GM food in Australia

GMO:What is it & am I eating it?

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Genetically modified food: Australia

“GM foods are genetically modified using biotechnology. Common foods include maize, soybeans, oilseed rape (canola), chicory, squash, potatoes, pineapples and strawberries. GM foods are designed for greater resistance to pests and viruses, higher nutritional value and longer shelf life. However, their safety, potential risks and ethical concerns are still being debated. Laws to regulate labelling of GM foods vary.” Source: Victorian government Australia, Better health channel.

The above is a state government approved statement. We could look at the last line that says ‘… their safety, potential risks and ethical concerns are still being debated’, and stop there and logically hold these products until further testing potentially proves them safe, however GM foods are slowly making their way onto our plates. So let’s look at some of the benefits and concerns.

GM benefits:

$·        Drought-tolerant and salt-tolerant crops

$·        Inexpensive food

$·        Foods with longer shelf life

$·        Food with medical benefits (nutraceutical) edible vaccines inserted

$·        Disease and insect resistant crops

GM risks & dangers:

$·        New allergens can be created- an example was the brazil nut gene introduced to soybeans. It was found that people allergic to brazil nuts became allergic to soy beans. This project has since ceased.

$·        Antibiotic resistance- certain genes are inserted to provide antibiotic resistance. Once taken up by the gut microflora in humans and animals, the effectiveness of antibiotics could be reduced.

$·        Cross-breeding- GM crops can cross-breed with surrounding vegetation. ‘Round-up ready’ or glyphosphate-resistant genes in crops have been shown to transfer to weeds, making the weeds resistant also to the weed killer.

$·        Biodiversity- Bees cannot distinguish GM from non-GM crops and thus cross pollinate with local organic crops.

$·        Pesticide-resistant insects- genetic addition of bio-pesticides into crops encourages spray resistant insects- requiring even stronger, more toxic pesticides to be used.

$·        Cross-contamination- plants that contain bioengineered pharmaceuticals may contaminate other food crops, delivering medicine randomly.

$·        Health effects- Minimal research has been done to ascertain acute and chronic health concerns of GM foods.

Social & Ethical Concerns: What’s really going on here?

“Control oil and you control nations; control food and you control the people.”Henry Kissinger- 56th United States Secretary of State.

Health, social and religious issues aside, let’s look at monopolisation.

Interestingly the Victorian state website ‘better health channel’ does state under concerns about GM regarding:

‘The possible monopolisation of the world food market by large multinational companies that control the distribution of GM seeds.’

This brings to mind the company Monsanto, the world’s leading producer of genetically modified seed.

If we look at the history of Monsanto, we see this is the company that tells us GM is safe, but aslo produced agent orange and told us that was safe; an estimated 400,000 people were killed and 500,000 children born with birth defects in Vietnam. They also produced DDT, PCB’s and told us they were safe too. There was a court case in the UK where Monsanto produced a commercial stating that Roundup (their top selling weed killer) was as safe as table salt. They were successfully sued.

Some of the seeds that this company produces ready soon for countries including the third world include ‘terminator seeds’, this produces plants that are sterile. This means that farmers can only plant the seeds once, harvest, then have no seeds to save, thus have to buy more.

There are numerous court cases and accusations related to Monsanto regarding suicides of farmers in India. There are numerous individuals that hold or have held positions at Monsanto that also work or have worked in the American FDA, Environmental Protection Agency, CIA and the Supreme Court.

Australian Regulation of GM

In Australia, GM foods are regulated under Standard 1.5.2- Food produced using gene technology from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

A GM food will only be approved for sale if it is as safe and nutritious as it’s conventional counterparts. They test for:

$·        Nutritional content

$·        Toxicity (using similar test to conventional food)

$·        Allergic reaction

$·        Stability of gene

$·        Unintended gene effects

Long term effects are difficult to estimate.

GM Labelling in Australia

Since December 2002, Australian law requires that GM food or food with ingredients must be labelled on the package.

But….

Special labels are NOT required for:

$·        ‘Highly refined’ foods that no longer contain the altered DNA or protein like oil

$·        GM food additives or processing aids

$·        GM flavours less than 0.1 per cent of the food by weight

$·        Food prepared at point of sale (take away food and restaurant food does not need to be labelled)

GM food in Australia

$·        Soy imported from US: found in chocolates, potato chips, margarine, mayonnaise, biscuits and bread

$·        Cottonseed oil: Frying, mayonnaise and salad dressings

$·        Imported Corn: For cattle feed, breakfast cereal, bread, corn chips and gravy mix.

$·        Other: Potatoes, canola oil, rice, sugar beet, yeast, cauliflower and coffee.

Laser Therapy Melbourne Acupuncture Clinic

5 Reasons Laser Therapy Can Ease Your Pain

Laser therapy

Laser therapy or Laser acupuncture is a 100% painless 100% non-invasive therapy that involves low-intensity laser light to reduce inflammation, promote tissue regeneration and reduce pain.

1.   Pain free non-invasive treatment: There is no heat or pain felt at the location of application, in fact, no sensation is felt at all.

2.   Effective: Over 3,000 studies that prove a positive effect including one meta-analysis in the lancet journal showing laser acupuncture well outperforming pain medication for long-term pain relief.

3.   Reduced Dependency on Medication: Pain medication can be a very useful panacea. However, it is not something you should or is designed to be relied on. Prolonged use of certain pain medications can damage internal organs and lead to addiction.

4.   Safety: As laser acupuncture is low powered, non-invasive and has been tested extensively over the last 50 years, there are no side-effects related to treatment. Occasional soreness is felt the following day, but this is often associated to healing changes in the tissue. This is very rare and would not last longer than 24 hours or be a pain threshold higher than the original pain complaint.

5.   Reduces Pain & Improves Mood: Most patients notice an improvement within minutes of a laser session. The power dosage of laser is timed by the laser computer to deliver the exact amount of laser light required to reduce pain. The stimulation of anti-inflammation and pain relief naturally raises endorphins and improves mood from gentle pain relief.

Call our clinic now for pain relief laser acupuncture with Chris Eddy, our registered doctor of Chinese Medicine.

Most common pain conditions take 3-12, 15 minute sessions. Don’t put up with that pain any longer!

Chris Eddy at Rowen D’Souza Chiropractic.

Suite 712/365 Little Collins St Melbourne

Call: (03) 8676 0599

Chris has over 10 years practical experience. He has trained in Melbourne and China and also teaches Chinese Medicine at RMIT University. Chris is registered in Australia with ATMS, CMRB and AHPRA.

Aspartame Causes Region Specific Oxidative Damage

An interesting study on the chronic effect that aspartame has on the brain. Region specific oxidative damage was noted in the rat brain caused by methanol- a by product in the metabolism of aspartame. There have been numerous conspiracies and unsupported negative claims around aspartame, however, this one seems reputable. The trial does not lead to aspersions of disease, yet does support the mechanism of potential neural destruction. Article Link

Vulvodynia

Vulvodynia is a chronic pain condition that effects the female genital organs, specifically the vulva, labia and entrance of the vagina. This pain may be constant or intermittent and is often brought on or made worse during intercourse- making it not only painful and frustrating but often stressful on relationships.

Possible causes of vulvodynia are considered to be auto-immune, sensitivities to foods and oxalates in urine, infections and neuropathy.

Diagnosis is one of exclusion once all other related disorders are ruled out, and can take some time as not all doctors are aware of this condition.

Western medical treatment is also varied and may consist of various creams, diets, lubrications and injections. One thing that frustrates me is patients that come in upset that their doctor told them it is ‘all in your head’ and to deal with it. It is true that some cases of vulvodynia may have emotional aspects and can be relieved with counselling and bio feedback, however as a statement not backed up with compassion and education, can be detrimental, harsh and unproductive.

Diagnosis in Chinese medicine varies with each patient. Within the Chinese medicine framework, I find most vulvodynia in younger women represents in the liver channel as a ‘stagnation’ in natural flow of blood and energy leading to hypersensitivity. The origin of this seems to be in my experience a state of emotional stress from work, personal life etc or hypersensitivity from food or environmental allergy/sensitivity.

Treatment with Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture is effective and tailored to the individual. Treatments last for ½-1 hr weekly and symptoms may subside in 2 weeks to 2 months generally.

Gut-Skin Connection. How healing your gut helps your skin

Taken from the website http://chriskresser.com/
Orginal article: http://chriskresser.com/the-gut-skin-connection-how-altered-gut-function-affects-the-skin

The gut-skin connection: how altered gut function affects the skin

October 19, 2012 in Digestive problems, Health Conditions, Skin | 204 comments

I’m preparing for my talk at the upcoming Wise Traditions Conference in Santa Clara, CA on November 10th. I’ll speaking on the “gut-brain-skin axis”, a fascinating topic that I’ve been exploring for some time. I hope some of you will be able to come to the conference, but I thought I’d share a little slice of my research here for those of you who can’t. (If you don’t make the conference and want to watch my entire presentation, I believe the Weston A. Price Foundation sells DVDs of the talks after the fact.)

I’ve discussed the gut-brain axis several times on my radio show, and I’ve at least mentioned the triangular connection between the gut, brain and skin. In this post I’d like to go a little deeper on the gut-skin connection. Researchers as far back as 1930 suspected a link between gut and skin health, and modern research has now confirmed the importance of this relationship. And as a clinician who works with people on these conditions, I’d go as far as to say this:

Associations between gut disorders and skin conditions

Epidemiological evidence shows a clear association between gut problems and skin disorders. A recent report indicated that small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a condition involving inappropriate growth of bacteria in the small intestine, is 10 times more prevalent in people with acne rosacea than in healthy controls, and that correction of SIBO in these individuals led to marked clinical improvement. (1) 14% of patients with ulcerative colitis and 24% of patients with Crohn’s disease have skin manifestations. (Interestingly enough, a study just came out showing that a drug normally used to treat psoriasis is also effective for Crohn’s disease.) Celiac disease also has cutaneous manifestations, such as dermatitis herpetiformis, which occurs in 1/4 of celiac sufferers. Celiacs also have increased frequency of oral mucosal lesions, alopecia and vitiligo. (2)

How altered gut function impacts the skin

Intestinal permeability (a.k.a. “leaky gut”) causes both systemic and local inflammation, which in turn contributes to skin disease. In a study way back in 1916, acne patients were more likely to show enhanced reactivity to bacterial strains isolated from stool. 66 percent of the 57 patients with acne in the study showed positive reactivity to stool-isolated bacteria compared to none of the control patients without active skin disease. ¹ In a more recent study involving 80 patients, those with acne had higher levels of and reactivity to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxins in the blood. None of the matched healthy controls reacted to the e. coli LPS, while 65% of the acne patients had a positive reaction. Both of these studies suggest that increased intestinal permeability is an issue for a significant number of acne patients. (4)

Speaking of permeable barriers: most of you have heard of leaky gut by now, but what about “leaky skin”? The main function of the skin is to act as a physical, chemical and antimicrobial defense system. Studies have shown that bothstress and gut inflammation can impair the integrity and protective function of the epidermal barrier. This in turn leads to a decrease in antimicrobial peptides produced in the skin, and an increase in the severity of infection and inflammation in the skin. (5)

The gut flora also influences the skin. Substance P is a neuropeptide produced in the gut, brain and skin that plays a major role in skin conditions. Altered gut microbiota promotes the release of substance P in both the gut and the skin, and probiotics can attenuate this response. (6) The gut microbiota influences lipids and tissue fatty acid profiles, and may influence sebum production as well as the fatty acid composition of the sebum. (7) This may explain why a Russian study found that 54% of acne patients have significant alterations to the gut flora (8), and a Chinese study involving patients with seborrheic dermatitis also noted disruptions in the normal gut flora. ²

Probiotics improve skin conditions

Another line of evidence suggesting a connection between the gut and skin is the observation that probiotics improve skin conditions. Oral probiotics have been shown to decrease lipopolysaccharide, improve intestinal barrier function and reduce inflammation. The first formal case report series on the value of using lactobacilli to treat skin conditions was published in 1961 by a physician named Robert Siver. He followed 300 patients who were given a commercially available probiotic and found that 80 percent of those with acne had some clinical improvement. ³ In a more recent Italian study involving 40 patients, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum in addition to standard care led to better clinical outcomes than standard care alone. (9) And another recent study of 56 patients with acne showed that the consumption of a Lactobacillus fermented dairy beverage improved clinical aspects of acne over a 12-week period. (10)

The beneficial effect of probioitics on skin may explain why pasteurized, unfermented dairy is associated with acne, but fermented dairy is not. I haven’t seen any studies on raw dairy and skin conditions, but my guess is that it wouldn’t be associated either. Orally consumed probiotics reduce systemic markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which are elevated locally in those with acne. (11) Oral probiotics can also regulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines within the skin. (12) The fermentation of dairy reduces levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) by more than four-fold. (13) This is significant because studies show that acne is driven by IGF-1, and IGF-1 can be absorbed across colonic tissue. (14) This would be particularly problematic when increased intestinal permeability is present, which as I mentioned above is often the case in people with acne.

Now I’d like to hear from you. Have you noticed a connection between gut health and skin conditions in your own experience? Has healing your gut improved your skin? Let us know in the comments section.

1. Strickler A, Kolmer JA, Schamberg JF: Complement fixation in acne vulgaris. J Cutaneous Dis 1916, 34:166-78.↩
2. Zhang H, Yu L, Yi M, Li K: Quantitative studies on normal flora of seborrhoeic dermatitis. Chin J Dermatol 1999, 32:399-400. ↩
3. Siver RH: Lactobacillus for the control of acne. J Med Soc New Jersey 1961, 59:52-53. ↩

Cold And Flu Action

Cold and Flu: Prevention and Cure

Every year, millions and millions of cold viruses are caught in Australia alone. This year has been a really bad one. I got hit a few more times than I wanted to which led me to researching, just how do you avoid colds and what do you do just on the onset to get rid of one?

Colds are annoying, I hate them. They cost us time, money and we end up feeling miserable for days to weeks!

First, let’s get one thing straight. Colds are viruses, not bacteria, so antibiotics are of no use unless you have a secondary infection that goes into your chest causing bronchitis or pneumonia. But let’s stop that cold before it gets to that stage. Even better, let’s avoid getting one at all.

How Do You Catch a Cold?

Hand to hand contact with someone that coughs in their hand. This is the main one. Then you stick your hand in your mouth, ears and nose etc. So many objects that we touch every day will be infected and spread by infected carriers. Surfaces like keyboards, door handles, pens etc.

Now if your immune system is functioning OK, there shouldn’t be a problem knocking this virus out. It’s when we eat the wrong foods, get stressed, don’t wear enough clothes and lack sleep that our defences drop and we get SICK.

A few things that make your body susceptible to cold and flu are:

1.    Eating too much sugar

2.    Not wearing enough clothing and keeping our of the cold and wind

3.    Letting stress get on top of you

4.    Vitamin D deficiency

5.    Not getting adequate sleep during the dark part of the day

6.    Wash your hands!

How Long Do Colds Last … and How to Get Rid Of Them Quicker Or Avoid Them All Together?

The majority of colds, maybe 70-80% last around a week. 10-15% maybe 2 weeks, and a small amount over two weeks, usually in imuno-compromised patients, smokers or if there’s a really stubborn virus going around.

How long the cold lasts is often a combination in strengths/weaknesses of the above 6 points.

Diet And Eating Too Much Sugar

One point I like to stress is digestion. Most of our immune system is produced in the lining of our intestines. It is of utmost importance that you have a good functioning gut so that you can 1. Absorb nutrients properly from your food and 2. Produce adequate immune responses to pathogens such as bacterial and viral invasion. Digestion is something I personally love treating because it took me years to work it out as I had my own problems for years. Now it’s easy for me and I get great joy seeing people well with a healthy regular digestive system.

Sugar is a well-known immune suppressant. It can destroy the germ killing power of white blood cells for up to 5 hours after ingestion. It can reduce the production of anti-bodies, which are the cells in charge of attaching to and inactivating foreign cells and pathogens in the body. It will neutralize the action of EFA’s (essential fatty acids) and even interfere with the transport of vitamin C.

Hint: Stay off the refined sugary foods and sweetened drinks for a while if you think you’re getting run down.

Hydrogen Peroxide: Really?

This is a bit of a weird one and something I only just came across this month. I tried it, I’m not totally sold but- it’s an interesting theory…some people swear by it.

It started in 1928 with a doctor named Richard Simmons who theorised that catching a cold started in the ear canal then spread to the rest of the body. The cure? Hydrogen peroxide 3% dropped into the ears to cleanse. Then in 1939 research was conducted in Germany with some success.

What to do? As long as you catch the cold at the onset up to 12 hours this is meant to work. Buy 3% hydrogen peroxide from the chemist for a couple of bucks. Place about 3 drops of liquid into your ear canal while lying on your side. It will start to bubble and pop for about 5 minutes. Drain out the liquid then try the other ear. If anything it’s very effective at cleaning the wax out of your ears. My local chemist said she commonly sells it to divers and swimmers who get ear infections and wax build up. 

As long as you use the 3% it’s safe. It’s the other strong ones used for bleaching your hair you don’t want. If you have questions or concerns it’s best to talk to your chemist or doctor.

So What Else Can You Do to Recover From the Onset of a Cold?

Well, if the old peroxide doesn’t work and you start getting that itchy throat there is a Chinese medicine home remedy.

CONGEE!!!

Yes, the one I keep hammering to you in the clinic! Congee rules!

So, you need hot rice congee, fresh spring onion, ginger, lots of lemon and fish sauce. Eat a big bowl, put on a few layers of clothes and sweat it out in bed. I don’t recommend this method of sweating so much in people over 60 or with a heart condition. But if you’re young and otherwise pretty healthy, it does work pretty well usually.

Not sure how to make congee?? Well, check out my video then!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjwt_kEt4eM&feature=mh_lolz&list=FL-M_IDPYvAQ8

Dietary Strategies to Kick a Cold

If you do end up getting a cold, the best thing is to rest, take lots of fluids, dose up on zinc, vitamin c and chicken soup/congee.

Also, avoid sugar and sweeties!

When you get that feeling of ‘oh, I don’t feel well’, it’s time to go through the health check list. 1. Check your sugar- cut it out 2. Rug up. Wear thermals and ear muffs etc. 3. Check your stress. Meditate or relax as much as you can. Take a bath 4. Make sure you’re getting enough sun light or take a supplement 5. Go to bed early. 6. Wash your hands often

Diet wise, make some good food choices:

·         Good clean food, no take away. Prebiotic rich food to help your digestion such as kefir, miso, kimchi, garlic.

·         Home-made chicken soup

·         Coconut water

·         Locally grown fruits and vegetables

·         Mushrooms, especially Reishi, Shiitake, and Maitake,

·         Congee

·         Green leafy veggies

·         Lots of fresh water

·         Not too much phlegmy foods like milk, cheese and yoghurt

Supplements to Get You Through or Prevent the Worst

·         Vitamin C: A very potent antioxidant

·         Vitamin D: Vey important immune mediator

·         Zinc: Also very important for the immune system

·         Dry Cough Tincture: Made by us at the clinic now in a convenient tincture. A thousand year old Chinese medical formula amazing for that persistent dry cough.

·         Dry cough syrup: Pi Pa Gao. Famous old Chinese medicine syrup used to soothe the throat

·         Olive leaf extract: High in antioxidants and used for thousands of years in different cultures.

·         Gan Mao Ling: Chinese medicine tablets. Great for cold and flu prevention.

Remember This Tip: Wash Your Hands Often, but not Too Often

Hand washing is a really practical method of infection control. Note that your hands do have a natural anti-bacterial coat so you don’t want to be obsessively washing hundreds of times a day unless you work in a hospital.

What If I’m One Of Those People Where The Cold Always Goes Into My Lungs?

One good tip I’d like to leave you with is this. If you have followed all the above advice and you have a snotty nose that runs down the back of your throat, you want to clear this especially it that snot turns green or yellow. It will likely then run down into your lungs and festers in there. Get a netti pot or nasal irrigation pump and regularly clear out your nose morning and night. This will significantly reduce the likelihood of the cold progressing to a chest infection.

 Note:

I hope you have all enjoyed this information and it helps you out some day. Please use it with common sense and always contact your doctor if you get a high fever, symptoms become severe or you feel worried in any way about your health and safety.

Launching Herb Lab Chinese Medical Tinctures and Supplements