Spectral Analysis of REM Sleep EEG in Boys With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Gingras M A, Labrosse M, Chevrier E, Lageix P, Guay M C, Braun C M J, Godbout R Hôp. Rivière-des-Prairies, Université de Montréal, Université du Québec à Montréal, Canada

Introduction: EEG studies performed in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) during waking unsystematically point toward abnormalities in frontal, temporal, parietal as well as occipital regions. In order to control for some of the methodological shortcomings of previous studies, we recorded the EEG of ADHD boys during REM sleep, a state of endogenous activation of the thalamo-cortical loop.

Method: Six boys diagnosed with ADHD (age: 10.3 ± 1.2) were recorded for two consecutives nights using a full EEG montage (Fp1, Fp2, F7, F8, C3, C4, T3, T4, P3, P4, O1 and O2). Comorbidity was an exclusion criterion. Methylphenidate was withdrawn for at least 48 hours in the three boys that were previously exposed to treatment. The ADHD group was compared to six healthy boys (age: 10.5 ± 1.8). Spectral analysis of night 2 EEG activity was performed on the first three REM periods. Quantified EEG analysis was performed on 45 four-second artifacts free epochs of REM sleep, equally distributed over the first three REM periods. Results were compared with a Group x EEG band ANOVA for each electrode followed by LSD post hoc tests.

Results: The main finding was that ADHD boys generated less slow activity (0.75-2.25 Hz) than controls, occurring selectively at frontal recording sites: Fp1 (p<.02), F7 (p<.006) and F8 (p<.06).

Conclusion: These results suggest the existence of an impairment of the thalamo-frontocortical loop in ADHD.

Acupuncture and a special blend of herbals and supplements have been clinically tested in our office to help ADD and ADHD patients balance their thought processes to perform on par with their peers.

Detoxify or Die

We are all a toxic cesspool from a lifetime accumulation of chemicals - chemicals that are found in our air, food, and water. U.S. EPA studies of chemicals stored in the fat of humans show that 100% of people tested have dioxins, PCBs, dichlorobenzene, and xylene. Another analysis of the exhaled breath of humans showed carcinogenic benzene in 89% and perchloroethylene in 93%. And these chemicals are just the tip of the iceberg. For now we have the proof that it is the steady silent accumulation over a lifetime that produces most diseases, including cancer. But medicine merely sees every disease as a deficiency of some drug or surgery, or tells us there is no known cause or cure.

There is now no question that these accumulated toxins are behind nearly every disease, sympton, injury and malfunction of the body. But get ready for the greatest medical discovery of the decade. If we get these ubiquitously unavoidable toxic chemicals out of the body, we can reverse and even cure the most hopeless diseases.

It no longer matters what you call your disease. The label your doctor gives you is meaningless. What matters is what caused it. Learn how to find the underlying causes and get rid of them with the only proven way to reverse disease and slow down aging. Order Detoxify or Die, Dr. Rogers' 12th book. Contains complete directions and more than 700 scientific references by leading environmental medicine authorities.



Sherry A Rogers, M.D., ABEM, ABFP, FACN, FACAAI.

White bread-my experience and the 3-step detox

In the 3-step detox, you are not allowed to eat gluten containing grains. I was on the 3-step detox due to my allergies (it's about that time to do the detox, anyway-I do it twice a year.) I ate a sourdough bread this morning and it's been sitting in my throat for a few hour-a nagging reminder why we shouldn't eat white bread and other highly refined grain products.

A nurse-patient of ours came to have her GERD fixed. She ate whole grains. I advised her to stop grains and dairy. After dismissing my recommendations and being fed up with her reflux, she followed my plan for two weeks and was pleasantly surprised to see practically ALL symptoms of GERD diminish.

How improper Qi flow affects your health:

How improper Qi flow affects your health:

Qi
1. Energy.
2. Vital force.

Meridian
1. A pathway from the organs to every part of the body.

Qi Stagnation
1. An interruption in the flow of Qi through the meridians, possibly causing organ imbalances with a loss of normal function.
2. An interruption of communication from the organs to any cell or tissue in the body.

Organ Imbalance
1. A state of abnormal organ function due to deficiency or excess,
possibly causing Qi stagnation. The organs are the lungs, large intestine,
stomach, spleen, liver, gall bladder, pericardium, heart, small intestine, kidneys and bladder. Every one of these organs interacts with every other. Imbalances in the liver, for example, affect the spleen adversely.

Qi stagnation is a condition in which Qi is not moving smoothly from the organs to the rest of the body. This congests the meridians and affects the normal transmission of body impulses. The function and healing process of vital body parts are often affected.

Organ imbalance and Qi stagnation are caused by any physical, emotional or chemical stress the person cannot adapt to. In the early stages, Qi stagnation affects only muscles, ligaments or organs. Although extreme pain has been observed in some cases, it is more often noticed as a discomfort, or not noticed at all.

However, if the condition is allowed to go untreated, the body will attempt to help support the affected area, but may deform instead. As the muscles become more rigid, the area starts to degenerate.

The longer the condition is allowed to go untreated, the less chance there is for recovery. What began as a minor problem or discomfort may lead to irreversible damage.

Fluoride: Is your thyroid working?

A half hour documentary on fluoride.

Then check out the website www.fluoridealert.org

Fluorine and Bromine and Chlorine along with Iodine are in the family of halogens in the periodic teble of the elements.

These halogens compete for the same spots in your thyroid!

How did they get into your body?

Fluoride does make calcium harder--when it's not in a living organism. Bromine substituted iodine from bakeries in the 60s because "the man" was concerned with too much iodine in the diet. Chlorine is in the water and in swimming pools to fight bacteria.

Acupuncture & alcoholism research

Acupuncture-mediated inhibition of ethanol-induced dopamine release in the rat nucleus accumbens through the GABA B receptor.Neurosci Lett. 2004 Oct 21;369(3):234-8.
Clinical trials are currently underway to determine the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of drug abuse. However, there are still many unanswered questions about the basic mechanisms of acupuncture. Studies have shown that the GABA (B) receptor system may play a significant modulatory role in the mesolimbic system in drug abuse, including ethanol. The in vivo microdialysis study was designed to investigate the effect of acupuncture on acute ethanol-induced dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens and the potential role of the GABA (B) receptor system in acupuncture. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with the highly selective GABA (B) antagonist SCH 50911 (3 mg/kg, i.p.) 1h prior to an intraperitoneal injection of ethanol (1 g/kg). Immediately after ethanol treatment, acupuncture was given at bilateral Shenmen (HT7) points for 1min. Acupuncture at the specific acupoint HT7, but not at control points (PC6 or tail) significantly decreased dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. Inhibition of dopamine release by acupuncture was completely prevented by SCH 50911. These results suggest that stimulation of specific acupoints inhibits ethanol-induced dopamine release by modulating GABA (B) activity and imply that acupuncture may be effective in blocking the reinforcing effects of ethanol.

A role for GABA mechanisms in the motivational effects of alcohol.Biochem Pharmacol. 2004 Oct 15;68(8):1515-25.
Low doses of ethanol have been hypothesized to act directly via proteins that form ligand-gated receptor channels, such as the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor complex, to allosterically alter function, particularly in specific brain areas such as those hypothesized to be involved in ethanol reinforcement. At the pharmacological level, one can antagonize the effects of ethanol with GABA antagonists, particularly its sedative, anxiolytic-like and acute reinforcing actions. Brain sites involved in the GABA ergic component of ethanol reinforcement include the ventral tegmental area, elements of the extended amygdala (including the central nucleus of the amygdala), and the globus pallidus. Chronic administration of ethanol sufficient to produce dependence and increased ethanol intake are associated with increased GABA release in the amygdala and increased sensitivity to GABA agonists. A hypothesis is proposed that GABA ergic interactions with the brain stress neurotransmitter corticotropin-releasing factor in specific elements of the extended amygdala may be an important component for the motivation for excessive drinking associated with the transition from social drinking to addiction.

Dangerous Curve

Did your mother ever nag you to "stand up straight?" Well, that's because she cared about you. What was annoying to mom was the "slumping" posture, so common in our teenage years. But if she had noticed a "side bend" to your spine, she probably wouldn't have nagged at all. She would have taken you to a physician or doctor of chiropractic. And the chances are, that professional would have told you that you had scoliosis.
There are two basic types of abnormal curvatures. First, the curve may be on a long "C" shaped bend. This was common with those youngsters who contracted polio in the 1950s, primarily because of weak muscles on one side of the spine. The second type of scoliosis is an "S" shape, where the curve "zigs" to one side, then "zags" to the other. The real issue about these curves is, how much do they curve? If your spine is only a little curved, like a slightly bent flag pole, there is probably nothing to worry about with chiropractic checkups. But if it resembles the Snake River in Idaho, it's time for a comprehensive exam.
Scoliosis is not a death sentence, but it can be a significant health challenge. If the abnormal curvatures worsen, the spine can twist and interfere with the nerves coming out between the vertebrae, or spinal bones, as well as just plain hurt. The lungs and diaphragm can be crowded, making breathing more difficult.
Scoliosis appears sometime in childhood, usually between age 6 up to the beginning of puberty. Since it's painless, the problem can easily go undetected at first. Visual screening programs at schools have been very valuable in diagnosis, but a definitive diagnosis must be done with a standing full-spine X-ray. Your doctor will measure the curve. A curve that is only mildly "leaning" probably has an angle of 20 degrees or less, and usually does not need treatment at all. Doctors measure the angle of the curves by comparing the "flag pole" position of zero degrees of curvature to the horizontal, or parallel to the floor position of 90 degrees. If the curve is greater than 20 degrees, advice regarding treatment is important. Angles greater than 45 degrees are considered serious enough that surgery IS an option.

In cases of scoliosis, chiropractic physicians are front-line doctors in maintaining proper motion and function of the spinal joints or vertebrae. There are two general categories of techniques used in these cases. One is the hallmark joint manipulation or adjustment, which stretches the joint tissue and releases joint pressure wherever individual vertebrae are locked or fixed. A second category includes muscle and tendon techniques, usually using deep pressure, friction or pin-point stimulation.
When scoliosis is severe, chiropractic treatment is even more important because of the threat of muscle and joint degeneration that insidiously occurs over time. One cause of mild to moderate scoliosis is when one leg is shorter than the other. Chiropractic doctors are especially trained to deal with complications of curvatures associated with leg inequality. Sometimes one leg can be shorter (an inch or more) congenitally, with the associated curvature noted especially with standing. But a lesser known, yet common problem is a functional short leg. This is when locking and fixation of spinal joints, or muscle imbalance, actually causes or aggravates a mild scoliosis. Chiropractors are the best practitioners to identify and correct this problem.

Aspartame = Nutrasweet = Equal = TUMORS?

If this won't make you think before you use artificial sweeteners, I don't know what will!

Aspartame breaks down into aspartic acid (natural), phenylalanine (natrual), and methanol (TOXIC wood alcohol). Methanol is used for windshield washer fluid. Methanol, according to my Organic Chemistry Professor wayyy back when, makes you BLIND. He told me of his early grad school days when he'd put methanol in his windshield washer tank and used it... The paint melted off of his car!!!

-Dr. Tang

http://myaspartameexperiment.com/

My Christian position on acupuncture.

My personal position on acupuncture.
Acupuncture, is a science and art that has evolved from its origin in China over 3000 years ago. The fundamental belief is there is balance in polar forces of nature, i.e. light-darkness (Gen 1:3-5), water and sky (Gen 1: 6-8), male-female (Gen 1:27) which is God-derived. Any imbalance in these forces causes an imbalance of a system, notably the human body. Qi, is a term used to describe a natural “life” energy in nature, in chiropractic I believe it is called vitalism1.
Qi in the human body, in my opinion, is electrical potential energy of the body. This aspect of qi was quantified by Dr. Nakatani2, who discovered electrically active points in the body which corresponded to acupuncture meridian systems. He in effect made early prototypes of the AcuGraph machine that we currently use in this office that is used to measure the acupuncture potential energy. Analogous to this qi energy is the nerve axon which there is an ionic gradient of Na+ and K+ with Cl- with the resultant electrical potential which allows the conduction of the nerve impulse. Qi flows through channels called meridians. Dr. Voll, in Germany, also independently verified these findings3.
This concept of acupuncture may be far-fetched for some people to understand. Fortunately, research has quantified the acupuncture systems. A study involved microdissection techniques in mapping out the meridians4. In the 1960s, Professor Kim Bong Han, working in Korea, found evidence using microdissection techniques of an independent series of fine duct-like tubes corresponding to the paths of traditional acupuncture meridians. The fluid in this system sometimes traveled in the same direction as blood and lymph and at other times in the opposite direction. Kim concluded that the meridians might exist within these duct-like tubes. French researcher Pierre de Vernejoue5 corroborated these findings in 1985, by injecting radioactive Technicium-99 isotopes into the known acupoints in humans and tracking their movement. vs non-acupuncture areas. In the former, the Tc-99 migrated, following a pathway consistent with established meridians whereas the latter did not migrate significantly.
When stimulated with an acupuncture needle, electric stimulation, laser stimulation, or even manual stimulation, a physiological change in the body occurs. Acupuncture has been widely known to block pain, and there is a pharmaceutical inhibitor that abolishes the effect of acupuncture. In a 1979 study published in Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine. A nociceptive facilitating stimulus was performed on rats. Electroacupuncture was given to sucessfully provide analgesia, and morphine mimicked acupuncture’s effects, while the pharmaceutical nalaxone obliterated all analgesic properties of acupuncture6.
The evidence demonstrated shows that acupuncture is not as mysterious as it was originally intended to be. Science has been able to elucidate and validate acupuncture as a true system that can be used to alleviate human suffering.
There is much more I can expand on in reference to the scientific nature of acupuncture over the spiritual concept that in the limited time and scope we shall discuss in the future.
Growing up in a non-practicing mixed religion non-Christian home I developed the scientific mindset which carried over into adult life. After finding Jesus I see things in a different perspective, allowing acceptance of the scientifically unexplainable, attributing it to divine providence from God the Father and the Holy Spirit.
References:
A. The Holy Bible, (NIV)
1 http://www.sherman.edu/edu/aboutchiro/vitalistic_philosophy.html
2 Oda H (1989) Electropermeable Points on the Human Skin. Ryodoraku Textbook. Naniwash Publishing Inc. 5-19
3 http://www.biomeridian.com/voll.htm
4 http://www.medcomres.com/articles/faq_acupuncture_primer.htm
5 Darras JC, Vernejoue P. Albarede P (1992) Nuclear Medicine and Acupuncture: A Study on the Migration of Radioactive Tracers after Injection at Acupoints. Am J Acup. Vol. 20. 3:245-256.
6 http://www.springerlink.com/content/g7850pr442275267/

SLEEPING can get you into trouble – so can getting up.

NEVER sleep on your stomach (unless you have cut out a hole in your mattress to keep your head in neutral.) This may be good for your lower back but will certainly cause neck problems. The best sleeping posture is in a semi-fetal position with a pillow between your legs/knees. The pillow reduces the risk of rolling the top leg over the bottom causing twisting of the lumbar spine and straining the hip joints. This will allow for all kinds of nasty things to happen. Also make sure the neck is properly supported with a curve-facilitating pillow, such as our Tempur-Pedic millenium pillow.


If you are a back sleeper support the lower back with a small thin pillow or loosely rolled up towel. This will maintain the inward (lordotic) curve of the small of the back which will flatten either on a firm or soft mattress and put you at risk.


Have you ever gotten stuck getting out of bed? I see these patients often. No matter how you sleep the most important step you can take getting out of bed is to perform 5-6 Extension Push-Ups just BEFORE you swing your legs out of bed and stand up. When you are sleeping, even in the best posture, things can slide around. This helps the facet joints (joints between the vertebrae) to “track” like they are suppose to and prepares your back for weight-bearing. To perform the Extension Push-Up, roll onto your front, push up with the arms while you push your pelvis and stomach into the bed. If this bothers your arms, shoulders or wrist, simply cross your arms under your chest rather than trying to straighten your arms. Develop this as a habit every time you are getting up, even in the middle of the night for a bit of bladder relief.

When to use HEAT and COLD

Patients always seem to be confused when to use HEAT and COLD. The following should help you understand when to use either:

HEAT is used to help loosen up muscles and ligaments and increase blood flow to an injured area. For backs it is good to perform the exercises following the use of heat – hot shower, hot water bottle with a moist towel between you and it. Heat for 15 minutes and then do stretching exercises. Do not use heat for more than 20 minutes at a time. Do not use heat if there is pain radiation into either leg especially if the pain goes past the knee – read on to know why.

COLD is used to reduce swelling. For backs with radiating pain into the leg (e.g., sciatica), usually due to a nerve root which has been squeezed and is swollen. Icing for 20-30 minutes especially in the evening once or twice will help to reduce the swelling of the nerve roots causing the radiating pain. You can make an ice pack by using two veggie bags and a thick washcloth. Dampen and then fold the washcloth into an 1/8th and slip it into the 1st plastic bag, squeeze the air out and tie it off. Slip this into the 2nd bag and do the same. Make two and place flat into the freezer. These can be placed right over the area and the time it takes to thaw is the time needed to work.

When in doubt ICE!

Your tap water is NOT safe

I've been saying this for years but a report published this morning substantiates my claim. Would you like some drugs with your water, sir?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080309/ap_on_re_us/pharmawater_i_4

Hearing Loss

Did you know that chiropractic can help with certain cases of hearing loss? My wife couldn't hear out of her right ear last week. I took my otoscope and looked into her ear and found some blockage and swelling in her ear drum. I adjusted her and INSTANTLY she could hear!

Did you know that the first chiropractic adjustment was NOT FOR PAIN! It was for HEARING LOSS! The first chiropractic patient had his upper back adjusted by Dr. DD Palmer back in 1895 and regained his hearing.