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Organic Food Labeling to be Revised
Stunned and embarrassed by a backlash of unprecedented size and source, the Department of Agriculture announced Friday it would overhaul its proposed rules on what foods can and cannot be called organic. With a file of 200,000 public comments sent, faxed, and e-mailed --and almost all criticizing the proposed rules as too weak--the federal agency acknowledged it had learned a hard lesson: Don't mess with Mother Nature--or with the picky produce customers at Bread & Circus and similar stores.

In a written statement, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman promised that because of the overwhelmingly negative reaction, a new set of rules will be drafted that "will contain fundamental changes" from the organic-labeling standards proposed in December. Specifically, the rules will not allow foods labeled organic to be irradiated, genetically engineered, or grown with sewage-sludge fertilizer. "If organic farmers and consumers reject our national standards, we have failed," Glickman said.

In backing down, the Agriculture Secretary bowed to the emergence of the organic-farming industry as a newly powerful lobbying force, and also acknowledged the growing, mainstream market of natural-food shoppers who aren't satisfied with the quality and safety of the conventional US food supply.

Herbs, Targeted Drugs Help Treat Menopausal Symptoms
Estrogen-like compounds found in plants can be very effective at treating symptoms of menopause without side effects, according to a researcher at the sixth annual Conference on Women's Health. Such herbal treatments have been used for thousands of years in other countries and do not seem to be linked to increased rates of breast or endometrial cancer, which are known risks of estrogen therapy, said Shari Lieberman, a nutrition scientist in private practice in New York.

Black cohosh, which comes from a plant called Cimicifuga racemosa, is the most promising herbal supplement in terms of treating menopause, Lieberman said at the conference, which was sponsored by the Society for the Advancement of Women's Health Research in Washington, D.C. In a German study of 629 women given black cohosh, 80 percent reported improvement in menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, headache, heart palpitations and depression after three to four weeks, she said. After six to eight weeks, some of the patients reported complete remission of such symptoms.

In several small studies comparing a black cohosh extract called Remifemin to estrogen therapy, the herbal extract appeared to treat symptoms as well or better than estrogen, she said. Estrogen's side effects can include higher blood pressure, abnormal vaginal bleeding and weight gain. ``This should be the treatment of choice not because it is necessarily superior to estrogen replacement therapy but because it is at least equal to it and there are no side effects,'' Lieberman said.

Dr. Galland's Integrated Medicine
In his second column on Essential Fatty Acids, Essential Fatty Acids--The Key To Health (Part II), Dr. Leo Galland discusses the importance of balancing anti-oxidants and essential fatty acids and problems around trans fatty acids and hydrogenated oils. Because EFAs are polyunsaturated, containing two or more double chemical bonds, they are prone to rancidity, not merely in foods but also in the human body. Rancidity occurs when the double bond is broken by oxygen, producing an oxidized fatty acid. Oxidized fatty acids not only taste badly, they behave badly, disrupting the normal functioning of the cell membranes of which they are a part. Oxidized fatty acids are rapidly generated from the process called free radical-induced cell damage.

To protect EFAs from harmful oxidation, it is essential to consume adequate levels of dietary anti-oxidants, especially vitamin E. Consumption of a nutrient-dense diet will assure a higher-than-average intake of all anti-oxidants. Depend-ing upon the specific foods chosen, however, where those foods have been grown, the efficiency of digestion and absorption, the need for EFA supplementation, and the presence of inflammation within the body, supplementation of the diet with additional anti-oxidants may be necessary. For people who supplement their diets with fish oils or flax oil, a minimum anti-oxidant supplement should include vitamin E (four hundred units per day), selenium (one hundred micrograms per day), and vitamin C (one thousand milligrams per day), in addition to--not instead of--a nutrient-dense diet.

Natural Medicine Research Update
Does exercise have a deleterious effect on joint cartilage or spinal disks? We do know that certain sports place undue stress on joints through sudden twists, bent postures, and excessive weight bearing. Several epidemiological studies have shown that certain athletic activities such as gymnastics, weightlifting, and soccer may lead to acceleration of spine degeneration. In this column, Exercise and disk degeneration, Dr. Ray Sahelian questions whether non-athletes who exercise recreationally also risk cartilage or disk degeneration. Researchers from Finland investigated the effects of endurance exercise and power sports on disk degeneration in monozygotic male twins with contrasting lifetime exercise histories found that recreational exercise does not seem to pose any problems in relation to disk degeneration

The Healer Within

The technique described in Dr. Roger Jahnke's latest column, Alternate Nostril Breathing, has been employed by practitioners of Yoga in India for thousands of years who were aware of the significance of balancing the breath in both nostrils and employed this knowledge to enhance health and consciousness. In alternative nostril breathing, you hold one nostril closed while inhaling and exhaling slowly and deeply. Then hold the opposite nostril closed, inhale and exhale deeply. This breath is often done in preparation for deep relaxation or meditation. You will notice that usually one or the other of the nostrils is more open. If you breath on a small hand mirror, the patch of mist from one nostril will be larger than from the other. Western science did not notice this phenomena until the 1800's. It has been found recently, through the application of current neuro-science, that the practice of alternate nostril breathing helps to balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

Keeping Fit with Dr. Wayne Westcott
Golf is a very popular physical activity that appeals to men and women of all ages. Unlike many faster-paced sports that involve mostly teenagers and young adults, golf is the exercise of choice for many middle-agers and seniors. Because 18 holes of golf is a fairly time-consuming activity, it is particularly well-suited to retired persons.

Actually, a few hours of golf involve only a few minutes of demanding exercise, namely the forceful swinging action of the drives. Although brief, the explosive nature of the golf swing places considerable stress on the hip, back and shoulder joints, which may lead to a variety of injuries. It would therefore seem important for golfers to perform some stretching and strengthening exercises to condition their musculoskeletal system and reduce the risk of swing-related injuries. Obviously, pre-season preparation becomes a more critical concern for older golfers who have lower levels of muscle strength and joint flexibility.

Unfortunately, golfers have traditionally avoided those activities that are most useful for muscle strengthening and injury prevention, reports Dr. Wayne Westcott in his column, Should Golfers Do Strength Exercise?, For years, golfers have shunned all forms of strength exercise for fear that it would reduce their joint flexibility and decrease their movement speed (7). Of course, there are many other myths that have scared golfers and other adults away from strength training. Leading misconceptions are that strength exercise increases bodyweight and blood pressure readings. Both of these assumptions are categorically untrue.

Children's Health Update
Childhood sore throats occur most often in late winter and early spring. A sore throat may be accompanied by a head cold, runny nose, or ear infection. The majority of sore throats are minor viral illnesses that can be treated easily at home. However, about one-third of childhood sore throats are diagnosed as "strep" throat, an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus. The strep bacteria is highly contagious and persistent. Strep throat can run through a family like wildfire. The distinguishing signs and symptoms of strep infection, as opposed to a viral infection, are not always consistent. Definitive diagnosis of a strep infection must therefore be based on a throat culture. But there are some general features that can help you make an initial evaluation of your child's sore throat.

If your child's symptoms are characteristic of a strep infection, call your physician. Your doctor can then diagnose your child's condition by performing a throat culture and prescribe appropriate treatment. Because the streptococcus bacteria is so highly contagious, it may be wise to check other family members for strep symptoms, too. If left untreated, a strep infection can lead to a number of complications. The most serious of these is rheumatic fever, an inflammatory disease that can cause heart damage. If you have a child who has already had a case of rheumatic fever, call your physician immediately if she develops a sore throat of any kind.

In her article " Sore Throat," excerpted from her book, Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, Dr. Janet Zand outlines a comprehensive program for helping to deal with your child's sore throat, including guidelines for prevention, conventional treatment as well as dietary guidelines and recommended nutritional supplements, herbs, homeopathic remedies, and acupressure. s

Association Network -- Hot Pick
The International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy (I-ACT) was established to heighten the awareness of the colon hydrotherapy profession, ensure continuing and progressive education in the field of colon hydrotherapy and implement professionalism beyond reproach. I-ACT advocates the highest standards of education and professional conduct to assure property administered colon hydrotherapy.

Visit the International Association for Colon Hydrotherapy.

Global Health Calendar -- Hot Picks

The Health Show: Maximizing Your Longevity and Quality of Life
Learn the natural healing benefits of homeopathy, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and more! Get the best medical advice from an impressive team of integrated health care professionals - only at The Health Show - Austin Premiere. Three day conference, August 14-16, 1998. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Andrew Weil. Renaissance Austin Hotel. Austin, Texas. Presented by InterShow - The Health Show - (800) 226-0323

The Healing Summit: Humanitarians coming together as peers to pool their talents and skills to co-create the healing of the planet. August 25-30, 1998, Glastonbury, Somerset, England United Kingdom -- Creative Health Network, USA (650) 493-1373

An Integrative Approach to Chronic Illnesses and Successful Aging: Third Annual Conference on Integrative East-West Medicine. August 28-29, 1998, Los Angeles, CA -- presented by UCLA Center for East-West Medicine - (310) 206-1876

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