Study Shows TCM May Alleviate Chemotherapy Side Effects

New research has found that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) may help reduce unpleasant side effects caused by chemotherapy.

What did the Study Involve?

The US study, conducted by National Foundation for Cancer Research scientist Yung-Chi Cheng from Yale University, involved the use of four ancient Chinese herbs, known collectively as PHY906, in phase I and phase II clinical trials. It was found that when used alongside chemotherapy, the herbs reduce gastrointestinal side effects caused by chemo administered to colon and rectal cancer patients. It also found that PHY906 enhances the anti-tumour activity of some chemotherapy agents. When used in conjunction with Irinotecan – a chemotherapy drug – the herbal mix also helped restore intestinal damage caused by chemotherapy.
It is believed that the finding ‘could lead to the alleviation of the adverse intestinal side effects experienced by [cancer] patients.'

What does this Mean for Cancer Patients?

The National Foundation for Cancer Research, which fully funded the clinical study said, ‘this breakthrough represents a paradigm shift in the way the cancer research community thinks about Traditional Chinese Medicine, opening minds to new approaches to treating cancer using these ancient medicines which have the potential to provide new and more effective options for treating cancer patients.’
Scientist Dr Cheng said, ‘This is a new paradigm of drug development. With funding from the National Foundation for Cancer Research, our team at Yale was able to pursue this avenue of research when no one else would support it.  We have now been able to prove that these traditional medicines actually do deliver real benefits that may improve the lives of cancer patients.’

20 things to bust you out of procractination

still hovering in a state of diminished activity, here are some ways to shift your energy and get moving again.
My recommendation is to commit to half a dozen of the following in the next week, and stand back as your latent ambivalence goes into a tailspin:

1. Ban TV for a week.
2. Get a new haircut.
3. Try out a new café.
4. Listen to new music.
5. Burn some oils while you work.
6. Use an alternative route for routine journeys.
7. Turn your email off for 24 hours. Yes you can!
8. Rearrange your workspace.
9. Go for three 20 min walks.
10. Buy flowers for yourself.
11. Smile nicely at three new people a day.
12. Ask more questions.
13. Cook something radical.
14. Read a book on an unusual topic.
15. Do the one thing you’ve been avoiding.
16. Fix two things around the house.
17. Change your screensaver.
18. Fill a box with junk.
19. Give one hour’s income to charity.
20. Rebuild a broken bridge.
21. Laugh out loud. Without scaring anyone.
22. Try a new fashion look.
23. Watch a movie you’d normally avoid.
24. Enrol in something.
25. In one day, use two different forms of public transport. 

So which ones are your prepared to commit to? Perhaps you have some ideas of your own. source www.flying solo.com.au

The joys of a ball other than for tennis

Ever wondered about a quick and easy way of working those knots out of hard to reach places, well the simple tennis ball can work wonders in these circulstances. just place the tennis ball on the floor and roll it over the sore and affected muscles to dig out those stubborn knots. This may take from as long as 2 to 10 minutes depending on the size and age of the knot in question. donmt go over board you can damage muscle tissue fro to prolonged pressure. If you can't get it of course there are other methods that can be investigated at your local acupuncturists.
happy rolling

AN INTERESTING FACT ABOUT AUGUST 2010.

This August has 5 Sundays, 5 Mondays, 5 Tuesdays, all in one month. It happens once in 823 years.

I wanted to let you know now because I'll probably miss it next time

Alternative Osteoarthritis treatment and prevention
Arthritis cures your doctor may not tell you about!
Are you frustrated with hearing the same old story? “…there is not much that can be done for osteoarthritis…”Chances are that you are pumped full of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication such as ibuprofen – pills that help ease the pain and inflammation but do not stimulate the body’ healing pathways. They may in fact lead to further joint degeneration by inhibiting cartilage formation. And if used for extended periods of time can cause undesirable side effects like:

gastrointestinal bleeding
ulcers
kidney damage
toxicity to auditory nerve cells

click here for more information