Health Care Debate – What can be done about it?

Health Care Debate:  How to Control Costs and Insure everyone

Over the past few months, I have noticed a lot of people are talking on T.V., on public radio (www.NPR.org) , in movies, in the Senate, House of Representatives, the White House and in the community about health care reform, national health insurance and what can be done about it; how can we get health care to all our citizens and control costs.  There are people talking about it from many angles.  I’ve seen excellent viewpoints from sources as varied as movies, Food Inc (www.foodincmovie.com)  Sweet Misery (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6551291488524526735) , and Bananas (http://www.bananasthemovie.com/) and the former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine and retired M.D. Arnold Relman (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106470889)  as well as Jeff Bland, PhD lead scientist from Metagenics http://www.metagenics.com/pdf/publications/200903%20bland%20-%20reforming%20the%20us%20health%20care%20system.pdf and they all have very good ideas.

I think we need a multi-faceted approach, which includes all of these viewpoints which I’ll summarize below:
1.  Removing the Profit from healthcare – Insurance company CEO’s don’t need to make 100’s of millions of dollars a year.  Elizabeth Edwards has been quoted as saying that one year, out of every $700 spent on healthcare in the United States, $1 went to the CEO of United Health Care insurance company.  If you google “pay rate of health care CEO’s” you will see that each of these CEO’s make over $100 million / year.  We need to take this kind of profit out of the health care business.  Perhaps insurance companies need to go away as Dr. Relman believes.
2.  We need to quit poisoning our population; Estimates are that 21 million Americans now have type II diabetes (8% of the population) and many more have pre-diabetes.  The Centers for Disease Control,(CDC) estimates are that one in three children born in 2000 will be diabetic (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/14/eveningnews/main558728.shtml) . This is directly related to the food we eat.  The movies above describe how this happened and how we can reverse it.  If we don’t reverse it there is no way we can control health care costs, but more importantly we’ll be killing off our kids!  As a nation, we absolutely need to change the “food” we’re putting in our bodies.
3.   We need to change the way we treat the 80% of people who now see doctors for chronic diseases.  The current medical model does not work. The pharmaceutical industry spends over $5 billion dollars on advertising a year for medicine that at best controls some symptoms but does nothing to fix the problems. Chronic diseases are directly related to lifestyle and reversing these diseases has been done and written up in peer reviewed medical journals.  This is not new information.  This is known and well documented.  Many M.D.s and other health care practitioners are using these “Lifestyle Change Programs” to actually cure chronic diseases ranging from heart disease, diabetes, and auto-immune conditions.  You can read about this research at www.metagenics.com and there is a newsletter on the implications of diet and disease at http://www.theburnhamreview.com/Mission_Hills_Gluten.php

So there it is!  I find hope in the fact that these ideas are reaching the mainstream and ending up in a lot of people’s conversations and debates.  Please share your views and Vote with your $ for food, and healthcare decisions!

My best to you all

Ralph Havens, PT, OCS, IMTC
www.missionhillspt.com

Physical Therapist position available at Mission Hills Physical Therapy

Physical Therapist – Full time and Part time openings available in progressive outpatient manual therapy clinic.

Are you a Physical Therapist who is ready to take your skills and training to the next level?  Are you frustrated with difficult and chronic cases?  Do you want to be able to help…. Truly help clear patients of chronic conditions;

Conditions that have been un-helped with standard quality physical therapy?

When you hear the words “usual predictors of outcome” used to justify why a Fibromyalgia or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy or Multiple Sclerosis patient won’t get any better, do you ask yourself “is there anything else we can do?”  Do you want to learn how to help people actually heal and go on to lead normal pain-free lives even after dealing with chronic headaches, “failed low back syndrome,” or chronic arthritis for years?

We are looking for Physical Therapists who are excited to learn how to help solve difficult and chronic cases as well as fix up people with the usual orthopedic and neurological conditions.  We have a reputation in the community to do just that.  If you are searching for a way to make a difference, please look through our website and blog and email me or call us, and we can set up a time to talk about the position open here at Mission Hills Physical Therapy.  Below I’m including one success story of a patient with a condition who normally wouldn’t get much help and hadn’t until starting therapy with us and following our program.  Please read it and let me know what you think.

My best,

Ralph Havens, PT, OCS, IMTC

Ralph@missionhillspt.com

www.missionhillspt.com

619.543.1470

I can admit that in the past I have been sold snake oil. I have a whole cabinet full of “miracle cures” and another spilling over with various prescriptions from doctors.  I gave up on both a long time ago, especially about 3 years ago when my MS was constantly flaring up, each time robbing me of the use of my legs and landing me in the hospital for months.  Ralph and company were able to ease the pain in my lower back, which in the hospital required IV pain meds.  This was tremendous, but the most progress came 5 months ago when I eliminated gluten from my diet.  Ralph provided me with a wealth of information and research from highly regarded medical journals.  This eased my neuroscience-oriented mind, and the snake oil alarm in my head never went off, there were no red flags, and instead of the fake hope I’d experienced before, I felt real hope.

My life began 26 years ago, took a turn at 20 with my MS diagnosis, stalled completely 3 years ago, and began again 5 months ago.  I remember telling Ralph after being gluten free 2-3 months that I felt I had already made up for the 2 1/2 – 3 years I was in and out of the hospital.  Within a month of going gluten free, I knew something wonderful was happening – life was livable again, constant fatigue replaced by constant energy, and the spasticity in my legs I had experienced daily was gone.  Even my neurologist, who does not speak in non-pharmaceutical terms, could not find any trace of it.  His response to all of these positive changes after gluten-free: “You can’t argue with results like this!”.

Doctors and MS groups look at me with jaws dropped to the floor.  I make sure and tell them about having gone gluten-free. I see such a high likelihood for fast improvement that I recommend at least trying a gluten-free diet to all my friends with MS, other neurological problems, and even those who are healthy but say they “could be better.”  It can’t hurt to try, and you never know just how amazing the results might be.

E.J. April 2009

Yoga class at Mission Hills Physical Therapy

Hi everyone! Many of you know that we have been offering a beautiful yoga class at Mission Hills Physical Therapy on Sundays for the last few months. I am excited to share with you that we will be changing it to Tuesday evenings at 6:30. Mollie Kelton is an amazing instructor, and her class TRULY is for everyone, whether you have been practicing for years or have never practiced before! Class is only $10. Please bring your own mat if possible, and any other props you may need and have.
The address is 928 Fort Stockton Dr. suite #201 upstairs. Hope to see you there! The new days starts this Tuesday 6/16/09.
Be well!
Danielle Emhof, PT

Yogini Molly Kelton has been studying and practicing yoga for ten years.  Her teaching is informed by her studies of yoga, ayurveda, Sanskrit, as well as ongoing training with her beloved teacher, Yogarupa Rod Stryker.  Each of her classes is carefully designed to heal and empower you through classical and tantric yoga techniques, and a profound integration of mind, body, and breath.

Vinyasa Yoga

Tuesdays 6:30-7:45 pm

at Mission Hills Physical Therapy

928 Ft. Stockton Dr. Ste 201, San Diego, CA 92103

Only $10  All levels welcome!

www.sdyoga.blogspot.com
www.missionhillspt.com

Gluten free cooking class in San Diego Sept 1st 2009 Pacific Beach

Hi all!

there is a gluten free class at Great News in Pacific Beach / San Diego

here is their link for the class. Hope to see you all there!

http://great-news.com/class_schedule_sep.php?osCsid=642f7446aa8768b08443862be8467915

Great News! Pacific Plaza 1788 Garnet Avenue San Diego, CA 92109 (858) 270-1582 Toll Free 1-888-GR8-CHEF (1-888-478-2433)

Welcome To Great News!

Great News! Discount Cookware and Cooking School is located in San Diego, California.  We are pleased to offer high end, quality cookware at discounted prices, daily cooking classes in our state of the art cooking school and an online website with our cooking classes!  With our focus on each and every customer’s satisfaction, we strive to offer the highest level of service whether you’re in our store, cooking school or shopping online at www.discountcooking.com Store Hours: Monday-Friday 9:30am-9pm Saturday-Sunday 9:30am-6pm

A rare interview with Dr. Pang- Wisdom Healing Qi Gong

http://tr.im/ntSf A rare interview with Dr. Pang, originator of Wisdom Healing Qi Gong. For more information check out www.qifieldtherapy.com for classes in Wisdom Healing Qi Gong.

Nature as Last Resort

AN INTERVIEW WITH

Doctor Ming Pang

Huaxia Zhineng Qigong Training & Recovery Center

This article was published by Heaven and Earth Magazine in 1994

Gluten Sensitivity Newsletter – Research & Case Studies – References

The Gluten Sensitivity Newsletter:  Gluten Sensitivity-An Integrative Manual Therapy perspective is now in.  You can access it at http://theburnhamreview.com/Mission_Hills_Gluten.php

It features articles from leaders in the field including Thomas O’Bryan DC, CCN, Kimberly Burnham, PhD, and Sharon Giammatteo PT, PhD, IMTC.  There are case studies and success stories as well as a review of the research complete with medical journal references for further study.

Success stories include eye sensitivities, blood pressure, Multiple Sclerosis, arthritic pains, and ataxia conditions cleared up with a gluten free program.  For more information www.missionhillspt.com and www.kimberlyburnhamphd.com and www.centerIMT.com

Ralph Havens PT OCS IMTC

Why Nutrasweet (aspartame) is to be avoided at all costs

Hi everyone,  There is so much data now on why Nutrasweet (aspartame) is to be avoided, it’s amazing it is still on the market.  I found a blog of someone with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia who is going to get off Nutrasweet and see what changes she notices.  I would recommend watching the movie “sweet misery” http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7757697555859118501 is a documentary on how nutrasweet was developed and how the FDA pushed it through despite all research linking it to brain tumors and siezures.  It’s disturbing but if any of your friends or family members have neurological symptoms please get them off this stuff.

Here is the account of the woman trying to get off nutrasweet http://thegirlfromtheghetto.wordpress.com/2008/01/30/aspartame-poisoning-could-my-diet-coke-be-giving-me-fibromyalgia/

Hopefully she also sees the research on gluten sensitivity and it’s relationship to pain syndromes. www.missionhillspt.wordpress.com and http://theburnhamreview.com/Mission_Hills_Gluten.php

Ralph Havens, PT, OCS, IMTC

www.missionhillspt.com

Running in San Diego

Running in San Diego

Over the years I have run competitively and socially in San Diego with many different groups.  Currently I am running with a great group call www.runwithgreg.com

They offer group runs at relaxed paces from 7:00 minutes/mile to 10:00 minutes/mile mostly coastal san diego county.  One of the things I like about them is the way the pace always starts slowly 9:00 to 10:00 minutes/mile and then over the first couple of miles works into the various pace groups.

This works well for a variety of reasons:

1.  It allows the group to run together, no matter people’s pace level and visit for a couple of miles.

2.  It allows runner’s bodies to loosen up which prevents injury

3.  It trains the body to start slowly and end at faster paces; this works great as a training tool for runners wishing to race.

The Running Group ( runwithgreg.com) has been a great place for me to run, socialize and meet people from all walks of life and all running pace levels that I would not normally have met.  I am thankful to Greg and his commitment to running in San Diego over the years.  Many of the runs are run out of Movin Shoes Running Stores as well,  a great resource for runners www.movinshoes.com

Gluten free recipe for gluten free bread!

HI all

try these recipes for gluten free bread from a cool book we found!

enjoy!

http://getoffgluten.blogspot.com/

For a list of foods to eliminate to do the gluten free program check out the page from Dr. Tom Giammatteo, PT, DC, ND, IMT C at     http://missionhillspt.com/index.php?page=gluten_elimination

How a gluten free diet helped clear symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Here is a letter a patient wrote us with her experience using a gluten free diet to help her with symptoms related to Multiple Sclerosis.  Based on the medical literature we instituted a gluten free diet as part of this patient’s Integrative Manual Therapy program.  Her resutls were consistent with the results found in the medical literature.  For more information visit a great research site www.TheBurnhamReview.com and search for gluten sensitivity research.  After reading it, I would ask, “which Multiple Sclerosis patient are you not going to tell about a gluten free program?  More info can be found at our site www.missionhillspt.com and at www.metagenics.com/webinars ( go to page two and look for Dr. O’Bryan’s gluten sensitivity power point)

————————Here is E.J.’s story…
I can admit that in the past I have been sold snake oil. I have a whole cabinet full of “miracle cures” and another spilling over with various prescriptions from doctors.  I gave up on both a long time ago, especially about 3 years ago when my MS was constantly flaring up, each time robbing me of the use of my legs and landing me in the hospital for months.  Ralph and company were able to ease the pain in my lower back, which in the hospital required IV pain meds.  This was tremendous, but the most progress came 5 months ago when I eliminated gluten from my diet.  Ralph provided me with a wealth of information and research from highly regarded medical journals.  This eased my neuroscience-oriented mind, and the snake oil alarm in my head never went off, there were no red flags, and instead of the fake hope I’d experienced before, I felt real hope.

My life began 26 years ago, took a turn at 20 with my MS diagnosis, stalled completely 3 years ago, and began again 5 months ago.  I remember telling Ralph after being gluten free 2-3 months that I felt I had already made up for the 2 1/2 – 3 years I was in and out of the hospital.  Within a month of going gluten free, I knew something wonderful was happening – life was livable again, constant fatigue replaced by constant energy, and the spasticity in my legs I had experienced daily was gone.  Even my neurologist, who does not speak in non-pharmaceutical terms, could not find any trace of it.  His response to all of these positive changes after gluten-free: “You can’t argue with results like this!”.

Doctors and MS groups look at me with jaws dropped to the floor.  I make sure and tell them about having gone gluten-free. I see such a high likelihood for fast improvement that I recommend at least trying a gluten-free diet to all my friends with MS, other neurological problems, and even those who are healthy but say they “could be better.”  It can’t hurt to try, and you never know just how amazing the results might be.

E.J. April 2009