular division, the invasion of the body by the tumor, the survival of cancer cells and the development of blood vessels within the tumor.

Current research addresses the development of PAK1 blocking medications.

The medications would decrease the initiation of mitosis of cancer cells, as well as the development of metastases, the angiogenesis, and the cell anti-apoptosis. One can well understand the increasing interest in this type of medication.

PAK1 and cancer

A large number of systematic studies led to the conclusion that the Ser/Thrkinases PAK1 is an essential transducer for more than 70% of the cancers, like cancers of the respiratory tract, of the prostate and of the neurofibromatoses.

These types of tumors depend strongly on the presence of this kinase for their growth, and they are therefore called PAK1-dependant tumors. PAK1 is a Rac/CDC42-dependant kinase that activates numerous effectors by phosphorylation, such as the kinase RAF, the LIM-kinase and the BAD. The PAK1 is therefore involved in all kind of processes in the generation of tumors, including cellular division, the anti-apoptosis, and angiogenesis. [cf fig. 1]

More specifically, the phosphorylation of the BAD (Bcl-xl/Bcl-2-Associated Death Promoter), a pro-apoptotic protein, prevents cellular apoptosis. Activation of the LIM kinase leads to the polymerization of actin, which stimulate cellular migration, and therefore the formation of metastases. Kinase RAF, when phosphorylized, leads through the MEK and ERK metabolic pathways to the passage from the cellular phase GO to phase G1, thereby setting mitosis in motion. Finally, PAK1 activates too the production of VEGF, essential to tumor angiogenesis. [1]

The synthesis of PAK1-blocking substances will take years. This is the reason why research turns more and more towards natural products already available on the market, which will demonstrate this anti PAK1 capacity, with the hope to make this new therapeutic approach available as quickly as possible to patients suffering from cancers and from neurofibromatosis.

Of these natural products, one of the most promising seems to be the green propolis of Brazil, rich in Artepillin C, a PAK1- blocking agent.

Propolis, a PAK1- blocking agent

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by exudation from plants and collected by bees, who use it in the hive.

It includes some 300 components, mainly resin (50%), wax (30%), essential oils (10%), pollen (5%), together with a whole series of other organic components (5%). [2] Amongst these organic components one can identify phenolic components, esters, flavonoids, terpenes, beta-steroids, aldheids and aromatic alcohols. [3]

In traditional medicine, propolis is known for having a large spectrum of biological and therapeutic properties with anti-hepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. [4] And now, one of its most promising medical properties, internationally actively studied, is its anti-cancerous effect. Like any natural substance, its composition is directly dependent on different factors, such as its botanical origin and the environmental conditions of its development. Green propolis of Brazil (GPB) is the only one having in its composition 6 to 8% Artepillin C (ARC).

Scientific literature mentions several rigorously conducted studies of the anti-cancerous property of the active principle of GPB, together with its mechanism of biochemical action. In 2005 a team of Japanese researcher demonstrated the anti-proliferative effect of ARC on human colon cancerous cells. This effect is demonstrated by its ability to stimulate the emergence of Cip1/p21 , which interferes with the passage from phase GO to phase G1 of the cell cycle, in this way blocking mitosis. According to this study, ARC is capable of blocking the chain reaction initiated by PAK1 and responsible for the loss of the P21′s regulating capacity. [5]

The following year this same team published the account of a study based on the oral treatment of mice. Here they picture the properties of ARC and of propolis, both well absorbed by the organism. These compounds trigger an anti-oxidant response by the organism through the production of detoxifying enzymes (glutation S-transferase, NADPH – quinone reductase) which neutralize the damage caused by the free oxidant radicals, an action that is reinforced by the abundance of flavonoids in propolis.

For many authors, oxidative damages may cause mutation leading to neoplasic transformation. This receives confirmation by the activity of ARC, which inhibits the resurgence of pre-neoplasic lesions in the colon of the mice. [6]

In addition, another study carried out in 2007 showed accompanying evidence of an anti-angiogenic effect. As a matter of fact the researchers observed a significant decrease in the emergence of new blood vessels within the tumor in mice treated orally with propolis. [7]

Finally, a study published at the beginning of 2009 demonstrates clearly that ARC and BGP are selectively blocking the PAK1 signal, which interferes with phosphorylation of Raf-1, and this limits the mitoses of cancer cells. The authors demonstrate in vitro and in vivo the important therapeutic effect of ARC and GPB on the growth of neurofibromatosis tumors. [8]

All this research demonstrates clearly that Artepillin C present in Brazilian green propolis has anti-cancerous effect by decreasing the frequency of pre-cancerous lesions, by inhibition of mitoses of cancerous cells and of angiogenesis within the tumor.

Conclusion

As their research progresses, scientific researchers seem to discover an ever larger power to Artepillin C. It could be that, taken at an early stage, this molecule might be the remedy for cancer: More than 70% of cancers are PAK1 dependant and Artepillin C appears to be a very efficacious blocking agent of PAK1.

Green propolis of Brazil, very rich in Artepillin C, is therefore expected to be a natural remedy against cancer. As it is PAK1 blocking and easily absorbed by the organism, it seems active when taken orally and might even present an inhibitory effect vis a vis certain cancers, if taken daily.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………

[1] H. Maruta, T. Ohta, Signal therapy: propolis and Pepper extracts as cancer therapeutics, In Complementary and Alternative Therapies and the Aging Population, Watson R. Academic Press (2008) : pp 523-539.

[2] A.M. Gómez-Caravaca, M. Gómez-romero, D. Arráez-Román, A. Segura-Carretero, A. Fernández-Gutiérrez, Advances in the analysis of phenolic compounds in products derived from bees, J. Pharmac. Bio. Anal. 41 (2006) : pp 1220-1234.

[3] H. Aga, T. Shibuya, T. Sugimoto, M. Kurimoto, S.H. Nakajima, Isolation and identification of antimicrobial compounds in Brazilian propolis, Biosci. Biotechnol. Biochem. 58 (1994) : pp 945-946.

[4] A. H. Banskota, Y. Tezuka, S. Kadota, Recent Progress in Pharmacological Research of Propolis, Phytotherapy Res. 15 (2001) : pp 561-571.

[5] K. Shimizu, S. K. Das, T. Hashimoto, Y. Sowa, T. Yoshida, T. Sakai, Y. Matsuura, K. Kanazawa, Artepillin C in Brazilian Propolis Induces G0/G1 Arrest via Stimulation of Cip1/p21 Expression in Human Colon Cancer Cells, Mol. Carcinogenesis 44 (2005) : pp 293-299.

[6] K. Shimizu, S. K. Das, M. Baba, Y. Matsuura, K. Kanazawa, Dietary artepillin C suppresses the formation of aberrant crypt foci induced by azoxymethane in mouse colon, Cancer Letters 240 (2006) : pp 135-142.

[7] M. R. Ahn, K. Kunimasa, T. Ohta, S. Kumazawa, M. Kamihira, K. Kaji, Y. Uto, H. Hori, H, Nagasawa, T. Nakayama, Suppression of tumor-induced angiogenesis byBrazilian propolis: Major component artepillin C inhibits in vitro tube formation and endothelial cell proliferation, Cancer Letters 252 (2007) : pp 235-243.

[8] S. M. Messerli, M. R. Ahn, K. Kunimasa, M. Yanagihara, T. Tatefuji, K. Hashimoto, V. Mautner, Y. Uto, H. Hori, S. Kumazawa, K. Kaji, T. Ohta, H. Maruta, Artepillin C(ARC) in Brazilian Green Propolis Selectively Blocks Oncogenic PAK1 Signaling and Suppresses the Growth of NF Tumors in Mice, Phytotherapy Res. 23 (2009) : pp 423-427.

Honey May Help Prevent Post-Operative Eye Inflammation

Honey has often been reported to eliminate cataracts simply by placing drops of liquid honey in the eye... 

Honey Prophylaxis Reduces the Risk of EndophthalmitisDuring Perioperative Period of Eye Surgery

Phytotherapy Research, Early View

Endophthalmitis following eye surgery remains a rarebut serious complication. Topical fluoroquinolones have been used asprophylactic agents against endophthalmitis. However, the emerging resistanceof ocular pathogens to fluoroquinolones may preclude their routine use.

Honey, a natural antimicrobial product with woundhealing properties, is a promising candidate for the prophylaxis ofendophthalmitis.

The goal of this study was to determine whether 25%(w/v) honey solution is effective in eradicating bacterial ocular pathogens inthe perioperative period in patients scheduled for cataract surgery orvitrectomy, and to compare its efficacy to 0.3% ofloxacin.

In this pilot study, 101 patients were randomized tohoney (n = 49) or ofloxacin (n = 52) treatment. In both groups, eye drops wereadministered five times a day for 7 days before and 5 days after surgery.Before administration of the antibacterial agents, 18 and 25 isolates weredetected in the ofloxacin and honey group, respectively.

After 7 days of administration, four isolates (coagulase-negativeStaphylococcus) were detected in each therapeutic group. No significantdifference in antibacterial effect was found between groups. These resultsindicate that honey may act as a prophylactic agent of endophthalmitis; however,further studies are needed to characterize its ocular penetration properties.

Help, I have Hay fever!!

OK, so you are sneezing, can't see where you go and your eyes look like you had a few very late nights!

The only thing you want to do is get a shot or a pill to chill untill it passes. Only problem is that you would sleep through your day, as life goes on for other people. This is when that luring cortisone shot seems awefully attractive (barr the  terrible side effects)

Do not dispair, there are natural ways around this! Read more...

Royal Jelly Beneficial for Hypertension, Cholesterol, Bone Loss & Male Infertility

Royal Jelly continues its climb upwards as a respected product for treating important human conditions...

Clinical Advisor, 4-Oct 2011

 …Royaljelly contains a complex mixture of proteins, vitamins, minerals andcarbohydrates. The B vitamins are found in the largest quantity, followedclosely by an assortment of 20 different amino acids, calcium, zinc, iron andmanganese.

A detailedbreakdown of the constituents of royal jelly reveals lipids (3%-7%),carbohydrates (10%-12%), proteins (12%-15%), water (60%-70%) and traces ofminerals and vitamins. Of particular medical interest is the presence of gammaglobulin, one of a group of specific proteins studied for theirimmune-modulating potential and pro-estrogenic compounds...

Science


Due to itsrich content of antioxidants, proteins and other nutrients, royal jelly isreportedly good for whatever ails you. It is specifically recommended fortreatment of hypertension, hyperlipidemia and inflammation, and is beingstudied for a possible anti-tumor effect as well as a treatment for maleinfertility.

In a smalltrial, patients were assigned to the royal jelly intervention or placebo. Treatment-groupparticipants were given 6 g daily of royal jelly formulation for four weeks. Atthe end of the trial, the treatment group's total cholesterol level was reduced6%, and LDL was reduced more than 9%.

Egyptianresearchers investigated the effect of royal jelly on conception rates amongcouples with known male asthenozoospermia... At the end of three monitoredcycles, the successful conception rate of the treatment group was 8.1% comparedwith only 2.6% of the IUI couples. The researchers are still studying themechanism of action in this usage beyond the nutrition-dense composition ofroyal jelly. 


The growthand development of bone cells is another area of focus for royal jellyresearch. Scientists monitored tibial bone density in ovariectomized rats forseven weeks until clinical measurements indicated significant loss of bonedensity. At this point, the treatment group was given a royal jelly supplementand the active control group was given a 17 beta-estradiol treatment.

At the endof treatment, the active control group had 100% reversal of tibial bone loss,and the royal jelly group showed 85% bone recovery. Enhanced gastric absorptionof calcium was found in this and other studies and could account for a synergisticeffect on bone maintenance.
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CAM Use In Hospitals Tripled Since 2000 - Ask for the services you want!

Great news ... the October 4 article "Demand drives more hospitals to offer alternative therapies" from American Medical News reports that CAM (complementary alternative medicine) use in hospitals has tripled since 2000. As a result of patient demand, 42% of the 714 hospitals surveyed now offer some form of CAM therapy- including massage, meditation, and Reiki.

What about aromatherapy, (say, some lavender essential oil), shown to be effective with anxiety?[1] Hospital execs say they are making the change because the CAM therapies are "clinically effective" and to ensure patient satisfaction - so, be sure to ask your hospital for some aromatherapy while you wait for your procedure!

> Click here to read the full-text article on the American Medical News website

Have you asked your local hospital or primary care physician to offer more CAM alternatives? This is a fantastic opportunity to effect change in your community! Which CAM therapy would you most like to see your local hospital offer?

[1] Natural Standard. (2011 May). Aromatherapy for Anxiety. [Online exclusive]. Retrieved from http://naturalstandard.com/news/news201105016.asp

Red Propolis Extract Kills More Leukemia Cancer Cells

the unrelenting power of propolis, proving once again its anti-carcinogenic properties...

Comparisonof Effects of the Ethanolic Extracts of Brazilian Propolis on Human LeukemicCells As Assessed with the MTT Assay

Evidence-BasedComplementary and Alternative Medicine, Volume 2012

Propolis isa resinous product collected by honey bees. It was also reported that propolishas a wide variety of biological actions, including antimicrobial activity andantioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and suppressive effects of dioxin toxicity activities.

The aim ofthis study was to compare the in vitro cytotoxic activities of green propolis(G12) and red propolis (G13) in human leukemia cells. These cells wereincubated with different concentrations of propolis and 48 hours after the IC50was calculated for each cell.

The resultsshowed that the red propolis has cytotoxic effect in vitro higher than greenpropolis. Red propolis was showed to be cytostatic in K562 cells and caused thesame amount of apoptosis as its control Gleevec.

Inconclusion, these results showed that red propolis is more cytotoxic than thegreen propolis in a variety of human cell lines of leukemia. Red propolis maycontain drugs capable of inhibiting cancer cell growth. Therefore, furtherisolation of respective chemical ingredients from the red propolis (G13) foridentification of the activities is necessary.

Indian Bridal Wear Noted For Its Unfathomable Beauty

India is a country known for its cultural and religious diversity. So the weddings in India are occasions filled with colourful and vibrant wedding dresses and accessories. The Indian bridal wear is considered as an epitome of the cultural values embedded on beautifully designed dresses. The most widely used bridal wear in India includes the traditional Saree, Salwar Kameez and Ghagra Choli.

Incredible and Outstanding Indian Bridal Wear

Indian bridal wear differ according to the regional diversities. In the North of India, brides adorn Salwar Kameez and Ghagra Choli whereas in the South, brides are known to wear Sarees. The traditional bridal wear of India is renowned worldwide for its intricate patterns, subtle and exquisite fabrics and vibrant colors.

Since ages, red was considered the most auspicious color for bridal outfits in India. But as time and generation progress, brides love to experiment with many other colors such as blue, green, yellow, orange and almost every possible color under the sky.

Different Types of Bridal Wear in India

Compared to the western bridal wear, the Indian bridal wear is rich in color and intricately designed with beads, sequins, mirror work, embroideries and precious stones. The following section throws light on the different types of bridal wear popularly used in India.

Sarees: it is one of the most cherished outfits of every woman in India. This nine yard piece of cloth can be draped around the body in different patterns. Most of the brides in India prefer to adorn beautiful and elegant sarees on their wedding days. The bridal sarees which are available in pure silk, satin and georgettes are known for its elegance and incomparable beauty. These wedding sarees reflect the beauty and grace of a woman.

Indian bridal wear sarees include the most popular Kanchipuram silk sarees and the Banarasi Silk Sarees. These sarees are quite expensive as it is woven from pure silk and include threads of gold. The pallu of these silk sarees are the focal point of attraction with lavish prints in gold and sequin works.

Today brides love to wear designer sarees of various types. Designer sarees with pearl works, stones and zari work are very popular among modern brides. Indian designer sarees are noted for its beautiful patterns of kundan work, mirror work and embroidery work.

Salwar Kameez: popular Indian bridal wear also includes elegantly designed Salwar Kameez of various styles and patterns. Bridal wear Salwar Kameez includes fabrics made of velvet, silk and other expensive materials. The Kameez is embellished heavily with zari work, stone work, beads, sequins and beautiful embroidered patterns.

Ghagra Choli: noted as one of the most elegant wedding wear worn by brides and their relatives, the Ghagra Choli is a combination of a short blouse and a long skirt. A dupatta or a scarf is also worn with it. The Ghagra cholis are also beautifully designed with heavy embellishments and decorations.

The distinctive features of the Indian bridal wear have led to its popularity in the international markets. Today there a wide range of wedding sarees and other wedding attires available in the online stores.

Mesmerising Sherwani Designs For Grooms in This Wedding Season

One of the best attires a man can adorn on his wedding day is the traditional sherwani. Most of the grooms prefer to wear the chic and elegant embroidered sherwani that is known to be the traditional wedding wear in India.

A Perfect Wedding Wear

The sherwani is a long coat that reaches below the knees and it is worn with a churidar, dhoti or kurta. Nowadays, it is worn over a churidar rather than a kurta. The long coat is buttoned up till the top. This graceful wear helps to accentuate the look of a man. There are different types of sherwani designs available today. The hand embroidered designer wears are in great demand these days. You can also shop online for beautiful ethnic sherwanis of different varieties.

This traditional attire is now available in various fabrics and designs. You can also find heavily embellished ones with Kashmiri embroidery that is just the perfect wedding wear. The other sherwani designs include floral designs, sequin works, precious stone and zardosi work on collars and cuffs.

The need to move with the changing trends and fashion has led to latest sherwani designs which are becoming quite trendy these days. Today you can easily find a wide range of designer wears so it is not easy to select one among them. You can choose one with light embroidery and prints if it is a small occasion but if it is a wedding, it is best to choose heavily embroidered sherwani with kundan and mirror work. It will enhance your personality and bestow an elegant look on the wearer.

This ethnic wear is made of various materials like silk, crepes, brocades, tussar and cotton. You can choose the material according to your comfort and preference. The most preferred colors in this traditional wear include maroon, gold and red. Though now most of the people prefer to experiment with the different colors like off-white, blue, green and so forth.

Some of the Best Sherwani Designs

You can find some of the best sherwani designs in many of the online stores. There are many online stores that specialise in unique wedding outfits including this traditional wear. You can even buy the best designer wedding wears at affordable rates when you shop online.

This ethnic wear can be coupled with beautiful and expensive stoles, mojaris to match the attire. The stoles are also available in different colors and fabrics to match the sherwanis. You can also wear gold chains and bracelets to add a touch of sophistication to your attire.

This attire is preferred by Indian grooms mainly because it is easy to wear and comfortable. Besides the groom, even children and close relatives can adorn this elegant attire to look more fashionable and well-dressed.

Known to be a royal wear, the embroidered sherwani is globally known as one of the best wedding wear that a groom could possibly wear on his special day. It is important to choose the right color, fabric and pattern that suit you. So go ahead and choose one of the stunning traditional wedding wears to look impeccable on your big day.

Unique Handmade Gifts to Make Someone Feel Special

Handmade gifts are more appreciated than the ready made gifts as it reflects your personal thoughts. It is more often a unique piece of gift that is the rarest among the rare. Its uniqueness makes it a perfect choice among millions of gifts that you choose. These gifts can seldom be equated with other gifts as it has a special emotional value tagged along with it.

Best way to Express Your Feelings

Handmade gifts are the best way to express your emotions. Most of us want to convey a message through the gifts we give. These gifts are the perfect choice as it mirrors the emotional thoughts of the giver. Such gifts are more appreciated and admired by people.

There are many types of handmade gifts available today at different prices. These gifts can be chosen for different occasions like Mother’s day, Father’s day, Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, and so forth. Specially crafted gifts like candles, glassware, decorative pouches, lamps, antiques and artifacts are gifted on Christmas and New Year. These gifts are also ideal for occasions like birthdays and weddings.

Handmade gifts also include beautiful jewellery made by skilled and professional jewellers. Different accessories like bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings are customised and arranged to form unique pieces of jewellery. Handcrafted jewellery includes the use of many other metals like copper and bronze in addition to precious metals like gold and silver. Such exquisite and rare pieces of jewellery are also made of plastic, wood and leather. Precious stones like pearl, coral and amethyst is used for crafting such jewellery.

Beautiful handcrafted baskets are also excellent pieces of gifts. The handcrafted baskets are made of superior quality rattan reed. These exclusive handcrafted baskets can be designed according to your preferences. You can choose the color, texture as well as the reed.

Personalised handmade gifts are popular as it costs less compared to the other gifts. A gift made of leather is also an excellent choice. Leather items like belts, wrist watches, purses and so forth can be personalised by engraving initials or names making it more beautiful and special. Such gifts are cherished and remembered by people all their lives. Leather gifts are priceless and when it is handcrafted it adds to its value.

A Variety of Handmade Gifts

With the increase in the popularity of handmade gifts, there are a number of companies that manufacture a variety of these products like contemporary paintings, antiques, coin collection, hanging lamps and decorative lanterns, corporate gifts, garments, watches and so forth. Most of the items can be personalised and handcrafted to form beautiful and exclusive gifts.

Handmade gifts can be bought online from authentic suppliers at different prices. There are costly as well as inexpensive gifts that can be bought from online stores. The price of these gifts depends on the authenticity of the gifts and materials used.

In short, the handcrafted gifts are incomparable and exceptional as most of these gifts are single pieces that are customised to form matchless and valuable gift items.