Must-See Documentary: HOT FLASH HAVOC

A new documentary HOT FLASH HAVOC just came out about women and menopause and hormones. It is funny, insightful, and full of clear, honest information about the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) and hormone therapy. The WHI is the monumental study that, in 2002, led to women dropping hormone therapy abruptly when it reportedly showed an increase in breast cancer and cardiovascular events. Women were told that hormones were bad and you should not take them and if you did take them, take them only for the shortest amount of time possible.

The movie is packed with experts, including Joanne Hanson, MD (WHI principle investigator and Professor of Women’s Health and Medicine, Harvard Medical School) and Wulf Utian, MD (President of North American Menopause Society – NAMS) discussing what we now know is a hugely flawed study that seemed to counteract previous years of studies showing benefits of hormone replacement therapy. Why were the results of the study presented so negatively? I have puzzled over this. But as usual, if you follow the money you can find answers. I wonder what kind of economic impact it would have if women did not need to take statins? Antidepressants? Sleeping pills?

Educational and informative, the movie is designed to give you answers regarding menopause, hormone therapy, and what your options are. This could be the most important movie you ever watch. Rent it, buy the DVD, watch for an event in your area, grab a girlfriend and spend an evening learning about this period of life that effects all women. It could save your life.

UPDATE 4/24/13: You can rent the film through this link – pay once & watch it as many times as you’d like during a 5 day rental period:

Give Pu’erh a Chance

Tea cake – Xiaguan Te Ji (Special grade) raw tuocha

I was first introduced to Pu’erh tea in the early ‘90’s when I attended an integrative medicine conference as part of my Integrative Medicine Fellowship with Andrew Weil.  We were introduced to all sorts of delicious “new” foods (at the time, “new” to me and to most).  There were artisan dark chocolate, grains like amaranth and quinoa and of course organically grown fruits and vegetables.  One of the few conferences that I have attended in which the food was not only delicious but nutritious.

HCG Weight-Loss Program Launching at H.E.A.L.

H.E.A.L Medical Corp is now offering an amazing weight-loss system that specializes in detoxification, HCG, and long-term maintenance. Find out how our patients are losing weight at an astonishing rate and keeping it off.

Mark your calendars for our first educational group meeting
February 16th, 2013, at 10 AM, 2134 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco

Please email hcg@marshanunleymd.com for more information about the program.

The HCG diet
What is HCG and is it the Solution for Weight Loss?

Bleeding Risks Associated with Pradaxa

Our friends at drugwatch.com want to make sure those of you on Pradaxa are aware of the risks of this drug.  Pradaxa was designed to take the place of warfarin or coumadin as the blood thinner of choice because it does not require blood monitoring through lab draws (it is also a patented drug and costs lots and lots thereby greatly benefiting Boehringer Ingeleheliem).  Pradaxa works by inhibiting thrombin directly and preventing the formation of a clot and is primarily used in patients with atrial fibrillation.  The problem is there is no way to reverse the inhibition and restore the ability to clot in the event of an untoward event and there have been numerous fatalities due to uncontrolled bleeding. Pradaxa is no more effective than coumadin or warfarin (long off patent and dirt cheap), which can be easily reversed by the administration of vitamin K.  Pradaxa costs much, much more than warfarin, is dangerous and no more effective.  If you are on Pradaxa, I suggest you read this article and consider asking your doctor to change you to the much safer warfarin.
Around 2 million people take blood thinners to decrease the risk of heart attack and stroke. Blood thinners work by preventing blood clots from forming in the arteries and veins. Unfortunately Pradaxa, a commonly prescribed blood thinner, puts people at a high risk of uncontrollable bleeding accidents and was associated with 3,781 serious adverse events in 2011, including 542 deaths.

Hidden Sugars Fuel Addictions

Guest post by Lillian Sanders

It’s no secret that cakes, cookies, and doughnuts all contain sugar.  People trying to be healthy or lose weight often scold their body to stay away from these obvious sugar-packed treats.  But look at the nutrition label for other foods, and you might be surprised to find that foods like burgers, salad dressings and even soups contain added sugar.  It seems to be lurking in almost every processed food now.  Although the idea of food being addictive is debated, the New York Times explains how new research is revealing that drug addictions and eating certain foods have much in common.

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Final post in the Hormone Replacement Therapy series by Hedda Haning, MD

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This is the sixth in a 7-part series about hormone replacement therapy by guest blogger Hedda Haning, M.D. of Charleston, WV.

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This is the fifth in a 7-part series about hormone replacement therapy by guest blogger Hedda Haning, M.D. of Charleston, WV.

HRT & Bone Health from Country Fried Choice

Continue reading Hedda Haning, MD’s series on HRT – this one focuses on BONE HEALTH.

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Third in the HRT series by Hedda Haning, MD.