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, integrative medicine and Self-Managed Care™. 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 Co-founders to Deliver Visionary Keynote Address at Conference on Dietary Supplements and the Internet
"A Vision of the Future: The Emerging Role of the Internet in the Natural Products Industry" will be the theme of the Visionary Keynote Address delivered by HealthWorld Online's co-founders, Dave Robertson and James Strohecker, at the "'Live' Dietary Supplements: Beyond the Obvious" conference in San Diego, December 1-2. The Internet information revolution has shaken the foundations of the industrial order and how business will be conducted in the future. This phenomenon will have great relevance to the 20 billion dollar U.S. Natural Products Industry, which is in the midst of an exponential growth phase with 20% annualized growth. The conference, which will be held at the San Diego Hilton Beach and Tennis Resort, will focus on dietary supplements and the Internet. For more information call (508) 481-6400

Vitamin E Is Said to Retard Cataract Growth
Vitamin E sharply reduces the risk that a cataract will worsen, according to a new study that lends additional evidence to the vitamin's health benefits. Earlier studies had indicated that the vitamin can prevent heart attacks, lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, and boost immune function. Earlier research had suggested that cataracts were less common among users of vitamin E, but skeptics point out that other factors might be responsible. The new study, published in the current issue of the journal Ophthalmology, makes it more likely that the effect is due to vitamin E.

Massage Therapy May Be a Path to Better Health
While "massage parlor" once was a euphemism for the site of naughty acts, today legitimate massage establishments are filled with people seeking relief from stress, headaches, lower back pain, depression, insomnia and sore muscles. Scientific studies have also touted the benefits of massage therapy for premature infants, children with diabetes and patients with the AIDS virus. A bill pending in the New York Legislature would require insurance policies for hospital, surgical or medical care to include services by a licensed massage therapist.

How Many People Are Searching for Health Information on the Net?
About 15.6 million adults — 43 percent of all Internet users — searched for health information online in 1997, up from 13.8 million, or 38 percent, in 1996. (Source: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

Dr. Galland's Integrated Medicine
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body, a necessary co-factor for hundreds of enzymes, and the most critical mineral of all for coping with stress. Stress-related diseases which run rampant through modern society, like heart attacks and high blood pressure, are often accompanied by magnesium deficiency. Unfortunately, most Americans consume diets that fail to meet the government's RDA for magnesium, and magnesium intake is even lower than average among people who develop heart disease, according to Dr. Leo Galland in his latest column, Magnesium: The Stress Reliever.

Mind Body Health Newsletter
Most medical care today is provided via the brief office visit - one person visits the doctor. Clearly appropriate in some circumstances, this one-to-one model often falls short of meeting patients' real needs - especially patients with multiple chronic illnesses. Both patient and physician often emerge from traditional visits feeling time-pressured and shortchanged - a situation getting worse as pressures to reduce costs force doctors to serve more and more patients. "What if you could have a full two-hour visit with your physician every month?" asks David S. Sobel, M.D. in his column, Rethinking the Physician Visit, "and what if during that visit you could learn not only from your doctor, but from other members of the health care team as well as from other patients with similar problems?"

Natural Medicine Research Update
Will 5-HTP be the next supplement superstar? 5-hydroxytryptophan is a natural supplement that has been available as a pill over the counter since 1995. It is sold by a number of vitamin companies, usually in a dosage of 50 mg. Tryptophan, an amino acid found in our food converts into 5-HTP which in turn converts into serotonin. Serotonin is an important brain chemical involved in mood, behavior, appetite, and sleep. Studies published over the past three decades show that 5-HTP can be helpful in conditions that normally require prescription medicines such as Prozac, Xanax, sleeping pills, and diet drugs. In his column, 5-HTP:Nature's Serotonin Solution? asks But how safe is 5-HTP?

The Healer Within
The basic technique of self-applied massage for the hands is the same as for the feet. However, the hands are much easier because they are so easy to reach. Without sitting down or having to remove your shoes you can go right to work. You can do this any where at any time. In this column, Self-Applied Massage of the Hands, Dr. Roger Jahnke explains how to do self-applied massage to the hands.

Keeping Fit with Dr. Wayne Westcott
We live in a generation that is generally characterized as underfit and overfat. Population studies show that 90 percent of Americans do too little exercise to receive any measurable benefit from it. In spite of our national emphasis on fitness and sports, it seems that most people are observers rather than participants, , says Dr. Wayne Westcott in his latest column, Fit Or Fat? .Research reveals that one out of three Americans is obese, making overfatness nothing short of a national epidemic. In spite of the fact that over $30 billion is spent annually on diet programs, the incidence of obesity has increased by 25 percent in the last 15 years. What's wrong with this picture?

Children's Health Update
Constipation is a common health problem for children. Janet Zand, LAc OMD, in her article "Constipation,", excerpted from her book Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child, discusses conventional treatment, prevention as well as dietary support and nutritional supplements, herbal, and homeopathic treatments directed at dealing with consitipation.

Your Voice is Urgently Needed!

In 1994, millions of Americans wrote Congress asking for passage of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA). One of DSHEA's key victories allowed you more scientific information about using supplements to maintain health. Now FDA has proposed regulations that will prevent you from getting information on how to use vitamins, minerals and herbs to prevent disease.

Unless FDA hears from you and 100,000 other Americans, these proposed regulations will become law. You must respond by September 25, 1998 to be heard. Please email a copy of this information to all your friends and internet associates. This is very important.

You can easily "email" your comments to FDA by visiting Email the FDA

For complete text of the proposed FDA regulations

For more information,
contact Citizens For Health
at 1-800-357-2211
Citizens for Health Web Site

Association Network -- Hot Pick
The American Herbal Products Association is the national trade association and voice of the herbal and berbal products industry. AHPA Members consist of the companies and individuals who grow, import, process, market, and/or manufacture America's herb's and herbal products. Associate AHPA Members include researchers, educators, attorneys, the media, and medical professionals including physicians, herbalists, naturopaths, pharmacists, and practitioners of traditional and integrative medicine. Includes information on the International St. John's Wort Symposium in Anaheim, California.

Visit the American Herbal Products Association.

Global Health Calendar -- Hot Picks

Natural Products Expo East: Natural and Organic Products Trade Show. September 10-13, 1998, Baltimore, MD -- presented by New Hope Communications - 303-939-8440

Body & Soul Boston: A weekend conference of keynotes and workshops presented by national leaders in mind/body healing, spirituality, creativity & contemplative practices. September 11-14, 1998, Boston, MA -- presented by New Age Publishing, Inc. - 800-937-8728

Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Scientific Evidence and Steps Toward Integration: Evidence-Based Clinical Research on CAM Therapies and Practical Information to Integrate CAM Therapies into Clinical Practice. September 18, 1998, Palo Alto, CA -- presented by Stanford Center for Research in Disease Prevention, Stanford University School of Medicine - 619-686-5990 x3433

European International Conference on Quality of Life and Longevity Medicine. September 24-26, 1998, Brussels, Flemish Brabant, Belgium -- presented by European Academy of Quality of Life and Longevity Medicine - 011 32 2 732 39 69

American Herbalists Guild Symposium: Clinical Herbalism - the emerging profession. October 1-4, 1998, Seattle, WA -- presented by American Herbalists Guild - 888-238-4261

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Editor, Healthy Update: James Strohecker

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