Our bodies were designed in the days of the cave people. Our eyes and theirs were designed to see distance clearly. They lived outdoors under sunlight and moonlight. From the time of the industrial revolution, more people began to use their eyes indoors, working at arms' length. With the information highway on computers, we will spend more and more of our time tracking small objects up close, even though our vision muscle systems are not designed to do so. Our culture is causing an epidemic of visual stress.

What can we do about it? Go to an eye doctor who practices Behavioral Optometry. Ask questions, such as, what alternatives are there? If you look for help, it is there: therapeutic lens prescribing, Nutritional Counseling, Vision Therapy, Environmental Ergonomics.

The Behavioral Optometrist uses the basic exam, but asks different questions and often prescribes non-traditional lenses. We usually offer Vision Therapy which combines sensory and motor work to give the vision system a chance to change patterns which are no longer useful.

We recognize other factors such as visual stress, color, emotional states, hormones and light, which can contribute to patients' visual functioning. Often, we use an interdisciplinary model to coordinate efforts with other professionals working with a given person to create synergy in healing.

Some offices offer Nutritional Counseling for better vision. Studies have shown that those who choose a diet high in anti-oxidants are far less at risk for macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts than the rest of us. Blood flow in the eye – the retina in particular – is very high, making whatever we eat very available there.

Molecules called free radicals from environmental and nutritional sources can bind to sites where nutrients belong, reducing the tissue's ability to function perfectly. If the blood brings with it anti-oxidants, these vital nutrients will combine with the free radicals, leaving the nutrients to feed the cells without restriction. The more junk food you eat, and pollution you experience, the more you accumulate free radicals. The more raw foods you take in, the more anti-oxidants are present in your blood.

Click title for full article.

Also see My Child Does Not Have an Attention Deficit Disorder! A Look at Visual Perception Deficit by Becci Davis

This article is extracted from the author's most recent newsletter, Y2K Health and Detox Newsletter, emailed to those who request it. Previous newsletters, and a way to subscribe, are at the Y2K Health and Detox website.

Beta 1,3-D Glucan (BG) is an amazing immune system modulator. In fact this substance has been around and researched since the 1940s. Only in the last five years or so, has it become more generally understood and used for its immune enhancing abilities.

How it basically works is to active the immune cells called the macrophages. The critical job of the macrophages is to trap and destroy foreign substances in our bodies. BG assists the macrophages in recognizing all that is "non-self." BG is also a very powerful free radical scavenger, helping our bodies to combat oxidation of its cells – a primary cause of aging.

It is naturally radioprotective, meaning it protects us against radiation of all types be it from the sun, air travel, power lines or X-rays.

One of the most exciting abilities of BG is its capability to aid other medications such as antibiotics, antiparasitics or even antifungals work much more efficiently.

Of course, the effect of greatest consequence is its anti-neoplastic function. In his research done at the University of McGill Cancer Research Center in Montreal, Canada, Dr. Peter Mansell MD stated, "Glucan was found to be an effective drug in inducing macrophage-mediated destruction in malignant lesions in animals and humans."

For more information on Beta Glucan see our Beta Glucan section.

Deborah Baker, DC, MSc (Nutrition), DIHom, has been in practice for over 21 years. She works with medical physicians and with amalgam-free dentists. She writes for health journals such as Alive and Health Naturally in Canada and several journals in the US. She has been a Vice President in an organization of professionally trained Homeopaths in Canada, as well as a member of several other Holistic Healing Academys. In addition, she has spoken at the expositions, many television programs and radio shows across Canada, and media conferences on behalf of the Canadians for Mercury Relief. She specializes in mercury detoxification – post-amalgam removal for thousands of patients with incredible results. She bases her work in her knowledge of the biochemistry and physiology of the human – how that needs adjusting in different syndromes.

All About Herbs from Elderflower Herb Farm

We ran across the All About Herbs shareware software while looking for information on growing herbs – on which we will report in the near future. As with most shareware, it is first downloaded, then if you like it, you purchase it, usually with some extra features or support. In this case, it is only $20, and has all the support you need built into the shareware version.

All About Herbs is a very user-friendly, five-part information system:

Unlike typical Internet information sources, the downloaded system does not require that you be connected to the Internet to use it – appealing to other family members trying to use the phone line you use for your Internet access. Other features include:

Designed for the both the serious and the casual user, as well as the more scientific of us, it is easy and enjoyable to use. By using only the menus and buttons, you can avoid the shortcuts that look rather computer or technically oriented. Also, by purchasing the software, you avoid the necessary reminder to purchase when you enter any of the five major modules.

It was first devloped in 1995, and looks very up to date. All About Herbs is a comprehensive, "hypermedia" software system developed by Dr. John Stelzer, of RoseBurg OR, owner of Hyper Link (website development), as well as founder (1975) and operator of Elderflower Herb Farm. He offers other software, located at the main website.

Healthcare in the 21st Century will be as much prevention and preparation as it will be responding intelligently to symptoms. Building strong body systems involves learning some new ways to deal with old problems. Here are some straight-forward answers to typical and complicated medical problems.

Note: Additional help is offered to those who subscribe to the 21st Century Wellness eLetter.

I suffer from migraine headaches and a friend of mine said I should look into Reflexology. I live in the Atlanta GA area, and was wondering if you know of anyone that is a specialist in this area. Thank you so much for your time.

Migraines are a tough one – causes vary across the board. Reflexology is an excellent modality to help with migraines – several in GA follow [11 practitioners from EarthMed.com]. Other modalities that could help are Acupressure, Chiropractic, Energy Work, Nutritional Consultation, Fitness Counseling or Naturopathy.

Lymphatic System Therapy – John and Debra K – March 3rd

Hauschka's skin care products – Leslie L – March 8th

I am trying to find out where I might be able to buy Dr. Hauschka's skin care products in Toronto, Ontario CANADA. Can anyone help me?

Here are some leads: [15 websites from a SavvySearch on "Hauschka Skin Products"].

Movement Therapy – Joanne D – March 10th

I'm an OT [Occupational Therapy] student and need to know more about Movement Therapy for a class lecture.

In addition to the website chapter on Movement Therapy and Pilates, here are some more leads: [15 websites from a SavvySearch on "movement therapy"].

Impressed in Phoenix

I am impressed with your comprehensive and educational website, [and want to] join your practitioner listings. Boundless Blessings! Janice W Soares, Director, Forest House Yoga & Healing Arts, Phoenix AZ.

We thought it would be very interesting to find out about the healthcare and other professionals reading our 21st Century Wellness eLetter.

Clarence D Snyder MD. Clinic 2000 and Natural Biogenesis LLC, PO Drawer 1106, 120 West Fourth Street, DeQuincy LA 70633-1106. Chelation Therapy, Chiropractry, Accupuncture, Massage Therapy, Aromatherapy, Ozone Therapy, Colonics, Allergy and Allopathic Medicine. Has a truly alternative-type practice where the patient can choose the type of treatment they are most comfortable with and which the various doctors recommend. Affiliated with health spa/clinic, La Radiance in Conroe TX, where patients can be treated while in residence. Will respond to any correspondence or communication: cajundoc1@aol.com, 337-786-3277, fax 337-786-5830.

News reports summaries on Healthcare and Wellness follow. We have most of the articles on file in case you look for the web references after they are cleared.

From recent issues of Alternative Medicine via its free newsletter. Click on the title for the full article:

What It Means to be a Health Nut. "Eating whole nuts seems to deliver fats in a different fashion than consuming oils by themselves as salad dressings or sauteed or baked foods. Nuts appear to act as "time-release" pills, that seem to augment the beneficial effect of their fats. In general, nuts are also high in the antioxidant vitamin E, and high in fiber. These are both two key nutrients that appear to lower LDL (low density lipid) cholesterol levels.

Century Wellness Center. "'No Success Can Compensate For The Premature Failure of Our Bodies.' So reads a sign in the lobby that is the creed of a Reno, Nevada clinic where the emphasis is on treating the cause of the disease, not just the symptoms. At Century Wellness Center, Eastern and Western, conventional and alternative medical treatments are custom-tailored according to the unique needs of each of their patients."

Another Look at Ibuprofen: Who Says It's Safe?. "Everywhere we turn, we're encouraged to pop pills for pain. When Ibuprofen originally hit the market, first as prescription Motrin and later as one of several over-the-counter drugs, people were amazed by its anti-inflammatory effects. It was, and still is, commonly prescribed for muscle and tendon strains and sprains. It's easy to see why its unpleasant side effects were forgotten. Unfortunately, one of the side effects is that Ibuprofen actually hampers the healing process."

Goodbye Paxil, Hello 'Sammy'!? The Best Alternative to Prescription 'S/Sri' Drugs. "We see more and more TV ads for prescription antidepressant drugs, such as the recent onslaught of Paxil ads. Every week it seems that there are more of these ads on TV and in print. Depression is big business. Tens of millions of people take these drugs, several million using Prozac alone. The problem is not only that these drugs mask symptoms, they do not cure anything. As psychiatrist Peter Breggin, MD, wrote in his 1999 book, Your Drug May Be Your Problem, ‘All [psychoactive] drugs produce numerous serious and potentially fatal adverse reactions, and most are capable of causing withdrawal problems that are emotionally and physically distressing.’

"There are many safe, effective alternatives to treating depression. One of these is a supplement called SAMe (pronounced "sam-my"), the short name for S-adenosyl-methionine. SAMe's reputation as an effective antidepressant has been spreading rapidly in the US, especially since the FDA first approved its sale as an over-the-counter supplement in spring 1999."

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