Monthly Archives: September 2021

Stroke is one of Indias leading causes of death, with 1.8 million people suffering a stroke every year, says Dr G Prakash, Deputy CMO, Jindal Naturecure Institute. He adds that post-stroke, a person may experience cognitive deficits, motor deficits, fatigue, and sleep disorders. While standard medical care such as medication and therapy is often prescribed to stroke survivors, research has shown that CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine) therapies can significantly improve the quality of life and functionality during the recovery phase from a stroke. Though modern medicine has an important part in stroke recovery, using different naturopathic approaches, the process of recovery from stroke can be enhanced and sped up, he continues.

Stroke can occur at any age to any person. However, the chances of a stroke significantly increase if a person has either of the following risk factors:

Heart diseaseHigh blood pressureDiabetesSmokingHigh blood cholesterol/TriglyceridesExcessive alcohol useObesityLack of exerciseGenetic or heredity factors

Alternative therapies for efficient recovery from stroke

Post-stroke, patients may opt for CAM therapies to get relief from various physical symptoms like immobility or pain as well as relief from psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety, or grief. Here we look at various alternative therapies for stroke survivors for a better outcome in recovery, the expert says.

YogaStroke survivors often face issues with coordination and balance, and yoga proves beneficial to improve those impairments. According to a study by the American Journal of Recreation Therapy, yoga can increase stability, improve range of motion and emotional regulation, as well as bring positive changes in participation and activity in people with chronic stroke. The stretching, strengthening, balance, and body awareness exercises involved in yoga can produce a plethora of advantages for stroke patients, he shares.

AcupunctureThe Chinese complementary medicine acupuncture involves skin penetration with fine needles at certain points. Research and studies have shown that acupuncture improves issues with spasticity, pain, physical functions, cognitive functions, and quality of life if administered after a stroke. Apart from facilitating recovery of function, acupuncture assists in the improvement of the nervous system functions, which is highly desirable in stroke patients. The therapy works by stimulating the nervous system, which releases chemicals into the brain, spinal cord, and muscles. This stimulates the natural healing ability of the body and promotes physical and emotional well-being, he explains.

Massage therapyMassage therapy can manipulate the tissues in the body to enhance overall well-being and health. The Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine published a study in 2012 revealing that herbal treatments and Thai massage can improve mood, daily function, pain, and sleeping patterns in stroke survivors. Researchers have also pointed out that certain massages can aid in improving fine motor skills in stroke patients, he says.

Herbal supplementsThere are a variety of herbal supplements available that improves blood circulation and prevents another stroke. Some of the popular herbal supplements, according to the expert, are:Asian Ginseng This Chinese herbal supplement enhances memory.Ashwagandha Ashwagandha or Indian Ginseng is loaded with antioxidant properties that may treat and prevent stroke.Gotu Kola Gotu Kola or Centellaasiatica is a staple ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine. This herb which is commonly found in the wetlands of Asia, boosts cognitive function and also acts as an antidepressant.Bilberry This nutrient-rich fruit helps to lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels.Turmeric Turmeric contains a compound, Curcumin which not only assists in preventing blockages in the arteries but also reduces fatty deposits known as plaques in them.

HydrotherapyHydrotherapy, also known as aquatic therapy, is a treatment that makes use of water to treat different types of clinical conditions, including stroke. Hydrotherapy offers a safe environment for stroke patients to increase their mobility and strength, reduce pain and improve overall cardiovascular health. When aqua therapy is combined with specific exercises, it serves as an excellent way to regain physical skills without putting too much stress on the body, hesays.

Fasting therapyNaturopathy considers fasting therapy as one of the most efficient methods to get rid of toxins from the body. Studies have shown that fasting reduces homocysteine, IL6 and C-reactive protein in the body that may form atherosclerotic plaques, which increases the chances of stroke. Other than reducing the risk of stroke, fasting therapy also fosters the development of neurons and new neuronal connections during recovery from stroke. Fasting therapy further enhances the bodys inflammatory response system and lowers the risk of tissue damage after stroke.

For stroke recovery and prevention, CAM treatments come with numerous benefits. Other than important lifestyle changes, alternative treatments like acupuncture and supplements can make a huge difference in the outcome of stroke recovery. While these treatments are not meant to replace traditional, modern medical treatment protocols in stroke management, they have the potential to help achieve faster recovery and better prevention through their natural approaches, he says.

The above article is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional for any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. For more lifestyle news, follow us on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook and dont miss out on the latest updates!

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Stroke management: Expert suggests alternative therapies - The Indian Express

PORTLAND, Maine, Sept. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --SoulBeing today announced that it has joined Buoy Health's innovative healthcare marketplace to bring alternative medicine services to Buoy's more than 2M users per month. Representing over 40 categories of therapists such as acupuncturists, chiropractors, physical therapists, registered dietitians, and behavioral health professionals, SoulBeing offers a portfolio of evidence-based alternative medicine services and is a market leader in telehealth for the alternative medicine space.

With the Buoy Health navigation platform, users can access free AI-driven tools and reliable information to better understand health issues they may be experiencing and the right next steps in care. At the end of each experience, users are provided with personalized care options through this healthcare marketplace that are most relevant to the user's self-reported symptoms. Through this medium, SoulBeing will offer alternative care pathways to millions of patients that may not have otherwise had the option.

SoulBeing's platform delivers on-demand access to services across all interrelated components of health: physical, mental, and emotional. It also features scheduling and payment functionality to help make services more logistically and financially accessible for users. "Much like SoulBeing is designed to fill this gap in health plan networks, we are able to plug our alternative medicine providers into Buoy's marketplace to provide options," states Colleen Kavanagh, CEO of SoulBeing.

"The alternative medicine space is rich with evidence-based therapies that have been proven to provide real outcomesboth in treating chronic conditions and preventing them in the first place. We see alternative medicine as the first line of defense," says Kavanagh.

Want to learn more?

Employers or brokers:www.soulbeing.com/for-employers or email [emailprotected].

Practitioners interested in joining the SoulBeing network: http://www.soulbeing.com/register or email [emailprotected].

About SoulBeing SoulBeing is reimagining a healthcare infrastructure that incorporates every facet of health and wellness into one intuitive platform. The SoulBeing platform is a web-based and mobile application that serves as the gateway to both alternative care pathways and traditional medicine, including an integrated, HIPAA-compliant telehealth portal designed specifically for the wellness community. Corporate clients leverage the platform to drive utilization of alternative medicine resources for both preventive health and treatment of conditions, filling a gap left by health plan networks. SoulBeing empowers employees and their families to explore options for integrated health and improves affordability through the leveraging of HSA-funds. For more information, please visit http://www.soulbeing.com.

SOURCE Soul Being

http://www.soulbeing.com

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SoulBeing Joins Buoy Health's Marketplace to Offer Alternative Medicine Services to Consumers - PRNewswire

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Ayurveda is the most preferred Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) among cancer patients in India even as a large section of them are not satisfied with such therapies, says a research carried out at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC).

The study finds wide usage of CAM amongst cancer patients in India. It also demonstrates a direct correlation between psychological distress and the usage of CAM therapies among cancer patients.For the study, 303 patients in the 15 to 88 age group undergoing treatment at RGCIRC were surveyed. More than a third (104 participants) responded positively to taking CAM therapies. Out of these (61%) took the therapies alternatively, before taking conventional treatment, and (39%) were still taking CAM in a complementary manner.

Ayurveda emerged as the most preferred form of therapy chosen by 85% of those surveyed. A majority of the participants are either from middle or lower-middle-class families (56% and 35%), respectively.Patients were also screened using a tool, Distress Thermometer (DT), for measuring subjective reports on the level and severity of distress on a scale of 0 to 10. While 0 means no distress, 10 reflects extreme distress. The study revealed significant psychological distress in 79% of all patients.

A significant correlation was found between the level of psychological distress with the use of CAM therapies meaning that with increasing levels of psychological distress, patients tend to choose CAM more often, said Dr. Vineet Talwar, Director, Medical Oncology, RGCIRC who headed the team undertaking the study.

Interestingly, awareness of cancer diagnosis and its prognosis was found to relieve psychological distress. Although, 81% of the patients felt there were no side effects associated with CAM therapies, but only 40% were satisfied with such therapies.

CAM remains the popular choices of treatments among the Indian population and have been reported by some major studies. However, the use and prevalence of such treatments need more extensive exploration and documentation, significantly in the field of oncology, said Dr Talwar.

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Ayurveda most preferred alternative medicine for cancer - The New Indian Express

BAJA CALIFORNIA After Marcus Capone completed seven tours of duty, including Afghanistan and Iraq, he seemed like a ticking time bomb, his wife Amber says.

Capone suffered traumatic brain injuries as a specialist in setting explosive charges for U.S. Navy SEAL Team 6. After retiring in 2013, he suffered from depression, anger, debilitating headaches and violent dreams. Brain doctors and psychologists treated him with pills, which he mixed with alcohol. Neither worked.

Amber was at a breaking point. I was just preparing myself for what my life would be like as a widow of suicide because I felt like it was inevitable, she said.

Then they discovered psychedelics.

The couple went to one of the treatment centers in Baja California that offer an underground therapy using ibogaine, a highly potent alkaloid traditionally extracted from the root of a plant native to Gabon in Africa. After the therapy, Marcus said he was able to let go of everything that had happened to him, including pain from his early childhood.

In its whole-plant form, the Tabernanthe iboga shrub has been used for centuries in religious ceremonies by the Bwiti people, who say the plant heals them and allows them to talk to God. Users describe their experience with the ibogaine extract as being in an intense waking dream. The plant and its effects have taken root among retired special operations combat veterans who may be suffering from blast related injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder.

But the drug is illegal in the U.S., and it poses cardiovascular health risks. Ibogaine may block channels in the hearts system, slowing down the heart rate, which can cause fatal arrhythmias.

A 2006 medical journal article noted that at least eight people have died from taking ibogaine. Experts say the true number is likely much higher because its use is unregulated.

Of all the psychedelics, its probably the one that carries the largest risk because of its arrhythmogenic (ability to cause arrhythmias) potential, said Dr. Ken Adolph, a cardiac anesthesiologist in Austin, Texas.

In 1970, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grouped ibogaine together with LSD and psilocybin making them all schedule I substances illegal drugs which have no medical application and are not safe for use even under medical supervision.

In Mexico, ibogaine use falls into a gray zone not exactly legal, and not exactly regulated, either.

State health authorities say people can obtain licenses to use it, but it remains unclear whether they can administer it to others or what qualifications they would need to give it to someone else. There are no clinics licensed to provide medical treatments with ibogaine, according to Marco Gmez, the director of the Comisin Estatal de Proteccin contra Riesgos Sanitarios, or COEPRIS , a state health agency.

Very little data exist about ibogaines effectiveness as a treatment of trauma-related psychological issues and cognitive impairment. Because the drug is illegal in the U.S., it cant be administered to study its effects.

One peer-reviewed study, in the Journal of Chronic Stress, found that the psychedelic-assisted therapy holds unique promise. In looking at 51 military veterans who had gone to Mexico for a psychedelic clinical program between 2017 and 2019, the study found large reductions in their suicidal ideation, cognitive impairment, symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

Ibogaine is currently undergoing clinical trials abroad for its viability as a treatment for addiction, which can often occur simultaneously with traumatic brain injuries and PTSD.

A 2018 study from New Zealand interviewed 11 people a year after undergoing a single ibogaine treatment and found eight of them had cut back or stopped using opioids. One of them died.

Another 2017 peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Psychedelic Studies surveyed 88 patients, who were mostly daily opioid users, who received ibogaine treatment in Mexico between 2012 and 2015. Fifty percent reported that ibogaine reduced opioid craving and 30% of participants reporting never using opioids again.

Critics point out that of that 30%, only half were interviewed a year or more after their treatment, that the data was self-reported, and that the clinic was calling its own former patients.

Dr. Dan Engle, the founder and medical director of Austins new Kuya Institute for Transformational Medicine, and author of The Concussion Repair Manual: A Practical Guide to Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries, said more research is needed on ibogaine.

The success rate of traditional U.S. drug rehabs hovers around 10 to 20%, he pointed out. He said when the proper support systems are set-up after a ibogaine treatment, the success rate for addiction recovery he has witnessed is between 60 to 70%.

The standard of care hasnt changed in the last five years, Engle wrote in an email. Those numbers 10 to 20 percent are more accurate for the standard of care when aftercare and recovery coaching are not successfully engaged after traditional rehabs.

Alternative medicine and psychedelics have a long history in Mexico. If youve got an ailment, theres probably a Mexican tea or herb for it.

Mushrooms were considered sacred in the mountainous region of the Sierra Mazatec in the northern part of the state of Oaxaca. A Mazatec curandera (medicine woman), Mara Sabina, introduced magic mushrooms to a vice president for J.P. Morgan in 1955, prompting U.S. tourists by the thousands to make long, strange trips to Oaxaca.

In recent years, medical tourism in Tijuana has exploded with brand new, state-of-the-art medical skyscrapers and billboards promoting weight loss, cancer centers and chiropractic services.

Many of the estimated 1 million Americans who cross each year into Mexico for medical treatment are looking for lower-cost options. But some are seeking treatments they wouldnt be able to get in the United States.

Homeopathic shops offering herbs and botanicals are everywhere in Tijuana. Gmez, the head of the state health agency, cautioned tourists to investigate any homeopathic procedure they may undergo to make sure it is authorized by Baja California.

Jos Inzunza, the director of Nouvelle Vie Holistic & Wellness Center in Tijuana, says hes not interested in ibogaine treatment becoming part of that medical tourism boom, but rather in helping people who really need the treatment.

We dont want to create Mexico as a tourist destination for ibogaine where people think Go and have fun with ibogaine, because youre not going to have fun, Inzunza said.

He said proper screening procedures have helped prevent any deaths because of ibogaine in Baja California for 12 years, but he stressed the treatment cannot be given to everyone because those stringent screening guidelines must be followed.

In Baja California, ibogaine patients typically pay around $5,000 to stay in a large, rented villa or house that has been converted into a clinic. Depending on what the person is being treated for, those stays can range from four days to a few weeks.

Some clinics are more like spas with saunas, massage rooms and other amenities, whereas others incorporate a more traditional Bwiti ritual into the experience.

Inzunza and others stressed the importance of clinics having proper medical equipment, including EKGs and other equipment to monitor the patients heart rate and vitals during their trip.

At first, Marcus Capone was reluctant. He had never taken drugs, especially psychedelics.

He was like Uh-uh. No way. Thats weird. Thats crazy. Im not doing drugs. Im not going to Mexico, Amber recalled.

But then, Amber convinced him, she says by approaching him with compassion and telling him she wouldnt stop fighting for his life.

I wanted my depression to go away. I wanted my anxiety to go away. I wanted my anger to go away ... I just wanted to be normal again, Marcus said from the couples San Diego home. (Before retirement, Marcus worked as a Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs, or BUD/S, training instructor in Coronado. The family now divides time between Texas and San Diego.)

He said it worked.

Think of it as the individual is carrying around a backpack of 1,000 pounds of bricks. And its just heavy; its weighing on you. You have trouble walking and doing simple tasks because of that weight that is on your back and on your shoulders, Marcus said.

As you go through your ibogaine experience, you just take those rocks out one at a time, and by the end, you have an empty bag. You feel like all the weight has been lifted, he said.

The couple has since become big proponents of ibogaine treatment, starting a nonprofit called VETS that funds ibogaine research at Stanford and helped with the initial study in the Journal of Chronic Stress. They send other struggling combat veterans abroad for psychedelic therapies illegal in the United States and lobby for legal therapeutic use of psychedelics.

Bobby Laughlin, 32, who owns a private equity firm in Los Angeles, described his ibogaine experience as undergoing years of intense therapy in just a few hours.

At the time, Laughlin was a 23-year-old daily intravenous heroin user. Five rehabs in the U.S. were not completely useless, he said, but he was still addicted to heroin until he tried ibogaine.

I felt a very intense, real feeling of free falling ... It felt like a gigantic hand reached up through the earth and grabbed my entire body and just pulled me down ... and I could feel myself going through the mattress and through the concrete violently, said Laughlin about his experience.

During his hallucination, Laughlin said he saw demons and dragons yelling at him about the choices hed made. He was finally able to break his spirit free from this underground hell, as part of the soundtrack of the movie "Mortal Kombat" played in his head. When he came out, Laughlin said he felt a love, acceptance and a self-compassion for himself he had never felt before.

Laughlin says he has been sober since his treatment in 2013 and has remained involved in the recovery community.

Inzunza and Laughlin both said there isnt much concern about people becoming addicted to the ibogaine because the experience is brutal not something anyone would do for recreation.

Theres growing pushback against the U.S. ban on psychedelics. Last year, Oregon became the first state to legalize the therapeutic use of psilocybin, the psychedelic ingredient in magic mushrooms. Denver, Oakland and Washington, D.C., have decriminalized it.

Last month, the California state Legislature sidelined a similar bill that would have removed criminal penalties for the possession, use and cultivation of certain psychedelics.

In June, Texas and Connecticut enacted laws allowing research into how psilocybin might help people with post-traumatic stress disorder. Meanwhile, investment money is pouring into the hallucinogens market.

But ibogaine, considered one of the most powerful psychedelics on the planet, isnt likely to be at the front of the line for legalization.

2021 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Post-9/11 war vets go to Mexico to treat trauma with a psychedelic that's illegal in the US - The Bakersfield Californian

COVID misinformation: FDA warns about ivermectin as COVID treatment

It's just one of the many online rumors floating around about the coronavirus, treatments and the vaccine.

Staff video, USA TODAY

Antiparasitic medicines such as ivermectin should not be used to treat or prevent COVID-19, doctors for people and animals warn.

While ivermectin is an approvedtreatment for certain parasitic roundworm infections, it has not been shown to be an effective treatment for COVID-19. Additionally, taking over-the-counter medication meant for animals can have dangerous side effects.

There are people across the country that are doing all sorts of things,Great River Health Chief Medical Officer Michael McCoy said. I have seen the reports all across the country of people ending up in emergency departments due to taking ivermectin.

Ivermectin is used in animals to treat fleas and in humans to treat lice. It can also be used to fight ringworm and a number of other parasitic infections. McCoy said he has no clue why the drug has become popular among those seeking alternative treatment for COVID-19.

According to Mitch Hiscocks, a past president of the Iowa Veterinary Medicine Association, ivermectin has been shown to potentially have an effect on the Zika virus, which has spread through mosquitoes, though the reason for this effect isn't quite known.

It looks like (someone) jumped two steps and said ivermectin could treat coronavirus, Hiscocks said.

'You are not a horse': FDA warns against use of ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19

Whether ivermectin actually treats Zika virus isn't known, what's actually known is that in a laboratory study there seems to be some small effect. Fundamental differences between the Zika and COVID-19 viruses, evidenced by the difference in how theyare spread, could be whatever is potentially making ivermectin have some use against Zika virus, which is spread through mosquitos.

In laboratory settings, ivermectin seemed to slow the production of Zika virus. Laboratory studies, however, are completely controlled by scientists and there is know way to know if occurs in a lab will occur if treating the virus in humans or animals.

Aside from the unproven success of ivermectin as a potential treatment for COVID-19, humans taking ivermectin from farm stores that is meant for animals is problematic for a handful of reasons.

1. Not all forms should be ingested

Ivermectin comes in many forms. There are forms of ivermectin thatare meant for oral consumption, but unless it specifically states it ismeant to beingested, it's likely not meant to be taken orally. Paste, creams or liquid non-oral formulations may be mixed with chemicals that should not be ingested even at small doses.

As an example, Hiscock saidtopical ivermectin that is used to treat cows is more than 90% alcohol, which could cause skin issues if applied topically or serious complications if ingested.

Fact check: 590% jump in poison control calls about ivermectin seen in Texas

2. Overdose risk

Ivermectin at farm stores is usually meant for treating large animals, like cows and horses. A safe dose for an animal may look like 1 cc per 100 pounds, so taking even a teaspoon could result in ingesting more than twice the safe dose, resulting in serious medical complications.

People are taking crazy doses that are meant for veterinary or animal purposes, McCoy said.

Overdoses of ivermectin can cause low blood pressure, problems with balance, seizures, liver injury, and it can eveninduce comas.

3. Dosage based on species

The other problem with humans taking doses of ivermectin meant for animals is that while dosing is based on weight, it is also based on species. So even if someone were to get their hands on ivermectin and take what appears to be the dose for their weight, this dose still could be a drastically different than what is safe for humans.

4. Allergies

Additionally, some people may be allergic to ivermectin, as are some dog breeds.If a dog were to be allergic to ivermectin and ingest it, it could cause the dog to have severe neurologic deficits or perhaps even die due to how severely it effects their nervous system.

Bottom line, if it doesn't say it's meant for humans, you shouldn't be taking it, Hiscocks said.

While those infected with COVID-19 should not attempt self-medicate with ivermectin, they also should not wait to seek treatment from medical professionals.

McCoy said it is very important that patients seek treatment for COVID-19 and not wait until they are so sick they need to be hospitalized. It's a problem McCoy said can cause a number of unanticipated issues.

I think we are seeing patients that are sicker because they waited, he said.

Fact check: Over-the-counter vitamins not proven to treat, prevent COVID-19

McCoy said hospital bed availability doesn't just take into account the number of physical beds. It also depends on the number of patients staff numbers can adequately support.

When considering how many patients a hospital can take, acuity, or the complexity of care required for patients in a hospital unit, must also be considered. The higher the acuity of a unit, the more staff members are needed to care for patients in the unit. Patients who come in sooner may not need to be hospitalized or may have a lower acuity number, meaning the hospital can accept more patients.

More: Iowa COVID hospitalizations highest since January, 25% increase since last week to nearly 500

The hospital also still must do all of its other routine functions in addition to providing COVID-19-related care. So just because the hospital has many beds free does not mean those beds are set aside for COVID-19 patients.

I heard a comment the other day of people saying, 'Why are there people still wearing masks? COVID is over', McCoy recalled.

McCoy said COVID-19 is most definitely not over for southeast Iowa. In fact, numbers at Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center continue to go up.

More: Des Moines County COVID-19 vaccine tracker: 41% of people fully vaccinated

As of Wednesday, Des Moines County had one of the highest seven-day positivity rates in the state at 16%, with 142 new cases reported in the past week.

McCoy said the hospital has not yet issued a mandate for its staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Conversations about whether Great River Health, the health system that operates Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Centers in West Burlington and Fort Madison,will mandate the vaccine are ongoing and the policy could eventually change, but McCoy said it's too early to know.

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Iowa doctor, veterinarian explain why you shouldn't use ivermectin to treat COVID-19 - Burlington Hawk Eye

Some are turning to ivermectin, a parasite medication for horses, to treat COVID-19 despite health officials' warnings over the potential side effects.

ENUMCLAW, Wash. Ivermectin, a medication used to treat parasites in horses, has been flying off the shelves at Bill Meisers Country Farm & Feed in Enumclaw.

Our sales have been up for the past couple of months, over three times as much, Meiser said.

Now Meiser is wondering if hell be able to keep up with the demand.

Were currently out, we sold the last tube this week. We may or may not get a new supply this week, he said.

But wheres the demand for ivermectin coming from?

The drug is being falsely touted as a remedy to COVID-19 in some online spaces. Now, some people are trying to get their hands on the horse medication in any way they can, no matter who, or what its meant to treat.

People, or some people at least, are bypassing the human version and then going to stores with livestock supplies and picking up the medicine for animals, said Dr. Scott Phillips, medical director for the Washington Poison Center. If people are using veterinary products, they may not be making the right dose adjustments, and that makes for a real risk of toxicity.

Ingesting too much ivermectin can lead to side effects that range from nausea to seizures. However, that hasn't stopped people from looking for ivermectin vendors.

As a result, the Washington Poison Center says theyve gotten more people calling over ivermectin poisoning.

If you compare August 2021 to August 2020, weve seen about a threefold increase in the number of cases, Phillips said.

Meanwhile, farmers in Pierce County worry that they may have to look for alternative treatments for the animals that need the medication.

Meiser says he'll be screening requests before selling the drug from now on to make sure it gets to farmers in need.

Were only going to sell it to people we know, or people we know for sure have horses. Were not going to sell it to any new people. Were lucky to get any supply at all, and the people that need it, were gonna try to make the horse people get it, he said.

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Ivermectin poisoning cases have increased threefold in Washington, Poison Center says - KING5.com

Photo credit: Astrid Stawiarz - Getty Images

Sure, your necklace looks cute around your neck, your dangly earrings add some flair to your outfit, and your chunky ring spices up your pretty mani. But those jewelry items arent doing any *work* for you, you know? Time to try ear seedslittle ear accessories that can actually double as pain-reducing, good-for-you mental health tools.

Ear seeding, or auriculotherapya practice from traditional Chinese medicine that involves placing a small seed (or metal or ceramic bead with adhesive, which is more common nowadays) on your cartilage and outer earmay set off changes in your nervous system and, in turn, your body and vibe. So if you suffer from issues like stress, allergies, digestion probs, back pain, and more (*slowly raises hand*), you might want to put yourself in the market for these tiny but mighty gadgets.

And while there are tons of supposed benefits, youll want more information about some of the ins and outs of ear seeding before starting to stick them all over your ears. Understandable. The following are all your questions about ear seeds, answered by a doctor of internal medicine, a trained acupuncturist, and a holistic practitioner. In short, your ears are in good hands.

You use ear seeds as a method for quelling mind and body aches, even if theyre particularly painful. You can put an ear seed on one of various points on your ear, depending on what kind of therapeutic benefit you want, says Shari Auth, DACM, a holistic practitioner and cofounder of WTHN acupressure studio.

In Chinese medicine, the ear is a microsystem of the whole body with dozens of pressure points that do different things from relieving pain to boosting digestion, balancing hormones, calming the mind or helping you sleep, Auth explains. And while ear seeds dont work instantly, per se, they can shift your energy pretty fast and, most important, effectively.

The theory is that acupressure points in the ear match up with spots on your body, and by placing the bead, you tell your nervous system to turn down pain receptors and stress hormones impacting the area, says Tiffany Lester, MD, an internist and acupuncturist at Parsley Health.

Story continues

How quickly that happens depends on the issue. In serious pain? It may take a day or two. If you use seeds for stress, though, you should relax within an hour or so of applying.

The placement of your seed doesnt need to be exact in order to work, so its pretty foolproof to DIY; you can buy ear seeds from Amazon or other online retailers. Search ear seed diagram in Google to find an ear acupressure map that shows where to place based on the ailment.

If youd feel more comfortable having a pro do it, you can have seeds applied professionally at some spas and alternative medicine practices, though itll cost anywhere from 35 to 85 dollars for the jewels and involve a 10ish-minute process.

Yes. Ear seeds are pretty much harmless, and they shouldnt cause pain at all. You can even press down on your beads with your fingers when you want a boost in the acupressure benefits (for example, if youre feeling more anxious than normal and need a surge of ahhh), says Auth. A little red dot might appear on your ear, but its nothing more than a baby bruise. Just make sure you dont wear them longer than a week, to avoid uncomfortable swelling or soreness, says Lester. Roger that.

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Ear Seeding Is A Wellness Tool People Are Using To Reduce Stress And Chronic Pain - Yahoo Lifestyle

Did you spread misinformation about COVID-19 today? How do you know? You dont.

Scientific study is just like politics in that diverse opinions achieve balance. When we shut down opposing views of science, we kill the very thing that saves lives. We omit what could be great achievements in medicine. When science is one-sided there is fear, distrust and resentment.

Maybe you choose not to pay attention to developments in science. Maybe you dont mind taking advice that is dictated to you via one-sided practices. Maybe you have an inherent need to learn everything you can from all sides. No matter where you stand, this very diversity of choice has come to a halt. To my point, this is not the way a healthy society thrives. If all needs are not met, no needs are met.

I am told to believe only one thing one view of all that is developing in science. My needs are not being met. I want to talk about doctors who have used alternative therapies for COVID-19. I want to know how COVID-19 was created. I want legitimate and factual explanations for suppression of opposition. There is no way to make sound judgement without all the facts. People are intelligent. We have a need to learn more in-depth information.

Throughout my research into COVID-19, I have been shut down when I am curious about what is deemed misinformation. I want to hear all sides. I want all the answers. I shouldnt be outcasted because of my curiosity. Isnt curiosity what science is based on? This doesnt make me or anyone else who is curious, any of the horrible names we are called. There is no justification for shunning curiosity.

Those that seek all information do not harm anyone. Those who suppress all information are killing science.

I think its time for a live national debate between leading doctors and scientists. A collection of all who want to attend, not just the professionals approved by the current administration.

We need the ability to ask uncomfortable questions. No suppression. No judgement.

Dot Mullins

Chehalis

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Letter to the Editor: Science Is Dead | The Daily Chronicle - Centralia Chronicle

Perhaps we are bored of sharing stories of unvaccinated COVID-19 patients pleading from their deathbeds for others to learn from their mistakes. (I'm not!) But the hot new trend in liberal-and-vaxxed social media is sharing scare stories about ivermectin an anti-parasitical drugcommonly used in farm animals in the U.S. that conservatives have convinced themselves is a robust alternative to getting the COVID-19 vaccine. (It most definitely is not.)But unlike the seemingly endless stream of stories about dying people realizing, far too late, that they should have just gotten the shot instead of playing Own-the-Libs Roulette with a deadly virus, scare stories about ivermectin have an undermining tendency of turning out not to be true.

Last week, a story from Rolling Stone went viral due to a headline that maximized liberal schadenfreude: "Gunshot Victims Left Waiting as Horse Dewormer Overdoses Overwhelm Oklahoma Hospitals, Doctor Says." Delighted at all these idiotic Trumpers poisoning themselves with horse paste, liberals spread the story far and wide.

The problem was that the story simply wasn't true.

As Daniel Dale of CNN explains, it seems the source of the story was a bungled mess of "Telephone"that starts with out-of-context quotes from one doctor.To be certain,Oklahoma hospitals are dealing with overcrowding, but the cause isn't ivermectin overdoses. The actual cause is people refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, then getting COVID-19, and in turn clogging up hospitals because they thought it was more important to thumb their noses as the "liberal establishment" than avoid an extremely dangerous respiratory illness.

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Conservatives were ecstatic about the Rolling Stone retraction, treating thisminor mistake as irrefutable evidence that everything that the mainstream media says about anything is B.S. Breitbart declared the story a "hoax," even though it was most likely just a mistake by overly eager traffic-chasers. Kevin Williamson of the National Review used the story as an anchor for an extremely creepy rant about the largely imaginary problem of the media fabricating the rape crisis. (A few bogus stories don't change the fact that the vast majority of accusations are true, Kev.)

Tellingly, both Breitbart's and National Review'scoverage ignored the real story, which is that risking a severe case of COVID-19 instead of getting vaccinated is a poor lifestyle choice. The word "covid" only shows up in the blockquote from the Rolling Stone correction in the Breitbart story. Williamson uses the word "rape" 13 times in his piece, but he never actually typed the word "covid," which only shows up, again, in the blockquote from the retraction. Instead, he writes, "The most important word in this story is not 'ivermectin' it is 'Oklahoma.'" In truth, however, the most important word is "COVID-19."

While there have been some ivermectin overdoses, the real issue here is not the horse paste or the useless consumption of it by Fox News addicts. The issue is what they're not doing: getting vaccinated. That is whatis causing hospitalizations to spike and over 1,500 people the vast majority unvaccinated to die every day. Conservatives want to debate the safety of ivermectin because it's a way toavoid talking about the real issue, which is COVID-19 and how refusing vaccination is both idiotic and unethical.

Conservatives knowa debate about horse paste safety is a debate they can probably win. While self-administering a drug that's packaged in horse-sized quantities has some dangers, the truth of the matter is ivermectin is generally considered a safe drug and it's used around the world effectively to treat serious diseases in humans, especially river blindness. Making the debate about the ivermectin itself also allows conservativesto pretend that this is a matter of liberal elites mocking the folkways of the common man of middle America as if consuming horse paste is a noble rural traditioninstead of something invented a few months ago as a response to President Joe Biden's well-publicizedvaccine rollout.

If the debate is on the more substantive grounds of vaccine refusal, then conservatives lose handilybecause refusing vaccines is both stupidly risky and, crucially, deeply immoral. Republicans and the apologistsknow this, which is whythey'd rather just talk about how the horse paste is safe. They want to ignore the more embarrassing story of how red-state hospitals are filling up with COVID-19 patients because conservatives think they're too good for a "liberal" shot.

Ivermectin defenders didn't invent this strategy, to be clear. This is a common shell game with "alternative medicine" pushers, who like to talk about how "safe" and "natural" their methods are while avoiding the real issue of how useless they are. "What's the harm?" is a common gambit of alt medicine peddlers.As long as the focus is on the side effects of the fake treatments themselves, they tend to get away with it. But the harm is that people are eschewing treatments that actually work in favor of these fake "alt" treatments, as we've seen in high profile cases like the death of Steve Jobs, who delayed cancer treatments in favor of juices and acupuncture. Not, mind you, because drinking juice is dangerous. No, it was the cancer that got him.

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Unfortunately, liberals play into this strategy by hyping the dangers of ivermectin, instead of dragging the conversation back to the dangers of being unvaccinated. And I get it! I too have succumbed to the urge to share stories about the risks of the horse paste. The problem is, inthe process, far too many liberals are spreading misinformation. The latest scare story claims that ivermectin causes "sterility," which is spreading like wildfire in left-leaning social media, even though it's been thoroughly and easily debunked. And as much fun as it may be to imagine Joe Rogan inadvertently sterilizing himself, it's way too easy for conservatives to exploit these fake stories as "proof" that they are being victimized for their quaint horse paste-eating ways.

Far too many liberals are taking the right-wing bait and imagining that this is a debate about the safety of horse paste vs. vaccines. But the real debate, the one conservatives are skillfully avoiding, is over whether it's safer to be vaccinated or unvaccinated. On that front, the evidence is clear and irrefutable: Being unvaccinated is exponentially more dangerous, as a quick glance of the COVID-19 hot spot map shows.

This is a classic opportunity cost problem. Time spent arguing about the safety of horse paste is time that could be better used talking about the risks of getting COVID-19 by refusing vaccination. Plus, who knows what the next "miracle cure" the right comes up with as an excuse to avoid taking a safe, effective vaccine? For all we know, it could be meditation and kale juice, long walks in the woods, or just standing on your head for a few minutes a day. The issue isn't that the "alternatives" to vaccination are dangerous. It's that not being vaccinated is dangerous. And liberals should resist any and all efforts by conservatives to muddy the waters with distractions like the fake debate over the safety of horse paste.

Read the original:

Why is everyone arguing over horse paste? To avoid discussion about the dangers of vaccine refusal - Salon