October 2005 Alternative Medicine&Natural Health Newsletter

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.

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.

Welcome to the October 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.

Study Finds Cranberries Have Novel Bacteria-Blocking Benefits
Rutgers University research, published in the current issue of Phytochemistry, indicates that cranberry juice cocktail exhibits anti-adhesion activity following a single serving, based on activity of its natural condensed tannins, called proanthocyanidins, or PACs. The researchers note that cranberry contains an unusual A-type PAC linkage which they suggest is responsible for the anti-adhesion effect.
Internet Resources:
Press Release on NPIcenter

Mushrooms Good Source for Anti-Oxidant Compound
According to an AP article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, researchers at Penn State University, in a study to be presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in Washington, have observed that white button mushrooms have about 4 times more of the antioxidant ergothioneine than chicken liver, and about 12 times more ergothioneine than wheat germ, while exotic mushroom varieties contain about 40 times more than wheat germ.
Internet Resources:
AP Article

Critics Say Homeopathy Study Flawed
A study published in the August 27 issue of The Lancet contends that homeopathic remedies are no better than placebo. However, the study has been criticized by peer researchers and homeopathic experts for being scientifically flawed....read more......read more

NCCAM Revises Report of Echinacea Study, Notes Criticism of Low Dose
[2005/10/12][American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)]
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine has revised its website to correct erroneous statements it had made previously about a study on low-dose preparations of Echinacea angustifolia root published in the New England Journal of Medicine on July 28, 2005.

AHPA Asks FDA, NCCAM to Portray Supplements Honestly
[2005/10/07][American Herbal Products Association (AHPA)]
Association challenges the FDA and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine to tell the truth and to correct past misstatements about dietary supplements and echinacea products, respectively.

Analysis Indicates Eighty-five Percent of Postmenopausal Women Not Getting Adequate Calcium
According to an article on News-medical.net, citing an analysis presented at the Annual Meeting of The American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, pooled results from six Phase III osteoporosis trials (11,474 postmenopausal women) indicates that on average, women consumed almost 500mg less than the US Recommended Daily Intake of calcium of 1200mg/day for women aged 50 or more.
Internet Resources:
Article on News-medical.net

: Call for NHS to Embrace Complementary Medicine
According to an article in the UK's Independent Online, an inquiry into that country's National Health System (NHS) suggests that wider use of complementary therapies on the system would potentially yield hundreds of millions of pounds of savings. According to the article, the report, commissioned by the Prince of Wales, examines acupuncture, homoeopathy, manipulative therapy (osteopathy and chiropractic) and herbal medicine.
Internet Resources:
Article in The Independent Online

Top 10 Ways To Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk
Did you know that it is estimated that 1 out of 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime? That is such a devastating statistic! There are ways to reduce your breast cancer risk. You may not be able to change risks like age, gender and genetics, but you can change certain lifestyle habits to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Check out the "Top 10 Ways to Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk" to find out more!

STUDIES

Initial results of two major clinical trials on glucosamine and chondroitin demonstrated strong support for use in osteoarthritis patients and to relieve pain. The multicenter GAIT study or Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial conducted by the National Institutes of Health on 1,500 osteoarthritis patients found a glucosamine-chondroitin combination and the prescription drug celecoxib significantly reduced knee pain compared to placebo. The European-sponsored Glucosamine Unum in Die Efficacy (GUIDE) Trial, which compared the effect of glucosamine sulfate vs. acetaminophen or placebo on various pain and mobility indices of osteoarthritis, reported that glucosamine sulfate was more effective than acetaminophen and concluded that "glucosamine sulfate…might be the preferred symptomatic medication in knee osteoarthritis."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency, the Agricultural Research Service's Food Surveys Research Group (FSRG), released a study concluding that 95% of Americans are not getting desirable intakes of vitamin E from foods and beverages. It also found more than half of Americans aren't getting enough magnesium, 40% aren't getting enough vitamin A, and nearly one third aren't getting desirable intakes of vitamin C. "What We Eat in America, NHANES 2001-2002: Usual Nutrient Intakes from Food Compared to Dietary Reference Intakes" presents results from survey interviews of 9,000 individuals nationwide on their intake of foods and beverages, but not supplements.

A study sponsored by The Hershey Co. in conjunction with Cornell University and Brunswick Laboratories confirmed all products containing natural cocoa have flavanol antioxidants. The study also found the level of antioxidants in commonly available chocolate products is directly related to the amount of natural cocoa they contain. "This study helps clear up the confusion surrounding flavanols in chocolate by showing the clear link between natural cocoa levels and flavanol antioxidant levels,” said Debra Miller, Hershey's senior nutrition scientist. The highest flavanol levels were found in natural cocoa powder, followed by unsweetened baking chocolate, dark chocolate, milk chocolate and, finally, chocolate syrup.

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.

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.