Latest medical tips for health

The following is a summary of the many items from our press cuttings library concerning health tips uncovered by recent medical research. Readers are urged to send in cuttings for future Social Inventions columns on this subject, particularly from obscure sources.

Cancer

  • Spinach mmay help prevent cancer. Extracts from spinach inhibited the growth of breast and lung cancer cells as well as other carcinogens, according to Dr Shinohara of the national food research institute in Ibaraki, Japan. (The Times, Sept. 16th '92).

  • Soy sauce may protect against cancerous tumours. Mice fed soy sauce developed far fewer stomach cancers, say researchers at the University of Wisconsin. A mere 25 parts per million of one of soy sauce's flavour agents, HEMF, was sufficient to reduce stomach tumours in mice by 66%. (David Bradley in New Scientist.)

    'EPA - found in purified fish oils from fatty fish - can shrink solid cancerous tumours'

  • A highly concentrated form of EPA - found in purified fish oils from fatty fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel - can shrink solid cancerous tumours and may halt the dramatic weight loss associated with cancer, according to scientists at Aston University, supported by the Cancer Research Campasign. The latter believe it could explain the low cancer incidence among Eskimos whose diet is rich in fish. (The Times, The Guardian and The Independent, Dec. 30th '92)

  • Lack of exercise increases the chance of cancer of the colon, testes and probably the breast, as well as heart disease. (Dr Thomas Stuttaford in The Times, Dec. 29th '92.)

  • Bergamot oil extracted from the peel of a bitter type of orange, citrus bergamia, grown in the Mediterranean) is found in some sun lotions and has been found to help protect from skin cancer, according to the Cancer Research Campaign. (lLz Hunt in The Guardian.)

  • Marijuana would be prescribed by nearly half the cancer specialists in America to at least a few of their patients as part of controlling the side effects of chemotherapy, if were legal to do so. These were the findings of a MAPS survey of members of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 63% agreed that it was an effective anti-emetic and 44% had already recommended to at least one patient that they try smoking marijuana.The American DEA continues to claim, however, that marijuana 'has no currently acceptable medical applications', although 13 people in the US may leggaly smoke it to relieve glaucoma. (High Times Dec '92, monitored for the Institute by Roger Knights. MAPS is c/o Rick Doblin, 1901 Tippah Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205, USA, tel 0101 704 358 9830; fax 0101 704 358 1650).

    Heart

  • By donating blood three units of blood a year) a man could possibly reduce the risk of heart disease by reducing the amount of iron in the body (just as menstrual bleeding protects women's hearts). A new study has demonstrated a direct link between heart disease and high iron levels in nearly 2,000 Finnish men. (Newsweek, Sep 21st '92.)

  • A diet rich in fish also helps reduce the risk of dying from a stroke, according to research by Dutch doctors. The group at least risk were those who ate at least 20 grams (7oz) of fish a week.

  • Eating nuts regularly may protect against coronorary heart disease, probably because of their high fibre and polyunsaturated fat content. (Californian study reported in Archives of Internal Medicine and relayed in The Independent July 21st '92.)

  • Large does of vitamin E can give protection against heart disease. The protective effect came after people took at least 100mg a day for at least two years. Women then had only half the risk and men a 26% lower risk. (Harvard School of Medicine study of 45,270 men and 87,245 women, reported by Celia Hall in The Independent.). Vitamin C teams up with vitamin E to prevent LDL cholesterol from sticking to the walls of blood vessels, blocking blood flow and leading to strokes and heart attacks. (Researcher Lester Packer at the University of California, reported in the Weekly World News, Sep. 8th '92.)

  • Sunshine may cut heart disease - through ultra-violet rays catalysing a reaction which makes vitamin D from one kind of cholesterol. Dr David Grimes in Blackburn has found that the risks of heart attacks are highest in low-altitude and low sunshine areas. (Jonathan Foster in The Independent.)

  • Prayer helped people regain health according to the South Medical Journal which investigated the 'therapeutic effect of intercessory prayer in a coronary health unit.' (Harry Schultz newsletter, subs. details in the International section, below.)

    Colds

  • People who drink three glasses of wine or a pint and a half of beer each day reduce their chances of catching a cold - probably because the alcohol reduces stress, which is a major factor in respiratory infections. Alcohol was only beneficial for non-smokers. Of those showing high stress, 50% developed a cold, compared with 22% with low stress. (Health Ressearch Unit, University of Wales, reported in The Times, The Independent and The Guardian.) (Heavy drinking. however, can help cause oral cancer, as can smoking - The Guardian Dec. 8th '92.)

  • Shy, timid people are more likely to suffer a cold than bouncy, outgoing friends, probably, again, because stress leads to colds.

  • Eating onions can help beat a cold, say scientists.

    'Sex can help ward off colds, as it produces a substance called munoglobulin, which is the first line of defence against infection and disease'

  • Sex can help ward off colds, as it produces a substance called munoglobulin, which is the first line of defence against infection and disease.(The last three items are from Weekly World News, USA, Nov. 24th '92, monitored for the Institute by Roger Knights.)

    Pregnancy

  • All women of child-bearing age should increase their intake of folic acid to reduce the risk of a child being born with spina bifida or other neural tube defects. Women planning a pregancy should take a daily 0.4mg folic acid supplement (or 4.5mg daily for women with a spina bifida history) from the start of trying to conceive until the twelth week of pregnancy, according to the UK's Chief Medical Officer. Folic acid is also found in broccoli, brussel sprouts, green vegetables, bananas, orange juice, rice, spaghetti, cereals and wholemeal bread. (Amanda Ursell in The Guardian; and The Independent, Dec. 18th '92.)

  • A high temperature in the early stages of pregancy, whether from relaxing in saunas or hot whirpool baths or from fever, doubles the rish of babies being born with neural tube defects such as spina bifida.

    Miscellaneous

  • Metabolites of soya protein and Finnish bread can retard benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition which is evident in all men to some extent. This could explain why men in the US and the Uk are at much higher risk of developing symptoms of prostratis than their counterparts in Finaland and the Far East. (General Practitioner Oct 11th '91, reported in Holistic Health Newsletter.)

    '1mg of Vitamin C three times a day will dramatically cut the crippling soreness of stiff muscles'

  • American researchers have found that those who take 1mg of Vitamin C three times a day for three days before they start exercising and for seven days afterwards will dramatically cut the crippling soreness of stiff muscles. Pain Journal, reported in The Independent, Nov. 3rd '92.)

  • A vasectomy may remove the HIV virus ffrom semen and could help prevent the spread of AIDS, according to initial findings by Dr John Krieger at the University of Washington. Examining semen samples from 18 HIV-positive men, he found the virus in 26% of the semen samples but it was not present in any of the semen taken from the four men with vasectomies. (Globe, USA, Aug. 11th '92, monitored for the Institute by Roger Knights.) Vasectomies, however, increase the risk of cancer of the prostrate.

  • Drinking one's urine first thing in the morning, if jet-lagged for instance, gives the illusion of a good night's sleep, as urine is rich in melatonin, the hormone involved in producing circadian rhythms - according to a study from the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia. (This is disputed by Surrey University who say that melatonin helps at least two thirds of people suffering from jet lag but is present in urine only in tiny qunatitites, in its non-active form.) An osteopath in Hertfordshire has been drinking his own urine daily for 20 years and recommends it to patients with asthma, eczema, bad eyesight and other chornic problems.

  • Nasal decongestants can cause temporary impotence.As can beta-blockers and anti-depressants. Doctors should warn their patients. (Jane Biddie in The Times, Dec. 29th '92.)

  • People over 65 given a daily vitamin and mineral supplement were half as likely to suffer infection-related illness, and immune system activity increased. (The Lancet, reported in The Independent.)

  • Self-massage of the abdomen can relieve constipation. study at the Withington Hospital, Manchester, showed that gentle massage and exercise helped a dozen elederly patients who frequently suffered constipation. (The Independent Oct. 13th '92).

  • Dr Frederick Stare at Harvard's School of Public Health recommends that we all drink six to eight glasses of water day. Water helps protect the joints from stiffness; can help ward off wrinkles since good skin tone is dependent on elasticity, which water promotes); can help prevent kidney stones salts may crystallise, forming painful stones, when the kidneys do not get enough water); and drunk before a meal, water aids dieting by filling the belly - plus helping digest the food and pass waste easily, so preventing constipation. From an unidentified American newspaper cutting, Nov. 23rd '92, monitored for the Institute by Roger Knights).

    'Fresh cold air with a low water content is the best cure for asthma, more effective in increasing lung function than the most effective medicines available'

  • Fresh cold air with a low water content is the best cure for asthma, three to six times more effective in increasing lung function than the most effective medicines available. House dust mites are one of the chief causes of the asthma epidemic but are not affected by fitted carpets or frequent vacuum cleaning. The sole factor is high humidity. Opening a window for a while is not enough either. In Denmark, mechanical ventilation, usually involving at least one complete change of air every hour, can be paid for by the state for severe sufferers. (Univeristy Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark, reported by David Nicholson-Lord in The Independent July 10th '92.)

    'Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking '

  • Hypnosis is the most effective way of giving up smoking 30 per cent success rate); followed by exercise and breathing therapy (29 per cent); smoke aversion (in which smokers have their own warm, stale cigarette smoke blown back into their faces); acupuncture (24 per cent); nicotine gum (10 per cent); self-help books (6 per cent). (From a meta-analysis covering 72,000 people reported in the New Scientist Oct. 31st '92.)

  • Gelatine in jellies, Turkish delight, etc) is a pick-me-up that boosts concentration. The Guardian Dec. 22nd '92.)

  • Those with osteoarthritis of the knee should wear trainers with good schock absorption, to reduce the load on the knee when the heel strikes the pavement. (Prof. Dieppe at Bristol University, reported in The Times by Hether Kirby.)

  • Skipping breakfast impairs performance in memory tests, according to Dr David Benton of Swansea University in his study of students. (The Guardian.)

  • Eating frequently may help you to lose weight, it could be good for your heart and it might, possibly, reduce the risk of diabetes Times, 18/2/93).

    'Brushing your teeth after a meal may be a bad idea - you may brush an acidic slurry into the unprotected base of the tooth'

  • Brushing your teeth after a meal may be a bad idea - you may brush an acidic slurry into the unprotected base of the tooth, a risk that increases with age. Some dentists advise brushing the teeth before a meal, and rinsing with water after eating. Hard cheese eaten at the end of a meal has an anti-caries action; and celery and nuts can help clean the teeth. (Times, 18/2/93).

  • Creatin, found in meat, gives consumers greater reserves of energy during exercise and gave competitors in 100 metre and 400 metre events an increase in speed. (Nick Nuttall in The Times.)

  • Carrots can be addictive, leading to intense withdrawal symptoms, with psychological dependence arising perhaps from the carotene or possibly from some other active ingredient. (British Journal of Addiction, reported by Judy Joenes in The Guardian, Aug 1st '92.)

    You can rate how well you like this idea. Click 0-10 below and press the Submit button.
    Bad Idea <- 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 -> Great Idea
    As of 05/28/96, 2 people have rated this page with the overall rating (0-100%) of: 95%
    Previous / Next / 1993 Social Inventions Journal Contents