Innholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2025 i What Doctors Don't Tell You Australia/NZ

Holding steadfast to a particular course is generally seen as a good thing. It shows consistency, stability, continuity, perpetuity and all the rest of those positive attributes. But when it comes to medicine or science, failing to change course can be, at best, blinkered and foolhardy. Often it stems from a fundamentally unscientific refusal to entertain an alternative solution. Take the case of poor Ignaz Semmelweis, the Hungarian doctor at the Vienna General Hospital, who in 1846 happened to notice that women giving birth in the medical-student-and doctor-run maternity ward were developing fever and dying in large numbers, while those who had their babies in the midwife run maternity ward were surviving at much higher rates. The one difference between the two wards soon became obvious to him: The doctors…

I’d be worried about our teenagers. Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and behavioral issues are rife in the age group, affecting one in seven teenagers aged 10–19. Most cases go undiagnosed and untreated, and tragically suicide is the third major cause of death among the young. Rates of mental health problems in teenagers have increased 40 percent in the last 10 years alone although levels had been stable throughout the previous century. Some have blamed the sudden rise on the forced social isolation of Covid lockdowns, and this may have exacerbated the problem. But mounting evidence points to the overuse of smartphones, and scientists are beginning to agree. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt describes it as a “rewiring of the teenage brain” that began around 2015, when the smartphone…

According to Patrick Holford, a good starting point to lowering homocysteine is to supplement with the Big Four B vitamins, methyl movers vitamin B2, B6, B9 and B12, plus zinc, magnesium and trimethylgycine. Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) Riboflavin-rich foods include liver, eggs, beef kidney and mussels. Suggested daily dosage: 25 mg riboflavin-5’-phosphate sodium Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) The higher homocysteine levels climb, the lower vitamin B6 and other vitamin levels fall.1 Suggested daily dosage: 15 mg as pyridoxal-5’-phosphate, or 25 mg in other forms Vitamin B9 (folate) Methylation expert Dr Ben Lynch, author of Dirty Genes (HarperOne, 2020), recommends starting with 400 mcg of folate as methylfolate or folinic acid for people with or without MTHFR variation. While most clinical trials substitute folic acid for folate, Lynch calls it a “garbage” synthetic…

Ingredients 1 cup roasted flaxseeds ½ cup ground flaxseed (you can grind the seeds in a coffee grinder) 2 Tbsp Everything But the Bagel seasoning ½ cup warm water Sea salt (optional) Method 1 Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. 2 Combine flaxseeds, flax meal and seasoning. Mix in the warm water. Allow the mixture to stand for 10-15 minutes. 3 Spread the mixture over the lined baking sheet. Place a second sheet of parchment over the mixture and roll out to about 4 mm thickness. Remove the top sheet of parchment. 4 Make perforated lines with a fork for easy breaking after baking. Sprinkle with sea salt if you like. 5 Bake for 15-20 minutes, checking frequently after 15 minutes. Remove when slightly…

Having manned the Homeopathic Helpline for 28 Christmas Days, 28 Boxing Days and 28 New Year’s Days, I’ve noticed several seasonal issues crop up year after year. No matter what you’re dealing with, from tired children too excited to sleep to digestive problems caused by overindulgence, below are some of my top remedies to have on hand at this time of year. Homeopathic remedies can come in many forms, including pills, tablets, powders, granules, tinctures, creams and ointments. They’re also available in a myriad of potencies (strengths). Lower potencies are usually given more frequently than higher ones. The remedy and potency prescribed depend on the patient, symptoms and case history. Your prescriber should always explain how to take any remedy they prescribe. Also see the box on page 49 for…

Plants and bones are the perfect pair. Plant foods are rich sources of the very vitamins, minerals, enzymes and protein-building amino acids that help bones grow strong and stay dense. Despite that, there is evidence that bone density is lower and fracture risk is higher among people who rely mostly or solely on plant foods.1 This perplexes physicians and patients alike and raises the question: Can people who wish to eat more, mostly or solely plant foods have healthy bones? Our answer is yes, it’s entirely possible to maintain bone health on a plant-forward diet. The key is to get to know the food combinations you need to meet your nutritional needs. Here are four nutrients you need to pay special attention to on a vegan or predominantly vegan diet…

For more peace of mind and to be more proactive about early cancer detection, I suggest further screening. One blood test we do on nearly every patient is called the liquid biopsy from Research Genetics Cancer Center, a Swiss lab focusing on personalized cancer treatment. Liquid biopsy detects circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating free DNA in the blood. CTCs and free DNA break off from tumors and travel through the body, looking for new places to “nest.” The liquid biopsy can accurately determine whether certain cancers are present long before a mass is visible on a PET scan or MRI. Early detection allows many cancers to be caught in their early stages, when treatment outcomes are improved and patients typically have a better prognosis. We also use a variety…

What Doctors Don’t Tell You is supported by some of the world’s leading pioneers in nutritional, environmental and alternative medicine. Each is an authority in his or her field; many have broken new ground and inspired new practices in medicine. Dr Damien Downing, a specialist in allergy, environment and nutrition, is current president of the British Society for Ecological Medicine, on the editorial board of Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, Chief Medical Advisor of cancer charity Yes to Life (www.yestolife.org.uk), and author of numerous books including The Vitamin Cure for Allergies. Bruce Lipton, PhD, is an internationally recognized leader in bridging science and spirit. Stem cell biologist, bestselling author of The Biology of Belief and recipient of the 2009 Goi Peace Award, he has been a guest speaker on hundreds of…

Vinegar, with components known to have antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antitumor, anti-obesity, antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory effects, has been used to treat obesity for centuries.1 Bacteria in the gut turn acetic acid in vinegar into acetate, the same short-chain fatty acid they make from fiber, turning on GLP-1 and other incretin hormones that suppress glucagon and appetite.2 An effortless way to get vinegar into your diet is to have pickles before or with meals (just avoid ones with polysorbate 80 and carrageenan, which can mess up your microbiome). In the diagram below, the French biochemist and author Jessie Inchauspé, known as the Glucose Goddess (glucosegoddess.com), has shown how her own blood sugar spike is flattened by drinking a tablespoon of white or apple cider vinegar in water or sparkling water 10 minutes…

Angie came to me in early November one year and declared, “I’m not going to survive the holiday season!” When I asked her to explain, she said she was already exhausted from trying to be in a million places at once. She had to prep for the holidays, and with a huge extended family and two young children of her own, there was a lot to do: shop for gifts, decorate for their annual gathering, bake and prep all the holiday favorites, and take her kids to see Santa at the mall. On top of that, she had a major work project due by January 1 and she had to prepare for winter weather. Then came the last straw—she caught a cold, and it just wouldn’t go away. That’s what…

Oral remedies, such as pills, tablets or granules, are usually allowed to dissolve on or under a clean tongue. This often means waiting a short time before or after eating. Many homeopaths would prefer you not have certain drinks, such as coffee or other caffeinated products, during a course of treatment, but others, like me, are less draconian in our suggestions. Some homeopaths are also concerned about the use of mint, camphor, eucalyptus, menthol or other volatile oils or inhalations during treatment. They fear that those items may counteract the remedies or prevent them from working. Another issue when taking homeopathic remedies is touch. Remedies should always be tipped from the bottle into the lid and from there tipped into the mouth. Avoid putting them into your hand first. This…

Are you ready to play What Am I? According to Google Play, it’s “a word guessing and multi-activity game that can entertain you and your friends for hours without [you] noticing the time.” Missed your wedding? Of course you did; you were playing What Am I? Didn’t make the plane for your family holiday? Just tick the “What Am I?” option on your travel insurance claim form for a full refund. So, let’s play the game with a medical twist. “I am a hormone produced by the pancreas to regulate glucose (blood sugar) levels. What am I?” If you answered “insulin,” join the vast majority who have also gotten it wrong. Don’t fret. All of medicine, including doctors and endocrinologists, also got that one wrong. But as diabetes is the…

Of the 100 diseases and conditions linked to high homocysteine, Smith and Refsum identify five that may be prevented by lowering total homocysteine.1 Neural tube defects Neural tube defects are birth defects of the brain, spine or spinal cord that begin early in pregnancy and have been linked to poor vitamin B9 and/or B12 status.2 When public health agencies in the US and Canada introduced mandatory food fortification with folic acid (synthetic B9) in the late 1990s, the incidence of neural tube defects fell 27 percent in the US between 1995 and 2000, and homocysteine in the women with high levels, above 13 mcmol/L, dropped by 72 percent. Similar findings were reported in Canada, suggesting high homocysteine in mothers due to folate deficits is related to these defects.3 Impaired childhood…

There has never been a more sedentary and overweight population than ours today in the West. When the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last counted, in March 2020, it found 42 percent of US adults met the medical definition of obese, having a body mass index (BMI) score over 30. One in 10 more were classified as “severely obese” (BMI score over 40). This means more than 100 million American adults are obese, 22 million of them morbidly so.1 What about the children? One in five American children and teens—14.7 million—are classified as obese.2 And it’s a problem not confined to America. In England, almost 10 percent of five-year-olds entering school are obese. Before they enter junior high, Year 6, this figure bloats to more than 22 percent—higher…

Curcumin, the yellow component of the spice turmeric, has been known to lower blood sugar spikes when just a teaspoon of the spice is consumed. A 2023 review paper noted that the spice quadruples the amount of GLP-1 secreted.1 Cinnamon at a dose of less than a teaspoon daily has been shown to contribute to weight loss compared to placebo, too.2 In one crossover study, individuals were given either a placebo or a drink with various spices before eating 50 g of carbohydrate for breakfast. Both turmeric and cinnamon suppressed a glucose response without affecting insulin, suggesting to the researchers that they “may be important in lowering cardiometabolis: risk.”3 Adding turmeric to your tea or coffee might promote only a minor GLP-1 secretion compared to an Ozempic surge, but a…

Try aromatherapy Using aromatic essential oils to boost well-being can help ease stress. Lavender aromatherapy has been found to reduce cortisol levels measured in saliva.1 And combined with massage, it has been reported as beneficial for work stress and burnout.2 Go outside Spending time outdoors, especially in green spaces, appears to relieve stress.3 Pairing it with exercise may bring even bigger benefits. Research is showing that “green exercise,” exercise done in nature, may be associated with better mental well-being than exercise done indoors, with immediate positive effects.4 So go for a walk in your local park, field or forest as much as you can or take up gardening to keep stress levels in check. Prioritize self-care Really take the time to think about what you want and need. Say no…

Angela Mitchell Angela found hair testing and mineral balancing after her son, Philip, had a routine examination at one year of age at a clinic that routinely tests blood for the presence of lead. His result came back at 17 mcg/dL although it should have been at zero. After testing their home, Angela discovered her family had been exposed to lead-based paints used on the basement walls. “I searched everywhere for all types of detox programs,” she says, “and I was told by doctors that when you’re exposed to lead, it’s pretty much permanent. That there’s nothing you can do about it.” Unwilling to accept this, she continued searching for answers. In the meantime, Philip started to display symptoms of autism. Eventually he couldn’t speak. “He quit talking,” she remembers.…