Harmful Chemicals in Children’s Products… More Common than you Think

Children's health, Detoxing, Dr. Janet's blogs 5 Responses »
May 162013

By Dr. Janet Levatin

I have long said that it is best for us to raise our children with as few commercial products as possible, and to use natural alternatives whenever feasible. I recently came across evidence confirming that these principles are sound, and that it’s more important than ever to make wise choices when it comes to what we buy for our children.

Washington state passed a law in 2008 requiring manufacturers of children’s products to disclose the presence of 66 chemicals identified as toxic. These particular chemicals were targeted as “necessary-to-report” because they are linked to disorders such as developmental and reproductive problems, endocrine gland disruption, and cancer… serious stuff!

Recently several companies, including Walmart, Target, Gap, and Gymboree, made the required disclosures, revealing that over 5,000 children’s products contained toxins, including metals (mercury, cadmium, antimony, cobalt, and molybdenum), flame retardants, fragrances, phthalates (the chemicals that give plastic products flexibility), and more. The products reported are commonly used: clothing, toys, bedding, arts and crafts supplies, shoes, and baby products. Also on the list are jewelry, accessories, cleaning products, hair products, and furniture.

As I walk through the Big Chain stores that are so popular today and look at the plethora of plastic products for sale, I can’t help but think of them as “junk,” the same way I look at the poor quality, mass-produced, chemical-laced junk we call “food.”  When I see parents dress their kids in polyester clothes, give them plastic toys to play with, wipe their faces with baby wipes, use fragranced products to launder their clothes, and allow toxic vaccines as part of their “well baby” care, I wonder what is going to become of the next generation of children? Is it even possible to live a more natural, healthier existence?

Washington state is to be commended for passing such legislation. The companies that complied with the reporting requirements are to be commended as well. Due to their efforts, consumers can make more informed choices when shopping for their children. Hopefully more states  – and our federal government — will step up to the challenge so parents can protect their children from the harmful chemicals that have become entrenched in today’s consumer society.

Here are a few principles I recommend to create a less toxic environment for your children:

1. Use organic cotton clothes and bedding, remembering that these item are on your child 24/7. Avoid synthetic fabrics as much as possible; avoid fabrics treated with flame retardants.

2. Avoid plastic containers, especially soft plastics. Never microwave in plastic if you microwave at all.

3. Avoid fragranced cleaning and personal care products.

4. Get active in your local community. Put pressure on companies to stop manufacturing and carrying products that are toxic to our children. Support local vendors who provide natural items, such as wooden toys and whole foods.

5. Get active nationally. Put pressure on our state and federal governments to ban toxic chemicals in our children’s products.

By educating ourselves and making wise choices on what businesses we support, perhaps there is still a way to create a healthier future and healthier planet for our children and future generations.

 

Posted by Dr. Janet at 7:26 pm

Summer Camp and Sports Physicals at TIMC… we heartily support those who decline vaccines

blog, Children's health, Dr. Janet's blogs, TIMC promotion 2 Responses »
Mar 142013

By Janet Levatin, MD, holistic pediatrician.

As a pediatrician, I offer school, camp, and sports physicals for children whose parents choose to not vaccinate. Many people do not know that vaccination is an elective procedure and is a choice… not a requirement. No matter what your child’s physician or school tells you, the law is clear on this point.

Vaccination laws vary by state, with most states offering a religious or philosophical exemption to parents. Ohio is one of the 19 progressive states that offers parents both philosophical and/or religious exemption options. Ohio law reads as follows: “A pupil who presents a written statement of the pupil’s parent or guardian in which the parent or guardian declines to have the pupil immunized for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions, is not required to be immunized.” This means that if you have examined the evidence, and decided the risk of the vaccine is greater than the risk of the illness, you can write a statement declining vaccines to submit to your local school. The law does not require you to state your specific philosophical or religious view, so you do not need to explain or defend your decisions.

Mayer Eisenstein, MD and his daughter, Jen Eisenstein, NP, of the Chicago Eisenstein Clinics also do not vaccinate children, and support a parent’s right to choose. Here is a quote about their work: “Dr. Eisenstein and his practice have cared for more than 50,000 children who were minimally or not vaccinated at all. There is virtually no autism, asthma, allergies, respiratory illness, or diabetes in his unvaccinated children, an impressive statistic when compared to national rates.”

My observations concur with the findings from Dr. Eisenstein’s practice. There is no doubt in my mind that vaccination contributes to these health problems, and more. It is important to educate yourself before submitting your child to any elective procedure, especially vaccination, which involves repeated injections of much foreign matter into the body. It is equally important to seek health care from a provider who supports the healthful ways you are raising your child.

I am here to answer your questions about healthful living while giving your child a check up, without any pressure to vaccinate. I view wellness visits, sports physicals and school check ups as a time to discuss nutrition, developmental milestones and wellness approaches for your child. It is a time for you AND your child to have a positive experience at a health care facility!

Call today to schedule your child’s annual checkup and get your forms signed for summer camp, sports programs, and the upcoming school year. One parent said to me recently, “Of course I bring my children to you…with your help, I am protecting my most precious investment!”

Posted by Dr. Janet at 3:55 pm Tagged with: , ,

Health Turn Around: Healthy Diet and Natural Therapies Save the Day

Allergies, blog, Children's health, Dr. Janet's blogs, GERD, Gluten, Homeopathy, Nutrition 7 Responses »
Mar 022013

By Holistic Pediatrician, Janet Levatin, MD

A few months ago I posted a blog about an 18 month old little boy who was suffering from several chronic conditions. Bobby (not his real name) had allergies, eczema, asthma, gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD), growth failure, and recurrent strep throat and MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staph aureus) skin infections. Specialists had prescribed steroid creams, an inhaled medication called albuterol, oral and topical antibiotics, and medication for his GERD.

Not satisfied with his ongoing problems and all the medications he was prescribed, his mother sought alternative  care. I’m happy to report that with the dietary changes his mother made and the treatment plan I recommended, he is doing much, much better! Here are the elements of his program.

  1. Nutrition: Bobby’s mother suspected he was gluten sensitive. She had him tested and found he was positive for a gene that predisposes people to developing gluten sensitivity. He also had anti-gluten antibodies in a stool test, a diagnostic sign of gluten sensitivity. Since adopting a gluten-free diet, rich in organic, whole fruits and vegetables, he has had a growth spurt and and his GERD has resolved completely.
  2. Targeted Supplements: In addition to encouraging the gluten-free diet, I recommended Vitamin D, 2000 IU per day, and a high-quality probiotic. Vitamin D assists the immune system and is necessary for many other systems in the body to function optimally. Probiotics restore the vital balance of good bacteria in the gut, which had been disrupted by GERD medication and antibiotics. A healthy gut is critically important for healthy lungs and skin.
  3. Respiratory Care: In addition to the albuterol being used to suppress his episodic asthma symptoms, I prescribed nebulized glutathione. As explained by Dr. Mark Hyman, glutathione is the “mother of all anti-oxidants” and the body’s most important natural anti-inflammatory agent. It helps inflamed tissues to repair over time. Bobby used the nebulized glutathione three times per week as a routine and twice daily during acute asthma attacks. As the glutathione has healed his lungs, his asthma has nearly resolved and his need for albuterol treatments has dramatically decreased.
  4. Skin Care: To help Bobby’s skin, I advised the use of only simple, single-ingredient substances such as coconut oil or shea butter for moisturizing. Colloidal silver gel and calendula-containing Herbal Ed’s Salve were used on infection-prone areas, eliminating the need for topical antibiotics. All antibacterial soaps, hand sanitizers, and wipes were removed from the household, as these contribute to resistant bacteria such as MRSA. His mother also purchased a filter to remove chlorine from his bath water. Bobby’s skin is now normal, except for slight dryness, and he no longer has MRSA outbreaks.
  5. Homeopathy: I prescribed an individualized homeopathic remedy for Bobby, Kali carbonicum 200, one of the many remedies known for treating asthma, which he repeated periodically over time. I also prescribed him some combination remedies targeted at resolving Staph and Strep infections. Homeopathy is a 200-year-old system of medicine that is individualized to the person, and assists the body in correcting itself. It is safe, easy to administer, cost effective, and can be used with all other forms of treatment as it has no interactions. It is a perfect component to include in the treatment of any child with chronically poor health.

Within just a few months Bobby was growing well, his skin was mostly clear, and the asthma had nearly resolved. He has had no antibiotics since starting care with me, and rarely needs albuterol. I’ve shared this story to encourage parents to adopt dietary changes and a program of natural therapies if their children have been diagnosed with medical conditions, instead of believing a lifetime of prescription drugs and specialist appointments is inevitable. Instead, correct the underlying abnormalities and remove the causes of illness when possible. Our children’s health — and our future as humans — depend upon it.

Posted by Dr. Janet at 11:33 pm

Beating the Flu: There is a Better Way

blog, Children's health, Dr. Janet's blogs, Flu Season, Homeopathy 7 Responses »
Feb 072013

By Janet Levatin, MD

Certain elements in our society seem to thrive on making us feel afraid. We are warned that if we don’t get the flu shot, we (or our children) may catch the flu and die. We are told that if we do get flu, we should treat it with the antiviral medication Tamiflu. The flu is presented as an aggressive virus, lurking around every corner, waiting to attack us and take us down. The flu shot is portrayed as the panacea for all this suffering. We are warned that without it, we will no doubt succumb to the “deadly” flu.

Many people, however, have become aware that flu shots are not only ineffective, but contain ingredients that can degrade our health, lead to devastating disability (such as Guillain Barre syndrome), or even death. We has also learned that Tamiflu has very limited effectiveness, has serious side effects, and is contributing to the rise of viruses that are resistant to treatment.

Instead of being taken in by all the hype, take matters into your own hands and stay healthy during the flu season by eating well, getting enough sleep, washing your hands, and maintaining a good vitamin D level. If you feel that something more is needed, homeopathy is the best choice. As a preventive, homeopathy boosts your resistance to influenza viruses; and should a viral illness catch up with you, homeopathic treatment can be individualized for your case.

There are a couple of homeopathic approaches to preventing influenza. One is to take homeopathic Influenzinum at regular intervals, such as weekly, during the flu season. Influenzinum is made from an extraordinarily small sample of  the influenza virus, and in this way it is similar to the vaccine. It is serially diluted and succussed (shaken with impact) until the actual virus is no longer present in the remedy, but its immune-stimulating properties remain. Unlike the flu vaccine it contains no actual flu virus and no toxic ingredients. Influenzinum can be take alone or in a combination homeopathic remedy such as GripiaPro or FlumaxPro (by Apex Energetics and available at TIMC). These combination remedies also contain Oscillococcinum which can be taken alone (to prevent flu if one is exposed, or has early flu symptoms), or in the combination remedies.

Homeopathy can work wonders to quickly you get back on your feet if a virus does get you down. Since homeopathy stimulates the body’s immune system and natural defense mechanisms, homeopathic treatment truly improves your health. Whether your illness is caused by influenza or an influenza-like virus does not matter: the treatment will work in either case. Here are a few commonly recommended flu remedies and their indications:

  • Gelsemium: this remedy is recommended for symptoms of feeling chilled, especially across the back; headache and heaviness of the eyelids; and low thirst. Other symptoms include feeling weak, sleepy, and lethargic.
  • Eupatorium perfoliatum: the person who needs this remedy feels chilled to his core but despite being chilly, will ask for cold food and drinks. In addition to a watery, runny nose, she will be very achy in her muscles, and even say her bones hurt. The person feels desperate due to the aches and pains.
  • Bryonia: the person who needs this remedy is typically warm and sweaty, feels dry and thirsty for large amounts of water. Instead of diarrhea, he may be constipated. All the body aches and pains are worse with movement: his chest will hurt when he coughs, and a headache, if present, will hurt more with sudden movement. He will be irritable and wish to be left alone.

Since homeopathics are diluted and work on the energy body, they are safe to give to children, elders, and pregnant or nursing women. The indicated homeopathic remedy should be taken under the tongue in the 30C or 30X potency, 3-4 times daily, with nothing else by mouth for at least 15 minutes before and after. It is safe to use these and other homeopathic remedies at home.

When other illnesses are involved, such as, asthma or bronchitis or GI symptoms, selecting the appropriate remedy can be more complex and require in-depth training. I can help you select the correct remedy if you need additional help.

Posted by Dr. Janet at 3:12 pm

Treating Infections with Homeopathy

blog, Children's health, Dr. Janet's blogs, Flu Season, Homeopathy 3 Responses »
Jan 052013

By Janet Levatin, MD

Everyone gets run down from time to time, allowing a nasty virus to set up shop. The majority are self-limited illness that do not require antibiotics, usually resolving on their own without lasting consequences. Occasionally, bacteria can invade the tissues, leading to a more serious infection. While we are conditioned to seek out an antibiotic, homeopathy can be a better choice to unleash the body’s ability to gently but powerfully heal itself.

I would like to share a few recent experiences that demonstrate the effectiveness of homeopathy to treat patients with a variety of infections:

A 45-year old mother of three came to our Clinic with a significant sinus infection. She had a headache, her nasal passages were obstructed and the pain from her sinuses was radiating to her ears. She was run down, coughing, and simply felt miserable. After struggling for more than a week to overcome her symptoms, the infection had worn her down. She was ready for an antibiotic. Instead, I chose two individualized homeopathic remedies for her, one for her sinuses and the other to address her headache and malaise. In addition, I recommended a combination homeopathic spray formulation, an herbal cough medication and suggested that she increase her vitamin D to 10,000IU/day. Within 2 days, she was well enough to return to work and resume her usual schedule. Needless to say, she was very happy!

A second patient of mine was a 50-year old women with a history of recurrent bladder infections (UTIs). She had taken multiple courses of antibiotics over the last few years, with very little relief. Continuing the antibiotics was no longer an option because she was starting to experience significant allergic reactions to the drugs, including itchy rashes and very uncomfortable hot flashes. Household cleaning chemicals had begun to cause similar allergic reactions. The first homeopathic remedy I recommended gave her significant relief. But then she dyed her hair and both the bladder infection and the allergic symptoms returned with a vengeance. I then prescribe five remedies to be combined in water and a combination homeopathic spray formulated for UTIs. Within a week, her urine culture went from having a very significant level of bacteria to almost none. Her symptoms completely resolved and she also felt much more at ease.

And finally, a mother brought in her 5-year old child who had a cough, cold and ear pain. I diagnosed a double ear infection that appeared to have been brewing for a while. She was tired, cranky and struggling to keep up with her scheduled activities. I gave her two homeopathic remedies to alternate, one for her cough and one for her ear infection. I also recommended herbal ear oil and a prescription pain-relieving ear drops to use until the remedies and herbs had a chance to work. The family was planning to fly five days later, so timely relief was necessary. The mother called two days later to let me know the child was symptom free and that they were (happily) going to keep their vacation plans.

These are just few examples of the many children and adults I have treated homeopathically during my career. It is thrilling to witness the recovery power the body has without pharmaceuticals. The key is to provide the correct support for the body’s natural, self-healing mechanisms. Of course, it’s important to eat well, get enough sleep, handle stress effectively, take appropriate supplements and maintain a positive attitude to not get sick in the first place!

We hold places in the schedule every day to take care of acutely ill adults and children. Keep Tenpenny IMC in mind this winter if a bug gets hold of you and you’d like a health-conscious way to get well.

Posted by Dr. Janet at 3:00 pm

Flu Vaccine: Not Good for Your Child

Children's health, Dr. Janet's blogs, Vaccines 7 Responses »
Nov 262012

by Janet Levatin, MD and Sherri Tenpenny, DO

The physicians at TIMC are all in agreement: flu vaccines are not a good idea for anyone, especially children. We have scientific reasons for standing on this conclusion.

Influenza is not a very common illness. Over 200 viruses cause influenza-like illness, and they all produce similar symptoms. Without laboratory confirmation, doctors cannot tell flu and non-flu illnesses apart. Both last several days and rarely lead to death or serious long-term illness. At best, vaccines are effective against only influenza A and B, which represent only about 10% of all circulating viruses. Therefore, there is a 90% chance you will not even be exposed to an influenza virus…and the flu shot does nothing to prevent illness from non-influenza viruses.

A study conducted during the 2009-2010 flu season revealed that even in people with classic flu symptoms, a full two-thirds of them were not infected with an influenza virus. The flu shot does nothing to prevent illness caused by the 90% of non-influenza viruses. In fact, the flu shot may even weaken your immune system, making you more likely to succumb to other viruses or develop other health problems.

Influenza is usually not a serious disease. While it is true that influenza has the potential to be more serious in the very young and the elderly, that doesn’t make the flu a “serious disease” for the vast majority of the population. In fact, most who contract flu experience a few miserable days of cough, fever and deep body aches, and then recover uneventfully. In the past, death was more common from the most serious complication of flu, pneumonia. Today, antibiotics have significantly decreased the number of pneumonia-related deaths. Additionally, fever-reducing medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), have been shown to inhibit the body’s protective immune response to a viral illness. It is better to let the flu run its course, using tepid baths and ice chips for fever relief. Even better, assist the body through flu with the use of homeopathy and vitamin D.

Flu vaccine has not been well studied in young children. For the past few years the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have been recommending flu vaccine for all citizens, starting with a dose of vaccine for 6-month old babies, a second dose in infancy and then a dose every year thereafter for life.

In August, 2012 the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent reviewer of medical research, published a review of the use of influenza vaccine in children. The authors stated:

“In children aged from two years, nasal spray vaccines made from weakened influenza viruses were better at preventing illness caused by the influenza virus than injected vaccines made from the killed virus. Neither type was particularly good at preventing ‘flu-like illness’ caused by other types of viruses. In children under the age of two, the efficacy of inactivated vaccine was similar to placebo. It was not possible to analyse the safety of vaccines from the studies due to the lack of standardization in the information given, but very little information was found on the safety of inactivated vaccines, the most commonly used vaccine in young children.”

Vaccination studies are not independent and unbiased. The same reviewers caution people evaluating flu vaccine research to be aware that most research conducted on vaccines is funded by the very pharmaceutical companies who market the vaccines and make huge profits on their sales.

The vaccine contains toxic ingredients. If the vaccination was benign, or actually beneficial (as the CDC and conventional doctors want us to believe), there would be no controversy. But this is far from the truth. Flu vaccines contain ingredients that are potentially or overtly dangerous to everyone, especially infants and children, who are in their formative years. Several flu vaccines still contain significant amounts of mercury in the form of thimerosol, a preservative used in multi-dose vials of vaccines (25 micrograms per dose). These include Sanofi Pasteur’s Fluzone, multi-dose vial (can be used starting at 6 months of age), Novartis’s Fluvirin, multi-dose vial (can be used starting at 4 years of age), and CSL Biotherapies’ Afluria, multi-dose vial (can be used starting at 9 years of age).

Fluzone is the only flu vaccine recommended for use in age range 6 mos to 3 years. Fluzone contains viruses that are grown in chicken eggs containing embryos. Anyone with a severe allergic reaction to eggs is not supposed to receive the vaccine. Since your baby will not have eaten egg at 6 months of age, how do you know if s/he is allergic to it?

The medical journals are filling up with articles saying that even in the presence of a severe egg allergy your child can still safely receive a flu shot, as long as a doctor is in the room. The latest recommendations from the CDC suggest giving a flu shot to those who are allergic to eggs. We think this is absurd! Since when is the presence of a white coat life-saving, and why would ANYONE risk a serious allergic reaction or even death to get a flu shot??

Each of the following conventional medical recommendations applies when considering influenza vaccination of persons who have or report a history of egg allergy. Persons who have experienced only hives following exposure to egg should receive influenza vaccine with the following additional measures:

a) Because studies published to date involved use of injectable TIV (trivalent influenza vaccine), TIV rather than nasally-administered LAIV (live attenuated influenza vaccine) should be used.

b) Vaccine should be administered by a health-care provider who is familiar with the potential manifestations of egg allergy.

c) Vaccine recipients should be observed for at least 30 minutes for signs of a reaction following administration of each vaccine dose.

All vaccines should be administered in settings in which personnel and equipment for rapid recognition and treatment of anaphylaxis are available.

Again, the physicians at TIMC wonder why anyone with a serious egg allergy would risk a potentially lethal reaction under any condition or circumstance?

The vaccine also contains formaldehyde, which is known to be carcinogenic and can cause alterations to DNA. Another problematic ingredient is octyphenol ethoxylate (Triton-X); it can disrupt the function of mitochondria, our cells’ energy factories. There is a thorough discussion of these ingredients, with links to articles showing how they can cause harm, in Dr. Tenpenny’s Vaccine Research Library (www.vaccineresearchlibrary.com).

For all of the reasons above, we urge people to refuse flu vaccines. Instead, stay healthy this winter by using homeopathy, herbal preparations, eating well, getting enough sleep, and checking  your vitamin D level (be sure the level in all ages is at least 60ng/mL).

If you feel you are getting the flu, come in for homeopathic treatment or Meyer’s Cocktail. This IV vitamin solution can usually knock out the flu in less than 48 hours!

Posted by Dr. Janet at 5:26 am

Homeopathy: Safe and Effective Treatment for Croup

Children's health, Croup, Dr. Janet's blogs, Flu Season, Uncategorized No Responses »
Oct 312012

By Janet Levatin, MD, pediatrician

Fall is here and winter is fast approaching, marked by the first case of croup I saw in the office this week, a 4 year old boy who had been sick for a few days with this common wintertime illness. Croup is the name used for an upper respiratory infection accompanied by a barking cough. The medical name  for croup is “laryngo-tracheo-bronchitis” because the larynx (voicebox), the trachea (windpipe), and the bronchi (large passageways leading to the lungs) are all involved and inflamed.

The cough of croup is very distinctive, and sounds a lot like a barking seal. Kids with croup often have raspy-sounding breathing (called stridor) and a hoarse voice. Croup is relatively common in children ages 6 months to 3 years, but it can occur in older children too, and even occasionally in adults.

Croup can be caused by several of the viruses commonly in circulation during fall and winter. Like most infections, croup can range from mild to severe. Severe croup is a true medical emergency. If your child is struggling to breathe, he needs an immediate trip to the emergency room. However, for mild to moderate croup, conventional medicine has little to offer. Doctors generally advise “waiting it out” using home care methods such as breathing in warm shower steam and sipping plenty of warm fluids, or maybe a steroid injection. While these measure to treat your child at home are useful, more can be done to encourage healing and give relief.

Homeopathy is a wonderful method for treating croup.  If the correct medicine is chosen, croup can resolve very rapidly. As with all homeopathic treatments, the goal is to identify the simillimum, the remedy that most closely matches the patient’s presenting symptoms and mental-emotional state. The power of homeopathy for treating croup became apparent to me years ago when my now-adult son had an acute bout of the croup.

My son was about 2 years old when he woke up in the middle of the night, gasping for air, thrashing about, coughing and gagging so loudly it was really quite frightening, even to me as a pediatrician! I was about to call 911 when I remembered from my homeopathic training that Aconite (Aconitum napellus) is a great treatment for the acute onset of croup. I grabbed the bottle from my homeopathic emergency first aid kit and stuffed a 30X pellet into his mouth while he thrashed about. In literally less than a minute, he calmed down and was breathing much more easily, with just a very slight rasp. I asked him if he was OK, and said yes. I asked him if he needed any more medicine, and remarkably, he said no! A few minutes later he fell back to sleep. The next morning, he woke with a very minor cold that lasted a few days and resolved without further complications. The croupy cough never returned, and he never had croup again. If I had any skepticism about the efficacy of homeopathy for acute croup, it was completely eliminated on that night long ago!

This story is meant to show you the power of homeopathy… not to say that Aconite is the correct remedy for every case of croup. As mentioned above, the goal is to match the medicine not only to the patient’s symptoms, but also to the emotional state he or she is experiencing. Other remedies that can help resolve croup include Spongia tosta, Hepar, Calcarea sulphurica, and Drosera. For example, the little patient mentioned at the beginning of this article had been coughing for a few days and his symptoms had started as a mild cough. His cough and dry-feeling throat were relieved by drinking and eating, characteristics of the remedy he received, Spongia tosta. The treatment helped resolve his symptoms in less than 48 hours.

As the fall and winter progress, remember that there are safe, effective and non-toxic options for conditions conventional doctors treat with antibiotics or steroids, or no treatment at all. Many viral illnesses are short-lived and mild and heal on their own. In these case no treatment can be the best option. If a virus lingers or is bothersome, however (like croup often is), consider homeopathy… safe, effective, non-toxic medicine for people of all ages.

Posted by Dr. Janet at 2:01 pm

What’s in Your Medicine Chest this Flu Season?

Children's health, Dr. Janet's blogs, Homeopathy 4 Responses »
Oct 012012

By Dr. Janet Levatin

Will you catch a virus this “flu season?” If so, how will you treat it? More importantly, what are you doing for prevention? With a little knowledge and preparation, you can avoid getting sick this winter, and treat any illnesses that do occur with natural methods, avoiding pharmaceuticals, especially vaccines.

Of all the viruses that cause colds and influenza-like illnesses, only about 10% are actual influenza viruses. That means when people say they have the flu, nearly 90% of the time the symptoms they are experiencing are not caused by an influenza virus. That means you can get the flu shot and still get an illness you would call The Flu!

In 2006, the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent research organization, analyzed the usefulness of flu vaccines and made the following statement:

“Vaccination of healthy adults only reduced risk of influenza by 6% and reduced the number of missed work days by less than one day (0.16 days).”

Medicines to avoid: Flu shots, Tamiflu and OTC drugs

Flu shots are not good for you — but many run to get them as though they were an energy boosting vitamin B12 shot!  Flu vaccines contain toxic ingredients such as polysorbate 80, formaldehyde, and Triton X-100; and many are still made with the mercury-containing thimerosol. Knowing that they don’t help much and also contain toxins should empower people to just say no to flu vaccines, especially for their children.

Several years ago during the Bird Flu fiasco, the medication Tamiflu (oseltamivir) came to market as a drug to treat the flu. Without a doubt, it should be avoided. Tamiflu is only effective  in cases of culture-confirmed influenza. The first dose has to be taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms, and shortens the course of the illness by a mere 1.3 days compared to people who take no medication at all. The drug can cause significant side effects, and contributes to the emergence of stronger viruses resistant to all known forms of treatment.

While easily available, over-the-counter (OTC) medications are also not very useful and can have toxic effects. Dextromethorphan, an ingredient in many cough syrups, can cause seizures and hallucinations. Another common ingredient in cough syrup, guaifenesin, can cause nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and can lead to kidney stones. Although frequently used for runny noses and itchy eyes, Benadryl can cause drowsiness or hyperactivity, as well as overly dry mucus membranes.

What’s Best for Flu Season 

I encourage everyone to take adequate amounts of Vitamin D3. It is a miraculous substance that participates in many bodily functions, including helping the body produce at least 200 antimicrobial peptides that have natural, antiviral activity. It also helps dampen excessive inflammatory responses, which are what lead to the aches and muscle soreness that accompany viral illnesses. Since the body only produces vitamin D with adequate sun exposure, it is very important to take enough Vitamin D3 during the winter months, especially  if you have pigmented skin or live north of the 40th parallel latitude. The doctors and practitioners at TIMC recommend an annual 25-OH vitamin D3 blood test. You can order it directly through this link, without having to see a doctor. For more information about Vitamin D, including foods high in Vitamin D and suggested doses by age, please go here. You can also order high quality vitamins from our store; we ship every day to patients all across the country.

Herbs are an excellent method for quickly resolving viral illnesses. Herbs provide nutrition to glands and organs, help the body cleanse and repair itself, and help stimulate the body’s natural defense mechanisms. There are many excellent herbal preparations on the market. Two of my favorite herbs for promoting winter health are elderberry (Sambucus) and echinacea. Herbs can be taken as tinctures (glycerin-based for kids, alcohol-based for adults), teas, lozenges, and syrups. Honey-containing herbal cough syrups (not to be used in children under one year of age) are my favorite!

Homeopathy can also prevent flu-like illnesses and can help the body quickly recover if a virus gets the best of you. Homeopathy utilizes very small amounts of substances to stimulate the body’s defense mechanisms and immune system, and during times of illness, promotes a self-healing response. It is safe for people of all ages, easy to administer, cost effective, and often works rapidly and thoroughly. My training in homeopathy allows me to recommend preventative and therapeutic remedies specific to your constitution.

There are many other tools that can be used to promote fall and winter health, including probiotics (beneficial bacteria), colloidal silver and silver hydrosol, colostrum, and aromatherapy. Probiotics promote intestinal health and balance, which is crucial since a significant portion of our immune system resides in our intestines and is, in part, regulated by probiotics.

At TIMC, illnesses that might result in an antibiotic from a conventional doctor can often be successfully treated by our methods, without the use of pharmaceuticals. We have a number of herbal, homeopathic, and other preparations that help people resist contracting viral illnesses, including influenza, and bacterial illnesses.

If you or your child do catch a virus, it may be an indication that BOTH of you need some time off from your busy schedules. Remember to give yourself the time you need to rest and recover before resuming all your normal activities. While we certainly hope you don’t get sick this winter, we are here to help if you do. Be sure to call early in the course of any illness, as most illnesses (especially in children) are easier to treat in the beginning.

Posted by Dr. Janet at 1:56 am Tagged with: , ,

Our Future – Will we see beyond the veil?

blog, Children's health, Opinion Pieces, Politics, Vaccines 3 Responses »
Sep 112012

Today, is a day to ponder where we were before 9/11/2001 and where we are now. It is a day for both reflecting what is behind us, and what is ahead.

What has become of  our society in the last decade?  What and who will we be in the decade ahead? Is it still worth the fight to get people to “see”, since most are content to “go along to get along”?

During our recent vacation, I had several conversations with interesting people about the status of U.S. healthcare and the mess we have gotten ourselves into by trusting that “The Doctor Knows Best.” All of them — mixed ages, different countries and most with very successful backgrounds — said, “Well, you have to trust someone and doctors *are* the experts. I can’t learn medicine {or how to take care of myself} on my own.”

When asked, “What about freedom of choice, the freedom to choose your treatment?” They all agreed that freedom to make personal health decisions was a good thing, but in the end, everyone should defer to the “expert” and follow the advice of their doctor.

When asked, “What about freedom of choice in vaccination??” ALL of them said, “Oh you MUST listen to your doctor on this one! Children must be vaccinated to be healthy.”

Sigh… Anger… Grief… Sigh…

What did General Robert E. Lee feel, Southern war hero and postwar icon of the “Lost Cause of the Confederacy”, when he had given his all but still had to concede defeat? What  did he think as he reflected on the bloody battlefields, where thousands of young men had lost their lives for naught?  After 150 years, vestiges of Sherman’s March to the Sea — which scorched and destroyed everything along the way — can still be seen across Georgia.

War creates permanent changes to the topography. The war being waged against our health will do the same. Only a few seem to be aware that this is going on; fewer still are trying to revolt. Worse, a heavily financed group exists that is not only celebrating the carnage, but orchestrating to make it so.

Humanity is headed for extinction through the manipulation of our children’s DNA and immune system. Vaccination begins at birth, and in many cases, before birth by the vaccination of pregnant mothers. The vaccines deliver the first crushing blows to the human genome, followed by GMO food, aspartame, fluoride, pesticides, BPA, and perchlorate — and many others — as a child begins to eat. One by one, humans are insidiously being made into life time customers of the drug companies, thanks to the “experts” who say are these products are not only “safe and effective” but necessary.

It has been good to be out of the country for a while. Travel gives an opportunity to have a different perspective, to look back AT your country and to listen/read what others are saying about our politics and our choices. The rest of the world can clearly see that the U.S. is losing ground on every single front: politically, economically, medically. Our clean food, our robust health, our sovereignty seems to be going into the history books. Every day, graphs and charts are displayed to prove their point.

I know you can run, and can’t hide, but living quietly outside the U.S. is gaining more appeal every day. It’s the difference between watching battles on TV and being in the middle of the gunfight. I feel a handful of warriors have done their very best to lead the troops (parents and children) away from vaccination and out of harms way, including those who have anonymously talked to everyone in their personal world.

But having the right to choose what healthcare you want also means having the right to be vaccinated. It appears most are still opting to pollute their children with foreign matter, following the expectation of their pediatrician “expert.” There is little more to be said that hasn’t been hashed and re-hashed about the problems caused by vaccines. If people don’t get it by now, likely they never will. And pro-vaccine forces are putting together a battle unlike anything we have seen to date, to force us to participate.

Today, on 9-11, it seemed appropriate to post one of the most important, thought provoking articles ever written by my dear, late friend, Don Harkins, called “Slavery and the Eight Veils,” written in December, 2001.

The future is in your hands. Will you choose to see beyond the veil? What will your world look like in the years ahead?

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Slavery and the Eight Veils, by Don Harkins

Over the last several years I have evolved and discarded several theories in an attempt to explain why it is that most people cannot see truth — even when it smacks them in the face. Those of us who can see “the conspiracy” have participated in countless conversations amongst ourselves that address the frustration of most peoples’ inability to comprehend the extremely well-documented arguments which we use to describe the process of our collective enslavement and exploitation. The most common explanation to be arrived at is that most people just “don’t want to see” what is really going on.

Extremely evil men and women who make up the world’s power-elite have cleverly cultivated a virtual pasture so green that few people seldom, if ever, bother to look up from where they are grazing long enough to notice the brightly colored tags stapled to their ears.

The same people who cannot see their enslavement for the pasture grass have a tendency to view as insane “conspiracy theorists” those of us who can see past the farm and into the parlor of his feudal lordship’s castle.

Finally, I understand why.

It’s not that those who don’t see that their freedom is vanishing under the leadership of the power-elite “don’t want to see it” — they simply can’t see what is happening because of the unpierced veils that block their view.

All human endeavors are a filtration process. Sports is one of the best examples. We play specific sports until we get kicked off the playground. The pro athletes we pay big bucks to watch just never got kicked off the playground. Where millions of kids play little league each spring, they are filtered out until there are about 50 guys who go to the World Series in October.

Behind the first veil: There are over six billion people on the planet. Most will live and die without having seriously contemplated anything other than what it takes to keep their lives together. Ninety percent of all humanity will live and die without having pierced the first veil.

The first veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the first veil and find the world of politics. We will vote, be active and have an opinion. Our opinions are shaped by the physical world around us; we have a tendency to accept that government officials, network media personalities and other “experts” are voices of authority. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the second veil.

The second veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the second veil to explore the world of history, the relationship between man and government and the meaning of self-government through constitutional and common law. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the third veil.

The third veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the third veil to find that the resources of the world, including people, are controlled by extremely wealthy and powerful families whose incorporated old world assets have, with modern extortion strategies, become the foundation upon which the world’s economy is currently indebted. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the fourth veil.

The fourth veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the fourth veil to discover the Illuminati, Freemasonry and the other secret societies. These societies use symbols and perform ceremonies that perpetuate the generational transfers of arcane knowledge that is used to keep the ordinary people in political, economic and spiritual bondage to the oldest bloodlines on earth. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the fifth veil.

The fifth veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the fifth veil to learn that the secret societies are so far advanced technologically that time travel and interstellar communications have no boundaries and controlling the actions of people is what their members do as off-handedly as we tell our children when they must go to bed. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without having pierced the sixth veil.

The sixth veil: Ten percent of us will pierce the sixth veil where the dragons and lizards and aliens we thought were the fictional monsters of childhood literature are real and are the controlling forces behind the secret societies. Ninety percent of the people in this group will live and die without piercing the seventh veil.

The seventh veil: I do not know what is behind the seventh veil. I think it is where your soul is evolved to the point you can exist on earth and be the man Ghandi was, or the woman Peace Pilgrim was-people so enlightened they brighten the world around them no matter what.

The eighth veil? Piercing the eighth veil probably reveals God and the pure energy that is the life force in all living things-which are, I think, one and the same.

If my math is accurate there are only about 60,000 people on the planet who have pierced the sixth veil. The irony here is too incredible: Those who are stuck behind veils one through five have little choice but to view the people who have pierced the veils beyond them as insane. With each veil pierced, exponentially shrinking numbers of increasingly enlightened people are deemed insane by exponentially increasing masses of decreasingly enlightened people.

Adding to the irony, the harder a “sixth or better veiler” tries to explain what he is able to see to those who can’t, the more insane he appears.

Behind the first two veils we find the great majority of people on the planet. They are tools of the state: Second veilers are the gullible voters whose ignorance justify the actions of politicians who send first veilers off to die in foreign lands as cannon fodder — their combined stations in life are to believe that the self-serving machinations of the power-elite are matters of national security worth dying for.

Third, fourth, fifth and sixth veilers are of increasing liability to the state because of their decreasing ability to be used as tools to consolidate power and wealth of the many into the hands of the power-elite. It is common for these people to sacrifice relationships with friends and family, professional careers and personal freedom with each veil they pierce.

Albert Jay Nock (1870-1945), author of “Our Enemy, the State” (1935), explained what happens to those who find the seventh and eighth veils: “What was the best that the state could find to do with an actual Socrates and an actual Jesus when it had them? Merely to poison one and crucify the other, for no reason but that they were too intolerably embarrassing to be allowed to live any longer.”

And so now we know that it’s not that our countrymen are so committed to their lives that, “they don’t want to see,” the mechanisms of their enslavement and exploitation. They simply “can’t see” it as surely as I cannot see what’s on the other side of a closed curtain.

The purpose of this essay is threefold:

1. To help the handful of people in the latter veils to understand why the masses have little choice but to interpret their clarity as insanity;

2. To help people behind the first two veils understand that living, breathing and thinking are just the beginning and;

3. Show people that the greatest adventure of our life is behind the next veil because that is just one less veil between ourselves and God.

Posted by Dr. Sherri at 12:31 pm

Special Offer: Back to School Assessments with Holistic Pediatrician, Dr. Janet Levatin

Children's health, Dr. Janet's blogs No Responses »
Aug 132012

By Dr. Janet Levatin, holistic pediatrician

It’s coming up on time for camp and thinking ahead to the next school year…. it’s the time of year when your children need their physicals. It’s also the time of year to think about ways to address health issues they may confront when while they are in camp or school.

  • Does your child get frequent viral illnesses?
  • Does his asthma kick up when he returns to school?
  • Does she get stomach aches when her schedule is busier?
  • Does he have adjustment issues when separating from mom?
  • Are the kids just plain tired and cranky because of changes in their schedules and the weather?

I can help in more than one way.

At Tenpenny Integrative Medical Center (TIMC) I can do physicals for your children in a relaxed, low-pressure setting. Of course, there will be no pressure to vaccinate! In fact, the check-up appointment is a time to get your questions about vaccines and other issues answered by a pediatrician who shares your passion for natural living and gives you the kind of advice you can really use.

Additionally, if there are any health issues or imbalances, I can recommend a individualized homeopathic remedies for your children. This gentle, yet deep-acting therapy, helps by stimulating the body’s self-healing, self-balancing mechanisms. With its 200-year history, homeopathy has been proven safe for children of all ages, and works very well in combination with supplements, nutrition, our T-SRT allergy elimination program, and even any necessary conventional pharmaceuticals.

So please call soon to schedule your children’s checkups!

NOTE: Several months ago we discounted our physical exam charges, so the fee is very reasonable. A separate visit will be necessary for medical complexities requiring homeopathy or other types of medical care.

 

Posted by Dr. Janet at 5:25 pm
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