Kung hé fat tsoi

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou

Happy New Year in English, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Hawaiian!

It’s been such a while since I have posted at Nurse Courtney.com, I am really looking forward to getting started with all the great posts I have in store for the 2013 New Year!

In the last year since starting work on the website, my life, my nursing practice and my health have all undergone such major changes, I was left at the holidays exhausted, down in Spirit and disappointed. Why? Because the holidays are so strenuous, so terribly consumer focused and so much of a reminder to me that Christmas is for family…and since my family in general has such an avid dislike of me…they stank!

I mean I love tacos and all, but when the only thing open in town is Sonic and the taco truck, it sorta takes the enjoyment right outta the carne asada.

Aw well…no need to dwell in the past though, especially when so many wonderful things have happened since my last miserable Christmas.

The really great news is, this year, Christmas happened to be my first day back at work in the operating room! Naturally, this was cause for much internal celebration, as I haven’t worked in a hospital operating room, since experiencing sudden left eye blindness from severe Optic Neuritis over a year and a half ago.

First, to acknowledge the holidays are difficult for single people, orphans, the estranged, immigrants without family in the States or any non-Christans living in a strongly religious city, like Omaha, NE. And…to declare with tremendous passion, it is absolutely okay to dislike Christmas!

Oh…and they don’t tell you this in nursing school, but it’s also tough for nurses, who have spent countless years working holidays, only to discover when your kids grow up and there is no work…you might be alone!

The second reason…the reason giving me hope after all the pressure to have a happy holiday, the pressure to start a New Year and new life, complete with a list of resolutions…at the stroke of midnight on January 1st, 2013 is…we still have until Chinese New Year, February 10, 2013 to celebrate the New Year!

Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second New Moon following the winter solstice and lasts until the following Full Moon. Based on a calendar recognizing the natural cycles of the Moon and the Sun in a farm based society, with a bit of Gregorian calendar tossed in for good measure, this means it usually falls somewhere between January 21st and February 20th.

For me, the concept of celebrating cycles aligned with nature and natural laws feels inherently healthier, making more sense for our body and Spirits. For greater understanding about the Chinese New Year and upcoming celebration of the Year of the Black Water Snake, check out this great article published in the San Francisco Examiner.

Specific information about the 15 day celebration and it’s traditions can be found here. While information about the importance and meaning of decorating the home with plants and flowers, having tangerines with leaves, which are abundant in markets now and the giving of red money envelopes will be found here.

Being the highly superstitious soul I happen to be, I always have my Hoppin John at regular New Year’s and make sure to have tangerines with leaves intact at the Chinese New Year. Tangerines with leaves intact assure one’s relationship with another remains secure and is a symbol of abundant happiness.

“The Spring Festival was the product of an agrarian society. The people who were farmers would plant in spring, harvest in autumn, relax a little in summer and rest in winter. The seasons thus became a living cycle and the harvests were dependent on nature.” - (Qi Dongye and Lu Xianwen)

The third and most important reason for writing this article is to let you know that the first 48 hours of any New Moon period is the best time to clarify and write down your goals for the month, year or even next five years in order to achieve actualization, but the two weeks following the New Moon is still prime time to jump on those goals! So if you have already lost motivation for your New Years resolution, the Chinese New Year offers another real opportunity to get our mojos working and really celebrate the New Year!

Hold on Hilda…put on your “kick ass boots”, strap on the courage to change, to commit, to grow, to be vulnerable, to share, to love and to live fiercely without refined sugar, alcohol mind sucking television and all the other sordid temptations of a sick society!

Now is the time to really start planning those realistic weight loss goals, to really think about and set conscious goals for your future…

As for me…I want to write a book about my journey as a long term loser and former fatty, improve my independent holistic nursing practice and build a solid business and be a better friend, neighbor, mother, daughter, woman, nurse and partner!

It is my hope to help empower all of you to improve your life in any small way possible. To provide you with timely, thought provoking and useful information and to remind you…

Everyone needs a nurse. Please let me be yours…

Cheers! And Gung Hay Fat Choi! Happy New Year!

By Edward C. Wallace, N.D., D.C.

Impatience, anxiety, irritability. Maybe you’ve seen the effects of stress in your customers’ behavior, or maybe they’ve come to you looking for suggestions on how to calm their nerves and reduce the impacts of stress on their bodies, minds and souls.

The American Academy of Family Physicians in Kansas City, Mo., estimates that approximately two-thirds of all office visits are for stress-related complaints. Yet stress itself is not an illness; it is simply a fact of life–and always has been. The stressors have changed over the years, but human physiology has remained the same.

Humans once were regularly at risk of being attacked by wild animals or hostile people. Our bodies still respond to threats by secreting hormones that change our physiology and thus enhance our ability to run away or defend ourselves. This response, termed “fight or flight,” includes intense stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal glands resulting in increased respiration rates and higher blood pressure and blood sugar levels as well as increased heart rate and force of contractions. At the same time, there is a decrease in digestive secretions. In cases of acute stress, the situation is often resolved quickly, and normal physiology returns. If stress is prolonged or chronic, however, the body’s calls to action become detrimental.

The body expends a great amount of energy keeping itself in a heightened state of readiness. When weakened by prolonged stress–be it caused by lack of sleep, poor diet, chemical toxins in the environment or mental assaults–the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis can be compromised, and illness can result. Adaptogenic herbs have traditionally helped prevent the imbalances that can result from stress and have therefore prevented or minimized disease.

Attuning With Herbs

An adaptogenic substance is one that demonstrates a nonspecific enhancement of the body’s ability to resist a stressor. The term was first introduced in 1947 by Russian scientist N.V. Lazarev to describe the unique action of a material claimed to increase nonspecific resistance of an organism to an adverse influence. In 1958, I.I. Brekhman, a Russian holistic medical doctor, and his colleague I.V. Dardymov, established the following definition of an adaptogen: It “must be innocuous and cause minimal disorders in the physiological functions of an organism, it must have a nonspecific action, and it usually has a normalizing action irrespective of the direction of the pathological state.” [1]

As it turns out, many herbs have exactly these properties. In keeping with the definition, modern herbalists say adaptogenic herbs are plants with properties that exert a normalizing influence on the body, neither over-stimulating nor inhibiting normal body function, but rather exerting a generalized tonifying effect.

At the core of an adaptogen’s scope of actions is the ability to help the body cope more effectively with stress. Specifically, adaptogens recharge the adrenal glands, which are the body’s nominal mechanism for responding to stress and emotional changes. The adrenals, which cover the upper surface of each kidney, synthesize and store dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. These compounds are responsible for the changes that occur during the fight-or-flight reaction. The question is, if adaptogens normalize the body and enable energy to be used more productively when stressors are not physical threats, can they be used to enhance general health and performance? Several studies indicate they can.

The Great Equalizers

Herbal Coping

Adaptogens can help people handle stress by providing:

• Antioxidant activity
• Liver protection and antitoxin activity
• Improved blood-sugar metabolism
• Less craving for alcohol or sugar
• Improved immune resistance
• Increased energy and stamina
• Improved muscle tone
• Increased strength
• Faster recovery
• Better focus and concentration
• Less anxiety
• Better sleep
• Better motivation and productivity
• A feeling of well-being
• Better moods

The list of plants with adaptogenic properties is long largely because of the term’s broad definition. Topping the list is red ginseng from Asia (called either Chinese, Korean, or Japanese ginseng), considered the “gold standard” of adaptogenic herbs. Other commonly accepted adaptogenic herbs include the white American ginseng, Siberian ginseng, suma, ashwaganda, astragalus, licorice, schisandra and jiaogulan. The mushrooms reishi, shiitake and maitake are also considered to have adaptogenic properties.

* Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) is considered a chi tonic–more specifically a tonic for the yang chi–in traditional Chinese medicine. This ginseng is usually given to people who display yang deficiency–weakness in muscles, voice and constitution, for example–and is generally best avoided by those who are well muscled and large with a tendency to bursts of anger. Numerous studies support Asian ginseng’s effectiveness at improving a person’s ability to withstand stress, improve work performance and quality, and enhance mental function. [2] It has also been shown to increase the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which stimulates an increase in adrenal hormone secretion. It also can counteract the shrinkage of the adrenal gland caused by corticosteroid drugs. [3]

In a recent in vitro study, researchers from the department of pathology at Okayama University Medical School in Japan found that Asian ginseng extract inhibited hydroxyl radical formation. The authors believe this antioxidant effect may be responsible for ginseng’s wide range of pharmacological applications. [4] In a double-blind controlled study, 36 noninsulin-dependent diabetic patients were treated with Asian ginseng for eight weeks. Patients were given either 100 mg or 200 mg of Asian ginseng or placebo. The ginseng elevated participants’ moods, improved physical activity and performance, improved glycosylated hemoglobin, and reduced fasting blood sugars and body weight. [5]

A classic adaptogen, Asian ginseng has been shown to increase RNA and protein content in the muscle and liver tissue of laboratory animals. [6] That same process may be the biochemical mechanism that makes ginseng such a highly regarded tonic. Asian ginseng is said to tonify the chi and the lungs while strengthening the spleen and stomach and calming the spirit. Studies show this ginseng to be antidepressant, antidiabetic and antihypertensive. [7, 8]

Evaluating the effect of Asian ginseng in various forms–cooked, dried and fresh root–in 1,987 cancer cases, researchers found that the risk of developing certain cancers in a population that used ginseng for at least one year was less than the risk for the general population. The risk continued to decrease with use up to 20 years. In the study, ginseng was found to protect against cancers of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, colorectum, liver, lung, pancreas and ovaries. Thus, the authors conclude that ginseng has a protective effect in most cases of cancer. [9]

* American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), although in the same genus as Asian ginseng, is considered a yin tonic rather than a yang tonic. As such, American ginseng is indicated for a hotter, more aggressive constitution. It contains many of the same ginsenosides as the Asian ginsengs and has similar effects on the body.

* Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), as can be seen by its Latin name, is not actually a ginseng, but it has been called one because of its similar properties. It is found in Russia, Asia, northern China, Japan and Korea and, in fact, Russian researchers consider it to be even more effective than Asian ginseng.

Stress-Induced Health Problems

Stress can influence reproductive function, the immune system and the brain. The following conditions are commonly linked to stress:

• Angina
• Asthma
• Auto-immune diseases
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease syndrome
• Common cold
• Depression
• Diabetes (adult onset, type II)
• Headaches
• Hypertension
• Immune suppression
• Irritable bowel disease
• Menstrual irregularities
• Premenstrual tension
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Ulcers

Source: Selye, H. Stress in Health and Disease (Butterworths, 1976).

Like Asian and American ginseng, Siberian ginseng has been shown to normalize reactions to physical and mental stress with great effectiveness when used for several months. In evaluating the adaptogenic properties of Siberian ginseng, a large study reviewed the results of a number of clinical trials involving 2,100 healthy men and women ages 19 to 72. Subjects were given doses of ginseng ranging from 2 to 16 ml of fluid extract, 33 percent ethanol, from one to three times daily for up to 60 days. Subjects had increased mental alertness and work output, enhanced athletic performance and improved work quality. They also exhibited an improved ability to withstand adverse conditions such as heat, noise, increases in workload and physical exertion. [10]

* Suma (Pfaffia paniculata) is a relatively new addition to Western herbal medicine. Influenced by the popularity of ginseng, people often refer to suma as Brazilian ginseng. Preliminary chemical analysis indicates suma contains vitamins A, E, B1 and B2; 19 amino acids including lysine, histidine, arginine and glycine; and small amounts of calcium, iron, potassium and sodium.

Japanese researcher T. Takemoto of Tokushima Bunri University reports that suma can be beneficial in treating cases of bronchitis, high cholesterol, anemia, diabetes, fatigue and stress. [11] Marcus Laux, N.D., says suma can increase resistance to stress and also possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties that may help alleviate pain. [12] Suma has been shown to accelerate wound healing, reduce tumor growth, and regulate blood sugar levels, blood pressure, cholesterol and hormones, according to Laux.

* Ashwaganda (Withania somnifera) is often called Indian ginseng, seemingly to group it with the ginsengs because of its similar actions. Though unrelated to other ginsengs, it appears to share their many properties and actions. Considered a tonic, an alterative, an astringent, a nervine and a sedative, [13] ashwaganda has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for more than 2,500 years. Recent studies show ashwaganda to be immuno-modulating and to aid in cases of anxiety and other psychological complaints. [14-16]

* Astragalus (Astragalus spp) is one of the more famous tonic herbs from China. In traditional Chinese medicine it is said to tonify the blood and spleen and aid the defensive chi. Thus, astragalus is often added to formulations used to treat weak patients. Similarly, it is used in combination with other herbs to enhance recovery following an illness or prolonged stress and to boost vitality. Astragalus is said to protect and enhance the functioning of distressed organs. [17] Numerous studies show the herb enhances immune function by increasing natural killer cell activity, [18] increasing T cell activity, [19] and enhancing macrophage activity [20] in immune-compromised patients.

* Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra and G. uralensis), another popular herb in China, is said to tonify the spleen and strengthen chi. Licorice is perhaps the only herb claimed to benefit all 12 meridians in Chinese medicine. Rich in both saponins and flavonoids, it is anti-inflammatory because the saponins have a structure similar to that of corticosteroids. Licorice root also promotes or enhances immune system functioning and has a stimulating effect on the adrenal cortex. [21,22] Additionally, licorice can inhibit the breakdown of adrenal hormone by the liver, thereby increasing corticosteroid levels in circulation while inhibiting cortisol’s ability to promote thymus atrophy. [23]

Melvyn Werbach, M.D., and Michael Murray, N.D., in their book Botanical Influences on Illness (Third Line Press, 1994), say components of licorice exhibit numerous pharmacological actions, including estrogenic activity [24] and aldosteronelike action. [25] Werbach and Murray also say licorice is an anti-inflammatory [26] with cortisollike action [27] as well as an antiallergic, [28] an antihepatotoxic [29] and an antineoplastic. [30] Lastly, it has the ability to heal peptic ulcers. [31] Several studies show glycyrrhizin, a constituent of licorice root and the major component of the previously mentioned saponins, has immune-enhancing properties and is potentially beneficial for HIV patients. [32-34]

One note of caution: Because of its aldosteronelike effect, licorice root may cause sodium retention and thus contribute to high blood pressure in some people.

* Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis, also called wuweizi by the Chinese) is commonly used as a general tonic and to promote liver health. In addition, it can be used as an adaptogenic tonic to counter the effects of stress and fatigue. Scientific studies show it has normalizing effects in cases of insomnia and neurasthenia, and improves mental coordination and physical endurance. [35] Research suggests schisandra may actually influence electrical discharges in the brain. [36]

* Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum), a member of the gourd family that grows in southern China, Korea, Japan and India, is also relatively new to the list of adaptogens. According to recent studies, jiaogulan contains nearly four times as many saponins as Panax ginseng does. [37] These saponins, known as gypenosides, are similar to the ginsenosides and panaxosides found in Asian ginseng. Preliminary studies also suggest jiaogulan may have even more powerful regulatory effects on a number of body systems than does Asian ginseng. In addition, jiaogulan has demonstrated antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity and a beneficial effect on blood pressure regulation; it also has been shown to bolster the immune system, improve fat metabolism, moderate cholesterol levels, and enhance strength and physical endurance. [38]

* Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum), shiitake (Lentinus edodes) and maitake (Grifola frondosa) mushrooms may not be adaptogens in the classic sense, but each has adaptogenic, antitumor and immune-potentiating properties. [39] Reishi and shiitake traditionally have been used as tonics, while reishi has been called the elixir of immortality.

These traditional herbs, many established by hundreds or thousands of years of use, are now beginning to prove themselves under modern medical scrutiny. Studies show their many and far-reaching health benefits. Despite these herbs’ normalizing qualities, it is best to urge customers to consult a medical professional before using adaptogenic products.

Even though modern stresses differ from those of the past, the body’s reactions remain the same. Adaptogens may hold the key to living well in the next century. NSN

Edward C. Wallace, N.D., D.C., practices in West Branch, Iowa. He is also a freelance health and nutrition writer and lectures on both herbal medicine and homeopathy.

REFERENCES

1. Brekhman, I.I. & Dardymov, I.V. “New substances of plant origin which increase nonspecific resistance,” Annu Rev Pharmacol, 9: 419-30, 1969.

2. Murray, M. & Pizzorno, J. Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: 499. Rocklin, Calif.: Prima Publishing, 1990.

3. Shibata, S., et al. “Chemistry and pharmacology of panax,” Econ Med Plant Res, 1: 217-84, 1985.

4. Zhang, D., et al. “Ginseng extract scavenges hydroxyl radical and protects unsaturated fatty acids from decomposition caused by iron mediated lipid peroxidation,” Free Radical Biol in Med, 20(1): 145-50, 1996.

5. Sotaniemi, E., et al. “Ginseng therapy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients,” Diabetes Care, 18(10): 1373-75, October 1995.

6. Wichtl, M. Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals: A Handbook for Practice on a Scientific Basis: 237. Bisset, N. Ed. Stuttgart, Germany: Medpharm Scientific Publishers, 1995.

7. Farnsworth, N.R. Tile and Till, 59: 30-32, 1973.

8. Bensky, D., et al. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica: 451. Seattle, Wash.: Eastland Press, 1986.

9. Yun, T.K. & Choi, S.Y. “Preventative effect of ginseng intake against various human cancers: A case-control study on 1,987 pairs,” Cancer Epid, Biomarkers and Prev, 24(3): 221-29, June 1995.

10. Farnsworth, N.R., et al. “Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosis): Current status as an adaptogen,” Econ Med Plant Res, 1: 156-215, 1985.

11. Takemoto, T., et al. “Pfaffic acid,” Tetrahedron Letters, 24: 100, 1983.

12. Laux, M. Cures From the Rain Forest. Potomac, Md.: Phillips Publishing, 1995.

13. Kapoor, L.D. Handbook of Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants: 337. Boca Raton, Fla.: CRC Press, 1990.

14. Upadhaya, L., et al. “Role of an indigenous drug Geriforte on blood levels of biogenic amines and its significance in the treatment of anxiety neurosis,” Acta Nerv Super, 32(1): 1-5, 1990.

15. Ghosal, S., et al. “Immunomodulatory and CNS effects of sitoindosides IX and X, two new glycowithanolides from Withania somnifera,” Phytother Res, 3(5): 201-6, 1989.

16. Bhattacharya, S.K., et al. “Anti-stress activity of sitoindosides VII and VIII, new acylsterylglycosides from Withania somnifera,” Phytother Res, 1(1): 32-37, 1987.

17. Dharmananda, S. “Astragalus,” Bestways, 30-32, 66-67, March 1988.

18. Yang, Y.Z., et al. “Effect of Astragalus membranaceus on natural killer cell activity and induction with Coxsackie B viral myocarditis,” Chin Med J, 103(4): 304-7, 1990.

19. Zhos, K.S., et al. “Enhancement of the immune response in mice by Astragalus membranaceus extracts,” Immunopharmacol, 20(3): 225-33, 1990.

20. Lau, B.H.S. “Macrophage chemiluminescence modulated by Chinese herbs Astragalus membranaceus and Lingustrum lucidum,” Phytotherapy Res, 3(4): 148-53, 1989.

21. Protocol Journal of Botanical Medicine, 1(4): 194. Ayer, Mass.: Herbal Research Publications, 1996.

22. Murray, M. & Pizzorno, J., op. cit., pp. 60, 61, 67.

23. Ibid., p. 498.

24. Kumagai, A., Nichino, K., et al. “Effect of glycyrrhizin on estrogen action,” Endocrinol Japon, 14: 34-8, 1967.

25. Farese, R.V., Jr., Biglieri, E.D., et al. “Licorice-induced hypermineralocorticoidism,” N Engl J Med, 325(17): 1223-7, 1991.

26. Cyong, J. “A pharmacological study of the anti-inflammatory activity of Chinese herbs. A review,” Acupunct Electro-Ther, 7: 173-202, 1982.

27. Armanini, D., Kargbowiak, I., et al. “Affinity of liquorice derivatives for mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors,” Clin Endocrinol, 19: 609-12, 1983.

28. Kuroyanagi, T. & Sato, M. “Effect of prednisone and glycyrrhizin on passive transfer of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis,” Allergy, 15: 67-75, 1966.

29. Kiso, Y., Tohkin, M., et al. “Mechanism of antihepatotoxic activity of glycyrrhizin, I: Effect on free radical generation and lipid peroxidation,” Planta Medica, 50: 298-302, 1984.

30. Tyler, V., Brady, L., et al. Pharmacognosy, 8th Ed.: 68-70. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lea & Febiger, 1981.

31. Doll, R., Hill, I., et al. “Clinical trial of a triterpenoid liquorice compound in gastric and duodenal ulcer,” Lancet, ii: 793-96, 1962.

32. Ikegami, N., et al. “Prophylactic effect of long-term oral administration of glycyrrhizin on AIDS development of asymptomatic patients,” Int Conf AIDS, 9(1): 234, 1993.

33. Ikegami, N., et al. “Clinical evaluation of glycyrrhizin on HIV-infected, asymptomatic hemophiliac patients in Japan,” AIDS Treatment News, 103: 298, May 18, 1990.

34. Mori, K., et al. “The present status in prophylaxis and treatment of HIV-infected patients with hemophilia in Japan,” Rinsho Byhori 37(11): 1200-8, 1989.

35. Chang, M. & But, P. Pharmacology and Applications of Chinese Materia Medica: 199-200. Hong Kong: World Scientific, 1986.

36. Ibid.

37. Liao, D.F., et al. “Effects of gypenosides on mouse plenic lymphocyte transformation and DNA polymerase II activity in vitro,” Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, 16(4): 322-24, July 1995.

38. Lin, L., et al. “Protective effect of gypenosides against oxidative stress in phagocytes, vascular endothelial cells and liver microsomes,” Cancer Biotherapy, 8(3): 263-72, 1993.

39. Nanba, H. “Antitumor activity of orally administered D-fraction from maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa),” J Naturopathic Med, 4(1): 10-15, 1993

With every thought, sensation and feeling we have, our nervous system
undergoes subtle shifts in physiology, generating messengers that nourish
or malnourish our body.

An agitated mind, with prolonged stress and anxiety generates decay,
entropy and dis-ease, thus accelerating aging.

A deeply rested mind fosters feelings of peace, creativity, renewal,
thus reversing this biological aging.

Since the mind and body are one, when the mind is deeply rested
the body is also deeply rested.

Experiencing deep rest in the mind and the body is a first step
in nourishing our inner peace, a peace that has been already given,
thus living longer, and feeling younger.

Access peace, allow peace, make peace your goal -
where the possibilities are infinite.

Gary Kobat

www.GaryKobat.com 

1. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Slideshow
2. Take the Salt Quiz!
3. Lowering Blood Pressure Exercise Tips Pictures

By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Sept. 4 (HealthDay News) — One-third of Americans have high blood pressure and only half of them have it under control, dramatically increasing their risk for possibly fatal heart attacks and strokes, a new government report shows.

That translates into 67 million Americans with high blood pressure and only 36 million people keeping it at healthy levels through medication or other means, the new data suggests.

“[About half] of Americans with high blood pressure don’t have it under control and because of that, it’s public enemy number two,” Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said during a Tuesday news conference.

Public health enemy number one is tobacco, he added.

The information comes from the Sept. 4 issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a CDC publication. The report also states that direct health care costs from high blood pressure total almost $131 billion annually, and the condition contributes to about 1,000 deaths per day.

Although 22 million Americans know they have high blood pressure, they aren’t managing it. For 16 million Americans, medication isn’t doing the trick, either because they’re not getting the right drug combination, they’re having trouble paying for a prescription or because another problem is standing in their way, Frieden said.

This is the case despite the fact that most people with high blood pressure have also seen a doctor twice in the past year.

High blood pressure is defined as having systolic blood pressure (top number) greater than or equal to 140 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) greater than or equal to 90 mmHg.

Medication for high blood pressure does work for nearly all patients when taken as prescribed, Frieden added.

Surprisingly, 14 million Americans who have high blood pressure are unaware of it even though multiple readings in a doctor’s office have often already revealed the problem, the report said.

While patients can help their own case by taking medications as prescribed, cutting down on sodium and otherwise eating a healthy diet and exercising, doctors and health care providers, insurers and pharmacists also have a role to play in helping patients get their high blood pressure under control.

Use of electronic health records can help track blood pressure, while 90-day refills and no or low copays can help patients pay for needed medicines.

“This has to be a priority in every doctor’s visit,” Frieden said.

Prevention of high blood pressure is also a worthy goal, but given that two-thirds of Americans over the age of 65 have high blood pressure, Frieden said, “Realistically, for the foreseeable future, one of the most important things we’ll be able to do is improve treatment.”

Some health care systems have been able to get their rate of blood pressure control up 80 percent to 85 percent, which has resulted in a dramatic decrease in heart attacks and stroke, Frieden said.

“Treatment can make a really big difference in the short- and medium-term,” he added.

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

SOURCES: Sept. 4, 2012 news conference with: Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., director, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; Sept. 4, 2012, CDC report Vital Signs: Awareness and Treatment of Uncontrolled Hypertension Among Adults — United States, 2003-2010

Joining at a time when the Military was politically unpopular, I rarely spoke of my experience in the Army Reserve and hardly paid attention to the life habits I learned in training.

But, since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and particularly after 9/11, I have been forced to be much more vocal about my beliefs and opposition to these actions. Unfortunately this defiance is often viewed as unpatriotic and nonsupportive of our troops. To this response I say, “I served for the right to my opinion because I believe so strongly in the freedom to choose – did you?” While this may offer a snappy retort, it does little to reflect the knowledge I gained from being a member of the US Armed Forces. So…here are what I consider to be the most important lessons I learned from my experience…

1. Scan Your Sector - In boot camp, when you get on the firing range, there are very specific orders one must follow. These rules reinforce training meant to keep you and your fellow soldiers alive under all circumstances. Scanning your sector involves keeping a roving eye out for anything unusual in the environment, enemy operatives or threats to the environment. This lesson has kept me safe on the streets for years, safe at work by being vigilant of a rapidly changing environment and helps keep me safe by quickly assessing the situations changing around me.
2. Do Your Pushups - Boot Camp at 18 was easier than it would be at 30, 40 or 50, but since I could do and have always done push-ups, I have been able to maintain a level of strength unusual for a woman of my current age. A full body, weight bearing and nonimpact exercise, push ups can be done anywhere at anytime, adapted for injury, infirmity or disability…and easily measures increases or decreases in strength. Per my Pilates trainers and physical therapist, do them slow, don’t drop past your elbows and maintain the core.
3. Stay at the Front of the Formation - Three to six mile runs every morning with 100 people, give or take, taught me a lot about myself and what it means to lead. Those at the front of the formation set the pace for everyone to keep and were encouraged not to drop out by the sheer numbers of folks behind pushing us further on our path. Even before the Army I strove to be the best athlete, reader, spelling champ or student I could be cause I always wanted my gold star at the top!
4. Your Team is Only as Strong as the Weakest Member – While setting the pace at the front, there may be team members at the back falling behind. If you get to where you are going without all of your team, you may have set your own record, but you will have lost overall at being a true leader. Remember, bring others along and never, never leave your friends behind. Lives may depend on it.
5. Know Where You Rank - One of the things I enjoyed most about the Army was knowing exactly where I stood. I was a Private, with no power, no authority and at the complete mercy of my superiors. Orders were meant to be followed, unless so outlandish one was willing to risk mutiny. This made life infinitely easier cause there was no confusion about the rank. If one could meet the standards for promotion it happened, and there were few hidden agendas to navigate unlike a civilian work environment. Today I use this as a metaphor for consistently reassessing my skills, knowing market trends and finding out what the key players in the field are doing.

Talking with other Veterans about this article, gave me such amazing perspective about the broad and lasting effect of the Military experience, I was actually sentimental.

We know about the PTSD, the amputations, the head injuries, etc. We know how the Military disproportionately fills the rank and file of infantry and high risk, low tech jobs with the marginalized, poor and disenfranchised. We know, or should know about the difficulties facing the future of the many families who have suffered loss and tragedy, yet move forward without adequate treatment, rehabilitation or financial support. And we know our own lawmakers are more concerned with partisan politics than real support. See this post for more details…

But…after the dust settles…I will always contend, it was one of the most important experiences of my life. And…42 years later, I am still drawing on the life lessons and skills, learned from boot camp and beyond.

The best salad greens are grown in the cool Fall weather and many of these greens might even last through a light frost with protection. The bitter greens like Kale and Swiss Chard are even sweeter when they’ve had a touch of frost!

Expect to be eating most of these greens about 45 days out of planting…

Great for the liver and considered one of Natures’s Superfoods, many of the greens on this list is a rich source of calcium, Vitamins C, K, A, Riboflavin, B6 and Calcium, Iron, Potassium and Magnesium. Remember, any green with color, red, purples, etc, will have extra benefits including greater levels of Vitamin A.

My favorite source for seeds is Nichols Family Garden Nursery in Oregon and right now they are clearing out many of the best greens to plant for fall crops. If you order this week, the seeds will be at your door before it’s too late to plant…which I happen to think is never! Here’s the list with a few added links to get you started.

Happy Fall Planting!

1. Kale – Jacinto or Tuscan, Dragon’s Tongue or  Nero de Toscano, Red Russia
2. Yukina Tat Soi
3. Purple Orach Spinach
4. Lettuce – Butter, Red Romaine,
5. Mizuna – Spicy Mustard
6. Dill – Will stay small due to short season
7. Cilantro – Sow in sucession for continued bloom

April 12th, 2011 by Dr. Val Jones

When I was in medical school at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dr. Mehmet Oz had the reputation of being a competent and caring cardiothoracic surgeon whose research interest was reducing preoperative stress. I remember hearing about a music study of his in which soothing melodies reduced blood pressure and heart rates in patients preparing for heart surgery. I felt pleased that a surgeon was leading the charge in improving patients’ O.R. experiences, and had no inkling that 15 years later Dr. Oz would be America’s chief snake oil salesman.

I have been slow to criticize Dr. Oz on my blog because of a sense of loyalty to my medical school, however yesterday he crossed the line when things got personal – a friend of mine was negatively impacted by his misinformation to the point where her life was endangered. From watching his TV show, she was led to believe that she would put herself at risk for thyroid cancer if she got a mammogram. Several of her relatives have had breast cancer, and she should be particularly vigilant in her screening efforts. However, because Dr. Oz said that mammograms may themselves cause cancer, she opted out of appropriate screening.

My colleague Dr. David Gorski at Science Based Medicine has done an excellent job of documenting Dr. Oz’s almost Charlie Sheen-like career descent. Although he began his work as (presumably) a science-respecting surgeon, he now spends a lot of his time hosting a TV show that features faith healers, anti-vaccinationists, and psychics.

But how does the average lay person know how to evaluate Dr. Oz’s health claims? When Oprah’s network promotes him as “America’s physician” the platform itself offers him credibility, and a reach that can damage and misinform millions like my friend. I have a feeling that many of my peers at Columbia are concerned about Dr. Oz’s promotion of quackery, but once they’ve invested in his brand for so long, it’s easier to turn a blind eye to his nuttiness than to oust him from his academic positions. At what point is a celebrity doctor doing more harm than good to an institution’s reputation? Is he now “too big to fail?”

But back to my main point – dear readers if you watch Dr. Oz and think that he’s a credible source of health information, please be aware that much of what he says is inaccurate, exaggerated, and based on mystical belief systems. Please don’t act on his advice without checking with your own physician first.

Sadly, good science doesn’t always make good television. But the truth can make you well. Be warned that you are unlikely to find the truth consistently on the Dr. Oz show.

President Obama was greeted at a California fundraiser by more than 300 medical cannabis patients and advocates protesting federal attacks on local dispensaries.

The peaceful rally across the street from a fundraiser for the President’s re-election campaign was in response to recent federal actions that targeted two of Oakland’s most prominent, permitted medical cannabis facilities.

As the President’s motorcade took him through Oakland, the more than 300 medical cannabis patients and advocates marched peacefully through downtown to City Hall. Many local businesses flew green flags to show support.

The night before the President’s arrival, advocates projected on the outside of the campaign’s Oakland headquarters his promise from his last campaign not to use federal resources to interfere with state medical cannabis programs.

ASA and other advocates held a press conference two blocks from the President’s fundraiser at Oaksterdam University, an educational facility for training medical cannabis professionals that was the site of an April DEA raid that shut down its licensed dispensary, Blue Sky.

“We’re here to let the President know that shutting down law-abiding dispensaries carries costs for not just our community but his campaign,” said Steph Sherer, ASA’s Executive Director. “Patients are losing access, workers are losing jobs, the city is losing tax revenue, and he is losing supporters.”

The most recent federal action in the Bay Area is a move to shut the two locations of its largest and most well-known dispensary, Harborside Health Center. Harborside employs over 100 people and is Oakland’s second largest retail tax payer. Harborside has a city permit to operate and has been serving the community since 2006 without incident.

“An attack on the access to patients is an attack on the patients themselves,” Don Duncan, California Director of Americans for Safe Access, one of the groups that organized the rally, told the crowd. Other speakers included patient Yvonne Westbrook-White, who received medicine from Oaksterdam’s student garden that she used to treat her multiple sclerosis, and Jason David, whose young son suffers from a severe form of epilepsy called Dravet syndrome that is effectively managed with cannabis tinctures David obtains from Harborside.

The attempt to close Harborside elicited outrage from both patients and public officials at a July 12 press conference at Oakland City Hall, including Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker, State Assembly member Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), and Betty Yee of the State Board of Equalization, which collects more than $100 million in annual sales tax revenue from California’s dispensaries.

Harborside Health Center was served with a federal civil complaint for “forfeiture of property” earlier that week at their locations in Oakland and San Jose. The dispensary has a city permit to operate and has been serving the community since 2006 without incident. The forfeiture action is against the “third-party” property owner, Real Property and Improvements.

Harborside employs over 100 people and is Oakland’s second largest retail tax payer. Last year, the dispensary paid combined taxes in excess of $3 million, over a million dollars of which went directly to the City of Oakland.

Since the four U.S. Attorneys in California announced last October that they would be targeting medical cannabis distribution centers, more than 400 dispensaries in the state have shut down, mostly under threat of federal criminal prosecution or asset forfeiture. Federal prosecutors have sent at least 300 letters to property owners in California, threatening federal action if they don’t evict their dispensary tenants.

In May, the Alameda County Democratic Party Central Committee unanimously adopted a resolution decrying the federal raids as “a breach of promise and ill-directed use of taxpayer dollars” and calling on the federal government “to adhere to Administration promises about respecting state laws on medical marijuana by directing federal agencies to cease and desist from any further such action in California.”

More Information:
Asset forfeiture civil complaint for Oakland property
Asset forfeiture civil complaint for San Jose property
Video of the images projected onto Obama’s Oakland Campaign HQ

By providing free nursing services on the streets in my city. Everywhere young men congregate is where I can be found. Music venues, street fairs, Hootnannys and Flea markets to name a few and let me tell you…this has been an amazing experience!

The response has been fantastic!

Young men are happy someone cares enough to stop them on the street, take their blood pressures and chat them up.

If their blood pressure is high, we talk about individual risk factors and lifestyle changes to help improve their numbers.

When I discover someone with really high blood pressure, I try to find low cost health services for followup because 95% of the people I help, don’t have health insurance.

Unfortunately…I have also discovered blood pressures in this group are consistently high!

In my opinion, there is a web of causation with multiple underlying factors including:

• Binge drinking 
• High rates of smoking and tobacco use
• Fast food diets
• Heavy soft drink (fructose) consumption – especially with Alcohol
• Stress
• Poor mental health services
• Lack of National health guidelines and initiatives targeting young males 18-26
• Lack of financial resources

Because men don’t generally seek care unless they are hurt, coupled with a lack of health insurance means this population is at very high risk for chronic diseases like Hypertension, Stroke, Diabetes and Heart Failure. Additionally, fellas in 18-24 age group have the highest rate of mortality from unintentional injuries! I call it the “Jackass Factor”…this presents a critical need to address the risk factors in this group which takes into account their uniqueness. While we debate Affordable Care, Tea party politics and Wall St., what I have found to be consistent across the country from community to community, is an entire population of people in this country have been neglected!

There is a huge need for health and wellness education, blood pressure screenings and referral to low cost health services, more than any other population right now! Until the Affordable Care Act kicks in for people making less than $15,000 per year in 2014, there is an estimated 9 million young adults who can’t afford healthcare now.

As a public health and community nurse, I am doing everything I can to direct attention to the absence of care for this population…but I need your help…I cannot do it alone!

So…I am asking for each and everyone of you…who feels connected to what I am doing, to show your support!

I need new likes on Facebook, followers on Twitter, referrals, word of mouth support and of course cash!

NurseCourtney.com is a work in progress and its’ infancy. While it is important to getting my brand out and reaching a broader audience, it also takes  valuable time away  from the work on the street that needs to be done.

Please help in anyway possible, as I recreate an old paradigm of care, which changed the course of public health in this nation. Read more about my nursing role model Lilian Wald and the Henry Street Settlement and remember….it takes a village to raise a child. Help me take care of the village and the children who inhabit it…

Thanks for your support, in whatever form you give it!

Best regards,

Nurse Courtney

Everyone needs a nurse…

Testing guidelines published
The CDC published its full rationale for testing Baby Boomers for hepatitis C in the August 17, 2012 issue of MMWR.

More than three million Americans are infected with the virus that causes hepatitis C. About three-quarters of them are Baby Boomers, many of whom got it through a blood transfusion. The virus was identified in the 1990s and testing of donated blood for it, which began in 1992, virtually eliminated this route of infection. Today, the most common source of the infection is sharing of infected needles for injecting drugs.

The one-time test proposed by the CDC could identify more than 800,000 people who have hepatitis C but don’t know it. Beginning treatment to fight the infection could prevent damage to the liver that leads to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other chronic liver diseases.

“With increasingly effective treatments now available, we can prevent tens of thousands of deaths from hepatitis C,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, who directs the CDC, in a prepared statement.

The CDC announced the proposed recommendation for testing today. It is seekingcomments on the proposal through June 8, 2012.

ABCs of hepatitis

The hepatitis C virus can cause a short-term or long-term (chronic) infection. At the time they become infected, some people develop symptoms that last for up to 3 months. These include:

• a general “sick” feeling
• yellowish discoloration of the skin
• weakness
• poor appetite
• fatigue
• nausea
• pain in the upper right part of the abdomen

Most people, though, are completely unaware they’ve been infected with the virus. Even without symptoms, chronic hepatitis C can cause the liver to become inflamed as the body fights the infection (see illustration below). Inflamed liver tissue can become scarred, with scar tissue replacing healthy tissue. This is called fibrosis. The liver is a resilient organ and can heal if the illness is caught and treated successfully. But when scarring continues and becomes serious, it leads to cirrhosis—and a barely functioning liver. At that point, a person has symptoms—but it can be too late to reverse the liver damage.

The liver has many functions, including making blood clotting factors; storing and processing fats from food; making bile for digestion; and breaking down or neutralizing toxins and other harmful substances in the blood. When it can’t function properly, a lot can go wrong.

Treatment

Testing for hepatitis C makes sense because there are treatments that can slow the infection and limit the damage it causes. The most effective initial treatment for chronic hepatitis C is a combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin (sold as Copegus and Rebetol). Not everyone responds to the treatment.

The FDA recently approved two new antiviral drugs, boceprevir (sold as Victrelis) and telaprevir (sold as Incivek). Both are protease inhibitors. Boceprevir is added to the interferon/ribavirin combination in some people with hepatitis C. Telaprevir boosts clearance of the virus in people who didn’t have a good response to their first round of treatment with interferon and ribavirin.

Hepatitis C affects the liver, where it can cause scarring that leads to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.