The DEA has announced that the company Insys has produced a synthetic marijuana product and the DEA deems it medically valuable and safer than real cannabis. The announcement was made on November 22nd in the Federal Register by the DEA. The drug is called Syndros. It’s a liquid form of synthetic THC that will be classified as a schedule 2 controlled substance. At this level, the drug can be prescribed by doctors legally, at the federal level.

On March 23, 2017, the DEA published an interim final rule to make FDA-approved products containing dronabinol in an oral solution a schedule II controlled substance. 82 FR 14815. The interim final rule provided an opportunity for interested persons to file written comments as well as a request for hearing or waiver of hearing, on or before April 24, 2017.”

Meanwhile, marijuana will continue to be listed as a “Schedule 1 controlled substance”. Schedule 1 is reserved for drugs like heroin, deemed to have “no currently accepted medical use” and have “a high potential for abuse.” As Politico says, “Jeff Sessions Isn’t Giving up on Weed. He’s Doubling Down.”

The FDA has cleared Syndros for Synthetic Marijuana Approval

Synthetic marijuana will be hitting the market soon. Insys Therapeutics is based out of Arizona. This is not the kind of company marijuana advocates want involved in the cannabis industry.

A pharmaceutical company that manufactures the prescription painkiller fentanyl repeatedly misrepresented its product and the patients using it in order to boost sales, according to a blistering report released Wednesday by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.).” – Mother Jones

We found a story on Collective Evolution:

Twenty-nine states and Washington, D.C. have now legalized some form of medical marijuana; however the DEA and the FDA still maintain their stance that cannabis is not medicine. Last year, the FDA even rejected a petition to have marijuana removed from the Schedule 1 category.”

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In 2011, a team of scientists headed by Duane L. Pierson published the paper Varicella Zoster Virus DNA at Inoculation Sites and in Saliva After Zostavax Immunization. Their paper looks at whether or not individuals who have been vaccinated with the shingles vaccine could remain infectious with chicken pox (varicella zoster virus) after vaccination. The team studied 36 individuals over 60 years of age who recently had been vaccinated with Zostavax, the shingles vaccine. The scientists say that the vaccine reduced the incidence of shingles, but many individuals tested positive for the varicella zoster virus DNA for up to 28 days after vaccination.

Shingles is caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Only someone who has had chickenpox or who has gotten the chickenpox vaccine can get shingles. The virus stays in thebody, and may cause shingles many years later.

Related: How Plumbing (Not Vaccines) Eradicated Disease

Inoculation site samples taken within 10 minutes after vaccination were positive for Zostavax VZV DNA in 18 (50%) of 36 subjects. The VZV DNA copy number per nanogram of total DNA ranged from 28 to 2.1 × 106 (Table 1), possibly reflecting the presence of infectious virus since no alcohol or other agent was used to wipe the skin after inoculation.

“No saliva specimen collected immediately before immunization contained VZV DNA. During the first week after immunization, VZV DNA was detected in saliva of 21 (58%) of 36 subjects (13 men and 8 women). During the 28-day study period, VZV DNA was found in 11 (31%) of 36 subjects (5 men and 6 women) at day 14, in 10 (28%) of 36 subjects (6 men and 4 women) at day 21, and in 2 (6%) of 36 subjects (1 man and 1 woman) at day 28.” – Duane Pierson

Authors conclusion:

“Finally, that while transmission of vaccine virus has not been found among vaccine recipients, the detection of VZV DNA in saliva of Zostavax recipients for up to 28 days suggests that contact with saliva of recently immunized individuals represents a potential source of transmission.”

Related: How To Detoxify and Heal From Vaccinations – For Adults and Children

Fifty percent of those in the study tested positive for Zostavax VZV DNA, and therefor, could potentially spread chicken pox to the unvaccinated individuals.

Related: Influenza Vaccine – A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential Dangers and Effectiveness of the Flu Shot

This paper is just one of many proving that it is the vaccinated who put others at risk, not the other way around. For further information, please read Studies Show that Vaccinated Individuals Spread Disease: Should the Recently Vaccinated be Quarantined to Prevent Outbreaks?” – Health Impact News

It turns out that both the active and the inert ingredients in the world’s most common herbicides can produce antibiotic resistance. A team of researchers in New Zealand, building on their 2015 research that identified Roundup, 2,4-D, and dicamba as triggers for antibiotic-resistant Salmonella eterica and Escherichia coli, has found that this resistance occurred with doses below reasonable levels. According to the lead author of the study, Jack Heinemann, Ph.D., University Canterbury’s School of Biological Sciences,

The sub-lethal effects of industrially manufactured chemical products should be considered by regulators when deciding whether the products are safe for their intended use…These products are sold in the local hardware store and may be used without training, and there are no controls that prevent children and pets from being exposed in home gardens or parks. Despite their ubiquitous use… herbicides may be undermining the use of a fundamental medicine-antibiotics.”

Recommended: How to Detoxify From Antibiotics and Other Chemical Antimicrobials

To achieve these findings, scientists first exposed S. eterica to pure dicamba, glyphosate, and 2,4-D. The bacteria were then treated with select antibiotics. The inert ingredients polysorbate 80 and CMC were applied to both S. eterica and E. coli, and they were treated with the same group of antibiotics, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, and tetracycline. The active ingredients had a more pronounced effect on the bacteria than the inert ingredients did, and the results, though varied, confirmed that these herbicides can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Related: Gluten, Candida, Leaky Gut Syndrome, and Autoimmune Diseases

These Herbicides are Everywhere

So what does this mean in the current quest to solve antibiotic resistance? The current push by scientists and medical professionals to find answers to this issue focus on the excessive use of antibiotic in factory farming. But glyphosate is found in the urine of 93% of Americans, and this doesn’t take into account the other herbicides tested here. Is everything in our current food system designed to undermine our health? Have we gone too far to come back?

Sources:

• WHO Says the World Will Run Out of Antibiotics Able to Treat Bacteria Superbugs – OLM
• Monsanto’s Roundup Causes Antibiotic Resistance—a Fact That’s Not Considered by Regulators – Alternet
• New research finds common herbicides cause antibiotic resistance – University of Canterbury

The yearly Food and Drug Administration report on the sale of “medically important” antibiotics for food-producing animals has been released, and it’s good news. For the first time since the FDA started tracking these sales in 2009, sales of medically important antibiotics have gone down. They decreased by 14 percent in 2016, and a new FDA policy makes it likely that the trend will continue.

Why Have Sales Dropped?

There has been a concentrated effort from the scientific and medical communities to bring awareness to the issue of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In 2017, the FDA asked manufacturers to stop selling medically important antibiotics for the use of animal farming. Though this policy request occurred past the deadline for the 2016 yearly report, it does coincide with Canadian and European pushes for livestock raised with fewer antibiotics. With the United States government beginning to take this issue seriously, the sale and use of medically important antibiotics will likely continue to decrease.

Recommended: How to Detoxify From Antibiotics and Other Chemical Antimicrobials

Baby Steps

There are still quite a few questions though. Without a massive overhaul of the factory farming system, farmers need something to replace these antibiotics. Non-antibiotic treatments are in the work, but data on how that could potentially affect humans hasn’t surfaced.

Another concern is the language continually being used – medically important antibiotics. One of the most important reported cases of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is the development of a colistin-resistant bacteria. Colistin was not considered a medically important antibiotic because of the kidney damage it causes, and the product only became medically important when other antibiotics were failing. According to the World Health Organization, there are not enough antibiotics being developed to deal with superbugs. What is the likelihood that one of the medically non-important antibiotics becomes medically necessary?

Related: What Causes Chronic Inflammation, and How To Stop It For Good

Using Data for the Greater Good

In addition to tracking sales, this is the first year that the FDA broke down the sale of antibiotics by animal type, giving a clearer picture of the relationship between food-producing animals and our medication. Restaurants and supermarkets have focused on delivering antibiotic-free chicken, and that’s reflected in the numbers. Poultry accounts for only 15 percent of medically important antibiotic sales, while swine and cattle account for 37 and 43 percent, respectively. It’s not clear that changes in restaurant policy have changed those figures, but it’s silly to think that the company that sells the 37 million nuggets a day doesn’t change the way that chicken is produced.

Related: How to Detoxify and Heal the Lymphatic System

Progress!

This report is a good sign for a couple of reasons. First, we have a more detailed breakdown of which animals are receiving more antibiotics. Secondly, all of the consumer pressure placed on corporations and governments for healthier options can actually have an effect. The free flow of information can bring about change, but we’re running out of time for that. Continued progress is a must.

Sources:

• For the First Time, Antibiotic Use in Farm Animals Drops – The Atlantic
• FDA Announces Implementation of GFI #213, Outlines Continuing Efforts to Address Antimicrobial Resistance – FDA
• WHO Says the World Will Run Out of Antibiotics Able to Treat Bacteria Superbugs – Organic Lifestyle Magazine
• Pressure’s on for on-farm alternatives to antibiotics – Calgary Herald

Monsanto Co says it will give cash back to U.S. farmers who purchase a controversial weed killer, XtendiMax with VaporGrip, a dicamba-based herbicide. The herbicide has been linked to widespread crop damage. Monsanto is offering the cash incentive even as regulators in several U.S. states are deciding on restrictions for its use. Federal and state regulators are requiring training for farmers and limiting when and how the product can be used. Some farmers are saying the restrictions make the chemical too costly and inconvenient to apply, but Monsanto believes the incentive will help push past the products many issues and concerns. Monsanto could refund farmers more than half of the sticker price of the product.

Of course, Monsanto says XtendiMax is perfectly safe when applied properly. BASF SE and DowDuPont also sell dicamba-based herbicides.

Related: Understanding and Detoxifying Genetically Modified Foods

We believe cash-back incentives for using XtendiMax with VaporGrip Technology better enable growers to use a management system that represents the next level of weed control.” – Ryan Rubischko, Monsanto product manager.

Monsanto is facing increasing government oversight lately:

On Monday, Missouri said it would ban sprayings of XtendiMax and DowDuPont’s product, called FeXapan, in 10 counties after June 1, 2018, and statewide after July 15, 2018. Last month, the state imposed the same restrictions on BASF’s dicamba herbicide, Engenia. North Dakota said it planned to prohibit the use of dicamba herbicides after June 30, 2018, and when temperatures top 85 degrees Fahrenheit in a bid to prevent the chemical from drifting away from where it is sprayed. Arkansas is close to prohibiting dicamba sprayings after April 15, 2018, the tightest limits yet, while Minnesota is also considering restrictions. The states are taking action after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandated special training for dicamba users for 2018 and required farmers to keep records proving they were complying with label instructions.” – Reuters

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Flu season is shaping up to be brutal this year, with many areas reporting influenza cases a month ahead of schedule. Australia, who experiences flu season before the United States and Europe, suffered from a particularly rough season with almost twice as many deaths and more than twice the number of infections in comparison to the previous season. In response the flu vaccine gospel is already being pushed harder than usual, but that’s not going to help much.

Back in September, Dr. Vicky Sheppeard, director of communicable diseases at New South Wales Health in Australia indicated that “the four flu strains in the vaccine are well-matched to circulating viruses…” It turns out that a good match doesn’t really guarantee anything, as the New England Journal of Medicine reports that early vaccine effectiveness estimates found that the vaccine was only ten percent effective in Australia. This is a far cry from the initial overall estimates of 42% effectiveness or the 34% predicted for H3N2, the dominant flu strain in Australia that’s notoriously difficult to match. Flu shots for the United States are essentially the same as the one used in Australia.

How to Win at the Flu Season

None of the debate about the flu shot changes the fact that the flu season is here (early), and if Australia is any indicator, it’s going to suck. It doesn’t have to. You’ve got a heads-up, so use this time to prep. Here are the most effective strategies for avoiding or mitigating the flu this season.

Related: Influenza Vaccine – A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential Dangers and Effectiveness of the Flu Shot

Load Up On Vitamins

Winter is not the best season for vitamin D, but it is critical for flu prevention. A review of 25 studies that included more than 10,000 participants found that vitamin d reduces the likelihood of respiratory infections like the cold and flu. It can be difficult to get all of your vitamin d from diet alone, especially in winter. If you suspect vitamin d deficiency, supplementation has proven to be effective.

Related: Foods with Vitamin D and Vitamin B12 for those with Multiple Sclerosis

Vitamin C is also a critical part of preparing for flu season. One of the most powerful antioxidants available to us, it also boosts immune function. Vitamin C transporter molecules in the membranes of the immune cells actively pump the vitamin into the cells – especially in a stressful situation when the body is more likely to need vitamin C. While there are plenty of vitamin c supplements available, many of them are derived from corn and don’t absorb well in the body. To get the full benefit of vitamin c, whole food sources like berries, colored peppers, broccoli, and dark leafy greens.

Related: Homemade Vitamin C

Gargle

It’s not fun, but gargling apple cider vinegar, fire cider, or even salt water can inhibit harmful microbes trying to take up residency in the throat or sinuses. Some viruses are able to hang on, but that infection will likely be less severe. A fire cider has the added antioxidant benefits of hot peppers.

Related: Mother Earth Organic Root Cider

Hot and Cold

Get hot and sweaty! A fever happens when your body is fighting an infection, and treatments like hot baths, showers, and saunas can trick the body into behaving in that manner. Moving back and forth between hot and cold also provides flu relief, loosening congestion, improving circulation, and boosting the immune system. Always start with hot, and then switch to cold. Switching between very hot and very cold in the shower is the easiest method, but hydrotherapy can also be accomplished with a hot bath and a rubdown with a cold cloth. Also referred to as cold mitten friction, dip a washcloth in 50 to 60 degree water, and rub vigorously.

Related: Hot & Cold Hydrotherapy

Echinacea

In addition to the vitamins, there are plenty of natural remedies for flu prevention. One of the best known and verified of these is echinacea. Echinacea is most effective when it’s taken right before or at the very beginning of a developing case of the flu. Anti-inflammatory and antifungal, a good-quality echinacea tincture gives your mouth a fuzzy feeling, and the herb loses its effectiveness after ten days or so.

Related: Shillington’s Echinacea Plus

Hydrate

Dehydration makes the body more susceptible to harmful invaders, and many early flu symptoms like a runny nose and sweating can increase that. Water is the safe play here, but if you’re looking to improve your all-around health at the same time, reach for the cranberry lemonade. The vitamin c is a proven flu buster, and cranberry keeps the kidney processing things smoothly. Another comforting option is a loose leaf, herbal tea. The tea provides a variation on the hot treatment, though it is important to choose an organic tea from a company you trust.

Related: What’s the Best Water for Detoxifying and For Drinking?

Diet

If you do everything on this list, you’ll likely be able to take on the flu quickly and effectively, but to keep your immune system in tip-top condition, diet comes first. Emerging research has continued to confirm that our microbiome determines how healthy we are. Beneficial bacteria like beneficial food, and feeding them the vegetables and fruit creates a positive cycle the reverberates throughout the entire body. The opposite is true of potentially harmful microbes and viruses like the flu. Refined sugars, refined grains, and processed foods fuel harmful bacteria and can lead to a stressed and overworked immune system, perfect for flu viruses to take advantage of. Check out this salad recipe to get some ideas for loading up on the veggies.

Related: Detox Cheap and Easy Without Fasting – Recipes Included

Always Be Prepared

The boy scout motto seems to be quoted often, but no one is applying it to our health. Then again, that’s what the vaccine is supposed to do. According to experts, this year’s flu vaccine is about as effective as going camping with a sheet instead and hoping it doesn’t rain or get cold. Don’t you want to be the person who actually prepared? It starts with diet.

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Sources:

• Flu season could be bad this year, and experts are urging people to get their shots – Chicago Times
• Influenza Vaccine – A Comprehensive Overview of the Potential Dangers and Effectiveness of the Flu Shot – Organic Lifestyle Magazine
• Natural Remedies for Colds, Flus, and Other Common Viruses – Organic Lifestyle Magazine
• 12 Flu Natural Remedies – Dr. Axe
• What Australia’s bad flu season means for Europe, North America – CNN
• Early Flu Season Hits Mass., Amid Questions About Vaccine Match – Common Health
• Flu cases double as experts worry this season could be particularly bad – CNBC
• A Bit More Vitamin D Might Help Prevent Colds And Flu – NPR
• Vitamin C shown to reduce flu and cold symptoms by 85 percent – Natural Health 365
• Hot and Cold Hydrotherapy – Showers – Healthfree.com

The number of people with type 2 diabetes has been on the rise for some time now, and it’s believed that this rise is directly related to the obesity epidemic. Fat accumulated in the abdomen impeeds pancreatic function, which makes sense when you consider how glands work, and what happens when a gland does not have enough space to function properly. If you squeeze a glad it will secret hormones, so consider how excessive fat accumulation plays a role when putting pressure on glands.

These findings are very exciting. They could revolutionise the way type 2 diabetes is treated. This builds on the work into the underlying cause of the condition, so that we can target management effectively. Substantial weight loss results in reduced fat inside the liver and pancreas, allowing these organs to return to normal function. What we’re seeing … is that losing weight isn’t just linked to better management of type 2 diabetes: significant weight loss could actually result in lasting remission.” – Prof Roy Taylor, Newcastle University, lead researcher

This is huge! We now have the scientific community recognizing that diabetes can be reversed by diet. Nine out of 10 people in the trial who lost 15kg (33 lbs) or more put their type 2 diabetes into remission – no more insulin!

Restricted vs. Healthy

One thing to consider though is that reducing calories is not enough. It may be enough to reverse the worst aspects of a disease, but for those wanting to enjoy a body in complete homeostasis, toxins need to be eliminated and nutrition needs to be assimilated. We would bet anything that the one person out of the ten people who did not go into remission would have healed with the right diet. You are what you eat, and science is starting to see this, to an extent. New studies are regularly coming out about gut microbes, how diet effect them, and how toxins affect us. Scientists are not yet connecting the dots with how food can heal very well, so there is a lot more about what’s wrong with our diet than how to fix it. Scientists still may be a long way from realizing how powerful food can be for healing. If you want to reverse diabetes (or almost any chronic illness), check out Holistic Guide to Healing the Endocrine System and Balancing Our Hormones. It’s a journey, and it’s not easy to heal holistically. It’s a lifestyle change, a journey, a process involving more than just diet. But many have done it, and more and more people are waking up to the reality that we are in fact in control of our health.

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• Natural Diabetes Cure
• Foods That Contribute to Diabetes