Holistopathy

29/06/2015

A more beautiful, just and sustainable world is possible. Take this library and use it to inspire global change!

24/06/2015

A survey was conducted which proved that the antibacterial hand gel is harmful. Do you use antibacterial gel, because it easily and quickly cleans your hands

12/05/2015

29/04/2015

HERBS AND THE PREVENTION OF DIABETES

Food scientists have discovered that the popular culinary herbs rosemary, oregano and marjoram contain compounds that may have the potential to manage type 2 diabetes in a similar way to some currently prescribed drugs.
Elvira de Mejia, a professor in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and colleagues report their findings in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

The authors point out, in view of the fact type 2 diabetes affects over 8% of Americans and costs the nation around $175 billion a year, there is a need for as many ways to tackle the disease as possible.

While some people can manage the disease with changes to diet and increasing physical activity, and others do so with medication to keep blood glucose in check, not everyone can stick to changes in lifestyle or afford the prescription drugs, they add.

Herbs may offer an alternative way to keep glucose in checkRosemary
Researchers found that certain herbs, such as rosemary, contain compounds that may have the potential to manage type 2 diabetes naturally.
The researchers note that recent studies have shown herbs may provide an alternative, natural way to keep glucose in check, so they decided to take a closer look.

In their paper, they describe how they investigated the properties of Greek oregano (Origanum vulgare), marjoram (Origanum majorana), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens).

They prepared extracts of these plants obtained from greenhouse-grown and commercially purchased dried forms and examined their ability to inhibit two enzymes - one called DPP-IV (also calld DPP-4) that plays a role in insulin secretion, and another called PTP1B that is involved in insulin signaling.

These enzymes have been identified as targets of drugs for managing diabetes. For example, the drugs sitagliptin and metformin are medications in the DPP-4 inhibitor family. However, searching for inhibitors of PTP1B is proving more challenging.

Prof. de Mejia and colleagues found that the greenhouse-grown herbs contained more polyphenols and flavonoids than the commercial, dried versions.

Compounds in rosemary, oregano, and marjoram showed ability to inhibit enzymes
They also found that extracts of greenhouse-grown rosemary, Mexican oregano, and marjoram were the best inhibitors of DPP-IV, while extracts from the commercial, dried versions were the best inhibitors of PTP1B.

Further analysis revealed a number of individual compounds contributed to these inhibitory effects.

28/04/2015

COCOA AND THE BRAIN FUNCTION

An unfortunate side effect of aging is often decreased memory function. Age-related memory decline is linked to the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus, which is a different part of the brain than the one affecting people with early Alzheimer’s or other neurodegenerative disease.
A team of researchers have found that increasing dietary cocoa flavanols can improve brain function in this region, and even lead to better scores in memory tests. Adam Brickman of Columbia University’s Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain was the lead author on the paper, which was published in Nature Neuroscience.
The dentate gyrus has been implicated in previous memory-related studies, though the link seemed to be more correlative than causal. In order to establish a relationship between the two, the researchers wanted to boost activity in that region of the brain, and see if it would affect memory.

Flavanols are chemicals found in raw, unprocessed cocoa beans as well as some other plant material. They were chosen for this study, as prior research uncovered that flavanol is able to act on the dentate gyrus, boosting the number of neuronal connections, and thus, function.
This was a relatively small study, using 37 healthy participants ranging in age from 50 to 69. Over the course of three months, one group drank a specially-formulated, high-flavanol beverage with 900 mg of flavanols per day, while the other group consumed a low-flavanol 10 mg drink each day.
Each participant underwent a pattern-recognition memory test and brain imaging before and after the three months of drinking flavanols.
"When we imaged our research subjects' brains, we found noticeable improvements in the function of the dentate gyrus in those who consumed the high-cocoa-flavanol drink,” Brickman said in a press release.
In addition to the boost in neuronal connections in the dentate gyrus, memory test scores also improved for those receiving a high level of dietary flavanols, finally showing a causal link between the two.
After the three month study, those drinking high levels of flavanols had the working memory of someone decades younger than themselves.
“If a participant had the memory of a typical 60-year-old at the beginning of the study, after three months that person on average had the memory of a typical 30- or 40-year-old,” added principal investigator Scott Small.
Though age-related memory decline and Alzheimer's both affect the hippocampus, they do not act on the same regions.

The team’s next step is to replicate this experiment with a larger group of test subjects in order to better understand the relationship between flavanols, the hippocampus, and memory.

Chocolate itself though is not a great source of these flavonoids. While fine dark chocolate will comprise anywhere from 45 to 80% cocoa, the chocolate found in the average candy bar has only 5 to 7%. Additionally, chocolate also has added sugar and fat, which may negate any benefits that come from eating the cocoa.

27/04/2015

OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS AND BRAIN FUNCTION

By now, most of us are aware that omega-3 fatty acid in fish offers numerous health benefits. But now, a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests eating the baked or broiled variety of the gill-bearing creature weekly is good for the brain, no matter how much omega-3 fatty acid it has.

Eating broiled or baked fish every week could ward off dementia later in life, according to the recent study.
The research was conducted by investigators at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania, who note that their study adds to increasing evidence that lifestyle factors could add to brain health later in life, perhaps even reducing risk of dementia.

According to senior researcher Prof. James T. Becker, health professionals estimate that more than 80 million people will have dementia by 2040. And the Alzheimer's Association note that 5.2 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common types of dementia.

By 2050, the organization estimates that the number of people aged 65 and older with Alzheimer's disease could nearly triple to 16 million if some sort of medical breakthrough or intervention is not put in place to slow or stop the disease.

Previous studies have suggested that omega-3 fatty acids - found in fish, seeds, nuts and certain oils - have an anti-oxidant effect that is linked to improved brain health.

But to further investigate the link between dietary intake and brain health, the researchers analyzed data from 260 cognitively normal participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS). These participants provided dietary intake information and underwent high-resolution brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

In total, the CHS was a 10-year, multi-center study that began in 1989 to investigate heart disease risk factors for individuals over 65.

Weekly fish eaters had more grey matter in memory and cognition brain areas
Explaining the methods of data collection, lead investigator Dr. Cyrus Raji, currently at the University of California-Los Angeles, says:

"The subset of CHS participants answered questionnaires about their eating habits, such as how much fish did they eat and how was it prepared."

He explains that broiled or baked fish has higher omega-3 levels than fried fish "because the fatty acids are destroyed in the high heat of frying, so we took that into consideration when we examined their brain scans."

The team found that participants who ate baked or broiled fish at least once each week had larger grey matter brain volumes in regions of the brain responsible for memory and cognition. Interestingly, they were also more likely to have a college education than those who did not regularly eat fish.

However, Dr. Becker explains that they did not find a link between the brain differences and omega-3 blood levels:

"Our study shows that people who ate a diet that included baked or broiled, but not fried, fish have larger brain volumes in regions associated with memory and cognition. We did not find a relationship between omega-3 levels and these brain changes, which surprised us a little."

He adds that their findings led them to conclude that they were "tapping into a more general set of lifestyle factors that were affecting brain health, of which diet is just one part."

"This suggests that lifestyle factors, in this case eating fish, rather than biological factors contribute to structural changes in the brain," Dr. Becker concludes.

24/04/2015

KIDS AND ADHD

Computers. Cellphones. Email. Texting. With a growing number of digital distractions, it is increasingly difficult to maintain undivided attention. Focusing on one task at a time becomes more and more challenging.

A new discovery by scientists in Canada could soon offer relief. Their study, published in The Journal of Neuroscience, is the first research to find out how the brain ignores visual distractions in order to focus on one thing at a time. They say the discovery could help doctors better treat patients with distraction-related attention deficits. And it could lead to wider benefits as well.
“Distraction is a leading cause of injury and death in driving and other high-stakes environments,” the study’s lead author says. “There are individual differences in the ability to deal with distraction. New electronic products are designed to grab attention. Suppressing such signals takes effort, and sometimes people can’t seem to do it.”

Managing My Brain Health
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is one of the most common childhood disorders, and it can also continue into adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, controlling behavior, and hyperactivity, according to the National Institute of Mental health.

The average age of onset is 7 years old. ADHD affects about 4 percent of adults and 9 percent of children age 13 to 18. Boys are four times more likely to have it than girls. Studies show the number of children being diagnosed with ADHD is increasing, but it is unclear why. The reasons for the rise in the disorder have also been hotly debated.

Tips to help children with attention disorders, from the American National Institute of Mental health:

– Schedule. Keep the same routine every day, from wake-up time to bedtime. Include time for homework, outdoor play, and indoor activities. Keep the schedule on the refrigerator or on a bulletin board in the kitchen. Write changes on the schedule as far in advance as possible.

– Organize everyday items. Have a place for everything, and keep everything in its place. This includes clothing, backpacks, and toys. Use homework and notebook organizers. Use organizers for school material and supplies. Stress to your child the importance of writing down assignments and bringing home the necessary books.

– Be clear and consistent. Children with ADHD need consistent rules they can understand and follow. Give praise or rewards when rules are followed. Children with ADHD often receive and expect criticism. Look for good behavior, and praise it.
Information for adults with attention disorders from the Attention Deficit Disorder Association.

– According to the NIH, many adults with attention disorders don’t know they have them. They may feel that it is impossible to get organized, stick to a job, or remember and keep appointments. Daily tasks such as getting up in the morning, preparing to leave the house for work, arriving at work on time, and being productive on the job can be especially challenging for adults with ADHD.

– These adults may have a history of failure at school, problems at work, or difficult or failed relationships. Many have had multiple traffic accidents. Like teens, adults with ADHD may seem restless and may try to do several things at once, most of them unsuccessfully. They also tend to prefer “quick fixes,” rather than taking the steps needed to achieve greater rewards.

21/04/2015

ALMONDS COULD PREVENT DIABETES

There is new evidence that eating almonds could lower your risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
The discovery is just one of several positive findings about the health benefits of almonds from six studies presented to the American Society of Nutrition Scientific Sessions in San Diego.
Almonds are known to be high in protein and nutrients.
One of the recent studies found almonds also helped moderate blood glucose levels, the Daily Mail reports. And the almonds reduced LDL – the so-called ‘bad’ – cholesterol in adults with prediabetes.
“It is promising,” for people at risk for developing chronic disease, says principal investigator Dr. Michelle Wien told Diabetes News.
“These results help to advance the evolution of our understanding of almonds’ beneficial effects as part of a healthy diet,” says Dr. Karen Lapsley, Chief Science Officer for the Almond Board of California.

According to the studies, almonds:
– help suppress the appetite, beat flab and keep your heart healthy.
– are high in beneficial monounsaturated fats and vitamin E, which protects against UV light damage and Alzheimer’s.
– are packed with minerals, including manganese, which helps the body form strong bones and regulates blood sugar, and magnesium which is essential for organ, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and regulating blood pressure.

18/04/2015

ZINK AND THE COMMON COLD

According to a meta-analysis published in BMC Family Practice, high dose zinc acetate lozenges shortened the duration of common-cold associated nasal discharge by 34%, nasal congestion by 37%, scratchy throat by 33%, and cough by 46%.

The common cold is an infection caused by over a hundred viruses, and it is a major cause of days off school or work and visits to a doctor. A previous meta-analysis of three randomized trials found that high dose zinc acetate lozenges shorten the duration of colds by 42%. Since all of the three studies reported the duration of diverse respiratory symptoms and of systemic symptoms such as muscle ache and headache, Harri Hemilä from Helsinki, Finland and Elizabeth Chalker from Sydney, Australia decided to investigate whether there are differences in the effect of zinc lozenges on different common-cold symptoms.

When zinc acetate lozenges dissolve in the mouth, zinc ions are released into the saliva of the pharyngeal region where the levels are consequently high. Therefore the effects of zinc lozenges might be greatest on symptoms of the pharyngeal region such as sore throat, and less on nasal symptoms. However, when Hemilä and Chalker pooled together the results of the three studies, they found no evidence that the effects of zinc lozenges are less for nasal symptoms compared with respiratory symptoms originating from lower anatomical regions.

According to the calculations by Hemilä and Chalker, high dose zinc acetate lozenges shortened the duration of nasal discharge by 34%, nasal congestion by 37%, sneezing by 22%, scratchy throat by 33%, sore throat by 18%, hoarseness by 43%, and cough by 46%. Furthermore, they found strong evidence that zinc lozenges also shortened the duration of muscle ache by 54%. On the other hand, there was no evidence of zinc effect on the duration of headache and fever. However, the latter two symptoms were infrequent in the three studies and therefore no definite conclusions can be drawn on headache and fever.

Adverse effects of zinc were minor in the three studies. Therefore Hemilä and Chalker conclude from their research that "zinc acetate lozenges releasing zinc ions at doses of about 80 mg/day may be a useful treatment for the common cold, started within 24 hours, for a time period of less than two weeks."

16/04/2015

FIGHTING CANCER WITH THE HELP OF GREEN TEA

A molecule that is a major ingredient in green tea can be used as a carrier for anticancer proteins, forming a stable and effective therapeutic nanocomplex. These findings, reported in a paper published online this week in Nature Nanotechnology, could help to build better drug-delivery systems.

Some cancer treatments depend on medication comprising the therapeutic drug and a carrier that delivers the drug to the tumour site. When designing drug carriers, several factors must be considered, for example, it must be specific so that it only attacks the tumour. Also, the drug-to-carrier ratio is important because using high quantities of the carrier could result in toxicity if the body cannot metabolize it. Furthermore, the complex will be ineffective if the body attacks and eliminates it too quickly.

Joo Eun Chung and colleagues used the molecule (-)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), which is found in high abundance in green tea, to create a carrier for the anticancer protein Herceptin. The advantage of EGCG over other carriers is that it also has anticancer effects. The authors injected the EGCG-Herceptin nanocomplex into mice and found that it demonstrated better tumour selectivity and growth reduction, as well as lasting longer in the blood - which could increase its efficacy - than if Herceptin was injected alone.

14/04/2015

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

Craniosacral therapy is a full body therapy that was developed in the USA as a branch of osteopathy and treatment is limited exclusively to a gentle touching with the hands.

The aim of craniosacral therapy is to restore the disturbed physical and mental balance.
For this purpose, the natural self-healing power of the body in its entirety is stimulated and mobility of the body structures is facilitated.
Pain is eliminated; blockages dissolved resulting in a profound regeneration of the organism, mind and soul.

The Cranio - Sacral - System = CSS
Here the focus is on the skull, spine and sacrum.
Along with the brain and spinal cord membranes and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), they form the CSS.
The free, unrestricted flow of cerebrospinal fluid and the movement of the bony structures in the CSS regulate many vital body functions.
The cerebrospinal fluid protects the brain and spinal cord, such as during a collision or injury.
It also nourishes the brain, the spinal cord and the exiting nerve ends along the spine.

The continuous ejection and absorption of cerebrospinal fluid causes a rhythmic movement to the outside and back inside, like ebb and flow.
The entire body moves with this pulse or in the craniosacral rhythm.
The CSS and other body systems (circulatory system, nervous system, endocrine system (endocrine glands), lymphatic system, respiratory system and musculoskeletal system (muscles, connective tissue, fascia, ligaments, tendons, joints) are related to one another and influence each other.
Cranio-sacral treatment addresses all these systems directly or indirectly and harmonizes them.
If the movement of the CSS is hampered by muscle tension, herniated discs, accidents or other diseases, this may cause interference in the nervous system. Pain and other health impairments are the result.

The treatment works using only gentle hand strokes, without injections, tablets, ointments. It is not spectacular, but extremely effective and makes you relax and gives you a feeling of well-being.

13/04/2015

WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY

Osteopathy was developed at the end of the 19th century by the Amercian, Andrew Taylor Still, and is a holistic and manual therapy for the diagnosis and treatment of functional disturbances. It aims to maintain movement and mobility of the tissue in the entire organism.

Osteopathy’s point of departure is that the human body coordinates constantly all vital functions in continuous interaction. If specific body structures are restricted in their ability to move, it damages their healthy functioning.
If the body can no longer regulate this sufficiently, the human being becomes ill.

The osteopath can touch human tissue layer by layer. By means of this "listening in" he can detect tense patterns and restricted mobility and treat it.

What are the methods used in osteopathy?

Following an in-depth discussion of the medical history the osteopath works with his hands on the three body systems:

- the parietal system (support system - bones, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments)

- the craniosacral system (skull, brain, nervous system, spinal cord, brain and spinal fluid, sacrum)

- the visceral system (internal organs, blood, lymph glands, nervous system)

Thereby special techniques are used in order, for example, to release tension in the muscles and connective tissue, to improve the metabolism and harmonise the body’s rhythms.

Parietal osteopathy

Structural osteopathy is a gentle method of treatment in manual medicine that dispenses with hard techniques such as used in chiropractics.
The spectrum of osteopathy is significantly extended compared to chiropractic methods because contraindications of chiropractic therapy, such as degenerative spine changes, osteoporosis, metal implants and structural relaxation are no obstacle to treatment.
Structural therapy focuses on manual treatment starting from the musculoskeletal system.

Visceral osteopathy

Treatment is based on the organs and organ systems. In the case of movement disorders, so called restrictions are removed through special soft handling, pull-through, pushing and pressing techniques, but also by means of rhythmic, swaying and circular movements of the torso and organs. Through this, complaints in the organic field can be cured and also the body's energy system can function again in a more balanced way. .

Craniosacral osteopathy: following tomorrow

For what complaints is osteotherapy useful?

Osteopathy achieves good treatment results for back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, joint pain, lumbago, sprains and injuries, digestive problems, bladder problems, sexual and hormonal disorders, menstrual and menopausal problems, circulation problems and insomnia, nervousness, tinnitus, in babies after birth, in children with developmental and behavioural disorders ("screaming children") and colic.