Studies and Progress Notes (August 2007)

* *  SPIRITUAL AWARENESS AND WHOLISTIC HEALING * * 

Healing Touch is helpful in treatment of alcoholism

148 patients on an inpatient alcoholism unit at St. Mary’s Hospital in Amsterdam, NY were randomized into two groups: three consecutive days of Healing Touch (HT) 81 subjects; or readings from The Big Book – 67 subjects. “Compared to the control group, patients receiving HT had a greater reduction in heart rate on Day 1 (2.7 vs. 6.1 beats per minute, p < 0.02) and Day 3 (4.3 vs 8.8 beats per minute, p < 0.01), however the reduction in blood pressure was similar… On the initial day of treatment (Day 8) compared to the control group, those in the HT group were happier (5.3 vs. 13.8, p = 0.05); more satisfied (11.1 vs. 22.3, p = 0.03); and had a greater reduction in pain (-1.1 vs. -12.0, p < 0.01. After three days of treatment (Day 10) compared to the control group, the HT group had a greater reduction in feeling upset (-0.5 vs. -9.7, (p < 0.01) and pain (-1.6 vs –7.8, p = 0.04); were less tense (-4.8 vs. -18.7, p < 0.01); and were calmer (3.1 vs. 14.8, p = 0.02).”

Source: DuBrey, Sr. Rita Jean. The role of Healing Touch in the treatment of persons in recovery from alcoholism, Counselor 2006 (Dec), 58-64.

IJHC – WHR Observations

It is helpful to know that spiritual healing can aid people with alcoholism. While this report lacks details of types of statistics used and numbers of patients assessed as improved, Sr. DuBrey can provide further details if needed.

**  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.
 
Daniel Benor, MD is Seeking populations in clinics, hospitals or private practices for studies of WHEE, a potent self-healing technique.  Contact: db@wholistichealingresearch.com

Information about WHEE: Whole Health - Easily and Effectively
AKA
Wholistic Hybrid derived from EMDR and EFT

WHEE is a method of self-healing that users report helps them to release psychological and physical pains and stresses, enhances confidence and opens options to create positive attitudes even under severe stress and distress. WHEE is very rapidly effective, rather like a vacuum cleaner that allows you to clear away old junk that you carry around with you from hurtful experiences.
 
Users report WHEE relieves physical pains such as migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, physical trauma, post-surgical pain, and cancer.  It can also alleviate allergies.
More about problems helped by WHEE at
http://wholistichealingresearch.com/scheduledworkshops.html

See Appreciations from WHEE users at
http://wholistichealingresearch.com/appreciations.html#whee

See introductory article at:
selfhealingwheeandother.html
 (This explains how I came to develop WHEE – partly to maintain my own sanity, as a psychiatrist passionate to do psychotherapy, finding my profession eroded through time, ending up mostly medication Rx)

See also: WHEE for children
wheeforchildren.html
 
See also: WHEE for trauma and re-entry problems 
re-entryprotocolforde-stressing.html
 (Better than EMDR because it can be used safely on your own, without heavy emotional releases)

Study shows significant effects of WHEE and HeartMath-type intervention
WHEE_Research.html

* *  WHOLISTIC APPROACHES * * 

Acupressure Stimulation (AS) is helpful for nausea and vomiting

“A total of 59 quality trials were included in three metaanalyses to examine the effects of AS on NVS, including 14 trials for pregnant women, 33 for postoperative adults, and 12 trials for postoperative children…

The findings from these metaanalyses of AS on NVS across different populations also indicated that acupressure treatment is just as effective, if not more effective, and more feasible to use than medications and acupuncture modalities to relieve NVS for some adult populations. Acupressure treatment as a convenient modality appeared to be more effective in reducing NVS for adults (pregnant or postoperative) than for children. These findings have implications for evidenced-based practice in preventing and treating NVS across populations. The fact that the treatments are safe, efficient, noninvasive, and without adverse effects and can be taught to professional staff, patients themselves, and family members makes it imperative to conduct more quality research to standardize the dose, frequency, and duration of various acupressure effects.”

Source: Shyang-Yun, Pamela and Shiao, K.  Metaanalyses of Acustimulation Effects on Nausea and Vomiting Across Different Patient Populations: A Brief Overview of Existing Evidence, Explore 2006, 2(3), 200-201

IJHC – WHR Observations

Conventional medicine likes to treat side effects of medications with more medications. This is a poor approach, considering the fact that over 100,000 people die annually in the US from medications that are properly prescribed.

Acupressure stimulation is safe and effective and recommended as a treatment of choice rather than using medications.

Another approach, which has the advantage that the person in need can use it as self-healing is WHEE.  

 * *  COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES * * 

CAM for women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF)

IJHC – WHR Observations:
The attacks by conventional medicine on CAM are widespread and often insidious. Here is a glaring example:

Title for report: Complementary therapy for infertile women may reduce chances of pregnancy

“Complementary therapies [Complementary/ Alternative Therapies (CAT)] is the term used in this article] in assisted reproduction may diminish the effectiveness of medical treatment for infertility in women, a scientist will tell the 23rd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology today (Wednesday 4 July).   Dr. Jacky Boivin, from the School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Wales, UK, will say that her research had also shown that women who used complementary therapies were more negatively affected by their fertility problems than non-users, and that this could account for the fact that they were willing to use complementary therapies that were not proven to improve fertility.”

“The study also found that women who used CAT had a 20% lower pregnancy success rate over the 12-month treatment period.  Our findings do not allow us to make a direct causal link between CAT use and pregnancy rate”, says Dr. Boivin.  “It may be that complementary therapies diminish the effectiveness of medical interventions, as has been shown in previous research.  Or it may simply be that persistent treatment failure encourages women to seek out CATs because they are more willing to try anything to get pregnant.” 
http://www.eshre.com/emc.asp?pageId=944

IJHC – WHR Observations

The title of this report could have read: Women who are stressed by IVF turn to CAM because they are unhappy with the ways IVF is administered and the lack of effectiveness of conventional therapies for stress.

IVF is highly stressful, and those women who are unsuccessful in one attempt at IVF have to undergo the procedure repeatedly, which increases their stress.

Dr. Boivin makes the unsupported statement that “research shows that psychological therapies are more effective in achieving stress reduction.” She and other conventional practitioners can be confronted over their unsupported beliefs in these regards. There are no studies showing that conventional therapies are superior to CAM for stress. People are voting with their feet and money in a big way for CAM therapies because they know from personal experience that they work much better than conventional therapies.

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

* * TECHNOLOGY * *

Experimental car gets 92 miles/ gallon

Fuel vapor technology enables this sports car to have this fuel economy

See: http://www.fuelvaporcar.com/index.html
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/making-gas-look-good/sleek-fuelvapor-technologies-car-al-pulls-17g-turns-and-gets-92mpg-275410.php

IJHC – WHR Observations

This innovation is not that radical a transformation of current engines. Estimated to be commercially available in 5 years.

 

* *  ENVIRONMENT (HEALING OUR PLANET) * *

Cosmetics might be health hazards
According to “…the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a watchdog organization that monitors the use of chemicals in everyday life… A survey the organization conducted in 2004 showed that American women use an average of 12 hygiene products each day. By the EWG’s count, that translates to more than 150 ingredients being absorbed through the skin, inhaled through the nose or inadvertently licked off the lips.

As far as the EWG is concerned, all this represents a massive risk to public health. “Essentially, we’re conducting a giant experiment,” says Jane Houlihan, the organization’s vice president for research. “People are being exposed to hundreds of chemicals. Every person is full of complex mixtures and the health consequences are completely unknown.”

“According to “Urvashi Rangan, an environmental health scientist who works with Consumer Reports magazine and its parent organization, the Consumers Union… ‘Europe tends to operate on the precautionary principle and they tend not to make things legal until there’s a proof of safety… Here, it’s the opposite. In order for the FDA to ban a chemical used in cosmetics it has to be proven harmful.’

And proving harm is tough. Usually, it requires thousands of people to develop a problem that can be linked definitively to a specific product or ingredient. Currently, the FDA has no authority to review cosmetics before they go to market and can only ban ingredients after problems arise. So, while most cosmetic products have been tested for short-term safety, their long-term effects are almost completely unknown. ‘There’s very little data to suggest safety or harm,’ Rangan says. ‘There’s just a big question mark there.’ “

“One way to help gauge your risk is by looking up your brands on Skin Deep, the Environmental Working Group’s online database, which analyzes all the various risk factors associated with specific products.”        

Under Suspicion: 4 Ingredients to Keep an Eye On

Parabens…  Preservatives that keep products bacteria-free.
Where you’ll find them:  Cleanser, hand soap, moisturizers and toothpaste
Names They Go By:  Methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben.
Parabens can mimic natural hormones, including estrogen. Disruption of sex hormones increases the risk of certain cancers.

Phthalates… Plasticizers that increase flexibility and strength.
Where you’ll find them:  Hair spray, nail polish and perfumes.
Names They Go By:  Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and diethyl phthalate are common in fragrances, while dibutyl phthalate appears in many nail polishes.
Can also mimic sex hormones and may be able to affect growth of reproductive systems in fetuses. Used in hundreds of non-cosmetic plastic products, so exposure is increased.

Coal Tar…  The liquid by-product of coal distillation.
Where You’ll Find It:  Shampoos aimed at killing head lice or reducing dandruff and some dark hair dyes.
What’s the Concern:  Extremely carcinogenic in rodents. Might also be linked to liver disease.

Toluene…  A solvent that dissolves other liquids or solids.
Where You’ll Find It:  Nail polish and nail polish remover.
Name It Goes By: methylbenzene or phenylmethane.
What’s the Concern:  Breathing in the fumes can damage kidneys and cause birth defects. People who work frequently with nail products are at most risk.

Source: MSN Health and Fitness
http://health.msn.com/womenshealth/agingarticle.aspx?cp-documentid=100160022

IJHC – WHR Observations

Could we be sacrificing our health, even our lives, in the pursuit of popular standards of beauty?

We usually consider the skin a barrier to anything outside ourselves. We are learning that the skin can absorb a wide variety of chemicals. This is now used with medication patches for birth control, ADHD, Alzheimer’s Disease, and many more problems. In the same way, toxic chemicals can be absorbed by the skin.

 * *  HUMAN ECOLOGY* * 

The Elders

A group has come together to offer leadership without influences of economic or political pressures.
http://www.theelders.org/

IJHC – WHR Observations

This is a fascinating initiative, offering a new model for leadership.