Environmental Medicine News

The News Review:

- Natural Medicine: Unearthing the benefits of mushrooms
- New Genetic Markers For Ulcerative Colitis Identified
- Time to Audit Scientology’s Anti-Medicine Stance
- Week-long emergency medicine talks at Hilton
- People’s Pharmacy: Mixing medications can harm your health
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use

Natural Medicine: Unearthing the benefits of mushrooms
Seattle Post Intelligencer 
While the most commonly eaten mushroom in the United States is the white button mushroom there are more than 14000 varieties though only about 3000 are edible. They offer a wide variety of benefits from enhancing the flavors of a meal to improving your health. Prized for their therapeutic value mushrooms have played an essential role in traditional Asian medicine and current research indicates mushrooms contain several anti-cancer properties. The majority of this research has been focused on the phytochemicals and antioxidants found in shiitake maitake and reishi mushrooms. However even the three most common mushrooms white button crimini and portobello have been shown to contain these important components. Along with their anti-cancer properties mushrooms also boast small amounts of several vitamins and minerals. These small wonders are rich in the important minerals selenium copper potassium and zinc.
Related from Bqsyj: Hunting fungi can be fun

New Genetic Markers For Ulcerative Colitis Identified
Science Daily (press release) 
4 2009) — An international team led by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers has identified genetic markers associated with risk for ulcerative colitis. The findings which appear today as an advance online publication of the journal Nature Genetics bring researchers closer to understanding the biological pathways involved in the disease and may lead to the development of new treatments that specifically target them. See also:Health & MedicineColitisGastrointestinal ProblemsCrohn’s DiseaseGenesDiseases and ConditionsGene TherapyReference.

Time to Audit Scientology’s Anti-Medicine Stance
Gawker NY 
Jett Travolta’s death on the other hand is winning international attention and raising the question of Scientology’s anti-medicine stance. Could the quest of Hubbard’s cult to spread the faith by courting Hollywood celebrities have backfired once and for all? Read More:.

Week-long emergency medicine talks at Hilton
The Nation Newspaper Barbados 
com%2Fstory%2F356496518127211. EMERGENCY MEDICINE and the controversies that surround it will be at the forefront of a conference being held in the island from today at Hilton Barbados. The Caribbean Emergency Medicine Congress (CEMC) the University of the West Indies and the American Academy of Emergency Medicine will bring together experts from across the United States and the Caribbean to discuss universal problems faced in emergency medicine. “The conference will also focus on the wider need to provide a safety net for all citizens including those involved in natural disasters or terrorist events” said Dr Harold Watson head of the Accident and Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Watson who is also a lecturer in emergency medicine at UWI said the conference was also a means of physicians updating their knowledge and competence in the specific field through an exchange of information. The doctor added that it would hopefully lead to better patient care.

People’s Pharmacy: Mixing medications can harm your health
Houston Chronicle United States 
With the cost of medicine so high home remedies may be an economical solution for common complaints. You recently had a story in which a person reported that zinc oxide worked for hemorrhoids. This made me laugh and brought back the memory of a dear family friend who has been dead for more than 45 years.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use
WSCtv.com NC 
Some of the most popular CAM therapies include: prayer natural products deep breathing meditation chiropractic yoga and massage. The conditions for which CAM therapy is most commonly used are back neck and joint pain colds arthritis mood disturbances stomach aches headaches pain and insomnia. Naturopathic MedicineNaturopathic medicine is a branch of medicine that revolves around the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Naturopathic physicians focus on treating the cause of illness rather than simply alleviating symptoms. The treatments also use the most natural least toxic methods possible to prevent illness and promote physical and mental health. A Naturopathic Physician is a trained health care provider. Students have a bachelor’s degree and four years of master’s education at an accredited naturopathic medical school.