Medicinal Plants for Female Sexual Dysfunction

A recent article in The Journal of Sexual Medicine identifies and describes the popular and clinical uses of medicinal plants for Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) in climacteric (menopausal) women. Although there is very little evidence from the literature to recommend the use of medicinal plants for treating FSD, Mazaro-Costa, et al, list those plants that are currently used for female reproductive disturbances, most notably the climacteric state to correct aspects of female sexual dysfunction. More research is needed before strong recommendations can be made.

Black cohosh – Cimicifuga racemosa

Current use: Menopausal therapy for hot flashes, profuse sweating and vaginal complaints

Active Ingredients: triterpene glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, volatile oils, tannins

Standardization: 2.5% triterpene glycosides

Research: was not statistically significant in treating hot flashes after 16 weeks; does improve the vaginal maturity index in postmenopausal women; approaches significance in treating vaginal dryness; statistically significant in treating anxiety

Mechanism: SERM (does not affect ERα or ERβ but does have an effect on ERϒ), high affinity for various serotonin receptors

Safety: Relatively safe; however, case reports about liver toxicity. Because of unknown MOA and potential estrogenic effect it should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation and in children under 12.

Ginkgo - Ginkgo biloba

Current use: asthma, fatigue, tinnitus, memory improvement

Active Ingredients: flavonol, glycosides, terpene lactones, bilobalide

Standardization: 6% terpene lactone sna 24% flavones glycosides

Research: 300 mg improved physiological sexual arousal but no subjective sexual arousal; when combined with sex therapy increased sexual desire and contentment; effective in alleviating antidepressant-induced sexual symptoms in 84% of cases

Mechanism: Relaxes smooth muscle, facilitates peripheral blood flow, has NO-scavenging abilities

Safety: Side effects are rare and limited to mild, transient and reversible; drug interactions with warfarin, aspirin, lithium; safety in pregnancy and breastfeeding has not been established

Maca – Lepidium meyenii

Current use: Andean aphrodisiac an/or fertility-enhancing, menopausal therapy

Active Ingredients: sterols which possess phytoestrogen activity

Standardization: Unknown

Research: RDBPCT decreased psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression and sexual dysfunction and did not affect estradiol, FSH, LH or SHBG levels.

Mechanism: Unknown

Safety: Unknown

Puncture vine – Tribulus terristris

Current and traditional use: ancient aphrodisiac, UTI treatment, inflammation, edema and TCM sexual dysfunction

Active Ingredients: Steroidal saponins (tribestane, vitanone and protodioscin)

Standardization: 16.4% protodioscin

Research: 49/50 women experienced improvement in all or some menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, depression, genital discomfort, libido) however, may lack validity due to conflict of interest

Mechanism: increase endogenous androgen production by increasing LH release from the pituitary gland; increases NO release

Safety: Phototoxic reactions; safety during pregnancy and lactation has not been established

Red clover – Trifolium pretense

Current use: Menopausal therapy for hot flashes, profuse sweating and vaginal complaints

Active Ingredients: phytoestrogens such as genistein, formononetin, daidzein and biochanin A

Standardization: 9-15% isoflavones

Research: meta-analysis showed a marginal effect for treating hot flashes with 40-82 mg/day; significant beneficial effect on vaginal and sexual health in postmenopausal women

Mechanism: SERM (does not affect ERα or ERβ but does have an effect on ERϒ), high affinity for various serotonin receptors

Safety: Safe and well-tolerated in women with one first degree relative with breast cancer; supplements containing these isoflavones did not adversely affect breast density, skeletal strength or cardiovascular status; none of the CCT have reported adverse effects at doses upt to 160 mg of isoflavones per day.

Chasteberry fruit – Vitex agnus-castus

Current use: Premenstrual syndrome

Active Ingredients: triterpene glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, volatile oils, tannins

Standardization: 0.05% agnuside and 0.08% casticin

Research: topical application - improvement in vaginal tone, thinning and lubrication with less dyspareunia; increased uterine weight, serum progesterone and estrogen levels in ovariectomized female rats; decreased LH and Prolactin

Mechanism: SERM (affects ERα or ERβ), decreases LH and prolactin; dopaminergic D2 receptor agonist; increases melatonin secretion

Safety: Relatively safe

Dong quai – Angelica sinensis

Current use: replenishing the blood, treating menstrual disorders and menopausal symptoms; when used in Traditional Chinese Medicine is used in conjunction with other herbs

Active Ingredients: ferulic acid and Z-ligustilide; has no phytoestrogens.

Standardization: ferulic acid 0.4-0.7%, 0.5-5.0% ligustilide

Research: When used alone has not effect in treating menopausal symptoms; has no estrogenic effect in humans but did in rat studies; when combined with Matricaria chamomilla demonstrated a reduction in hot flashes, improved sleep; when combined with Astragalus membranaceus helped decrease mild hot flashes; the improvement of sexual symptoms was not explored

Mechanism: not mentioned

Safety: few side effects including headache and potentiates anticoagulant therapy; do not use in children or adults with diarrhea, hemorrhagic diseases, hypermenorrhea, pregnancy or lactation; some concerns about liver toxicity

Zalloh – Ferula hermonis

Current use: native to Syria and Lebanon, used as a strong aphrodisiac for both sexes, treatment of frigidity and circulation enhancement

Active Ingredients: ferutinin has binding capacity for estrogen receptor α and β equivalent to about 1/10 of the binding affinity of estradiol

Standardization: not mentioned

Research: may be suggested for female sexual dysfunction associated with desire disorder

Mechanism: estrogenic effect, increased production of progesterone and therefore stimulate female sexual behavior

Safety: Unknown

Hops - Humulus lupulus

Current use: in Germany hops baths are used for treatment of gynecological disorders and hops extracts have been reported to reduce hot flashes in menopausal women

Active Ingredients: 8-prenylanaringenin; isoxanthohumol which can readily be converted to 8-prenylnaringenin by intestinal microbes; three flavonoids with estrogenic activity including: 6-prenylnaringenin, 8-geranylnaringenin and 6,8-diprenylnaringenin

Standardization: 0.11 + 0.01 mg of 8-prenylnaringenin/capsule

Research: RPCCO studies with 50 postmenopausal women over 16 weeks showed superiority over placebo for treating hot flashes; other studies have shown improvement in climacteric symptoms; topical application combined with hyaluronic acid, liposomes and Vitamin E showed significant improvement in vaginal dryness. Animal studies demonstrate an estrogenic effect on the uterus, vagina and mammary gland secretion however in vitro study did not confirm androgenic or progestogenic activity of the active ingredient.

Mechanism: may act as a SERM

Safety: safe alternative treatment for genital atrophy in postmenopausal women when HRT is not recommended; causes drowsiness; inhibits cytochrome P450; unknown safety during pregnancy and nursing.

Reference: J Sex Med 2010;7:3695-3714

Natural Hot Flash Remedies

Are you suffering from hot flashes or night sweats? If so, you are in good company. Approximately 75% of American women experience vasomotor symptoms as they transition through menopause. Prescription hormonal therapy is available - if you find your symptoms intolerable. However, safety concerns are mounting.

Here are 6 natural ways to cool down when the heat is rising:

1. Use the 3-4-5 method of breathing to calm down when the heat starts to rise. Breathe in through your nose to the silent count of three, hold for four and breathe out through your mouth for five. Really focus on distending your lower abdomen with each inhalation, and count slowly. You should continue this pattern until your hot flash subsides.
2. Eat a healthy diet filled with vegetables, fruits, whole grains and omega-three fatty acids (found in cold water fish, green leafy vegetables, walnuts and ground flax seed). And, sip plenty of cool water throughout the day; this decreases your core body temperature thereby reducing the frequency of hot flashes.
3. Avoid dietary triggers like spicy food, alcohol and most caffeine. Although it does contain caffeine, it is okay to drink green tea. Here's the trick. Steep fresh green tea in hot water for 45 seconds, poor off that water, and then steep the same tea as you normally would. This way you will remove 80% of the caffeine and retain all the good anti-oxidants. The occasional morsel of dark chocolate is fine, too.
4. Try an herbal therapy shown to decrease the frequency and severity of hot flashes: St. John's Wort 300 mg three times daily. Black cohosh, although used for centuries, has not been found to be effective when subjected to scientific analysis. Teas containing lemon balm, hops and valerian decrease anxiety and promote sleep, countering night sweats.
5. Use bedtime rituals to decrease disruptive night sweats. Take a cool shower before bed, turn on a small bedside fan, and listen to calming music. Sleep under sheets made of 100% cotton. Just in case, keep a change of clothes and sheets in your nightstand to ease the pain of awakening to drenched pajamas and soaked sheets that need changing.
6. Stop smoking.

Take heart - hot flashes and night sweats are usually temporary. Most women experience resolution within 2 years. Use this period of transition to nurture yourself. Embrace your passage from one stage of life to the next. Hang in there. The best is yet to come!!

Prevent Complications Associated With Cesarean Delivery

A wonderful, concise, evidence-based article by Dr. Patrick Duff was published in the December edition of Obstetrics and Gynecology entitled, "A Simple Checklist for Preventing Major Complications Associated with Cesarean Delivery".

Dr. Duff proposed the following evidence-based eight steps to significantly reduce maternal morbidity and mortality associated with cesarean delivery:

1. Clip the hair at the surgical site just before making the incision

2. Cleanse the skin with chlorhexidine solution rather than povidone-iodine solution

3. Administer broad-spectrum systemic antibiotic prophylaxis before the surgical incision rather than after the neonate's umbilical cord is clamped

4. Remove the placenta by traction on the umbilical cord rather than by manual extraction

5. Close the uterine incision in two layers rather than one

6. In women whose subcutaneous tissue is greater than 2 cm in thickness, close the layer with a running suture

7. Patients at intermediate risk for deep vein thrombosis [BMI > 30, those with gross varicose veins, those immobilized for > 4 days before surgery, those who have concurrent medical illness that predisposes to thromboembolism (e.g. sickle cell disease, sickle cell C disease, cancer, antiphospholipid syndrome, hereditary thrombophilia with no history of DVT or PE)] should receive prophylaxis postoperatively with either sequential compression devices or subcutaneous heparin

8. Patients at high risk for postoperative deep vein thrombosis (those with more than two risk factors in the moderate-risk category, those with prior DVT or PE, those who have a cesarean hysterectomy) should receive prophylaxis with both sequential compression devices and subcutaneous heparin until the patient is fully ambulatory

Referenced article: Obstet Gynecol 2010;116:1393-6

Five Simple New Year’s Resolutions Starters

We now enter an interesting time of year – the Holiday Season. We become festive and at the same time introspective. It can be a time of excess food and drink and yet at the same time we start to ponder our New Year’s Resolution – changes we will make or what we will do differently in the coming year. For many the last thing we want to hear about is how to eat healthier, but why not, that’s what I do! Here’s a few simple suggestions for a healthier New Year, or perhaps you may want to start them now!


1. Start your morning off with a healthy protein shake for breakfast. Please use whey or rice based protein and avoid soy (I’ve written in the past on the dangers of soy protein). This is a great way to get your breakfast protein. Remember we want to have protein with each meal. And, it is a great way to eat some fruit (like a cup of frozen berries) for antioxidant protection and fiber. Berries – blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries have the most antioxidants, but you can also use half a banana, pineapple, mango, cherries, or kiwi. You can even add in some yogurt or kefir for probiotics (the good bacteria) to help your digestion and some ground flax seeds, flax seed oil, or chia seeds for healthy fats.

2. While we’re talking fats – make your own salad dressings from extra virgin olive oil and use it! Mix the olive oil with balsamic vinegar, red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice; add some garlic, Dijon mustard, or other spices and you have a very tasty dressing. Have a salad with some chicken or tuna for lunch, or have a side salad with dinner.

3. Eat one organic carrot a day! And I don’t mean a “baby” carrot. You do know there really is no such thing as a baby carrot, right? The carrot has lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber; and if it is organic you don’t even have to peel it. Just wash, eat and enjoy!

4. Eat one serving of leafy greens per day. You can get these in your salad from a variety of lettuces (no iceberg please) or for the most nutrition have kale, chard, mustard greens, collard greens, beet greens, or spinach. Except for lettuce, all the other leafy greens I mentioned are best steamed or sauted to get the most nutrition from them and they tend to taste better, particularly when sauted with garlic and butter!

5. Make home-made soups. As it gets colder our body wants to be warmed and home-made soup is a great way to do it. Start from scratch, if it is beef based or chicken based use the bones! Why does chicken soup have the reputation for healing? Because of all the nutrients (minerals) that leach out of the bones while it is being cooked. Soup is also a great way to get your vegetables in – celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, cabbage – and many more all go great in soup. I’ve recently become fond of cooking the soup and for the final touch putting it my VitaMax for a tasty blended soup. That’s a great way to hide the vegetables from the veggie-phobics in the family!

So, there you have it. What do you say? These aren’t too bad are they? Try them out, one or all of them. I can guarantee you’ll be pleased if you do.

Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville, WI. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.

Guest Blog - Impacts of Oral Contraceptives on Sexually Transmitted Disease

This article is courtesy of Kristin Davis.  She is an advocate for women's health who enjoys writing and aspires to be a journalist in New York City one day. Let me know what you think!

Although instances of unwanted pregnancy have declined recently, rates of sexually transmitted disease continue to climb. This might be explained by society’s views toward sexuality and which behaviors are acceptable and which are considered taboo. While society still clings to social stigmas regarding unwanted pregnancy, sexual promiscuity has largely been accepted. This discrepancy in societal attitude is ironic because sexual promiscuity is actually more dangerous than unintended pregnancy. While young women have several safe options in the event of an unwanted pregnancy, women who become infected with these diseases risk spreading the illness to others, permanent damage to their bodies and even death. Unfortunately, with this fixation to avoid pregnancy, many women ignore protection against this physical risk. Based on recent health trends, it is obvious that measures to prevent pregnancy do not ensure safety from disease as well.


Social stigmas regarding contraceptive use have also largely been replaced. However, many issues remain when choosing which method, including effectiveness, convenience, health risks and long term consequences. While condoms might have been the most accepted preventative tool of unwanted pregnancy, oral contraceptives have now stepped in as the leading product. These products are easy for women to use, highly effective at preventing pregnancy and affordable. Unfortunately, these contraceptives also give couples no protection against sexually transmitted disease, which could explain the rise of disease seen in America today.

It is obvious, then, that women are unaware of this method’s limitations. In fact, a serious lack of available information regarding their effectiveness and safety remains. While tempting to trust manufacturers of these contraceptives, it’s important to realize that because of this drug’s popularity, oral contraceptive manufacturing has become a major industry with huge profit potential. Drug manufacturers now promote their products heavily and send promotional materials to many health facilities. The U.S. government even endorses the use of these drugs, sending these contraceptives to family planning clinics targeting indigent, unmarried women.

Unfortunately, this heavy marketing and wide use often misleads young adults into believing these products are total health safeguards. Many oral contraceptives also advertise their products as cures to many other health conditions, including acne and mood swings. Although these products have led to the welcome decline in unwanted pregnancy, the increased rate of sexually transmitted disease might actually be a result of misconceptions regarding these products. Teens protected from pregnancy might be emboldened to have unprotected sex, believing disease prevention is just one more benefit of these “miracle drugs.”

Indeed, manufacturers of these contraceptives have little motivation to dispel these misconceptions. In fact, several manufacturers have been found guilty of contributing to the rampant misunderstanding surrounding their products, regularly failing to point out important details regarding safety. One oral contraceptive producer, Bayer HealthCare, was cited by the FDA for their misleading television advertisements. Labeling their product a total quality-of-life aid, the FDA found these ads further misled teens with unproven claims. Furthermore, Bayer was cited for substandard conditions in a plant its ingredients were manufactured in. However, the drug company’s annual multi-million dollar advertising campaigns continue to overshadow these revelations and keep its product the most popular form of oral contraception today.

Although Bayer’s lack of corporate integrity is disturbing, the severe physical consequence of these drugs is even more striking. Oral contraceptives are hormone-altering pills and can actually lead to permanent side effects, like the possibility of infertility. Originally introduced in the 1960’s, evidence today links the growing use of these drugs with the rise of cancer seen in U.S. women. Although easily dismissed by their harmless appearance, these drugs literally upset numerous significant aspects of women’s physiology as they trick the body into believing it is pregnant.

The growing number of Yaz lawsuits today highlights just how serious the health consequences of these pills are. Users of Yaz, the most popular oral contraceptive sold today, have experienced severe side effects including heart attack, stroke, blood clots, pulmonary embolisms and gallbladder disease, with some cases even ending in death. However, until sexually transmitted disease becomes the focal point of reckless sexuality, pregnancy prevention will continue to be the focus of young women, to the exclusion of other risks. A reversal in the growing trend of sexually transmitted disease requires women first learn about the limitations and dangers of this contraceptive option before blindly trusting their health and safety to it.

Mindfulness and Parenting

A very helpful excerpt on the benefits of practicing mindfulness while undertaking the challenges of parenting - from Jon Kabat-Zinn's chapter "Parenting and Practice" in Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everday Life.

And it gets more challenging as the children grow older and develop their own ideas and strong wills. It's one thing to look after the needs of babies, which are very simple, after all, especially before they can talk and when they are at their absolute cutest and most adorable. It's quite another to see clearly and to respond effectively and with some modicum of wisdom and balance (after all, you are the adult) when there is a continual clash of wills with older children, who are not always so cute and cuddly, who can argue circles around you, tease each other mercilessly, fight, rebel, refuse to listen, get into social situations in which they need your guidance and clarity but may not be open to it; in short, whose needs require a constant energy output that leaves you little time for yourself...

These trials are not impediments to either parenting or mindfulness practice. They are the practice if you can remember to see it this way. Otherwise, your life as a parent can become one very long and unsatisfying burden, in which your lack of strength and clarity of purpose may lead to forgetting to honor or even see the inner goodness of your children and yourself.

Children can easily become wounded and diminished from a childhood which consistently fails to adequately honor their needs and their inner beauty. Wounding will just create more problems for them and for the family, problems with self-confidence, with communication and competencies, problems that don't disappear on their own as the children grow older but usually amplify...

It is obvious that, with all that energy going outward, there has to be some source of energy coming in which nurtures and revitalizes the parents...I can think of only two possible sources (of this energy): outside support from your partner, other family memebers, friends, baby-sitters and so on and from doing things you love, at least occasionally; and inner support, which you could get from a formal meditation practice...if you can make even a little time in your life for stillness, for just being, for just sitting, or for doing a little yoga, for nourishing yourself in ways that you need to be nourished...

Parenting and family life can be a perfect field for nindfulness practice, but it's not for the weak-hearted, the selfish or lazy, or the hopelessly romantic. Parenting is a mirror that forces you to look at yourself. If you can learn from what you observe, you just may have a chance to keep growing yourself.

Picture: My husband, Stuart and our three sons in 2003 (Mitch 19, Shayne 14, Alex 13)

I wish I knew then what I know now!

November 2010 Newsletter

Would you believe it is already November? It's getting to be "Holiday Season" - the nutrition consultant's nightmare time of the year. Why? Well - who wants to hear about healthy eating during the holiday season? Yet, this is probably one of the times we can do the most damage due to the readily available excess food and drink. So, please do your best! Remember - balance and moderation.


I'm a big believer in two sayings. One is that you learn something new every day. Two is that if you don't know the answer to a question your best response is, "I don't know." My feature article this month deals with that exact situation. I was asked a great question - basically - how to large herbivores (animals that eat only plants) get so large? To find out read below.

November is another busy workshop month for me so I encourage you to attend or pass along the information to friends. I'll be doing another round of Nutrition Boot Camp at HeartSpace in Thiensville on the 20th and 21st and my Rejuvenation and Relaxation workshop at the Port Washington Recreation Center also on the 20th. Rejuvenation and Relaxation is one of my favorites. Come learn simple 10 minute techniques to both relax and rejuvenate the body! For full details of the workshops click here:

http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2010/05/rosen-wellness-news-and-events.html

Protein: Are You Eating Enough or How to Cows Get So Big and Not Eat Meat?

The inspiration for this article comes from two absolute truths: One – you learn something new every day; and two – if you don’t know the answer it is best to say so rather than make something up! Recently I was asked a great question during a Nutrition Boot Camp workshop. I was discussing the importance of eating animal protein. I was asked if it is so important how do cows and other animals that don’t eat meat grow so large. I had never really thought about it, so it provided an excellent learning opportunity.

First, a little background. What is protein? It is one of the six core nutrients that we humans require for life (the others being fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water). Protein is the structural basis of our body. It builds and repairs tissues and cells. It makes our hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and antibodies. As you can see, protein is pretty important stuff! And remember, our body is essentially one big chemical factory and these processes go on continuously. Therefore, we need a constant supply of protein which is why I recommend to my clients that they consume protein with each meal and that it is approximately 30-35% of their diet. One of the factors I believe behind all the chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease is that most people do not consume enough healthy protein. In fact, if you do the math of the government recommended 2000 calorie diet, it comes out to approximately 60% carbohydrate, 30% fat, and 10% protein. If you’d like to read more about the connection between high carbohydrate diets and disease I strongly recommend Gary Taubes book Good Calories, Bad Calories.

To continue reading click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2010/10/protein-are-you-eating-enough-or-how-to.html

Positive Results from Earthing in One Night

Earthing? What’s that? I’m guessing that is what you are saying to yourself. Let me explain what I believe may be the latest and greatest breakthrough in natural health!

Yesterday I received my much anticipated copy of best selling nutrition author Ann Louise Gittleman’s latest book Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn't Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution. The title pretty much tells it all. The short of it is that we are being exposed to increasing amounts of electromagnetic fields which disturb our body’s natural energy. The results for some people have become toxicity, fatigue, irritability, weakness, and diseases that no doctor can explain.

One of the solutions is a new concept called “Earthing” developed by Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Clinton Ober, and Martin Zucker. Along with my copy of Zapped I received one of the Earthing devices – the Earthing Universal Mat. This mat has several different ways to use it. I chose to sleep on it. Prior to going to bad my lower back was quite sore and I must admit the first part of my sleep was not very sound. I awoke around 2:00, but then something happened. I had a very interesting dream featuring a spiritual leader massaging my lower back with special healing energy and when I awoke in the morning my back felt great! Coincidence? I don’t think so. I look forward to continue to explore this device and getting some additional ones!

To learn more about the book and the Earthing devices, follow this link: http://www.unikeyhealth.com/?a=1003.

To continue reading click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2010/10/positive-results-from-earthing-in-one.html

  

October 2010 Newsletter

Happy Autumn. Hard to believe that the Fall is here already as the seasons continue to turn. I have a few articles of interest for you this month. We’ll take a look at the Fall season and how we can best nurture our body’s natural rhythms through our selection of food. I’d also like to introduce you to a reliable site for drug safety information – www.drugwatch.com. And, an interesting position being taken by Organic Valley – they are against the sale of raw milk. What’s interesting to me is that both the conventional dairies and even Organic Valley don’t get it. The people who are buying raw milk are not going to switch and buy from them. So, that only makes me less likely to purchase other products from Organic Valley.


And, another reminder of the many workshops I am offering this month in Thiensville and Hartford, Wisconsin and Cedar Falls, Iowa. Workshops include: Nutrition Boot Camp, The Five Tibetans, Stress Management, and others. For full information and registration please go to the respective web sites:

HeartSpace, Thiensville, WI http://www.blogger.com/goog_1926746502
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Copper Tree Wellness, Hartford, WI http://www.coppertreewellnessstudio.com/Workshops-temp.asp

Field of Yoga, Cedar Falls, IA https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/asp/home.asp?studioid=8947

One last item – stay tuned for an exciting announcement of the latest and greatest book from Ann Louise Gittleman. You’ll be hearing about that next Tuesday. Also look for an article in the Wall Street Journal on that day as well.

Foods for Fall

The Fall season is here. The ancient wisdom of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Ayurveda (Traditional Indian Medicine) tells us that each season has its own rhythm and character related to the temperature and weather changes along with the variations in daylight they bring. All of these factors impact our health and vitality as the body responds to the changing of the seasons.

Each season has specific organs to be detoxified, rebuilt, and nurtured during that season. In the fall it is the lungs and the large intestine, in the winter the adrenals and kidneys, in the spring the liver and gallbladder, and in summer the heart and small intestines. In addition each season has specific foods, teas and herbs to support the body during that time. As we move from season to season over the next year I’ll devote one article to each season.

To learn how to support your body during the Fall click here: http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2010/09/foods-for-autumn-nutrition-ideas-for.html

Reliable Drug Safety Information

DrugWatch.com is a comprehensive Web site database featuring extensive information about thousands of different medications and drugs currently on the market or previously available worldwide. DrugWatch.com includes up-to-date information about prescription and over-the-counter medications and includes details about associated drug side effects to aid in the protection of patients and consumers.

The resources available on DrugWatch.com are provided to offer visitors free and accurate information to aid in the understanding of various medications and conditions. The content on the site may help consumers formulate questions for medical professionals and alert the public about important information regarding potentially dangerous side effects associated with certain medications. By providing FDA alerts, drug interactions, and potential side effects on the site, patients have access to valuable knowledge that could enhance their ability to voice concerns with their doctor and improve their quality of care.

Go to http://www.drugwatch.com/

Organic Valley Opposes Raw Milk Sales

This is an e-mail that I received from the Weston Price Foundation about this issue. Please go to my blog to read it. http://brwellness.blogspot.com/2010/09/weston-price-foundation-info-organic.html

Protein: Are You Eating Enough or How to Cows Get So Big and Not Eat Meat?

The inspiration for this article comes from two absolute truths: One – you learn something new every day; and two – if you don’t know the answer it is best to say so rather than make something up! Recently I was asked a great question during a Nutrition Boot Camp workshop. I was discussing the importance of eating animal protein. I was asked if it is so important how do cows and other animals that don’t eat meat grow so large. I had never really thought about it, so it provided an excellent learning opportunity.


First, a little background. What is protein? It is one of the six core nutrients that we humans require for life (the others being fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water). Protein is the structural basis of our body. It builds and repairs tissues and cells. It makes our hormones, enzymes, neurotransmitters, and antibodies. As you can see, protein is pretty important stuff! And remember, our body is essentially one big chemical factory and these processes go on continuously. Therefore, we need a constant supply of protein which is why I recommend to my clients that they consume protein with each meal and that it is approximately 30-35% of their diet. One of the factors I believe behind all the chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and heart disease is that most people do not consume enough healthy protein. In fact, if you do the math of the government recommended 2000 calorie diet, it comes out to approximately 60% carbohydrate, 30% fat, and 10% protein. If you’d like to read more about the connection between high carbohydrate diets and disease I strongly recommend Gary Taubes book Good Calories, Bad Calories.

How do we get protein? It comes from both animal and plant sources. Animal sources include meat, fish, poultry, milk, cheese, and eggs. Plant sources include whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. When we consume a “protein” it is broken down in our body to amino acids. Believe it or not, depending on what book you read you will get a different number for how many amino acids there actually are! But, for discussion purposes here we’ll use the number 23 with nine of them being classified as “essential”. Anytime you hear the word “essential” in nutrition means you have to eat it (your body does not make it). Animal proteins are considered complete proteins meaning they contain all the essential amino acids. Plant proteins are not, which is why you hear the famous “rice and beans” combination to provide a complete protein. People and animals that do not eat meat are therefore dependent upon getting the right mix of incomplete proteins from plant sources and mixing them together properly to build essential amino acids.

Now comes the big question – how do cows or other animals get complete proteins? Particularly since unlike humans they don’t have access to the Internet and all other kinds of sources to tell them exactly what foods to eat in what combinations so they can get the exact nutrients they need!

I did some research and found out some interesting facts. First, I came across a very succinct answer at www.everything2.com. Here’s a summary:

“Grass it mostly cellulose. And cows, like us, can't digest cellulose. So where do cows get all their nutrients? Cows have four separate stomach compartments. The rumen (one of the compartments) serves as a fermentation vat where microorganisms, such as bacteria and protozoa, break down the feed (hay, water, saliva, etc.) These microbes break down the cellulose into energy sources that the cow can digest (volatile fatty acids), and build protein, which again, the cow can digest. The rumen is quite huge (about 160 liters), and in an average cow, there are about 100 times as many bacteria as there are humans on earth.”

Then I found another interesting fact. In nature grasses are not cleaned and purified. What do I mean by that? They contain small bugs, grubs, larvae, etc. that the animals consume along with the grass! These small bugs are complete proteins! So, many of these so called “herbivores” (plant only eating animals) may in fact be eating small animals on the plants!

Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, e-mail at bernie@brwellness.com, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.

Positive Results from Earthing in One Night!

Earthing? What’s that? I’m guessing that is what you are saying to yourself. Let me explain what I believe may be the latest and greatest breakthrough in natural health!


Yesterday I received my much anticipated copy of best selling nutrition author Ann Louise Gittleman’s latest book Zapped: Why Your Cell Phone Shouldn't Be Your Alarm Clock and 1,268 Ways to Outsmart the Hazards of Electronic Pollution. The title pretty much tells it all. The short of it is that we are being exposed to increasing amounts of electromagnetic fields which disturb our body’s natural energy. The results for some people have become toxicity, fatigue, irritability, weakness, and diseases that no doctor can explain.

One of the solutions is a new concept called “Earthing” developed by Dr. Stephen Sinatra, Clinton Ober, and Martin Zucker. Along with my copy of Zapped I received one of the Earthing devices – the Earthing Universal Mat. This mat has several different ways to use it. I chose to sleep on it. Prior to going to bad my lower back was quite sore and I must admit the first part of my sleep was not very sound. I awoke around 2:00, but then something happened. I had a very interesting dream featuring a spiritual leader massaging my lower back with special healing energy and when I awoke in the morning my back felt great! Coincidence? I don’t think so. I look forward to continue to explore this device and getting some additional ones!

To learn more about the book and the Earthing devices, follow this link: http://www.unikeyhealth.com/?a=1003.



Here’s the longer description from amazon.com:

How many electronic innovations have you dialed, watched, surfed, charged, listed to, booted up, commuted on, cooked with, and plugged in today?

Consider your typical day: If you’re like most people, it probably starts in front of your coffee maker and toaster, ends as you set the alarm on your cell phone, and involves no end of computers and gadgets, televisions and microwaves in between.

We’re being zapped: Today 84 percent of Americans own a cell phone, 89 million of us watch TV beamed in by satellite, and we can’t sip a cup of coffee at our local cafe without being exposed to Wi-Fi. The very electronic innovations that have changed our lives are also exposing us, in ways big and small, to an unprecedented number of electromagnetic fields. Invisible pollution surrounds us twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, interrupting our bodies’ natural flow of energy. And for some, that pollution has reached the point of toxicity, causing fatigue, irritability, weakness, and even illness.

But we don’t have to simply surrender. Ann Louise Gittleman brings forth the latest research into electromagnetic fields to create this groundbreaking guide for every citizen of the wireless age. With the proactive, levelheaded approach that has made her one of our most respected health experts, she not only clarifies the risks but also offers specific, step-by-step information for how anyone can minimize them. From where you place your sofa to when you use your cell phone to what you eat for dinner, Zapped is packed with strategies for avoiding and mitigating the damaging effects of electropollution.

As she examines modern life room by room, device by device, Gittleman reveals a master plan for detoxifying your surroundings and protecting yourself and your family. We don’t need to abandon our homes—or even give up our PDAs—to be healthier and happier. Based on the latest scientific data, case studies, and Gittleman’s years of clinical practice, Zapped is an empowering guide to living safely with the gadgets we can’t live without.

Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, e-mail at bernie@brwellness.com, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.

Chronic Pelvic Pain

I attended a very fascinating conference over the weekend. The event was hosted by the International Pelvic Pain Society in Chicago, Illinois. Throughout the 4-day event, a common thread linked many common pain syndromes of the anatomic structures below the umbilicus and above the upper thighs. Such ailments include chronic pelvic pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Interstitial Cystitis (IC) and other bladder pain syndromes, dyspareunia (pain with intercourse), vulvar pain, vaginal itching/pain, hip pain, fibromyalgia, postoperative pain, back pain, endometriosis.

Twenty percent of women suffer from chronic pelvic pain (CPP). The typical patient with CPP doesn't look "sick", is frequently embarrassed by her symptoms, fears she will not be taken seriously by her doctor and has difficulty speaking to loved ones about her symptoms. Sufferers of CPP frequently experience alienation, hopelessness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, sleeplessness, narcotic addiction concerns, sexual dysfunction, loss of relationships and loss of employment.

Women who seek medical advice for CPP are often discouraged as so many are told, "There is nothing else in there that could hurt - everything we have looked at is normal." The pelvic muscles, ligaments and nerves of the pelvis are the common denominators in CPP - regardless of the etiology.

The basics of the chronic pain cycle: (1) recurrent activation of the afferent nerves from the source of pain to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord; (2) prolonged release of neurotransmitters in the dorsal horn including substance P; (3) upregulated inflammatory response and release of other neurotransmitters in the dorsal horn; (4)resultant loss of sensitivy or hypersensitivity of the tissue pain source with expansion of the receptive field; (5) prolonged exposure to painful stimuli eventually causes centralization of the pain (i.e. communication with the brain) and local upregulation of pain fiber generation and inflammation resulting in hypersensitivity to pain and organ dysfunction (6) resulting in muscular contraction, other tissue changes and ultimate end-organ dysfunction.

The goals of chronic pain management consist of removal of the noxious stimulant if still present, and modulating the neurological and immune response (i.e. neuromodulation) to an insult. Examples of neuromodulation include biofeedback, drugs with neurotropic and psychotropic effects (oral and topical), soft tissue manipulation and utilization of neurostimulatory devices that stimulate including TENS units, acupuncture and sacral nerve stimulation. The suggested treatments vary according to the type and source of pain. Research indicates that peripheral pain is best treated with topical applications whereas visceral (organ e.g. bladder) pain is best treated with dorsal horn nerve activation.

Little was mentioned regarding complementary and alternative therapies for CPP other than hypnosis for IBS and acupuncture for IC. Lifestyle modification has proven beneficial for those with chronic inflammatory conditions, including CPP. Such alterations in every-day behaviors serve most people well, such as following an anti-inflammatory diet, consuming anti-inflammatory supplements, smoking cessation and limiting exposure to other environmental toxins. Because the efficacy of hypnosis in treating IBS has proven to be helpful, presumably other mind-body approaches should be consider (e.g. mindfulness meditation, Tai-chi, Yoga, guided imagery, art therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy, etc.) Energy therapies should also be considered as acupuncture has already proven helpful. It is important that these treatment modalities be subject to scientific inquiry in reference to treatment of CPP.

Congratulations and thanks to those scientists who continue to pursue additional knowledge. My learning has just begun.

Resources:

International Pelvic Pain Society Intake Form

National Vulvodynia Association Tutorial

Anti-inflammatory Diet

Fibromyalgia Information Foundation

Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency Scale

The Dirty Baker's Dozen - Fruits and Vegetables to Buy Organic

The Shopper's Guide to Pesticides ranks pesticide contamination for 50 popular fruits and vegetables based on an analysis of 89,000 tests for pesticides on these foods, conducted from 2000 to 2008 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the federal Food and Drug Administration. The 49 fruits and vegetables analyzed in the guide are the top 49 most consumed fruits and vegetables, as reported by the USDA, with a minimum of 100 pesticide tests between 2000 and 2009. Nearly all the studies on which the guide is based tested produce after it had been rinsed or peeled.

The most recent results had a surprising shift in one particular food moving from the "good" to the "bad" - domestically produced blueberries!  This caught me by surprise as I've been distributing the old list for the past several years and always speaking highly of blueberries.  For some reason, they are now finding high levels of pesticide contamination on them.  Now, here's where it gets more confusing.  The testing agencies do not test wild blueberries!  These have been what I've been advising my clients to eat.  Now, I'm not so sure.  From what I read elsewhere, they do use some pesticides on them.  A brand I recommend, Wyman's from Maine, does use them.  The question is, what stays on the fruit?

Here's the latest information:
I recommend you buy the following organic - there are 13 listed here (the Baker's Dozen):
Vegetables highest in pesticides: celery, bell peppers, spinach, kale, potatoes, lettuce.
Fruits highest in pesticides: peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries (domestic), nectarines, cherries, imported grapes.

These are up to you:
Vegetables lowest in pesticides: onions, corn (frozen), peas (frozen), asparagus, eggplant, cabbage, sweet potatoes, winter squash, broccoli, cauliflower.
Fruits lowest in pesticides: avocado, pineapple, mango, kiwi, cantaloupe, watermelon, grapefruit, honeydew, plums, cranberries, bananas, tomatoes.

Are You Zapped

The following is courtesy of HSI-Alert!  It is a promotion for the latest and greatest book from Ann Louise Gittleman called Zapped.  It explores the effects of electromagnetic fields on your health and vitality.  How do I know it is a great book? I was part of the review process, so trust me, it is fascinating reading.

Since there is no use in recreating the wheel, here's what HSI-Alert had to say:
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Whether you know it or not, you've been zapped.


Recluses who live in remote outposts with no electricity or wireless devices, they're not zapped. But the rest of us--we're all getting thoroughly zapped with electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by the numerous electrical and wireless devices in our homes, offices, schoolrooms, cars, restaurants, stores--just about everywhere.

And according to HSI Panelist Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D., this constant EMF immersion is nothing less than electropollution. As Ann Louise puts it, "Your body responds to it as though it were a cloud of toxic chemicals."

But there's good news here too.
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Through ceilings and walls
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I just got off the phone with Ann Louise. We talked about her newest book, "Zapped," which she describes as a handbook for recognizing EMF sources. More importantly, "Zapped" offers hundreds of invaluable tips on how to significantly reduce your electropollution exposure.

For instance: If you live in a two-story house and you have a ceiling fan downstairs, the fan's EMF filters up into the room above. So be sure you don't run that fan at night if the room above is a bedroom.

Your refrigerator also generates a very powerful EMF. So if there's a couch or an easy chair on the other side of the wall behind your refrigerator, anyone sitting there is cocooned in a powerful electromagnetic aura.

With just these two insights, you can immediately imagine the many ways your appliances fill your home with EMFs.
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Wild & wireless
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Of course, "Zapped" also closely examines the effects of our wireless world--multifunction cell phones, laptops, iPads, and all the other wonderful gadgets that bring new layers of electropollution to our daily rituals.

Especially the cell phone.

As I mentioned earlier this year, a series of international studies called Interphone, coordinated by the World Health Organization, revealed a very troubling link between heavy cell use and giloma, the type of brain tumor that ended Senator Kennedy's life.

Other studies have shown that extended cell use among young people sharply increases their risk of developing malignant brain tumors.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

Here are three essential steps Ann Louise offers in "Zapped"...

1) After dialing a number, hold the phone away from your head while the call connects--this is when the signal (and the EMF) is strongest

2) Don't sleep near your cordless phone charger--it emits radio frequency power even when it's not in use

3) Keep the calls you make from cars, elevators, trains, etc. to a minimum--enclosed spaces increase EMF power

If you've been an HSI member for a while, you know Ann Louise is a renowned nutrition specialist and the author of many books on health and healing, including "The Fat Flush Plan," a New York Times bestseller. No surprise, then, that she caps off her many excellent EMF avoidance tips with suggestions for foods and supplements that can help "zap-proof" your world.

For more info go to http://www.areyouzapped.com/

Weston Price Foundation Info - Organic Valley is Against Raw Milk!!

This is an e-mail that I received from the Weston Price Foundation:

INFORMATION UPDATE

ORGANIC VALLEYS ANTI-RAW MILK POLICY

Dear Members,

As many of you may have already heard, the CROPP cooperative, producer of dairy products and other foodstuffs under the Organic Valley (OV) and Organic Prairie labels, voted at their May 13 board meeting to prohibit any of the CROPP farmer members from selling raw milk as a side business. The vote was a close onefour in favor, three againstreflecting the division of opinion among the CROPP board members themselves. After the Board vote, the cooperative took the decision to their Dairy Executive Committee (DEC) for further discussion and another vote. The result was a split, 20 votes in favor and 20 against. This policy is to take effect January 1, 2011.

We at WAPF did not immediately publicize this new policy, instead writing privately to CROPP CEO George Siemon and the members of the board, urging them to reconsider and take the issue back to the board for further discussion and another vote. In our letter, we addressed some of what we felt were misguided issues that led to the cooperatives anti-raw milk stance, such as potential liability to CROPP and marketplace competition, pointing out that these were grossly inflated and not legitimate concerns; we noted the potential downside to CROPPs reputation as a supporter of family farms; and, most importantly, we pointed out that the new policy would impose severe economic hardship on many farmers, farmers the co-op was founded to protect. (For a discussion and rebuttal of CROPPs concerns about raw milk, see below.)

Many of CROPPs farmers have high levels of debt, and they have, over the past few years, faced new financial burdens with lower pay prices and quotas that CROPP had in place for the past yearin some cases amounting to a 30 percent reduction in income. Their financial situation is recovering somewhat now, but many are challenged to make up for past losses.

Many of their farmers had active raw milk businesses established before they even joined the cooperative, many operating in states where the enterprise is unquestionably legal. Others developed raw milk customers after their incomes droppedallowing these farms to remain solvent. The new policy will force these farmers to choose between remaining a CROPP member or selling raw milk exclusively, either of which will likely lead to severe financial stress or even bankruptcy and possible loss of the family farm.

Despite our grave concerns, I received a response from George Siemon dated June 21, 2010, stating that the anti-raw milk policy would remain in effect. In the letter, Siemon insisted that CROPP is not against raw milk, and that we are standing on the same side of the river in supporting organic and local food, agricultural reform and corporate reform.

Is that true? CROPP did indeed start small, as a local cooperative of just a few dozen vegetable farmers, the Coulee Region Organic Produce Pool. The co-ops seven dairy producers soon branched out from produce to include cheese and eventually other dairy products. Unfortunately, in so doing, they opted for the industrial model. Instead of producing what consumers were asking fordairy products as natural as possible, such as low-temperature, non-homogenized milkCROPP chose to market ultra-high temperature (UHT), homogenized industrial-style milk and cream. (UHT processing takes milk to 230 degrees F, way above the boiling point, thereby killing every enzyme and immune-supporting factor in the milk.) When they branched out into eggs, they chose the industrial organic confinement model, instead of pastured poultry, something their grass-based farmers were perfectly positioned to do. Their raw cheese is actually heated to above 150 degrees. They also sell an Organic Valley brand of soy milk.

We then further delayed making any announcement about the OV decision because we were working behind the scenes with representatives of the co-op, and hoping that OV would reconsider. However, at their most recent board meeting, the board voted 7-0 that raw milk sales by their producers must not exceed 1 percent of their volume, and must be limited to family, friends and neighbors. While some board members have insisted that this anti-raw milk policy will not be enforced, we hear from others in the organization that OV is planning to strenuously enforce the policy.

In any event, for the average OV farmer, 1 percent is probably about three to six gallons per day, so the updated policy merely puts a gloss on the original anti-raw milk stance. The new policy will mean that thousands of consumers who need raw milk for their own and their childrens health will no longer be able to obtain it.

Ironically, the $12 billion dairy industry giant, Dean Foods, which owns the Horizon Organic label, the largest conventional and organic dairy producer in the United States, has specifically stated that its farmers are free to sell or provide raw milk on the side. Dean Foods/Horizon the good guys and Organic Valley hurting family farmersthis picture seems upside down.

This isn't the first time CROPP seems to have lost its bearings. A couple of years ago, the management opted to buy some of their milk from a 7200-cow industrial dairy located in an arid part of Texas, until some of their farmer-members found out and put an end to the lunacyboth their farmers and consumers saw the move as a violation of trust. Organic Valley has always represented itself as being pro-family farmertheir management shouldn't need to be reminded that a 7200-cow dairy is not a family farm!

Just as in the case of buying from factory farms, we hope CROPP farmer leadership will come to their senses and rescind their destructive anti-raw milk policy.

The unfortunate decision by the CROPP board should galvanize all of us to renew our efforts to purchase as much of our food as possible directly from local farmers; if your only choice for dairy foods and eggs is the local health food store or cooperative, make a point of purchasing from the local dairy producers listed in our Shopping Guide. Farmer-friendly brands such as Natural by Nature and farmstead dairy producers such as Traders Point Creamery, among many others, are highly rated in The Cornucopia Institute's organic dairy scorecard (ratings of all 120 organic brands www.cornucopia.org) and deserve our food dollars. Another good choice is to purchase raw grass-fed butter from one of our many advertisers in Wise Traditions and have it shipped to you.

If the farm family you get your raw milk from faces the dilemma of choosing between CROPP and direct raw milk sales, please express your support for them and do everything you can to help them choose the latter. You can help them build their customer base, reduce their expenses by offering help on the farm, and even provide the funding and financial advice they may desperately need to make the transition. The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund can help assist with advice and model cow-share and herd-share agreements.

If you feel betrayed by a cooperative that you had always considered to be an ally, you can also visit their website, www.organicvalley.coop, and let them know how you feel. Maybe if they hear from enough of us, they will realize the damage they are doing to their brands reputation. Please consider forwarding this message to your friends and family members who might also want to convey their feelings to Organic Valley management.

Above all, lets all make the pledge to vote with our pocketbooks in support of small farmers and artisan producers instead of large commercial dairy interests that put their profits before the interests of the hard-working farmers who produce their milk and other commodities.

Sincerely yours,
Sally Fallon Morell, President
The Weston A. Price Foundation

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COMMENTS ON OV MANAGEMENT OBJECTIONS TO RAW MILK SALES BY THEIR MEMBERS

The following is a brief analysis of some of the rationale Organic Valley management and board members used in making their decision to ban and then severely limit the amount of raw milk their members could sell.

LEGAL LIABILITY
The Board articulated concerns about Organic Valley being sued if one of their farmers, selling raw milk, ran into legal trouble. This concern is dubious at best. Farmer-members of the cooperative are independent businesses. Until their truck picks up member milk, Organic Valley has no legal responsibility for it, or for unrelated sales of other milk.

MARKETPLACE FALLOUT
The Board expressed concern that if one of the Organic Valley members selling raw milk ran into trouble, and was the subject of widespread publicity, some of that manure flying around could stick on the Organic Valley label.

However, most intelligent consumers are able to discern the difference between locally distributed raw milk and Organic Valley products on the store shelves.

To mitigate this risk, without harming farmer-members who are engaged in raw milk commerce, it was suggested suggest that the co-op could:

1. Require any member that sells raw milk to immediately take down their Organic Valley sign and not wear any clothing items embroidered with the OV logo.

2. Prohibit any member that sells raw milk from discussing Organic Valley in any regard with their customers, the public or news media. Nothing should be done to overtly or covertly identify them as an Organic Valley member-supplier. If a problem were to occur, it is unlikely the news media would be interested in where the wholesale portion of the farms milk was being shipped to (and then pasteurized).

COMPETITIVE FACTORS

Raw milk sales are booming all around the country.

Consumers are going to continue to seek out raw milk. Whatever market share raw milk achieves, as the marketplace matures, will be accomplished whether or not Organic Valley implements its raw milk ban. The ban might retard growth, temporarily, but the growth will recover as non-OV farmers fill in the gaps.

However, in the meantime, this new co-op rule stands to economically injure many of its members. Many of these families operate in states where selling raw milk is unquestionably legal.

Consumers who drink raw milk are not going back to drinking OVs ultrapasteurized fluid milk. From a competitive standpoint they are buying a different product than Organic Valley is selling. Depending on how the coverage of this issue escalates, it could bring heightened attention to the fact that most of Organic Valley milk is ultrapasteurized.

DISRUPTIONS TO SUPPLY

The co-op has been concerned that sometimes their trucks show up at a farm that also sells raw milk, and the bulk tank is empty. This is obviously a waste of time, money and diesel fuel. Furthermore, the cooperative makes production plans, let's say to fill up a cheese vat with milk, and if the farmer has instead sold it to raw milk customers, it throws a real monkey wrench into their production plans. This is the one concern of the cooperative that seems legitimate.

However, a workable solution could be crafted by requiring raw milk producers to make a commitment in terms of overall volume, or percentage volume of their dairy herd, to the cooperative. They would need to contractually fulfill that commitment before they could divert milk to raw milk sales.

VIABLE ALTERNATIVE

Implementing these suggestions, or variations thereof, would be a viable alternative to the present prohibition on raw milk sales. Everyone would win. Farmers would maintain their income, consumers could choose between pasteurized and raw milk, and the cooperatives interest would be protected.

Upcoming Nutrition and Yoga Workshops

I have a lot of great workshops coming up in October and November.  Featuring the Nutrition Boot Camp and a fan favorite The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation.  Boot Camp will be offered at HeartSpace in Thiensville, Copper Tree Wellness in Hartford, and at the Port Washington Rec Center.  See all the details below:

Nutrition Workshops:

Nutrition Boot Camp

Nutrition Boot Camp – Part 1: Fundamentals of Nutrition

Learn the basics of nutrition – what to eat and why. Discover the core nutrients – protein, fat, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water – and why they are important. This information will aid you in making better choices. You’ll leave with food shopping lists, ideas for healthy meals, and a step by step transition to a healthier diet.

Nutrition Boot Camp – Part 2: Applied Nutrition

Learn how to use nutrition to address common ailments and symptoms you may suffer from, such as: digestive problems (acid reflux, gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea), aches & pains, inflammation, blood sugar, high cholesterol, fatigue, stress, emotional issues (anxiety, depression, mood swings, PMS), and hormones.

October 9 - Copper Tree Wellness Studio, Hartford, WI (10:00 AM – 5:00 PM) - Parts 1 and 2
October 10 – HeartSpace, Thiensville, WI (11:00 PM – 5:00 PM) - Parts 1 and 2
November 20 - HeartSpace, Thiensville, WI (1:00 PM-4:00 PM) - Part 1
November 21 – HeartSpace, Thiensville, WI (1:00 PM-4:00 PM) - Part 2
January 23, 2011 – Port Washington Recreation Center (10:00 PM – 5:00 PM) - Parts 1 and 2

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Get the Salt Out

Just like sugar, we’re also told to watch our sodium (salt) consumption. But there’s more to the story. We do need sodium for optimal performance. This workshop will review the true facts about sodium and salt and provide practical tips on how to get the salt that you do need and avoid what you don’t need.

October 21 -Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department, Range Line School, 11040 N. Range Line Road, Mequon, WI (12:30 PM – 1:30 PM)

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Guess What Came to Dinner?

Do you feel tired? Do you have digestive problems? Do you have food sensitivities or environmental intolerances? Have you developed new allergies? Believe it or not, you may be an unsuspecting victim of the parasite epidemic that is affecting millions of Americans. This workshop will introduce you to these unfriendly critters, why they are on the rise, what they can do to you, how to avoid them, and how to get rid of them.

November 18 -Mequon-Thiensville Recreation Department, Range Line School, 11040 N. Range Line Road, Mequon, WI (12:30 PM – 1:30 PM)
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Yoga Workshops:

Relaxation and Rejuvenation
The Joy of Relaxation... Simple Stress Management Techniques

Stress is the most widespread affliction in our fast paced world. It affects people of all ages. It comes from a wide variety of sources and is at the root of many common cardiovascular, digestive, energy, and weight complaints. Learn the impact of stress on your body, but more importantly learn techniques to reduce its effects.

Rejuvenation... The Five Tibetan Rites of Rejuvenation

Come learn these simple techniques to improve your physical and mental vitality. Practiced by a remote sect of Tibetan monks, these rites were brought to the West by a British Army colonel fascinated by stories of monks that had discovered the secret to longevity. The Five Tibetans are a great way to start the day. The complete practice requires only 10-15 minutes.

October 8, 2010 – HeartSpace, Thiensville, WI – 7:00-9:00 PM
December 10, 2010 - HeartSpace, Thiensville, WI – 7:00-9:00 PM

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For more information call 262-389-9907 or e-mail: bernie@brwellness.com
To register:
HeartSpace events: (262) 242-6521
CopperTree Wellness Studio: (262) 670-6688
Port Washington Rec Center: (262) 268-1359

Handy Portion Control Advice

SIZE UP YOUR PROTEIN
Protein fuels our energy and helps build strong muscles. Use the area and thickness of your palm to eyeball how much chicken, fish or tofu you should be eating in a single sitting.

SIZE UP YOUR VEGGIES
What should accompany your protein? Scoop up two fist-sized portions of fresh veggies for a ton of nutrients and antioxidants.

SIZE UP YOUR SALAD
Use both your hands like serving spoons to lift up a big portion of leafy greens. To give yourself about a tablespoon of dressing, use the length of your thumb as a guideline.

SIZE UP YOUR FRUIT
When you're figuring out how many berries to pile on top of your morning yogurt, fill your hand for just the right portion of fresh fruit.

SIZE UP YOUR FATS
These are the guys we really have to watch out for (they taste so good it's easy to overdo it!). For butter and oil, use your thumbnail as a measure.

Information web site: DrugWatch.com

DrugWatch.com is a comprehensive Web site database featuring extensive information about thousands of different medications and drugs currently on the market or previously available worldwide. DrugWatch.com includes up-to-date information about prescription and over-the-counter medications and includes details about associated drug side effects to aid in the protection of patients and consumers.


The resources available on DrugWatch.com are provided to offer visitors free and accurate information to aid in the understanding of various medications and conditions. The content on the site may help consumers formulate questions for medical professionals and alert the public about important information regarding potentially dangerous side effects associated with certain medications. By providing FDA alerts, drug interactions, and potential side effects on the site, patients have access to valuable knowledge that could enhance their ability to voice concerns with their doctor and improve their quality of care.

Go to http://www.drugwatch.com/

What is Integrative Medicine?

The Defining Principles of Integrative Medicine

Andrew Weil, M.D. - What is Integrative Medicine? from Andrew Weil, M.D. on Vimeo.

1.Patient and practitioner are partners in the healing process.

2.All factors that influence health, wellness, and disease are taken into consideration, including mind, spirit, and community, as well as the body.

3.Appropriate use of both conventional and alternative methods facilitates the body's innate healing response.

4.Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive should be used whenever possible.

5.Integrative medicine neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.

6.Good medicine is based in good science. It is inquiry-driven and open to new paradigms.

7.Alongside the concept of treatment, the broader concepts of health promotion and the prevention of illness are paramount.

8.Practitioners of integrative medicine should exemplify its principles and commit themselves to self-exploration and self-development.

Links:
Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine
Find an Integrative Medicine Provider

Foods for Autumn: Nutrition Ideas for the Upcoming Fall Season

September is here and it is my personal favorite month of the year. I enjoy the cooler weather, the start of football season, the “back to school” transition, and of course my birthday! But of course there is more to it than that. The ancient wisdom of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) and Ayurveda (Traditional Indian Medicine) tells us that each season has its own rhythm and character related to the temperature and weather changes along with the variations in daylight they bring. All of these factors impact our health and vitality as the body responds to the changing of the seasons.


Each season has specific organs to be detoxified, rebuilt, and nurtured during that season. In the fall it is the lungs and the large intestine, in the winter the adrenals and kidneys, in the spring the liver and gallbladder, and in summer the heart and small intestines. In addition each season has specific foods, teas and herbs to support the body during that time. As we move from season to season over the next year I’ll devote one article to each season.

For the autumn the focus is on the lungs and the large intestines. The lungs are the gateway into the body for perhaps the most important nutrient – oxygen. Oxygen provides our cells with the energy to sustain our life. But through the lungs environmental irritants also enter our system, these are the various pollutants and natural substances that we breathe in that can create a variety of symptoms for us such as allergic reactions, asthma, or general congestion. Herbs such as Usnea, Licorice root, and Echinacea root support the lungs as they are soothing, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.

The large intestines are the home to many types of bacteria – both the good and the bad. The good bacteria aid our digestion and convert our waste into beneficial vitamins (B vitamins and Vitamin K) and help digest fiber. The bad bacteria are at the root of many digestive ailments such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and IBS. Many of my clients (and other Americans as well) suffer from these symptoms simply because their gut bacteria is out of balance with the bad bacteria outnumbering the good. I recommend two ways for my clients to increase their good bacteria. One way is through eating nurturing, immune-enhancing foods such as yogurt, kefir, and raw sauerkraut, as well as fiber from flax, psyllium, or chia seeds. The second way is through supplementation with probiotics.

However, with all nutritional supplements there are all kinds of quality out there. You will read all kinds of claims. Here’s what to look for to ensure a high quality probiotic:
• Has living bacteria that ensures the bacteria are alive and active.
• Is packaged in a fermented culture to provide a continual feeding system for the bacteria.
• Includes organic acids to promote the growth of good bacteria in the colon.
• Is enteric coated to keep it intact and survive the stomach and bile acids until it reaches the colon.
• Provides evidence that it is gluten-free, non-GMO, hypoallergenic, and without preservatives.
• Has proven adhesion, meaning it sticks to the walls of the digestive tract.
• Is safe for infants, children, women and men as well as those with compromised immune systems.
• Has multiple strains of beneficial bacteria including the TH-10 strain. TH-10 strain defends against yeast, parasites, and pathogenic bacteria overgrowth that create endotoxins.

The tea for autumn is Fenugreek. It has a lubricant quality that dissolves mucus in lungs and moistens the digestive tract to provide these organs the additional support they need during this season. The list of autumn friendly spices includes cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and anise.

In addition to those foods recommended above for the large intestines, I’d recommend the following: Obtain your protein from lean beef, veal, lamb, poultry, fish, shellfish, and legumes (lentils, black beans, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, split peas). For fruits go low on the glycemic index with berries, apples, pears, peaches, and nectarines. It is a great time to get local apples! For vegetables (as always) look first for what is in season and eat all the colors of the rainbow.

Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, e-mail at bernie@brwellness.com, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.

September 2010 Newsletter: Walking the Talk Part 2 and FrankenFish

Greetings! I hope you’ve all had a great summer, hard to believe that Fall is practically here and the kids are back to school. Even harder to believe I have two in High School! It was a busy summer for me with the introduction of my new meal plan programs. My clients loved them as they felt better and lost weight! Since I want to share them with as many people as possible, I am offering a back to school special of $50 off the one month meal and consult program for the month of September. Call or e-mail for details.

I’ve been busy planning nutrition and yoga workshops for the fall and there’s quite a bit coming up soon. I’d love to see you there or pass on the information to a friend or loved one. I’ll be doing my Nutrition Boot Camp at HeartSpace in Thiensville (October and November), Copper Tree Wellness in Hartford (October), and in Minneapolis (December). I’ll also be doing a whole weekend of nutrition workshops in Cedar Falls in October.

For a complete listing of workshops, dates, times, and locations click here Workshop Information

For details at each location click here:
HeartSpace, Thiensville, WI
Copper Tree Wellness, Hartford, WI
Devanadi Yoga, Minneapolis, MN
Field of Yoga, Cedar Falls, IA

One last promotional note – yoga teacher training starts again in October. Once again Meg and I will be offering a 200 hour Yoga Alliance approved training with both weekday and weekend options. For more information click here YogaOne Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training.

Walking the Talk Part 2

In continuing the “walking the talk” theme from last month I also need to mention my new friend Susan Siemers. She is a fellow graduate of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, former business executive, and now is into raw milk farming. And you thought I made a career change! Anyway, she hosted me earlier in the month, showed me the ropes around the farm, and taught me how to make kefir, yogurt, cheese, and pickles. She also makes great soap from goat’s milk. It is very good for complexions. In fact, my daughter Mollie is now a fan and I am getting some for her friend! If you’re interested in some high quality soaps, visit Susan’s web site Ceres & Co.

Also last month I learned how to make herbal tinctures from my friend Phyllis Heitkamp. We made three: black walnut to kill bugs in the stomach (the one that did the magic for Mollie), a motherwort-hawthorn mixture for heart health, and a mullein-lobelia mixture for glandular support.

Walking the Talk Part 2: Supporting Food with Supplements

In my feature article Walking the Talk Part 2: Supporting Food with Supplements, I describe my personal program. You’ll notice that glandular support is included. For more on why we need supplements, how to determine what supplements you need, and to see my daily plan click here
Supporting Food with Supplements - My Personal Plan

And one last walker of the talk. My friend Glen Depke a naturopath who lives in California. His latest blog post was why treating symptoms does not work and how we need to get to the root of the cause. To read click here Symptom Care Doesn't Work

Franken-fish: Genetically Modified Salmon is Coming

As I like to say, you can’t make this stuff up. This perhaps is one of the more disturbing stories I read recently. I saw it in the Price-Pottenger Journal of Health and Healing Summer 2010 issue. Genetically modified salmon to be bigger. That is really scary to me. For the full story click here
Genetically Modified Salmon

A Special Thanks

And thanks to my yoga anatomy guru David Keil (not the Homestead football coach for you in the Mequon area) I’ve resolved a physical complaint that had been bothering me for about eight months. He is an expert in trigger points and successfully diagnosed the pain I had in lifting my right arm over head along with the feeling of a knife stabbing me in my right scapula. Who would think it would be triggered in the neck. Sure enough, while talking to him, I put my left hand fingers where he directed and lifted my right arm over head and no pain!

David will be coming to YogaOne in April to do anatomy training. He is awesome. He also has some great DVDs. Check them out at Anatomy

Walking the Talk Part 2: Supporting Food with Supplements

This is the second installment in my “Walking the Talk” series. Previously I answered the most common question I receive from clients (and friends): what I eat and why. Now I’ll answer the second most popular question. If we eat all the right foods, do we really need to take supplements?


In an ideal world we would be able to obtain all our nutrients from food – fat, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. Unfortunately, we do not live in such a world. Most of the plant food we consume is grown on land that is now mineral deficient, making these valuable food sources of vitamins and minerals deficient. Minerals are particularly important as they are the catalysts behind our bodily functions. Since we do not make them in our body we must get them from food. Most of the animal food we consume is from animals that are not healthy since they are being fed the same nutrient deficient food along with antibiotics and hormones. Even if you eat as clean as possible, as I and many others try to do, I stick with my conclusion that we just are not getting everything we need from our food.

Notice that I use the word “supplement”. This means we still need to eat our healthy foods and supplement with what we are not getting from the diet. I’ll tell all my clients I can give you all the supplements in the world, but if you do not eat healthy they will have minimal effect. You may not be feeling any symptoms, but that does not mean things are not happening in your body which will one day be symptoms.

How do we know what our body needs and what we are not getting from our diet? The easiest way is to be in touch with what we are feeling in our body. Symptoms that present are often signs of underlying nutritional deficiencies. Also, there are a variety of tests that I’ll use with clients to determine nutrient levels and/or deficiencies.

When creating a supplement program I consider two aspects. I start with the baseline – the supplements I believe everyone should use. Then I address the specific nutrients that may be lacking (determined as described above through symptoms and testing) and suggests proper supplements

Here’s how that translates for me. The baseline supplements support digestion and our need for a variety of vitamins and mineral support. I’ll start with digestion. We can be eating the best foods in the world, but if we don’t digest well, we won’t get all the nutrients available to us. Constipation, diarrhea, gas, bloating, acid reflux, headaches, ADD/ADHD, even anxiety and depression are all signs of poor digestion. To support digestion, I recommend digestive enzymes and probiotics. I take enzymes with each meal and probiotics on an empty stomach. As we age we make less of our own digestive enzymes, so another reason for supplementation. Many of my clients report amazing results from just doing these two simple supplements.

The second component of the baseline is what I’ll call a “multivitamin”, but not as you typically find in the vitamin section of the drugstore. I’ll pull together several products to deliver these components. Currently I am taking cod liver oil and high vitamin butter oil from Green Pastures along with IntraMax from Drucker Labs. The cod liver oil and high vitamin butter oil deliver my fish oils and my fat soluble vitamins – A, D, E, and K. The IntraMax delivers a wide range of nutrients including: vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, more enzymes, etc. It is my super “multivitamin” and made from food.

This is another important point. I am a big believer in vitamins and supplements made from real foods, not in the laboratory. Those made in the laboratory are synthetic vitamins and often times not the full vitamin complex. Ever notice why your urine may be bright yellow after taking vitamins? That is why. Your body simply can’t process all these synthetic vitamins.

Next I look at is what I am experiencing in my body. So, as a middle aged male I am concerned about my prostate, heart, and overall energy levels. I take CoQ10 for heart health and to boost energy and I take a variety of glandular to support prostate and endocrine gland functions. I find that many of my clients also benefit from glandular products as they provide the direct nutrition that our endocrine glands require. These glands are among the first to suffer from poor nutrition. How do you know if your endocrine glands need support? If you’re tired, losing your hair in clumps, find your sex drive lacking, or for women if you suffer from PMS or any other female symptom – those are your glands asking for help!

I hope you find this information useful. If you are interested in having a supplement program designed specifically for yourself, please call my office and I’d be happy to help.


Bernard Rosen, PhD is a Nutrition Consultant and Educator. He works with individuals, groups, and at corporations to create individualized nutrition and wellness programs. His office is in Thiensville. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, e-mail at bernie@brwellness.com, call (262) 389-9907 or go to www.brwellness.com.