Preventing Macular Degeneration ... by Dr Joseph A Ross ODBSVS One of the most tragic losses in life is a loss of vision. Macular degeneration, can do this and it effects 30% of the people over 75 years of age! High Cholesterol, smoking and a family history increase the risk. The disease makes you lose your detailed vision, so that you can make out things on the sides, but not what you are trying to look at.

Prevention, is everything! I recommend that those at risk take a high quality antioxidant daily, walk at least 20 minutes 3 x per week, and wear ultraviolet protective glasses. Most important is the early diagnosis which is best done in a careful dilated optometric exam. There are two major kinds of macular degeneration, dry and wet. The dry is slow to progress and less devastating, the wet can do damage over night. Only careful monitoring can detect when and if active intervention is needed. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, get it under control Naturally and protect your sight! The cure can be in your efforts and not in a pill. You can protect your vision.

Scoliosis affects children between the ages of 8-18. Back and leg pain may develop and are often thought to be �growing pains.� In the beginning, there are rarely symptoms. However, an alert parent may notice that a high shoulder of low hip makes clothing fit poorly. If allowed, Scoliosis can become steadily worsened. In severe cases surgery may need to be done. This procedure attaches steel rods to the spine to force it to straighten.

Chiropractic has helped many young men and women avoid dramatic effects of Scoliosis. First, a thorough history and examination is performed. Then, treatment can begin to correct and prevent the progression of this condition. The primary course of care is chiropractic manipulative therapy. Chiropractic treatment helps to improve the function and structure of the spine. Also, muscle strength and posture can improve over the course of treatment.

Chiropractic manipulative therapy has helped countless men and young women to regain proper posture and their self-esteem.

Arthritis is said to be one of the most painful and crippling disease in the western world today. It is estimated that 36 million Americans suffer from some form of arthritis. The most common form of arthritis is a result from wear of, or injury to, a joint this type of arthritis, is called osteoarthritis. Another form of arthritis is rheumatoid arthritis, which results in inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissue. Arthritic joints develop sensitive nerve endings for protection. This condition is called super sensitivity syndrome, and fortunately, is very responsive to chiropractic care.

While there are symptom benefits for many from the use of hormone replacement, there are also many serious side effects that may occur. Caution must be used in hormone replacement since it has been linked to an increase in cancer is absolutely contraindicated with a family history of breast or uterine cancer.

Natural treatment of menopausal symptoms is very effective and does not contain the risks of hormone replacement. Natural treatments involve balancing hormone levels by enhancing the normal function of your body. This is accomplished using nutrition and specific herbal medicines.

Menopause is a natural event, not a disease. For many women it is a positive and liberating experience. With a little support from sound nutrition and a little help from natural medicine, this time of transition can be smooth and trouble-free.

Near-Sightedness Appears Linked to Excess Sugar in Diet ... by Dr Joseph A Ross ODBSVS

Myopia or near-sightedness is extremely prevalent. It affects more than 25 - 35% of European descent populations and up to 50% or more of Asian descent populations. If we did not have compensatory mechanisms for myopia and were living in the cave man era, it is likely myopic individuals would not survive very long! Studies carried out in hunter-gatherer societies and in recently westernized hunter-gatherer groups indicate that the prevalence of myopia normally occurs in 0-2% of the population and are minor. Moderate to high myopia is either non-existent or occurs in about one person out of a thousand. When these hunter-gatherer societies change their lifestyles and introduce grains and carbohydrates, they rapidly develop (within a single generation) myopia rates that equal or exceed those in western societies

Diets high in refined starches such as breads and cereals increase insulin levels. This affects the development of the eyeball, making it abnormally long and causing short-sightedness, suggests a team led by Loren Cordain, an evolutionary biologist at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

Glaucoma is conventionally thought to be high pressure in the eyes and its traditional treatment is the similar to high blood pressure. A dietary approach is to radically reduce/eliminate all grains and sugar and try to only drink water. The Atkins diet, would be a good starting point! Thyroid function should also be evaluated by a naturopathic physician as the standard medical approach may not tell the whole story.

I believe that glaucoma is more related to a lack of blood flow to the retina and diet and exercise that enhances circulation will help prevent glaucoma. Avoiding MSG in food is also very important. Researchers at Hirosaki University in Japan have found that rats fed diets high in MSG suffer vision loss and have thinner retinas than those in the control group. Glutamate, part of msg, has already been shown to cause nerve damage in experiments where it is injected directly into the eye. It is likely that marijuana works for glaucoma, though I would not recommend it for the routine treatment, as breathing hot burned smoke is never good for any thing in your body.

Individuals with chronic fatigue (CF) complain of being tired, seemingly without a cause. They often have nervous energy, what I call �wired but tired�. CF sufferers often have difficulty functioning at work and at social events. The most common causes of CF are: Viral infections, food sensitivities, low thyroid function, low adrenal function, yeast overgrowth and nutrient deficiencies. Subtle low thyroid is another cause that is often missed due to normal lab tests but thyroid symptoms are still present.

A caution: Most of the "pep up" things that you find in stores contain caffeine, ephedra or ginseng. These usually weaken the adrenal glands, and worsen the condition. Most of those suffering with CF can be helped. It is important to find the cause of CF before treating it. If this is not done, much time, energy, and money is wasted.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, carpal tunnel syndrome is now the most common reported medical problem in the work place. Until recently, there were three largely unsatisfactory approaches to treat carpal tunnel syndrome. One is to do nothing and hope that is will go away. Secondly, use anti-inflammatory medication and hard splints. The third alternative was surgery. Certainly many carpal tunnel surgeries are successful. Unfortunately, many are not. Some report that their symptoms worsen following the surgical procedure. Others get only limited or temporary relief. Some patients require 2-3 surgeries on the same hand before relief is obtained. One of the greatest problems with carpal tunnel surgery is the recovery period, which can put a person out of work for months.

Advanced techniques are utilized by Clock Tower Family Chiropractic to provide fast, effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome patients. Without using medication, or having any surgeries. Hundreds of doctors nationwide are using the technique that our office uses and has been for over a year.

QUESTION: My sister in Maine was told that she could wear contact lenses that would replace her bifocal glasses. How can this work?

ANSWER: If you are a bifocal or Varilux wearer , I am not surprised at your question. It is hard to visualize being able to use a bifocal in a contact lens! The good news is that it is in fact possible. There are many different ways that contact lenses can offer both near and far vision. The ideal one is a multi-focal contact lens that has what amounts to rings of power much like a bulls eye target. As your pupil changes size with activity and environment, your eyes look through more or less power! This works fairly well. There is another common technique called "monovision." That employs using a reading lens in one eye and a distance one in the other. If you are a perfectionist, you will probably NOT like either. If you are of a more flexible mentality, you will be surprised at how functional these choices can be. The trick is to see a doctor with lots of experience!

QUESTION: I recently went to see a doctor at the mall and he said I might have glaucoma because my eye pressures were higher than normal. He recommended I see a doctor for Glaucoma Testing. What do you recommend?

ANSWER: I do not treat eye pressure because it is NOT synonymous with Glaucoma. There are many people who have slightly higher than average pressures and do not have Glaucoma and may NEVER have glaucoma. Glaucoma is really damage to the optic nerve that may come from excessive pressure or a weakness in the nerve and its circulation. When I see patients for glaucoma, I test four major areas: 1) a drainage system in the eye, 2) the pressure, 3) the nerve's shape, 4) the side vision (peripheral vision). From these tests I can decide weather or not to treat my patient. I recommend a preventive approach for everyone. Everyone should consider prevention, there is a lot you can do. For now, Definitely see an optometrist to be tested, as there are no symptoms. �.

QUESTION: Several of my friends have had the Laser Surgery that is frequently advertised. They now do not always need glasses. Is there a downside to having the surgery?

ANSWER: I get this question asked at least once or twice a week. I recommend you go to my personal web site: http://drjoeross.com There is a wealth of information about laser surgery there. It is my opinion that NO ONE should have the surgery. In fact, most eye doctors that I respect, are of the same opinion. It will most likely improve your vision, but the risks and side effects make no sense! For one thing, the problem is almost always the length of the eye, if you are myopic. Instead of fixing the problem the surgery now distorts your cornea causing a second "defect" in the eye. Even though this focuses the eye, it is NOT a cure for the problem but rather like taking an aspirin for a chronic headache. You really need to know and treat the cause. There are many other side effects and long term risks. Please see my web site for more info!

Eggs May Actually Lower the Risk of Heart Disease ... by Dr Michael Gazsi ND

Although folic acid is known to reduce levels of homocysteine (which is linked to heart disease), researchers report that another nutrient, betaine, also has this capability. Eggs and liver are the best food sources of betaine, according to the authors. (Archives of Internal Medicine, September 11, 2000; 160.)Dr Gazsi practices in Danbury, Connecticut. His primary focus is in nutrition and nutritional supplementation. Due to his ongoing research, he is often utilized as a resource for those who desire vitamin, mineral or nutritional supplementation. You can reach Dr. Gazsi free of charge via email at drgazsi@snet.net

Recently, studies have shown that calcium intake may be associated with a weight gain of about one pound per year. In these studies, those who consumed a high-calcium diet showed a significantly greater fat loss than those who consumed a low-calcium diet, and that overweight women with the greatest intake in calcium had significantly greater weight losses than did those with lower calcium intakes.The researchers conclusion is that dietary calcium may play a role in regulating body weight; and increasing dietary calcium may help to curb future weight gain. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition February 2003, 77 (2): 281)

Women Have Higher Risk of Dying from Osteoporosis than Breast Cancer .... by Dr Michael Gazsi ND

One in four women suffering from osteoporosis. Women have a 1 in 6 lifetime risk of hip fracture. The risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 9. The death rate associated with hip fracture is higher still (Canadian Medical Journal November 12, 2002 page 167) Dr Gazsi's Note: Full spectrum mineral supplementation (not just calcium) along with Vitamin A, D, K and essential fatty acids are crucial for proper bone strength. Weight bearing exercise and dietary modifications to reduce bone loss are also essential. Natural progesterone also has shown great benefit.

Dr Gazsi practices in Danbury, Connecticut. His primary focus is in nutrition and nutritional supplementation. Due to his ongoing research, he is often utilized as a resource for those who desire vitamin, mineral or nutritional supplementation.

Giving birth and raising a family can be one of the most exciting times in a woman's life. When you are pregnant, your posture, center of gravity, and body size changes as the fetus develops. As the weight of the baby increases, so does the pressure on your spine. Chiropractic care helps to keep the body in optimal health by correcting nerve interference in the spinal structure. Studies show that chiropractic care is safe for both mother and baby and has helped women become pregnant, control back pain, as well as many symptoms experienced during pregnancy, shorten labor, and deliver full term, healthy infants. Just as eating a balanced diet, exercising, and proper rest improve the development of the fetus, so are regular spinal checkups to ensure the health of both mother and baby. Give yourself and your baby the best gift of all, good health, by having regular spinal checkups.

Are you experiencing low back pain? Do you know what is causing the low back pain? One of the many causes of low back pain is the sacro-iliac joint. This joint is located where the tail bone (sacrum) meets with the pelvic bone (ilium). We often sprain/strain this area when we stand upright from a stooped position, often while lifting an object. The pain may radiate down the back of the thigh & leg. The pain associated with a sprain is often sharp and stabbing, and is relieved somewhat by sitting or lying on your side. Sprain/strain of the sacro-iliac joint is best managed with a support brace and chiropractic adjustments. This allows for increased stability and increase circulation that will allow for the best environment for healing and repair.

My Thyroid Tests are Normal but I Can�t Lose Weight... by Dr. Michael Gazsi

QUESTION: I have tried diet and exercise programs to lose weight without success. My thyroid tests are normal but I do have thyroid symptoms such as fatigue, dry skin and hair, easy weight gain and mild depression. How can I have thyroid symptoms yet normal thyroid blood tests?

1. You don�t have a thyroid condition but may have a sub clinical hormone imbalance of the adrenal or female hormones, which influences the thyroid hormone�s effects on your body.

2. You have a conversion problem of T4 to T3. T4 has very little activity. T3 has a lot of metabolic stimulating effects. If you don�t convert it you wont have much of a metabolism. Most doctors do not run a Free T3 level (not the same as a T3 uptake)

3. You are in the bottom of the range for the thyroid hormone levels. Some people need to be in the top of the range

Prolotherapy, The Little-Known Treatment For Torn Ligaments That Delivers Big Results Without Surgery ... By Perry M. Perretz, D.O.

Ten years ago, I injured my right knee while skiing. I was in the medical field, so I thought that I knew how to rehab the knee myself, but after sixteen weeks I still couldn�t straighten it or squat without pain. Fortunately, a friend of mine knew about prolotherapy, an injection treatment to heal ligaments. He injected my knee that day, and five days later the pain was completely gone! I could move again, and it hasn�t bothered me since!

After reading more, I was surprised to find that Dr. C. Everett Koop, the former U.S. Surgeon General, had prolotherapy for his back, after the neurologists had said that he needed surgery! He is now a strong supporter of prolotherapy. Studies show that prolotherapy helps chronic pain about 80% of the time. I thought, �If prolotherapy is so effective, why isn�t it more popular?�

As a natural therapy, with no patentable drugs to profit upon, prolotherapy is not promoted by any drug companies. As a low-cost alternative to surgery, it is not popular among doctors who perform surgery for a living. Prolotherapy has been around for many years, and was formally introduced in a 1950�s book by Dr. George Hackett, an orthopedic surgeon. It is only now starting to get the recognition that it deserves.

How does it work? - Prolotherapy works by stimulating the body�s natural ability to heal itself. The injections irritate the strained tissue, and the body responds by growing thicker, stronger ligaments and tendons. Ligaments and tendons generally don�t heal well because they have poor blood supply. To make matters worse, most people who are injured interfere with the body�s natural healing processes by treating themselves with anti-inflammatory medications. Thus, the ligaments never heal completely, and a chronic strain results. The muscles, unable to do the work of the ligaments, begin to fatigue, then spasm, adding to the pain. No matter how much physical therapy these patients receive, the pain will continue if the injury has not healed properly!

When a ligament is injected with a proliferant solution, composed of dextrose and other irritants, it causes a controlled, focused injury. The body then sends special blood cells called fibroblasts to start the healing process. After the initial inflammatory phase, new layers of connective tissue bind with the ligament, making it stronger, and reducing the protective muscle spasm. That�s why the pain goes away!

�If I sit too long, it hurts!� - How do you know if your pain is coming from loose ligaments? If you have to change position after sitting or standing for a while, it is most likely caused by a ligament. If there�s a numb-like feeling, and rubbing the numb area doesn�t make the pain feel worse, think ligament!

�But I�ve been told I have a disc problem!� - Many people with back and radiating leg pain have imaging studies which show protruding discs or arthritis, but it is also true that many people without pain have protruding discs and signs of arthritis! As the discs age, they dry up; and as they dry up, they shrink, leaving less space between the vertebrae. The ligaments bridging one bone to another are no longer tight, and can refer pain to the same areas that you would feel with a ruptured disc. Prolotherapy tightens the ligaments between the bones and around the discs, eliminating the pain. So, prolotherapy is not just for treating strained knees or shoulders, it is also an underappreciated therapy for treating the chronic low back pain often attributed to degenerative discs.

�But I�ve been told I have tendonitis!� - Ligaments attach bone to bone. Tendons attach muscle to bone. Prolotherapy works to strengthen any kind of connective tissue, so it is equally helpful for conditions such as: Tennis Elbow Achilles� Tendonitis Golfer�s Elbow Rotator Cuff Injury Chronically Sprained Ankles Failed Knee Surgeries

Keep this valuable treatment in mind for yourself and your loved ones. Read more about prolotherapy for knees, hips, neck and shoulders, or just about any sore joint in the body at www.getprolo.com, or visit our website for contact information, at Dr P. Perretz' Web Site.

CHILDHOOD DISEASES by Dr. Michael Gazsi, N.D.

School, day care or siblings are the places where children seem to contract all their colds, flu, and other childhood diseases. The degree to which a child may suffer with these ailments varies however. Some children seem to have minimal symptoms and quickly recover from illnesses. Other children experience much distress and discomfort. The understanding which needs to be grasped from such individual differences in their resistance and vitality is best explained by a quote. "The germ is nothing; it is the soil that matters" (Louis Pasteur). Germs are not the most important factor in causing disease. The environment (their body) must be suitable for the germs to flourish.

Germs are ubiquitous, that is to say, they are present everywhere in our environment. Normally, the body is able to maintain a healthful balance of beneficial and pathogenic (or disease-causing) microorganisms. When operating optimally, the body's normal defense mechanisms attack and eliminate foreign invaders before they can take over. If, however, the defenses are allowed to become depleted through poor nutrition, exposure to toxins, undue stresses, etc., the body's defenses begin to break down and soon a more favorable environment for invasion by pathogenic organisms occurs

The most important predisposing factors to illness are poor diet, toxin buildup and poor digestion. In particular the consumption of excess carbohydrates (especially simple sugars), pasteurized milk products, and poorly prepared foods are to be blamed for many problems.Chronic consumption of food items which are sensitivities or allergens also weakens the immune system and thus predispose one to illness. If your child has frequent colds, a runny nose, coughs, and other signs of a weakened immune system, you would be well advised to consider the possibility of sensitivities. (There are accurate saliva tests that can be done to assess what sensitivities to food the individual may have).Food grown in healthy soil and prepared or preserved according to native customs will contain more vitamins and minerals than the average commercially-available foods. While it does take some effort to learn the correct way to prepare food, it does pay off in the long run in terms of good health. The average American eats food grown in depleted soils, and as a result can greatly benefit from regular vitamin/mineral supplementation.

Parents may "indulge" a child to keep peace, allowing them to eat too many sweets and other allergic foods or allowing them to refuse to eat their vegetables. Most of the vitamins and minerals in our diet are derived from vegetables. Well-fed children will usually be strong enough to successfully deal with infections. Well-nourished children either do not catch common childhood diseases, contract only mild cases, or develop quick, strong, healthy reactions that serve only to strengthen their immune systems.

It is much healthier for a child to develop brief but strong reactions such as a high fever and profuse sweating than a lower fever and scant perspiration. Strong, quick reactions are the sign of a healthy immune system at work and should not be suppressed. These are the children who will quickly bounce back from an illness and be back out playing in a very short period of time. . I treat my patients in ways that support, rather than thwart, the body's natural immune defenses. I believe that fevers should, under most circumstances, be allowed to run their course without suppression because a fever is the natural way an individual's body burns up toxins. Suppression of fevers and other natural reactions like rashes, etc., could ultimately lead to the kind of debilitated state that predisposes to all manner of illness and infection. This is the reason I will often suggest that parents avoid giving their children over-the-counter pharmaceutical preparations when they are symptomatic. Instead, allowing the illness to run its natural course with natural supportive treatment will yield better health in the long run.

The treatment of most of the childhood diseases is uncomplicated. In the early, acute stages of an illness, a liquid diet or at least a very light diet is best -- ideally, plenty of water, fresh vegetables, steamed or raw, and broths (especially vegetable and bone broths). The optimal temperature for fighting infectious disease is in the 102-104 range. When a fever exceeds 104 or is prolonged, the possibility of dehydration becomes a concern. This is why it is very important to keep your child hydrated with plenty of water. Fevers will rarely exceed 104 or 105 for any length of time unless the child has been poisoned or from a vaccination. Rather than suppressing fevers with drugs, prolonged high fevers (over 104 ) can be moderated gently with tepid baths and/or sponge baths. Steam baths and brief hot baths can help induce sweating and detoxification if the fever is too low. Always make sure the "patient" is kept warm at all times and not allowed to chill. Herbs are often very helpful in the treatment of children's diseases. Large doses of vitamin C and other supplements will help hasten recovery as well.

Even when a child is on an adequate diet, the strain placed on the body by these medicines can deplete the protective stores of vitamin as well as damage the beneficial intestinal flora. If you would like more information on supplementation, immune or allergy testing, please let me know.

Myofascial ReleaseWhat is it? How does it work? ... by Scott Van Neikerk PT

Introduction - Myofascial Release is generally an extremely mild and gentle form of stretching that has profound effect upon the body tissues. Because of its gentleness, many individuals wonder how it could possibly work. To help you understand, we are providing you with this article.

Fascia - Fascia (also called connective tissue) is a tissue system of the body to which relatively little attention has been given in the past. Fascia is composed of two types of fibers: A) Collagenous fibers, which are very tough and have little stretchability B) Elastic fibers, which are stretchable. From the functional point of view, the body fascia may be regarded as a continuous laminated sheet of connective tissue that extends without interruption from the top of the head to the tip of the toes. It surrounds and invades every other tissue and organ of the body, including nerves, vessels muscle and bone. It has been estimated that fascia has a tensile strength of as much as 2000 pounds per square inch.

When Fascia is Injured - Myofascial restrictions do not show up on any of the standard tests (x-rays, CAT scans, MRI�s etc) so these myofascial restrictions have been ignored or misdiagnosed. Because fascia permeates all regions of the body and is all interconnected, when scars harden in one area (following injury, inflammation, disease, surgery, etc.) it can put tension on adjacent pain-sensitive structures as well as on structures in far-away areas. Some patients have bizarre pain symptoms that appear to be unrelated to the original or primary complaint. These bizarre symptoms can now often be understood in relationship to our understanding of the fascial system.

Anatomy of Fascia - The majority of the fascia of the body is oriented vertically. There are, however, four major planes of fascia in the body that are oriented in more of a crosswise (or transverse) plane. These four transverse planes are extremely dense. They are called the pelvic floor, respiratory diaphragm, thoracic inlet and cranial base. Frequently, all four of these transverse planes will become restricted when fascial adhesions occur in just about any part of the body. This is because this fascia of the body is all interconnected, and a restriction in one region can theoretically put a �drag� on the fascia in any other direction, like the yarn in a sweater. If the sweater is pulled down in the front, it tightens around the neck, but the neck is not the source of the problem; so with the fascial system, but in a three dimensional sense.

Treating Fascial Restrictions - The point of all the above information is to help you understand that during myofascial release treatments, you may be treated in areas that you may not think are related to your condition. The trained therapist has a thorough understanding of the fascial system and will �release� the fascia in areas that he/she knows have a strong �drag� on your area of injury. This is, therefore, a whole body approach to treatment.

Muscle provides the greatest bulk of our body�s soft tissue. Because all muscle is enveloped by and ingrained with fascia, myofascial release is the term that has been given to the techniques that are used to relieve soft tissue from the abnormal grip of tight fascia (�myo� means �Muscle�). The type of myofascial release technique given by the therapist will depend upon where in your body the therapist finds the fascia restricted. The therapist needs to be use �skin to skin� contact to provide the friction interface needed to release the fascia effectively. Therefore, the patient should be �comfortably undressed�, wearing, for example a two piece bathing suit, pants and bra or gym shorts and sports bra / tank top.

Myofascial Release treatment sessions are often extremely relaxing. There may or may not be conversation with the therapist, however the therapist encourages the patient to be present and aware of sensations within their body. Feedback from the patient to the therapist regarding what they are feeling helps the therapist to be as effective as possible Sometimes, but not always, there is a temporary increase in pain after treatment. There is no cause for alarm, but certainly notify the therapist. This period of the �healing crisis� is then followed by remarkable improvement. Often remarkable improvement is noted immediately during or after a treatment. Sometimes new pains in new areas will be experienced. There is sometimes a feeling of light-headedness or nausea. Sometimes a patient experiences a temporary emotion change. All of these are normal reactions of the body to the profound, but positive, changes that have occurred by releasing the fascial restrictions. Any and all of these reactions should be communicated with the therapist.

It is felt that release of tight tissue is accompanied by release of trapped metabolic waste products in the surrounding tissue and bloodstream. We highly recommend that you �flush your system� by drinking a lot of fluids during the course of your treatments, so that reactions like nausea and light-headedness will remain minimal or nil.

If you have any questions concerning myofascial release, please discuss them with your therapist.

Digital Retinal Imaging (DRI) - Preventing Strokes & Heart Attacks With An Eye Examination .... by Dr Joseph A Ross ODBSVS

THE SINGLE MOST INFORMATIVE TEST OTHER THAN AN AUTOPSY! - Medical literature says that the internal examination of the human eye can be the single most informative test of health other than an autopsy because it is possible to view the blood vessels and nervous system in one single image. The health of these tissues in the eye, almost always represents the health of the entire body! This kind of detailed examination was often used when a patient's health diagnosis needed another confirming analysis. It is normally an expensive and time consuming examination.

DIGITAL RETINAL IMAGING - SAFE, QUICK AND POWERFUL - Dr Ross' has designed new software to quickly image and analyze images captured via new digital technology. In minutes a detailed view of the blood vessels and nervous system are visible to both doctor and patients. This allows us to detect things like: hardening of the arteries, high blood pressure damage, diabetes, brain tumors, and many systemic diseases such as TB, Syphilis and even medicine side effects. One of the best things about the testing is that it utilizes only visible light and no radiation so it is 100% safe!

HOW DRI SAVES LIVES: Dr Ross' has been finding at least 2 -3 patients every week that have things like hardening of the arteries or diabetes. Imagine for a moment that it was you. If you knew you had hardening of the arteries what could you do about it and why should you make an effort? Simply put, hardening of the arteries puts you at risk for: STROKE, HEART ATTACK, VISION LOSS and much more. The good news is that for many people, a life style change and nutritional consult can reverse this before anything serious is lost! This means saving your life with a 5 minute test!

WE OFFER THIS TEST AT A NOMINAL ADDITIONAL FEE WITH A ROUTINE EYE EXAMINATION: - This incredible screening is now available to all our patients, only in this manner.

IS THIS TESTING UNIQUE? - Dr Ross in addition to practicing Holistic Optometry is a skilled Software Author, with several published and sold programs. Dr Ross designed software to take advantage of this very new technology. What is very special about this technology is that it is FULL COLOR imaging. Some computerized technology uses red green scans which cannot provide the detailed information that DRI does. Our equipment is the best there is at imaging blood vessels and nervous tissue. The software Dr Ross designed and wrote allows easy analysis that we have never seen anywhere else.

You may need to repair your adrenal glands as a first priority in order to get healthy. You have two of these little guys, one on top of each kidney. They put out a number of essential hormones for health, and they respond to, and can be damaged by, a number of life's less desirable occurrences.

Adrenal hormones release into your bloodstream. They include: A) The blood sugar hormone that keeps your energy up between meals. If it is low, fatigue, headaches and other symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) result, B) The anti-inflammatory/anti-pain hormone "cortisone" that keeps your body from pain, as well as from inflammatory and auto-immune illnesses.

These include illnesses whose names end in "itis" (inflammation of) such as colitis, dermatitis and bronchitis, C) The salt balancing hormones that tell your kidneys to not lose all your essential mineral salts into your urine. Reductions in these play a role in such things as abnormal swellings of the body, and heart malfunctions, D) Adrenaline which gives you bursts of energy in "stress" situations, and E) Estrogen for the post-menopausal woman that helps her stay more hormonally balanced. The adrenals make the only source of estrogen (female hormone) in the body after menopause.
Because of the profound effects of these hormones, if they are out of balance, big problems are the result. Temporarily they may be pushed into high gear by stress or incorrect eating, which later eventually leads to their burnout.

Burnout of the adrenals underlies a great many health problems, and worsens symptoms in the areas of your body that you have already weakened elsewise.

Overeating carbohydrates (sweet or starchy foods including sugar, breads, cereals, etc) will cause an insulin reaction. Generally at the same time all the ill effects of over-secreting insulin occur, the adrenals will be burnt out on the rebound blood sugar crash that follows. Not balancing food properly, overeating carbs, especially ones that arrive fast as sugar in the blood, is one factor that wears out adrenals. Because insulin reactions to meals badly chosen in type and quantity, are the leading causes of 1) overweight, 2) placqed and clogged arteries, 3) heart attack and stroke (these two are the leading causes of death), eating better may be one of the best things you could do for yourself. Fatigue is a frequent effect of worn-out adrenals. Because their hormones regulate the fueling of cells, and especially those of the brain, underfueling results in low energy, worn-out-ness. Depression is another effect that may occur to an individual with an underfuelled brain and nervous system. Many other symptoms of a worn-out energy system and poorly functioning nerves also can result.

Your adrenals are also known as your "Stress Glands". Mental and emotional stress, worry, anxiety over love, money, family, any of the usual (or unusual) sources, will eventually burn out the adrenals, and cripple their hormonal output. The man who figured this out was awarded the Nobel Prize in science. He also discovered that other types of stress besides emotional can burn them out. Physical or chemical stresses can also cause adrenal burnout. Ongoing pain, nerve system stress and malfunction, stimulant drugs, caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol are on that list.

Despite the fact that the highest award in science was awarded for this understanding, and it was broadly written, few medical physicians give much thought to, or have approaches for assisting the adrenals to repair or function. This comes as no surprise since most medical physicians are not trained or comfortable to practice nutrition. If you have a chronic inflammatory disorder, generally medicine or drugs are merely symptomatic treatment. Colitis, laryngitis, vaginitis, (notice the "itis" endings) are often medically incurable. They are just forever treatable with drugs, only to reduce the symptoms temporarily. This is because the anti-inflammatory drugs do not treat causes of problems, but only symptoms.

Headaches and migraines similarly have important adrenal (and blood sugar) components. Asthma and allergies have vital adrenal underpinnings. If ongoing medication is your recommended course, with no real end in sight, think then about strengthening your adrenals and fixing whatever else is contributing to the problem. When your adrenals are weak, the things that are harming them are generally winning, and those that could help them are losing. If you want to turn that around, you must try to discard or minimize the harmers, and bring on and support the helpers. Stress factors should be handled, corrected, imbalanced eating repaired, to name a few possibilities. Here, we know how to help you with these.

One great helper that can be instituted is to take adrenal support NUTRIENTS. Generally this can be done with supplements. The right supplements should be chosen, and the correct dose as well.

Adrenal rebuilding, although not an overnight process, is a cornerstone of many health miracle cases in our office. Chronically ill, pain-ridden, and many times profoundly sick people have been restored to normal healthy lives. Although many require other areas of the body to be treated at the same time to bring the desired result, without effective adrenal treatment this would never have occurred.

This is a critical arena of health to understand well and to apply. It is not likely that it could be done adequate justice in only a page or two of writing.

Our current lifestyles present great stresses on our adrenals. It is no great surprise that many of us have imperfect adrenal output, nor that some have adrenals that are really shot. If you fall into either category, one of the best things you could do is help your adrenals. While doing so, strengthen your blood sugar handling system, and reduce your risks for numerous health problems. Adrenal dysfunction causes many problems that reduce function and happiness, many nasty and "incurable" diseases, as well as those that are the leading causes of death.

To learn more about Adrenal Malfunction, call Dr Gazsi today to schedule a free consultation at (203) 797 8412

My major concern in publishing this report is the number of patients I have seen who have had broken blood vessels bleed into their eyes probably because they took a baby aspirin daily! This scientifically worded report was edited and summarized for brevity and general legibility. Please read!

A Summary Report From: Dr. John G F Cleland: The study consisted of data on over 100 000 patients at high risk of atherosclerotic events, representing more than 250 000 patient years of follow up.1

A SECOND STUDY FROM THE "AMERICAN HEART JOURNAL" -- ASPIRIN AS A PREVENTIVE IN PATIENTS WITH HEART FAILURE:

CONCLUSIONS OF 2004 RESEARCH STUDY: The Warfarin/Aspirin Study in Heart failure (WASH) provides no evidence that aspirin is effective or safe in patients with heart failure. (View Study) The benefits of warfarin for patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm have not been established. Antithrombotic therapy in patients with heart failure is not evidence based but commonly contributes to polypharmacy (Too many drugs). reference: Am Heart J. 2004 Jul;148(1):157-64.

Questions? Contact Dr Joseph A Ross, at 845-279-6179 or email him from this web site at drjoeross@drjoeross.com

Using Micro Electric Current Stimulation (MicroStim) and Nutritional Therapy for MACULAR DEGENERATION.

We have for over 20 years treated our patients with dry macular degeneration with nutritional and lifestyle changes, with very good success. We have also added MicroStim treatment which greatly increases the improvement or stabilization in vision loss. The following is a summary of a research article reporting on our type of treatment. PLEASE, do not believe that you have no choice but to go blind, you do have a choice if you are willing to make some changes in your lifestyle. You will see that the report referenced below showed the benefits of our treatment 20 years ago!

Introduction --- This is the second report of a study of age related macular degeneration (AMD). The first report covered from July 1985 to July 1992 and was published in the fall of 1993. The positive results to date in this and in the earlier report are the slowing or reversing of the progress of AMD for most subjects.

This is exciting because the dry type of AMD is considered to be untreatable and can progress to the wet type which rapidly destroys vision. ABC�s television show �20/20� (Dc. 6 �96) explained that 13 million Americans now have AMD. By the time the baby boomers reach age 65. 25% of Americans, or 30 million people, will have AMD. Happily, we are becoming aware of nutritional and electrical factors that can retard or reverse macular degeneration.

Leland D. Michael, O.D. of Rapid City, South Dakota, began studying electricity on the eyes in 1985 following his successful experience with using electricity to treat his own retinal detachment. Merrill Allen became the research designer and coordinator. Ralph Zehner began studying his twelve subjects in July 1991. When �Doc Mike� became terminally ill, he arranged for John Jarding to continue the study. Jarding had thirty-four new subjects from August 1992 to May 1998. The total number of subjects in this report is forty-six.

Each subject was independently confirmed as having dry macular degeneration. The nutritional supplements used by Zehner�s subjects were similar to those used in the earlier study. 1 Jarding�s more recent nutrients are shown in Figure 1 (p. 212). The additional nutrients used are bilberry, rutin and taurine.

In addition to nutrients taken daily, all subjects received micro ampere electricity applied to each eye�s closed lids. Zehner�s subjects were treated once per week for six weeks, then once per month. Jarding�s subjects were treated several times per week.

The results of this study strongly indicate that nutrition and electrical stimulation are able to delay or reverse the progress of macular degeneration.

The fact that acuity usually improved within minutes of electrical stimulation shows that micro current electricity applied to the eyelids is beneficial. The fact that a change in nutrients to include taurine, rutin and bilberry extract improved the success of treatment agrees with the recent literature7-10 on the importance of nutrition to the retina

Questions? Contact Dr Joseph A Ross, at 845-279-6179 or email him from this web site at drjoeross@drjoeross.com

Prolotherapy: The Little-Known Treatment for Torn Ligaments That Delivers Big Results Without Surgery

After reading more, I was surprised to find that Dr. C. Everett Koop, the former U.S. Surgeon General, had been treated with prolotherapy for his back after his neurologists had said that he needed surgery! He is now a strong supporter of prolotherapy. Studies show that prolotherapy helps chronic pain about 80% of the time.

Prolotherapy works by stimulating the body�s natural ability to heal itself, and to grow thicker, stronger ligaments and tendons.

Ligaments and tendons generally don�t heal well because they have poor blood supply. To make matters worse, most people who are injured interfere with the body�s natural healing processes by treating themselves with anti-inflammatory medications. Thus, the ligaments never heal completely, and a chronic strain results. The muscles, unable to do the work of the ligaments, begin to fatigue, then spasm, adding to the pain. No matter how much physical therapy these patients receive, the pain will continue if the injury has not healed properly!

How do you know if your pain is coming from loose ligaments? If you have to change positions after sitting or standing for a while, it is most likely caused by a ligament. If there is a numb-like sensation, and rubbing the numb area does not make the pain feel worse, think ligament!

Many people with back and radiating leg pain have imaging studies which show protruding discs or arthritis, but it is also true that many people without any pain have protruding discs and signs of arthritis! One does not necessarily correlate with the other. As the discs age, they dry up. As they dry up, they shrink, leaving less space between the vertebrae. The ligaments bridging one bone to another no longer hold tightly, and can refer pain to the same areas that you would feel from a ruptured disc at that level of the spine.

Prolotherapy tightens the ligaments between the bones and around the discs, eliminating the pain. So, prolotherapy is not just for treating strained knees or shoulders, it is also an underappreciated therapy for treating the chronic low back pain often attributed to degenerative discs.

Ligaments attach bone to bone. Tendons attach muscle to bone. Prolotherapy works to strengthen any kind of connective tissue, so it is equally helpful for conditions such as:

Keep this valuable treatment in mind for yourself and your loved ones. Read more about prolotherapy for knees, hips, neck and shoulders, or just about any sore joint in the body at www.getprolo.com, visit our website, at www.healingpath.us or call our office at (203) 544-9090.

...........By Dr Jay Desai, Pediatric Vision Specialist, 845-279-6179 (Now With Dr Joseph Ross!)

Although a child may not have a noticeable eye turn, it does not mean the child will not develop a lazy eye. Lazy eye means the eye will never develop normal vision. If it is not detected by the age 05, the eye will always be stuck with poor vision! Lazy eye may be caused by:

1) High astigmatism-astigmatism means the eye is oval shaped similar to a football. When the eye is distorted in shape, it forms blurred vision.

2) High farsighted prescription-when there is a strong prescription, the eyes will not receive clear vision

3) Anisometropia-when there is a difference between the prescription (vision) in the two eyes. When one eye has little or no prescription, and the other eye has a strong prescription, that eye runs a strong risk of becoming lazy.

Lazy eye is treated with glasses, patching therapy, and vision therapy. There are many objective tests to determine a child�s prescription for glasses, even if the child is uncooperative or can not read the eye chart.

At Holistic Vision Care, we have some of the most advanced machines to easily test for many of these conditions. For example: our computerized autorefractor displays a scene of a farm house and in just seconds allows us to determine if a child needs a prescription to see clearly. For many very young children I use a technique called MEM. that allows me to evaluate their ability to focus at near without them saying a word and without any potentially frightening technology. It is VERY important that your child not lose vision to any of these causes as it is irretrievable

Magic Sock Therapy

...........By Dr Michael Gazsi, ND 203-797-8412

This therapy is extremely beneficial for ear, throat and sinus infections, bronchitis, coughs and headaches. It is also excellent for insomnia, fever reduction and pain relief. This treatment works by pulling the congestion out of the head, throat and chest and into the feet.

I have to stick my 2 Cents in here... I am the Editor/publisher (Dr Joseph A Ross) and Dr. Gazsi gave me this seemingly "illogical" therapy a few years ago when I was miserably sick and congested. It made "no sense" but I have to tell you, it worked like magic! Now I know why he calls it Magic Sock Therapy..... Ed.

How did you feel when you woke up this morning? Did you feel rested, sharp and alert and ready to start your day or did you need a cup of coffee or maybe two and an hour to get going? Did you sleep 7-8 hours? Did you sleep through the night or did you awake one or more times during the night feeling very awake, your mind occupied with thought, restless and unable to fall back to sleep for some time?

The report of the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research (establishedby Congress in 1988), indicated that each year the livesof millions of Americans are disturbed, disrupted, or destroyedby the consequences of sleep disorders.

Sleep disorders include snoring, restless leg syndrome, and progress to the more serious conditions of sleep apnea. These disorders affect one�s breathing and are classified as sleep disordered breathing (SDB). SDB has been shown to increase the risk of high blood pressure, angina, stroke, heart attack, and other heart disease. It can also contribute to anxiety, depression,