holistic healing

"E" for eye health

When it comes to eye health, vitamin E is the current antioxidant of choice. New research reveals vitamin E as the first proven treatment to slow the progression of vision loss due to macular degeneration.

Commonly observed in people over 55, age-related macular degeneration is responsible for one in three cases of vision loss. It's the number one cause of vision loss in Canada.

But last January, as part of a major ongoing study, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found 400 IU of vitamin E plus vitamin C, beta-carotene, and small amounts of zinc and copper reduced the likelihood of progression of macular degeneration by 25 percent in patients at an intermediate disease stage. Supplementation with this combination also reduced the risk of vision loss by 19 percent over five years.

Source: February 2004 John Hopkins medical letter, Health After 50.

Supplements for eye health

Vitamin E, with mixed tocopherols: 400 IU
Vitamin A: 25,000 IU (avoid during pregnancy), OR beta carotene: 50,000 IU
Vitamin B-complex, with 100 mg extra vitamin B2
Vitamin C, with bioflavonoids: 1,000 mg
Evening primrose oil: two 500 mg capsules three times daily

Source: alive Encyclopedia, alive.com.

Acupuncture for cancer patients

With complementary cancer care on the rise, more and more patients are discovering how acupuncture can play a beneficial role in their treatment.

"Acupuncture will not cure cancer, but it may improve immune function," says Joseph Chiang, MD, an anesthesiologist and professor at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, in the February 2004 issue of CancerWise.

Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM); the ancient discipline involves inserting small, thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body in order to facilitate the flow of qi (energy). According to TCM theory, blockages in qi contribute to sickness and disease.

Cancer patients who try acupuncture frequently report relief from side-effects of conventional treatment such as fatigue, nausea, headache, insomnia, muscle aches, and bowel problems.

The National Institutes of Health has endorsed the body of evidence pointing to acupuncture's ability to reduce nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. Other research on acupuncture has jumped in recent years, with the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine recently awarding millions of dollars in grants to study how the modality works.

Consult your naturopathic physician or licensed acupuncturist to determine whether acupuncture may assist with your treatment program.

Source: www. cancerwise.org.