Mens Health Blog. Medical Blog

Ideas can be accepted into the mind by two distinct mechanisms. We can scrutinize an idea that is offered to us, and examine it logically and critically. If we find it a good idea we accept it by this intellectual process of evaluation. On the other hand, many ideas are accepted into the mind quite uncritically and without any intellectual evaluation. We see this most commonly in children and in adults who are very relaxed, fatigued, or alcoholic. In this process the acceptance of the idea depends much more on our feeling toward the person who offers the idea than on the merits of the idea itself. The process by which ideas are accepted uncritically in this way is technically known as suggestion. It is important to remember that the uncritical acceptance of ideas in this fashion does not result from the evaluing mechanism working in less degree, but results from the activity of suggestion, which is quite a different mechanism of the mind. However, if the alert critical faculties of the intellect come into play, they always put a stop to suggestion, and the idea is subjected to the intellectual process of evaluation.

If we consider this matter from the biological point of view, we see that the critical method of accepting ideas is a recent evolutionary development, whereas the uncritical method based on our feeling for the other person is a biologically primitive process which has been practically superseded by this more recent development of our ability to evaluate things critically.

The important fact from our point of view is that this primitive process of suggestion functions very much more effectively when we have regressed a little toward a more primitive mode of mental functioning. This of course is exactly what we do in the regression of our mental exercises. So while we are regressed like this, we can use the process of suggestion to influence the working of our mind in a way that would be quite impossible if we were in our normal alert waking state.

In the matter of anxiety and general nervous tension our mind is quite impervious to the logical reasoned approach of the intellect, but on the other hand it is quite amenable to the process of suggestion when in this relaxed and regressed condition. In our exercises we ourselves present the ideas to our mind, so in this case the process is known as autosuggestion.

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My first question to Dr. Essen concerned the meaning of the term biological medicine. The concept of biological medicine is very exactly defined by Dr. Essen in Vidi Nova, a special publication for biological medicine issued by him, which deals with the practical results of applied biological methods. As the foremost representative of biological medicine in Sweden and the leading spirit behind the new and growing movement of progressive doctors following the principles of biological medicine in their practice, Dr. Essen was indeed a man well qualified to answer my question: “What is biological medicine?”

“May I, instead of using dry, scientific definitions, illuminate this with a concrete example,” said Dr. Essen. “A doctor is treating a case of infectious disease by the conventional methods. The determining factor for a successful result of this kind of treatment is to identify the kind of bacteria considered responsible for the infection in question. When the intruder is identified, the patient is given a specific chemical or antibiotic drug, which, as a rule, accomplishes the immediate results: the bacteria are destroyed and the patient is free from symptoms.

“After a while, it may happen that the same patient will turn up with a new infection. The diagnosis shows that either it is a question of the same kind of bacteria, which this time, however, is already immune to the specific drug, or there are new bacteria involved. Accordingly, new and more potent drugs are prescribed, which bring about immediate results, as far as the fighting bacteria is concerned. But in spite of the “success” of the treatment, the patient’s resistance to infection seems to progressively weaken and various complications set in. Now, perhaps, such potent drugs as cortisone—pain-killer and symptom-remover—and other highly toxic synthetic drugs enter the picture. The body, already weakened by the disease, must now, in addition, cope with the toxic and damaging side effects of the poisonous drugs.

Then, one day, we stand by the deathbed surprised and shocked. The patient had received all the correct treatments in accordance with medical science’s conventional practices and regulations. The laboratory tests proved that we made no errors! Bacteria samples showed that the bacteria, which our treatment was aimed at, were ‘successfully’ eradicated. As far as the direct cause of the symptoms was concerned (the bacteria) our treatment was a complete success. The only problem was the patient died! We succeeded in killing the bacteria, but we failed to save the host organism, where our war on bacteria was so successful It also could be said that the treatment was successful, but unfortunately, as a result of the treatment and resultant complications, the patient died. Or, The operation was successful but the patient didn’t survive.’

“Now, actually, this kind of a result is not so surprising, is it?” continued Dr. Essen. “After all, what did we treat? Our treatment was directed at micro-organisms which we considered pathogenic or disease-causing. In the meantime, the biological environment for this micro-organism, the host organism, the living, delicate, sensitive, and easily damaged human body, has actually been completely neglected. The man hardly comes into the picture at all. What we actually treat today are diseases, not the diseased people. The sick body, however, is subject to very different biological laws than those which could be applied in primitive germ war with chemical and antibiotic germ-killers.

“A parallel to this can be seen in today’s damage and destruction of life and natural environments as a result of man’s indiscriminate use of insecticides and other poisonous chemicals. Is there any intelligent human being who is so naive as to assume that these poisons will be less devastating to the human body, with its endlessly more intricate and delicate living mechanism? The biological laws of life are quite different from the laws which regulate chemical reactions observed in laboratory tubes. When we fail to see the difference between the two, catastrophic conditions will be the result, and we have to accept the consequences of our unwise actions.”

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It is difficult, if not impossible to provide an overall prognosis for epilepsy in children, because of the differing ages of onset, different epilepsy syndromes, differing causes of epilepsy, and the varying response to treatment.

However, certain factors are known to be associated with a poor outcome, with seizures unresponsive or only partly responsive to treatment. These factors include:

• epilepsy that starts before the age of two or three years;

• seizure types that include myoclonic (jerk) or atonic (drop) seizures;

• seizures that are initially difficult to control;

• the need for more than one anti-epileptic drug to obtain control of the seizures;

• the association of other neurological problems, such as moderate or severe learning difficulties, or a physical handicap such as cerebral palsy; and

• if a cause has been identified (e.g. abnormal development of the

brain, as in tuberous sclerosis, or following meningitis or encephalitis.

There are other factors which indicate a good prognosis. These include:

• epilepsy that starts after 5 but before 13 years of age;

• seizure types that include typical absence (petit mal) seizures or tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures;

• ready control of seizures, using just one anti-epileptic drug;

• a lack of other associated neurological problems;

• the absence of an identified cause; and

• the presence of a strong family history of epilepsy.

Many of the epilepsies in children can be classified into epilepsy syndromes. One of the purposes of this classification is to give some guidance on the prognosis or outcome. Syndromes that have a poor prognosis include the West syndrome (the seizure type in which is infantile spasms or myoclonic seizures) and the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (seizure types include atonic, tonic, and myoclonic seizures). Seizures in both these syndromes start before the age of 3 years (rarely between 3 and 7 years in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome), and this in itself carries an unfavourable prognosis. Syndromes that have a good outcome include typical absence epilepsy (petit mal) and some partial epilepsies (for example, benign partial epilepsy with centro-temporal (rolandic) spikes). In typical absence epilepsy, between 70 and 75 per cent of children will stop having absence seizures by the age of 14-16 years and the anti-epileptic medication can be withdrawn. The remaining 25-30 per cent may need to continue taking medication into adult life, perhaps even for the rest of their life. The children that are likely to fall into this group are those in whom absences began after the age of 11 or 12 years, were associated with generalized tonic-clonic (grand mal) seizures, and in whom the seizures were difficult to control.

Benign partial epilepsy with centro-temporal (rolandic) spikes is, as the name suggests, really benign. All the children with this epilepsy syndrome will have stopped having seizures by 14-16 years of age, and medication can be withdrawn with no risk of relapse (recurrence) of seizures.

Some syndromes have an intermediate outlook. One of these is juvenile myoclonic epilepsy which usually starts between 10 and 16 years of age. The seizures (myoclonic and generalized tonic-clonic) are usually easily controlled by one drug (sodium valproate), but if the medication is withdrawn, the seizures may recur. Many (but not all) patients who have this type of epilepsy will have to take the treatment for the rest of their lives.

Overall, approximately 30-40 per cent of children will ‘outgrow’ their epilepsy before they become an adult. This means that the anti-epileptic medication can be withdrawn. Over 70 per cent of children with typical absence epilepsy will probably be able to have their medication withdrawn after they have been seizure-free for between two and three years. In contrast, over 90 per cent of children with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome will probably need to take anti-epileptic drugs for most of their lives.

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These problems are all very similar. Tennis players absorb the shock of the ball on their racquets at the elbow, golfers get it in the wrist, and skiers absorb the shocks from their poles in their arms and shoulders.

Their knees also get a good workout. Football, hockey, and soccer players get knocked about all over.

Athletes and former athletes are among our most numerous and most contented users of CMO. Often their problems don’t show up for years, but when they do they can be crippling. CMO functions very well in reversing arthritic problems caused by sports injuries. Athletes are always amazed at the relief they get with CMO.

We’ve said before that arthritis starts long before any symptoms appear. It starts the moment macrophages are called upon to clean up the debris of damaged cartilage. It may take years, even dozens of years, before the destruction of cartilage reaches the point where it is felt as a painful symptom.

We feel quite certain these impact related arthritic problems could be nipped in the bud if CMO were used as a preventive. Taken occasionally during an athlete’s active phases CMO could alter the arthritic process very early on so as to prevent arthritis from ever developing. Unfortunately, it will take a twenty or thirty year study to confirm that theory.

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Precautions

•     An infant is temporarily immune to each of the three types of polio for four to six months after birth only if the mother is immune (because she’s had the disease or been vaccinated against it). The child needs a full series of vaccinations by mouth to achieve long-lasting immunity.

•     Anyone who has received injections of the original, dead vaccine (Salk) must have boosters or two full series of the Sabin vaccine to guarantee immunity.

•     Polio virus still exists in this country, and polio is epidemic in many other countries of the world. Since it is not possible to avoid it, immunization is essential.

Medical treatment

Your doctor’s diagnosis will be made on the basis of a physical examination and the results of a spinal tap. A child with a suspected or known case of polio will be isolated. A child who is not immunized and has been exposed to the disease will be given gamma globulin to prevent or lessen the severity of the disease. A child who has contracted polio will be given aspirin, paracetamol, other pain killers, and hot packs to reduce the pain. If polio causes paralysis, the child may need an artificial respirator, a tracheotomy (an opening into the windpipe through the neck), prolonged physical therapy, braces, or orthopedic surgery.

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AIDS may not yet be completely manageable, but it’s completely preventable. And there’s still plenty of incentive to prevent it.

For example, even while incidence in the United States is decreasing, worldwide rates of AIDS infection are soaring. While the rates for homosexual men are dropping, they’re still high. And while the rates for heterosexual men are still low, they’re rising. Any way you look at it, there’s a problem out there.

Solve it by doing the right things. Let’s assume that you, a health-minded individual, are not in the habit of shooting illegal drugs into your veins with used needles. There’s pan of your AIDS risk taken care of. Virtually all the rest is from unprotected sexual relations. Protect your sex and you won’t get AIDS, says Dr. Kassler.

Unprotected sex is dangerous because HIV can be transmitted through semen and vaginal secretions as well as blood. But if neither of you has HIV, then there’s nothing to transmit. “If you’re in a mutually monogamous relationship with somebody who is uninfected, that’s safe sex,” Dr. Kassler says. “You can do whatever you want.”

That’s simple enough, but it begs a question: How do you know? The sad fact is that you don’t—unless you’ve both been recently tested or have been monogamous together long enough for any infections from previous relationships to declare themselves. Anybody can have HIV, and you can’t tell just by looking at a person.

So protecting yourself against HIV and AIDS comes down to what you do and whom you do it with. “Limiting the number of people you have sex with helps,” Dr. Kassler says. “However, choosing your partners wisely comes first.”

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Coeliac Disease

This digestive disorder, which is not just a female disorder, is an intolerance to gluten which is found in grains such as wheat, rye, barley and oats. Before diagnosis the intolerance causes malabsorption and can therefore leave you deficient in vital nutrients. Many deficiencies have been noted in sufferers of coeliac disease, including folic acid, vitamins A, D, E, Ê and the  vitamins, zinc (essential for fertility) and selenium. It is known that women with coeliac disease can be sub-fertile and this is yet another indication that having the correct levels of vitamins and minerals can play an important role in increasing fertility.

Natural Treatment

If you have been diagnosed with coeliac disease you first need to remove gluten from your diet. You will probably have been given dietary advice with the diagnosis which means that you will have to eliminate wheat, rye, barley and oats and substitute other foods like rice cakes, gluten-free bread and also pasta made without gluten such as corn and millet pastas. Then you need a nutritional assessment (see Useful Addresses) to ascertain which supplements are required to correct any deficiencies. Remember that any food supplements (e.g. multivitamin and mineral for pregnancy) must be gluten-free.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

There is a difference between having polycystic ovaries and having polycystic ovary syndrome. When ovaries are seen on an ultrasound scan, they can look polycystic, which means that a number of partially developed follicles can be seen. Of course, follicles have to be present for eggs to develop adequately, and so that ovulation can occur. However, with polycystic ovaries, the ovaries are larger than normal and the undeveloped follicles resemble a bunch of grapes. This is very common and does not necessarily present a problem. It is only when the polycystic ovaries lead to a hormonal imbalance that a woman is said to have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) where she will probably not be ovulating and can be overweight and have excess body hair, skin problems and mood swings. The hormone imbalance is produced by having high levels of LH (luteinising hormone) and a higher than normal level of free testosterone, particularly in overweight sufferers.

Just before ovulation in a normal menstrual cycle, LH levels rise dramatically. This is called the LH surge and causes an egg to be released from a follicle. If LH is high during the whole of the follicular phase (the phase before ovulation), then the LH surge does not take place and an egg is not released. High levels of LH have been implicated in both infertility and miscarriage.161 Doctors have not yet found out why high levels of LH may cause infertility or miscarriage, but research is continuing.

In summary, a woman with PCOS can have:

• high levels of LH

• high estrogen

• higher than normal male hormones (androgens)

• Low progesterone

Diagnosis

This is usually made by ultrasound or a laparoscopy, where a narrow tube with a telescopic lens is inserted into the abdomen via a small incision below the navel. These investigations are conducted together with hormone blood tests.

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•     As we saw above, the prevention of loneliness begins in the cradle by encouraging babies to be part of everything going on in the home. In this way a baby learns that life is full of interesting inputs and that boredom is unnecessary.

•     Older children should be brought up to understand that they can’t always have parents or other adults around to play with them-sometimes they must be able to entertain themselves for short periods. In this way children are brought up with reasonable expectations of the reality of adult life in which there will be periods of being alone which have to be coped with.

Make a virtue of loneliness. Many people say that once they have come to terms with loneliness they can also enjoy it-if only for the freedom it gives them. The secret of managing loneliness in adulthood is to cultivate the right attitude of mind to it. There are positive benefits to being alone and there are ways of reducing the amount of time you have to be alone if you don’t want to be.

•    Take the opportunity to get to know yourself better. If necessary get professional help from a doctor or counselor. By understanding yourself better you will be in a position to do something about your loneliness.

•    Many lonely people are shy or have poorly-developed social skills. There are good books about these subjects and social-skills training groups are now widely available. At one extreme end of the spectrum are those who say that they prefer their pets to human beings. Such individuals probably need professional help. Pets are undoubtedly a boon to the lonely but to want to be with them to the exclusion of humans, as some seem to, is not normal and could point to underlying personality or psychological problems-which could benefit from treatment.

•     One US expert on loneliness finds that talking to oneself is helpful. Saying things aloud is a form of tension release, he claims. Other experts find that a diary is a good form of self-communication. In it you should record not only what happened that day but your daydreams and fantasies.

•    Once you have insights into what you are like and what you want from life you can start to look outwards for things to do that will combat your loneliness. For many doing something for someone else works best. Helping an elderly or handicapped person or running something in the community such as a toddler group, or doing voluntary work at the local hospital, can work wonders for the unhappy, lonely person. If you want company yet find it difficult to meet people you get on with, try an evening class. At least all the people there will have one thing in common with you-the subject matter of the class.

•    Be grateful for what you’ve got-think of those who have far less and then try to relax and enjoy what you have.

•    If you are lonely within a marriage or other close relationship and are unhappy about it seek professional help.

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Narcotic analgesics

The narcotic analgesics are a group of strong analgesics that were originally derived from the opium poppy. They should only be used under strict medical supervision in limited quantities for severe short-term pain as they are potentially addictive.

Some of the better known narcotics include Percodan, Proladone, Endone, Fortral, Pethidine, Omnopon and Morphine.

The side effects of the narcotic analgesics include nausea, vomiting, constipation, drowsiness, dizziness and mood changes.

Non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sometimes also known as anti-prostaglandins, are a group of drugs that are commonly used in the treatment of arthritis, as they relieve inflammation and pain by blocking the production of prostaglandins.

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are highly effective in the treatment of primary dysmenorrhoea and they may be effective in the treatment of dysmenorrhoea and other pain due to endometriosis.

The more common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include Ponstan, Brufen, Nurofen, Naprosyn, Naprogesic, Clinoril, Voltaren, Dolobid, Orudis, Feldene and Indocid. Aspirin and paracetamol are also non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Some people respond to different brands but not others. You may need to try two or three brands before you find one that is effective in relieving your pain.

Most of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs require a doctor’s prescription but some, including Ponstan, Naprogesic and Nurofen, can be purchased from the chemist without a prescription, though often at a higher price.

The most common side effects of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, irritation of the stomach and stomach ulcers. These can usually be minimized if you take the tablets with food or a drink of milk.

Tricyclic anti-depressants

A group of drugs known as the tricyclic anti-depressants are sometimes used in the treatment of chronic pain. They are used to enhance the pain-relieving effects of analgesics, by overcoming the depression which often develops as a result of chronic pain. The more common tricyclic anti-depressants used include Tryptanol, Tofranil, Sinequan, Anofranil, Prothiaden and Pertofran.

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Grilled Pesto Chicken

150 grams skinless organic chicken breasts

1 heaped teaspoon of pesto

Slice the chicken breasts across and spread their insides with half of the pesto.

Spread the remaining pesto on top of the chicken. Grill for 25 minutes or until cooked.

Indian Spiced Chicken

Juice of 1 lemon

1 clove garlic, crushed

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

Dash of cayenne

1 chicken breast (preferably free range)

Steamed broccoli, spinach and cauliflower, or jasmine rice

Blend the lemon juice, garlic and spices. Place the rinsed chicken breast in a dish and toss into the spice blend until it is well coated. Leave to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Place under a hot grill for 25 minutes, or until cooked. Turn it over once, throughout cooking. Serve with steamed broccoli, spinach and cauliflower, or with jasmine rice.

Roast Chicken Breast with a Twist

2 small chicken breasts (with skin)

1 clove garlic, sliced

2 sprigs fresh tarragon

1 dessert spoon olive oil

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

Place garlic slices and tarragon under chicken skin. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Place in oven. Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked. Remove skin and serve.

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