Alzheimer's Disease and the Flu Vaccine

A very good friend of mine died in February 2014. I had not been in touch with her for just over a year, and I thought it was strange that she had not written, or responded to my emails. I was devastated at her death as the last time I saw her she was fit and well, especially for her 73 years.

I was even more devastated when I learnt that the reason for losing touch with her was that she had contracted a virulent form of Alzheimer's Disease, diagnosed in Easter 2013. One of her outstanding characteristics was her fine, clear, agile mind. We had met many years ago, whilst undertaking a Education Diploma course at the University of Leicester.

I wondered what had caused her to contract this disease, and indeed to die from it so quickly. Regular readers to my blog will know that I do not accept or believe that diseases like this strike randomly, and without cause.

• I have already written about conventional medical drugs that are known to cause Alzheimers, and dementia generally. 

• And I have listed some of the Big Pharma drugs that are known to cause dementia

Yet she was not on any of the drugs listed here. However, I recalled a conversation we had a couple of years ago. We were talking about the dangers of conventional drug treatment, and I asked her whether she had the flu vaccine.

"Yes, every year" she told me.

The problems associated with the flu vaccine are well documented. Many studies have called into question the safety of mercury in vaccines, and the Big Pharma drug companies have removed it from many vaccines (replacing it with Aluminium, and similar poisons, which are equally dangerous!)

Yet the flu vaccine still contains 25 micrograms of mercury per dose.

I also wrote about the serious risks associated with the flu vaccine in this blog. Some of the dangers discussed here were

• the weakening of the immune system
• respiratory infections (including, amazing, flu)
• Narcolepsy
• Febrile convulsions
• and, of course, death

But unfortunately I omitted to include the links between Alzheimer's Disease and the Flu Vaccine.

The debate about the links between Alzheimer's Disease and the Flu Vaccine have been going on since 1977. This followed research undertaken by Hugh Fudenberg, MD., an immunogeneticist and biologist, between 1970 and 1980, which found that if someone had 5 consecutive flu vaccinations the chances of that person getting Alzheimer's Disease increased by a factor of 10 compared to someone who had no vaccine, or just 1 or 2 vaccines. That is, anyone who has the flu vaccine over a period of 5 years were 10 times more likely to contract the disease.

Hugh Fudenberg, MD, is Founder and Director of Research, Neurolmmuno Therapeutic Research Foundation. Information from Dr. Hugh Fudenberg's notes on a speech at the NVIC International Vaccine Conference, Arlington, VA September, 1997.

The Fudenberg research was followed up with other research where, in laboratory settings, normal brain tissue was exposed to low levels of mercury. Dr Boyd Haley, Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Kentucky, has done extensive research in the area of mercury toxicity and the brain. His research has established a likely connection between mercury toxicity and Alzheimer's Disease. Haley stated that:

"....seven of the characteristic markers that we look for to distinguish Alzheimer's Disease can be produced in normal brain tissues, or cultures of neurone, by the addition of extremely low levels of mercury".

The Relationship of Toxic Effects of Mercury to Exacerbation of the Medical Condition Classified as Alzheimer's Disease by Boyd E. Haley, PhD.

What cannot be denied is that one ingredient used as a 'preservative' in the flu vaccine in Thimerosal - which is a form of mercury that has been linked to brain injury, and to certain autoimmune diseases on many occasions.

The link would, therefore, appear to be proven, or at the very least, something requiring further study, whilst stopping the use of Thimerosal (in flu, and other vaccines), as a precaution to protect patients. But of course, the conventional medical establishment never appears to accept such evidence.

The conventional health establishment denies any relationship between Alzheimer's Disease and the Flu vaccine. Well, they would wouldn't they! Whenever a pharmaceutical drug is linked to causing disease, and the potential loss of profit, Big Pharma pays for its own research, and not unsurprisingly, the results show no relationship. (See Boyd Haley's comment on this research is his letter quoted below - science "so poorly done it has no credibility in the scientific community").

 I call this 'cheque-book science'! The research is paid for by the drug companies, and the result is predictable. This research is then used by the friends of Big Pharma, such as the Alzheimer's Society (funded in large measure by them), and the mainstream media (most media companies have directors from Big Pharma companies, and vice versa) to deny that there is any problem.

So let's leave the last word to Dr Boyd Haley. This is an E-mail that he sent to Barbara Snelgrove in reply to her response "that their is no relationship between amalgams and Alzheimer's Disease. Although it refers to mercury in amalgam tooth fillings (which too many of us have) his conclusions apply equally to the mercury injected directly into our blood stream with the flu vaccine.

Dear Barbara, 

We do not know each other and I don't know what your occupation or background is.  However, I was sent an e-mail where you stated that there was no connection between mercury and Alzheimer's

disease. I agree that no connection has been made since studies in this area have for the most part been avoided.  The only one I know of was so poorly done that it has no credibility in the scientific community.  

However, I believe that there is a connection between AD and mercury exposure as I will explain.

First, research from my laboratory, published in highly respected research journals demonstrates the following:

1. Both beta-tubulin and creatine kinase are dramatically inhibited in AD brain.  This is also supported by publications from other laboratories.

2. Adding low micromolar mercury to non-AD brain causes the rapid and specific inhibition of these two proteins mimicking the effects observed in AD brain.  This inhibition by mercury would be expected by any competent biochemist as the literature would support this happening.

3. We exposed rats to mercury vapor for 4 hours a day for 4 weeks at levels of mercury that would be expected in someone with extensive amalgam fillings. This exposure caused a major decrease in tubulin viability, similar as observed in AD brain.

4. Amalgams leak mercury, this is a fact that any chemistry department can confirm.  We have made amalgam fillings outside of the mouth, placed these fillings in sterile water for 15 minutes to several hours. We then tested this water for toxicity to tubulin and creatine kinase. The result was that the solutions in which amalgams were soaked (even for 15 minutes) were extremely toxic.  Results using these solutions were identical to those with addition of mercury solutions to the brain.  This work is also supported by reports doing similar experiments at the University of Michigan Dental School where they described solutions in which amalgams were soaked as being "extremely cytotoxic".

Additional support by others for mercury exacerbating or being a major contributor for AD is as follows:

5. The form of APO-E protein that is a major risk factor for AD is the one that has lost much, if not all, of its ability to bind mercury in the cerebrospinal fluid giving reduced protection against mercury

(especially) and other oxidant heavy metals.  The APO-E protein that affords the best protection against AD is the one that would bind and remove mercury the very best.

6. This year in the Journal of Neurochemistry a report came out that showed that the exposure of neuroblastoma cells in culture to nano molar levels of mercury (much lower than is found in brain) lead to the subsequent "hyperphosphorylation of a protein called Tau" and to greatly increased

secretion of "beta amyloid protein - the protein that makes up amyloid or 'senile' plaques".  Senile plaques are the "diagnostic hallmark of AD" and projected by many as being causal of AD.

7. Dr. Lorscheider, my collaborator in mercury research, has submitted an article where a neuron in culture was exposed to 0.1 nano molar mercury and filmed through a microscope.  The result was that the axon broke open and the tubulin and tubulin associated proteins abnormally aggregated into a body that was "indistinguishable from a neurofibillary tangle" the second "diagnostic hallmark" of AD on pathology.

If mercury causes neurons to produce the "diagnostic hallmark" then shouldn't mercury be considered causal or contributory to this disease? Especially when most Americans of age 50 plus have had amalgams in their mouths for scores of years or greater!  Also, I am the Chair of a Department of Chemistry and it is exceeding easy to measure mercury escape from a dental amalgam and I can tell you that it is excessive if related to any measure of safe exposure levels.  The risk assessment expert for Health Canada on doing an assessment on mercury exposure for Canadians told me that the amount of mercury exposure from industrial produced mercury was much less that that coming from dental amalgams.

We cannot do the experiments that would prove amalgams do or do not contribute to AD.  There are just to many confounding factors associated with human behaviour. I believe in going to the bottom line-do amalgams leak toxic levels of mercury and I have proven that they do.  Ask anyone in the "pro-amalgam field" to give you a research article that shows that amalgams do not leak toxic levels of mercury and they will provide you with opinion papers stating that amalgams are safe.  These papers are different from research papers in that they do not present actual experimental protocols that can be tested.  Invariably, they will say only an "insignificant amount of mercury is released" or something to that effect.  Ask them to put a scientific value on this insignificant amount (like how many micrograms/cm2 of mercury is released per day).

This has been reported and it was 43.5 micrograms/cm2/day and remained constant for 2 years.  No one has claimed this report was wrong and this is a very toxic level of mercury. Also, it was collected in a test tube with no additional heat, pressure or galvanism on the amalgam which would occur in the mouth and greatly increase the level of mercury released.

I strongly believe that having dental amalgams in ones mouth for scores of years increases the risk for AD.  Mercury would at the very least be an exacerbating toxic exposure.  I believe this because I read the literature and do research in this area.  Is there direct proof?--no there isn't.

But there is also no proof that amalgams do not contribute and 'absence of proof is not proof of absence'.  However, the bottom line is that amalgams make both water and saliva toxic by increasing the mercury levels and this would place excess stress on those humans who are unfortunate enough to be genetically susceptible to AD or mercury toxicity.  I hope you know that AD is not a directly inherited disease and that some form of 'toxic or infective insult' is needed to cause the onset of the disease.

Finally, I know that you can find numerous dentists and physicians that will say amalgams are not a risk factor for AD - see if you can find one that will debate me publically after allowing me to present a short scientific talk on the subject.  I feel like I have been in an 8 year argument with a town drunk on this issue.

Sincerely,  Boyd Haley, 

Professor and Chair, Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky

So did the conventional medical establishment take note of the scientific evidence, outlined above, which suggested at the very least the suspension of all vaccines that contained Thimerosol? No they did not, and have not done so!

Will my friend's death be included in the case against the flu vaccine (and all vaccines containing this poison)? This is unlikely as the connection is unlikely to be admitted, or even examined by the conventional medical establishment.

Will my friend's death through Alzheimer's Disease be examined for its possible link with the flu vaccine, so that other's can be warned? This too is unlikely for the same reason!

Did the flu vaccine, and its mercury content, kill my friend? I am convinced that it did!

Sports Injury? Get back into action quicker with Homeopathy.

Fitness is vitally important to any sportsmen, especially when their reputation, their living, their career depend upon it. So the consequences of sports injuries can be far reaching. 

• It can mean loss of earnings and bonuses. 
• It can mean that competitors are given an opportunity to replace them. 
• It can also be deeply frustrating waiting for recovery.

From aches and pains, to overuse-injuries, to severe bruising, to cuts, lacerations and wound healing, to strains and sprains, to muscle and tendon injuries, to joint injuries, to stress and bone fractures - all can mean a considerable absence for extended periods from sporting participation. 

So any winning individuals or team know how important it is to keep fit and injury free: and when injury does happen, to get better and back in action, as soon as possible. 

Most people and most teams place their trust in conventional medical treatment. But an increasing number are now looking to alternative medical therapies, and in particular Homeopathy, to aid quicker, more effective recovery from injury.

The German Football team, and many top German teams, team now use Homeopathy in the treatment of their injured players.

David Beckham fractured a metatarsal bone in his foot a few weeks prior to the World Cup in 2002. He was widely expected to miss the competition, but he used Homeopathy to improve and speed his recovery, and he played in the competition.

Many other sports people are reputed to have used Homeopathy, including Martina Navratilova, Boris Beckham, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nancy Lopez, Will Greenwood, Hermann Maier, Chris Bonnington. No doubt many, many more sports people can confirm this kind kind of success story. 

All these people have used Homeopathy because they have found that recovery from injury is much quicker. Often it can reduce conventional recovery time by up to one-third of what conventional medicine considers to be ‘normal’.

But besides speed of recovery, there are other equally important advantages to homeopathic treatment. 

• Homeopathic remedies do not have harmful or dangerous side-effects or adverse reactions.
• Homeopathic remedies are safe when considering issues of doping, or illegal substances.

So increasing numbers of sports people are turning to homeopathy, and their career is enhanced as a result.

See what homeopathy can do with fractures.....

To find a local homeopath, go to this website - and get back into action quicker.

Do Big Pharma drug companies bribe our doctors?

According to a Reuters news report, British doctors were paid £38.5 million by pharmaceutical drug companies in 2013. This figure was announced by the 'Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry', who said that it was "slightly down" on the 2012 levels, when they paid out £40 million. This is a lot of money, even when divided by the number of GPs and hospital doctors who presumably benefitted financial from the payouts. 

The main question arising from Big Pharma's largesse is - what is expected of our doctors in return?

There has been concern about these payments for decades, throughout the world, not least in the USA, where it has been suggested (heaven forbid) that such payments might constitute bribery, and put commercial interests ahead of the best interests of patients.

Evidence of these financial links between doctors of Big Pharma are so explosive that some drug companies are now rethinking the relationship! Glaxo-Smith-Kline, for instance, said that it would stop paying doctors to promote their drugs. But they would continue to pay 'fees' for clinical research and advisory work! Reuters also announced that other firms have taken 'more limited steps' to curb marketing to doctors, including AstraZeneca, which said in 2011 that it was scrapping payments for doctors attending 'international congresses'.

But none of this suggests an end to the practice!

Why, suddenly, are we being told about this? Apparently, under USA healthcare law, drug companies are now forced to disclose any payments made to doctors. In Europe, drug companies will soon be required to make public the names of individual doctors that have received such payments.

This blog regularly questions why pharmaceutical drugs, which are known to be harmful to the health of patients, are still being prescribed to patients by their doctors. And why are we not being told about the dangers of Big Pharma drugs? These payments, presumably, are one of the reasons. Many people continue to trust their conventional doctors: but every patient would do well to understand that it may not be only the Big Pharma companies that profit from their drugs!

No patient should take any conventional drug before researching the adverse reactions, and the disease-inducing-effects for themselves. It may be that your doctor will not tell you about them.

I wrote about this same subject many years ago, for my ebook "The Failure of Conventional Medicine". Here is what I was saying then:

"The question about doctors being too close to drug companies is recognised as a serious problem. In a Daily Telegraph article on 9th July 2006, the GMC (General Medical Council) was said to be warning doctors about taking ‘freebies’ from pharmaceutical companies, and to ‘blow the whistle’ on colleagues who were ‘taking bribes’ from drug companies. They were revising their rules to enable such doctors to be removed from the register, and ‘struck off’.

“The decision to toughen up the rules comes as evidence increases that, in return for promoting their products, some doctors are taking inappropriate gifts and hospitality from the pharmaceutical industry.

The article pointed to a report by the campaign group Consumers International that said doctors were continuing to accept kickbacks, gifts, free samples and consulting agreements in exchange for prescribing or promoting drugs. It said that such inducements accounted for a substantial part of the £33 billion spent on product promotion by the industry worldwide each year.

Despite this, concerns continue. WDDTY reported on 6th November 2007 that the drug giant Bristol-Myers Squibb (annual sales: $17.9bn) had been handed a $515m fine for mis-selling drugs, inducing doctors to prescribe drugs inappropriately, and setting fraudulent prices on some of its products. It said that the company had been caught making illegal payments to doctors as an inducement to get them to buy their drugs. Doctors had also received ‘consulting fees’ to sit on ‘advisory’ boards and programmes, some of which involved necessary trips to luxury locations. Meanwhile, the company was paying retail and wholesale pharmacies to buy its drugs. It was also encouraging doctors to prescribe its anti-psychotic drug Abilify (aripiprazole) to children when it had been licensed for use only with adults. (The source of this information was the British Medical Journal, 2007; 335: 742-3).

In another WDDTY article, “Bribery: Doctors gifted $100,000 a year to use hip replacement products”, dated 29th November 2007, Orthopedic surgeons in the US were reported to have received bribes of $100,000 and more every year to use special hip and knee replacement products on their patients. Apparently five manufacturers were fined $311m (£150m) by the US Department of Justice. The companies admitted paying 'many' orthopaedic surgeons 'consulting fees' that ranged from $10,000 to hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. Investigators discovered that the payments had been common practice between 2002 and 2006, and that as well as receiving “consulting fees”, the surgeons were also treated to lavish trips and expensive gifts. (The source of this information was the British Medical Journal, 2007; 335: 1065).

The objectives of the ‘No free meals’ group of doctors is as follows:

“We are health care providers who believe that pharmaceutical promotion should not guide clinical practice. Our mission is to encourage health care providers to practice medicine on the basis of scientific evidence rather than on the basis of pharmaceutical promotion. We discourage the acceptance of all gifts from industry by health care providers, trainees, and students. Our goal is improved patient care.

We aim to achieve our goal by informing health care providers as well as the general public about pharmaceutical industry efforts to promote their products and influence prescribing; provide evidence that promotion does in 
fact influence health care provider behaviour, often in ways that run counter to good patient care; and provide products that can replace pharmaceutical company paraphernalia and spread our message.

We believe that there is ample evidence in the literature-contrary to the beliefs of most heath care providers - that drug companies, by means of samples, gifts, and food, exert significant influence on provider behaviour. 
There is also ample evidence in the literature that promotional materials and presentations are often biased and non-informative. We believe that health care professionals, precisely because they are professionals, should not allow themselves to be bought by the pharmaceutical industry: It is time to Just say no to drug reps and their pens, pads, calendars, coffee mugs, and of course, lunch.

These are laudable objectives. However, there appears little evidence that their motives have been generally accepted by the conventional medical establishment".

It would appear that the objectives have still not been achieved. Pharmaceutical drugs still continue to harm patients. And Big Pharma continues to "incentivise" doctors and GPs to prescribe them to us!

Beware Corticosteroid Drugs

This article first appeared on the "Dangerous Big Pharma Drugs" website, and has since been updated on my "Why Homeopathy? website. It shows how a former 'wonder drug', thought to have been a cure for arthritis, and still widely prescribed in a variety of forms, has become a major health hazard - courtesy of the Conventional Medical Establishment, the Big Pharma.

1. Corticosteroid Drugs, or glucocorticoids, are often just called ‘steroid’ drugs. They are produced to mimic  cortisol, a hormone naturally produced within the body by the adrenal gland.

2. Drug Aliases

The term Corticosteroid is a generic name for a whole series of synthetic hormones, which themselves have an even larger number of ‘trade’ names. This information is taken mainly from http://www.livestrong.com/article/27014-list-corticosteroid-medications/

    Betamethasone (Celestone): a corticosteroid used to treat inflammation and other symptoms of skin conditions... it is available in aerosol spray, lotion, ointment and cream forms. Possible side effects include acne, burning, itching, dry skin, cracked skin and changes in skin colour.

    Budesonide (Entocort EC): a corticosteroid used to treat asthma.... available in oral capsule, oral inhalation and nasal spray forms. It can also be used in a nebulizer. This drug can cause side affects that interfere with normal function of several body systems. The most common side effects are nausea, headache and respiratory infection.

    Cortisone (Cortone): used to treat inflammation and adrenal insufficiency. This drug can also be used to treat allergic conditions, ulcerative colitis, lupus, arthritis, breathing disorders and psoriasis. Side effects include insomnia, increased sweating, nausea, bloating, stomach pain, slow wound healing, acne, dry skin and changes in the location of fat in the body.

    Dexamethasone (Decadron): used to treat arthritis, asthma, severe allergies, inflammatory intestinal disorders and skin disorders..(and also)... when the adrenal glands do not function properly. Possible side effects include stomach irritation, headache, insomnia, dizziness, restlessness, anxiety, easy bruising, irregular menstrual periods, upset stomach, vomiting, depression, acne and increased hair growth.

    Hydrocortisone (Cortef): is available as a spray, liquid, lotion, gel, cream, ointment and medicated towelette that can be used on the skin. Suppositories, creams, enemas and ointments are available for use in treating anal itching. This drug can relieve skin irritations, rashes and itching. Possible side effects include acne, burning, changes in skin colour, dry skin, itching and cracked skin.

    Methylprednisolone (Medrol): is used to treat inflammation caused by conditions such as arthritis, ulcerative colitis, breathing disorders, psoriasis, allergic conditions and lupus. Its side effects can include sweating, spinning sensation, bloating, nausea, acne, stomach pain, slow wound healing, thinning skin, mood changes, bruising, changes in the location of body fat, headache, dizziness and insomnia.

    Prednisolone (Prelone): is used to treat endocrine disorders, collagen diseases, skin conditions, allergic conditions, respiratory conditions, blood disorders, gastrointestinal diseases and diseases of the eye. (It can cause) .... insomnia, increased appetite, nervousness and indigestion occurred in more than 10% of clinical trial subjects. Other side effects include increased hair growth, diabetes, joint pain, glaucoma, cataracts and nosebleed.

    Prednisone (Deltasone): is used to treat inflammation associated with asthma, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, psoriasis, lupus, skin conditions and allergic disorders. The side effects include weight gain, high blood pressure, bone thinning, mood changes, easy bruising, insomnia, stretch marks, acne, cataracts and glucose intolerance.

Corticosteroids can be introduced to the body in a variety of forms - orally; injected into a vein or muscle; applied locally to the skin; injected directly into inflamed joints

And Corticosteroid drugs are often contained within products to treat various eye conditions; inhalers to treat asthma or bronchial disease; nasal drops and sprays to treat various nasal problems; topical creams and ointments to treat various skin problems.

3. Conventional Medical Purpose of Drug

The natural hormone, Cortisol, plays an important part in controlling salt and water balance in the body, as well as regulating carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. When under stress the body stimulates the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol, allowing the body to cope not only with stress, but stress-induced infections, traumas, and emotional problems. 

Conventional medicine gives patients corticosteroid drugs when the body does not produce enough of these hormones in order to treat inflammatory conditions of the skin, the immune system, and other organs.

Corticosteroids are now widely used for a variety of inflammatory conditions, including:

        Rheumatoid arthritis

        Lupus

        Ankylosing spondylitis

        ‘Juvenile’ arthritis

        Inflammatory Bowel disease

        Dermatomyositis

        Polymyositis

        Mixed connective tissue disease

        Behcet’s disease

        Polymyalgia Rheumatica

        Sclerosis

        Giant cell arteritis

        Vasculitis

        Osteoarthritis

4. History of drug

Corticosteroid drugs were initially thought to be a ‘miracle’ drug when first discovered in 1948 at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Arthritis patients were given daily injections, and the outcomes appeared to be so dramatic that it was thought that a ‘cure’ for arthritis had been found! 

Unfortunately, the more corticosteroid drugs were used, serious disease inducing effects (DIEs) emerged, and in a matter of a few years they were being referred to as ‘scare-oid drugs’. 

As usual, as the DIEs of the drug became more widely known, the use of corticosteroids became increasingly more restricted, and many patients, realising how dangerous they could be, began to decline the treatment.

5. How do they block the natural functioning of the body?

Corticosteroids act on the body’s immune system by blocking the production of substances that can trigger allergic and inflammatory actions in the body - such as prostaglandins. They also impede the functioning of white blood cells, whose task is to destroy foreign bodies, and help keep the immune system functioning properly. 

It is probably this interference with white blood cell function that produces the serious DIE of increasing our susceptibility, and ability to cope with all kinds of infection.

6. What are the Disease Inducing Effects (DIEs) that result?

With such a wide variety of corticosteroid drugs, given in such a wide variety of forms, the DIEs they cause vary to a considerable extent. NHS Choices have attempted to summarise these in their website. But, as they admit, 

               “Hormones are powerful chemicals that affect many different processes in the body, from the strength of your bones to your weight. As corticosteroids are hormones, they can have a wide range of side effects”.

Inhaled corticosteroids, taken over a long period, can cause oral thrush, a fungal infection that develops inside the mouth.

Corticosteroids injected into muscle or joints can cause pain at the site of the injection, and over a period, can weaken the joint, or the muscle. When injected into the bloodstream it can cause:

        Stomach irritation, such as indigestion

        Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)

        Nausea

        Insomnia

        Mood changes, including irritability, depression and restlessness.

Oral corticosteroids, even if taken for a short time, can cause:

        Increased appetite that often leads to weight gain

        Acne

        Mood changes, such as becoming aggressive, irritable and short tempered; rapid mood swings, such as feeling very happy one minute and very sad and weepy the next

        Thinning skin which can bruise easily

        Muscle weakness

        Cushing’s Syndrome, a combination of fatty deposits that develop in the face (moon face), stretch marks across the body and acne

        Osteoporosis (the weakening of the bones, especially in older people, and an increased risk of bone fractures)

        The onset of diabetes, or worsening of existing diabetes

        High blood pressure

        Glaucoma and Cataracts

        Delayed wound healing

        Reduced growth in children

        Increased risk of infection

        Stomach ulcers

        Mental health problems, affecting 1 in 20 taking drugs such as Prednisolone, including:

                Feeling depressed and suicidal

                Feeling manic (very happy and full of energy and ideas)

                Anxiety

                Confusion

                Hallucinations 

                Strange and frightening thoughts

Oral corticosteroids also make you more vulnerable to vital infections such as chickenpox, shingles and measles, with NHS Choices adding that:

“You may become very ill if you develop these viral infections, even if you have been previously infected”.

When Corticosteroid drugs cause these kinds of serious DIEs it often necessitates other conventional medical treatments to deal with them, and patients can end up on a cocktail of drugs to treat their side effects.

Fibromyalgia. Why Homeopathy is better than conventional medical treatment

This blog first published on "Why Homeopathy?" website

Fibromyalgia is pain and inflammation in the muscles and soft tissues of the body, and was once called Fibrositis. The pain can be widespread, and NHS Choices provides these symptoms:

•     increased sensitivity to pain
•     fatigue (extreme tiredness)
•     muscle stiffness
•     difficulty sleeping   
•     problems with mental processes (known as "fibro-fog") - such as problems with memory and concentration
•     headaches
•     irritable bowel syndrome - a digestive condition that causes stomach pain and bloating

Conventional Medical Treatment

Fibromyalgia can be a very painful condition, and NHS Choices confirms that:

“There is no (conventional) cure for fibromyalgia, but treatment can ease some of your symptoms and improve quality of life”.

It says that your GP may refer patients to a variety of specialists, including rheumatologists (a specialist in conditions that affect muscles and joints), neurologists (a specialist in conditions of the central nervous system), or psychologists (a specialist in mental health and psychological treatments). Conventional drugs used for this condition include:

Painkillers

NHS Choices recommends ‘simple painkillers that are available over-the-counter from a pharmacy’, such as paracetamol. When these fail to relieve the pain associated with fibromyalgia, your GP can prescribe a stronger painkiller, such as codeine or tramadol (another narcotic painkiller). It warns that these drugs can be addictive, and their effect weakens over time, so as they do not cure the condition the dose will be increased over time, and ultimately, serious withdrawal symptoms are likely. They also have side effects, such as diarrhoea and fatique.

Antidepressants

If this sounds depressing, antidepressant drugs are the next treatment suggested by NHS Choices. This can be used “to help relieve pain in some people with fibromyalgia”, and goes on to say that the choice of drug will depend on the severity of your symptoms, “and any side effects the medicine may cause”. The side effects given by NHS Choices include:

•   nausea (feeling sick)
•     dry mouth
•     drowsiness
•     feeling agitated, shaky or anxious
•     dizziness
•     weight gain
•     constipation

But the side effects of antidepressant drugs are more widespread of severe than those admitted by NHS Choices (go here for more details.

Sleeping Drugs

As fibromyalgia can stop you sleeping, and as there is no conventional cure for it, NHS Choices next mentioned drugs to help sleeping.

For more information on conventional treatment for insomnia, visit this page of this website.

Muscle relaxant drugs

These drugs, not specified by NHS Choices, are supposed to reduce tension in muscles, and so ease the symptoms. They are also supposed to have sedative, or sleep-inducing effects too.

They also cause anaesthesia, anxiety, muscle pain and spasm (?), cerebral spasticity, cervical dystonia, chronic myofascial pain, cluster headaches, dystonia, Fibromyalgia (?), Huntington’s disease, hyperthermia, migraine, neuralgia, leg cramps, sciatica. spasticity, tetanus, and urinary incontinence (see this website for more side effects of these drugs).

Anticonvulsant drugs

NHS Choices say that you may also be prescribed anticonvulsant, or anti-seizure drugs such as Pregabalin and Gabapentin, normally used to treat epilepsy, with the ‘common’ side effects given as dizziness, drowsiness and oedema (swelling of hands and feet). But the drugs mentioned above cause many more side effects than this, so click on the links above to see a more comprehensive list).

Antipsychotic drugs

NHS Choices say that antipsychotic drugs are sometimes used to help relieve long-term pain, and mentions that the possible side effects include drowsiness, tremors (shaking) and restlessness. Again, this is a serious mis-statement of the dangers of these drugs, click here to read more about the dangers of these drugs  .

Other treatment options

NHS Choices offers little else, other than cognitive behavioural therapy, psychotherapy, physiotherapy, counselling - all in recognition that patients will have to continue coping with the pain, or ‘self-help’ methods of dealing with the pain, such as swimming, sitting or exercising in a heated pool, relaxation techniques, and getting in touch with supportive patient groups. 

However, NHS Choices do suggest that “some people with fibromyalgia try complementary or alternative treatments such as acupuncture, osteopathy and aromatherapy” but go on to say that “there is little scientific evidence that such treatments help in the long term”. And then it suggests that before using these treatments patients should consult with their GP, although gives no reason for doing so. It is a strange recommendation, as most GPs know little, if anything at all, about these therapies!

To this list of alternative medical therapies you should now add homeopathy - and consult with a homeopath about homeopathic treatment.

Homeopathic Treatment

The Homeopathic Materia Medica has many remedies,each of which has to be selected on the basis of the patient’s individual symptoms. To match remedy with patient for this painful condition it is always best to consult with a qualified homeopath. But the following remedies are often used, and the descriptions have been taken from the “True Star Health” website.

Arnica: 

This remedy is indicated when any body area feels bruised and sore, after exertion, overuse of muscles, or injury. Sometimes Arnica is enough to soothe a chronic condition; often, other remedies follow Arnica.

Bryonia: 

A person who needs this remedy tries to stay as still as possible, since even the slightest motion aggravates the pain. People who need this remedy often feel extremely irritable and grumpy, not wanting to be touched or interfered with. Warmth often makes things worse and cool applications may be soothing. Pressure on the painful parts (or lying on them) often helps, because it minimizes movement.

Calcarea carb: 

Muscle soreness and weakness that are worse from exertion, and worse from getting cold and damp, may be relieved by this remedy. The person often is chilly with clammy hands and feet, easily fatigued, and has a tendency to feel overwhelmed and anxious. Cravings for sweets and eggs often confirm the choice of this remedy.

Causticum: 

Soreness, weakness, and stiffness in the muscles—worse from being cold and worse from overuse—suggests a need for this remedy. The forearms often feel stiff, unsteady, and very weak. The muscles of the legs can feel contracted and sore, and the person may have restless legs at night. Problems tend to be worse when the weather is dry, and better in rainy weather (although getting wet aggravates the pain and stiffness). Warm applications and warming up in bed often relieve discomfort.

Cimicifuga (also called Actae racemosa): 

People who need this remedy are often energetic and talkative, becoming depressed or fearful when physical problems trouble them. Soreness and stiffness of muscles may be accompanied by shooting pains and are usually aggravated by getting cold. The neck and spinal muscles can be very tight, and the person may have headaches and other problems during menstrual periods.

Kalmia latifolia: 

Severe pain in the muscles, extending from higher areas to lower ones, often responds to this remedy. Shooting pains may occur, along with stiffness, neuralgia, and numbness or a cold sensation. Pains can come on suddenly, and often shift around, being worse from motion and worse at night.

Ranunculus bulbosus: 

This remedy is often helpful with fibrositis and muscle stiffness, especially when the neck and back muscles are involved. Stabbing pains and soreness may be felt near the spine and shoulder-blades, especially on the left. Problems may be aggravated by cold damp weather, walking, and alcoholic beverages.

Rhus Tox: 

If a person feels very restless, with stiffness and soreness that find relief in warmth and motion, this remedy should be considered. Problems are aggravated in cold, damp weather. Stiffness and pain are worse on waking in the morning, and after periods of rest.

Ruta Grav: 

Tremendous stiffness of the muscles, with lameness, pain, and weakness (especially after overuse) may be soothed with this remedy. The legs and hips are sore and weak, and the person may find it difficult to stand after sitting in a chair. Muscles in the back and neck feel bruised, the tendons may be sore, and the wrists and hands feel painful and contracted.

Randomised Clinical Trials

An experimental double-blind clinical trial method in homoeopathy: Use of a limited range of remedies to treat fibrositis. Peter Fisher.

The results were analysed by non-parametric statistical methods, showing that homœopathy produced a statistically significant improvement, but only when the prescribed remedy was well indicated.

Effect of homoeopathic treatment on fibrositis (primary fibromyalgia). Peter Fisher, Alison Greenwood, E C Huskisson, Paul Turner, Philippe Belon

We showed that the homoeopathic medicine Rhus toxicodendron 6c was effective for a selected

subgroup of patients with fibrositis. The improvement in tenderness, which is the best discriminator of fibrositis,5 was particularly distinct. The improvement experienced by our patients while receiving active treatment was at least as great as that reported for any other treatment that has been assessed double blind.

Improved clinical status in fibromyalgia patients treated with individualised homeopathic remedies versus placebo. Bell, Lewis, Brooks, Schwartz, Lewis, Walsh, Baldwin.

This is the second study in which homeopathy performed better than placebo in treating patients with fibromyalgia. Given the lack of definitive conventional treatments for fibromyalgia, the lack of improvement in pain over the natural history of the condition, and the high rates of utilisation of complementary medicine by fibromyalgia patients, homeopathy emerges as a potentially low-risk, evidence based option in an integrated package of care.

Healthcare provided by a Homeopath as an adjunct to usual care for fibromyalgia: results of a pilot Randomised Controlled Trial. Relton, Smith, Raw, Walters, Adebajo, Thomas, Young.

Given the acceptability of the treatment and the clinically relevant effect on function, there is a need for a definitive study to assess the clinical and cost effectiveness of adjunctive healthcare by a homeopath for patients with FMS.

These studies, and one other, were discussed in this interesting article written by Dana Ullman in Natural News. The additional study was undertaken by Iris Bell, and her colleagues at the University of Arizona School of Medicine, funded by National Institutes of Health. Four articles were published in peer-review medical journals (Bell et al, 2004a; Bell et al, 2004b; Bell et al, 2004c; Bell et al, 2004d). The primary clinical results from this study were published in the journal, Rheumatology (published by the British Society for Rheumatology), and it found statistically significant results from homeopathic treatment.

Vertigo? Why Homeopathy? It is safer and more effective.

This blog first published in "Why Homeopathy?" website

NHS Choices informs us that Vertigo is a symptom rather than a condition in itself. 

“It's the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning. This feeling may be slight and barely noticeable, or it may be so severe that you find it difficult to keep your balance and do everyday tasks. Attacks of vertigo can develop suddenly and last for a few seconds or they may last much longer. If you have severe vertigo, your symptoms may be constant and last for several days, making normal life very difficult”.

The main symptoms of vertigo are loss of balance, which can make it difficult to stand or walk, it can also cause nausea and vomiting, and dizziness or lightheadedness

Conventional Treatment of Vertigo

NHS Choices says that the treatment for vertigo will depend on the cause, and severity of the symptoms. It recommends avoiding stress, and lying still in a quite, dark room, all good advice, but then adds that this is the best time to take the drugs. The following causes of vertigo are given, alongside the drugs used:

Labyrinthitis (an inner ear infection). 

Although NHS Choices say this has a viral cause, and is treated with drugs like:

        Benzodiazepines, which NHS Choices admits can be “highly addictive” if used for long periods, but in fact have been described as “a 40-year horror story” by people who have taken them.

        Antiemetics, used for nausea and vomiting symptoms, such as Prochiorperazine, the side-effects mentioned by NHS Choices being tremors, abnormal or involuntary body and facial movements, and sleepiness. But they are also known to cause fever, hearing loss, extreme nausea, constipation, ringing ears, severe stomach pain, severe vomiting, heartburn and unusual weight gain

        Corticosteroids, such as Prednisolone, are used when symptoms are severe, but these drugs are known to cause an increase in appetite, weight gain, insomnia, fluid retention, mood changes, such as feeling irritable or anxious. Indeed, click on the links above to find the serious adverse reactions to these drugs.

Vestibular Neuronitis (inflammation of the vestibular nerve in the ear).

NHS Choices says that this condition can be treated with medication - but does not mention what that medication is. They say that it is a condition that can “clear up without treatment”.

Benign Parxysmal Positional Vertigo (small fragments of debris in the ear canal).

This can also ‘clear up on its own’, and describes to ‘Epley Manoeuvre’, designed to move the fragments, and the Brandt-Daroff exercises.

Meniere’s Disease (described as a rare condition that affects the inner ear)

NHS Choices says that “there is not yet an absolute cure” for Meniere’s disease, but that it can be treated with dietary advice, or drugs like:

        Prochiorperazine (see above), and

        Antihistamines, such as cinnarizine and cyclizine, which it admitted can cause drowsiness (lack of co-ordination, slow reaction times, etc), insomnia, nightmares, hallucinations, and upset stomach, impaired thinking, dizziness (?), constipation, blurred vision, urinary retention, itchy skin, rapid heartbeat and chest tightness.

Central Vertigo

NHS Choices says that this is caused by problems within the brain, or brainstem, and can be caused by migraine headaches, or brain tumours, in which case patients are referred to a hospital specialist.

If the vertigo is caused by Migraine headaches, the same medication will be used, that is, painkillers,  Triptan drugs, et al. Click here for a discussion of this treatment.

Vertigo with an unknown cause

NHS Choices says that if the cause of the vertigo remains unknown the patient will be admitted to hospital, where ‘Vestibular rehabilitation’ will be used for “brain retraining”.

The Homeopathic Treatment of Vertigo

Homeopathy can prevent the need to resort to these drugs, and has a variety of remedies known to treat vertigo, regardless of its cause, and a well-selected remedy will often cure the condition safely and effectively. These remedies seek to address the underlying causes of vertigo, and to rid of patient of the condition. The following remedy descriptions are have been taken from the Hpathy website.

Conium – this remedy suits especially the vertigo of the aged and that arising from excess and over use of tobacco. Also that from due to cerebral anaemia. There is sensation when the person looks steadily at an object as if turning in a circle. Vertigo on rising up or going down stairs, with great debility and inclination to sleep.

Iodine – well marked remedy for old people who suffer from chronic congestive vertigo.

Ferrum met – this remedy suits anaemic vertigo, which is worse when suddenly rising from a sitting or lying position. It comes when suddenly rising from a sitting or lying position. It comes on when down hill or on crossing water, even though the water be smooth.

Cocculus – vertigo which is connected with digestive troubles suits this remedy, and it develops into the neurasthenic type with occipital headache and lumbosacral irritation. There is a flushed face and hot head, worse sitting up and riding in a carriage; worse after eating.

Rhus Tox – this remedy suits vertigo, especially in old people, which comes on as soon as the patient rises from a sitting position. It is associated with heavy limbs and is probably caused by senile changes in the brain.

Aesculus – severe vertigo, with reeling, like drunken men; vertigo, with nausea and dimness of sight; confused stupor; thickness of speech; great weakness, with trembling.

Lachesis – stupefaction with loss of consciousness, with blue face and convulsive movements, or tremor of the extremities; or paralysis, especially of the left side; the paroxysms are preceded by frequent absence of mind, or vertigo with rush of blood to the head; blowing expiration; after the use of liquors or mental emotions.

Cyclamen – sudden vanishing of sight; profuse and dark menses; blindness accompanied by semi lateral headache of the temple, with pale face, vertigo; nausea referred to throat and weak digestion.

Hpathy also lists other remedies for vertigo, including: Aconite, Argentum Met, Apis Mel, Baptesia, Belladonna, Bryonia, Calcaria Carb, Calcaria Sulph, Cannabis Indica, Cheledonium, Digitalis, Dulcamara, Gelsemium, lycopodium, Natrum Mur, Pulsatilla, Sulphur, Petroleum, Silicea, Tabacum, Secale Cor, Sabina, Thuja, Kali Iod, Graphites, and Natrum Carb.

To match remedy and patient it is best to consult with a qualified homeopath.

Randomised Controlled Tests (RCT’s)

These research papers were listed by Dr Nancy Malik.

Homeopathic vs conventional treatment of vertigo. A double blind randomised controlled clinical study  

        A Double Blind Randomised Controlled trial that showed statistical significant results with homeopathy as well as betahistine.

The homeopathic preparation Vertigoheel versus Ginkgo biloba in the treatment of vertigo in an elderly population: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Issing, Klein, Weiser.

        In this study, a homeopathic combination remedy was found to be equally effective as Ginkgo Biloba

Microcirculatory effects of a homeopathic preparation in patients with mild vertigo: an intravital microscopic study. Klopp, Neimer, Weiser

        The effects of the homeopathic preparation Vertigoheel on variables related to microcirculation were investigated.....and that...the data support a pharmacological effect on microcirculation from the treatment.

Treating Vertigo - Homeopathic Combination Remedy therapeutically equivalent to Dimenhydrinate. 

        In this study, 88% patient improved compared to 87 % in the conventional treatment group. “The study confirms that Vertigoheel is a safe and effective treatment option for vertigo of varying etiology and is therapeutically equivalent to medications containing dimenhydrinate”.

Positive influence of Vertigoheel on signalling pathways of smooth muscle cells and vertigo.

        “.... Vertigoheel not only improves the signalling pathways of smooth muscle cells but also is an effective medication for the therapy of vertigo of varying genesis. Various clinical investigations and cohort studies have shown an equivalent effect to dimenhydrinate, betahistine and ginkgo biloba. In each case the frequency, duration and intensity of the vertigo attacks were determined, as well as the tolerability of the medication. A meta-analysis of four studies also underlined the efficacy of Vertigoheel in cases of vertigo of varying genesis.