Health Action - Summer 2014

Health Acti n T h e

V o i c e

o f

N at u r a l

W e l l n e s s

Immuneboosting Recipes Tamanu Oil – A Skin Indulgence Breaking the Fluoride Cycle The “B” Happy Vitamin GMO Apple Campaign Update

I n f o r m a t i o n

Compliments of

|

E d u c a t i o n

|

A www.hans.org d v o | cHealtha Action c y1

Learn.Teach.EmpowEr.

Achieve optimal health, well-being, and an exciting career with a Diploma in Holistic Nutrition from Canada’s leading Holistic Nutrition School. CSNN exclusively offers the

Register for new classes starting in 2014.

Please call the respective branch for course inquiries and appointments.

R.H.N.™ Designation (Registered Holistic Nutritionist), the most recognized designation in the industry.

To learn more about CSNN’s Natural Nutrition Diploma program, visit www.csnn.ca.

CSNN Vancouver 604.730.5611 van@csnn.ca

CSNN Nanaimo 250.741.4805 nanaimo@csnn.ca

CSNN Kelowna 250.862.2766 kelowna@csnn.ca PCTIA Accredited

2

Health Action | www.hans.org

tion Network Society), the Publishers of Health Action, would like to thank ores and distributors for taking a stance and saying NO to the GM apple.

Health Action Summer 2014

Geopathic Stress: Investigating Earth Energies

Published quarterly by Health Action Network Society

We’re surrounded by earth energies that impact our health and well-being.

Geopathic consultant Vlasty Senovsky shares his decades of expertise in recognizing these invisible yet powerful (made up of both organic and conventional growers) officially energy fields. opposes the GM apple. Contamination from GM apples would

Executive Director Lorna Hancock

12

GM “Arctic Apple” Update

as applied for government approval Apple” that doesn’t brown for 15 to threaten the future of organic apples and the export market for BC mpany ‘silences’ the browning gene by applesthe around the world. Approval could come as early as this year. nto the apple DNA: an apple, Anfrom apple a daya keeps acteria. The GM apple will look fresh,It may doctor away.

To also this end, HANS would like to release the following list of

stores that have made a written commitment not to sell the “Arctic keep consumers away, if it’s Apple” andArctic thank them for their support in this public health issue. have conducted genetically any animal feeding modified.

The HANS would also like to thank the Society for a GE Free BC g the GM apples, and Health Canada non-browning apple may be and Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) for their t testing, but relies on information approved for sale invaluable as earlyassistance. as he BC Fruit Growers’ Association

this year, but some B.C. 18 so far, have Famous Foods committed to not Sprout sellingOrganic Market Grocery 49th Parallel it. Find out who. Jim M Koo Produce

LOWING RETAILERS: retailers,

Kootney Co-op Eternal Abundance and Rock Creek General Store s Market

Director of Operations Michael Volker

Nature’s Fare Fruit World Greens Market Sweet Cherubim Olives Community Market

6

Choices Markets East End Food Co-op Ellisons Market Cafe

Managing Editor Michelle Hancock Assistant Editor/Proofreader Julie Cheng

Feed Life, Starve Cancer

Layout & Design Annette Spreeuw

Discover the power of nutrition against cancer and other degenerative diseases with registered holistic nutritionist and culinary artist, Eden Elizabeth. Her Vancouverbased company, Feed Life, is positively changing lives, plate by plate. Here, she shares her tips for health.

24

Contributors Mark Atkinson, Sabrina Chen-See, Brigitte R. Clark, Alexis Costello, Richard DeSylva, David Dressler, Nicole Duelli, Mandana Edalati, Eden Elizabeth, Klaus Ferlow, Ron Gale, Jim Harding, Trish Lim-O’Donnell, Andrew W. Saul, Jane Shaak, Vlasty Senovsky, Carolyn Steele, Chun-Kai Wang, Avery Yackel

The Power of the Old-fashioned Petition

Submissions: editorial@hans.org

No time to stop and sign? In this era of online communication, the oldfashioned petition nevertheless still holds power over politics.

Read about the petition for the Charter of Health Freedom, which is rivalling the largest petition in Canadian history and is still growing.

Letters to the editor and requests for article references may be sent to editorial@hans.org.

HANS reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity.

If you would like more information on this issue please go to: http://www.hans.org/campaigns

36

Also in this issue Organically Okanagan...................................................................... 8

The Role of B Vitamins on Stress................................. 44

Making Peace with Nature..................................................... 10

Nutrigenomics: Feed Your Genes What They Need or They Will Make You Sick............. 46

Breaking the Fluoride Cycle in B.C............................ 14 HANS Member News................................................................. 16 Are You a Gluten-free Glutton?..................................... 20 This Box Is Good for You! – Key Tips to Get Past the Marketing Hype.................................... 22 Immune-boosting, Anticancer Recipes................... 26 Maggie’s 20-Year Journey with Leukemia............ 31 Tamanu Oil for Divine Indulgence................................ 32 Staying on Top of a Changing Field – A Profile of Barrie Carlsen.................................................... 33 A Timeline of Vitamin Medicine...................................... 39 Herbalists and Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword............................................................. 42

Honouring Who You Are....................................................... 47 The Keys to Our Spiritual Evolution......................... 48 So You Want to Be Happy? Here’s How............. 50 Instant Impact: Homeopathic Healing for Sports Injuries............................................................................. 52 Five Reasons to Care about Your Posture........................................................................................... 53 The Science behind Traditional Chinese Medicine.............................................................................. 54

Health Action Network Society 214-5589 Byrne Rd., Burnaby, BC V5J 3J1 T: (604) 435-0512 F: (604) 435-1561 www.hans.org | hans@hans.org publication mail agreement #40050050 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: 330-123 Main St., Toronto, ON M5W 1A1 circdept@publisher.com Health Action magazine is a free publication to its membership.

The opinions expressed within are those of the writer and not necessarily those of HANS. Those with health concerns should contact their health-care provider.

We acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia

Detox with Traditional Chinese Medicine......... 57 Tamiflu: A Colossal Waste of Money....................... 58 HANS Wellness Directory................................................... 61 www.hans.org | Health Action

3

Introducing the New Health Action Magazine

by Lorna Hancock

R

ight now, you’re holding in your hands one of the many exciting changes that’s happening at Health Action Network right now.

As you’ve probably already noticed if you’re a member and receive our magazine by subscription, Health Action magazine has a completely new look. We felt it was time to refresh, while providing the same relevant content that we know you, our valued members, and the public care about.

In this issue, we explore the denaturing of nutrition, looking at aspects of its evolution

from local, farm-fresh organic bounty to what the processed and denatured food industry has become. Are you like me and wonder what is being done to our food? Do you wonder what you can do about it?

Well, being consumers, you and I can do a lot and we simply have to remember that when we go to the store and vote for quality foods with our shopping dollars.

On pages 6 and 7 is an update of how our anti-GM apple campaign is going. As a result of a letter we mailed out, some B.C. retailers have promised to keep their store GM-apple free (see list page 7). We hope this effort is meaningful to you, as it has generated public and media interest. If your regular grocery store is not yet on the list, we also hope that you will contact the store management and ask them to sign the commitment letter for all the important reasons listed on page 6.

Following on pages 8 and 9 is a closer look at something that personally inspires me:

organics in the Okanagan Valley. Having grown up in the Okanagan, and returning to it every summer with my own family, it’s wonderful to see growth in such an important movement. In his article on respecting nature (page 10), Jim Harding says that we as a society must move beyond a “green” ethic to a deeper “sustainability” ethic. I just love this, don’t you? What could be more sustainable to people and planet than a world-shift towards organics.

As always, we want to report on other health and environmental issues, so look for updates on water fluoridation (page 14) and the Charter of Health Freedom (page 36), the latter of which is already one of the largest federal petitions in Canadian history!

Paying tribute to the roots of the natural health industry, we’ve also included several articles on supplements, orthomolecular medicine and various medical disciplines.

Please enjoy our new recipe section, filled with disease-

fighting, delicious suggestions, courtesy of Eden Elizabeth and Colin Medhurst of the Vancouver-based culinary company Feed Life. Thank you to all our other wonderful contributors who make this issue of Health Action a tool for thought and change. We hope you like it, and by all means let us know!

Let’s connect!

facebook.com/ HansHealthAction twitter.com/joinHANS

Environmental News from BC and the World Environmental Environmental News News from from BC BC and and the the World World Western Canada’s only enviro-news magazine.

Western Canada’s only enviro-news magazine.

Western Canada’s only enviro-news magazine.

Investigative journalism on emerging issues in Investigative journalism emerging issues in health, food, land, forest,on rivers & oceans, climate Investigative journalism on emerging issues in health, food, land, forest, rivers & oceans, climate change, society andforest, technology. health, food, land, rivers & oceans, climate change, society and technology. change, society and technology.

Subscribe!

Subscribe!

Subscribe!

1 yr. $25 2yr. $40 1 yr. $25 1 yr. $25

2yr. $40 2yr. $40

Internet $15 Internet $15 Internet $15

www.watershedsentinel.ca www.watershedsentinel.ca www.watershedsentinel.ca

1 ON 1 • GROUPS • WORKSHOPS TELEPHONE COACHING

(604) 544-2902 Cell: (503) 701-5102 trishlimodonnell@aol.com For more info: www.trishlimodonnell.com Email:

www.hans.org | Health Action

5

Putting the Freeze on the GM Apple

by HANS staff

T

he first genetically engineered apple in the world could be approved as early as this year.

A small B.C. company called Okanagan Specialty Fruits has asked the Canadian and U.S. governments to approve a genetically engineered (also called genetically modified or GM) “non-browning” apple.

What is the GM apple?

The “non-browning” apple is genetically engineered to keep from going brown after being cut. When apple flesh is cut and exposed to oxygen, it begins to brown but the GM apple or “Arctic Apple” will not brown for 15 to 18 days. The company wants approval to sell GM Golden Delicious and Granny Smith apples, and wants to engineer Gala and Fuji apples in the future.

Consumers oppose the GM apple Browning in apples is not a problem. It’s helpful information for consumers. The “nonbrowning” GM apples are designed to look fresh when they’re not, and will therefore mislead customers. n 69 percent of Canadians don’t want to eat the GM apple, according to a 2012 poll commissioned by the BC Fruit Growers’ Association.

6

Health Action | www.hans.org

n The U.S. Apple Association says, “consumers like their apples and are not calling for these new ‘non-browning’ cultivars.”

Safety testing is inadequate The company has not conducted any animal feeding trials to test the safety of eating the GM apples. Health Canada does not do any independent testing but relies on information submitted by the company. There are no consultations with consumers or farmers.

Consumer confusion in the grocery store There is no mandatory labeling of GM foods in Canada or the U.S.; however, the company says that they will make the GM apples identifiable in grocery stores with a sticker that has the corporate GM “Arctic Apple” logo. Even if the company does as it says, such a sticker is not informative and will easily lead to confusion and mistrust in the grocery store.

Apple growers oppose the GM apple GM contamination threatens the future of our apples and the farmers who grow them. n The BC Fruit Growers’ Association officially opposes the GM apple.

n The U.S. Apple Association “does not support the approval of this product.” n The Washington-based Northwest Horticultural Council has asked the U.S. Government to stop the GM apple.

Health Action Network takes action For all the above reasons, earlier in 2014, HANS mailed a letter to most produce retailers in B.C. and requested that they make a commitment in writing not to purchase or sell

the “Arctic Apple”. “Our membership and thousands of other Canadians are very concerned about the possibility of GM apples being sold in their local stores,” says Michael Volker, HANS director of operations.

“This is why we took the initiative to contact retailers and ask them to honour the wishes of consumers.”

The results of this campaign to date are found on page 7.

Our website will be updated as the list of retailers grows.

Summary: What’s the Problem? n Consumers don’t want the GM apple. n The GM “non-browning” apple will be misleading to consumers because it will look fresh when it’s not. n B.C. apple growers oppose the release of the GM apple. n Contamination from GM apples is a risk to organic apples and to the market for all Canadian apple producers.

WE WE DON’T DON’T BELIEVE BELIEVE ONE ONE BAD BAD APPLE APPLESHOULD SHOULD

SPOIL THE SPOIL THE BUNCH BUNCH

HANS (Health (Health Action Action Network Network Society), Society), the the Publishers publishers of of Health Action, HANS Action,would wouldlike liketotothank thank the stores and and distributors distributors for taking aa stance the following following stores for taking stance and and saying saying NO NO to to the the GM GM apple. apple.

A Columbia company company has has applied applied for for government government approval approval A British British Columbia to sell aa GM GM apple, apple, or or “Arctic “Arctic Apple”, Apple” that to to sell that doesn’t doesn’t brown brown for for 15 15 to 18 18 days days after after being being cut. cut. The The company company ‘silences’ ‘silences’ the the browning browning gene gene by by inserting inserting new new genetic genetic material material into into the the apple apple DNA: DNA: from from an an apple, apple, aa plant will look look fresh, fresh, plant virus virus and and two two different different bacteria. bacteria. The The GM GM apple apple will even even when when it’s it’s not. not.

The The company company appears appears not not to to have have conducted conducted any any animal animal feeding feeding trials trials to to test test the the safety safety of of eating eating the the GM GM apples, apples, and and Health Health Canada Canada does does not not do do any any independent independent testing, testing, but but relies relies on on information information submitted company. The BC Fruit Fruit Growers’ Growers’ Association Association submitted by by the the company.

The BC

(made up up of of both both organic organic and and conventional conventional growers) growers) officially officially (made opposes the GM GM apple. apple. Contamination Contamination from from GM GM apples apples would would opposes the threaten the future future of of organic organic apples apples and and the the export exportmarket marketfor forB.C. BC threaten the apples around the the world. world. Approval Approval could as this this year. year. apples around could come come as as early early as To following list To this this end, end, HANS HANS would would like like to to release release the the following list of of stores not to to sell sell the the “Arctic “Arctic stores that that have have made made aa written written commitment commitment not Apple” public health Apple” and and thank thank them them for for their their support support in in this this public health issue. issue.

HANS thank the GE Free Free BC BC HANS would would also also like like to to thank the Society Society for for aa GE and and Canadian Canadian Biotechnology Biotechnology Action Action Network Network (CBAN) (CBAN) for for their their invaluable invaluable assistance. assistance.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE FOLLOWING RETAILERS:

Freshpoint Famous Foods Lifestyle Markets 49th Parallel Grocery 108 Mile Supermarket Kootney KootenayCo-op Co-op Pomme Natural Foods Eternal Abundance The Biggest Little Fruit Stand Rock Creek General Store Edible Island Whole Foods Market

Sprout Organic Market Jim M M. Koo Koo Produce Produce Choices Markets East End Food Co-op Ellisons Market Cafe

Nature’s Fare Fruit World Greens Market Sweet Cherubim Olives Community Market

you would would like like more more information information on on this this issue issue please please go go to: to: IfIf you http://www.hans.org/campaigns

www.hans.org | Health Action

7

Organically Okanagan

by Alexis Costello

W

hether it’s food, wine or coffee, “certified organics” have a huge following in British Columbia’s Okanagan region, showing that you can hold true to your principles while still being commercially viable. There are many examples of organic farms and vineyards in the Okanagan. Taking a few minutes to speak with the people involved gives you a feel for how the process affects the product and where the industry is heading.

Sipping on a Gewurztraminer that tastes like summer in a

8

Health Action | www.hans.org

glass, I am sitting happily with Ezra Cipes of Summerhill, one of Canada’s best-known organic wineries, to discuss the rise in popularity of organic wines.

yeast and very small amounts of SO2. They are vegan and refined with benzonite rather than animal products.”

Summerhill’s commitment

Fast and furious “For a long time now, organic wine has been the fastest-growing segment internationally,” Cipes says. “Wine has always been marketed as a natural product, but the truth is that we don’t have to put an ingredient list on the back of it; there are lots of other adjuncts that get added (to some wines).

Our wines have lower sulphites, no additives—just grapes,

“Making wine organically is making authentic, true wine.”

Ezra Cipes of Summerhill Winery runs deeper than simply creating a good vintage, though.

“It’s not just about wine; it’s

about farm-to-table agricultural product. The food in the restaurant is organic and that takes some work. We have an organic hamburger on the menu and we have to buy cows a year in advance to ensure we can keep that there.”

Cipes stresses the importance of looking at the land as an ecosystem, nurturing both the land and biodiversity in order to be a true citizen and steward of the earth. In the end, it is worth it. “Making wine organically is making authentic, true wine. There is a deeper beauty and experience that shows up in the glass.”

Home delivery for dinner?

Now that you’ve picked out the perfect wine: how about dinner? If you want to have organic locally grown veggies delivered right to your door, Jordan Marr of Homestead Organic Farms in Peachland can help you out.

Jordan Marr and his partner Vanessa are going into their fourth season of farming on land that has been certified organic for the past 25 years.

They grow a wide variety of culinary vegetables for their home-delivery subscription; usually 25 to 40 different varieties are available from late May to late October to homes from Westbank to Penticton.

“One challenge with organic growers is that we still need to amend our soil to improve nutrient density and it can be very confusing,” says Marr. “We need a well-kept and updated database; it can be challenging to make sure that everything I purchase to use on the farm is permitted as there are always new products coming out.

It can be a real headache …

But it is getting better. [Some suppliers] here in the valley are getting better about having a list you can work from.”

“I’m really proud to embrace the organic farming community, to have the health of the

soil be a primary objective and not just the bottom line.”

That being said, Marr humbly adds a cautionary note, “It’s dangerous when any followers of a certain doctrine become too proud of themselves as it can make them close-minded.

I think there are plenty of other farmers who care a lot about soil health.”

Caffeinated nightcap After dinner, a good cup of coffee and a sweet treat might be exactly what you’re looking for. The Lake Country Coffee House (LCCH) opened in January 2010. The original owners run an organic farm and used those ethics and ideals to set the menu, but by the end of the first year realized they couldn’t run both farm and coffee house successfully, so sold it to family members to keep the dream alive. Carol and Sean Sproule are now in their fourth year of business.

“It’s just getting busier and busier all the time,” says Carol Sproule. “More and more people care about what they eat and are embracing a farm-to-table philosophy.” She notes that as the big-box players like Costco and Superstore are carrying more in the way of organics, they have made it more economically viable for the little guys to do the same.

For more info about Sum

LCCH uses coffee from Cherryhill—a local organic company—and teas from MOTEAS, which is also local to the Okanagan. Ninetynine percent of the meat used in the shop is free-range and grass-fed, and effort is made to use locally grown organic veggies in season. Sproule estimates that 75 to 80 percent of their ingredients are organic. They have plenty of gluten-free and vegan dessert options and often print ingredient lists for customers to check over.

“More and more people care about what they eat and are embracing a farm-to-table philosophy.”

Carol Sproule of L ake Country Coffee House

“We know the people who make our food,” she says. “Our dairy and cheese comes from Jerseyland and is delivered on Fridays … The cheesecake is made by a family in Lake Country where the wife and

y, vis r e n i ill W merh

Lake

daughter are celiac, so it’s a gluten-free kitchen and they are building a great business. Even five years ago there would have been more challenges, but now everyone is getting on board.”

LCCH take-out containers are designed to break down completely in 45 to 60 days, and for the past three years a local gentleman has shown up regularly to pick up all the coffee grounds and eggshells for compost, thus completing the cycle.

In speaking with these three people in very different fields—a winemaker, a farmer, a coffee-house owner—certain themes emerge. The idea of giving back to the land—that it is something that requires our care—and the idea of giving back to a community that supports them. All three seem to be enthusiastic about the future of the organic scene in the Okanagan and appreciative of their customers who are willing to pay a little more or take a little more time to look into what is best for their bodies and their planet.

Alexis Costello is a health practitioner and instructor and owner of Happily Holistic Natural Health and Wellness. She is a homeschooling mom of three and the vice president of the Canadian Association of Specialized Kinesiology. www.happilytholistic.ca | office@happilyholistic.ca

it w w w.summer hill.bc.ca

ganics, w w w.thehomesteadorgan r O d a e t ic f a r m H o m es w w w . l a , k .c a e e s c u o u o n H t r e y e f c f o o f f C e y e r t . com Coun www.hans.org | Health Action

9

Making Peace with Nature

by Jim Harding

I

f you believed all the ads flaunting green products, you’d think we were already on a sustainable path.

You might even think that consuming more green products is good for the environment, which some of the ads imply.

Of course it’s better to buy a car that gets better mileage, but a vehicle that produces one-half

10

Health Action | www.hans.org

the carbon of an older model still produces carbon. Twice the car sales globally and we’re back on the same track.

The green products ethic can be a start, especially if it helps push us towards low-carbon, renewable energy. But this shouldn’t be confused with a sustainability ethic. Our collective mindset has to change for us to want to get on a sustainable path; in particular,

The green products ethic can be a start, but this shouldn’t be confused with a sustainability ethic.

we need to alter how we see ourselves in nature. Sustainability ultimately requires that we make peace with nature.

War on nature We make war with nature when Fukushima’s reactors have meltdowns and spew carcinogens into the biosphere (from Saskatchewan uranium, by the way). We make war with

nature when oil spills create more ocean dead zones and when we spread chemical toxins into the world’s food chains. And there will be blowback; our toxic body burden increases with each generation.

This may sound slightly biblical. Fundamentalists of various religions sometimes see their God as being punitive.

But nature isn’t vengeful, though it definitely responds in the wake of our neglect.

And awakening to this mutual process is a spiritual as well as an economic imperative. And what kind of religion justifies sacrificing creation for the short-term economic gain of a few members of one species?

forest fires in Alberta have been increasing since the 1970s, doubling to 1,811 by 2010.

But their magnitude is also changing. By the time there were “only” 471 fires in 2011, these had already burned 264,000 hectares or three times the 2010 total. Money should talk: fighting Canada’s forest fires has already risen to cost nearly one billion dollars a year.

Extreme flooding And what about the extreme spring flooding in 2011 that hit Saskatchewan’s Qu’Appelle lakes where I live, and put even more farmland under water in Manitoba’s Red River Valley?

Nature’s blowback How can you look at what Alberta’s tar sands are doing to the land, water, air and people and not see an assault on nature? Alberta’s government has subsidized and encouraged the rapid pace of tar-sand development. Yet it wouldn’t admit that there’s probably a relationship between the forest fire that enveloped the community of Slave Lake in 2011 and the increasing carbon going into the atmosphere from such mega-projects.

Was it simply a freak of nature that 500 homes and businesses were destroyed as 7,000 Slave Lake residents fled the fire? Or was this one outcome of the continuing climate change trend towards drier forests and more and larger fires?

As is happening across Canada,

Good to know!

The insurance industry understands the climate change trend. How is it that we still let our governments off the hook?

Even before Alberta’s recordsetting 2013 flood, we should have been connecting the dots.

After all, the rising global temperature enables the atmosphere to hold more moisture.

And more of this moisture has been falling in southern areas of Canada. Far less moisture has been getting further north

E

to the boreal forest, which is drying and more prone to fire.

Prairie flooding and forest droughts seem counterintuitive, but it’s the extreme weather scenario predicted by climate change science.

The frog story We are acting like the frog swimming nonchalantly in a slowly heating pot of water.

Unable to establish a baseline and take action to avert the approaching catastrophe, the frog boils to death. We may not be much smarter than the frog because our bigger brains just seem to get filled up with illusions about our separation from and ability to exploit nature.

Many Canadians let the 2011 federal election go by without demanding any fundamental discussion of extreme weather, even though unprecedented flooding was already occurring.

A majority government was won with only a minority of votes by appealing to our illusions about personal and family security. But what kind of personal or family security can there be in a world where flooding, droughts, fires and storms increase? The insurance industry understands the climate change trend. How is it that we still let our governments off the hook?

It will be our children who will face the greater burdens from a lack of action on climate change, yet they had no real say in the 2011 election outcome. Will this change for the 2015 election?

a nd h e a d o o f , r e , w at ne r g y

Natural security Food security and access to safe drinking water will decrease in such a business-asusual world. Those who grow food for market or who garden have already noticed changes.

Due to extreme moisture a few summers ago we lost all of our greenhouse tomatoes from blight and slugs—the first year ever. The following spring was the first ever where our garden wasn’t completely in by the May long weekend; the soil was still too wet and cold to plant.

This will likely happen again in 2014, after the longest, coldest winter we’ve ever seen. Imagine this food uncertainty on a larger scale.

Energy, water, food and health are all interconnected.

The unsustainable fossil-fuelbased economy and governments that subsidize it are fueling dangerous trends.

We have the knowledge and know-how to begin to reverse these trends, but we have to make peace with nature to proceed. Until we realize that the traditional industrialextraction economy is waging undeclared war on nature, which will bring blowback on our children and their children, we’ll remain like the frog in the pot. But we can always buy more green products as we tread in the warming water before it comes to a boil.

Jim Harding is a retired professor of environmental and justice studies. wwwcrowsnestecology. wordpress.com

lth are all interconnec ted. www.hans.org | Health Action

11

Geopathic Stress Zones Introduction to earth energies

by Vlasty Senovsky

W

hat is geopathic stress? Geopathic comes from two Greek words: “geo” meaning “of the earth” and “pathos” meaning “disease.” Geopathic stress is detrimental energy emanating from the earth.

These mysterious earth energies

12

Health Action | www.hans.org

pass through walls, windows and closed doors. They do not recognize boundaries, fences or other human-made barriers.

They are invisible and for the majority of people also undetectable, and yet there is plenty of evidence of their existence.

Geopathic stress occurs when the earth’s magnetic

field is naturally or artificially disturbed and the background field we normally experience is changed. That might happen in the case of flooding, earthquakes or human activity such as mining or excavation. To complicate things, the stars, the moon phases and magnetic eruptions on

the sun play significant roles in the ever-changing level of radiated intensity. Moreover, the rays of planets are constantly bombarding our earth, penetrating its surface, hitting underground fault lines, water streams and mineral deposits. It is logical that the radiating frequen-

cies will change according to the conductor. All living organisms, not just humans, are subject to this wide spectrum of energies.

The effect of geopathic stress involves slow deterioration of health in unsuspecting individuals. As a result, these individuals often find it difficult to feel happy, energetic, emotionally stable and physically well. Many authorities and experienced health practitioners consider geopathic sanitation to be the first step in the treatment of any disease. Why? When treating patients who are affected by earth radiations during sleep or work, their response to treatment tends to be slow or uneventful.

However, when the patient is removed from the reach of geopathic stress, conditions resolve themselves and the body begins to heal.

Types of geographic stress Geopathic stress zones can be divided into several categories according to the effect they have on human beings, and can have a positive or negative influence. Based on my experience, positive zones or fields are rare and far apart.

Sadly, their intensity is generally lower than their negative geopathic counterparts.

The most common zones are vertical geopathic zones, which form invisible walls.

They rise up from the ground at different angles, reaching astonishing heights. They are typically one to five feet wide, although occasionally we come across ones that might cover the whole house or even blocks of houses.

Horizontal geopathic zones are rarely mentioned in any literature that I have come across and, consequently, they might be missed at the time of a geopathic assessment. Horizontal zones radiate from the side of the mountains and spread in all directions. They can be envisioned as a beam of light with a diameter approximately the size of a basketball. Horizontal zones can be found in any elevation of the house but represent a real concern mainly in the bedrooms where, if crossing the bed at the level of a sleeping person, they would obstruct the normal function of vital organs.

Are you in the zone?

My most surprising and unforgettable personal discovery was detecting two negative horizontal geopathic zones running through my bedroom and, unfortunately, also right through my wife’s body.

After moving into our new house in 1998, I positioned our bed in the bedroom out of reach of all the vertical geopathic zones that I had found through an inch-byinch process called dowsing.

Due to initial renovations, we slept on the floor. We both slept well and felt great. Two months later, renovations completed, we installed the bed in the same location. The only difference now was the height of the bed.

Shortly afterward, my wife started experiencing poor sleep, gradual loss of energy and a constant drilling or grinding feeling in her solar plexus area. Five months later, she experienced a total

collapse and a nervous breakdown. She was bedridden 24 hours a day and her health was deteriorating rapidly.

In desperation, I moved our bed into the dining room, where I had discovered two weak, positive geopathic zones.

That’s when the healing process started. It took her more than two years to regain her previous vitality.

Only after her recovery did I learn about horizontal zones. A detailed dowsing revealed that

an underground water vein, earth break and more. This information is important because our vital organs are also vibrating at certain frequencies. With all the help of sophisticated electronic technology, we are able to ignite the healing process or prevent a condition that would inevitably start after prolonged exposure.

While geopathic earth radiations may not be the only determining factors in every

When the patient is removed from the reach of geopathic stress, conditions resolve themselves and the body begins to heal.

one of them was piercing the length of her spine, obviously paralyzing the activity of all major chakras. The second zone was crossing the first zone at the level of her solar plexus, explaining the constant feeling of grinding.

Ever since, we have been helping others who might be suffering from exposure to these dangerous energies. A test via our Reba machine shows exactly how much geopathic stress and electromagnetic stress a person has been exposed to and consequently how urgent it is to move this person out of the toxic field.

Our second machine, called Bioresonance, determines if a specific negative zone is vibrating at the frequency of

case of unsatisfactory health, their contribution may be significant. During my 18 years’ work with earth energies, I have found only a few houses that are absolutely free of negative energies. All I can say is that the occupants of those houses looked remarkably vital and happy.

Vlasty Senovsky came across dowsing in 1976. Since then, he has developed his dowsing abilities and continuously studies literature based mainly in Europe. He writes, lectures, dowses and consults on geopathic and electromagnetic energies. The original version of this article appeared in the magazine Explore! (14; 4, 2005). Revised and reprinted with author permission. www.geopathic consulting.com | (604) 990-0524 www.hans.org | Health Action

13

Trending Now: Breaking the Fluoride Cycle in B.C.

by Jane Shaak

F

rom 1955 to 1975, a total of 21 communities installed fluoride in their water in the province of British Columbia. The very last new community to actually put fluoride into its water in B.C. happened 39 years ago, in 1975, when the resource-based community of Mackenzie installed it. There have been no new B.C. communities putting in fluoride since then.

According to a B.C. government report, 97 percent of our province’s population is not being fluoridated. The remaining three percent are from five communities that still administer this hazardous chemical to their residents: Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Prince George, Sparwood and Terrace. At least three of these five communities are going to referendum on November 15, 2014, and there is still time for all five to give their residents a chance to end this practice. There is no fluoride administered in Vancouver, Vancouver Island or the Okanagan. The trend is in favour of finally breaking the fluoride cycle, and it is a matter of time and awareness.

Why do authorities and big business continue to support fluoridation? Liability might be one of the issues. Over the years, many authorities promoted fluoride in spite of peerreviewed research of its risks.

Recently, the town of Williams Lake hired a media firm to

14

Health Action | www.hans.org

Protesters march against the use of fluoride in drinking water on February 22, 2013, in San Francisco

inform their community of the pros and cons of fluoride for an upcoming referendum.

Hiring this firm cost $25,000; however, that is much less than the cost of future litigation.

Williams Lake citizens voted to discontinue fluoridating by a huge margin. Other municipalities can learn from this example.

Class action litigation for dental fluorosis recently began in the last few months in Prince George. (For info on dental fluorosis, go to f luoride a ler t .org /issue s/ fluorosis/) Kevin Millership is suing the city of Prince George and has a lot of experience in this area. Millership worked

passionately with Kamloops, which eventually voted out fluoride in their referendum.

He has also sued Cranbrook, later accepting a settlement that will go towards informing voters of fluoride’s hazards prior to their upcoming November 15 referendum.

Emile Begin, a father and concerned citizen living in Prince George, has been one of the key advocates for discontinuing fluoride in this community. He reports, “In 1954, elected officials of the city of Prince George decided to fluoridate residents against vocal and published opposition. Sodium fluoride began on September 12, 1955.”

Sixty years later, Prince George has the opportunity to end fluoridation with its own referendum, again being held November 15. On the worldwide scene, fluoride is being banned in many countries and continents. The trend is towards taking fluoride out of municipal water and there has been great progress. Paul Connett, of Fluoride Action Alert, has been vigilant with informing populations around the planet on this toxic practice. For this worldwide overview, go to fluoride alert.org.

Jane Shaak is a director of Health Action Network Society.

Get grounded, feel great!

The Earth is a powerful, natural energy source. When we walk barefoot, we absorb the Earth's energy through our feet in the form of electrons. This reduces the buildup of protons in our bodies, bringing us into balance. Walking barefoot allows us to become grounded on a daily basis.

Grounding is good for our bodies and makes us feel incredible.

Earthing heals the body and reduces innammation The 57-year-old male patient in this case study suffered from chronic bilateral foot and ankle pain. After Earthing he reported a pain reduction of more than 80%. After 4 weeks, the patient said his pain had vanished with only occasional stiffness. The before (left) and after (right) images above show a pronounced improvement in circulation and a decrease in innammation.

Note that his toes are not visible initially due to poor circulation and room temperature levels.

FREIENG

Our lifestyles, however, require us to wear footwear almost everywhere we go for reasons of safety and comfort, and sometimes just as an expression of personal style. The soles of most modern shoes are made of rubber and plastic, which completely insulate us from the Earth beneath our feet. Pluggz footwear offers us the comfort of a modern rubber sole with the unique addition of a carbon and rubber plug that ensures contact between our feet and the Earth's surface. This technology makes wearing pluggz the equivalent to walking barefoot.

Inspired by Nature, Grounded in Science

SHIoPnPall

orders

855-475-8449 www.pluggz.ca Use the Coupon Code ACTION10 to save 10% on your order

HANS Member News body’s cells work more efficiently. Supplementation with these botanicals may result in younger-looking skin, better sleep and a renewed, youthful energy. www.healthy business.ca | (604) 789-6414.

Anti-Candida Guide Released

Shatford Centre in Penticton

September 20: HANS Wellness Community Event in Penticton We invite everyone to attend an informative Health Action Network Society Wellness Community Event in Penticton, B.C. on Saturday, September 20. The focus of this event is nutrition, with speakers, presenters, food samples and news of the Shatford Centre’s Community Learning Kitchen, which HANS has been instrumental in bringing to reality. In the kitchen will be demonstration classes and opportunities to share life-enhancing practices and information about quality food. Discover more about wellness, HANS and our regional network in this community treasure of a building.

For information on how to participate, contact HANS at (604) 435-0512. www.shatfordcentre.com

16

Health Action | www.hans.org

New Sound and Music Therapy Trish Lim-O’Donnell, life coach and regular contributor to Health Action, is offering a new service in sound and music therapy. Drawing upon three decades of spiritual practice and innovative vocal techniques, Trish uses the modality of sound and music to heal physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. www.trishlimodonnell.com | (604) 544-2902

which includes GST. To book a treatment, call Monica at (604) 871-2471.

New Product: XALO Ageless Ron Gale, president of Healthy Business Consulting Ltd. is pleased to share news of a new product: XALO Ageless.

Studies show that mangosteen, lychee polyphenol, shilajit and other natural ingredients found in XALO Ageless may help the

Congratulations to Dr. Cobi Slater for her new book, The Ultimate Candida Guide and Cookbook. This literary pair is for anyone who suffers with candida overgrowth or who wants to embrace true health.

Available locally at Essential Health Natural Wellness Clinic in Maple Ridge, B.C., and on Amazon. www.dr cobi.com | (604) 467-9554 Theralase Treatment for Repair Brenda Gill, ND, of The Natural Path Clinic in Rossland, B.C., now offers treatments using Theralase, a machine that delivers infra-red pulsed light beams. It increases nutrient supply to the area treated, and

Langara College Massage Students Accepting Clients Langara College’s Registered Massage Therapy students are now accepting clients for treatments on Thursdays and Fridays from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.

The location is Suite M-11, 601 West Broadway, Vancouver.

The cost per treatment: $40.00,

The Registered Massage Therapy program at Langara College, Vancouver

Dr. Cobi Slater’s new book features candidafighting recipes.

also removes inflammation and/or congestion, making it useful for osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, any type of “itis” such as plantar fasciitis, rheumatoid arthritis and tendinitis. (250) 362-5035 Award-Winning Author Releases Exposé of the “Sickness Industry”

The awardwinning author of Conscious Health has released a new book.

Ron Garner, BEd, MSc, and author of the award-winning Conscious Health, has a new release, The Disease-free Revolution. This groundbreaking book is a searing condemnation of what Garner calls “the disease industry,” as well as a guide to living life free of conventional health care, chemically laden food and “Big Pharma.” Available now on Amazon at www.amazon. com/dp/B00JPKOFD4 and in paperback form later this summer.

Welcome Kimen Petersen, RMT, to Evolve Evolve Nurturing Vitality is pleased to announce that Kimen Petersen, RMT, has joined their team, located at 102-2025 West Broadway in Vancouver. Petersen’s practice includes pregnancy, myofascial

pain conditions, sports injury and those dealing with terminal illnesses. www.evolvevitality.com | (604) 255-7777 Shiva Shakti Healing Now Offers Ayurvedic Pulse Assessment Sudha Madhuri Devi of the Shiva Shakti Healing Consultancy recently received credit for continuing professional education from Bastyr University on the topic of Ayurvedic Pulse Assessment: Internal Organ Pulse and Methods of Handling Weak Organs, taught by ayurvedic physician Vasant Lad, BAMS, MASc. www.vancouverhealing.com | (604) 307-4283 MP3 Marine Phytoplankton with IslandHealthworks IslandHealthworks is pleased to announce their clinic is now a founding member of the company with exclusivity to MP3 Marine Phytoplankton, a nutrient formulation that delivers cell nourishment in a bioavailable form. To learn more call (250) 468-7685. Visit w w w.isla nd hea lt hwork s. com to subscribe to their weekly health blog.

Correction in Health Action Magazine In the spring 2014 issue of Health Action, we attributed the article “Eden Energy Medicine Comes to Chi Wellness” to Alexis Costello. The correct author is Sondi Bruner, a Vancouver-based freelance journalist and holistic nutritionist. We apologize for the error. www.sondibruner.com

www.hans.org | Health Action

17

Join HANS

and receive a free subscription to Health Action Magazine

Our Strength iS in numberS The Health Action Network Society (HANS) is a non-profit society incorporated under the British Columbia Company Act on July 25, 1984 and the publisher of this magazine.

The Society believes in the human body’s own healing power, a power derived from man’s dynamic integration with the natural order. This natural healing power (or vis medicatrix naturae, as Hippocrates described it) is mediated through the body’s immune response system in ways which modern science is only beginning to understand. These innate curative mechanisms, if not interrupted by physical or psychological stressors, are

capable of maintaining a high level of personal and social well-being. As Paracelsus has said, “Nature cures; the doctor nurses.”

As the society’s name implies, it has been created to “network” – to put people (individuals, public and private organizations) in touch with one another in the constant effort to maintain and enhance health. But it also seeks to stimulate this journey towards individual and collective well-being by encouraging and supporting research into factors related to “health” and the self-care and preventative health care strategies conducive to high-level wellness.

Please join us by calling toll-free 1-855-787-1891 or online at www.hans.org 18 Health Action | www.hans.org

“ No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” – Aesop (c. 620-564 BCE)

Volunteer. Donate. Join.

Support Your Natural Health Community with Health Action Network Free DVD with memberships or renewals!

Check off your choice below or call for other favourites.

(Please include $5 S&H)

• Donate below, through United Way or at hans.org • Contribute monthly • Become a member below • Give a gift membership • Make a bequest Membership:

Annual Cancer Prevention & Healing Conference: choose from 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013.

D igestion, Mercury and Your Health – Jonn Matsen, ND, (2010).

W omen’s Health Collection – Hormones in menopause, TCM and fertility, anti-aging strategies and intuitive eating (2009).

_______________ $ _________

$35 Individual/year $50 Family/year (up to four people at same address) $180 Professional/year (for one category listing in directory, $230 for two, $280 for three; call us for more details)

H ealthy Breast Seminar – Sat Dharam Kaur, ND, of The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer (2009).

A lzheimer’s Disease: Cause-Prevention-Reversal – Harold Foster, PhD (2008).

P eace Begins with Me – Ted Kuntz, M.Ed. – Practical strategies to increase peace, joy and happiness (2008).

OR, I’d like to make a tax-deductible monthly contribution. $10____ $25____ $50____ $_______ For monthly contributions, please include a cheque marked VOID, or a photocopy of a cheque.

Additional DVDs

(____@ $19.95 non-members, $10 members)______ $ _________

Shipping and Handling

Name: ____________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Telephone: ________________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________ Credit card number and expiry: ___________________ ___________________________________________________

($5 for one item, $1 for each additional) _________ $ _________

Signature: _________________________________________

Additional Donation: _______________ $ _________

Payment methods: cheque,Visa, MasterCard.

I would like to support HANS with an additional donation and receive a tax-deductible receipt.

Total:

Mail to: HANS, 214-5589 Byrne Rd, Burnaby BC V5J 3J1

______________$ _________

Or fax (604) 435-1561 or call (604) 435-0512 Or join online at www.hans.org

facebook.com/HansHealthAction twitter.com/joinHANS

www.hans.org | Health Action

19

Are You a Gluten-free Glutton? no matter what kind of flour they are made from. While it’s wonderfully convenient to be able to get a burger made with a GF bun at a restaurant now, or pick up cookies for the kids, it’s still junk food and needs to be treated as such.

One of the amazing gifts of specialized kinesiology is the ability to create a nutritional program that is specific to you; targeting precisely the foods you need or should

by Alexis Costello

M

y wheat-free diet for the past few years turned into a glutenfree diet last April when it became clear my beautiful baby couldn’t handle the amount coming through my breast milk. I’ve got to tell you, I miss my grains.

“Gluten-free” is to this decade as “vegetarian” was to the 90s. It’s the diet those in the know are following to gets results from weight-loss to heart health to balanced hormones. Is it for everyone, though?

While the gluten-free trend is a blessing for those who suffer from celiac disease or have real trouble with digestion and inflammation, it is

20

Health Action | www.hans.org

not necessarily the healthiest choice for everyone.

When people see the words gluten-free on a label, they often assume that the food is inherently good for them. In reality, these foods are often full of chemicals, preservatives, trans fats and sugar in order to make them palatable.

A gluten-free diet is healthy when it is a lifestyle choice to cut out refined flour products and processed foods. But an Oreo by any other flour blend is still an Oreo. Sort of.

If your goal is to be healthy, switching to a diet comprised of gluten-free pasta, cookies and bread probably isn’t going to get you there. Cutting some of the fast foods out of your diet will. For most people, replacing processed starches

like pasta with whole grains is all it takes, without cutting out gluten entirely.

Here are a few considerations when thinking about going gluten-free: 1. You still need to read ingredients. Don’t be fooled by the idea that all gluten-free foods are healthy.

2. Most processed gluten-free foods are very high glycemic, causing blood sugar levels to spike. Whole grains don’t do this.

3. All flours are not created equal. White rice flour has very little in the way of vitamins, minerals and amino acids to offer, so foods made with this are nutritional vacuums.

The conclusion: processed foods aren’t great for you,

A gluten-free diet is healthy when it is a lifestyle choice to cut out refined flour products and processed foods.

But an Oreo by any other flour blend is still an Oreo.

avoid. This can be extremely useful in wading through the contradictory information available when it comes to food. Just remember: we are all different, so no food fad is right for everyone.

Alexis Costello misses the comfort of barley soup and the joys of baking bread. A health practitioner and owner of Happily Holistic Natural Health and Wellness, she is also the vice president of the Canadian Association of Specialized Kinesiology.

www.hans.org | Health Action

21

This Box Is Good for You! Really? Key tips to get past the marketing hype

by Alexis Costello

E

nriched with Vitamins! A Good Source of Calcium!

Heart Smart! GlutenFree! The message screaming from every box and package on the supermarket shelves these days is loud and clear: this food is healthy and good for you!

But is that true?

22

Health Action | www.hans.org

North Americans are more aware of their health and of the food that they eat now than ever before. Stories about diets, vitamins and vegan gurus can be found on the front pages of newspapers and magazines.

Despite this awareness, there seems to be an equal denial about the actual content of

food beyond the marketing and packaging. In order to get past this denial and actually improve our health, we need to remember a few keys things.

Adjectives mean nothing A package boldly announcing “all natural, farm fresh, home

style” may create a warm, fuzzy feeling of well-being for the consumer, but in truth, these words mean absolutely nothing. Unlike the words “certified organic,” which mean a standard that is enforced and needs to be met, statements like “all natural” can mean just about anything.

As for “natural flavours,” found in most packaged foods, the definition under the Code of Federal Regulations (USA) is: “The essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional” (21CFR101.22).

This means it can include animal products, gluten and other things found in nature that you might not necessarily want in your fruit juice. For example, natural strawberry flavour can be a soup of compounds, which could include castoreum, a substance made from the perineal glands of beavers that can include urine and anal secretions. It is generally regarded as safe, but how appealing is it to you?

Vitamins, minerals and omegas are best taken in foods Seven years ago, Tropicana announced a new orange juice boasting added omega-3. Since omega-3 is a nutrient that many of us are deficient in, this sounds like a good idea.

But are we so desperate for more DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid) that we want it in our juice? An eight-ounce serving of Tropicana delivers 50 milligrams of combined DHA/ EPA, along with 22 grams of sugar. Natural fruit sugars,

yes, but still. Compare this to wild pink salmon, which contains 200 to 300 grams of DHA in a six-ounce serving.

One serving of salmon versus six cups of juice.

“Enriched” flour products have small amounts of vitamins added back into them (vitamins that were lost in the processing of the whole grain into flour), which are basically useless in the body, but allow label claims. When you ingest a vitamin, mineral or antioxi-

Flintstone Gummies. But vitamins and minerals in their base forms don’t taste great, so the first ingredients for these gummies are glucose syrup and sucrose. Even with all the sugar, artificial flavours and colour (see box for complete ingredients), this will only provide 50 percent of the daily value of most of the essential nutrients and nothing at all in the way of calcium, magnesium, iron or selenium.

New and improved junk food is still junk food

Whole foods trump value-added foods every time.

dant in its natural form, the food always contains other nutrients and cofactors that contribute to proper absorption and utilization. Whole foods trump value-added foods every time.

While nutritional supplements are great for correcting a deficiency, not all supplements are created equal. A parent may feel it’s OK if their children don’t eat fresh fruit and vegetables if they are getting a daily multivitamin, say

Four years ago, Kraft introduced the world to Kraft Dinner Smart, boasting a half serving of cauliflower per serving of KD. Finally—a way to get vegetables into kids and feed them glowing carcinogens at the same time—it’s every parent’s dream!

Here’s the thing: pop made from organic ingredients is still pop, gluten-free pizza is still pizza, lollipops with a dollop of real fruit juice are still mostly white sugar. It doesn’t mean that you can never have these things, but we need to stop pretending that the whitewashing—the half serving of cauliflower—is going to make the rest of it OK. Be realistic that what you are eating is junk food and needs to be limited. Same rules apply

to anything that tells you it is light or low sodium.

In a world of “Smart Water” and aggressive marketing it can be easy to go with the flow. After all; you want your brain to be up to par by drinking your orange-juice-fish-oil!

But these products, while convenient for occasional use, mostly just distract from what we know to be true: that a diet rich in whole foods will provide whatever the body needs. Even better is to go for organic and biodynamically grown foods, which tend to be higher in nutrients because of good soil stewardship and the natural defences that plants have. Investing in your health always pays off.

Alexis Costello is a health practitioner and instructor and owner of Happily Holistic Natural Health and Wellness. She is a homeschooling mom of three and the vice president of the Canadian Association of Specialized Kinesiology. www.happilyholistic.ca | office@happilyholistic.ca

Flintstones Gummies Ingredients Glucose Syrup, Sucrose, Gelatin, Water; Less Than 2% Of: Artificial Flavors, Ascorbic Acid, Bees Wax, Carnauba Wax, Citric Acid, D, Biotin, D, Calcium Pantothenate, FD&C Blue #1, FD&C Red #40, FD&C Yellow #6, Folic Acid, Potassium Iodide, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vegetable Oil (coconut or palm), Vitamin A Acetate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, (Cholecalciferol), Vitamin E Acetate, Zinc Sulfate.

www.hans.org | Health Action

23

Five Cancer-Fighting Kitchen Tips to Transform Your Life

by Eden Elizabeth

T

he foods we eat on a daily basis have a very powerful effect on our health and vitality. Research shows that people who consume a diet rich in plant nutrients and low in animal products and fat have a much lower risk of developing cancer.

If this is the case then why aren’t we all eating this way?

Most Canadians consume a diet full of highly processed sugars, fats and salts. Processed and fast foods have been en-

24

Health Action | www.hans.org

gineered to be addictive and excite the pleasure centres in our brain, but they are not nutrient-dense nor, in many cases, safe to eat every day.

The evidence to change our diet is staggering. The American Cancer Society’s review on diet and cancer estimates that up to 80 percent of cancers of the colon, breast and prostate are due to dietary factors.

Our lack of excitement around a plant-based, nutrientdense diet has a lot to do with the perceived sacrifices that come with eating healthy. Most

The truth is that eating an anticancer diet is actually enjoyable, delicious and energizing.

people perceive healthy eating as restrictive and limiting. The truth is that eating an anticancer diet is actually enjoyable, delicious and energizing once you reprogram your palate to

enjoy foods in their natural form. Following a nutrient-rich diet is one of the best ways to prevent disease and look and feel your best.

Here are my five favourite cancer-fighting kitchen tips to get you started on a lifestyle that will transform your health and your body.

1. Get in the mindset to heal and be healthy We’ve all heard the quote by Hippocrates, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy

food.” What a profound effect this realization can have on our own health when we put it into practice.

Food is a beautiful part of the way we express ourselves.

Each culture has its own unique ways of preparing and enjoying food. Unfortunately, many have lost sight of the fact that food is also our fuel for life. What we put into our body affects how we function: we essentially become what we eat. Make each calorie count towards furthering your health and bettering your life.

Taking a moment before you eat to mindfully acknowledge that what you are about to eat is for your highest and best interest will likely bring that chocolate-peanut-butter-cup bingeing to a halt. There are many traditional foods that can be still enjoyed by simply removing excess oils and increasing vegetables.

2. Look for plant-based, nutrient-dense whole foods The best diet to prevent and heal from cancer is a plantbased, nutrient-dense, wholefood diet with moderate amounts of healthy essential fats and high amounts of fibre.

Nutritional researchers have discovered that vegetarians have more than two times the natu-

ral killer-cell activity of meateaters. Natural killer cells are a particular type of white blood cells that attack and kill cancer cells.

It’s not just about being vegetarian, though; there are many unhealthy vegan and vegetarian people. It’s more about enjoying the foods with the most amount of nutrients, enzymes, colour and fibre in every meal.

Dr. Joel Furhman has a comprehensive chart in his book, The Nutritarian Handbook, with a list of the most nutrientdense foods in which he has measured the nutrients per calorie per serving size. The foods highest on the scale are leafy greens and solid green vegetables, the foods on the lower end are animal products and refined oils and grains.

3. Plan for success Set your kitchen up like the healing farm-acy that it is. Remove all those sabotage foods that you know aren’t good for you. One of the mistakes that I see people do when they start eating a plant-based nutrientdense diet is they don’t consume enough calories at their meals and then end up mindlessly snacking on high-fat foods like chips and cookies.

Better to have an extra serving of a nutrient-dense green juice than fill up on a bag of Doritos.

A great way to squeeze more nutrients into your day is by juicing nutrient-dense vegetables and drinking at least 500 ml in the morning. Check out my juice and smoothie recipes on page 27 to see how easy it is!

Better to have an extra serving of a nutrientdense green juice than fill up on a bag of Doritos.

4. Consume two living food meals every day Foods are considered living when they are ripe, raw and sprouted or germinated. These foods have the most amount of cancer-fighting nutrients in them and they take very little work for your body to digest, absorb and assimilate.

You can take a raw nut and wake it up into a living food when you soak it. All of a sudden there is enzymatic activity and the nutrients are far more absorbable. Broccoli sprouts are one of the most powerful cancer-fighting foods out there and they are just the seeds of a broccoli plant soaked and germinated. A living food

meal could be a green juice or smoothie or a great big salad full of leafy green and colourful vegetables, soaked nuts and a cup or two of sprouts.

5. Stay inspired It’s easy to stay inspired when you have more energy, your skin glows and your digestion improves. You will likely hear from friends and family how great you look.

For some it takes longer to adjust to eating this way, so find resources and supportive friends that will keep you on track. Take a cooking class, learn new culinary skills, watch documentaries like Forks Over Knives or Hungry for Change, or host plant-based potlucks with friends. Realize that this lifestyle is about the abundance of whole foods from the earth and nourishing your body to thrive.

Eden Elizabeth is a registered holistic nutritionist, culinary artist and cancer thriver. She co-founded Feed Life, a Vancouver plant-based lifestyle company educating people on how to increase energy and heal their bodies through food. Courses are offered online and in person. www.feedlife.ca | (604) 379-1774

Turn the page for delicious, nutritious cancer-fighting recipes.

www.hans.org | Health Action

25

Immune-boosting, Anticancer Recipes

by Eden Elizabeth

V

egetables, fruit, grains, nuts, seeds and legumes all have important micronutrients and phytochemicals that strengthen immune function and are proactive in destroying cancer-causing substances and protecting the body from harm. Fresh and local helps; the closer to how a food is found in nature the more nutrients it will have. The farther it travels, is heated or processed, the more nutrients are lost. Give these recipes a try—it’ll feel good to know that everything that you put into your body is going to strengthen your immune system and aid in healing at a cellular level.

Après Farmers Market Soup Full of enzymes, cancerstarving greens and immuneboosting mushrooms, this soup is perfect to share with friends on a Sunday

Colin Medhurst

afternoon.

4 leeks, chopped (discard dark green tops) 3 cups stinging nettle or other seasonal leafy green 1 bulb roasted garlic 2/3 cup coconut meat or coconut milk (or cashews, soaked in water for 4 hours) 4 cups vegetable broth

26

Health Action | www.hans.org

2 cups mushrooms, sliced 1/2 tsp rosemary (preferably fresh) 1/2 tsp thyme (preferably fresh) White wine or vegetable broth, for braising Lemon zest, finishing salt and fresh dill, for garnish

Steam-sauté leeks for 2 minutes. Add nettle and sauté for 1 minute. Purée leeks, nettle, garlic, coconut and broth in blender.

Braise mushrooms with fresh herbs in wine or vegetable broth for 4–5 minutes until tender. Spoon the purée, warm or cold, into bowls. For each bowl, add 4–5 mushroom slices and garnish with a pinch of lemon zest, salt and dill.

Nutrient-packed Juice and Smoothie Recipes These are among my favourite juices and smoothies for cleansing and cancer-fighting— they’re packed with nutrients and so simple to make. For the two juices, simply feed the ingredients through a juicer. For the smoothie, throw the liquid first in any ol’ blender and

Colin Medhurst

follow with the chopped vegetables and fruit.

Feed Life Green Juice 1 head of leafy greens (kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, watercress) 1 cucumber 4 stalks celery 1 green apple 2 cups broccoli sprouts 1 tbsp fresh ginger 1/2 lemon

Liver Love Juice 1 4 1/2 1 cup 1 1/2

cucumber stalks celery medium beet broccoli sprouts bunch parsley lemon

Feed Life Green Smoothie 2 cups 5 1/2 2 1/2 1/2 1

water or coconut water leaves kale cucumber stalks celery bunch parsley green apple slice lemon

www.hans.org | Health Action

27

Asian Slaw This simple slaw can be served as a side or as a main on a bed of greens.

It also makes a great filling for veggie burgers and

Colin Medhurst

sandwiches.

Ingredients: 2 cups green cabbage, chopped 2 cups red cabbage, chopped Sunflower seed sprouts (or any other sprouts) 1 tsp sea salt Green onions and black and white sesame seeds, for garnish

28

Health Action | www.hans.org

Dressing: 1/2 cup brown rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar 1 tbsp fresh ginger 2 tbsp lime juice 2 tbsp coconut aminos or Bragg’s or tamari or soy sauce 1 tbsp raw honey or date paste or maple syrup 2 tsp toasted or raw sesame oil

Place chopped cabbage and salt into a large bowl and massage the salt into the cabbage. You will notice the cabbage starting to get damp as its juices are released. It should look slightly wilted when you stop massaging. If you prefer not to have pink-green cabbage you can massage the two types of cabbage in separate bowls. Leave for 15 minutes–3 hours.

Place all dressing ingredients in the blender and purée until smooth. Toss cabbage with dressing and add in sprouts.

Garnish with green onion and sesame seeds. Serve and enjoy!

Zucchini, Basil, Almond Pad Thai This is spicy, salty, sweet comfort food without the guilt! It’s easy to digest and full of colour. You’ve got to love pasta that’s full of nutrients and won’t leave you feeling tired and bloated. If you don’t have a spirooli to make zucchini noodles, you can use a vegetable peeler to create long wide noodles or purchase a 12-ounce bag of kelp noodles.

Prep time is 15 minutes and it tastes best if you let it sit for 20 minutes before serving to let the flavours

Ingredients: 4 small zucchini, spiroolized, or kelp noodles 1/3 cup purple cabbage, sliced thinly (use a mandolin if you have one) 1/2 cup sundried tomatoes, julienned (optional) 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped 1/4 cup green onions, sliced finely 1/4 cup raw almonds or tamari almonds, crushed

Colin Medhurst

mingle.

Sauce: 1/4 cup almond butter 2 tbsp tamarind paste 1 tbsp tahini 1 lemon, juiced 2 tbsp coconut aminos or tamari 2/3 cup filtered water 2 small slices of jalapeno, to taste

Place all sauce ingredients in a blender and purée until smooth. Toss noodles, cabbage and sundried tomato in sauce.

Sprinkle basil, cilantro, onion and almond on top.

www.hans.org | Health Action

29

Wellspring Vision Improvement Program Making a positive difference Wellspring Vision Improvement Program (WVIP) was developed in 1999 by Dr. Weidong Yu, a world-renowned Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

WVIP is a comprehensive Holistic health program based on Chinese herbal medicine, Acupuncture, Acupressure, Qigong, Food and Nutrition. WVIP may be beneficial for patients with conditions such as: Far sightedness Blurry vision Uveitis Post-surgical healing Retinal detachment Floaters

For an appointment, please call 604-737-7876

www.TCMRP.com

Oak St

Dr. Weidong Yu, Dr. TCM

Wellspring Clinic 916 West King Edward Ave. (south east corner of King Edward Mall at Oak & King Edward) Vancouver, BC

W 25th Ave

â

W 26th Ave

W King E

Laurel St

Retinitis pigmentosa Macular degeneration Glaucoma Eye bleeding Red eyes, dry eyes Eye fatigue, hypersensitivity

Radiant Health Saunas Featuring the advanced CarbonFlow™ heating system from Japan, Radiant Health Saunas™ emanate wall-to-wall deeppenetrating infrared heat waves within the vital zone for maximum heat waves within the vital zone for maximum perspiration, detoxification, and pain relief.

▪ Ultra-low EMF levels—below Swedish Standards ▪ Constructed with non-toxic materials ▪ Colour light therapy

604.221.1799

1.888.291.6544

www.radianthealthsaunas.com

Detoxify | Relieve Pain | Lose Weight | Improve Cardiovascular Fitness

30

Health Action | www.hans.org

Maggie’s 20-Year Journey with Leukemia

by Ron Gale

T

he year 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of my wife’s journey with leukemia. From being told that she had a maximum of 10 years to live unless she underwent a bone marrow transplant, to being downgraded to Stage 0, it has been a journey of many twists and turns along the way.

Her diagnosis was delivered on Valentine’s Day. After meeting with her first oncologist, we decided to get other professional opinions for treatment options. My wife has several medical doctors in her immediate family in Europe who strongly believe in alternative medicine. After examining the pros and cons of each treatment option, we pursued the natural venue first. For the next 10 years, our cupboards were full of natural supplements and various teas to boost her immune system. Books on healthy eating and stress-free living could be found in every room of the house.

Maggie’s disease progressed slowly and steadily, leaving her beyond tired most days. Her quarterly appointments with her oncologist were something my wife dreaded. His consistent reminders that natural supplementation did not work, and that she could expect to be dead within 10 years, did not sit well with Maggie. I strongly recommended that she look for another oncologist.

She fired that doctor the same day she was a guest on Croft Woodruff’s Healthy Living show, where she discussed and answered questions about alternative therapies. Eventually, we found an oncologist who is respectful of Maggie’s choice to seek alternative treatments.

His blessing to keep doing

what she is doing is definitely encouraging.

In 2004, Maggie experienced another life-changing event.

She was introduced to mangosteen juice, which contains a rich source of powerful phytonutrients called xanthones. A medical doctor friend directed us to a 2002 study that found

that xanthones isolated from the mangosteen were effective against leukemia cell lines. We have passed this document on to many people over the years.

My wife initially noticed that her energy levels and her arthritic pain improved. Her usual spring allergy seemed to have disappeared as well.

What we didn’t anticipate was that, after about five months of consuming the mangosteen juice, her blood picture started to show improvement.

Fast forward to 2012. Consuming the mangosteen juice daily, eating mindfully, exercising moderately and getting enough rest paid off. At her first visit of the year, Maggie’s oncologist downgraded her from Stage 2 to Stage 0, and she has remained there to this day.

Maggie’s journey with leukemia continues to be a real-life testimony, not a double-blind petri-dish study. Testimonials like Maggie’s are still frowned upon today by many allopathic physicians. As a former police officer, I find this rather interesting, as it is the opposite expectation of giving a first-hand testimony in a court of law.

Ron Gale is a retired police detective and the past president of Health Action Network Society.

He has been in the health and fitness field for more than 30 years. info@healthybusiness.ca | (778) 294-0611 www.hans.org | Health Action

31

Divine Indulgence for the Skin kernel dries does its oil turn into an aromatic, green-yellow oil, which can be squeezed from the kernels using a simple screw press.

History and folklore Natives believed the tamanu tree was a sacred gift of nature and that gods hid in its branches. It was their answer to skin protection from the hot sun, high humidity and ocean wind, and the oil is revered as “the green gold of beauty oils.” It has been studied since the 1920s by researchers in Europe, Asia and the Pacific Islands, and the results of this research are impressive.

and sprains. It also reduces foot and body odour.

The perfect anti-aging ingredient, tamanu oil provides antioxidant, restorative and antibacterial properties. This luxurious oil helps to diminish scars and stretch marks and can transform dull, blemished skin to a smooth and glowing appearance. With chronic conditions such as psoriasis you need to apply the oil for several weeks before you will notice a gradual healing.

Tamanu oil is revered as “the green gold of beauty oils.”

Tamanu’s healing powers

The tamanu tree is indigenous to tropical Southeast Asia

by Klaus Ferlow, HMH, HA

A

fter researching botanicals since 1993, it amazes me that I am still uncovering new exciting plants like the tamanu tree (Calophyllum inophyllum). This tree is indigenous to tropical Southeast Asia and is found in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, South India, Sri Lanka, Mela-

32

Health Action | www.hans.org

nesian, the Polynesian Islands and Madagascar.

Plant description The tree grows to 30 metres high. It blossoms twice annually with fragrant white flowers that yield yellow-skinned fruit the size of an apricot, with a thin flesh and a large nut hull inside. Only after the

Some in the industry call it “a divine indulgence for the skin.” The oil contains three basic classes of lipids— neutral lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids—along with the unique fatty acids calophyllolide, linoleic, oleic, stearic and palmitic acids.

Tamanu oil promotes the formation of new skin tissue and actually heals by speeding up the growth of healthy skin.

It helps clear up acne, hydrates dry skin and has anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the swelling of rashes, insect bites and sunburn. Apply to cuts, scrapes, stings, psoriasis, rosacea, age spots, blisters, ringworm, athlete’s foot, eczema, arthritis, gout, herpes sores, diaper rash, pulled muscles, damaged ligaments

The oil’s anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antimicrobial and antibiotic qualities can be particularly beneficial in cases of neuralgia, sciatica, shingles and rheumatism.

As with any topical applications, be sure to test tamanu oil on a small area of your skin first, particularly if you are allergic to nuts or have a known allergy of any kind.

Klaus Ferlow, HMH, HA, is an author, innovator, lecturer, researcher and writer. In 1975 he founded Ferlow Botanicals, which manufactures and distributes herbal medicinal and personal care products. He is a board member of Health Action Network Society and Dominion Herbal College in Burnaby, B.C. He is co-author of Seven Steps to Dental Health. www.ferlowbotanicals.com

Barrie and wife, Jewel, enjoying dinner out

Staying on Top of a Changing Field A profile of Barrie Carlsen

by Alexis Costello

S

tarting a profitable company that creates products that change people’s lives and health for the better is something to be proud of. Starting three companies like this is nothing short of amazing.

Barrie Carlsen has made just such an impression on the natural health world. He founded Quest vitamins in 1976, Enerex Botanicals in 1997 and Vitex Nutrition in 2011. Where did this interest in nutrition come from?

Like many young men, Carlsen was interested in bodybuilding and weightlifting.

Unlike many, however, he was willing to do some research into the best ways of improving his strength and endurance. This led to the adoption of a vegetarian diet and looking into ways to supplement that diet for op-

timal health. All this eventually turned into a career path.

While the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for most vitamins and minerals is relatively easy to obtain with a good diet, Carlsen explains why that’s not enough. “The RDA is not what is needed for health,” he said at the Westcoast Women’s Show in March 2013. “[Those studies] were funded by the U.S. army and were the minimum amounts needed to maintain the health of a soldier on the battlefield for 30 days, which was the average life expectancy of a soldier … They have nothing to do with a lifetime of good health.”

A 15-year-long study conducted by Dr. Cheraskin and his colleagues at the University of Alabama Medical School, including more than 49,000 pages documenting the work,

has resulted in the creation of suggested optimal nutritional allowance—SONA. SONA levels are, of course, very different than RDAs in that they are looking at a lifetime of good health and prevention of disease, not just trying to ensure that people aren’t actually keeling over from malnutrition.

SONA levels are a key part of the formulas at Vitex Nutrition. With Vitex Nutrition, Carlsen aims to create a research-based product line with a focus on professional use. “My driving ambition is to build products that are the top of the line,” he states with total confidence. “With every new company you look for ways to perfect and improve.”

So what does the future hold for natural health products in Canada? Carlsen urges companies to see the new regulations as an opportunity, since we

are now allowed to make real health claims on the labels.

“Once we have health claims, doctors won’t be as apprehensive in suggesting NHPs with their other treatments,” he says, looking forward to a future with more integrative health care. “Good products manufactured properly based on good science will survive.”

Carlsen also points out that export growth can be expected as other countries start to see Canada as a leader in making quality products.

Carlsen was inducted into the Canadian Health Food Association’s Pioneer Hall of Fame in 1999 to honour his innovative work in the natural health industry. In speaking with him, however, it is clear that Carlsen is not content to rest on his laurels but is still very much a part of this dynamic, changing industry. www.hans.org | Health Action

33

PREMIUM HEALTH

PRODUCTS

Our Innovation Through an impressive legacy of devoted individuals, a sincere dedication to quality and ongoing innovation, Flora has rapidly evolved into one of North America’s premier natural health products companies. Current production facilities include state-of-the-art equipment for processing quality herbal teas, liquid tonics, encapsulating herbal extracts and cold-pressing certified organic seeds into health-benefiting oils.

Our Commitment Flora’s focus on research and development has resulted in production methods which are among the finest in the world.

The staff at Flora are proud to have been honoured with numerous awards for their fine products over the past 48 years.

The company remains familyowned and a leader in the field of natural health products. Flora is committed to its mandate of offering only premium quality products that positively impact people’s lives.

Flora Firsts • First to produce truly cold pressed, unrefined flax oil • First to introduce the world to the wonder of Flor•Essence® • First to pioneer freshly pressed, unrefined, nutritional oil combinations • First to develop the correct ratio of omega-3, -6 and -9 • First to use and still be committed to glass for product packaging and recycling

flora’s top three Flora herbal liquid extracts

salus ® natural tonics

udo’s choice ® oil blends

All Flora liquid extracts are manufactured

Salus is a company with a vision of health and

“Low-fat diets are risky and may increase your

in-house in our state-of-the-art production

well-being. With a production facility and test

chances of infections, allergies, behavioural

facilities under strict guidelines and Good

farms in Germany and a certified organic farm

problems and exhaustion,” says world-

Manufacturing Practices. Our liquid extracts

in Chile, Salus always considers ecological

renowned nutrition expert Udo Erasmus,

have had a long and successful history in

and social criteria, while aiming for the least

Ph.D., author of the best-selling book Fats

promoting health and vitality in people

environmental degradation as possible.

That Heal, Fats That Kill, and formulator of

around the world.

Udo’s Oil™.

flor•essence ®

floradix® formula

Udo’s Oil™ 3•6•9 blend

With its powerful cleansing action, Flor•Essence® clears the way for a more energetic and vibrant you. The combined energy of 8 special herbs – burdock, slippery elm, blessed thistle, red clover, sheep sorrel, rhubarb root, watercress and kelp – gently encourages your body to remove toxins more efficiently than it would on its own. The absence of the waste material enables your organs to operate at peak efficiency – the way they are meant to when they are not weighed down. True health begins and ends within your digestive system. Taking Flor•Essence® encourages regular bowel movements and less gas, bloating and indigestion.

A world famous iron supplement, Salus Floradix® effectively prevents iron deficiency and assists with the formation of red blood cells and their proper functions. It also supports tissue formation, proper growth and enhanced iron absorption and utilization through organically bound iron gluconate, vitamin C and B vitamins.

Floradix® is non-constipating, safe for long-term, daily use and contains no dairy, lactose, alcohol, GMO, chemical preservatives, colouring or flavouring.

Udo’s Oil™ 3•6•9 Blend is a fish-free blend of plant-sourced oils designed to supply the ideal 2:1 ratio of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids. It contains all the good fats you need, without any of the bad fats you should avoid. It’s pressed in a state-ofthe-art, low heat, low light and oxygen-free environment to optimize freshness and provide maximum nutritional value. All of the ingredients in Udo’s Oil™ pass rigorous quality control testing and are certified organic whenever possible. It’s packed in amber glass bottles and refrigerated for storage to ensure optimal freshness.

PREMIUM HEALTH PRODUCTS |

www.florahealth.com |

1-888-436-6697

Petition Power Then and Now The Charter of Health Freedom, the internet and the Canadian government

by Carolyn Steele

T

he internet has revolutionized public engagement with politics. We are able, at the touch of an icon, to share information, pass comment, add a vote or append our name to demands for action.

E-petitions fly around the world in a matter of days, garnering millions of signatories; they ignite passion and persuade governments to take notice.

But how much and why? And

36

Health Action | www.hans.org

what is going on behind the scenes?

Our right to petition The right to petition parliament is an ancient idea. It began in Britain with the 13th century Magna Carta, when citizens first demanded rights from an all-powerful monarch.

Over centuries of political upheaval, petitions became a mechanism to request changes in legislation or policy. The idea

travelled with the Mayflower to the United States; The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution includes, “the right of the people ... to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Things were about to change back in Britain, however. By the 19th century, petitions had become so popular that Parliament could receive up to 30,000 in a year. Amid concern that petitions were obstructing normal parliamen-

tary business, reforms ensured that the practice of debating them came to an end. These days a paper petition may be presented to the U.K. House of Commons by a member of parliament, but more usually they are placed in a green bag behind the Speaker’s chair and the contents merely noted in the day’s proceedings. Valid petitions are handed to the relevant government department for observation and comment, but clearly the days of paper

petitions creating parliamentary mayhem have passed.

Most countries with a British model of government have some form of right to petition. Usually only residents of that nation are able to sign and this is the case in Canada.

Canadian petitions are checked for validity by the Clerk of Petitions’ office and are presented to the House of Commons by an MP. The minister of the relevant department is required to respond in writing within 45 days.

Paper petitions in Canada are alive and well …

When you sign an oldfashioned petition, your MP knows that your level of engagement is worth more than a click of the mouse.

Petitioning in Canada can be remarkably effective. The largest petition in Canadian history, 625,000 signatures demanding a bill of rights, provided the perfect catalyst for then Prime Minister John Diefenbaker to translate his personal observations of injustice into a piece of groundbreaking legislation. Politicians do take notice of petitions.

E-petition effectiveness Online campaigns have been changing the world since 2007.

Websites such as change.org,

Greenpeace and avaaz.org have shown that international statements of discontent, demands for human rights, ecological responsibility and “we’re watching you” observations to rogue nations can achieve much.

Avaaz began with 87,000 “virtual marchers” protesting military escalation in Iraq. Their most high-profile campaign pulled in more than 1.6 million signatures in support of the United Nations’ recognition of Palestine during 2011.

In successful online campaigns, however, an e-petition is usually just one part of a strategy that includes public protest, calling, writing and paid advertising.

The U.K. was the first sovereign government to experiment with e-petitions. In 2011 it launched a scheme whereby any topic gaining 100,000 signatures would be considered for debate. This created interest, excitement, a huge number of petitions, some deflated expectations, a headache for the government and ongoing controversy.

In this scheme’s first year, 36,000 e-petitions were submitted, 47 percent of those were rejected as invalid, and just 10 valid e-petitions attained the required 100,000 signatures. Even those few didn’t all achieve a debate. The news isn’t all bad, though; not only did several petitions hit the headlines for whimsical reasons (the one requiring all MPs to undergo IQ tests became remarkably popular) but some good has resulted. A 2012 e-petition demanded release of secret documents relating to a disaster that killed 96 people at continued on page

38

Ask

Dr. Marita Schauch, BSc, ND

I have terrible PMS every month and my periods are really heavy – is there anything natural I can take to get some relief?

Premenstrual syndrome, also known as PMS, can include symptoms such as mood swings, depression, cravings, bloating, water retention and headaches. PMS can occur for up to 2 weeks before the onset of a woman’s menstrual flow and affects somewhere between 70 to 90% of women.

An imbalance in hormones, especially the ratio of estrogen to progesterone, is commonly the culprit for many women.

This is often referred to as “Estrogen Dominance” and can develop as a result of poor diet, a sluggish liver and exposure to excess environmental estrogens found in plastics, cosmetics, pesticides, the birth control pill, or hormone replacement therapy. Estrogen dominance has been linked to a wide range of conditions, including heavy, painful periods, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, infertility and even estrogen dependent cancers such as breast and uterine cancers. The herb milk thistle has a long history of being a very safe liver detoxifier. A healthy liver helps to eliminate and detoxify these harmful and excess estrogens in order to boost the body’s metabolic rate and ensure that estrogen and progesterone are in healthy balance. Other beneficial herbs to help balance high estrogen levels include: curcumin, calcium-dglucarate, indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane. EstroSense® is a safe and effective detoxifier that helps to eliminate those harmful, excess estrogens so that you can have effortless and PMS free periods!

ONLY available at Health Food Stores and Select Natural Pharmacies For a store near you go to: Find us on:

PNO.CA

www.hans.org | Health Action

37

Petition Power continued from page

37

the Hillsborough football stadium in 1989. The e-petition led to a parliamentary debate, full disclosure of all documents and an independent inquiry.

The U.S. followed the U.K. in September 2011 with their We the People initiative. Initially, petitions in the U.S. that gathered more than 5,000 signatures within 30 days gained the right to an official response. In the first month, 12,513 petitions were created, of which a mere 77 generated responses. At the end of the first year the White House website reported, “We knew that this many petitions would challenge our ability to offer timely and meaningful responses to petitions in the long term. So we raised signature threshold to receive a response to 25,000.”

Even trivial issues received attention. A petition suggesting construction of a Star Warsstyle Death Star received a reply from the science and space chief for Obama’s budget office, “The administration does not support blowing up planets,” followed by an opportunity to share current policy on science education in schools.

Today, U.S. e-petitions involve two thresholds: 150 signatures within 30 days for a petition to be searchable on the White House website and 100,000 signatures within 30 days to require a response. It appears that a second nation is discovering that making action too easy can swamp the serious issues and distract attention from the business of running a country. Meanwhile, new words like slacktivism and

38

Health Action | www.hans.org

clicktivism describe the momentary supporting of a cause when it appears on a screen without true engagement with making change.

Where does Canada stand?

Last year a Private Member’s Motion from Kennedy Stewart (MP for Burnaby-Douglas, B.C.) seeking consideration of e-petitions received enthusiastic cross-party support. It asked the Standing Commit-

an old-fashioned petition, your MP knows that your level of engagement is worth more than a click of the mouse.

Get behind a Canadian petition for health freedom The petition by the Natural Health Products Protection Association (NHPPA) in support of the Charter of Health Free-

The NHPPA petition in support of the Charter of Health Freedom currently stands at over 93,000 signatures.

tee on Procedure and House Affairs to study e-petitions and bring recommendations to the House within 12 months—a motion that was adopted by the House of Commons on January 29, 2014. Some MPs have concerns that e-petitions may disenfranchise those without internet access and lead to frivolous issues taking up parliamentary time, and the committee will consider these issues along with such matters as authenticity of signatures, appropriate rules and cost.

In the light of other countries’ teething troubles it seems prudent for Canada to debate carefully, but in the meantime paper petitions in Canada are alive and well. If a Canadian citizen wishes to request a change in legislation there is the mechanism to do it and it is well respected. Politicians know what it means when an individual puts a real pen to real paper, so when you sign

dom currently stands at over 93,000 signatures (see below).

Although online petitions garner millions, that is irrelevant in Canada today. They may be the future but, for now, it is probably in the interests of every Canadian that our govern-

ment not be bogged down in thousands of frivolous requests for death stars and IQ tests.

The Charter of Health Freedom is a fully formed piece of legislation, drawn up by a consortium of natural health industry stakeholders and lawyers, originally designed to address problems with the Natural Health Product Regulations. Those groups involved with creating the charter foresaw many potential restrictions to Canadians’ ability to manage their own health and they created a solution that is needed more now than when it was drafted. Right now, only Canadian citizens who put pen to paper can petition Parliament to make this vital legislative change.

To read more about the Charter of Health Freedom, and to sign and distribute the petition, visit www.nhppa.org.

Carolyn Steele, BSc (Hons) MSc, is NHPPA’s information officer and a writer, editor and web developer with a background as both paramedic and psychologist.

Charter of Health Freedom Update The Charter of Health Freedom protects Canadians’ access to natural health products and traditional medicines by creating a separate legal category for them. Under the charter, instead of being treated as dangerous drugs under the Canada Food and Drugs Act, NHPs are deemed to be safe unless there is evidence of harm, as they are in the United States.

The Charter of Health Freedom petition topped 93,000 in April 2014. Fewer than 3,000 more signatures are needed to equal the largest federal petition to be delivered to Parliament, in one single submission on record, since April 27, 1999. It is possible then, that when we reach our next milestone, of over 100,000 signatures, the Charter of Health Freedom will be on record as second only to the Bill of Rights in public support.

A Timeline of Vitamin Medicine

by Andrew W. Saul, PhD (USA)

Year

Research

1935

Claus Washington Jungeblut, MD, professor of bacteriology at Columbia University, first publishes on vitamin C as prevention and treatment for polio; in the same year, Jungeblut also shows that vitamin C inactivates diphtheria toxin.

1936

Evan Shute, MD, and Wilfrid Shute, MD, demonstrate that vitamin E-rich wheat germ oil cures angina.

1937

Jungeblut demonstrates that ascorbate (vitamin C) inactivated tetanus toxin.

1939

William Kaufman, MD, PhD, successfully treats arthritis with niacinamide (vitamin B3).

1940

The Shute brothers publish that vitamin E prevents fibroids and endometriosis, and is curative for atherosclerosis.

1942

Ruth Flinn Harrell, PhD, measures the positive effect of added thiamine (B1) on learning.

1945

Vitamin E is shown to cure hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes, and to decrease the diabetic’s need for insulin.

1946

Vitamin E is shown to greatly improve wound healing, including skin ulcers. It is also demonstrated that vitamin E strengthens and regulates heartbeat, and is effective in cases of claudication, acute nephritis, thrombosis, cirrhosis and phlebitis; William J. McCormick, MD, shows how vitamin C prevents and also cures kidney stones.

1947

Vitamin E is successfully used as therapy for gangrene, inflammation of blood vessels (Buerger’s disease), retinitis and choroiditis; Roger J. Williams, PhD, publishes on how vitamins can be used to treat alcoholism.

1948

Frederick R. Klenner, MD, a board-certified specialist in chest diseases, publishes cures of 41 cases of viral pneumonia using high doses of vitamin C.

1949

Dr. Kaufman publishes The Common Form of Joint Dysfunction.

1950

Vitamin E is shown to be an effective treatment for lupus erythematosus, varicose veins and severe body burns.

1951

Vitamin D treatment is found to be effective against Hodgkin’s disease (a cancer of the lymphatic system) and epithelioma.

1954

Abram Hoffer, MD, PhD, and colleagues demonstrate that niacin (vitamin B3) can cure schizophrenia; the Shutes’ medical textbook Alpha Tocopherol in Cardiovascular Disease is published; and Dr. McCormick reports that cancer patients tested for vitamin C were seriously deficient, often by as much as 4,500 milligrams.

1955

Niacin is first shown to lower serum cholesterol.

Timeline continued on page 40 www.hans.org | Health Action

39

A Timeline of Vitamin Medicine

40

continued

Year

Research

1956

Mayo Clinic researcher William Parsons, MD, and colleagues confirm Hoffer’s use of niacin to lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease; Dr. Harrell demonstrates that supplementation of the pregnant and lactating mothers’ diet with vitamins increases the intelligence quotients of their offspring.

1957

Dr. McCormick publishes on how vitamin C fights cardiovascular disease.

1960

Dr. Hoffer meets Bill W., cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and uses niacin to eliminate Bill’s longstanding severe depression.

1963

Vitamin D is shown to prevent breast cancer.

1964

Vitamin D is found to be effective against lymph nodal reticulosarcoma (a non-Hodgkin’s lymphatic cancer).

1968

Linus Pauling, PhD, publishes the theoretical basis of high-dose nutrient therapy (orthomolecular medicine) in psychiatry in Science, and soon after defines orthomolecular medicine as “the treatment of disease by the provision of the optimum molecular environment, especially the optimum concentrations of substances normally present in the human body.”

1969

Robert F. Cathcart, MD, uses large doses of vitamin C to treat pneumonia, hepatitis and, years later, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

1970

Dr. Pauling publishes Vitamin C and the Common Cold and Dr. Williams publishes Nutrition Against Disease.

1972

Publication of The Healing Factor: “Vitamin C” Against Disease by Irwin Stone, PhD.

1973

Dr. Klenner publishes his vitamin supplement protocol to arrest and reverse multiple sclerosis. So does Dr. HT Mount, reporting on 27 years of success using thiamine. Also: Ewan Cameron, MD, and Linus Pauling, PhD, publish their first joint paper on the control of cancer with vitamin C, two years after Cameron began using high-dose IV vitamin C.

1975

Hugh D. Riordan, MD, and colleagues successfully use large doses of intravenous vitamin C against cancer.

1977

Alfred Libby, MD, and Irwin Stone present findings that the use of high doses of vitamins hastens and eases withdrawal from highly addictive drugs.

1981

Dr. Ruth F. Harrell and colleagues demonstrate that very high doses of nutritional supplements help overcome learning disabilities in children and bring about highly significant improvement to those with Down syndrome.

1982

In Japan, Murata, Morishige and Yamaguchi show that vitamin C greatly prolonged the lives of terminal cancer patients.

1984

Robert F. Cathcart, MD, publishes on the vitamin C treatment of AIDS.

Health Action | www.hans.org

Year

Research

1986

Publication of How to Live Longer and Feel Better by Linus Pauling.

1988

Dr. Lendon H. Smith publishes Vitamin C as a Fundamental Medicine: Abstracts of Dr. Frederick R. Klenner, M.D.’s Published and Unpublished Work, now known as Clinical Guide to the Use of Vitamin C.

1990

American doctors successfully use vitamin C to treat kidney cancer and, in 1995 and 1996, other cancers.

1993

Large-scale studies show that vitamin E supplementation reduces the risk of coronary heart disease in men and women.

1995

Dr. Riordan and colleagues publish their protocol for intravenous vitamin C treatment of cancer.

2002

Vitamin E shown to improve immune functions in patients with advanced colorectal cancer, by immediately increasing T helper 1 cytokine production.

2004

Doctors in America and Puerto Rico publish more clinical cases of vitamin C successes against cancer.

2005

Research sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health shows that high levels of vitamin C kill cancer cells without harming normal cells.

2006

Canadian doctors report intravenous vitamin C is successful in treating cancer.

2007

Harold D. Foster and colleagues publish a double-blind, randomized clinical trial showing that HIV-positive patients given supplemental nutrients can delay or stop their decline into AIDS.

2008

Korean doctors report that intravenous vitamin C “plays a crucial role in the suppression of proliferation of several types of cancer,” notably melanoma. And, natural vitamin E is demonstrated to substantially reduce risk of lung cancer by 61 percent.

2009, 2010, 2012

Intravenous Vitamin C and Cancer Symposiums by the Riordan C. Clinic are filmed and made available for free access online.

2011

Each 20 micromole/liter (µmol/L) increase in plasma vitamin C is associated with a 9 percent reduction in death from heart failure. Also, B-complex vitamins are associated with a 7 percent decrease in mortality, vitamin D with an 8 percent decrease in mortality.

2012

Vitamin C shown to prevent and treat radiation-damaged DNA.

2013

B-vitamin supplementation seen to slow the atrophy of specific brain regions that are a key component of the Alzheimer’s disease process and are associated with cognitive decline.

2014

In patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, 2,000 IU of vitamin E slows the decline compared to placebo.

Data from 561 patients showed that those taking vitamin E function significantly better in daily life and required the least care. Vitamin C greatly reduces chemotherapy side effects and improves cancer patient survival.

This article was first published in the Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, February 31, 2014. Get a free subscription at orthomolecular. org/subscribe.html and see the archives at orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/index.html

www.hans.org | Health Action

41

Herbalists and Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword

by Richard DeSylva, RH, DNM

T

he controversy swirling around the possible regulation of herbalists in Great Britain is indeed a worrisome matter. Understandably, there are those herbalists in England who see regulation as desirable, with its offer of society’s recognition as a legitimate modality. Perhaps unspoken but tacitly acknowledged is the issue of regulation according to a more rigid scientific model, with the effect of ridding the profession of those deemed lacking in credibility, due to their more “traditional” approach.

Along with this potential accord, however, comes the likelihood of herbalists only being able to use regulated herbal medicines in their practice, and the elimination of those herbal formulas that don’t make the grade—a regretful turn of events were that to happen.

Equally, there are those herbal practitioners who do not want formal regulation but prefer a form of selfregulation—one that sees a governing body such as a Board of Governors or College of Herbalists overseeing the practice of their members. Each model has its benefits as well as its downsides—with regulation perhaps being decided more by the actual number of practitioners, coupled with their historical record of success or failure. This would then present

42

Health Action | www.hans.org

a plausible scenario to the regulatory authorities for any “yay” or “nay” decision.

Canadian perspective Here in Canada herbalists have more or less flown under the radar by reason of their fledgling numbers. There has been a tacit acknowledgement that “yes, we know you’re there, but as long as you don’t do any harm, we’ll ignore you.”

This is what happened back in 1984 in Ontario, thanks to the Health Professions Regulation Review. At the end of the

review, the Ontario Herbalist Association (OHA) was advised that only if our member base reached the critical mass of 500 members would there be any consideration of imposing regulation—and with those numbers came the perceived increased risk of harm to the public.

In 2005, herbalists from across Canada came together to form the Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations (CCHA). This group has over the years met regularly to refine and define the practice of herbalism in Canada. Thus far,

this group has established national standards of practice, codes of ethics and disciplinary procedures that are at the point of review by the provincial associations. Although the national council does not have the legal right to enforce such standards, it is anticipated that the various provincial bodies will adopt them as written.

Further, in 2007, the CCHA in their annual bilateral meetings with the Natural Health Products Directorate won an exemption for herbalists to not have to comply with the new regulations governing the

manufacture and sale of natural health products. As long as the products they make are for the exclusive use between the herbalist and their clients, or for the use of another herbalist and their clients, the onerous and costly regulations do not apply.

This major win for herbalists across Canada applies to herbalists who are members of the various provincial bodies; it will not apply to anyone who hangs out a shingle and calls him or herself a herbalist, or who produces products and sells them publicly.

How does all this apply to the issue of regulation?

In that standards are being established, and that dialogue

is ongoing with the federal— and, in a number of cases, provincial authorities—herbalists are establishing themselves as a player in the field of complementary or alternative medicine. While this moves the marker slowly toward the matter of regulation, it will establish in the eyes of the regulatory authorities that we are responsible participants, acting as guardians of both our profession and the public. Given that the numbers of the provincial organizations are creeping upward, it would make sense that regulation would only happen when the critical mass has been reached.

Until then, hopefully, the authorities will leave well enough alone, trusting that we are managing our affairs in a proper manner.

There is another issue that confronts herbalists here in Canada: the matter of other complementary disciplines seeking to encroach upon our turf. In the past few years, the OHA has defended our area of expertise from other recently regulated disciplines: one who wanted to capture the title herbalist for themselves and another who wanted to portray themselves as the exclusive purveyors of herbal therapies.

Both efforts were defeated by the OHA in their dialogue with the provincial Ministry of Health. Thus, to the extent herbalists here in Canada can establish themselves as knowledgeable, skilled and trustworthy participants, regulation —let alone elimination of the discipline—will not happen any time soon.

It is also worth noting that herbalists do not want to represent themselves as primary care practitioners; we are more than happy to refer to those disciplines capable of dealing with issues outside of our area of expertise. Our aim is to simply practice the traditional body of knowledge that is embodied in the art and science of herbalism—nothing more, nothing less.

Richard DeSylva, RH, DNM, is a founding member of the Ontario Herbalist Association and the Canadian Council of Herbalist Associations and sits on both boards. A practitioner since 1977, he writes, teaches and lectures on botanic medicine, a branch of herbal medicine that views herbs as specialized foods for the cells of the body.

www.hans.org | Health Action

43

production and stress management. Since water-soluble vitamins do not get stored in the body with the excess being excreted in the urine, they can be quickly depleted from the body and must be replenished regularly.

By facilitating the function and manufacture of serotonin, B vitamins help fight stress, anxiety and insomnia.

The Role of B Vitamins on Stress Mandana Edalati, ND

H

ow we cope with stress determines how stress affects our health.

When we feel anxious, lethargic and sleepless, dealing with stress becomes much more difficult and overwhelming on our entire body. On the other hand, when we are calm and energetic, we can handle stresses much better. B vitamins can make a

44

Health Action | www.hans.org

big impact on regulating mood and sleep, which in turn allows our body to more efficiently and calmly get through stressful times.

The ABCs of Bs B vitamins are water-soluble vitamins that play an important role in nervous system function, immune health, cell growth and metabolism, energy

B vitamins are a group of eight individual vitamins, as a group often referred to as vitamin B complex, which includes B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid) and vitamin B12.

Supporting the happiness hormone B-complex vitamins are essential for mental and emotional well-being because of their significant role in regulating the nervous system and affecting mood. The brain operates by millions of neurons communicating with each other. Neurons communicate with each other through neurotransmitters. Among these neurotransmitters, serotonin plays a complex role in the way we eat, sleep and behave; hence serotonin has a profound effect on our overall sense of well-being.

Serotonin, also referred to as the “happiness hormone,” helps regulate mood, relieve anxiety and promote healthy sleep patterns. When the serotonin level in the brain is changed, a person’s behaviour is also altered. A normal level of serotonin promotes feelings of happiness, but during periods of stress, the body uses up higher amounts of serotonin to deal with the stress.

Accordingly, the level of serotonin begins to drop, bringing irritability, depression, anxiety and sleep problems to the forefront.

This is where B vitamins come into play. By facilitating the function and manufacture of serotonin, B vitamins help fight stress, anxiety and insomnia.

The darkness hormone Melatonin is another neurotransmitter in the brain that helps regulate the body’s circadian rhythm, the 24-hour internal clock that plays a critical role between the time we fall asleep and the time we wake up. It is also sometimes referred to as the “darkness hormone” because melatonin production increases when it is dark and drops considerably in the morning.

Alleviating sleeplessness is an essential component of stress management. Sound sleep is one way the body naturally copes with stress. A restful sleep allows the body to relax and rejuvenate itself such that it can better handle stresses.

For many people, however, sleeplessness itself is often accompanied by stress and anxiety. So when restful sleep

does not occur, it becomes a vicious cycle: insomnia leads to more worry and stress and these in turn contribute to more restlessness, stress and insomnia. Since B vitamins enhance the production of melatonin both directly and indirectly through the production of serotonin, they can facilitate healthy sleep patterns.

B-complex vitamins can serve as an important buffer against stress with a positive effect on mood within a rather short time.

Don’t B depleted When the body is exposed to prolonged stress, B vitamins become depleted. This can manifest as anxiety, irritability, restlessness, fatigue, headaches, sleeplessness and inability to concentrate. Our body’s natural tendency is to always restore health and balance in the body, and what we provide our body with

will support the body’s natural drive towards this healthy, balanced state.

In a placebo-controlled, double-blind study, the effects of a high-dose B-complex vitamin and mineral supplement on cognition and mood were assessed on 215 subjects.

The results showed significant improvements on subjective

mood, vigour and stress levels within a 33-day treatment period. This study shows that B-complex vitamins can serve as an important buffer against stress with a positive effect on mood within a rather short time.

Some medications deplete B vitamins. For instance, antidepressants that may be used to help with mood can in turn further deplete certain B vitamins, making their replenishment even more vital.

Foods such as brown rice, eggs and legumes are good sources of B vitamins; however, supplementing with B vitamins will ensure sufficient levels are being met especially during stressful times. Since B vitamins tend to work together as a team, it is best to take a well-balanced vitamin-Bcomplex formula to maximize

their synergistic effects. B vitamins are best taken earlier in the day and with food, as they can cause nausea if taken on an empty stomach.

Stress is inevitable in our modern, fast-paced world, but there are ways to proactively help our body better cope with stress. Something as simple as taking B vitamins on a regular basis is a step in this direction.

Mandana Edalati, ND, is a naturopathic doctor practising in North Vancouver, B.C. She is a natural health educator and the founder of Wellness Naturopathic Centre.

Her areas of focus include allergies, infertility, women’s health, hormonal imbalances, pediatrics, digestive disorders, stress and weight management. www.well nessnaturopathic.com | (604) 987-4660

Just for Joy Retreat

Naturopathic Medicine Prevention | Treatment | Education | Wellness Enjoy a renewed sense of well-being in body, mind and spirit with an inspiring and enriching day encompassing the joy of movement, soul collage, a nutritious lunch and a beautiful piano sound journey.

When: Sept 20 - 10:00 am to 3:00 pm Where: St. Mary’s, 2490 W. 37th Ave Cost: $78 Kathy 604.340.4955

info@thesoulofsound.com

www.thesoulofsound.com

BC’s Naturopathic Doctors: The Experts in Providing Science Based Natural Medicine

Link to the BC Naturopathic Association for: Physician Referrals Student Information Wellness News Health Updates Doctor Directory Newsletter

800.277.1128 www.bcna.ca www.hans.org | Health Action

45

Nutrigenomics: Feed Your Genes What They Need or They Will Make You Sick

by David Dressler

R

esearch is prolific for the benefits of supplements. Articles from the Life Extension Foundation, which funds research and circulates information on health issues such as anti-aging and preventive medicine, contain hundreds of references from medical literature on the benefits of vitamins, minerals and other supplements.

Reasons to take supplements It is inaccurate to say, as doctors and nutritionists often do, that fruits and vegetables are all we need for adequate vitamins and minerals. The U.S. Department of Agriculture checked the nutritive content of field produce about 10 years ago. They had not done so since sometime after the Second World War. They found (on average) about 50 percent of vitamins and minerals were no longer present and, for unknown reasons, vitamin A was off the chart high. In addition, we know produce is often sprayed with poison, grown

46

Health Action | www.hans.org

in depleted soil and reaches the market under-ripe or even stale. We actually need protection from conventionally grown fruits and vegetables!

More than this, the requirement for certain vitamins and minerals has gone upward over the years while the content in food has gone down. This may be one reason why, not long ago, governments were recommending three servings of vegetables a day. Then eight. Now as many as 10. Does anyone even have time to eat 10 meals of vegetables a day?

We have a genome and now we need a gene menu.

As for safety, there are precious few reports of supplementrelated illness or death. On the other hand, more than 110,000 deaths occur every year in the U.S. alone, caused by correctly prescribed drugs and surgeries, and the number is rising (Fraser Institute, 1999).

Feed your genes Nutritional genomics or “nutrigenomics” is a concept you will hear more about in the future. When you eat, you don’t just feed your body, you feed your genes. This news is both groundbreaking and earthshaking.

It goes where the study of nutrition has never gone before: the human genome.

And it shakes the foundations of what we know about nutrition. We may have to eat in whole new ways.

In the 1960s to early 2000s, the old paradigm was “we are what we eat and assimilate.”

Now the new paradigm is “what do we need to feed our genes so they will make us well instead of sick?” In other words, we have a genome and now we need a gene menu.

What’s on your gene menu?

Researchers are finally learning to understand the “language” of genes and slowly a genu menu is emerging.

There is recent evidence emerging from nutrigenomics that consuming the wrong form of a vitamin (such as folate instead of methylfolate), or the right form at the wrong time or in the wrong amount, may negatively affect the methylation cycle (a crucial physiological process in the body), causing symptoms such as fatigue, muscle pain, lowered immune function and illness. But this is the effect of these nutrients on mutant genes in certain individuals, not all. And there are nutrients that are beneficial for these same genes, correcting the same methylation process.

Virtually none of this information is presently known to consumers, physicians, manufacturers or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada. The important point here is: each individual needs to know what to feed their genes.

The mutant gene Research by Ben Lynch, ND, on mutations in the gene called MTFHR is groundbreaking.

This MTHFR gene is crucial because it controls methylation.

When methylation is meddled with, we get a mess or what I call “messylation.” Messed-up methylation can cause at least

64 known diseases denoted in Medline (a database of biomedical articles). Some of these diseases are incurable.

How many people actually have MTHFR mutations? Dr. Lynch says about 50 percent of the population have a minor form of MTFHR mutation, while another 25 percent have a severe form. This means 75 percent of the population can have diseases caused by disturbed methylation. If methylation is fixed, these diseases may be cured and prevented. That is one goal of nutrigenomics: feed the genes the foods that cure.

What do genes do with the food we feed them? According to Dr. Lynch, MTHFR mu-

tants can’t process food the way non-mutants do. What makes MTHFR mutants sick makes MTHFR non-mutants healthy.

That is why no one diet fits all and why the fundamentals of nutritional science have to change with the times.

We are beginning to know the gene menu, what nutrients mutant genes need to restore methylation and make people well, but it is going to take time before the solution is practical.

Doctors have to be trained, patients educated, and manufacturers informed that no longer can natural health supplements be “taken as directed on the label,” because there may have to be lines of supplements exclu-

sively for MTHFR mutants and another line for non-mutants.

The new paradigm presents a challenge and an opportunity for tailored nutritional supplements and diets based on consumers’ gene profiles determined by genomic testing and practitioner diagnosis.

David Dressler is a registered massage therapist and has a separate practice as a health coach/ consultant for people overweight, fatigued or stressed who want to increase energy and slow their aging process. He is also a published health and medical writer and an editor in mainstream and alternative journals. He has consumed health supplements for 50 years.

Honouring Who You Are and Who You Become

by Trish Lim-O’Donnell, CCP

L

ife is a journey of selfexpression, which simply means the body of work and dedication you took to become everything you could be within your capacity and talent.

Deep down inside, more than what anybody thinks or knows about you, you long to be “this”—if you could just brave your own fears.

This life is yours to inscribe with your own brand of humour, grace, fearlessness, idiosyncrasies, funniness, wisdom and mindfulness. And even if you set yourself up with the many roles you needed to be in order to be fulfilled, you need to appreciate your own

successes when you overcome your fear. Whatever label you wear in your respected field, whatever role you have, small or mighty as tagged by you or society, it will be how you respond as a human being that ultimately makes an impact on your fellow men.

Your relationships matter and we leave an indelible mark on each other till the day we leave the earth. In my work, I have learned from many driven and special personalities the importance of serving in a manner that connects you with your world.

Once upon a time in New York City, just before I got ready for a class with my incredible dance coach and friend, Andrew Phillips, I was conscious of my 40-something

“Each man is meant to represent humanity in his own way, continuing its elements uniquely so that it may reveal itself in every mode.” ­– Schleiermacher body feeling sore and strained.

In that moment I wished I was so much more. Then a question came to me to save my day: How would you be if this was your last day on earth? Let me tell you no lightning ever worked faster magic. I bucked right up, counting my blessings; me and my tired body started to strut as if I owned the whole of downtown Manhattan!

No one will ever take those moments from me—till the day I die I will experience that voluminous joy. Even sweeter is the comfort of knowing that

my family and husband wished they were there with me to witness my “becoming.” I had to learn the long way, sweetly and humbly, that when you are loved, in all your human mutations, those you love and hold sacred will always want to understand all you need to be in your humanity.

Trish Lim-O’Donnell, CCP, is a certified life coach practitioner and E.Q. Music recording artist with 28 years of personal and professional life coaching experience. More at www.trishlimodonnell.com www.hans.org | Health Action

47

The Keys to Our Spiritual Evolution

by Brigitte R. Clark, MEd, CCC, SEP

L

iving in today’s world we have become quite disconnected. We use our minds to think, analyze, figure things out. We become trapped in our thoughts, even

48

Health Action | www.hans.org

believing that we are our thoughts. We expect our bodies to get us places and carry out our “doing,” without much consideration for our bodies’ well-being or appreciation of their magnificence.

We may eat well and exercise, typically to look and feel good

and avoid illness, not realizing there is much more at stake.

If we are inclined to pursue the spiritual, there is often a perception that it is something ethereal, nontangible, beyond the physical and therefore not really requiring our body’s participation. In our quest for the

sacred we might even attempt to transcend the physical.

We are born with our crown chakras not yet protected by bone, spiritually open and connected with who we are, where we came from and who we have the potential to become. Immersed in our new

social environment, we soon learn who we are supposed to be, how to behave, even how and what to think. We deeply want—we need—to feel a sense of connection and belonging and so we adapt to our surroundings and begin to forget who we are and what we innately knew. Then traumas happen and we might learn that the world is not a safe place and we are not valued.

The intelligence of the universe and our connectedness to it are embedded into our very design.

We stumble along, sometimes doing quite well, and yet most of us feel something is out of step, not quite aligned, not quite enough. There is a sense of yearning and seeking—a sense that there has to be more. But we have mostly forgotten where to look.

Our body holds the key The truth of who we are is recorded in the cells of our physical bodies. Who we become is a dance between who we are and what we accept from our external influences.

Science is beginning to support this view.

Neuroscientist Candace Pert and cell biologist Bruce Lipton talk of the body-mind. Their works demonstrate how what

happens inside a cell is determined by messages received by receptors on the cell’s membrane. These messages can be chemicals, thoughts, emotions or energetic frequencies.

Pert asserts messages arise from multiple locations throughout the body, and even from outside of the body. Lipton states that it is not biology but environmental influence (including our collective cultural beliefs) that determines gene expression, and that cells are programmable.

Russian biophysicist and molecular biologist Pjotr Garjajev states that our DNA can be altered with frequencies and has the ability to communicate outside of time and space (meaning our cells can access realms beyond our physical reality and communicate with universal intelligence, that is, all that is connected and innate to the universe).

Quantum physicists Fred Alan Wolf and Amit Goswami teach us that everything is energy and that all possibilities exist within a unified field. It is consciousness that determines which possibilities become physically manifested.

Tapping into universal intelligence What does this all mean?

It means that we can and do influence our reality. However, if we look at it simply as mind over matter, we are hugely limiting ourselves! Our current mind is fragmented, misinformed and operating from a small percentage of its capacity.

Universal intelligence, on the other hand, is whole and complete and unlimited.

We need to learn how to get out of our busy brains and bring our awareness back into our bodies—and just feel.

Through our whole being— with open mind and receptive body—we can tap into the unlimited universe and let it not only inform us but also transform our physicality and our outer reality.

The intelligence of the universe and our connectedness to it are embedded into our very design. As we surrender into “feeling” within ourselves, our own body intelligence naturally merges with the intelligence of the universe. All that feels incongruent with the universal intelligence—our wounds, misconceptions, human struggles—spontaneously unfold and release, ultimately leaving only congruence with life— and the fulfillment of our very being. Our body is only awaiting our conscious participation in this magnificent journey.

Just feel New therapeutic bodyfocused paradigms such as Peter Levine’s Somatic Experiencing as well as the ancient traditions of yoga and tribal dance are in tune with these understandings. We need to learn how to get out of our busy brains and bring our awareness back into our bodies—and just feel. If we can just feel what is there without trying to “do” anything, the body begins to wind its way back to wholeness.

We need to truly feel what challenges us, like fear, pain, discomfort, anger, sadness or stress. Only then can we feel the letting go, the opening, lifting and expansion, the sense of coming back to life and the unspeakable beauty of being.

It is not about dwelling on what is painful, rather just feeling it without resistance— with trust. This all can be easy or difficult depending on our ability for self-awareness and the depth of our inner wounding. If the wounding is deep, the process is initially best supported by a skilled facilitator.

It is in the opening that we find more of ourselves and touch into the divine and feel our life change. I have witnessed such unfolding countless times within myself and in the many people whose journeys I have had the privilege to support over the years.

It still amazes me! Awareness of our connectedness to the universal enhances the process greatly. As we individually become more engaged in our own unfolding, we simultaneously contribute to the collective evolution of the whole.

Brigitte R. Clark, MEd, CCC, SEP, is a Canadian certified counsellor and a Somatic Experiencing practitioner. She combines holistic, somatic and energy-based approaches to facilitate healing and transformation. (604) 928-5913 www.hans.org | Health Action

49

So You Want to Be Happy?

Here’s How

by Mark Atkinson, MD

W

hy do you do what you do? What motivates you to be successful, have relationships, go to work, take up hobbies, spend time with friends or go on holiday? What is it that you are really looking for at the deepest level?

For at least 90 percent of the people I ask, the answer is happiness. As William James, the father of modern-day

50

Health Action | www.hans.org

psychology said, “How to gain, how to keep, how to recover happiness, is in fact for most men at all times the secret motive of all they do.”

Happiness not only feels good, but it’s also good for our health, our relationships, our work and our society. Happy people have more fulfilling lives, experience a deeper connection to others and to nature, are more likely to contribute to the well-being of others and consistently perform at higher

levels than those who aren’t happy. Happiness, in a nutshell, provides us with the fuel to thrive and flourish as human beings. Society, business, families, children and our planet need happy people.

Four tips for true happiness True happiness describes a deep sense of well-being, inner peace and vitality that is with you most of the time in most

circumstances. Unlike “normal happiness,” which is transient and dependent on getting what we want, true happiness is independent of our life circumstance; it’s there regardless of our life situation. Here are my top tips for moving you in the direction of true happiness!

Tip 1. Stop believing everything you think One of the most common causes of unhappiness is liv-

ing in your head and taking seriously the “stories” that your head creates. Most of what we think isn’t true and has no bearing on reality. One of the quickest ways to experience true happiness is to shift from being identified with our thoughts to being aware of our thoughts.

true happiness! If you practise this often throughout the day for three days, I am almost certain you will experience a profound shift in the way you feel. You can also use this technique for freeing yourself from any selflimiting beliefs that you have.

Tip 2. Get aligned with reality

Happiness provides us with the fuel to thrive and flourish as human beings.

A simple and quick way to disengage any stressful story that your head is making up is to notice what the stressful thought is­—for example, “there’s no way I can get this done in time”—then say that stressful thought out loud (or silently in your head) very slowly—with a few seconds in between each word. Breathe slowly throughout and repeat two to three times, noticing how a sense of inner spaciousness, well-being and balance starts to open up inside of you.

This is the experience of what I call the true self, the source of

Any time we fight or resist the reality of reality—how things are right now—our body-mind becomes tense and we experience stress.

One of the golden keys to true happiness is to start accepting reality. This doesn’t mean you have to like reality—for example, we might not like the fact that right now our partner is upset with us or that we aren’t doing fulfilling work—but accepting that this is so does an extraordinary thing. It instantly frees us of tension, we start to feel a real sense of well-being and the ideal response to the situation spontaneously arises.

You simply know what to do!

One simple way to get aligned with reality is to use Byron Katie’s The Work—it’s a series of simple questions that helps shift our relationship to reality.

You can download the instructions from www.thework.com.

Tip 3. Welcome and work with, not against, your emotions One of the keys to true happiness is to shift from feeling good to getting good at feeling.

As you learn how to welcome all emotions equally, including anger, sadness and fear, you start to experience peace and well-being despite what you are feeling.

So next time you have an uncomfortable emotion, rather than trying to sedate or control it, try this: locate where the emotion is strongest in your body. Now imagine it’s simply stuck energy wanting to flow.

Say to it silently, “soften and flow,” and get a sense of where it wants to exit your body. Be patient, give it plenty of space and feel how it starts to flow out of your body. Keep repeating until all of the emotional charge has gone. Notice how you feel so much more energized and how the uncomfortable emotion has shifted positively.

Tip 4. Tap into the power of gratitude When we experience gratitude, we shift from what’s wrong and what’s missing to what’s right and what’s present.

By making gratitude the foundation of your life, my experience is that you will start to see significant improvements in how your life works out and how you feel.

Gratitude changes everything. Try it now and at any time throughout the day. Think about two things you are grateful for and then two things you appreciate about yourself.

Allow yourself to feel and experience the gratitude for at least 30 seconds. You’ll notice how much better you feel.

Mark Atkinson, MD, is the founder of the Academy of Human Potential, author of True Happiness and a leading authority in stress management, the science of personal transformation and human happiness. www.drmarkatkinson.com

One of the keys to true happiness is to shift from feeling good to getting good at feeling.

Saturday, November 1 10:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Heritage Hall

3102 Main Street, Vancouver, BC Natural Health Products Health Care Practitioners Presentations Demonstrations Local Vendors Christmas Pre-sale

Sponsored by

Natural Health Products theaimcompanies.ca

FREE N D A MISSIO

For more information, contact AIM Canada at

1-888-343-9977

www.hans.org | Health Action

51

Instant Impact: Homeopathic Healing for Sports Injuries

by Nicole Duelli, Hp CCh RSHom(NA)

S

peed of action is homeopathy’s greatest value in sports, according to Dr. Jean Marcel Ferret, sports physician to the 1998 World Cupwinning French soccer team.

David Beckham, Usain Bolt and Martina Navratilova are among the sports celebrities who have used homeopathic medicine to recover from injury. The reason? Homeopathy works to speed healing and reduce pain and inflammation with the added bonus of no doping effects or side effects.

Arnica is by far the most common and successful remedy for sports injuries. It’s easy to use and should be consid-

52

Health Action | www.hans.org

ered first to ease the shock, aching, tenderness and inflammation of any injury. Besides swiftly healing dark bruises, bad sprains and bumps to the head, Arnica is excellent for that exhaustion that comes

from pushing your body too far.

Bellis perennis is the better choice if muscle soreness is the only symptom—either after a long run or working in the garden all day.

Dosage In homeopathy, always let the symptoms guide you to the correct remedy and the correct dosage.

Choose the most suitable remedy in a 30c potency (strength), two to five pills on the tongue two to three times daily, unless otherwise recommended. Stop as symptoms improve or within a few days for most cases.

Be aware of how severe your injury is and what to expect from your body—nothing can replace rest, ice and common sense. For smaller bumps and bruises, use the cream instead or, when you need more than a few days’ worth of a homeopathic medicine, switch to a lower potency 6c to12c, which you can safely repeat for a longer term. —ND

Hypericum, known as Arnica for the nerves, heals crushed, pierced or torn finger-tips, toes and nails. This remedy will heal and reduce the pain of tailbone injuries, common from a fall backwards. Take it whenever pain is severe due to nerve endings in the area.

Ruta is excellent for shin injuries because it heals kicks and bruises to the periosteum, which is the outer lining of the bone. It is also useful for repetitive strain injuries such as tennis elbow, but try it in a low potency (see box).

Symphytum is known as “bone set” because it helps the bone knit together and heal well. For broken bones, use Arnica first to help the initial pain and inflammation, followed by Symphytum in low potency, such as 6c daily for three weeks.

Bryonia is chosen for sprains, after Arnica has been given for a day or two, but the pain is not improving and is worse with the slightest motion.

Calendula is a fantastic topical remedy for cuts and scrapes that prevents infection and scarring. Use Calendula as a cream or a tincture of 10 drops to one-half cup of water.

Nicole Duelli, Hp CCh RSHom (NA), is a classical homeopath.

She has been in practice since 1995 and teaches workshops and blogs on all subjects homeopathic. www.vancouverhomeo path.com

Five Reasons to Care about Your Posture

by Sabrina Chen-See, DC 1. Poor posture ages you inside and out Not only does a hunched over person automatically give the impression of age, but also when your head is forward and your back is slumped, your ribcage isn’t as flexible and you don’t take in oxygen effectively.

Without enough oxygenation of the blood, free radicals multiply and cause cell damage and death. The result is premature aging, stiffer joints and failing organs. This doesn’t happen overnight but is the result over decades.

2. Poor posture increases risk of injury A lack of normal spinal alignment affects the body’s biomechanics in three ways.

First, your centre of gravity is off. Second, spinal flexibility is reduced due to scar tissue from years of spinal misalignment.

Third, poor alignment compromises the nervous system, making the muscular system slower to respond to changes in terrain, balance, direction and speed.

People with poor posture will often shuffle and are more prone to falling. Poor posture reduces peripheral vision and increases pressure on the brainstem. While competing in

sports, you would be less aware of an incoming impact, slower to respond, and already in a vulnerarble position, which can result in a more severe injury.

3. Poor posture affects your energy level and state of mind We’re back to the oxygenation issue here. Without sufficient oxygen, you will be short on energy and will feel tired and unmotivated. Your brain function is affected, and your ability to concentrate, recall facts, think quickly or rationally, or see the big picture is compromised.

4. Poor posture can cause osteoarthritis and osteoporosis Chronic poor posture does not exist without chronic misalignment or “subluxation” of spinal joints and/or joints of the extremities. Misalignment of weight-bearing joints would result in further joint injury whenever one uses the joint, including while sitting, standing, walking or exercising for long periods of time.

Scar tissue of the bone (bone spurs) will build up, plus inflammation and pain. As more calcium gets diverted to the bone spurs, more calcium is leached from other parts of the bone, making for localized osteopenia or loss of bone

density. Over time, bone spurs will fuse bone to bone, and osteopenia will become osteoporosis.

5. Poor posture negatively affects whole body health The nervous system controls organ, tissue and cell function, and helps them adapt to changes in environment and to changing internal needs. The spinal cord travels in the spinal column, and spinal nerves exit the spinal column through holes between individual vertebrae. If you have poor posture, nerve messages flowing from the brain to the entire body are impeded.

For the most part, poor posture is correctable. Even with

extensive bone spurs, congenital anomalies and genetic scoliosis, posture can be improved to some degree. The first step is to get a proper evaluation from posture specialists, namely chiropractors. Chiropractors are trained to assess posture and underlying spinal injuries and to make corrective changes in a non-invasive manner. Poor posture does not need to be a part of your future.

A board certified Atlas Orthogonal chiropractor, Sabrina ChenSee, DC, has advanced training in head and neck traumas, concussions and brainstem-related issues.

She is also certified in chiropractic pediatrics and the Webster technique to help pregnant women and children. www.DrChenSee.com | (604) 566-9088 www.hans.org | Health Action

53

The Science behind Traditional Chinese Medicine Chinese medicine is a complete system of medicine that dates back thousands of years.

In the modern age, this ancient medicine still has undeniable applications.

Chun-Kai Wang, DTCM, R.Ac

H

umans have evolved over the course of millenia. Societies and institutions have changed over time. In the wake of such shifts, technology has played a definitive role. Despite all these changes, the human body remains what it is from the beginning. The diseases that

54

Health Action | www.hans.org

afflicted the people of the past remain largely unchanged.

For example, as much as the influenza virus has undergone various permutations, at the end of the day it is the same disease—a cold, albeit of varying levels of contagiosity. What people used to suffer, we still suffer from today.

Chinese medicine therefore has indisputable relevance in today’s medical community, as

the age-old prescriptions used more than 2,000 years ago are still employed effectively for today’s conditions.

Not all would agree. One big misconception out there is that Chinese medicine, hailing from a technologically underdeveloped past, must be unscientific quackery in comparison to modern medicine. But if we examine what “science” is, we realize it is

actually modern methods that don’t really fit the scientific standard that well compared with Chinese medicine.

What is science?

Science can be summed up as a process of hypothesis to experiment to evaluation, for the purpose of finding reliable explanations for natural phenomena. From these explana-

tions we then derive ways of further applications.

The scientific method is in itself an empirical method, that is, a process of validation by trial and error. We know truly reliable science needs to be backed up by indisputable and reproducible outcomes that come from repeated trials in order to test the truthfulness of a hypothesis, which, if proved relatively consistent, is then ascended to a form of theory, then to the highest level of law once it is deemed infallible.

Between these three, the only difference is the amount of trials it has gone through and the relative stability of its assertions.

Therefore, time becomes a crucial factor. The history of modern medical science goes back not more than 200 years. Even 100 years may be a stretch because the modern medicine we’re used to today really only started after the First World War, following the breakthrough of penicillin.

One hundred years ago many doctors in the western world were still using homeopathy instead of the antibiotics characteristic of modern medicine.

On the other hand, Chinese medicine has been in clinical use and gone through subsequent refinements over millenia, surprisingly using a relatively non-changing set of herbs. Essentially, the assertions of Chinese medicine and its methods have been proven to be effective repeatedly without much revision.

Based on this, Chinese medicine is the more scientific “science,” and modern medicine seems to be dubious to some degree, especially when we consider the short time for

many drugs trials before becoming commercially available (in addition to the frequent market removal of drugs once side effects escalate), as well as the constant revisions in textbooks and theories, supposedly in light of new findings.

What makes Chinese medicine so effective?

Or how does Chinese medicine stick to the same set of herbs in light of new diseases emerging every day? The viewpoint of Chinese medicine towards the concept of disease is crucial in this matter. It is not surprising most people believe alternative medicine doesn’t treat disease, for this has come to be known as an exclusive right of modern medical orthodoxy. But as far as I can tell from my clinical work and those of our peers, Chinese medicine does treat diseases and conditions in the strictest sense. But it does not treat diseases like modern medicine.

Why? Technically “disease” is the worst term that can be used to address any medical condition. Put simply, there is no such thing as disease in Chinese medicine.

Conclusions from clinical experience and case studies explain this rationale. First, medical conditions or diseases merely reflect a point in the spectrum of health, that is, a point between death and the perfectly healthy state. This point is nothing more than an arbitrary designation by the western medical community.

This point is not static and can be shifted through adequate treatment (such as Chinese medicine or acupuncture), the passing of time or other factors.

In other words, the health of an individual is a changing dynamic; one person is just as likely as the next to get certain “diseases” but just as likely to suddenly not have it. The shifting dynamic of this point in a person’s health reflects itself in different clinical presentations, which Chinese medicine terms as “patterns.”

So yes, Chinese medicine does treat diseases but in reality we are treating patterns, because only patterns are truly relative to the flowing nature of a person’s health, while disease is a rigid and fixed concept in space-time, incongruent with clinical reality. This explains the often-heard incidence of individuals who have certain diseases or conditions but who don’t have it anymore a few years later, such as in the case of frozen shoulder. Sadly not everyone is this fortunate and some treatment is required.

With this concept understood, it becomes apparent why Chinese medicine is effective and, most importantly, why there is no need to find new herbs for disease treatment. The logic is simple: Chinese herbs are used to treat patterns, not diseases. But since patterns encompass essentially all diseases and conditions (excluding a few

special ones) within the aforementioned spectrum framework, these herbs technically treat all, if not most, diseases and conditions.

Unfortunately, this is a joke to many scientists. In light of the billions poured into research to develop new drugs for today’s diseases, it is unacceptable to

Chinese herbs are used to treat patterns, not diseases.

believe that herbs used as far back as 2,000 years ago have already solved all the problems.

This would render all of modern medicine’s hard work nil, not to mention threaten the hegemony of pharmaceutical conglomerates over health policy and education. Many would rather believe that Chinese medicine works because there must be an active ingredient involved. In an effort to discover the secret behind Chinese herbs, massive funds are poured into research that seeks to continued on page

56

www.hans.org | Health Action

55

The Science behind TCM continued from page 55 extract this active ingredient, essentially conducting but another drug trial.

So it’s no surprise that today the “secret” of Chinese medicine remains elusive—not because the active ingredient has not been discovered, but because the active-ingredient theory so dominant in modern science cannot be applied to Chinese medicine and, more importantly, because it cannot be applied to humans. We are more much advanced than machines with predictable responses to simple agents.

The case of ginseng Anyone would agree ginseng is one of the most widely researched natural substances.

Results by many institutions around the world seem to conclude that ginseng extract, or the ginsenoside family of compounds, possesses the qualities of a wonder drug, having the ability to treat everything from memory loss to cancer.

However, in ancient China it was not surprising to hear of wealthy people who could afford the herb actually dying from over-intake of ginseng, believing it to be a cure-all. This fatal result may sound unbelievable given the medical properties of ginseng confirmed in modern

studies. But trained professionals in Chinese medicine know full well the reason—because it has been incorrectly used against the “pattern” it was intended for. Just as much as it is in the past, ginseng and many herbs are being used today according to their active ingredient, instead of following the correct method of prescribing according to the pattern.

So what is the pattern of ginseng? Its pattern is what Chinese medicine calls qi deficiency, which can be likened to the dampening of the body’s energy-generating ability, leading to systemic weakness and general malaise. This weakness is based on Chinese medicine diagnosis, not modern medicine (for example, hypo-

thyroidism does not always mean qi deficiency). Likewise, many of the actual diseases modern medical studies show ginseng useful for frequently

Chinese medicine has been in clinical use and gone through refinements over millennia.

do not fall into the above pattern based on what we see in actual clinical practice from the perspective of Chinese medicine. Intake of ginseng against its intended pattern is not only

unbeneficial to the patient, but actually contraindicated, with the possibility of making matters worse. Patients who say they take ginseng and experience headaches, dizziness and feverishness point to this problem.

With these issues set straight, readers should have a clear idea that Chinese medicine is a scientific system of medicine with its own time-tested theories and not the unfounded practices people would like to believe.

Chun-Kai Wang, DTCM, R.Ac, is a licensed doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and registered acupuncturist who treats internal medical complaints and pain conditions. He is also a lecturer at PCU College of Holistic Medicine. www.drwang.ca | (604) 836-3968

n be used to address any medical a c t a h condit t m r e io n . t rst thing as disease in Chinese me o h c w u e s h t o dicine. ” is e is n r “Disease e h t ly, Put simp

Ancient wisdom

56

Health Action | www.hans.org

Detox with Traditional Chinese Medicine

H

ealth Action caught up with Avery Yackel, a registered traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, acupuncturist and herbalist, for insight on the TCM approach to detoxifying the body.

Q A

What is traditional Chinese medicine’s take on “detoxing?”

TCM views health as the body being in balance, while disease is a result of imbalance. This imbalance is often described in terms of both “deficiency” and “excess.”

Deficiency can be thought of in terms such as hypo-function, weakness or depletion, while excess can be thought of in terms such as hyper-function or repletion. In TCM treatment, deficiency needs to be strengthened and tonified, while excess needs to be cleared out or drained.

When both are addressed, the body can return to healthier balance.

Proper detoxing from a TCM perspective addresses both deficiency and excess.

For example, if someone were suffering from a digestive complaint such as constipation, we would generally avoid using only herbs that have a laxative effect (clearing excess); instead, we’d include herbs to help strengthen the digestive system (tonifying deficiency).

Q A

Do you see trends in your patients that require detox work?

Detox is an ongoing process of maintaining healthy balance. A healthy and strong body can withstand stress, whether it be environmental,

emotional, dietary or other factors. However, in today’s society most of us tend towards both extreme deficiency—tired, overworked, overstressed—as well as extreme excess—exposure to poor diet, pollution, environmental toxins. We then become out of balance and more susceptible to disease.

Q

hat general advice would W you give to people who want to detox physically?

A

TCM emphasizes moderation—if a little is good, more isn’t necessarily better. Often, a gentler detox method done for a longer period can be of greater benefit.

TCM also emphasizes consistency— maintaining good everyday habits helps to keep us in healthier balance and lessens the need for more drastic measures.

Q A

hat advice would you give to W people wanting to cleanse mentally, emotionally, spiritually?

In an old Chinese medical textbook called the Huang Di Nei Jing (The

Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine), the court physician explained to the emperor why people used to live over 100 years. Living simply and in moderation, being content, helping others—this advice was given more than 2,000 years ago and seems just as relevant today.

Q

I s there anything else important to cleansing on the subject of TCM?

A

In TCM, diagnostic methods are used to examine the person as a whole; even seemingly unrelated symptoms can be significant in determining which organ systems might be out of balance.

TCM treatments are also very individualized. Two people experiencing similar symptoms may have different underlying causes. So a detox or treatment plan that might be suitable for one person could be inappropriate for another.

Avery Yackel, BA.Sc, R.TCM.P, practises traditional Japanese acupuncture, moxibustion and shiatsu massage in Vancouver and Surrey, B.C. www.ayacupuncture.com | (604) 671-4682 www.hans.org | Health Action

57

Tamiflu: A Colossal Waste of Money Independent review raises big question mark.

By Prof. Peter Saunders

T

here are many different types of the influenza virus. Most of them will give a healthy person only a few uncomfortable days, but some can make you seriously ill. The most famous is the Spanish flu that appeared in 1918; by the time it had run its course, it had infected over 500 million people and killed at least 50 million. The Asian flu of 1957-8 and the Hong Kong flu of 1968-9 are each estimated to have killed over a million people.

The most serious recent outbreak was the H5N1 avian flu virus that appeared in the mid2000s. It can have a mortality rate in humans as high as 60 percent, but because it does not usually pass from human to human, not many people were infected and, by 2013, just 375 deaths had been recorded.

When neuraminidase inhibitors—antiviral drugs claimed to combat influenza—appeared on the market, many governments decided to stockpile the drugs in case a new virus appeared that was as deadly as H5N1 but more easily transmitted among humans. They spent large amounts of money, £500 million in the UK and $1.3 billion in the US, much of it on oseltamivir developed by Roche and marketed under the trade name Tamiflu.

Even at the time, not everyone was convinced this was the right decision. There have always been doubts about the

58

Health Action | www.hans.org

There have always been doubts about the effectiveness of Tamiflu or indeed any antiviral drug.

effectiveness of Tamiflu or indeed any antiviral drug.

A second look The Cochrane Collaboration, a global not-for-profit organisation whose aim is “to produce accessible health information free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of

interest,” were not convinced by the case for Tamiflu. They pointed out that all the evidence was based on trials sponsored by the industry and they found discrepancies in the data and signs of reporting and publishing bias: of the many trials carried out across the world, only a few had been published.

Cochrane tried to conduct their own analyses but were refused access to the rest of the data, and had to resort to a Freedom of Information suit.

When this eventually succeeded, Cochrane did a thorough review based on 46 randomized controlled trials carried out by pharmaceutical companies as part of the licensing procedure. They found the benefits of Tamiflu and other neuraminidase inhibitors to be much smaller than claimed,

and noted that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had concluded that the overall effect of oseltamivir and zanamivir (another neuraminidase inhibitor) was “modest.”

Cochrane’s review concludes that the hundreds of millions of dollars paid to Roche and other pharmaceutical companies has been largely a waste of money that could have been much better spent on other health measures.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) The way to see whether a drug works is to give it to some people and see what happens.

The problem is that most of the time only some of the people treated will get better; and for all you know they might have

got better anyway, without taking the drug.

You can improve the experiment by having two groups of people, one who are given the drug, and another, the control group, who are not. If the proportion of the treated patients who recover is significantly higher than the proportion in the control group, that is more convincing than if there were nothing to compare the treatment with.

That still isn’t really enough, because you really want to be sure that the only difference between the groups was that the patients in one were treated and those in the other were not. So there are a lot of questions you have to deal with before you can be confident of your result.

How were patients assigned to the groups? If they were offered the chance to try the new drug, were those who volunteered different in some way from those who did not? Did doctors only offer the new drug to people they judged had a good chance of profiting from it, or to people who were the most seriously ill?

Were those who were taking the drug treated differently in other ways from those who were not?

Was there a placebo effect, i.e. did it make a difference to patients simply to know that they were being given a new drug?

Were there more dropouts from one group than the other and why, and how might that have affected the outcome? If your records are from hospitals, how accurate are they, bearing in mind that doctors are primarily interested in helping people recover, rather than filling in forms for your research. Or did you rely on forms filled in by the patients, which are even less likely to be accurate? And so on.

These objections can be largely overcome by conducting a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

In RCTs, some volunteers are chosen at random to be given the drug. The remainder, the control group, are given a placebo. Ideally, the trial is “double blinded” in that the researchers collecting the data also do not know who is being given the drug. This prevents them from unconsciously treating the two groups differently or allowing the volunteers to deduce which group they are in.

RCTs are regarded by many as the “gold standard” of drugs trials. There are, however, some drawbacks. Even if the treatment and control groups are closely matched, the whole sample may not be typical of all the people for whom the drug is intended. RCTs are typically expensive and in many situations it is impracticable, unethical or even impossible to organize.

Observational or anecdotal evidence is bound to remain important in the development of evidence-based health care and indeed in other fields as well. At the same time, we have to be conscious of the shortcomings of such evidence, which are precisely what RCTs are designed to overcome.

Counter-review claims Tamiflu saves lives Naturally, there was an immediate response from Roche who had made so much profit from Tamiflu, from governments who had spent so much of the taxpayers’ money; and from the scientists and health workers who had devoted so much time and effort to the project. They still maintain that Tamiflu is effective, that

Randomized controlled trials are regarded by many as the “gold standard” of drugs trials. There are, however, some drawbacks.

it alleviates the symptoms of influenza and saves lives, and they claim that treatment with Tamiflu reduced the risk of death by 19 percent compared with no treatment. Roche’s counter-review was based not on the RCTs but on observational evidence from 78 studies of patients admitted to hospital between January 2009 and March 2011. Roche claims that this “real-world” data are more relevant to judging the efficacy of the drug than results from an RCT. The Cochrane Collaboration chose not to use the observational data because they found it to be flawed; they discuss this in detail in their review.

An “independent” group to the rescue Roche’s counter-review raises numerous questions. Is Tamiflu actually effective in the real world, whatever the RCTs found, or was that an artefact of the way the observational data were collected, analyzed and selected for publication? If it is more effective, why does that not show up in the RCTs? Why was Tamiflu licensed and so much money spent on it when an analysis of the data available at the time (naturally the observational data came after Tamiflu was licensed) now seem to show so little benefit?

Why have the manufacturers been so determined not to al-

low Cochrane access to the vast amount of unpublished data?

In 2013, Roche announced that in the interests of transparency it would supply any data requested by what it described as a “third party group,” the Multiparty Group for Advice in Science (MUGAS). In fact, while the name might lead you to imagine an independent body bringing together representatives of a number of organizations to consider a range of issues, MUGAS is funded by Roche and is led by four scientists, three of whom are advisers to Roche. It appears to have been set up specifically as part of the attempt to counter the Cochrane’s criticisms.

Another organization involved is European Scientists Working on Influenza (ESWI). On their websites, MUGAS and ESWI give as their point of contact the same mobile telephone number in Belgium. The name MUGAS is a registered trademark of Semiotics, a company that describes its mission as “translating science to the world,” but whose actual activity seems mostly to be concerned with influenza and in particular oseltamivir.

If Tamiflu and other neuraminidase inhibitors are nowhere near as effective as their manufacturers claim, building up huge stockpiles has been a colossal waste of continued on page

60

www.hans.org | Health Action

59

Tamiflu continued from page

59

money. It has also led our governments to believe that we are ready for the next serious outbreak of influenza when we are not. Governments must not ignore the Cochrane analysis, and they cannot rely on the misleadingly named MUGAS to resolve the issue for them. If they are not willing to trust Cochrane, they will have to find other independent experts to explain the discrepancies.

The lesson for the future is that all the data from drug trials including Phase 4 (studies of licensed drugs after they are on the market and being used by clinicians) must be made available to independent researchers, not restricted only

If Tamiflu and other neuraminidase inhibitors are nowhere near as effective as their manufacturers claim, building up huge stockpiles has been a colossal waste of money.

were clear from the outset that this would have to be done and the trials were designed and the results recorded with that in mind. Companies have found they can live with registering Phase 1 trials, something they opposed for many years. We pay a lot of money for drugs and our health depends on their being both effective and safe. We have the right to demand that everything is done to make sure that they are.

Postscript to those with a vested interest in promoting the drug in question. The pharmaceutical industry might find this inconvenient, but it would not be as inconvenient as they would have us believe, especially if it

This story has its ironic side.

Roche are insisting that what they call “real-world” evidence is more relevant than carefully analyzed results from RCTs. Yet for years the biotech industry has steadfastly refused

even to look at real-world evidence of the harm caused to humans, animals and the environment in the case of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), dismissing it as “anecdotal” and therefore not worthy of consideration.

Released online on May 14, 2014, by The Institute of Science in Society (ISIS), an independent, not-forprofit organization dedicated to providing critical public information on cutting-edge science, and to promoting social accountability and ecological sustainability in science.

The original report along with full references and links are available at: www.i-sis.org.uk/ Tamiflu_ A _Colossal_Waste_ of_Money.php If you find this report useful, please support ISIS by subscribing to www.i-sis. org.uk/subscribe

All Night Gong Meditation

H

armony of the Spheres is a Gong Ensemble with Gongmasters Paul Bissonnette and Kathy Cameron. They believe in the healing power of sacred sound to bring balance and harmony to people and places. They feel one of the most transformational sound instruments is the gong, followed closely by singing bowls, drums, chimes and other percussion instruments. Paul and Kathy offer sacred sound journeys on a monthly basis throughout the Lower Mainland and BC. They affectionately refer to them at times as gong baths. One of the most unique and nourishing ways to experience the gongs is at an all night gong meditation where softly played gongs sound throughout the evening until early morning. The sound and vibration promotes a deep sense of peace and well-being, helps to strengthen the nervous system and increase energy and vitality.

When: Where: Cost:

60

9:15 pm October 17 to 7:00 am October 18 Glenbrook Park, 76 Jamieson Court, New Westminster $128 early bird sign-up to Sept 15; $138 thereafter

Health Action | www.hans.org

Registration: http://www.harmonyofthespheres.net/Events.html Email: gongs@harmonyofthespheres.net Paul 604-754-0209 Kathy: 604-340-4955

HANS Wellness Directory Your natural health resource.

More details at www.hans.org ** Discount to Hans members For Associations, Non-Profits and Support Groups, please visit www.hans.org HANS does not recommend, prescribe or endorse any particular product, service or professional.

This directory is for informational purposes only.

Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Animal & Pet Holistic Health Care Aromatherapy Assessments Associations Ayurvedic Medicine Biofeedback Business Opportunities Cancer Information, Treatments, & Support Children’s Health Chiropractors Cleansing & Detoxification Colon Hydrotherapy Counsellors (Registered) Craniosacral Therapy

Inspiration Iridology Kinesiology Live Blood Analysis

Dentists Electromagnetic Fields & Earth Radiation Energy Medicine Environmental Products & Services Food Preparation & Healthy Cuisine Hawaiian Healing Health & Education Centres

Health & Life Coaches Health Food Stores Health Products & Equipment Health Retreats & Spas Healthy Homes & Interiors Herbalists (Registered) Herbs & Herbal Products Holistic Massage Homeopaths Hyperbaric & Oxygen Therapy Hypnotherapy

Massage Therapy Mattresses Medical Doctors Mental & Emotional Wellness Naturopathic Physicians Neurofeedback Non-profit Organizations Nurses (Registered) Nutritional Consultants & Practitioners (Certified) Nutritional Counselling

Organic Products Orthomolecular Medicine Osteopathic Practitioners Personal Development Physical Therapist (Registered) Professional & Business Friends of HANS Publications (Health & Environmental) Reflexologists Rehabilitation Reiki Saunas Shiatsu Skin & Hair Care Sound Healing Support Groups The BodyTalk System Water & Air Systems Weight Management Wellness Centres Women’s Health Yoga

Did we miss you?

Did you know?

nline at irec tor y is o D s s e n l l e T he W rg/directory o . s n a h . w ww

If you’d like a higher profile with your target market, ask about a Professional Membership. www.hans.org | (604) 435-0512

www.hans.org | Health Action

61

HANS Wellness Directory Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine

Assessments

Children’s Health

ACU‑BRIDGE Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture Clinic (604) 432‑7209 | 5238 Irmin St, Burnaby BC

NeuroKinetics™ Traumatology & Concussion Clinic Vancouver BC | (604) 736‑3963 | neurokinetics.com

National Vaccine Information Centre | (703) 938‑DPT3 204 Mill St, Suite B1, Vienna Virginia

BC Naturopathic Association | (604) 736‑6646 2238 Pine St, Vancouver BC | bcna.ca

Revitalize Health Centre | 3331 No. 3 Rd, Richmond BC www.revitalizecentre.com | info@revitalizecentre.com

Autism Canada | (519) 695‑5858 PO Box 366, Bothwell ON

BodaHealth (604) 733‑2632 | bodahealth.ca 302‑1245 West Broadway, Vancouver BC Lorne Brown, BSc, CA, Dr TCM, RAC | (604) 678‑8600 #250 ‑ 828 West 8th Ave, Vancouver BC | acubalance.ca Dr. Erikson‑Chinese Medical Dermatology | (778) 886‑1180 15767 Roper Ave, White Rock BC | drerikson.com Dr. Ara Elmajian & Associates | (604) 876‑9228 701‑805 West Broadway, Vancouver BC | draraelmajian.ca evolve Nurturing Vitality | (604) 255‑7777 102‑2025 West Broadway, Vancouver BC NeuroKinetics™ Traumatology & Concussion Clinic Vancouver BC | (604) 736‑3963 | neurokinetics.com Shelley L Page, Dr TCM | (604) 541‑9336 690‑15355 24th Ave, Surrey BC Pacific Rim College Complimentary & Integrative Medicine | www.pacificrimcollege.ca | (250) 483-2119 PCU College of Holistic Medicine www.pcucollege.ca | (604) 433‑1299 TCM Association of BC | (604) 602‑7550 4347 W 10th Ave, Vancouver BC | tcmabc.org Dr. Chun‑Kai Wang, DTCM Internal Medicine & Pain Clinic | 15532‑ 92A Ave, Surrey BC | www.drwang.ca Jen Wasmund, RTCMP | (604) 738‑5569 #409 ‑ 2150 West Broadway, Vancouver BC Yackel, Avery, BASc, R.TCM.P. | (604) 671‑4682 202‑2383 King George Hwy, Surrey BC Yackel, Avery, BASc, R.TCM.P. | (604) 671‑4682 108‑2078 West 4th Ave, Vancouver BC Lyla Yip, MSc, RAc, DTCM | (604) 872‑6833 #203 ‑ 2256 Brunswick St, Vancouver BC Weidong Yu, DTCM, FAc.,BM, MPh | (604) 737‑7876 916 West King Edward Ave, Vancouver BC

Animal & Pet Holistic Health Care Richard Calland, DVM | (604) 565‑7217 7280 Adera St, Vancouver BC Fraser Valley Animal Care | (604) 852‑4480 217 ‑ 2825 Clearbrook Rd, Abbotsford BC

Aromatherapy Ferlow Botanicals Manufacturers/Distributors Vancouver BC | ferlowbotanicals.com | (604) 322‑4080 Saje Natural Wellness #101‑19052 26th Ave, Surrey BC www.saje.ca | (604) 536‑7191 Young Living Essential Oils | (604) 874‑7318 Carolyn Zerr & Micheal Au http:/ / carolynzerr.younglivingworld.com

62

Health Action | www.hans.org

Associations For these FREE listings, visit | www.hans.org

Ayurvedic Medicine Padmashri Naturals Inc. | www.sewanti.com 60022‑6417 Fraser St, Vancouver | (604) 628‑2003 Ferlow Botanicals Manufacturers/Distributors ferlowbotanicals.com | Vancouver BC | (604) 322‑4080 Jaisri M Lambert | www.ayurveda‑seminars.com Ayurveda Seminars and Consulting | (604) 290‑8201 Sudha Madhuri Ayurvedic Medicine | sudha@vancouver healing.com | www.vancouverhealing.com

Biofeedback Embrace Continence Solutions Ltd. | www.embrace‑cs.ca 6729 Tisdall St, Vancouver | (604) 327‑7056 Eloise O’Ball, RN, Registered Holistic Allergist pacificallergyandwellness.com | (778) 839‑6557

Business Opportunities Pacific Institute of Reflexology | (604) 875‑8818 535 West 10th Ave, Vancouver BC

Cancer Information, Treatments & Support Acquired Intelligence Inc. (Salvestrols) Victoria BC | salvestrol.ca | (250) 483‑3640 Callanish Society | (604) 732‑0633 2277 W 10th Ave, Vancouver BC Brian Davies, BSC, ND | (778) 340‑1114 #1‑156 West 3rd St, North Vancouver BC InspireHealth | (604) 734‑7125 #200 ‑ 1330 West 8th Ave, Vancouver BC Dr Nelie C. Johnson, MD | (604) 467‑1794 www.awarenessheals.ca LEMMO Integrated Cancer Care | (604) 428‑1991 327 Renfrew St, Vancouver BC Ovarian Cancer Canada | www.ovariancanada.org 205 145 Front Street East Toronto ON Dr. Gurdev Parmar, ND, Integrated Health Clinic 202‑23242 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley BC | (604) 888‑8325 Port Moody Naturopathic Health & Wellness (604) 949‑0077 | #202 ‑ 101 Klahanie Dr, Port Moody BC Wellness Trading Post | www.wellnesstradingpost.com Julieta Criollo, DNM, CHT | New Westminster BC

Autism Research Institute 4182 Adams Ave, San Diego CA Sabrina Chen‑See | www.DrChenSee.com 905‑750 W. Broadway Vancouver BC | (604) 566‑9088 Canteris A. Hartley, DCH, HMC | (604) 886‑3844 www.coasthomeopathy.com | #201 ‑ 1001 Gibsons Way, Gibsons BC Integrated Health Clinic, Sarah Sjovold, ND Fort Langley BC | (604) 888‑8325 | www.drsjovold.com VRAN ‑ Vaccination Risk Awareness Network Inc. (250) 355‑2525 | PO Box 169, Winlaw BC

Chiropractors Gregg Anderson, DC | (604) 531‑6446 305 ‑ 1656 Martin Dr, Surrey BC Christine Bird, DC | (604) 885‑7124 Box 358, Sechelt BC Dr Janice Blanke | (819) 687‑9021 90 CH Morgan, Montcalm QC Sabrina Chen‑See | www.DrChenSee.com 905‑750 W. Broadway Vancouver BC | (604) 566‑9088 DesLauriers Chiropractic Group & Assoc 1219 Johnston Road, White Rock BC | (604) 535‑2500 Dr Barbara James Chiropractic | (250) 868‑2951 1333 St. Paul St, Kelowna BC Dr Kevan Shong Chiropractic | (604) 540‑1551 Suite E ‑ 7487 Edmonds St, Burnaby BC Dr. Karin Mattern | (250) 758‑7022 3648 Departure Bay Rd, Naniamo BC evolve Nurturing Vitality | (604) 255‑7777 102‑2025 West Broadway, Vancouver BC Helen Fadden, DC | (604) 852‑4480 #217 ‑ 2825 Clearbrook Rd, Abbotsford BC Dr. Mahin Darabi ‑ Fraser Chiropractic | (604) 321‑6704 #315, North Tower 650 41st Ave W, Vancouver BC Drs Rainer & Randall Zindler ‑ Fraser Chiropractic (604) 321‑6704 | #315, North Tower 650 41st Ave W, Vancouver BC John W C Loh, MSc, DC | (604) 941‑0644 201 ‑ 3377 Coast Meridian Rd, Port Coquitlam BC Kitsilano Chiropractic | (604) 731‑6773 3446 W. Broadway, Vancouver BC Alvin G Klassen, DC, FCCRS(c), CPT | 604) 271‑6442 10020 No 3 Rd, Richmond BC Jay Lepp, DC | (604) 939‑7556 2325 St. John’s Street, Port Moody BC Dorothea McCallum ‑ Ventura Chiropractic 101‑32920 Ventura Ave, Abbotsford BC | (604) 859‑6781

Chiropractors continued

Dentists

Peter Mulyk, DC, 1318 Alberni St, Vancouver, BC | (604) 685‑9416

Arshbir S. Kler, DDS/ A. Ross Gorrell, DDS #201‑5405 12th Ave, Delta BC | (604) 943‑2291

My Chiropractor at Clayton Heights | (604) 575‑9892 #120 ‑ 16555 Fraser Hwy, Surrey BC

Dr. Ara Elmajian & Associates | (604) 876‑9228 701‑805 West Broadway, Vancouver BC | draraelmajian.ca

Nucca Spine Clinic ‑ Dr. Michael J. Foran Vancouver BC | (604) 266‑1461 | www.neckdr.com

Evangelo Papoutsis, DDS | (604) 886‑4543 315 ‑ 287 Gower Point Rd, Gibsons BC

Robert T Ohori, DC | (604) 946‑0144 5017 ‑ 48th Ave, Delta BC

Van Cosmetic/Implant Dentistry | (604) 434‑0248 #359 ‑ 4800 Kingsway, Burnaby BC

Edith Veillette, DC | (819) 669‑9676 435 Boul. La Verendrye e., Gatineau PQ

Electromagnetic Fields & Earth Radiation

Brent Willox, DC | (604) 253‑6930 1279 Nanaimo St, Vancouver BC | www.vanwellness.com

Jim Waugh, EMF SafeHome |(604) 788‑0743 Greater Vancouver, BC | EMFSafeHome.com

Woodgrove Pines Chiropratic | (250) 390‑2003 or (250) 390‑2993 | 102 ‑ 6135 Metral Dr, Nanaimo BC

Milt B Bowling | (604) 949‑1502 http:/ / www.cleanenergycanada.com/

Cleansing & Detoxification

Earthing Canada | 1‑877‑819‑1968 www.earthingcanada.ca

ABC of Colon Care/Prime Vitality North Vancouver BC | (604) 929‑7019 | primevitality.ca

Farren Lander, HealthyHomes Environmental Surrey, BC | (604) 538‑0809

Cedar Springs Renewal Center | (360) 826‑3599 Sedro Woolley WA | cedarsprings.org

**Vlasty Senovsky, Geopathic Consultant | (604) 990‑0524 Lower Mainland | www.geopathic‑consulting.com

Radiant Health Saunas | (604) 221‑1799 Vancouver BC | radianthealthsaunas.com Lisa Keith | (604) 738‑3858 212‑3195 Granville St, Vancouver BC

Colon Hydrotherapy ABC of Colon Care/ Prime Vitality (604) 929‑7019 | North Vancouver BC | primevitality.ca Integrated Health Clinic 202‑23242 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley BC | (604) 888‑8325 Lifelong Health | www.lifelonghealth.ca (604) 538‑6850 | 15228 Pacific Ave, White Rock BC Lisa Keith | (604) 738‑3858 212‑3195 Granville St, Vancouver BC The Happy Colon | (604) 525‑8400 #360 ‑ 522 ‑ 7th St, New Westminster BC Village Health Clinic | (604) 575‑7275 105 ‑ 15153 No 10 Hwy, Surrey BC

Counsellors (Registered) Brigitte R. Clark M.Ed, C.C.C.,S.E.P. | Vancouver, BC (604) 928‑5913 | www.freefallinsurrender.com Vital Synergy Mind Fitness Inc. | (604) 770‑3038 www.vitalsynergy.ca

Craniosacral Therapy Jennifer Beeston | (604) 536‑5985 beeston.jjulia@yahoo.ca Lumen Natura | (778) 783‑0408 www.lumennatura.com | renee@lumennatura.com Brenda Pulvermacher, BSc | (604) 986‑9355 200‑1401 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver BC

Energy Medicine Holly Berezowski, Happily Holistic Natural Health & Wellness | (250) 491‑7559 www.happilyyholistic.ca | office@happilyholistic.ca CHI Wellness | (604) 767‑3834 | Vancouver BC CHI MACHINE | www.chidvd.com/ chiwellness Maria Djordjevic, BSc. CIEHP | (604) 727‑4186 Vancouver BC | sanare.ca Earthing Canada | 1‑877‑819‑1968 www.earthingcanada.ca **Heal Your Own Body Medical Intuition, Elise Yohm (604) 317‑6676 | Burnaby BC | www.healyourownbody.com Diane Louie, EFT Practitioner | (604) 888‑2950 21231 ‑ 93rd Ave, Langley BC Michael D’Alton’s School of Bio‑Energy Healing (604) 688‑5177 | www.daltonsbio.com | Vancouver BC Ann Perrick | (604) 250‑4916 EMF Balancing Technique, North Vancouver BC The HeartMind Institute | (778) 476‑1414 Penticton BC | www.theheartmindinstitute.com Phillip W Warren | (604) 946‑4919 4459 ‑ 52A Street, Delta BC | rebprotocol.net

Environmental Products & Services Milt B Bowling | (604) 949‑1502 http:/ / www.cleanenergycanada.com/ **Nature Cleaning Services | (604) 255‑3735 2316 Nacht Ave, Port Coquitlam BC

Food Preparation & Healthy Cuisine Earthsave Canada | (604) 731‑5885 Vancouver BC | www.earthsave.ca

FarmFolk/ CityFolk Society | (604) 730‑0450 Vancouver, BC | ffcf.bc.ca Raw Food Society of BC | (778) 737‑8852 8051 Poplar St, Van BC | www.rawbc.org

Hawaiian Healing Hawaiian Healing Hub | (604) 782-9197 Galiano/Vancouver Island | www.malamaponobc.com

Health & Education Centres Canadian School of Natural Nutrition | (604) 730‑5611 #100 ‑ 2245 West Broadway, Vancouver BC Dominion Herbal College | (604) 433‑1926 Burnaby BC | dominionherbalcollege.com www.happilyholistic.ca 7655 Falconridge Cres, Kelowna BC Institute of Holistic Nutrition | (604) 558‑4000 300‑604 Broadway W, Vancouver BC Langara College | 100 W 49th Ave., Vancouver BC www.langara.bc.ca/ continuing‑studies/ programs‑and‑courses/ index.html Love Peace Harmony Vancouver (604) 733‑0853 | www.lovepeaceharmonyvancouver.com PCU College of Holistic Medicine www.pcucollege.ca | (604) 433‑1299 John Theobald GNM Education www.learninggnm.com | john@learninggnm.com Vancouver Island College of Natural Wellness Nanaimo, BC | (800) 255‑2816 | www.vicnw.com

Health & Life Coaches Brenda Eastwood | 800‑884‑9220 Saanichton BC | brendaeastwood.com Health Plus | (604) 437‑6286 3512 East 24th Ave, Vancouver BC Trish Lim‑O’Donnell, CCP | (604) 544‑2902 Vancouver BC | www.trishlimodonnell.com Shelley Ugyan | Emerging Jewel www.emergingjewel.com | shelley@emergingjewel.com

Health Food Stores **Alive Health Centres | www.alivehealthcentre.ca With 14 locations in BC, mostly in the Vancouver area Ave Maria Specialties | (250) 563‑6388 1638 20th Ave, Prince George BC Community Natural Foods | (403) 229‑2383 | 10th Ave Market Location: 1304‑10th Ave SW, Calgary AB Community Natural Foods | (403) 541‑0606 Chinook Market Location: 202‑61st Ave SW, Calgary AB Consumers Nutrition Centre | (604) 270‑0007 #1318 ‑ 6551 No. 3 Rd, Richmond BC Dawson Creek Health Food Ctr | (250) 782‑4656 901C ‑ 103rd Ave, Dawson Creek BC Edible Island Whole Foods Market | (250) 334‑3116 477‑6th St, Courtenay BC

www.hans.org | Health Action

63

HANS Wellness Directory **Gaia Garden Herbals | (604) 734‑HERB (4372) 2672 West Broadway, Vancouver BC | gaiagarden.com **Kelly’s Specialty Shop Ltd. | (604) 485‑5550 4706 Marine Ave, Powell River BC Lifestyle Markets | #180‑2950 Douglas St, Victoria BC (250) 384‑3388 **Marks Pharmacy | (604) 731‑8535 3750 Oak St, Vancouver BC **Mother Natures | (250) 365‑7750 Castlegar, BC | www.mothernaturescastlegar.com Nurture Health & Wellness | (403) 208‑0812 63 Crowfoot Terrace NW, Calgary AB Sunnyside Naturals | Kaslo BC | (250) 353‑9667 The Peanut Mill Natural Foods Market | (905) 685‑8848 191 Welland Ave, St. Catharines ON Valley Health | (780) 624‑1332 10019‑100 St., Peace River AB

Health Products & Equipment AIM Canada | (604) 263‑8497 | theaimcompanies.com 390‑2025 W. 42nd Ave,Vancouver BC Amazing Health | (604) 856‑9472 6581 Sunshine Dr, Delta BC Alison Douglas | alisondouglas52@gmail.com www.myaimstore.com/alisonswellness.com Earthing Canada | 1‑877‑819‑1968 www.earthingcanada.ca Eastern Currents Distributing Ltd. | (604) 263‑5042 9109 Shaughnessy St, Vancouver BC | easterncurrents.ca Heather Gabriel | (604) 536‑5585 Independent Zango Distributor, Surrey, BC Wendy Hampton | Bio‑mats.ca (250) 756‑5973 | MsWalkabout1@gmail.com Health Plus | (604) 437‑6286 3512 East 24th Ave, Vancouver BC **Healthy Business Consulting Ltd. | (778) 294‑0611 Ron & Maggie Gale | South Surrey BC | healthybusiness.ca Infinite Possibilities Consulting | (250) 598‑8574 USANA Distributors | possibilities_intl.usana.com Juice Plus (Alberta) & Tower Garden juiceplusworks.com | beyondorganic.towergarden.ca Juice Plus www.mariannesjuiceplus.com (604) 603‑4272 | mhpearson@telus.net Kwikfit4u | laura@kwikfit4u.com | (250) 769‑5552 Laura Pelletier Whole Body Vibration Specialist Preferred Nutrition | (519) 853‑1118 153 Perth St.,Acton ON | pno.ca Radiant Health Saunas | (604) 221‑1799 Vancouver BC | radianthealthsaunas.com

Health Retreats & Spas Cedar Springs Renewal Center | (360) 826‑3599 Sedro Woolley WA | cedarsprings.org

64

Health Action | www.hans.org

Healthy Homes & Interiors Holistic Interior Consultant | (778) 823‑6960 Kimberly Easterbrook Farren Lander, HealthyHomes Environmental Surrey, BC | (604) 538‑0809

Herbalists (Registered) Dominion Herbal College | (604) 433‑1926 Burnaby BC | dominionherbalcollege.com Island Healthworks Natural Health Clinic (250) 468‑7685 | 1830 Douglas Crescent, Nanoose Bay BC Pacific Rim College Complimentary & Integrative Medicine | www.pacificrimcollege.ca | 250-483-2119 PCU College of Holistic Medicine www.pcucollege.ca | (604) 433‑1299 Wellness Trading Post | www.wellnesstradingpost.com Julieta Criollo, DNM, CHT, New Westminster, BC

Herbs & Herbal Products Community Natural Foods | (403) 229‑2383 | 10th Ave Market Location: 1304‑10th Ave SW, Calgary AB Community Natural Foods | (403) 541‑0606 Chinook Market Location: 202‑61st Ave SW, Calgary AB Eastern Currents Distributing Ltd. | (604) 263‑5042 9109 Shaughnessy St, Vancouver BC | easterncurrents.ca Ferlow Botanicals Manufacturers/Distributors Vancouver BC | ferlowbotanicals.com | (604) 322‑4080 Heather Gabriel | (604) 536‑5585 Independent Zango Distributor, Surrey, BC **Gaia Garden Herbals | (604) 734‑HERB (4372) 2672 West Broadway, Van BC | gaiagarden.com Vitex Nutrition Ltd. | VitexNutrition.com 494 Midvale St, Coquitlam BC | (778) 355‑8027

Holistic Massage Heather Donaldson, Nature’s Way Holistic Health (604) 815‑3436 | www.natureswaymassage.ca

Homeopaths Access Natural Healing‑ Elena Cecchetto (604) 568‑4663 | accessnaturalhealingcom Homepathic Practitioner & Cease Therapist Arnica Homeopathy Centre | (604) 780‑2114 205‑1401 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver BC BC Society of Homeopaths | www.bcsh.ca Referrals to classical homeopaths Canteris A. Hartley, DCH, HMC www.coasthomeopathy.com #201 ‑ 1001 Gibsons Way, Gibsons | (604) 886‑3844

Neil Tessler, ND, DHANP | (604) 542‑9759 203‑2828 152nd St, Surrey BC West Coast Homeopathic Society | (604) 803‑9242 #101 ‑ 1001 West Broadway Unit 120, Vancouver BC

Hyperbaric & Oxygen Therapy Dr. Gurdev Parmar, ND, Integrated Health Clinic 202‑23242 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley BC | (604) 888‑8325

Hypnotherapy Canadian Society of Clinical Hypnosis (BC Division) (604) 688‑1714 | 2036 West 15th Ave, Vancouver BC Heather Gabriel | (604) 536‑5585 Suite 176 106‑1656 Martin Dr, Surrey BC Vital Synergy Mind Fitness Inc | (604) 770‑3038 www.vitalsynergy.ca Kemila Zsange, RCCH | kz@kemilahypnosis.com www.kemilahypnosis.com | (604) 687‑4325

Inspiration **Banana Moon | (250) 390‑4010 102 ‑ 6135 Metral Dr, Nanaimo BC

Iridology **Irimeta Health Services | (604) 731‑8535 Vancouver, BC | www.irimeta.com Island Healthworks Natural Health Clinic (250) 468‑7685 | 1830 Douglas Crescent, Nanoose Bay BC

Kinesiology Jake Atchison, Happily Holistic Natural Health & Wellness | www.happilyyholistic.ca office@happilyholistic.ca | (250) 491‑7559 CHI Wellness | (604) 767‑3834 Vancouver BC CHI MACHINE | www.chidvd.com/ chiwellness Alexis Costello, Happily Holisitic Natural Health & Wellness | www.happilyyholistic.ca office@happilyholistic.ca | (250) 491‑7559

Live Blood Analysis Arnica Homeopathy Centre | (604) 780‑2114 205‑1401 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver BC

Massage Therapy Behrs’ Massage Therapy Clinic | (604) 485‑2155 4763 Joyce Ave, Powell River BC Mavis Brown RMT | (250) 774‑6769 | Top Floor, Sikanni Plaza / 5004 52nd Ave W, Fort Nelson BC Elfi M. Dillon‑Shaw, RMT | (250) 247‑9504 730 Captain Ahab’s TRC, Gabriola Island BC

Marie Lamey, Trinity Homeopathy Clinic Vancouver, BC | (604) 837‑7396

Electra Health Floor | (604) 685‑4325 Electra Health Floor ‑ 970 Burrard St, Vancouver BC

Diane Louie, DCH, RSCHom, Classical Homeopath 21231‑93rd Ave, Langley BC | (604) 888‑2950

Doug Fairweather, RMT | (250) 542‑3553 11601 Palfrey Drive West, Coldstream BC

Sonya McLeod, BA, DCH | (604) 677‑7742 351 E 39th Ave, Vancouver BC

Pauline Johnson, RMT | (250) 920‑2093 1999 Cochrane St, Victoria BC

Massage Therapy continued Joyce L deVooght, RMT | (250) 372‑1365 #92 ‑ 665 McBeth Place, Kamloops BC Sandra MacDonald, RMT | (902) 421‑7549 #440 ‑ 5991 Spring Garden Rd, Halifax NS Massage Therapy Assn of BC | (604) 873‑4467 Ste 180 (Airport Square) 1200 W 73rd Ave, Vancouver BC John Russell & Colleen Schmitt, RMT | (604) 436‑5500 308 ‑ 4900 Kingsway, Burnaby BC | www.burnabyrehab.com Murray P Schwabe, RMT | (604) 532‑3050 #203 ‑ 5755 Glover Rd, Langley BC Leslie Smith, RMT | (250) 492‑5599 1458 Government St, Penticton BC

Mattresses Essentia ‑ Natural Mattresses | (604) 738‑0321 2144 West 4th Ave, Vancouver BC | myessentia.com

Medical Doctors Connect Health Centre | (604) 733‑4400 | 205 ‑ 2786 16th Ave W, Vancouver BC | www.connecthealthcare.ca International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine (416) 733‑2117 | 16 Florence Ave, Toronto ON Zoltan Rona, MD | (416) 920‑9241 8188 Yonge St. Suite 101, Thornhill ON

Mental & Emotional Wellness Heather Donaldson, Nature’s Way Holistic Health 604‑815‑3436 | www.natureswaymassage.ca **Heal Your Own Body Medical Intuition, Elise Yohm (604) 317‑6676 | Burnaby BC | www.healyourownbody.com Dr Nelie C. Johnson, MD | (604) 467‑1794 www.awarenessheals.ca NeurVana Recovery and Wellness Inc | www.neurvana.ca (250) 826‑4532 | 1‑888‑657‑9355 Gillian Padgett | www.gillianpadgett.com | (250) 542‑7602 Truehope Nutritional Support Ltd. | (888) 878‑3467 PO Box 888, Raymond Alberta

Naturopathic Physicians Revitalize Health Centre | 3331 No. 3 Rd, Richmond BC www.revitalizecentre.com | info@revitalizecentre.com A New Leaf Naturopathic Clinic | (604) 514‑8555 #103 ‑ 4061 ‑ 200th St, Langley BC BC Naturopathic Association | (604) 736‑6646 2238 Pine St, Vancouver BC, bcna.ca Bellevue Natural Health Clinic | (604) 913‑2262 1467 Bellevue Ave, West Vancouver BC Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine | #300 ‑ 435 Columbia St, New Westminster BC | (604) 777‑9981 Anita Bratt, ND (250) 862‑2673 | www.drbratt.com 102‑1441 Ellis St, Kelowna B.C. Timothy W Brown, ND | (604) 538‑3017 #200 ‑ 12761 16th Ave, Surrey BC

Cdn Assoc Naturopathic Doctors | (416) 496‑8633 1255 Sheppard Ave East, Toronto ON

Danny Jui, ND Ray Clinic | (604) 461‑7900 #3‑201 Morrissey Rd, Port Moody BC

Phoebe Chow, ND | (604) 327‑0021 2298 Newport Ave, Vancouver BC

Denise Rochon, ND, FCAH, CCH | (604) 885‑3150 8442 Redrooffs Rd, Halfmoon Bay BC

Scarlett Cooper, BSc, ND | (604) 222‑2433 305‑2083 Alma St, Vancouver BC | drscarlettcooper.com

William Russell, ND | (604) 535‑4003 305‑1656 Martin Dr, Surrey BC

Brian Davies, BSC, ND | (778) 340‑1114 #1‑156 West 3rd St, North Vancouver BC

Brewster Scott, ND | (250) 382‑2639 855 Cormorant St, Victoria BC

Mandana Edalati, ND | (604) 987‑4660 213‑1940 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver BC

Selkirk Naturopathic Clinic | (604) 463‑4911 230‑22529 Lougheed Hwy, Maple Ridge BC

Dr. Ara Elmajian & Associates | (604) 876‑9228 701‑805 West Broadway, Vancouver BC | draraelmajian.ca

Dr. Pieter C Taams, MD, ND | (604) 856‑5687 Abbotsford, BC | www.naturopathic‑retreat.com

evolve Nurturing Vitality | (604) 255‑7777 102‑2025 West Broadway, Vancouver BC

Neil Tessler, ND, DHANP | (604) 542‑9759 203‑2828 152nd St, Surrey BC

Paula Fainstat, DC, ND | (604) 222‑2433 #305 ‑ 2083 Alma St, Vancouver BC

Gudrun Tonskamper, ND, RAc | (604) 536‑1400 #200 ‑ 1676 Martin Drive, Surrey BC

Dorothy Fairley, ND | (604) 738‑2205 2490 Blenheim St, Vancouver BC

Village Health Clinic | (604) 575‑7275 105 ‑ 15153 No 10 Hwy, Surrey BC

Juliet Ghodsian, ND | (604) 697‑0397 487 Davie St, Vancouver BC

Jennie Weisenburger, ND | (604) 876‑1150 603 ‑ 805 West Broadway, Vancouver BC

Brenda Gill, ND | (250) 362‑5035 Suite 1 1995 Columbia Ave Box 1841, Rossland BC

**Jese Wiens, BSc,ND | (250) 494‑3321 or (778) 476‑6016 Practising in Summerland and Penticton, BC

Tom Glew, ND | (604) 263‑6338 330‑2025 W 42 Ave, Vancouver BC

Neurofeedback

Hawthorne Naturopathic Centre | (250) 598‑3314 1726 Richmond Ave, Victoria BC

MN Health Consulting | (778) 231‑9878 mnhealthconsulting@hotmail.com

Holistic Healing Arts Centre | (519) 751‑3488 213 King George Rd Unit 209, Brantford ON

Vital Synergy Mind Fitness Inc. | (604) 770‑3038 www.vitalsynergy.ca

InspireHealth | (604) 734‑7125 #200 ‑ 1330 West 8th Ave, Vancouver BC Shyrose Karim, ND | (604) 451‑7786 or (604) 922‑7372 J2‑925 Main St, West Vancouver BC Westcoast Naturopathic Clinic | (604) 681‑5585 1190 Thurlow St, Vancouver BC LEMMO Integrated Cancer Care | (604) 428‑1991 327 Renfrew St, Vancouver BC Paul Levendusky, ND, RAc | (604) 536‑8600 #202 ‑ 15210 North Bluff Rd, White Rock BC Bruce Lofting, ND | (403) 270‑3372 3701 17th Avenue SW, Calgary AB Jonn Matsen, ND | (604) 986‑7774 156 West 3rd St, North Vancouver BC Heathir Naesgaard, ND | (604) 980‑4181 #1 ‑ 3731 Delbrook Ave, North Vancouver BC Dr. Karen Parmar, ND | Integrated Health Clinic 202‑23242 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley BC | (604) 888‑8325 Dr. Gurdev Parmar, ND | Integrated Health Clinic 202‑23242 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley BC | (604) 888‑8325 Ingrid Pincott, ND | (250) 286‑3655 300 ‑ 1170 Shoppers Row, Campbell River BC Dr Allana Polo, ND | (778) 397‑3979 New Westminster, BC | www.drallanapolo.com

Non-profit Organizations For these FREE listings, visit | www.hans.org

Nurses (Registered) Embrace Continence Solutions Ltd. | www.embrace‑cs.ca 6729 Tisdall St. Vancouver | (604) 327‑7056 Betty Minifie, HTCP/ I, RN, BSCN, QM Calgary, AB | (403) 474‑7399

Nutritional Consultants (Certified) Canadian School of Natural Nutrition | (604) 730‑5611 #100 ‑ 2245 West Broadway, Vancouver BC Brenda Eastwood | 800‑884‑9220 Saanichton BC | brendaeastwood.com **Irimeta Health Services | (604) 731‑8535 Vancouver, BC | www.irimeta.com Institute of Holistic Nutrition | (604) 558‑4000 300‑604 Broadway W, Vancouver BC

Nutritional Counselling Pacific Rim College Complimentary & Integrative Medicine | www.pacificrimcollege.ca | (250) 483-2119

Port Moody Naturopathic Health & Wellness (604) 949‑0077 | #202 ‑ 101 Klahanie Drive, Port Moody BC

www.hans.org | Health Action

65

HANS Wellness Directory Organic Products Community Natural Foods | (403) 229‑2383 10th Ave Market Location: 1304‑10th Ave SW, Calgary AB Community Natural Foods | (403) 541‑0606 Chinook Market Location: 202‑61st Ave SW, Calgary AB FarmFolk/ CityFolk Society | (604) 730‑0450 Vancouver, BC | ffcf.bc.ca Genki Foods Calgary, AB | 1‑866‑338‑6583 Experience the power of whole foods! genkifoods.com **Green Earth Organics | (604) 708‑2345 Organic delivery service in Vancouver BC Health Plus | (604) 437‑6286 3512 East 24th Ave, Vancouver BC NingXia Red™ Super Juice | (604) 874‑7318 Van BC, ningxia‑red‑juice.com | (778) 222‑7318 cell **West Pointe Organic Produce | (604) 736‑2839 2183 West 4th Ave, Vancouver BC

Orthomolecular Medicine International Society for Orthomolecular Medicine (416) 733‑2117 | 16 Florence Avenue, Toronto ON ISF International Schizophrenia Foundation (416) 733‑2117 | 16 Florence Avenue, Toronto ON

Osteopathic Practitioners **Carolyne Abrams, DO DPO (UK) | (604) 730‑5950 11‑3615 West 19th Ave, Van | carolyne@lighthealing.ca Raphael Limsico | (604) 876‑4948 | House calls available Melanie Swithin‑Jones | (604) 973‑0210 North Vancouver BC | harmonyosteopathy.ca **West Coast Clinic of Osteopathy | (604) 960‑1171 210‑145 West 15th St, North Vancouver BC

Personal Development Brian Madigan | (604) 626‑6277 Stressed out at work? | endworkstress.com The Haven | 1‑800‑222‑9211 240 Davis Rd, Gabriola Island BC

Physical Therapist (Registered) Shayna Hornstein, Registered Physical Therapist www.shaynahornstein.net | (604) 731‑4076

Professional & Business Friends of HANS Caligiuri Financial Group Inc. | (604) 685‑6525 | 1200 ‑ 1111 Georgia St W, Vancouver BC | caligiurigroup.com Jane Shaak | (888) 484‑7253 Royal LePage | 484 Main St, Penticton BC

Publications (Health & Environmental) Alive Publishing Group Inc. | (604) 295‑9333 100 ‑ 12751 Vulcan Way, Richmond BC Common Ground Publishing Corp | (604) 733‑2215 #204 ‑ 4381 Fraser St, Vancouver BC

66

Health Action | www.hans.org

The Herbal Collective Magazine | (250) 754‑7103 Distributed on Vancouver Island, BC The Natural Health Show | www.thenaturalhealthshow.ca Saturday mornings at 11am on am650 Vancouver

Reflexologists Brigitte Beaudoin, Happily Holistic Natural Health & Wellness | (250) 491‑7559 www.happilyyholistic.ca | office@happilyholistic.ca Pacific Institute of Reflexology | (604) 875‑8818 535 West 10th Ave, Vancouver BC Reflexology Association of BC | (604) 435‑8325 720 Sixth St PO Box 248, New Westminster BC

Rehabilitation lue Lotus Revitalized Health | (778) 899‑1179 Vancouver, BC | www.bluelotusrevitalizedhealth.ca NeuroKinetics™ Traumatology & Concussion Clinic Vancouver BC | (604) 736‑3963 | neurokinetics.com NeurVana Recovery and Wellness Inc. | www.neurvana.ca (250) 826‑4532 | 1‑888‑657‑9355

Reiki Inner Focus Holistic Healing | (604) 985‑7302 North Vancouver BC | innerfocus.ca Christa Lynn | (604) 837‑5125 Vancouver BC | www.christalynn.ca Brian Madigan | (604) 626‑6277 Stressed out at work? | endworkstress.com Myorei Healing | (778) 239‑4555 Vancouver BC | myorei.ca

Saunas Radiant Health Saunas | (604) 221‑1799 Vancouver BC | radianthealthsaunas.com

Shiatsu Heather Donaldson, Nature’s Way Holistic Health (604) 815‑3436 | www.natureswaymassage.ca

Skin & Hair Care Dr. Erikson‑Chinese Medical Dermatology 15767 Roper Ave, White Rock, BC (778) 886‑1180 | drerikson.com Ferlow Botanicals Manufacturers/Distributors ferlowbotanicals.com Vancouver BC | (604) 322‑4080 New Visage Advanced Skincare & Anti Aging Ltd. #417 ‑ 1770 W 7th Ave, Vancouver BC | (604) 893‑8872

Sound Healing Harmony of the Spheres | (604) 340‑4955 Vancouver BC | www.harmonyofthespheres.net

Support Groups For these FREE listings, visit | www.hans.org

The BodyTalk System Christa Lynn | (604) 837‑5125 Vancouver BC | www. thebodytalkclinic. com

Water & Air Systems Best Water For You | Keremeos, BC Toll Free 1‑855‑499‑8892 | www.bestwater.ca Watermatters | (604) 733‑7888 Vancouver BC | www.yourwatermatters.com World Living Water Systems Ltd. | (604) 990‑5462 North Vancouver BC | www.alivewater.com

Weight Management **Irimeta Health Services | (604) 731‑8535 Vancouver BC | www.irimeta.com Sonya McLeod, BA, DCH | (604) 677‑7742 351 E 39th Ave, Vancouver BC Radiant Health Saunas | (604) 221‑1799 Vancouver BC | radianthealthsaunas.com

Wellness Centres www.happilyholistic.ca 7655 Falconridge Crescent, Kelowna BC NeurVana Recovery and Wellness Inc. | (250) 826‑4532 1‑888‑657‑9355 | www.neurvana.ca Revitalize Health Centre | 3331 No. 3 Rd Richmond BC www.revitalizecentre.com | info@revitalizecentre.com

Women’s Health Brenda Eastwood | 800‑884‑9220 Saanichton BC | brendaeastwood.com Canteris A. Hartley, DCH, HMC | (604) 886‑3844 #201 ‑ 1001 Gibsons Way, Gibsons BC www.coasthomeopathy.com Integrated Health Clinic, Sarah Sjovold, ND Fort Langley BC | (604) 888‑8325 | www.drsjovold.com Dr. Karen Parmar, ND Integrated Health Clinic 202‑23242 Mavis Ave, Fort Langley BC (604) 888‑8325 Vancouver Women’s Health Collective | (604) 736‑5262 #225 ‑ 119 West Pender, Vancouver BC

Yoga Marie Chang, Burnaby, BC | (604) 809‑8378 www.insighttowellness.com Salt Spring Island Centre of Yoga | (250) 537‑2326 Salt Spring Island BC | www.saltspringcentre.com Sandra Tonn | (604) 483‑3509 Powell River BC | sandra_tonn@telus.net

Search the directory at www.hans.org by keyword, location or name.

C-NAG

(N-acetyl-glucosamine + Vitamin C) NPN # 80043587

A Natural Remedy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease* (*which includes Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome)

C-NAG helps promote a healthy intestinal lining in people with symptoms associated with inflammatory bowel disease.

Presented in the new DRcaps to resist stomach acid which can denature NAG and deliver NAG directly to the small intestine where it is rapidly absorbed for maximum bioavailability.

Read more about the research and science behind this proven natural remedy.

Vitex Nutrition Ltd.

Coquitlam, BC Canada V3K 5H6, Phone/Fax 778-355-8027

www.VitexNutrition.com

HANS Health Action Network Society (1984) 214-5589 Byrne Road, Burnaby, BC V5J 3J1 www.hans.org | hans@hans.org Publications Mail Agreement 40050050