Dr. Health - Holistic Medicine
HEALTH GALLERY NUTRITION CENTER NEWSLETTER
January 2010
A Paradox in Disease Theory and The Confession of Louis Pasteur!
Infectious disease medicine practiced today is based on the "germ theory" as put forward by Louis Pasteur (1822-1895). His theory viewed the body as a sterile machine that will operate properly unless a foreign substance is introduced. Therefore, it is thought that when specific microbes enter the body, they produce a specific disease. In an attempt to correct the imbalance, antibiotics and other medicines are used to destroy these organisms. No microbes, no disease. It was believed that health is restored only if there are no germs present that might cause disease.
In contrast, the famous French physiologist, Claude Bernard (1813-1878) focused on the importance of the body's internal environment. In contradiction to the then current doctrine of Pasteur, he taught that microbes such as bacteria and viruses could not produce disease unless the body's internal environment was unbalanced and susceptible to the development of disease. Bernard's theory was that the whole must be sick before any germ can make us ill.
Walt Edwards, Ph.D. - Dr. Health
Renowned microbiologist Rene Debous agreed with this basic principle saying, "Most microbial diseases are caused by organisms present in the body of a normal individual. They become the cause of disease when a disturbance arises which upsets the equilibrium of the body." Debous, like Bernard, thought it is not the presence of bacteria or viruses that cause disease; it is the imbalance of the body's normal functions that fails to hold the microbes in check.
Once the body is in a weakened state, the tissues can be secondarily affected by disease-causing microbes. Interestingly enough, even Pasteur himself condemned his own theory on his death bed saying; "Bernard is right. The microbe is nothing. The environment is all important."
The Free Radical Theory
We know that most degenerative diseases are linked to free radical damage. In 1954, Dr. Denham Harman described his free radical theory of aging and disease. He said, "A single common process, modifiable by genetic and environmental factors was responsible for aging and death of all living things." In addition, "Aging is caused by free radical reactions which may be caused by the environment, from disease and intrinsic reactions within the aging process." His work was ignored by the entrenched medical establishment. They were still convinced that disease must come from outside of man as represented by Louis Pasteur's germ theory.
Free radicals damage the body's DNA by injuring or breaking the chemical bonds between the DNA molecules. As more damage builds up in the DNA strands, the DNA-coded messages begin to be improperly translated and cellular function goes awry. This oxidation is caused by everything from the air you breathe to the foods you eat to environmental chemicals that can't be controlled. The result of free radical damage is susceptible to a host of life-threatening diseases and premature aging.
According to Dr. James F. Balch, MD, "As antibiotics in the last fifty years of the twentieth century helped cure many infectious diseases, so antioxidants will affect a cure of many supposedly incurable diseases in the twenty first century and slow the aging process dramatically." Research has shown vitamins E and C demonstrated remarkable protection against free radicals. Vitamins A and D as well as bioflavonoids, zinc, turmeric, garlic, CoQ-10 and curcuminoids are just a few that exhibit antioxidant fire power.
A True Story That Too Often Occurs
Joyce is 86 years old, but seemed to be in great shape. She works in the yard. And still drives wherever she goes. Recently, she was rushed to the hospital because she experienced shortness of breath, her chest was tight and her heart was palpitating. The doctors thought she was having a heart attack. And the symptoms were serious enough that they kept her in the hospital for three days to monitor her condition. It turned out that she wasn't having a heart attack. Thankfully, her forward-thinking physician checked her mineral levels. Joyce was suffering from an acute magnesium deficiency.
Fortunately, the only prescription she left the hospital with was one for a magnesium supplement. And to think that for less than five cents a day she could have avoided a near-death experience...and a costly visit to the hospital! Joyce was deficient because she didn't get enough magnesium in her diet. But she was also taking a drug that caused her mouth to become dry. She was drinking so much water that it accelerated her mineral loss. Her condition was very serious, but not at all uncommon. The National Academy of Sciences estimates that up to 80 percent of the population is chronically deficient in magnesium. And this is not a mineral you want to go without.
Magnesium helps to regulate more than 300 enzymes. A deficiency in this mineral can affect virtually every system in your body. It helps to regulate your heart rhythms and control blood pressure. It helps to maintain insulin sensitivity and keep your blood sugar stable. It helps to prevent hardening of the arteries. It plays an important role in bone-building. It is vital to your immune system. It can relax cramping muscles and calm nerve impulses.
3 Simple Steps to Changing Your Attitude For 2010!
Step #1. Change the way you think. Our thoughts govern our attitudes and, therefore, the actions we take. If you work on improving the quality of your thoughts you improve your ability to take action. Shift from negative thoughts such as "I can't reach my goal because it will take too long" to "My goal is taking longer than expected, so I need to adjust my schedule accordingly." Successful people guard against their own negative thoughts as well as those of others.
Step #2. Limit your association with negative people. Sadly, there are many people who choose to view the world in negative terms. They always see the glass as half empty. This doesn't mean that they are bad people. But it does mean that if you are around them on a regular basis their sour outlook will begin to affect you. You may not be able to let go of the negative people in your life completely (maybe they are friends, family, or co-workers), but you can limit the time you spend listening to their moans and groans.
Step #3. Let go of the past. This is huge. And because it is difficult, it takes practice. Whatever has gone wrong in the past...whoever slighted you...whatever didn't work out quite the way you intended...let it go! Just let it go. Banish it from your mind and focus on the here and now. Past failures, rejections, or injustices will hold you back if you keep dragging them forward. They will inhibit the productive thinking and feelings that are needed to establish effective solutions and results.
Vitamin D protects you against a whole host of illnesses, including osteoporosis, cancer, cold and flu. Vitamin D stimulates your body to make a powerful germ-fighting substance called cathelicidin, which some scientists believe is a powerful natural antibiotic. When there is less sunlight during the winter, spring, and fall, Dr. Robert J. Rowen, MD recommends up to 5,000 IU per day of D3.
Thought For The Day: Many cultures (and some open-minded people) believe in karma and reincarnation. I am not sure if it exists or not, but it sure seems to explain the differences and seeming injustices in this world. Or, simply put, doing to others as you wish to be done to you, reaping what you sow, both in this lifetime and potentially in future lifetimes seems to answer the question of why we are here. In the meantime, my best advice is to live your life as though you believe that karma is a reality. Or, to put it in more secular, pragmatic terms, to live every moment as though the whole world were watching! Wishing each and every reader a very Happy, Healthy New Year!
Contact Dr. Health:
Walt Edwards, Ph.D.
29820 Ellensburg Avenue
PO Box 283
Gold Beach, OR 97444
541-247-7077
walt4health@gmail.com
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