The Alternative Medicine & Natural Health Newsletter is sponsored by
ALTERNATIVE HEALTH INSURANCE SERVICES (AHIS).
June 2005
Since 1985, AHIS 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.
Welcome to the June 2005 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.
We hope the information we provide is of value to you. If you have not read our previous newsletters, they are also posted on our website.
Organic Label Only For Foods
(AP) If you want a lotion, soap or lip balm free of chemicals and synthetics, you'd better read the fine print. The Agriculture Department is taking its round, green "USDA Organic" label off personal care products and cosmetics.
When it created the seal in 2002, the primary intent was to certify the organic claims made by food roducers, such as that meat came from animals raised without antibiotics and not confined indoors, or that vegetables were grown without pesticides.
But the department also opened the door to making a wide range of other products eligible for the label: cosmetics and personal care items, pet food, dietary supplements, textiles like cotton T-shirts and fish.
(Click here for complete news story)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/06/02/health/main699271.shtml
Mechanism for green tea's anti-cancer action revealed
Green tea appears to protect against cancer by affecting a ' promiscuous' protein that pharmaceutical experts are already targeting in their work on anti-cancer drugs ...Read
NCI funds research on botanicals for cancer
National Cancer Institute funds research into the anti-cancer properties of turmeric and propolis... Read
Red Delicious apples packed with disease fighting antioxidants
Consumers and food makers looking to pack an ... fruits, especially apples, that impart healthy benefits. Red Delicious , Northern Spy and Ida Red ..Read
Vitamin E Lowers Parkinson's Risk
According to an article on Ivanhoe Newswire, a meta-analysis of eight studies to determine the effect of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene on risk of Parkinson's diseases, indicates that dietary vitamin E appeared to decrease Parkinson's risk, and that Vitamin C and beta-carotene did not reduce risk. The analysis appears in The Lancet Neurology, 2005;4:362-325.
Internet Resources:
Article on Ivanhoe Newswire
Black Cohosh Extract Relieves Menopausal Symptoms
According to a Reuters Health article, citing a study published in Obstetrics and Gynecology (May 2005), German researchers, Remifemin, a black cohosh extract was significantly more effective than placebo in relieving menopausal symptoms, an effect described by the researchers as 'comparable to that seen in a recent hormone replacement study' and which they say "may be considered clinically relevant." According to the article, the researchers note the product was more helpful in women in the early menopausal years and seemed to be most effective in reducing hot flushes.
Internet Resources:
Reuters Health article
Regular milk drinkers may have lower stroke risk
A diet rich in milk does not increase the risk of heart disease and stroke as previously thought and may even be protective, concludes new research, ... Read
Wholegrains better than other heart health foods despite high GI
People who eat wholegrain foods regularly can cut their heart disease risk by up to 40 per cent... Read
Breastfeeding lowers children's blood pressure
Breastfeeding is as good for children's blood pressure as exercise and dietary salt restriction, finds a new study. And the longer the period of ... Read
Cranberry Juice May Protect Against Heart Disease
Cranberry juice contains natural compounds that appear to protect the heart against disease.
Vitamin B6 May Reduce Risk of Colon Cancer
Supplementation with vitamin B6 may reduce risk of colon and colorectal cancers.
EFAs May Relieve Problems in Children
Omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids appear to diminish educational and behavioral difficulties in children.
China: More Than One Quarter of Health Supplements Are Fake
According to an article on China.org, a report issued by the China Health Care Association (CHCA) indicates that 767 out of 2,951 health supplements manufactured by 2,025 companies either do not have or use unauthorized permit numbers or unauthorized product names. According to the article, the report was based on a survey conducted from June last year until March this year in pharmacies, supermarkets, and health food stores in more than 300 cities, with weight loss supplements accounting for 193 of the 767 fake products. The CHCA Secretary General, Zhu Kangnian stated, ""These fake health products generally falsify or use other businesses' production license number instead of counterfeiting famous brand names."
Internet Resources:
Article on China.org
Article in People's Daily
FREE ACUPUNCTURE & CHIROPRACTIC BENEFIT
Effective July 1, 2005, Alternative Health Insurance Services will provide a free benefit to 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 - not to any dependents (spouse or children).
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.
Information in this newsletter is obtained from various sources and you are encouraged to conduct further research into any areas that you find interesting. Nothing contained in this newsletter is intended to recommend any treatment or therapy. Our intent is solely to share articles, information, and data that we believe is of interest to you. Some of the articles contain links where you can obtain additional information related to the subject of the article.
Steve Gorman |
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