Healthy Living – Ask Dr. Babcock

A. Many people suffer from constipation due to poor dietary habits, primarily not having enough fiber in their diets. Two ill effects often occur: 1) undesirable matter remains in the colon – sometimes for years – and becomes a source of toxins absorbed into the bloodstream, resulting in deteriorating health in many forms. Usually, the weakest part of the body is most affected. Some authorities believe that arthritis starts from the colon and I believe that this is what they base their claim on. 2) When a person’s diet has long been heavy with greasy foods, like french fries, over a period of years, the colon walls can become covered by grease and no longer able to absorb nutrients through their walls and into the bloodstream. This bad condition leads to starvation in spite of eating plenty of food. One sign of poor nutrition and poor digestion is the problem people talk about as being overweight. The body accumulates foods that were not completely digested and therefore not eliminated. The result is alot of overweight Americans, including chidren in grade school. According to recent news, this is now affecting one out of every four kids and one out of every two adults. Raw foods, such as fruits and vegetables, contain food enzymes as well as fiber and should be a daily part of everyone’s diet.

Q. There is a problem that is becoming universal in large cities of low levels of oxygen in the air we breathe. What can we do about this?

A. The easiest immediate solution is drinking more water, which releases oxygen into the bloodstream. Every cell in our bodies needs oxygen to do its work. Most, if not all, pathogen organisms are anaerobic, which means that they proliferate in low oxygen environments, but cannot live in tissues which have an abundant supply of oxygen.

Q. What about eating raw meat?

A. Man is the only animal who cooks food before eating it. All of nature thrives on raw foods. The first point I want to emphasize that is a serious health danger is eating PORK that has not been thoroughly cooked at high enough temperatures to kill tiny worms called TRICHINAE. The disease associated with that circumstance is called TRICHINOSIS, and while that is not immediately fatal – like having been poisoned – if it were not treated it could eventually become fatal. Eskimos eat raw meat called blubber and it does not make them fat, and they do not have high cholesterol. At least, they didn’t before modern civilization came to them. Raw meats have naturally occurring enzymes present in the tissue. Those enzymes are active when meat is “aged” before being prepared for consumption, as when a deer is allowed to hang for a period of time before processing. What everyone should do is use digestive enzymes on a daily basis.

Q. I have an enlarged prostate (no cancer). I am to be operated on soon so I can urinate as I should. What can I take that will help my prostate?

A. Please do not rush into surgery. Saw Palmetto Complex is an excellent formula for natural healing and restoration of normal function.

Q. What can you take to help Meignere’s Disease?

A. In addition to taking Vitamin B-6, please consult with a Doctor of Chiropractic.

Q. Does drinking vinegar lower your cholesterol?

A. Yes, apple cider vinegar, with honey to make it palatable, will lower your cholesterol. Apple Pectin is the primary active ingredient.

Q. My sixteen year old daughter has suffered with joint pain for approximately five years. She has joint problems on a continual basis all over her body. Her hands feel like stretched tight leather. A. I recommend these products for your daughter: Natural Calm Magnesium & Maxiflex. Both of these products are effective for joint health.

Q. Aspirin Danger?

A. A lot of publicity has been given recently to the use of “an aspirin a day” to prevent a second heart attack. That thought has evolved to “take an aspirin a day to prevent a first heart attack.” I have heard of people who suffer from arthritis pain taking aspirin by the handfuls. They should have been taking magnesium, preferably mixed into a drink. Not much has been said about the high incidence of aspirin causing stomach ulcers or aspirin leading to internal bleeding, which is a common result from the aspirin dissolving against the stomach lining. Aspirin is acetyl salicylic acid and is able to penetrate the protective mucous barrier in the stomach. Recent research has shown that women who take more than fourteen aspirin per month for a long time have an 85% increase of breast cancer. (Please call Paw Creek Ministries and request a brochure on Natural Calm Magnesium.)

Q. Please describe the benefits of Colloidal Silver.

A. “Colloidal Silver” refers to a solution of silver particles suspended in distilled water. The particles are so small that they remain in suspension and do not settle to the bottom of the container (which is preferred to be dark brown glass). Colloidal Silver is a non-drug broad spectrum antibiotic which works on the principle of suffocation of pathogenic micro-organisms of 650 different diseases. The organisms cannot develop resistance to Colloidal Silver. While different authorities prefer different particle sizes or concentrations, I subscribe to the opinion that the best concentrations is 5 ppm. This solution exhibits a somewhat golden appearance.

Q. Lady asks about dry mouth that disturbs her sleep. She states that she takes several prescriptions in addition to Aleve. She also suffers from carpal tunnel syndrome.

A. Dryness of the mouth is a common “side effect” of prescription medications. Ask your medical doctor if there are any prescriptions which you could stop taking or at least reduce the amount. For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, I recommend the following: Vitamin B-6, Vitamin B-12, and Lecithin. Another option is to take Glucosamine with MSM.

Q. A man asks about Meniere’s Disease and Tinnitis.

A. Excessive fluids are characteristic of this condition of the inner ear. For other conditions of fluid retention, it is common practice by medical doctors to prescribe diuretic medications. Unfortunately, these medicines cause elimination of fluids from within the cells, which is undesirable. A more desirable approach is to use Vitamin B-6, which is a natural diuretic and only reduces interstitial fluids (from the spaces between cells) and does not cause fluid loss (dehydration) from within cells. No prescription is needed to purchase Vitamin B-6 and you can self-regulate how much you want to take by monitoring your fluid excretions. This procedure may or may not be helpful and depends on whether your situation includes the presence of excess fluids. There have been conditions of vertigo, which were found to result from TMJ (Tempero-Mandibular Joint) misalignments and were successfully resolved by realignment of the jaw joint.

Q. What can I do to stop retaining water in my legs and ankles?

A. Saw Palmetto would be helpful, it is not just for men only. Another natural diuretic is Vitamin B-6 and can be taken along with the Saw Palmetto. Follow label directions. Natural diuretics work differently than medicines which deplete important substances from within our blood cells. Natural diuretics reduce only the excess fluids from tissue spaces between the cells, called interstitial spaces. I use two teaspoons of magnesium powder, stirred into 8 oz of water, once a day for protection from heart problems. Abnormal fluid retention in the ankles is one characteristic of congestive heart failure. My remark about using magnesium to benefit the heart is accurate, but not directly related to reducing swelling in the ankles. A therapist who provides foot massages would be helpful to mobilize fluids for elimination through normal systems. A natural healing agent is Aloe Vera, which is available in lotions and ointments.

Q. Why is Magnesium so important to our diet? Is dissolvable Magnesium the best form to use?

A. My personal reason for supplementing with magnesium is that by autopsy it has been found that in fatal heart attacks, 50% of the victims had normal cholesterol levels, but 100% were deficient in magnesium in the heart muscle. Magnesium is beneficial in regulating the heartbeat and, in some cases, appears to have reduced arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), especially what is classified as idiopathic arrhythmias. Magnesium regulates calcium metabolism; therefore, plays a major role in reducing and perhaps reversing osteoporosis. Powdered magnesium is available in flavors and mixes well in water so it is not necessary to use juice. Unflavored powdered magnesium does mix very well in juice and is quite palatable. Call Paw Creek Ministries and request booklet, “Magnesium, Miracles in Minutes.” This teaches that magnesium participates in more than 350 natural chemical processes in our body that are necessary to maintain our health and organ functions.

Q. Will Ginkgo Biloba help retard the development of dementia and Alzheimer’s if taken regularly? What other vitamins are helpful for a strong and healthy mind?

A. Ginkgo Biloba has been shown to improve memory in Alzheimer patients and in people who appear to be in normal health but just a little forgetful. Ginkgo Biloba is also known to have powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant qualities. Depending on the size of the person, 120 mg to 240 mg is the beneficial daily dosage. (Caution – People who take blood thinning medication should not take Ginkgo Biloba because it also has blood thinning characteristics. In the past couple of years, people have been told to take aspirin on a daily basis to minimize having a second heart attack because of the blood thinning activity of aspirin. People ought not take both substances.) Other beneficial substances are Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), B6 (Pyridoxine), and B3 (Niacin). Niacin can cause a hot, flushing/tingling reaction, which may be frightening but is not harmful. It usually lasts from ten to thirty minutes. Using Niacinamide avoids that bothersome experience. Acetyl-L-Carnitine is an amino acid that helps power brain-cell activity and improve memory. It may retard protein deposits that develop in the brain of early stage Alzheimer victims.

Q. Why are chemically based medicines so damaging to our bodies and why do almost all doctors prescribe them anyway?

A. Many medications are derived from crude petroleum. Shocking, isn’t it? Crude oil out of the ground is used to make gasoline, kerosene, crankcase oil, and many other household substances. The junk that is left over is broken down chemically and used to make many medications. Common sense tells you not to put that kind of thing into your body. Medications derived from natural sources are digestible and therefore helpful and not toxic. The chemical based formulas are in an atomic structure that our body does not have a digestive process to assimilate into our systems. The result is an accumulation of toxins (poisons) into our bodies. How often do you hear about someone who has had to go ever so often for a liver test. The chemical doctor is watching for a build-up of toxins which could destroy the liver. Chemical doctors prescribe them because that is how they are educated. Even some vitamin formulas have petroleum-based ingredients. Always read the label, especially on cheaper products, which many times are not helpful at all.

Q. Please explain the benefits of Ginkgo Biloba as it relates to senile dementia.

A. The benefits of Ginkgo Biloba are the results of increased blood supply to the brain which provides increased cerebral nutrition and oxygenation of the brain cells. Circulation throughout the body, called “peripheral circulation,” is enhanced as well. A European study of patients between the ages of 60 and 80 with senile dementia showed measurable improvement in as little as eight weeks. The use of Ginkgo Biloba for less than eight weeks is thought to be too short of a time period to be effective. The average dose has been 40mg three times daily for a minimum of three months. Although rare, side effects are possible and may include: dermatitis, irritability, restlessness, diarrhea, vomiting, and probably only in people who have an unusual sensitivity to Ginkgo Biloba. Another way to increase peripheral circulation is to use cayenne pepper supplements.

Q. What treatment do you recommend for high blood pressure?

A. High blood pressure is nearly epidemic in America and, in this writer’s opinion, is directly related to the overweight condition seen everywhere and the easy lifestyle with no regular exercise. The common approach by medication is the use of diuretics to reduce the amount of body fluids. The problem is that drugs deplete fluids from inside our tissue cells (intracellular fluids) thereby reducing the normal function of those cells. A more natural way to address fluid retention is to increase the intake of Vitamin B6. That will reduce fluids from spaces between the cells (interstitial spaces) which is the desired effect and will not interfere with cellular function. Normal function of cells is health. Magnesium regulates the metabolism of calcium and, in proper dosage, lowers the level is muscle tension throughout the body. That reduces the workload on the heart, which in turn doesn’t have to push so hard to accomplish circulation. The result is lower blood pressure. Cayenne pepper and garlic supplements also have been useful to lower blood pressure. People with high blood pressure should avoid using any stimulants. Cigarette smoking causes constriction of blood vessels, causing increased blood pressure.

Q. Could you let me know if you have any information on burning mouth syndrome?

A. You should gargle colloidal silver solution.

Q. How much Natural Calm should I take on a daily basis? How many days’ worth are in the 8 oz container?

A. According to the label, three teaspoons daily is the normal dosage. At that rate the eight ounce container will last four to six weeks. Do not start taking three teaspoons on the first day! Start with one teaspoon dissolved in water and gradually increase the amount until your bowels are soft, but not loose. If you take too high of a dosage, you will develop diarrhea. If this happens, go back to the previous amount taken. This is your personal maximum dosage.

Q. I have osteoporosis. How much calcium do I need to take each day.

A. Osteoporosis is not due to low calcium, but is due to faulty calcium metabolism. The magnesium supplement, when consumed as directed, will enable the body to properly metabolize the calcium taken with regular meals. It may not be necessary to take calcium supplements.

Q. Can you give advice on dealing with ear infections?

A. A high grade of olive oil may be used to treat the ear by heating the oil in a teaspoon to a warm temperature, but not hot. Use a Q-tip to put the oil into the ear canal, but, it is best not to drop the oil into the ear because of the possibility of perforating the eardrum. Place a small wad of cotton that has been soaked with the oil into the outer ear canal and leave it there for up to four hours along with a warm compress on the ear. Take alot of Vitamin C. Olive leaf extract is also a very powerful immune system builder. If the patient is a child and cannot swallow a capsule, the capsule may be opened and the ingredients can be mixed with juice to drink. This should be taken three times a day and the problem should clear up in two days.

Q. What is a natural way to lower blood pressure?

A. The best natural way to lower blood pressure in most cases is to lose weight. If you are not overweight, you can take a herbal remedy containing Valerian Extract and Passion Flower Extract to reduce tension throughout the body. All arteries and veins have tiny annular muscle fibers which enable the vessels to constrict or dilate according to the body’s needs. High blood pressure may be a symptom of excess tension in the body and these herbs may help to ease that tension. The medical approach usually is to prescribe a diuretic to stimulate the body to excrete fluids. Their thinking is that by reducing the extra-cellular fluids, there would be less pressure on the arteries so that the heart would not have to work as hard to push the blood through the vessels. Chronic high blood pressure may be related to kidney problems and a medical doctor needs to be consulted to determine whether that is a factor.

Q. What is a natural way to lower cholesterol?

A. A natural way to lower cholesterol is to eat oatmeal. My lovely wife prepares me oatmeal for breakfast and often includes slices of bananas. Delicious! Sometimes, she includes chopped pecans, which is a very tasty addition. I use soy milk, which also contributes to lowering cholesterol. Another excellent product to lower cholesterol is a fruit juce called Fruta Vida … the “Fruit of Life.” It is made from the ACAI berry. It is the national drink of Argentina.

Q. I have been on a rigid program for a year to get my body in shape. I knew something had to be out of balance because I was losing my nails. After an in-depth blood analysis, I was found to be too acidic and my gastrointestinal tract was not working properly; therefore, I am now taking digestive enzymes as well as supplements to get rid of candida which was also present in my body. Since nails are indicative of body ailments, I would like to know why my nails are still brittle and have longitudinal ridges which hinders their proper growth and maintenance. I have always had strong healthy nails that did not split and were easily maintained by filing. My nails are no longer receding, but they are still brittle, splitting, and have a pinkish tint that seems to me to be too pink. I still have a problem with them cracking once they get past the nail bed. I have been taking B-Complex supplements. I do not have any more white specks, which leads me to believe that I no longer have a mineral deficiency. Since I have gotten rid of the candida, I do not think I have any more fungus infections. Can you help me by giving some advice about what I need to do make them strong?

A. This 73 year old gentleman has certainly been doing the right things as evidenced by the improvements. In consideration of what he has accomplished, I think that probably the only thing he has not done is to increase his intake of HCL, which is the normal digesting acid in the stomach. Most people are not aware that HCL can be supplemented just like vitamins. It is good that he is taking digestive enzymes.

Q. In 1971 I had radiation on my thyroid gland. Later, I was informed that radiation kills and destroys the thyroid gland. I was on Synthroid for approximately nine years. They could not regulate the thyroid hormone in my body. The synthetic hormone would build up in my system and I would develop hyperthyroidism. Then, the doctor would decrease the dosage and this would cause me to develop hypothyroidism. Because of this, I almost died in 1980. Then, I went to a medical doctor who used natural health remedies and he put me on desiccated thyroid medication. At that point everything balanced out and I was fine. Now, I am being told by the pharmacist that this drug will no longer be manufactured. What other alternatives do I have and what are the risks?

A. You should contact the doctor who prescribed the desiccated thyroid medication because the pharmacist does not search for alternate sources; therefore, his comment only relates to the source he normally uses. When I was in practice I often received advertising from companies marketing glandular formulas so I am sure you will be able to obtain what you need. You should also check out any health food stores in your area in addition to consulting your original physician.

Q. In January of 2005 my two-year-old daughter had a bad cold. A week later, she started coughing. The doctors have given her four different antibiotics. Each one stops the cough for about two weeks and then it starts all over again. There is no sputum and no wheezing. The ENT specialist said that her tonsils and adenoids are enlarged, but he is not worried. The coughing disrupts her sleep frequently and we are concerned about this recurring cough. Please give us your opinion. I have been wondering about colloidal silver and if it will have a harmful effect on such a small child.

A. First of all, we never prescribe, but we are suggesting the following: Colloidal silver would not be harmful for the child. The amount she takes should be adjusted for her age. About one teaspoon a day would be appropriate when divided in two doses. Colloidal Silver is an old-fashion antibiotic which was used by doctors until penicillin was discovered. It works for almost every infection. I recently had a child brought to me that had a similar cough. After a chiropractic adjustment to free the nerves that affected the throat, the cough simply disappeared.

Q. I’ve noticed that both fish oil and flaxseed oil claim to have Omega-3s, but I notice that you recommend fish oil more often. Can you tell me the difference? I’d prefer to take flax, but not if it isn’t as effective.