The Alternative Medicine & Natural Health Newsletter
is sponsored by
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH INSURANCE SERVICES.

Since 1985, Alternative Health Insurance Services has helped businesses and individuals find the best value in health insurance with an emphasis on coverage for alternative medicine and natural therapies. Please visit www.AlternativeInsurance.com to learn about options for your personal or group health insurance.

October 2006

Welcome to the October 2006 edition of our newsletter.

Our goal is to provide you with information and articles that are of interest to you and may be of value to you.  Information we include is gathered from a variety of publications. 

If you have not read our previous newsletters, they are also posted on our website.

A Message from Steve Gorman, President, Alternative Health Insurance Services:

I want to thank everyone for their prayers, positive thoughts, and kindness expressed on the passing of my wife, Elaine, on August 29^th.  She courageously battled breast cancer for nearly three years, handling everything in life with grace and dignity, never once asking “why me?”

For those who were not able to attend Elaine’s memorial service, you can view and hear the eulogy I did for her at http://www.althlthins.com/html/elainegorman.htm

It has been difficult for me to get back into work and I appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding during this most difficult time of my life.

We will be establishing the Elaine Anestos Gorman Foundation to educate people about inflammatory breast cancer and will provide more details in future newsletters.

It has been comforting to me to know I deal with caring and compassionate people in my work and I thank you all for being that.

Supplement Use Remains Strong; Consumer Confidence Declining

According to survey results released at the Council for Responsible Nutritions (CRN) annual conference, a new Ipsos-Public Affairs telephone survey indicates that 65 percent of adult Americans take dietary supplements, remaining consistent with the surveys annual results from 2003 (65 percent), 2004 (62 percent) and 2005 (64 percent). The telephone survey also found a decline in consumer confidence over a six-year period, with 2006 results indicating 69 percent of those surveyed expressed overall confidence in the safety, quality and effectiveness of dietary supplements versus 74 percent in 2001, with a high of 78 percent in 2004.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter
CRN Website

Alternative Health Insurance Services (AHIS) is pleased to partner with Cancer Nutrition Centers of America (CNCA) to offer special reduced pricing on what we believe to be the highest quality line of nutritional supplements available from a socially responsible company.  For details, click on  

Prenatal Vitamins May Reduce Risk of Brain Tumors in Children
[2006/09/21][The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia]
Study conducted at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, appearing in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, suggests that women who take multivitamins early in pregnancy may reduce the risk that their child will develop some types of brain tumors.

Prenatal vitamins help prevent birth defects
According to a CanWest News Service article in the Times Colonist, Canadian researchers have determined that folic-acid fortified multivitamin supplements, consumed by women thinking about getting pregnant, or who are early in their first trimester, provide consistent protection against congenital anomalies, including cardiovascular defects such as holes in the heart, limb defects, cleft palate, urinary tract problems, and hydrocephalus. According to the article, women who took a multivitamin had a 33 per cent lower risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect, were up to 39 per cent less likely to have a baby with a cardiovascular defect and up to 63 per cent less likely to deliver a baby with hydrocephalus.
Internet Resources:
Article in The Times Colonist

Low vitamin E intake during pregnancy can lead to childhood asthma
Research appearing in the September issue of of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine indicates that children whose mothers had a low intake of vitamin E during pregnancy are more likely to develop wheezing and asthma by age five. The researchers assessed maternal nutrient and respiratory status in 1,253 mothers and children during a five-year period, observing that children born to mothers from the lowest quintile of vitamin E intake were over five times more likely to manifest early persistent asthma than children whose mothers were in the highest quintile.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter
Abstract in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

Recent Studies Reveal Cranberries Disable Certain Harmful E. coli Bacteria
According to a laboratory study conducted by researchers from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs) disable certain E. coli bacteria and may prevent the attachment of microorganisms that cause infection by changing the shape of the bacteria from rods to spheres, altering their cell membrane, and making it difficult for bacteria to make contact with cells, or from latching onto them should they get close enough.
Internet Resources:
Ocean Spray Press Release on NPIcenter

A Japanese study published in the September 13, 2006 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Assn. concluded that green tea consumption is associated with reduced mortality due to all causes and especially due to cardiovascular disease—but not with reduced mortality due to cancer. Benefits were more apparent in women than men. Among the types of cardiovascular disease mortality, the strongest inverse association was observed for stroke mortality. The Ohsaki National Health Insurance Cohort Study, a population-based, prospective cohort study, was initiated in 1994 among 40,530 Japanese adults aged 40 to 79 years without history of stroke, coronary heart disease or cancer at baseline. Participants were followed up for up to 11 years (1995-2005) for all-cause mortality and for up to 7 years (1995-2001) for cause-specific mortality.

Green tea extract may slow Huntington's disease
The green tea extract, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), may slow the accumulation of proteins that cause Huntington's disease, German scientists have reported... Read

Black tea may speed up recovery from stress
Drinking black tea could reduce stress hormone levels and help ease the burden of heart disease, says the first randomized clinical trial into the effects of the beverage on stress... Read

Consumption of vitamin D tablets was found to cut the risk of pancreatic cancer nearly in half, according to a study led by researchers at Northwestern and Harvard universities. Findings point to vitamin D’s potential to prevent the disease, and is one of the first known studies to use a large-scale epidemiological survey to examine the relationship between the nutrient and cancer of the pancreas, according to the American Assn. for Cancer Research (AACR). The study examined data from two large, long-term health surveys and found that taking the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance of D (400 IU/day) reduced the risk of pancreatic cancer by 43%. By comparison, those who consumed less than 150 IUs per day experienced a 22% reduced risk of cancer. Increased consumption of the vitamin beyond 400 IUs per day resulted in no significant increased benefit. “Vitamin D has shown strong potential for preventing and treating prostate cancer, and areas with greater sunlight exposure have lower incidence and mortality for prostate, breast, and colon cancers, leading us to investigate a role for vitamin D in pancreatic cancer risk,” said lead researcher Halcyon Skinner of Northwestern. Few studies have examined this association, and we did observe a reduced risk for pancreatic cancer with higher intake of vitamin D.” The study appears in the September issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, published by AACR.

Fish oil beats defibrillators in sudden heart death model
Increasing consumption of omega-3 by eating adequate amount of oily fish or taking fish oil supplements could save 58 Americans for every 100,000, a recent study looking into preventing sudden cardiac death concluded... Read


Whole grains linked to blood pressure reduction, small study
A small study indicates that individuals with slightly high cholesterol levels may benefit from plenty of whole grains... Read

Virgin olive oil best for heart health
Virgin olive oil, a rich source of polyphenols, is the best vegetable oil for heart health, says a European study... Read

Study Evaluates Potential Complications Associated with Consumption of Chinese Herbs Prior to Surgery
According to a Reuters article citing a study published in the September issue of the medical journal Anesthesiology, certain herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine can impair blood clotting or lower blood pressure. According to the article, licorice, rehmannia, astragalus, atractylodes and eucommia are potentially harmful traditional herbs if taken in prescription form before surgery.
Internet Resources:
Reuters Article
Abstract in Anesthesiology

Study Shows That Pine Tree Bark Reduces Diabetic Leg Ulcers
A study published in the July journal of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Homeostasis shows that Pycnogenol heals leg ulcers in patients who suffer from diabetic leg ulcerations. According to the release issued by Natural Health Science Inc., the most significant findings were patients treated with oral and local Pycnogenol resulting in a 74.4 percent decrease in ulcer size within six weeks.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter

According to a new report by Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), adult obesity rates continued to rise in 31 states over the past year. In national rankings, Mississippi was the heaviest state with an obesity rate of 29.5%, followed by Alabama and West Virginia . Colorado was the least heavy state with a rate of 16.9%. Regionally, the South was home to nine out of the 10 states with the highest obesity rates. The South is also home to nine of the 10 states with the highest rates of diabetes and hypertension. “The bad news is that not enough progress has been made in the past year, and America ’s obesity epidemic continues to get worse,” said Jeff Levi, executive director of TFAH. “Quick fixes and limited government programs failed to stem the tide. The ‘fad diet’ approach does not work for individuals, and it’s not going to work for our nation’s obesity crisis either. Government must step up and provide sustainable funding for sound, long-term policies that produce significant results.”

Fruit and veg juice may reduce Alzheimer's risk
Drinking three glasses of fruit or vegetable juice a week could cut the risk of Alzheimer's disease by a whopping 75 per cent, according to a population based study from the US ... Read

Study suggests women need more vitamin K for bones
A recent study suggests thwarting vitamin K's function could hinder bone health and contribute to the development of osteoporosis, results that call into question a need for increased vitamin K supplementation... Read

Meta-analysis Indicates That Echinacea Cuts Cold Incidence
According to a Reuters Health article, citing research presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Clinical Pharmacology, use of echinacea before the onset of full-blown symptoms of the common cold reduces the incidence by more than a half and the duration by almost two full days. according to the article, the researchers conducted a search and ultimately a pooled analysis of randomized controlled trials on the subject, finding 14 studies that contained information on incidence in 1,356 patients and duration in 1,630 patients, and calculating that echinacea use cut incidence by 58 percent and duration by 1.9 days.
Internet Resources:
Reuters Health Article

Alternative Therapies Used By About 5 Percent Of Adults With Insomnia
According to an article on Medical News Today citing a survey published in the September 18 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, more than 1.6 million U.S. adults are estimated to use complementary and alternative therapies to treat insomnia or trouble sleeping. According to the article, the researchers analyzed data from a national survey of 31,044 adults conducted in 2002, finding that 17.4 percent reported that they regularly had insomnia or trouble sleeping in the past year, and of these, 4.5 percent reported that they had used CAM to treat the condition.
Internet Resources:
Article on Medical News Today
Abstract in Archives of Internal Medicine

Blackberry extract shows anti-tumour promise
An extract from blackberries is seen to reduce cancerous tumours and prevent proliferation of cancer cells in mice... Read

Study: Eating fatty fish warded off kidney cancer
According to a Reuters article citing Swedish research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Swedish women who ate fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring at least once a week had a significantly lower risk of kidney cancer compared to consumers of lean fish. According to the article, those who regularly ate fish containing lots of fish oil that is rich in omega-3 acids and Vitamin D had a 74 percent lower risk of getting kidney cancer compared to those who ate no fish at all.
Internet Resources:
Reuters Article
Abstract in Journal of the American Medical Association


Study: Vitamin 'may block MS disability'
According to an article on BBC News, citing research on mice published in the Journal of Neuroscience, vitamin shots may help protect multiple sclerosis patients from severe long-term disability. According to the article, the researchers worked on mice with an MS-like disease called experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), observing that daily nicotinamide shots protected the animals' nerve cells from myelin loss, and stabilised the condition of those cells that had already been affected.
Internet Resources:
Article on BBC News

Study: Consumption of Lutein, Zeaxanthin in Eggs Raises Blood Levels of These Components
According to an article on NewsTarget.com, citing two studies to appear in the October issue of Journal of Nutrition, eating an egg a day can raise levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in the blood, which can reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). According to the article, the first study examined the effects of eating one egg per day on blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin in 33 men and women older than 60, observing that lutein levels increased by 26 percent, while zeaxanthin levels increased by 38 percent. In the second study, the researchers observed the effects of a 12-week diet of six eggs per week on blood levels of lutein and zeaxanthin on 24 women aged between 24 and 59, noting that blood levels of zeaxanthin -- but not lutein -- increased in the two groups that ate eggs, but not in a placebo group.
Internet Resources:
Article on Newstarget.com

Red wine again linked to slowing Alzheimer's
A Mount Sinai School of Medicine study found giving mice with amyloid plaques in their brains red wine slows their memory loss and brain cell death - adding to a body of science linking compounds in the beverage... Read

More selenium could slash bladder cancer risk, says study
Increasing the daily intake of selenium from dietary and supplementary sources, could cut the risk of bladder cancer by 70 per cent, suggests a new study from Belgium... Read

Fruit and vegetables cut heart disease risk, says study
Every extra of fruit or vegetable consumed daily could cut the risk of heart disease by four percent, says a meta-analysis of almost a quarter of a million people, giving people even more reason to seek out the... Read

Tomato extract could stop platelet build-up, boost heart health
Extracts from tomatoes offer heart health benefits by reducing the accumulation of platelets that lead eventually to blood clots, heart attacks and strokes, say two complimentary studies from the UK ... Read

More than 1.6 million civilian, non-institutionalized adult U.S. citizens use CAM to treat insomnia or trouble sleeping, according to an analysis of the 2002 National Health Interview Survey Data in the September 18, 2006 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine. There was a strong positive association between adults who reported having insomnia and adults who reported four of five common conditions: obesity, hypertension, congestive heart failure and anxiety or depression. The 12-month prevalence rate of insomnia or trouble sleeping was 17.4%. Of those with sleep problems, 4.5% used some form of CAM therapy to treat the problem. Survey respondents reported using therapies within four of five broad CAM domains. Individuals who used CAM whether or not the sleep disorder was associated with another comorbid condition, primarily used biologically based therapies, e.g., herbs (64.8%) or mind-body therapies, e.g., relaxation techniques (39.1%). Those without comorbid conditions showed a preference for mind-body therapies, and those with comorbidities preferred biologically based therapies. Analyzing all CAM domains together, 60.7% of respondents told a conventional medical practitioner that they were using a CAM therapy to treat their insomnia. Approximately 56% reported that a CAM therapy was very important to maintaining their health and well being. The most common reason for choosing a CAM therapy to treat insomnia was that respondents thought it would be interesting to try (66.6%). The second most common reason was that respondents thought that the CAM treatment combined with a conventional treatment would be helpful (63.8%).

FREE ACUPUNCTURE & CHIROPRACTIC BENEFIT

Alternative Health Insurance Services now includes a free benefit for our individual and group clients that provides up to 20 acupuncture and/or chiropractic visits per year with a $20 co-payment for each visit. This complimentary benefit is a bonus for doing business with us and is included with most of the health insurance plans we offer.

We have contracted with Landmark Healthplan of California, Inc. to provide a combined chiropractic and acupuncture benefit that utilizes Participating Chiropractors and Acupuncturists. A directory of these providers may be found on the Landmark website at www.LandmarkHealthcare.com or from Alternative Health Insurance Services.

Participants will have a co-payment of only $20 per visit and can receive up to 20 visits per year. Treatments must be medically necessary to treat an injury or illness. After an initial visit, subsequent visits need to be pre-authorized by Landmark. Each participant will receive a Schedule of Benefits and other materials that fully describe their benefits, limitations, and exclusions.

This benefit is being provided at no cost to California clients of Alternative Health Insurance Services who are actively participating in a permanent health insurance plan where commissions are being paid to either Alternative Health Insurance or Steve Gorman. These benefits are being provided only to each primary policyholder and their spouse/partner.

This program is only available as a complimentary benefit to clients who have purchased their health insurance plans through Alternative Health Insurance Services and can not be purchased as a "stand-alone" benefit.

NEW VISION BENEFITS are now available from America's largest provider of eyecare coverage.  Normally these benefits are only available to employees of large companies, but you can participate through our special program.  For more details, click on the Vision Benefit link on our website.