Allopathy

“When people say something is allopathic what does that mean?”

“Allopathy” and “allopathic” are derogatory terms used by practitioners of so-called “natural” medicine. Basically, “allopathy” means anything that has to do with “modern”, technology-based or pharmaceutical-based medicine. It’s not quite the equivalent of a racial slur but it comes close, especially to M.D.s and other legitimate healthcare professionals. It’s such a distasteful word that even most “natural” practitioners won’t use it anymore.

It was probably first used by European homeopaths as a way to set themselves apart from what they believed was a barbaric practice. Remember, this was a time when doctors were still “bleeding” people to cure them. Homeopaths, on the other hand, prided themselves on taking a much more gentle approach with their “like cures like” philosophy.

Today, you rarely see words like “allopath”, “allopathic” and “allopathy” used in legitimate medical writing. Really, there’s only one reason to use it—to create dissension.

Black Vinegar

“What is black vinegar?”

Black vinegar is a type of vinegar that is most popular in China and, to a lesser extent, Japan. Chinese black vinegar is made mainly from a combination of brown rice, sorghum and millet and has the deep, malt taste you expect from something made from those grains.

Japanese black vinegar isn’t quite as well-known but it’s also gaining in popularity as a health food. It’s made almost exclusively from brown rice and is lighter in both color and taste. Look for the term “Kurosu” on the label.

Potential Health Benefits of Black Vinegar

I’m not aware of any good scientific studies on black vinegar that were done in this country but several have been published in Japan in recent years. Those studies seem to suggest that black vinegar may offer some protection against cardiovascular disease by thinning the blood, lowering cholesterol an improving circulation.

What Is The Best Breakfast?

“What’s the best breakfast? What do you eat in the morning?”

You know, I’m not sure there IS a “best” breakfast. But I can tell you that there are two major trains of thought in natural medicine. Let’s look at those and you can choose the one that’s best for you.

The Fruit Breakfast Theory

A lot (if not most) of the so-called “natural” web sites out there will try to steer you toward what I call the Fruit Breakfast Theory. Believers in the fruit breakfast theory say that after sleeping all night your body is basically in a “fasting” state and it’s important to come out of that fast slowly. After all, they say, that’s what “breakfast” means—“break the fast”. Believers in this theory claim that the body has become unaccustomed to processing food and needs foods that are easy to digest.

Believers in this theory also sometimes assert that your blood sugar levels are especially low in the mornings. What better way to raise those levels up quickly than with something that can be digested quickly—like fruit?

The Protein Breakfast Theory

On the other side of the argument, we have what I call the Protein Breakfast Theory. Believers in this idea claim that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, in part, because it’s a time when everything is working most efficiently and your body is best able to absorb nutrients. They believe that fat and calories are burned most efficiently in the morning.

Believers in this theory agree that your blood sugar is lowest during your waking time but they believe that having a breakfast of just fruit causes that sugar to spike too suddenly. It’s better, they say, to raise those blood glucose levels slowly and give your body a sustained source of energy that will last for hours—instead of just a few minutes.

So What’s Really The Best Breakfast?

The fact is, I haven’t seen any real good science for either theory. Yes, some people prefer a light breakfast of fruit and toast or fruit and cereal but other people seem to do better on a heavy, protein-based breakfast.

Readers, which do YOU prefer? Are you a “fruit breakfast” eater or a “protein breakfast” eater?

Update on Tue, November 25, 2008 by Lisa Barger

Be sure to check out a brief update to this article which seems to shoot down the “protein” breakfast.

The Best Piece of Exercise Equipment

“If you were way out of shape and could only buy one machine to work out on what you it be? Treadmill?”

I suppose that the best piece of equipment is the piece that you’re actually going to use. For me, that would be a treadmill but for someone else, that might be weight bench or a yoga mat or a martial arts DVD.

I’ve owned $1000 treadmills and $200 treadmills and if I were to buy one tomorrow, I’d look for one that was built to last and with a minimum of “bells and whistles”. (Treadmills that can download info from the internet or automatically create workouts for you are nice but they really aren’t necessary.)

Congratulations on your commitment to getting healthier. Even moderate amounts of exercise are linked to lower risks of type 2 diabetes, depression and, believe it or not, even chronic fatigue. But I’m by no means an expert on fitness or exercise. So, trainers and fitness experts—what would you suggest for someone just getting into (or back into) a fitness routine?

L-lysine for Cold Sores

“What was that amino acid you wrote about for cold sores?”

That would be the amino acid l-lysine. It’s an “essential” amino acid, which means that you MUST get it from your diet. (Think of it this way—you body can’t make it so it’s essential that you get it from food.) In numerous studies, the “l” form of this amino acid has been found to shorten both the duration and severity of cold sore outbreaks.

“For many cold sore sufferers, the essential l-lysine may be an effective and safe preventative.”

Almost all cold sores are caused by the Herpes virus. L-lysine seems to interfere with the normal replication of the virus in the body. For some, this means no outbreaks at all and for others it means shorter outbreaks or cold sores that rarely get beyond the initial “tingle” stage. If you’ve ever had a cold sore, this is wonderful news indeed because left untreated, a cold sore can last a good 3 weeks.

Especially encouraging is that for most people, this readily-available supplement, which you should be able to find in the vitamin aisle of any store, is well-tolerated. Several studies have actually found no adverse side-effects at all when cold sore sufferers used l-lysine according to doctors instructions.

Of course, only your doctor is qualified to give you medical advice, but if you’d like to give l-lysine a try for your cold sores, ask your doctor for more information.

Reference:

Singh, B, et al. (2005). Safety and effectiveness of an L-lysine, zinc, and herbal-based product on the treatment of facial and circumoral herpes.

Thieves Oil

“What is thieves oil and can you take it for colds?”

Thieves oil is the name of a “recipe” for a blend of aromatherapy oils that aromatherapists believe fight airborne pathogens. Occasionally, you’ll find things like lozenges and cough syrups that claim to be made with this special blend but most of the time, thieves oil is used in nebulizing diffusers or added to household cleaning products.

The Legend Of Thieves Oil

According to the most popular version of the legend, a band of grave robbers were caught pilfering the newly-dug graves of plague victims. When questioned, the robbers explained that they had created a blend of herbs that they believed protected them from contracting the plague from the bodies they were uncovering.

What’s Really In Thieves Oil?

Over the years, the various “recipes” to make thieves’ oil has changed a bit—mainly as a result of availability of the parent botanicals—but today, the standard formula nearly always includes clove, cinnamon and rosemary. It usually also includes other believed anti-microbial oils like eucalyptus, lavender and/or tea tree.

In the U.S., the “official” registered trademark belongs to the Young Living Essential Oils company. Young Living markets an entire line of anti-bacterial products that includes bath products, oral care items, household cleansers and even an air freshener.

Does Thieves Oil Really Work?

Whether the story behind thieves oil is true or not, the science is clear. Some of the oils used to make it have potent anti-microbial actions. Chief among them is clove, which consistently stands up to scientific testing.

Thieves oils isn’t a miracle by any means, but it’s an intriguing product.

No-Poo Movement

“My daughters were over this weekend, talking about going ‘no-poo’. What is this and can it possibly be safe?”

Relax. The “no-‘poo” movement doesn’t mean what you think it does. The “poo” in “no-‘poo” actually refers to shampoo—you know, the stuff you lather on your head in the shower every morning.

Proponents of the “no-‘poo” movement refuse to use lathering shampoos to cleanse their hair and scalp. Why? There are probably a number of reasons but most are concerned about “toxins” in mainstream toiletries. Citing “studies” from dubious pseudo-scientific “sources”, these shampoo avoiders have convinced themselves that shampoos are full of chemicals that cause everything from depression to cancer.

“Relax. No-‘poo doesn’t mean what you think it does. It refers to going without shampoo.”

What No-‘Poo People Use Instead

Some “no-‘pooers” rely on herbal products like soapwort but most use a combination of baking soda paste and white vinegar. To cleanse and remove excess oil, these non-shampooers make a thick paste of baking soda and water that they rub into their scalp for several minutes. They follow this with a rinse of diluted white vinegar.

An older “no-‘poo” formula—and one popular with people who can’t shower daily—is cornmeal. People using this method work a small amount of cornmeal (which is very absorbent) near the scalp then brush the cornmeal out after a few minutes.

Other people prefer to use one of the ready-made products on the market. Remember, it’s not just “nature nuts” that avoid shampoo. Cleansing without shampoo is commonplace among people with certain disabilities and in long-care facilities.

But Don’t “No-‘Poo” People Smell?

The idea that “no-‘poo” people smell is a myth—at least in most cases. Sure, they don’t have that “fresh out of the shower” smell, but, then, for many of them, that’s the whole point. And many “no-‘poo” users add essential oils to their rinse waters to scent their hair naturally.

Remember, “no-‘poo” doesn’t usually mean “no-hygiene”. “No-‘pooers” are just doing it differently.

Naturopath

“Can you tell me what a naturopath does?”

I would be happy to. A naturopath is simply someone who gives advice on natural health. Some are also M.D.s (medical doctors) but the vast majority are products of naturopathic colleges. Only those that are specifically licensed by their state can “practice” medicine; all others must work strictly as educators, consultants or something similar. (As of this writing, in 2006, only about 13 states licensed naturopaths.)

How To Become A Naturopath

There are 3 way to become a naturopath. The hardest (and most legitimate) is to attend a specialized naturopathy program at an accredited naturopathy college. Naturopaths who have attended federally accredited colleges are rare; most fall into one of the next two categories.

Next in line are home-study naturopathic programs. These types of colleges have taken something of a beating lately due to the number of diploma mills offering naturopathic “degrees” that often require nothing more than paying a fee and sending in open-book exams.

Finally, you have “self-taught” naturopaths. Usually, naturopaths in this category have little to no formal education and no actual clinical experience.

Find A Good Naturopath

If you’re looking to replace your primary care physician with a naturopath, I strongly recommend that you stick with one who is both an M.D. and an N.D. And if you have any questions about your naturopth’s competency, call your state’s Department of Health and ask for it’s naturopathic licensing information.

But if you’re looking for someone to mainly just consult with you on various health topics, a traditional (non-M.D.) naturopath may be a less-expensive alternative. Assuming that your naturopath is a product of a legitimately accredited program—and not some 6-week home study program, he or she may be a wonderful source of natural health information.

Whatever category your naturopath falls into, you’ll probably want to make sure that your naturopath is covered by malpractice insurance. (Personally, I wouldn’t consult with any health professional who balked at answering questions about his or her education, clinical experience or malpractice coverage.)

There are some wonderful people out there working in natural health. Unfortunately, the natural health field is also populated with a large number of charlatans, salespeople and dubiously-credentialed “professionals”. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Canker Sores

“Do you know what causes canker sores? Somebody told me that cankers sores and cold sore are the same things in different places. That’s not right, is it?”

No, it’s not right but the idea that cold sores and canker sores are the same thing is apparently pretty common. Cold sores are usually caused by herpes simplex virus but canker sores are basically just little ulcers. Cold sores are contagious while canker sores are not.

Another difference is that canker sores are sometimes related to certain digestive or nutritional dysfunction. For instance, people who have trouble absorbing certain vitamins and/or minerals may be more prone to canker sores.

Canker sores are also sometimes aggravated by a foaming ingredient that’s found in most toothpastes and many mouthwashes.

We’ve written a few different pieces on cold sores and canker sores and you can find those by doing a quick search of our site if you’d like a more detailed look at each one. But to answer your original question, no, canker sores and cold sores are NOT the same thing.

Bioavailability

“Could you please explain what it means to say that something is more ‘bioavailable’ than something else?”

Sure, and it’s a lot less complicated than you might think. Bioavailability is just a word nutritionists use to describe how much of a particular nutrient your body is going to get out a particular food.

“Bioavailability simply refers to how well your body can use a particular nutrient from a specific food.”

For example, let’s look at a nutrient known as lutein. Lutein is a nutrient that may help prevent age-related macular degeneration so if macular degeneration is something that’s important to you, you may want to consider getting as much lutein as possible from your diet.

A number of foods contain lutein but your body is especially able to use the lutein found in eggs. In fact, in that respect, eggs are better for you than spinach and even better than taking lutein supplements. In other words, the lutein in eggs is more bioavailable than the lutein in spinach or vitamin pills.

The chemistry behind bioavailability is too complicated to address here but those are the basics. Oh, and beware of raw food diet proponents that tell you that raw food is always more bioavailable than cooked. It’s true that some nutrients are lost during the cooking process but for some nutrients exactly the opposite is true. The lycopene (a nutrient closely linked to decreased risks of some prostate issues) in tomatoes is a good example of a nutrient that’s more bioavailable after cooking.

References:

Chung, H., et al. (2004). Lutein Bioavailability Is Higher from Lutein-Enriched Eggs than from Supplements and Spinach in Men.