Newsletter v4n3

"Every problem is simple when it is explained." (Sherlock Holmes)

The DOCTOR YOURSELF NEWSLETTER (Vol. 4, No. 3 January 5, 2004) "Free of charge, free of advertising, and free of the A.M.A."

Written and copyright 2004 by Andrew Saul, PhD, of http://www.doctoryourself.com , which welcomes nearly a million visitors annually. Commercial use of the website or the contents of this Newsletter is strictly prohibited.

MEGA-VITAMINS FOR MINI-PATIENTS

After my last Newsletter (http://www.doctoryourself.com/news/v4n2.txt) about the sick, under 20-pound baby that needed 20,000 milligrams of vitamin C to get well, many readers have asked, "Exactly how do you get that much vitamin C into a baby?"

As an alumnus of the Mary Poppins School of Medicine, let me say that the answer is sugar.

Yes, sugar, that universal bane of health writers. Sweet, sweet sugar is the way to get little kids to take tons of sour, sour ascorbic acid. Of course, you can simply use children's chewable vitamin C. Many kinds are really delicious, but they are pricey. Pure ascorbic acid dissolved in sugar water is the cheapest "solution" to the flu problem that there is.

Now I am not suggesting that you gorge your offspring on sugar. I'm simply a realist. This is cheap, and it works. And it works with sick kids at three AM. If you put vitamin C powder in really sweet natural fruit juice, that often does the trick, too. Remember to put ALL the C in just SOME of the juice. A child is more apt to down a small amount because it looks easy. My older brother tried to teach me how to ride a bicycle by putting me on his. It did not work because I was afraid of being up too high. At a playground one day, I borrowed a little kid's tiny two-wheeler, and taught myself to ride it in 5 minutes. Later, I could ride my brother's big bike just fine. So put all the C in a small volume of sweetened liquid, and after it's gone down the hatch, immediately have on hand a "chaser" of sweet, sweet juice. Your children will correctly see this as the bribe it is. Reward their tastebuds for bravely taking their C powder, and by golly they will keep doing it. For especially tricky kids, offering a tasty dessert food (such as a bite of cake) for a chaser makes it a lot less likely to come back up at you. Just a spoonful of pastry helps the vitamins go down. . . and stay down.

THINK BIG, EVEN IN LITTLE PEOPLE Remember: it takes a huge amount of vitamin C to act as an antiviral, antibiotic, antitoxin, and antihistamine. Expect to have to use as much as 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C per pound of baby. You may very well get cure with less, but probably not a lot less.

You can either use enough, or have a sick kid. I made my decision nearly thirty years ago. My children were raised all the way into college and never once had a single dose of any antiviral or antibiotic. Of course they got sick sometimes. But it's how they got well that counts: we used vitamin C, and plenty of it.

Bowel tolerance indicates saturation of vitamin C. When junior is on the pot, the coughing and sneezing will be gone. See for yourself.

"THERE HAS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IN HERE SOMEWHERE!"

That's a reader's first concern when presented with the idea of enormous vitamin C doses. And, you're right: there is indeed a safety issue, and here it is:

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is safer than any medication on the market. Period.

ACIDITY

To comfort all sensitive tummies, buffer any excess acidity with any combination of calcium, food and liquid. You can also buy non-acidic vitamin C. This is especially tooth-friendly and especially important in purchasing chewables.

But whether it's chewables or powder, non-acidic or not, get the child in the habit of rinsing their mouth with water after each dose regardless.

(A reminder, especially for new Newsletter subscribers: I do not offer recommendations as to what products to buy or where to look for them. That is what health food stores and Google searches are for. I have absolutely no financial connection with the commercial side of healthcare, and that's the way it is going to stay. Caveat emptor.)

READERS SAY H. N. writes:

"My husband and I adopted a 15-month old boy from China in March, 2002. He was tiny for his age, had rickets and bald spots, and brittle hair. We began supplementing immediately with liquid vitamins. Since then with good nutrition and TLC, he's made huge improvements. But as of January, 2003, he still had not attained the lowest percentile on the US weight charts. He's always been a very big eater, especially for a toddler; the doc calls this "compensatory eating." After a conversation within our family about how to help the little guy put on some more weight, and research (including your newsletter and site), I began giving him vitamin C. We worked our way up to 3 grams a day and about 1/8 a tablet of 100 mg niacin for toddler temper, as needed.

"At his next weight check in April, the fellow had put on 2 1/2 lbs, thus edging his way onto the weight charts. The doc was very impressed. I believe the addition of the vitamin C really helped him put a little weight on his bones. He stayed remarkably healthy. The doc remarked that he was expecting to see him for flu, winter colds, or at least something, given his somewhat compromised nutritional status. I also think the vitamin C helped him fight off colds. He is in a preschool, and has come home with sniffles, but at the first sign I would aggressively supplement with C and he'd gobble them down: up to 12,000 milligrams for a 25 pound boy with no diarrhea. It really works."

Right on! Your child is so very fortunate to have parents like you. Thank you for sending in your wonderful story.

SENATOR CLINTON FINALLY RESPONDS TO MY LETTERS

I have not heard a word from U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (NY). But after many weeks, repeated phone calls, three letters (and then publishing one of my letters and sending their office a copy), I did get the following response from Senator Clinton:

"December 23, 2003

"Dear Dr. Saul:

"Thank you for taking the time to share with me your concerns regarding the Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2003. I would like to take a moment to update you on this bill and why this bill is important to protect the health and safety of all Americans.

"Recently the supplement ephedra has been linked to an increasing number of deaths in high school, college and professional athletes and others. The supplement is commonly used by teenagers and young adults to lose weight and optimize physical performance. Had we known the consequences sooner, these deaths could have been averted.

"At the same time, I strongly believe that dietary supplements with a history of safe use can be part of an overall individual program to improve health and wellness, and I oppose attempts to eliminate the availability of important vitamins or other products.

"Under current law, unlike drug manufacturers, dietary supplement manufacturers are not required to prove safety or efficacy prior to marketing a product. Instead, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must prove that a supplement poses a significant or unreasonable risk of illness in order to take action. However, the lack of reporting and data about the effects of the supplements make it impossible to prove that a health threat exists.

"This bill ensures that dietary supplement manufacturers continue to be protected from the pre-market testing required of drug companies. It even ensures that the FDA must meet the same standard of showing significant or unreasonable risk of illness before taking action. The only change is that it requires reporting so that the data exists for FDA to examine, and gives the manufacturer a chance to submit alternative data, demonstrating that the dietary supplement is safe.

"I believe that we should preserve a role for healthy lifestyles that include dietary supplements. I also believe that good reporting and collection of data that enable us to monitor the safety of supplements is part of necessary oversight to ensure the health and safety of young people, athletes, and others who rely on manufacturers and the FDA when deciding to use these products. For this reason, I am a co-sponsor of Senator Durbin's Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2003 modeled after the American Medical Association's recommendations. It requires dietary supplements manufacturers to report serious adverse experiences and to investigate such occurrences. The New York State Senate is considering similar legislation.

"I also think that existing laws should be properly enforced. Therefore, I am a co-sponsor the DSHEA Full Implementation and Enforcement Act of 2003, introduced by Senators Harkin and Hatch. This bill provides increased funding so the FDA can have the resources to support DSHEA and protect the health and safety of all Americans.

"I appreciate and respect your strongly held views. Please be assured that I will continue to work on behalf all New Yorkers and all Americans to ensure that the best and most appropriate public health standards are in place. Thank you again for contacting me. Please check my website at http://clinton.senate.gov for regular updates on this and the many other important health issues being discussed before the United States Senate.

"Sincerely yours, Hillary Rodham Clinton"

ERRORS IN SENATOR CLINTON'S REASONING

First, the ephedra issue is a legislative smokescreen. A simple reading of the so-called "Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2003 (S. 722) reveals the real FDA agenda: to gain control over all supplements, especially vitamins. Here are actual excerpts from the bill just as it is now being proposed in the U.S. Senate. Only the emphasis is added:

"SEC. 416. ADVERSE EXPERIENCES WITH DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. (a) DEFINITIONS "(1) ADVERSE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT EXPERIENCE- The term "adverse dietary supplement experience" means an adverse event that is associated with the use of a dietary supplement in a human, WITHOUT REGARD TO WHETHER THE EVENT IS KNOWN TO BE CAUSALLY RELATED TO THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT."

Think about that and re-read it. This is federal legislation based on hear-say. Do you think that is a good idea?

How about this section:

"(d) SAFETY REVIEW FOR POSSIBLY DANGEROUS DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS `(1) IN GENERAL- If a clinical evaluation by the Secretary (of the FDA) of **ONE (1)** or more serious adverse events indicates that a dietary supplement or a dietary ingredient contained in a dietary supplement appears to present a significant or unreasonable risk of illness, the Secretary may require the manufacturers of the dietary supplement, or of a dietary ingredient contained in a dietary supplement, to submit to the Secretary data demonstrating that the dietary supplement containing the dietary ingredient is safe."

This section of the law says that just one single adverse report is enough to trigger FDA crackdown on any supplement. Now take this together with the first section, which states that the supplement does not even have to cause an adverse effect to be considered dangerous.

What have you got? You have this: A single complaint about any supplement, even if such complaint is absolutely groundless and false, automatically hands FDA absolute power to judge and restrict that supplement. As FDA has a long and well-documented history of bias against supplements, FDA supplement rulings can be expected to be favorable to pharmaceutical interests and welcomed by medical societies.

Here is what FDA can do next:

"(2) APPROVAL OR DISAPPROVAL OF CONTINUED MARKETING- As soon as practicable after receiving data required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall review the data and issue a determination that-- `(A)(i) the dietary supplement is safe; and `(ii) the continued marketing of the dietary supplement is approved; or `(B)(i) the dietary supplement is not safe or has not been shown to be safe under ordinary or frequent conditions of use; and `(ii) the continued marketing of the dietary supplement is disapproved."

This section confirms the bill's intent to give FDA absolute power to regulate all supplements. Do not be fooled.

WHY IT'S NOT ABOUT EPHEDRA: FDA WANTS TO GRAB CONTROL OF YOUR VITAMINS

Many of my readers, who have become letter-writing citizen activists, have indicated that many a misguided Senator supporting S. 722 is making much of the alleged dangers of ephedra. Do you see the word "Ephedra" anywhere in the proposed law as quoted above?

Here is the bill in its entirety: http://www.doctoryourself.com/limitUSA.htm

Do you see the word "ephedra" anywhere in the text of S. 722?

That's right, you don't. It is not there at all, not even once.

Yet alleged ephedra deaths are the clear focus of Senator Clinton's letter, as well as that of many other Senators who have provided responses.

The reason you do not see the word "ephedra" anywhere in S. 722 is because this proposed law, and all laws like it, have broad purpose. They are well-planned, premeditated power-grabs intended to usurp the rights of a free people to freely purchase nutritional supplements.

By slyly not targeting any particular supplement, FDA stands to gain total control over all of them.

"SAFETY" or DOLLAR SIGNS? The proposed so-called "Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2003" (S. 722) is unnecessary to ensure public safety. Here is evidence why: FDA has already gone ahead and banned ephedra! As I have said for a long time, FDA has always had the power to remove any suspected harmful product from the shelves at any time. No delays are involved: FDA can pull any dangerous food or drug immediately.

FDA's ephedra ban proves it. Even though S. 722 is still a bill pending in Senate committee, FDA banned ephedra anyway, without it.

And in this instance, I do not completely disagree with this individual FDA action. But I most strongly oppose handing the Secretary of the FDA the absolute and dictatorial control as S. 722 would provide. It is overkill, and intentionally so.

Senator Clinton's response fails to show that she comprehends this.

Euphemistically named "The Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2003," S. 722 is not about safety, as deceptively claimed. "Safety" is the excuse offered up to the public to hide a broad-based power grab that can and will limit your access to vitamin supplements.

If you do not believe this, look at what has already happened in Britain, Australia and in most of Europe. A site search for "CODEX" at http://www.doctoryourself.com will provide background information.

I think it is really all about money: medical industry money.

Here is one reason why I say so. Senator Clinton wrote, "Senator Durbin's Dietary Supplement Safety Act of 2003 (is) modeled after the American Medical Association's recommendations." Is that supposed to be a persuading endorsement? It sure doesn't do it for me. To ask the AMA for advice about supplements is like asking the devil what church you should attend.

Here, then, is the real story: S. 722 GIVES THE SECRETARY OF THE U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION ABSOLUTE, BLANKET POWER TO REGULATE YOUR ACCESS TO EVERY SINGLE SUPPLEMENT YOU MAY USE.

Do you think that is right? If you do, then you need do nothing. But if you oppose FDA regulating your access to supplements, and S. 722 would do no less, then you have a task in front of you: write your senators, again, and back them down with the truth. Do your senator (and the nation) a favor: write today! And please send me a copy of your response.

(Remember that you can read the full text of this (and any other) proposed law at http://thomas.loc.gov . In this case, type in "S. 722" into the search box.)

SOME HEADLINE HOCUS-POCUS

Hear are two actual headlines that recently appeared, concurrently, in the news media:

1) "FDA BANS EPHEDRA"

2) "FDA PANEL RECOMMENDS OVER-THE-COUNTER 'MORNING AFTER' PILL"

To quote Moe Howard of the Three Stooges, "Is everybody dumb?" Here is an almost comical but entirely real-life oxymoronic situation, rendering any commentary I could offer pretty much superfluous.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: FDA really stands for "Favors Drugs Always."

READERS SAY:

"I was reading your Breakfast Blast (http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulslurry.html) and thought it interesting. I am the biggest fan of Norman W. Walker. I read his books (Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices, The Natural Way to Vibrant Health, Become Younger, Vegetarian Guide to Diet and Salad) on a daily basis. I might suggest in your "Breakfast Blast" you squeeze a lemon and add to your drink. I follow Dr. Walker's advice, in that upon waking, I have some lemon with warm distilled water followed by orange juice 15 minutes later. Then, I really start the day off with a pint of carrot or carrot combo. I also add some alfalfa leaf powder. Throughout the day, I also consume, at work, several pints of a mixture of one part grapefruit juice; three parts distilled water; 1 tablespoon natural apple cider vinegar; and 1/2 lemon.

"This has helped me in more ways than one. I have never felt so good nor have I been sick in over three years, not even a sniffle."

Good for you. Thanks for the recipe. I urge everyone to join you in reading Dr. Walker's excellent books.

CANCER THERAPY M. L. writes:

"I just wanted to thank you for the positive articles on natural approaches to cancer. I have ovarian cancer. I do all of the Gerson therapy and have seen terrific results."

Wonderful news. Be sure to consider an excellent article by Hugh D. Riordan, M.D. on vitamin C fighting ovarian and other cancer posted at http://www.doctoryourself.com/riordan1.html .

ART DEPARTMENT

Watercolor sketches and line drawings by my father, Warren E. Saul, are on public display at http://www.doctoryourself.com/contentsWES.html . I hope you enjoy them.

PHOTO OPS

Yes, our pets are health nuts, too. Here is the (photo)graphic proof: http://www.doctoryourself.com/cat1.html

READERS SAY O. M. writes:

"I agree with you completely about the healing powers of vitamin C. I've been taking 6 to 10 grams of vitamin C every day for the last 26 years. Now I'm 62 years-old, and I never get sick.

"I read Linus Pauling's book, CANCER AND VITAMIN C back in the mid '70s. I still have my much-marked-up copy. In 1977, I gave up booze and became a vegetarian. I exist mostly on living foods and home-distilled water. I exercise modestly every day, including long walks.

"Most of my peers here in the tropics are sick, sick people. Yet none of them will even consider giving up alcohol, meat, or prescription drugs. Their illnesses and degenerative conditions have become the pivot point of their lives. I'm considered eccentric because I eat "rabbit food."

"So be it. I've learned that you can't change people; you can only change yourself. I'm happy and deeply contented. There is nothing on my wish list. I attribute much of my good fortune to mega-doses of vitamin C. My most recent blessing was finding your electronic newsletter. You're a gifted writer and a kindred spirit."

Aw, shucks. Thank you for the kind words, and for sharing your success.

FIBROIDS "I have suffered from fibroids for 16 years. Because I am so slender, the fibroid is easily palpated from the abdomen. Mine has shrunk from the size of a lemon to the size of a 1/4" thick pancake about 1 inch in diameter. I tried many diets and supplements over the years and gave up dairy and meats. It finally responded to coffee enemas daily and a raw foods diet. It took 5 weeks. This is much simpler than many other things that I tried. I enjoy your newsletter; thank you for writing it."

"Jennifer Daniels, M.D."

Thank you. Dr. Daniels is describing a diet very much like the Gerson therapy. A search for "Gerson" at http://www.doctoryourself.com will bring up more information on this type of treatment. It is well worth a therapeutic trial.

I ask readers to acquaint me (doctoryourself.com/contact.html) with your own experiences with fibroids, whether positive or negative. (No product endorsements, please.)

DOCTOR YOURSELF ON THE AIR Here are some of my upcoming radio interviews about my new book, "DOCTOR YOURSELF: Natural Healing that Works" (http://www.doctoryourself.com/saulbooks.html):

Billings, MONTANA: 1/7/2004 KBUL "Morning Bulletin" 10:30 am Eastern Time

Framingham, MASSACHUSETTS: 1/7/2004 Langer Broadcasting, "Adeline's Chronicles" 9:30 am Eastern Time

Cowan, TENNESSEE: 1/13/2004 WZYX "Sound Off" 10:55 am Eastern Time

Fairbanks, ALASKA: 1/20/2004 IRN "The Michael Dresser Show" 10 pm Eastern Time

(Please adjust for your local time zone.)

IMITATION IS NOT ALWAYS FLATTERY

A REMINDER that the ONLY mail I send out to my mailing list subscribers is this Newsletter and **nothing but** this Newsletter, twice monthly. If you receive anything else purporting to be from "doctoryourself.com/contact.html" it is completely bogus, possibly a virus, and usually spam. It is most certainly not from me. Yes, spammers routinely make up phony return addresses to attempt to cover their tracks. (But if you examine the full "headers" of such messages, you will see where they really come from, and can complain directly to that internet service provider.)

I send NO advertisements, ever, and endorse NO products whatsoever. And I never send "attachments" of any kind. You should never open attachments from anyone due to the risk of computer viruses that may be contained in them.

Free downloadable antivirus software (not a trial edition, no ads, free updates, and I use it personally) is available from http://www.grisoft.com . (Select "Download AVG Free Edition.") Remarkably, updates from the Grisoft website are also free of charge. They are currently at update number 350, which I think illustrates the magnitude of the computer virus problem.

Taking care of your computer is much like taking care of your body: an ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure.

HUMOR, SORT OF

Three very elderly-looking men were sitting around a table discussing the secrets of longevity. The first man said, "The key to a long life is to eat right, exercise regularly, take vitamins, never smoke or drink, get to bed by 9 PM, and stay monogamous. I should know," he added, "Because I am 93 years old."

The second man, who seemed considerably older, had this to say:

"No, no, that's not enough. Let me tell you my regimen: Every morning I get up at 4 AM, take a 10-mile run, eat bran and yogurt for breakfast, and then work out in the gym for another two hours. For lunch I eat sprouts and salad, and for dinner I have nothing but fresh vegetable juice. I've always stayed celibate, and get to sleep by 7 PM every night. Now that is how you live a long time, just like I have. And I celebrate my 110th birthday next week."

The third man, so bent over that his head barely cleared the tabletop, was obviously far grayer and more worn and wrinkled than the other two. He leaned forward on his two canes, one in each hand, coughed a bit, and spoke in a very low, gravelly voice:

"You are both all wet," he sputtered. "Now here's what I do: Every day I sleep until noon, have a quart of bourbon for lunch, smoke fifteen cigars a day, eat a two-pound steak for supper, down a quart of whiskey, and chase the ladies till dawn."

"Really?" asked the first man.

"How old are you, anyway?" asked the second man.

The third man replied, "Twenty-six."

There may be a very, VERY subtle message in this joke. Happy New Year!

Privacy Statement: We do not sell, and we do not share, our mailing list or your email address with anyone. We never send out advertisements of any kind. You may notice that there is no advertising at http://doctoryourself.com and no advertising in this newsletter. We have no financial connection with the supplement industry. We do not sell vitamins or other health products, except for Dr. Saul's books, which help fund these free public services.

AN IMPORTANT NOTE: This newsletter is not in any way offered as prescription, diagnosis nor treatment for any disease, illness, infirmity or physical condition. Any form of self-treatment or alternative health program necessarily must involve an individual's acceptance of some risk, and no one should assume otherwise. Persons needing medical care should obtain it from a physician. Consult your doctor before making any health decision.

Copyright c 2004 and prior years Andrew W. Saul doctoryourself.com/contact.html . Permission to reproduce single copies of this newsletter FOR NON-COMMERCIAL, PERSONAL USE ONLY is hereby granted providing no alteration of content is made and authorship credit is given.