Health Matters

Above shows that others are now finding out how B1 works with utilising blood sugar.
I've just had to go back onto B1 when I added some HRT as oestrogen raises thiamine binding , so you need more B1. I suspect testposterone may also raise thiaine binding. Some teenagers (if suspectible)may find they are low on B1(when their hormones kick in). It's rare but something to consider if inexpicable triedness strikes.
See end of article for more

http://www.vrp.com/articles.aspx?utm_content=article2804&utm_source=hn20091105&utm_campaign=hn&utm_term=jan55qld@yahoo.com&utm_medium=email&ProdID=2804&campaign=email-hn-hn20091105&et_cid=13478949&et_rid=10046393&et_lid=Can+a+Single+Vitamin+Prevent+Premature+Aging
Research shows that, among diabetics, AGEs are the main culprit behind aging that’s accelerated a full 20 to 40 years faster than non–diabetics—taking the form of conditions like arterial plaque and hardening of arteries, kidney disease, retinopathy and peripheral nerve damage.12 But even non–diabetics need to watch out for these dangerous byproducts, as your levels only increase with age, and pave the way to any number of other serious diseases—including Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis and macular degeneration.

The good news is that there’s a way to block and even reverse the damage these AGEs can cause—and a single B vitamin may be your secret weapon.13

In recent years, scientists have discovered that benfotiamine—a synthetic, fat–soluble form of thiamine, or vitamin B1—is a potent AGE blocker. In fact, clinical studies show that this form of the vitamin is as much as 430 percent more bioavailable than its water–soluble counterpart, which has a modest absorption rate of only four to six percent.14–16

This superior absorption rate offers one reason for the powerful protection benfotiamine offers against AGEs—a benefit that’s been borne out in a number of animal and human studies. In one study, for example, researchers found that type 1 diabetics given 600 mg of benfotiamine daily experienced a 40 to 62 percent drop in just four weeks of levels of carboxymethyllysine (CML) and methylglyoxal — two predominant AGEs implicated in Alzheimer’s disease, blood vessel complications and atherosclerosis.17

Further trials show that supplementing with benfotiamine can also significantly reduce pain associated with diabetic neuropathy (that is, peripheral nerve damage), while helping to regulate heartbeat—results that don’t correspond to standard B–complex supplementation.18–19 And finally, animal studies suggest that benfotiamine offers critical protection against diabetic retinopathy, too.

In a 36–week study of three groups of rats—two of which were diabetic or hyperglycemic, along with one set of healthy controls—researchers found that rats receiving benfotiamine had retinas as healthy as controls by the end of the study. Those diabetic rats that did not receive benfotiamine, however, suffered severely damaged retinal blood vessels as a result.20

The bottom line: Even if you’re already taking a B–complex, adding an additional daily dose of benfotiamine—readily available in capsule form through Vitamin Research Products—can provide a critical extra layer of protection against AGE damage at any age.

References:

1.Metz T et al. Pyridoxamine, an inhibitor of advanced glycation and lipoxidation reactions: a novel therapy for treatment of diabetic complication. Arch Biochem Biophys 2003, 419:41–49.

2. Anderson M, Heinecke J. Production of N–epsilon–(carboxymethyl)–lysine is impaired in mice deficient is NADPH oxidase. Diab 2003, 52:2137–43.

3. Zieman S, Kass D. Advanced glycation end product cross–linking: pathophysiologic role and therapeutic target in cardiovascular disease. Congest Heart Fail 2004, 10:144–49.

4. Howes K et al. AGE (advanced glycation end products) receptors in age–related macular degeneration. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2004, 45:E–abstract 2286.

5. DeGroot J et al. Accumulation of advanced glycation end products as a molecular mechanism for aging as a risk factor in osteoarthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2004, 50:1207–15.

6. Drinda S. et al. Identification of the receptor for advanced glycation end products in synovial tissue of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatol Int 3–26–2004.

7. Choei H. Glyceraldehyde–derived advanced glycation end products in Alzheimer’s disease. Acta Neuropathol (Berl) 2004, 108:189–93.

8. Lueth H–J et al. Age–and stage–dependent accumulation of advanced glycation end products in intracellular deposits in normal and Alzheimer’s disease brains. Cerebral Cortex advance access published online July 6, 2004.

9. Santana R. et al. A role for advanced glycation end products in diminished bone healing in type I diabetes. Diab 2003, 52:1502–10.

10. Nagariaji R. et al. Pyradoxamine inhibits alpha–dicarbonyl–www.ed modifications of lens proteins in diabetic rats. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2002, 43:E–abstract 2382.

11. Alderson N et al. The AGE inhibitor pyridoxamine inhibits lipemia and development of renal and vascular disease in Zucker obese rats. Kidney Int 2003, 63:2123–33.

12. Karachalias N et al. Accumulation of fructosyl–lysine and advanced glycation end products in the kidney, retina and peripheral nerve of streptozotocin–induced diabetic rats. Biochem Soc Trans 2003, 31:1423–25.

13. Babaei–Jadidi R et al. Prevention of incipient diabetic neuropathy by high–dose thiamine and benfotiamine. Diab 2003, 52:2110–20.

14. Woelk H et al. Benfotiamine in treatment of alcoholic polyneuropathy: an 8–week randomized controlled study (BAP I study). Alcohol Alcoholism 1998, 33:631–38.

15. Frank T et al. High thiamine diphosphate concentrations in erythrocytes can be achieved in dialysis patients by oral administration of benfotiamine. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2000, 56:251–57.

16. Greb A, Bitsch R. Comparative bioavailability of various thiamine derivatives after oral administration. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 1998, 36:216–21.

17. Lin J et al. Benfotiamine inhibits intracellular formation of advanced glycation end products in vivo. Diab 2000, 49 (suppl 1): A143.

18. Sadekov R. et al. Diabetic polyneuropathy treatment by milgamma–100 preparation. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 1998, 98:30–32.

19. Simeonov S et al. Therapeutic efficacy of “Milgamma” in patients with painful diabetic neuropathy. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 1997, 39:5–10.

20. Hammes H et al. Benfotiamine blocks three major pathways of hyperglycemic damage and prevents experimental diabetic retinopathy. Nat Med 2003, 9:294–99.

I'm also getting extremely tired when I add in progesterone(natural supposedly). I've tried twice now for various lengths of time, and 3 different types(trouches, vaginalsuppositories and capsules swallowed). I seem to get very fatigued on days I take progesterone. not 100% sure if the cause but probable. I will have to try to see if any research has been done on progesterone and B1. If it is lowering B1 progesrone has a much larger effect than oestrogen. I was not on B1 (at least regularly)when trialling progesterone this year.

Ok this article
Hormonal modulation of reproduction-specific thiamin carrier protein in the rat
seems to say progesterone has NIL effect on thiamine bining, so it can't be that

One reason not to get the swine flu vaccine is squalene.

Squalene - NEVER allow it to be injected into your body!
It is included in some flu vaccines , including the swine flu vaacine, it was possibly a cause of the problems with the anthrax vaccine

I won't be getting any flu vaccines- especially the swine flu vaccine, Make your own informed decision , but I'd avoid it any way I could!

Here's why it's bad
"In addition to the viruses and other additives, many vaccines also contain immune adjuvants like aluminum and squalene.

The purpose of an immune adjuvant added to a vaccine is to enhance (turbo charge) your immune response to the vaccination. Adjuvants cause your immune system to overreact to the introduction of the organism you’re being vaccinated against.

Adjuvants are supposed to get the job done faster (but certainly not more safely), which reduces the amount of vaccine required per dose, and the number of doses given per individual.

Less vaccine required per person means more individual doses available for mass vaccination campaigns. Coincidentally, this is exactly the goal of government and the pharmaceutical companies who stand to make millions from their vaccines.

Will There Be Immune Adjuvants in Swine Flu Vaccines?

The U.S. government has contracts with several drug companies to develop and produce swine flu vaccines. At least two of those companies, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline, are using an adjuvant in their H1N1 vaccines.

The adjuvant? Squalene.

According to Meryl Nass, M.D., an authority on the anthrax vaccine,

“A novel feature of the two H1N1 vaccines being developed by companies Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline is the addition of squalene-containing adjuvants to boost immunogenicity and dramatically reduce the amount of viral antigen needed. This translates to much faster production of desired vaccine quantities.”[v]

Novartis’s proprietary squalene adjuvant for their H1N1 vaccine is MF59. Glaxo’s is ASO3. MF59 has yet to be approved by the FDA for use in any U.S. vaccine, despite its history of use in other countries.

Per Dr. Nass, there are only three vaccines in existence using an approved squalene adjuvant. None of the three are approved for use in the U.S.

What Squalene Does to Rats

Oil-based vaccination adjuvants like squalene have been proved to generate concentrated, unremitting immune responses over long periods of time.[vi]

A 2000 study published in the American Journal of Pathology demonstrated a single injection of the adjuvant squalene into rats triggered “chronic, immune-mediated joint-specific inflammation,” also known as rheumatoid arthritis.[vii]

The researchers concluded the study raised questions about the role of adjuvants in chronic inflammatory diseases.

What Squalene Does to Humans

Your immune system recognizes squalene as an oil molecule native to your body. It is found throughout your nervous system and brain. In fact, you can consume squalene in olive oil and not only will your immune system recognize it, you will also reap the benefits of its antioxidant properties.

The difference between “good” and “bad” squalene is the route by which it enters your body. Injection is an abnormal route of entry which incites your immune system to attack all the squalene in your body, not just the vaccine adjuvant.
Your immune system will attempt to destroy the molecule wherever it finds it, including in places where it occurs naturally, and where it is vital to the health of your nervous system.[viii]

Gulf War veterans with Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) received anthrax vaccines which contained squalene.[ix] MF59 (the Novartis squalene adjuvant) was an unapproved ingredient in experimental anthrax vaccines and has since been linked to the devastating autoimmune diseases suffered by countless Gulf War vets.[x]

The Department of Defense made every attempt to deny that squalene was indeed an added contaminant in the anthrax vaccine administered to Persian Gulf war military personnel – deployed and non-deployed – as well as participants in the more recent Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP).

However, the FDA discovered the presence of squalene in certain lots of AVIP product. A test was developed to detect anti-squalene antibodies in GWS patients, and a clear link was established between the contaminated product and all the GWS sufferers who had been injected with the vaccine containing squalene.

A study conducted at Tulane Medical School and published in the February 2000 issue of Experimental Molecular Pathology included these stunning statistics:

“ … the substantial majority (95%) of overtly ill deployed GWS patients had antibodies to squalene. All (100%) GWS patients immunized for service in Desert Shield/Desert Storm who did not deploy, but had the same signs and symptoms as those who did deploy, had antibodies to squalene.

In contrast, none (0%) of the deployed Persian Gulf veterans not showing signs and symptoms of GWS have antibodies to squalene. Neither patients with idiopathic autoimmune disease nor healthy controls had detectable serum antibodies to squalene. The majority of symptomatic GWS patients had serum antibodies to squalene.”[xi]

According to Dr. Viera Scheibner, Ph.D., a former principle research scientist for the government of Australia:

“… this adjuvant [squalene] contributed to the cascade of reactions called "Gulf War Syndrome," documented in the soldiers involved in the Gulf War.

The symptoms they developed included arthritis, fibromyalgia, lymphadenopathy, rashes, photosensitive rashes, malar rashes, chronic fatigue, chronic headaches, abnormal body hair loss, non-healing skin lesions, aphthous ulcers, dizziness, weakness, memory loss, seizures, mood changes, neuropsychiatric problems, anti-thyroid effects, anaemia, elevated ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Raynaud’s phenomenon, Sjorgren’s syndrome, chronic diarrhoea, night sweats and low-grade fevers.”[xii]"

above copied from Mercola's site
The full article is here

Other reasons not to get vaccines are

Flu vaccines can also contain a number of chemical toxins, including ethylene glycol (antifreeze), formaldehyde, phenol (carbolic acid) and even antibiotics like Neomycin and streptomycin.

In addition to the viruses and other additives, many vaccines also contain immune adjuvants like aluminum and squalene.

also from the above article

The decison, of course, is entirely your own.. I just wanted you to know all the sides before you make an informed choice.
I think it's better to know what is injected into your body before you allow it.

Avoiding the swine flu
1. The swine flu is a fairly mild flu except for pregnant women about to give maybe.. maybe I'd be considering home birth after a young healthy woman here died of swine flu apparently after childbirth . It was in a neigbouring suburb to me, Liverpool in Sydney. No details have been ereleased by the hospital that I have heard of...
Then again, this is the ONLY case I have heard of...

2. Don't hang around if people have the flu, at least when its not necessary for you to help- change your plans if need be and avoid. Wearing a mask by the infected flu patient does not seem to help. My mother(80) offered a lift to a friend's son back home from the doctors . They waited together for about 20 mins. He wore a mask, but my Mum still got the flu. This could have been easily avoided as the friends son could have gone home as origianlly planned in the taxi. The flu was relatively mild but still enough to knock you! and my Mum was over it in days, probably not the swine flu. No idea what kind of flu though. She had it the last week of August 2009 in Brisbane, Australia. A lot of people have the flu there, but it doesn't seem to be the swine flu asx the symptoms are not respiratory and noone is going to the docs abour it either.
Looks like the masks don't work effectively though...

Alpa lipoic acid ( + Low dose naltroxene for autoimmune disease help including hashimoto thyroiditis perhaps)
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/05/16/This-Antioxidant-Can-Smash-Insulin-Resistance-and-Autoimmune-Disease.aspx

Milk thistle is one of my favourite feel-good supps I have used over many years. My knees are gimproving although I still have a twinge in my left knee, right kneee now fine.. I haven't taken consistently but maybe I should give it a try

Liver-Supporting Botanical May Also Improve Joint Health

by VRP.com

In a recently published clinical trial, researchers evaluated a popular botanical known for its role in liver health to determine if it also has anti-inflammatory activity in subjects with osteoarthritis of the knee.

In this study, silymarin, a constituent of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) long used to support liver health, was compared to 2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), piroxicam and meloxicam, in 220 patients with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA). Study subjects received one of 5 possible treatments: 300 mg per day of silymarin, 20 mg per day of piroxicam, 15 mg per day of meloxicam, or a combination of silymarin with piroxicam or meloxicam.

At the beginning of the study and after 8 weeks of treatment, subjects were evaluated for serum levels of cytokines interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-8, and the complement proteins C3 and C4. Interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-8 are cell signaling molecules and pro-inflammatory mediators. Complement proteins C3 and C4 are immune system proteins believed to play a role in some diseases such as arthritis.

The results showed that supplementation with silymarin significantly reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory interleukin-1 alpha, interleukin-8, C3, and C4 after 8 weeks compared to the levels at the beginning of the study. Piroxicam reduced interleukin-8, but did not reduce interleukin-1 alpha. Meloxicam significantly elevated serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha but did not affect interleukin-8. Additionally, the NSAIDs showed a slight increase in serum levels of complement proteins after 8 weeks. However, combining silymarin with piroxicam, but not meloxicam, significantly reduced the cytokines interleukin-1 alpha and interleukin-8 and serum levels of complement proteins C3 and C4.

The researchers concluded, "Silymarin reduces the elevated levels of interleukins and complement proteins, when used alone, or in combination with NSAIDs for the treatment of knee OA."

Reference:

Hussain SA, Jassim NA, Numan IT, Al-Khalifa II, Abdullah TA. Anti-inflammatory activity of silymarin in patients with knee osteoarthritis. A comparative study with piroxicam and meloxicam. Saudi Med J. 2009 Jan;30(1):98-103.

http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/vitamins/thiamin/

: Anticancer Res. 1998 Jan-Feb;18(1:595-602.Related Articles, Links
Thiamine supplementation to cancer patients: a double edged sword.

Boros LG, Brandes JL, Lee WN, Cascante M, Puigjaner J, Revesz E, Bray TM, Schirmer WJ, Melvin WS.

Ohio State University College of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Columbus 43210, USA. Iboros@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu

The objectives of this review are to (a) explain the mechanism by which thiamine (vitamin B1) promotes nucleic acid ribose synthesis and tumor cell proliferation via the nonoxidative transketolase (TK) pathway; (b) estimate the thiamine intake of cancer patients and (c) provide background information and to develop guidelines for alternative treatments with antithiamine transketolase inhibitors in the clinical setting. Clinical and experimental data demonstrate increased thiamine utilization of human tumors and its interference with experimental chemotherapy. Analysis of RNA ribose indicates that glucose carbons contribute to over 90% of ribose synthesis in cultured cervix und pancreatic carcinoma cells and that ribose is synthesized primarily through the thiamine dependent TK pathway (> 70%). Antithiamine compounds significantly inhibit nucleic acid synthesis and tumor cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo in several tumor models. The medical literature reveals little information regarding the role of the thiamine dependent TK reaction in tumor cell ribose production which is a central process in de novo nucleic acid synthesis and the salvage pathways for purines. Consequently, current thiamine administration protocols oversupply thiamine by 200% to 20,000% of the recommended dietary allowance, because it is considered harmless and needed by cancer patients. The thiamine dependent TK pathway is the central avenue which supplies ribose phosphate for nucleic acids in tumors and excessive thiamine supplementation maybe responsible for failed therapeutic attempts to terminate cancer cell proliferation. Limited administration of thiamine and concomitant treatment with transketolase inhibitors is a more rational approach to treat cancer.

Some links on ldn I've collected, maybe someone will find it of interest.
From reading ldn may be a great benefit to many. I am strongly considering trying it.

I found the Scottish docs utubes(4 of) interesting, especially as he thinks peroxynitration and peroxidation are involved, as I suspected back when 2003? Great someone with his drive and intelligence has also come to this thought. Wish I could have him for a doc!

Ldn for MS- symptoms, numb in legs, fatigue...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=6R1GAZ6L9rk&feature=channel_page
Part 2 - on ldn, pain reduction, sleep improved, movement, ability to walk then drive and independence from wheelchair bound
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kYoxKctjVoY&feature=channel

Ldn for stomach pain, headaches, curled up in ball with pain, hair falling out - diagnosis here of Crohn's disease (another autoimmune disease)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=EodqDy1DxoE&feature=related

ldn success stories
1. Male, numbness & tingling, fatigue, depression, poor coordination, blader frequency
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=8sHEWweXfEo&feature=related
fatigue improved first day, bladder frequency within a month, two months back to sports etc

2.Female, speech issues, swallowing problems, pain, heat-cold sensitive, loss of muscle control in calves of legs, fatigue
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_OnYXB-NkX4&feature=channel

3. female, MS, symptoms incl. dropping things, balance off, difficult to get out of a chair, couldn't type
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Kz52KK5IhOc&feature=related

ldn for pancreatic cancer treatment, together with intravenous alpha lipoic acid (alpha lipic acid can reverse liver disease, and appears to alter some of the cancer growth genes). Pancreas, liver
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WqRwXEnPYKk&feature=channel

LDN Conference Best of Dr Skip Part 1 _ study un by pharmacy
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HuIQcm1Ixmg&feature=related
84% people taking ldn had NO exacerbations since starting ldn
The rest include those who stopped taking ldn, sometimes due to hospital stopping the ldn medication

as well as a really good ldn summary to give to your doctor
http://goodshape.net/LDNHighlights.html

Dose : From listening to Dr Tom Gilhooly on the utube links below the dose can be as low as 1mg to start with, and from many sites and users up to 4.5mg may be required

Doctors on ldn
Dr. Phil Boyle
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1sZGQqYTVBg&feature=related

Dr Tom Gilhooly- from Scotland
patient symptoms incl. tremour in right hand
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pGcnzy8Gv5E&feature=channel
(also into Nutritional medicine wrt. MS- eg omega3, vitD)
Part 2 bladder control frequency, study for ldn- going to try to measure beta endorphins
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=vJ0ZmKFUDT4&feature=channel

Part 3 peroxynitrates(ONO)- chemical that damages, NO synthase & endophorins (possible antiaging effect of ldn via this mechanism, which is what i've noticed in photos of someone on ldn)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dzoWGI6s9kw&feature=channel

Part 4- psorasis
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpgh9kfaAMY&feature=channel

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8313092875696096715&hl=en
Video on ahsta.com website 2007 Dr. Pat Crowley & Dr Bernard Bihari (neurologist)(about 6 mins into video)

Other doctors, including Dr Gluck
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DAZ1fQKdOC8

Other possible uses for ldn

ldn for autism? (similar immune test panel results to MS) CD4 cell count raised by ldn- so considered and HIV in Africa as this has a lowered CD4 count
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=30EGZzgKID4&feature=related

ldn for HIV trial in Africa - subjects had already lowered immune systems (as measured by CD4 count)but not as yet AIDS, theory is that ldn may work by raising immune system as measured by CD4 count.
Autoimmunity is not involved here, but a purely lowered immune system via a virus. Hopefully it will help. It will be interesting to hear the outcome
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DAZ1fQKdOC8&NR=1
=======================

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1nmqe5M1DGM&feature=related
Histopathology Spinal cord--Multiple sclerosis, myelin lessened in spinal cord
Note: demyelination generically is a normal part of the CNS reaction to injury (eg injury from a traffic accident?), goes hand in hand with odema englyosis?

Demyelination from B12 deficiency = Histopathogy
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MbvQd1EDjFY&feature=related
-----------------------------------

Ldn may work by reducing glutamates ?

----------------------------------------------------
reducing autoimmune disease
http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/natural_healing_in_autoimmune_disease

http://www.ahsta.com/Features/ElaineMoore/RepositoryofArticles/tabid/175/Default.aspx

http://www.ahsta.com/Community/Forumactive/tabid/208/forumid/95/threadid/1758/scope/posts/Default.aspx My post on acupuncture. Possibly ldn and acupuncture both have similar results with lesssening of MS-type symptoms as they both may be working by raising endorphins? I was only having acupuncture for pain after a traffic accient and tightness in my muscles, everything else I hadn't really put down to the acupuncture until I read about ldn rasing endorphins and its effects..and realised I'd had similar effects from acupuncture
-----------------------------------

ldn users in ahsta
http://www.ahsta.com/Community/ForumArchivesreadonly/tabid/110/forumid/45/scope/threads/Default.aspx
http://www.ahsta.com/Community/ForumArchivesreadonly/tabid/110/forumid/45/threadid/442/scope/posts/Defaut.asp
-----------------------
found this thread on users of ldn for depression etc

I posted here
-------------------------------------

I'm looking into this for autoimmune thryoid disease(TPO and TG antibodies),although my thryoid is almost destroyed now.. it "felt" like it was self destructing after the traffic accident , and an ultrasound later showed it had almost..very little tissue left.
I've also had other autoimmune "MS-like" symptoms including balance,tingling/numbness in feet, loss of muscle strength in knees and legs, bladder control and frequency, intense pain,stiffness which exacerbated after a traffic accident but its difficult to say for sure if it was the accident or the stress from the accident exacerbating some underlying autoimmune susceptibility which had come and gone over the years. I think acupuncture helped resolve it at least temporarily.
No brain white plaques ever found on MRI luckily, although back in 2003 some vague white patches called non-significant were found, so no diagn osis of MS, just most of the early symptoms.
I feel a bit of stiffness and fatigue coming back after 2 weeks off acupuncture. I also had something like rheumatoid arthrits many years ago which went with exercise at the gym for a few hours a day over 9 months. So I guess I have some underlying autoimmunity and perhaps the endorphins increase help me control it?
--------------------
******
Edited to add:
http://www.webspawner.com/users/introtoldn/index.html
An Introduction to Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), story about someone who also had depresssion and more links

http://www.ldn-database.carnebeach.com/index1.html
Good page of links to sites, including how to get ldn in the US
******
http://www.ahsta.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=BaBWsPqGYyg%3d&tabid=210&mid=942
Elaine's Chat on ldn
Elaine's book on ldn
Elaine on how to make a low dose of ldn from tablets http://goodshape.net/HomemadeLDN.html
---------------
buying ldn
so far have found these
http://www.webspawner.com/users/howtoobtainldn/index.html
The least expensive option for obtaining LDN is to purchase 50 mg Naltrexone tablets online without a prescription from either of these two sources:

The River Pharmacy (Canada)
or
AllDayChemist (India), but still loooking
-------------------
For those of you in the first 3 months of LDN therapy Dr. Bob
Lawrence from the UK who has MS & uses LDN himself explains why the temporary increase in MS symptoms.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/LDN_Users/message/6815
-------------------------------------------
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19041189

Med Hypotheses. 2008 Nov 26. [Epub ahead of print] Links

Low-dose naltrexone for disease prevention and quality of life.
Brown N, Panksepp J.
Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, United States.

The use of low-dose naltrexone (LDN) for the treatment and prophylaxis of various bodily disorders is discussed. Accumulating evidence suggests that LDN can promote health supporting immune-modulation which may reduce various oncogenic and inflammatory autoimmune processes. Since LDN can upregulate endogenous opioid activity, it may also have a role in promoting stress resilience, exercise, social bonding, and emotional well-being, as well as amelioration of psychiatric problems such a autism and depression. It is proposed that LDN can be used effectively as a buffer for a large variety of bodily and mental ailments through its ability to beneficially modulate both the immune system and the brain neurochemistries that regulate positive affect.

-------------------------------------
This is a copy and paste from LDN-Users
Here is the beginning of the ldn conference
http://www.skipspharmacy.com/vid/suzieintoldn08-webpreset.mov
the audio is a little weird -had some issues at the beginning but its audible and these great ladies are not to be missed Suzie, Aletha, Vck and Deidre
I split it in two and part one is uploading to u-tube as we speak for anyone new -- all the ldn videos live here
http://www.youtube.com/user/TropicalDawg
and if you go to playlists...
Part 1 on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOkwBnRTKY8

Part 2 on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvl9OmxnJM8
-----------------------------------

IF YOU Have TRIED LDN, pls click "Leave a comment" and let us know how it went. Positives and negatives, thanks :-)

Shingles - DR tewitelbaum treatment. Copied from newsletter
http://www.endfatigue.com/qa/Questions_and_answers_0808.html

I had this one sided shingles back in 2004, but I'm never heard of Valtrex. I must look it up!
http://www.valtrex.com/shingles/whatis_shingles.html
mmm sounds strong, but perhaps worth considering if it does shortedn the time and make it less likely to reoccur, as my shingles lasted a long time
I'd be very interested in hearing from anyone who has taken Valtrex as a comment. I must remeber about the B12 for nerve pain too. Actially my nerve pain in my jaw/face reduced to almost gone after some B12 shots a couple of months ago. I never put the two together before, hmmmmm

Question
Do you recommend the Shingles vaccine, which is live, in CFS and Fibromyalgia patients?
A
ANSWER
Dear A,

I am not quick to offer shingles vaccine in CFS. I am quick, at first sign of a painful one sided (can't cross the body vertical midline ) rash suggestive of early shingles, to treat with Valtrex 1,000 mg 4-5x day for 5-10 days. If begun early, it usually aborts the attack very quickly (add some B12 shots to decrease the risk of persistent nerve pain).

L&B,
Dr. T

Here are some links relating to folic acid(folate), SAMe, B12, methylation (betaine, TMG)levels and the methylation cycle. This affects depression and dementia and or perhaps a early precursor of some form of dementia:- a "fuzzy" (non clear) thinking. I would expect this to occur in the more mature age in particular as absorption of folate or B12 may sometimes be non optimal in older age (and this could be from middle age with a gradual decrease leading to a gradual decline). A lowish, albeit still in normal range folic acid level, may lead to "fuzzy" (non clear) thinking.
One of my friends on here has found folic acid has helped him.

Folate Cycle and the associated Methylation Cycle:

See page 5;
http://www.metafolin.com/pdfs/Scientific_Review_13.12.pdf

http://www.cns.nyu.edu/%7Ehupe/plaid_demo/demo_plaids.html
Stare at the red spot.
The coherent ("diamonds") perception of a plaid should switch to the perception of two transparent, independently-moving gratings (the component or "slidings" percept).
Atleast that's what I get. To get the "plaid" back again just flick your eyes off the red dot.
By concentrating on the dot and then stopping I "switch" between the 2 patterns.

Here's another, a dancer.
http://www.uq.edu.au/nuq/jack/dancer.gif
or find here
http://www.procreo.jp/labo/labo13.html  (this one rotates faster for me!)
To me, I perceive the dancer rotating clockwise.
Which way does she rotate to you?

This is thougt by some to be related to switching bwetween brain hemispheres, and possibly related to depression, bipolar etc.
For more info read here
http://www.uq.edu.au/nuq/jack/rivalry.html
http://www.uq.edu.au/nuq/jack/jack.html

"Sticky" Switch Hypothesis:
Pettigrew JD and Miller SM 1998 Proc. Roy. Soc. B 265: 2141-2148A "sticky" interhemispheric switch in bipolar disorder?

This paper is a little technical, but is not intended purely for a clinical readership (There is even a yin-yang symbol, for the complementarity of the cerebral hemispheres, in one of the figures that gets Jack into hot water in some stodgy settings!).

The important new finding is that bipolar subjects switch more slowly between rivalling perceptual alternatives. This "slow switching" trait seems to have a large genetic component, based on a high correlation in identical twins The trait seems accurately to position a subject in the bipolar spectrum, with slower rates of switching involving proportionately greater risk of bipolar disorder. The finding continues to be replicated in larger numbers of subjects in different centres. In addition, we discovered a study from the days before medication, that has essentially the same message (Hunt et al J. Abnormal Soc. Psychol 27: 443.1933).

Unexpected Confirmation of Unihemispheric Effect on Mood:

I just read about Prof.Jack Pettigrew in an old uni Mag (1999) I found lying around the house, and I thought it worth mentioning on here.
He mentions "coping " mechanisms like pets, exercise, diet, omega-3 /omega-6 oils, mediatation,music that people employ to keep their "balance".
The article says Jack did a medical degree but his experience as an intern in neuro-surgery led to a change in direction to research.
The brain does not heal well and people die. He found it very chastening as people he cared about died. If you're a bit sensitive you just can't do it , it knocks you around way too much. The distressing lack of power to save people drove him to become one of Australia's most eminent ..
Prog. Pettigrew "came out" as a sufferer of bipolar himself while he & his team were fielding accolades for their research findings on bipolar.
I thought a few people may be interested in having a browse thru his website.

The article also states "Professor Pettigrew believes that early undiagnosed episodes of manic depression "kindle" the brain. Pressure mounts until sometime later in life, internal mechanisms fire while the brain is stuck in one hemisphere, kindling the full blown disorder."

I am not sure of this but I suspect I have a "degree of bipolar", and I often think maybe everyone has, its just how big that degree is?.. although I must admit that as a teenager I thought some people didn't seem to have the lows or highs I had, or the drive?, and must have a pretty montonous life..now I think maybe it's way more peaceful?
These days I am too "wiped" to have that drive.
OTOH maybe I am normal, it should be normal to experience lows and highs to some extent.
I've often wondered also if "hyper" thyoid is not similar to the highs and "hypo" thyroid to the lows of bipolar to some extent or even wondered if the switching that some of us have experienced with thyroiditis or hashimotos or thryoid antibody "attacks" is not one of the "causes" of bipolar or similar/related to some extent at least  to early (not full blown) bipolar?

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/08/05/fungus-causing-cancer-a-novel-approach-to-the-most-common-form-of-death.aspx?source=nl

Ok, opinions please!

my input below:
I get a type of tinnea between my toes (and so does my Dad, its genetic) which is cured very easily by Advantan cream. Advantan is a prednisolone cream, called Methylprednisolone Aceponate 1mg/g and also contains Benzyl alcohol, so if that's a fungus its cured by prednisolone.

I'm not sure if all fungi are white? What about all the plants , there's bright orange etc?

I know psorasis is partly fungal, I could prevent an outbreak on my daughter by a heavy hit of penicillin at outbreak of the high temp that preceeded the bod outbreaks of it. I could get relief by sunbathing in the ocean.. ie salt and sun combo would partly clear it up and eventually it would go away.
Also baths of dilute potassium permanganate also helped, . .. even stronger help than the ocean water and sunlight.
The Potassium permanganate stains the nath but it can be removed at a later date with calcium, lime rust.
( Creams foir partiual help_The best cream for relief was a cream used to treat fungus as well as
..and now I've forgotten the name, but we only used that on her face and sparingly.
The rest of the body we had a 6% salicylate and cold tar cream I think.. I'd need to check if I can find any old bottles)
these "cures" do indicate that psorasis is at least partly fungus, I think.

Life After Leukaemia  by mytime @ 2008-04-09 - 23:10:01

I have published an edited version of my 1989 Autobiography on this site.
The book is not widely available.

It is the story of my successful battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia which began 32 years ago.

I hope it may help someone.
If you know of anyone who may need to read this story, please make them aware of this site.

Here's the links   thru the whole story below. 
The story is a inspirational and yet an easy, captivating read. 

Life After Leukaemia  Chapter 1  by mytime on 2007-07-28 

Chapter 2   by mytime on 2007-08-03

Chapter 3   by mytime on 2007-08-03
Chapter 4   by mytime on 2007-08-03
Chapter 5   by mytime on 2007-08-04
Chapter 6   by mytime on 2007-08-06
Chapter 7   by mytime on 2007-08-09
Chapter 8   by mytime on 2007-08-09
Chapter 9   by mytime on 2007-08-14
Final Chapter   by mytime on 2007-08-14 

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Cortisol Levels in Athletes and Sedentary Subjects at Rest and Exhaustion: Effects of Magnesium Supplementation

http://www.springerlink.com/content/c13762u7x0m3h147/

(R)-Lipoic Acid Restores Arterial Health in Aged Animals
Breaking News
By VRP Staff
In a recent animal study, (R)-lipoic acid significantly restored the impaired, age-related decline in arterial function.

Healthy arteries are in a state of vasorelaxation, where the blood vessel walls are less stiff and experience a lower degree of tension. As arteries age, they experience a decline in vasorelaxation. This decline is thought to be due to the accumulation of excessive ceramide, a group of amides that are formed when a fatty acid links to a long-chain base.

In the current study, researchers thought that the ceramide accumulation that causes arteries to stiffen might be due to the age-related loss of glutathione in the cells lining the blood vessel walls.

Researchers gave old rats (R)-alpha-lipoic acid (LA), an agent known to induce glutathione synthesis. The scientists then measured vasorelaxation, glutathione and ceramide levels in the animal’s aortic endothelial cells.

Before the old rodents were given the (R)-lipoic acid, vasorelaxation was decreased. Prior to treatment, glutathione levels in cells lining the aorta were more than 30 percent lower and ceramide levels were three-fold higher compared to young rats. When the old animals were given (R)-lipoic acid, however, vasorelaxation improved and levels of glutathione rose. Ceramide levels also fell in the animals given (R)-lipoic acid.

The researchers concluded, “Decreased endothelial glutathione was partly responsible for the age-related loss of vascular endothelial function and lipoic acid might be therapeutically evaluated to treat endothelial dysfunction.”

Reference:

Smith AR, Visioli F, Frei B, Hagen TM. Lipoic acid significantly restores, in rats, the age-related decline in vasomotion. Br J Pharmacol. 2008 Feb 25. Published online ahead of print.

Drinking Water Filter - Undercounter, FLUORIDE PLUS

Unfortunately in Vancouver, and I've seen nothing like these anywhere else in the world!
Pls let me know if you know of any. Fluoride is very difficult to remove and before seeing this product I had thought reverse osmosis was the ONLy way.. but that is expensive, consumes a LOt of energy, and slow, and removes ALL beneficial minerals, trace elements etc as well