Herbal Health

When cancer spreads, via the blood or lymph to other areas of the body, this is termed metastasizing, and new tumours are called secondaries. Although the cancer that has spread may be in a new part of the body, it is still referred to as the cancer of origin and treated accordingly. Breast cancer that has spread to, say, the liver is not treated in the same way as primary cancer of the liver.     Some cancer cells develop pseudopodia, or ‘feet’, to push out into surrounding tissue. They can also secrete an enzyme which dissolves the cement between neighbouring cells, making it easier for them to migrate. Strengthening this cellular cement is an important nutritional tool in the arsenal against breast cancer.     Statistics-While carrying out research, I found that the majority of articles dealing with breast cancer started with statistics depicting the mortality rate for the disease. Reading this can be depressing if you have just been diagnosed with cancer, and hanging on to the idea that you are an individual, and not a statistic, is essential. Is a glass half empty, or half full? For every report you read telling you that X per cent die, the fact is that Y per cent live.     Having said this, we are in a crisis at the moment and the incidence of breast cancer is on the increase. The World Health Organization says that worldwide, the breast cancer incidence is set to double by the year 2020.     In less than thirty years incidence has increased by 40 per cent, from around 22,000 cases per year in the UK in 1971 to 30,000 cases at the end of the 1990s. Nowadays one in eleven women can expect to develop breast cancer at some point in their lives in the UK, and one in eight if they live in the USA.     Bad news tends to be more widely reported than good news and the figures of a death rate from breast cancer of 15,000 each year in the UK and 46,000 a year in the USA doesn’t make happy reading (in fact during the Vietnam War when 60,000 troops died, 330,000 American women died from breast cancer in the same period). What you rarely see reported is the good news – more than 70 per cent of women who have breast cancer that is operable will be alive and well five years after the diagnosis – and maybe longer: longer-term figures are not available.     It is recognized that advancing years are a major risk factor, with the majority of women diagnosed being post-menopausal. However, around 15 per cent of breast cancers happen in women of child-bearing age and there seems to be an increase in incidence2 in the twenty to forty age group. In England and Wales the figures3 for all age groups showed an increase of 28 per cent from 1980 to 1994 (the latest year for which accurate figures are available). And yet younger women, up to the age of thirty-nine, showed a 40 per cent increase, from 1,235 cases in 1980 to 1,713 cases in 1994.*38\240\2*

LiposuctionLiposuction involves the suction of fatty material from under the skin by way of a trochar. It usually results in the removal of approximately 3 L of fat, but can sometimes involve the loss of 10-12 L in extreme cases. Although the technique has been attempted as a treatment for the morbidly obese, its value is as a cosmetic procedure. It has no influence on visceral or abdominal adiposity and therefore has no appreciable physiological effects on insulin resistance or other comorbid disease markers.
Jaw wiringJaw-wiring procedures are no longer recommended. The weight lost was rapidly regained once the wires were removed, often despite the fitting of a cord round the waist to limit the amount of weight regained.
Apronectomy Apronectomy is not a treatment for obesity but is helpful for patients who have lost large quantities of weight and have overhanging folds of excess skin. Skin contouring operations are not restricted to the abdomen; other sites include brachioplasty, and the inner and outer aspects of the thighs. Abdominal apronectomy can be circumferential, and males can undergo gynaecomastia correction.It can be very psychologically damaging to deny patients such surgery on cost or other grounds after they have followed medical advice diligently but are left feeling uglier and with a lower self-esteem than when they started. It is a technically straightforward procedure, and its satisfying results can help maintain long-term weight loss.
Artificial bezoarAn artificial bezoar is a balloon or other object that is inserted into the stomach to lessen its capacity as a restrictive technique. It has a limited role but can be beneficial in, for instance, initiating weight loss in the short term in individuals who are not fit for more major surgical procedures.*62/312/5*

Some of the most effective remedies are drugs containing ergotamine although, like many other well-known drugs, the way in which this compound worked was unknown for many years.The drug comes from a mould that grows on rye; the name is derived from the French word ‘ergot’ meaning a ‘spur’ because part of the plant resembles a riding spur in shape. Eating bread made from mouldy rye can be poisonous, producing painful blue hands and feet (‘St. Anthony’s Fire’). As a result of such poisoning, whole villages in Eastern Europe were reported to have been visited by the devil and cure was obtained by visiting St. Anthony’s shrine (which was in Egypt and outside the infected area). The use of ergotamine in the treatment of headache was first reported in Germany in 1883. In 1889, Dr. W. Thompson of the United States advised taking fluid extract of ergot by mouth but also suggested that rectal administration could be useful: ‘As nausea is such a general accompaniment of this affection it is prescribed that if either of the doses be vomited it should be taken in an enema of two ounces of water. This medication rarely fails to arrest the attacks.’ After this report, the use of ergot seems to have been forgotten, possibly because of the inconsistent effect of the extracts, until 1906, when an extract from ergot, ergotoxine, was isolated. This was later found to be a mixture of compounds. In 1918 a single compound was isolated – ergotamine – which was initially used to speed up uterine contractions during labour (ergot derivatives are still used in obstetrics). In 1925 ergotamine in its pure form was first used in the treatment of migraine and began to be prescribed widely. But it was not until 1937 that the main cause of the migraine headache was found to be due to blood vessels in the head becoming wider (extracranial vasodilation); and it was then shown that ergotamine worked because it narrowed these blood vessels (vasoconstrictor action). Because the migrainous aura was due to vasoconstriction, it was theoretically worrying to give a powerful vasoconstrictor drug at a time when vasospasm was present in the intracranial circulation. However, although ergotamine may prolong the migraine aura, there is no lessening of cerebral blood flow, possibly because the vessels at this time are less sensitive to the vasoconstrictive action of the drug.
*55/152/5*

Acne rosacea is often called the curse of the Celtics as it is commonly seen in New Zealand, Australia and Great Britain. It occurs both in men and women, usually around middle age. Acne rosacea often causes red, flushed cheeks and noses, giving the impression that the sufferer has drunk a little too much! The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but there may be several contributing factors:- Alcohol Red wines in particular may precipitate acne rosacea. It is best, however, to completely avoid alcohol.- Hot, spicy foods. Although hot, spicy foods do not cause acne rosacea, they often aggravate it. Bland foods and cool drinks are best.- Moisturizers. Any thick or oily moisturizer can precipitate the condition. It is not uncommon to see it following the use of oily or heavy night-time creams and sunscreens. If a moisturizer is necessary for the face, it is best to use a light cream such as Neutrogena, Nivea Visage or Simple Moisturizer and a non-creamy sunscreen such as Ego SunSense Toddler Milk, Clinique City Block, Nivea Visage with sunscreen, Roche Aquababy or Oil of Ulan Daily UV Protectant Moisturizer SPF 15.- Oral contraceptive pills. Contraceptive pills which contain a high level of progestogen can precipitate acne. If this is the case, a low progestogen pill should be used.- Stress. Stress seems to contribute to many skin conditions and acne rosacea is no exception. How stress produces the eruption, however, is not known. - Strong cortisone creams. Betnovate, Celestone, Diprosone and other strong cortisone creams are not suitable for use on the face and can cause acne roasacea.Acne rosacea is very easily treated with oral antibiotics, especially tetracycline. More recently, a topical antibiotic gel, Rozex, has been used successfully.Acne rosacea can be associated with broken capillaries, especially around the nose and cheeks. These are not related to alcohol intake, neither are they caused by exposure to hot or cold weather. If broken capillaries occur, they can be readily treated with the new copper vapour or pulsed dye lasers, or with fine needle diathermy.Bulbous noses can be caused by acne rosacea, particularly in men. These are best treated with a carbon dioxide laser, which removes the excess bulky tissue in layers.
*33/150/5*

The muscle fibres responsible for keeping the spine and the body erect extend upwards creating an anti-gravitational force. This force is powerful enough to support the weight of the body as well as to stretch the spine upwards. In a horizontal position such stretching is also possible and we took this into account when our yoga exercises were derived for treatment of back problems. In the horizontal or resting position the muscle extension is less powerful as it does not have the additional task of supporting the weight of the body. It seems obvious, logically speaking, that the ‘weight-bearing’ muscle fibres switch into action only when they face the gravitational force (known as ‘body weight’). This force acting downwards towards the centre of the earth puts stress on the weight-bearing muscle fibres and triggers off a reflex action that makes them extend upwards counteracting the body weight by anti-gravitational force, in particular taking pressure off the discs.*82\330\8*

Vitamin DFunctions:   Helps in the absorption of calcium; essential for bones and teethSources:   Oily fish, liver, dairy products, egg yolk; made by the action of the sun on the skinCauses of  Deficiency: Poor diet, lack of sunlight Deficiency Signs   Soft bones (if severe in children development of bow legs), backache, aching limbs, muscle weakness, weak bones, fractures.Vitamin EFunctions:   Vital for the health of cells; slows down ageing; fights free radicalsSources:   Vegetable oils, wheatgerm, wholemeal cereal, green leafy vegetablesCauses of Deficiency:Absorption problems, poor diet Deficiency Signs Fatigue, poor skin. Severe deficiency: shortness of breath, palpitations, anaemia.Caution: some people have had withdrawal symptoms – cut down gradually.Vitamin KFunctions:Sources:Causes of Deficiency:Deficiency Signs and Symptoms:Necessary for blood to clot (often called anti-haemorrhagic vitamin); used after surgery and during labour to prevent blood lossGreen leafy vegetables, fruits, seeds, root, cow’s milk, yogurt, alfalfa;* also made in the bowelBowel troubles, especially chronic diarrhoeaTendency to bleed. Severe deficiency: bleeding from the intestine or urinary tract.*Alfalfa seeds are often sprouted and eaten in salads. An Oxford therapist has had considerable success for many years using alfalfa tablets or capsules for the Irritable Bowel Syndrome.*142\326\8*

There are two types of hypertension. The most common type is primary hypertension, sometimes referred to as essential hypertension. (This term was coined in the early 1800s by English physician Richard Bright, and it refers to the prevailing theory of the time that high blood pressure was an essential response of the body to ensure blood flow to the vital organs.) Up to 95 percent of all patients with hypertension have this type, which is attributed to and may be modified by diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits. However, 5 to 10 percent of those with hypertension have secondary hypertension, in which high blood pressure stems from an underlying physical cause, such as kidney disease or adrenal disorders. Although secondary hypertension is rare, if you have high blood pressure, this condition needs to be ruled out.If, for example, a tumor is pressing on specialized tissue of the adrenal glands called chromaffin tissue, the excess pressure will provoke the glands to produce abnormally high levels of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine. These chemical messengers cause the heart to pump harder and the blood pressure to rise. Removal of the tumor will relieve the pressure on the chromaffin tissue and thereby normalize hormone production and blood pressure.One of my patients, Elizabeth, was suffering from a number of health complaints, including hypertension. None of her doctors could understand why her blood pressure fluctuated so dramatically until one physician found an obstruction in the renal artery, leading to her kidney. The blockage caused her kidney to perceive the blood pressure as being low – which it was on the kidney side of the blockage. This false perception caused her kidneys to compensate by releasing renin, which activates the BAAS pathway to constrict the arteries and cause blood pressure to go up. When the blockage was removed, Elizabeth’s kidneys were able to determine her true blood pressure and normalize renin production. She now reports having lower and more consistent blood pressure, which indicates that her hypertension was secondary to an underlying medical condition.It can sometimes be tricky to diagnose secondary hypertension. Researchers Robert J. Heyka, M.D., and Donald G. Vidt, M.D., at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, devised a four-point checklist that helps doctors narrow the possibilities of secondary hypertension. If you have hypertension and any of these apply to you, make sure to let your physician know right away.- The sudden onset of high blood pressure- Hypertension developed before age 30 or after age 55- Hypertension previously controlled through medication but now high, or on the sudden rise- Stage 3 hypertension (systolic higher than 180 mm Hg or diastolic higher than 110 mm Hg)Secondary hypertension is serious business, but its underlying causes can often be corrected. Don’t forget, however, that it accounts for only 5 to 10 percent of all cases of hypertension. The vast majority of patients with high blood pressure have primary hypertension, which can be addressed through the program for reversing hypertension.*17/313/5*

Mrs. R. Kapur was a well-educated and capable house-wife, and had all the wherewithalls of modern life to keep her happy.But she always looked despondent and was hesitant in all activities of life.When asked, why she was so hesitant and diffident, she confessed that she could not explain why she was not feeling equal to others, but it was a fact that she felt there was something lacking in her. There was a lurking fear in her that she could not do anything correctly. She avoided moving in society for fear she might pass some remark which would offend somebody. If she started to do something, she had no confidence that she would do the job correctly, and therefore she was hesitant in doing the job. When she saw others enjoying and laughing, she wanted to be like them, but she felt inferior to them. She further divulged that she inherited this negativism from her father in early childhood, when he was always critical of her in whatever she did. Larch Remedy T.D.S. was given for 2 months to change her temperament to positive thinking with full confidence in herself.*136\308\8*

We are not yet certain how glucosamine produces the results we have seen in clinical studies. However, we have strong suspicions that it works by helping joints resist damage.One clue is that glucosamine does not appear to have any direct pain-relieving activity. It does appear to reduce inflammation, but only mildly, and by a different manner from the way NSAIDs work. So if it isn’t relieving pain and doesn’t strongly reduce inflammation, it seems likely that it’s working in some other manner altogether.We do know that glucosamine can be used as raw material for making the substances involved in joints. Furthermore, evidence suggests that using glucosamine causes cartilage cells to manufacture more proteoglycans and collagen. The body fights osteoarthritis by creating new collagen and proteoglycans, but it can only keep up for so long. It may be that by helping the body rebuild cartilage, glucosamine can reduce the pain and stiffness of osteoarthritis. If this explanation is correct, there is a further aspect of glucosamine to consider. *35/306/5*

Disposable syringes and needlesFor ease and comfort, disposable plastic syringes with fine-bore disposable needles are best. These are commonly re-used but I have to point out that the manufacturers of disposable syringes and needles describe them as being for single use only and do not recommend reuse. Keep your spare syringes and needles securely in a dry, clean place.
ButtonsSome companies make tiny needles with a small rubber stopper through which you can inject insulin. One of these needles is inserted every one or two days and either taped down or fixed with its own sticky disc and the insulin is injected as needed. A student on one of our outdoor courses had a button that remained in place in her arm while she was canoeing, climbing and scrambling about the ropes course, with no problem at all, despite my secret worries. These buttons are useful for people who need several injections a day and do not like sticking the needle in frequently.
Insulin pensThese are gradually replacing needle and syringe for many people with diabetes. They use a cartridge of insulin instead of an ink cartridge and a double-ended very fine needle instead of a nib. The cartridge is inserted into the barrel of the pen and the needle is screwed onto the pen so that one end pierces the bung of the cartridge. The pen then has to be primed – that is the plunger makes contact with the cartridge’s upper bung and all the air (if any) is expelled from the cartridge and needle. The insulin dose is then dialed up and injected (Accupen, BD-Lilly pen, Novopen II, Penmix, Pur-in pen) or the plunger is depressed the appropriate number of times (Novopen I). It is very important that have a full training session in the use of your pen, and especially that you know how to change cartridges and prime it. Most pens require you to expel air and a tiny squirt of insulin before each use to ensure that it is working. You must keep an eye on the remaining insulin – you may not be able to give your full dose if the cartridge is nearly empty. Find out who your support is if there are problems. This is usually the diabetes specialist nurse but there may also be a company help-line. What would you do if your pen was broken or stolen? Keep a spare pen if you can, if not keep some ordinary insulin and syringes for emergencies. Remember that small or rural pharmacies are not able to supply cartridges easily, and they may be impossible to obtain abroad. At present all pens are manually operated but companies are experimenting on electrically driven pens.Penject is a device that looks like a large fountain pen. Inside you can fit an ordinary plastic disposable syringe with a needle, replacing the plunger stem of the syringe with the one belonging to the device. A twist of the dial at the top pushes the plunger down to expel two units of U100 insulin. The advantage of this device is that you can fill the syringe with fast-acting insulin and another Penject with slow-acting insulin and carry them in your pocket. At injection time you simply stick the needle under the skin (subcutaneously) as usual and dial in the amount of insulin you need.Penpump, or in the United States Markwell Pen Pump, is a similar device, which is attached to tubing leading to a fine needle. This is inserted subcutaneously every twenty-four hours, and sometimes at longer intervals, and left there. The device can be hung from a bra strap or put in an inside pocket and the dial can be turned to inject insulin whenever needed. This is really only suitable for fast-acting insulin.
*17/102/5*