FM HealthWatch Treatment & Research News January 24, 2007
OUR MISSION "To empower patients to take control of their health by providing current research and treatment information, quality health products, community, and advocacy." more $2.5 Million Raised and Donated to Research. more
This Week's Highlights   · New report on pesticide susceptibility · Concept of activity 'pacing' explained · Role of infection in initiating CFS/FM · Perspective of an FM patient in Mexico · Trials of 'naturals' for depression multiply · Abstracts on FM, non-drug studies, more · FM Q & A and other letters · Bill for FM research - repeat in '07?
THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL NEW PRODUCTS L-TRYPTOPHAN - For improved sleep, mood support and to reduce stress ALCIS - Pain relief cream HEART RATE MONITOR - Accurate tracking during exercise FIBRONOL - Supports sleep FIBROBOOST - Supports sleep - Extra energy boost STEVIA EXTRACT - All-natural sweetener EZ DOSE PILL POUCHES - Zipper-sealed, durable FEELBRIGHTLIGHT - Full spectrum light for Seasonal Affective Disorder BOOKS - Research & information Informational DVD's The Joy of Nutrition An optimum nutrient food program I Remember Me An award-winning documentary film Fibromyalgia: Show Me Where It Hurts An invaluable educational tool This Week's Highest Rated BRAIN DMAE Phosphatidyl Choline DETOXIFICATION Guaifenesin FA Milk Thistle DIGESTION Pro-Dophilus With FOS Psyllium Husk ENERGY NADH Fatigued to Fantastic Mitochondria Ignite IMMUNE Moducare Lactoferrin Plus Transfer Factor Essentials MOOD 5-HTP St. John's Wort SAM-e PAIN Fibro Freedom ProEnzyme™ P SLEEP ZMA™ Valerian w/ Lemon Balm Most Popular for Energy Support Enada NADH	Founder's Corner Why All These Abstract Abstracts? As many readers have noted, abstracts of scientific and medical journal articles tend to be abstract. Often they offer a tantalizing lack of detail. Also, the language that researchers 'speak' can be hard for lay readers to interpret. Still, most of the doctors we met at the I.A.C.F.S. conference last week assured us our archive is their "go-to" site for the latest FM research. So we feel the job of seeking out these abstracts is worth the effort. This week, for example, a number of new abstracts report on non-drug research. In line with that, the studies we've included in Clinical Trial News are focused on recruiting for investigations involving natural or 'alternative' health support strategies. The term 'alternative' is often used to refer to approaches that may complement or avoid the use of pharmaceutical drugs. Keep checking our site for the latest research news. Your patient advocate, Rich Carson ProHealth Founder and CFS Patient Please click here to rate this Founder's Corner. Features Thinking of Going 'Organic' or 'Green'? New Research Provides Excellent Reasons to Do So Some individuals are as much as 50 times more susceptible to pesticides heavily used on food crops and common in homes, according to new research at Berkeley and the University of Washington.   more 'Pacing' to Stay Within a Beneficial Activity Envelope - the Facts What's pacing? It is an evidence-based strategy for physical activity "that will limit the number and severity of relapses and avoid at least some of the complications of inactivity," says Dutch expert Ellen Goudsmit. "Thousands of patients have found it useful for many years. And above all, it is unlikely to cause harm!"*   more The Role of Infection in Initiating ME/CFS "Studies have found that 10 percent to 15 percent of parvovirus B19 patients developed ME/CFS, and up to 60 percent developed Fibromyalgia. On standard testing, these patients appeared as if they had cleared the initiating infection effectively despite having persistent symptoms," writes Dr. David Bell, MD, an internationally recognized FM and CFS specialist. Do such infections go away after initiating a process?*   more Patient Perspective Meet FM Patient, Author, and American Expat Doug Bower Fibromyalgia patient Doug Bower is a much-published writer from Kansas now living in the center of Mexico, where he says two factors work to his benefit...   more Clinical Trial News Phase III Trial of Fish Oil-based Omega 3 Fatty Acids in Major Depression Following a trial of EPA now being written up, the next step, now recruiting, is "Safety and Effectiveness of Omega 3-Fatty Acids, EPA Versus DHA, for the Treatment of Major Depression."*   more Trial of SAM-e to Enhance Antidepressant Drug Benefit The Mass General Depression Clinical Research Program in Boston is recruiting patients taking antidepressant drugs yet still experiencing symptoms of depression - for a study of the food supplement SAMe's ability to enhance benefits.   more St. John's Wort vs. Standard Antidepressant for Minor Depression Feeling down or tired all day no matter how much sleep you get? Or more irritable than your usual self? You may be suited for a new NIH-funded study of the natural herb St. John's Wort vs. Celexa®.   more Mechanisms of Acupuncture Effect on FM Pain U. of Michigan Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center hopes to 'pin down' an acupuncture pain-relief mechanism via high-tech scans.   more FM Research Abstracts Non-Drug Studies Milk thistle may support improved glycemic profile in diabetes II Omega-3s "decrease anxiety feelings" in substance abuse-prone Evidence mounts omega-3s support improved mood Study of dietary oat beta-glucan and carb metabolism Research Focused on FM, Pain, Sleep, Mood, RLS Biofeedback for heart rate control useful FM treatment No FM-cancer association found in major study 'Steel' hospital gown alleviates FM pain Skin biopsy may be strong diagnostic for FM Heat (hyperthermia) therapy advised for FM rehab 'Nonpainful' RLS sensations subclinical form of pain How Neurontin® & Lyrica® may work for FM pain, anxiety Germany recognizes FM via dedicated medical coding "Novel anticonvulsants" combine sleep & mood benefit Revised measure for cognitive reaction to pain suggested Conflicting patient-MD expectations hinder outcomes Letters From Our Readers      Q & A Session FM and Genetics FM and Plantar Fasciitis About the D-Ribose Study To Tell or Not To Tell? FM & Relapsing-Remitting MS What Do the Stars Mean? Switching Newsletters Missing Newsletters      Comments and Suggestions A Hope Notebook What Works for Me The New Drug Research What FM Feels Like Educating One at a Time Consider Your Thyroid Please share your thoughts with us! FM in the News 2006 Bill for FM Research Support – Cleared from the Books H.R. 6214 – The Prevention, Awareness, and Research of Autoimmune Disease Act of 2006 – requested appropriations for research to increase understanding and awareness of FM & other autoimmune diseases. Introduced last fall, it was cleared from the books with the new session of Congress. What will it take to get a similar bill introduced?   more Weekly Inspiration A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother. - Anon Using Personal Power We have all been given special gifts...and they are to be used to help those around us. Our personal power is our experience, strength, and hope. It is our attitude that we project on others. It is our willingness to reach out to others. It is our ability to recognize that we are not gods. We are those who want to make a difference by using our personal powers...to help others. From Living With Chronic Pain One Day At A Time, by Mark Allan Zabawa About ImmuneSupport.com Published by ProHealth, Inc., ImmuneSupport.com is the Web's largest resource for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Since 1988, ProHealth has raised and donated over 2.5 million dollars to CFS and FM research and advocacy groups seeking a cure. We believe in "commerce with compassion." Every purchase made at ImmuneSupport.com funds research - as does every purchase made from ProHealth's Health Resource catalog. Visit ImmuneSupport.com If you have any comments, suggestions or ideas, please let us know. Include your full name if you agree that we might share your letter with other readers. Send Us Your Feedback
* Note: This article first appeared in last week's CFS Edition of CFS & FM Treatment & Research News (Jan 17, 2006)