Salivary Hormone Testing is Superior to Blood Testing

Our hormones play a vital role in keeping our bodies optimally healthy. In delicate balance with one another, they harmonize to keep us functioning the way we should. But within such a balance, deficiencies, fluctuations, and imbalances can wreak havoc. In such situations, hormone testing can provide a clearer picture of what's going on, and tell us specifically what needs to be done.

Traditionally, the most common hormone testing is done via the blood. However, research has shown that blood testing is not as accurate, and does not provide the most complete overall picture. Salivary hormone testing has proven to be more effective. The saliva provides a clearer indication of the amount of free, unbound and active bioavailable hormones – the form of hormones that actually have an effect on the tissues – which are filtered into the saliva. Salivary hormone tests can also tell us, more accurately than ever, how much of an effect topical hormone supplementations (gels, creams, and patches) are having. One significant study found that, when topically applied, such preparations elevated hormone levels in the area's tissue – yet despite the hundredfold increase of hormones, there was no change noted in the blood hormone levels. In order for a blood test to register an increase of hormone levels, there must be extremely high levels of hormones, which has often led to the use of excessive amounts of supplementation. Since saliva better reflects the saturation of topically applied hormones, it's much easier to determine the correct, most beneficial dose.

The hormones in saliva are very stable and can be stored for up to a week without affecting the accuracy of the result. Last but not least, salivary testing is less invasive and more convenient. It's a new dawn for hormone testing, and needle-phobes everywhere can rejoice.

Are Mercury Fillings Really Safe?

You may be fastidious about protecting your health – monitoring your diet, getting regular exercise, and avoiding additives and toxins – but if you've got fillings in your teeth, your body may be more polluted than you know. That's because silver amalgam, a commonly used cavity filler, consists of about 50% mercury. According to a report by the Australian Society of Oral Medicine and Toxicology citing numerous scientific studies, mercury can have some detrimental effects on our bodies:

• can cause neurological problems
• can cause kidney damage
• can cause disturbances to various metabolic processes
• is freely transported in the blood
• crosses the blood brain barrier
• crosses the placenta
• crosses into breast milk
• transported freely in the blood
• reduces reproductive function
• rapidly depletes the immune system
• mercury from amalgam is absorbed into the body at a rate of 3 to 17 mcg/day (World Health Organization)
• binds to hemoglobin
• damages blood vessels
• can cause single strand breaks in DNA
• may have connection with Alzheimer's Disease

The American Dental Association has said that the studies done on amalgam fillings show there's no evidence that they are harmful. The Food and Drug Administration cautiously agrees, but is “investigating” more closely and is expected to release a final report by summer of 2009. In my opinion, even if there is the slightest possible risk to our health why continue to advocate the usage or endorse the safety of mercury fillings?

For those who are concerned, amalgam fillings can be replaced with composite resin, a tooth-colored material that is being used more frequently to repair cavities. Resin fillings are gaining popularity because their color blends in with the tooth, making them more aesthetic, and because the material has continued to improve for the past few years. The only drawback is that resin fillings may have to be replaced more often than amalgams – but if it means ridding your body of harmful mercury, it may be worth the extra trips to the dentist.

** Extreme care and caution must be used during the removal of mercury fillings to ensure minimal spreading of the mercury outside the localized area. Although rubber dams and suction are some of the ways to prevent this, it is virtually impossible to assume that none of the mercury leeches into the oral cavity or even into circulation via the bloodstream. Intravenous (IV) chelation therapy should be started concurrently to ensure maximal removal of mercury from the body which can take 6-12 months to complete. A blood and urine test can be a reliable way to determine levels but only if the body is provoked prior to testing by an oral or IV chelator. This forces the metal out of our adipose tissue and into circulation. **

Why is Homeopathy Gaining in Popularity?

Homeopathy is a long word for a simple principle: “like cures like.“ First developed over 200 years ago by German physician Samuel Hahnemann, it is now the second most popular medical system used throughout the world, and its popularity has been increasing steadily in recent years.

When a person is suffering from an illness or condition, allopathic medicine dictates that the treatment should counteract the symptoms; for example, for diarrhea, a patient would be given something that slows the bowels. But with homeopathy, the treatment actually mimics the symptoms, which prompts the body's own natural defenses to kick in, allowing the body to heal itself. It's a principle much like conventional allergy treatment, where a minuscule amount of the allergen is introduced in order to bolster the body's tolerance to it.

Homeopathy is effective and safe – even for the most vulnerable groups such as babies, pregnant women and the elderly. It works with the immune system rather than against it, promoting it to heal the way it's naturally designed to. And homeopathy can be used as a complementary therapy, in conjunction with other treatments. It's a versatile, gentle way to treat what ails you.