– Thu May 26, 11:47 pm ET

THURSDAY, May 26 (HealthDay News)– Lists of the side effects for prescription medications on drug labels, packaging and advertisements have mushroomed up to an average of 70 per medication, a new study reports.

Cautions about side effects were designed to inform doctors and consumers of potential hazards, but this expansion may have more to do with worries about litigation rather than actual health concerns, say the study authors, who argue the information could be presented much more efficiently.

“Having a high number of side effects on a drug’s label should not suggest that the drug is unsafe. In fact, much of this labeling has less to do with true toxicity than with protecting manufacturers from potential lawsuits,” the study’s lead author Dr. Jon Duke, Regenstrief Institute investigator and assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, said in a university news release.

An analysis of more than 5,600 drug labels and more than 500,000 side effects found that prescription drug labels include an average of 70 different potential adverse reactions — a number that jumps to 100 side effects for some commonly prescribed drugs.

Some drugs in the upper range even listed up to 525 reactions.

Duke pointed out that the large number of side effects listed could overload doctors who must sift through this information in order to make informed decisions about medications on behalf of their patients.

For the study, published in the May 23 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine, the researchers compiled a list of the types of prescriptions drugs that were most likely to have a high number of labeled side effects. These drugs included antidepressants, antiviral medications, and newer treatments for restless legs syndrome and Parkinson’s disease.

More information

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration offers additional information on drug side effects.

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485. www.communitychiropractic.net

In this age of over-antibiotic use, I found this study interesting. The normal bacteria in the gut (the good stuff in yogurt) gets altered by the use of antibiotics. Now there is a study that says that this alteration can affect mood. This is profound because I find a large number of my patients have altered gut ecology due to a lifetime of periodic antibiotic use and the constant stream of these drugs consumed our meat and milk.  I hope you enjoy and also find a solid probiotic to help with healing!

We’re all familiar with the term “gut feeling”. As it turns out, the term may be more apt than we realize. In recent years, research has increasingly identified the role the gut can have on mood and behavior, leading many scientists to refer to the gut as the “second brain”. Now, for the first time, researchers have found conclusive evidence that conditions such as anxiety can originate in the gut instead of the brain.

In a study just published in the journal Gastroenterology, researchers at McMaster University found that bacteria residing in the gut influence brain chemistry and behavior.

The research is important because several common types of gastrointestinal disease are frequently associated with anxiety or depression. In addition there has been speculation that some psychiatric disorders, such as late onset autism, may be associated with an abnormal bacterial content in the gut.

“The exciting results provide stimulus for further investigating a microbial component to the causation of behavioral illnesses,” said Stephen Collins, professor of medicine and associate dean of research at McMaster’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine. Collins and Premysl Bercik, assistant professor of medicine, conducted the research in the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute.

Working with healthy adult mice, the researchers found that disrupting the normal bacterial content of the gut with antibiotics produced changes in behavior; the mice became less cautious or anxious. This change was accompanied by an increase in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which has been linked to depression and anxiety.

When oral antibiotics were discontinued, bacteria in the gut returned to normal and Collins reported that there was “restoration of normal behavior and brain chemistry.”

To confirm that bacteria can influence behavior, the researchers colonized germ-free mice with bacteria taken from mice with a different behavioral pattern. They found that when germ-free mice with a genetic background associated with passive behavior and were colonized with bacteria from mice with higher exploratory behavior, they became more active and daring. Similarly, normally active mice became more passive after receiving bacteria from mice whose genetic background is associated with passive behavior.

Collins said that his team’s research indicates that while many factors determine behavior, the nature and stability of bacteria in the gut appear to influence behavior and disruptions from antibiotics or infections might produce changes in behavior. Bercik said that these results lay the foundation for investigating the therapeutic use of probiotic bacteria in the treatment of behavioral disorders, particularly those associated with gastrointestinal conditions.

The gut is home to about 1,000 trillion bacteria. The gut also contains around 100 million nerve cells (neurons), more than in either the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system. This multitude of neurons in the enteric nervous system enables us to “feel” the inner world of our gut and its contents.  Neurons in the gut also use serotonin to signal back to the brain – and 95% of all serotonin in the body is in the gut. About 90 percent of the fibers in the primary visceral nerve, the vagus, carry information from the gut to the brain.

Generally when people think of “gut feelings,” they are thinking about instinctive-like reactions such as the “butterflies” or “hollow feelings” one may get due to fear, bad news or an upcoming daunting task. Now it is apparent that other serious conditions may originate at least partially in the gut. Maintaining a healthy digestive system, including a healthy intestinal flora mix, could be a key in helping to prevent and control such conditions.

In our clinic we recommend a variety of intestinal flora supplements called probiotics.  Probiotic means pro-life. The scientific definition from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States and World Health Organisation is: “probiotics are live microorganisms that when administered in adequate amounts encourage a health benefit in the human intestine.”

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485. www.communitychiropractic.net

We are committed to addressing the biggest preventable cause of health-related problems:  Obesity!

In the office, we are constantly looking at ways to help our patients reach their health goals. Our very own Dr. Karla Miller has extensive experience in Acupuncture and shares her views on adding auriculotherapy into your weigh loss program in this article.  Our weight loss program, Take Shape for Life, has been hugely successful and we believe that balancing out the bodies energies can only help with overall success!

Auriculotherapy for Weight loss by Dr. Karla Miller

Auriculotherapy (acupuncture in the ear) suppresses the desire to binge.  Patients report a decrease in appetite and in increase in satiety (fullness) while eating. For centuries the Chinese have know that the ear is an important switch board for controlling many body functions especially the appetite.  The science behind acupuncture for weight loss shows that stimulating certain points regulates insulin levels. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted from the pancreas and is responsible for the breakdown of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.  Higher levels of insulin lowers glucose levels which makes you feel hungry faster and cause you to over eat. Too much insulin will cause your body to store fat. Treatment will help stabilize your insulin levels and promote fat loss.

Stress can also play a part in the situation. Stress will cause an increase in cortisol, which will trigger food cravings.  By helping to reduce stress and tension and promote proper hormone balance. Acupuncture triggers the release of endorphins, which are feel good Neuro-chemicals enhancing well being.  If you feel good you are less prone to food cravings. Auriculotherapy speeds up the information from the stomach to the brain and increases the brains ability to recognize that the stomach is filling.

Auriculotherapy consists of stimulating specific acupuncture points in the ear with needles in the office and the patient is sent home with ear beads taped to the ear to stimulate between treatments.

Weight Loss patients are treated at the frequency of twice a week for four weeks.  After you have completed the treatment, most patients require a booster from time to time to keep their appetite under control.

Dr. Karla Miller is a licensed Chiropractor and Acupuncturist, and has been in practice for 10 years. She has her doctoral degree in Chiropractic and a bachelor degree in Human Biology. She has studied acupuncture in Asia and has practices at Community Chiropractic in Chicago since 2007.

Honestly, people don’t usually show up in my office as a new patient complaining about a lack of creativity! Maybe with the study discussed below that might just change. Make sense to me: Chiropractic removes stress on the nervous system. Less stress means more capacity for higher functioning activities such as creativity.  This just makes me smile…I just love what I do!

A recent study reported in the Chiropractic Journal of Australia has found that chiropractic adjustments may enhance creativity and divergent thinking. Ten subjects between 10 and 62 years of age were assessed for spinal subluxation and adjusted . The majority of subjects received both cervical and thoracic adjustments; but some also received cranial, jaw, upper extremity, and lumbar adjustments as well.

The main outcome measure was performance on the ‘alternate uses test’ both before and immediately following one treatment session. The majority of the subjects were found to have enhanced scores on the post-administered test indicating a short-term improvement in creativity.

Mechanisms for the improved cognition identified in this pilot project remain speculative but a number of possibilities exist including: reduced anxiety and emotional stressors, enhanced blood flow to specific regions of the brain with mild ischemia (so called ischemic penumbra), etc.

This line of research would seem to be sorely needed in the chiropractic profession today with many in the ranks standing on the verge of throwing in the towel or conceding that the adjustment is only good for transient improvements in a few pain syndromes. Historically in chiropractic, subluxation was thought to be linked to interference with the nervous system’s ability to function—Creativity of the mind would seem to be a primary component ‘of the nervous system’s functional capacity’.

Future studies will need to test this study’s findings with more rigorous methods including control groups matched for age, occupation, social class (and other variables), draw upon larger samples and include longevity of the results.

References:

1)Masarsky CS, Todres-Masarsky M. Effect of a single chiropractic adjustment on divergent thinking and creative output: a pilot study, Part 1. Chiropr J Aust 2010;40:57-62.

Dr. Stephanie Maj has a thriving family practice in the heart of Chicago. Her clinic is located at 1442 W. Belmont Ave., 1E, Chicago, IL 60657. 773.528.8485. www.communitychiropractic.net

I just returned from a trip to Italy and everyone asks my “How was the pasta?” Well, it wasn’t the pasta that struck me about Italian cuisine, it is their olive oil.

This olive oil is literally alive. You pour it onto a plate (yes, to dip my bread in) and it is rich and green and heavenly!

I wanted to add something to my blog about the healing effects of olive oil and also to talk about the wonders of  ”Good Fat!”  Enjoy reading this article written by Dr. Leo Galland, a medical doctor I met early on in my career at a Functional Medicine conference.

Olive Oil: A Natural Painkiller?

Could a traditional food have pain- and inflammation-reducing effects similar to over the counter pain medicine like ibuprofen?

Scientists from Italy, Spain, the U.S. and Australia have discovered that extra virgin olive oil can provide significant health benefits, including the ability to help reduce pain and inflammation.

This robust, flavorful oil is an example of the food as medicine concept, that foods can have a powerful impact on health.

A Mythical, Sacred Oil

From ancient Greece to the Holy Land, olive oil has been treasured. Celebrated as sacred in Greek mythology, the olive branch symbolized peace in Hellenic culture. Evidence of this ancient oil was discovered in 1901 at the “Room of the Olive Press” at Knossos on the island of Crete in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. From there olives were pressed into oil over 4,500 years ago and the olive oil was exported to North Africa and mainland Greece.

Cultivation of olive trees spread around the Mediterranean where olive oil flourished along with many early civilizations. The bible speaks of olive oil, and it has been used by Christianity and Judaism as a holy anointing oil.

Today, the major producers of olive oil are Spain, Italy, Greece, Tunisia, Turkey, Morocco and Syria.

But the growing popularity of olive oil can be seen in the spread of cultivation around the world to countries such as the U.S., Chile, and South Africa. Australia has become an energetic olive oil producer and exporter, and has just announced a record crop.

During travels with my family from the south of France to Tuscany to Greece I have witnessed the special beauty of the olive tree and tasted its fruit. Able to withstand heat, sun and survive on only a little moisture, the hardy olive tree became an icon of the Mediterranean region. Freezing temperatures, however, can harm the trees and the crop.

Eating Healthy With Olive Oil

Extra virgin olive oil can contribute nutritional support in the fight against such health problems as arthritis, cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, and in pain management.

A research study from Spain has shown that higher olive oil consumption is associated with leaner body weight, an important factor in prevention of chronic conditions.

Another study from the universities of Navarra and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in Spain looked at how diets including olive oil might offer protection against depression: Bad Fats Linked to Depression

Natural Painkiller Discovered in Olive Oil

Recent research has identified the antioxidant called oleocanthal, which is only found in extra-virgin olive oil. Scientists at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia, found that oleocanthal in olive oil has a potency strikingly similar to that of the drug ibuprofen in inhibiting the cyclooxygenase (Cox) enzyme that causes pain and inflammation. Their findings were published in the science magazine Nature.

Given the side effects of common pain relieving drugs, finding a nutritional way to reduce pain and inflammation could be a solution for people suffering from pain.

In another study Italian researchers explain that the characteristic pungent and bitter taste of virgin olive oil have been attributed to phenols in the oil that have potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive and anti-cancer benefits.

Research on Health Benefits of Olive Oil

At the meeting of the “International conference on the healthy effect of virgin olive oil” that took place in Spain in 2005, numerous benefits of virgin olive oil from the research were outlined. They looked at the consumption of olive oil from the perspective of issues such as cardiovascular health, cancer and longevity. With respect to anti-aging they noted: “The more recent studies consistently support that the Mediterranean diet, based in virgin olive oil, is compatible with a healthier ageing and increased longevity.”

Consumption of olive oil has been associated with:

• Reduction of total cholesterol and an increase in the high-density cholesterol (HDL-C), which has a protective effect on blood vessels.
• Improved sensitivity of cells to insulin, which helps to prevent the Metabolic Syndrome. Preventing Metabolic Syndrome is important, because the syndrome increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
• Decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and Alzheimer’s disease.

Potent Antioxidant Power of Olive Oil

Phenolic compounds are potent antioxidants found in virgin and extra-virgin olive oil. These compounds give unrefined olive oils their distinctive flavors and high degree of stability.

Studies indicate these compounds may be able to:

• Turn off the activity of genes that produce the kind of inflammation that causes coronary heart disease.
• Decrease production of inflammatory chemicals called thromboxanes and leukotrienes.
• Decrease the production of the most damaging form of cholesterol, oxidized LDL cholesterol.

University of South Australia researchers note that compounds from the olive were found to be antimicrobial against various bacteria.

And olive oil is just the beginning of anti-inflammatory foods. Learn more about fighting pain and inflammation in my article: Natural Anti- Inflammatory Foods and Supplements That Help Arthritis

Enjoying Olive Oil

The research studies focus on the benefits of extra-virgin olive oil, so this is what I always buy. I look for organic oil that has been grown without pesticides. Freshness counts, so I like shop where they sell a lot of oil, such as a big health food store. Store it in a cool place.

The amount of olive oil associated with protection against inflammation is only two teaspoons a day, which is easy to achieve. A sprinkle of olive oil makes a simple salad dressing, and a little oil can be used for dipping bread, instead of butter. Olive oil can also be used in baking.

Here is a popular tangy and sweet recipe from my book The Fat Resistance Diet, an anti-inflammatory dietary program.

Pomegranate Lime Dressing

Pomegranate juice is an outstanding source of flavonoids which help to reduce inflammation.

1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil

Juice of 1/2 lime

1 tablespoon unsweetened pomegranate juice

In a jar, shake together the extra virgin olive oil, lime juice, and pomegranate juice. Serves 1.

Get more free recipes at fatresistancediet.com

Best Health,

Leo Galland, MD

References and Further Reading:

The Annual of the British School at Athens, Coverage: 1894-2007 (Vols. 1-102)

Olive Oil: From Tree to Table, Peggy Knickerbocker and Laurie Smith, Chronicle Books; 2nd edition (October 1997)

Nature. 2005 Sep 1;437(7055):45-6. “Phytochemistry: ibuprofen-like activity in extra-virgin olive oil.”Beauchamp GK, Keast RS, Morel D, Lin J, Pika J, Han Q, Lee CH, Smith AB, Breslin PA.

Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.

Inflammopharmacology. 2009 Apr;17(2):76-84. “Phenolic compounds in olive oil: antioxidant, health and organoleptic activities according to their chemical structure.” Servili M, Esposto S, Fabiani R, Urbani S, Taticchi A, Mariucci F, Selvaggini R, Montedoro GF.

Dipartimento di Scienze Economico-estimative e degli Alimenti, Sezione di Tecnologie e Biotecnologie degli Alimenti, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Via S. Costanzo, 06126 Perugia, Italy.

Eur J Clin Invest. 2005 Jul;35(7):421-4.”International conference on the healthy effect of virgin olive oil.”Perez-Jimenez F, Alvarez de Cienfuegos G, Badimon L, Barja G, Battino M, Blanco A, Bonanome A, Colomer R, Corella-Piquer D, Covas I, Chamorro-Quiros J, Escrich E, Gaforio JJ, Garcia Luna PP, Hidalgo L, Kafatos A, Kris-Etherton PM, Lairon D, Lamuela-Raventos R, Lopez-Miranda J, Lopez-Segura F, Martinez-Gonzalez MA, Mata P, Mataix J, Ordovas J, Osada J, Pacheco-Reyes R, Perucho M, Pineda-Priego M, Quiles JL, Ramirez-Tortosa MC, Ruiz-Gutierrez V, Sanchez-Rovira P, Solfrizzi V, Soriguer-Escofet F, de la Torre-Fornell R, Trichopoulos A, Villalba-Montoro JM, Villar-Ortiz JR, Visioli F.

Lipid and Atherosclerosis Unit, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Cordoba, Spain.

Public Health Nutr. 2009 Sep;12(9A):1607-17. “Mediterranean diet and metabolic syndrome: the evidence.”Babio N, Bulló M, Salas-Salvadó J. Human Nutrition Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan de Reus, IISPV, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rovira i Virgili University, Spain.

J Nutr Biochem. 2002 Nov;13(11):636-644.”Major phenolic compounds in olive oil: metabolism and health effects.” Tuck KL, Hayball PJ.

Centre for Pharmaceutical Research, School of Pharmaceutical, Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of South Australia, 5000, Adelaide, Australia

BMC Genomics. 2010 Apr 20;11:253. “Gene expression changes in mononuclear cells in patients with metabolic syndrome after acute intake of phenol-rich virgin olive oil.” Camargo A, Ruano J, Fernandez JM, Parnell LD, Jimenez A, Santos-Gonzalez M, Marin C, Perez-Martinez P, Uceda M, Lopez-Miranda J, Perez-Jimenez F.

IMIBIC (Instituto Maimonides de Investigacion Biomedica de Cordoba), Reina Sofia University Hospital, University of Cordoba, Spain.

J Nutr. 2008 Jun;138(6):1074-8. “An extra-virgin olive oil rich in polyphenolic compounds has antioxidant effects in OF1 mice.”Oliveras-López MJ, Berná G, Carneiro EM, López-García de la Serrana H, Martín F, López MC.

Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Engineering, Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, CIBERDEM, University of Pablo de Olavide of Seville, 41092 Seville, Spain.

Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2005 Feb;15(1):13-23. “Effect of unsaturated fat intake from Mediterranean diet on rat liver mRNA expression profile: selective modulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism.” Eletto D, Leone A, Bifulco M, Tecce MF.

Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Salerno, Via Ponte Don Melillo, I-84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy.

Atherosclerosis. 2007 Jan;190(1):181-6. Epub 2006 Feb 20. “Postprandial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of extra virgin olive oil.” Bogani P, Galli C, Villa M, Visioli F.

Department of Pharmacological Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133 Milan, Italy.

J Am Coll Nutr. 2008 Apr;27(2):314-20. “Changes in LDL fatty acid composition as a response to olive oil treatment are inversely related to lipid oxidative damage: The EUROLIVE study.” Cicero AF, Nascetti S, López-Sabater MC, Elosua R, Salonen JT, Nyyssönen K, Poulsen HE, Zunft HJ, Kiesewetter H, de la Torre K, Covas MI, Kaikkonen J, Mursu J, Koenbick C, Bäumler H, Gaddi AV; EUROLIVE Study Group.

GC Descovich Atherosclerosis and Metabolic Disease Research Unit, Internal Medicine, Aging and Kidney Diseases Dept., University of Bologna, Via Massarenti, 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

J Am Coll Nutr. 2007 Oct;26(5):434-44. “A MUFA-rich diet improves posprandial glucose, lipid and GLP-1 responses in insulin-resistant subjects.” Paniagua JA, de la Sacristana AG, Sánchez E, Romero I, Vidal-Puig A, Berral FJ, Escribano A, Moyano MJ, Peréz-Martinez P, López-Miranda J, Pérez-Jiménez F.

Lipids and Atherosclerosis Research Unit, University Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain.

Full Text: “Diet and Inflammation” Leo Galland, MD, Nutr Clin Pract December 7, 2010 vol. 25 no. 6 634-640

Power Healing: Use the New Integrated Medicine to Cure Yourself. Leo Galland, 384 pages, Random House, (June 1, 1998)