{"conf": "health", "generated_at": "2026-04-26T08:00:02.954878Z", "threads": [{"num": 2, "subject": "dental care and teeth", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (13:13)", "body": "Um, brush twice daily, floss regularly and get a check-up every 6 months? Always worked for me! Besides, I have a major thang for my dentist! :) My dirty dental secret: I sleep with a mouth guard to correct my TMJ disorder (very romantic!)"}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (13:13)", "body": "haven't found a dentist here either -- don't really enjoy going!"}, {"response": 3, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (13:13)", "body": "You need to find a new-age dental/yoga clinic! One stop shopping!"}]}, {"num": 22, "subject": "Type A Strep in Texas", "response_count": 15, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Wed, Mar  4, 1998 (06:52)", "body": "Following is a news release from the Texas Department of Health. =============================================== February 26, 1998 TDH Recommends Additional Precautions Against Invasive Group A Strep The Texas Department of Health (TDH) has added several precautions to a previously released list of steps people can take to reduce the risk of invasive group A streptococcal infections or to spot possible early signs of the illness. Some 72 cases of the illness have been confirmed in Texas since Dec. 1. There have been 12 deaths. Following an Austin meeting today of epidemiologists and others investigating the illness in Texas, TDH offered these new recommendations: Adults with a temperature of 101degrees or above and children with a temperature of 103 degrees or above should call a doctor for advice. Anyone who develops an area of unexplained local pain and tenderness, or a skin wound that gets infected (red, swollen, tender and painful) should see a doctor. If a child has chickenpox and the child's fever lasts more than three days or if a child who has had chickenpox for three or four days redevelops a fever, has a loss of appetite, has difficulty breathing or has lesions that appear to be infected, they should see a doctor. Parents are advised to check lesions frequently for signs of infection. Michael Kelley, M.D., head of TDH's communicable disease control bureau, stressed that these symptoms are common to many illnesses and conditions and said they do not automatically mean the invasive group A streptococcus bacteria is the cause. \"Though we have seen an increase in cases, we have to remember that this is still a rare illness,\" Kelley said. TDH also reminds people to cover their mouths and noses when coughing or sneezing. Officials said the following previously released recommendations also should be followed: --Anyone taking an antibiotic should follow prescription orders completely, taking the medication as directed and until it is gone. --Persons with sore throat accompanied by fever should seek medical attention, as should persons with flu-like symptoms who feel worse after three or four days. --Children ages 1 to 13 who have not had chicken pox or been vaccinated against chicken pox, should be vaccinated. --Acetaminophen should be given to children with chicken pox if needed to reduce fever. --As always, people should practice good personal hygiene by not sharing toothbrushes or drinking and eating utensils and by washing hands frequently with soap and water. With the exception of two cases who are siblings, TDH epidemiologists say there is no known connection between any two of the 72 cases confirmed in residents of 19 Texas counties. These counties include: Harris (30 cases), Travis (17), Bexar (5), Galveston (3), Brazos (2) and Atascosa (2). One case has been reported from each of the following counties: Bastrop, Burleson, Caldwell, Dallam, El Paso, Fort Bend, Hays, Lee, Lubbock, Montgomery, Tarrant, Washington and Williamson. Of the confirmed illnesses, 25 were in children and 47 in adults. Of the 12 deaths, four were children, and eight were adults. Twenty-two cases occurred in December, 26 in January and 20 in February. - 30 - (For more information, contact Doug McBride at 512-458-7524; or Alana Mallard at 512-458-7400.)"}, {"response": 2, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Mar  5, 1998 (02:02)", "body": "Bummer."}, {"response": 3, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Mar  5, 1998 (17:14)", "body": "yuck."}, {"response": 4, "author": "TIM", "date": "Sun, Nov 15, 1998 (20:12)", "body": "A friend of mine came down with this. It was no fun. She caught it in the Hospital. The way I know she caught it in the hospital, is that she was only in contact with other people in the hospital. At home she stayed in her apartment and her only contact was with me, and I drove her to and from the hospital. I did not get strep at all."}, {"response": 5, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Nov 16, 1998 (14:58)", "body": "she had the type A strep?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Nov 16, 1998 (21:15)", "body": "They had an article somewhere today about how Hepatitus C will cost Texans billions in health care costs in Texas prisons. It's a major epidemic in prisons here and California. If the California rate holds true for Texas, 58,000 of Texas 143.600 inmates may have the disease. In California, 41% of incoming prisoners have the disease. And there are up to a million Federal prisoners. Scary stuff!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "TIM", "date": "Mon, Nov 16, 1998 (21:58)", "body": "I don't know if my friend had type A Strep or not. I know that she had Strep. The hepatitus C outbreak won't be fun if any inmates are released with it."}, {"response": 8, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Nov 17, 1998 (09:29)", "body": "Hepatitis is a bloodborne pathogen so not to worry unless you're indiscriminate with sexual partners or needles or rubber gloves"}, {"response": 9, "author": "TIM", "date": "Tue, Nov 17, 1998 (13:21)", "body": "Any major disease outbreak makes me a little uneasy. I don't care what it's vector is."}, {"response": 10, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Nov 17, 1998 (14:22)", "body": "Then be really concerned about heart disease!"}, {"response": 11, "author": "TIM", "date": "Tue, Nov 17, 1998 (19:51)", "body": "I am, believe me, I am. I dropped 75 pounds earlier this year to bring my blood pressure down. In a short time, I will be dropping another 15 to get down to my ideal weight."}, {"response": 12, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Nov 18, 1998 (05:15)", "body": "congratulations and good luck with the rest!"}, {"response": 13, "author": "TIM", "date": "Wed, Nov 18, 1998 (05:49)", "body": "Thank you. the last 15 pounds will be the hardest."}, {"response": 14, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Nov 19, 1998 (21:40)", "body": "You go, Tim!"}, {"response": 15, "author": "TIM", "date": "Fri, Nov 20, 1998 (03:52)", "body": "It will just take a little more time. health conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 23, "subject": "Cervical Dysplasia", "response_count": 9, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Oct  3, 1999 (16:30)", "body": "What is cervical dysplasia?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Oct  4, 1999 (10:10)", "body": "an unusual pap smear... possibly indicitive of cancer but not always"}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Tue, Oct  5, 1999 (19:00)", "body": "my text defines dysplasia as any abnormal growth or way of growing."}, {"response": 4, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Sat, Aug 26, 2000 (07:01)", "body": "Having had a 'bad' papsmear, and surgery to remove cancerous cells, I think I would be wary of non-surgical intervention. There are a couple of kinds of cervical cancer which are very fast growing. When I had my op there was one gal whose surgeon had decided to wait 6 months after the first 'possible' smear came back, which is not unusual with the low grade result . She had the fast growing kind, and by the time they did the second one it was too far gone. Frightening!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Aug 30, 2000 (01:29)", "body": "That is why mine was removed entirely. No cancer but troublesome and preventative measures needed to be taken."}, {"response": 6, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Aug 30, 2000 (01:29)", "body": "it is frightening!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Wed, Aug 30, 2000 (02:01)", "body": "I had both, the 'bad' cells removed first then entire. I was responding to an earlier posting about non-surgical intervention for cervical dysplasia. I have reservations about non-surgical intervention unless there is frequent monitoring."}, {"response": 8, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Aug 30, 2000 (14:39)", "body": "My ordeal contained many visits in which my leisons wew cauterized. It was the most difficult procedure I have even had, and we both agreed that my tolerance for pain had been breached and another method had to be devised. Removal solved the entire problem."}, {"response": 9, "author": "sociolingo", "date": "Thu, Aug 31, 2000 (01:40)", "body": "wow! that's always done under general anaesthetic here (UK). I had punch biopsy under general anaesthetic. Miserably painful afterwards but cleared up the cancer cells. health conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 24, "subject": "Holistic and Herbal Health", "response_count": 4, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun  1, 2000 (18:47)", "body": "Cautions For The Natural Medicine Cabinet You have to remember that some herbal remedies, just like the drugs patterned after them, have to be taken on a regular basis in order to be effective. I can take parsley from time to time for water retention, but a friend who suffers from depression has to take St. John's Wort every day. And she knows this both from reading up about the drug and from discussing it with her physician. If you're trying to \"go herbal\" with your medicine, first discuss any conditions you have with your doctor and discuss your desire to use natural remedies. If your doctor is against this, get a second opinion from a doctor who is open to the idea. Some physicians hate the idea of herbal remedies, primarily because of patients who use them without the proper information or precautions. But many doctors now try to include those options for their patients. And if a doctor who is open to natural remedies advises against it, trust that judgment. So when you've decided what your needs are, see your doctor, then decide which remedies you will need to take on a daily basis for an extended period of time."}, {"response": 2, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Thu, Jun  1, 2000 (19:28)", "body": "The Natural Medicine Cabinet The first step you need to take in trading your pharmaceutical medicine cabinet in for a natural medicine cabinet is to write down exactly what you need regularly and what you need on occasion. For example, you may need a multivitamin, calcium supplement (because you're a woman over 35), extra folic acid, and chamomile tea every day, and you need a diuretic (for water retention) and something for migraines on occasion. This is how you stock your natural medicine cabinet. Write down your needs, symptoms, what has worked for you, what you need to look into or ask your doctor about, and anything else you can think of. This is the first step to going as \"natural\" as you can."}, {"response": 3, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Fri, Jun  2, 2000 (12:26)", "body": "Herbal Remedy of the Day - How Much Do I Need? I can give you advice on what herbal remedies are good for which conditions, but another step in the natural health process is to decide exactly how much of each item you need. For example, some books advise you to take high amounts of vitamin C daily, while others advise a lower amount taken in combination with other vitamins or minerals. The best thing you can do is inform yourself by reading as many different reports as you can. Do a Web search for your particular condition. If you have high blood pressure, for instance, search for \"high blood pressure and natural remedies.\" That should get you several articles. Or go browse through the book store. Call an organization or get a natural health magazine. There are many ways to educate yourself on the amounts that you will need, and you don't have to go by one particular assessment. Once you are reasonably sure about the amount you need of a particular remedy, stock your medicine cabinet accordingly."}, {"response": 4, "author": "MarciaH", "date": "Wed, Jun  7, 2000 (18:32)", "body": "Rosemary for Health & Personal Care For those who suffer with catarrh, rosemary has a cool nose-tingling aroma that, if inhaled, can help clear the nasal cavities of heaviness. It is also used as a tonic and diuretic for cleansing and boosting the system. For an insect repellent, try oil of rosemary, particularly effective in repelling midges. Rosemary is also excellent as a shampoo component for darkening dark hair. health conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 3, "subject": "HMO", "response_count": 3, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Sun, Nov  9, 1997 (11:12)", "body": "What is Prozac? What is Zololoft? How long does it take for these to produce results? What about the newer Seratonin antidepressants? Why did the Scientologists attack Prozac so vociferously? What about dependency aspects?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "LaughingSky", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (14:41)", "body": "As a nurse, I can tell you that HMOs are bad, overall. Most physicians are working under HMOs, now, and, it has turned patient care into a type of \"production line assembly\" in the clinics. Basically, the more patients seen means more money for the HMO, and, the docs have to work harder to get those big bucks. Also, it's more benefits for the docs, if more patients are seen in a certain length of time. It's like lining up the cattle; round them up, treat them, and herd them out!I have seen more misdiagnoses these days, than ever before."}, {"response": 3, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (14:41)", "body": "Had a father on Prozac and a brother on Zoloft. Don't care for the affect in encourages in takers. Like flatline zombies. I do have a friend who is on another antidepressent and he is just oblivous to reality with a smile on his face. There is plenty of medical data to support prescribing these drugs... I prefer sunshine and exercise!"}]}, {"num": 4, "subject": "arthritis", "response_count": 1, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (12:56)", "body": "Isn't there a rigorous bee venom therapy that some people swear by? health conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 5, "subject": "headache!!", "response_count": 2, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Nov 13, 1997 (13:45)", "body": "screaming at the top of my lungs a cup of caffeine a nap food When I take a hot shower/sauna or steam bath, my headaches seem to get worse -- dehydration. I hate headaches."}, {"response": 2, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (12:59)", "body": "I suffer from chronic migraines. I take feverfew herb every day, which has dramatically reduced the occurrence and severity of my migraines. Eliminating caffeine and birth control pills helped, too. Now when I get one, I can treat it with caffeine first before resorting to imitrex. health conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 6, "subject": "telomeurs - the fountain of youth?", "response_count": 8, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jan 16, 1998 (22:03)", "body": "Some company background information: Geron Corporation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Geron Corporation 200 Constitution Drive Menlo Park, CA 94025 Phone: 415/473-7700 Fax: 415/473-7701 Email contact: info@geron.com About Geron Corporation: Geron Corporation is the first biopharmaceutical company to focus exclusively on the development of therapeutic products of aging, including cancer. Geron's ability to address a diversity of age-related diseases states is based on insights into the fundamental biological mechanisms of cellular aging - and conversely, into the process by which cancer cells escape \"aging\" by becoming \"immortal\". Geron believes that many diseases of aging are due primarily to genetically programmed aging, or senescence, of cells in the various bodily tissues. Geron and its collaborators have pioneered the understanding of the genetic \"clock\" of cellular senescence. The clocking mechanism consists of telomeres - repeated DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes. Telomeres shorten each time a cell divides until they reach a critically short length which is associated with the onset of cell senescence. At the opposite extreme, the age-related disease of cancer occurs because of the failure of cells to senesce owing to mutations that confer replicative immortality. Geron's research programs seek to intervene with the fundamental mechanisms underlying age-related disease through modulation of cell senescence. Further, Geron seeks to develop therapeutics to treat cancer by inhibiting the immortalizing enzyme telomerase. Geron has raised $43 million to-date from leading private investors including Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Venrock Associates, CW Group, Oxford Venture Partners, Domain Associates, and Biotechnology Investments, Ltd. Number of employees: 90 Founded: 1992 Contact person for company: Ms. Jeryl Hilleman Vice President, Operations Phone: 415/473-7700 Fax: 415/473-7701 Email: jhilleman@geron.com Contact for BIO Online: Mr. Jeryl Hilleman Vice President, Operations Phone: 415/473-7700 Fax: 415/473-7701 Email: jhilleman@geron.com"}, {"response": 2, "author": "terry", "date": "Fri, Jan 16, 1998 (22:08)", "body": "From the company press release: EXTENSION OF HUMAN CELL LIFE-SPAN REPORTED IN SCIENCE Telomerase Rewinds the Clock of Cell Aging Menlo Park, CA -- January 13, 1998 -- Geron Corporation (NASDAQ:GERN) and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas reported today the successful extension of the life-span of normal human cells using the enzyme telomerase. In a paper published in the journal Science, January 16, 1998, scientists explain that the introduction of an active telomerase gene into normal mortal cells resulted in the lengthening of telomeres and a marked increase in the life-span of the cells, making the cells potentially immortal. \"This paper is a monumental advance in the understanding of the molecular genetics of aging,\" remarked Leonard Hayflick, Ph.D., professor of anatomy at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine and the discoverer of human cellular aging. \"The telomerase gene will likely have many important applications in the future of medicine and cell engineering.\" Telomerase is an \"immortalizing\" enzyme that imparts replicative immortality when expressed in reproductive and cancer cells. Conversely, cells that do not express the enzyme are mortal. The gene for the telomerase protein was recently isolated by Geron and collaborators at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Previous research by Geron and its collaborators has shown that the aging of mortal cells appears to be controlled by a molecular clock consisting of telomeres - a chain of repeated DNA segments found at the ends of the chromosomes. Each time a mortal cell divides, a small segment of telomeric DNA is lost, and in the absence of telomerase, the shortened telomeres signal the cell to become senescent and stop dividing. Cells that have no replicative limit, such as reproductive cells, express telomerase, which synthesizes telomeres, allowing replicative immortality. Telomeres can therefore be envisioned as \"molecular clocks\" that limit the life-span of cells, and telomerase can be envisioned as the \"key\" that \"rewinds\" the telomere clocks. In the report today in Science, researchers at Geron Corporation and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas collaborated to test the effects of the immortalizing gene. \"We couldn't be more excited about the results,\" stated Woodring E. Wright, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and one of the senior authors of the paper, \"I think this finally nails down the fundamental cause of cell aging, and provides a direct means of altering the clock of cell aging for therapeutic effect.\" Geron is exploring applications of the telomerase gene to extend the life-span of many different types of human cells, including skin cells, blood vessel endothelial cells, retinal cells, immune cells, and others. \"We believe that the extension and perhaps immortalization of human cells will have many important applications for the treatment of age-related diseases,\" remarked Calvin B. Harley, Ph.D. chief scientific officer at Geron. In addition to its role in aging, telomerase has previously been shown to be abnormally active in all types of cancer examined and not expressed in most normal tissues. Telomerase is therefore thought to be unique among anti-cancer targets because it is universal across cancers and highly specific to cancer cells. Because telomerase is required for cancer cells to proliferate indefinitely, Geron is seeking to discover compounds designed to inhibit telomerase. Such drugs are expected to lead to the death of the cancer cells through resumed telomere shortening, with little to no effect expected on normal body cells and tissues. Significantly, the expression of telomerase in normal mortal cells extends their life-span without transforming them into malignant cancer cells, demonstrating that telomerase makes tumor cells immortal, but that other genetic alterations are responsible for the malignant characteristics of cancer cells. \"This is the best of all outcomes from our perspective\" said Ronald Eastman, Geron's chief executive officer. \"These results suggest that we have a gene that is both an important target for cancer and for the treatment of age-related disease.\" Senior authors of the Science article, \"Extension of Life-Span by Introduction of Telomerase into Normal Human Cells\" are Dr. Woodring E. Wright from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Dr. Serge Lichtsteiner of Geron Corporation. Co-authors from Dr. Wright's group include Drs. Shawn E. Holt, Michel Ouellette, and Jerry W. Shay. Co-authors from Geron are Drs. Andrea G. Bodnar, Choy-Pik Chiu, Maria Frolkis, Calvin B. Harley, and Gregg B. Morin. Geron Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing therapeutic and diagnostic products to treat cancer and other age-related diseases based upon the company's "}, {"response": 3, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (13:04)", "body": "What are the ramifications of living 20 to 40% longer than we expected to? Does that mean I won't get to retire til I've put my great-grandchildren through college? Then will I have to do daycare for their kids? I bet the Social Security Administration is thrilled about the concept of telomeres..."}, {"response": 4, "author": "LaughingSky", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (14:19)", "body": "I'll bet the Health Care system is paving a new road to the bank! The longer you live, the higher your chances of having an accident or major illness, and, that means more money for the HMOs.Of course, if you're not dependent on Western medicine, then, all the more better for you. But, the Average American is, and, the insurance companies will be delighted to collect from any \"long-lifers\"!"}, {"response": 5, "author": "LaughingSky", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (14:51)", "body": "One more remark regarding the elimination of cancer; sit quietly and ponder this, for a moment.....think of all the Cancer Clinics, physicians, and healthcare staff who have devoted their whole careers to caring for patients with cancer, all across this country.Now...imagine what that ratio of jobless people would do the economy....Who do you think would prevail? All of the population who would love to see this disease totally eliminated, or....\"them\"?"}, {"response": 6, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Jan 27, 1998 (14:51)", "body": "Yeah, it's like the way they could make a light bulb that never burns out, but they won't."}, {"response": 7, "author": "terry", "date": "Sat, Sep 26, 1998 (14:32)", "body": "This needs an update!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sat, Sep 26, 1998 (22:33)", "body": "So, what's going on in the field of telemeurs? health conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 7, "subject": "Alternative Medicine", "response_count": 14, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (15:51)", "body": "Terry, can you delete this topic? I guess I accidentally entered it twice. Thanks."}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar 23, 1998 (16:00)", "body": "took the Celestial Seasonings tour on Saturday and bought 12 boxes of tea and several supplements in their gift shop (cheaper, a little)"}, {"response": 3, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Mar 23, 1998 (18:29)", "body": "How much was the tea? And where is their HQ? (Too lazy to go upstairs and see for myself!)"}, {"response": 4, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Mar 24, 1998 (09:21)", "body": "HQ just outside of Boulder Teas were $2 a box"}, {"response": 5, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Mar 25, 1998 (22:54)", "body": "That's a pretty good price! Thru my co-op I can get most of them for $1.80, but I have to buy 3 boxes at a time (same flavor). I don't know about you, but I don't have that kind of shelf space. I just had the BEST herbal tea I've ever tasted: Lemon Lane by \"Sir Thomas\" Lipton (*sniff*--guess they want to differentiate between this snooty individually-wrapped tea and its poor relation which comes 100 to a box for $2)."}, {"response": 7, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Mar 30, 1998 (20:09)", "body": "I looked all over for it in the store and couldn't find it, so I checked out their website. Turns out it's only available by mail order--la-dee-da!"}, {"response": 8, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, May 28, 1998 (00:28)", "body": "BEYOND VIAGRA With Viagra such a hit, Pfizer is bringing forth a whole line of drugs oriented towards improving the performance of men in today's society.. DIRECTRA - a dose of this drug given to men before leaving on car trips caused 72 percent of them to stop and ask directions when they got lost, compared to a control group of 0.2 percent. PROJECTRA - Men given this experimental new drug were far more likely to actually finish a household repair project before starting a new one. CHILDAGRA - Men taking this drug reported a sudden, over-whelming urge to perform more child-care tasks - especially cleaning up spills and \"little\" accidents. COMPLIMENTRA - In clinical trials, 82 percent of middle-aged men administered this drug noticed that their wives had a new hairstyle. Currently being tested to see if its effects extend to noticing new clothing. BUYAGRA - Married and otherwise attached men reported a sudden urge to buy their sweeties expensive jewelry and gifts after talking this drug for only two days. Still to be seen: whether the drug can be continued for a period longer than your favorite store's return limit. NEGA-VIAGRA - Has the exact opposite effect of Viagra. Currently undergoing clinical trials on sitting U.S. presidents. NEGA-SPORTAGRA - This drug had the strange effect of making men want to turn off televised sports and actually converse with other family members. FLATULAGRA - This complex drug converts men's noxious intestinal gasesback into food solids. Special bonus: Dosage can be doubled for long car rides. FLYAGRA - This drug has been showing great promise in treating men with O.F.D. (Open Fly Disorder). Especially useful for men on Viagra. PRYAGRA - About to fail its clinical trial, this drug gave men in the test group an irresistible urge to dig into the personal affairs of other people. Note: Apparent overdose turned three test subjects into \"special prosecutors.\" LIAGRA - This drug causes men to be less than truthful when being asked about their sexual affairs. Will be available in Regular, Grand Jury and Presidential Strength versions."}, {"response": 9, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (10:38)", "body": "anyone got a homeopathic remedy for UTIs??? The cranberry juice sure is heck ain't meant to fix 'em... but I hate the idea of doing another antibiotic course... (help!!)"}, {"response": 10, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (16:16)", "body": "not off hand, but I promise to find out..."}, {"response": 11, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (16:47)", "body": "so far I've found these recommendations: Increase intake of: Beta-carotene B Complex Vitamin C and bioflavonoids Vitamin E Zinc Herbs: Dandelion Liquorice Goldenseal Dandelion Bearberry Parsley Veggies: Asparagus Garlic Parsley Acidophilus(sp?) might help, as well... Decrease fruit juice intake during one, especially those juices sweetened with corn syrup Prevention (works in some people): Take showers instead of bathes Drink at least a half-cup of cranberry juice a day (as you know, it's a preventative instead of a cure...) Avoid cross-contamination (do I really have to spell this one out?)"}, {"response": 12, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Mar  4, 1999 (21:25)", "body": "Stacey, this is what Andrew Weil (my personal guru!) has to say: My preference is to drink unsweetened cranberry juice concentrate, which you can buy in a health-food store, or to buy cranberry tablets. The Eclectic Institute makes a freeze-dried product that's good. Take two capsules twice a day. Even if you're taking pharmaceutical drugs to treat the infection, I'd still take cranberry along with them. Another herbal treatment for bladder infections is uva ursi, also known as bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). This kills bacteria and reduces inflammation. But don't use this more than a week, because it can irritate your kidneys and upset your stomach. Also, you must keep your urine alkaline in order for the uva ursi to work. That means eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and potatoes. For a little extra antibacterial punch, eat garlic, nasturtium, parsley, and rose hips whenever you can. Kathi Keville off rs this recipe for a tea to treat urinary infections in Herbs for Health and Healing: 1 teaspoon uva ursi 1/2 teaspoon each corn silk, cramp bark, marshmallow root, and rose hips 1 quart water Simmer the herbs in water for 2 minutes, then turn off the heat and let them steep for 20 minutes. Strain the herbs and drink two to four cups of the tea each day. Continue treatment for two days after the symptoms ease. You also can take some measures to help prevent a return of the infection. Avoid tight pants, synthetic underwear, and deodorant soaps, all of which can encourage bacteria. Also, many women get urinary-tract infections shortly after a pelvic exam. Drinking a glass of water just before and after visiting your gynecologist seems to help protect against this problem."}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Mar  5, 1999 (15:33)", "body": "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I OD'd on cranberry juice (I also get the unsweetened 100% juice kind) and bumped up my Vitamin C, echinecea and garlic but ended up at the doctor's yesterday anyway... Now it's me and macrobid... hanging out. I lost the battle *frown* but I'll certainly experiment with the above info!!! Thanks WER and Autumn!"}, {"response": 14, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sat, Mar  6, 1999 (19:58)", "body": "Hope you're feeling better soon, Stacey."}, {"response": 15, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  8, 1999 (14:04)", "body": "i am. thanks! health conference Main Menu"}]}, {"num": 8, "subject": "Alternative Medicine", "response_count": 61, "posts": [{"response": 1, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (15:57)", "body": "I take the following herbs, vitamins and supplements daily: Vit. A,C,E, selenium (basic antioxidant cocktail), calcium/magnesium, iron, dong quai and feverfew. I have been taking classes on mind-body medicine, specifically energy healing, for a year. Anyone else like to share their regimen?"}, {"response": 2, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (23:23)", "body": "Nothing on a terribly regular basis except B-complex. I try to get most of my vitamins from foods (not always successful). I've been really pleased with the combonation of ginseng and echinacea teas. Pretty good about consuming enough citrus to take care of my C requirements. Rest and exercise are probably my most potent doses. If I start to lag with one, my body (and spirit) really begin to suffer."}, {"response": 3, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Jan 29, 1998 (23:24)", "body": "lookit me! -- Typo queen!"}, {"response": 4, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Jan 30, 1998 (16:20)", "body": "What specific use does B-complex serve? By the way, I was in one of the big-time supermarkets last night in the county seat and found those CS teas you mentioned. I bought the Emperor's Choice because it sounded yummiest. (sp?) I'll let you know what I think. Got Lipton decaf lemon too, because theirs has orange blossoms."}, {"response": 5, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Jan 30, 1998 (17:36)", "body": "B6 -- happy pill! B12 -- helps with digestion \u001b[A\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C\u001b[C of certain carbos (of which I tend to consume plenty!) those are the big ones for me I started taking B6 about 7 years ago to curb the effects of a bad menstrual cycle... eases cramps and evens moods!"}, {"response": 7, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sat, Jan 31, 1998 (15:22)", "body": "I would be very interested in trying B6 for the same benefits you describe, Stacey. The dong quai is supposedly for that purpose, and I have noticed an improvement the last 3 months I've been taking it. However, if I forget to stop taking it at the outset of my period, the cycle is way heavier. I'd like to hear your theory, wer, about having to balance the B vit intake before I do anything."}, {"response": 10, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Feb  4, 1998 (15:39)", "body": "Wow, really learned a lot there. I will definitely get some at the health food store next week. Just one (dumb) question: what happened to B vitamins 4 and 7 through 11? By the way, I'm not strict, I'm \"lacto-ovo-pesca\" (can't give up those Maryland blue crabs!)"}, {"response": 13, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Feb  5, 1998 (17:23)", "body": "I thought the numbers had something to do with the makeup of the molecules... it that case, 4 - 11 aren't typical structures. May be wrong."}, {"response": 14, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Feb  5, 1998 (18:29)", "body": "Sounds good to me! I am going to try the 5-day cleansing diet described in last month's \"Natural Health\" magazine. 5 days of nothing but water, tea, juice, vegetables and psyllium which is supposed to detox the entire system. There was an interesting article in another publication about how our food doesn't contain the necessary enzymes to break itself down anymore, so it makes a lot of extra work for your liver and pancreas."}, {"response": 15, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Feb  6, 1998 (17:26)", "body": "just got chastized by a friend and coworker for looking too skinny it's certainly a stress thing. I don't eat when I'm stressed. between work and home I've got the 'clothes on bones' look -- none too attractive so I think I'll skip the detox diet in favor of some high calorie foods! energy level is still high and the thighs are still there... don't really see what the problem is until I look in the mirror at the cheekbones. Got great cheekbones this week!"}, {"response": 16, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Feb  6, 1998 (20:57)", "body": "Yeah, I looked pretty gaunt after 5 days of hospital food (or projection thereof) in '95 when my spleen threatened to implode...funny though, within a week of coming home I was back to my regular weight. If you are stressed, certainly there are a number of herbal supplements to tone your system, but of course they're no substitute for coping with the source of the stress. WER, just read an article in Energy Times (health store freebie) extolling the virtues of B vitamins...basically echoed your remarks. Gotta get me some of that!"}, {"response": 18, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sat, Feb  7, 1998 (19:42)", "body": "Read another article--did you know that there are warnings on toothpaste now about not swallowing too much? Apparently excessive fluoride consumption is linked to all kinds of cancer. Some people who drink bottled water just to avoid fluoride are very upset because the govt is thinking of passing legislation to require fluoride be added to bottled water."}, {"response": 19, "author": "stacey", "date": "Sun, Feb  8, 1998 (21:26)", "body": "yes WER! Besides the numerous glasses of tea and a couple of chocolates not much good has gone into this body in a while. Tomorrow I am going to make myself a fried egg sandwich with cheese before heading off to work! (you've really got me thinkin' about that offer. *smile*)"}, {"response": 21, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb  9, 1998 (20:25)", "body": "Well, got my B vitamin complex, and it looks pretty inclusive. I'll keep you posted on the results. Does anyone know what the heck that mailing list proviso is all about?"}, {"response": 22, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Feb 11, 1998 (20:40)", "body": "Taking the B vitamins--things are looking very yellow, if you catch my drift... Have any of you incorporated flax seed oil into your diet? We've been using it since last summer. It's hard to measure its cholesterol-lowering benefits, but it has definitely improved my daughter's eczema, as it was purported to do."}, {"response": 23, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (17:11)", "body": "dosed on spirulina this weekend. My immune system is shot from all the stress and I've really been trying to take better care of the 'temple.' I made a huge batch of Tom Yum with extra mushrooms and tofu instead of shrimp and that lasted for most of last week. Kind of a detox regimen but more because I just love the soup. Feel like I've been gone an awfully long time... any new births, deaths, marriages...?"}, {"response": 24, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (18:50)", "body": "Missed seeing you around stacey, but you haven't missed much that I know of (except that brouhaha in \"porch\" over the bios). I'm eating chocolate fudge in anticipation of starting my detox diet Wed. morning. Stopping at the health food store tomorrow for psyllium and bentonite clay (*shudder*). Does the spirulina algae energize you the way it claims?"}, {"response": 25, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Feb 24, 1998 (14:21)", "body": "might be psychosamatic but, yes it does. I think it may be attributed to the fact that when I drink spirulina and dose on all the other herbs, I am also eating cleaner and taking better care of my body -- a cummulative effect!"}, {"response": 27, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (17:19)", "body": "today I'm dosing on Jelly Bellies!"}, {"response": 29, "author": "sgs", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (18:12)", "body": ""}, {"response": 30, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (20:20)", "body": "I'll keep my eyes open for algae Jelly Bellies! I've been on this detox regimen 12 hours now and my head is about to explode. Don't know if it's the diet or the flu (everyone else here has it). Time will tell."}, {"response": 31, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (15:41)", "body": "doesn't sound good Autumn. If it makes you feel bad it's never worth it and if you're sick it's a poor time to detox your body."}, {"response": 32, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (21:54)", "body": "Detox diet aborted. The first 2 days were OK, then this morning I woke up with a killer migraine. All bets were off; I had to go into my elaborate migraine troubleshooting mode. Fortunately, the caffeine worked right away and I recovered by the time I had to put my daughter on the bus. What the heck am I supposed to do with all this quinoa? Guess I'll ask wer in the food conference next time..."}, {"response": 34, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Mar  1, 1998 (20:45)", "body": "Whole. Do you think I can mix it with water, milk, cinnamon, sugar & raisins, cook it and eat it like oatmeal? I know my kids will be suspicious otherwise..."}, {"response": 36, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Mar  2, 1998 (09:31)", "body": "I've tried the 'oatmeal' idea. Not bad actually. the sprouts sounded good!"}, {"response": 38, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Mar  3, 1998 (13:29)", "body": "I thought about that, but I already have an institutional-size quantity of bulgur and couscous and was looking for something out of the ordinary to do. The sprout idea is intriguing--how do I do it?"}, {"response": 40, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, Mar  3, 1998 (17:59)", "body": "would that be a sequel to The Joy of Sex?"}, {"response": 42, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Mar  4, 1998 (15:48)", "body": "i'll show you mine if you show me yours..."}, {"response": 44, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Mar  5, 1998 (02:01)", "body": "No Joy of Cooking or Sex. (sigh) Though I bet my hubby thinks I could use them both!"}, {"response": 46, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Mar  5, 1998 (17:14)", "body": "*giggle*"}, {"response": 47, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Mar  6, 1998 (16:32)", "body": "Aww, I don't want you to incriminate yourself, wer! Maybe you could just sum up the process in 20 words or less? If it's an elaborate proposition, I'll just give the stuff to the food pantry and let them deal with it!"}, {"response": 49, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sat, Apr  4, 1998 (22:26)", "body": "Anybody read about that 9 year-old girl who published an article in the American Journal of Medicine debunking Therapeutic Touch? The AMA must really be on a witch hunt, using fourth graders' science fair projects...."}, {"response": 50, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Apr  6, 1998 (15:24)", "body": "*laugh*"}, {"response": 51, "author": "stacey", "date": "Mon, Apr  6, 1998 (15:25)", "body": "BTW... I disagree with the philosophy that touch doesn't make a difference. Not only does it change my moods but it seems to keep me healthier. (all related of course!)"}, {"response": 52, "author": "autumn", "date": "Tue, Apr  7, 1998 (21:06)", "body": "Sure! Just ask any baby. Remember all those rhesus monkeys clinging to the chicken wire monkey mannequins in the psych textbooks?"}, {"response": 53, "author": "stacey", "date": "Wed, Apr  8, 1998 (08:48)", "body": "yes, I remember. What a sad existence... no warm body to hug you back."}, {"response": 54, "author": "autumn", "date": "Wed, Apr  8, 1998 (14:01)", "body": "The woman who owns the natural products shop where I buy my herbs has me dousing the tops of my mattresses with a red & white vinegar/baking soda concoction to prevent the formaldehyde from off-gassing. Have you ever heard of this?"}, {"response": 56, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr  9, 1998 (08:45)", "body": "do you carry on with Gregorian chants while you douse?"}, {"response": 57, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Apr 10, 1998 (13:01)", "body": "Naaaah, the chanting would probably freak my kids out worse than the smell... I'm curious to see what you turn up, wer."}, {"response": 61, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Apr 13, 1998 (20:25)", "body": "Geez, Louise! I'm gonna go right up and put a lock on my toothpaste cap! That is downright frightening, wer. You must have the same book as my shopkeeper friend. She was telling me all about the evils of not only formaldehyde, but also acrylic, polyester, vinyl, phenol and PVCs. Now I'm giving my laundry the same treatment as the mattresses. It's worth it just to have the reduced risk of asthma/breathing problems."}, {"response": 62, "author": "autumn", "date": "Mon, Apr 27, 1998 (20:21)", "body": "Stacey, have you seen that Celestial Seasonings has their own line of herbal remedies now? You'll have to check those out in their gift shop! I'm reading a really interesting book right now, \"Healing Foods,\" that features various, well, foods, their healing properties, and recipes. It's nice to get new ideas from time to time."}, {"response": 63, "author": "stacey", "date": "Thu, Apr 30, 1998 (15:33)", "body": "tried a few already... enchinea, ginko,\u007f and ginseng. not bad. i prefer my herbal supplements in tea though"}, {"response": 64, "author": "autumn", "date": "Thu, Apr 30, 1998 (16:16)", "body": "Have you ever grown your own?"}, {"response": 65, "author": "stacey", "date": "Fri, May  1, 1998 (16:11)", "body": "in a dark closet with a black light??? *smile*"}, {"response": 67, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sat, May  2, 1998 (15:03)", "body": "love that homegrown herb!"}, {"response": 68, "author": "stacey", "date": "Tue, May  5, 1998 (09:01)", "body": "sprinkle it here, there, everywhere!"}, {"response": 69, "author": "wer", "date": "Fri, Jan 15, 1999 (13:18)", "body": "Ear Ache Medicine 1 T. honey 1 T. tobacco 1 T. cabbage Stuff in onion and roast in hot ashes. Squeeze and use juice for drops. by Elizabeth N. Stutzman"}, {"response": 70, "author": "autumn", "date": "Fri, Jan 15, 1999 (15:47)", "body": "I always heard garlic or mullein oil, which are less complicated. What do you suppose the tobacco's for? Is this the first actual medicinal use for it? I've also heard that if anyone in the family's sick, you should slice open an onion, put it on a saucer, and place it on top of the fridge or some other highly-trafficked space. It will somehow kill the airborne germs to prevent the spread to others. Gotta go, I feel an earache coming on...got a light?"}, {"response": 71, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Fri, Jan 15, 1999 (22:57)", "body": "not sure...I do know tobacco is good for bee, wasp, etcetera stings, and if you chew tobacco and swallow instead of spit, it will keep you from getting intestinal worms..."}, {"response": 72, "author": "stacey", "date": "Sat, Jan 16, 1999 (01:26)", "body": "does it keep you from getting them or does it just kill them on contact?"}, {"response": 73, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sat, Jan 16, 1999 (23:37)", "body": "excellent point..."}, {"response": 74, "author": "stacey", "date": "Sun, Jan 17, 1999 (00:26)", "body": "and from the smoker no less!"}, {"response": 75, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sun, Jan 17, 1999 (19:00)", "body": "I don't think you'll find this in any medical journal, but at the first sign of a migraine, a strong cup of caffeinated coffee and a cigarette can stop it in its tracks. They act to constrict the blood vessels and limit oxygen to the brain, I'm guessing."}, {"response": 76, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Sun, Jan 17, 1999 (22:27)", "body": "the caffeine you will..."}, {"response": 77, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Mon, Jan 18, 1999 (10:00)", "body": "yup, and nicotine too! most aspirin brands have about 25 mg of caffeine per tablet just for that reason."}, {"response": 78, "author": "terry", "date": "Mon, Jan 18, 1999 (10:13)", "body": "How many mgs. in a cup o cafe?"}, {"response": 79, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Mon, Jan 18, 1999 (11:08)", "body": "around 30 mg, i believe."}, {"response": 80, "author": "terry", "date": "Tue, Jan 19, 1999 (08:23)", "body": "Wow, an aspirin is almost equal to a cup o java."}, {"response": 81, "author": "KitchenManager", "date": "Wed, Jan 20, 1999 (16:57)", "body": "well, not really..."}, {"response": 82, "author": "autumn", "date": "Sat, Jan 23, 1999 (17:40)", "body": "No, I'm thinking 90 mg. for coffee, 40 mg. for tea. Coke falls in the middle, I believe."}, {"response": 83, "author": "ratthing", "date": "Sat, Jan 23, 1999 (20:16)", "body": "i think you are right, autumn. health conference Main Menu"}]}]}