A new study out of Virginia studied breast cancer patients who were taking tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen drug. Because breast cancer is stimulated by estrogens, there is a need to reduce estrogen levels. These women have terrible hot flashes due to the dramatic drop in estrogen. Thus the usual hormonal approaches to hot flashes are contraindicated.

The results showed that the number of hot flashes a week dropped by half and that the severity of hot flashes also dropped by half. This is wonderful news for these women and all women, especially when magnesium is just pennies a capsule. Vital Nutrients makes two magnesium products that I recommend, Triple-Mag, and Magnesium Citrate. Magnesium is often lacking in modern diets, so this is one of the natural nutritional supplements most people need.

Here’s the link to the article.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=Park%20H%2C%20Parker%20GL

There is a new controlled study out of Italy that examined the effect in patients  with primary insomnia in a long-term care facility.

They used 5  mg of melatonin, 225 mg of magnesium, and 11.25 mg of Zinc 1 hour before bedtime. Magnesium is known as a muscle relaxer. I am not sure of the use of Zinc in this study.

The results were highly significant, in that the treated group experienced better sleep by all measures.

So, take your melatonin if you are having difficulty sleeping. Adding a capsule of magnesium citrate will also help, even if you are not  suffering from night cramps.

Here is the link:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=J%20Am%20Geriatr%20Soc%202011%20Jan%3B%2059%3A82

This study is particularly important because of the size of the study and the 10 year length of follow up. If you are not taking your daily teaspoon of Fish Oil, I strongly advise you to do so, especially if you want to prevent the blindness of macular degeneration.

Here is the link to the study.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21402976

I prescribe omega 3 oils a lot, especially for dry eye syndrome.  My recommendation has been 1 teaspoon of CLO daily. Yet I frequently see returning patients who do not seem to  be benefited by it. I then have to tell them to double up on the dosage.  Thus, I now think that most of us really need 2 grams of omega 3 oils rather than one.

While Fish Oil costs a bit more than CLO, the better taste and higher concentration of EPA and DHA should more than make up for it. Remember to keep in in the refrigerator. That way it stays fresher longer and tastes better.

Salud!

Recently a paper from the National Institute of Aging in Bethesda, Maryland has studied selenium levels in Parkinson’s Disease patients and their normal controls. They were looking to see if Selenium was correlated with Parkinson’s. It was not. However, selenium levels were highly correlated with motor coordination and the retention of timed performance-based assessments. So, it you want to maintain motor skills as  you age, make sure that selenium is in your multivitamin. You will find it in all of the Purity Products line of Multi’s–what I believe are the best multivitamins you can take, with a full range of natural nutritional supplements included.

Here is the link to the article.

Selenium and motor coordination

The attached article contains recommendations of  the natural remedies that  you might have in your medicine cabinet when illness arises.

Natural Medicine Chest

The Scheppens Eye Institute is the prestigious retinal department of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary of Harvard University. A recent paper from the Scheppens Eye Institute  reports the  benefits of using alphalinolinic acid (ALA) directly to the eyes of mice in relieving dry eye symptoms. Alphalinolinic acid is an omega 3 oil essential to our health. Our usual source of this oil is Flax seed. While this is not a human study, I see very little harm in trying it yourself. I would think bedtime might be the best time.

Here is the link to the paper.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=alpha%20linolenic%20acid%20AND%20eye%20drops

As a result, I often spend time trying to find quality products at prices that I consider reasonable. The internet has turned out to be a godsend for people like me. When it comes to herbs, I have found a website that offers  high quality herbs in bulk (the most economical  way to buy herbs) where I buy many of the herbs that I use frequently. The name of the company is Bulk Herb Store. I highly recommend them, so here’s the website:

http://www.bulkherbstore.com/

However, laboratory tests for thyroid function are frequently normal  in patients with clinical evidence of hypothyroidism. This can be seen in cases where circulating levels of thyroxine are normal, but that the cellular receptors for thyroxine are either deficient or   malfunctioning. Therefore, patients having symptoms of hypothyroidism, fatigue, weakness, weight gain, coarse hair or hair loss, or constipation should consider having a course of low dose thyroid to see if their symptoms improve and their glaucoma becomes cured or easier to control. All of this is best coordinated with your regular doctor or internist.

In either case, now we would have a type of glaucoma that is either cured, or easier to control. Most glaucoma patients would be pleased to find this out.

To the Editor:

In spite of the failure of the amendment in the Senate to repeal ObamaCare, these votes in Congress are more than symbolic. They serve to highlight what is in the bill and why it must be repealed.  There is general consensus that our present system needs reform. However, in my view ObamaCare does not reform our system but rather deconstructs it while taking over 17% of the private sector economy under the false promise of affordable healthcare for all. Charles Krauthammer said it best when he stated that reform begins with repeal (of ObamaCare), National Review, January 23, 2011. However, what will fill the “void” if repeal is successful?

As a practicing physician, I offer the following reform ideas for the current healthcare system to illustrate that sustainable reform is possible. However, sweeping Federal legislation by politicians who do not understand the current healthcare system is catastrophically worse than no action at all. Of necessity, there must be a concerto of change by all segments of our healthcare system orchestrated by those who have lived their professional lives devoted to the art and science of practicing medicine. These are my suggestions:

1. Shift tax advantages to individuals, allowing health insurance as a tax deductable item. Promote health savings accounts.
2. Get employers out of the health insurance business. Have them add the healthcare money they would have spent to the paycheck (with proof of insurance) so that individuals and families can buy their own insurance that is portable. Patients would no longer be handed over in bulk to an insurance company. The insurance industry would respond with a robust offering of menu priced individual policies that would pool risk based on real actuarial considerations rather than volume based contracts with third parties.
3. Medicaid could temporarily serve as the stop-gap for those between jobs who could not afford to continue their insurance, much like unemployment. It would continue to be the safety net for all ages, and could serve as a one year rider for pre-existing conditions.
4. Encourage states to eliminate insurance mandates for non-essential non-medical coverage (acupuncture, therapeutic message, etc.) to lower costs.
5. Return to a major medical model with no first dollar coverage. Insurance is for unanticipated medical expenses after a certain deductable is met. Routine care is not covered in return coverage of a major medical or surgical event.
6. Allow purchase and portability across state lines. This would increase competition and spawn the type of innovative insurance solutions that are seen today in Utah and Indiana.
7. Encourage states to hold healthcare summits to include all segments of the healthcare industry to elucidate what the problems are, possible solutions, and what each part of the system can contribute to decrease cost, promote transparency in pricing, and promote personal responsibility within the framework of the traditional doctor and patient centered system.
8. Allow 65 year and older individuals to opt out of Medicare in return for a stipend check and selection of a private healthcare policy like the rest of the population.
9. Each physician should develop one fee schedule for all of his or her patients, including Medicare, Medicaid, and any other insurance. This could be available through a designated state official website. Patients could compare. No contracts between insurance companies and physicians would be made unless discounts were disclosed on the website. Allow balance billing to the Medicare patient, i.e. Medicare would list what they will pay but not what the physician may charge.

12. Finally, allow the cost of charitable care to be deducted by the physician from income tax by using the usual and customary fee for service. Most physicians would be willing to assimilate the uninsured amongst us in return for deducting the cost of service.

These are starting points for reforms that would capitalize on existing infrastructure and therefore not add to the Federal deficit. These strategies would set the stage for states to begin to craft sustainable healthcare systems. ObamaCare is not fixable. It was voted upon under duress and by admission without anyone but the unknown authors having read it. Everyone who voted for it has a face saving exit. They should admit that they had not read the bill, and now that they have read it, admit that repeal and replace makes sense.

Jane Lindell Hughes, M.D., F.A.C.S.

San Antonio, Texas   www.usaHealthalert.org