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LIVER DAMAGE STUDY -- A new drug may completely reverse alcohol damage to the liver, says a Swedish pharmaceutical company. Rats injected with ethanol, the intoxicating agent in alcohol, and the drug Ceplene suffered no liver damage, while rats injected with just ethanol developed symptoms of alcohol abuse. "We have shown we could completely reverse the damage made by the alcohol," says Kurt Gehlsen, chief scientific officer of Maxim Pharmaceuticals. The company expects clinical testing of Ceplene against alcohol-related liver disease to start soon. One out of 10 Americans suffer from chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis and fatty liver.

HERB ADVERSE REACTIONS/INTERACTIONS -- In the United States, most herbs are legally classified as foods. However, from a scientific point-of-view, they are simply diluted drugs. In herbs, relatively small quantities of active principles are contained in a complex mixture. Because the active ingredients of herbs are so diluted, the effects of herbal medications are usually mild, and so are their side effects. However, some herbs are naturally toxic and should not be used internally. A few things to keep in mind when using herbs: 1. Do not take comfrey, coltsfoot, sassafras, germander, or chaparral internally. 2. Feverfew, garlic, ginger, and ginkgo may thin the blood, although clinical relevance is not clear. Stop taking any blood thinners two weeks before and after surgery. 3. Do not take St. John's Wort with drugs that cause photosensitivity, such as tetracycline antibiotics. 4. Avoid combining herbs with drugs that have the same action, especially sedatives, anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety agents.

FYI -- Smoking triples a woman's risk of cervical cancer. In addition, smokers often experience menopause two years earlier than nonsmokers, which increases their risk of osteoporosis and stroke.

ALL NATURAL TOILET BOWL CLEANER -- Mix 1/2 cup liquid soap (ex: Dr. Bronner's soap) and 2 cups baking soda together. Work out any lumps with a fork. Dilute with 1/4 cup water and add 2 tablespoons of vinegar to make it foam. Add 1/2 teaspoon of tea tree oil (1/2 tsp = 50 drops or 1 dropperful - do not use plastic measuring spoons). Mix and pour the final solution into a 22-ounce squirt bottle (like dish detergent comes in). Shake the bottle well before using the cleaner.

EAT YOUR PAIN AWAY -- A few minor diet modifications can make a difference in easing chronic pain. The key is to emphasize anti-inflammatory foods and avoid the pro-inflammatory ones. Certified nutritionist Charles Rosenberg of Seattle, encourages his clients to eat more of the COX-2 inhibiting essential fatty acids that encourage anti-inflammatory fats. "This means having more omega-3 fatty acids from cold-water fish and flax and fewer omega-6s from vegetable oil," he says. Other sources of good fats are beans and wheat germ as well as borage, black currant, canola, evening primrose, hemp, and walnut oils. Fats that feed pain-promoting prostaglandins are found in meat and dairy products, corn and safflower oils, and shortening. "Bioflavonoid-rich foods may also help reduce inflammation. Most vividly colored fruits, vegetables and spices are rich in bioflavonoids" Rosenberg says. So think red grapes, broccoli and turmeric for example. Free radical damage is a natural by-product of inflammation and healing. Make sure your diet includes plenty of vitamin C-rich foods to lessen that damage.

A SHOT IN THE ARM -- The standard treatment for people allergic to cats involves 25 shots over three or more months. A new treatment, now in the experimental stage, requires just four weekly shots.

FIBROMYALGIA MYSTERY -- A very small study by the University of Florida offers promise of a dietary treatment for the chronic fatigue and pain of fibromyalgia. Four women who suffered from fibromyalgia for years, plus allergies (such as allergic rhinitis and food allergies, for example), found that their fibromyalgia symptoms were nearly gone within a few months of eliminating from their diets the widely used flavor enhancer MSG (monosodium glutamate) and the artificial sweetener aspartame. MSG and aspartame do not cause fibromyalgia, explains a researcher, nor does eliminating those items work for patients who do not suffer from allergies. But for a disease that has no treatment, no known cause, and as many as 6 million (mostly female) sufferers, it is certainly worth a try.

FYI -- Even low-intensity physical activities burn more calories than being sedentary, one study found. Playing a stringed instrument for an hour uses 41% more energy than watching television; walking at moderate speed for 43 minutes uses 235% more energy.

ANTIBIOTIC FACT -- Which antibiotics are most effective for colds and flu? NONE. Colds and flu are viral infections, for which antibiotics provide absolutely no remedy. Antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections, many of which can have cold and flu-like symptoms, such as a secondary infection of the middle ear or sinuses after a cold, or strep throat. However, the only cure for most colds and flu is time and rest. Patients often ask for antibiotics "just in case" they have a bacterial infection, believing that the drugs can do no harm. That is not the case, since overuse of antibiotics has become a serious public health problem, leading to an increase in the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria or "super bugs." Each time an antibiotic is prescribed unnecessarily it increases the chances that the drugs will no longer be effective when you really need them.

DIET HELPS HEART ARRHYTHMIA -- Irregular heartbeats, called arrhythmia, occur when nerves that regulate the contraction of the heart go haywire. Mineral balance plays an important role in regulating heartbeat. But other dietary factors can also throw your heart out of sync. Here are two items to avoid and one to add to your anti-arrhythmia diet. A study with lab animals showed that a diet high in fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) helps reduce the likelihood of fatal heart arrhythmia sometimes associated with heart attack. Doctors suggest that you replace the saturated fat in your diet with fish oil by substituting salmon or mackerel for beef, chicken, or dairy products several times a week. If you want to take fish oil supplements, discuss amounts with your doctor. A small amount of caffeine (less than 300 mg a day, about 3 cups of brewed coffee) does not seem to cause many problems, but more than this amount may aggravate the condition. Decrease the consumption of alcohol. Even moderate drinking (a drink or two daily) may increase your risk of depleting body stores of magnesium and potassium, which are both needed for regular heart function.

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FEATURED MINI-ARTICLE #1

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Moderate consumption of coffee has no impact on blood pressure - even over 30 years - according to the latest research. There had been fears that drinking even relatively small amounts of coffee could raise blood pressure levels and perhaps have some impact on health. However, a study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University suggests that a couple of cups a day may do no harm. The team looked at more than 1,000 white males who graduated from the university's medical school between 1948 and 1964. The vast majority of them were coffee drinkers - drinking, on average, about two cups a day.

Their coffee intake was checked more than 10 times over the following three decades, to see whether any increases in blood pressure could be linked to increases in coffee consumption. However, there was no evidence that coffee could be connected to anything more than tiny increases in blood pressure.

The report concluded: "Long-term coffee drinking did not substantially increase the risk of developing hypertension. Over many years of follow-up, coffee drinking is associated with small increases in blood pressure but appears to play a small role in the development of hypertension." Doctors are keen to control blood pressure because, over time, it can increase the chance of a patient suffering arterial damage which could contribute to heart disease.

However, in general, the jury is still out on the health risks, if any, of drinking coffee. Pregnant women in the United Kingdom were recently advised to drink no more than four cups a day because of worries that heavy consumption could increase the risk of miscarriage. A spokesman for the British Nutrition Foundation said: "Having three or four cups of coffee a day is not going to do any harm - unless you are one of the few people who has a predisposition to be sensitive to caffeine. "In pregnancy, having a couple of cups a day has not been shown to be detrimental."

The caffeine that coffee contains is a stimulant, and in the short term after drinking coffee, there is an alertness benefit - although once the caffeine "high" has passed, people may become far less alert. There have also been warnings that coffee may contain chemicals linked to heart attacks and strokes, although no direct link has been established.

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FEATURED MINI-ARTICLE #2

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Stress is as bad as smoking, new research suggests.

In a study of people with fat-clogged arteries, those who responded to stress with a reduction in blood flow to the heart had triple the risk of dying over the next five years, report Florida researchers. That makes stress as powerful a risk factor for dying of heart disease as cigarette smoking or high cholesterol, according to study author Dr. David S. Sheps, associate chief of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Other studies of people with heart disease have linked stress to an increased chance of heart attacks and other cardiac complications, notes Dr. Richard Stein, a cardiologist at Brooklyn Hospital Medical Center. But the new study, funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and appearing in the online version of the journal "Circulation," is the first to follow people long enough to single out an association between mental stress and dying, says Stein, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association.

Stein acknowledges that avoiding stress can be hard, if not impossible. It can be difficult to sit by calmly when your stocks lose half their value, he says, or you get laid off. But, he adds, you can find ways to minimize stress in your life, such as by scheduling more free time. And you should learn various proven methods and techniques for coping with stress, such as meditation, relaxation, and biofeedback (see http://www.psychotherapy.com/bio.html for more information on biofeedback).

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THE HERBAL CORNER

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Myrrh is actually a gummy resin harvested from shrubby trees that are native to eastern Africa and the Middle East. A light yellow color when it oozes from the cut stems or incisions in the tree's bark, myrrh darkens upon drying. The dried resin is then crushed into a powder or dissolved in liquid. Myrrh has been a component of incenses, perfumes, insect repellents, and herbal remedies since biblical times. The Egyptians also used myrrh to help preserve their mummies.

Myrrh has traditionally been applied topically or used as a mouthwash to treat various types of mouth and gum ailments, including sore gums, bad breath, and canker sores. Herbalists have also used myrrh in formulas for laryngitis, coughs and colds, respiratory and sinus congestion, and sore throats. Chinese herbalists have used myrrh to promote the healing and relieve the pain of wounds, arthritis, tumors, bedsores, sore muscles, and skin conditions. Myrrh has a folk reputation as a uterine stimulant and women have been known to use it to promote menstruation or alleviate menstrual pain. Some herbalists have recommended myrrh as a digestive tonic to promote appetite or expel gas from the intestinal tract.

Studies have begun to confirm that myrrh has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory properties that make it useful against conditions such as canker sores, sore throat, and gum disease. In addition some evidence suggests heart-protective properties in myrrh, from reducing blood levels of cholesterol and fats, and anti-cancer effects. Myrrh may also help to prevent or treat: bad breath, common cold, athlete's foot, herpes, and stomach ulcers.

Researchers recently isolated and described seven terpene compounds in scented myrrh, two of which were new and two others found in a natural source for the first time. The major component, T-cadinol, has previously been shown to be able to relax smooth muscles. An herbal mixture containing myrrh and extracts from four other plants was found to have a blood glucose lowering effect. According to Kuwaiti researchers, the mixture "may prove to be a useful therapeutic agent in the treatment of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus." Scientists recently investigated extracts of eleven plants found in Jordan and employed in traditional medicine. When tested on mice, myrrh and three other herbs were shown to have a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect against both acute and chronic inflammation. Researchers in Saudi Arabia determined that myrrh protects mucous membranes in the gastrointestinal tract against ulcers. Myrrh was shown to protect against depletion of stomach wall mucus and against formation of lesions on the stomach wall.

Myrrh is available as a liquid extract, in tea bags, tincture, in powdered form, and as an essential oil. It is sometimes included with herbs such as goldenseal in healing salves. Myrrh is also a common ingredient in mouthwashes, formulas for bad breath and halitosis, and for teeth and gums. Myrrh is relatively safe and nontoxic for occasional use. Because large doses may stimulate the uterus, pregnant women should not use myrrh. Large doses may also have a laxative effect.

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HEALTHY RECIPE-OF-THE-MONTH