Update: Pharmawater report misses deadline

The series revealed how drugs — mostly the residue of medications taken by people, excreted and flushed down the toilet — have gotten into the water supplies of at least 24 major metropolitan areas, from Southern California to Northern New Jersey. The stories also detail the growing concerns among scientists that this pollution has adversely affected wildlife, and may be threatening human health.

EPA officials responded with concern, pledging to organize additional research and by saying people should be informed if drugs are detected in their water supplies.

But Kyla Bennett, a lawyer and former EPA biologist, said the EPA "is moving with all deliberate delay."

Bennett, who directs the New England branch of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, said Congress first ordered the EPA to address the issue 12 years ago.

"When it should be pressing forward, EPA is spinning in place, as if it has overdosed on pharmaceuticals," she said.

Imagine that.

The Kanzius Machine: Radio waves defeat cancer

For John Kanzius it began with a simple idea, some pots and pans and even a hot dog! Now, the Kanzius machine, which generates radio waves, has developed into a possible breakthrough in cancer research. Clinical trials on humans are still years away, but as Lesley Stahl reports, the results thus far have caught the attention of cancer researchers across the country.

From 60 Minutes

Senator Grassley (IA) reports on Pharma payments to doctors

Floor Statement of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Pharma Payments to Doctors
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Mr. President, for the last few years, I have been looking at how drug companies may improperly influence medical care.
It's no secret that drug and device companies have substantial financial relationships with physicians.
In addition to multimillion dollar royalty payments and lucrative consulting contracts, I have found that drug and device companies often provide perks to doctors, such as expensive trips, lavish speaking fees, and other benefits.
These relationships can motivate doctors to modify their treatment practices and those practices may not be in the best interest of patients.
Because these financial relationships are so common, Senator Kohl and I introduced the Physician Payments Sunshine Act last year. Now this bill is not aimed at stopping money from flowing to doctors, but it will throw a little sunshine on the issue and hopefully curb bad
behavior.
Pdf here

Nutrition for Heroin Withdrawal

Video: Sister Morphine, by Marianne Faithfull - one of the most famous survivors of heroin addiction.

Listen to Alexander Schauss explain how withdrawal from heroin without cold turkey can be done - using Vitamin C Poor nutrition may underlie many addictions. Correcting nutrition may halt many addictions.

This report (pdf) exposes the UK's drug rewards program for addicts. It doesn't make sense to give more drugs (meds) to those who get off drugs... unless someone is making a lot of money from it.

Please help get this information out to the people who need it.

Humor: 26 Week Old Fetus Diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder

Biting satire here

Dr. Sears: Does your child have N.D.D.?

Want some candy? - Hansel and Gretel image by Batchelor, from the golden age of children's book illustration.
Dr. Sears tells us your child may have not A.D.D. but Nutritional Deficiency Disorder.
Get the MIND Guide to Mood and Food here
Read about Chef Jamie Oliver's school lunches project here

Help your Aging Parent

Image: Linus Pauling

Linus Pauling lived to be 94. Here is some Micronutient information for the older adult from the Linus Pauling Institute.
And if you take good care of yourself, you won't need these checklists and resources on assessment and care for elders soon.