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21st Century Wellness eLetter Issues Listing

Volume 2, Issue 9 – May 15, 2000

Contents

• Wellness:  Simple Herb Gardening
• Wellness:  Gum Disease
• Column – Sam Benjamin, MD
• Reviews – Herbs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
• Questions & Answers
• Reader Comments
• Reader Profiles
• News

Next Issues

• More Wellness Info
• Feature Articles
• Reviews
• Reader Profiles, Q&A, Comments
• Healthcare News

Simple Herb Gardening, by 2012 CompWellness Legacy Site

We are well into spring and many plants are flowering and growing. In our interest for health, wellness and self-sufficiency, why not grow some basic medicinal herbs for your enjoyment and your "medicine" chest? We’ve selected a dozen herbs for you to easily grow this season and two more to start growing for later.

Herbology, is a powerful way to develop and maintain wellness. Developing our own understanding of medicinal herbs can be accelerated by raising a few of our own. This creates the hands-on experience that is so important to learning, and increasing our comfort level with strange sounding herbs such as St John's wort -- actually a soft and lively plant that helps depression by just looking at and touching it. Raising herbs may be a fun and effective way to introduce the plants and concepts to hesitant family members, from very young to seniors.

The herbs we’ve selected are the easiest to grow, are highly effective and are referenced in our work-in-progress, the Complementary First Aid Table. We used the information in this table to create the eJournal article, "Herbology."

We’ve listed the herbs in the following table, from the fastest- to the slowest-growing herb. (You can highlight and copy this table into Microsoft Word – and perhaps other word processors – then sort on any column you'd like.).

In the table, Full light means that your herb sees the sun most of the day; Part means that it is shaded part of the day by other plants or structures, or may have no direct sun, but strong reflection from light structures. (If you could take a decent picture of the ground area without a flash, it will probably work for the herbs needing Full/Part light.) These herbs love sun, except Aloe Vera when in a small pot – does not like direct sun.

Though some like a drier soil, they must all be watered well, not only to keep them alive, but to bring out the best of their medicinal value. Those marked Dry should be allowed to dry out between waterings. You will need to gauge your watering frequencies based on your climate and the looks of the plants.

In all cases, herbs need to be well drained – too much water can cause root rot. Do not let them sit in pools of water, except for a small amount in the tray under potted herbs.

If container gardening, make sure that there is at least one drainage hole in the container. If several pots are held in a larger container, make sure it has drainage holes or a couple of inches of gravel on the bottom.

Obviously, a sunny location is best – windowsill or shelf under a south-facing window, a bay window, flower box or garden. Not much area is needed. Well-drained pots work well, indoors and out, and allow you to move them according to the weather and the changing sun angles.

The ground is the easiest place to grow your herbs, but if you are like us – in a cooler climate – you will want to bring in your herbs when it might snow or hail. This way you can see, harvest and use fresh herbs all year around. We especially like to have immediate access to our herbs in our kitchen for cooking, preparation, drying and the pure enjoyment of watching them grow. Alos, they add a wonderful fragrance to the room.

We prefer our herbs raw, with food or in tea, but some work better in creams or dried, especially when you are in a hurry or away from your garden. We will write another article or two about harvesting and processing these particular herbs – stay tuned.

Well-prepared, non-hybrid seeds are important, though may not be easily found. Non-hybrid seeds produce seeds that can be used for additional crops because hybrid breeding produces plants that are essentially sterile. Your local nursery is a good source, as is Heirloom Seeds.

We used Heirloom Seeds’ Medicinal Herb Package of 16 non-hybrid herbs to start our indoor garden last January.

Please answer the question, "How does your garden grown?" Our associated Discussion Group would be a great place to have your questions answered, trade tips and let the rest of us know about your successes. Enjoy!

Click title for full article.

Gum Disease, by Hali J Kaufman, DMD; Steven J Spindler, DDS; Monica Fisher, DDS, PhD; Michael C Goldman, DDS; Ray G Behm, Jr, DDS; Holistic Dental Association

We have been told by member dentist, Robert McFerran, DDS, website Mile Hi Smiles that gum disease is a silent threat to our health - including our heart. Our Internet research clearly verified the extent of the problem and provided some solutions.

Click on the authors' article titles for more information at their websites, and click on the names to email. The text after each referenced article is from that article, unless otherwise indicated.

The Problem

From "Gum Disease Risk," by Hali J Kaufman, DMD: Did you know that 75% of all adults have gum disease? Many people have gum disease and are not even aware they have this problem. ... Gum disease is a "silent" disease - until their teeth become loose and fall out, many people do not know they have it and how seriously they do.

Do you know the signs and symptoms of gum disease?

• Do your gums bleed when you brush, floss or use a toothpick?
• Are your gums red, swollen and painful?
• Has there been a change in the way your teeth come together when you bite or chew on food?
• Do your teeth look longer because of receding gums?
• Are your teeth loose?
• Do you have bad breath?
• Read the full list in Dr Kaufman's article

If any of these statements are true then you may have a problem with your gums. You should visit a dentist and get an evaluation and schedule a hygiene appointment. You may need more than just a routine cleaning for your teeth to get your gums healthy again.

From "Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease," by Steven J Spindler, DDS, informs us that approximately 58 million Americans, or 1 in 5, suffer from cardiovascular disease. According to The American Heart Association, it is the leading cause of death in The United States. In light of this new information, the need to eliminate periodontal infection takes on a heightened role.

See our full article, with more info on how contagious gum disease is.

In "Thoughts to Chew On," by Monica Fisher, DDS, PhD of the American Council on Science and Health on Dr Koop's website, she points out that heart disease is the number one cause of death in the Unites States, and various studies have shown a strong link between gum disease and heart disease, even after the most common risk factors for coronary problems had been taken into account.

Though it is not yet known whether gum disease actually causes heart disease, this possibility is currently being investigated. One hypothesis is that bacteria from dental plaque (tooth debris) enter the circulation and lodge in blood vessels, where they participate in producing atherosclerotic plaque (fatty deposits).

See our full article, with more info on how low birth weights and pneumonia.

From "Gum Disease and Heart Disease," by Michael C Goldman, DDS, he points out that medical research has been showing more and more that there are connections between infection and other serious, chronic medical conditions. Ulcers are now known to often be caused by bacterial infection. Arthritis is now being treated more as an infection, whereas just a few years ago neither stomach ulcers nor arthritis were thought of or treated as the result of infection. Many other medical conditions are now suspected of also being instigated by infection.

The mouth - teeth and gums and tonsils - has long been recognized as one of the most frequent ports of entry of infection into the body. Gum disease and root canal abscesses are significant bacterial infections that can spread by the bloodstream to remote parts of the body. This spread of infection to other parts of the body is called the focal infection theory.

See our full article, with more info on how gum disease spreads to the blood vessels and effects the heart.

Solutions

"The Secret to Healthy Gums," by Ray G Behm, Jr, DDS, tells us that more than 90% of all gum and tooth problems begin between the teeth. If you don't believe it, he dares you to run a piece of floss between any two molars (back teeth) and see what you pull out. Notice how it smells! Decide for yourself if you want that in your mouth!

If you have any doubts as to your condition then you should consult with a professional to help you determine the magnitude of your problem [and the proper treatment methods].

There are two methods of gum care:

• Therapeutic - treatment and repair
• Maintenance - maintaining wellness or maintaining that which you have repaired

Dr Behm's "secret" system was developed to enable a person to efficiently and inexpensively improve the condition of his or her own gums no matter what their condition. ... The bottom line is, as long as you are able to break up the formation of the plaque and bacteria that forms around the teeth and gums once every 24-hours, you can better control your own gum condition at home.

There are three main instruments - along with some other options if your budget allows - to be used as part of your home remedy:

• The first instrument is a toothbrush - a child's small, soft, three-rowed brush. [Use this to apply high-grade "toothpaste" - click on the article for his healthy gum "secret" recipe and brushing methods - focusing on the gum line and beneath.]

Work your gums back to a healthy, pink-white color.

• The second instrument you need to improve your gums is a rubber-tipped gum stimulator. [Dr Behm recommends John O. Butler Company's product - click on the article for specifics on using the rubber tip.]

Exercise your gums [between the teeth] ... nutrients and blood are carried to the gums and then away from the gums creating strong circulation and therefore good, healthy, long-living tissue.

• The third instrument is dental tape, ribbon or string. ... Flossing is not therapy, it's a maintenance procedure. ... [Dr Behm recommends the thickest string possible - which results in a more thorough cleaning - click for specifics.]

See our full article, with more info on other instruments and information resources.

Column – Sam Benjamin, MD (Send comments for Dr Benjamin to us)

For his last column, we directed you to the Sept '96 Life magazine article "The Healing Revolution," in which the author comments positively on Dr Benjamin's use of prayer in his practice. Sam continues this opening with a more on the subject ...

Prayer and Healing

I feel that God is with me every day and this provides me with comfort. However valid my faith is for me, I know that we are all interconnected and that God has given us the tools to exploring this connection and to validate it. Dr Elizabeth Targ, a physician-scientist at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, conducted a study using AIDS patients who were prayed for and compared the progress of their disease with similarly infected patients who were not prayed for. The "experimental" group (those who were prayed for) did much better than the "control" group (those who were not prayed for) – even though they did not know that anyone was praying in their behalf. The people who prayed did not know the AIDS patients that they prayed for. While there is much yet to be studied in this area, there is more and more "evidence" for what we already know. Prayer is darn good for you and everyone you pray for.

It is, therefore, amazing to me that the medical community in our nation's medical schools and teaching hospitals are so against teaching about prayer and healing. Why the heck don't they just let young medical students do what comes naturally for most of them – pray. If you can't encourage it – don't fight it! Yet, indeed they do. At my school (Stony Brook Medical School), I was attacked because of my commitment to prayer and healing. The "scientists" see this as "unscientific," "primitive" – "quackery."

Now what irks me is who are these folks to criticize prayer. They (and their form of science) have only been around a little time and prayer has been here much longer. Why is it that prayer has endured for so long?" There must be something going on! Yet my colleagues see themselves as the protectors of "scientism" and evidence-based medicine. If there is no "evidence" for God, then s/he must be a figment of our fertile imaginations and an image that we summon up to quell our fears in times of need or when confronted with the unknown (such as death). To me this is downright arrogance. I do not know of anyone who has expired in an emergency room in this country as a result of an "overdose" of prayer. On the other hand I can think of lots of drugs prescribed by "scientists" that have terrible sequalae. The sixth leading cause of death in hospitals in North America is the result of prescribed therapies – not prayer.

I am not against science. I am not against evidence. I am not against good medicine. I am not even against the docs that espouse to be "scientists." I am, however, against arrogance, prejudice and a myopic view of this universe that does not allow me to enjoy my relationship with God and her/his healing hand. God may not always answer my prayers, but s/he is always with me and with my patients.

If you want to read more about God and Healing, I recommend Healing Words: The Power of Prayer and the Practice of Medicine by Larry Dossey, MD. In fact, all of his books relate to spirituality, intentionality and healing. A great guy and a great writer.

Sam Benjamin, MD

The Amazon.com write up on Dr Dossey's book includes three customer reviews and a professional review. In addition, a synopsis says, "A fascinating and spiritual study of the meaning and purpose of prayer, how we pray, and how prayer helps even when it doesn't answer our specific intentions. Wise and comforting, Larry Dossey is a devoted medical practitioner and counselor, explaining how we conceive of prayer and how those notions change as society changes.

Dr Sam Benjamin is a pioneering holistic MD in New York and Arizona, working side-by-side with other pioneers such as Andrew Weil, MD. He spent a number of years working in international health then later in private practice. Most recently, he was recruited to the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine where he runs the new Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Reviews (Send books, software and other publications to review to the address on our Website)

Herbs: An Illustrated Encyclopedia from Friedman/Fairfax Publishers, New York NY, (212)685-6610, by Kathi Keville, $17.95.

We searched every books store in Denver, as well as two Internet bookstores, looking for a book that covered all our needs for growing herbs from seed. We found many beautifully-illustrated books with wonder information, but only one that has it all: organized by herb, with seed germination time and requirements for sun, water, soil and temperature, as well as history, medicinal uses, harvesting, a picture and more. The publisher accurately describes the book, as follows ...

this complete guide to the fascinating world of herbs contains information-packed entries for more than 140 herbs; each entry includes the herb's history, its physical characteristics, and its cultivation requirements. Equally illuminating and practical are the descriptions of each herb's use in cooking, medicine, and cosmetics. This beautifully-illustrated volume also suggests ways in which herbs can enhance your daily life, including delicious recipes, ideas for herbal crafts, and directions for herbal baths. An amazing compendium of herbal lore and practical advice, this guide is truly a pleasure to read [indeed].

See how we have put this book to use in our lead article above, summarizing our eJournal article, Simple Herb Gardening.

Kathi Keville is the director of the American Herb Association (no known website) and editor of the AHA Quarterly Newsletter. In addition to authoring this book, she is author of American Country Living: Herbs, has contributed to numerous other herb books, and has written more than one hundred magazine articles on herbs. Keville is also a member of the American Herbalist Guild and an honorary lifetime member of both the American Aromatherapy Association and the National Herbalist Association. For fourteen years, Keville co-owned a wholesale herb business and farm, where she grew five hundred species of herbs.

Questions & Answers (Email your questions to us at Info@CompWellness.biz)

Healthcare in the year 2000 and beyond 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.

Finding Practitioners – Several – Recently

I am looking for a practitioner in my area – please help. Thank you in advance.

See How to Find a Practitioner or Business.

Gallstones – Janice J – May 7th

I have gall stones that are causing me tremendous pain when I eat, sometimes 3 hrs after I eat, and sometimes in the middle of the night. What kind of holistic therapies can I use to dissolve them. I am a Reflexologist so I already do that for myself. I have done an apple juice fast for 3 days and then 2 oz of olive oil. I am now taking a liver detox. I think the problem originated when I ate practically nothing but protein bars for several months - too busy to eat properly and under lots of stress. The pain has been severe for 2 months. Thanks for any help.

Check out the article, "Gall Bladder Disease" at EarthMed.com as well as "Points To Remember " (restricted document at the NIH) which says:

• Gallstones form when substances in the bile harden.
• Gallstones are common among women, Native Americans, Mexican-Americans, and people who are overweight.
• Gallstone attacks often occur after eating a fatty meal.
• Symptoms can mimic those of other problems, including heart attack, so accurate diagnosis is important.
• Gallstones can cause serious problems if they become trapped in the bile ducts.

For further information, do a SavvySearch on Gall Stones.

Reader Comments (Email your comments to us at Info@CompWellness.biz)

Thanks for the Help – Kristy – May 4th

Thank you for the information [on finding your site again], I went to my bookmarked site for this list, and found the 4/30 issue there! Who know what happens when sending cyber info?

I want to comment that it is a wonderful newsletter! I enjoyed it very much and was justifiably impressed with both form and content! I feel fortunate to have found this list.

I congratulate you on an excellent site! As a health care professional, it is a wonderful surprise to find such quality information in such an easy-to-read form. With a healthy dose of appreciation, Kristy

Naturopathy Article, April 30th – Edward White, Attorney Advisor, Washington DC Dept of Health Regulation Administration, Healthcare Licensing and Customer Service Division

I received the Newsletter with [reference] to the District [of Columbia's Naturopathy] registration. ... It erroneously states that the District of Columbia provides registration for and authority to practice Naturopathy in all the states and territories of the US with the exception of the 11 states already having licensure. That statement is not correct. The District is requesting that you strike the language that states "For the other states and US territories, Washington, DC provides a registration for doctors of Naturopathy." The District requests that the language be changed to state "Washington, DC provides a registration to practice Naturopathy within the District of Columbia; however, the District of Columbia cannot provide a registration for the other states and US territories." The District objects to references that the District of Columbia holds itself as the focal point for Naturopathic registration for the entire United States and its territories.

We have made the changes as you requested. However, the practice still continues to use DC Naturopathic registration as one means of establishing credibility and due diligence in states without licensure, separating those with some form of licensure from those without. We appreciate that you provide registration and not restrict it to only those residing or practicing in DC. Thank you.

Art Therapy Article – Victoria A – May 7th

Let me begin by thanking you for sending your [twice-]monthly newsletter my way. As a student and intern, my ways of keeping connected with such vital issues has been limited, and I look forward to being more connected in a human way ... for now, this is truly a convenient and valuable resource.

I am writing in response to the answers provided to the wonderful interest of a UK reader in expressive arts in therapy. I am a graduate student in Philadelphia, at the nation's first graduate art therapy program. As such, I am always glad to hear of increasing public interest in this area. It is a difficult spot, however, to find such information provided by someone, a talented professional, no doubt, who has not received a Master's Degree or certification in the field acting as a representative in this way. There is a wonderful national organization (the American Art Therapy Association – email) that is responsible for accrediting university studies in this area, and an Art Therapy Credentials Board (currently access blocked) that determines who may use the title of Art Therapist.

Although Arlene Green does not claim to be an Art Therapist, but rather a Psychotherapist who uses art in her practice, I am writing to request that future interest in these areas be directed to professionals with specific master's level training and certification, as a courtesy to our struggling profession. I do not mean to imply that as art therapists we are solely responsible for the use of art in therapy, only to suggest that those individuals who have pursued specific, rigorous education in these areas need to be highlighted whenever possible, in hopes of promoting the necessary degree of sensitivity and research required for consistent understanding of the profession.

The application of Psychodynamics as expressed through the visual arts has incredible healing and growth potentials. It has taken sixty years for those interested in wedding the practice of Psychology and art to develop the formal profession to its current status. Our gains have been slow but passionately won, and any public efforts that may dilute our standing (however well-intentioned) require a conscientious response from the field.

I appreciate your consideration of this matter and would be happy to provide you with any contact information you may desire in the future. Thank you once again for this rich source of information and public interest. I look forward to future issues. Sincerely, Victoria A

Thank you for your kind words about the site, the courage to speak out and your diplomatic intent and execution. We usually turn first to our best-known and trusted member practitioners to make formal responses to question as well as create articles. Our confidence level in Ms Green and our other authors is very high.

However, you bring out a good point that there are Holistic Healing Academys that may want to be included in our discussions. Though we find them very busy, and may not be able to respond quickly to our requests for answers or articles, we will endeavor to give associations a chance to respond. We’ll forward this eLetter to the American Art Therapy Association, and perhaps with your encouragement, they will participate in future issues or the conversations at the discussion group(Main Page).

Prayer and Healing – Peggy Verret, Publisher, Complementary Healing Guide, St Tammany/New Orleans – April 11th

Her response to a preview of Dr Sam Benjamin’s column this issue ...

It is quite provocative to discuss healing issues within a health-science framework. Some of the Complementary Healthcare Therapies challenge our current epistemology, how reality and images of the world are conceptualized. Abstractions like energy, field theory, spiritual growth and prayer are increasingly discussed in healthcare situations by ordinary people as well as medical professionals.

It is suggested that APA style, the writing discipline of science, may play a greater role than realized in conceptualizing and constructing knowledge about the world, often quite distant from that of the humanities.

A broader world view, including culturally-relevant spiritual practices, can best be understood through the teachings of other disciplines such as anthropology, philosophy, or world religions. In contemporary American life, prayer is part of the daily routine of many scientists and medical professionals. It cannot be extrapolated from the human condition. Some believe humans are hard-wired for hope and faith in "something beyond" and call on this hope as an inner strength.

Individuals comfortable with their spiritual beliefs, due either to religious training, maturation and/or life experiences, will continue their prayer practices. Holistic philosophy in contrast to reductionist thought, allows for these practices to enrich the patient's and caregiver's healing relationship. We are called to put this in perspective.

The Avatar Course,^® for instance, addresses the power of beliefs with grace and simplicity. We, the people, will evolve as a compassionate and cooperative civilization when we come to the conscious realization that use of all beliefs/nonbeliefs are the creative and divine potential of humanity.

Reader Profiles (Send your profile – in this format – to us at Info@CompWellness.biz)

We have found it very interesting to find out about the healthcare and other professionals reading our eLetter. We will publish these here, as well as a weekly summary as available, to the discussion group list.

Submit yours today ...

The format is: Name, Credentials. Company Name, City, State, Country (if not USA). Profession/Modalities. Very short Description of Profession with a link to more info if needed, a few Specifics on what you do in the profession. Email address, web address, phone number (optional)

News (Email news leads to us at Info@CompWellness.biz)

Recent news articles are at EarthMed Headlines. More in the next issue.

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Notices:   Disclaimer, Copyright © 1997-2012, CompWellness Network, Fairfield NJ USA, Colorado Non-Profit, Trade Names, Cross-Linkages, Acknowledgments, Additional Resources and Members