Studies and Progress Notes (August 2008)

* * * STUDIES and PROGRESS NOTES* * *

* *  SPIRITUAL AWARENESS AND WHOLISTIC HEALING * * 

Effects of Healing Touch on nursing home residents in later stages of Alzheimer Disease

There are half a million people institutionalized for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in the US and uncounted others cared for privately. While those who may not have had contact with people who have Alzheimer’s might write them off as not needing care because they are not aware of their own conditions, this is a gross misperception. These people suffer from confusion, distress at being unable to care for themselves, fears, pains, and more. Palliative treatments that slow the progress of AD are available, though not very effective. Symptomatic treatments with drugs often diminish quality of life. CAM therapies are welcome because they relieve symptoms without side effects.

“In a pilot study… 10 Healing Touch treatments were administered by a Healing Touch practitioner over 5 weeks’ time (two treatments per week) to five residents of a local long term nursing facility whose primary diagnosis was Alzheimer’s Disease. During this time, and for one week prior, and one week after the treatments, members of the direct care staff rated resident behaviors on a 10-item Functional Behavior Profile twice weekly. The ratings ranged from “5” (best) to “1” (poorest). At the end of the seven weeks, each resident had deteriorated in at least one behavior (an average of 2.8 for the group), but each person had also improved in at least five behavioral areas with a group average of 6.2 behaviors, at a significance level of p=.020.

Twelve clients from the same long-term care facility with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease were selected... They were divided into a treatment and control (non-treatment) group on the basis of staff reports of each client’s approximate stage of progress in the illness. Thus, each group had one “high-mid” client, one “mid” client, three “mid-late” clients and one “late” stage client.

The methodology include observations of 10 behaviors that were rated on a 5-point scale by members of the direct care staff: appetite, sleep, comfort (freedom from pain), orientation, compliance with daily routine, socialization, composure (emotional stability), non-verbal responses, freedom from jargon, and conversational communication. Data was collected on al 12 residents four times before treatments began, twice weekly during treatments, and again four times after treatments were discontinued.

Residents in the treatment group received two Healing Touch treatments per week for five weeks for a total of 10 treatments each. Treatments ranged from 10 to 20 minutes in length. Modalities were selected on the basis of the resident’s physical disposition (lying on bed, sitting in chair with tray, sleeping, walking, etc.), and upon the author’s perception of the resident’s treatment needs in that moment. These were typically, full body connection or an adaptation, chakra spread, magnetic unruffling or therapeutic touch as described in the Healing Touch notebooks…”

Results:
1. “Average improvement in the behavior scores across all 10 behavioral items for the treatment group across five weeks of treatment was significant at the p=.046 level. No improvement was seen in the average behavior scores of the control group. Decline in average behavior scores was noted, but was not significant.
2. Average behavior scores for the item “Composure” (freedom from agitation, extreme restlessness, catastrophic outbursts, bouts of uncontrolled weeping, etc.) improved significantly at the p=.024 level; the average scores of the control group did not change significantly.
3. Average behavior scores for the time “Physical Comfort” (freedom from complaints or non-verbal indications of pain) improved significantly for the treatment group at the p=.005 level; the average scores of the control group did not change significantly.

HT may be a promising complementary treatment for late-stage bedridden residents with dementia for whom so little else can be done. Future research should focus on the effects of HT on residents with dementia and whether direct care staff do in fact, find these patients easier to care for. The effects of HT upon specific events of a resident’s daily routine e.g., easier transition into nursing home living, reduced need for extra medication for anxiety, prior to events that cause some residents to have extra resistance, such as bath time should be investigated. Finally, the effects of HT should be explored as a method for enriching the visits of family members with their loved ones who have dementia; as a way of involving volunteers in care of these residents; and as stress reducing treatments for staff.

Elizabeth Ostuni, Mary Jo Santo Pietro. Effects of Healing Touch on Nursing Home Residents in Later Stages of Alzheimer Disease, From research summaries, Healing Touch International
Presentations: World Alzheimer’s Congress 2000, Washington DC, July 18, 2000;
Healing Touch International Fifth Annual Conference, January, 2001.

IJHC – WHR Observations

This pilot study is well worth extending into a controlled clinical trial. The conventional medical approach of using psychoactive medications carries risks of various side effects, including the worsening of mental confusion. There are no known side effects of Healing Touch.

**  FUTURE RESEARCH IN WHOLISTIC HEALING * * 

The IJHC/WHR E-Zine features monthly suggestions for future research in healing. 
READERS ARE INVITED TO SUBMIT SUGGESTIONS FOR TOPICS TO STUDY
If your topic is chosen, you ill receive free access to the IJHC for a month, including the current issue and all back issues.
 

Spiritual healing to reduce the side effects of medications

This is a vastly neglected benefit of healing. Spiritual healing can reduce the side effects of many medications. Many have reported, for instance, marked relief of nausea, vomiting, headaches and other symptoms with chemotherapy. There have been similar reports for reduced side effects of pain medications.

These effects are in addition to reducing the need for medications by decreasing the severity of symptoms and illnesses.

* *  WHOLISTIC APPROACHES * * 

See dog whisperer singing a bunch of puppies to sleep

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jCnAjel02lM

IJHC – WHR Observations

Lullabies are soothing, but this goes way beyond the calming effects of voice. Healers report that voice carries healing vibrations, and this would appear to be a demonstration of such an effect.

A study shows that healthy lifestyle triggers genetic changes

“Comprehensive lifestyle changes including a better diet and more exercise can lead not only to a better physique, but also to swift and dramatic changes at the genetic level…

In a small study, the researchers tracked 30 men with low-risk prostate cancer who decided against conventional medical treatment such as surgery and radiation or hormone therapy. The men underwent three months of major lifestyle changes, including eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and soy products, moderate exercise such as walking for half an hour a day, and an hour of daily stress management methods such as meditation.

As expected, they lost weight, lowered their blood pressure and saw other health improvements. But the researchers found more profound changes when they compared prostate biopsies taken before and after the lifestyle changes.

After the three months, the men had changes in activity in about 500 genes -- including 48 that were turned on and 453 genes that were turned off.

The activity of disease-preventing genes increased while a number of disease-promoting genes, including those involved in prostate cancer and breast cancer, shut down, according to the study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The research was led by Dr. Dean Ornish, head of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California…” 
Source: www.thoughtware.tv/videos/show/1904

IJHC – WHR Observations

There is increasing evidence that genes which control cancers and other body activities may be influenced by lifestyle changes. This provides a missing link in earlier research that demonstrated longer survival times in people who had healthier diets, more exercise, and practiced relaxation and meditation techniques.

See also early research and discussion on how conscious intent can influence genetic expression in
Benor, Daniel J. Healing Research, Volume III – Personal Spirituality: Science, Spirit and the Eternal Soul, Bellmawr, NJ: Wholistic Healing Publications 2006. 

 * *  COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES * * 

Eyedrops can reverse cataracts

Jonathan Wright reviews two controlled studies confirming that “N-acetylcarnosine can reverse cataracts in many cases. Up to 100 percent better vision in just 6 months.”

Source: www.ahha.org/ReverseCataracts.htm

IJHC – WHR Observations

As Dr. Wright points out, this is a promising treatment with a natural product – but one that cannot be patented, and is therefore unlikely to have more controlled studies published.

Vitamin D may help prevent recurrences of breast cancer

“A new study suggests breast cancer patients might fare worse if they don't have enough vitamin D in their blood. However, experts warn more research is needed to know just how vitamin D might be linked to breast cancer, and they caution against going overboard with supplements.”

Source: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/
NWS_1_1x_Study_Sees_Link_Between_Vitamin_D_Breast_Cancer_Prognosis.asp

IJHC – WHR Observations

Vitamin D deficiency is common in women with breast cancer. This is a simple treatment, well worth pursuing. As the author notes, controlled trials are needed to confirm this preliminary study.

Complementary and alternative treatments for migraine

Abstract: A large percentage of patients do not respond to pharmacological interventions for migraine headaches, develop unacceptable side effects, or are reluctant to take medications. As a result, patients have been seeking nontraditional modes of therapy for the management of headaches. Among the alternative approaches are behavioral treatments (relaxation therapy, biofeedback therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy), acupuncture, and nutritional therapies (herbal remedies and vitamin or mineral supplementation). This article reviews the scientific evidence for the use of magnesium, riboflavin, coenzyme Q10, -lipoic acid, feverfew, and butterbur in the treatment of migraine headaches.
Source: Drug Development Research 2007, 68:424-427

IJHC – WHR Observations

It is encouraging to see an article like this published in a journal that focuses on drug treatments.

Another treatment for migraines that people with migraines report is highly effective, often within minutes, is WHEE.

More CAM reviews at
http://www.naturalhealthvillage.com/
http://www.mdlinx.com/FamilyMDLinx  
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~camig/litsearch.html
AMSA website
http://www.amsa.org/humed/camresources/camnews.cfm

* * TECHNOLOGY * *

NASA makes magnetic fields visible

See award-winning movie called “Magnetic Movie” filmed at NASA Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkley.
www.animateprojects.org/films/by_date/2007/mag_mov

IJHC – WHR Observations

It is fascinating to see the lines of electromagnetic fields around various electrical equipment.

* *  ENVIRONMENT (HEALING OUR PLANET) * *

Early evidence in European studies suggest cell phone radiation may cause cancer
The Interphone project has produced the largest body of epidemiological work on cell phones and cancer to date. Final results have not been published, but “8 of the 13 countries involved have already released their initial data. Several of these early studies show a strong correlation between long-term cell phone use and brain tumors, both malignant and benign.”
Source: http://www.truthout.org/article/this-is-your-brain-cell-phones 
  From: Remy Chevalier

IJHC – WHR Observations

European countries have been much more concerned with the welfare of cell phone users, favoring the precautionary principle over phone company profits.

 * *  HUMAN ECOLOGY* *
 
Portable Shelters for Homeless or Refugees Designed by ZO_loft “The quest to find a suitable, if not ideal, solution to the problem of people dislocated from more permanent housing is a pressing issue which many designers take very seriously http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/05/design_like_you_1.php . The challenges are great: housing must be readily portable but robust enough to protect the homeless or refugees from the elements. It must be extremely cost effective. It should preserve some degree of dignity for people who are already suffering loss.

The Italian group ZO_loft architecture & design (Andrea Cingoli, Paolo Emilio Bellisario, Francesca Fontana, Cristian Cellini) now adds their vision to the concept of temporary shelter. The ZO_loft Wheelly is private, portable, and offers a clever trick to solve issues of cost. For pictures of the Wheelly and an expanded-view explanation of the Wheely design, check over the fold.

Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/06/portable-shelters-refugees-homeless.php

IJHC – WHR Observations

These are excellent options for temporary shelters. With the impending financial crisis there will be many more homeless, and with global heating there may be many more natural disasters where such shelters could be of enormous help.

Children’s over-use of TV, video and computer games and under-use of their hands in practical tasks may hinder their cognitive development and their health

Dr. Aric Sigman reports, “I've recently compiled a report on the serious risks associated with watching the amount of television we do. I've analysed a wide range of scientific studies from government agencies across the world, from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, to The Royal College of Psychiatrists, The American Medical Association, National Academy of Sciences, and Harvard and Stanford medical schools.

I've spent months poring over articles in journals ranging from The Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine to Nature and Journal of Neuroscience.

The picture I formed was pro–foundly disturbing and amounts to what I believe to be the greatest health scandal of our time. I learned that viewing even moderate amounts of television:

•    May damage brain cell development and function.

•    Is the only adult pastime from the ages of 20 to 60 positively linked to developing Alzheimer's disease.

•    Is a direct cause of obesity — a bigger factor even than eating junk food or taking too little exercise.

•    Significantly increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes.

•    May biologically trigger premature puberty.

•    Leads to a significantly elevated risk of sleep problems in adulthood, causing hormone changes which in turn increase body fat production and appetite, damages the immune system and may lead to a greater vulnerability to cancer.

•    Is a major independent cause of clinical depression (of which Britain has the highest rate in Europe).

These are not wild suppositions: they are based on hard, clinical evidence that has lain buried in academic journals.”

In Bhutan, the introduction of TV was associated with marked increases in crime rates, along with significant decreases in parental involvement with their own children.

Source: http://whale.to/b/sigman.html
www.reutershealth.com/archive/2008/07/14/eline/links/20080714elin009.html

IJHC – WHR Observations

It appears that sedentary, passive passtimes fail to stimulate the brain and body in the healthy ways activities that involve movement can do.