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Spring-04 Take Control-Lab Tests ThePATHNews
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M. Templeton
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Apr 27, 2004 09:39 PDT
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The PATH Newsletter
(Pursuing Abundance Through Health)
Volume 4 - Issue (1) : Spring 2004
Editor: Margaret Templeton
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Welcome to The PATH Newsletter.
Our purpose is to share information with free thinking
people who are seeking effective, alternative methods
for natural healing.
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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> Health News: Taking Control-Lab Testing You Order For
Yourself (Interest to US subscribers)
Eurekalert
=> Featured Article: You Genetically Altered My What???
by - Karen Arnold
=> Featured Sponsors: GEM Corporate
=> Holistic Q&A for Readers: Cinnamon for Diabetics
=> Phoebe's Pet Column: Healthful Hints
=> Helpful Links: (see column)
=> Readers Feedback: (see column)
=> Subscribe/Unsubscribe information
To Our Subscribers, please read.
The PATH News thanks you for your referrals. They are
always appreciated and are the major way we grow.
Share us with a friend. subsc-@thepathnews.com
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Health News
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Taking Control -- Lab Testing Your Order for Yourself
(Interest to US subscribers)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Philadelphia, PA – There is a growing new front in the healthcare
revolution. Now, in more than 30 states, patients can get lab tests
performed directly at laboratories. These services, part of the
phenomenon known as Direct Access Testing (DAT), require only
that the consumer pay up-front, and be able to receive their test
results directly.
===================
30 States Allow Testing
===================
Surprisingly, there are no federal regulations that impede this
growing trend of consumer ordering and purchasing of lab tests.
Because no federal programs funds' are involved, the regulatory
initiatives are left to the states.
Currently, more than 30 states* allow DAT, with regulations varying
widely. In Washington state, for example, there are no restrictions;
New York and California have recently relaxed their regulations; yet,
Idaho prohibits DAT altogether. Despite the "hands-off" policy of the
federal government, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory
Committee (CLIAC), affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, is starting to evaluate a possible role in DAT.
===============
A Retail Business
===============
What is evident to the federal government, states, and medical
community is that DAT changes the basic relationship of how
patients receive their services from commercial laboratories.
Heretofore, these laboratories have operated on a business-to-
business level with hospitals, clinics and physician clients.
With DAT, laboratories do business directly with customers.
DAT is a retail business.
Results Direct: An Example of Responding to the 21st Century
Patient Consequently, the leadership of Results
(http://www.results-direct.com), a consumer-direct laboratory
testing venture in Spokane, WA, established a task team to
implement a wide range of programs, including a survey that
would quantify interest in DAT, characterize target customers,
identify key, features for the DAT program, and create an
implementation and monitoring plan. The company's success
in this new industry is an example of a service meeting the
needs of the informed, 21st century patient.
Reporting the Results Direct experience is Lawrence
Killingsworth, PhD, Chief Science and Technical Officer,
Pathology Associates and Medical Laboratories, Sacred
Heart Medical Center Laboratories, in Spokane, Washington.
Dr. Killingsworth presented his report, "Direct Access Testing
from Concept to Reality" during the 55th Annual Meeting of the
American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC).
===========================
What Do Today's Patients Want?
===========================
According to Killingsworth, Results Direct found the following
results in its analysis:
To the question, "How likely would you be to use the service?"
five percent stated "Most likely;" 15 percent replied "Somewhat
likely;" 17 percent stated "Somewhat unlikely;" and 62 percent
said "Not likely at all." One percent replied, "Don't know."
The target customer for the DAT profile found that middle-aged
or younger groups were the most interested during the survey,
but experience has shown that most customers are "Boomers."
The optimal customer would have a moderate to higher income
bracket, consider him or herself to be in good health, and want
to be in control of their health care.
Convenience was the primary motivator for patient use of DAT,
followed by the elimination of a physician referral for the test.
"Fast results" was the lowest ranking incentive for using DAT.
Having insurance that pays for a laboratory tests was the
overwhelming reason that consumers would not use DAT.
Approximately 32 percent stated they would prefer physician
administration of a test, although quality did not seem to be a
key disincentive.
===========================
Suggested Customer Procedures
===========================
Results Direct offers the following guidance for serving its
patient base:
-Customers can choose to have reports mailed to them or they
may pick them up at the Service Center. (Web-based test
ordering and reporting is in final development.)
-Results Direct will not send a customer's results to the physician.
-Results are guaranteed in two to five days, but are usually
available the next day.
-A brief narrative about the test's clinical application accompanies
each test result.
-The Medical Director will phone critical values directly to the
customer.
For patient safety and to put laboratory testing into a broader
medical perspective, Results Direct attaches the following
comment to all laboratory reports:
Lab tests provide useful information, but are not a substitute
for a full medical evaluation. Results within the reference (normal)
range do not ensure health. Results outside the reference range
may not indicate disease. Results Direct recommends you consult
your physician to discuss your test results as a part of a complete
medical examination.
=========================
Recommended DAT Test Menu
=========================
The Results Direct panel suggested that DAT include common
medical tests with public understanding and "name recognition,"
tests for a wide range of common medical conditions, and those
that can be offered at reasonable prices with rapid turn-around
time. Those not recommended included HIV testing, tests
requiring extensive clinical interpretation by specialists, and
tumor markers not approved for screening.
In the case of Results Direct, their menu of available tests and
pricing includes the following:
Allergy (Adult Food Profile) 175.00
Blood Count (Complete CBC) 20.00
Blood Type 25.00
Cardiac Lipid/Cholesterol Panel 35.00
Cardiac Risk Comprehensive Panel 150.00
Diabetes Screen 20.00
Health Panel (Men's and Women's) 125.00
Hepatitis Profile (A, B and C) 150.00
Mononucleosis 20.00
Pregnancy Test (Blood serum) 30.00
Testosterone 45.00
Hyroid Panel 35.00
Urine Drug Screen (Take Home/cocaine or
methamphetamines) 30.00
==================
States With No Limits
==================
AK, WA, MT, CO, NM, SD, NB, KS, OK, TX, MN, WI,
LA, IN, OH, WV, VA, VT, NH, DE, DC
====================
States With Some Limits
====================
CA, NV, UT, MO, AR, IL, MS, MI, NY, ME, NJ, MD, PR
==================
States Prohibiting DAT
==================
AZ, OR, ID, WY, ND, IA, KY, TN, AL, GA, FL, SC, NC,
PA, MA, RI, CT, HI
From: Eurekalert
============================================
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Featured Article
_________________________
You Genetically Altered My What???
While looking at my groceries I lugged into the house, I
started the arduous duty of unloading 8 bags of groceries.
When finally, I came to the bag that held my fresh fruit
purchases, I spotted the familiar sticker on the apples.
This time what caught my attention were little numbers on
those stickers. I was curious about them. I had a little
time to spare that day and to seek out and possibly satisfy
my curiosity. Once seated at my trusty computer, I knew I
was on a mission to find out the secrets behind those hard
to remove little pieces of sticky paper on my fruit. What I
found eventually amazed me. Those special numbers are
telling you if your fruit was grown by chemical fertilizers,
organically grown, or GENETICALLY MODIFIED!
I gasped at the thought of eating ANYTHING genetically
modified. Had I had my head in the sand? Here’s what I
learned:
The PLU code has four numbers.
So here is what that fifth number means for you and me:
• Organically grown fruit has the number “9” prefaced to
the four digits. For example, if the PLU number is 4130 for
a standard grown apple, (all accepted fertilizers and
fungicides used conventionally) If it was organically grown,
it would read 94130.
• If the fruit is genetically altered
(or GE or GMO) it will have an “8” prefaced to the four
digit code. As in 84130.
These genetically altered foods are already in the
marketplace main stream and have been for a number of
years. Scientists are using newly found technology to
transfer genes from one species to another. Many scientists
are concerned about the effects, not only on us as humans,
but the environment as well.
Twenty years ago the first GM pet was introduced. The Glo
fish. Scientists had given a gold fish a gene from coral.
The little fish glowed under ultraviolet light.
Are these altered animals and foods safe? We do not know
yet.
Here’s some info on what happening to our wheat supply that
the corporation Monsanto is pursuing. In promoting its GMO
wheat product, Monsanto is desperately trying to win over a
bid to introduce, Round-Up Readies, into
California and ultimately to the world. It is meeting with
very hard opposition, as farmers are directly opposed to
this. And well they should be. Digging further, I found
nine countries that have stated adamantly, along with the
European market, they will have none of the GMO wheat we
offer.
They are:
•Britain
•Ireland
•Norway
•Japan
•Algeria
•Italy
•Indonesia
•Malaysia
•France
And the list is growing longer with threats to buy from Canada
or where available if pushed to that point.
Interesting - even the livestock do not want it. Here are
just a few documented observations from Kansas to
Wisconsin,
*Hogs would not eat their rations, when GMO
crops were included in the feed.
*Cattle that broke through
an old fence, and had to walk PAST the GMO hybrids, to get
to and feed on, the natural wheat on the other side.
*Of deer mowing down a crop of soy beans, while across the way,
not one deer touched the GMO variety “Round-Up Readies”.
*Raccoons feasted by the dozen on the organic corn, while
down the road the GMO field of corn stood untouched.
Mice will not touch it either, if given a choice.
Okay, maybe that would have some merit for the farmer, so
he doesn’t lose his crops to wildlife. But what about the
price our families will pay in the interest of creating a super
crop resistant to herbicides and pesticides?
The question we have to ask ourselves, what do the animals
know instinctively… that we don’t know and have yet to find
out?
What can anyone do about it? One thing personally I can do
is:
1.Vote with money in the choice of foods that are
bought.
2.Ask the grocer to supply his shelves and produce
bins with an abundant choice of organic foods.
3.Voice an opinion against stocking of altered foods when
known.(Kraft is one company that has started to use
altered foods or Genetically Altered food in its products.)
4.Start an awareness group in your area and/or let your
neighbors know about this.
5.Post flyers on a bulletin board at your
local grocers, or farmers market with the owner's
permission of course, informing others who come in,
of what those little stickers really are telling us about
the fruits and vegetables we buy.
I know I am... I hope you will too.
Knowledge is power!
*************************************************
Karen Arnold studies nutrition and helps families become
more informed through toxic-awareness issues.
A wonderful profitable at-home-business opportunity is
available. Please visit her website to learn more.
Mentorship – guaranteed; Leadership – guaranteed
www.inspiringsuccess4u.alturl.com
Helping you build, helping you succeed - at home!
http://www.inspiring-parents.com/karnold.htm
www.inspiringsuccess4u.alturl.com
============================================
_________________________
Featured Sponsors
_________________________
GEM Corporate:
Creator of Water GEMs & Energy GEMs for your Wellness.
Check in soon for our new Website. http://gemcorporate.com.
============================================
_________________________
Guest Column
_________________________
Natural Care For Varicose Veins
Our circulatory system is made up of a complex web of arteries
and veins. Our arteries carry oxygen rich blood to the cells of
our bodies, while the veins are designed to pump oxygen poor
blood back to the heart. This is accomplished through a series
of one-way valves that do not allow blood to flow backwards into
the vein. When someone suffers from varicose veins, the one-way
valves of their veins do not close adequately, resulting in the
inefficient transport of blood back to the heart. This causes the
blood to flow backward within the vein, creating pressure and
causing the vein to become swollen and distended.
While rather benign, this health condition affects about 15%
of all adults worldwide. Most people recognize varicose veins
because of their knotted, twisted, swollen and often bluish of
these veins. In addition to any cosmetic concerns they may
pose, these veins can cause discomfort in the form of dull
nagging aches and pains, night cramps, ankle swelling,
feelings of burning or leg fatigue after prolonged standing.
There are a number of factors that play a part in the develop-
ment of varicose veins including heredity, gender, lifestyle,
occupation and age. They are also known to form during
pregnancy due to the dilating effect progesterone has on the
veins. Because they are associated with lack of circulation,
the formation of varicose veins is more common in people who
sit or stand in one position for long periods of time, habitually
sit with their legs crossed and those who lack regular exercise.
Recommendations For Wellness
Avoid standing for prolonged periods of time. If this is unavoidable,
move your legs often. Stretching and flexing your ankle will work
to pump the blood out of your legs and get it circulating again.
If you find yourself sitting for extended periods of time, get up and
move around every 35 to 45 minutes.
Take regular walks to help exercise the muscles of the legs and
increase blood flow.
Avoid clothing that may restrict blood flow.
Keep your weight down. This can help to reduce pressure on
your legs.
To help prevent leg and ankle swelling, reduce your salt intake.
Elevate your legs whenever possible especially when sitting.
Topically, witch hazel can be applied to the legs to ease
discomfort.
Butcher’s broom has historically been used when dealing with
circulatory ailments such as varicose veins.
Supplements such as ginkgo biloba, gotu kola or capsicum have
been shown to improve circulation.
Coenzyme Q10 also improved tissue oxygenation and increases
circulation.
Vitamin C with bioflavonoids and rutin can help this condition by
reducing blood clotting tendencies, promoting healing and helping
to strengthen the blood vessels.
White oak bark can be used to help reduce inflammation of the veins
as well as to tighten tissues and strengthen blood vessels.
Essential fatty acids such as omega 3 or flax seed oil can help to
reduce the pain and inflammation associated with varicose veins.
© Copyright Body, Mind & SoulHealer 2004. All rights reserved.
Dr. Rita Louise, Ph.D. is a Naturopathic Physician and a 20-
year veteran in the Human Potential Field, but it is her unique
gift as a medical intuitive that illuminates and enlivens her work.
A graduate of the Berkeley Psychic Institute and author of the
book “The Power Within: A Psychic Healing Primer, Dr. Louise
is a naturopathic physician, medical intuitive, mind/body healer,
herbalist and spiritual counselor. Dr. Louise can be reached by
calling (972) 475-3393 or visiting her web page at
http://www.soulhealer.com.
Dr. Rita Louise
Body, Mind & SoulHealer
Rediscover Your Wholeness
http://www.soulhealer.com
ri-@soulhealer.com
972-475-3393
============================================
________________________
Holistic Q&A
_________________________
To The Path News Question,
Do you know anything about using cinnamon for regulating
insulin levels for diabetics? Bob J
Hi Bob,
Are you referring to the research that demonstrated
cinnamon (1-6 grams a day) can help normalize blood
glucose and blood lipid levels alike? If so, the study
citation is:
“Cinnamon improves glucose and lipids of people with type 2
diabetes” Authors: A. Kahn, M. Safdar, MM. Ali Kahn, et al
Publication: Diabetes Care, 2003, vol. 26, pp. 3215—3218
And for an article on the research:
http://www.healthandage.com/Home/gc=39!gid2=2812
Hope this helps.
Margaret
Send your questions to Holistic Q&A,
mailto:HQ-@thepathnews.com
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Phoebe's Pet Column:
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Healthful Hints
Greetings Human Friends,
It's been raining all day and I'm stuck inside. Of course I
could slip out my doggie door if I wanted to but I'm no that
into nature when it’s WET! I'm not fond of the feeling of
rain splashing all over me. So I decided to stay in and do my
Spring column for you.
I have some great, natural, helpful hints even if I'm not a true
nature pooch, I'm still an advocate for natural remedies.
I think these are real barkers! What do you think?
Health & First Aid:
Try rubbing a fresh aloe vera plant sprig to your pet's sore
gums, and minor cuts in the foot pads.
For wood ticks, rub any type of non-toxic oil on the tick.
It starts to suffocate and comes out on its own without
injecting its poison as it will with other removal methods.
For abscesses use tea tree oil or lavender oil.
For prevention of worms/parasites try adding powdered
pumpkin seeds and add raw garlic (in small amounts to avoid
gas) to your pets food.
For an extra shiny coat and good health add flax seed oil to
your pets food.
And for those indoor accidents:
Spot Remover and Detergent:
Make Rosemary Oil Soap to remove spots from places where
your animal has urinated or for feces stains. This will remove
the stain and the scent will deter the animal from using that
place again.
1 grated bar of Castile soap
1 oz Rosemary Oil
1 oz alcohol (medicinal)
Melt the soap, add the oil and alcohol and mix. Pour into a
container and let mixture set.
You can find the above mentioned ingredience in most health
food stores.
Check out:
http://www.taoherbfarm.com/herbs/resources/petcare.htm
for more herbal hints.
Happy Spring,
Staff Columnist,
Phoebe
Mini Schnauzer
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Helpful Links
_________________________
Here's a very interesting site with valuable info.
Learning the Real Reason You're Sick
http://www.users.qwest.net/~gromer/
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Readers Feedback
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2/26/04
Hi Margaret,
I have been reading The PATH News since 10/2000.
I have used your information and advice and shared it with
friends. Thanks for this great newsletter.
Joanne R. in FL.
Hi Joanne,
Thanks for you complimentary email. It is always helpful to know
when someone is enjoying and sharing my efforts to keep you
informed. Margaret
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Information provided in The "PATH" is of a general
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advice. You are encouraged to obtain his/her
interpretation of information contained in this
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