The Medical Freedom Channel

There were several news stories this week worth commenting on here. Each involved the relationship between medicines and the chronically ill, and each served to highlight the fact that conventional allopathic, Big Pharma-created and FDA-approved “drugs” are not getting the job done – at least not to the satisfaction of those who most need the relief they promise. The implications of this may range much further than that segment of our society.

The first was a Reuters piece on how dietary supplements are being used by our society; as it turns out, their most common use is among those with chronic disease, who’ve apparently discovered they get at least as much benefit from naturopathy as from more accepted methods. According to the article, “Having one or more chronic illness [sic] is the primary factor associated with the use of dietary supplements. Cancer survivors also use supplements to treat chronic medical conditions … a new study shows.”

Of course, after these two introductory sentences, the Reuters story goes immediately into dutiful obeisance to the conventional idols of regulation and orthodoxy, quoting a National Cancer Institute representative (who led the study) on her concerns about the “dangers” of permitting such free choices on the part of patients. As Dr. Melissa Farmer Miller reportedly puts it, “We really are just beginning to build an evidence base on the benefits of dietary supplements.” She then adds the kicker: “Even if there’s not a benefit, there is a potential for them to cause harm.” In other words, the assumption is of the negative effects of these supplements, rather than of their possible value – in spite of the obvious market evidence of their widespread use by the chronically ill.
Read the rest of this entry »

“The following are policy recommendations of the Consensus Group. These recommendations and the principles upon which they are based can provide a powerful guide for the policymaking process in achieving important goals of healthcare reform. They are not intended to provide a complete blueprint for reform, and reasonable men and women may differ over the details of how they should be implemented. We believe that following these recommendations will lead to a system in which costs will be restrained, private insurance coverage will expand rather than continue to contract, and quality will be enhanced primarily through additional competition and better consumer incentives.” [editor’s note: For part one see our MFC archives from last week’s issues - SAT] (04/01/2001)

“Would consumers get the same warm, fuzzy message from a drug advertisement that promised to lift their mood if it also urged them to report side effects like suicidal thoughts and diarrhea? Under a proposal regulators will consider Friday, that buyer-be-vigilant message would have to accompany the rosy messages of pharmaceutical promotions. The Food and Drug Administration is considering requiring TV drug advertisements to carry a toll-free number where patients can report serious problems with their medication. The FDA will consult a panel of outside communication experts Friday about whether displaying that language could distract viewers from other important information.” (05/15/08)

“Unsustainable growth in the Canadian government’s spending on health is a result of the flawed design of government health and drug insurance programs, not the price of medical treatment or the introduction of new medical technologies like patented drugs, concludes a new study by the Fraser Institute. Prescription drugs in general and patented drugs in particular account for a small percentage of government health spending. The fact that government spending on all other areas of health care is growing at unsustainable rates, while accounting for more than 90 per cent of total government health spending, strongly suggests that targeting prescription drugs is misguided, says study author Brett Skinner.” (05/15/08)

“Two of the state’s largest health plans agreed today to reinstate nearly 1,200 patients whose health coverage the insurers dropped after the individuals incurred high medical expenses. Under the deal, patients whose coverage was rescinded by Kaiser Permanente or Health Net since 2004 will be allowed to purchase new insurance regardless of preexisting medical conditions. The settlement, brokered by the California Department of Managed Health Care, comes three months after a Gardena hair salon owner won an unprecedented $9-million judgment against Health Net for canceling her coverage while she was in the midst of undergoing chemotherapy.” (05/15/08)

“Hayden Hamilton never planned to go into the business of selling pharmaceuticals. But when his brother and aunt lost their jobs and health insurance, and a close friend was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s disease, he began a quest for affordable drugs. While traveling with his friend to Asia to search for treatments, Hamilton discovered he could buy low-cost drugs made in plants certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and send them to his family members. When he learned that India had the greatest number of FDA-approved manufacturing plants outside the United States, the seed of an idea was born.” (05/15/08)

“A set of scientific studies probing the health effects and stability of a calorie-free natural sweetener that Cargill Inc. and Coca-Cola Co. aim to market are expected to be published Thursday, offering evidence of its safety, according to people familiar with the research. The findings were funded by Cargill and are being published online in the journal Food and Chemical Toxicology. The results could put the two companies one step closer toward gaining U.S. regulatory approval for their sweetener, which is derived from the South American herb stevia. The companies hope the sweetener, which bears the brand name Truvia and the common name rebiana, will give them a lock on the ‘holy grail’ of sweeteners: one that sweetens foods and beverages naturally, has no calories and tastes good.” [editor’s note: We know people who’ve been carrying packets of Stevia for their coffee for years now; no noticeable side-effects as yet - SAT] (05/15/08)

“Last summer, when Barack Obama repeatedly distanced himself from the Bush administration’s policy regarding medical marijuana, he stopped short of explicitly promising to let states go their own way in this area. But two recent interviews seem to have eliminated any wiggle room on that question. … It seems to me that Obama now has unequivocally promised to back off and allow states to make their own policy decisions about the medical use of marijuana within their own borders. He also seems to be saying the federal government should consider rescheduling marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act so that doctors can legally prescribe it.” (05/15/08)

“Pharmacologists are scheming to classify all diseases by their genetic fingerprint, conduct massive genetic screening of the citizenry and then prescribe gene-controlling drugs. But as Big Pharma attempts to stake its claim for use of synthetic drug molecules to influence gene-controlled disease mechanisms, will nature trump the pharmacologists? The foods we eat, the drugs and dietary supplements we take, all provide molecules that affect the human genome – the 30,000 genes that are housed within the nucleus of each cell of the body. Genes, when activated, produce proteins, a process called gene expression. Gene-controlled protein making can also be down-regulated in the same manner.” (05/15/08)

“As a person who has been disabled for 12 years now, even with insurance — I can attest to the tremendous and unmanageable burden health care costs have put on myself and my family. It’s nothing less than a basic human rights violation. It’s torture, it adds to the illness burden mentally & financially. As an American, a mother and a human being, there is something fundamentally wrong with this picture. This is a tale of pay or die that recurs again and again all over our country and only in our country in the entire western world.” (05/15/08)

“They sure can, according to a new survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Schering-Plough/Merck Pharmaceuticals, a corporate joint venture that makes allergy medications. The survey involved more than 1,000 consumers (people with and without allergies), 1,000 allergy sufferers, and 300 physicians. An allergic reaction involves the release of inflammatory substances that cause sneezing, nasal congestion, runny nose and eyes, and other symptoms. An estimated 50 million Americans have indoor and outdoor allergies, some of which get worse in the spring. The consumer portion of the survey revealed that, while most people feel sorry for allergy sufferers, more than one-third think allergy sufferers overstate their symptoms or use allergies as an excuse to get out of something.” (05/12/08)

“Multiple vitamins are taken by at least 50% of American adults and 25% of teenagers. It is common knowledge that our food supply is lacking key nutrients that support health. Yet, the quality of multiple vitamins varies dramatically as the majority of the dietary supplement industry falls into the ‘fast food’ category. Junk vitamins, like junk food, should be avoided. Educate yourself and know the difference. In Part 1 of this two part article, I explained how you can look at the minerals in a multiple vitamin or bone support product and make a good judgment about the quality of the product. In this part I will do the same for B vitamins, beta carotene, and vitamin E.” (05/02/08)

“A new label from Cinema Libre Studio for films that analyze how we co-exist with our planet, featuring films that examine the environment, health, ecology and sustainability. The DVD is divided into two parts. Part 1, ‘Curing Cancer,’ deals with the failings of conventional cancer treatments and shows how conventional medicine wildly — and deceptively — exaggerates the benefits of treatments, while minimizing the risks. … Part 2, ‘Healing Cancer,’ shows how cancer can be successfully healed with dietary treatments and natural supplementation. … It also discusses supplementation and why attitude is important in reversing not only cancer, but any disease. Healing Cancer goes on sale May 20th and will sell for $19.95.” (posted 05/13/08)

“Are you ready for a life-changing experience? This May 31st through June 1st, [Mike Adams will] be joining David Wolfe, Peter Ragnar, Tony Balistreri, Jay Kordich (formerly the ‘Juiceman’), and other presenters in a live, two-day event called The Vitality Experience. It’s all happening in Atlanta, Georgia at the Marriott Perimeter Hotel. There, we’ll be presenting new information about natural health breakthroughs and solutions for reversing disease, accelerated healing, longevity, and more! Learn more by clicking here. Called, ‘The Best Weekend Ever,’ the event brings together selected pioneers in the natural living movement — pioneers who aren’t afraid to tell the truth about radical new healing technologies, discoveries and paradigm shifts.”

“Of the 47 million uninsured in the U.S., it’s estimated that nearly 30 percent are eligible for free or low-cost government programs but are not aware of them or signed up. The nonprofit Foundation for Health Coverage Education has launched the ‘Coverage For All’ campaign to educate the uninsured about their health coverage options. If you or someone you know needs health coverage, here are three simple, free resources you have to find out if you are eligible.” [editor’s note: While we do not endorse this “coverage” pathway for everyone, it may be well worth considering for some among our readership - SAT] (04/12/08)

Luncheon meeting with Elizabeth Whelan, speaking on health food choices. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Lloyds Restaurant, 1 South Wacker Drive (southeast corner of Wacker & Madison), Chicago, Illinois

Members $30.00; Non-members $35.00

“For all those looking for access to the very best health secrets from the top thinkers in the industry, you’ll be overjoyed to hear about Kevin Gianni’s The Healthiest Year of Your Life. It’s an online health seminar featuring exclusive conversations with nine top health experts including Jon Barron, Byron Katie, Jonny Bowden and many more. I was also invited to participate in the event, so you’ll hear my latest findings on superfoods nutrition, disease prevention, health freedom and much more. Registration is free through Sunday evening.” [editor’s note: The seminar appears to be indeed FREE, but they do have “upgrades” to sell - SAT] (posted 01/24/08)