Studies and Progress Notes (April 2007)

* *  SPIRITUAL AWARENESS AND WHOLISTIC HEALING * * 

Therapeutic Massage and Healing Touch Improve Symptoms in Cancer

Abstract: Complementary therapies are increasingly used to reduce side effects of cancer treatment, without evidence for their effectiveness. In a randomized, prospective, 2-period, crossover intervention study, the authors tested the effects of therapeutic massage (MT) and healing touch (HT), in comparison to presence alone or standard care, in inducing relaxation and reducing symptoms in 230 subjects. MT and HT lowered blood pressure, respiratory rate (RR), and heart rate (HR). MT lowered anxiety and HT lowered fatigue, and both lowered total mood disturbance. Pain ratings were lower after MT and HT, with 4-week nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use less during MT. There were no effects on nausea. Presence reduced RR and HR but did not differ from standard care on any measure of pain, nausea, mood states, anxiety, or fatigue. MTand HT are more effective than presence alone or standard care in reducing pain, mood disturbance, and fatigue in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy.

Source: Janice Post-White, Mary Ellen Kinney, Kay Savik, Joanna Berntsen GauCarol Wilcox, Irving Lerner. Therapeutic Massage and Healing Touch Improve Symptoms in Cancer, Integrative Cancer Therapies  DOI: 10.1177/1534735403259064   2003; 2; 332 http://ict.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/2/4/332   

IJHC – WHR Observations

It is helpful to have further confirmation of healing effects, demonstrating that Healing Touch can provide symptomatic relief in people challenged with cancers.

Too often, spiritual healing is suggested to people as a treatment of last resort, after all else has failed. Healing can be helpful to anyone at any time. Its benefits late in the course of an illness may be to diminish suffering, but it might be difficult for healing to help with the underlying illness. Healing can be much more helpful when given early in the course of an illness.

 * *  FUTURE RESEARCH IN WHOLISTIC HEALING * * 

The IJHC/WHR E-Zine features monthly suggestions for future research in healing.
READERS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS FOR TOPICS TO STUDY
If your topic is chosen, you ill receive free access to the IJHC for a month, including the current issue and all back issues.
 
WHEE is an incredibly potent, rapidly effective self-healing method that lends itself readily to research. It is easily learned and well received by people who are reporting marked relief for physical pains of many varieties (post-injury, post-surgery, tension headaches, migraines, backaches, arthritis, fibromyalgia); anxieties, phobias, post-traumatic stress, and much more 
    Daniel Benor, MD is available to consult on research and provide instructional materials and other support for a clinical study.

* *  WHOLISTIC APPROACHES * * 

Effects of Forgiveness and Spirituality

Abstract: We evaluated the efficacy of an emotional education program that seeks to reduce the intergenerational transmission of negative interaction patterns by increasing forgiveness and spirituality. We examined both reduction of psychological symptoms and increase in positive psychological outcomes over the course of a year, as well as the mediators of this change. At baseline, the sample consisted of 99 participants and 47 waiting list controls. Comparisons of scores from baseline (Time 1) to one week after the Hoffman Quadrinity Process (Time 2) showed large declines in negative affect (depressive symptoms) and increases in both positive outcomes (mastery, empathy, emotional intelligence, life satisfaction, forgiveness, and spiritual experience) and health and well-being. Over the course of a year, most of these gains were sustained, in comparison with the control group. Further, increases in forgiveness and spirituality mediated the effect of program participation on depressive symptoms.

Source: Michael R. Levenson, Carolyn M. Aldwin, Loriena Yancura, Positive Emotional Change: Mediating Effects of Forgiveness and Spirituality, Explore 2006, 2(6), 498-508

IJHC – WHR Observations

Forgiveness can be a major contribution to our peace of mind and spiritual connections. By releasing negativity we remove blocks to our natural states of peace and harmony in the world.

There are many paths to forgiveness. Most involve the identification and release of angers, fears and the underlying hurt, pain, and losses that keep us locked in crippling negative emotions. The study above involved use of the Hoffman Process - an 8 day residential program to resolve issues around self-esteem, relationships and other core issues of life. Established in 13 countries for over 35 years. http://www.quadrinity.com/

My personal preference for dealing with these sorts of emotions is WHEE, which is incredibly quick to release negative emotions, while still working at a very deep level. wheearticles.html
 

 * *  COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES * * 

Binaural beat technology in humans: a pilot study

Abstract
Introduction: Binaural beat technology (BBT) products are sold internationally as personal development and health improvement tools. Producers suggest benefit from regular listening to binaural beats including reduced stress and anxiety, and increased focus, concentration, motivation, confidence, and depth in meditation. Binaural beats are auditory brainstem responses that originate in the superior olivary nucleus as a result of different frequency auditory stimuli provided to each ear. Listeners to binaural beat "hear" a beat at a frequency equal to the difference between the frequencies of the applied tones.

Subjects: Eight healthy adults participated in the study.

Intervention: Participants listened to a CD with delta (0–4 Hz) binaural beat frequencies daily for 60 days.

Outcome Measures: Psychologic and physiological data were collected before and after a 60-day intervention. Psychologic: Depression (Beck Depression Inventory-2), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), mood (Profile of Mood States), absorption (Tellegen Absorption Scale) and quality of Life (World Health Organization-Quality of Life Inventory). Physiological: Cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, melatonin, insulin-like growth factor-1, serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, weight, blood pressure, high sensitivity C-reactive protein

Results: There was a decrease in trait anxiety (p = 0.004), an increase in quality of life (p = 0.03), and a decrease in insulin-like growth factor-1 (p = 0.01) and dopamine (p = 0.02) observed between pre- and postintervention measurements.

Conclusions: Binaural beat technology may exhibit positive effect on self-reported psychologic measures, especially anxiety. Further research is warranted to explore the effects on anxiety using a larger, randomized and controlled trial.

Source: Helané Wahbeh, Carlo Calabrese, Heather Zwickey, Binaural Beat Technology in Humans: A pilot study to assess psychologic and physiologic effects, Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 2007, 13(1) : 25 –32.
Helfgott Research Institute, National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, OR.

IJHC – WHR Observations

Stimulating each ear with a slightly different frequency sets up interference patterns within the brain that are alleged to have many beneficial effects. I am pleased to see research that is starting to confirm the many anecdotal reports of such benefits. (I have been bemused to find that I have not been responsive to this method of de-stressing myself, but know many others who report marked benefits.)

More CAM reviews at
www.naturalhealthvillage.com
www.mdlinx.com/FamilyMDLinx 
 www.ucalgary.ca/~camig/litsearch.html
AMSA website
www.amsa.org/humed/camresources/camnews.cfm


* * TECHNOLOGY * *

Mars orbiter looks down on rover

Nasa's new orbiter at Mars has taken a spectacular picture of the Opportunity rover sitting on a crater's rim.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/5413754.stm 

IJHC – WHR Observations

The wonders of our solar system, explored by NASA’s robots and orbiting satellites, highlight human capacities for extraordinary scientific achievements.

We must apply this same ingenuity to solving our planetary challenges of pollution, sustainability and global warming - if we hope to survive on this planet.

* *  ENVIRONMENT (HEALING OUR PLANET) * *

'Doomsday' vault to preserve biodiversity of plants

“The final design for a ‘doomsday’ vault that will house seeds from all known varieties of food crops has been unveiled by the Norwegian government.

The Svalbard International Seed Vault will be built into a mountainside on a remote island near the North Pole.

The vault aims to safeguard the world's agriculture from future catastrophes, such as nuclear war, asteroid strikes and climate change.

Construction begins in March, and the seed bank is scheduled to open in 2008…

The collection and maintenance of the collection is being organised by the Global Crop Diversity Trust, which has responsibility of ensuring the "conservation of crop diversity in perpetuity".

"We want a safety net because we do not want to take too many chances with crop biodiversity," said Cary Fowler, the Trust's executive director.

"Can you imagine an effective, efficient, sustainable response to climate change, water shortages, food security issues without what is going to go in the vault - it is the raw material of agriculture..."

Source: BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6335899.stm

See also: Glogal Crop Diversity Trust
http://www.croptrust.org/main/seedvault.php
http://www.croptrust.org/main/

IJHC – WHR Observations

Far more likely than an asteroid strike to diminish the diversity of plant forms is the monoculture that mega-agricultural farming is producing. In the name of efficiency, we are encouraging farmers all over the world to raise standardized products for convenience of food marketing chains. While it may be nice to have uniform products in various stores of a large chain, this reduces the resilience of the plant species because if a new pest starts to infest the standardized crops, there are fewer varieties of genes available to respond to the threat among the limited members of that plant species. Native Americans and other indigenous peoples would often raise several varieties of the same crop – each with its particular spectrum of strengths and weaknesses. If it was a wet year, then one variety would survive better; if it was a dry year, another variety would survive better.


* *  HUMAN ECOLOGY* * 

Good News Broadcasting

“Recently we did a Special Video Broadcast on Water that was broadcast live on our website.  It included segments from Former Secretary-General of the U.N, Kofi Annan, American Yoga Academy and Chopra Centers Claire Diab, Leonardo DiCaprio Water Planet DVD, Partnerships For Change, Wellness Home and more. We plan to do a live broadcast each week at 12 Noon EST on Friday.   We are focusing on Water because as  John. F Kennedy stated, “Anyone who can solve the problems of water will be worthy of two Nobel prizes ˆ one for peace and one for science.  Our Good News Broadcast is up-lifting and thought provoking about this serious world issue.

If you would like to see our first and now second Water Special and many other great shows go to: http://videos.whiteblox.com/gnb

See:  www.goodnewsbroadcast.com goodnews@goodnewsbroadcast.com
To subscribe, send a blank message to: GoodNewsLetter-on@mail-list.com

IJHC – WHR Observations

The media are generally motivated by pressures to increase and maintain circulation on the one hand, and to attract advertisers on the other. Neither motivation is in the best interest of the readers. Sensationalism and hype sell more papers. Slanting the news to the views of advertisers attracts more ads income.

Check out how you feel if you avoid sensationalist media for a week. I’ve stopped watching TV, except for very carefully selected programs. My radio is tuned to relaxing music stations, with the briefest news summaries to keep me at the tip of the iceberg of public events. I rely on selected internet sources for learning what is happening in the world.

See: http://www.truthout.org/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/