Tarryall.net
. . . a Guide for Living Energetically
NEWSLETTER
April 2008
"In the end, what matters is not so
much what you bought,
but what you built;
not so much what you got,
but what you shared;
not so much your success
but your significance;
not so much your competence,
but your character;
not so much what you said,
but what you did."
               Anonymous

What's New

  • Dynamite DynaShield - It's back and better than ever as a spray-on
    skin & coat conditioner and sun shield that just can't be beat!  Most of
    us who use it have also discovered that it mightily discourages flying
    pests of all kinds, too.  :)

  • Dynamite Home & Garden ... now comes with a handy new Spray 'n'
    Go lid to make application even easier! And speaking of easy
    application, do check out all of Jos Zamzow's new videos on YouTube
    concerning fertilizer application. You can find them all listed under
    Dynamitevideo, http://www.youtube.com/user/Dynamitevideo.

  • Waiora's AgariGold with H1X1 ... is an exclusive formula combining
    H1X1, the highly potent Agaricus Blazei hybrid mushroom, and Sasa
    Bamboo leaf extract to create one the most efficacious wellness product
    on the market. Using revolutionary, patented extraction technology that
    captures each and every nutritious element from the H1X1 mushroom
    and Sasa Bamboo leaf (more than 100 nutrients combined), Waiora has
    unlocked the secret of vibrant health and longevity to the world through
    this amazing, life-enhancing superfood. Read all about it: www.waiora.
    com

  • HorseSense Book Success - Thanks to some great March clinics, my
    HorseSense book stock was virtually depleted! Jan Scott used them in
    her newly re-designed and fabulous Equine Massage I Clinic (she also
    uses my Living Energetically in her Massage II clinics - see Jan's
    complete spring schedule at www.sporthorsemassage.com) and Julie
    Montgomery, N.D. & Dr. Ted Morter used them at their equally fabulous
    B.E.S.T. Clinic (www.dragonflyfarms.com). One B.E.S.T. participant,
    Gabriealla Valsecchi, was so pleased with the book, she went right
    home and emailed her downline to check it out. Due to that huge rush, I
    have had to do a 4th printing! Thank you Jan, Julie, Dr. Ted & Gabriella
    for your support!

  • Kieba's Retro-Raw Recipes - Kieba is Dawn Blacklidge, former body-
    building star, current owner of Body Temple Boot Camp, www.
    bodytemplebootcamp.com, and soon-to-be radio host. As the most
    healthful and healing diet possible for humans, she recommends a
    "Retro Raw" diet consisting of raw foods, including pastured-only animal
    products, with only an occasional veggie steaming/soup-ing.
    Percentages of meat to produce is utterly personal, as is, ultimately,
    the exact proportion of raw to cooked foods. In addition to the recipe
    included in this newsletter, Kieba has graciously offered to share some
    of her most popular, camper-tested recipes here on my site. In order to
    accommodate such generosity, I have produced a webpage just for her
    which will always be reachable from my Nutrition pages or click here:
    www.tarryall.net/KIEBA.html


Reader Input . . .  Continued fluoridation coverage
from Cathy Justus

I wanted to forward this along that I received the other day from Chris
Neurath, a fluoride researcher in New York. He had mentioned to me back
in 2006 at the Fluoride Conference I spoke at in New York about fluoride
studies he had found that showed a higher incidence of fluoride poisoning
at higher altitudes. This forwarded letter from him lists them and could
very well explain why my animals showed a much quicker
toxicity/poisoning to fluoride consumption than in other areas. We are at
7200 feet where we live and most places in the US are quite a bit lower.  

This being said that still does not lessen the urgency to stop fluoridation
everywhere. This new angle to look at would intensify what Dr. Krook said
of my horses. "They are like the canaries in the mines". What showed up
in them in a short period of time is manifesting in everyone and
everything that consumes/absorbes fluoride. As my Dad used to say "Who
wants to be a little bit dead or sick". In other words continuing to
consume a known toxin may make you feel just a little bad now but since
it is cumulative what will you feel like in a few years?  

Blessings,  Cathy

forwarded email . . .
All,

When Cathy gave her presentation at the FAN Conference last year I
had the same question as Hardy: Why aren't there more animals
showing such clear signs of fluoride overdose.

I came up with two reasons, one of which Hardy has already been
mentioned.

1.)  Elevation.  I believe Cathy told me she is more than 7000 ft
elevation. A number of studies have found that dental (and skeletal?)
fluorosis occurs at much lower F exposures at high elevations. Whitford
has hypothesized about why and has even conducted some experiments.  
Some with rodents in a hyperbaric chamber in Georgia, and others with
rodents in Colorado where Denver is the "mile high city".  I believe there
are two theories and I forget which seems more likely. One says that at
higher elevations animals develop more extensive capillary systems and
perhaps these allow for greater internal exposure or transfer into the
bones and teeth. The other theory had to do with acid/base balance of
the body fluids, perhaps of the blood. High elevation shifts this balance
and fluoride behaves differently at different pH in an organism.
Elevation can be a large reason why more similar cases have not been
reported. Very little of the US or the world is above 7000 ft, and an even
smaller proportion of the human and animal population lives this high up.

2.)  Farms in general rarely use municipal water. This is probably
especially true of those few farms at high elevations. I suspect Pagosa
Springs CO is very rare in having a fluoridated municipal water system
that served farms. Few farms are located within municipal water districts.  
Even those that are, require so much water that it is usually cheaper to
use wells or other local sources of water if they are available. Irrigating
crops is of course hugely water intensive, but so is maintaining livestock
because animals like cows drink a lot of water and they also need lots of
water for cleaning if they are kept confined.

So, I think these two factors probably explain why Cathy's situation
appears to be rare. This also suggests that a good place to look for
fluoride effects would be in people and animal at high elevations
drinking fluoridated water. This could greatly limit one's search.

I would also refine somewhat Hardy's calculations and risk assumptions.
He says 4 mg/day in a human that weighs 100 kg might cause skeletal
fluorosis. Perhaps he meant the early stages of skeletal fluorosis. I
believe the US EPA and others generally have claimed that 10-20 mg/day
for an average adult might cause crippling skeletal fluorosis after 10-20
years. Hardy is somewhat heavier than average. But even assuming he is
average, and he was getting 10 mg/day, he probably wouldn't get
crippling skeletal fluorosis in less than 10 years. He would be getting 0.1
mg/kg/day.

So, a horse that weighs 500 kg and ingests 100 mg/day, if things were
equivalent to Hardy, would be getting 0.2 mg/kg/day and might  develop
skeletal fluorosis in 5 years. I'm not sure what the time of onset was
after fluoridation for Cathy's horses. But horses may be less sensitive
than humans, in which case it might take the average horse 20 years to
develop skeletal fluorosis. If most horses are considered old at 20, then
this might explain why no one has noticed that a lot of them may in fact
be getting skeletal fluorosis.  Only horses at high elevation, like Cathy's,
would have greatly accelerated symptoms.

Chris
... two other points: 1) lactating mares can easily drink double of most
hard working horses and 2) there are effects to fluoridation other than
skeletal fluorosis such as thyroid deficiency and brain/neurological
anomolies.


Reader Inspired - Homemade Laundry Detergent  
After last month's Point to Ponder on homemade natural cleansing
products (for those who want to go beyond vinegar, lemon & peroxide yet
still avoid all those nasty toxins), a reader and I got to chatting about
both laundry detergent and dishwasher soap. Here is a website I found
with 10 different recipes (both gel and powder) plus a large Q&A section.
And, btw, I always put some vinegar in the rinse "cups"  - the Dynamite
ACV of course, although I know most folks use the white vinegar.
http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes
... as for automatic dishwashers, apparently just equal parts @ of Borax &
Baking soda (increase soda proportion a bit for hard water), adding 1-2T
per load with vinegar in the rinse cycle. Some folks like to add 2-3 drops
of lemon essential oil, too. Hmmm, wonder if Dynamite Tea Tree Oil
would work?


Book Review - DYING: Finding Comfort and Guidance in a Story of
a Peaceful Passing by Judy, K. Underwood, Ph.D.
If we have not faced it yet, we all surely will: the death of a loved one.
And how many of us will flounder as did the main characters in this
amazingly honest book? Modern society fails to teach the naturalness and
inevitableness of death, but rather turns death into some sort of athletic
contest held in hospital arenas in which we are bound to lose in spite of
"heroic" tortures. In my own situation, I fortunately knew of Hospice's
considerable resources when my grandson died, but I was unaware of
them when my mother-in-law died in our home. How I wished I could have
had this book then! Dr. Underwood's story is the story of each and every
one of us. We can only pray, that, with her courageous and open-eyed
account of her journey with her friend, and her friend's journey with her
partner, we take heart from all of her realizations, understandings and
conquests. Please, each and every one of you reading this brief review,
get this book now. Read it and meditate on it. And at last, use it when
faced with a similar situation or even your own departure.


Did You Know?...   (from various sources)

  • Sex & Sugar - A study in the Journal of Clinical Investigation shows
    that high levels of glucose and fructose can deactivate the gene that
    controls the amount of sex hormones in your blood. This study revealed
    that when glucose and fructose are metabolized by the liver it
    deactivates the SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) gene. Why is
    SHBG so important? It regulates the amounts of testosterone and
    estrogen floating around in your bloodstream. Without SHBG to regulate
    those hormones, your sex hormones go out of whack…which in men can
    lead to impotence and low libido. For women the effects are worse - in
    addition to diabetes (which can also significantly decrease a woman’s
    libido), low SHBG levels can cause infertility, polycystic ovaries, acne
    and uterine cancer. So it seems it's either sex or sugar, but not both.

  • Sugar Substitutes Make Rats Fat - In a series of experiments,
    scientists at Purdue University compared weight gain and eating habits
    in rats whose diets were supplemented with sweetened food containing
    either zero-calorie saccharin or sugar. The report, published in
    Behavioral Neuroscience, presents some counterintuitive findings:
    Animals fed with artificially sweetened yogurt over a two-week period
    consumed more calories and gained more weight — mostly in the form
    of fat — than animals eating yogurt flavored with glucose, a natural,
    high-calorie sweetener. It's a continuation of work the Purdue group
    began in 2004, when they reported that animals consuming saccharin-
    sweetened liquids and snacks tended to eat more than animals fed high-
    calorie, sweetened foods. The new study, say the scientists, offers
    stronger evidence that how we eat may depend on automatic,
    conditioned responses to food that are beyond our control.

  • Botox Black Label - A consumer group is requesting that the FDA
    require "black box" warnings of the risks inherent in using Botox and
    Myobloc products which are derived from botulism toxins. The fact is
    that 16 people have died from the injections, and, according to the
    consumer group's analysis of the data, there were 658 reports of bad
    reactions over a nine-year period when they looked at the two approved
    products. Of those cases, 180 had potentially deadly conditions,
    including pneumonia, fluid build-up in their lungs and difficulty in
    swallowing. However, the group believes these numbers are low-ball
    figures, representing possibly just 10 percent of total cases because it's
    up to the doctors to let you know of the dangers of these products.
    Currently, the drug companies are responsible for placing warnings on
    their labeling, but there are no stringent guidelines. They're not using
    the standard "blackbox warning" to alert doctors, nor are they including
    what the citizen's group feels is adequately clear information.  
    Unfortunately, doctors are the ones most likely to see the new warning.
    Typically they have their patients sign consent forms, detailing the risks
    of a procedure.

  • B vitamins, homocysteine and Alzheimers - A new study reveals the
    importance of B vitamins in suppressing homocysteine (the amino acid
    that promotes plaque buildup in arteries) and maintaining healthy
    cognitive function. UK researchers recruited a cohort of more than 500
    subjects with an average age of 73, each one in good cognitive health.
    Baseline blood tests showed that less than four percent were folate-
    deficient. Two years later, 45 subjects had been diagnosed with some
    sort of dementia – mostly Alzheimer's. Compared to subjects who
    maintained good cognitive function, subjects in the newly-developed
    dementia group were far more likely to have lowered folate levels and
    higher homocysteine than they did at the outset of the study. In fact,
    numerous recent studies demonstrate just how important folate is in
    our daily diets. The best sources of folate include citrus fruits,
    tomatoes, leafy green vegetables, avocados, bananas, asparagus,
    whole grains, and pinto, navy, and kidney beans.

  • Lipoic acid and carnitine combo show diabetes potential  - A
    combination of lipoic acid and acetyl-L-carnitine may boost the function
    of mitochondria - the cell's power stations - suggests research with
    implications for diabetes and obesity. Researchers, led by Jiankang Liu
    from the Institute for Brain Aging and Dementia at the University of
    California (Irvine), report that the nutrients work together, or
    synergistically - a result not previously reported. "The strong synergistic
    effect of the combination of LA and ALC in [fat cells] adipocytes
    suggests that these two nutrients complement each other's function in
    mitochondrial biogenesis," wrote the authors in the journal Diabetologia.

  • Co-Q10 may ease fatigue after exercise - Supplements of coenzyme
    Q10 may boost physical performance and reduce feelings of tiredness
    associated with exercise, Japanese researchers have reported. Both
    fatigue and recovery time were decreased as a result of 300 milligrams
    of CoQ10 for eight days, according to the double-blinded, placebo-
    controlled study with 17 healthy volunteers published in the journal
    Nutrition. CoQ10 is found naturally in both muscle and organ meats.

  • 3 facts about cholesterol lowering drugs -
    1.  Cholesterol-lowering drugs decrease CoQ10 levels within the
    heart. This essential nutrient serves as an energy producing molecule
    and is crucial to proper cardiovascular function. Without it, the heart
    fails. Congestive heart failure is the outcome. This was highlighted
    when Merck, makers of the first cholesterol-lowering drug, filed for a
    patent for its profit-pulling “Mevacor.”
    2.  Cholesterol-lowering drugs can also destroy memory. Cholesterol
    works to ensure the integrity of the “myelin sheath.” This coating
    within the brain is responsible for encouraging the passage of
    electrical messages. It is needed for memory and focus. As the
    cholesterol-lowering drugs deplete cholesterol the myelin sheath
    breaks down. Memory deteriorates.
    3.  Cholesterol-lowering drugs can increase the risk of cancer.
    Studies show they mimic a growth factor responsible for its
    proliferation. The growth factor is known as VEGF (vascular
    endothelial growth factor). VEGF is “cancer fertilizer.” Thus,
    Cholesterol-lowering drug users are creating an environment within
    their body conducive to cancer growth.

  • Fluoride: A Threat to the Brain - On February 20th, a distinguished
    panel of experts convened by the Institute of Children's Environmental
    Health released a consensus statement summarizing  "the latest
    science about environmental contaminants associated with
    neurodevelopmental disorders, such as learning disabilities, autism
    spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD),
    intellectual disabilities and developmental delays.
    " Fluoride was one of the environmental contaminants reviewed by
    the scientists. According to the report: "Excessive fluoride ingestion
    is known to lower thyroid hormone levels, which is particularly critical
    for women with subclinical hypothyroidism: decreased maternal
    thyroid levels adversely affect fetal neurodevelopment. In addition, a
    study in China reported decreased child IQ levels associated with
    fluoride in drinking water. The question is what level of  exposure
    results in harmful effects to children. The primary concern is that
    multiple routes of exposure, from drinking water, food and dental
    care products, may result in a high enough cumulative exposure to
    fluoride to cause developmental effects... It is not clear that the
    benefits of adding fluoride to drinking water outweigh risks of
    neurodevelopment or other effects such as dental fluorosis."

  • Cats & Schizophrenia - Research just published in the American Journal
    of Psychiatry proves that anyone who has been exposed to the
    Toxoplasma gondi parasite that's found in cat feces – which, potentially,
    might mean anyone who has pet cats – could have a greater chance of
    developing schizophrenia. Among those studied in the research, those
    who came in contact with toxoplasma had a 26% greater risk. That's not
    an insignificant number when you consider that there are as many as 2
    million reported cases of schizophrenia in the U.S. alone. The
    researchers suggested that while schizophrenia is not an automatic
    result of toxoplasma infection, the infection could trigger the disorder in
    people who are genetically predisposed to mental disorders. The tie
    between toxoplasma infection and schizophrenia has long been
    suspected, but never proven. "Until now, the only thing we could say is
    that some people with schizophrenia also had been infected with
    toxoplasma at some point, but we couldn't tease out which came first,"
    said Dr. Robert Yolken, a lead researcher of the study. "With our current
    study, we were able to show that infection came first."  

  • The truth about Human Growth Hormone - Athletes are being villified
    in the media and Congress for getting HGH injections to enhance their
    athletic prowess, but HGH is also made by the body. In truth, studies
    have shown that higher levels of natural HGH can have numerous
    beneficial effects on the body including: aids in fat loss and increased
    Lean Body Mass (muscle), raising the LBM allows for more efficient
    exercising and results in more efficient lung power, raises HDL while
    lowering blood pressure, increases bone density, new liver & spleen
    growth, increases thymus gland growth resulting in increased immune
    function, and can even act as an antidepressant by aiding in
    lengthening deep sleep. Another recent study showed that HGH
    improves “bio-markers” of health across the board. Eating more protein
    (some every meal) and strenuous exercise boosts muscle mass, raising
    HGH levels, while high carbs reduce HGH levels. There are a few readily
    available supplements I know of that not only raise your HGH levels –
    they also intensify the effect of HGH in your body. A combination of
    supplemental arginine and lysine at 1,200 mg each can increase natural
    HGH as can the addition of 2 grams of Glutamine.

  • Livers & Milk Thistle - You gotta love your liver. It's the chief organ
    responsible for allowing you to enjoy a bit of wine, but even more
    importantly, it also protects you from the toxins found in the air, food,
    and prescription drugs. Unfortunately, it's not invincible. When the liver
    is bombarded with too many toxins, it gets hard and stops working.  
    Cirrhosis of the liver is one of the 10 leading causes of death in the U.S.
    Fortunately, you can protect your liver just by using an inexpensive
    natural cure: milk thistle. Milk thistle - which has many anti-aging
    properties - is part of the daisy family. It is able to bind to the squishy
    membrane of our cells and form a protective "shield" from various toxins
    - like alcohol, environmental pollutants, poisonous mushrooms, and
    prescription drugs. Research indicates that milk thistle can be
    successfully used to treat not only cirrhosis but also hepatitis (liver
    inflammation and dysfunction) caused by viral infection and excess
    alcohol consumption. Big Pharma has been trying to identify and design
    a molecular copy-cat that mimics milk thistle's healing molecules. To
    date, they have failed. But that doesn't mean you can't benefit from the
    natural source!

  • 8 reasons to eat pastured-only beef - 1) Omega 3 fatty acid content
    (anti-inflammatory) is commensurate with wild salmon; one reason why
    meat eaters of the past were so much healthier than current agri-
    business meat eaters; 2) Higher vitamin E content; 3) Higher vitamin A
    content; 4) Higher conjugated linoleic acid content; 5) Lower caloric
    content; 6) Lower levels of chemical pesticides and herbicides; 7) Little
    chance of picking up antibiotic residue in meat because animals are
    healthier; 8)  According to a report in The Union (Nevada County, CA), a
    Cornell University study has found that grain-fed animals contain about
    300 times more E. coli, especially acid resistant strains (making them
    more able to withstand the trip through human digestive systems) than
    grass-fed animals.

  • A good egg - Eggs provide a powerhouse of nutrients: essential amino
    acids, riboflavin, vitamins B and D, and minerals, including calcium,
    potassium, and iron. But free-range eggs, as compared to "factory-
    farmed" eggs contain 50 percent more folic acid and 70 percent more
    vitamin B12; 13 times more omega-3 fatty acids; higher vitamin E
    levels; and 40 percent more vitamin A. Additionally, range-free eggs are
    less likely to contain salmonella, the bacterium that's the primary culprit
    behind most cases of food poisoning.  A recent UK government survey of
    chicken operations shows that nearly 25 percent of farms that cage their
    birds tested positive for salmonella, while only 6.5 percent of free range
    flocks tested positive, and less than five percent of organic flocks
    tested positive. The highest levels of salmonella were detected in the
    largest flocks. Factory farms often have 30,000 birds or more, and the
    largest farms may have as many as half a million chickens – all kept in
    cramped cages. According to the Sierra Club, large factory farms produce
    500 million tons of animal waste every year in the U.S. Quite often this
    waste finds its way to rivers and streams, increasing the risk of
    contaminating drinking water. The Environmental Protection Agency
    estimates that waste from these giant farms has contaminated 35,000
    miles of rivers in 22 states, and groundwater in 17 states.

  • Salmon or Cod? - Wild Alaskan black cod (also known as sable,
    butterfish or bluefish) can contain as much as 50% more omega-3 fats
    than salmon and has a very mild flavor (as opposed to salmon which
    can be too fishy for some tastes). It can be prepared any way that
    salmon can.


Point to Ponder #1 - Hard to Swallow by Jenny
Thompson, from an HSI Alert http://www.hsibaltimore.
com/ealerts/ea200802/ea20080213a.html

What drug is taken by more Americans than any other drug?

You might guess cholesterol-lowering statins, but you'd be wrong. Statins
are only used by about 13 million. That's a drop in the bucket.

You might guess acetaminophen or aspirin, but you'd be wrong. Millions of
people use these over-the-counter analgesics every day, but that's
nothing compared to American's number one drug: fluoride.

Most of us have been taking a daily dose of fluoridated tap water since
birth. About two- thirds of all U.S. water supplies are fluoridated, and
most of those supplies are in major population areas.

According to a recent report in Scientific American, people who live
fluoride-free are probably healthier than the rest of us. And ironically,
their teeth might be in better shape too.

Here are some of the key revelations from the Scientific American report
on fluoride:
  • Over-consumption of fluoride is common - in addition to our tap
    water, fluoride is added to toothpaste, mouthwash, medications,
    beverages, and even some foods
  • Over-consumption of fluoride often causes dental fluorosis - a
    discoloring or pitting of the teeth
  • A 16-year study that tracked 700 children showed that mild fluorosis
    was 50 percent more likely among children who lived in fluoridated
    areas compared to children who didn't drink fluoridated tap water.
  • Chinese studies have linked high fluoride intake with lower I.Q.
  • Studies with lab animals reveal that high fluoride intake may
    increase bone fracture risk
  • A National Research Council (NRC) committee reviewed hundreds of
    fluoride studies and concluded that fluoride intake can alter
    endocrine function, especially in the thyroid
That last item is arguably the most disturbing. The thyroid produces
hormones that regulate metabolism and growth. The chair of the NRC
committee told Dan Fagin, the author of the Scientific American piece,
"The thyroid changes do worry me."

... Harvard research data showed that boys who drink fluoridated water
between the ages of five and 10 may have an increased risk of bone
cancer. And William Campbell Douglass II, M.D., reports that several
osteoporosis studies have linked hip fracture risk to high fluoride intake.
In addition, Dr. Campbell reports that animal trials have shown that
fluoride enhances the brain's absorption of aluminum, which increases
Alzheimer's risk.

But just try to tell your dentist that fluoride is a potential toxin. He'll
probably insist that the risks are overblown, while the dental benefits are
irrefutable. And that's when you can offer these two points:

1) The largest study ever conducted on fluoridation and oral health
included more than 39,000 children in 84 locations throughout the U.S.
Results showed no statistical difference in tooth decay rates between
fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.

2) Tooth decay trends tracked by the World Health Organization from
1970 to 2002 show that the incidence of decayed, missing, or filled teeth
has been steadily in decline with each passing year in the U.S., France,
Germany, Japan, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, The
Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Portugal, Iceland, and
Greece. Only one of these countries adds fluoride to the public water
supply: the U.S.

In his article, Dan Fagin notes that scientific attitudes toward fluoridation
may be starting to shift. I hope he's right. It's a shift long overdue.


Point to Ponder #2 - Pets Enjoy Healing Power of
Music by Maryann Mott, Special to LiveScience
http://www.livescience.com/animals/080103-harp-therapy.html

The healing power of music has long been established in people. Now a
handful of harpists throughout the country are harnessing that power for
animals. Alianna Boone is one of those musicians.

“The structure of the harp is considered to be the most healing
instruments next to human voice,” said Boone, an Oregonian who plays
for ill family pets and produced a CD "Harp Music to Soothe the Savage
Beast."

While anecdotal reports abound, Boone conducted one of the few studies
on harp music’s effect on animals. In 2000, she performed for recently
hospitalized canines at a Florida veterinary clinic. The hour-long sessions
immediately began to lower heart rate, anxiety, and respiration in many
cases, she said.

Cow control
Dogs aren’t the only animals benefiting from the good vibrations. Cassie,
a black and white cow, lives at the Maple Farm Sanctuary in Mendon,
Mass., with about 80 other unwanted livestock. She arrived there last year
after jumping a 7-foot-high fence to escape from a slaughter house, said
volunteer Tracie Russell.

Even though the cow is now living the good life, it has demonstrated
anxiety-related behavior issues. On a recent morning, for example,
Russell walked into the barn to find the 1,500 pound Holstein snorting
and stomping.

“I was little bit afraid for my safety, I have to say, for the first time,” said
Russell. She’s not sure what upset Cassie but decided to try calming her
by playing a CD of harp songs. Within 20 minutes, Russell said, the
bovine dozed off.

Rave gorilla reviews
At the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston, a gorilla group appreciated Sue
Raimond’s live harp performance a few years ago. The youngest member,
named Little Joe, even blew her a kiss before falling asleep.

Both wild and domestic animals can benefit from music therapy but not all
of them respond to it. “It’s not a magic bullet,” cautions Diane Schneider,
who produced "Harp of Hope: Animal Therapy Edition," the music that
lulled Cassie. “But for animals for which it works, it works incredibly well.”

Schneider trained at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of
Music. Later, as a pastoral theologian and hospital chaplain, she began to
use the harp with hospitalized human patients.

"I use certain harp vibrations to resonate with, or entrain, a patient's own
cellular rhythms to help release tense muscle tissue, calm anxiety,
improve digestion, induce restful sleep, increase endorphins for pain
management — to aid the body's own efforts to heal itself," Schneider
said. The same holds true for animals, she said.

Animal CD
"Harp of Hope," a collection of 17 songs, was originally recorded for
people but Schneider decided to release an animal edition last year after
owners reported it helped their arthritic dogs fall asleep and calmed their
agitated cats.

Veterinary hospitals also acknowledged the CD's success in soothing
nervous pets — and their owners. She said every detail of the
instrumentals — the tempos, rhythms, keys, note intervals, chord
structures and plucking techniques — are carefully arranged to promote
progressive peace and relaxation. Animals usually begin to relax after
listening for just a few minutes.

Schneider recommends playing the music on an as-needed basis or before
a stressful situation, such as a veterinary or grooming appointment. “I’m
hopeful that there will be a great increase in the use of this benevolent
therapy,” said Schneider. “It is a very cost-effective, beneficial, soothing,
calming intervention for animals and the people who love animals.”


Point to Ponder #3 - Sperm in Danger: CSU researcher
finds that chemicals are affecting the male
reproductive system by Aaron Rognstad
http://www.fortcollinsweekly.com/article/20080213/NEWS/608816686

Men who plan to have kids in the future need be a little more concerned
these days.

According to more than 15 years of research conducted by Rao
Veeramachaneni, a biomedical sciences professor in Colorado State
University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences,
common household chemicals and widespread pollutants are changing
male reproductive health and impacting sexual function, development and
cancer rates of today’s generations and possibly their offspring.

His studies have found that chemicals including insecticides, pesticides,
common pollutants in ground water and chemicals in plastics are causing
developmental abnormalities: hypospadias, a common birth defect in the
male genitalia; cryptorchidism, the absence of one or both testicles in the
scrotum; and impaired sperm quality and impotence.

“Exposure to these chemicals, particularly during certain windows of time
during fetal development in newborns or as adolescents, can do
permanent damage,” Veeramachaneni said in a press release. “It’s been a
difficult task to trace the impact of these chemicals because an exposure
as a fetus may not be manifested until that fetus becomes an adult.”

Veeramachaneni’s research spans the globe crossing species lines from
humans to frogs. Along with the collected findings of other experts in the
field, his results point to a strong link between pollutants and the impact
of chemicals on humans and animals. One study in particular looked at
global impacts from 1940—when chemicals began to be produced in mass
quantities—to the 1990s, indicating a 1.15 percent per year decline in
sperm counts. These declines could possibly be linked to chemical
exposure.

“When we look at the big picture—at trends over time—research shows
lasting effects of chemicals since their popularity after World War II,”
Veeramachaneni said in a press release. “Some of these chemicals can
exist in the environment for 30 to 40 years, and the chances for exposure
are increased because the chemicals have permeated our world.”

Reports coming out of the EPA say that about one-third of the nation’s
lakes and one-quarter of its rivers are polluted with chemicals that can
affect the reproductive health of this generation as well as future ones. A
1999 study compiled by Dr. Theo Colburn of the World Wildlife Fund found
that certain chemicals found in pesticides can affect sperm counts and the
structure of the prostate, or cause delayed puberty and extra nipples in
males.

Some industry representatives, however, say the findings shouldn’t be
cause for panic.

"Those are some pretty scary findings, but obviously it's not slowing down
the population rate," said Dave Murray, a spokesman for Liquid Botanical
Pesticide in Boulder. "Men in general don't seem to be having a problem
impregnating their significant others, now do they?"

The chemicals in Colburn’s study, which include ones found in everything
from pharmaceuticals to herbicides to tap water, are reported to affect
the body through several channels by attaching to receptors in the body
that help hormones carry out their functions, while some interfere with
the body’s natural production of hormones.

Michelle Tariq of the Colorado Weed Management Association said that
she was unaware of the damage done to the male reproductive system
from herbicides, but stressed the need for awareness.

"If this is legit evidence, and it should be if it was done by an expert with
a Ph.D., then this should be made public on a vast scale," Tariq said.
"This is something we all need to be informed of."


Point to Ponder #4 - Public Exposure: DNA,
Democracy and the Wireless Revolution - A Must-See
Documentary on the Dangers of Cell Phone Use
by Dr. Ben Kim   http://drbenkim.com/cell-phone-dangers   
Approximately 60,000 to 70,000 cell phones are sold each day in the
United States. Over 110 million Americans use cell phones. And
worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 1 billion people use cell
phones. As the number of cell phones, cell phone towers, and other
wireless antennas increase rapidly in industrialized nations, should you be
concerned about the effects that regular exposure to radio frequency
radiation can have on your health?

If you're not concerned about the effect that wireless devices and
broadcasting antennas can have on your health, I encourage you to view
"Public Exposure: DNA, Democracy and the Wireless Revolution," a
documentary that provides the best overall look at the connection
between radio frequency radiation and human health that I have ever
come across.

The full documentary can be viewed in two parts, at the URL above
courtesy of Google video or at http://energyfields.org.

In case you don't have time to view this documentary, here are some
highlights that I jotted down during my first viewing:

Regular exposure to radio frequency radiation may interfere with the
electrical fields of our cells. Common health challenges that have been
linked to regular exposure to radio frequency radiation include:
  • Abnormal cell growth and damage to cellular DNA
  • Difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety, and irritability
  • Childhood and adult leukemia
  • Eye cancer
  • Immune system suppression
  • Attention span deficit and memory loss
  • Infertility

Children are at much higher risk than adults of experiencing health
problems related to regular exposure to radio frequency radiation; thinner
and smaller skulls translate to greater absorption of radio frequency.

From the early 1950's to the mid 1970's, the U.S. embassy in Moscow was
purposefully bombarded by radio frequency radiation 24 hours a day. The
U.S. embassy workers experienced what the perpetrators identified as
"Radio Frequency Sickness Syndrome."

After some time of concentrated radio frequency radiation exposure, the
American ambassador developed leukemia. The next American
ambassador also developed leukemia. Blood tests performed on embassy
staff members showed irreversible DNA damage.

Dr. Jerry Phillips, a biochemist researcher, began studying cell phone
safety for Motorola more than a decade ago. When he started generating
data that indicated that cell phones have negative effects on human
health, Motorola took a number of steps to delay publication of Dr.
Phillips' work.

According to Dr. Phillips, Motorola's main concerns with his data were how
to handle public relations and how to spin the results in a way that was
favorable to the industry.

Dr. Phillips also indicates that the only significant money that is available
to do research on cell phone safety issues is industry money. This is why
he has no faith in studies that are coming out.

You can use a radio and microwave detector to measure the amount of
harmful radiation that your living and work spaces are penetrated by. The
detector used in the documentary is called the "Microalert
Radio/Microwave Alarm."

Silver mesh curtains and copper flat paint can block significant amounts of
radio frequency radiation.

... I have long recommended the seminal works by Dr. Robert O. Becker
(The Body Electric and Cross Currents) as essential reading in this age of
electro-magnetic upsurgence.


Point to Ponder #5 - Dinged by Dryer Sheets  by Annie
B. Bond, author of Better Basics for the Home, http://www.care2.
com/greenliving/dinged-by-dryer-sheets.html

You know if you are one of those sensitive to dryer sheets and fabric
softeners. (I think this is the No. 2 consumer complaint behind perfume.)
You are sad that you don't like to walk in your neighborhood on Saturday
mornings because of the offense smell wafting from neighbors' dryer
vents. If someone uses them in your home you may have a nightmare of
burning skin, respiratory irritation, anxiety attacks and irritability. I have
one friend who became so sensitive to the fumes that he had to sleep in
a chair until he could get new bedding! What is the problem with these
laundry products? Plenty.

SIMPLE SOLUTION:  How I would love to have full disclosure of
ingredients in consumer products. Given how many people complain about
getting sick from dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener, it is disturbing
that there is so little research available for the general public about the
ingredients in the products. Dry sheets and fabric softeners actually
waterproof your clothes to make them feel softer! I have found
information on waterproofing and there are few safe ways to do that.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and industry-
generated Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) from the 1990s, the
following is a list of chemicals in fabric softener products, most in
untested combinations. Liquid fabric softeners additionally may contain
formaldehyde.

  • Benzyl acetate: Linked to pancreatic cancer.
  • Benzyl Alcohol: Upper respiratory tract irritant.
  • Ethanol: On the EPA's Hazardous Waste list and can cause central
    nervous system disorders.
  • Limonene: Known carcinogen.
  • A-Terpineol: Can cause respiratory problems, including fatal edema,
    and central nervous system damage.
  • Ethyl Acetate: A narcotic on the EPA's Hazardous Waste list.
  • Camphor: Causes central nervous system disorders.
  • Chloroform: Neurotoxic, anesthetic and carcinogenic.
  • Linalool: A narcotic that causes central nervous system disorders.
  • Pentane: A chemical known to be harmful if inhaled.

To hide the chemical smell, companies load dryer sheets full of chemical
fragrances, which are potentially carcinogenic.
Dryer sheets are designed to stay on clothing for a long period of time
and slowly release their chemicals throughout the day, which leads to
prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals.

The toxins in dryer sheets and their chemical fragrances enter the body
both through inhalation or are absorbed through the skin.

Some of the symptoms experienced from prolonged exposure to the
chemicals in dryer sheets include headaches, nausea, vomiting ,
dizziness, central nervous system disorders, blood pressure reduction,
fatigue, difficulty breathing, skin irritation, difficulty concentrating and
remembering, cancer, irritation to skin, mucus membranes and respiratory
tract, and liver damage.

Alternatives point to successfully substituting vinegar in the rinse water
of the laundry cycle. We've received quite a few comments from our
readers finding this approach works well. There are also a number of
alternative products on the market. Read our article Fabric Softener: Easy
Greening.

Fabric softeners are static cling busters, mostly. One easy way to avoid
using them is to use natural fibers.

... I've never used dryer sheets, or fabric softener, as the smell has
always sickened me and caused rashes both in myself and in the kids.
Instead, I've always used some apple cider vinegar in the washer pocket
usually reserved for the softener. If you REALLY want some safe scent on
your clothing, place a drop or two of pure essential oil on a clean, damp
cloth (reserve one for this purpose) and toss it in the dryer instead of a
dryer sheet!


Point to Ponder #6 - Cases of immune diseases take off
by Rob Stein, The Washington Post  http://www.denverpost.
com/headlines/ci_8442713

First, asthma cases shot up, along with hay fever and other common
allergic reactions, such as eczema. Then pediatricians started seeing more
children with food allergies. Now experts are increasingly convinced that a
suspected jump in lupus, multiple sclerosis and other afflictions caused by
misfiring immune systems is real.

Though the data are stronger for some diseases than others, and part of
the increase may reflect better diagnoses, experts estimate that many
allergies and immune-system diseases have doubled, tripled or even
quadrupled in the past few decades, depending on the ailment and
country. Some studies now indicate that more than half of the U.S.
population has at least one allergy.

The cause remains the focus of intense debate and study, but some
researchers suspect the concurrent trends all may have a common
explanation rooted in aspects of modern living — including the "hygiene
hypothesis" that blames growing up in increasingly sterile homes,
changes in diet, air pollution, and possibly even obesity and increasingly
sedentary lifestyles.

"We have dramatically changed our lives in the last 50 years," said
Fernando Martinez, who studies allergies at the University of Arizona. "We
are exposed to more products. We have people with different backgrounds
being exposed to different environments. We have made our lives more
antiseptic, especially early in life. Our immune systems may grow
differently as a result. And we may be paying a price for that."

Along with a flurry of research to confirm and explain the trends,
scientists have also begun testing possible remedies. Some are feeding
high-risk children gradually larger amounts of allergy-inducing foods,
hoping to train the immune system not to overreact. Others are testing
benign bacteria or parts of bacteria. Still others have patients with MS,
colitis and related ailments swallow harmless parasitic worms to try to
calm their bodies' misdirected defenses.

"If you look at the incidence of these diseases, a lot of them began to
emerge and become much more common after parasitic worm diseases
were eliminated from our environment," said Robert Summers of the
University of Iowa, who is experimenting with whipworms.

"Overall, there is very little doubt that we have seen significant
increases," said Syed Hasan Arshad of the David Hide Asthma and Allergy
Centre in England, who focuses on food allergies. "You can call it an
epidemic. We're talking about millions of people and huge implications,
both for health costs and quality of life."

... do you thing the "powers-that-be" are FINALLY waking up to the reality
of our way over-chemicalized society? Do we think they'll finally realize
that Leaky Gut Syndrome, caused by consuming glutens from babyhood
on, could also be another leading factor in today's allergies and illnesses?


Point to Ponder #7 - Don't sweat it: More bad news
about stress by Dr. William Campbell Douglass, M.D.  

Sometimes, the best advice a doctor can give you is this: relax. It's no
secret that stress isn't just unpleasant, but more and more studies are
proving that it's actually downright dangerous to your health. In fact,
when you say, "man, this stress is killing me," you could be more right
than you know.

This is nothing new, but it bears repeating. I've had a particularly crazy
week, and so this topic occurred to me as I tried to juggle a nearly
impossible schedule. I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.

When I say "stress," it's important that I don't just mean stress with a
capital "s" (i.e., losing your job, divorce, major illness, etc.). The little,
gnat-like stresses that gnaw at us nearly every day and at every turn of
modern life-long lines, minor workplace politics, noisy neighbors, and bad
traffic-can be just as brutally devastating to your health. Like lots of bad
things, it's not the ones and twos … it's that the ones and the twos that
add up to fours, fives, sixes, and tens. Stress is cumulative.

Believe it or not, stress and health were linked for the first time back in
the 1930s by the scientist Hans Seyle. Seyle was actually the man who
first applied the term "stress" to the struggle of all forms of life to adapt
to and deal with changes within their environment. Prior to Seyle, stress
was little more than an engineering term. But oh, how evocative a term!
Anyone who's experienced stress knows that there's no better way of
describing how it can push you physically, mentally, or emotionally to the
breaking point. It's likely not a coincidence that Seyle conducted his study
of stress at what was one of the most trying periods in human history:
the era of the Great Depression.

Seyle found that the hormone cortisol - which is linked closely to the
adrenal glands that are activated by "fight or flight" responses - has a
taxing affect on digestion, reproduction, the immune system and even
physical growth. So much so that its long- term presence can have an
incredibly negative effect on those functions, even shutting them down.
Thus, sustained stress can cause a very real deterioration throughout your
body, exposing you to everything from a case of the sniffles to a deadly
cancer. Think you're losing hair because you're stressed out? Well, you
may be right. But as doctors have known for years, stress is most deadly
because of its impact on your heart. Depressed? That could be stress, too.

Getting the picture? It's everywhere, and could be the root cause of so
many bad things that it's impossible to ignore. How often have I told you
about supposed wive's tales being proven to be true by recent studies?
It's not just in your mind that you feel "restored" or "recharged" after a
vacation or a weekend getaway. You likely are feeling the restorative
effects because your brain and your body are getting that needed break
from stress.

So now you're thinking, "well, no kidding Dr. D - now that you've told us
that day-to- day life is wearing away at our health, what exactly do you
suggest I do about it?"

In order to read Dr. Douglass' 4 Tips for Reducing Stress, go to:
http://www.douglassreport.com/dailydose/dd200803/dd20080307a.
html

... also optimum amounts of magnesium (Dynamite Izmine and/or PMS)
and B-vitamins (Carlson's free-range buffalo liver) can help the body and
nervous system cope with physical stress. Additionally, try both the
BreathWork and the Movements I teach in my book, Living Energetically.


Menu of the Month - Health Elixirs
Even though April, or at least April 1st, is considered to be joke time,
here are some health elixirs that are absolute truth - they DO work!

SPACE SYRUP
2 tsp. diced fresh garlic
3 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
5 Tbs. pure clover honey
1 Tbs. raw apple cider vinegar  [Dynamite's Super ACV]
1/2 tsp. cayenne
1/4 tsp. asafoetida (optional)
1/4 cup strong green tea, freshly made
Saute garlic in olive oil for 1 minute, then add other ingredients. Simmer
and cook over low flame for 5 minutes. Let cool. Strain into glass jar.
Cover and refrigerate. (Makes enough for a week with one teaspoon a
day.) To learn about the origin of the name: http://chetday.com/aliencure.
html

GINGER BEET BLAST feel a cold coming on? try this fresh juice . . .
In your juicer, juice: 3 beets with tops, 1-3 garlic cloves, 2 inch chunk of
ginger with skin; add juice from 2 lemons

ELECTROLYTE MIX Instead of drinking those chemicalized so-called
"health" drinks, try this super vegetable blend to add to water bottles for
added taste and electroly