Chocolate Bark

I'll pass along an e-mail I received that's important to all dog owners. Chocolate can be good for us, but not so good for dogs. You probably already know that. But what if your landscaper spreads little pieces of chocolaty goodness around your flowers that Fito loves to play in. It's a recipe for disaster.

Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased "Cocoa Mulch" from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog Calypso, decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn't acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk. Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the companies web site, this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs. Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey's, and they claim that 'It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual do g). However, 98% of all dogs won't eat it.' Just hope that your dog is not one of the 2%.

It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Just a word of caution ? check what you are using in your gardens and be aware of what your gardeners are using in your gardens. Theo bromine is the ingredient that is used to make all chocolate ? especially dark or baker's chocolate ? which is toxic to dogs.

Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

Here We Go Again

Big Pharma's at it again. This time they're trying to ban vitamin B6, and the FDA will eventually make some kind of educated judgement. The name of the financially strapped company is Medicure. Medicure's chief chairperson of the "scientific advisory board" is a man name Paul Armstrong. He served on the FDA's advisory committee from 2000-20004. It's the same business plan all pharmaceutical companies adopt. Shady. ...........................Matt

http://jumpstone.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/26/1612115-pharma-trying-to-make-b6-vitamins-illegal-whats-next-water

No More Meat?

One week ago, my wife and I watched a show called "30 Days". It's produced by the guy who wrote and starred in the Mcdocumentary, "SuperSize Me". In this episode, an avid outdoors man and meat eater from South Carolina, goes to California and spends a month with a group of animal rights activists. Of course, there's instant conflict with both parties struggling to understand the other's point of view.

During the show, there's video clips of animal cruelty and details of animals being tortured and slaughtered. It's not nice to see, but the PETA propaganda is effective. There are some seriously nasty videos out there that will make anybody go veggie. The way these animals are treated to support the fast food industry and your backyard BBQ, is disturbing.

After watching this program, my wife went vegetarian. Just like that. One week and going strong. The problem is....now, there's no food in the house, and I'm starving. There's only one brand of veggie patty I can eat, because most are made with TVP and wheat. I'd like to eat less meat, but there's nothing I can do about it right now.

I'm forced to watch her gulp down soy links which closely resemble wieners. The stink of "unchicken" chicken patties fill the air while I search the fridge for something besides lettuce. I'll get used to it, but I think were both going to be losing weight with her lifestyle change.

I'm actually a little jealous because she is eating a lot healthier, and I can't. There's one thing I'll never understand. Vegetarians want their food to look and taste just like meat. It doesn't make any sense. I get it if you're trying to trick somebody.....good luck.......but you don't see me trying to grow a carrot that tastes like ground beef. ...................Matt

Things To Remember

These are the top 20 answers to questions that I hear too often. Now, you don't have to ask me when you come in. .........................Matt


1. ascorbic acid is not real vitamin C
2. the best natural tranquilizer is GABA
3. check your royal jelly for 10-HDA
4. if you have E.D., you probably have a heart condition
5. if you have cold sores, don't take arginine
6. if you're on a statin, take CoQ10
7. don't combine detoxes
8. cranberry works for urinary tract infections, but cranberry with D-mannose is better
9. the fastest way to get blood pressure down is nattokinase
10. the fastest way to get your cholesterol down is red yeast rice
11. don't spray dandelions with herbicide, eat them
12. don't but supplements at grocery stores or Chinese distribution centers
13. calcium carbonate is the worst form of calcium available
14. any supplement under $10 usually sucks
15. if you're overweight, don't bother with a ph test, you're acidic
16. every household in American should have DMSO and oregano oil
17. elderberry is the best cold and flu medicine
18. you don't drink a green drink because of the taste
19. take your fish oil before you eat
20. change your diet

It Runs In The Family

("gene supplements" cont)

"It runs in the family." I hear it all the time. My father, and my brother's cousin, and my dog all had high blood pressure. "There's nothing I can do about it". No, it just means you have to try a little bit harder. Your genes are a small part of your future health. The future isn't written.

At least understand that your nutrition might have something to do with it. A diet absent of fruits and vegetables, and heavy in milk shakes and cheeseburgers is eventually going to catch up to you. It's a choice you make every time you sit down to eat. Don't blame it on you genes. If you really are more at risk, then be proactive.

The list below briefly explains the increased risk factors based on your gene profile. They are called SNP's (single nucleotide polymorphisms) which tell you if you're at risk of developing a particular disease. Remember, a healthy diet and lifestyle can change the outcome. .....Don't let your health insurance company see your information.

SNP 1. VDR (Vitamin D Receptor) - osteoporosis, colon cancer, diabetes immune issues

SNP 2. EPHX (Microsomal Epoxide Hydrolase) -chemical sensitivities, mutagenic effects, pesticides

SNP 3. NQO1 (Coenzyme Q10reductase) - liver problems, neurological issues, chronic fatigue

SNP 4. SOD2 (manganese superoxide Dismutase) - type II diabetes, asthma, kidney issues, IBS

SNP 5. GPXI (glutathione peroxidase 1 ) - inflammatory issues, cardiovascular problems, viral complications, cancer

SNP 6. MMP-1 (matrix metallo-proteinase) - joint damage, cartilage problems, wrinkles, RA, and osteoarthritis

SNP 7. MTHFR (methylene tetrahydro-reductase) - lower SAMe, blood clotting, stroke

SNP 8. MTRR (methionine reductase) - homocysteine levels, intestinal cancers, birth defects

SNP 9. TNF-Alpha (tumor necrosis factor-Alpha) - inflammation connection, cardiac disease, Alzheimer's

SNP 10. PON-1 (paraoxonase 1) - risk of myocardial infraction, LDL oxidation, heart disease and diabetes

SNP 11. CYP11B2 (aldosterone synthase) high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, adrenal function

SNP 12. APOB (apolipoprotein B) high triglycerides, arteriosclerosis, glucose metabolization

Test yourself or test your kids. It is not inevitable. ........Matt

Health Headlines

The benefits of vitamin D have been in the news again lately. In case you missed it, here's a couple of links. Make sure it's D3... D2 is the inferior form.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,356281,00.html

http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS02/805280352/1003/NEWS02

Another sad story about drug side effects. Just so you know....Motrin is safe and effective and approved by the FDA. ...............Matt

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,368311,00.html

http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/06/did-motrin-blind-this-little-girl-a-court-battle-begins/

Gene Supplements

Solgar Vitamin & Herb has collaborated with GeneLink to create a line of “genetically guided nutritional supplements.”

GeneLink’s Nutritional System includes a DNA collection kit and the company’s Genetic Compass reporting system. Solgar will market the platform alongside the line of supplements, dubbed Nutrigenomx.

The companies said in a statement that the Nutrigenomx product line is the first retail “proprietary dietary supplement system tailored to an individual's genetic makeup.”

Solgar said it plans to sell the products through health food and natural food retailers in North America.

We had a seminar on Solgar's gene specific products this week that this article mentions. It's the future of supplementation. It works like this.

1.) Swab the inside of your cheek.

2.) Mail it off

3.) Find out you genetic weakness

4.) Prevent that genetic flaw from manifesting into a disease by supplementing with specific nutrients and anti-oxidants.

Research shows that slight genetic flaws can be fixed with remedies as simple as vitamin and mineral supplements. It is genetically important and a little scary to have this information, but prevention is the best medicine. ..........................Matt

$10,000?

This guy sounds serious. Are you up for the challenge?

http://www.naturalnews.com/023476.html

Sleepy Product Review

Today, I'll talk about "StressTame" from Jarrow Formulas. Jarrow has many good products, but this isn't one of them. Supposedly, "StressTame" promotes relaxation, stress reduction, and sleep. It's made with a combination of herbs and phytonutrients commonly used in many supplement brands. The main ingredients are passion flower, wild jujube, skullcap, hops, and California poppy.

Now, I've never used any stress/sleep supplement before, so I have nothing to compare it to. But, the first impression is everything, and I won't buy it again. The directions read... two capsules 30 minutes before bedtime, and it specifically says..."do not take with alcohol, anti-depressants, or pain medications. Well, I don't like to be told what to do, so I washed down the two capsules with a couple of beers. Sorry, Jarrow. There was no feeling of tranquility and I didn't even yawn. Maybe, I'm not as stressed out as I think I am.

I always like to try things twice. Since I was already out $12, I tried it again the other night. This time I took four capsules with four beers. About an hour later, I had a fuzzy feeling that lasted about 30 seconds, and I yawned twice. My dog was barking at the cat, so instead of yelling at him, I just cursed quietly. Two hours later, I still had problems falling asleep. So what's it all mean? I'll give it a C- and file it under "W" for weak. My advice.... find some Vicotin and sit back and watch "Sponge Bob" for ten hours. ...........Matt

Oxy-Powder

Optimal health starts in your colon, and you can't heal yourself if you're constipated. This colon cleanse uses the power of oxygen to remove toxins and help you detox. We currently don't carry this product, but ask for it the next time you stop in. Maybe we can stock it in the future. .......................Matt

Rheumatoid Arthritis Back In The News

Today, I had a conversation with a man who is on the board of the local arthritis foundation. He has suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for many years, and currently volunteers to speak at sponsored functions in the area. I told him my father has RA, which started an in depth discussion about the disease.

Without dragging this post out too much, we basically agreed on everything.

-prevention is better than treating symptoms

-drug companies want to make money, not cure disease

-herbs and nutrition are the answer

However, he didn't know much about colostrum, glyconutrients or green drinks. He was also surprised when I asked him if he had been in the military. (he was) He said that all of the immunizations he received could have aggravated the condition.

I learned that people with RA should not eat wheat, but it makes sense if you believe that RA originates from food allergies or leaky gut syndrome. And to my astonishment, in the last 15 years, the arthritis foundation was slowly accepting herbs as a possible treatment for RA. It's good to hear that they are finally waking up.

I gave him colostrum, and he promised to come back in to let me know how it worked. He regularly uses turmeric and white willow bark which will only help.

There is a problem. Right now, he is on 8 prescription drugs. Two are pain killers and the other six are for different conditions. They will only work against him in the long run, and he knows it. Months ago, doctors took him off the NSAIDS because they were causing internal bleeding. I don't know if the colostrum will be strong enough to overpower the prescription drug side effects to reduce pain and swelling, but for now, it's his best option. .......................Matt

Natural Hormone or Anabolic Steroid?

I don't take DHEA, but many people do. After selling out to the "pharm lobbyists", this supplement is the next target for Washington.

http://www.lef.org/lac/

http://www.healthrevolutions.co.uk/dheatobebanned.html

http://womenshealth.com/home/712

Soap Nuts?

Thanks for the soap nut information. It sounds like another effective way to keep the mosquitoes off your skin. ...........Matt

http://www.soapnut-shop.com/other-use-soap-nuts-i-23d_202.html

http://www.soapnuts.ca/faqs.html

Wheat Germ Oil

There are many herbs and supplements that fight inflammation. Recently, a 77 year old man informed me about one I didn't know about. He came in looking for wheat germ oil, and explained that he had horrible arthritis in his hands and ankle. The arthritis in his hands developed after years of working as a carpenter. The persistent pain in his ankle resulted from a broken bone suffered last year. Doctors said they couldn't do anything for him, so they prescribed pain medication. This gentleman knew that prescription medication was not the answer, and he decided not to take it.

That's where the wheat germ oil comes in. He started taking four soft gels every day and the pain subsided. However, it wasn't enough. He doubled the amount, and the pain left. The movement in his hands is as good as mine, and walking is easy. Eight pills a day from a simple plant source is all that he needs to heal his inflammation. It may seem like a lot, but at least there is no side effects like a damaged liver. Wheat germ oil is also cheap. Thanks for the testimonial and I'll be sure to pass it along in the future. ...........................Matt

Mercury Madness

I'll share a story with you from earlier today. It coincides with an article I read on my home page about the mercury contained in amalgam fillings. The FDA announced that these fillings which are made of about 50% mercury may not be such a good idea for pregnant women and children. What a shocker! After continued pressure from concerned groups and common sense, the FDA admitted that mercury might be harmful to developing fetuses and young children. However, for the majority of the population, a mouth full of mercury is safe and effective. Make sense?

Regular visitors to this blog know my opinion of the FDA.......worthless. The fact is, mercury at any level is toxic to the brain. Multiple amalgam fillings increase the amount of mercury which causes health problems. The FDA states that mercury can cause harm to the fetus and children, but vaccinations, which contain mercury or aluminum administered to infants, are completely safe. (dummies) As always, approved by the FDA is meaningless.

So let me get to this story. A woman my age asked me to find her a heavy metal cleanse. She told me that she had 18 amalgam fillings removed last year. Her former occupation....drum roll please...... a dental hygienist. She decided to get them removed after educating herself about the dangers of mercury. This happened only after her health deteriorated to the point where her speech was slurred, she was constantly fatigued, and every day activities became increasingly difficult.

When the amalgam fillings were taken out, her symptoms eventually disappeared. This woman isn't pregnant, and she isn't under 6 years old, so the FDA's conclusion is wrong as usual. She also quit her job because she could no longer tell patients that amalgam fillings were safe. An insider with the courage to do what's right. I applaud her.

If you can afford it, remove your fillings and replace them with the white resin composite. Just make sure you find a dentist who knows how to do it. Most dentists are not educated on the correct way which will only put more mercury into your body. ........................Matt

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-general/20080612/MED.Dental.Mercury/

Add A Little Spice To Your Life

Flawed studies, the RDA, and continued corruption. This is an article that explains it all (truthfully).

http://searchwarp.com/swa255763.htm

Jimmy the Pink....turmeric is a great anti-inflammatory and cancer fighter. I don't eat enough of this spice, but I've taken it in supplement form before. I thinking of a new slogan. How about "Turmeric Instead of MSG". Or, place a shaker of curry next to the salt and pepper at restaurants. I know it won't happen, but it would look good next to the red corn syrup and wannabe mustard. Oh, I'd go to Steak and Shake for their curry burglers, but I can't eat the bun...or the fries. It ruins the whole experience for me. Honestly, I'm probably not missing much anyway.

Mosquito Blocker Response

Dr. Sanborn, I don't know why your comment hasn't posted yet, but thanks just the same. B vitamins do have an odor, so it makes sense that you need to sweat to keep those annoying suckers from biting. I'd rather pop a harmless pill than spray chemicals on my skin. Good info...that's what I'm looking for.

I actually had a lady come in today who may have the West Nile virus. She's getting tested soon. It's so important to protect yourself when you're outside.

Are you the Dr. Sanborn that's involved with CRA? If so, here's your chance to enlighten us.
............................Matt

More MRSA Information

I didn't know this study done in Ireland was so successful. I've never heard of inula helenium. but I think we have pulsatilla (homeopathic) at our store. .......Matt

MRSA Faces Defeat from Wild Flower

16 November 2007 By Ailín Quinlan

A WILD flower growing in West Cork could hold the key to wiping out the deadly superbug MRSA. Researchers at Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) have revealed the bright yellow flower known as inula helenium kills the lethal bug, which is resistant to some of the strongest antibiotics on the market. Inula helenium is a tall plant which grows wild in west Cork and blossoms in late summer. It’s one of two herbs involved in a €35,000 research project carried out at CIT. The other, pulsatilla vulgaris, also proved highly effective against the potentially fatal MRSA bug. Extracts from both plants were tested against a group of 300 staphylococci including MRSA and inula helenium proved 100% effective against the superbug.

The trials were carried out by postgraduate student Susan O’Shea of CIT’s biological sciences department as part of a two-year research project, under the supervision of Dr Brigid Lucey, a senior medical scientist with the microbiology department of Cork University Hospital and Dr Lesley Cotter, a lecturer in biomedical sciences at CIT.

Kidney Stone Disability

I saw many family members this weekend, and it was great to see them all. One that I'll comment on is my cousin's wife. She has a serious problem with kidney stones. Over the last five years, she has had 125 kidney stones. The condition is well documented, and doctors say that there is nothing she can do. She just has to live with it.

This past November, she started receiving social security benefits. I didn't even know it was possible to get disability for kidney stones. About a year and a half ago, I told her to take extra magnesium because the stones are the calcium kind. Tests from doctors revealed that she was high in magnesium, so she stopped taking the supplement. They recommended an increase in calcium instead.

I don't understand this advice. Many calcium supplements are poorly absorbed. What form is it? Is there any D3 or even magnesium for better absorption? To me, it sounds like it will only make things worse. One other thing I'd like to mention....she's overweight. I would love to see what her diet consists of for a week. What does she eat and drink day after day? She is currently trying to pass four stones as we speak, and has generally accepted her hopeless diagnosis from doctors. Anybody have any ideas on this one? ..........Matt

Squeal Like A Pig

Tomorrow I head to Macomb for my Grandma's memorial. She passed away in March from MRSA. Where does this deadly bacteria originate? Are hospitals to blame? There's no question it's a dirty place. But there's even a dirtier place where bacteria thrives. Drive around in the country if you have a strong stomach and you'll know what I'm talking about. .......or play it safe and check out these links. .....................Matt

http://www.news-medical.net/?id=32320

http://www.fact.cc/PDF/MRSA%20in%20Swine%20-%20November%202007.pdf

http://www.agriview.com/articles/2008/03/31/livestock_news/livestock02.txt

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/11/07/staph/

Understanding Disease

I have to hand it to Rita Elkins.....she knows what she's talking about. The difference between conventional and natural medicine is:

CONVENTIONAL

The body is made of separate units
Body and mind are separate entities
Treat the symptoms of the disease
Focus on symptoms only
Use artificial drugs and surgery
Physician controls

NATURAL

The body is a whole unit
Body and mind are interlinked
Find the cause of the illness
Address diet and lifestyle
Utilize whole plants and organics
Patient is in charge

Only one works..... and it's not conventional...................................Matt

Nigella Sativa

I'm not going to pretend to write about something I know very little about, but it's important to read the information yourself and consider trying it in the future. I've only had one person ask me about black seed oil all these years, but I think that's going to change very soon. .........Matt

http://calgaryislam.com/imembers/displayarticle191.html

http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/content.asp?id=60

http://www.kitchendoctor.com/articles/blackcumin.html

Be All You Can Be

Predict future health problems and prevent them from happening? Personalized supplementation for your genes? It's true and it's already happening. UC Berkeley is now involved in genome supplementation research. This program, financed by the US Army and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) could pave the way for specialized supplementation depending on your genetic make up.

You might remember that I briefly talked about DARPA a few weeks ago because the agency sinking money into a weak energy drink to give to soldiers for performance enhancement during battle. Future soldiers could hear things like...." Private, don't forget to take extra vitamin C tomorrow,,,,the smoke from the burning oil well can really damage your skin," or "your trigger finger won't cramp up if you take 500mg of magnesium before we attack."(the perfect killing machine) I think you get the idea. It's not even a new idea. The military is always looking for new tactics to increase enemy body count or reduce casualties. British bomber pilots ate bilberries to increase their night vision during World War II and U.S. soldiers grimaced as they enjoyed the protective benefits of the noni fruit during the Pacific campaign against the Japanese.

It's basically, very similar to what BALCO tried to accomplish with the doping or testing of superior athletes. Take an amazing athlete, run a bunch of tests to determine the personal levels of vitamins and minerals, and apply that information to a less fortunate athlete who wants to take their fitness or ability to the next level. For example, if gold medalist, Mary Lou Retton had high levels of zinc and potassium in her body, then my former cheerleader wife could supplement those minerals until they match Mary Lou's profile and go on to medal in "cheering" at the 2012 Olympics. It was a great idea until they started smearing steroid cream on everybody. Now, they're either in jail or under investigation.

My point is...and you've heard it before...everybody is different. Your age, diet, and genes all play a role in the development of disease. I want extra vit C, folic acid and magnesium in my multivitamin, while you may need more zinc or calcium. A "one size fits all" approach doesn't work. ........Matt

http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2008/06/02_genomes.shtml

Oral Mosquito Repellent

Can you take a pill to keep mosquitoes from biting you? Some people seem to think so. A lady came in last week and bought vitamin B1(thiamine). She explained that her husband uses it to keep the mosquitoes away while he works outside. I've read about other natural remedies like garlic, but this is the first time I've heard that thiamine is an effective repellent.

Vitamin B1 is inexpensive (about $6 for the entire summer), but if it does work, how much do you need to keep the bugs at bay? The woman said that he supplements two per day which would normally be 50mg. I didn't ask about a loading phase, but you should have greater success if you take it for a couple of weeks prior to outdoor activities. I think it's worth a try. No need to spray toxic DEET on your skin. ...................Matt

http://www.alive.com/2867a9a2.php?subject_bread_cramb=401