Below you will find a brief introduction to the world of medical research for each of the bolded topics. Please feel free to download and share these articles with your family, friends, and other health care practitioners. Discussion is the key to understanding.

Acupuncture

Scientific research, with the help of real time MRIs and other techologically advanced techniques, is now showing incredible support for the use of acupuncture.  The University of Vermont is helping to lead the way with this research; if you would like more information click here.

Subcutaneous Tissue Fibroblast Cytoskeletal Remodeling Induced by Acupuncture: Evidence for a Mechanotransduction-Based Mechanism.  Langevin et al, J.Cell.Physiol. 207:767-774, 2006. (PDF) "Needle rotation induced extensive fibroblast spreading and lamellipodia formation within 30 min..." 

ADD, ADHD and Autism

Exposure to Environmental Toxicants and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders in U.S. Children, 2006, (PDF) "...females who were prenatally exposed to tobacco were at a 4.6-fold higher risk for ADHD... whereas exposed males were at a 2-fold higher risk for ADHD compared with unexposed males."  The EPA has established a safe blood lead level at 10mcg/dL, while this study found that if a woman's blood lead is over 2mcg/dL, then the woman's child was over 4 times as likely to suffer from a developmental disorder.  This indicates that the EPA's "accepted" blood lead level is at least 4 to 5 times higher than the dose seen to cause detrimental effects in developing children. 

Food Additives and Hyperactive Behaviour in 3 year-old and 8/9 year-old children in the community. McCann et al, The Lancet Oline, 9/06/07. (PDF) "Artificial colours or a sodium benzoate preservative (or both) in the diet result in increased hyperactivity in 3 year-old and 8/9 year-old children in the general population."

Neurodevelopmental Disorders after Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines: A Brief Communication.  Geier and Geier, Society for Exp Biology and Medicine, 2002.  (PDF)  "This study presents the first epidemiologic evidence, based upon tens of millions of doses of vaccine administered in the United States, that associates increasing thimerosal from vaccines with neurodevelopmental disorders.  Specifically, an analysis of the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) database showed statistical increases in the incidence of autism (relative risk [RR] = 6.0), mental retardation (RR = 6.1), and speech disorders (RR = 2.2)"  Relative risk compares probabilities, therefore a RR of 6 for autism means the child was six times more likely to develope autism.  This study also showed the children were 6 times more likely to suffer from retardation and twice as likely to have a speech disorder. 

Antioxidants are Beneficial During Cancer Therapy

Antioxidants and Other Nutrients Do Not Interfere with Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy and Can Increase Kill and Increase Survival, Part 1, Simone et al, Alternative Therapies, 2007;13;1;22-38.  (PDF)

Aspartame has Multipotential Carcinogenic Effects

Life-Span Exposure to Low Doses of Aspartame Beginning during Prenatal Life Increases Cancer Effects in Rats. Morando et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007;115;1293-1297.  (PDF) "The results of this carcinogenicity bioassay confirm and reinforce the first experimental demonstration of APM's multipotential carcinogenicity at a dose level close to the acceptable daily intake for humans. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that when life-span exposure to APM begins during fetal life, its carcinogenic effects are increased."

First Experimental Demonstration of the Multipotential Carcinogenic Effects of Aspartame Administered in the Feed to Sprague-Dawley Rats. Morando et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2005;114;379-385.  (PDF) "On the basis of these results, a reevaluation of the present guidelines on the use and consumption of APM is urgent and cannot be delayed."

Cancer via Environmental Toxins

Cadmium Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk, McEroy et al, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2006;98;12;869-873. (PDF) "The results of this population-based case-control study indicate a statistically significant twofold increased breast cancer risk for women... Given the ubiquitous exposure of the general population to cadmium, the mode of the association between cadmium exposure and breast cancer risk warrants further study."

Cadmium exposure and risk of breast cancer: Is there a relationship? (HTML) A release from Georgetown University Medical Center. "Cadmium's ability to functionally mimic estrogen and its affect on cell growth is quite remarkable. What we saw suggests a direct link between low dose cadnium exposure and increased risk for breast cancer." "Smoking doubles the average daily intake of cadmium."

Temporal Variability of Tungsten and Cobalt in Fallon, Nevada. Sheppard et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007;115;715-719. (PDF) "Since 1997, Fallon, Nevada, has experienced a cluster of childhood leukemia that has been declared "one of the most unique clusters of childhood cancer ever reported." Multiple environmental studies have shown airborne tungsten and cobalt to be elevated within Fallon..."

Atrazine-Induced Aromatase Expression Is SF-1 Dependent: Implications for Endocrine Disruption in Wildlife and Reproductive Cancers in Humans. Fan et al, EHP, 2007;115;720-727. (PDF) Atrazine is an herbicide used worldwide for over 40 years whos full human effects, like most pesticides, herbacides and insecticides, are unknown. The EPA reports over 77,000,000 pounds of Atrazine were used in 2003 alone. Human studies are now being preformed and beginning to show endocrine disruption (ex infertility) and cancer as affects of chronic exposure.

Cell Phones Are Another Factor in Neurological Disorders, Infertility and More.  

Exposure to cell phone radiation up-regulates apoptosis genes in primary cultures of neurons and astrocytes.  Zhao et al, Neuroscience Letters, 2007;412;34-38.  (PDF)

Cell death induced by GSM 900-MHz and DCS 1800-MHz mobile telephony radiation.  Pananopoulos et al, Mutation Research, 2007;626;69-78.  (PDF)

Relationsip Between Cell Phone Use and Human Fertility: An Observational Study.  Agarwal et al (PDF) "The use of cell phone by men undergoing infertility evaluation is strongly associated with decrease in sperm quality." 

Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation from Cellular Phone on Human Sperm Motility: An In Vitro Study, Erogul et al, Archives of Medical Research, 2006;37;840-843.  (PDF)  "These data suggest that EMR emitted by cellular phone influences human sperm motility.  In addition to these acute adverse effects of EMR on sperm motility, longterm EMR exposure may lead to behavioral or structural changes of the male germ cell."

Stop holding a mini microwave to your head. Take a moment to read the user guide that came along with your new phone. The manual to my phone has a warning to keep the battery at a minimum distance of .6 inches away from my body or the "standard for human exposure" would be broken. "Wireless phones emit low levels of Radio Frequency energy (RF) in the microwave range while being used." The quote is from the 2006 LG VX3450 user guide from Verizon Wireless.

Chelation Works 

Succimer Chelation Improves Learning, Attention, and Arousal Regulation in Lead-Exposed Rats but Produced Lasting Cognitive Impairment in the Absence of Lead Exposure.  Stranger et al, Cornell University, 2007, (PDF) "This study provides clear evidence that administration of succimer.. to reduce brain Pb levels, can lessen Pb-induced impairments in learning ability, attention, and regulation of arousal and/or emotion." 

Effect of succimer chelation therapy on postural balance and gait outcomes in children with early exposure to evnironmental lead. Bhattacharya et al, NeuroToxicology, 2007;28;686-695 (PDF) "In comparison to the placebo group, the succimer therapy group showed significantly decreased postural sway during dynamic task performance implying improved postural balance. The results from locomotion tests demonstrated significant improvements in functional tasks of obstacle crossing and normal walking in the succimer treated group."

Environmental Lead Exposure and Progression of Chronic Renal Diseases in Patients without Diabetes. Lin et al, New England Journal of Medicine, 2003:348:4:277-286. (PDF) "Low-level environmental lead exposure may accelerate progressive renal insufficiency in patients without diabetes who have chronic renal disease. Repeated chelation therapy may improve renal function and slow the progression of renal insufficiency."

A Cluster of Pediatric Metallic Mercury Exposure Cases Treated with Meso-2,3-Dimercaptosuccinic Acid (DMSA). Forman et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2000;108;6;575-577. (PDF) "We observed no adverse side effects of treatment. DMSA appears to be an effective and safe chelating agent for treatment of pediatric overexposure to metallic mercury."

Chemicals, Pesticides, Heavy Metals and other Toxins Found in People

BodyBurden, The Pollution in Newborns, 2005, An investigation of industrial chemicals, pollutants, and pesticides in human umbilical cord blood.  "...researchers found an average of 200 industrial chemicals and pollutants in umbilical cord blood..." "Of the 287 chemicals we detected in umbilical cord blood, we know that 180 cause cancer in humans or animals, 217 are toxic to the brain and nervous system, and 208 cause birth defects or abnormal development in animal tests. The dangers of pre- or post-natal exposure to this complex mixture of carcinogens, developmental toxins and neurotoxins have never been studied."  (83 page PDF, or for an internet summary)

Chemical Trespass, Pesticides in Our Bodies and Corporate Accountability, Pesticide Action Network North America, May 2004 (HTML) (This is a very large file, almost 10 MB, so be patient while it loads). Multiple Pesticide residues were were found in every person tested. "The most dramatic examples of this are DDE (found in 99% of those tested) and chlorpyrifos (found in 93% of those tested)." DDE is a metabolite of DDT, chlorpyrifos is an insecticide and both of these agents are known to be toxic to humans.

A Present for Life, hazardous chemicals in umbilical cord blood, 2005, Greenpeace.(59 page PDF)  Children are both the most heavily exposed, pound for pound, and are the most volnerable to toxins. As a childs nervous system rapidly develops pesticides and other toxins can cause both short and longterm detrimental health effects.

Pollution in People, A Study of Toxic Chemicals in Washingtonians, 2006 (summary or full PDF)  Everyone tested has toxic chemicals in their body.

Developmental Health of our Children

Dose-Response Relationship of Prenatal Mercury Exposure and IQ:  An integrative Analysis of Epidemiologic Data.  Axelrad et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007;115;609-615.  (PDF)  "We find a central estimate of -0.18 IQ points... for each parts per million increase of maternal hair mercury..."  This study was performed by the joint efforts of the United States EPA and Harvard University.

Human Breast Milk Contamination with Phthalates and Alterations of Endogenous Reproductive Hormones in Infants Three Months of Age.  Main et al, Env Heal Per, 2006;114:2:270-276. (PDF) "We found subtle but significant dose-dependent associations between neonatal exposure to phthalate monoesters... and levels of reproductive hormones in boys at 3 months of age."  "...our finding support the hypothesis that the human testis may be vulnerable to phthalate exposure during development."  This study is a bold reminder that everyday exposure to phthalates, along with other environmental toxins is taking a toll on both our and our children's bodies. 

Methylmercury genotoxicity: A novel effect in human cell lines of the central nervous system.  Crespo-Lopez et al, Environmental International, 2007;33;141-146.  (PDF)  "This work demonstrates... MeHg ability to provoke genotoxicity in cells of brain origin with relatively low levels of exposure."

Diabetes Linked to Heavy Metals

Urinary Cadmium, Impaired Fasting Glucose, and Diabetes in the NHANES III, Schwartz et al, Diabetes Care, 2003;26;468-470. (PDF) "In this large cross-sectional study, urinary cadmium levels are significantly and dose-dependently associated with both impaired fasting glucose and diabetes."

Exercise is Essential

Acute exercise stimulates macrophage function: possible role of NF-kB pathways. Silveira et al, Cell Biochem. Funct. 2007; 25; 63-73. (PDF) "Moderate physical activity when performed on a regular basis presents a number of benefits to the whole organism, especially regarding immune system function, such as augmenting resistance to infections and to cancer growth."

Food As Thy Medicine

Using Nutrition for Intervention and Prevention against Environmental Chemical Toxicity and Associated Diseases.  Hennig et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007;115;493-495.  (PDF)  "In most Western countries, including the United States, diet-related chronic disease represent the single largest cause of morbity and mortality."

Nutrition and Cancer: A Review of the Evidence for Anti-Cancer Diet, Donaldson, 2004, (PDF), This article discusses how diet and lifestyle can decrease your risk of cancer by up to 70%.   

Apple Phytochemicals and their Health Benefits, Boyer and Liu, 2004.  (PDF) An apple a day, well maybe two organic apples, will keep the doctor away. 

Eat more fiber and reap the health benefits. The Mayo clinic says so. (HTML)

Nutrition and hypertension, Vasdev et al, Nutrition Research, 2002;111-123 (PDF) "In essential hypertension there is a metabolic defect where glucose metabolism is altered due to insulin resistance, resulting in increased tissue levels of aldehydes and oxygen-free readicals and hypertension.  This metabolic defect can be corrected nutritionally.."

Curcumin Induces G(2)/M Arrest and Apoptosis in Cisplatin-Resistant Human Ovarian Cancer Cells by Modulating Akt and p38 MAPK. Weir et al, Cancer Biol Ther, 2007 Feb 5;6(2).  (HTML) Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid in the Indian curry spice tumeric.  For years it has been known as an anti cancer and immuorestorative herb (PDF), now we are finding curcumins anti-cancer properties also work on pharmaceutically resistant tumors.   

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms)

Regression of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms, 2006, J. Pineal Res. (HTML)  In this study Prilosec went head to head against dietary supplementation and here are the results "After 7 days of supplementation, subjects taking the dietary supplement were found to report relief of symptoms, and after 40 days, 100% of subjects reported total regression of symptoms.  These results were significantly superior to what was found among subjects taking the drug.  After 9 days of treatment subjects taking omeprazole (Prilosec) reported marked improvement in symptoms, and after 40 days, only 65.7% of subjects reported regression of symptoms..."  

Long-term Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy and Risk of Hip Fracture, Yang et al, JAMA. 2006;296:2947-2953.  (PDF) The conclusion states, "Long-term PPI therapy, particularly at high doses, is associated with an increased risk of hip fracture."  With the use of PPI's the stomach isn't able to produce enough acid to properly digest proteins and minerals leading to deficient states and the diseases that correlate.

Infertility and Environmental Exposures

Fertile Grounds for Inquiry, Environmental Health Perspectives, November 2006 (HTML or PDF)

Maternal Fish Consumption, Mercury Levels, and Risk of Preterm Delivery, Xue et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2007.  This is the first study to show low dose mercury causes an increased risk of preterm delivery.(PDF)  According to the March of Dimes website the rate of premature birth increased almost 31 percent between 1981 and 2003.

Environmental toxins, like pesticides and lead, can cause male infertility problems.  The government says so.

Low lead environmental exposure alters semen quality and sperm chromatin condensation in northern Mexico.  Hernandez-Ochoa et al, Reproductive Toxicology, 2005;20;221-228.  (PDF)

Intravenous Therapies

Intravenous Nutrients Relieve the Symptoms of Fibromyalgia, Gaby, 2001 (HTML) 
Short and long term treatment of asthma with intravenous nutrients, Shrader, Nutrition Journal, 2004 (PDF).  The conclusion states, "The use of intravenos treatment with multiple nutrients, including magnesium, for acute and chronic asthma may be of considerable benefit.  Pulmonary function improved progressively the longer patients received treatment." 

Evaluation of the Biochemical Effects of Administration of Intravenous Nutrients Using Erythrocyte ATP/ADP Ratios, Lonsdale et al, Alt Med Rev, 2001 (PDF)

Nightshade Vegetables

Nightshade vegetables include tomatoes, potatoes (not sweet potatoes), eggplant, sweet and hot peppers (including paprika, cayenne pepper and items like Tabasco sauce), ground cherries, tomatillos, tamarillos, garden huckleberry, naranjillas, pepinos and pimentos.

Potato Glycoalkaloids Adversely Affect Intestinal Permeability and Aggravate Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Bijal Patel et al, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, Vol. 8, No. 5, September 2002. (PDF) "Concentrations of glycoalkaloids normally available while eating potatoes can adversely affect the mammilian intestine and can aggravate IBD." "... toxicological effects of potatoes have been well described in humans, ranging from gastrointestinal disturbances to hemolysis and neurotoxic effects."

Potato glycoalkaloids and adverse effects in humans: and ascending dose study. Tjeert Nensinga et al, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 41, 2005, p. 66-72. (PDF) "...the clearance of glycoalkaloids usually takes more than 24h, which implicates that the toxicants may accumulate in case of daily consumption."

Nutritional Depletions Lead to Chronic Diseases

Low Micronutrient intake may accelerate the degenerative diseases of aging through allocation of scarce micronutrients by triage.  Bruce Ames, PNAS, 2006 (PDF)  "Deficiencies in many micronutrients cause DNA damage, such as chromosome breaks, in cultured human cells or in vivo.  Some of these deficiencies also cause mitochondrial decay with oxidant leakage and cellular aging and are associated with late onset diseases such as cancer."

Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults.  Fletcher and Fairfield, JAMA, 2002;287;23;3127-3129.  (PDF)  "Recent evidence has shown that suboptimal levels of vitamins, even well about those causing deficiency syndromes, are risk factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoprosis."

Evaluation of zinc status in whole blood and scalp hair of female cancer patients.  Memon et al, 2007.  (PDF)  "There was a significant decrease in mean total Zn in whole blood and scalp hair samples of both cancer groups of patients compared to a controlled healthy female group."

Parkinson and Alzheimer Disease

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Evidence of Glial Effects of Cumulative Lead Exposure in the Adult Human Hippocampus.  Weisskopt et al, Evironmental Health Perspectives, 2007;115;519-523  (PDF)  A study out of Harvard connecting everyday lead exposure to cognitive decline and degenerative disease.  "It is important to note that the exposure to lead in our subjects is not occupational and thus at levels that a much larger population of elderly adults worldwide would be expected to have."  "These data suggest that in humans, as has been seen in animal studies, glial effects may also be the first or most sensitive indicators of adverse effects of cumulative lead exposure in adults, and those changes are similar to what is seen in early stages of Alzheimer disease."

Pesticides and Parkinson's Disease  - Is There a Link?, Brown et al, Environmental Health Perspectives, 2006 (PDF)

Pesticides directly accelerate the rate of alpha-synuclein fibril formation: a possible factor in Parkinson's disease. Uversky et al at the University of California Santa Cruz, FEBS Letters 500, 2001, p. 105-108. (PDF) "Here we show that several pesticides, including rotenone, dieldrin and paraquat, induce a confromational change in alpha-synuclein and significantly accelerate the rate of formation of alpha-synuclein fibrils in vitro."

Whole-Body Lifetime Occupational Lead Exposure and Risk of Parkinson's Disease.  Coon et al, Env Health Per, 2006;114:12,1872-1876 (PDF)  "The present study provides additional objective evidence to support the hypothesis that long-term exposure to heavy metals, such as Pb, contibutes to the accumulation of peroxidative damage and neurodegenerative cell death that is observed in PD."  

Synergistic Effects of Pesticides and Metals on the Fibrillation of alpha-Synuclein: Implications for Parkinson's Disease.  Uversky et al, NeuroToxicology, 2002;23;527-536.  (PDF)

Methylmercury genotoxicity: A novel effect in human cell lines of the central nervous system.  Crespo-Lopez et al, Environmental International, 2007;33;141-146.  (PDF)  "This work demonstrates... MeHg ability to provoke genotoxicity in cells of brain origin with relatively low levels of exposure."

Pharmaceuticals Deplete Important Nutrients

This link is to a website that offeres a lot of information on pharmaceuticals and the nutrient depletions they induce.  This page is a sample or skeleton website, therefore stick to the "Health Library" section or you may hit a deadend.

Oral contraceptives and nutritional status in adolescent British girls, Thane et al, Nutritional Research, 2002;449-462.  (PDF)  It was shown that girls who were taking oral contraceptives (OC) had lower plasma levels of beta carotene (pre vitamin A), gamma tocopherol (part of vitamin E), HDL "good" cholesterol, and serum B12.  The authors also showed the girls taking the OC had higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides.  These lab values show a predisposition for coronary heart disease.  

Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook, by Pelton, LaValle, Hawkins, and Krinsky, 2001, 591 pages, ISBN 193059845. There are so many depletions entire texts are printed.

Specific Exposures

The convenient non stick coating, one form is called Teflon, is now ubiquitus for planet earth and its inhabitants. Recent studies have found these chemicals in the blood stream of over 90% of the people tested. This is very disturbing because there is little known about the health affects of chronic low dose exposure in humans. Animal studies show the effects ranging from cancer to infertility to earlly and unexplained death. (PDF) Please lighten your body burden by removing the non-stick pans from your life.

Vitamin C

Pharmacologic ascorbic acid concentrations selectively kill cancer cells: Action as a pro-drug to deliver hydrogen peroxide to tissues.  Chen et al, PNAS, 2005 (PDF)

Inhibition of Human Leukocyte 3-Hydroxy-3methylglutaryl Coexzyme A Reductase Activity by Ascorbic Acid.  Hardwood et al, J. Biological Chemistry, 1986.  (PDF)  Vitamin C is a natural HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. Everyones heard of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, maybe you just know them better as drugs like Lipitor.

Videos

• Mercury as a Neurotoxin
• The University of Calgary explains how mercury disrupts and destroys neurons by binding to the GTP receptor on Beta subunit of the tubulin molecules.  Click here to play the 4.5 minute video. This may take a minute to load, depending on your connection speed, so please be patient. The video is well worth your wait.
• Cell Phones Pop Popcorn
• Cellphones emit low levels of microwaves and this video shows popcorn being popped by three ringing cellphones. Click here to play the 30 second video.
• The Iron in fortified foods
• Dr Levy will show that manufacturers of fortified foods are including the incorrect, and inexpensive, form of iron.  When iron is consumed in the incorrect form, either from food or supplementation, it can cause oxidative damage to body leading to an incredible number of diseases.  A large number of therapy regiments are now including the chelation of iron as part of the medical treatment protocol. Click here to play the 7.5 minute video.

Internet Sites

• www.PollutionInMe.com - A directory of environmental websites designed by Dr Wdowin.
• www.DrinkingMyGreens.com - Your source for Greens First, Red Alert and more.
• www.Naturopathic.org - the national website for Naturopathic Doctors
• www.NewFacesofParkinsons.com - This website started by a friend of mine in Arizona who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age an early age.  She decided to make a difference by starting a forum for people with her condition to tell their stories, ask questions and discuss treatment options. 
• www.ACAM.org - American College of Alternative Medicine
• www.AdvancedSupplementation.com - An online supplement site that offers an abundance of health information including recipes and a pharmaceutical induced nutrient depletion guide.
• www.NoFreeLunch.org - Just say no to drug reps.
• Heather's Future Website, this is the website of my "big" sister, Dr Heather Wdowin. 
• www.EHPonline.org - Environmental Health Perspectives is an amazing source for information on the environmental toxins that we are exposed to in our day to day life.  They offer thousands of research studies, monthly articles and much more all free.
• www.Thank-Water.net - The Secret Life of Water
• www.Scorecard.org - The Pollution Information Site
• www.EWG.org - another site that offers a vast amount of environmental health information including the "Dirty Dozen Wallet Guide."
• www.Brown.edu - Where Dr. Wdowin earned his undergraduate degree.
• www.SCNM.edu - Where Dr. Wdowin earned his medical degree.