I remember back in my senior year of high school - my best friend since 5th grade was living in France. He wrote that they didn’t like Americans much. “They think we’re all fat,” he said. With his own skinny frame, of course, he confounded their belief.

But, he added a funny, or perhaps ironic capstone to the issue. “I went to a store, and they were selling statues of these fat people, and, at the base of each one was written, ‘American.’”

Obesity is not only an American problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s a global problem. They call it globesity. Parodoxically, their understanding of this problem began with their original mission to eliminate hunger and malnutrition. We live in a world where many have nothing to eat, and many eat too much. From 1995 to 2000, the number of obese adults worldwide mushroomed from 200 million to 300 million. That’s a 50% increase in just 5 years!
What is Obesity, and What is Overweight?

Overweight means an excess of body weight. This excess weight may be muscle, bone, fat, and/or body water. Obesity refers specifically to an abnormally high proportion of body fat. You can be overweight without being obese - for example, a bodybuilder or other highly-muscled athlete. But many people who are overweight are also obese.The main way to determine whether you are overweight or obese is with the body mass index (BMI). It doesn’t directly measure body fat, and it’s not gender specific, but it does give you a pretty reliable estimation.

To find your BMI, divide your weight (in kilograms) by your height in meters squared. Yep, for the math-challenged, that’s complex, so I’ll give you a website that will figure it out for you, the National Institute’s of Health BMI calculator (www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/). This will very quickly tell you if you are normal, overweight, or obese, and it does all the calculating and metric conversions for you!

Overweight is defined as a BMI above 25 (including those above 30 BMI, too), and obese is a BMI above 30. So, all obese people are overweight, but not all overweight people are obese.

The Obesity Epidemic

Obesity isn’t just about not feeling good or having trouble getting dates�

* It leads to more than 300,000 premature deaths each year in the United States. 90,000 are preventable cancer deaths. (CDC)

* Severely obese men die 13 years sooner than men of normal weight (JAMA).

* As a killer in America, obesity is second only to tobacco. (CDC)

The Weight Loss Industry

* Spending: Americans spend between $40-50 billion per year to lose weight.

* Results: I haven’t seen any recent news that Americans are getting any thinner - have you?

* Conclusion: What people are doing isn’t working. If we want different results, we have to try a different solution.

Acupuncture Weight Loss: Fantasy, or Fact?

* Fantasy or Fact? As a well-trained and fairly conservative Chinese medicine practitioner, I had assumed that acupuncture for weight loss was a marketing fad and a patient fantasy.

* Evidence: But while researching my upcoming book Chinese Medicine: A Practical Guide to Optimal Healing, I found some surprisingly positive information that changed my mind.

Chinese Medicine’s Collective Clinical Data on Acupuncture Weight Loss

Chinese Medicine has thousands of years of clinical experience. This collective data not as convincing as randomized controlled trials are, but it does contain truth - it’s imperfect but still valid and important.

A U.S. government study in the 80’s concluded that 85% of western medicine is based on clinical experience, not on research. (Office of Technology Assessment of the Congress of the United States, The Impact of Randomized Controlled Trials on Health Policy and Medical Practice, Background Paper OTA-BP-H-22. Also see Michael Millenson’s book, Demanding Medical Excellence)

There is good Chinese Medicine research in Taiwan, Australia, and Europe that gets ignored by American scientists and media. Much research in Chinese has not even been translated into English.
Seven Studies of Acupuncture for Weight Loss

How it works: By enhancing the function of two neuroendocrine pathways that regulate many bodily processes, including metabolism.

What it does:

* Lowers body weight, body fat, insulin levels, and lipid levels in the blood

* Decreases excessive appetite and makes it easier to satisfy your hunger with less food.

* Decreases menopausal weight gain

* In one study, acupuncture took off 10 pounds in 2 months - that translates to 60 lbs in a year!

* Combined with diet control, and aerobic counseling it not only takes off the pounds and body fat, but keeps them off, especially if you’re diligent with their exercise.

(See references at end of article for the research)
Ephedra misuse and mislegislation

Ephedra is a Chinese herb for colds and coughs. It has been misused to increase metabolism, and this misuse has caused numerous deaths. As a result, the FDA is considering a total ban on ephedra products. We can blame two major things:

1. Supplement companies that care more about your money than your health (no, not all of them are that way, but some of them are, especially the ones that market weight loss formulations).

2. The idea that you can medicate yourself safely with herbs - self-medication of any kind is risky. Self-medication with herbs is off the radar, and people generally think they can do it safely. The ephedra debacle is an example of how dangerous it can be.

Traditionally, Chinese herbs are given in formulas (not singly), which is safer and more personalized. They’re prescribed by a Chinese medicine practitioner who diagnoses your specific imbalances first. Ephedra would never be given for weight loss, but only for certain kinds of colds and coughs, and only to people whose body’s can handle it.

No traditional Chinese herbs should be outlawed without allowing Chinese medical practitioners to continue to use them traditionally.
Food Cravings

* Problem #1 (Enzyme Deficiency): The foods you crave depending on your personal imbalances. Modern digestive science explains that when your body can’t digest a food, you crave more of it - you’re not getting what you need from it. This lead to a cycle of craving and overeating the exact food you can’t digest.

* Problem #2 (Low Blood Sugar): Another vicious cycle happens when you can’t digest complex carbs, so your blood sugar is low, so you eat simple carbs that raise your blood sugar which raises insulin, which lowers your blood sugar again, and your stuck eating donuts and feeling horrible.

* Solution: Enzymes (I recommend various enzyme formulations from a company called Transformations) and Chinese herbal formulas can help you digest your food and break both of these cycles

Weight can be lost safely if done slowly and naturally.

You can lose up to 2 lbs per week without gaining it back. That means you could lose 104 lbs this year and keep it off!

Positive change is like stretching a rubber band- if you stretch too far too fast, it breaks or snaps back on you.

So avoid the temptation to take an easy solution like ephedra or citrus aurantium (both misused Chinese herbs), because you’ll gain the weight back, and you’re risking heart problems and stroke.
5 Things to Do Right Now
To Lose 10 Pounds Within 2 Months
And Keep Them Off:

1. Avoid heavily marketed supplements - instead, see a professional trained herbalist (acupuncturist) - it’s safer and more effective - my preference would be a Chinese medicine practitioner, but some very well-educated western herbalists are good too.

2. Acupuncture Weight Loss: See an acupuncturist/chinese herbalist - Get acupuncture (once to three times per week) to SAFELY regulate your metabolism and hunger-satisfaction. Your acupuncturist can also get you the herbs that will balance your digestion and cravings - and based on your Chinese pattern diagnosis, they can also give you personalized diet advice. Herbs and enzymes (specific formulations from the enzyme company, Transformations) can eliminate your food cravings.

3. Develop a plan and goals with your acupuncturist and aerobics instructor- make it realistic, and stick to it. If you mess up, don’t beat yourself up, just get back on track as soon as you can. Any progress is better than none at all.

4. Eat less, exercise more - Eat a low fat diet, and don’t miss breakfast! Weigh yourself regularly, and exercise an hour a day. Start by walking a few minutes each day, or take the stairs at work. Don’t overdo it! Remember the rubber band. In fact, you may want to wear a rubber band on your wrist to remind yourself to make changes slowly. Get some aerobic exercise help- a public class, or private aerobic counseling.

5. Join a support group like Weight Watchers or Overeaters Anonymous. There’s nothing like positive friends to encourage you and keep you on track. OA members say that this spiritual program of action has changed the way they relate to food.

References and Resources

1. Office of Technology Assessment of the Congress of the United States, The Impact of Randomized Controlled Trials on Health Policy and Medical Practice, Background Paper OTA-BP-H-22.

2. Michael Millenson’s book, Demanding Medical Excellence

3. Effect of acupuncture on weight loss evaluated by adrenal function. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1993 Sep, 13(3):169-73.

4. Wozniak, P., Oszukowski, P., Stachowiak, G., and Szyllo, K. [The effectiveness of low-calorie diet or diet with acupuncture treatment in obese peri- and postmenopausal women] (in Polish). Ginekol.Pol. Vol.74 Issue 2 pp. 102-107. 2003

5. Acupuncture on Spleen, Stomach, and Ren Mai Channel Points for the Treatment of Stomach & Intestinal Replete Heat Pattern Simple Obesity. Abstracted & translated by Bob Flaws, Dipl. Ac. & C.H, Lic. Ac., FNAAOM, FRCHM

6. Richards D, Marley J. Stimulation of auricular acupuncture points in weight loss. Aust Fam Physician. 1998 Jul;27 Suppl 2:S73-7.

7. Zhao, M., Liu, Z., and Su, J. The time-effect relationship of central action in acupuncture treatment for weight reduction. J Tradit Chin Med Vol.20 Issue 1 pp. 26-29. 2000

8. Liu, Z. Mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture moxibustion on simple obesity complicated by hypertension. Inter J Clin Acup 371-378, 1995.

9. Studies of the Weight Loss Industry

10. Obesity prevalence and effect

11. Overeaters Anonymous

Brian Carter has been making herbs and acupuncture fun and easy to understand since 1999. He founded Pulse Media International (http://www.pulsemed.org), previously known as the Pulse of Oriental Medicine. He is the author of “Powerful Body, Peaceful Mind: How to Heal Yourself with Foods, Herbs, and Acupressure” (2004 - http://www.pulsemed.org/famous-author.htm)

Brian is a medical professor and public speaker. He writes articles, blogs (http://americas-acupuncturist.blogspot.com/), and speaks on radio across the country, and has been quoted and interviewed by publications like Real Simple, Glamour, and ESPN magazines.

People who suffer from depression try and find ways to combat the feelings of hopelessness that can attack them during a bout of being depressed. So what are the cures for depression that can be found to work? The first thing that you need to know is that there are different types of depression and each of these need to be treated and cured in different ways.
Before any sort of cure can be administered the depression sufferer must admit that they have depression. Afterwards they can seek the help and advice of trained mental health specialists to find out how they can cure their depression. The treatment will be started once their exact condition has been identified. At the current moment in time the cures for depression comprise of medications, herbal treatments, alternative medicines and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Some of these treatments are long term and can eventually cure the depression sufferer of their aliment. Other medications act only as a way of controlling the bouts of depression. Many of these treatments work best in conjunction with each other. At the present the medication that is prescribed for depression is that of antidepressants. These tablets fall into three main categories.
The categories are […]

Full Article At: KnowHow-Now.com Articles

Summary

Complex intracellular inclusions were identified in brain cells of patients with non-inflammatory stealth virus encephalopathy. The cells showed extensive disruption of mitochondria leading to the suggestion that the inclusions were providing an alternative (non-mitochondria) source of cellular energy. Pigmented intracellular inclusions and extra-cellular materials were similarly identified in stealth virus cultures.

A characteristic feature of these cultures is the progressive lessening of the cytopathic (cell damaging) effect that coincides with, and is dependent upon, the accumulation of these pigmented materials. Tissue culture and direct patient derived materials exhibit various qualities consistent with their functioning as energy transducers. Specifically, they are composed of conglomerates of finer particles that can display fluorescent, electrostatic, sound resonating and variable magnetic activities. Individual particles contain various combinations of different minerals. They can act as both electron donors and electron acceptors in redox reactions and can also generate gas bubbles from water.

The viability of cells in cultures containing alternative cellular energy pigments (ACE-pigments) can be influenced by exposure to external electromagnetic, magnetic and sound frequencies that have no discernable effects on normal cell cultures. Enhanced cell growth and survival occurs upon exposure to relatively low intensities, while cell destruction occurs at higher intensity external energy exposure. Various natural products show ACE-pigment like activities, including a capacity of protecting cell cultures from the cytopathic effect of stealth viruses. These products are suitable for double blind clinical studies.

Introduction

Plants and certain bacteria derive energy in the form of sunlight to covalently link hydrogen and carbon atoms to form carbohydrates. This photosynthetic process is mediated by chlorophyll molecules that can specifically absorb photons corresponding to the blue and red components of sunlight. The photons elevate the energy levels of particular electrons within the chlorophyll molecules that can then be used in an electron donating (reducing) reaction between carbon dioxide and water to yield carbohydrates, such as glucose.

Electrons can subsequently be withdrawn from carbohydrates in the form of chemical energy for synthesis of other types of life sustaining organic molecules and for the generation heat. Protons typically accompany electrons in electron donating (reduction) and electron capturing (oxidation) reactions. The term oxidation is used since oxygen plays a major role as an electron acceptor to form water.

Chlorophyll utilizes only a minor fraction of the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Not only does this seem rather inefficient but the question can also be asked what was the energy used to synthesize the original chlorophyll molecules. Energy could conceivably be derived from other parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and/or from other less well understood forms of energy.

Viruses can cause cell damage by various mechanisms including simple competition for the metabolic resources available to the cell. I have defined a grouping of cytopathic (cell damaging) viruses, termed stealth viruses, that fail to evoke an immune mediated inflammatory reaction (please refer to www.s3support.com for a complete list of publications). The best characterized stealth virus originated from the cytomegalovirus of African green monkeys. The virus was isolated from a patient with the chronic fatigue syndrome, with a similar but not identical virus isolated from a patient with a manic depressive, bi-polar illness.

The virus induces a severe acute disease in cats followed by considerable clinical recovery in spite on an absent inflammatory response. Similarly, the cytopathic effect in tissue culture tends to abate over time, especially in infrequently fed cultures. The mechanism of this striking recovery process is attributed to materials that accumulate in tissue culture supernatants since reactivation occurs upon replacing the tissue culture medium with fresh medium. Reactivation can be prevented by including supernatant materials from repaired cultures into the re-feeding medium.

Unusual intracellular and extra-cellular materials were previously noted in the brains of stealth virus inoculated cats and in the brain biopsies of various patients with stealth virus encephalopathy. They were periodic acid Schiff (PAS) positive and also readily seen using the cationic Stains-all dye.

Irregularly shaped inclusions were also noted on electron microscopy of both animal and human brain biopsies. The highly ordered complex structures of some of these inclusions suggested that they were fulfilling some cellular function. Given the marked disruption of the cells’ mitochondria, it seemed reasonable to postulate that the inclusions may be providing an alternative (non-mitochondria) energy source. The following data support such a conclusion.

Complex Inclusions in a Brain Biopsy from a Stealth Virus Infected Child

The child’s illness evolved over seven months from what was initially considered to be a conduct and attention deficit disorder to an apparent neurological disease. In spite of markedly abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), his early neurological examination was essentially normal. A brain biopsy showed lipid accumulation within glial cells without accompanying inflammation, and was considered non-diagnostic by the attending and referral neuropathologists.

After extensive clinical reviews in major medical centers, a second brain biopsy was performed at Stanford University , this time with sections prepared for electron microscopy. Apart form the lipid vacuolization and mitochondria damage, the attending neuropathologist failed to report on any of the inclusions shown in Figures 1-8 of the article posted on the s3support.com web site.

Pigmented Particles, Threads and Ribbon-like Structures in Stealth Virus Cultures

Representative photographs of the cytopathic effect occurring in stealth virus cultures are also available on the web site. The repair and reactivation processes are illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the published article “Stealth virus culture pigments: a potential source of cellular energy.” Exp Mol Pathol. 2003: 74:210-23 . Many of the cell clusters become pigmented and the pigmented material can coalesce into discrete particles, some of which are extruded into the tissue culture medium. Various threads and ribbon-like structures can also develop in stealth virus cultures.

They can show intricate patterning and can exist as either hollow tubes or flat bands. Both by scanning electron microscopy and auto-fluorescence microscopy, the particles can be seen as conglomerates of finer particles. The tread and ribbon-like structures are also auto-fluorescent with wide excitation and emission spectra. The particles can occasionally show magnetic activity which is characterized by a degree of variability in sensitivity and responsiveness that is not seen with inorganic metallic objects. Electron dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis shows that the particles contain various minerals with individual particles displaying quite distinctive patterns of mineral composition.

The particles can show both electron donating (reducing) and electron accepting (oxidizing) reactions. The former is readily demonstrated using the chromogen MTT as an electron acceptor. It can also occur with reagents such as iodine in alcohol. Oxidation is seen with the appearance of calcium oxalate crystals following the addition of ascorbic acid to medium containing ACE pigments. The particles can also generate gas bubbles when placed in water. A remarkable feature is the variability seen over time with many of these properties. The particles appear to exist in both a “charged” and a “discharged” state. Individual particles will also commonly resonate when exposed to wide band sound frequencies.

Using a sound generator, each particle will commonly exhibit a rather narrow range of movement activating frequencies. Externally applied electromagnetic, fixed and pulsating magnetic energies, and sound waves can show effects on isolated ACE-pigments and on the viability of stealth virus cultures. It is easier to demonstrate cell destructive effects using light, X-ray and magnetic energies, but low intensity energy exposures have clearly benefited some cultures. Both sound and magnetic energies can induce considerable movement of freely floating cell clusters.

ACE Pigments Derived from Stealth Virus Infected Patients.

Similar mineral containing particles have been found in dried perspiration from stealth virus infected patients. They can exhibit rapidly reversible electrostatic properties suggesting internal movements of electrical charge. They are auto-fluorescent and can be both reducing (electron donating) and oxidizing (electron accepting). They can also generate gas bubbles from water.

Erratic movements of the particles in liquid suspensions may account for what earlier investigators have termed pleomorphic microorganisms. The occasional transformation of the particles into thread-like forms is also consistent with the mistaken belief that the supposed bacteria could transform into fungal forms. It is likely that ACE pigments are also responsible for so called delusional parasitosis or Ekbom’s syndrome experienced by occasional patients with severe psychiatric illness. They may also explain mistaken reports of head lice in stealth virus infected patients.

Natural Products and Subtle Energies

An assay for the electron shuttling activity of ACE-pigments has been developed and applied to a number of natural products, including a Japanese plant extract and a material designated Enercell. Interesting patterns develop during these reactions that appear to be subject to environmental influences. These reactions are currently being used as a potential sensor for non-conventional forms of energy that may influence their physical and/or chemical properties. Other highly energized natural products can contain microscopic energy rich particles that show remarkable motility and that could easily be mistaken for bacteria.

Although not as well characterized as electromagnetic radiation, most physicists realize that other radiating forms of energy do exist. Included in this category are so called dark energy, phonons, biophotons (chi, orgone) and what is variously referred to as the ether, subtle energy, or zero-point energy. Understanding the potential reciprocal interactions of living organisms and the ether is rendered difficult because of the lack of suitable detection methods.

The restricted patterns of the minerals in individual ACE pigment particles suggested the existence of selective mineral affinity forces that favor the attraction of like substances. Minerals have mainly been studied in inorganic forms. Increasingly, it appears that minerals can exhibit quite different properties when either single atoms or small microclusters. Minerals can also behave differently when incorporated into organic and even silica based complex molecular lattices.

The concepts of orbitally-rearranged monoatomic element ( ORME ), molecular energy transduction with superconducting coherent energy emissions, and gravity defying elements, have been proposed to explain some of the unique features of these altered states of mineral existence. The field of biophysics is currently addressing the potential harmonization of energy patterns within living organisms and even between organisms separated by considerable distances. The experience of various healers would also suggest that conscious thought may be able to alter these harmonizing energy patterns.

Clinical and Agricultural Studies

Given their strong activity in the electron transferring assay system and testimonial evidence for efficacy in various disease states, a number of these natural products have been selected for detailed double blind, placebo controlled studies. Subjects with illnesses potentially attributable to stealth virus infections, and subjects who manifestly are lacking in energy production would be selected. Among the latter group plans are underway to test patients with various wasting syndromes (including cancer cachexia), children with severe diarrhea and asphyxiated newborn infants. Studies on both experimental and livestock animals can similarly be performed.

An advantage of the energy based approach to therapy is that it removes the focus away from using products as a means of enhancing the immune system. The new approach allows for a two way extension of studies to be conducted in an agricultural setting. Thus many products destined for evaluation in human and animal studies can be objectively assessed for their growth enhancement of various plants and crops. Conversely, natural materials that promote the quality of agricultural products may find usefulness in both animals and humans.

Co-ordination of Effort

It would be desirable to have an organizational structure that would encourage open communication among individuals contributing products, performing efficacy assessments and conducting basic research. Sound financial management and good public relations are also essential. The Government, Industry and Major Academic Institutions have, unfortunately, tended to put money-driven self interests above that of the public.

A fledgling non-profit organization termed S3Support has been joined by an Applied BioPhysics Foundation to form the Progressive University and BioPhysics Institute. Its primary goal is to develop and promote a nationwide endeavor to more rapidly bring the enormous benefits of energy based clinical and agricultural science to mankind. This effort can be assisted by increasing the membership of health care providers, farmers, researchers, administrators, public spokespersons, patients and their family members, etc., in the Applied BioPhysics Foundation.

Dr. W. John Martin is considered by many of his peers to be the worlds foremost leading Pathologist, and research scientist in his field. He’s coined the new term, “Enerceuticals,” referencing the energy enhancing solutions for living cells.

Subscribe to the FREE “Rhino Charger” Newsletter to learn the latest scientific research regarding alternative energy medicine, new medical breakthroughs, health and medical solutions. The Rhino Charger is the FREE support Newsletter, for the “Progressive University, and the “Applied BioPhysics Foundation.”

Dr. Martin is a Seminarist, published author, and a regular expert guest on Dana Dudley’s “ASK MOM” live call in radio show. His new Progressive University, currently in pre-launch, is unique in providing new educational training and opportunities.

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