• Drink plenty of water daily.
• Get enough sleep each night.
• Avoid too many sweets or processed foods.
• Eat 5-8 fruits and vegetables every day.
• Use 1-2 grams of vitamin C daily or an Emergen-C with
  electrolytes daily.
• Elderberry as a tablet or concentrated juice daily.
• Rx A defense by Gaia herbs 1-2 caps daily or Andrographis
  tabs daily.
• Vitamin D – 1000iu for children; 2000-3000iu for adults
  per day.
• Gargling with salt water.
• Neti pot with saline solution or warm water.

At the first signs of illness start:

• Cold and Flu Tea, drink hot 3-4 times daily.
• Increase the Rx A defense or Andrographis to 2 caps four times
  daily.
• Increase Vitamin C to 2-3 times daily.
• Vitamin D – 1000iu for children; 2000-3000iu for adults
  per day.
• Gargling with salt water.
• Neti pot with saline solution or warm water.
• Flew Away by Natura 2 caps 3-4 times daily, or
• Esberitox as directed on the box.
• Probiotics with each meal.

Try a Wet Sock Treatment for upper respiratory congestion and sinus
pressure. After a warm bath or shower put a pair of cotton socks wet
with cold water on to the feet with a plastic bag over each sock and
get into bed with extra blankets. Keep the socks on 1/2 hours or until
they feel warm. This hydrotherapy technique might sound a little crazy
but it works more times than not.

Call the clinic for further assistance or an appointment.

802-254-9332

For more flu information:

www.VacLib.org

www.PandemicFluOnline.com

www.DrTenpeeny.com

While the clinic did sustain some damage, we are all safe and the clinic is on the mend.

Click here to see  more photos

Begin cultivating your child’s health by cultivating a healthy gut flora in their digestive system.

It is speculated that most of the growing sites for proflora species such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, in the human gastrointestinal tract are established during gestation and early infancy. Proflora species play an important role in digestive function, assimilation and absorption of vital nutrients, development of the immune system, healthy mucus membranes and healthy skin. Infants have a sterile gut leaving the womb and are exposed to bacteria via the birth canal; the mother’s skin and breast milk which provide the starters for the gut flora. It may take up to two years for full colonization of the flora and maturity of the gastrointestinal tract.

There are many things in a child’s first two years that can interrupt proper colonization, including formula feeding, breastfeeding, maternal diet and digestive health, food introduction and antibiotic use. Antibiotics disrupt normal flora growth and colonization. It is estimated that a course of antibiotics may disrupt normal flora colonization for up to three months post use.1 If a child has been given several courses of antibiotics before the age of two, as is the case for many American children, the normal flora may be severely compromised, increasing the risk for common childhood illnesses, including diarrhea, allergy, atopic dermatitis, sinus infections, ear infections, common cold, upper respiratory infections, colic, dental caries, urinary infection and IBS.2

Outcomes of several recent scientific studies have concurred, acknowledging the role of probiotics for a healthy immune system. A Finnish study looked at the effect of a probiotic on reducing atopic disease in infants when administered to the pregnant mother in the third trimester of her pregnancy, during the breastfeeding period and to the infant. The occurrence of atopic disease dropped by 50% in the probiotic group and continued to stay low for the entire four years of the study without further supplementation of probiotics.3 Several other studies have looked at supplementation of children in day care centers with probiotics and the occurrence of upper respiratory infection, fever and GI infection. It was found that the probiotic supplemented groups had significantly less occurrence of infections.4,5

Supplementation of probitoic blends of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium species can be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding to support immune and digestive system health for mother and baby. Infants may be supplemented with bifidobacterium species to support colonization of healthy gut microbes. While children over the age of 2 can be supplemented with a blend of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium species daily to support both immune and digestive system health and function.

References;

1. De la Cochetiere et al: Early intestinal bacterial colonization and nectrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants: the putative role of Clostridium, Pediatr Res Sep;56(3): 366-70,2004
2. Pediatirc Probiotics, Impact on the development of a normal immune system, Naturopathic Doctor News and Review Feb; 3(2) 10-12, 2007
3. Kalliomaki M et al:  proibiotics and prevention of atopic disease: 4 year follow up of randomized placebo-controlled trial, Lancet 361:1896-1871, 2003
4. Weizman Z at al: Effect of a probiotic infant formula on infections in child care centers: comparison of two probiotic agents, Pediatrics 115:5-9, 2005
5. Hatakka K et al: effect on long-term consumption of probiotic milk on infections in children attending day care centers: double-blind, randomized trial, Clin Nutr Aug; 24(4):481-91,2005

Spring is almost here.  We can emerge from our houses, go out for hikes, take walks, stroll around in the woods, and hopefully, avoid getting bitten by a deer tick.  Deer ticks, otherwise known as Ixodes scapularis, have taken up residence here in Western MA, as well as everywhere else in the country.  Many deer ticks now carry Lyme disease, as well as other bacterial infections that may cause harm to human health.

Lyme disease, and especially the notion of  “chronic Lyme disease” is an area of contention between many doctors.  This debate is driven by a number of issues, namely science, politics and the insurance industry.  It is a very heated and emotional topic for people, especially those who are struggling with their health, and are suspicious that Lyme disease is the causative agent of their illness.  This disease is becoming known as the “Great Imitator” mimicking many diseases such as multiple sclerosis, ALS, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and other non-specific musculoskeletal and neurological diseases.  Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete (a spiral shaped bacteria), borrelia burgdorferi, which is similar to the syphilis organism.

Over the past decade, two opposing camps have emerged in the battle over this tick-borne illness. One camp is represented by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), led by a group of academic researchers. This group maintains that Lyme disease is ‘hard to catch and easy to cure’ because the infection is rare, easily diagnosed and treated with two to four weeks of antibiotics. This group claims that chronic Lyme disease is rare or nonexistent. This is the group of researchers who have written the guidelines that most physicians refer to when treating Lyme disease.  But, here’s the catch…The IDSA guidelines’ authors have significant conflicts of interest that have biased their treatment and diagnostic recommendations. These conflicts include:
1) Commercial interests in tick-borne disease tests and vaccines, 2) Supplemental streams of income from insurance companies that profit from a restrictive definition of Lyme disease.

The opposing camp is represented by the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society (ILADS), led by a group of practicing physicians. Its members argue that Lyme disease is not rare and that tick bites often go unnoticed, especially since commercial laboratory testing for Lyme disease is inaccurate. Consequently, the disease is often not recognized and may persist in a large number of patients, requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy to eradicate persistent infection.

An investigation into the IDSA guidelines began in 2006.  This investigation was spurred by a grass-roots initiative, urging Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal to look into the motives behind the guidelines.  The examination is ongoing, meanwhile thousands of people will fail to be diagnosed and treated properly due to these current guidelines.  While Lyme disease is increasing in every state, the CDC readily admits that under reporting is a major issue, due to two reasons 1) inaccurate testing, therefore misdiagnosis 2) failure to report positive diagnoses by physicians and laboratories.

An accurate diagnosis of Lyme is made from physician observation and patient history.  To quote from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), “Lyme disease is diagnosed on the basis of physician-observed clinical manifestations and a history of probable exposure to infected ticks. Laboratory tests are neither suggested nor required to confirm diagnosis for patients with recent onset (2–3 weeks) of a characteristic Erythema Migrans (EM) rash. However, positive results of recommended two-tiered serologic [blood] testing can provide confirmation of infection in patients with musculo-skeletal, neurologic, or cardiac symptoms.”  To summarize, the CDC is emphasizes that you should not rely on blood testing to confirm or deny the diagnosis of Lyme disease.  Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis, based on patient history, sign and symptoms.

Some of the most common sign and symptoms of an acute infection with Lyme disease include the following: headache, muscle aches and pain, heart palpitations, stiff neck, joint pain (usually one-sided and in a large joint like a knee of hip), and a bulls-eye rash (though less than 50% of people ever get the rash).  However, the list is much longer, and often overlaps with the symptoms that one would have with a cold or flu.  This is where the tragic problem of chronic Lyme disease begins, when the infection is overlooked and dismissed.

The key to successfully treating Lyme disease is immediate treatment.  Remember that traditional testing for Lyme is very poor, with many false negatives.  The CDC states that Lyme disease is a clinical diagnosis, therefore negative blood tests, such as the ELISA and Western blot does not rule out disease.  If you have had a tick bite, with or without the typical bulls-eye rash, you should immediately seek the advice of a Lyme literate physician, as you could have Lyme disease.

What to do if you discover a tick on you:

• 1. Pull if off swiftly and gently.  Use tweezers or “tick spoons” preferably.  Do not light it on fire, apply Vaseline or any other topical agents to the tick while it is attached to your skin.
• 2. Save it, especially if you have identified it as a female deer tick.  After a tick is engorged with blood, it can be more difficult to identify by the unaided eye.
• 3. Place the tick in a zip lock bag and send to away to UMASS for testing.  The cost is 40 dollars, but it is a very reliable test, and it will let you know if the tick is carrying Lyme disease.  (Tests for the other tick borne co-infections are now also available.)  The website is www.umass.edu/richlab/
• 4. Begin preventative treatment while awaiting the results.
• 5. Consult a Lyme literate physician for treatment if the tick returns positive for     Lyme disease or if you are experiencing symptoms of Lyme disease.
• 6. Visit your physician 4-6 weeks after the tick bite for testing, as this is the window in which you have the greatest chance of having accurate test results.
• 7. Most importantly, have faith, not fear.  Educate and empower yourself, and never let a tick keep you from loving nature.

Momma Nature’s FOOD PHARM GUIDE™ interactive App for iPhone, iPad and Android mobile platforms is now available on the iPhone App Store. Natural foods as medicines in a fun, empowering educational application, that is easy to use. Quick access to the nutritional and medicinal benefits of foods and herbs through the use of 3D animation and gaming technology; scientific yet easy to understand, this reference guide facilitates experiential and practical real world applications. FOOD PHARM GUIDE™ provides a Database of resources including local farms and markets, natural foods stores, sources of environmentally sustainable permaculture products, herb and nutritional supplement companies.

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Visit the Food Pharm Guide Website