 Customer Service Toll Free 1-888-300-6242  |
All The Best For Less! |
Important Health
News Aerial Spraying of
Monsanto's Herbicide GM Watch, May 21, 2007
Straight to the Source
NOTE: Monsanto's Roundup has been used
over thousands of acres of land in a bid to destroy coca
plantations as part of the US-backed 'war on drugs'. Both
the Colombian government, which has been in charge of the
aerial spraying, and the US Environmental Protection Agency
have maintained that the herbicide is entirely
safe. EXTRACTS: In addition to expected
symptoms - including vomiting and diarrhoea, blurred vision,
and difficulty in breathing - the researchers found a
significantly higher degree of DNA damage - 600 to 800 per
cent higher... ..None of the individuals used or had
been exposed to other herbicides [other than
Roundup] or pesticides when the samples were
taken. DNA damage may activate genes
associated to the development of cancer, lead researcher
Cesar Paz y Mino told SciDev.Net, and may also lead to
miscarriage or malformations in embryos. --- --- Aerial spraying of herbicide
'damages DNA' Aerial spraying could damage locals health
Lisbeth Fog SciDev.Net, 17 May 2007
http://www.scidev.net/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=readnews&... [BOGOTA] Aerial spraying of a
herbicide by the Colombian government on the border of
Colombia and Ecuador has caused a high degree of DNA damage
in local Ecuadorian people, according to a study. The research will be published in the
next issue of Genetics and Molecular Biology. The scientists, from the Pontificia
Catholic University in Ecuador, analysed blood samples from
24 Ecuadorians living within three kilometres of the border
of the two countries. Aerial spraying of a herbicide
formulation containing glyphosate - sold under the name
Roundup by Monsanto - took place on the Colombian side of
the border between late 2000 and early 2001. The Colombian government sprays
illegal coca plantations - used to make cocaine - as part of
its 'war on drugs'. According to the paper, the
application rate of the herbicide (litres per hectare) was
20 times the maximum recommended rate for the formulated
product. Half the individuals in the group
received spraying directly over their houses, and the blood
samples were taken within two months of the spraying taking
place. For comparison, blood samples were
taken from 21 Ecuadorian individuals living 80 kilometres
away from the border, where aerial spraying of the herbicide
formulation did not take place. In addition to expected symptoms -
including vomiting and diarrhoea, blurred vision, and
difficulty in breathing - the researchers found a
significantly higher degree of DNA damage - 600 to 800 per
cent higher - in the people living near the border compared
with those 80 kilometres away. The researchers ruled out tobacco,
alcohol, non-prescription drugs and asbestos as causing the
DNA damage. None of the individuals used or had been exposed
to other herbicides or pesticides when the samples were
taken. DNA damage may activate genes
associated to the development of cancer, lead researcher
Cesar Paz y Mino told SciDev.Net, and may also lead to
miscarriage or malformations in embryos. Both Colombia and Ecuador have formed
national scientific and technical commissions to study the
effects of aerially spraying this herbicide formulation,
with the Ecuadorian commission concluding it does affect
humans and the Colombian commission refuting this claim (see
Pesticides used in Colombian war on drugs 'not
harmful'). President of the Colombian commission,
Alberto Gomez Mejia, told SciDev.Net that it is difficult to
establish the real cause of the effects of agrochemicals in
humans. Reference: Genetics and Molecular
Biology 30, 456 (2007) GM WATCH daily list
http://www.gmwatch.org --- The healing power of honey: The healing power of honey: From burns
to weak bones, raw honey can help From: News Target.com - information that
empowers NewsTarget) Raw honey – which has
not been pasteurized or filtered, and ideally taken directly
from the hive – is a treasure chest of nutritional
value and medicinal remedies. It contains an abundance of
vitamins and minerals and is a natural and powerful
medicine, both internally and externally. The list of honey's beneficial
functions is a long one. Honey increases calcium absorption;
can increase hemoglobin count and treat or prevent anemia
caused by nutritional factors; can help arthritic joints,
when combined with apple cider vinegar; fights colds and
respiratory infections of all kinds; can help to boost
gastrointestinal ulcer healing; works as a natural and
gentle laxative; aids constipation, allergies and obesity;
provides an array of vitamins and minerals; and supplies
instant energy without the insulin surge caused by white
sugar. Many have found raw honey helpful for its positive
effects against allergies and hay fever, and one or two
teaspoons last thing at night can help with insomnia. As an
antiseptic, honey is also a drawing agent for poisons from
bites or stings or infected wounds, and has outperformed
antibiotics in treatments for stomach ulcerations, gangrene,
surgical wound infections, surgical incisions and the
protection of skin grafts, corneas, blood vessels and bones
during storage and shipment. "Raw
honey is exceptionally
effective internally against bacteria and parasites. Plus,
raw honey contains natural antibiotics, which help kill
microbes directly. Raw honey, when applied topically, speeds
the healing of tissues damaged by infection and/or trauma.
It contains vitamins, minerals and enzymes, as well as
sugars, all of which aid in the healing of
wounds." So writes Dr. Cass Igram, D.O. in The
Survivor's Nutritional Pharmacy. In a fascinating modern
development, scientists and doctors are beginning to
rediscover the effectiveness of honey as a wound treatment.
In recent years, honey has been used effectively in clinical
settings for the treatment of fist-sized ulcers extending to
the bone, as well as for first, second and third degree
burns. Complete healing has been reported without the need
for skin grafts and with no infection or muscle loss. It can
be applied full strength to such conditions, covered with a
sterile bandage, and changed daily. When the wounds are
clean, honey acts as a healer. This also is the same
procedure for infected wounds, ulcerations and impetigo.
Garlic honey can also be applied directly to infected
wounds, which will help clean up the area of
infection. Dr. Peter Molan, professor of
biochemistry at Waikato University, New Zealand, has been at
the forefront of honey research for 20 years. He heads the
university's Honey Research Unit, which is internationally
recognized for its expertise in the antimicrobial properties
of honey. Clinical observations and experimental studies
have established that honey has effective antibacterial and
anti-inflammatory properties. Astonishingly, it painlessly
removes pus, scabs and dead tissue from wounds and
stimulates new tissue growth. "Randomized trials have shown
that honey is more effective in controlling infection in
burn wounds than silver sulfadiazine, the antibacterial
ointment most widely used on burns in hospitals," explains
Dr. Molan. Dr. Molan believes that if honey were
used from the start in cases of septicemia, there would be
far less tissue damage resulting. "The remarkable ability of
honey to reduce inflammation and mop up free radicals should
halt the progress of the skin damage like it does in burns,
as well as protecting from infection setting in", says Dr.
Molan. "At present, people are turning to honey when nothing
else works. But there are very good grounds for using honey
as a therapeutic agent of first choice." Researchers believe that the
therapeutic potential of honey is grossly underutilized.
With increasing interest in the use of alternative therapies
and as the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
spreads, honey may finally receive its due recognition as a
wound healer. Indeed, it works: Raw honey makes a
sterile, painless and effective wound dressing. Apply it
directly to open cuts, abrasions and burns, and cover it
with a piece of gauze. The results will occur quicker than
with conventional alternatives, such as salves and
creams. Honey
is also exceptionally effective for respiratory ailments.
One Bulgarian study of almost 18,000 patients found that it
improved chronic bronchitis, asthmatic bronchitis, chronic
and allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. It's an effective
treatment for colds, flu, respiratory infections and a
generally depressed immune system. Whereas sugar shuts down
the immune system, a good quality honey will stimulate it
into action. Here are some more ways to utilize the
healing power of honey: BURNS - Apply freely over burns. It
cools, removes pain and aids fast healing without scarring.
Apart from being a salve and an antibiotic, bacteria simply
cannot survive in honey. BED WETTING - A teaspoon of honey
before bed aids water retention and calms fears in
children. INSOMNIA - A dessertspoon of honey in
a mug of warm milk aids sleep and works wonders. HYPERACTIVITY - Replace all use of
white sugar with honey. White sugar is highly stimulating
with no food qualities. Honey provides the energy without
the "spike." NASAL CONGESTION - Place a
dessertspoon of honey in a basin of water and inhale fumes
after covering your head with a towel over the basin. Very
effective! FATIGUE - Dissolve a dessertspoon of
honey in warm water or quarter honey balance of water in a
jug and keep in the fridge. Honey is primarily fructose and
glucose, so it's quickly absorbed by the digestive system.
Honey is a unique natural stabilizer: Ancient Greek athletes
took honey for stamina before competing and as a reviver
after competition. FACIAL DEEP CLEANSER - Mix honey with
an equal quantity of oatmeal, and apply as a face pack.
Leave on for half an hour, then wash it off. Great as a deep
cleanser for acne and other unwanted blemishes. POOR DIGESTION - Mix honey with an
equal quantity of apple cider vinegar and dilute to taste
with water. This is also wonderful for the joints – and
promotes weight loss. HAIR CONDITIONER - Mix honey with an
equal quantity of olive oil, cover head with a warm tower
for half an hour then shampoo off. Feeds hair and scalp.
Your hair will never look or feel better! SORE THROATS - Let a teaspoon of honey
melt in the back of the mouth and trickle down the throat.
Eases inflamed raw tissues. FOR STRESS - Honey in water is a
stabilizer, calming highs and raising lows. Use
approximately 25 percent honey to water. ANEMIA - Honey is the best blood
enricher by raising corpuscle content. The darker the honey,
the more minerals it contains. FOOD PRESERVATIVE – If you
replace the sugar in cake and cookie recipes with honey,
they'll stay fresher longer due to honey's natural
antibacterial properties. Reduce liquids in the mixture by
about one-fifth to allow for the moisture present in the in
honey. BABY'S BOTTLE - Four teaspoons of
honey to a baby's bottle of water is an excellent pacifier
and multivitamin additive. If the baby's motions are too
liquid, then reduce the honey by half a teaspoon; if too
solid increase by half a teaspoon. (Caution: Don't give raw
honey to babies under 1 year old; it's just too rich.) For
teething, honey rubbed on a baby's gums is also a mild
sedative and anesthetic. OSTEOPOROSIS – Research has shown
that a teaspoon of honey per day aids calcium utilization
and prevents osteoporosis – probably not a bad idea for
anyone over 50. LONGEVITY - The most long-lived people
in the world are all regular users of honey. An interesting
fact, yet to be explained, is that beekeepers suffer less
from cancer and arthritis than any other occupational group
worldwide. MIGRAINE - Use a dessertspoon of honey
dissolved in half a glass of warm water. Sip at the start of
a migraine attack, and, if necessary, repeat after another
20 minutes. CONJUNCTIVITIS - Dissolve honey in an
equal quantity of warm water. When cooled, apply as a lotion
or eye bath. COUGH MIXTURE – Combine 6 ounces
(170 grams) liquid honey, 2 ounces (55 grams) glycerin and
the juice of two lemons. Mix well. Bottle and cork firmly,
and use as required. Raw
honey may become granulated,
as some does after a week and another maybe only after
several years. If the granulations bother you, simply place
the honey into a pan of hot water (not boiling) and let it
stand until becoming liquid again. Kelly Joyce Neff has an
interdisciplinary degree in Celtic Studies which includes
work in cultural anthropology, history, linguistics,
language, and literature. She is a traditional midwife and
herbalist, a reiki master, and an active craftsperson. She
lives in San Francisco. Thursday, February 01, 2007
Roundup 'Damages DNA'
From burns to weak bones, raw honey can help by Kelly Joyce
Neff
Hundreds of personal care products
contain untested, unapproved nano-scale ingredients that may
pose consumer safety concerns Title Hundreds of personal care products
contain untested, unapproved nano-scale ingredients that may
pose consumer safety concerns by Ben Kage From: NewsTarget.com printable article
Originally published October 11 2006 (NewsTarget) A computer analysis of
25,000 personal care product labels -- conducted by
non-profit research organization, the Environmental Working
Group -- found that hundreds of the products contain
nano-sized or micronized materials, which can be very
hazardous and unpredictable, according to the
FDA. Nano-materials' small size and
exceptionally high surface area to volume ratio can produce
chemical or physical properties that are vastly different
from their larger counterparts. The analysis showed that
more than 250 of the analyzed personal care products contain
one or more of 57 different nano-scale ingredients that were
identified on the labels, and another 9,500 contained
ingredients that could be either nano- or
conventional-sized, but were not clearly identified one way
or the other. Without a clear government definition
for nano-sized materials, quantifying how much is present in
any given personal care product is difficult, stated a news
release at the EWG website, ewg.org. Neither the FDA nor the
Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel (CIR) has
substantiated the safety of nano-scale materials, which
means cosmetics manufacturers do not have to divulge the
science supporting the safety of the materials to either the
FDA or consumers. It is standard to rely on the CIR to
assess the safety of ingredients, but the EWG release noted
that the panel had not assessed a single nano-material, and
had only reviewed 11 percent of conventional cosmetic
ingredients. "The industry may have the studies to
support the safety of these nano-materials, but they are not
required to make any of this information available to the
public," said Jane Houlihan, vice president for research at
EWG, and author of the assessment. "Manufacturers seem to be
following the pattern they established with conventional
chemical ingredients: Put poorly tested chemicals into
personal care products and do the science later if at
all." In response to the safety issues
raised by the lack of safety definitions for nano-materials,
the EWG is calling for the FDA to: -- "Define, through a public process,
what substantiation of safety means for nano-materials.
Require industry to make public all of the studies it has
substantiating the claim that products containing
nano-materials are safe." -- "Identify the presence of
nano-materials in all products." -- "Request information on particle
size from all personal care product
manufacturers." A list of nano-materials and
micronized ingredients, as well as the products that contain
them, can be found at www.ewg.org. Wednesday, January 31, 2007