University of The Sciences in Philadelphia Establishes Complementary And Alternative Medicine Institute: Aim to Set Uniform Standards for Herbal Remedies
In an effort to make herbal and other complementary medicines safer and more effective for Americans, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia (USP) is applying its scientific and clinical resources to a new venture, the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Institute at USP. Experts in various areas of herbal medicine met in Philadelphia on December 6 and 7, 1999, for a discussion of the future of herbals and science. The Institute's research will focus on analyses of herbs, bioassays, in vitro and in vivo studies, and clinical evaluations of supplements and other herbal preparations.

Family Medicine Study Says Vitamin E Supplements Help Protect Against Heart Disease - Dietary Not Enough
Vitamin E supplements are the "only feasible way" for heart patients and others to receive appropriately large doses of Vitamin E, according to a clinical review in the medical journal Archives of Family Medicine. Dr. David H. Emmert and Jeffrey T. Kirchner, authors of the review entitled "The Role of Vitamin E in the Prevention of Heart Disease," noted in the December issue of the journal that dietary sources can't provide comparable amounts of vitamin E. "Supplementation is the only feasible way to provide large doses of Vitamin E, since dietary sources do not lend themselves to this purpose, " the authors wrote.

Consumerlab.Com Testing Quality of Glucosamine, Chondroitin, And Saw Palmetto Supplements - Web Site Becoming Popular Reference for Consumers
As part of its ongoing independent evaluation of health, wellness, and nutrition products sold in the U.S., ConsumerLab.com announced that it is now testing Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and Saw Palmetto dietary supplements. This announcement comes just three weeks after ConsumerLab.com released of its Ginkgo Biloba Product Review, in which one quarter of 30 leading products failed testing. ConsumerLab.com is testing 26 leading glucosamine, chondroitin, or combination products and 21 Saw Palmetto products. The contents of the products are being tested to determine whether they meet quality standards and label claims for ingredient composition and quantity. Results will be reported in four to six weeks at www.consumerlab.com

Mind Over Matter
It's a fact that due to recent advances in medicine, people are living longer. HealthWorld Online welcomes an important new column by Barry Bittman, M.D. called Mind Over Matter. In his first column "Take Two Music Lessons in the Golden Years: and call me in the morning" Dr. Bittman shows how creative expression is one of the principal elements for staying young and healthy.

Dr. Galland's Integrated Medicine
Epidemics of parasitic infection from contaminated water and of bacterial food poisoning from chicken or hamburger serve notice that the U.S. food and water supply is not safe. Pesticides and preservatives provide no protection from the current crop of microbes and pose health hazards of their own, according to Leo Galland, M.D., in his column, "Eating Safely in a Polluted World: You Don't Have to Choose Between Microbes and Chemicals!: Part II: Maintain a Safe Supply of Food and Drink". There are several simple, effective measures you can follow to protect yourself and those you love from the effects of eating contaminated food and water, avoiding both microbial and chemical contaminants in food and drink and building resistance to them if you are exposed. Dr. Galland provides guidelines that will significantly reduce your exposure to disease provoking microbes in food and drink.

Ask Annie: Solutions for Less Toxic Living
Instead of using commercial disinfectants that may cause drug resistance, try a powerfully antiseptic cleanser for trouble spots in your home. While not registered by the EPA as a pesticide as commercial disinfectants need to be, the Vinegar of the Four Thieves formula that has been passed down through the ages offers an excellent antiseptic. In this column "Antibacterial Vinegar ¯ Chapped Lips ¯ Wall-paper Paste ¯ Too Much Soot? " by author and environmental tips expert Annie Berthold-Bond, you will find this and other less toxic formulas.

The Healer Within
The traditional systems of medicine from the Asian cultures have always had some type of massage stimulation to the ears. When you work on your ears you will notice that within 4-5 minutes of vigorous massage your ears get hot. This is cause by the increase of blood flow to that area. The Chinese say, "When the blood is increased to an area the Energy (Qi) is increased to that area as well." If you have someone else rub your ears you will notice that your ears are extremely sensuous. This is because the ears are heavily enervated. The combination of the presence of the nerves, the effect of the pressure and the heightened circulation causes stimulation to the reflexes of the Microsystems of the ear, notes Dr. Roger Jahnke in this column, "Self-Applied Massage of the Ears". Through this reflex Microsystems all parts of the body can be influenced through pressure massage to the ear.

Children's Health Update
Many natural health practitioners and herbalists view severe hyperactivity in children as being closely related to emotional and physical nourishment. The child may be starved for affection, attention, or important nutrients that are not available in some modern fast-food diets. In his article "Calming Hyper Kids with Herbs" Christopher Hobbs, L.Ac., a fourth generation herbalist, discusses natural and herbal alternatives for calming hyperactivity in children.

Women's Health Update
Growing older can't be avoided, but it doesn't have to mean the loss of health, mind and independence. In fact, research seems to indicate the opposite. In her article "The Five Myths of Aging", Lauri M. Aesoph. N.D. shows that by paying a little attention to lifestyle, most older individuals can live active, healthy lives and we can all shatter those old age myths.

Health Bookstore
Although depression has risen to almost epidemic proportions in the U.S., most Americans still look to magic bullets for its cure, whether it be Prozac or St. Johns Wort. Few realize that there are a wide range of solutions for depression from around the world, ranging from diet and lifestyle, mind/body practices, nutritional therapy, homeopathy to Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and spiritual therapies.

James and Nancy Strohecker have compiled a comprehensive guide, " Natural Healing for Depression: Solutions from the World's Great Health Traditions and Practitioners" with contributions from nine nationally known experts in a wide range of alternative/complementary therapies. Each expert is either a member of the HealthWorld Online Advisory Board or is a content contributor--David E. Bresler, Ph.D., L.Ac.; Hyla Cass, M.D.; Roger C. Hirsh, O.M.D., L.Ac.; Shri Kant Mishra, M.D., M.S., Doctor of Ayurveda; Joseph Pizzorno, N.D.; Carlos Warter, M.D., Ph.D.; Melvyn R. Werbach, M.D.; Jacquelyn J. Wilson, M.D.; Janet Zand, O.M.D., L.Ac. Natural Healing for Depression offers exciting new solutions for relieving depression by treating the whole person, and understanding the various underlying lifestyle causes that may be leading to depression.

Professional Referral Network
The Professional Referral Network contains searchable directories from 20 leading professional associations in complementary and integrative health care, with over 10,000 professionals. Looking for a homeopath? The Homeopathy section includes the Council for Homeopathic Certification and the Homeopathic Academy of Naturopathic Physicians.

Medical Cybrarian Research Service
Need to know all of your treatment options for dealing with a difficult health issue? Want to be able to effectively search Medline and other medical databases? Need to have a professional who can do this fast and efficiently? Let an experienced medical librarian do it for you. HealthWorld Online's innovative Medical Cybrarian Service searches the Internet and and other databases, providing you with information on diseases, treatments (alternative and/or mainstream), drugs, statistics, and patient information that is summarized for your research needs. This "Cybrarian" carefully gathers and selects bibliographic citations, points you to useful Web sites, and annotates or summarizes pages or documents that would be useful to you for reasonable fees.

Participate in our Online Community--Join our Discussion Forums
What does "Health Freedom" mean to you?

Join in the ongoing discussion in our "Health Freedom," "The Vaccination Question," "Genetically Modified Foods," "Issues in Integrated Health Care," "Mind-Body-Spirit Health," and "Qigong and Taiji" forums.

Association Network -- Hot Pick
The International Oxidative Medicine Association (IOMA) was established to be a professional membership organization to participate in and support basic medical and clinical research in the field of biological oxidative medicine. IOMA conducts two annual training workshops and sponsors an annual conference on oxidative medicine for the exchange of the newest discoveries and clinical findings. Professional members are listed in the membership referral list that is available for public distribution.

Visit International Oxidative Medicine Association

Global Health Calendar -- Hot Picks

Celebrate the New Millennium at the Gathering Place of Ancient Hawaiian Royalty
With Shakti Gawain, Hank Wesselman, and Alan Cohn
December 28, 1999-January 2, 2000
Kapa'a, Kauai, HI USA
Contact: HealthyTravel.net - 888-888-0717

30th Annual Northeast Vision Conference
January 19-20, 2000
Northampton, MA USA
Contact: Optometric Extension Program Foundation - 949-250-8070

Psychosynthesis Conference
Speakers from all over North America
January 22, 2000
Contact: Psychosynthesis International and Association for the Advancement of Psychosynthesis - 661-945-7928

Partnerships for Health in the New Millennium
A joint meeting of the Healthy People Consortium and Partnerships for Networked Consumer Health Information, launching Healthy People 2010
January 24-28, 2000
Washington, DC USA
Contact: U.S. DHHS, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion - 301-468-1273

Integrative Breathwork - with Jacquelyn Small
An Evolutionary Tool for Personal and Planetary Transformation
February 4-6, 2000
Austin, TX USA
Contact: Eupsychia Institute - 800-546-2795

Nutraceuticals/ Functional Foods
February 20-24, 2000
College Station, TX USA
Contact: Texas A & M University - 409-845-2749

The Second World Conference of Nutrition and Vitamin Therapy and New Medicine Exposition
Focus on New Medicine
February 20-22, 2000
San Francisco, CA USA
Contact: Nutritional Medicine - 510-845-0700

Natural Health, Aromatherapy and Herb Trade Show
February 25-27, 2000
Scottsdale, AZ USA
Contact: The International Aromatherapy and Herb Association - 602-938-4439

Journeys of Discovery-Unique Travel presents Swim with the Humpback Whales in the Caribbean An outer Discovery adventure--an inner journey for the soul, a Personal Transformational Journey
February 26-March 4, 2000
Silver Banks, Puerto Plata DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Contact: HealthyTravel.net - 888-888-0717