Essiac Tea is a Cancer Cure Big Pharma Does Not Want You to Know About

 

'A simple inexpensive four herb tea that cures cancer? Even AIDS maybe? This has been a critical concern since Essiac tea was introduced in Canada during the early 1920's. For over 50 years, a humble nurse, Rene Caisse (pronounced Reen Case), used the tea successfully with many terminal cancer patients from her clinic in the tiny Canadian village of Bracebridge, north of Toronto.'

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Vaccination Voodoo, What You Don't Know About Vaccines

'I recently had the privilege of reviewing the newly released book, Vaccination Voodoo: What You Don't Know About Vaccines, authored by Catherine J Frompovich. She assembles a breadth of research and compiles the "must know" information regarding the false science about vaccination and the rise in correlated diseases. Regardless of your position on mass vaccination programs, this book will surely make you question their safety and effectiveness.' 

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I Got the Flu Vaccine. Now I Have the Flu.

Alicia Travis, CRNP, from the Penn Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine practice discusses some known – and not-so-known – drawbacks to flu season.

Alicia Travis, CRNP

As is required for all health care workers, I got my flu vaccine in October and figured this would protect me throughout this flu season. As I am writing this, though, I am under my heated blanket with a cup of green tea in one hand and a box of tissues in the other. My throat is sore, my nose is dripping, my temperature is 100.8° F, I have a deep chest cough, and worst of all, my body aches all over.

I have the flu and I am miserable!

The reality is that influenza is an ever-changing virus with several common strains that can cause an array of troublesome symptoms. These symptoms include fever, cough, congestion, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting and generalized malaise. In immunocompromised patients, or people whose immune system is not capable of resisting the infection, influenza can be a much more severe, even fatal, illness. It is for this reason that every fall, your doctor and/or nurse recommends you get that pesky needle pinch (or inconvenient intranasal spray) to be protected.

Unfortunately, like most things in life, the flu vaccine is not 100% effective. When vaccine researchers formulate the components of the vaccine, they are speculating months in advance as to which strains will be dominant that year. Therefore, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine can vary year to year based on viral resistance patterns and the accuracy of vaccine researchers’ predictions.

According to an article published by the Center for Disease Control, researchers approximate the flu vaccine is around 60% effective most years. Meaning, this leaves me, and roughly 40% of the vaccinated population, at risk of contracting influenza despite getting the vaccine. That may seem like unfavorable odds, but 60% is better than nothing.

To put this in perspective, as a nurse practitioner in a busy adolescent and young adult practice, I have seen upwards of 100 patients in the past couple months with flu-like symptoms. Influenza is very contagious and, if I had not received the vaccine, I would have certainly been at a higher risk of contracting influenza.

The key to staying flu-free is to wash your hands frequently, stay away from anyone who has flu-like symptoms, stay well rested and get your flu vaccine.

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Managing Holiday Stress

Elizabeth Y. Fung, DO, a primary care physician at Spruce Internal Medicine, located at the new Penn Medicine Washington Square building, discusses healthy tips for managing stress during the holiday season.

As the brilliant colors of the fall foliage fade and the crisp winter air settles in, a flurry of activities begin and it is now time to prepare for the holidays.

The holiday tradition started as a period of time set aside for religious or cultural celebrations. Today, many of us have an unrealistic or overly romantic notion of what the holidays should be, and often aren’t.

To help, here are a few tips to rekindle the holiday spirit:

Planning

• Put together a list of what you expect from the holidays and be realistic with what can be accomplished.
• If you’re looking to take it easy over the holidays, consider a vacation or simply a ‘stay-cation.’ Take it easy and relax, refresh and re-energize.
• If family, friends and feasts are on your holiday horizon, prioritize commitments and schedule them on your calendar. Don’t forget to include time for rest and relaxation.
• Plan your travels – purchase tickets in advance and arrive early for departure.

Holiday Gatherings

• If you’re hosting a holiday party, divide up the menu and give guests an opportunity to prepare and “show off” one of their favorite dishes.
• Prepare in advance – I have a patient who bakes 20 pies the week before her holiday parties in preparation to give to friends and relatives.
• Those who break bread make bread together - Share in the peeling, dicing, chopping and cleanup in the kitchen. It is a great opportunity for everyone to catch up while preparing the meal.
• Purchase prepared menu items to reduce the amount of cooking and increase the amount of family time.
• Avoid overindulgence - have a healthy snack before your holiday parties, continue to exercise and get a good night’s sleep.

Gift Giving

• Set a budget. You will be surprised how creative you can be with a budget in place.
• Ask people what they want for the holidays. This eliminates the guesswork and holiday returns.
• Online shopping – Shop at your leisure. Last year, I did most of my shopping online while on the train to/from work!
• Get creative with gift-giving. During my medical training, I gave my brother and his wife a “gift certificate” redeemable for a weekend of babysitting my nieces and nephews.

Holiday Blues

• Surround yourself with family and friends if you’re feeling lonely and sad. Reminiscing about the past, the loss of loved ones or being away from home during this time of the year can be difficult.
• Volunteer – Helping others can help us better appreciate what we have.
• Despite your best efforts, if you find yourself feeling severely anxious, persistently sad or hopeless and these feelings are affecting your daily activities, please talk to your doctor.

The holidays are an exciting time celebrating with family and friends. With some planning and a positive attitude, it is possible to be jolly during this season and to find peace and joy as we celebrate.

Happy Holidays!

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Healthy Eating Tips for the Holiday Season

Lori M. Noble, MD, a primary care physician at Spruce Internal Medicine, located at the new Penn Medicine Washington Square building, discusses some healthy eating tips for the holiday season.

As winter arrives, if you're anything like me, you just can't wait to put on that cozy, bulky sweater to keep warm. It also helps to camouflage those few extra holiday pounds the sweet potato casserole and stuffing are likely to leave behind.

But, have no fear; this season can still be enjoyed without needing to buy a new wardrobe when it's over. With a few simple tips and some pre-meal planning, you can still eat the foods you love without sacrificing taste or your waistline.

Keep Your Plate Green

This is actually a great tip for any meal, not just around the holidays! If you dedicate half of your plate to healthy veggies, you've already won half the battle. You can’t give in though. If you go back for seconds, remember the half-plate rule. Veggies are high in fiber, so they will keep you feeling fuller longer and help to prevent over-indulging on some of the less healthy options.

If you intend on bringing a dish to someone’s home, volunteer to bring roasted veggies or a big salad. This way, you know you will like the healthy option.

Don't Leave the House Hungry

One of the most common mistakes individuals make during the holidays is skipping breakfast in an attempt to "save up" calories for big meals. This tactic actually slows your metabolism to a halt. When you do eat, your body wants to hold onto every last calorie it can. Plus, when all that delicious food is put in front of an empty, growling stomach, it becomes an irresistible temptation to overeat. Be sure to eat a healthy, satisfying breakfast, such as oatmeal with a handful of dried fruits and nuts or egg whites with veggies and low-fat cheese.

Pick your "Poison"

We all have our "Achilles heels" when it comes to holiday meals - mine happens to be...well, anything on the dessert table. If you know what you're likely to over-indulge in, you can make a plan to keep yourself on track. For instance, if you're a sweets or carbohydrate-lover like me, you might avoid the "pre-dinner" snack foods and limit the stuffing and sweet potatoes at dinner to one serving each (~1/2 cup). This allows you to have that nice piece of pie for dessert without any guilt!

Keep the Food off the Table

This is a sneaky trick that I have used for years. If the food isn't kept on the table, grazing isn't nearly as easy. In order to get seconds, you have to make the conscious effort to get up from the table, get more food and maybe even heat it up if it's gotten cold. You'll be forced to ask yourself, "do I really want to get up from the table?" rather than just picking at whatever tasty treat is casually left in front of you.

Don’t Forget about Liquid Calories 

Holiday cocktails and wine with friends add up to a lot of empty calories. For example:

• One cup of eggnog – without added liquor – has about 350 calories and 19 grams of fat.
• One cup of champagne has about 182 calories.
• One, four-ounce serving of red wine has about 100 calories.

Try to stick to water or unsweetened tea. If you do choose to have “a drink”, stick to wine, low-carb beer or spirits.

So, enjoy your holidays. Just remember, a little preparation and a modest amount of self-control can go a long way. What better way to start the New Year than with a positive resolution.
 

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On the Move: The Health Benefits of Running

Whether it's a 5K, 10K, Color Run, Tough Mudder or Marathon, it seems as though everyone is out for a run. Once reserved only for die-hards, more and more people are running for the experience and the fun than ever before. Many also see it as a way to relieve stress after a busy day, an opportunity to get a group of friends together or to simply help out a good cause.

Regardless of the reasons or motivations, there are many health benefits for those that pick up this sport.

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Halloween Safety Tips for Parents

Halloween is fast approaching. Soon, the streets will be filled with ghosts, goblins, princesses and cowboys. To help make this year's festivities a trick-free treat, follow these simple safety tips:

For the Young Ones

• Going out at night? Find a costume that has bright colors or add reflective tape to the front and back of the costume and to the trick-or-treat bag.
• If the costume has wigs or beards, make sure they don’t cover your child’s eyes, noses, or mouths.
• If your child wants to wear a mask, make sure it allows them to easily see and breathe.
• Consider using nontoxic face paint or makeup. It is good practice to test the face paint or makeup on your child's arm or hand before applying. This will allow you to make sure the paint doesn't irritate the skin.
• Try to avoid oversized and high-heeled shoes and costumes that have long fabric that can cause children to trip.
• When your kids get home, check all treats to make sure they are sealed. Throw out any candy with holes in the packages, spoiled items and any homemade foods from individuals you do not know.

For Parents with Older Kids

• If your child is trick-or-treating on their own, find out the route they'll be taking.
• Make sure they go in a group and stress that they stay together.
• Advise them to only go to houses with porch lights on and walk on sidewalks on lit streets. 
• Steer clear from candles and other flames.
• Equip your child with a flashlight with new batteries.

Finally, make sure trick-or-treaters will be safe when visiting your home as well. Remove anything that could cause kids to trip or fall on your walkway or lawn. Double check to see if the lights are on outside your house and light the walkway to your door, if possible.

Have a safe and fun Halloween!

Any other tips you’d like to share? Add them to the comments section.