FEATURED RESEARCH
Exciting new information is available for patients who have recovered from heart failure. Adding the amino acid L-arginine may help you correct the abnormal blood vessel function often seen with this condition and improve your ability to perform your daily activities. You and your healthcare professional can review the research referenced in "Supplement Add-On Helps Heart Failure Patients" and determine if this is something you should consider. We thank The Health Resource for bringing this to our attention.

FEATURED ISSUE
This is the time of year when people are urged to get their flu shots. Whether or not to get a flu shot came to a dramatic new dimension this year. There were numerous news stories in November revealing the presence of the mercury-laced preservative, thimerosal, in about 90% of the flu vaccine supply available in the U.S.

In 1999, agencies of the U.S. government called for the removal of thimerosal from vaccines. In 2001, the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that, "mercury in all of its forms is toxic to the fetus and children, and efforts should be made to reduce exposure to the extent possible to pregnant women and children as well as the general population." These recommendations came on the heels of recent studies that revealed new findings about the adverse neurological effects of mercury. With these concerns in mind, seven states have passed thimerosal bans in recent years: California, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, New York, and Washington. Parents who thought that all vaccines manufactured for U.S. children were thimerosal free. It were shocked to learn they had to hunt for the mercury-free Fluzone prefilled syringes, if they wanted to have a flu shot for their children without the worry of possible toxic damage.

If you wish to learn more about this issue, here are a few sites to get you started:
"Most Americans Surprised, Concerned that 90% of Flu Shots Contain the Toxin Mercury"
November 13, 2006, press release from Put Children First, a parent-led organization advocating vaccine safety

"Questions & Answers: Thimerosal-Containing Influenza Vaccine"
Department for Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

"Officials temporarily waive mercury-free flu vaccine"
The Mercury News, November 2, 2006

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
As 2006 draws to a close and spiritual holidays approach this is a great time to nurture the spiritual part of yourself. In the AHHA website collection of Self-Help Articles there is a sub-category, Spirituality. Take a few minutes to select one of these special articles to enrich your holiday season and set the tone for 2007.

FEATURED RESEARCH
Tinnitus is the perception of ringing, buzzing, roaring, or other noises in the ears or head when there is no external source of the noise. Most people suffering with tinnitus experience this "ringing in the ears" twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. While there does not seem to be a cure, there are a number of alternative treatment options that help to minimize the symptoms. Promising new research successfully using the supplement melatonin is reported in "Hope for Tinnitus Sufferers." We thank The Health Resource for bringing this to our attention.

FEATURED ISSUE
Did you know your smile has economic impact? Tooth whitening has become big business with Americans, who spend $2 billion a year for sparkling teeth. But there may be more than the financial cost. Many people who use over-the-counter whitening kits without talking to a dentist before or while using these products are not aware of the potential dangers. With even the mild over-the-counter treatments, it is common for the teeth to develop mild to moderate sensitivity. Dentists also report seeing other side effects that include gum irritation, bluish enamel, uneven whiteness, and--if the chemical manages to seep into a cracked tooth or an unfilled cavity--painful internal damage that can lead to a root canal. Similar reports have indicated that if the treatment bleach solution gets into the pulp (the nerve chamber) of the tooth through a crack or a filling, it can cause severe pain and require dental treatment.

If you are considering starting a tooth whitening program, even aware of potential side effects, it might be wise to become well informed about any ramifications for your personal situation before making a final decision. As you research this subject, you will find very conflicting information. Many sources claim that tooth whitening is perfectly safe, whereas others show research results that documented damage to the tooth enamel. Here are two Internet sources to get you started.

"Tooth Whitening Treatments Frequently Asked Questions" from the American Dental Association

"Tooth Whiteners Weaken Enamel: Study suggests surface-bleaching agents may be detrimental to teeth's nanomechanical properties" by Bethany Halford in Chemical & Engineering News

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
The upcoming holiday season will be an emotionally difficult time for many people, especially those who are dealing with an illness, grieving the recent death of a loved one, or adjusting to a major life change. Take a moment and send someone a caring message. Use our Get Well(ness) Messages.

DENTAL AMALGAM FILLINGS FOLLOW-UP
Last May we presented information on the issue of mercury amalgam tooth fillings. Due to the efforts of several U.S. Senators, the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is accepting studies and patient reports from doctors and personal stories from the general public regarding the impact of the mercury in dental amalgams. NOTE: The FDA deadline is November 9, 2006. Details about how you can participate are available in an article linked off the screen at www.iaomt.org/articledetails.cfm?artid=365.

FEATURED RESEARCH
As the season for colds and flu approaches, you may be interested in the numerous studies referenced in "Nature's cold and flu remedies for children...no antibiotics required" by Kerry Bone. This Australian herbal clinician cites research supporting immune enhancing uses of andrographis, echinacea, and elderberry. You and your family might wish to review this information with your family physician. This article appeared in the October, 2006, issue of Dr. Jonathan V. Wright's Nutrition & Healing newsletter. We thank Dr. Wright for alerting us to this information.

FEATURED ISSUE
Three hundred thousand children in the United States have been diagnosed with autism. In early October, 2006 the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced an upcoming study designed to find genetic and environmental factors that might contribute to autism. The research will involve 2,700 young children over a five-year period.

Why would this be an "issue"?

The National Autism Association, an organization of parents, is concerned that some significant potential causes of autism might not be included in this study. They point out that because the CDC promotes childhood vaccinations, it would have no motivation to explore vaccinations as a potential cause. "We don't trust them," say these parents.

More details can be found in "Research to explore causes of autism: 5-year study to follow 2,700 kids ages 2-5; national advocacy group is skeptical," a news story by Mike Stobbe, Associated Press.

The primary stated government reason for discounting the belief that vaccinations containing a mercury-based preservative might be a potential cause of autism is that there is no published research indicating a cause and effect. However, the abstract of the following French research seems to show improvement with heavy mental (mercury) removal. "Porphyrinuria in childhood autistic disorder: implications for environmental toxicity." by R. Nataf, C. Skorupka, L. Amet, A. Lam, A. Springbett, R. Lathe.

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
The most popular section of the AHHA website is the collection of Self-Help Articles. There are a number of search options, including a menu option for categories to guide you to the type of article most beneficial to you at this point of your journey toward better health.

You can also sign up to receive an e-mail once each week alerting you to the Featured Article of the Week. E-mail mail@ahha.org with your full name and e-mail address Ð referencing Featured Article.

FEATURED RESEARCH
It is refreshing to learn that natural substances are being included in university research in the fight against cancer. The Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center studied the possible anticancer mechanisms of curcumin, a component of the popular Indian curry spice, turmeric. While this is a long way from being part of an anti-cancer protocol, it is encouraging news. For details, review "Curcumin for Cancer". We thank the Natural Standards Research Collaboration for alerting us to this finding.

FEATURED ISSUE
CT scans are one of the most commonly performed procedures in diagnostic radiology. What many people are not aware of is that CT scans have the potential of exposing patients to unhealthy doses of the x-ray radiation the machines use to form images. In U.S. hospitals today, CT scanning accounts for about 15% of imaging procedures and 75% of radiation exposure. The average whole-body CT scan delivers 0.2 to 2.0 rads of radiation, depending on the size of the patient's body. (Studies of Japanese survivors of the US atomic attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II linked an increased risk of cancer to lifetime cumulative exposures of 5 to 20 rads.)

Currently, there are no federal or state regulations for acceptable radiation doses for specific CT examinations in the U.S. When it comes to using radiation for screening or diagnostic purposes, the key is to decide whether its use is justified, then optimize it. Unfortunately, body scans have become a health fad. Your local mall can have an unregulated boutique clinic where patients pay a few hundred dollars of their own money to get CT scans not for diagnosis, but for a general health screening.

Before you have any test, ask whether or not there is any radiation involved. (Many consent forms don't even mention radiation or its risks.) To help you make informed decisions, we offer you several Internet resources for your review.

The Control of Radiation Exposure from CT Scans
The Internet Journal of Radiology

Safety and Efficacy of Computed Tomography (CT): A Broad Perspective
EU and Energy Research

Full-Body CT Scan: Safe?
CBS News

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
AHHA members offer an interesting variety of self-help options. This month we feature options that offer you personal educational opportunities for self-improvement and life enrichment. Check out the Education-Personal category on the AHHA Organizational Member searchable database. There are online and in-person courses and seminars, plus publications. Which ones intrigue you?

FEATURED RESEARCH
If your mother or grandmother is balking at exercising, she might like this option. A Harvard Medical School study found that slow motion Tai Chi movements are more effective in improving fitness in elderly women than brisk walking. Tai Chi improves lower extremity strength, balance, and flexibility. For details, review "Tai Chi may be More Beneficial than Walking for Elderly Women." We thank the Natural Standards Research Collaboration for alerting us to this finding.

FEATURED ISSUE
With the growing national concern about obesity, half of all grocery shoppers are looking for products with reduced sugar. The food industry is responding with thousands of new no-sugar or low-sugar food products, including diet sodas, cereals, fruit juices, cookies, ice cream, bread, flavored milk, and even bottled water. However, parents are increasingly concerned about whether synthetic sweeteners are safe for their children. Here are some sites to review as you make this important dietary decision for your family.

In 1981 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aspartame for use in food products. See "Is aspartame safe?" From FDA Consumer May 1994; Updated December 2004

A number of website feature articles that report on research documenting the adverse effects from consuming aspartame. One is the Aspartame (NutraSweet) Toxicity Info Center.

Dr. Betty Martini's open letter to the FDA, "New Cancer Study Obligates FDA To Recall Aspartame" claims that 100 percent of unbiased independent studies show a connection between aspartame and brain tumors.

Artificial sweeteners are found under trade names, such as Aspartame, NutraSweet, Equal, Sweet N Low, and Splenda.

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
How many different healing modalities have you experienced along your healing journey? The almost thirty different modalities on our Practitioner Referral Sources list at offer you a few more options to consider. Most of these referral programs are with professional modality associations, so they are also an excellent resource for learning about their healing options.

FEATURED RESEARCH
If you are challenged with high cholesterol, you might find it interesting to know that more and more is being discovered about the factors that can contribute to this condition.

Diets high in saturated fat are responsible for about one in five cases of high serum cholesterol. High carbohydrate intake is responsible for about one in three cases. But what can you do if lowering saturated fats and carbs is not enough?

Japanese researchers think they may have found a missing piece of the cholesterol puzzle. They have discovered that small quantities of lead caused elevated serum cholesterols in experimental animals. You and your health professional might wish to review the related science explained in "The Hidden High Cholesterol Culprit You Might Not Be Looking For" which appeared in the July, 2006, issue of Dr. Jonathan V. Wright's Nutrition & Healing newsletter. We thank Dr. Wright for alerting us to this finding.

FEATURED HEALTH FREEDOM
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) has approved Senate Bill 3546, a measure to require manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to disclose all serious adverse event reports (AER) to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). AERs are defined as events involving death, hospitalization, disability, or birth defects. With bi-partisan support, this bill is expected to pass the Senate and House.

It is interesting that the dietary supplement industry supports the bill, while the majority of health freedom groups oppose it. Industry members appear to feel they have safe products, so "no problem." Health freedom groups, however, point out how this new legislation deals with supplements as drugs, not as food (their current status). Other precedents that could be set by this legislation might be used by anti-supplement groups to erode current consumer access to dietary supplements that is unique in the U.S.

Since it is difficult to locate information on this bill, we have used our network to compile a number of sources. You can review the opposing positions. If you wish to work to support or oppose this bill, many of these organizations have lobbying efforts supporting their positions.

PRO S 3546
National Nutritional Foods Association
"NNFA Statement on Adverse Event Reporting Legislation"

NPI Center
"Introduction of S 3546 The Dietary Supplement and Non-Prescription Drug Consumer Protection Act"

Citizens For Health
"Dietary supplements are safe. Senate Bill 3546 makes them even safer"

CON S 3546
American Association For Health Freedom
"The Dietary Supplement AER Bill - Do not support S 3546"

National Health Federation
"NHF Opposes S 3546"

Bill Sardi's Knowledge of Health
"Witch Hunt Begins For Dietary Supplements"

National Health Alliance
"AER = 'Trial Lawyer Enrichment Act'"

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
The AHHA booklet, Wellness From Within: The First Step, is a primer for understanding the power of your everyday choices to impact the quality of your well-being. This booklet is offered online so that people all over the world can benefit. Those in the U.S. can contact the AHHA office and request that a free copy is mailed to them.

FEATURED RESEARCH
Pain, no matter what the source, impacts quality of our life. Research highlighting the power of the mind-body connection may offer hope to some dealing with chest pain not caused by a heart condition or heartburn. For details, review "Hypnosis for Chest Pain" and ask your healthcare professional if this would be appropriate for you to incorporate into your health program. We thank the Natural Standards Research Collaboration for alerting us to this finding.

FEATURED HEALTH FREEDOM
On August 3, 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) faces a deadline for issuing final tolerance approval for 20 organophosphate and carbamate pesticides. Why should you be concerned? See the "The Audubon Guide to Home Pesticides" to read about an EPA Caution rating for these pesticides.

An article, "EPA SCIENTISTS PROTEST PENDING PESTICIDE APPROVALS Ñ Unacceptable Risk to Children and Political Pressure on Scientists Decried" by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), includes the statement "The scientists cite 'compelling evidence' which EPA leadership is choosing to ignore that these 'pesticides damage the developing nervous systems of fetuses, infants and children.' "

In a letter dated May 24, 2006, leaders of government employee organizations, representing 9,000 scientists, risk managers and other specialists, asked the EPA to either adopt maximum exposure protections for organophosphate and carbamate pesticides or take them off the market.

A Baltimore Chronicle & Sentinel article, "Groups Challenge EPA's 'Industry friendly' Pesticide Rules," includes the statement, "The tension between EPA's internal dissenters and the industry is mounting under a looming deadline for the scientific assessment of two similar classes of pesticides: organophosphates and carbamates. The assessments, mandated by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA), are intended to establish safe levels of human exposures. The EPA has been evaluating pesticides in the two groups for several years, and about 20 chemicals are still awaiting final decisions by an August 3 deadline."

If you want to register your comments, the EPA Public Participation Process is outlined at www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/public.htm.

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
Each week, AHHA posts a different Featured Article of the Week on the AHHA website home page. Many of you check in to see if this article from our archives of Self-Help Articles captures your interest. Starting June 19 you can have the article's title, author, and URL e-mailed to your In Box. To be included, just e-mail your full name and e-mail address to mail@ahha.org. In the Subject field put Featured Article. Only those who sign up will be on the distribution list for the notice, which will be sent out early each week. Another convenient free service from AHHA.

FEATURED RESEARCH
Imagine the equivalent of weight training for your lungs. A recent study in Brazil demonstrated the marked improvement in respiratory factors for people with heart failure and breathing difficulty when they used a simple breathing device. Even better, the results lasted months beyond the 12-week program. For details review Breathing Device Aids Patients with Heart Failure". We thank The Health Resource for bringing this to our attention.

FEATURED HEALTH FREEDOM
The issue of mercury amalgam tooth fillings became hot again when the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recently published study results claiming that children who got "silver" dental fillings containing the mercury amalgam showed no neuropsychological or neurobehavioral differences when compared with children who got fillings made of a polymer composite. See USA Today article "Mercury fillings safe, studies find".

The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, a group that promotes mercury-free dentistry and believes that mercury amalgam fillings can cause autism, long-term neurological damage, and Alzheimer's disease, disputed the findings reported in JAMA. The IAOMT website includes their scientific case against amalgam.

Who is right? Each group feels it has science to prove its point of view. Some nonscientific data seems to be generally against mercury amalgam fillings. In 1990 the World Health Organization determined that mercury fillings are the predominant source of human exposure to mercury. In 2003 a Congressional hearing in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California heard testimony from the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board that they had determined that 100 percent of the mercury contamination of the cityÕs sewage was from dental amalgams. They arrived at this conclusion when their sewage treatment plant experienced a 90 percent drop in mercury contamination within 30 days after dentists in the Bay Area were required to put mercury amalgam separators on their dental offices. In 2005 the "Mercury in Dental Fillings Disclosure and Prohibition Act" (HR4011) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. If this bill passes, after 2008 there will be no interstate commerce of mercury intended for use in dental fillings. The complete text of this bill is online at thomas.loc.gov using search option for HR 4011.

With the availability of composite fillings that are not only mercury-free but also aesthetically more attractive, the industry trend is the gradual phasing out of mercury amalgam fillings. For those who are against the use of the mercury amalgam fillings this is encouraging news. But these people are still concerned about the 70 million mercury amalgam fillings being implanted in the U.S. each year.

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
The Self-Help Tools list has a number of different categories of offerings by our AHHA Organizational Members. The diversity of resources is especially evident in the Services category. It is well worth your while to check out this impressive group of organizations and consider which one can enrich your life.

FEATURED RESEARCH
With the growing interest in using dietary supplements for health enhancement and prevention, and often treatment of disease, individuals and their healthcare professionals are becoming fairly well educated to consider interactions with other drugs, herbs and supplements. An issue that has not been given a lot of attention is that prolonged use of a dietary supplement might impact the body's use of other nutrients. The following is presented to alert you to the importance of having the benefit of complete, integrated healthcare information, checking what is known about both short term and long term use, and customizing for your unique situation.

A recent study, "Efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in osteoarthritis pain of the knee: A pilot clinical trial," by the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Tempe, AZ, found that MSM "improved symptoms of pain and physical function during the short intervention without major adverse events." Many who suffer from the pain of arthritis and don't want the side effects of the pharmaceutical approach have welcomed this information.

At the same time, a caution is voiced in "Clinical Tip 136" from the April, 2006, issue of Dr. Jonathan V. Wright's Clinical Nutrition & Healing. It is possible that the essential trace element molybdenum may be depleted by prolonged use of MSM. Molybdenum is used in the processing of sulfur, and MSM is 30 percent sulfur. For those taking MSM for a chronic condition, this is food for thought.

FEATURED HEALTH FREEDOM
The people of Massachusetts are going to be the guinea pigs in a new approach for providing access to health care for all. On April 12, 2006, Governor Mitt Romney signed a new regulation that will require everyone that state to have healthcare insurance. This approach for mandatory insurance coverage is similar to the requirement in most states to have automobile insurance.

Proponents, such as Families USA, which represents health care consumers, praise this Massachusetts plan as a "groundbreaking health reform legislation that will guarantee affordable health insurance coverage for 95 percent of the state's approximately 550,000 uninsured citizens within three years." See the article at www.familiesusa.org/.

The Institute for Health Freedom is very concerned, however, about loss of privacy when insurers and healthcare providers are required to submit patient data to a centralized clearinghouse. See articles at www.forhealthfreedom.org/Newsletter/HFWDisplay.php?id=20.

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
Holistic is becoming popular again. Even so, holistic, holistic health and holistic medicine are being defined in different ways by different people. The AHHA website offers "What is Holistic?" This section of the site helps to remove some of the confusion about holism with in-depth articles.

FOLLOW UP ON BIO-IDENTICAL HRT ISSUE
The FDA has extended until May 4,2006 the deadline for submitting comments. See our Special Update report for February 14, 2006 for details and FDA link.

FEATURED RESEARCH
The currently recommended daily intake level of 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B-12 should be more than doubled, according to a new Danish study. "Study Questions Vitamin B-12 Recommended Intake" notes the need for 6 microgram of B-12 to correct B-12 deficiency symptoms. We thank the Natural Standards Research Collaboration (http://naturalstandards.com) for alerting us to this finding.

FEATURED HEALTH FREEDOM
The controversy around the food labeling bill, HR Bill 4167: National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005, appears to be growing. The vote expected last week was unexpectedly postponed until March 8.

Critics of the bill include scores of consumer, health and environmental groups, as well as food safety experts. They believe this is the dismantling of vital food protection laws and the right of people to know what is in their food. Congress was bombarded with fifty thousand email letters and phone calls last week. Siding with consumers, a number of major newspapers also published editorials against HR 4167, while the attorneys general from 37 states sent a strong letter to Congress opposing the bill. But Congress is still poised to pass this bill.

Supporters of the bill argue that a single national standard for food safety is needed to avoid confusion for consumers and food producers, who complain about having to create different food labels for different states. These supporters include industry giants such as Nestle USA, the HJ Heinz Co., Kraft Foods and Sara Lee Corp., as well as supermarket chains and trade associations.

You can access the details of HR 4167 online.

The San Francisco Chronicle published the article "Battle opens on food labeling proposal. Lawmakers butt heads over plan to scrap tough state laws in favor of federal rules."

If you wish to influence the March 8 vote, you can phone the congressional switchboard (202) 224-3121 and have them connect you with the office of your representative.

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
Heart wrenching calls to the AHHA office remind us of the importance of letting people know about the AHHA resource list Health Information Search Services. The personal research services offered through these organizations often are the last hope for patients seeking treatment options for rare and debilitating diseases. Share this resource with anyone you know who is dealing with a life threatening condition or one seriously compromising his/her quality of life.

FEATURED RESEARCH
" Mayo Clinic Study Finds Acupuncture Relieves Symptoms of Fibromyalgia" documents the results when fifty patients with moderate to severe fibromyalgia, for whom previous treatments had not provide satisfactory relief, were treated with six session of acupuncture. Pain associated with fibromyalgia was reduced. In addition, disease-associated anxiety and fatigue were decreased. We thank The Health Resource for alerting us to this finding.

FEATURED HEALTH FREEDOM
Where but in America? Wyeth, the manufacturer of a synthetic drug with proven serious side effects, has filed a citizen petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) claiming that its natural equivalentÑwhich has a twenty-year safety record--is a public danger. And Wyeth has a chance of winning. This manufacturer of synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), appears to be claiming that compounding pharmacies that promote Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) are making unsubstantiated claims that are not backed by sufficient science. Apparently, the lack of significant adverse reactions over a couple of decades does not count. One wonders how a double blind study could be set up for a product that is customized for each patient by the physician and compounding pharmacy. Also, are there research funds for a product that cannot be patented? If Wyeth is successful, will women lose choice? Will those who wish to use the natural BHRT no longer find it available? That would leave synthetic HRT as their only option. And research has demonstrated that synthetic HRT has serious health risks.

The official government document section is "Docket: 2005P-0411 - Seeking FDA Actions to counter Flagrant Violations of the Law by Pharmacies Compounding Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy Drugs that Endanger Public Health"

For a different perspective review "Wyeth Asks FDA: Prohibit Bio-Identical Hormones"

If you're a doctor or a woman who's had a positive experience with BHRT and would like to submit comments to the FDA before the April 4, 2006 deadline, you can Click Here

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
More and more individuals are considering a career in alternative healthcare. In response to inquiries about training options, AHHA has created a section titled Career Considerations. This section includes leads for locating professional associations for the field selected and online sources for locating appropriate schools. Share this resource with your friends who may be contemplating a career change to healthcare.

FEATURED RESEARCH
Anyone dealing with squamous cell cancer, basal cell cancer, or actinic keratosis may want to be aware of the promising preliminary research results concerning a topical eggplant extract called BEC. You and your physician can check out the research referenced in the article "Researchers find a groundbreaking skin cancer cure" which appeared in the December 2005 issue of Dr. Jonathan V. Wright's Nutrition & Healing newsletter. We thank Dr. Wright for alerting us to this finding.

FEATURED HEALTH FREEDOM
Most U.S. government health and healing research is focused on allopathic treatment options. Those wanting to encourage government-funded research to prove the applicability and efficacy of alternative and complementary therapies now have an opportunity to influence the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This segment of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is accepting public input as research priorities are set for the next ten years. Details are available online, plus a link for making online public comments. Deadline is January 15, 2006.

FEATURED AHHA RESOURCE
AHHA has a distinctive collection of books, magazines and journals offered by our AHHA Organizational Members. Click here and use search category BOOKS/OTHER MEDIA. See what you can read to enrich your life.

CODEX UPDATE
Those of you tracking matters related to the Codex Guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Food Supplements will be interested to learn that a report is FINALLY available from the expert panel convened last May by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This panel was selected and supervised by The International Programme on Chemical Safety as the Joint FAO/WHO Technical Workshop on Nutrient Risk Assessment, 2-6 May 2005. You can review the official report, posted online as of January 13, 2006. It cites that public comments will be accepted through February 20, 2006. Evaluation of this document is expected to reveal how international trade standards will set "safe" upper limits for dietary supplement products. We will be tracking reactions from the supplement industry as to whether the protocol is considered reasonable or overly restrictive.