The Best Treatment for Torn Meniscus of the Knee

As part 2 of avoiding knee surgery, I want to report on a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It compared arthroscopic surgery, which is undergone by 465,000 patients in the U.S. each year, to physical therapy without surgery. There was no difference in the functional status and pain, 6 months after the onset of the study. Once again, Prolotherapy was not included in the study, but the reported results by prolotherapists are better than either of these therapies. See the NEJM, May 2, 2013 issue and go to getprolo.com for more info. Celebration of Health Association website

“Mobility Shoes” Help Arthritis of the Knee

A study by Rush University Medical Center documented an 18% reduction in the load on the knee in patients with osteoarthritis. A questionnaire showed a significant reduction in pain in patients who wore the shoes for 6 months. Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common problem that too often leads to joint replacements. Prolotherapy is an alternative approach that can strengthen the ligaments around the knee and often prevent the need for surgery. Google “mobility shoes” and go to getprolo.com for more info. Celebration of Health Association website

FDA Refuses to Recall Common Drug linked to 2367 Hemorrhages and 542 Deaths

Pradaxa (dabigatran) is an anti-clotting drug that has been touted as the replacement for Coumadin (warfarin) in patients with atrial fibrillation and other clotting risks. It has been available for 2 years at a cost of $3000 per patient, which totals about $1 billion per year. Pradaxa does reduce the incidence of strokes due to blood clots, but at the same time increase the risk of brain and GI hemorrhages, which also can be life threatening. Coumadin is not much better. It has the same complications, albeit at a slightly lower rate. Coumadin is more inconvenient because its therapeutic window is so narrow that it is difficult to find and maintain a safe and effective dose. If you do not want to take the risk, supplement combinations such as nattokinase, fish oils, and garlic can be effective with much less risk. But it is important to have a knowledgeable doctor monitor your progress. Posted on AHN-USA on April 2, 2013 in Fight Healthcare Monopolies, Reform FDA. Celebration of Health Association website

Silver Amalgam is on its Way Out

Despite assurances from the American Dental Association that Mercury fillings are safe, their use is declining. The reason is often not concern for people’s health, but rather concern for pollution of the environment. More than 140 nations agreed in January of 2013 to a U.N. treaty calling for decreasing use of amalgam fillings. In the last 5 years, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Japan, Finland, Canada, and Germany have restricted the use of amalgams for health reasons. Be careful, though, replacing these fillings can cause toxicity. If you are concerned that you might have elevated mercury levels in your body, the best test is called the “Merc-out” test. You take a couple of pills that pull abnormal amounts of mercury into the urine, which you collect and send to the lab. High mercury levels increase the risk for many diseases. Check with a doctor listed in icimed.com or acam.org to safely treat this problem. See Chicago Tribune article printed in the Toledo Blade, April 15, 2013, section D, p. 1,5. Celebration of Health Association website

High-dose Statin Drugs Lower Cholesterol But Greatly Accelerate Complications

Clinical Guidelines offer the option of using high-dose statin drugs like Crestor to lower the cholesterol as much as possible in high-risk patients. But the guideline does not actually say to prescribe the high dose. Most cardiologists use these high doses routinely. A 6-year study of 8888 patients compared low and high-dose regimens. The high-dose patients actually died slightly earlier than the low-dose patients, and they paid quite a price. The high-dose had more elevated liver enzymes (426 to 186) and stopped treatment due to major adverse events much more often (61 to 7). To be safer yet, you might want to try red yeast rice, a natural statin. See Nutrition and Healing, Vol. 13, Issue 1, February 2006, p.1-2. Celebration of Health Association website

Increased Problems of Food and Skin Allergies Noted by the U.S. Government

The Associated Press reported the CDC’s concern that more parents are finding increased cases of food and skin allergies. “We don’t really have the answer, said Dr. Lara Akinbami of the CDC. My opinion is the answer is clearly increased exposure to toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, conventional medicine treats these problems with avoidance and steroids. The first is difficult, the second can be dangerous. Dr. Sherri Tenpenny of Cleveland developed an easy, safe, effective way to desensitize food allergies and clear up rashes like eczema. The technique is called Sensitivity Reduction Technique (SRT). It involves tapping on acupuncture points (no needles). We have used her techniques for a dozen years and we find them to be very effective. See The Toledo Blade, May 2, 2013, Section A, p. 5 for the Associated Press article. Call our office in Bluffton at 419-358-4627 for more information on SRT. Celebration of Health Association website

Keeping Your Eyes Healthy

The AARP Bulletin had a good article about keeping your eyes healthy. In the U.S. 25 million people have cataracts, 2.5 million glaucoma, and 2 million macular degeneration. The numbers are increasing. Preventive measures are the same as for most vascular problems: Don’t smoke, eat a good diet, get regular exercise, etc. Unfortunately, the usual treatments involve drugs, shots, and surgery. Dr. Edward Konkrot, a homeopathic ophthalmologist, has developed a comprehensive natural approach that results in measured improvements in visual acuity and visual fields after the first 3 days of treatment. We are excited to be offering those treatments at COHA now. Give us a call for more information. See AARP Bulletin, May 2013. Contact COHA in Bluffton, Ohio, 419-358-4627. Celebration of Health Association website healthcelebration.com