WHAT DOCTORS DON’T TELL YOU - E-NEWS BROADCAST No. 99 - 23 September 2004
CONTENTS
News Section
Is this a cancer cure? Claims for herbal remedy deserve a closer look
Hepatitis B and MS: Vaccine can cause disease
Vitamins: The BBC doesn't know its ABC of nutrition
Statistic of the Week: Most doctors are clueless about cholesterol
Antipsychotics: Now they're linked to diabetes
Readers' Corner
Your thoughts and suggestions on:
UTIs
Cystic fibrosis
Childhood seizures
Hot feet
Flatulence
Breast enlargement
Readers' queries
Asbestos in food
Yellow tongue
Safer HRT
Tinnitus
Hydradenitis
Hernia
Lichen planus
DANIEL IN THE LION'S DEN: Do Rosy's claims for a cancer cure stack up?
Anyone who claims a cure for cancer faces the vitriol of a medical
establishment that has struggled in vain to combat the disease. In the UK
there's even an Act of Parliament that prevents anyone other than a doctor
from making such a claim.
So we have to admire the courage of Dr Rosy Daniel, former head of the
pioneering Bristol Cancer Help Centre, who is staking her reputation on an
Indian herbal treatment that she believes could well be medicine's holiest
of grails - a cure for cancer.
The remedy she's promoting is Carctol, a herbal formulation developed by Dr
Nandlal Tiwari of Rajasthan, India, who has been treating cancer patients
with it for 20 years. He has case files of 1,900 patients treated with
Carctol, many of whom had been considered beyond medical help. According to
Tiwari's own records, 25 per cent of patients reported a 75 per cent to 100
per cent improvement in their condition while taking Carctol, and 30 per
cent reported up to 75 per cent improvement (although it's not clear what
these percentages mean, or how they were measured). Carctol appears to be
especially effective in treating gastro-intestinal and haemotological
cancers.
Dr Daniel has been using the remedy since 2000 as an alternative
practitioner, and has prescribed it to 860 patients, a quarter of whom were
helped, and half were helped 'to some extent', she says - but, again, these
are vague terms that are difficult to measure.
Carctol is made up of Hemidesmus Indcus, Tribulus Terrestris, Piper Cubeba
Linn, Ammani Vesicatroria, Lepidium Sativum Linn, Blepharis Edulis, Smilax
China Linn, and Rheum Emodi Wall. Two capsules are taken four times a day.
Dr Tiwari also recommends a vegetarian diet, and prohibits sour and acidic
food and drink, and the patient must drink up to six pints of boiled,
refrigerated water a day. A patient also has to take a digestive enzyme
with the remedy.
None of the herbs in the formulation is a cancer fighter, so Dr Daniel
assumes there must be a synergistic effect. Several herbs in Carctol are
classed as medicines in the UK, and so only a doctor can prescribe the
remedy.
Nobody seems too clear how Carctol works, but it's thought to change the
body's pH from acid to alkaline. It's designed to strengthen the immune
system, neutralize toxicity from chemotherapy, support liver and kidney
function, and improve digestion.
Dr Daniel's claims for Carctol have enraged the medical establishment, which
says she is irresponsible for raising false hopes, and making assertions
that are based on scant scientific data.
It costs many millions of pounds to produce scientific evidence that would
satisfy the medical establishment, and clearly neither Tiwari nor Daniel has
that sort of money.
And nobody seems too keen to point out that chemotherapy has an overall
success rate of just 3 per cent. Not that that makes Daniel's claims any
more valid - but in the name of humanity, surely some means can be put in
place to test her beliefs, even if for once a pharmaceutical company doesn't
benefit.
* What does really work in treating cancer? Discover all the proven
therapies in our Cancer Handbook. It provides definitive evidence on all
the major treatments, both conventional and alternative. To order your
copy, click on this link:
http://www.wddty.co.uk/shop/details.asp?product=8
VACCINE LINKED TO MS: New study confirms worst suspicions over the
hepatitis B jab
After years of speculation, it's finally been confirmed that the hepatitis B
vaccine causes multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers from Harvard estimate
that it increases the risk by over three times, but they're not sure if the
vaccine causes MS in those prone to it, or if it just speeds its progress.
This link may also mean that the vaccine could cause other serious
auto-immune diseases, as many have suspected.
Suspicions were first raised around 10 years ago when 200 people in France
developed MS shortly after being given the hepatitis B vaccine. But an
earlier Harvard study, published in 2001, could find no link. Since then
several members of the original research team have voiced their concerns
that their conclusions may have been wrong.
This time the Harvard team has been more emphatic, and has even said that
the benefits of the vaccine only might outweigh the risks. In medicalese,
that's a very big 'might'.
(Source: Neurology, 2004; 63: 838-42).
MMR AND AUTISM: Is it game over?
Many parents remain concerned about a possible link between the MMR vaccine
and autism, despite the latest research. Health officials have chosen to
ignore a far bigger study that proved that the vaccine increased the risk of
autism by nearly nine times - a study that was carefully ignored by doctors
and the media. So what is the truth? What Doctors Don't Tell You is
staging a major conference at the end of October to give you the facts that
you aren't getting from the media or the government. Speakers on the day
include Dr Carol Stott of Cambridge University and a close associate of Dr
Andrew Wakefield, Paul Shattock of the Autism Research Unit and Lynne
McTaggart, editor of What Doctors Don't Tell You. To find out more and to
book your place, click on this link:
http://www.wddty.co.uk/shop/details.asp?product=405
OLD HORIZON: Vitamin programme was unbalanced
Most journalists like to play it safe when it comes to reporting science and
medicine. It's a human enough reaction - they don't want to appear stupid
if they get it wrong when they stick their necks out. Depressingly, this
means the status quo is rarely if ever challenged.
This was amply demonstrated last week by BBC journalists on the prestigious
Horizon programme, which raised serious doubts about the use of vitamins to
maintain health.
The programme looked at just three vitamin groups: vitamins A (retinal and
beta-carotene), C and E. It produced a fair deal of old evidence that
pointed out, among other things, that smokers are more likely to get lung
cancer, despite taking vitamin A, and that vitamin C can only help reduce
the symptoms once you've got a cold.
This would hardly seem damning, but the use of sinister music and images
made it seem as though vitamin bottles contained weapons of mass destruction
(aah, so that's where they're hidden).
Instead, the journalists peddled the old line that everyone can get all the
nutrients they need from a balanced diet, forgetting to point out that
depleted soil has eroded the goodness of our food.
Still, it prepares a nation for the day next year when many high-dose
vitamins suddenly disappear from the shops, courtesy of an EU clamp-down.
One nice thing about the BBC is that if at least 10 people complain about
any programme, the corporation has to launch an inquiry, so let your fingers
do the talking. If you feel the programme was unbalanced or against the
public interest, you can make a complaint via:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/info/contactus/serious_form.shtml. Written
complaints can also be sent to: Head of Programme Complaints, BBC
Broadcasting House, London W1A 1AA. You'll be asked to give full details
about the programme, which are: BBC2, The Truth About Vitamins, 16
September, 9pm.
* What is the truth about vitamins? Which makes are the most effective?
How many do you need to take in order to maintain good health? These
questions, and many more besides, are answered in our Good Supplement Guide.
It's an essential read for all who take their health seriously. To order
your copy, click on this link:
http://www.wddty.co.uk/shop/details.asp?product=373
STATISTIC OF THE WEEK
Virtually every doctor and practice nurse polled by the charity Cholesterol
UK did not know that a high cholesterol level was the most important risk
factor in heart disease. A shocking statistic if you happen to be a doctor,
as that's stage one healthcare - but perfectly understandable if you happen
to be a regular WDDTY reader as you'd know cholesterol is one of medicine's
great red herrings of the last century.
DRUGS THAT LEAD TO DIABETES: Antipsychotic manufacturers forced to issue
new warning
Antipsychotic drugs, often used to treat schizophrenia, can cause
hyperglycemia and diabetes, a new alert has revealed.
First off the mark with a new warning is Geodon (ziprasidone), which urges
doctors to think carefully about prescribing the drug to any patient who is
at greater risk of developing diabetes through family history or obesity.
Patients should begin a fast if they develop hyperglycaemia while on the
drug - or, heaven forbid, they could just stop taking the drug. When drug
treatment is stopped, the problem tends to go away, the warning admits.
Other reactions already known include irregular heart rhythms or
palpitations, loss of consciousness, nausea, constipation, and abnormal
muscle movements including tremor.
(Source: Food and Drug Administration web site)
READERS' CORNER
UTIs: Some suggestions for the woman who suffers from frequent UTIs
(urinary tract infections). Try a teaspoon of marshmallow extract in
half-a-pint of water at the start of any discomfort, one reader suggests,
while another uses two spoonfuls of the herb Salie in one litre of hot water
for seven days. Before you start any treatment rule out STDs (sexually
transmitted diseases) and congenital problems, urges another. Hygiene is
important, avoid scented toiletries, and sugar, sweeteners and dried fruits
in your diet, eat poached fish and lots of vegetables, and drink plenty of
plain water and green tea. One effective treatment is a concoction made up
of buchu, uva ursi and either juniper berries or pipsissewa. Another
suggests the simple sugar mannose, which has cleared some UTIs. Another,
who had recurrent UTIs for three years, found the best solution was
Biocare's Cranberry Concentrate, which was effective within a couple of
days. She noticed that coffee and sugary foods could trigger a bout of
cystitis.
Cystic fibrosis (CF): Your comments keep coming in about this condition,
triggered by a reader's query in E-news no.97. One reader's granddaughter
responded well to health kinesiology when she was small. It helped with the
scarring on her tummy and with bowel blockages. Another has found that a
food supplement called Ambrotose is having impressive effects on children
with CF. It contains the eight glyconutrients that every cell needs in
order to function properly, our reader tells us. Finally one reader
recommends contact with the Brompton Hospital as that remains at the
forefront of new treatments. It's also important to look at nutrition and
to keep the sufferer's lungs as clear as possible to prevent recurring
infections.
Childhood seizures: Another reader's health query from a few issues back
also continues to attract interest. One reader puts forward the
carbohydrate theory postulated by Elaine Gottschall. The Specific
Carbohydrate Diet allows fresh fruit, honey and other simple carbohydrates,
and prohibits grains and complex carbohydrates. Complex carbohydrates, such
as white sugar and wheat flour, damage the small intestine, and produce
chronic diarrhoea, and they interfere with the body's self-healing
abilities.
Hot feet: You've also got a few more things to say to the gentleman who
suffers from hot feet, which seems to be worse after he drinks coffee. An
obvious suggestion from one reader is to give up the coffee. According to
Traditional Chinese Medicine, any roasted substance, such as coffee,
chocolate etc., heats the blood. They may be countered by eating cooling
foods such as cucumber, mushrooms and courgettes. One reader was told by an
osteopath to put her feet in ice-cold water for a few minutes, which seemed
to do the trick. An ointment that contained cloves, which had been made up
by her aromatherapist, relieved the symptoms for another reader. The
problem could be caused by a vitamin B5 deficiency, easily remedied by
supplements.
Flatulence: A reader last time told us that she suffers from constant
flatulence, which her doctor thinks may be associated with her vegetarian
diet. One reader thinks dysbiosis, or the 'wrong' bacteria in the gut,
could be the cause. Acidophilus and garlic may help, but it's best to be
treated by a herbalist, she suggests. It might also be caused by a sluggish
gall bladder, which can be helped with bitters from a herbalist. Another
reader sorted out his flatulence after studying Ayurvedic medicine. He
discovered he was a vata, which, not surprisingly, is the air type. Vatas
find it difficult to digest raw vegetables, and instead need warm food.
Another reader reckons the culprit can be wheat, and especially bread.
Replace this with rice cakes, oat cakes, and millet. If you're eating too
many gas-producing beans, switch to sprouting beans and seeds, and vary your
organic vegetables and fruits. Find out the foods to which you're
intolerant, and take them out of the diet. A helpful aid is a food diary,
where you record the food you've eaten and your body's reaction to it.
Drink plenty of water to help you digest your food.
Breast enlargement: A reader a while back wanted others to take seriously
her request for advice about breast enlargement techniques. Finally a
reader has come to your aid with information about a CD that sends out
subliminal affirmations. She's tried other CDs in the series, and has been
impressed with the results. The breast enlargement affirmations include
suggestions such as: "I love my breasts, I sense blood flow warming my
breasts, my body is miraculous, I am beautiful, I love my body". The CDs
are produced by Inner Talk, whose web site is:
http://www.innertalk.co.uk
AOB: Our article about the research study into the Atkins diet generated a
lot of interest, and none of it was complimentary to the researcher
concerned. He doesn't know what he's talking about, says one. The body
doesn't need carbohydrates. This view is supported by another, who points
to the diet of the Inuits or Eskimos, which contains no carbohydrates.
There are no 'essential' carbohydrates as all can be made up from protein
and fat. . .last week's article about a link between childhood exposure to
cigarette smoke and later back problems struck a chord with several readers,
who think their problems may be associated to parental smoking. One reader
who has constant back pain recalls that her father was always smoking, even
during meal times. Another reader is not so sure. He has been diagnosed
with scoliosis and although both his parents smoked, he was separated from
them when he was just six weeks of age. But he does recall choking smoke
being emitted from the kitchen range at his grandparents's home, where he
was brought up. . .a few other readers have also suffered while taking
Vioxx, the anti-arthritis drug mentioned last time. One reader switched to
a COX-2, which seems to offer similar benefits but without the nasty side
effects. . .anyone needing a good supplier of organic olive oil could try a
small family business based on Cyprus. The e-mail is:
nearchou@lim.intercollege.ac.cy.
. .any parents who don't want to vaccinate
their children, but would like them to contract naturally the childhood
diseases, should register with a database that lets you know of any cases
near you. To register, send an e-mail to:
Lesley@vegan4life.org.uk.
Readers' queries
There's been a full e-mail bag of questions and queries from you this week.
If yours is not among them, please be patient and you'll probably see it
featured next time. Thanks.
Asbestos in food: One reader has heard that most fruits and vegetables in
supermarkets contain asbestos. It's rubbed off from rollers at the
processing plants, she's heard. Anybody know if this is true?
Yellow tongue: One reader has noticed her tongue has yellowish pinpoints on
it. The first section also has two deep grooves running parallel, and there
are around 15 other grooves running in various directions. It's these
grooves that contain the pinpoints. She says she eats well and exercises
(she's 64). Can anyone help?
Safer HRT: One woman has been prescribed HRT that contains a cocktail of E
numbers, additives and the like. Can anyone suggest a better option?
Tinnitus: One reader wants help to alleviate his tinnitus. It's a subject
we've covered fairly recently, and so it's worth looking through the back
issues. But any other suggestions are always welcome.
Hydradenitis: One reader suffers from this miserable skin condition, and
she's been to hospital countless times to have the abscesses lanced. She
has so much scar tissue that she needs a special ring cushion to sit on.
Can anyone help, please?
Hernia: One gentleman reader caused a hernia in his lower left groin after
a strenuous pilates session. What options other than surgery does he have?
Lichen planus: This condition affects the mucus membrane in the mouth. A
doctor can recommend only steroids. What else can he do, and does anyone
know what causes this?