OMNS (Feb 23, 2007) There was not even one death caused by vitamins in 2005, according to the most recent statistics available from the US National Poisoning and Exposure Database. The 129-page annual report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers published in the journal Clinical Toxicology (1) shows zero deaths from multiple vitamins; zero deaths from any of the B vitamins; zero deaths from vitamins A, C, D, or E; and zero deaths from any other vitamin. Over half of the U.S. population takes daily vitamin supplements. Even if each of those people took only one single tablet per day, that makes 145,000,000 individual doses per day, for a total of over 53 billion doses annually. Since many persons take additional vitamins, the numbers are considerably higher, and the safety of vitamins all the more remarkable.

Dozens of babies in the United States have reportedly developed a potentially deadly bowel problem after getting Merck¹s RotaTeq vaccine. The babies developed intussusception, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition in which the intestine gets blocked or twisted. RotaTeq was approved by the FDA in 2006 and targets rotavirus, a leading cause of childrens¹ diarrhea.

Tired and achy muscles got you down?  Before bed fill your bathtub with very warm, clean water.  Add 1 cup of Epsom Salt and 10-15 drops of your favorite, relaxing essential oil.  Lavender is recommended.  If you are also suffering from a cold or sinus infection add 10 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil.  Soak for at least 20-30 minutes.  Put on some relaxing music and light some candles and relax.  Be careful not to fall asleep!  When finished, towel dry, put on bed clothes and tuck yourself into bed. Most probably you will experience the best night’s sleep you have had in a long, long time.

Last week, ConAgra Foods recalled all Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter and recent tests have confirmed the presence of salmonella. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 320 people have been sickened across 41 states. One elderly man and one elderly woman have died from possible contamination.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has asked that Genentech Inc.'s asthma drug Xolair carry the strongest warning possible about the drug's risk of anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that could occur as late as 24 hours after patients take any amount of the drug and can be life-threatening. Doctors are being warned that they should observe patients for at least two hours after injecting them with Xolair, and patients are urged to be prepared to treat themselves for any of the symptoms.

United States health officials have told manufacturers of attention deficit drugs to alert patients to possible cardiovascular and psychiatric risks from the medicines. ADHD drugs include Ritalin, Adderall, Strattera, and Concerta. There have been several reports of sudden death in patients with underlying heart problems or defects, as well as reports of stroke or heart attacks in adults with certain cardiovascular risk factors.

According to new research, some types of flavanol rich cocoa beverages may promote blood flow in the brain and potentially improve brain function such as memory and learning ability. Scientists suggested cocoa with high levels of the naturally occurring compounds may help keep the brain healthy, improve memory and learning, and potentially protect against cognitive decline and dementia.

If your dog is a terrible traveler on car trips, aromatherapy may help calm Fido — and you. Dogs relaxed or were better behaved when they smelled Lavender oil that had been sprayed on a flannel cloth and placed inside the car, according to a study. Researchers compared that behavior with car trips where dogs smelled only normal odors, says Deborah Wells, a senior lecturer at Queen's University in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She reported her results in the Sept. 15 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Assn.

Honey produced by bees feeding on honeydew have more than double the radical scavenging activity than honeys from nectars, says new research from Spain.

Although women¹s desks usually look tidier then men¹s, a new study from the University of Arizona notes that women's offices have up to four times more germs than men's. Women's desk areas tend to be dirtier than men's because they use hand lotion more often, they are around children more often, and they use makeup, which absorbs germs. Also, 75% of the female gender stashes food in their desk drawers, which harbors microorganisms. The average office desktop has 400 times more bacteria than the average office toilet seat.

A watercress diet can dramatically cut the risk of cancer. Researchers from Ulster University found the salad leaf can inhibit the growth and even kill white blood cancer cells by reducing DNA damage. In the study, those who ate an 85g bag of watercress each day showed a 22.9% reduction of DNA damage to white blood cells and an increase of 100% in blood levels of lutein, which protects against eye diseases.

Researchers at Weber State University are spraying therapeutic grade essential oils within enclosed atmospheres in controlled tests, to measure their effectiveness against various airborne, life-threatening pathogens. Spraying or diffusing essential oils (within an enclosed atmosphere like a home or airplane), effectively destroys infectious pathogens, while at the same time boosting one’s immune system.

$25 Billion is spent each year by the pharmaceutical companies just on marketing alone! 

Research from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, indicates people who drink soft drinks or add sugar to their food may dramatically increase their risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

The following produce should be bought organic as they will tend to be highest in pesticide content:  Potatoes, Lettuce, Spinach, Grapes (imported), Pears, Cherries, Celery, Sweet Bell Peppers, Apples, Peacher, Nectarines and Strawberries.  The Cleanest and thus lowest in pesticide content:  Onions, Avocado, Sweet Corn (frozen), Pineapples, Mango, Asparagus, Sweet Peas, Kiwifruit, Bananas, Cabbage, Broccoli and Papaya.

Want a healthy mouth?  Eat a lot of raw organic fruits and vegetables, floss or irrigate daily, use a natural toothpaste without fluoride, use Breath Fresh every day, after eating and for odor control.

 “He who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is a brother to him who commits suicide."
Proverbs 18:9 (Amplified)