Go Natural for Good Health

For a very long time, I've felt that the treatment of physical difficulties in the future will be removed from the Pharm industry and will have a turn around based on light and sound therapeutics.

In line with that, I have many documents, books and other research that's pointing more and more in that direction. I received a very interesting site featuring a "functional neurologist and pioneer in laser therapy," Dr. Brandon Crawford. He specializes in "using light therapy and photobiomodulation to heal brain injuries." This is a great benefit to children who often have home or sporting injuries in their very early years.

It isn't unusual for a child to take a nasty tumble down steep stairs, fall off the balance beam to hit their heads on the concrete gym floor, or have a bicycle or skate board crash.

“Now prancing, now dancing, now standing still.” Do you remember this childhood riddle? We’re going to talk about your teeth and mouth care.

Do you have any idea what’s in the toothpaste you use two or more times a day to polish your mouth ponies? We’re going to delve into this issue and end up with some nice alternatives.

One of the most frequently touted ingredients is fluoride. Because the topic is so. huge, I will deal with it in another post.That leaves about 12 or more ingredients that may be in that tube. One that was popular with toothpaste manufacturers was later banned in soaps but was still regarded as “safe” by the FDA to put into your mouth.. However, that Triclosan is a pesticide and was added as an antibacterial agent which was still in use as of January 2020. (You are not a pest! I don’t care who told you that you were!)

 How many of you have nonstick cooking pots and pans? They are nice to prevent food from sticking to the surface, but are you aware of the hazards of these products?

Teflon and the forever chemicals that come with them are challenging for and destructive to your health. They have been known to contribute to all kinds of problems including malfunction of the thyroid gland, weight gain to the point of obesity, auto-immune diseases, and testicular and kidney cancer.

The last column was so hard to digest that I thought something lighter would help relieve the tension. There is more to come, but we don’t want to overdose on the negative.

These tips are from one of the heroes of my earlier years, J. I. Rodale. He took a 63-acre rundown farm in Pennsylvania and made it into a productive prototype for organic living. He used composting and cover cropping in his efforts to restore this farm, and it worked! He went on to make an impact on his generation and taught that “Organics is not a fad,” and “The Future is Organic.” As I had the opportunity, for decades,I’ve tried to follow his principles.

These tidbits are from or based on his book, “The Encyclopedia for Healthful Living." 9th printing in 1971 in which he listed things from A to Y.

What in the world do I mean? It depends on who you ask. Promoters of the slime claim it's just like beef. In fact, the FDA now calls it "ground beef." Meat industry producers have a fancier name, LFTB stands for "Lean Finely Textured Beef."

Have you heard of "beef trim?" It's "waste" meat and fat removed from higher quality beef. When collected, they warm the fat and trim, then put it into a centrifuge to "spin out" the fat. So far, so good. "Beef Products Inc " claims that this lean beef can be mixed with beef that has a higher fat content which is used in "low-fat ground beef and processed meat products.

It can be overwhelming to realize just how badly our food has been manipulated, adulterated, and in some instances concocted from things we would never knowingly put into our mouth. So, while delivering the bad news, I’ll intersperse it with some good news hoping to give you a ray of hope that all is not lost.

Perhaps the earliest use of red light therapy was by Danish physician, Dr. Niels Ryberg Finsen. He received a Nobel Prize in 1903 for finding that exposure to concentrated red light sped wound healing. File that away for future reference.

NASA has been researching uses of red light therapy for many years. Some of their more serious early work came from a man named Ron Ignatius who worked for a company associated with the NASA branch in Huntsville, Alabama. Earlier their research focused on the use of LED (light-emitting diode) technology as it related to plant growth.

Researchers noticed that “abrasions on their hands” healed more quickly than expected. This relates to a problem in space travel. Astronauts’ muscles and bones atrophied and wound healing was slow. So, they began to focus on the use of LEDs to overcome these challenges.

It was found that near-infrared laser light sped the healing of wounds. It boosted the “production of growth-factor proteins, collagen and blood vessels.” Although the length of time for dosing seemed important to prevent burning, the U. S. Navy began using LED devices to treat “training injuries.” Muscle injuries and lacerations healed much more quickly than traditional treatment.

The researchers began using it to treat such things as pain, inflammation, muscle spasms, arthritis, and muscle and joint pain. ?spinoff.nasa.gov ?

The Cleveland Clinic has a site, ?my.clevelandclinic.org ?that focuses on the use of Red Light Therapy (RLT). It's being used for skin issues from wrinkles, acne, scars, and redness. Commercial devices use lower levels of red light than in earlier experiments did. Other skin issues that have been helped include “skin cancer, psoriasis,” warts, and some other types of cancer.

It's also been used to improve hair growth (and to reduce hair loss), improve scars and sun-damaged skin, reduce stretch marks, and relieve pain and inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoarthritis. It also helped prevent cold sores from recurring.

It's thought that one of the ways it works is by “increasing the production of mitochondria.” They are the little factories in each body cell that work to produce energy. It's thought that they can also enhance the repair of the cell because it increases the general function of the cell. ?webmd.com ?(Red Light Therapy: What is it?”

One very interesting benefit shows up in 10 studies of people with dementia. It seems to be beneficial to those with dementia. One study reported that five people with this condition had regular light therapy for 12 weeks. Their memories improved, they “slept better and were angry less often.”

verywellhealth.com ?mentions that RLT has been used to help with such dental issues as temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). It's thought to reduce pain and increase the range of motion of the jaw. It appears to also reduce dental plaque buildup by reducing the bacteria related to plaque. For those troubled with recurring herpes cold sores, RLT may help heal them and prevent recurrence.

Help to the brain was clarified at this site. Apparently, in Alzheimer’s disease, formaldehyde becomes concentrated in the brain. Research indicates RLT can break down formaldehyde which can improve “cognitive functions” in those who are mildly afflicted. It also seems to reduce general anxiety. One way is by helping people sleep better after being treated.

A study from the Journal of Athletic Training indicated that RLT slows fatigue, lessens tiredness, and improves recovery from exercise soreness. This will be good news for those who are concerned with physical fitness. ?healthnews.com ?"Red Light Therapy: Uses, Benefits, and Side Effects".

Another unexpected benefit was in treating spinal cord injuries. A study was published in the ?Journal of Neuroinflammation ?which suggested that it could reduce “pain hypersensitivity and improve function.”

Dr. Josh Axe believes that part of the way RLT works is by increasing blood flow to body tissues and by stimulating the production of collagen. (Collagen could be called a cellular glue that helps hold body tissues together.)

According to an article on his site, a report was published in ?Annals in Biomedical Engineering ?suggesting that, along with other benefits, it lessened “inflammation, edema, and chronic joint disorder.” Plus it healed deep “tissues and nerves" as it was used “to treat neurological disorders and pain.” ?draxe.com,

So why am I sandwiching this article amidst others related to the toxins in our foods? I hope to prove that the toxins added, processes used in growth, harvest, production, and even methods of packaging and storing products all affect our bodies in detrimental ways.

Red light therapy can address some of the symptoms caused by the chemicals our foods are exposed to from toxins in our air, and water and the whole processing procedures they undergo. Not to mention the toxic buildup of chemicals the body has difficulty processing and removing.

There are many factors to explore if you’re considering purchasing a RLT device for home use. There are caps for those who suffer hair loss or baldness. There are wands, hand-held devices, face masks, and light boxes.

Sites for some information on devices include ?mindbodygreen.com, ?goodhousekeeping.com, and ?everydayhealth.com. Many devices focus on face and skin-related therapy. These may include masks of various types, wands, and hand-held devices. Many of them can be quite pricey. So, consider what type of device you want to invest in. Look for reviews on them and any available safety information.

Some years ago, we invested in a lightbox suggested by Ari Whitten. He wrote a book, “The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy.” In it, he focused on such things as benefits, doses, how to choose your device, and a list of his recommendations. He wrote on such issues as brain optimization, anti-aging, muscle gain, performance and recovery, etc.

Based on his information we invested in a light box, ?RedRush 360. We’ve both used it in a variety of ways. It can be hung over a door, but we only stood it up on a stand when in use. It has both red light-and near-infrared lights. Near-infrared seems to penetrate bone and might be best suited for concerns within the skull or for long-bone help.

Some years went by and because the box was cumbersome, I ended up with an infrared heating pad. It uses semi-precious stones in a pattern. I’ve used it in desk chairs, soft chairs and even lying down on a floor pad. Some use it in bed at night for pain relief and thereby better sleep.

I’ve long believed in natural therapies, so, knowing some of how the body functions, the use of light therapy is important. Since the mitochondria make light/energy in the body, it’s a small wonder that a light device would help increase their proper function.

Staying healthy when there are so many factors against us takes more work than ever before. Life was much simpler in bygone days before our exposure to tens of thousands of chemicals and other non-health exposures.

If you do not want to invest in an RLT option, you might consider visiting a near-infrared sauna. That can also be helpful.

Stay healthy, my friends.

Nancy L. Pidutti, PhD in NHH, Nurse, Author, Health Teacher and Hospital Chaplain

I’ve even worn more hats than that!

The concern about keeping vegetables and fruits fresh has led to all kinds of innovations, most of which are not good for us. I once walked into an Eastern supermarket and found the manager of the vegetable department coating cucumbers with Johnson's wax. That was in the years before there was such concern for food safety as we find among consumers today. He justified it by saying "everyone was doing it."

The ever-busy Mr. Gates has invested in a new product to do the same kind of job of keeping produce edible longer. Finding the truth about this product is a challenge. Those with vested interests defend its safety. Those who are more concerned about customers' health over monetary gain have other things to say about this substance that coats produce peels.

That statement seems radical, but see for yourself. It's an unwanted residue in much of our food. HealthDay News July 12, 2022, made the statement that most Americans have this weed killer in their urine. It's been called "probably carcinogenic to humans" by the World Health Organization International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Let's dig deeper. Glyphosate is the chemical in Roundup, a weedkiller (herbicide) that many people have used. They can be exposed to it in food, on golf courses, and in household yard use, and company employees who do landscape maintenance are likely candidates, and the general populace from residuals left from that treatment.