Health Articles

What is asthma?

Asthma is a hyper-reactive, inflammatory condition of the bronchial tubes which impair airway function. It has been divided into extrinsic or atopic asthma, i.e. allergic asthma; and intrinsic asthma, where the bronchial reaction is due to factors such as cold air, toxic chemicals, exercise, emotional upset and infection.

• Asthma can, depending on the triggers, as well as a person’s threshold for such triggers, vacillate between chronic and acute episodes.

• Allergic rhinitis is a major risk factor for later development of asthma.

• Aspirin-induced asthma makes up 10 percent of all asthmatics

• More than a 20% of all hay fever patients develop asthma later on in life, and it has been found that rhinitis frequently precedes the onset of asthma.

• Common dietary factors in asthma include excessive sugar consumption, pasteurised dietary products, and fried foods.

• A deficiency of magnesium, which is a natural muscle relaxant, may also play a role in asthma.

What happens during an asthma attack?

Dust, chemicals, antibodies, and exercise can initiate an attack by increasing calcium influx into the mast cell (one of the tissue cells in the bronchial tubes). The influx causes a release of chemical mediators such as histamine, and a special chemical that attracts white blood cells. The latter, in turn, triggers the following effects:

• increases smooth muscle contraction (via an elevation of calcium in the muscle cell) leading to bronchoconstriction,

• initiates a bronchoconstrictor reflex via the vagus nerve, and

• causes an inflammation response (swelling of tissue).

How is asthma treated?

The safest approach to reducing or eliminating asthma attacks is to avoid known irritants or initiators, to create a personal environment containing purified (filtered) air, and to build a strong respiratory tract and balanced immune system which will not overreact to external agents. Important lifestyle changes such as stress reduction, exercise, plenty of sleep and clean air in the bedroom all make a big difference to quality of life for an asthmatic.

• Physical stress-management activities such as meditation, biofeedback, along with suitable exercise strategies such as yoga, swimming, etc., often provide significant relief.

• Acupuncture is another modality that offers great benefits not only for stress relief but also for active anti-asthma treatment.

• Education of the individual is also very important.

The immune system of most asthmatics is under pressure, not only from possible allergens, but also due to the consequences of the stress associated with acute/chronic ill health. Couple this with a weakened digestive system, possibly not able to cope adequately with proper absorption of nutrients, as a result of things like medications, food sensitivities and general gut dysbiosis, and/or common infections like candida - and the asthmatic is further compromised.

Nutritional supplements

As important as food is, supplements are almost as important in their ability to help the asthmatic recover and control future attacks:

• Vitamin C: 2 - 6 g daily depending on severity

• Probiotics: between 6 and 15 billion colony-forming units per serving

• Fish oils: 3 - 6 g

• 1 teaspoon cod liver oil

• Methylsulphonyl methane (MSM): 6 – 9g a day

• Selenium and antioxidants

• Magnesium is critical in helping to relax airways: take 450 - 600 mg daily

• A good multivitamin or high-dose B-complex is advisable.

Cellfood®

Asthma is a chronic lung condition that is characterized by the difficulty in getting sufficient oxygen to the lungs. In a clinical trial on athletes at the University of Pretoria 35 drops of Cellfood® increased the oxygen uptake by 5%, and the ferritin levels by 31%, amongst others.

• These findings can also be of benefit to the asthmatic patient. An oxygen mineral supplement like Cellfood® is rapidly absorbed by the body, assists with oxygenation and increases the oxygen saturation in the blood.

• Oxygen is one of the important elements for aerobic life as we know it and is essential for energizing and cleansing the body. The increased ferritin levels can assist with the production of more red blood cells that are needed to transport oxygen to the different organs and cells.

• Cellfood® is also a powerful antioxidant, boosting the immune system, and will therefore restrict free radical damage in these patients.

• It provides essential nutrients like magnesium directly at cellular level.

In conclusion, good food, a healthy lifestyle and targeted supplementation is a winning combination to help asthmatics reach a point of 'remission' where they can live normal lives with minimal drug intake, and maximum health.

Ageing and the skin

Since time immemorial, pale, even skin has, in many cultures, implied a fragile and refined quality that is associated with beauty, femininity, innocence, and the implication of a higher social stature and wealth. For many this is made possible by the latest technological advances in science that affect the cosmetics industry. Innovations, such as in nanotechnology, could be beneficial to skin protection and anti-ageing.

• Environmental pollution, poor nutrition, and excess stress can result in the dehydration and premature ageing of the skin.

• UV radiation is for example responsible for up to 85% of the visible signs of premature ageing, with exposure causing skin damage like inflammation, pigmentation, wrinkles and loss of elasticity and moisture.

Normal, smooth, and hydrated skin contains adequate elastin fibres (non-cross linked soluble collagen) that enable the skin to be flexible and elastic. These elastin fibres are found in the connective tissue of the skin.

• When the skin becomes dehydrated, an excess of cross-linked insoluble collagen forms, which causes the skin to take on a wrinkled appearance. The surface skin also becomes thinner, and is prone to damage.

• In order to rebalance the skin and replenish it with adequate non-cross linked soluble collagen, the skin cells require an adequate supply of about twenty amino acids. These can be supplied to the cells either from within the bodily system, or externally from an appropriate preparation that contains these nutrients for the skin.

As old age approaches, the rate of epidermal cell replacement slows, the skin thins, and its susceptibility to bruises and other types of injury increases.

• All of the lubricating substances produced by the skin glands that make young skin so soft start to become deficient. As a result, the skin becomes dry and itchy. However, those with naturally oily skin seem to postpone this dryness until later in life.

• Elastic fibers begin to clump and degenerate, and collagen fibers become fewer and stiffer as they link together. These alterations of dermal fibers are hastened by prolonged exposure to the sun and wind.

• The hypo-dermal fat layer diminishes, leading to the intolerance to cold so common in elderly people.

• The decreasing elasticity of the skin, along with the loss of subcutaneous tissue, inevitably leads to wrinkling.

Free radicals 

Free radicals are increasingly recognised as being responsible for tissue and organ damage, which could lead to the functional disturbances associated with chronic degenerative disease like arthritis, heart disease and cancer, and for accelerated ageing. The total free radical load (oxidative stress) therefore contributes significantly to the development of many chronic diseases. This assumes particular importance in the aged.

• One of the signs of increased free radical activity in the aged is the accumulation of ageing pigments often seen on the hands and face of the elderly. The significance of these visible deposits of pigments (lipofuscin) is that similar deposits also occur elsewhere, for example the brain and nerves, where they may cause much more serious damage and contribute towards the ageing process.

• Once they have formed as a result of free radical activity in the tissue, these pigments are very difficult to remove, presumably due to irreversible tissue damage. But they appear to be readily preventable by ensuring adequate antioxidant activity in the tissues.

What are free radicals and why are they so harmful?

Free radicals are compounds such as oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, or hydroxyl groups that have lost an electron. These unstable molecules latch onto another molecule, "stealing" its electrons, which in turn try to steal an electron from another molecule. This process happens usually at a nearby cell membrane, setting off a chain reaction of free-radical formations called lipid peroxidation, which ultimately leads to damage.

Free radicals increase in the body during stress and exercise. They cause oxidative stress to the body and may contribute to more than sixty other health conditions, including:

• increased aging of bones, organs, brain and skin

• interference with cell replication

• malignant tissue formation

• enzyme malfunction

• atherosclerosis and heart disease

How does the body cope?

Antioxidants are considered as one of the cornerstones in halting the aging process and preventing a variety of age-related diseases.

• Different antioxidants scavenge different free radicals in either a watery or a fat environment. There are also antioxidants that work directly and those that work indirectly.

• Direct antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E, neutralize free radicals.

• In this process, a direct antioxidant binds to a free radical, rendering it harmless and protecting cells from damage.

• Once the direct antioxidant reacts with a radical, the antioxidant is destroyed and cannot be effective again (some can however be regenerated).

Indirect antioxidants like selenium work like catalysts.

• They do not neutralize free radicals directly, but rather boost the body's own antioxidant defense systems. This group of antioxidants stands ready to neutralize free radicals over a period of time. They continue to be effective even after the indirect antioxidants have left the body.

Fortunately the body also has antioxidant enzymes assisting in scavenging free radicals.

Cellfood®

In a clinical trial on athletes at the University of Pretoria 35 drops of Cellfood® increased the oxygen uptake by 5%, and the ferritin levels by 31%, amongst others.

• An oxygen mineral supplement like Cellfood® is rapidly absorbed by the body, assists with oxygenation and increases the oxygen saturation in the blood.

• Oxygen is one of the important elements for aerobic life as we know it and is essential for energizing and cleansing the body. The increased ferritin levels can assist with the production of more red blood cells that are needed to transport oxygen to the different organs and cells (including the skin).

• Cellfood® is a powerful antioxidant (both indirect and enzyme antioxidant), boosting the immune system, and will therefore restrict free radical damage. Cellfood® also assists the body in producing glutathione, a powerful direct antioxidant.

• It provides essential nutrients like selenium and amino acids directly at cellular level.

Cellfood® SKINCARE

The absorption of nutrients by the skin is determined by the permeability of the skin, the formulation of the nutrients, and the transdermal carrier or transporter. Particle size, pH balance, and bio-electrical charge determine the absorption rate of the product by the cells. Cellfood® SKINCARE complies with all three criteria. The actives, and their respective functions, are:

• Aloe Vera juice - commonly known as a skin healer, moisturizer, and softener. Effective on burns of all types, good for cuts, insect stings, bruises, acne and blemishes, welts, poison ivy, skin ulcers, and eczema

• Cellfood® - over-and-above its normal functions, Cellfood® also acts as a transdermal carrier/transporter, facilitating the delivery of the spectrum of skin care nutrients to the cells of the skin

• Glycerin - moisturizer

• Chamomile - has anti-inflammatory properties

• Polysaccharide gum - assists with the process of making a solution into a gel

• Fossilized organics - additional source of minerals

In conclusion

Good nutrition, a balanced active lifestyle and nutritional antioxidant supplements could assist in delaying pre-mature aging of the skin from the inside. Limiting the impact of environmental factors by means of facial creams, moisturizers, etc could achieve the same from the outside.

"Sickle cell anemia is a hereditary, genetically determined hemolytic anemia, one of the hemoglobinopathies, occurring almost exclusively in Blacks..." Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary.

1.  Introduction

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is an inherited blood disorder caused by a genetic mutation that leads to the generation of a mutant form of the beta-globin chain of hemoglobin (Hb). Red blood cells containing Hb with this mutant beta-globin chain change shape upon deoxygenation, get stuck in blood vessels, deprive the surrounding tissues of oxygen, and thus lead to organ damage.

SCD is inherited from both parents, usually presents in childhood and occurs more commonly in people (or their descendants) from parts of tropical and sub-tropical regions where malaia is or was common. One-third of all indigenous inhabitants of Sub-Saharan Africa carry the gene, because in areas where malaria is common, there is a survival value in carrying only a single sickle cell gene (sickle cell trait). Those with only one of the two alleles of the sickle-cell disease are more resistant to malaria, since the infestation of the malaria plasmodium is halted by the sickling of the cells which it infests (Marieb, 1998).

Someone who inherits the hemoglobin S gene from one parent and normal hemoglobin from the other parent will have sickle cell trait. People with sickle cell trait do not have the symptoms of true sickle cell anemia.

The prevalence of the disease in the United States is approximately 1 in 5 000 and about 1 in 500 black births have sickle cell anemia.

2. Causes

In sickle cell anemia (also known as sicklemia), the havoc caused by the abnormal hemoglobin S (HbS), results from a change in just one of the 287 amino acids in a beta chain of the globin molecule (a valine residue is substituted with a glutamine residue at position 6). This alteration causes the beta chains to link together to form stiff rods, and as a result hemoglobin S becomes spiky and sharp when not fully loaded with oxygen. This, in turn, causes the reb blood cells to become crescent-shaped when they unload oxygen molecules or when the oxygen content of the blood is lower than normal, as during rigorous exercise and other activities that increases the metabolic rate. The stiffened and deformed erythrocytes rupture easily and tend to dam up in small blood vessels. These events interfere with oxygen delivery, leaving the victims gasping for air and exterme pain. The standard traetment for an acute sickle cell crisis is a blood transfusion (Marieb, 1998).

3. Symptoms

Patient symptoms usually don't occur until after the age of four months. Almost all patients with sickle cell anemia have painful episodes (crises), which can last from hours to days. These crises can affect the bones of the back, the long bones, and the chest. Some patients have one episode every few years while others have many episodes per year. The crises can be severe enough to require a hospital stay.

Common symptoms include: abdominal, chest and bone pain, delayed growth and puberty, yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), breathlessness, fever, fatigue, rapid heart rate, excessive thirst, frequent urination, painful and prolonged erection (priapism occurs in 10-40% of men with the disease), poor eyesight/blindness, strokes and skin ulcers (due to poor blood flow) (Hebbel, 2008).

4. Examinations and tests

Tests commonly performed to diagnose and monitor patients with sickle cell anemia include:

• Complete blood count (CBC)

• Hemoglobin electrophoresis<

• Sickle cell test

5. Treatment

Patients with sickle cell disease need ongoing treatment, even when they are not having a painful crisis (Geller and O'Connor, 2008). The purpose of treatment is to manage and control symptoms, and to limit the frequency of crises. Painful episodes are treated with pain medication and by drinking plenty of fluids. Non-narcotic medications may be effective, but some patients will need large doses of narcotics.

Patients with SCD are advised to take folic acid and B12 (essential for producing red blood cells) because red blood cells are turned over so quickly.

Hydroxyurea is a drug some patients use to reduce the number of pain episodes (including chest pain and difficulty breathing) (Brawley et al., 2008). It may benefit some adults with moderate and severe SCD by increasing fetal Hb (HbF) expression. However, it does not work for all individuals. Moutouh-de Parseval and colleagues have however found that immunomodulatory anticancer drugs lenalidomide and pomalidomide are more effective than hydroxyurea at inducing HbF expression by erythrocytes derived in vitro from CD34+ cells from healthy individuals.

Antibiotics and vaccines are given to prevent bacterial infections, which are common in children with sickle cell disease. Blood transfusions are used to treat a sickle cell crisis. They may also be used on a regular basis to help prevent strokes.

5.1 The value of nutritional supplements

Although supplements won’t cure the disease, they do have value in alleviating some of the symptoms. An oxygen mineral supplement like Cellfood® could help in supplying oxygen to the oxygen-deprived cells. In a clinical trial on athletes at the University of Pretoria (Nolte, 2001), 35 drops of Cellfood® increased the oxygen uptake by 5%, and the ferritin levels by 31%, amongst others.

• These findings can also be of benefit to the SCD patient. Cellfood® is rapidly absorbed by the body, assists with oxygenation and increases the oxygen saturation in the blood.

• Oxygen is one of the important elements for aerobic life as we know it and is essential for energizing and cleansing the body.

• The increased ferritin levels can assist with the production of more red blood cells that are needed to transport oxygen to the different organs and cells.

• Cellfood® is also a powerful antioxidant, boosting the immune system, and will therefore restrict free radical damage in these patients.

• It provides essential nutrients like magnesium directly at cellular level.

5.2 Other treatments for complications may include:

• Dialysis or kidney transplant (kidney disease)

• Drug rehabilitation and counseling for psychological complications

• Gallbladder removal (gallstone disease)

• Hip replacementfor avascular necrosis of the hip

• Irrigation or surgery for persistent, painful erections (priapism)

• Surgery for eye problems

• Wound care, zinc oxide, or surgery for leg ulcers

Bone marrow or stem cell transplants can cure sickle cell anemia. However, transplants have many risks, including infection, and rejection, and are currently thus not an option for most patients. Also, sickle cell anemia patients are often unable to find well-matched donors.

6. Prognosis

In the past, sickle cell patients often died from organ failure/infection between the ages of 20 and 40. Thanks to a better understanding and management of the disease, patients can today live into their 50’s or beyond. Some people with the disease experience minor, brief, infrequent episodes. Others experience severe, long-term, frequent episodes with many complications.

7. Prevention

Sickle cell anemia can only occur when two people who carry the sickle cell trait have a child together. About 1 in 12 African Americans has the sickle cell trait. Genetic counseling is recommended for all carriers of the sickle cell trait. It is also possible to diagnose sickle cell anemia during pregnancy.

7.1 The sickling of red blood cells can be lessened by:

• Getting enough fluids

• Getting enough oxygen (use CellfoodÒ for example)

• Quickly treating infections

Patients are advised to have physical examinationss every 3 - 6 months to ensure that their diets are still sufficient, and that they are receiving the proper vaccinations. Regular eye examinationss are also recommended.

7.2 Preventing infections and a crises:

• People with sickle cell anemia need to keep their immunizations up to date, including Haemophilus influenza, pneumococcal, meningococcal, hepatitis B, and influenza;

• Some patients may receive antibiotics to prevent infections, and

• Parents should encourage children with sickle cell anemia to lead normal lives.

7.3 To reduce a sickle cell crises, the following precautions need to be taken:

• To prevent oxygen loss, avoid:

• • Demanding physical activity (especially if the spleen is enlarged)

  • Emotional stress

  • Environments with low oxygen (high altitudes, nonpressurized airplane flights)

  • Smoking

  • Known sources of infection

• Ensure sufficient fluid intake:

• • Avoid too much exposure to the sun;

  • Have fluids on hand, both at home and away, and

  • Recognize signs of dehydration.

• To avoid infection:

• • Consider having the child wear a Medic Alert bracelet;

  • Have the child vaccinated as recommended by the health care provider, and

  • Share the above information with teachers and other caretakers, when necessary.

Be aware of the effects that chronic, life-threatening illnesses can have on siblings, marriages, parents, and the child.

8. References

Brawley OW, Cornelius LJ, Edwards LR, Gamble VN, Green BL, and Inturrisi C. 2008. National Institutes of Health consensus development conference statement: hydroxyurea treatment for sickle cell disease. Ann Intern Med. 148: 932-938.

Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary. 1988. 28th ed. WB Saunders Company, p74.

Geller AK, and O'Connor MK. 2008. The sickle cell crisis: a dilemma in pain relief. Mayo Clin Proc. 8; 83: 320-323.

Hebbel RP. 2008. Pathobiology of sickle cell disease. In: Hoffman R, Benz EJ, and Shattil SS, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; chapter 42.

Lee MT, Piomelli S, and Granger Sl. 2006. Stroke prevention trial in sickle cell anemia (STOP): extended follow-up and final results. Blood. 108: 847-852.

Marieb EN. 1998. Human anatomy and physiololgy. Fourth ed. The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc. 635-636.

Nolte H. 2001. The effect of CellfoodÒ on exercise performance. MA dissertation, University of Pretoria.

Saunthararajah Y, Vichinsky EP, and Embury SH. 2008. Sickle cell disease. Clinical features and management. In: Hoffman R, Benz Jr. EJ, Shattil SS, eds. Hematology: Basic Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingston; chapter 43.

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. 2007. Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Newborns: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. Sep 2007: AHRQ Publication No. 07-05104-EF-2.

Introduction

Addiction is when the body becomes so accustomed to the presence of a foreign substance that it can no longer function properly if the substance is withdrawn. Individuals who are addicted to substances (drugs) can end up centering their lives on avoiding the pain of withdrawal – that is, on assuring a continuing supply of the substance of abuse.

• Research reveals detectible levels of human-manufactured toxins in all individuals.

• Accumulations of chemicals in body tissues are increasingly associated with patterns of adverse health including suppressed or inappropriate/hyperreactive immune function (autoimmunity, asthma, and allergies), cognitive deficits, cancers, mood changes, neurological illnesses, changes in libido, reproductive dysfunction, and glucose dysregulation.

Why are these substances so harmful?

Complicating the phenomenon of addiction is the problem of drug tolerance.

• With prolonged substance use, the human body often ends up needing more and more of the substance to produce the desired effects and to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

• Addiction usually has a powerful psychological as well as a physical component.

• While psychological dependence does not lead to physical withdrawal symptoms after the drug is discontinued, it does result in deep cravings that may persist long after any physical addiction has been overcome.

Research is mounting that the long-term effects of drug consumption are greater than has been assumed.

• It is not simply the case that these effects occur during active drug use, but rather that these effects continue after discontinuation of drug use.

• It may require a much longer period for drugs or their metabolites to be fully cleared from the body than previously supposed, with consequent residual physical and psychological effects.

Both the biological activity of a compound and its physiologic disposition (ultimate fate) are largely determined by its chemical properties in relation to extant biological structures and processes.

• Barring specific transport mechanisms, the distribution patterns and speed with which chemicals diffuse into various tissues are largely driven by lipophilicity - the thermodynamic tendency of a compound to dissolve into lipid-rich spaces.

• With certain exceptions (e.g., insulin), drugs tend to be very lipophilic and to have a large distribution volume.

• They tend to deposit in various tissues in the following order: lung, fat, heart, kidney, brain, gut, muscle and bone, preferentially accumulating in lysosomes.

Adipose tissue is a very intricate organ and not merely involved in storing excess calories and "unwanted" compounds.

• Recent research reveals that hormones released by adipose tissue regulate many bodily functions including emotional state, energy level and body metabolism, hunger and cravings, inflammatory response, and also modulate immune function.

• Symptoms associated with disruption of these systems are common in those exposed to environmental chemicals and also in substance abusers.

There are many mechanisms by which retention of chemicals/drugs in the body can negatively impact health.

Chemical-communication mimetics

Many drugs and toxins mimic substances naturally found in the body and may directly affect normal trans-cellular chemical communication by hormones and cytokines.

• Structural mimetics often cause effects quite dissimilar or even opposite to those of the endogenous substance (for example blockage of a receptor normally accessible to a hormone).

• This may occur locally within a tissue (paracrinely), or endocrinely as drugs/toxins are released from body tissues back into circulation.

• Further, circulating drugs and toxins may occupy sites on plasma transport proteins thereby subtly interfering with the equilibria kinetics that govern plasma transport of nutrients and hormones, for example.

Genetic/metabolic disruption

Retention of toxins in key organs may directly impair organ health and function by a number of intracellular mechanisms, including:

• disruption of the sophisticated networks that regulate situational gene expression, or

• the delicate feedbacks by which the intermediates and products of constitutive metabolic chains regulate the activity of key metabolic enzymes.

Nutrient deficiency

Eliminating toxins requires certain endogenous substances to assist in the detox process.

• Nutrients used during metabolic processes of detoxification are concomitantly or subsequently not available for other metabolic processes, thus creating local deficiencies.

• Chronic exposure may result in systemic deficiencies of many essential nutrients.

Nutrients that can help during recovery from drug addiction

A person can be addicted to substances other than illegal drugs.

• Many are addicted to caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, sugar, and even certain foods. Although these addictions may not pose as great a health risk, withdrawal may still be painful and difficult. People using these substances may also be more susceptible to illness and disease because these addictive substances deplete the body of needed nutrients.

• Many drug users suffer from malnutrition. Because drugs rob the body of essential nutrients, those addicted need to take high doses of nutritional supplements. In many cases there might be a deficiency of oxygen, hydrogen, minerals, enzymes or even amino acids (building blocks of protein and neurotransmitters).

Nutrients of importance for a person recovery from drug abuse are:

• All the vitamin B’s including vitamin B12 and vitamin B5. These are needed when under stress to assist in the rebuilding of the liver and adrenal glands and are important for brain function.

• Vitamin C – detoxifies and lessens the cravings for drugs.

• Multivitamin/mineral complex – all nutrients are needed in high amounts.

• Calcium and magnesium – nourishes the central nervous system and helps control tremors.

• Amino acids including L-glutamine, L-phenylalanine, and L-tyrosine. Supply needed protein and passes the blood-brain barrier to promote healthy mental functioning.

• Glutathione – aids in detoxifying drugs to reduce their harmful effects. Also reduces the desire for drugs and alcohol.

Cellfood®

In a clinical trial on athletes at the University of Pretoria 35 drops of Cellfood® increased the oxygen uptake by 5%, and normalized all haematological (blood) values, amongst others.

• An oxygen mineral supplement like Cellfood® is rapidly absorbed by the body, assists with oxygenation and increases the oxygen saturation in the blood.

• Oxygen is one of the important elements for aerobic life as we know it and is essential for energizing and cleansing the body (oxidizes harmful elements).

• Cellfood® is also a powerful antioxidant, boosting the immune system, and will therefore restrict free radical damage in people recovering from substance abuse.

• It contains traces of elements, minerals and trace minerals and provides essential nutrients like magnesium, calcium and iron directly at cellular level.

• The amino acids in Cellfood® promote, amongst others, healthy mental functioning, and thereby assisting people recovering from substance abuse.

• Elements like hydrogen, minerals, amino acids and enzymes such as contained in Cellfood® assists the body in repairing and regenerating cells.

Dr Jacques Rossouw (DSc Biochemistry; Hons Pharmacology; MBA).

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although primarily a disease of the lungs, it can affect any organ including the bones, spine, intestines, kidneys, lymph nodes, bladder, joints, liver, heart, and spleen. There are two strains, one human and one bovine (cow), which are spread by inhalation of infected sputum in the case of the former and by drinking infected milk in the case of the latter.

TB is generally overcome by an intact immune system but anyone with a lowered resistance from conditions such as malnutrition, stress, steroid therapy, diabetes and drug use (including alcohol, smoking or those taking drugs for immuno-suppression, as in HIV and AIDS) are more likely to succumb if this disease is contracted. Anybody with lung infection or disease is also more prone.

The incidents of tuberculosis remain high in overcrowded and Third World countries, but until recently TB was on the wane in the Western world. Unfortunately, injudicious use of antibacterial agents has led to resistant strains developing, which are now defeating even the strongest of antibiotics.

Left alone, the great majority of those who contract TB will simply defeat the bacteria and leave a characteristic calcified area noted on X-rays. This is formed by the body's attempt to wall in the infection. The bacteria may continue to live within this cavity and escape at times when the individual is run down, causing a reactivation of the symptoms.

Investigations include chest X-rays with lesions that usually appear in the upper part of the lungs. Some blood changes may be found but a definitive diagnosis is generally made by culturing sputum or urine samples, depending upon where the infection is, and growing them in special culture mediums. In a severely ill person, treatment with antibiotics may need to be started before a firm diagnosis is made and before it is known whether the antibiotics being used are in fact going to affect this type of bacteria. Complementary medical treatment may be of benefit in less seriously ill people whilst they await the sensitivity reports so that accurate antibiotic treatment may be given.

Some treatment recommendations that may be of value:

• If tuberculosis is diagnosed, do not rush into drug treatment unless symptoms are causing marked problems. Instead consult a complementary medical practitioner with experience in this field. Self-treatment may not necessarily be the best.

• To be successful against tuberculosis, antibiotic treatment must usually be taken every day for between nine months and one year after initial diagnosis. Researchers have, however, documented numerous cases in which people discontinue treatment after the symptoms are gone but before the infection itself is under control. To prevent drug resistance stick to and complete the treatment regime.

• Ensure that a change in lifestyle is made to eliminate all factors that may be reducing immunity, especially bad habits such as smoking and excess alcohol. Any drug abuse will reduce the body's immune response.

• Prevention is generally the best form of treatment so ensure that your health is at an optimum level before visiting areas where tuberculosis is endemic.

• Use an oxygen mineral supplement like Cellfood® on a daily basis. Cellfood® contains minerals/trace minerals, digestive and metabolic enzymes and amino acids and is claimed to aid in the generation of oxygen which is crucial for normal cell function and survival, and could be useful for a TB patient because it increases oxygen saturation in the bloodstream (Nolte, 2002). The selenium in Cellfood® protects against free radicals, and with zinc and the amino acid L-Serine, amongst others, promote a healthy immune system. The digestive and metabolic enzymes help control inflammation, digest essential nutrients, and improve absorption. The multiminerals with boron, calcium, magnesium and silica in Cellfood® are needed for strength and healing whereas the amino acids L-Cystine and L-Methionine protect the lungs and liver by detoxifying harmful toxins.

Miliary tuberculosis spreads through the blood and can thus infect any tissue or organ. Widespread symptoms may occur and the above treatment recommendations should be considered bearing in mind that this condition is far more aggressive and likely to have a poorer prognosis.

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and multiple tender points. ‘Tender points’ refer to tenderness that occurs in precise, localized areas, particularly in the neck, spine, shoulders, and hips.

• FM primarily occurs in women of childbearing age, but the elderly, men and children can also be affected.

• Many children diagnosed with fibromyalgia, often start with flu-like symptoms and then become chronic, with sleep disturbance a major feature. Some children also display Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) symptoms, fatigue, school and behavior problems and commonly a tendency to allergies. Some experts also find that such children frequently have very loose (hypermobile) joints.

What causes fibromyalgia?

Although the cause of fibromyalgia is unknown, researchers have several theories about causes or triggers of the disorder.

• Some believe that the syndrome may be caused by an injury or trauma/shock (physical or emotional). This injury may affect the central nervous system.

• Fibromyalgia may also be associated with changes in muscle metabolism, such as decreased blood flow, causing fatigue and decreased strength.

• Others believe the syndrome may be triggered by an infectious agent such as a virus in susceptible people, but no such agent has been identified.

• The myriad of symptoms certainly favors a central origin. No peripheral inflammatory or metabolic disorder has ever been defined as causal, but many patients do have arthritic or neuritic illnesses, which augment their centrally impaired pain-processing abilities.

• Twenty to 40% of patients with connective tissue disorders, especially Lupus and Sjögren's syndrome, have concomitant fibromyalgia.

How is fibromyalgia diagnosed?

Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms mimic those of other disorders.

• The physician reviews the patient's medical history and makes a diagnosis of fibromyalgia based on a history of chronic widespread pain that persists for more than 3 months.

• The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has developed criteria for fibromyalgia that physicians can use in diagnosing the disorder. According to ACR criteria, a person is considered to have fibromyalgia if he or she has widespread pain in combination with tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific tender point sites.

• Pain is considered widespread when all of the following are present: pain in the left side of the body, pain in the right side of the body, pain above the waist and pain below the waist. In addition there should be pain in the spine or the neck or front of the chest, or thoracic spine or lower back.

How is fibromyalgia treated?

Treatment of fibromyalgia requires a comprehensive approach. The physician, physical therapist, and patient may all play an active role in the management of fibromyalgia.

• Studies have shown that aerobic exercise, such as swimming and walking, improve muscle fitness and reduce muscle pain and tenderness. Heat and massage may also give short-term relief.

•  Antidepressant medications may help elevate mood, improve quality of sleep, and relax muscles. Sleep is a key feature of this condition and restoration of normal sleep is vital in recovery.

• Patients with fibromyalgia may benefit from a combination of exercise, medication, physical therapy, and relaxation.

• Many patients also have success using nutritional supplements.

Cellfood®

In a clinical trial on athletes at the University of Pretoria 35 drops of Cellfood® increased the oxygen uptake by 5%, the ferritin levels by 31% and decreased lactic acid accumulation by 15%.

• These findings can also be of benefit to the FM patient struggling with high lactic acid values being the result of a mainly anaerobic metabolism. Oxygen is one of the important elements for aerobic life as we know it and is essential for energizing and cleansing the body.

• Cellfood® is also a powerful antioxidant, boosting the immune system, and will therefore restrict free radical damage in these patients.

• It provides essential nutrients directly at cellular level.

• An unpublished study on fibromyalgia patients using Cellfood® confirmed that the patients experienced a relief in pain and some had improved sleeping patterns.

Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.