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Tai chi, enzyme-based supplements can help with osteoarthritis |
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National Enzyme News
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Written by Bryan Scribner
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Wednesday, 20 August 2008 |
The HealthCentral community Web site recently profiled tai chi, a Chinese mind-body practice believed to aid the flow of energy throughout the body and provide several health benefits.
Dr. Grant Cooper, co-director of the Princeton Spine and Joint Center in Princeton, N.J., mentioned that tai chi might help with stress, concentration and anxiety. In particular, Cooper’s post to HealthCentral’s community site, MyOsteoArthritisCentral.com, provided insight into studies that show potential benefits of tai chi for arthritis.
One study found that patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis who practiced tai chi experienced “large and sustained clinical improvements in pain.” Another study concluded that knee osteoarthritis patients taking tai chi classes had decreased pain and improved function.
The bioenergetic therapy, sometimes called "moving meditation," involves slow, gentle movements while breathing deeply and meditating. In addition to the benefits Cooper listed, it is believed tai chi might support organ health, digestive system function, mental state and balance, according to the National Institutes of Health. It’s also a good aerobic exercise.
Proteolytic enzyme supplements also can aid arthritis sufferers and support therapeutic practices such as tai chi. Systemic enzymes can help modulate the inflammatory process, while enzyme-based supplements combined with certain herbal ingredients, such as boswellia, can help with pain and swelling. |
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Asthma, GERD could be related |
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National Enzyme News
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Written by Bryan Scribner
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Friday, 01 August 2008 |
An abnormal immune response to allergens among people with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) might increase their chances of developing asthma, according to a late July WebMD story.
For years, researchers have observed an asthma-GERD association, as studies have shown 50 percent to 90 percent of asthma sufferers also have acid reflux, WebMD reports. Now, research published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation explains why this relationship might exist.
The study found that when the lungs of laboratory mice were exposed to gastric fluid, their immune response was similar to that of people with asthma, according to WebMD. Therefore, the research suggests that GERD, which can move stomach acid into the lungs and esophagus, could lead to asthma.
To control GERD, the WebMD story recommends smaller meals, a healthy weight and limits on the consumption of fatty foods. Digestive enzyme supplements can also be beneficial in reducing or eliminating the symptoms of indigestion, acid reflux and other digestive disorders.
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New Barrett’s esophagus procedure could “burn away” cancer cells |
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National Enzyme News
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Written by Bryan Scribner
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Thursday, 31 July 2008 |
Researchers are working on a procedure that removes precancerous growths caused by Barrett’s esophagus, according to a late July story in USA Today.
Barrett’s, which can lead to esophageal cancer, is a result of stomach acid burning the esophagus. It affects about 3 million people in the U.S., the newspaper reports.
Instead of surgery to remove part of the esophagus, doctors are testing a new procedure in which abnormal cells are burned away with a scope, similar to methods used to prevent cervical and colon tumors.
In one study, the procedure eliminated 98 percent of the earliest type of Barrett’s cells, and in another, 77 percent of the cells were burned away, according to USA Today. |
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Military authorization bill could benefit chiropractic |
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National Enzyme News
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Written by Bryan Scribner
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Thursday, 31 July 2008 |
A section of the defense authorization bill for 2009 confirms that chiropractic care is a standard benefit for active duty military, according to a story in the July 15 edition of Dynamic Chiropractic.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bill, HR 5658, in late May. Section 704, which refers to chiropractic, also stipulates that the Secretary of State should make chiropractic available.
Although the military has provided for chiropractic care for several years, the wording in this bill is intended to increase access, Dynamic Chiropractic reports. In 2005, the Government Accountability Office found 54 percent of eligible personnel could reasonably access the benefit.
The section defines chiropractic services as those that provide diagnosis, evaluation, management and therapy for health conditions. Although the language specifically calls for the exclusion of drugs and surgery, it does not place explicit restrictions on the use of bioenergetic modalities or nutritional products.
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