Studies and Progress Notes (July 2008)

* * * STUDIES and PROGRESS NOTES* * *

* *  SPIRITUAL AWARENESS AND WHOLISTIC HEALING * * 

Reiki improves stability of heart rate in rats

ABSTRACT
Objectives: To determine whether application of Reiki to noise-stressed rats can reduce their heart rates (HRs) and blood pressures.
Rationale: In a previous study, we showed that exposure of rats to 90 dB white noise for 15 minutes caused their HRs and blood pressures to significantly increase. Reiki has been shown to significantly decrease HR and blood pressure in a small group of healthy human subjects. However, use of humans in such studies has the disadvantage that experimental interpretations are encumbered by the variable of belief or skepticism regarding Reiki. For that reason, noise-stressed rats were used as an animal model to test the efficacy of Reiki in reducing elevated HR and blood pressure.
Design: Three unrestrained, male Sprague-Dawley rats implanted with radiotelemetric transducers were exposed daily for 8 days to a 15-minute white noise regimen (90 dB). For the last 5 days, the rats received 15 minutes of Reiki immediately before the noise and during the noise period. The experiment was repeated on the same animals but using sham Reiki.
Setting/location: The animals were housed in a quiet room in University of Arizona Animal Facility.
Outcome measures: Mean HRs and blood pressure were determined before Reiki/sham Reiki, during Reiki/sham Reiki, and during the noise in each case.
Results: Reiki, but not sham Reiki, significantly reduced HR compared to initial values. With Reiki, there was a high correlation between change in HR and initial HR, suggesting a homeostatic effect. Reiki, but not sham Reiki, significantly reduced the rise in HR produced by exposure of the rats to loud noise. Neither Reiki nor sham Reiki significantly affected blood pressure.
Conclusion: Reiki is effective in modulating HR in stressed and unstressed rats, supporting its use as a stressreducer in humans.

Source: Baldwin, Ann Linda; Wagers, Christina; Schwartz, Gary E. Reiki Improves Heart Rate Homeostasis in Laboratory Rats, J. Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2008 14(4), 417-422.

IJHC – WHR Observations

This is one of the few studies of Reiki showing significant effects. It will be interesting to see clarifications in future studies whether the influence is of healing on cardiovascular effects or on stress responses.

The George Washington Institute for Spirituality and Health (GWish)

Research faculty position which involves project direction, development of innovative interprofessional curricula in spirituality and health, development and coordination of conferences and summer learning institutes, research in spirituality and health, lecturing and senior administrative duties. Position offers opportunities for career development in spirituality and health. Excellent University benefits. For more information contact Christina Puchalski, MD, Executive Director, GWish
202-994-6220 or hcscmp@gwumc.edu

**  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 will receive free access to the IJHC for a month, including the current issue and all back issues. 
 

Heart rate and blood pressure responding to healing

Stress is a major factor in causing hypertension. Heart rate and blood pressure are easily measured. It requires little effort to add these measurements to studies of spiritual healing for stress, providing both the objective measures that are more convincing to researchers as well as potential benefits to people with hypertension.

* *  WHOLISTIC APPROACHES * * 

Organic tomatoes have more nutrients than those grown with pesticides

Abstract:
Understanding how environment, crop management, and other factors, particularly soil fertility, influence the composition and quality of food crops is necessary for the production of high-quality nutritious foods. The flavonoid aglycones quercetin and kaempferol were measured in dried tomato samples … that had been archived over the period from 1994 to 2004 from the Long-Term Research on Agricultural Systems project (LTRAS) at the University of California-Davis, which began in 1993. Conventional and organic processing tomato production systems are part of the set of systems compared at LTRAS. Comparisons of analyses of archived samples from conventional and organic production systems demonstrated statistically higher levels (P < 0.05) of quercetin and kaempferol aglycones in organic tomatoes. Ten-year mean levels of quercetin and kaempferol in organic tomatoes [115.5 and 63.3 mg g-1 of dry matter (DM)] were 79 and 97% higher than those in conventional tomatoes (64.6 and 32.06 mg g-1 of DM), respectively. The levels of flavonoids increased over time in samples from organic treatments, whereas the levels of flavonoids did not vary significantly in conventional treatments. This increase corresponds not only with increasing amounts of soil organic matter accumulating in organic plots but also with reduced manure application rates once soils in the organic systems had reached equilibrium levels of organic matter. Well-quantified changes in tomato nutrients over years in organic farming systems have not been reported previously.

Source: Mitchell, A. E. et al. Ten-year comparison of the influence of organic and conventional crop management practices on the content of flavonoids in tomatoes
J. Agric. Food Chem. 2007, 55(15), 6154-6159
Department of Food Science and Technology and Department of Plant Sciences, University of California-Davis, and Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota

IJHC – WHR Observations

Intuitives and healers have reported sensing energetically that there are distinctly stronger, healthier vibrations from organic foods. It is helpful to have this objective confirmation of the intuitives' reports

Dark chocolate improves heart functions

"A truffle treatment for atherosclerosis is the stuff that chocolate manufacturers (and patients) dream of. But how close is such a scenario to reality? Last month, a study in Circulation showed that dark chocolate that is rich in flavanols induced coronary vasodilatation and improved coronary vascular function in 11 heart-transplant recipients compared with patients taking a cocoa-free control chocolate. Other studies have also suggested that dark chocolate has cardiovascular benefits. A recent small randomised trial showed that people who were prehypertensive or had early-stage hypertension could lower their blood pressure by eating small amounts of dark chocolate as part of their usual diet.

Great news if you happen to be a lover of dark chocolate. However, if your passion is white or milk chocolate, bad luck. Research has shown that this type of chocolate, which is often devoid of flavanols, offers no health benefit. But there is a catch for dark-chocolate fans too. Dark chocolate can be deceptive. When chocolate manufacturers make confectionary, the natural cocoa solids can be darkened and the flavanols, which are bitter, removed, so even a dark-looking chocolate can have no flavanol. Consumers are also kept in the dark about the flavanol content of chocolate because manufacturers rarely label their products with this information.

And, although flavanols, if they are present, seem to offer some health benefit, the devil in the dark chocolate is the fat, sugar, and calories it also contains. To gain any health benefit, those who eat a moderate amount of flavanol-rich dark chocolate will have to balance the calories by reducing their intake of other foods—a tricky job for even the most ardent calorie counter. So, with the holiday season upon us, it might be worth getting familiar with the calories in a bar of dark chocolate versus a mince pie and having a calculator at hand. Of course some would say that, in terms of food intake, the best and simplest health message would be to stay away from the chocolate and eat a healthy, balanced diet, low in sugar, salt, and fat, and full of fresh fruit and vegetables. We say: “Bah, humbug to that. Pass the chocolates.”

Source Pogson, Norman. The devil in the dark chocolate (Editorial), The Lancet, 2007, 370(9605), 2070, 22 December
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61873-X
Research: Flammer, Andreas J. et al. Dark Chocolate Improves Coronary Vasomotion and Reduces Platelet Reactivity. Circulation 2007, 116(21), 2376-2382.

IJHC – WHR Observations

It is difficult to assess the benefits relative to the risks, as pointed out by Norman Pogson. What is true, however, is that this would certainly be acclaimed as one of the best tasting medicines.

 * *  COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES * * 

Reducing pain through meditation

Many chronic pains can be reduced by meditation, reports a new study by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. An eight-week program of meditation practice produced decreases in chronic low back pain and a slight improvement in physical function. At three-month followup the majority of subjects continued to practice meditation.

Source: Mindfulness meditation for the treatment of chronic low back pain in older adults: a randomized controlled pilot study, Pain (Feb 2008)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pain.2007.04.038

IJHC – WHR Observations

Self-healing for pain is strongly recommended, in view of serious side effects, including fatalities, with pain medications.

Light therapy offers modest benefits in treating dementia

Light has a modest benefit in improving some cognitive and noncognitive symptoms of dementia. To counteract the adverse effect of melatonin on mood, it is recommended only in combination with light.

Rixt, F. et al. Effect of Bright Light and Melatonin on Cognitive and Noncognitive Function in Elderly Residents of Group Care Facilities. A Randomized Controlled Trial. J. American Medical Association 2008, 299(22), 2642-2655.
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/299/22/2642

IJHC – WHR Observations

Simple, inexpensive intervention can prolong independent living and meaningful communications for people suffering dementia.

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 * *

Monkeys Control a Robot Arm Mentally

Two monkeys wired from their brains to a mechanical arm were able to activate the arm mentally. They demonstrated this by picking up food and even learned to adapt the pressure on the food according to its texture.
Source: Nature, 28 May 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.861
Monkeys move robotic arm using brain power
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080528/full/news.2008.861.html

IJHC – WHR Observations

This early report holds enormous promise eventually for improving the lives of people who are paralyzed.

 

* *  ENVIRONMENT (HEALING OUR PLANET) * *

WATER POWERED CAR

Water-fuel car unveiled in Japan
(01:21) Report

Jun. 13 - Japanese company Genepax presents its eco-friendly car that runs on nothing but water. The car has an energy generator that extracts hydrogen from water that is poured into the car's tank. The generator then releases electrons that produce electric power to run the car. Genepax, the company that invented the technology, aims to collaborate with Japanese manufacturers to mass produce it.

http://uk.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=84561
To see the video you will have to endure a commercial first...
 

IJHC – WHR Observations

Wonderful news with oil prices soaring and global heating heading for an unknown tipping point that is fueled by carbon dioxide emissions.

However, this will put even greater pressures on water supplies, unless the technology will allow running indefinitely on salt water.

Vast cracks appear in Arctic ice

Global heating is proceeding at rates that may be faster than earlier estimated.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7417123.stm

IJHC – WHR Observations

It is imperative that we reduce the carbon emissions that are causing global heating – before we reach an irreversible tipping point, beyond which we cannot stop this process.

 * *  HUMAN ECOLOGY * * 

"Eat your fresh fruits and vegetables, children!" – to prevent asthma and hay fever

Atopy (dermal allergies) are not uncommon among children living in rural Crete, but wheeze and rhinitis are rare. A study was undertaken to examine whether this discrepancy could be attributed to a high consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables or adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was performed in 690 children aged 7–18 years in rural Crete. Parents completed a questionnaire on their child’s respiratory and allergic symptoms and a 58-item food frequency questionnaire. Adherence to a Mediterranean diet was measured using a scale with 12 dietary items. Children underwent skin prick tests with 10 common aeroallergens.

Results: 80% of children ate fresh fruit (and 68% vegetables) at least twice a day. The intake of grapes, oranges, apples, and fresh tomatoes—the main local products in Crete—had no association with atopy but was protective for wheezing and rhinitis. A high consumption of nuts was found to be inversely associated with wheezing, whereas margarine increased the risk of both wheeze and allergic rhinitis. A high level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet was protective for allergic rhinitis while a more modest protection was observed for wheezing and atopy.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggest a beneficial effect of commonly consumed fruits, vegetables and nuts, and of a high adherence to a traditional Mediterranean diet during childhood on symptoms of asthma and rhinitis. Diet may explain the relative lack of allergic symptoms in this population.

Source: Chatzi Leda, et al. Protective effect of fruits, vegetables and the Mediterranean diet on asthma and allergies among children in Crete, Thorax 2007;62:677-683
http://thorax.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/62/8/
677?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10
&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=med+diet
&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid=1
&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance
&resourcetype=HWCIT

IJHC – WHR Observations

Lovely to have this confirmation of mothers' admonitions to eat one's fruits and vegetables!

An additional concern would be the pesticide and herbicide residues on the fruits and vegetables that contribute to weakening the immune system.

Junk foods documentary

Junk foods documentary film called All Jacked Up (Faerie Films) considers ways in which junk foods are promoted as a business, disregarding health issues. View a few minutes of  footage at this URL: http://www.newstarget.com/022497.html

IJHC – WHR Observations

Here is another healthy reminder to view media food ads with a big (figurative) grain of salt.