Bisphenol A becomes test of leadership for FDA

Here at Union Square Spinal Care, I watch over the watch dogs....sometimes scratching my head in wonder. That's why I have so little hair! Here is a recent story that needs attention. More and more the FDA slips into being a puppet of the drug and food industries.
By Rory Harrington, 14-Dec-2009

Related topics: Regulation

Each day the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) dithers in delivering its verdict on the safety of bisphenol A (BPA), its authority is diminished and its credibility wanes.

The hold-up is eroding its ability to lead by failing to give industry and consumers what they are crying out for – a timely, impartial and science-based guide to what is safe and what is not.

But why is it so significant that the FDA decision, promised for 30 November, has yet to be published? After all, it’s only two weeks late. Does it matter?

Yes, it does. BPA has become a litmus test of the FDA’s leadership.

When Dr Margaret Hamburg swept into the agency in May she looked and sounded every inch the ferocious new broom determined to turn the organisation around. After declaring the FDA had failed in its handling of the nationwide outbreak of salmonella caused by contaminated peanuts, observers were further heartened when she trained her laser sights on bisphenol A, the chemical used in polycarbonate baby bottles and food can linings that has been linked to cancer, diabetes and heart problems.

As rock group The Who would say ‘Meet the new boss’. And unlike the veteran singers’ next line, ‘Same as the old boss’, Hamburg and the organisation she headed suddenly seemed very different.

The straight-talking Commissioner vowed to sort out the thorny question of BPA in weeks not months – garnering almost universal praise that here at last was somebody who not only understood the importance of the issue but was prepared to bang some heads together to solve the problem. It was a bold declaration designed to challenge the perception of a food safety body too readily influenced by the industries it was charged with regulating.

And in a world where perception can be reality, it could also explain why BPA has so far failed to trigger the same level of anxiety in Europe. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) certainly has its critics but few would dispute the organisation is impartial and not afraid to ruffle industry feathers if that is where the evidence leads. While the FDA has wrestled with its lack of credibility, EFSA has been able to calmly assert that it sees no need to review its stance on BPA. It has provided a clear and consistent position that inspires consumer confidence and stability for industry.

The FDA move was also supposed to assuage the genuine fears of US consumers desperate to know they weren’t inadvertently harming themselves or their families. It was to offer much-need clarity to allow industry to formulate longer-term packaging strategies. This enthusiasm was barely dented when the agency announced more than few weeks later its verdict would not be forthcoming until after Thanksgiving.

Chiropractic Care and Oxidative Stress

Chiropractic has received much recognition in treating low back pain. Much chiropractic research has been published showing evidence that treatment of low-back pain using chiropractic adjustments is safer, effective, and less expensive than the traditional allopathic medical treatments. Also, chiropractors receive extensive training during their course of study in the area of muskuloskeletal management. It has come to the forefront that there is new evidence showing that chiropractic goes beyond the treatment of low-back pain.

According to Mercola.com, current research is now pointing to the fact that chiropractic adjustments affect the chemistry of biological processess at the cellular level. What this simply translates to is that chiropractic care could positively effect the the body’s chemistry by reducing the levels of oxidative stress and promote DNA repair.

What is oxidative stress? Is cellular stress that leads to oxidate damage that has been implicated to lead to certain diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. Oxidative stress is also recognized as having an impact on the body’s aging process. Oxidative stress within the body happens naturally due to the body’s own metabolic waste, producing free radicals. However, sources outside the body that include exposure to cigarette smoke and other environmental toxins lead to an added amount of free radical formation in the body that when out of balance can lead to disease and inflammatory reactions

A SECRETARY’S DIARY ON THE JOB

Hi. My name is Mela and I have been working in Dr. Lenny’s office on Thursdays for about two months now. I have really enjoyed my job, I get to meet interesting people, schedule appointments, take phone calls and call insurance companies. Most of the time the insurance companies are up to something shady, or something unbeknownst to me that I have to figure out during the course of a 20 to 30 minute conversation that could have taken five to ten if they didn’t all have their heads you know where.

I have gotten to know most of the regular patients amicably, at least I would like to think so, I don’t know if I have met them all, but I used to come in on Tuesdays so that may be so. All of the patients love Dr. Lenny very much and it makes me smile to see them so satisfied. This Doctor’s office is in no way like some of the other ones that I have been to in my short lifetime where after you pay the bill you never feel good about it.

Today was an adventure getting to the office; the building is doing some heavy duty maintenance in the lobby so I had to take the freight elevator up. It took FOREVER because the freight elevator does not like to close its doors in a timely fashion and then it went down to the basement, and up to the lobby, then down to the basement again, then it stopped at the second floor for no apparent reason. Very frustrating. So the elevator was malfunctioning and I got to work about fifteen minutes late. Dr. Lenny didn’t seem too put off by this, in fact he even offered up the freight elevator as an excuse for my tardiness, which I gladly accepted. I think I squashed any residual resentment Dr. Lenny might have for me for showing up late by gifting him with a nice, big, juicy apple that I picked while apple picking a couple of days ago.

The phone has been steadily ringing today which I take as a good sign. See, right after I wrote that sentence the phone rang, and now the door bells are ringing to indicate that a patient is here for his or her appointment. The patient that came in is named Austin and I just asked his permission to put his name in this post. He’s an actor, he comes in regularly and reads very big books and wears spiffy blazers.

There is a lot of political banter that goes on in this office, but I don’t think that’s strange for any setting where people gather, people get fired up about things. Politics is a good thing to get fired up about. I think so anyway, because I think it makes one’s heart rate go up, therefore it could be considered part of one’s daily exercise.

Speaking of exercise, I started working out with a personal trainer friend of mine recently and I just finished my fifth session. I am very happy to also be a patient of Dr. Lenny because having him adjust me allows me to be more aligned in my workouts. That makes me very happy. It really does make a huge difference. I am able to get a better workout and my body has a faster recovery time, as well as the fact that my hips do not make funny noises anymore. Which is a really good thing, considering during my initial consultation, Dr. Lenny told me that my hip was tipped. So I think that the no more funny noises thing is a sign that my hips are aligning. And that puts a huge smile on my face.

H1N1 Vaccine? Think Again!

Courtesy of Bob Chapman of The International Forecaster
Subject: Vital data about US Navy results of swine flu vaccine on ship
Data gleaned indirectly from anonymous testimony of Navy wives of the affected crew via the internet radio show A Marine Disquisition http://www.clipser.com/watch_video/1362067 :
1. Unnamed US Navy vessel put to sea in April with 347 man crew.
2. Entire crew was vaccinated with H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine shortly after they put to sea.
3. Crew sickened so severely that other ships had to respond to render aid. 16 Medical Dr.s put aboard from an unnamed aircraft carrier and other responding vessels. Total of 50 Navy personnel sent aboard to respond to crisis.
4. Two of the crew of 347 died – including the Captain of the ship (a Lieutenant Commander) and a Chief Petty Officer.
5. 50 personnel sent aboard to help are quarantined in Navy hospital in Balboa, Spain after 10 of them caught the flu from the ship’s crew. Two of the 50 quarantined are in serious condition at last report.
6. Of the 347 man crew that were vaccinated, 333 contracted the H1N1 flu FROM THE VACCINE. Two died, as mentioned above, and 331 survived. Only 14 of the 347 vaccinated sailors did not show any ill effects from the vaccine.
7. Navy has threatened all the spouses of the ship’s crew to remain silent – claiming all this information is classified. Some are whistle-blowing and that is where this information is coming from.
8. On the unnamed aircraft carrier that provided assistance, 415 sailors contracted the swine flu and are currently quarantined onboard.
PLEASE pass this email along. The truth is that the swine flu epidemic will be created BY THE VACCINE. If we don’t take it, there will be no epidemic. >From this one test it’s apparent that the vaccine as tested on that ship’s crew in April is 96% effective at infecting the recipient with swine flu. Such an infection rate is impossible to achieve by any natural means. Though it only killed 1% immediately, there is no telling what the long term effects on those injected with the vaccine will be. See the research on the long term effects of the 1976 swine flu vaccine, and the Gulf War anthrax vaccine programs for more information.
Also note that mere contact with those that have been vaccinated creates a 20% chance of you contracting the swine flu even if you have not been vaccinated.
Please pass this data along to anyone you care about!
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/21/health/main5177494.shtml
http://www.resistnet.com/profiles/blogs/navy-soldiers-are-dying-from

“Owner’s Manual for the Body”

“Owner’s Manual for the Body” Wednesday 10/14/09 7:00 PM
Lifethyme Market is proud to sponsor a talk with two experienced health professionals. Dr. David Miller MD, and Dr. Leonard Rosenblum DC.
The fundamentals for self care will be the focus, with nutritional and physical guidance with respect to preventing illness, and optimal performance in these stressful times.
This will be in the upstairs dining area of the store.

Location: 410 6th Ave. between 8th and 9th Streets
contact store; 212-254-4586, www.lifethymemarket.com
or Dr Rosenblum; 212-254-4586, unionsquarespinalcare.com

410 SIxth Ave., 10011

Strategies for a Healthy Student's Lifestyle – FREE, Wednesday 9/16 7PM

Drs. Miller PhD and Rosenblum DC, have gone through what many of you are embarking upon; a long haul in higher education. Doing it right, can make the difference between "burning out" and standing out.
7 PM this Wednesday evening, upstairs at Life Thyme Market, listen and ask questions about how to best handle the stresses of being a student.

We will be focusing on:
Nutrition; cafeteria food choices, dormitory food preparation issues, the ever present budgetary concerns.
Physical Health; posture issues when having to sit for prolonged periods, fitness when there is little time, the real physical education you never got in high school.

Questions; call 212-254-4586
Location; Life Thyme Market, 410 Sixth Avenue, 10011

The Iodine Test

This week I will follow up on last week's analysis of thyroid activity.
If you had a low thyroid condition, the first, easiest, and most common cause is inadequate iodine availabilty. Though we depend on iodine supplemented table salt, the current usage of chlorides and flourides in our water supply work against us. That's because these are so much more reactive than poor little iodine, that they prevent proper activation of thyroxin (T3).
So now, find a bottle of common iodine, like for cuts and scrapes, and paint a one inch square on your skin. I use the forearm, where it won't rub against clothing or the body. Time how long it takes to disappear ( get absorbed).
If it takes less than 24 hours, you need more iodine. (I will write about your water supply later on.)
I currently recomend a product called Iodoral, this combines the iodine and iodide forms in a moderate dose and a good price. Take two daily, until your repeated skin tests is negative. Then take one daily as a regular practice, because if you were deficient before you will be again.

Thyroid a big player in health

When assessing thyroid health I don't put blind faith in blood tests, as they fail to pick up borderline deficiencies in activity. If at all suspicious, I recommend the "Broda Barnes Test".
Have a thermometer ready by your bed, and first thing before you get out of bed, put the thermometer in your armpit, and lie on that side long enough for the full reading. (Women of childbearing age will need to average a week to account for their hormonal cycle.) Temperatures below 97.6 is a sign of 'hypo' or under active thyroid. This can account for many symptoms; fatigue, low resistance, fungal infections, adrenal 'burnout'.

Next week I will go through some simple over the counter steps you can take.

A Daily Health Regime?

You know you have one, whether you are aware of it or not.How you behave (be it posture, diet, or even your thoughts) has an enormous influence on long term wellness.Mostly we remain unconscious about these things until there is a problem: like a driver suddenly waking as his tires hit the shoulder of the highway (of course the really obliviousdon't wake up until the car is rolling down an embankment!).
Do we need the heart attack, spinal surgery, or nervous breakdown, to realize we have wandered off the path of good health?What are the means that we can use to recognize our if our needs are being met?Over the next few weeks I shall attempt to give you guidelines that will let you make better informed health choices.

Art vs Science in Health Care

Art vs Science in health care

Yesterday I had to "reverse gears' with a patient. She felt fine immediately after her first visit. She came back five days later feeling uncomfortable again, I figured it had been too long between visits. So I did my regular technique based on my previous analysis. She got off the table feeling fine and raving about what a miracle worker I was. Until she came in the next day, Oy Vey, she was worse. I humbly set about reanalyzing her, came up with the same results; so I threw them out. I went to work on the opposite side of the body. and the next visit found her greatly improved.
Science has limits of accuracy, cost considerations, and limited windows of time for usefulness.You can't generally ignore facts, yet you have to recognize their limits and trust your own clinical judgment. It's the person before me that counts for more than some numbers on a test.

Keeping the Small Problems Small

Keeping the small problems small is one of my biggest beliefs. We all have the tendency to take life for granted. Culturally we have believed the Earth was put here to be used by mankind. That philosophy has proved to be shortsighted as our population is expected to grow, but not our resources.

Watching for the small hints as to our spinal health can pay big dividends. Do you find you can’t sit or stand straight without a lot of effort or attention? You can wait until you have a stiff neck or a little “twinge” in the lower back. Not yet? How about when you have knee pains, or “pins and needles” in your fingers?

My point being; the sooner you start the process of conservative chiropractic, the less you will need (or want) an "intrusive intervention". So don’t put off keeping the small stuff in it’s place.

Allergy Testimonial on the Bioallergenix System

"Thank you Dr. Lenny, I can breathe!  No more sneezing fits, no more 
itching throat attacks! I truly can't believe it, it worked almost 
immediately. To start, I am basically allergic to air. Have been for 
19 years. This spring I returned to the city at peak bloom. I was 
chronic,  waking up in the the middle of the night with severe allergy 
attacks. My allergies have always and inevitably led me to severe colds 
and sinus infections as a result.  At the very least, I am usually 
exhausted, cloudy headed, and constantly feel like I am coming down 
with something.  About a week after my first BAX treatment I saw 
incredible results. I am sleeping with my window open-unheard of!  No 
sneezing, and no itching throat. No stuffy nose. The cloudy head is 
gone because I am not being triggered. Just the other day I was 
around  the typical allergy sufferer's chat  about the ridiculous high 
pollen day and how  everyone in town was just dying. Not me! I could 
hardly believe I was not  a part of this conversation. I am so 
grateful for your work with the  BAX-3000 treatment.   Just a month 
ago I would have said this sounds too good to be true.  If I sound 
over the top, it's because I am left in shock from the results.  True 
allergy sufferer's only dream of this kind of relief. I did."

-Alison C.,  NY, NY

Spring time health actions

The flowers are popping up and starting to bloom all around us, I know I am enraptured by their sight. Not all of us are so thrilled, some of my friends and neighbors are dreading this event. For them this is a season of suffering with itchy eyes, stuffed noses, and general irritation. There are many ways to deal with this; isolation (not practical or fun), medications (side effects from drowsiness to tumors!- please read the fine print), herbs and homeopathics (better, still time consuming and a bother),. And now the best solution I have seen, the Bioallergenix 3000.
This is a computer aided technology, that integrates radionics, EAV (electro accupuncture after Voll), and laser stimulation of the spine; all to remove the triggers in the nervous system that start the allergic reaction.
So check my website; http://unionsquarespinalcare.com

The website is finally re-done!

I feel pleased with the latest version of my website. www.unionsquarespinalcare.com
With this done I can start marketing the new BAX 3000 allergy treatment technology.
I figured to advertise on the back of the Village Voice, and maybe another local paper. Whatever I choose, it has to bring in results quickly.
I will have an introductory lecture about the BioAllegenix machine on Tuesday night March 10th, at my office. 873 Broadway, suite 414, near 18th Street. Please call for reservations;
212-254-4586.

Hail the new blog

So I am stepping into some more 21st Century stuff, and that means posting a web log (always hated the name, blog). So whats on tap for this venture; radical opinions, drummer jokes, national top secrets? Well probably my thoughts about healing and health on a cellular, personal, societal, and planetary level. Keep up if you can and raise your hand if there is something you don't understand.
This is associated with my chiropractic and allergy practice under the name Union Square Spinal Care, located at 873 Broadway, Suite 414.