Vitamin C — A Game Changer in Treatment of Deadly Sepsis

Reposted from Dr. Mercola

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/07/10/vitamin-c-for-sepsis.aspx?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=facebookmercola_lead&utm_campaign=20170710_vitamin-c-for-sepsis

By Dr. Mercola
Each year, an estimated 1 million Americans get sepsis^1,2 and up to half of them die as a result.^3,4,5 Sepsis is a progressive disease process initiated by an aggressive, dysfunctional immune response to an infection in the bloodstream, which is why it's sometimes referred to as blood poisoning.
While illnesses such as bronchitis, pneumonia, strep throat, kidney infection or even localized infections can turn septic, sepsis is most commonly acquired in hospital settings.^6,7 Starting out with symptoms of infection, the condition can progress to septic shock, which may be lethal. Unless treated, sepsis can result in extremely low blood pressure that is unresponsive to fluid replacement, weakening of the heart and multiple-organ failure.
Unfortunately, treatment can be a considerable challenge, and is becoming even more so as drug-resistant infections become more prevalent. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, sepsis is the most expensive condition being treated in U.S. hospitals, costing more than $24 billion in 2014.⁸

Critical Care Doctor Discovers Inexpensive Cure for Sepsis

Earlier this year, news emerged about a critical care physician who claimed to have discovered a simple and inexpensive way to treat sepsis using intravenous (IV) vitamin C, thiamine (vitamin B-1) in combination with the steroid hydrocortisone^9,10 — a discovery that may save tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars each year.
Dr. Paul Marik, chief of pulmonary and critical care medicine at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in East Virginia, published a small retrospective before-after clinical study^11,12,13 showing that giving septic patients this simple IV cocktail for two days reduced mortality nearly fivefold, from 40 percent to 8.5 percent. Of the 50 patients treated, only four died, but none of them actually died from sepsis; they died from their underlying disease.
In all, Marik has treated more than 150 septic patients with this protocol so far, and only one has died from sepsis. In the featured video above, Marik discusses his study and the vitamin C protocol.
More than 50 medical centers around the U.S. have also started implementing the protocol, with similarly spectacular results. This should be cause for celebration but, as usual, there are detractors and skeptics saying Marik's study is little more than fodder for hyperbole.¹⁴ Many doctors are also weary of using such a novel treatment.¹⁵
As noted by Smithsonian: "For many doctors, Marik's protocol represents a dilemma. There seem to be no ill effects. Yet, there are also no randomized clinical trials. Should they embrace an untested treatment?"¹⁶ It's an ironic question, if you consider many conventional medical treatments are still experimental at best. Flawed trials often promise more than can be delivered, and it can sometimes take years or even decades before the mistake is rectified.
In this case, the chances of doing more harm than good are extremely low, so what is there to lose? Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where Marik works, has already made the protocol its standard of care for sepsis. The hospital president is considering making it standard of care in its other 12 hospitals as well.

"Marik and others enthusiastic about the treatment agree with skeptics who say blind, randomized clinical trials need to be done to validate the treatment's efficacy. However, they also say that the dramatic results so far mean doctors should embrace the treatment in the meantime — an unorthodox proposition, to say the least," Smithsonian writes.¹⁷

"During an interview in his office, Marik called up Dr. Joseph Varon, a pulmonologist and researcher at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. 'It does sound too good to be true,' Varon said over the phone. 'But my mortality rates have changed dramatically. It is unreal. Everything we have tried in the past didn't work. This works.'"

How Does the Treatment Work?

Vitamin C is well-known for its ability to prevent and treat infectious diseases. Previous research has shown it effectively lowers proinflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein.^18,19,20 Influenza,²¹ encephalitis and measles²² have all been successfully treated with high-dose vitamin C.
To investigate the mechanism of action for sepsis, Marik reached out to John Catravas, Ph.D., a pharmacology researcher at Old Dominion University. At Marik's request, Catravas performed an independent lab study, which confirmed the effectiveness of the treatment. Catravas cultured endothelial cells from lung tissue and then exposed them to endotoxins found in patients with sepsis.
Interestingly, vitamin C acts like the steroid hydrocortisone, yet when either vitamin C or the steroid were administered in isolation, nothing happened. When administered together, however, the infection was successfully eradicated and the cells were restored to normal.
The addition of thiamine is also important. Not only is thiamine required for metabolism of some of the metabolites of vitamin C, research has also shown many patients with sepsis are vitamin deficient, and when thiamine is given, it reduces the risk of renal failure and mortality.
Studies have also shown thiamine can be helpful for a long list of diseases and disorders, including mitochondrial disorders,²³ heart failure,²⁴ delirium,²⁵ thyroid fatigue and Hashimoto's (a thyroid autoimmune disorder).²⁶ These and other health effects may help explain why thiamine works so well in conjunction with vitamin C and hydrocortisone for sepsis. In short, the key Marik intuitively stumbled upon was the right combination of ingredients.

Nationwide Trial Underway

Dr. Craig Coopersmith, a leading sepsis researcher at Emory University School of Medicine, is now planning a multicenter trial to put Marik's vitamin C protocol to the test across the nation. "If this is validated, this would be the single biggest breakthrough in sepsis care in my lifetime," he told Smithsonian.²⁷
Results from his field trial cannot come soon enough, as current best practices are ineffective at best. For example, recent research shows the standard calling for rapid and substantial infusion of IV fluids have no effect on survival rates,²⁸ and previous guidelines calling for the use of a specific drug turned out to do more harm than good.²⁹ In short, there are few good alternatives available, making Marik's treatment protocol all the more crucial.
Sepsis kills more than breast cancer, colon cancer and AIDS combined, and here's a treatment that is not only profoundly effective, but also has no side effects, is inexpensive, readily available and simple to administer. Patients and doctors really have nothing to lose by trying it, but to make it standard of care across the U.S., more evidence is needed.

Potential Contraindication

While vitamin C and thiamine administration is incredibly safe, it may be contraindicated if you happen to be glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficient, which is a genetic disorder.³⁰ G6PD is an enzyme your red blood cells need to maintain membrane integrity. High-dose IV vitamin C is a strong prooxidant, and giving a prooxidant to a G6PD-deficient individual can cause their red blood cells to rupture, which could have disastrous consequences.
Fortunately, G6PC deficiency is relatively uncommon, and can be tested for. People of Mediterranean and African descent are at greater risk of being G6PC deficient. Worldwide, G6PD deficiency is thought to affect 400 million individuals, and in the U.S. an estimated 1 in 10 African-American males have it.³¹

Vitamin C and Antibiotics — A Winning Combo Against Cancer Stem Cells

Studies have also shown vitamin C can be used as an adjunct to cancer therapy. Vitamin C is selectively cytotoxic to cancer cells by generating hydrogen peroxide when administered intravenously in high doses, and recent research suggests vitamin C in combination with antibiotics helps kill cancer stem cells — cancer cells responsible for metastasis of lethal tumors.
Here, researchers at the University of Salford in the U.K. used the antibiotic Doxycycline, followed by IV vitamin C and, again, it's all about the combination. It's well-known that that cancer cells can survive chemotherapy and develop resistance to the drug. The study in question was designed to determine how this occurs.
They suspected the answer cold be found in metabolically flexible cancer cells — in other words, cells capable of switching from one fuel source to another. Science Daily reports:³²

"The researchers say their method offers a new explanation for how to prevent cancer cells from becoming treatment-resistant and how combinations therapies can be developed to overcome drug resistance. Professor Michael Lisanti, who designed the study, explained … 'Thus, when the drug treatment reduces the availability of a particular nutrient, the flexible cancer cells can feed themselves with an alternative energy source.'

This new combination approach prevents cancer cells from changing their diet (metabolically inflexible), and effectively starves them, by preventing them from using any other available types of biofuels.

The team … added Doxycycline in ever increasing doses over a three-month period, to induce metabolic inflexibility. The result was to leave the cancer cells … severely attenuated and depleted, so that they would be much more susceptible to starvation, by a second metabolic "punch."

First, the researchers inhibited the tumor cell mitochondria, by restricting the cancer cells only to glucose as a fuel source; then, they took away their glucose, effectively starving the cancer cells to death. 'In this scenario, vitamin C behaves as an inhibitor of glycolysis, which fuels energy production in mitochondria, the 'powerhouse' of the cell,' explained co-author Dr. Federica Sotgia."

Vitamin C Is an Excellent Emergency Kit Staple

Vitamin C by itself outperformed 2-Deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG, a glycolytic inhibitor³³) by as much as 10 times when it came to preventing cancer cell growth. When combined with an antibiotic, the treatment is nearly 100 times more effective. Best of all, while antibiotics do have health risks (since they decimate your gut microbiome), antibiotics and vitamin C are far safer than most cancer drugs, dramatically reducing a patient's risk of adverse treatment effects.
The team also identified eight additional products that can be used in lieu of vitamin C, including berberine — a natural plant compound shown to work as well as metformin for diabetes. As noted by Lisanti, "This is further evidence that vitamin C and other nontoxic compounds may have a role to play in the fight against cancer."
Indeed, while I do not recommend taking high doses of vitamin C on a daily basis, I'm absolutely convinced it is a key staple that belongs in everyone's home emergency kit. In cases of acute illness, I recommend taking 2 to 3 grams of vitamin C per HOUR until you feel better. Note that most people will get loose stools with conventional oral vitamin C, which is why the vitamin C should be liposomal. This prevents the loose stools and provides blood levels similar to IV vitamin C without the expense or inconvenience.
In my experience, this high dose liposomal C every hour will typically reverse acute illnesses within 24 hours or so. Just make sure it is liposomal vitamin C. I always travel with a bottle of this and regularly give it away to clinicians I see who have come down with an acute infection.
For general health, it's fairly easy to get sufficient amounts of vitamin C from food, so supplements are usually not necessary. I grow acerola cherries, which are particularly high in vitamin C. Each cherry provides about 80 mg of vitamin C. I will sometimes eat up to 100 cherries a day, giving me about 8 grams of vitamin C — far above the recommended daily intake of 90 mg/day.
Still, if I were to become ill, I would not hesitate to take high doses of vitamin C, including the use of IV vitamin C if the situation were sufficiently dire — although I would start with hourly high dose liposomal C as I think it would work just as well, and only progress to IV if the high dose liposomal C was not working. In the case of sepsis, I think using IV vitamin C with thiamine and hydrocortisone makes a world of sense, especially since the risks are virtually nonexistent.

Common Sense Strategies to Reduce Your Risk of Sepsis

With sepsis affecting more than a million Americans each year, it's important to be aware of its signs, symptoms and risks. Part of what makes it so deadly is that people typically do not suspect it, and the longer you wait to treat it, the deadlier it gets.³⁴ Even health care workers can miss the signs and delay treatment. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you're at higher risk for sepsis if you have:

• Chronic disease. A vast majority — 7 out of 10 — of people who develop sepsis have some kind of chronic health condition. Those with diabetes, lung, kidney or liver disease tend to be particularly susceptible to infection, which raises the risk.
• Weakened immune system, AIDS or cancer.
• Recently spent time in a hospital, nursing home or other health care facility, as exposure to infection-causing bacteria is common in these places.

While health care workers have a responsibility to prevent infections that could potentially turn septic and to educate patients about warning signs of sepsis, you can lower your own risk by:

• Promptly treating urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are the second most common type of infection in the body, sending more than 8 million people to their health care providers every year in the U.S. alone,³⁵ and one-quarter of sepsis cases are related to urinary tract infections.
Conventional treatment typically involves antibiotics, but research shows 90 percent of UTIs can be successfully treated with D-Mannose, a naturally occurring sugar that's closely related to glucose. To learn more, see "D-Mannose for UTI Prevention Validated in a Clinical Trial."
• Properly clean skin wounds. About 1 in 10 sepsis cases are due to skin infections, so always take the time to properly clean and care for wounds and scrapes. Wash the wound with mild soap and water to clean out dirt and debris, then cover with a sterile bandage. Diabetics should follow good foot care to avoid dangerous foot infections.
• Avoid infections in hospitals. When visiting a health care facility, be sure to wash your own hands, and remind doctors and nurses to wash theirs (and/or change gloves) before touching you or any equipment being used on you.
If you have to undergo a colonoscopy or other testing using a flexible medical scope, remember to call and ask how they clean their scopes and what kind of cleaning solution they use. If the answer is glutaraldehyde (brand name Cidex), find another hospital or clinic — one that uses peracetic acid. This preliminary legwork will significantly decrease your risk of contracting an infection from a contaminated scope.

7 Health Benefits of Cannabis Oil

Reposted from Food Matters

http://www.foodmatters.com/article/7-health-benefits-of-cannabis-oil?utm_source=fmsocial&utm_medium=mercola&utm_content=mercola

Cannabis Sativa is a natural herb that has its origins in Central Asia. Commonly known as “cannabis” or “marijuana”, it has been used by traditional cultures for many thousands of years to treat health conditions. Cannabis products are derived from the parts of the cannabis sativa plant that contain high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - the cannabinoid most commonly known for its psychoactive properties. For this reason, cannabis products are often shrouded in controversy and heavily regulated in many countries around the world.

During recent decades there has been a concerted global push for the legalization of cannabis-derived products and their introduction into conventional medical treatment. So what benefits can this ancient herb provide and how might it be used to treat common ailments in the 21st century?

1. Stress & Anxiety

In a busy modern society, stress has risen to prominence as one of our most substantial health risks. Our ancestors experienced stress in short bursts, in times of excitement or danger, such as while pursuing prey or running from predators. Conversely, we have imposed upon ourselves an almost ever-present form of stress through a combination of many different lifestyle and dietary factors. Conventional prescription medications for chronic stress and anxiety are dangerous, while most natural alternatives are often quite ineffective. Enter, cannabis oil.
A study published in 2013 found that treatment with cannabinoids in the wake of some form of traumatic or stressful experience might help to control a subject's emotional responses. Researchers discovered that cannabinoids could be effective in minimizing stress receptors in the hippocampus - the part of the brain responsible for these emotional responses.
A more recent review which was published in 2015 observed that cannabis therapies were also effective in reducing stress and restlessness in military veterans who suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

These studies provide promising grounds for the use of cannabis oil in treating stress and anxiety.

2. Asthma

For thousands of years, cannabis has been used to treat respiratory ailments in traditional Chinese and Indian cultures. Thanks to its natural anti-inflammatory properties and analgesic effects - including an ability to dilate the bronchial tubes, allowing a better flow of oxygen - cannabis oil might be an effective natural solution for the millions of people worldwide who currently suffer from asthma.
In the 1970s there were several studies carried out which investigated the bronchodilatory impacts of cannabis on people suffering from asthma. Many of the subjects involved showed very positive reactions to the treatment.

3. Heart Health

Cannabis oil contains antioxidant properties that could provide beneficial treatment for heart-related ailments.
Animal studies have demonstrated that treatment with cannabis oil may prevent some cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and strokes. A 2014 British research team found that the results of these animal studies were also applicable to human heart conditions. They demonstrated that cannabinoids could cause the blood vessels to relax and dilate which allowed for improved circulation and reduced blood pressure.

4. Pain Relief

One of the most significant traditional uses of the cannabis plant was to ease pain, allowing a more comfortable state for healing. This application extends back thousands of years; however, there is now new evidence that cannabis products can be effective in alleviating discomfort by hindering neural transmissions in the body’s pain pathways. They also have the potential to ease most forms of inflammation, which is why many cancer patients choose to take them while undergoing chemotherapy.
A Canadian study which was published in 2010 demonstrated that cannabis could be used to treat those who were suffering from chronic pain. The study involved 23 adult subjects who were experiencing neuropathic pain as a result of surgery or trauma. Over the 2-week duration, subjects were selected at random and treated with cannabis in 4 different levels of potency. The results demonstrated that when taken 3 times each day, cannabis was able to significantly decrease the severity of pain, as well as improve sleeping patterns.

5. Skin Protection

Cannabis oil can be applied topically to promote healthy skin appearance. When used in this way, the oil can help stimulate the shedding of older skin cells and encourage the growth of new ones to replace them. It can also assist in the production of lipids, which help to combat chronic skin conditions including acne and psoriasis. Additionally, thanks to its ability to reduce stress, cannabis oil can help prevent some types of skin diseases that break out during times of anxiety such as eczema or rosacea.

6. Seizures

There is some evidence beginning to emerge from small-scale studies and anecdotal reports that cannabis oil might be effective in preventing seizures and could potentially become a treatment for epilepsy in the future.
Unfortunately, there is not enough evidence at this stage to warrant commercial use for these ailments and reviews of studies published so far have been unable to reach a decisive conclusion.

7. Cancer

Cancer is perhaps the most controversial disease in recorded history, with many alternative practitioners claiming that natural cures already exist. Understandably, there is a substantial amount of excitement surrounding the potential for cannabis oil to be used in cancer treatment.
Scientists have discovered that some cannabinoids have a variety of positive effects under laboratory conditions, including:

• Triggering the death of cancer cells through apoptosis
• Preventing the division of cancer cells
• Preventing new blood vessels from becoming tumors
• Reducing the risk of cancer cells spreading through the body and penetrating healthy neighboring tissue.

Although it is not yet commercially recognized as a cure, there is strong evidence to suggest that cannabis products can have very positive effects on the healing process for those suffering from cancer.

This bath pulls toxins out of the body; improves muscle and nerve function, reduces inflammation and improves blood flow

Reposted from Healthy Holistic Living

http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/bath-pulls-toxins-body-improves-muscle-nerve-function-reduces-inflammation-improves-blood-flow.html?t=DM

Epsom salts have been used by many different cultures for hundreds of years. They have a number of different beneficial properties and are used in gardening, household cleaning and detoxifying the body. These salts are very inexpensive and can be purchased at bulk discounts in garden centers nearly everywhere. Using Epsom salt baths is an advanced detoxification strategy that has remarkable health benefits.

Epsom salts are named for a bitter saline spring located at Epsom in Surrey, England. Epsom is different than traditional salts in that it is actually a naturally occurring pure mineral compound of magnesium and sulfate. These minerals have very powerful health benefits that can enhance the detoxification capabilities of the body.

How an Epsom salt bath works

Magnesium and sulfate are both readily absorbed through the skin and into the body’s bloodstream. The skin is a highly porous membrane that both takes in minerals and eliminates toxins every day. Using a powerful mineral base such as Epsom salts in a bathwater medium creates a process called reverse osmosis. This process pulls salt and harmful toxins out of the body and allows the magnesium and sulfates to enter into the body.

Magnesium plays a critical role in over 325 enzymes, helps to improve muscle and nerve function, reduces inflammation and improves blood flow and oxygenation throughout the body. Sulfates are necessary building blocks for healthy joints, skin and nervous tissue. Epsom salts replenish the body’s magnesium levels and sulfates. This combination helps to flush toxins from the body and helps build key protein molecules in the brain tissue and joints.
The use of regular Epsom salt baths has been shown to improve the symptoms of many health conditions including athlete’s foot, gout, toenail fungus, sprains, bruises and muscle soreness. It is also good for anyone dealing with chronic disease or chronic pain to do regular Epsom baths to help detoxify and de-inflame while improving mineral and sulfur balance in the body.

Contraindications to Epsom baths would be if you are pregnant, dehydrated or have open wounds or burns on your skin. Individuals who are suffering from a cardiovascular disease should always consult with a natural health physician who is familiar with the health benefits of Epsom salt baths before starting.

How to take an Epsom salt bath

The first step is to schedule yourself at least 40 minutes, as you need about 20 minutes to remove the toxins, and for the second 20 minutes, the body absorbs the minerals in the bath water.
Fill up your bath with warm water. As an added step, having a water filtration system in your house is great for reducing toxic chlorine, fluoride, dioxins and heavy metals, but if your home doesn’t have one (they can be on the pricey side), regular water works just as well.  Add in the Epsom salts in the following amounts:

Children under 60 lbs: Add 1/2 cup of salts to a standard size bath
Individuals between 60-100 lbs: Add 1 cup of salts to a standard size bath
Individuals between 100-150 lbs: Add 1 1/2 cup of salts to a standard size bath
Individuals between 150-200 lbs: Add 2 cups of salts to a standard size bath
For every 50lbs larger – add in an additional 1/2 cup of salts.

Additional strategies to apply with an Epsom salt bath

Adding in a 1/2 cup of olive oil is also very good for the skin, as the polyphenols soak into the skin and give extra antioxidant benefits. Adding ginger or cayenne can increase your heat levels, which will help you to sweat out toxins. You can add anywhere from 1 tbsp to 1/2 a cup to stimulate sweating, and these herbs are loaded with antioxidants that will enhance the detoxification process as well.

Do not use soap with an Epsom salt bath, as it will interfere with the action of the minerals and the detoxification process. Try to rest for an hour or two afterward unless you have arthritic joints, in which case you will want to stay active as much as possible to prevent congestion in the joints.

Source

Jockers, D., Dr. (2013, November 2). The remarkable health benefits of Epsom salt baths. Retrieved from http://www.naturalnews.com/042753_Epsom_salt_baths_remarkable_health_benefits_detoxificatin_technique.html

The Oil That Removes Uric Acid From the Blood, Cures Anxiety and Stop Alcohol and Tobacco Cravings

Reposted from Daily Tips

http://daily-tips.info/oil-removes-uric-acid-blood-cures-anxiety-stops-alcohol-cigarette-cravings/

In the days of Christopher Columbus, the men were pretty obsessed with spice. They longed for it and basically traveled around the world in a fruitless effort to find new seasonings. But of all men obsessed with sensual spice, no one had been so misled as Christopher Columbus, who went overseas in search of spices such as cinnamon, turmeric and ginger. However, a spice that looked especially was pepper!
Although pepper is quite negligent these days, it is the highest days of the spice with black pepper which was used as currency! It is high time people started to look at this differently spice because it really has a lot to offer. Pepper, especially autumn oil pepper offers a wide range of surprising health benefits.

Health benefits from essential pepper oil

Vigorous oil pepper offers numerous corrective properties, including laxative, carminative, antibacterial, expectorant, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antiseptic, stimulant, antispasmodic, rufifacientno, dijaforetichno, febrifuge and many others.
Good for stomach: It increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, which in turn improves digestion. Healthy digestion is essential to prevent colic, constipation and diarrhea. Black pepper also prevents formation of intestinal gas and promote urination and sweating, which helps to remove toxic substances from the body.
Weight loss: outer layer of pepper stimulates the breakdown of fat cells, making it ideal for blasting fat and transferring weight naturally.
Skin health: Pepper helps to cure vitiligo, a condition that causes areas of the skin become white. It is scientifically proven that Piperine present in the pepper stimulates the production of pigment.
Respiratory relief: Pepper relieves nasal congestion and sinusitis due to its ability to dissolve mucus and phlegm in the respiratory tract.

Antibacterial Activity: Antibacterial properties of pepper helps in the fight against insect bites and infections. Regular consumption of this spice cleans arteries, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.
Antioxidant activity: Its antioxidant properties help prevent or repair damage by free radicals, which in turn protects against liver problems, cardiovascular disease and even cancer.
Neurological health: Piperine, one of the main compounds of pepper, was found to reduce the cognitive defect and damage the memory.
The benefits of the essential oils of black pepper in a large extent depend on the way of consuming. It can be swallowed, inhaled or can be applied locally. Read more for more detailed information about the three uses of essential oil of black pepper and benefits that are attributed to each of them, respectively.

Oral

When swallowed, as it adds a BBQ sauce or steak, the essential oil of black pepper provides sekikviterpen, powerful antioxidants that are known to promote sweating and urination, two ways in which the body eliminates toxins. This oil also increases bile in the stomach, which helps break down food and ensure healthy digestion.

Aromatic

While the essential oils of black pepper is mostly known for its ability to relax the physical body also relaxes the mind. When inhaled, often used with aromatic oils like lavender and juniper helps to ease mental stress and help people cope with stress by smoking cessation.

Topically

Ultimately, the use of pepper oil, along with carrier oil, helps to relax muscles and relieve cramps and pulls. Its properties antispazmozni mitigate spasms, while its antioxidant properties removing uric acid from the blood, making it useful for people suffering from gout, arthritis and rheumatism.

Source:
Naturallovepage

Frankincense: The mind-blowing uses of this ancient oil

Reposted from Healthy Holistic Living

http://www.healthy-holistic-living.com/frankincense-oil-uses.html?t=DM

Frankincense oil has been used for thousands of years as a traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Since Biblical times, this ancient medicine has been known for its expectorant, antiseptic, anti-neurotic and even anti-cancer properties. Due to the boswellic acids, it contains, Frankincense oil also packs a potent anti-inflammatory punch—which is great news when you consider the fact that inflammation is a factor in nearly every sickness or disease.                        

If it sounds like Frankincense oil is some sort of miracle potion, you’re right. There’s a reason frankincense was gifted to baby Jesus by the wise men and why it’s been used continuously in aromatherapy and other healing practices since then. And no matter what the current state of your health is, it’s likely that frankincense can give you a much-needed boost. Here are my five favorite ways.

5 Frankincense Oil Uses that Can Boost Your Health

1. Relieves Gastrointestinal Discomfort

One of the first Frankincense oil uses is that it can help to relieve digestive distress such as gas, constipation, stomach aches and irritable bowel syndrome. A study published in the European Journal of Medical Research evaluated the effectiveness of frankincense in treating the symptoms of ulcerative colitis and found that taking 350 milligrams of frankincense oil three times a day over a period of six weeks was effective in inducing remission in 80 percent of patients.
Researchers also point out that the effects of frankincense are similar to sulfasalazine, a chemical drug that is commonly used to treat irritable bowel disease. Frankincense can also help speed up the digestion of food, similar to digestive enzymes, and cause your entire digestive system to operate more efficiently.

2. Supports the Respiratory System

In traditional medicine, frankincense oil uses and treats respiratory conditions such as coughs, bronchitis, and asthma though its use in steam inhalations, baths, and massages. In a study published in the European Journal of Medical Research, patients with chronic bronchial asthma were treated with 300 milligrams of frankincense three times daily for a six-week period.
70 percent of patients noticed an obvious improvement of physical symptoms of asthma, including difficulty breathing, hissing lung sound and the number of attacks. As a result, researchers concluded that frankincense played a definite role in the treatment of bronchial asthma.

3. Soothes Arthritic Pain

Thanks to the anti-inflammatory properties mentioned earlier, frankincense oil inhibits the production of the main inflammatory molecules that are associated with conditions like arthritis, and it can also be useful in helping to prevent the breakdown of cartilage tissue.

In fact, the first two pillars of Ayurveda (the 5,000-year-old healing system of ancient India) describe the anti-arthritic activity of frankincense extracts. Studies have shown that, in contrast to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), which are well known to cause side effects including accelerated joint damage, increased risk of heart failure and gastrointestinal damage, the boswellic acids in frankincense have been shown to be just as effective, but without the side effects.
This means that people don’t have to take their chances with the dangers of NSAIDS when trying to find an all-natural treatment for arthritis. To use frankincense to relieve the symptoms of arthritis, apply 2-3 drops topically to the area of pain. If you have sensitive skin, dilute frankincense with a carrier oil like coconut, and then apply the mixture to your skin. You can also add 5-10 drops of frankincense to a warm bath to soothe muscle and joint pain.

4. Serves As A Natural Oral Hygiene Product

One of the other Frankincense oil uses is that it works as an antiseptic agent, so it’s an excellent tool for oral hygiene. Adding frankincense to your toothpaste or rubbing 1-2 drops into the gums can help prevent dental health issues like tooth decay, bad breath, cavities and oral infections. Studies show that due to the anti-inflammatory effects of the extracts of frankincense, it is effective against plaque-induced gingivitis, a common form of gum disease that causes redness, irritation, and swelling.

5. Helps to Fight Cancer and Deal with Chemotherapy Side Effects

Frankincense oil is valued for its ability to help fight cancer cells, including breast, brain, colon, pancreatic, prostate and stomach cancers. Research shows that frankincense oil activates genes that are responsible for cell cycle arrest, cell growth suppression and apoptosis (cell death) in cancer cells.
Frankincense also appears to distinguish cancer from normal cells, as shown in a study in which frankincense oil-suppressed cell viability in cancer cells of the bladder without causing the breakdown of DNA, which is a hallmark of apoptosis. Frankincense oil fights cancer and reduces cancer symptoms by keeping inflammation at bay, significantly boosting the immune system and causing the proliferation of white blood cells, which are the body’s primary defense team. 

When it comes to your health, these five frankincense oil uses are just the beginning of its capabilities. You can also use the oil to fight infections, improve anxiety and heal skin issues like acne and scarring. But remember: If you are using frankincense oil internally, you must ensure that it is organic, 100 percent pure (with no added fillers or preservatives), therapeutic grade and purchased from a reliable and trustworthy company.

Disclaimer: Do not use essential oils internally unless properly trained in the safety issues of doing so, or under the supervision of a licensed aromatherapist. Specific advice should be sought about use of essential oils (topical, aromatherapy, and internal use) for children, babies, and pregnant women. https://www.naha.org/explore-aromatherapy/safety 

How to Prevent Hearing Loss and Improve Your Hearing Through Nutrition

Reposted from Dr. Mercola

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2016/12/05/nutrients-protect-improve-hearing.aspx?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=facebookmercola_ranart-ths&utm_campaign=20170705_nutrients-protect-improve-hearing

By Dr. Mercola
You're probably aware that certain nutrients can support optimal vision, but did you know your hearing may benefit from certain foods as well? If you have trouble hearing, or notice that your hearing is not as good as it used to be, your diet (and/or additional supplementation) may hold the answer.
In fact, nutritional imbalances are increasingly thought to be a causative factor in hearing loss.¹ Age-related hearing loss is actually not due to any kind of mechanical dysfunction in your ear. Rather it's how your brain processes information that results in reduced hearing.
Furthermore, it's your brain's ability to provide proper feedback to your ear, by filtering out unwanted information, that declines when you reach your 40s and 50s. Without this filtering system, you're more likely to be overcome by a mass of information that is difficult to sort out.
The good news is age-related hearing loss may be reversible. Tinnitus, which is typically caused by noise-induced damage, may also be greatly improved, as can sudden loss of hearing.

Nutrients That Protect and Improve Hearing

Among the nutrients found to be most beneficial for protecting and improving hearing are:^2,3,4,5,6,7

• Carotenoids, especially astaxanthin and vitamin A
• Folate
• Zinc
• Magnesium⁸

These nutrients support hearing in a number of ways, including:

• Protecting against oxidative stress in the cochlea
• Preventing free radical damage
• Improving blood flow, thereby reducing cochlear damage related to a compromised vascular system
• Improving homocysteine metabolism

The support for vitamin A is mixed. In one large study that included data from more than 65,500 women, no correlation was found between vitamin A intake and risk for hearing loss.⁹ However, a number of other studies have indeed found a positive correlation. As reported by Weston A. Price:¹⁰

"A 1984 European study reported a 5 to 15 decibel improvement in patients with age-related hearing loss when given vitamins A and E. Other researchers reported that vitamin A deficiency results in a decline in the number of sensory cells in the nose, tongue and inner ear.

A 1993 study reported in Science found that vitamin A can stimulate the regeneration of mammalian auditory hair cells. In 2009, Japanese researchers found that adults with the highest blood serum levels of vitamin A and carotenoids have the lowest risk for hearing loss.

And, in 2014, researchers determined that vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy, especially during the early stages of fetal development 'may predispose offspring to inner ear malformations and sensorial hearing loss.'"

Folate May Improve Tinnitus

For noise-induced tinnitus, which is characterized by a chronic or near-chronic ringing in the ears, folate (vitamin B9), has been shown to be beneficial. Folate also lowers your homocysteine, and having a high blood level of homocysteine has been linked to age-related hearing loss.^11,12
As a general rule, the ideal way to raise your folate levels is to eat plenty of fresh, raw and organic leafy green vegetables. Folic acid is the synthetic form typically found in supplements.
There is good reason to consider getting your folate from food rather than folic acid supplements. In order for folic acid to be of use to your body, it must first be activated into its biologically active form — L-5-MTHF. This is the form that is able to cross the blood-brain barrier.
It's been estimated that early half of all adults have difficulty converting folic acid into the bioactive form because of a genetic reduction in enzyme activity. For this reason, if you take a B-vitamin supplement, make sure it contains natural folate rather than synthetic folic acid. Children seem to convert folic acid more easily.
Asparagus, spinach, turnip greens and broccoli are all good sources of folate, as are beans, including lentils and garbanzo beans.

Zinc for Sudden Hearing Loss

Research has shown zinc may be useful for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). SSNHL — a sudden, unexplained loss of hearing — is typically treated with high-dose steroids, even though steroid treatment is controversial and evidence to support their efficacy is limited.
The good news is that 47 to 63 percent of those affected end up recovering most or all of their hearing.¹³ While the cause for SSNHL is unknown, one theory is that a viral infection or immunologic disease is involved. This may help explain the high rate of recovery, and why zinc appears to be so beneficial for this condition.
Zinc has anti-viral properties, and studies have shown it can prevent common cold viruses from replicating or attaching to your nasal membranes. Zinc also has immune-boosting properties, allowing your body to mount a stronger first response at the onset of a viral infection.
In one study,¹⁴ 66 SSNHL patients were randomly divided into two groups; half received corticosteroid treatment while the other half received oral zinc gluconate plus corticosteroid treatment. Serum zinc levels were ascertained at the outset and end of the study.
Those receiving zinc experienced significantly larger gains in hearing gain and a greater percentage of recovery. According to the authors:

"There was a significant correlation between serum zinc level changes and posttreatment hearing thresholds by correlation analysis, as well as between changes of serum zinc levels and percentage of recovery in the zinc group.

Zinc supplementation may enhance the hearing recovery of SSNHL patients. Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may help reduce the oxidative stress of the cochlea in SSNHL, implying a new direction in the treatment of this disease."

A Well-Balanced Diet Is the Best Source of Zinc

Any time you isolate one mineral and ingest it independently of others, you run the risk of creating an imbalance. This is certainly true of zinc, and taking zinc indiscriminately can be quite problematic. Excess zinc has been shown to:

• Interfere with your body's ability to absorb other minerals, especially copper, which may lead to anemia
• Raise the risk of prostate cancer in men¹⁵
• Induce nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for zinc is:

• 11 milligrams (mg) per day for adult men
• 8 mg for women (If you are lactating or pregnant, you need about 3 mg more)
• 5 mg for 4- to 8-year-olds
• 8 mg for 9- to 13-year-olds
• 3 mg for infants

Anything over 50 mg is thought to be excessive. To be on the safe side, focus on getting your zinc from food. Besides protein-rich foods like grass-fed beef and seafood, other dietary sources of zinc include pumpkin seeds, tahini (ground sesame seeds), cashews, almonds, crimini mushrooms, spinach, sea vegetables and cheddar cheese.
Oysters top the list of zinc-rich foods, with anywhere from 16 to 182 mg of zinc per 100-gram serving, followed by liver, which has 12 mg of zinc per 100 grams. It appears zinc is better absorbed from animal sources than plant sources, so if you are serious about increasing your zinc intake, consider adding more organic grass-fed beef or liver to your diet.

Intravenous Magnesium May Also Improve Sudden Hearing Loss

Intravenous magnesium has also been shown to improve SSNHL. In one study,¹⁶ 48 percent of SSNHL patients achieved recovery after receiving intravenous magnesium in combination with carbogen inhalation¹⁷ (a mixture of carbon dioxide and oxygen gas). Another 27 percent experienced significant improvement.
Factors that reduced the effectiveness of the treatment included vestibular symptoms (patients who had vertigo) and delaying treatment for more than eight days after onset.

Increasing NT3 Production Restored Hearing in Mice

Two years ago, researchers looking at ways to restore hearing lost due to noise came upon an interesting finding. By increasing the production of a protein called neurotrophin-3 (NT3), they were able to reverse hearing loss in mice that had been partially deafened by loud noise.
As it turns out, NT3 plays a key role in the communication occurring between your ears and your brain. NT3 helps establish so-called ribbon synapses that link the hair cells in your inner ear to nerve cells in your brain. When exposed to extremely loud noise, these ribbon synapses are damaged, resulting in the loss of hearing.
Normal aging can also damage your ribbon synapses, so NT3 may counteract normal age-related hearing loss as well. To boost production of NT3, the researchers used conditional gene recombination. As explained by Medical News Today:¹⁸

"This allows researchers to activate genes in particular cells by administering a drug that prompts the cells to 'read' additional copies of a gene that have been inserted into them. For this study, the team used the technique to activate additional NT3 genes that had been introduced to the supporting cells of the inner ear in mice that had been partially deafened by loud noise.

The drug tamoxifen was introduced to the supporting cells in the inner ear, which prompted them to produce extra NT3 protein … The researchers found the mice that had experienced boosted NT3 production regained their hearing over a 2-week period, compared with mice that had not had additional NT3 production …

[T]hey now plan to … identify drugs that produce the same effect as the protein, offering the potential to restore hearing loss in humans. The researchers note that the gene therapy technique used in this study has the potential to work in humans, but that a drug-based method would be 'simpler' and a drug could be repeatedly administered for as long as it takes for hearing to be restored."

Astaxanthin Raises NT3 Expression

While researchers are looking for a drug solution to raise NT3, a Chinese study suggests astaxanthin could be used for this purpose.¹⁹ Astaxanthin, which is part of the carotenoid family, is believed to be one of the most potent antioxidants nature has to offer.
It's FAR more potent than beta-carotene, alpha-tocopherol, lycopene and lutein, for example, and exhibits very strong free radical scavenging activity that protects your cells, organs and body tissues from oxidative damage. It's also a powerful anti-inflammatory and is able to cross both the blood-brain barrier and the blood-retinal barrier.
Indeed, astaxanthin has been shown to have potent benefits for brain and eye health, and may be beneficial for your hearing as well, thanks to this NT3-boosting ability. The study in question looked at astaxanthin's effect on NT3 expression in rats with compressive spinal cord injury, as NT3 has been shown to increase the growth of spinal cord neurons as well. According to the authors, astaxanthin was able to "significantly promote the expression of NT3."
There are only two main sources of natural astaxanthin — the microalgae that produce it (Haematococcus pluvialis), and the sea creatures that consume the algae, such as salmon, shellfish and krill. If you decide to give astaxanthin a try, I recommend starting with 2 mg per day.
If you are on a krill oil supplement, take that into consideration; different krill products have different concentrations of astaxanthin, so check your label. While it's unclear how much you'd need to improve your hearing, doses of 8 to 10 mg a day are typically recommended if you're trying to improve your eye health.

Boosting BDNF May Also Improve Your Hearing

Earlier research has also shown that, in addition to NT3, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) also plays an important role in the development and survival of auditory neurons in your brain. One 1996 study²⁰ found that loss of auditory hair cells and auditory neurons can be prevented by therapies that boost either NT3 or BDNF.
Interestingly, one lifestyle factor that naturally boosts BDNF is exercise. Part of what makes exercise so effective for preventing cognitive decline is related to a boost in BDNF. It's intriguing to speculate whether exercise may also help prevent hearing loss through this mechanism.

What's the Best Way to Protect Your Hearing?

Worldwide, 360 million people have moderate to severe hearing loss due to various causes, from noise or infectious disease to the use of certain drugs and aging. It's estimated that half of these cases of hearing loss are avoidable.²¹ This includes cases of hidden hearing loss or noise-induced hearing loss. Of course, protecting yourself from loud noises in the first place is prevention 101. The following recommendations can help protect your hearing and avoid hearing loss:

✓ Turn down the volume on personal audio devices	✓ Try a decibel meter app for your smartphone, which will flash a warning if the volume is turned up to a potentially damaging level	✓ Wear earplugs when you visit noisy venues, and if you work in a noisy environment, be sure to wear ear protection at all times
✓ Use carefully fitted noise-canceling earphones/headphones, which may allow you to listen comfortably at a lower volume	✓ Limit the amount of time you spend engaged in noisy activities	✓ Take regular listening breaks when using personal audio devices
✓ Restrict the daily use of personal audio devices to less than one hour	✓ If you live in a very noisy area, you may want to consider moving. If that's not an option, consider adding acoustical tile to your ceiling and walls to buffer the noise. Double-paneled windows, insulation, heavy curtains and rugs can also help	✓ Use sound-blocking headphones to eliminate occasional sound disturbances such as that from traffic or lawnmowers. Also wear ear protection when using your lawnmower or leaf blower

Aside from that, eating a healthy, varied diet of real food can go a long way toward protecting against age-related hearing. And, even if you've already lost some degree of hearing, you may be able to recover some of it by optimizing your intake of carotenoids, especially astaxanthin, vitamin A, folate, zinc and magnesium.

Are Americans Really Getting Too Much Vitamin D?

Reposted from Dr. Mercola

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/07/03/too-much-vitamin-d.aspx?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=facebookmercola_lead&utm_campaign=20170703_too-much-vitamin-d

By Dr. Mercola
Over the past couple of decades, tens of thousands of studies have evaluated the benefits of vitamin D, linking low blood levels to a whole host of chronic health conditions. In fact, this site was one of the leaders helping to catalyze interest in vitamin D over 15 years ago. Today, many doctors have finally caught on and are taking vitamin D seriously; testing their patients and recommending supplementation when necessary. The progress made makes the present backlash all the more shocking and disappointing.
"Many Americans Taking Too Much Vitamin D," Reuters recently announced.¹ "More people than ever are taking way too much vitamin D," Popular Science declared, adding, "You may have a deficiency, but overdosing isn't the answer."² ABC News warned its viewers that taking more than 4,000 international units (IUs) of vitamin D is "far above safe levels," and could potentially cause heart disease.³ Ditto for Consumer Affairs⁴ and many others.^5,6
Where is this coming from? If you've followed the progression of vitamin D science, you will be aware of the fact that recommended vitamin D levels — and the dosages typically needed to achieve those levels if you're not getting regular sun exposure — have dramatically risen over the years.
Researchers have also pointed out a basic mathematical flaw that led to vitamin D recommendations being underestimated by a factor of 10. Unfortunately, the study now being promoted by the media takes none of these things into consideration, instead promulgating decades' old fallacies.

Are Americans Taking Too Much Vitamin D?

According to the featured study,⁷ nearly 20 percent of American adults are taking supplemental vitamin D, and many are taking "excessively high doses" — amounts linked to "an increased risk of fractures, falls, kidney stones and certain cancers" — even an increased risk of death from all causes.⁸
An "excessively high dose," the study warns, is anything over 4,000 IUs a day, adding that this is the maximum recommended dosage, and that anything higher than this may result in dangerous side effects. Senior author Pamela Lutsey, public health researcher at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, told Reuters:

"Vitamin D is essential for bone metabolism, as it helps the body absorb calcium and maintain appropriate concentrations of calcium and phosphate in the blood. Excessive intake of vitamin D can, however, be harmful, as it can cause over absorption of calcium. Excess blood calcium can, in turn, lead to detrimental deposition of calcium in soft tissues, such as the heart and kidneys."

Reuters does note that the study was "not a controlled experiment designed to examine the risks and benefits of varying amounts of vitamin D supplementation." Unfortunately, that important piece of information is likely to get lost in the fearmongering, no matter how flawed the conclusions.
For starters, the study's authors assume the vitamin D dosage recommended by the National Academy of Medicine (NAM; formerly the Institute of Medicine, IOM) is scientifically substantiated. As it turns out, it is not, and dedicated vitamin D researchers have for a long time urged NAM to update its recommendation, as it is based on flawed math.

Flawed Math Vastly Underestimates Vitamin D Need

In this video, Keith Baggerly, Ph.D., explains the key problems with respect to NAM’s stance on vitamin D requirements. You can also read his report here.  NAM (formerly IOM) chose 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) of serum concentration of 25-hydroxy vitamin D as an adequate level for bone health, and to maintain a level of 20 ng/mL, NAM says you need to take 600 IUs a day up to age 70, and 800 IUs if you’re over 70. However, both of these measures are too low due to a mathematical error.
Using the same raw data, and correcting the math, you get an estimate of about 30 ng/mL as an adequate level for bone health, and given the logarithmic nature of the dose response curve for vitamin D, increasing the target serum level by 50 percent may require increasing the RDI in IUs by several times. 
In 2014, two investigators from the University of Edmonton published a paper⁹ that explicitly showed NAM had made a calculation error in defining the intake needed to reach and maintain 20 ng/mL. Had it been calculated correctly, the RDI would have been at least 10 times greater than what was publically posted.
Importantly, 30 ng/mL is merely indicated for bone health; it may not be sufficient for general health or diseases prevention. When studying a native African tribe, the physiological levels were found to be in the 40 to 60 ng/mL range, which is the range suggested by GrassrootsHealth’s panel of experts for general health.  As explained by the late Dr. Robert Heaney in a previous interview (included below for your convenience):

"The [RDI], as I think most of us know, is the intake that is reckoned to be necessary to meet the nutritional need of 97.5 percent of the population … How much is enough? The [IOM, now NAM] said 600 IUs was enough. But what's very clear is that 600 IUs would not get 97.5 percent of the population above 20 ng/mL. That's what the Edmonton investigators showed.

As a matter of fact … as many as half of the people getting 600 IUs a day wouldn't get up to 20 ng/mL … The Edmonton investigators calculated a number of 8,895 IUs per day, using the same set of studies on which the IOM had based its calculation ... When I was able to access the GrassrootsHealth (GRH) data, a completely different set from the one used by the IOM, we could directly calculate the intake needed …

That's because, in the GRH database, we know exactly how much of an increase in 25-hydroxy D the participants got on whatever dose they were taking. Our calculation showed that about 3,800 IUs per day, in addition to everything they were already getting [from sun and food], would have been necessary to get 97.5 percent of that population to 20 ng/mL.

Factoring in the basal intake in the GRH population, we showed that you need about 7,000 IUs per day in order to get 97.5 percent above 20 ng/mL. That's very close to the figure that the Edmonton investigators had used: 8,895 [IUs]."

The public health implications are tremendous. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) has created a statistical panel to review NAM’s calculations. This panel has now completed its review, but the results have not yet been made public. It is imperative that the panel’s results be published as soon as possible, especially in light of the current misinformation being disseminated, suggesting Americans may be taking dangerously high levels of vitamin D, when in fact most are not getting nearly enough.

Heaney would know what he was talking about, seeing how he was one of the leading, most well-recognized vitamin D researchers in the world. Up until his death he was also the research director of GrassrootsHealth, which is compiling data from a number of population-based studies like the D*Action project.
Trained as a clinical endocrinologist, Heaney spent a large part of the last 50 years of his life doing clinical research, most of it in the field of vitamin D, working on quantifying the vitamin D economy. This includes defining:

• How much vitamin D is necessary to reach a certain effect
• How large of an effect you might get at a particular dosage
• How much vitamin D you make in your skin in response to sunlight
• How long it lasts

Heaney and colleagues challenged NAM's vitamin D recommendation,¹⁰ warning the RDI underestimates need by a factor of 10. Most vitamin D experts also agree that a serum level of 20 ng/mL is too low for optimal health, which means the requirement for most people is even higher than that.
Moreover, any public guidance on vitamin D really should be based on your blood level, not a daily dosage, because the dosage response from one person to the next can vary significantly. As noted in a 2015 study evaluating the response to vitamin D supplementation:¹¹

"In response to a given dose of vitamin D, the effect on 25(OH)D concentration differs between individuals … For this review, a comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify those factors and to explore their significance in relation to circulating 25(OH)D response to vitamin D supplementation …

Response to vitamin D supplementation can be explained by several environmental and demographic factors. Recently, Zittermann et al. (2014) published a systematic review concerning the importance of body weight for the dose-response relationship with circulating 25(OH)D.

The authors demonstrated that 34.5 percent of variation in circulating 25(OH)D was explained by body weight, followed by type of supplement (D2 or D3) (9.8 percent), age (3.7 percent), calcium intake (2.4 percent) and basal 25(OH)D concentrations (1.9 percent), leaving approximately 50 percent of the variations to unknown factors."

One such unknown factor could be related to differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPS), a common genetic variation. At any rate, the only way to ensure you're taking a dose that is appropriate for you is to test your blood level, which should be between 40 and 60 ng/mL year-round.
Research suggests potential toxicity does not occur until you reach a level of about 200 ng/mL, and no evidence of toxicity has been found in trials using dosages of 10,000 IUs a day^12,13 — a far cry from the recommended maximum of 4,000 IUs a day.

What Is an Ideal Vitamin D Level?

Based on the accumulated data collected and research done by GrassrootsHealth, a vitamin D level of 40 ng/mL is a more appropriate minimum level. To prevent chronic disease and optimize health, a level between 40 and 60 ng/mL appears to be ideal. According to Heaney, evidence shows that 20 ng/mL is not even adequate for the prevention of osteomalacia.

"The point is the [IOM, now NAM] is dead wrong; not because it chose the wrong number, but because it made a mathematical mistake. They miscalculated, which is really kind of embarrassing if you think about it. Somebody didn't check the work," Heaney says.

"Now, having made that mistake, bureaucrats being bureaucrats, they're unlikely to want to change. They're not going to say, 'Oops, we made a mistake. Here is the right answer.' They seem to say, 'We are not wrong, [and] if no federal agency asks to have it reviewed, it could be 10 years from now before anybody ever looks at it again.'"

Lutsey's study is a perfect example of why NAM needs to rectify its mistake. We cannot move forward when researchers are making assumptions based on flawed recommendations. That Lutsey was unaware of this mathematical error just goes to show that scientists cannot keep up with all the relevant papers being published relating to vitamin D. Lutsey also ignores the many studies showing higher vitamin D levels in fact correlate with improved health outcomes and a lower risk of all-cause mortality, not higher risks.

The Interplay of Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium and Vitamin K2

Lutsey points out that excessive vitamin D may cause over absorption of calcium, which in turn may result in calcium deposits in your heart and kidneys. Indeed, it is important to maintain not only the proper balance of vitamin D and calcium, but also magnesium and vitamin K2. Lack of balance between these four nutrients is why calcium supplements have become associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and why some experience symptoms of "vitamin D toxicity."
I use quotation marks here, because the problem is not so much excess vitamin D as it is a lack of vitamin K2. Part of the explanation for these adverse side effects is that vitamin K2 keeps calcium in its appropriate place. If you're K2 deficient, added calcium can cause more problems than it solves, by accumulating in the wrong places. Similarly, taking megadoses of vitamin D supplements without sufficient amounts of K2 can lead to inappropriate calcification, which is what Lutsey is alluding to.
While the optimal ratios between vitamin D and vitamin K2 have yet to be established, Dr. Kate Rheaume-Bleue (whom I've interviewed on this topic) suggests that for every 1,000 IUs of vitamin D you take, you may benefit from about 100 micrograms of K2, and perhaps as much as 150 to 200 micrograms (mcg).
Maintaining an appropriate calcium-to-magnesium ratio is also important, as magnesium helps keep calcium in your cells so they can function better. Historically, mankind ate a diet with a calcium-magnesium ratio of 1-to-1,¹⁴ but Americans tend to have a higher calcium-to-magnesium ratio in their diet, averaging about 3.5-to-1.
Magnesium and vitamin K2 also complement each other, as magnesium helps lower blood pressure, which is an important component of heart disease. So, all in all, anytime you're taking any of the following: magnesium, calcium, vitamin D3 or vitamin D2, you need to take all the others into consideration as well, since these all work synergistically with each other.

Discouraging Vitamin D Supplementation Is Inadvisable

So, to recap:

✓ The best way to optimize your vitamin D levels is to expose enough of your skin for long enough periods to increase your vitamin D levels so they are between 40 and 60 ng/mL. If you cannot get adequate sun exposure, then it would be wise to use oral vitamin D3 in the dosage recommended below	✓ Current RDI for oral vitamin D underestimates need by a factor of 10 due to a simple mathematical error. Correcting this error would result in an RDI of 6,000 IUs, and 8,000 IUs if you're over 70
✓ Ideal dosage can only be determined through blood testing, as dosage response to supplemental vitamin D varies widely from one person to the next	✓ You need a blood level of at least 40 ng/mL to significantly impact your risk of chronic disease, including heart disease, cancer and all-cause mortality
✓ No toxicity has been found in trials using 10,000 IUs per day of vitamin D, and toxicity does not become a concern until you reach a level of about 200 ng/mL	✓ The risk of calcification is ameliorated by taking vitamin D supplements with vitamin K2 and balancing your calcium and magnesium ratios

Considering this, the notion that many Americans are endangering their health by taking in excess of 4,000 IUs of vitamin D per day is unreasonable at best. Research shows higher vitamin D levels can help prevent and/or treat:

✓ Dry eye syndromes15,16 and macular degeneration17,18

✓ Autoimmune diseases

✓ Neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis19,20

✓ Gastrointestinal diseases and related cancers21

✓ Infectious diseases, including influenza and HIV22,23

✓ Inflammatory rheumatic diseases24

✓ Neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease25,26 and epilepsy In one study,27 epileptics given a one-time megadose of vitamin D3, ranging from 40,000 IUs all the way up to 200,000 IUs, followed by a daily dose of 2,000 to 2,600 IUs a day for three months, to bring each individual's vitamin D status to at least 30 ng/ml, resulted in significant improvements. Ten out of 13 had a decrease in the number of seizures, five of which experienced more than a 50 percent reduction. Overall, the group had a 40 percent reduction in the number of seizures

✓ Lupus According to researchers in Cairo,28 most patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have some level of vitamin D deficiency, defined as a level of 10 ng/mL or less, or insufficiency, a level between 10 and 30 ng/mL

✓ Depression A vitamin D level below 20 ng/mL may raise your risk for depression by as much as 85 percent, compared to having a vitamin D level greater than 30 ng/mL

✓ Pregnancy complications Optimizing your vitamin D during pregnancy is crucial not only for your own health, but also for the short- and long-term health of your child.29 Studies30 reveal you need a vitamin D level above 40 ng/mL to protect your baby from serious complications such as premature delivery and preeclampsia, and studies have confirmed there's a lifelong impact of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy — ranging from childhood asthma,31,32 colds and flu, dental cavities, diabetes and even strokes and cardiovascular disease33,34 in later life

✓ Cancer Studies indicate a dosage range of 1,100 to 4,000 IUs a day and a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration of 60 to 80 ng/mL may be needed to reduce cancer risk. One 2011 study35 led by vitamin D experts Drs. Cedric Garland and Heaney found the supplemental dose ensuring 97.5 percent of the study population achieved a vitamin D blood level of at least 40 ng/mL was 9,600 IU/day. It also concluded that intake of up to 40,000 IUs per day is unlikely to result in vitamin D toxicity. Vitamin D also helps improve health outcomes for cancer patients. A 2009 study36 showed cancer-free survival during four years of follow-up was 77 percent higher among patients receiving calcium and vitamin D supplements compared to those receiving a placebo. Here, the minimum year-round blood level of vitamin D required to prevent breast and colorectal cancers was 40 to 60 ng/mL. According to the authors, "The time has arrived for nationally coordinated action to substantially increase intake of vitamin D and calcium." Breast37 and prostate38,39 cancers are just two examples where low vitamin D also renders you more vulnerable to more aggressive forms of the disease. Recent research40 has also found that low vitamin D levels are associated with more severe peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients

✓ Falls, fractures, dental health and more A 2006 review41 looking at vitamin D intakes and health outcomes such as bone mineral density, dental health, risk of falls, fractures and colorectal cancer, found "the most advantageous serum concentrations of 25(OH)D begin at 30 ng/mL, and the best are between 36 to 40 ng/mL"

✓ Obesity Research42 has shown vitamin D supplementation (4,000 IUs/day) combined with resistance training helps decrease your waist-to-hip ratio — a measurement that is far better at determining your risk for type 2 diabetes and heart disease than BMI

✓ Diabetes Abdominal obesity in combination with a low vitamin D level has also been shown to "synergistically influence" your risk of insulin resistance.43 According to this study, 47 percent of the increased odds of insulin resistance can be explained by the interaction between insufficient vitamin D levels and a high BMI

✓ All-cause mortality A meta-analysis44 of 42 randomized controlled trials found supplemental vitamin D significantly reduced mortality from all causes when taken for a minimum of three years

Vitamin D and Omega-3 — Two Crucial Nutrients for Optimal Health

Considering there are well over 30,000 studies on vitamin D, and vitamin D receptors have been found in virtually all bodily tissues, from your brain to your bones, the above list is far from complete. The main point is that your risk of experiencing adverse effects from vitamin D supplementation are slim, and the notion that people are endangering their health by taking 4,000 IUs or more of vitamin D3 per day is not supported by a majority of the evidence.
On the contrary, vitamin D experts are becoming increasingly convinced that an ideal vitamin D blood level is somewhere between 40 and 60 ng/mL, and the most appropriate dosage is whatever dosage will put you within that range. For some, that may be 2,000 IUs a day; for others it may be 10,000 IUs.
I don't know ANY single physical factor that could improve your health more than understanding and finally applying what we now know about vitamin D. Getting your blood levels tested and making sure your vitamin D levels are in the optimal range is especially important, no matter what your age is, or where you live.
GrassrootsHealth has now released a consumer-sponsored research kit that includes both vitamin D and omega-3. This kit is part of the D*Action + Omega-3 Project, and you can get it either from my online store or directly from GrassrootsHealth. To learn more about this project, see their FAQ page.
Vitamin D and omega-3 are two of the most important nutrients your body needs to maintain optimal health, and the only way to evaluate your status is to test them. GrassrootsHealth D*Action + Omega-3 Project is the largest project in the world that allows scientific researchers to study the links between these nutrients, and participating in the project is an inexpensive way to take control of your health and help advance science at the same time.