Healthy Update is a bi-monthly electronic newsletter from HealthWorld Online providing you the latest information, news and resources from the world of natural health. All summaries in Healthy Update link to full articles or expanded resources and services in HealthWorld Online: http://www.healthy.net

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HealthWorld Online Expands Professional Referral Network
HealthWorld Online's innovative Professional Referral Network continues to be the first choice in seeking online referrals for practitioners of Alternative/Complementary and Integrated Medicine. We have recently added the membership list from the American College of Advancement in Medicine, M.D.s and D.O.s who complementary therapies, including nutritional medicine, chelation therapy and/or anti-aging medicine.Search by city, state, zip code, area code or country for practitioners of nutritional medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, complementary medicine, environmental medicine, naturopathic medicine, interactive guided imagery, holistic health care, holistic dentistry and other modalities. Look for new additions to the Professional Referral Network in coming weeks, including member lists from Hellerwork International, the American Oriental Body Therapy Association, and the North American Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique.

Smoking and Depression May Be Linked
Heavy smoking may be linked to depression, a new study suggests. Researchers found that daily smoking substantially increased a person's risk of depression, according to findings published in the February issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry. In addition, people suffering from major depression were more likely than others to go from light smoking to daily smoking, said the study's lead author, Naomi Breslau, a researcher in the departments of psychiatry and biostatistics at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Meat, Poultry Plants Sidestep Thousands of Safety Citations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has permitted hundreds of meat and poultry plants to operate virtually uninterrupted even while federal inspectors file tens of thousands of citations against them for unsanitary conditions and food contamination, department records show. Cox Newspapers analyzed an Agriculture Department computerized database of meat and poultry inspection records for 1996 and found 138,593 instances in which inspectors said food being prepared in packing plants was "certain'' to sicken consumers. The database was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

HealthWorld Online is proud to announce the addition of the new "Ask Annie: Solutions for Less Toxic Living" Column from Annie Berthold-Bond, a leading authority on environmentally safe alternatives. Annie is the author of the landmark books, The Green Kitchen Handbook and Clean & Green: The Complete Guide to Nontoxic and Environmentally Safe HousekeepinG. Look for more columns in the future in HealthWorld Online.

Ask Annie: Solutions for Less Toxic Living
Cleaning products are some of the most toxic products brought into the home. In her first column, "The Five Basics of Nontoxic Cleaning" Annie Berthold-Bond, author of Clean & Green, will examine the five basic natural ingredients for making your own cleaning formulas without harm to yourself or the environment. Annie believes that with these five ingredients you can clean anything in the house.

The Healer Within
The presence of special breathing practices in the ancient cultures has always been a mystery to people in the Western world. In this column, Every Seventh Breath Full and Relaxed, Dr. Jahnke describes a method is similar to the previous method described in our last Healthy Update, Full Chest and Abdominal Breathing. However, this technique brings the consciousness of the breath and the benefits of breath practice to as much of one's daily activities as possible. Rather than the concentrated but brief effects of doing breathing exercises for a specific period of time this method spreads the benefits of breath practice, pervasively, throughout the day. Take a deep, full, relaxed breath. As you exhale allow yourself to deeply relax. Then breath as usual. As you exhale allow yourself to deeply relax. Then breath as usual. After seven regular breaths, initiate another deep and full breath. For further descriptions click on the full column above.

Keeping Fit with Dr. Wayne Westcott
Because winter weather makes it more difficult to exercise outside, many people consider purchasing indoor exercise equipment to maintain their fitness program. Unfortunately, not all of the exercise products available for home use are particularly useful or durable, according to Dr. Wayne Westcott. Worse yet, some carry a high risk of injury, especially for individuals with predisposing problems such as sensitive shoulders, lower back weakness, or poor balance. In this column, "Selecting Exercise Equipment," Dr. Westcott takes a look at the benefits and disadvantages of several popular home exercise machines to help you with your purchasing decisions.

Cybrarian Service Comes Through For You
"I've spent 20 hours on the Internet and I've searched Medline. I can't find what I'm looking for." Micaela Sullivan-Fowler, M.S., M.A. developer of the Cybrarian Service is undaunted by such a statement. She found just what they were looking for. The Cybrarian Service does not confine itself to the Internet- searching books, other databases, consulting experts, going where the novice or inexperienced searcher hasn't the time or expertise to tread. Have a really tough question? Think there's nothing on your difficult topic? Use the Cybrarian Service.

Children's Health Update
Influenza is a viral infection of the respiratory tract which can occur in epidemic proportions during the winter. Influenza is very contagious and is spread by contact with an infected person. A person is contagious from about two days before symptoms occur until about the fifth day of the illness. Symptoms of influenza include chills, fever, headache, achiness, fatigue, and lack of appetite. Treatment is generally directed at alleviating symptoms, which can make the sufferer truly miserable. Although the illness generally runs its course in three to four days, complications such as encephalitis, pneumonia, croup, or seizures can occur. If any of these develop, your child will need immediate medical attention.

In her article "Influenza," excerpted from her book, Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, Dr. Janet Zand discusses the common causes of influenza and outlines a comprehensive program for helping to deal with your child's influenza, including guidelines for prevention, conventional treatment as well as dietary guidelines and recommended nutritional supplements, herbs, homeopathic remedies, Bach Flower Remedies and acupressure.

Association Network -- Hot Pick
Ensuring Your Medical Freedom: The American Preventive Medical Association is the political voice for health care practitioners who use nutritional and other complementary therapies in patient care. Members approach health from a comprehensive perspective, utilizing preventive medical techniques and less-invasive, more natural methods of patient management. Visit the APMA.

Visit APMA.

Global Health Calendar -- Hot Picks

International College of Advanced Longevity Medicine presents "Quality of Life and Longevity Medicine" -- May 9 ö 10, 1998, Caesarâs Palace, Las Vegas. New Dimensions in anti-aging medicine. History & Theories of Aging, Diagnostic Testing Biomarkers, Hormonal Therapies including Estrogen, Progesterone, Melatonin, DHEA, Thyroid, etc., Growth Hormone & Secretagogues, Gene therapy, Cell Therapy, Homeopathic Growth Factors, Life Span Nutrition, Toxic Metals & Your Brain, Free Radical Testing, Liquid Cell Extracts, Computerized Interpretation of New Tests, Calcium, Metabolism, & Aging, Biological Terrain, Developing Your Life Extension Protocols. (888) 855-5050.

Comprehensive Cancer Care: Integrating Complementary and Alternative Therapies. June 12-14, 1998, Arlington, VA -- Jointly sponsored by: Center for Mind-Body Medicine, James S. Gordon, MD, Director, National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Office of Alternative Medicine (OAM), and the University of Texas-Houston Health Science Center Medical School of Nursing - 800-805-3976. For more information visit Center for Mind-Body Medicine

Eighth Annual ISSSEEM Conference: The Future of Energy Medicine: Integrating Science & Spirit. June 18-24, 1998, Boulder, CO -- presented by International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies & Energy Medicine - 303-425-4625

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Editor, Healthy Update: James Strohecker

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To subscribe to email version of Healthy Update, send email to: [email protected] and type just the word "subscribe" in the body text of the email.