the good side of nicotine [really I don't smoke and i don't advise you to do!!],but there maybe never a good side to margarine or inferior food oils………..

…………….But immunologist Luis Ulloa has found that it can also reverse the condition called sepsis, which kills some 250,000 Americans a year.

We all know nicotine as the addictive substance that gets people hooked on cigarettes, which can kill you. But as this ScienCentral News video explains, now nicotine could also be a tool in defeating one of the leading causes of death in the developed world.

Putting Out the Fire

The nicotine that gets people hooked on cigarettes can be implicated in hundreds of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year. But immunologist Luis Ulloa has found that it can also reverse the condition called sepsis, which kills some 250,000 Americans a year.

Typically, when your body responds to an infection, immune cells send out chemical messengers called cytokines. Some of these cytokines force your blood to clot, which ensures that the threatening material doesn’t spread throughout the body.

Usually sparked by trauma or a bacterial infection, sepsis is when this immune response goes into overdrive. Ulloa explains, “Your immune system becomes very strong, [and it] wants to protect your body at any cost.”
Ulloa Lab
People in the early stages of sepsis may feel confused, have a fever and rapid heart rate, and develop a rash. Sepsis is often confused with other conditions, Ulloa says, and treating the underlying infection with antibiotics misses the root of the problem. “It’s your own immune response who is killing you,” he explains. “So your own immune response becomes so strong that it’s attacking the cardiovascular system and it’s able to cause multiple organ failure.”

Previous studies showed that smokers are less prone to another disease of the immune system, ulcerative colitis. This inflammatory disease attacks the digestive system, but was found to affect a disproportionate number of non-smokers.

This led Ulloa and his team at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research to study nicotine as an anti-inflammatory for sepsis. He discovered that nicotine grabs immune cells and prevents them from spewing inflammatory cytokines throughout the body.

In laboratory tests it was able to reverse sepsis in mice. After inducing sepsis, researchers waited until the mice became sick to inject the nicotine. It worked: many of the mice, Ulloa says, got better within 24 hours. He says that this experiment closely replicates how sepsis could be treated in the real world, “because for patients, you can’t predict when someone will go into sepsis. So you have to develop different experimental strategies to be able to rescue the patient.”
Nicotine Graphic
Ulloa found how nicotine can be used against sepsis by calming down the inflammatory particles in the body.
While nicotine is useful in the laboratory, Ulloa stresses this is no endorsement of smoking. “It was very interesting to find out that nicotine have a strong anti-inflammatory potential,” he says. “However, the clinical problem [is that] you can never use nicotine. There are so many toxic effects.”

“When you’re smoking, you may have some small beneficial effect from nicotine, but you still have another thousand chemical products that is killing your body,” says Ulloa.

But since his team also found the specific receptor on immune cells that nicotine latches onto, researchers can now see if drugs that work like nicotine can help battle the fires within.

Other researchers are currently working with one nicotine-like drug, originally developed to fight Alzheimer’s, to treat inflammation. This drug, named GTS-21, was found to be ineffective in the treatment of Alzheimer’s because it wasn’t able to penetrate the brain. But Ulloa says that it has great potential as an anti-inflammatory, since it can avoid the brain and target other parts of the body.

Ulloa’s research was featured in the June 2006 Scientific American magazine, August 2005 Nature, and November 2004 Nature Medicine. His research is funded by the Faculty Awards Program of the North Shore Health System, the North Shore-Long Island Jewish General Clinical Research Center, National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

“Torah” from Sin[ai]

“Torah” from Sin[ai]

Today I would like to describe you some common used acupuncture points which likely also can be used –maybe a bit less effective then needles-by pressure on these points.
I will describe mostly points used for emergencies.
I will describe how to find the points and mention the number of the point as they are used in the West by acupuncturists as well as the English names in case you want to look them up: see link at the end of the article]
At the end of the article I will copy a link from a website where you can look up the points –in pictures-if you wish.
For acute low back pain [when one cannot get out of bed or stand]:
Press directly at the same time under- and behind the outer ankle for a minute or more quite strongly. [names of the points: UB 60 and UB 62][bladder points 60 and 62]
Try first at the ankle which is corresponding to the side of the back that hurts.
Thereafter one should be able to stand at least for a while or be able to get out of bed to visit a doctor.
This pressure can be repeated very often.
Another point for the same purpose, for acute low back pain is situated in the midline between the nose and the upper lip.
This point can also be used for other purposes and can be life saving in case of severe bleeding which –lo alenu- [may we be spared from this] may lead to a deadly shock if there is no direct help available [like intravenous fluid]
In this case one may stick any needle available in this spot [not dangerous], even if you are not trained [and it may be officially "illegal"] as long as it is clear that the person has a life threatening bleeding and may die if you don’t do anything [name of the point: DU 26 [governing vessel 26]
In case of severe nausea [or any heart problems / disturbances]: press on the inner side of the fore arm [lower arm] in the midline of the arm, about 3 fingers above the wrist crease [where the watch strap is located]. One or both arms may be used.
In China [and now also known in Israel] women seem to use a wristband for nausea in pregnancy with something on the inner side of the band which presses on the mentioned point. [point: P6][pericardium 6]
For [light] nervousness press on the point between the eyes [the "third eye" of the India].
Some people suffer from recurrent urticaria.
Often no reason is found and strong drugs are given.
Cupping [kosot ruach] on the center of the navel, repeated a few times a day for a few minutes often can heal stubborn urticaria and also persistent diarrhea in children.
Early [premature] contractions in pregnancy can be life threatening.
I have extreme good experience with the treatment of this with just a single needle at the point: K9 [kidney 9], sometimes only a single treatment may be enough!! ……… and spares the mother bed rest for months, hard to belief ,but true. Maybe massage at this point, frequently done, can also be helpful. [I have always used only needles in this case]
Location of the point[for pressure one can be a bit less precise then when one works with a needle and one can use a "wider" area]:
some 10 -11 cm[some 7 fingers] [more or less: good to look for the most tender spot in that area] above the inner ankle, between the tibia bone and the tendon which goes up from the Achilles tendon]

For a baby which is “upside down” [breech] [akuz] a Chinese “cigar”[so called moxa, made from Artemisia herb] can be used to warm the UB 67 point [bladder point 67], at the nail fold of the small toe of the foot.
If this is done before the 35th week at least half of the babies may turn, after the 36th week there is little success.
The method is totally safe and painless!
For this treatment you may contact us and we can give you the telephone numbers of the “talmidot” working with me who can help you to teach you how to do the moxa.
Concerning the fact that there is not a single “easy option” in western medicine for this problem, it may be very wise to be examined around the 32-33 week to know the position of the head.

For difficulty with breastfeeding [again: never, never give a formula, all of them are dangerous] there are many advises possible [explanation, reassurance, herbs, food etc]
Acupuncture [sometimes a single time], with just 2 needles, may help tremendously.
[I am not sure if acupressure will help here]

For headache which is locate in the temple area [rakot]:press between the 4th and the 5th toe, at the end of the web where the bones come together.[point
In seconds there may be relief, can be repeated often if necessary

To get illustrations of the points you can look up on google:
http://www.acuxo.com/index.asp [and click at the left on; acupuncture points]
[If you wish I can show you where a certain point is located][for those in aderet eliyahu]
Enjoy your virtual journey to China and use it if their wisdom if ever necessary.
I would be happy to hear your experiences in these cases.

Old books – new books……….”camel-like fever”, chom k’mo gav ha-gamal

Old books – new books: why to bother to look in old books!?
……….Often after 2 to 3 days the patient is without fever free for a day, but thereafter the temperature rises again for 2 to 3 days.["camel-like fever", chom k'mo gav ha-gamal]
Read further to know what this means.

It seems that most of the flu [shapa-at] in Israel is behind us.
Why do I wish to write you about flu, if there is seemingly so little news to write about it –you may know all about it already
Flu is caused by an influenza virus.
Most common symptoms: sudden high fever, headaches, dry cough, all kind of body /muscle pains, etc.
All this is very well known to all of you probably.
Sometimes it may be difficult to differentiate between a simple common cold and flu, especially if the flu symptoms are mild.

I copy now for you the symptoms as described by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention [USA]:
Symptoms of Flu
• Symptoms of flu include:fever (usually high)
• headache
• extreme tiredness
• dry cough
• sore throat • runny or stuffy nose
• muscle aches
• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults
Another description, copied from a famous other text book of medicine: [if you are interested see the whole description at the and of the e-mail.

………"In uncomplicated influenza, the acute illness generally resolves over a 2- to 5-day period, and most patients have largely recovered in 1 week, although cough may persist for 1 to 2 weeks longer"

During the [past] flu I “treated” most patients/families by telephone
[telephonic advise].
Most people already knew what “weapons” to use and just needed some reconfirmation.
Why is the title of this story: Old books – new books?
To explain this I will now copy [and translate] from an older Dutch book of medicine [1963] a short description of the symptoms of flu:

Symptoms:
The disease starts mostly acute [therefore the name: grippe,griep]
[French:gripper=to attack suddenly]
The maximum fever reaches its peak in the first 3 days [40-41 Celsius],but the fever can be much lower.
The fever lasts mostly 2-3 days but it can also continue for a week.
The temperature can go down suddenly ["critically", as this is called] but it mostly goes down more slowly.
Often after 2 to 3 days the patient is fever free for a day, but thereafter the temperature rises again for 2 to 3 days.

This is precisely what we saw in many cases in this last flu and not a single modern book seems to be aware of this phenomenon, or at least none of them mention it.
[I am therefore happy with my book from 1963 [van Buchem etc]and wanted to let you know this clinical picture in case the flu still continues]
I think it is important enough to know because one could falsely start worrying if this is not known and the fever recurs.
Of course in some cases the recurring fever could be a complication, but often it is not.

The book continues with the most common symptoms like described before [cough, headache, difficulty sleeping, muscle pains, painful eye movements, can't tolerate light, etc.
It is amazing that modern text books of medicine often ignore older well established clinical symptoms.

For those interested: the whole description from a modern book.
From
Harrison's Internal Medicine [considered by many as the "bible" of internal medicine]
Manifestations
Influenza has most frequently been described as an illness characterized by the abrupt onset of systemic symptoms, such as headache, feverishness, chills, myalgia, or malaise, and accompanying respiratory tract signs, particularly cough and sore throat. In many cases, the onset is so abrupt that patients can recall the precise time they became ill. However, the spectrum of clinical presentations is wide, ranging from a mild, afebrile respiratory illness similar to the common cold (with either a gradual or an abrupt onset) to severe prostration with relatively few respiratory signs and symptoms. In most of the cases that come to a physician’s attention, the patient has a fever, with temperatures of 38° to 41°C (100.4° to 105.8°F). A rapid temperature rise within the first 24 h of illness is generally followed by a gradual defervescence over a 2- to 3-day period, although, on occasion, fever may last for as long as a week. Patients report a feverish feeling and chilliness, but true rigors are rare. Headache, either generalized or frontal, is often particularly troublesome. Myalgias may involve any part of the body but are most common in the legs and lumbosacral area. Arthralgias may also develop.
Respiratory complaints often become more prominent as systemic symptoms subside. Many patients have a sore throat or persistent cough, which may last for a week or more and which is often accompanied by substernal discomfort. Ocular signs and symptoms include pain on motion of the eyes, photophobia, and burning of the eyes.
Physical findings are usually minimal in cases of uncomplicated influenza. Early in the illness, the patient appears flushed and the skin is hot and dry, although diaphoresis and mottled extremities are sometimes evident, particularly in older patients. Examination of the pharynx may yield surprisingly unremarkable results despite a severe sore throat, but injection of the mucous membranes and postnasal discharge are apparent in some cases. Mild cervical lymphadenopathy may be noted, especially in younger individuals. The results of chest examination are largely negative in uncomplicated influenza, although rhonchi, wheezes, and scattered rales have been reported with variable frequency in different outbreaks. Frank dyspnea, hyperpnea, cyanosis, diffuse rales, and signs of consolidation are indicative of pulmonary complications. Patients with apparently uncomplicated influenza have been reported to have a variety of mild ventilatory defects and increased alveolar-capillary diffusion gradients; thus, subclinical pulmonary involvement may be more frequent than is appreciated.
In uncomplicated influenza, the acute illness generally resolves over a 2- to 5-day period, and most patients have largely recovered in 1 week, although cough may persist for 1 to 2 weeks longer. In a significant minority (particularly the elderly), however, symptoms of weakness or lassitude (postinfluenzal asthenia) may persist for several weeks and may prove troublesome for persons who wish to resume their full level of activity promptly. The pathogenetic basis for this asthenia is unknown, although pulmonary function abnormalities may persist for several weeks after uncomplicated influenza.

A few medical-pesach issuses

A few medical-pesach issuses.
טובא גריר, פורתא סעיד [ברכות לה ,תעמוד ב]
A large quantity has an appetizing effect; a small quantity sustains.[berachot 35b]
It seems strange but a large quantity of wine will stimulate one’s appetite, whereas a small quantity will
satisfy and keeps hunger away.
Therefore if one drinks wine one on erev Pesach he should drink a larger [not to small] amount] so that he will not suppress his appetite for the seder.
In the journal Science [1982] it was published that an rapid infusion of glucose in the duodenum very much increased the appetite of rabbits and a slow infusion decreased the appetite.
This is may explain the statement of the Talmud.
[Source; insights, a Talmudic treasury by rabbi Saul Weiss]
So for over-eaters: it is clear what to do.
Drink a very little bit of wine before the meal [one or two teaspoons]

[Rambam mishne tora [ chapter 5,halacha 2 ]:
[translation by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger, moznaim publ.corp]
“With regards to these five species of grain: if [flour from these species] is kneaded with fruit juice alone without any water, it will never become leavened.
Even if [flour] is placed in [these] juices the entire day until the dough rises, it is permitted to be eaten [on Pesach], for fruit juice does not cause [dough] to become leavened.
It merely causes [the flour] to decay.
The following are [included in the category] of fruit juice: wine ,milk, honey, olive oil, apple juice, pomegranate juice and all other similar wines ,oils, and beverages.
This applies so long as no water whatsoever is mixed with them.
If any water is mixed with them, they cause [the flour] to become leavened.”

Simply, the smallest amount of added water will cause the mentioned grains to become leavened[to become chametz]
It is fascinating to be able to remark here the halacha brought by the Rambam and to relate this to the fact that in traditional medicine [as well in homeopathy] all water is not just water.
Water in fruits is considered to be totally different
from just plain water [ both of them are H2O in chemistry]
In homeopathy water that is shaken very vigorously has found to be different [from the water before it has been shaken] when examined with atom spectrograpy.
It is as if water has a “memory” [like footprints in the snow, which show-like a memory- that somebody passed there some while ago]

On seder Pesach all of us will remember the leaning on the left side.
[Kitzur shulchan aruch [chapter 71,halacha 5 ]
“It is beneficial to begin one’s sleep while lying on the left side, and afterwards to change to the right side.
This is beneficial to one’s health, since the liver is on one’s right side, and the stomach on one’s left. When one leans to the left, the liver will lie on the stomach and warm it with its heat. This will hasten the digestion of the food. After the food is digested, it is preferable to lean to the right, thus allowing the stomach to rest and the wastes to descend. One should not turn frequently from side to side”
Do you know that I found in only one medical textbook form 1959 that the temperature in the liver veins is above 41 degrees!!
Thus, it becomes understandable that lying on the left side “cooks” the food in the stomach [see above] which means that the speed of digestion is increased significantly!!
Do you know that recently it has been found that people who sleep only one on side have more tendency for kidney stones?
Pesach sameach we-kasher.