MALE REPRODUCTION
It is fair to say that male reproduction is in trouble. From diseases of the reproduction system caused by gmos, radiation, chemicals, drugs, alcohol and tobacco,
HIV/AIDS, venereal diseases, endocrine disruptors, too low or too high hormone levels causing cancer, erectile dysfunction, infertility and in some cases homosexuality.
It’s a wonder women can reproduce at all. Is
reproduction using sex, a thing of the past? Will our babies be fertilized in test tubes carried by surrogates? What is the future of the human race? After all, presently it does take two people of the opposite sex to produce children. This is by design. Divine Design.
MALE REPRODUCTION
It is fair to say that male reproduction is in trouble. From diseases of the reproduction system caused by gmos, radiation, chemicals, drugs, alcohol and tobacco,
HIV/AIDS, venereal diseases, endocrine disruptors, too low or too high hormone levels causing cancer, erectile dysfunction, infertility and in some cases homosexuality.
It’s a wonder women can reproduce at all. Is
reproduction using sex, a thing of the past? Will our babies be fertilized in test tubes carried by surrogates? What is the future of the human race? After all, presently it does take two people of the opposite sex to produce children. This is by design. Divine Design.
MALE REPRODUCTION
It is fair to say that male reproduction is in trouble. From diseases of the reproduction system caused by gmos, radiation, chemicals, drugs, alcohol and tobacco,
HIV/AIDS, venereal diseases, endocrine disruptors, too low or too high hormone levels causing cancer, erectile dysfunction, infertility and in some cases homosexuality.
It’s a wonder women can reproduce at all. Is
reproduction using sex, a thing of the past? Will our babies be fertilized in test tubes carried by surrogates? What is the future of the human race? After all, presently it does take two people of the opposite sex to produce children. This is by design. Divine Design.
Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 MALE REPRODUCTION
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E 3 Afrikan Spirituality Egyptian Myth: The Osirian Cycle 4 Feature Male Reproductive Problems: Penis Disorders 6 Feature Male Fertility May be in Trouble 8 Feature Prostate Cases Treble in 20 Years 11 5 Things You Did Not Know about Your Penis 19 Feature GM Soy Linked to Sterility, Infant Mortality 21 Cottonseed Derivative Gossypol 28 Special Report: Prostate Problems in Black/African Men 30 Feature - Statin Use Linked to Low Libido and ED 31 Medications that cause Erectile Dysfunction 41 Feature- Chemical Pollution Linked to Homosexuality 43 Endocrine Disrupters 44 Radiation Exposure and Sperm 51 FeatureLow-T Syndrome/Other Word for Male Menopause 56 Rape and HIV as Weapons of War 60 Feature Sexual Anarchy: The Kinsey Legacy 64 Feature Circumcision Fight: Profit, Pleasure, Pop. Control 73 Feature Shamanic Perspective on Balancing Energies 77 Feature Nutrition Linked to Sperm DNA Quality 83 African Sexual Herbs: They will change your Bedroom Life 88 Herbs of the Month Prunus Africanus & More Scientists warn of Sperm Count Crisis Biggest-ever study confirms drastic decline in male reproductive health By Jeremy Laurance 5 December 2012 The reproductive health of the average male is in sharp decline, the world's largest study of the quality and concentration of sperm has found. Between 1989 and 2005, average sperm counts fell by a third in the study of 26,000 men, increasing their risk of infertility. The amount of healthy sperm was also reduced, by a similar proportion. The findings confirm research over the past 20 years that has shown sperm counts declining in many countries across the world. Reasons ranging from tight underwear to toxins in the environment have been advanced to explain the fall, but still no definitive cause has been found. The decline occurred progressively throughout the 17-year period, suggesting that it could be continuing. The latest research was conducted in France but British What is the African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic? We can make you healthy and wise Nakato Lewis Blackherbals at the Source of the Nile, UG Ltd.
The African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic located in Ntinda, Uganda is a modern clinic facility established to create a model space whereby indigenous herbal practitioners and healers can upgrade and update their skills through training and certification and respond to common diseases using African healing methods and traditions in a modern clinical environment. Traditional healers are the major health labor resource in Africa as a whole. In Uganda, indigenous traditional healers are the only source of health services for the majority of the population. An estimated 80% of the population receives its health education and health care from practitioners of traditional medicine. They are knowledgeable of the culture, the local languages and local traditions. Our purpose is to raise public awareness and understanding on the value of African traditional herbal medicine and other healing practices in todays world. The Clinic is open and operational. Some of the services we offer are African herbal medicine, reflexology, acupressure, hot and cold hydrotherapy, body massage, herbal tonics, patient counseling, blood pressure checks, urine testing (sugar), and nutritional profiles. We believe in spirit, mind and body. Spiritual counseling upon request. Visit us also at www.Blackherbals.com Hours: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday thru Friday Saturday by Appointment, Sundays Closed
Continued on page 2 -2- Traditional African Clinic Janury 2013
experts say it has global implications. The scientists said the results constituted a "serious public health warning" and that the link with the environment "particularly needs to be determined". The worldwide fall in sperm counts has been accompanied by a rise in testicular cancer rates have doubled in the last 30 years and in other male sexual disorders such as undescended testes, which are indicative of a "worrying pattern", scientists say. There is an urgent need to establish the causes so measures can be taken to prevent further damage, they add. Richard Sharpe, professor of reproductive health at the University of Edinburgh and an international expert on toxins in the environment, said the study was "hugely impressive" and answered sceptics who doubted whether the global decline was real. "Now, there can be little doubt that it is real, so it is a time for action. Something in our modern lifestyle, diet or environment is causing this and it is getting progressively worse. We still do not know which are the most important factors but the most likely are a high-fat diet and environmental chemical exposures." Researchers from the Institut de Veille Sanitaire, St Maurice, used data from 126 fertility clinics in France which had collected semen samples from the male partners of women with blocked or missing fallopian tubes. The men, whose average age was 35, did not have fertility problems of their own and were therefore considered representative of the general male population. The results, reported in the journal Human Reproduction, showed the concentration of sperm per millilitre of semen declined progressively by 1.9 per cent a year throughout the 17 years from 73.6 million sperm per millilitre in 1989 to 49.9 million/ml in 2005. The proportion of normally formed sperm also decreased by 33.4 per cent over the same period. Although the average sperm count of the men was well above the threshold definition of male infertility which is 15 million/ml it was below the World Health Organisation threshold of 55 million/ml which is thought to lengthen the time to conceive. Other European studies have shown that one in five young men has a sperm count low enough to cause problems conceiving. Combined with other social trends, such as delayed childbearing which reduces female fertility, the decline in sperm counts could signal a crisis for couples hoping
for a family. Sperm count: How to boost it 1. Wear loose underwear to make healthy sperm the testicles need to be below body temperature. 2. Eat food low in saturated fat. 3. Avoid smoking, drinking, using drugs and becoming obese. 4. Reduce exposure to industrial chemicals such as those used in making plastics they can mimic the female hormone oestrogen countering male hormones. 5. Protect women in pregnancy there is growing evidence that falling sperm counts may stem from effects in the womb. 6. Avoid anti-depressants in rare cases they can cut sperm counts. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-warn-of- sperm-count-crisis-8382449.html#
Gender-Bending Chemicals put Baby Boys at Risk of Cancer and Infertility, Report Finds Unborn baby boys are at greater risk of developing cancer and infertility later in life due to gender- bending chemicals found in food, cosmetics and cleaning products, a new report warns. 13 May 2009 The chemicals are linked to increasing levels of birth defects, testicular cancer, and falling sperm counts among men, experts claim. Professor Richard Sharpe, one of Britain's leading reproductive biologists, said that the chemicals block the action of the male sex hormone testosterone, or mimic the female sex hormone oestrogen. The government adviser's report is the most detailed yet into how the chemicals endanger baby boys. Women trying for a baby have been warned to avoid contact with them. Prof Sharpe told the Daily Mail: "You can't do anything about chemicals in the environment but you can control what you expose a baby to through your lifestyle choices. "Because we don't know the complete list of chemicals that may be hormone disrupters, and we don't know how they interact, we can't point a finger at an individual chemical. Continued on page 10 Contd from page 1- Scientists warn of Sperm Count Crisis -3- Traditional African Clinic Janury 2013
AFRI KAN SPI RI TUALI TY Egyptian Myth: The Osirian Cycle Now, Great Re had at last grown old. He saw that man had become fearful and angry. They had made the first weapons, and attacked anyone who might be an enemy of the Sun God. Sadly, Re chose to leave the Divine Throne and moved far away from the land; He moved where He could still see mankind, but be far out of their reach. He made the stars and scattered them along the belly of Nuit. He made the Field of Peace and the Field of Reeds as homes for the blessed dead. Finally, He summoned Wise Thoth. He spake unto Him and said, "See, I will shine here in the heavens. I will light the sky above and the sky below. You must represent Me on earth, and record the deeds of men." He then created the Ibis form of Thoth, and made Him the Scribe of the Gods. When Re was in the underworld, the world was engulfed in Darkness, and men were afraid; they wept for the loss of the Sun God. Their cries reached Re Himself, and the Divine One also transformed Thoth into the Great White Baboon. Thoth shone with a silvery Light, and man no longer feared the sinking of the Sun. This was the mercy of Re to the children of His tears. Finally, Re commanded Geb and Nun to guard the world against the Serpents of Chaos; and He set His Great Grandson, Osiris, Lord of Eternity, as the new Pharaoh of Egypt, and made Isis it's Queen. Osiris proved to be a wise and kindly ruler. He taught man how to irrigate the land from the flood-waters of the Nile, and to grow crops from there. He taught them how to know and worship the Gods. He gave them the law of the land. He guided them away from cannibalism and incest, and brought civilization to the people. Soon, the Great Pharaoh had brought a Golden Age to Egypt, and He set off to share His wisdom with distant countries as well. Isis was left in his place, and she ruled as well as Osiris Himself had done. Her brother, Seth, Dark Lord of Storm, She watched as a mongoose eyes the cobra. For Seth coveted the Throne of Osiris for his own. When Osiris returned to Egypt, Seth had designed a plot for His overthrow with the aid of seventy-two conspirators. A banquet had been planned in honour of Osiris; one that -------------------------- Managing Editor: Nakato Lewis PUBLISHER: KIWANUKA LEWIS Published monthly and freely by BHSN for the ATHR Clinic http://www.blackherbals.com/athrc_newsletters.htm
The traditional shrine as a symbol of our cultural history
Cunning Isis would not be attending. During the festivities, Seth began to speak of a splendid chest that had been made for Him. He sent for the chest, and all present admired the fine wood and gilding. Seth declared that He would gift the chest to any man who could fit it exactly. Each man, in his turn laid within the chest. Some were too short, and others too tall. Seth knew that only Osiris would fit the chest exactly, for he had constructed it to Osiris' exact measurements. Osiris' turn came, and He lay trustingly back into the chest, fitting snuggly within it. There was laughter among the guests who thought that Seth had lost His prize to the Pharaoh. Seth signaled his conspirators, and the chest was immediately slammed shut and locked. The chest was carried in the dark of night to a branch of the Nile, and was tossed into the cold waters. Seth then declared the death of the King, and crowned Himself King of Egypt. When Isis came to know of her husband's death, she became half mad with grief. She cuff off a lock of her hair and dressed in widow's clothing. She then went out in search of her husband's body. During Her travels, Isis came to learn that Osiris had known her sister Nephthys. From that union had been born a child- Anubis- but Nephthys had turned Him away at birth. And so Kindly Isis tracked Him with the help of dogs, and raised Him to be her guardian and attendant. From village to village she traveled, until finally She found that the chest had come to rest in the land of Byblos. It had been entangled in the roots of a young sapling. Strengthened by the murdered God, it had grown in a single night into a tall and graceful tree. When the King of Byblos heard of this marvel, he had sent for the tree to be made into a pillar for his palace. No one suspected that the tree contained a coffin within its trunk. Continued on page 76 -4- Traditional African Clinic Janury 2013 African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES Male Reproductive Problems: Penis Disorders By Richard Stossel February 10, 2009
placed in the side of the penis. Medications that help shrink blood vessels, which decreases blood flow to the penis, also may be used. In rare cases, surgery may be required to avoid permanent damage to the penis. If the condition is due to sickle cell disease, a blood transfusion may be necessary. Treating any underlying medical condition or substance abuse problem is important to preventing priapism. What is Peyronie's disease? Peyronie's disease is a condition in which a plaque, or hard lump, forms on the penis. The plaque may develop on the upper (more common) or lower side of the penis, in the layers that contain erectile tissue. The plaque often begins as a localized area of irritation and swelling (inflammation), and can develop into a hardened scar. The scarring reduces the elasticity of the penis in the area affected. Peyronie's disease can occur in a mild form that heals without treatment in 6 -18 months. In these cases, the problem does not progress past the inflammation phase. In severe cases, the disease can be permanent. The hardened plaque reduces flexibility, causing pain and forcing the penis to bend or arc during erection. In addition to the bending of the penis, Peyronie's disease can cause general pain as well as painful erections. It also can cause emotional distress, and affect a man's desire and ability to function during sex. The exact cause of Peyronie's disease is unknown. In people whose disease develops quickly, lasts a short time, and goes away without treatment, the likely cause is trauma (hitting or bending) that causes bleeding inside the penis. However, in some people, Peyronie's disease develops slowly and is severe enough to require surgical treatment. Other possible causes of Peyronie's disease include: Vasculitis: This is an inflammation of blood or Continued on page 5
There are two primary disorders that affect the male reproductive external organs . These include penis disorders and testicular disorders. Disorders of the penis and testes can affect a man's sexual functioning and fertility. What disorders affect the penis? Some disorders that affect the penis include priapism, Peyronie's disease , balanitis, phimosis, paraphimosis, and penile cancer . What is priapism? Priapism is a persistent, often painful erection lasting more than 4 hours in duration. The priapism erection is not associated with sexual activity and is not relieved by orgasm. It occurs when blood flows into the penis but is not adequately drained. What causes priapism? Common causes of priapism include: Alcohol or drug abuse (especially cocaine) Certain medications, including some antidepressants and blood pressure medications Spinal cord problems Injury to the genitals Anesthesia Penile injection therapy (a treatment for erectile dysfunction) Blood diseases, including leukemia and sickle cell anemia How is priapism treated? Treatment for priapism is a medical emergency, because a prolonged erection can scar the penis and result in a long term complication of erectile dysfunction if if not treated. The goal of treatment is to relieve the erection and preserve normal penile function. In most cases, treatment involves draining the blood using a needle -5- Traditional African Clinic Janury 2013
Continued from page 4 Male Reproductive Problems: Penis Disorders lymphatic vessels. This inflammation can lead to the formation of scar tissue. Connective tissue disorders: According to the National Institutes of Health, about 30% of men with Peyronie's disease also develop disorders that affect the connective tissue in other parts of their bodies, such as the hands and feet. These conditions generally cause a thickening or hardening of the connective tissue. Connective tissue is specialized tissue -- such as cartilage, bone, and skin -- that acts to support other body tissues. Heredity: Some studies suggest that a man who has a relative with Peyronie's disease is at greater risk for developing the disease himself. How is Peyronie's disease treated? There are two ways in which Peyronie's disease can be treated: surgery or non-surgical treatment. Because the plaque of Peyronie's disease often shrinks or disappears without treatment, most doctors suggest waiting one to two years or longer before attempting to correct it with surgery. In many cases, surgery produces positive results. But because complications can occur, and because many of the problems associated with Peyronie's disease (for example, shortening of the penis) are not corrected by surgery, most doctors prefer to perform surgery only on men with curvatures so severe that sexual intercourse is impossible. There are two surgical techniques used to treat Peyronie's disease. One method involves the removal of the plaque followed by placement of a patch of skin or artificial material (skin graft). With the second technique, the surgeon removes or pinches the tissue from the side of the penis opposite the plaque, which cancels out the bending effect. The first method can involve partial loss of erectile function, especially rigidity. The second method, known as the Nesbit procedure, causes a shortening of the erect penis. Penile implants can be used in cases where Peyronie's disease has affected the man's ability to achieve or maintain an erection. A non-surgical treatment for Peyronie's disease involves injecting medication directly into the plaque in an attempt to soften the affected tissue, decrease the pain, and correct the curvature of the penis. Vitamin E pills haves also been shown to benefit some men with Peyronie's disease. Another, less invasive option is laser treatment to thin the plaques of Peyronie's disease. What is balanitis? Balanitis is an inflammation of the head of the penis. A similar condition, balanoposthitis, refers to inflammation of the head of the penis and the foreskin. Symptoms of balanitis include redness or swelling, itching, rash, pain and a foul-smelling discharge. What causes balanitis? Balanitis most often occurs in men and boys who have not been circumcised (had their foreskin surgically removed), and who have poor hygiene. Inflammation can occur if the sensitive skin under the foreskin is not washed regularly, allowing sweat, debris, dead skin and bacteria to collect under the foreskin and cause irritation. The presence of tight foreskin may make it difficult to keep this area clean and can lead to irritation by a foul- smelling substance (smegma) that can accumulate under the foreskin. Other causes of balanitis may include: Dermatitis/Allergy: Dermatitis is an inflammation of the skin, often caused by an irritating substance or a contact allergy. Sensitivity to chemicals in certain products -- such as soaps, detergents, perfumes and spermicides -- can cause an allergic reaction, including irritation, itching, and a rash. Infection: Infection with the yeast candida albicans (thrush) can result in an itchy, spotty rash. Certain sexually transmitted diseases -- including gonorrhea, herpes and syphilis -- can produce symptoms of balanitis. In addition, men with diabetes are at greater risk for balanitis. Glucose (sugar) in the urine that is trapped under the foreskin serves as a breeding ground for bacteria. How Is balanitis treated? Treatment for balanitis depends on the underlying cause. If there is an infection, treatment will include an appropriate antibiotic or antifungal medication. In cases of severe or persistent inflammation, a circumcision may be recommended. Taking appropriate hygiene measures can help prevent future bouts of balanitis, such as retracting the foreskin daily and adequately cleaning and drying the head of the penis. In addition, it is important to avoid strong soaps or chemicals, especially those known to cause a skin reaction. What is phimosis? Phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin of the penis is so tight that it cannot be pulled back (retracted) to reveal the head of the penis. Continued on page 10 -6- Traditional African Clinic Janury 2013 African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES Male Fertility May Be in Trouble: Testosterone and Sperm Counts Plummet Alliance for Natural Health USA 21 August 2012
GMO foods could make it worse. Testosterone deficiency is a serious health issue. It can lead to loss of stamina and lean muscle mass, reduced libido in both men and women, anxiety, depression, and cognitive decline. Growing research also suggests low testosterone levels might be linked to insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Many of the herbicides and pesticides used in conventional farming are environmental estrogens. This means that their molecules mimic the activity of the human hormone estrogen, too much of which is not good for men or women; it also affects testosterone levels. Now GMO crops have likely exacerbated this problem. According to a recent animal study published in the journal Toxicology in Vitro, glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup, Monsantos widely used pesticide) often leaves a residue on Roundup Ready cropsand this can affect testosterone levels and mens sperm counts. It is actually toxic to testicle cells, and significantly lowers testosterone synthesis. In addition, GMOs themselves may cause infertility. In a brand new Russian study on hamsters, scientists observed that consumption of GM soybeans tended to slow their sexual maturation process and completely eliminated their ability to reproduce within just a few generations. An Austrian study uncovered similar infertility in third-generation mice that consumed GM corn. Most people think of testosterone as being a mens issue, but women also need it in lower levels. Too low levels have been linked to osteoporosis, muscle loss, and a weakened sex drive. For women, too much or too little testosterone can inhibit fertility and complicate pregnancy as well as reduce interest in sex. Mens sperm counts are falling dramatically in modern society. In 1940, sperm counts were typically well above 100 million sperm cells per milliliter. According to a Danish study, they have dropped to an average of 60 million per ml. Other studies find that between 15 and 20% of young men have sperm counts of less than 20 million per ml. Despite all this, the biotech industry is fighting tooth and nail to keep these toxic, genetically engineered foods on your dinner plate. They are desperate to keep you from knowing what youre eatingthats why they, together with Big Food companies , are spending shocking amounts of money to keep GMO foods from being labeled as such. Labeling GMOs is especially important now that we are seeing so many other health problems from GMO foods. In a ten-year long study on rats, mice, pigs, and salmon, scientists in Norway found that genetically engineered soy and corn causes obesity. It also causes significant changes in the digestive system and major organs, including the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and genitals. Rat and hamster studies have also found that the animals become sterile by the third generation. Animals fed genetically modified soy and corn specifically, soy and corn containing toxic proteins from the bacteria Bacillus thuriengensis, which kills insects that damage corn, soy, cotton, canola and other crops were seen to be less able to digest proteins due to alterations in the micro-structure of their intestines. Continued on page 7
-7- Traditional African Clinic January 2013
Continued from page 6 Male Fertility May Be in Trouble: Testosterone and Sperm Counts Plummet They also suffered immune system alterations. On top of that, glyphosphate (the herbicide used on genetically modified soybeans) may be causing birth defects in animal fetuses. Roundup-Ready GMO soy is Argentinas main crop, and Monsantos Roundup weed- killer is used in great quantities. Now scientists are seeing brain, intestinal, and heart defects in amphibian embryos. The scientists say the results are completely comparable to what would happen in the development of a human embryo. Labeling GMO is a must. Please take action now to stop the Big Food companies that are selling so-called natural products from spending millions of dollars to deprive you of your right to know what foods contain GMO. Please take action now. http://www.anh-usa.org/male-fertility-may-be-in-trouble- testosterone-and-sperm-counts-plummet/
The Case of the Disappearing Sperm: French Men's Sperm Count Plummets over Last 16 Years By Ethan A. Huff December 14, 2012 (NaturalNews) The world is becoming an increasingly hostile place for the survival and persistence of masculinity, particularly with regards to male fertility and vitality. A deadly combination of estrogenic toxins in the food supply; harmful chemicals in the environment, and poor lifestyle is causing an ongoing and drastic reduction in men's sperm counts, according to a new study published in the journal Human Reproduction, which illustrates the continuing decline of men in today's world. Researchers from France conducted their study specifically on French men aged 18 to 70, tracking average sperm counts across the country between the years of 1989 and 2005. According to their findings, sperm counts among all French men in this age range dropped by about 1.9 percent per year on average, and by 32.3 percent on average over the course of the entire 16- year period studied. The number of normally-shaped sperm in men also dropped by an astounding 33.4 percent during the study period. "To our knowledge, this is the first study concluding a severe and general decrease in sperm concentration and morphology at the scale of a whole country over a sub- stantial period," explained Dr. Joelle Le Moal, an environmental health epidemiologist and one of the study's authors, about the findings. "This constitutes a serious public health warning." Though some have since tried to downplay the findings, claiming average sperm counts are still within an acceptable and fertile range, the downward trend observed in the study clearly illustrates a perpetual decline in male fertility, which more than likely extends far outside the borders of France and around the world. Based on the figures, average sperm concentrations dropped from 73.6 million per milliliter (mi/mL) among 35-year-old men in 1989 to 49.9 mi/mL among the same age group in 2005, highlighting a disastrous situation. Similar findings have been observed in the U.S. as well, where sperm counts have been on the decline for more than 50 years, according to researchers. Bisphenol-A (BPA) and other plastics chemicals, pesticide and herbicide residues on conventional food, fluoride in the water supply, radiation-emitting mobile phones and laptop computers, pharmaceutical drugs, soy-based ingredients laced throughout the food supply -- these and many other factors are all responsible for the massive decline in male fertility both in the U.S. and abroad. "It's most likely a reflection of the fact that many environmental and lifestyle changes over the past 50 years are inherently detrimental to sperm production," says Professor Richard Sharpe, a fertility research expert at the U.K.-based Medical Research Council (MRC), about this pandemic problem. http://www.naturalnews.com/z038351_sperm_count_French_m en_scientific_study.html
The obelisk is an ancient phallic symbol of the male energy and solar energy and the dome represents the female or moon energy. Often they are placed together or close to each other. This is the symbolism of the Oval Office (the womb, female) in the White House which looks out on the Washington Monument, the vast stone obelisk (phallic, male). These symbols attract and generate the energy they represent: they are a physical thought form. The obelisk also symbolizes the penis of the Egyptian Sun god, Osiris. According to legend, after Osiris had been sliced into pieces by his rival, Set, the Queen Isis found all the pieces except his willy. David Icke; The Biggest Secret
-8- Traditional African Clinic January 2013 African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES Prostate Cases Treble in 20 Years: But as more are diagnosed with cancer, fewer men die By Sophie Borland 4 May 2012 Daily Mail
not they have the illness. And even these checks will not necessarily determine whether or not the cancer is aggressive and life- threatening. It means that thousands of men will undergo surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy which have debilitating side-effects for cancers which may never have caused a problem. Professor Malcolm Mason, of Cancer Research UK, said: 'Accurately diagnosing and predicting the need for treatment of prostate cancer is fraught with difficulties and there is no escaping the fact that we need a better tool than PSA to help detect prostate cancers that actually need treating. 'Men need to be counselled about the upsides and downsides of having a PSA test and the uncertainties that it can raise. 'We urgently need to find better tests that tell us more about a man's prostate cancer. Is the disease going to sit quietly in the background and never cause a problem or do we need to treat it aggressively? 'If we can accurately answer these questions, we could spare thousands of men unnecessary treatment that can lead to side-effects like impotence and incontinence.' Earlier this week American researchers claimed that surgery to remove prostate cancer is often ineffective. A study involving 731 patients found that those who had operations were only 3 per cent more likely still to be alive 12 years later compared to those who didn't have treatment. The researchers from the University of Minnesota said this increase could well be down to chance. There is no national screening programme for prostate Continued on page 9 Just 14,000 diagnosed two decades ago before a new screening programme started But scientists say better test needed to help detect prostate cancers that actually need treating Men should get counselling about the uncertainties positive screening can raise, expert says More than 40,000 men are being diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK every year, figures show. The number of new cases annually has almost trebled since 1989 when it stood at 14,000, according to the charity Cancer Research UK. This increase is mainly due to greater use of the Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) test, which measures levels of a chemical that is high when tumours are present.
Detection: A magnified image of a prostate cancer cell But although the test has been credited with detecting some deadly cancer cases earlier, there are concerns it often causes 'false alarms'. Some two-thirds of men with raised PSA levels do not have prostate cancer. They are forced to undergo further unpleasant examinations to determine whether
-9- Traditional African Clinic January 2013 Continued from page 8 Prostate Cases Treble in 20 Years
cancer in the UK but men who want a PSA test can request one from their GP. Figures from Cancer Research UK also show that the death rate from prostate cancer has fallen by 11 per cent in the past ten years. Prostate cancer is the second most common form of the illness in men after lung cancer. Although it leads to 10,000 deaths a year, in about 50 per cent of cases the cancer is growing so slowly it is not life-threatening. The PSA test involves a sample of blood being taken and measured for levels of the prostate specific antigen. But there are many reasons why readings can be high and it is not necessarily due to the presence of cancer. A urine infection can lead to a positive result, for example. And some men have subsequently been diagnosed with cancer even though their PSA test was normal. Earlier this year the NHS rationing body NICE controversially decided to reject a drug for advanced prostate cancer even though it can give patients precious extra months of life. In February the watchdog released draft guidelines that said abiraterone was too expensive for use in England at 35,000 per patient per year. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2139078/Prostate- cases-treble-20-years-But-diagnosed-cancer-fewer-men- die.html
Prostate Cancer and the African-American Community Black American men have the highest risk of prostate cancer in the United States. They also have the highest risk of developing aggressive prostate cancer and the highest prostate cancer mortality rates.
There are two predominant theories as to why African- American men have a higher risk of prostate cancer: genetics and health care access. Some doctors believe that genetics play an important role; others believe that limited access to quality health care is to blame. A third theory exists: some doctors believe that a traditional diet which is high in saturated fat causes the higher prostate cancer risk. However, the diets of many Americans, regardless of race, have higher levels of fat than the diets of men of any other nationality. Click to here to read more about prostate cancer risk in the United States. The most widely-accepted theory of the black mens higher prostate cancer incidence and mortality rate melds the first and second theories. Genetics (due to melanin levels in the skin) may predispose African-American men, while limited access to quality health care does not catch the disease in earlier stages and does not get these men the best possible treatment. What Do African-American Genes have to do with Prostate Cancer? One of the most widely accepted theories is that black men living in North America do not get the exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light sufficient for the synthesis of Vitamin D. Adequate levels of Vitamin D seem to have a protective effect against cancer. Since Vitamin D production is somewhat inhibited through higher levels of melanin, black men living in equatorial areas of limited sunlight (such as in the north) may not produce sufficient Vitamin D. However, African-Americans must be extremely vigil-ant about this disease. For an African-American man, the chances of getting prostate cancer are 1 in 3 if you have just one close relative (father, brother) with the disease. The risk is 83 percent with two close relatives. With three, its almost a certainty (97 percent). There are no noticeable symptoms of prostate cancer while it is still in the early stages. This is why testing is so critical. Every African-American man, age 40 years or older, should consider annual testing for prostate cancer. Before the advent of early detection through PSA screening, about three-fourths of all prostate cancer cases were found in the late stages. With the widespread use of screening, 89 percent of cases in African-American men are now found early. Nearly 100 percent of African-American men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer are still alive five years from diagnosis. Of African-American men diagnosed in the late stages of the disease, 29 percent survive five years (not including those who died from causes other than prostate cancer.) http://zerocancer.org/education/prostate-cancer-and-the-african- american-community/
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Continued from page 2 Gender-Bending Chemicals put Baby Boys at Risk of Cancer and Infertility "The message is to avoid them, just as you should avoid alcohol and drugs." Professor Sharpe concluded that gender-bending chemicals are "likely to account for a proportion" of birth defects in baby boys and the testicular cancer and fertility problems the boys may suffer later in life. His report looked at studies into birth defects of boy's genitals, low sperm counts and testicular cancer. Such problems are collectively referred to as Testicular Dysgenesis Syndrome (TDS). Testosterone-disrupting chemicals found in pesticides, drugs, plastics and household products created symptoms of TDS in laboratory animals, experiments showed. Some of the experiments showed that the chemicals work in combination, causing problems at doses where the individual chemicals should be harmless. The evidence that the chemicals cause problems in humans was weaker, but still showed a link between environmental chemicals and male fertility problems, the report said. The latest figures suggest that one in six men in Britain has a low sperm count and will struggle to father a child. Doctors are also worried by rising levels of birth defects, with 7 per cent of British boys born with partially descended testes and seven in 1,000 with malformed genitals. The number of testicular cancer cases among men in their 20s and 30s has been doubling every 25 years. Professor Sharpe said that TDS takes root in the period between the eighth and 12th week of pregnancy. During this period, exposure to hormone-mimicking chemicals can interfere with testosterone production in a foetus, preventing the sex organs from developing normally. Chemicals shown to cause problems include pesticides such as DDT, fungicides such as vinclozolin; a group of chemicals called PCBs used in electrical circuits, paints, flame retardants and glues; and phthalates, which are used to soften plastics. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/children_shealth/5315684/G ender-bending-chemicals-put-baby-boys-at-risk-of-cancer-and- infertility-report-finds.html
Continued from page 5 - Male Reproductive Problems: Penis Disorders What causes phimosis? Phimosis, which is seen most often in children, may be present at birth. It also can be caused by an infection, or by scar tissue that formed as a result of injury or chronic inflammation. Another cause of phimosis is balanitis, which leads to scarring and tightness of the foreskin. Immediate medical attention is necessary if the condition makes urination difficult or impossible. How is phimosis treated? Treatment of phimosis may include gentle, manual stretching of the foreskin over a period of time. Sometimes, the foreskin can be loosened with medication applied to the penis. Circumcision, the surgical removal of the foreskin, often is used to treat phimosis. Another surgical procedure, called preputioplasty, involves separating the foreskin from the glans (head of the penis). This procedure preserves the foreskin and is less traumatic than circumcision. What is paraphimosis? Paraphimosis occurs when the foreskin, once retracted, cannot return to its original location. It is a medical emergency that can cause serious complications if not treated. What causes paraphimosis? Paraphimosis may occur after an erection or sexual activity, or as the result of injury to the head of the penis. With paraphimosis, the foreskin becomes stuck behind the ridge of the head of the penis. If this condition is prolonged, it can cause pain and swelling, and impair blood flow to the penis. In extreme cases, the lack of blood flow can result in the death of tissue (gangrene), and amputation of the penis may be necessary. How is paraphimosis treated? Treatment of paraphimosis focuses on reducing the swelling of the glans and foreskin. Applying ice may help reduce swelling, as may applying pressure to the glans to force out blood and fluid. If these measures fail to reduce swelling and allow the foreskin to return to its normal position, an injection of medication to help drain the penis may be necessary. In severe cases, a surgeon may make small cuts in the foreskin to release it. Circumcision also may be used as a treatment for paraphimosis. What is penile cancer? Penile cancer is a rare form of cancer that occurs when abnormal cells in the penis divide and grow uncontrolled. Certain benign (non-cancerous) tumors may progress and become cancer. Continued on page 11
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Continued from page 10 Male Reproductive Problems: Penis Disorders What causes penile cancer? The exact cause of penile cancer is not known, but there are certain risk factors for the disease. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of getting a disease. The risk factors for cancer of the penis may include the following: Uncircumcision: Men who are not circumcised at birth have a higher risk for getting cancer of the penis. Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection: HPV includes more than 100 types of viruses that can cause warts (papillomas). Certain types of HPV can infect the reproductive organs and the anal area. These types of HPV are passed from one person to another during sexual contact. Smoking: Smoking exposes the body to many cancer-causing chemicals that affect more than the lungs. Smegma: Oily secretions from the skin can accumulate under the foreskin of the penis. The result is a thick, bad-smelling substance called smegma. If the penis is not cleaned thoroughly, the presence of smegma can cause irritation and inflammation. Phimosis: This is a condition in which the foreskin becomes constricted and difficult to retract. Treatment for psoriasis: The skin disease psoriasis is sometimes treated with a combination of medication and exposure to ultraviolet light, which may increase a person's risk for penile cancer. Age: Over half of penile cancer occur in men over age 68. What are the symptoms of penile cancer? Symptoms of penile cancer include growths or sores on the penis, abnormal discharge from the penis, and bleeding. What treatments are given for penile cancer? Surgery to remove the cancer is the most common treatment for penile cancer. A doctor may take out the cancer using one of the following operations: Wide local excision takes out only the cancer and some normal tissue on either side. Electrodessication and curettage removes the cancer by scraping the tumor with a curette (thin, long instrument with a scraping edge) and applying an electric current to the area to kill cancer cells. Cryosurgery uses liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill the cancer cells. Microsurgery (Moh's surgery) is an operation that removes the cancer and as little normal tissue as possible. During this surgery, the doctor uses a microscope to look at the cancerous area to make sure all the cancer cells are removed. Laser surgery uses a narrow beam of light to remove cancer cells. Circumcision is an operation that removes the foreskin. Amputation of the penis (penectomy) is an operation that removes the penis. It is the most common and most effective treatment of cancer of the penis. In a partial penectomy, part of the penis is removed. In a total penectomy, the whole penis is removed. Lymph nodes in the groin may be taken out during surgery. Radiation, which uses high-energy rays to attack cancer, and chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer, are other treatment options. Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Urological Institute. Reviewed by Daniel Perlman, MD on September 24, 2007 Portions of this page The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2005; Last Editorial Review: 12/13/2007 http://www.medicinenet.com/penis_disorders/article.htm
5 Things You Didn't Know About Your Penis By Martin F. Downs WebMD Feature Here are some things you might have wondered about your penis, but were afraid to ask. No. 1: Your Penis Does Have a Mind of Its Own You've probably noticed that your penis often does its own thing. You may remember times when it was completely inappropriate to have an erection; and yet you couldn't wish it away. It's true that you have less command over your penis than body parts like your arms and legs. That's because the penis answers to a part of the nervous system that's not always under your conscious control. This is called the autonomic nervous system, which also regulates heart rate and blood pressure. Sexual arousal usually isn't voluntary. The conscious mind is complicit in it, but a lot of sexual arousal goes on in the Continued on page 12
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Continued from page 11 5 Things You Didn't Know About Your Penis sympathetic nervous system. In addition, impulses from the brain during the REM phase of sleep cause erections, whether you're dreaming about sex or about a test you forgot to study for. Heavy lifting or straining to have a bowel movement can also produce an erection. Just as the penis grows without your consent, sometimes it shrinks. "The flaccid penis varies in size considerably within a given man," says Drogo Montague, MD, a urologist at the Cleveland Clinic. Exposure to cold water or air makes your penis shrink. That's a function of the sympathetic nervous system. Psychological stress also involves the sympathetic nervous system, and stress has the same effect as a cold shower, Montague says. When you're relaxed and feeling well, your flaccid penis looks bigger than when you're stressed out. The penis is "kind of a barometer of the sympathetic nervous system," Montague says. So the greeting, "How's it hanging?" is more apt than you might have realized. No. 2: Your Penis May Be a 'Grower' or a 'Show-er' Among men, there is no consistent relationship between the size of the flaccid penis and its full erect length. In one study of 80 men, researchers found that increases from flaccid to erect lengths ranged widely, from less than a quarter inch to 3.5 inches longer. Whatever the clinical significance of these data may be, the locker-room significance is considerable. You can't assume that a dude with a big limp penis gets much bigger with an erection. And the guy whose penis looks tiny could surprise you with a big erection. An analysis of more than thousand measurements taken by sex researcher Alfred Kinsey shows that shorter flaccid penises tend to gain about twice as much length as longer flaccid penises. A penis that doesn't gain much length with an erection has become known as a "show-er," and a penis that gains a lot is said to be a "grower." These are not medical terms, and there aren't scientifically established thresholds for what's a show-er or a grower. Kinsey's data suggest that most penises aren't extreme show-ers or growers. About 12% of penises gained one- third or less of their total length with an erection, and about 7% doubled in length when erect. Kinsey's data suggest that most penises aren't extreme show-ers or growers. About 12% of penises gained one- third or less of their total length with an erection, and
about 7% doubled in length when erect. No. 3: Your Penis Is Shaped Like a Boomerang Your penis is shaped like a boomerang. Just like you don't see all of a big oak tree above ground, you don't see the root of your penis tucked up inside your pelvis and attached to your pubic bone. In an MRI picture, the penis looks distinctly boomerang- like, as noted by a French researcher who studied men and women having sex inside an MRI scanner. One method of surgical "penis enlargement" is to cut the ligament that holds the root of the penis up inside the pelvis. This operation may give some men a little extra length if more of the penis protrudes from the body, but there are side effects. This ligament, called the suspensory ligament, makes an erection sturdy. With that ligament cut, the erect penis loses its upward angle and it wobbles at the base. The lack of sturdiness can lead to injury. No. 4: You Can Break Your Penis There is no "penis bone," but you can break your penis all the same. It's called penile fracture, and it's not a subtle injury. When it happens, there's "an audible pop or snap," Montague says. Then the penis turns black and blue. And there's terrible pain. Penile fracture is rare, and it typically happens to younger men because their erections tend to be quite rigid. Here's how to avoid penile fracture: don't use your penis too roughly. A common way that penile fracture happens, Montague says, is when a man is thrusting too hard and fast during sex, and slams into his partner's pubic bone. Also, a woman who moves wildly while on top of a man during sex can break a man's penis. Peyronie's syndrome is a related condition that tends to show up more in older men, Montague says. An older man's erection may not be as rigid, but still is hard enough for sex. Over time, if the penis bends too much a certain way during sex, small tears in the tissue can form scars, and the accumulated scar tissue gives the penis an abnormally curved shape. Not all penis curvature is a problem, however. "There is a lot of variability in what normal is," Cummings says. No. 5: Most Penises in the World Are Uncut A report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that worldwide only 30% of males aged 15 and up are circumcised. Rates vary greatly depending upon religion and nationality. Almost all Jewish and Muslim males in the world have circumcised penises, and together they account for about Continued on page 13
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Continued from page 12 5 Things You Didn't Know About Your Penis 70% of all circumcised males globally. The United States has the highest proportion of males circumcised for non-religious reasons. A whopping 75% of non-Jewish, non-Muslim American men are circumcised. Compare that to Canada, where only 30% are. In the U.K. it's 20%; in Australia it's merely 6%. The practice of circumcising baby boys for medical and cosmetic reasons has become controversial in the U.S. But recently the World Health Organization (WHO) and the UUNAIDS recommended circumcision for adult men, based upon evidence that men with circumcised penises have a lower risk of being infected with HIV. The CDC estimates that about 65% of all newborn boys get circumcised in the U.S. SOURCES: Drogo Montague, MD, director, Center for Genitourinary Reconstruction, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic. James Cummings, MD, chief, division of urology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Masters and Johnson. Human Sexual Response, Little, Brown, 1966. Wessels, H. Journal of Urology, September 1996; vol 156: pp 996-997. Jamison, P. Journal of Sex Research, 1988; vol 24: pp 177- 183. Faix, A. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 2002; vol 28: pp 63-76. WHO and UNAIDS: Male circumcision: Global trends and determinants of prevalence, safety and acceptability, February 2007. WebMD Medical News: "Circumcision: New Weapon Against AIDS?" CDC. 2008 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9 2561
Low Sperm Counts and Deformed Penises: The Chemical Industry Has a Hold on Your Reproductive Future By Joshua Zaffos June 26, 2008 Colorado Springs Independent I am half the man my father is. This disturbing fortune came to me about five years ago, but not from an odd relative or a sadistic girlfriend. Instead, this dinner-table diagnosis came from Theo (short for Theodora) Colborn, an internationally known scientist who has helped develop the field of research exploring how chemical compounds interfere with the hormones that guide human development. Known as endocrine disruption, chemicals found in computer screens and car seats, shower curtains and shampoo, plastic water bottles and prophylactics are skewing our odds against cancers and causing developmental delays and reproductive roadblocks, including declining sperm counts. So, when Colborn informed me of my inferior manhood, I took consolation in the fact that she was indicting my entire generation -- and her own -- for loading our natural environment, our workplaces and our homes with tens of thousands of chemical compounds without really having a clue about what we're doing. Our Stolen Future, the book Colborn co-authored in 1996, first delivered this bad news to the general public. More than a decade later, scientists are still conducting experiments and measuring results, from cramped basement labs at universities to expansive high-country lakes in the wilderness. The hypotheses generally aren't questions of whether chemicals are pervading and persisting in the environment, but rather how severely they are stunting our development and health. The federal government has investigated these questions with timidity, if not contempt, operating a regulatory system practically beholden to the chemical industry. With half of my manhood at stake and hopes for a better assessment in the future, I'm wondering how we can heed the warning signs and reverse our chemical course. A day in my half-life For years, I started off each day drinking coffee out of a metallic cup, likely coated with bisphenol-A, a chemical commonly used to line plastic bottles and other food and beverage cans and containers. Anyone who has lugged around a Nalgene bottle made of polycarbonate plastic, trying to save the Earth one paper cup at a time, has gotten his or her share of bisphenol-A, which leaches from containers into liquids to enter our bodies. A U.S. Centers for Disease Control study detected bisphenol-A in 93 percent of all Americans. Inside us, bisphenol-A mimics estrogen, plugging into hormone receptors; this is endocrine disruption. In pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and young and prepubescent children, it can have critical impacts, rewiring our developmental profiles and opening up our Continued on page 14
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Continued from page 13 Low Sperm Counts and Deformed Penises risks for cancers and physical and behavioral abnormalities. Lab tests suggest that chronic, low-dose exposure to bisphenol-A -- like drinking out of a coated cup or polycarbonate bottle daily -- may cause women to have greater chances of breast cancer and polycystic ovary syndrome, a leading cause of infertility, and men to have increased odds of prostate cancer and reduced sperm counts. That's a lot to think about during the day's first cup of coffee or sip of water. Now I try to stick to ceramic mugs and glasses. As my body starts to properly caffeinate in the mornings, I usually sit in front of a laptop and do whatever it is writers do to put off writing -- checking e- mails and boxscores -- until I'm warmed up. As a computer warms up, particles inside start to fly and some catch a ride on dust. For years, I breathed in polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from my laptop. These compounds are flame-retardants, nearly universally used in couch cushions, televisions, cars and carpets. PBDEs have similar chemical structures to thyroid hormones, and, according to lab tests, they can lower our bodies' production of the real thing. Over time, thyroid-hormone deficiencies can hurt metabolism. Hypothyroidism causes fatigue, depression, anxiety, hair loss and a waning libido. Women with low thyroid-hormone counts are five times more likely to have children with IQs that qualify them as mildly retarded, according to one study. A 2005 experiment found that a single low dose of a common PDBE given to rats in utero resulted in a class of hyperactive rodents with persistent low sperm counts. Contemplating my future as a fat, bald, sad, edgy, dull and dim-witted bachelor isn't necessarily cause for perilous concern. Still, a generation's lacking aesthetics and sex drive is a wicked trade-off for the low combustion factors of our workspaces, living rooms and vehicles. On the mornings when words don't flow from my fingertips, I know it's time to take a shower, an effective and healthy distraction. I used to have a vinyl shower curtain and wash with whatever shampoo was cheapest from the supermarket. Both those products generally contain phthalates (pronounced "tha-lates"), compounds that add flexibility and plasticity to fragrances and cosmetics and almost anything made out of vinyl, including children's toys and IV bags. Phthalates are especially tenacious when it comes to tweaking with men's development, affecting androgen, as compared to estrogen, receptors. One of the first low-dose studies on phthalates, from 1999, found that exposure of pregnant female rats led to a dramatic increase in male offspring with sexual abnormalities. For humans, studies show that as many as one in 125 newborn boys in the U.S. now arrives from the womb with a hypospadia, a condition in which the urethra does not properly extend to the end of the penis, necessitating surgery. Data suggests the incidence has doubled since the 1970s, and scientists believe phthalates or other endocrine- disrupting chemicals are responsible. Recent research on phthalates by Rao Veeramachaneni of Colorado State University has used rabbits, which are better human surrogates than rats because they have infant and adolescent life stages; rodents basically start puberty once they're born. The results show rabbits with in utero exposure to one class of phthalate experienced a 43 percent drop in sperm count compared with healthy animals. Rabbits exposed to phthalates in utero or during adolescence had almost twice as many abnormal sperm as normal cases. These declines in sperm quality and quantity are among the signs of "testicular dysgenesis," which also includes increased rates of undescended testicles and, most severely, testicular cancer. Yet another study, led by Shanna Swan of the University of Rochester, suggests prenatal exposure to phthalates correlates with shorter "anogenital distance" (the space from the anus to the testicles, less clinically known as the taint) and greater probability of improper testicular descent and smaller penile volume. In other words, size does matter, just not necessarily the way we act like it does. Beast of body burden I can try to avoid plastic bottles and vinyl shower curtains. I can seek out a computer that doesn't use PBDEs; a number of companies have voluntarily phased them out. My few consumer actions are roughly equivalent to fending off an infectious disease with a Kleenex. One reason is that the federal government doesn't do much to monitor or regulate chemical concentrations in the environment. Congress passed the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in 1976, the same year I was born. Under the law, manufacturers register commercial chemicals and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can test the safety of chemicals -- produced after 1979 -- and regulate their use. Or at least that's how it's supposed to work. Continued on page 15
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Continued from page 14 Low Sperm Counts and Deformed Penises From 1979 to 2004, the EPA received more than 32,000 chemical applications, but agency personnel performed some level of review on fewer than one in eight cases. Eight out of every 10 applications are approved with no restrictions, often in less than three weeks. The agency has implemented restrictions on only five chemical classes, even though in the 1990s it reported that 16,000 compounds warranted concern because of their chemical structure or volume of use. "TSCA really doesn't have the teeth to ban chemicals," says Sonya Lunder, senior analyst with Environmental Working Group, a D.C.-based watchdog organization. Another catch is something called bioaccumulation. Some chemicals persistently build up inside us, a tally called a body burden. Mothers pass theirs onto babies in utero and through breast milk. I inherit, so to say, the body burdens of animals every time I eat a cheeseburger or splurge on sushi. In 2001, a Canadian health official estimated the average person consumes about half a microgram of PBDEs every 10 days just through meat and dairy. When it comes to endocrine disruption, you are what you eat. I have roughly 700 different synthetic chemicals in my body. That number probably won't be going down any time soon. Every single day, the United States produces or imports 42 billion pounds of chemicals, about 140 pounds for every American. I also am what I eat out of, and with, and around. The same compounds that bioaccumulate in our bodies also linger in the environment. The heavy-duty pesticide DDT earned its notoriety -- and nearly worldwide prohibition -- because its lethal toxicity could kill off dozens of birds after an application. It is also a "persistent organic pollutant" that remains in the environment for a long time and can mimic estrogen and lead to birth defects. It's probably fair to call DDT the O.G. of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Bans on DDT and other persistent organic pollutants led to the engineering of the new class of chemicals we use today. It's obvious how they've improved our lifestyles, if not our lives. But studies suggest we have traded obvious poisons for insidious ones. Pollution in the park Situated in the ice-sculpted Colorado valley of Glacier Gorge, Mills Lake is considered one of the most stunning features in Rocky Mountain National Park. At nearly 10,000 feet and fed by snowmelt from the Continental Divide, Mills should be among the purest pools of mountain water in existence. But the presence of "intersex" rainbow trout, males with some very female characteristics, suggests otherwise. This February, the National Park Service issued a report through its Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project (WACAP) detailing measurable levels of chemicals and heavy metals throughout "pristine" corners of our national parks. "The transsexual fish was really something we hadn't anticipated," says Dixon Landers, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency research scientist who participated in the WACAP. Based on the project's findings, Landers says most parks' contaminant counts correlate with the local pollution measured in the surrounding snowpack. In Rocky Mountain National Park, that means mercury from power plants along the Front Range and chemicals from agricultural pesticides. Researchers also reported levels of persistent organic pollutants, including DDT, once again proving the compounds' lasting risks. DDT, which hasn't been used in the U.S. since 1972, could plausibly be responsible for transsexual fish in the middle of the continent. Scientists also point out that airborne pollution moves around the world, so organic pesticides could be coming from countries that still use them. Then again, the project also detected levels of PBDEs in parks, suggesting another pathway. In 2004, University of Colorado scientists surveyed fish in Fountain Creek, downstream of Colorado Springs' wastewater-treatment facilities, and found intersex flathead chubs and other sexual deformities. Around the same time that James Dobson was raising questions over SpongeBob's sexual preferences, a much more serious case of sexual deviancy was brewing in his backyard stream. The Fountain Creek results mirror earlier findings from around the state. The same researchers have identified intersex fish swimming below sewage plants in Boulder and Denver; they couldn't find a single male white sucker in the South Platte River downstream of the state capital. The scientists reported many more female than male fish, female fish with poor reproduction rates, stunted gonads in both sexes, and males producing vitellogenin, the main ingredient of yolks for offspring. Concentrations of chemicals and steroid hormones, including synthetic estrogen used in birth control and synthetic testosterone used to bulk up livestock, are typically higher in streams below treatment plants because the contaminants accumulate at the facilities. That is one of the reasons for treatment, but the various processes Continued to page 16
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Continued from page 15 Low Sperm Counts and Deformed Penises used in most wastewater plants don't effectively remove many of these compounds. A forthcoming study from the University of Colorado scientists and their colleagues has more specifically analyzed why the fish in these locations are suffering these maladies. The researchers report a "complex mixture of endocrine-active chemicals" in Boulder Creek, including bisphenol-A, steroid hormones and alkylphenols, which are estrogen-mimicking compounds used in air fresheners and laundry detergents, and as a spermicide on condoms, diaphragms and other contraceptives. Other studies are advancing our understanding of chemicals' impacts on life. A group of Colorado State University researchers led by Thomas Borch, professor of environmental chemistry, is looking at measurable amounts of androgens and estrogens along the Cache la Poudre River, upstream and downstream of Fort Collins, to see what happens to the compounds over time. "This particular study stands out because we've tried to address the question: What are the present compounds being broken down to?" Borch says. "It's beyond the fact that these could have endocrine-disrupting effects." Borch refers to other research suggesting synthetic chemicals can impact animals' levels of pheromones, a class of hormones that cue behavioral responses in other members of a species. "We're just being able to reliably detect these compounds," he adds. Meanwhile, the mix of pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics and mood stabilizers, steroid hormones and other compounds passing through standard wastewater treatment processes -- and into drinking water supplies -- was the focus of a recent Associated Press investigation. A Senate committee has announced it will hold hearings on the topic. A dangerous double standard Congress, actually the U.S. House of Representatives, is investigating the federal government's regulatory behavior regarding chemicals. An ongoing inquiry should help reveal the extent of industry influence over recommended rules for synthetic compounds. Rather than yielding a regulatory hammer, the EPA generally allows the chemical industry to set its own standards voluntarily and conduct its own evaluations on endocrine disruption and chemical impacts on
children. In cases where chemicals have gone through formal reviews, the results haven't always panned out for public health and safety. The Environmental Working Group recently exposed that the EPA had removed a government scientist from an external-review panel of deca-brominated diphenyl ester, one of the fire-retardant PBDEs, after the American Chemistry Council complained about her "appearance of bias." Other PBDEs have been outlawed in the U.S. since 2004 because of their effects on human thyroid systems and brain development, and their rates of bioaccumulation; body burdens drop when we stop using these chemicals. The impacts of deca weren't as conclusive a few years ago, but recent studies show the compound can break down into other PBDEs and cause endocrine disruption. Deborah Rice, an environmental toxicologist with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and a former EPA scientist, has testified, to her state Legislature, in favor of banning deca. That was enough for the chemical industry to claim she was unqualified to serve as the deca panel chair. The EPA complied with the industry's complaint last summer, citing the "perception of a potential conflict of interest." "The American Chemistry Council's strong support of science was the basis for its recent letter to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding a member of the agency's external peer-review panel for [PBDEs]," says Tiffany Harrington, a spokeswoman for the council. "The chairperson's pre-existing bias advocating the ban of deca- BDE is not consistent with the scientific standards of an independent peer review." Even with an IQ possibly deflated by flame retardants, Rice's prior recommendations, based on peer-reviewed research, don't sound like "bias" to me. Meanwhile, 17 scientists with financial or other ties to the chemical industry currently serve on seven EPA review panels, according to the Environmental Working Group. "There's a dangerous double standard coming out of the EPA about who is biased," Lunder says. So far, these cases haven't warranted the agency to remove any panelists. The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce is now gathering agency documents on the issue as part of another investigation into regulations on the use of bisphenol-A, specifically in children's products, and the chemical industry's possible manipulation of public opinion relating to chemical safety. "There's a dangerous double standard coming out of the Continued on page 17
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Continued from page 16 Low Sperm Counts and Deformed Penises EPA about who is biased," Lunder says. So far, these cases haven't warranted the agency to remove any panelists. The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce is now gathering agency documents on the issue as part of another investigation into regulations on the use of bisphenol-A, specifically in children's products, and the chemical industry's possible manipulation of public opinion relating to chemical safety. "The public depends on EPA peer-review panels to help ensure the products they use every day are safe," says Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Mich., the committee chair. "The EPA seems to have a backwards way of composing these panels. The EPA is disallowing scientists who have valid public-health concerns about products, while encouraging participation by so-called experts who are paid by the chemical industry." In the midst of the congressional investigation, bisphenol-A has gotten another once-over, even if U.S. regulators aren't changing their stances. The Canadian government announced it will likely label bisphenol-A as a toxic compound. Wal-Mart declared it would remove baby products with the substance from its shelves in Canada and eventually the U.S. Nalgene stated it would remove bisphenol-A from its water- bottle products. Perhaps most telling, officials at the U.S. National Toxicology Program released an April report that concluded the use of bisphenol-A, even at low levels, should cause "some concern" toward health risks for fetuses, babies and children. Despite the wave of scientifically informed reports and consumer actions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, another agency with regulatory oversight over chemicals, claimed there was no reason for Americans to worry themselves over bisphenol-A. The Environmental Working Group is pushing for TSCA reform and is also supporting private and local- and state-level efforts to more effectively regulate potentially harmful chemicals. Many computer companies no longer use PBDEs, partly a result of tougher chemical restrictions in Europe. Corporations and academics are advocating for and following through on "green chemistry" practices, a comprehensive rethinking of manufacturing processes. Some cities are promoting their own pharmaceutical "takeback" programs, to limit the flushing of unused pills. The federal government's takeback guidelines are considered weak and confusing; in some cases, they encourage flushing pills to avoid drug abuse. In February, the EPA announced it would try to eliminate a backlog of 8,000 untested chemicals through a new "computational toxicology" initiative. Robert Kavlock, director of the agency's National Center for Computational Toxicology, says the program will use molecular and cellular tests performed by automated robots, instead of animal testing in labs. Whereas a chemical review through animal-toxicology studies can take five years and cost between $5 million and $10 million, the computational program can test thousands of compounds at several concentrations in a single afternoon. The breakthrough sounds encouraging, but critics question if molecular and cellular tests can capture health effects that impair entire organisms. Kavlock says the program's first phase will measure results against existing animal- toxicity data for chemicals to address that concern. Global warning During my conversation with CSU's Thomas Borch, I ask him to compare our understanding and acceptance of endocrine disruption with that of another subtle, global environmental epidemic: climate change. Borch says the analogy is apt, believing that the impacts of endocrine- disrupting chemicals we see today are comparable to the signs of global warming that people began to acknowledge in the 1990s. He recognizes this assessment might be conservative; some colleagues, Borch adds, would say the consequences of our society's chemical romance are already measurable and apparent, and they demand appropriate policy changes. I started surfing through the evidence five years ago. After first meeting Theo Colborn, I began spending time with her, asking lots of questions and reading whatever she handed me. I even worked for her for a short while, organizing files and sorting through research papers and reports. Today, at 81, Colborn is sharp as a tack and president of TEDX, Inc., an acronym for The Endocrine Disruption Exchange that rhymes with a certain overnight-delivery company. The nonprofit research clearinghouse compiles and circulates peer-reviewed studies on low-dose chemical exposure, allows scientists to compare results, and helps the media and the public understand what we are doing to our planet and our bodies. One day, while I was helping Colborn at her home, where a massive file cabinet piled high with draft studies and award plaques sits in her kitchen, she opened a drawer to find a report. Instead, she discovered a folder, filled with poetry. Continued on page 18
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Continued from page 17 Low Sperm Counts and Deformed Penises "Oh! You need to have this," she told me and pulled out a photocopy of a poem, which is frequently attributed to Goethe and closes with the oft-quoted couplet: "Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now." The inspirational verse on mind over matter is intriguing, coming from Colborn. Backed by decades of research and exchanges with fellow scientists, she firmly believes chemicals amassing in our bodies may not only outweigh, but be diminishing, our minds' capabilities. The words are a testimony to the ideal that if we are willing to inform ourselves and commit to intelligent decisions about our use of chemicals, it's not too late to affect change and avert a global crisis. Begin it now. Joshua Zaffos writes from Fort Collins, Colorado http://www.alternet.org/story/89453/
Smaller Penis (And Regret) May Follow Prostate Cancer Treatment By Nick Mulcahy January 07, 2013 Treatments for prostate cancer can result in a little- mentioned adverse effect a smaller penis, according to a new study. In addition, men with reduced penile size were significantly more likely to regret treatment than those without size loss. Reduced penile size is not a common adverse effect of prostate cancer treatment; it occurred in only 25 (2.6%) of the study's 948 men, according to the researchers, led by Paul Nguyen, MD, a radiation oncologist from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. Their results were published in the January issue of Urology. The researchers found significantly more complaints of a shortened penis associated with surgery ( P = .004) and radiotherapy plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) ( P =.016) than with radiotherapy alone.
The rate of reduced penile size was 3.73% for surgery (19 of 510), 2.67% for radiotherapy plus ADT (6 of 225), and 0% for radiotherapy alone (0 of 213). This study is "really of interest" because it has a large number of patients and includes more than just surgery, which has been studied most often, writes Luc Cormier, MD, PhD, urologist at the Dijon University Hospital in France, in an accompanying editorial comment. The study's data on penis size come from a physician- completed questionnaire about their patients who consented to become part of the Comprehensive, Observational, Multicenter, Prostate Adenocarcinoma (COMPARE) registry, which was opened in 2004 at 150 sites in the United States to track biochemical recurrence after primary therapy. About 20% of the men were younger than 60 years, and roughly three quarters were in their 60s and 70s. The men probably would not mention size loss at clinic visits if "more pressing" issues, such as prognosis and oncologic control, were discussed, say the authors; hence, underreporting was likely. The adverse effect of penile shortening is "rarely mentioned" by physicians, they point out. "I would think that 10% or less of doctors who treat prostate cancer routinely discuss reduction in penis size as a possible side effect of therapy," Dr. Nguyen told Medscape Medical News. He also said that the potential adverse effect of a smaller penis is well known among clinicians. If the potential for size loss was more widely discussed, more men might consider active surveillance as a treatment option, Dr. Nguyen acknowledged. Sexual Functioning Also Involved A smaller penis has far-ranging effects for a man, according to the study results. Reduced penile size was significantly associated with more treatment regret (odds ratio [OR], 3.37; P = .0079) and an increased risk for interference with close emotional relationships (OR, 2.36; P = .044) on multivariate analysis, adjusted for age, treatment type, and baseline comorbidity. There was also a nearly significant impact on another measure the "overall enjoyment" in life. These data on emotional sequelae were derived from a different questionnaire, which was completed by the patients themselves. In the case of 2 measures ("interference with close relationships" and "overall enjoyment"), the questions were actually rooted in sexual function. Patients were asked, for example, how often their sexual functioning "made it difficult to enjoy your life." Thus, the findings about the emotional sequelae of prostate cancer treatment are related to sexual functioning. Continued on page 40
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African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES GM Soy Linked To Sterility, Infant Mortality By Jeffrey Smith April 26, 2010
This study was just routine," said Russian biologist Alexey V. Surov, in what could end up as the understatement of this century. Surov and his colleagues set out to discover if Monsanto's genetically modified (GM) soy, grown on 91% of US soybean fields, leads to problems in growth or reproduction. What he discovered may uproot a multi- billion dollar industry. After feeding hamsters for two years over three generations, those on the GM diet, and especially the group on the maximum GM soy diet, showed devastating results. By the third generation, most GM soy-fed hamsters lost the ability to have babies. They also suffered slower growth, and a high mortality rate among the pups. And if this isn't shocking enough, some in the third generation even had hair growing inside their mouths - a phenomenon rarely seen, but apparently more prevalent among hamsters eating GM soy. The study, jointly conducted by Surov's Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the National Association for Gene Security, is expected to be published in three months (July 2010) --so the technical details will have to wait. But Surov sketched out the basic set up for me in an email. He used Campbell hamsters, with a fast reproduction rate, divided into 4 groups. All were fed a normal diet, but one was without any soy, another had non-GM soy, a third used GM soy, and a fourth contained higher amounts of GM soy. They used 5 pairs of hamsters per group, each of which produced 7-8 litters, totally 140 animals. Surov told The Voice of Russia, http://english.ruvr.ru/2010/04/16/6524765.html "Originally, everything went smoothly. However, we noticed quite a serious effect when we selected new pairs from their cubs and continued to feed them as before. These pairs' growth rate was slower and reached their sexual maturity slowly." He selected new pairs from each group, which generated another 39 litters. There were 52 pups born to the control group and 78 to the non-GM soy group. In the GM soy group, however, only 40 pups were born. And of these, 25% died. This was a fivefold higher death rate than the 5% seen among the controls. Of the hamsters that ate high GM soy content, only a single female hamster gave birth. She had 16 pups; about 20% died. Surov said "The low numbers in F2 [third generation] showed that many animals were sterile." The published paper will also include measurements of organ size for the third generation animals, including testes, spleen, uterus, etc. And if the team can raise sufficient funds, they will also analyze hormone levels in collected blood samples. Hair Growing in the Mouth Earlier this year, Surov co-authored a paper in Doklady Biological Sciences showing that in rare instances, hair grows inside recessed pouches in the mouths of hamsters. "Some of these pouches contained single hairs; others, thick bundles of colorless or pigmented hairs reaching as high as the chewing surface of the teeth. Sometimes, the tooth row was surrounded with a regular brush of hair bundles on both sides. The hairs grew vertically and had sharp ends, often covered with lumps of a mucous." (The photos of these hair bundles are truly disgusting. Trust me, or look for yourself.) http://www.responsibletechnology.org/utility/showArticle/?ob jectID=4888#hair At the conclusion of the study, the authors surmise that Continued on page 20
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Continued from page 19 GM Soy Linked to Sterility, Infant Mortality such an astounding defect may be due to the diet of hamsters raised in the laboratory. They write, "This pathology may be exacerbated by elements of the food that are absent in natural food, such as genetically modified (GM) ingredients (GM soybean or maize meal) or contaminants (pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals, etc.)." Indeed, the number of hairy mouthed hamsters was much higher among the third generation of GM soy fed animals than anywhere Surov had seen before. Preliminary, but Ominous Surov warns against jumping to early conclusions. He said, "It is quite possible that the GMO does not cause these effects by itself." Surov wants to make the analysis of the feed components a priority, to discover just what is causing the effect and how. In addition to the GMOs, it could be contaminants, he said, or higher herbicide residues, such as Roundup. There is in fact much higher levels of Roundup on these beans; they're called "Roundup Ready." Bacterial genes are forced into their DNA so that the plants can tolerate Monsanto's Roundup herbicide. Therefore, GM soy always carries the double threat of higher herbicide content, couple with any side effects of genetic engineering. Years of Reproductive Disorders from GMO-Feed Surov's hamsters are just the latest animals to suffer from reproductive disorders after consuming GMOs. In 2005, Irina Ermakova, also with the Russian National Academy of Sciences, reported that more than half the babies from mother rats fed GM soy died within three weeks http://www.responsibletechnology.org/utility/showArticle/?ob jectID=299 This was also five times higher than the 10% death rate of the non-GMO soy group. The babies in the GM group were also smaller and could not reproduce. (see photo) http://www.responsibletechnology.org/utility/showArticle/?ob jectID=4888#size In a telling coincidence, after Ermakova's feeding trials, her laboratory started feeding all the rats in the facility a commercial rat chow using GM soy. Within two months, the infant mortality facility-wide reached 55%. When Ermakova fed male rats GM soy, their testicles changed from the normal pink to dark blue! Italian scientists http://www.responsibletechnology.org/utility/showArticle/?ob jectID=4888#testes similarly found changes in mice testes (PDF), including damaged young sperm cells. Furthermore, the DNA of embryos from parent mice fed GM soy functioned differently. http://www.somloquesembrem.org/img_editor/file/Vecchioetal 2004.pdf An Austrian government study published in November 2008 showed that the more GM corn was fed to mice, the fewer the babies they had (PDF), and the smaller the babies were. http://www.biosicherheit.de/pdf/aktuell/zentek_studie_2008.pdf Central Iowa Farmer Jerry Rosman also had trouble with pigs and cows becoming sterile. Some of his pigs even had false pregnancies or gave birth to bags of water. After months of investigations and testing, he finally traced the problem to GM corn feed. Every time a newspaper, magazine, or TV show reported Jerry's problems, he would receive calls from more farmers complaining of livestock sterility on their farm, linked to GM corn. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine accidentally discovered that rats "raised on corncob bedding neither breed nor exhibit reproductive behavior." Tests on the corn material revealed two compounds that stopped the sexual cycle in females "at concentrations approximately two-hundredfold lower than classical phytoestrogens." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1240732/ One compound also curtailed male sexual behavior and both substances contributed to the growth of breast and prostate cancer cell cultures. Researchers found that the amount of the substances varied with GM corn varieties. The crushed corncob used at Baylor was likely shipped from central Iowa, near the farm of Jerry Rosman and others complaining of sterile livestock. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1314908/ In Haryana, India, a team of investigating veterinarians report that buffalo consuming GM cottonseed suffer from infertility, as well as frequent abortions, premature deliveries, and prolapsed uteruses. Many adult and young buffalo have also died mysteriously. Denial, Attack and Canceled Follow-up Scientists, who discover adverse findings from GMOs are regularly attacked, ridiculed, denied funding, and even fired. When Ermakova reported the high infant mortality among GM soy fed offspring, for example, she appealed to the scientific community to repeat and verify her preliminary results. She also sought additional funds to analyze preserved organs. Instead, she was attacked and vilified. Samples were stolen from her lab, papers were burnt on her desk, and she said that her boss, under pressure from his boss, told her to stop doing any more Continued on page 21
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Continued from page 20 GM Soy Linked to Sterility, Infant Mortality GMO research. No one has yet repeated Ermakova's simple, inexpensive studies. In an attempt to offer her sympathy, one of her colleagues suggested that maybe the GM soy will solve the over population problem! Surov reports that so far, he has not been under any pressure. Opting Out of the Massive GMO Feeding Experiment Without detailed tests, no one can pinpoint exactly what is causing the reproductive travesties in Russian hamsters and rats, Italian and Austrian mice, and livestock in India and America. And we can only speculate about the relationship between the introduction of genetically modified foods in 1996, and the corresponding upsurge in low birth weight babies, infertility, and other problems among the US population. But many scientists, physicians, and concerned citizens don't think that the public should remain the lab animals for the biotech industry's massive uncontrolled experiment.Alexey Surov says, "We have no right to use GMOs until we understand the possible adverse effects, not only to ourselves but to future generations as well. We definitely need fully detailed studies to clarify this. Any type of contamination has to be tested before we consume it, and GMO is just one of them." http://www.rense.com/general90/soy.htm
Cottonseed Derivative 'Gossypol'... UC Professor Eyes Permanent Sterilant to Cull US Population September 19, 2012 During a speech earlier this year given by University of California-Riverside professor Richard Cardullo, the cottonseed derivative Gossypol is being proposed as an adequate sterilant to bring down the birthrate in the United States. Stating that the substances permanent sterilization effects on males is already being considered for widespread use in China and many third world countries, Cardullo calls it an option for use within the United States. In addition to Gossypol, the professor advised the attending students to lower their standard of living if the earth is to continue carrying humans on its surface. Interesting to note that the professor has recently been selected by the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to join the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education (PULSE) program, funded by the federal government. As part of the universitys online science lecture series, recorded on the campus earlier this year, the professors lecture Is Earth Overpopulated is a classic neo- Malthusian regurgitation claiming the planet cannot carry much more people. If you want to minimize environmental impact, perhaps you should consider lowering your standard of living, for instance. Cardullo also told people could reduce human impact on the earth by becoming vegetarians: Although the professor tells his listening audience to lower their standard of living to minimize human impact on the earth, he stresses that this in itself isnt sufficient to lower fertility in the United States. Also, the professor continues, famine, disease, war and so on do not have the ability to effectively cull the human population. One of the things we know is the production of meat is incredibly expensive, he said. You are going to start hearing more and more about humans carbon footprint, and one of the biggest contributions to that carbon footprint is the production of meat. We could do a lot simply by just becoming more vegetarian. () we have got to do something about population as well. The United States, we are very affluent. we currently have a population of 313 million people. Altogether we gain one person every 15 seconds. If we want to take the population down to 150 million, all it would require in the next 100 years is to lower that birth rate because we are not going to do it through any other method, right? That would be horrible. If we want to decrease the population, we could do it in an number of different ways. Then the professor goes on to point at the screen, on which are depicted several disease-spreading insects. These are all whats called vectors carriers of disease which we are familiar with () horrible things (). Im going to show you things that effects populations more than anything (), its those, states the professor as he points to an image of sperm. Many scientists want to know: are there ways, are there Continued on page 22
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Continued from page 21 Cottonseed Derivative 'Gossypol'... new ways, that we can control population or fertility rates, by targeting specific cells, sperm or eggs, so that individuals can make the decision to keep those rates low. A bit later on in the speech, the professor eyes cotton derivative Gossypol, which- as scientists have learned- cause sterility in males by targeting the sperm. Citing Chinese and American research on Gossypol, Cardullo mentions that Gossypol has the potential of killing humans, causing not just temporary but permanent sterility in males. () ultimately the World Health Organization argued against using it. But interestingly enough, there are countries in the world (such as China, Nigeria, Brazil etc.) using it as a permanent method for controlling fertility in males, which is an option. The permanent sterility effects of Gossypol were discovered back in the 1970s, and were further picked up by the main financial contributor of anti-fertility drugs in the 20th century, the Rockefeller Foundation. The Foundation, it seems, investigated Gossypols anti- fertility effect as well as the possibility of using the substance for widespread use. The 1985 Rockefeller Foundations annual report underlined its ongoing dedication towards finding good use for Gossypol.
Indeed, gossypol, a toxic polyphenol derived from the cotton plant, was identified early on in the Foundations research as an effective sterilant. The question was, how to implement or integrate the toxic substance into crops. Another long-term interest of the Foundation has been gossypol, a compound that has been shown to have an antifertility effect in men. By the end of 1985, the Foundation had made grants totaling approximately $1.6 million in an effort to support and stimulate scientific investigations on the safety and
efficacy of gossypol. In the 1986 Rockefeller Foundation annual report, the organization admits funding research into the use of fertility-reducing compounds in relation to food for widespread use: Male contraceptive studies are focused on gossypol, a natural substance extracted from the cotton plant, and identified by Chinese researchers as having an anti- fertility effect on men. Before widespread use can be recommended, further investigation is needed to see if lowering the dosage can eliminate undesirable side-effects without reducing its effectiveness as a contraceptive. The Foundation supported research on gossypols safety, reversibility and efficacy in seven different 1986 grants. It seems that the funded scientists have indeed found a way of lowering the dosage of gossypol, circumventing the toxicity of the substance, so as to suppress or even eliminate these undesirable side-effects, which include: low blood potassium levels, fatigue, muscle weakness and even paralysis. If these effects could be eliminated without reducing the anti-fertility effects, the Foundation figured, it would be a highly effective and almost undetectable sterilant. Although overtly, research into and development of gossypol as a anti-fertility compound was abandoned in the late 1990s, the cottonseed containing the substance was especially selected for mass distribution in the beginning of the current decade. Around 2006 a media- campaign was launched, saying the cottonseed could help defeat hunger and poverty. In 2006, NatureNews reported that RNA interference (or RNAi) was the way to go. On the one hand it would cut the gossypol content in cottonseeds by 98%, while leaving the chemical defenses of the rest of the plant intact. Furthermore, the article quoted Dr. Deborah P. Delmer, the Rockefeller Foundations associate director of food security, who was quick to bury any concern: Deborah Delmer, associate director of the Rockefeller Foundation in New York City and an expert in agricultural food safety, points out that a benefit of using RNAi technology is that it turns off a gene process rather than switching on a novel function. So instead of introducing a new foreign protein, youre just shutting down one process, Delmer says. In that sense, I think that the safety concerns should be far less than other GM technologies. Continued on page 23
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Continued from page 22 - Cottonseed Derivative 'Gossypol'... A 2006, National Geographic article Toxin-Free Cottonseed Engineered; Could Feed Millions Study Says, quotes the director of the Laboratory for Crop Transformation (Texas A&M Universtity), Keerti Singh Rathore as saying: A gossypol-free cottonseed would significantly contribute to human nutrition and health, particularly in developing countries, and help meet the requirements of the predicted 50 percent increase in the world population in the next 50 years. Rathores study, states the article, represents the first substantiated case where gossypol was reduced via genetic engineering that targets the genes that make the toxin. I bring into recollection the statement made by the Rockefeller Foundation in its 1986 annual report, which reads: Before widespread use can be recommended, further investigation is needed to see if lowering the dosage can eliminate undesirable side-effects without reducing its effectiveness as a contraceptive. In the 1997 Foundational report, Rathore is mentioned (page 68). A postdoctoral fellowship-grant was given to a certain E. Chandrakanth for advanced study in plant molecular biology under the direction of Keerti S. Rathore, Laboratory for Crop Transformation, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Compromising connections, in other words, for someone who claimed academic objectivity in regards to gossypol and its sterilizing effects. Rathore explained the workings of RNAi in a 2006 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Cottonseed toxicity due to gossypol is a long-standing problem, Rathore said, and people have tried to fix it but havent been able to through traditional plant breeding. My area of research is plant transgenics, so I thought about using some molecular approaches to address this problem. Rathore also mentioned the desired main funder of his work without actually saying the name: we are trying to find some partners and will probably be looking at charitable foundations to help us out in terms of doing all kinds of testing that is required before a genetically engineered plant is approved for food or feed. We are in the very early stages and have a lot of ideas in mind, but we need to pursue those. Hopefully, we can
find some sort of partnership that will allow us to do them. He also expressed the final adaptation of the cottonseed for widespread use is something of the long term: () right now there are many hurdles when you are dealing with a genetically modified plant. But I think in the next 15 or 20 years a lot of these regulations that we have to satisfy will be eliminated or reduced substantially. The Foundation, as is evident from the statements of Rockefellers own Deborah Delmer, has been more than interested. The scientific community, we see, now tells young students that using such sterilants are a viable option to reduce the US population. Given the fact that the professor has been selected by large governmental organizations under the general guidance of Obamas science czar John P. Holdren, we must wonder if the option of using Gossypol as a sterilent in the United States may have been inspired by Holdren and Ehrlich in their 1977 book Ecoscience, when they wrote: Adding a sterilant to drinking water or staple foods is a suggestion that seems to horrify people more than most proposals for involuntary fertility control. Indeed, this would pose some very difficult political, legal, and social questions, to say nothing of the technical problems. No such sterilant exists today, nor does one appear to be under development. To be acceptable, such a substance would have to meet some rather stiff requirements: it must be uniformly effective, despite widely varying doses received by individuals, and despite varying degrees of fertility and sensitivity among individuals; it must be free of dangerous or unpleasant side effects; and it must have no effect on members of the opposite sex, children, old people, pets, or livestock. BlackListedNews http://www.knowthelies.com/node/8167
Cooking With Poison 6 February 2008 UN Integrated Regional Information Networks Cut-price cooking oil used in most Malian households has been found to contain gossypol, a toxic substance that is known to cause sterility, cancer and inhibit growth. Only two out of 57 oil producers studied around the Continued on page 24
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Continued from page 23 Cooking With Poison country had the necessary equipment to produce safely- refined cooking oil, revealed a November 2007 investigation by the Mali government. The rest were producing oil containing gossypol, a harmful poison. "The results are alarming...after evaluating the oil mills, we realised most of them did not have proper refining equipment," Adama Konat, the government industries director told IRIN. Gossypol is naturally produced by cotton plants to slow down the reproduction of insects that eat cotton seeds, and is eliminated if the oil refining process is conducted properly. The majority of Malians buy the oil for cooking since, at an average of US$1.25 a litre, it is about half the price of imported oils. Government order Responding to the possible threat to consumers, on 15 January the government ordered 104 factories across the country to close down - a move some consumer groups say will not work unless it is accompanied by systems to monitor oil quality. Most cottonseed in Mali is produced by small companies, but a handful of large ones have the right equipment and are capitalising on the closures to increase their market share. Gossypol is linked with a host of health problems, including permanent infertility or sterility in men, irregularity of menstruation and termination of pregnancies in women, and gastric problems, according to Sanagar Ibrahim, a nutritionist and a member of the Mali consumers association (ASCOMA). Adama Haidara doctor at the Hope Clinic, a medical centre in Sikoro near Bamako, backed this up, stressing it is also linked to cardiac arrests and cancer. "The risks to the consumer after a long period of absorption of non-refined oil are enormous." Updating too costly The government has ordered producers to update their equipment, but not all can afford to and some have been forced to shut down production for good. "Personally, I can't afford to install a refinery system, so I closed my factory, and will sell it," Seydou Traor, an oil-producer in Fana, 120 km east of Bamako, told IRIN. For Adama Tangara, who works with one of these firms, the answer is clear-cut, "Small oil producers can either buy new equipment or get out of the market."
Meanwhile, Malians are taking their anger out on the government, accusing it of not regulating the industry properly. "The government had no controls in place, no follow-up, nothing...the quality of the oil produced, and the health of consumers mattered little to it," said Seydou Samak, a Bamako resident who used to frequently cook with the oil. "The doctor has arrived after the death. It's always like that. It took us being poisoned for the government to intervene," complained Oumar Traor, a member of the Mali Coalition for the Protection of Consumers (REDECOMA). Industries minister Konat defended the government's decision. "All the producers who had been approved were far from meeting the requirement to produce quality products... hence our decision to immediately close all the plants that did not meet these standards." Consumer policy needed Members of the consumer's group ASCOMA, which claims it was the first organisation to draw the dangers of gossypol in cooking oil to the government's attention, agreed that the government has work to do if Malians are not to be hit by a similar crisis. "We salute the government's decision to close the factories, but that is not enough. It needs to put monitoring in place to control the quality of...all the products on the market," Colibably Salimata Diarra, President of ASCOMA told IRIN. She urged the government to create a labelling system so consumers can source the oil they have bought, to launch a campaign to alert the public to potential health risks, and to develop a national consumer policy to bring more accountability into the cooking-oil market. All eyes are now on the government's next steps. If there is no progress, some are urging strong action. "If the state does not do this, consumers must form a common block, and sue the State in front of a tribunal," said Traor. [ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations ] http://allafrica.com/stories/200802061032.html
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Daily Soda Hikes Prostate Cancer Risk November 27, 2012 Men who drink one normal-sized soft drink per day are at greater risk of getting more aggressive forms of prostate cancer, according to a Swedish study released Monday. "Among the men who drank a lot of soft drinks or other drinks with added sugar, we saw an increased risk of prostate cancer of around 40 percent," said Isabel Drake, a doctoral student at Lund University. The study, to be published in the upcoming edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, followed over 8,000 men aged 45 to 73 for an average of 15 years. Those who drank one 11-fluid-ounce soft drink a day were 40 percent more likely to develop more serious forms of prostate cancer that required treatment. The cancer was discovered after the men showed symptoms of the disease, and not through the screening process known as prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Those who ate a diet heavy on rice and pasta increased their risk of getting milder forms of prostate cancer, which often required no treatment, by 31 percent, while a high intake of sugary breakfast cereals raised the incidence of milder forms of the cancer to 38 percent, Drake told AFP. While further research was needed before dietary guidelines could be changed, there are already plenty of reasons a person should cut back on soft-drink consumption, she noted. The men in the study had to undergo regular medical examinations and kept a journal of their food and drink intake. Previous studies have shown that Chinese and Japanese immigrants in the U.S. develop prostate cancer more often than peers in their home countries. Further research on how genes respond to different diets would make it possible to "tailor food and drink guidelines for certain high-risk groups," Drake said. 2012 AFP/Relaxnews http://www.newsmaxhealth.com/health_stories/Daily_Soda_Hi kes_Prostate/2012/11/27/488081.html
Glyphosate Kills Rat Testis Cells Dr. Eva Sirinathsinghji February 27, 2012 Institute of Science in Society Another link between Roundup and infertility A new study finds that Monsantos glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup Bioforce as well as glyphosate alone reduced testosterone levels in testicular cells at very low concentrations; and at higher concentrations still 10 times below agricultural use the cells died in 24-48 hours. The study, carried out by Gilles-ric Sralini and his colleagues at the Universit de Caen Basse-Normandie in France [1], was published just ahead of reports on glyphosate contamination of groundwater in Catalonia, Spain [2], and the presence of glyphosate in urine samples of Berlin city residents at 4-20 times the level allowed in drinking water (o.1 micrograms per litre, or 0.1 parts per billion (ppb)) [3]. American consumers exposed to glyphosate through residual levels in genetically modified (GM) foods are likely to have even higher levels in their system; although no studies appear to have been done. These studies are emerging amid growing concern for the effects of environmental contaminants on decreasing levels of male fertility in humans and animals in industrialised nations [4], and there are already indications that glyphosate herbicide is linked to infertility and other reproductive problems. Endocrine dysfunction at very low doses Endocrine disruption can impact a wide range of physiological functions that includemetabolism, growth and development, tissue function, behaviour, mood and reproduction. Healthy levels of testosterone in men are necessary for sperm production among other things. With previous links of pesticides to infertility, the researchers were interested in whether glyphosate and its formulations can induce endocrine disruption in testicular cells. The effects of Roundup Bioforce and glyphosate alone were tested on three types of rat testicular cell: Leydig cells that produce testosterone, Sertoli cells that nurture germ cells through spermatogenesis, and germ cells that mature into sperm. Doses of 1ppm (0.0001%) of both glyphosate and Roundup Bioforce reduced testosterone levels in Continued on page 26
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such as the activation of caspase 3/7 enzymes and the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. In addition, there are variations of cell death that can include necrosis-like programmed cell death, apoptosis- like programmed cell death that lacks caspase 3/7 activation, as well as secondary necrosis where apoptotic cells eventually also lose membrane integrity. The experiments monitored membrane integrity, caspase 3/7 activation as well as chromatin condensation. Leydig cells showed the strongest necrotic response, with significant membrane degradation after 1 hour of exposure to 0.1 % Roundup. Degradation reached 5 times that of control untreated cells at a higher concentration of 1 %, peaking at around 6 hours but remaining significant after 48 hours. No membrane degradation was found in cells exposed to glyphosate alone. Thus, the effect may be due to adjuvants present in the commercial formulation such as polyoxyethyleneamine (POEA), which is added to allow glyphosate to penetrate plant leaves. There was no significant caspase 3/7 activation other than a small peak after 6 hours exposure. Chromatin condensation was apparent after 24 hours following application of 1% Roundup, as consistent with apoptosis. Sertoli cells also showed signs of necrosis, with membrane degradation occurring in response to 0.1% Roundup within 24 hours, although to a lesser extent than Leydig cells. Germ cells appeared almost insensitive, with only a slight, but statistically significant membrane degradation following exposure to 1 % Roundup. In contrast to Leydig cells, germ cells as well as Sertoli cell/germ cell co-cultures showed an apoptotic response within 48 hours to 1 % glyphosate. However, there was no response to Roundup. This disparity, as speculated by the authors may be due to distinct membrane properties that allow glyphosate to enter germ cells more easily. This result may also be an in vitro artefact that should be investigated further in animal experiments. The findings clearly show cell death responses in testicular cells, most notably in the Leydig cells. Further experiments are needed to clarify the type of cell death involved. As mentioned above, cell death is a complicated process. Question of dosing The concentration of the herbicides used in the experiments ranged from 0.0001 % (1 ppm) of Roundup Bioforce, (corresponding to 0.366ppm of pure glyphosate) to agricultural levels of 1 % (10,000ppm). Continued on page 27 Continued from page 25 Glyphosate Kills Rat Testis Cells Leydig cells by as much as 35 %, and a significant increase in expression of aromatase was found within 24 hours. Aromatase is an enzyme that converts testosterone to oestrogens, and its activity is important for maintaining a healthy balance between the two hormones. These effects of supposedly non-toxic dilutions of the herbicide underlie glyphosates ability to disrupt the endocrine system. These results build on a long list of previous findings. Male prepubescent rats exposed to glyphosate showed reduced testosterone levels as well as disruption of testicular morphology and a delay in the onset of puberty [5]. The male offspring of rat mothers exposed to glyphosate during gestation exhibited abnormal sexual behaviour and abnormal levels of testosterone and estradiol, early puberty, and increased sperm count [6]. Glyphosate exposure reduced testosterone levels in mouse Leydig cells [7], and depressed aromatase activity in human placental cell lines [8]. The effects were more pronounced when commercial formulations were used. Hormonal disruption and/or reproductive problems occurred in both humans and animals followed environmental exposure to sprayed herbicides or herbicide residues in GM feed [9] (see [10] Ban Glyphosate Herbicides Now, SiS 43, [11] Lab Study Establishes Glyphosate Link to Birth Defects,SiS48) Regions of high glyphosate use in Argentina have seen rises in birth defects, infertility and cancers, to the point that Argentinean doctors are calling for a complete ban of pesticide use near residential areas and a complete ban of aerial spraying (see [12] Argentinas Roundup Human Tragedy, SiS 48 [13] and Pesticide Illnesses and GM Soybeans, SiS 53). Livestock consuming large amounts of GM feed have shown increased infertility, still births, and pseudo-pregnancies, thought to be due, at least in part, to direct endocrine-disrupting effects of glyphosate (see [14] USDA Scientist Reveals All, SiS 53). Higher doses kill cells Sralini and colleagues also tested whether Roundup and/or glyphosate kill testicular cells, and whether this occurs through inducing necrosis (premature cell death caused by external stimuli such as toxins, inflammation, infection or trauma) or apoptosis (programmed cell death). Necrosis is first marked by a loss of cell membrane integrity, while apoptosis is a tightly regulated process that is marked by morphological changes such as cytoplasmic shrinkage, chromatin condensation (the compaction and fragmentation of nuclear chromatin, with chromatin being the native organisation of DNA wrapped around histone proteins in the nucleus), as well as biochemical changes
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Continued from page 26 - Glyphosate Kills Rat Testis Cells The lowest concentration shown to have an endocrine effect was within the range of a previous study published by Monsanto reporting the presence of glyphosate concentrations of up to 0.233ppm in American farmers [13]. Further, the permitted level of glyphosate residue on food or feed in the US is 400 ppm, or 400 times the lowest concentration tested by Seralini and colleagues. Thus, the concentrations used in the study are very relevant to human exposure as well as exposure of other animals. Of particular concern is the scarcity of published data regarding the possible bioaccumulation of this herbicide, leaving us only able to speculate how much is in our bodies. With the cell death experiments, significant results were seen with doses of 0.1%, or 1000ppm. Although this concentration is relatively high, and well above permitted drinking water concentrations, it is 10 times below that used in agricultural practice, and 8 times below the maximum level of glyphosate residue permitted in GM feed. Moreover, as shown by the endocrine disruption experiments, cell death is not the only parameter of acute toxicity, so while higher doses may be necessary to kill cells, low doses can disrupt endocrine function without killing the cells, but nevertheless impact a wide range of physiological functions, resulting in disease. Not addressed in this study is the chronic effect of glyphosate-based herbicide exposure; as only acute effects over 48 hours were assessed. Chronic exposure has not been sufficiently tested, and needs to be investigated. Furthermore, regulatory tests are usually done, not with commercial formulations, but with glyphosate alone. As demonstrated in these and other experiments, the adjuvants that enhance glyphosates action alter the toxicity of Roundup, resulting in differing effects from those of glyphosate alone. To conclude Evidence linking glyphosate to birth defects and reproductive problems in both the female and male is surely more than sufficient justification for banning this herbicide [10]. The paucity of studies assessing the presence of glyphosate and its commercial formulations in humans also needs to be addressed. A fully referenced version of this article is posted on ISIS members website and is otherwise available for download here http://farmwars.info/?p=7951
Study Shows Obesity Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer by Altering Gene Regulation September 25, 2012 Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men and early treatment is usually very successful. However, like other cancers, obesity increases the risk of aggressive prostate disease. New research, published in BioMed Centrals open access journal BMC Medicine, finds that the fat surrounding the prostate of overweight or obese men with prostate cancer provides a favorable environment to promote cancer growth. Fat is a generally underrated organ. Not only is it an energy store but it secretes a wide range of growth factors, cytokines and hormones, including leptin and adiponectin, and is a major player in the immune system, which protects the body from infection and disease. But too much fat can cause these systems to go haywire and can increase risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. An international team led by Prof Gema Frhbeck and Dr Ricardo Ribeiro analyzed fat, from around the prostate, taken from patients undergoing surgery for prostate disease. Samples were included from men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), prostate cancer (PC), and from men where their cancer was no longer confined to the prostate. The men were also classified as being either lean (BMI<25) or overweight /obese (BMI>25). Regardless of type of prostate disease the overweight men had different levels of gene activity in the fat surrounding their prostates compared to the lean men. This included genes which encode proteins involved in immunity and inflammation (such as LEP, which encodes the protein leptin), and cell growth and proliferation (including ANGPT1 which encodes angiopoietin 1), fat metabolism and programmed cell death. Additionally the activity of more genes was altered between hyperplasia and prostate cancer, and between cancer and non-confined cancer, suggesting a gradual increase in dysregulation during cancer progression. Prof Frhbeck explained, Both LEP and ANGPT1 encode proteins which are thought to have roles beyond adipose tissue itself, especially because prostate cancer cells have receptors for leptin, and angiopoietin 1. Continued on page 28
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Continued from page 27 Study Shows Obesity Increases Risk of Prostate Cancer by Altering Gene Regulation Taken together with the abnormal activity levels of other genes they will ultimately foster fat mass growth, reduce immune surveillance, and promote the formation of new blood vessels, so producing a favorable environment for prostate cancer progression. Dr Ribeiro continued, In an increasingly obese population, understanding how fat, especially the fat surrounding the prostate, can influence the growth and severity of prostate cancer may provide an opportunity for implementing personalized lifestyle and therapeutic strategies. This article is part of the thematic series Metabolism, Diet and Disease from BMC Biology and BMC Medicine. http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1112700707/study-shows- obesity-increases-risk-of-prostate-cancer-by-altering-gene- regulation/
Prostate Cancer as an Environmental Disease: an Ecological Study in the French Caribbean islands, Martinique and Guadeloupe. Belpomme D, Irigaray P, Ossondo M, Vacque D, Martin M. ARTAC, 75015 Paris, France. artac.cerc@wanadoo.fr Abstract Using a transdisciplinary methodological approach we have conducted a multifactorial analysis in Martinique and Guadeloupe in order to elucidate the aetiology of prostate cancer. In 2002, world age standardized rates of prostate cancer were 152 new cases per 100,000 person-years in the two islands; one of the highest worldwide rates and much higher than those reported for other Caribbean islands and metropolitan France. Using a linear regression analysis, we found that the growth curves of incidence rates for Martinique and metropolitan France have been significantly diverging since 1983. That these curves are not parallel suggests that although a Caribbean genetic susceptibility factor may be involved in carcinogenesis, this factor cannot per se account for the observed growing incidence. On the basis of mapping analysis of soil pollution, we further showed that water contamination by pesticides originates from banana plantations. Moreover, we have established retrospectively that general population subjects investigated in 1972 in Martinique for the presence of organo-chlorinated pesticides in their adipose tissue had been contaminated by extremely high levels of DDT, DDE, alpha, beta and gamma HCH,aldrin and dieldrin. Our study leads to the conclusion that the growing incidence of prostate cancer cannot be related either to a modification of ethnographic factors nor to a change in lifestyle and therefore suggests that environmental factors such as the intensive and prolonged exposure to carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductive toxin pesticides may cause prostate cancer. Int J Oncol. 2009 Apr;34(4):1037-44. PMID:19287960 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19287960
Special Health Report: Prostate Problems in Afrikan/Black Men By Kwame Osei According to research in the US and UK, Prostate cancer is amongst THE TWO biggest killers of Afrikan men. This special report seeks to ask what prostate cancer is, its causes and what can be done to prevent the disease. The prostate is partly muscle and gland. It is about the size of a walnut with a donut shape. It is directly underneath the bladder and surrounds the tube (urethra) that allows urine to flow out of the bladder and pass out through the penis. The prostrate secretes a thin cloudy alkaline fluid that helps make up seminal fluid. The muscular contractions of the prostate squeeze the prostatic fluids and help mix it with semen and sperm - The muscles help to ejaculate. There are many types of prostate diseases and many factors that can cause prostate problems. There are two main categories of prostate problems - They are: Prostatic Hypertrophy Prostatic Hypertrophy is the enlargement of the prostate. It can slow down, interrupt, block, or stop the flow of urine as well as cause urine to stay in the bladder too long, resulting in infections and/or inflammation. This can lead to kidney disease and destroy the kidney. A better understanding of how men respond to their sense of a change in their identity could help researchers find better ways to help men recover, the researchers wrote in their study, published online Sept. 18 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Continued on page 29
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Continued from page 28 Special Health Report: Prostate Problems in Afrikan/Black Men Prostatitis Prostatitis is the inflammation of the prostate. Disease can directly and indirectly affect the prostate such as Sugar Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, Rheumatism, Arthritis, Varicose Veins, as and Hypoglycemia, which damages prostate nerves. There are early warnings of prostate problems. These include premature baldness and/or ejaculation can indicate weakness and/or deterioration of the prostate. Young boys who dribble urine after it stops flowing and often leave urine stains in their underwear may be indicating the beginning of prostate problems. Men that need to shake their penis several times because urine dribbles after urination stops may have the onset of problems. Usually, early warnings are ignored until the male reaches middle age and has an enlarged prostate, cancer of the prostate or infertility. Infertility is rising, as twenty-five percent of married couples cannot have children. It has been steadily decreasing each year. Imbalanced hormone levels (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) can result in decreased sperm counts. Excess estrogen in processed foods lowers the progesterone and testosterone level, which lowers the sperm count and deteriorates the prostate. There are estrogen and steroid-type chemicals in meats, milk (dairy), eggs and fish. Excess estrogen weakens the prostate and causes cancer of the prostate in men and given Afrikan/Black peoples intolerance to lactose because of our melanin content is something we should seriously consider. Therefore, the consumption of excess estrogen in cow's milk starts the deterioration of the prostate. Prostaglandin hormones, as well as Adrenalin hormones are released as a reaction to High Blood Pressure, Stress, Diabetes, Obesity, Drugs, Junk Food, fish, Meat, Egg, and Dairy consumption. Prostaglandins cause prostate muscle contraction and are anti-inflammatory. They can be high in semen. An overly high prostaglandin level weakens the tissue of the prostate; the prostate reacts by getting thicker, developing scar tissue and becomes hypertrophied (enlarged). The prostate is harmed by white sugar, alcohol, vinegar, salt, processed foods, the toxic synthetic chemicals in commercial After-shave, deodorants, colognes, cough suppressants and allergy remedies.
They enter the blood and prostate. They cause cellular waste to be suppressed (kept) in the prostate and alter normal function. Also Sexual intercourse with ejaculation causes the same nutrients' energy loss as running 20 miles. In conclusion then, a lifestyle with junk foods and excessive sex will eventually destroy the prostate. Therefore my advice to Afrikan/Back men would be to eliminate white bread, white rice, Chicken, fish, red meat, milk, eggs, salt etc from their diet and EAT more fruits, vegetables, pulses (nuts - sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, monkey nuts, cashew nuts), whole meal brown bread, brown rice, sea salt etc. In addition to this cutting down on the level of sexual activity that one does to maybe once or twice a week. http://www.bidii.co.uk/pdfs/Article_ProstateProblems.pdf
Why Men feel less manly after Prostate Cancer By Karen Rowan October 15, 2012 MyHealthNewsDaily Men with prostate cancer often experience erectile dysfunction as a side effect of their treatment, and many find this to be upsetting to the point where it undermines their wellbeing. Moreover, men's distress about ED often does not improve over time in some men, it worsens. A new study sheds light on the causes of this prolonged distress. While some researchers have thought that the severity of a man's ED is linked with how distressed he feels, the new findings show that regardless of men's ED severity, they are much more likely to be distressed when they feel they've lost their masculinity as a result of treatment. Not all men experience this feeling of lost masculinity, said study researcher Talia Zaider, a clinical psychologist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. But those who do are most at risk of feeling deeply troubled, embarrassed or ashamed about their ED. A feeling of lost masculinity is an aspect of prostate cancer treatment that's not often talked about, Zaider said. "Gender norms work against men," and can keep them from discussing it, she said. Continued on page 38
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African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES Statin Use Linked to Low Libido and Erectile Dysfunction Sexual side effects amongst statin users warrant new research studies. Learn the early signs of low testosterone and how to increase its production By Kathryn Picoulin May 16, 2010 ponsible for the libido and sex drive, as well as mood levels, muscle mass and strength and bone strength. When cholesterol production is inhibited by statin drugs steroid hormone production drops. As testosterone levels drop the sex drive decreases and erectile dysfunction increases. The balance of hormones, especially testosterone is essential for erectile function. Erectile dysfunction also known as impotence affects 40% of the men in the US as is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection 25% or more of the time. Early signs of testosterone deficiency include change in moods, irritability, reduced sex drive, decreased athletic performance, lack of energy, and sleepiness after meals. Research Linked Statin Drug to Changes in Sex Function Many studies have linked statin drugs to lowered libido and erectile dysfunction. Researchers at the University of Florence in Italy reported a twofold increase in a condition in which men produce insufficient amount of testosterone among statin users. A study that followed some 106,000 men over a period of 21 years reported erectile dysfunction was three times greater among statin users. Onset of ED occurred within 29 days of starting the drug. Recovery from the side effect once the statin drug was stopped occurred in only 57% of the subjects. Increasing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids found in fish and flaxseed helps increase testosterone production. Studies have shown that a diet low in carbohydrates, higher in protein and moderate in healthy fats results Continued on page 31 The use of statin drugs had jumped by 88% in a five- year period, according to the Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. It is expected to continue to climb based on new guidelines issued by several medical establishments. Individuals are being urged to begin statin therapy regardless of whether their cholesterol is elevated or not. The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending children to begin taking statins. The drug companies are campaigning for an additional 36 million Americans for statin therapy. Cholesterol is a vital part of each cell membrane in the body. It is a necessity for brain function and hormonal balance. Statin drugs used to block the bodys production of cholesterol will affect all hormones that are dependent on the availability of cholesterol. Among its many functions cholesterol is not only the building block of steroid hormones, but also part of the receptor site for the entry of these hormones into the cell. Steroid Sex Hormones Dependant on Available Cholesterol Steroid hormones include the adrenal hormones, such as aldosterone and cortisone and the sex hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. The two most important steroid hormones produced by the testes and ovaries are testosterone and estradiol. They are responsible for stimulating sexual responses in the human body. Testosterone is the principle male sex hormone res-
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Continued from page 30 Statin Use Linked to Low Libido and Erectile Dysfunction in more sustained testosterone levels. Further studies have shown that exercising for up to 60 minutes helps to increase testosterone levels. Sources: 1. Statin Side Effects: Can They Lower Libido? , Mayoclinic.com Health Library, May 2006 2. Harvey et al., Biochemistry, Baltimore: Lippincott, 2005 3. Do C, et al, Statins and Erectile Dysfunction, Drug Safety, 2009 4. King, Michael W Ph.D Introduction to the Steroid Hormones / IU School of Medicine 5. Witzmann, Rupert. Steroids: Keys to life, New York 1977 6. How Does the Body Use Cholesterol, Cholesterol Doctor 7. McVary, K. T., Erectile dysfunction, New England Journal of Medicine,2007 8. Rizvi, K., et al, Do Lipid Lowering Drugs Cause Erectile Dysfunction? Family Practice, 2002 Copyright Kathryn Picoulin http://suite101.com/article/statin-use-linked-to--low-libido-and- erectile-dysfunction-a237851
Medications that can cause Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Many commonly prescribed medications can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) in men and female sexual dysfunction in women. If you find a medication that you are currently taking on the list below and it is causing problems with erections, have a talk with your doctor about helping you find a substitute that may be less likely to cause erectile dysfunction. Antihypertensive (blood pressure medicines): Associated with decreased libido, decreased arousal and orgasmic disorder in women.
Continued from page 31 Medications that can cause Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Triamterene (Maxzide) Verapamil (Calan) Commonly used medications are: Beta Blockers: Inderal, Lopres- sor, Corgard, Blo- cadren, Tenormin, Toprol Calcium Channel Blockers: Adalat, Procardia, Calan, Isoptin, Verelan, Cardizem, Dilacor XR, Tiazac, Norvask Alpha Blockers: Doxazosin, Prazosin, Terazosin Diuretics: Diuril, Aldactone, Lasix Medications used to treat depression, anxiety and sedatives: Associated with erectile dysfunction, orgasmic disorders in men and orgasmic disorders, loss of sexual desire and arousal in women. Antidepressants and other psychiatric medications commonly used : Amitriptyline (Elavil) Amoxapine (Asendin) Buspirone (Buspar) Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) Clomipramine (Anafranil) Clorazepate (Tranxene) Desipramine (Norpramin) Diazepam (Valium) Doxepin (Sinequan) Fluoxetine (Prozac) Fluphenazine (Prolixin) Imipramine (Tofranil) Isocarboxazid (Marplan) Lorazepam (Ativan) Meprobamate (Equanil) Mesoridazine (Serentil) Nortriptyline (Pamelor) Oxazepam (Serax)
Phenelzine (Nardil) Phenytoin (Dilantin) Sertraline (Zoloft) Thioridazine (Mellaril) Thiothixene (Navane) Tranylcypromine (Parnate) Trifluoperazine (Stelazine) Commonly used medications are: Antidepressants: Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Luvox, Serzone, BuSpar, Norpramin, Prolixin, Lithium, Mellaril, Nardil, Serax, Anafranil, Elavil, Tofranil, Sinequan, Pamelor Neuroleptics: Thorazine, Haldol, Zyprexa Sedatives: Librium, Valium, Xanax, Quaalude (methaqualone), barbiturates, Ativan Antihistamines: Associated with lack of lubrication in women leading to dyspareunia. In men, erectile dysfunction and decreased libido. Commonly used medications are: Cimetidine (Tagamet) Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) Hydroxyzine (Vistaril) Meclizine (Antivert) Nizatidine (Axid) Promethazine (Phenergan) Ranitidine (Zantac) Dramamine, Benadryl, Vistaril, Antivert, Phenergan Medication used to treat dyslipidemia: Associated with erectile dysfunction in men. Commonly used medications are the fibrates such as gemfibrozil and statins, such as simvastatin. For more information click here Fibrates > gemfibrosil, bezafibrate, fenofibrate, ciprofibrate. Statins > simvastatin, pravastatin, fluvastatin, atorvastatin, cerivastatin, colestipol, cholestyramine. Anti-Diabetic Drugs: Diabetes itself is the main cause of erectile dysfunction. Continued on page 33
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Continued from page 32 Medications that can cause Erectile Dysfunction (ED) However several reports indicates that using anti-diabetic drugs is associated with ED. Glimepiride (amaryl) Medication used to treat cancer: Associated with decreased libido and erectile dysfunction in men and dyspareunia in women. Chemotherapy and hormonal medications: Antiandrogens (Casodex, Flutamide, Nilutamide) Busulfan (Myleran) Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) Ketoconazole LHRH agonists (Lupron, Zoladex) Commonly used medications are: Tamoxifen, Lupron, Flutamide, Nilutamide, Myleran, Cytoxan, Ketoconazole, Zoladex, Casodex Birth Control: Associated with decreased libido, arousal disorder and vaginal dryness in women. Commonly used medications are: Ortho 7/7/7, Tricyclen, Cyclen, Depo Provera Anti Parkinsons: Associated with erectile dysfunction and increased libido in men and women. Parkinsons disease medications: Benztropine (Cogentin) Biperiden (Akineton) Bromocriptine (Parlodel) Levodopa (Sinemet) Procyclidine (Kemadrin) Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) Commonly used medications are: Cogentin, Akineton, Parlodel, Sinemet, Kemadrin, Artane Non-steroidal Anti Inflammatory: Associated with decreased lubrication in women and erectile dysfunction in men. Commonly used medications are: Naproxen (Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn) Indomethacin (Indocin) lbuprofen Opiate Analgesics (painkillers) Codeine Fentanyl (Innovar) Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) Meperidine (Demerol) Methadone Morphine Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percodan) Other medications: Associated with various sexual disorders. Other medications: Aminocaproic acid (Amicar) Atropine Clofibrate (Atromid-S) Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) Cyproterone Digoxin (Lanoxin) Disopyramide (Norpace) Estrogen Finasteride (Propecia, Proscar, Avodart) Furazolidone (Furoxone) H2 blockers (Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid) Indomethacin (Indocin) Lipid-lowering agents Licorice Metoclopramide (Reglan) NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, etc.) Orphenadrine (Norflex) Prochlorperazine (Compazine) Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) Commonly used medications are: Amicar, Atropine, Compazine. Flexeril, Lanoxin, Norpace, Proscar, Propecia Non Prescription/ Illegal Drugs: Alcohol can cause decreased libido in men and women Continued on page 34
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Continued from page 33 - Medications that can cause Erectile Dysfunction (ED) as well as orgasmic disorders and erectile dysfunction in men. Heroin and morphine can cause decreased libido in men and women and can cause ejaculatory disorders in men. Over time, amphetamines and cocaine can cause erectile dysfunction in men. Marijuana can cause vaginal dryness in women. IMPORTANT NOTES! DO NOT stop your medication before you consult your doctor. If you think you got ED from the medications youre taking, you better talk to your doctor and your doctor may give you another prescription which is safer for your sexual health. If you do have experience about ED yourself and if you thought its caused by the medication you are taking please share it with us. References: 1. http://www.seekwellness.com/mensexuality/medications.ht m 2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/004024. htm 3. http://www.webmd.com/erectiledysfunction/guide/drugs- linked-erectile-dysfunction 4. http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/amaryl/drugs+that+may+ca use+impotence http://yuanadesukma.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/list-of- medications-that-may-cause-erectile-dysfunction/
What is Erectile Dysfunction? Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction is different from other conditions that interfere with male sexual intercourse, such as lack of sexual desire (decreased libido) and problems with ejaculation and orgasm (ejaculatory dysfunction). This article focuses on the evaluation and treatment of erectile dysfunction. How common is erectile dysfunction? Erectile dysfunction (ED, impotence) varies in severity; some men have a total inability to achieve an erection, others have an inconsistent ability to achieve an erection, and still others can sustain only brief erections. The variations in severity of erectile dysfunction make estimating its frequency difficult. Many men also are reluctant to discuss erectile dysfunction with their doctors due to embarrassment, and thus the condition is under- diagnosed. Nevertheless, experts have estimated that erectile dysfunction affects 30 million men in the United
States. While erectile dysfunction can occur at any age, it is uncommon among young men and more common in the elderly. By age 45, most men have experienced erectile dysfunction at least some of the time. According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, complete impotence increases from 5% among men 40 years of age to 15% among men 70 years and older. Population studies conducted in the Netherlands found that some degree of erectile dysfunction occurred in 20% of men between ages 50-54, and in 50% of men between ages 70-78. In 1999, the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey counted 1,520,000 doctor-office visits for erectile dysfunction. Other studies have noted that approximately 35% of men 40-70 years of age suffer from moderate to severe ED, and an additional 15% may have milder forms. What is normal penis anatomy? The penis contains two chambers, called the corpora cavernosa, which run the length of the upper side of the penis (see figure 1 below). The urethra, which is the channel for urine and ejaculate, runs along the underside of the corpora cavernosa. Filling the corpora cavernosa is a spongy tissue consisting of smooth muscles, fibrous tissues, spaces, veins, and arteries. A membrane, called the tunica albuginea, surrounds the corpora cavernosa. Veins located in the tunica albuginea drain blood out of the penis.
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Continued from page 34 - What is Erectile Dysfunction? How does erection occur? Erection begins with sexual stimulation. Sexual stimulation can be tactile (for example, by touching the penis) or mental (for example, by having sexual fantasies). Sexual stimulation or sexual arousal generates electrical impulses along the nerves going to the penis and causes the nerves to release nitric oxide, which in turn increases the production of cyclic GMP (cGMP) in the smooth muscle cells of the corpora cavernosa. The cGMP causes the smooth muscles of the corpora cavernosa to relax and allow rapid blood flow into the penis. The incoming blood fills the corpora cavernosa, making the penis expand. How is erection sustained? The pressure from the expanding penis compresses the veins (blood vessels that drain the blood out of the penis) in the tunica albuginea, helping to trap the blood in the corpora cavernosa, thereby sustaining erection. Erection is reversed when cGMP levels in the corpora cavernosa fall, causing the smooth muscles of the corpora cavernosa to contract, stopping the inflow of blood and opening veins that drain blood away from the penis. The levels of the cGMP in the corpora cavernosa fall because it is destroyed by an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). What are some of the risk factors for erectile dysfunction? The common risk factors for ED include the following: Advanced age Cardiovascular disease Diabetes mellitus High cholesterol Cigarette smoking Recreational drug use Depression or other psychiatric diseases What are the causes of erectile dysfunction? The ability to achieve and sustain erections requires 1. a healthy nervous system that conducts nerve impulses in the brain, spinal column, and penis, 2. healthy arteries in and near the corpora cavernosa, 3. healthy smooth muscles and fibrous tissues within the corpora cavernosa, 4. adequate levels of nitric oxide in the penis. Erectile dysfunction can occur if one or more of these
requirements are not met. The following are causes of erectile dysfunction: Aging: There are two reasons why older men are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than younger men. First, older men are more likely to develop diseases (such as heart attacks, angina, cardiovascular disease, strokes, diabetes mellitus, and high blood pressure) that are associated with erectile dysfunction. Second, the aging process alone can cause erectile dysfunction in some men, primarily by decreasing the compliance of the tissues in the corpora cavernosa, although it has been suggested, but not proven, that there is also decreased production of nitric oxide in the nerves that innervate the corporal smooth muscle within the penis. Diabetes mellitus: Erectile dysfunction tends to develop 10-15 years earlier in diabetic men than among nondiabetic men. In a population study of men with type I diabetes for more than 10 years, erectile dysfunction was reported by 55% of men 50-60 years of age. The increased risk of erectile dysfunction among men with diabetes mellitus may be due to the earlier onset and greater severity of atherosclerosis that narrows the arteries and thereby reduces the delivery of blood to the penis. When insufficient blood is delivered to the penis, it is not possible to achieve an erection. Diabetes mellitus also causes erectile dysfunction by damaging both sensory and autonomic nerves, a condition called diabetic neuropathy. Smoking cigarettes, obesity, poor control of blood glucose levels, and having diabetes mellitus for a long time further increase the risk of erectile dysfunction in diabetes. In addition to atherosclerosis and/or neuropathy causing ED in diabetes, many men with diabetes also develop a myopathy (muscle disease) as their cause of ED in which the compliance of the muscles in the corpora cavernosa is decreased, and clinically this presents as an inability to maintain the erection. Hypertension (high blood pressure): People with essential hypertension or arteriosclerosis have an increased risk of developing erectile dysfunction. Essential hypertension is the most common form of hypertension; it is called essential hypertension because it is not caused by another disease (for example, by kidney disease). It is not clearly known how essential hypertension causes erectile dysfunction; however, those with essential hypertension have been found to have low production of nitric oxide by the arteries of the body, including the arteries in the penis. High blood pressure also the Continued on page 36
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Continued from page 35 What is Erectile Dysfunction? arteries in the penis. High blood pressure also accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis, which in turn can contribute to erectile dysfunction. Scientists now suspect that the decreased levels of nitric oxide in patients with essential hypertension may contribute to erectile dysfunction. Cardiovascular diseases: The most common cause of cardiovascular diseases in the United States is atherosclerosis, the narrowing and hardening of arteries that reduces blood flow. Atherosclerosis typically affects arteries throughout the body and is aggravated by hypertension, high blood cholesterol levels, cigarette smoking, and diabetes mellitus. When coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle) are narrowed by atherosclerosis, heart attacks and angina occur. When cerebral arteries (arteries that supply blood to the brain) are narrowed by atherosclerosis, strokes occur. Similarly, when arteries to the penis and the pelvic organs are narrowed by atherosclerosis, insufficient blood is delivered to the penis to achieve an erection. There is a close correlation between the severity of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries and erectile dysfunction. For example, men with more severe coronary artery atherosclerosis also tend to have more erectile dysfunction than men with mild or no coronary artery atherosclerosis. Some doctors suggest that men with new onset erectile dysfunction should be evaluated for silent coronary artery diseases (advanced coronary artery atherosclerosis that has not yet caused angina or heart attacks). Cigarette smoking: Cigarette smoking aggravates atherosclerosis and thereby increases the risk for erectile dysfunction. Nerve or spinal cord damage: Damage to the spinal cord and nerves in the pelvis can cause erectile dysfunction. Nerve damage can be due to disease, trauma, or surgical procedures. Examples include injury to the spinal cord from automobile accidents, injury to the pelvic nerves from prostate surgery for prostate cancer (prostatectomy), radiation to the prostate, surgery for benign prostatic enlargement, multiple sclerosis (a neurological disease with the potential to cause widespread damage to nerves), and long-term diabetes mellitus. Substance abuse: Marijuana, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, crystal meth, and alcohol abuse contribute to erectile dysfunction. Alcoholism, in addition to causing nerve damage, can lead to atrophy (shrinking) of the testicles and lower testosterone levels. Low testosterone levels: Testosterone (the primary sex hormone in men) is not only necessary for sex drive (libido) but also is necessary to maintain nitric oxide levels in the penis. Therefore, men with hypogonadism (diminished function of the testes resulting in low testosterone production) can have low sex drive and erectile dysfunction. Medications: Many common medicines produce erectile dysfunction as a side effect. Medicines that can cause erectile dysfunction include many used to treat high blood pressure, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and appetite suppressants. Examples of common medicines that can cause erectile dysfunction include propranolol (Inderal) or other beta-blockers, hydrochlorothiazide, digoxin (Lanoxin), amitriptyline (Elavil), famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet), metoclopramide (Reglan), indomethacin (Indocin), lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid), verapamil (Calan, Verelan, Isoptin), phenytoin (Dilantin), and gemfibrozil (Lopid). Depression and anxiety: Psychological factors may be responsible for erectile dysfunction. These factors include stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, widower syndrome, low self-esteem, posttraumatic stress disorder, and fear of sexual failure (performance anxiety). It is also worth noting that many medications used for treatment of depression and other psychiatric disorders may cause erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory problems. http://www.medicinenet.com/impotence_ed/article.htm#what_i s_erectile_dysfunction
Third Female Lawmaker introduces Bill to Limit Mens Viagra Access By Liz Goodwin March 12, 2012 Democratic Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner is the third female lawmaker to introduce a bill that would limit men's access to Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs to make a statement about the dozens of anti- abortion bills that have passed statehouses around the country over the last year. Turner is opposed to a proposed bill that would prohibit Continued on page 37
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Continued from page 36 Third Female Lawmaker introduces Bill to Limit Mens Viagra Access abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The Dayton Daily News reports that Turner's bill would mandate that men seeking Viagra be "tested for heart problems, receive counseling about possible side effects and receive information about 'pursuing celibacy as a viable lifestyle choice.'" Turner said on MSNBC Monday that the bill is about showing "men as much love in the reproductive health arena as they have shown us over the years. My Senate Bill 307 is all about the love and making sure we look out for men's sexual health." Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, the heartbeat bill's sponsor, told the Dayton Daily News that the comparison between Viagra and abortions isn't valid. Turner is one of several female Democratic state lawmakers who are wielding the power of sarcasm to protest a wave of anti-abortion legislation. In January, Virginia state Sen. Janet Howell introduced an amendment to the state's controversial ultrasound bill, which required women seeking abortions to first undergo a vaginal ultrasound. The amendment, which failed, said that all men seeking Viagra would have to first get a rectal exam. The ultrasound bill passed after Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell successfully requested that the vaginal ultrasound requirement be removed. Women seeking abortions will still have to receive an external ultrasound under the new bill. Earlier this month, Illinois state Rep. Kelly Cassidy introduced an amendment to another bill that would require women to get ultrasounds before being allowed to get abortions. The amendment mandated that men seeking Viagra watch a graphic video about the drug's potential side effects. "If they are serious about us not being able to make our own health care decisions, then I'm just as serious about them not being able to make theirs," she said. Missouri state Rep. Stacey Newman, a Democrat, introduced legislation that would allow men to get vasectomies only if their life depended upon the procedure, which was similar to Georgia state Rep. Yasmin Neal's bill. "In determining whether a vasectomy is necessary, no regard shall be made to the desire of a man to father children, his economic situation, his age, the number of children he is currently responsible for, or any danger to his wife or partner in the event a child is conceived," the tongue-in-cheek Missouri bill reads. According to the abortion rights group the Guttmacher Institute, a record-breaking 92 new abortion-restricting laws were passed in 2011. Two of those laws mandated that women have ultrasounds and look at the images before being allowed to get an abortion. http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/third-female-lawmaker- introduces-bill-limit-men-viagra-204340160.html
CULTURAL STUDIES; Viagra: The Thrill That Was By HILARY STOUT June 5, 2011
IT isn't often that an article in AARP's magazine gets the attention of People, the London tabloids, The Huffington Post and the celebrity blogosphere. But so it was last year when Michael Douglas, upon turning 65, sat down for an interview with the mass-circulation periodical for the over-50 set, and in the process uttered a word heard round the world: ''Viagra.'' ''Michael Douglas Takes Viagra'' announced headlines in The New York Daily News and on sites like whyfame.com and hotfeeder.com, among others. ''Michael Douglas Admits: I Have to Take Viagra'' (The Daily Mail). ''Michael Douglas: Thank Goodness for Viagra'' (the Huffington Post). And so on. For the record, the exact quote was subtler (though the meaning seemed unmistakable), spoken during musings about his life with Catherine Zeta-Jones, the gorgeous (and quarter-century younger) actress he married in 2000: ''God bless her that she likes older guys. And some wonderful enhancements have happened in the last few years -- Viagra, Cialis -- that can make us all feel younger.'' This was a man transformed, waxing poetic on the joys Continued on page 38
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Continued from page 37 CULTURAL STUDIES; Viagra: The Thrill That Was of fatherhood the second time around, that special feeling of knowing his was the ''first face'' his children see when they wake up and that sweet satisfaction from helping them get ready for school. It could be argued that this new persona would never have existed but for the aforementioned little pill. At the very least, it seems to have played a role not only in fulfilling a marriage but also in the birth of the two children who turned the Hollywood playboy into a sentimental Mr. Mom. With media images abounding these days of virile older men -- Hugh Hefner, 85, and Crystal Harris, 25, announcing their engagement; 80-year-old Rupert Murdoch with his elementary-school-aged daughters; the 74-year-old Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and that 18-year-old party girl -- one has to wonder if Viagra has again worked its magic. (Do they or don't they? Only their pharmacists know for sure.) And now we have evidence that 54-year-old Osama bin Laden had what has been referred to as an ''herbal version of Viagra'' in his medicine chest at the compound where he was hiding out with multiple wives. All of this raises the question of just what the far- reaching implications of Viagra (and similar drugs) are, beyond the specific medical achievement of providing a treatment, in the form of increased blood flow, for millions of men with erectile dysfunction. More than any pill ever to be dispensed, Viagra has played to the yearnings of American culture: eternal youth, sexual prowess, not to mention the longing for an easy fix. From the first announcement of the drug's existence, fantasies went into overdrive; with the popping of a pill, lackluster marriages would be repaired. Or a generation of newly virile men would be on the make, hooking up with younger partners, maybe even getting a chance at righting any wrongs they had committed as fathers of young children years earlier. At the very least, everyone would be having great sex well into their twilight years. It hasn't worked out quite that way. Thirteen years after Viagra hit the market like a bolt of lightning (Dr. Jed Kaminetsky, a New York University urologist, said that at first he was so besieged with requests for prescriptions that he had to start seeing patients on weekends to keep up with the demand), we have not turned into a Viagra Nation. Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, said that it has been
prescribed to more than 35 million men worldwide. For many men, it has been a wonder drug, doctors like Dr. Kaminetsky agree. But recently the market for Viagra-type drugs has stalled in the United States. Last year the total number of prescriptions for so-called ED drugs declined by 5 percent in the United States after growing just 1 percent annually the previous four years, according to IMS Health, a heath-care data and consulting firm. (Viagra prescriptions were off 7 percent; those for Levitra plummeted 18 percent.) The drop seems all the more significant given that the population is aging, so there are surely more men who potentially need the drug. There could be many reasons for the dip: effectiveness (it doesn't work for everyone) or insurance payments, to name a few. But another number is perhaps more telling: doctors widely observe that 40 to 50 percent of men who are given a first prescription do not end up refilling it. Perhaps the mentality is, as Dr. Kaminetsky suggested: ''Having that blue pill is sort of like when they were kids but they walked around with a condom in their wallet: they may never have sex but they were ready.'' Abraham Morgentaler, the director of Men's Health Boston and author of the book ''The Viagra Myth,'' said he was startled by the expectations that people initially poured into one little pill. It became, at least subconsciously, a panacea for all that was missing in their life. ''Men look to these types of pills as a savior for other aspects of their lives where things are not going well,'' he said. But there's only so much increased blood flow can do. Dr. Morgentaler cited two patients, one who stopped using Viagra shortly after he began and one who never used his prescription. The first man said that once he was able to perform again, he realized that the problems in his marriage went well beyond sex; soon after he began taking the drug, he and his wife separated. The second, a man in his 70s, said he and his wife realized the emotional connection was already there, so they decided not to use his prescription. Neither has there been a boomlet of babies as a result of Viagra. In 2000, Ken Gronbach, a demographer, hailed the certain arrival of a ''Viagra Generation,'' a demographic of children who would never have been born but for the existence of the drug. But population statistics suggest his predictions have not come to pass. Fatherhood rates among older men, Continued on page 39
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Continued from page 38 - CULTURAL STUDIES; Viagra: The Thrill That Was always minuscule, have not risen since Viagra came on the market. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, they amounted to 0.3 live births per 1,000 men over age 55 from the mid 1990s through 2005 before dropping to 0.2 births per thousand in 2006, then rising to 0.4 in both 2007 and 2008, the latest year for which statistics are available. That puts birthrates of men over age 55 exactly where they were in the early '80s. The real effect of Viagra seems to be subtler. A 62- year-old man, who asked that his name not be disclosed, described in an interview how his experience helped change his attitudes about aging. The man, a widower who has been in a long-term relationship since 2004, said he initially looked to ED drugs as a savior. ''This is going to give me back everything,'' he said. But that wasn't the case. The man said he has ended up using the drugs on and off for the last 10 years. But he no longer believes they are necessary. ''In some ways it's a nice addition, but not so important that I need to have it every time,'' he said. ''We've sort of made an adjustment.'' Therapists and others who counsel people on relationships say that the very existence of pills like Viagra have heaped expectations on an age group that may have more concerns than just whether they can still have sex. (It's stressful enough at 30. But 70?) Leonore Tiefer, a clinical psychologist and sex therapist in New York, recalled two patients, a couple in their 70s, both widowed. Their experiment with Viagra had been unsuccessful. ''They were eager for companionship but somehow they both felt they ought to be having sex,'' she said. ''I said you are supposed to be free of this kind of imperative at this point in your life. Why do you think you ought to be doing this?'' The ensuing dialogue, she said, went along the lines of the following: ''I thought you wanted to.'' ''I thought you would have wanted to.'' It turned out neither one of them cared. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B06E3DF1 73FF936A35755C0A9679D8B63&ref=viagradrug&pagewa nted=2
Continued from page 29- Why Men feel less manly after Prostate Cancer In the study, about one-third of men who had been treated for prostate cancer in the last year reported feeling their masculinity was diminished, and that they had lost a vital part of their identity, Zaider said. A better understanding of how men respond to their sense of a change in their identity could help researchers find better ways to help men recover, the researchers wrote in their study, published online Sept. 18 in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. Zaider and colleagues interviewed 75 men, whose average age was 60, who had received prostate cancer treatment in the previous year. The men answered questions about their level of erectile function, how happy they were with their sex lives, the degree to which they felt a loss of masculinity, and the amount of "marital affection" they felt in their relationship (all men in the study were living with a spouse or partner). The men's spouses were also interviewed. "Men who felt they'd lost their masculine identity were very likely to be stressed by their ED. The two seemed to go closely together," Zaider said. "That link was there whether they had severe or mild ED." The researchers also found that among men who felt a lost of their masculinity, those in relationships with a high degree of affection were less likely to feel distress over their ED. But women don't always understand their husbands' feelings. "I've worked with couples, and when the man talks about how upset he is about his loss of erectile function, the wife says, 'but you're alive, and we're OK,'" Zaider said. "For men, it's not just about their function it signifies a loss of who they are. There are feelings of incompleteness." The findings make a case for involving men's partners in interventions aimed at helping men cope with their distress, she said. The researchers have begun a trial to test the effectiveness of such an intervention. "Perhaps in the context of a strong, affectionate and communicative relationship, men can revise their ideas about what makes them a man and, in turn, adjust better to ED," Zaider said. http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/15/14454493-why- men-feel-less-manly-after-prostate-cancer?
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Untreatable Gonorrhoea spreading around World: WHO By Kate Kelland Reuters June 06, 2012 LONDON (Reuters) - Drug-resistant strains of gonorrhoea have spread to countries across the world, the U.N. health agency said on Wednesday, and millions of patients may run out of treatment options unless doctors catch and treat cases earlier. Scientists reported last year finding a "superbug" gonorrhoea strain in Japan that is resistant to all recommended antibiotics and warned then that it could transform a once easily treatable infection into a global health threat. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said those fears are now reality, with many more countries around the world, including Australia, France, Norway, Sweden and Britain, reporting cases of the sexually transmitted disease resistant to cephalosporin antibiotics - normally the last option for drugs against gonorrhoea. "Gonorrhoea is becoming a major public health challenge," said Manjula Lusti-Narasimhan, from the WHO's department of reproductive health and research. "We are very concerned about recent reports of treatment failure from the last effective treatment option - the class of cephalosporin antibiotics," she added. "If gonococcal infections become untreatable, the health implications are significant." Gonorrhoea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection which, if left untreated, can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, severe eye infections in babies, and infertility in both men and women. It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world and is most prevalent in south and southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. In the United States alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of cases is estimated at around 700,000 a year. The WHO called for greater vigilance on the correct use of antibiotics and more research into alternative treatments for so-called gonococcal infections. The emergence of drug-resistant or superbug strains of gonorrhoea is caused by unregulated access to and overuse of antibiotics, which helps fuel natural genetic mutations within the bacteria. Experts say an added problem with gonorrhoea is that its strains tend to retain their genetic resistance to previous antibiotics even after their use has been discontinued. "TIP OF THE ICEBERG" The United Nations' health agency said it does not yet how far or wide drug resistance in gonorrhoea has spread, as many countries lack reliable data. But it put the number of people who have contracted it in the millions. "The available data only shows the tip of the iceberg," said Lusti-Narasimhan. "Without adequate surveillance we won't know the extent of resistance to gonorrhoea and without research into new antimicrobial agents, there could soon be no effective treatment for patients." Experts say the best way to reduce the risk of even greater resistance developing - beyond the urgent need to develop effective new drugs - is to treat gonorrhoea with combinations of two or more types of antibiotic at the same time. This technique is used in the treatment of some other infections like tuberculosis in an attempt to make it more difficult for the bacteria to learn how to conquer the drugs. Gonorrhoea can be prevented through safer sexual intercourse. The WHO said early detection and prompt treatment, including of sexual partners, is essential to control sexually transmitted infections. http://health.yahoo.net/news/s/nm/untreatable-gonorrhoea- spreading-around-world-who
Continued from page 18 Smaller Penis (And Regret) May Follow Prostate Cancer Treatment Size Loss: Perceived, Not Measured This study did not include actual measurements of patients' penises. Instead, the problem of size loss was culled from physician-completed questionnaires about their patients. In effect, a patient had to complain about their "perceived reduction in penile size." Other studies have put a ruler to work. In one study, stretched penile length was measured before and after bilateral nerve-sparing surgery; it showed a significant decrease in length at 1 month, from 11.77 to 11.13 cm (J Endourol. 2011;25:65-69). In a prospective study of men receiving ADT alone as initial therapy for prostate cancer, there was a significant decrease in the mean penile length at 15 months, from 10.76 to 8.05 cm (J Sex Med. 2011;8:3214-3219). That study found no significant relation between potency and penile shortening. Continued on page 48
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African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8 Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES Study: Chemical Pollution linked to Upsurge in Homosexuality, Transgenderism By Terrence Aym April 5, 2012
In recent years the percentage of the population identifying themselves as gay or transgender has risen. Some have attributed it to a greater willingness to come "out of the closet." But now, two studies shed more light on why homosexuality may be increasing. A breakthrough study, conducted by medical researchers at the Stockholm Brain Institute in Sweden, has found that the brains of homosexual men and heterosexual women have striking similarities. The strongest correlation is between amygdala activity and the physical size of the brain. The researchers report that the region of the brain that's affected is directly responsible for aggression, emotional response and feelings of anxiety. In the case of gay men and straight women the amygdala is virtually identical. Similarities also exist between the brains of lesbians and straight men. Another study, published by the International Journal of Andrology, zeroes in on an environmental pollutant and shows how it can mutate key areas of the brain affecting the tendency towards sexual preference. In conjunction with other studies revealing links between environmental toxins that affect the development of the amygdala in fetuses and infants, questions raising about the possibility that certain pollutants are impacting sexuality during early childhood. The Stockholm study, "Brain similarities between homosexuals and opposite sex" appears in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Because this finding touches upon strong political nerves, the report is controversial. But the history of science surging forward has often been controversial. In extreme cases, new knowledge is so reviled by a culture or society that scientists are threatened with death. Galileo Galilei's astronomical observations threatened the power structure of the Vatican during the 17th Century. Evolution threatens those that believe in Creationism, and the biological-environmental causes of some homosexuality threatens those groups that promote the sexual preference as one of choice, and those that deny that exposure to certain chemical pollutants are changing the physiology of the human race. The study found the characteristics shaping the preference for the same sex is governed by the chemistry taking place in the womb during fetal development. Neurologist Ivanka Savic-Berglund, the study's author, explained, that the traits are steered towards heterosexual or homosexual tendencies during pregnancy and extend into early infancy. According to the research, environmental social factors such as family structure, cultural mores, and psychological factors have little or no impact on sexual preference. Commenting on the finding, Dr. Dean Hamer, a molecular biologist at the National Institutes of Health, said: "This is yet another in a long series of observations showing there's a biological reason for sexual orientation. It's not just a reflection of people's behavior, nor is it a choice, nor is it something in their rearing environment. [The Stockholm Brain Institute findings] shows that it's something that people are born with." To determine if the physiology of the brain really drives sexual preferences, the scientists worked with a group of 90 subjects. The members of the group had 25 heterosexuals and 20 homosexuals of each sex. Continued on page 42
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Continued from page 41- Study: Chemical Pollution linked to Upsurge in Homosexuality, Transgenderism Using high tech medical tools like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) scanning, the team obtained hard evidence that heterosexual men and homosexual women possess asymmetrical brains. They discovered the same physiology exists between the brains of heterosexual women and gay men. The reserachers also found that the blood flow to the amygdala revealed that lesbians and heterosexual men had more blood going to the region affecting aggressive behavior, while straight women and gay men had a greater blood flow to those parts of the brain governing both anxiety and fear. Research finds links between environmental pollutants and abnormal brain development Some toxic chemicals don't kill outright; instead they mutate cells, change DNA, or affect the physiology of sexual development. As far back as 2000 a study conducted of fish exposed to pollution in the Potomac River revealed a whopping eight out of 10 males had morphed into females. The scientists were not only stunned, they were horrified. The biological dysfunctions were found to have come about through exposure to endocrine disruptor. Bisphenol-A and other phthalates are endocrine disruptors and are part of the chemical composition of plastic bottles that contain water, fruit juices and carbonated drinks. The phthalates can leak out over time and poison the product resulting in abnormal fetal brain development if the fetus is exposed to the toxins in the mother's blood. Another incident occurred some years later in the Great Lakes. That disaster not only affected fish, but humans eating the fish. An outbreak of thyroid problems was followed by pregnant women giving birth to low-weight babies having disproportionately smaller heads and IQs below average. The culprit that time was polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). But some environmental poisoning is more subtle, takes longer to discover, and is more insidious. It can be especially difficult to determone the real truth through scientific data when various groups have drawn up battle lines and have already determined what the know is "true." At one time psychologists believed that homosexuality
was an aberrant behavior and a mental illness. Psychology books had whole chapters focused on homosexuality, its diagnosis and possible therapy to treat it. Those books gradually disappeared as the gay movement arose during the 1970s and 1980s. Certain religious groups are very politically active against homosexuality and the gay lifestyle. They believe that homosexuality is a choice and that those who embrace same sex relationships, bi-sexual lifestyles, or claim they are transgender have consciously made the decision to do so. Yet over the past 20 years objective studies have revealed just the opposite. The brains of homosexuals are different than the brains of heterosexuals of the same sex. Now the how and whys some brains are changed chemicallyeither in the womb or suring early infancyare beginning to be answered. Another factor is the hormone Androstendione. A research psychologist at Villanova University, Dr. Ingeborg Ward, studied how chemicals in treated male rats increased stress levels and led to increased production of the hormone. Ward discovered the hormone affects male brain development adversely during early development, in effect it tends to feminize it. Ward noted: "The present data support the hypothesis that exposure of pregnant rats to environmental stressors modifies the normal process of sexual behavior differentiation in male fetuses by decreasing functional testosterone and elevating androstenedione levels during prenatal development. During stress conditions plasma testosterone emanating from the gonads decreases while adrenal androstenedione rises. The molecular structure of the two androgens, being very similar, it is postulated that the two hormones compete for the same receptor sites." Although that sheds light on how the male brain may be mutated towards female tendencies, what about lesbians? An article written by Dan Eden, "Homosexuality is not a choice," addresses how the same biological dysfunction could apply to females: "The developing female fetus is expecting no pre-natal testosterone. This molecule is significant only if the fetus is destined to be male. Androstenedione, produced by maternal stress, closely resembles testosterone. Even a small amount of this Continued on page 43
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particularly pesticides and plasticizers, are suspected endocrine disruptors based on limited animal studies. 3. What are some likely routes of exposure to endocrine disruptors? Exposure to endocrine disruptors can occur through direct contact with pesticides and other chemicals or through ingestion of contaminated water, food, or air. Chemicals suspected of acting as endocrine disruptors are found in insecticides, herbicides, fumigants and fungicides that are used in agriculture as well as in the home. Industrial workers can be exposed to chemicals such as detergents, resins, and plasticizers with endocrine disrupting properties. Endocrine disruptors enter the air or water as a byproduct of many chemical and manufacturing processes and when plastics and other materials are burned. Further, studies have found that endocrine disruptors can leach out of plastics, including the type of plastic used to make hospital intravenous bags. Many endocrine disruptors are persistent in the environment and accumulate in fat, so the greatest exposures come from eating fatty foods and fish from contaminated water. 4. How do we know that endocrine disruptors are dangerous? Many plant and animal species are showing signs of ill health due to exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. For example, fish in the Great Lakes, which are contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other man-made chemicals, have numerous reproductive problems as well as abnormal swelling of the thyroid glands. Fish-eating birds in the Great Lakes area, such as eagles, terns, and gulls, have shown similar dysfunctions. Scientists have also pointed to endocrine disruptors as the cause of a declining alligator population in Lake Apopka, Florida. The alligators in this area have diminished reproductive organs that prevent successful reproduction. These problems were connected to a large pesticide spill several years earlier, and the alligators were found to have endocrine disrupting chemicals in their bodies and eggs. Should humans be concerned for their health based on evidence that fish, birds and alligators have been affected? Yes. All vertebrates (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, including humans) are fundamentally similar during early embryonic development. Scientists can therefore use the evidence acquired on other species to make predictions about endocrine disrupting effects on humans. Continued on page 44 Continued from page 42 - Study: Chemical Pollution linked to Upsurge in Homosexuality, Transgenderism molecule during the critical first trimester of pregnancy could be enough to make the developing hypothalamus defeminized or masculine. So the same mechanism can possibly explain both male and female homosexuality." Evidence phthalates increasing tendency towards homosexuality The per-reviewed International Journal of Andrology recently published a new study, "Decrease in Anogenital Distance among Male Infants with Prenatal Phthalate Exposure," that analyzed two phthalates. The study shows that exposure to anti-androgen phthalates can significantly and adversely affect the development of masculinity in the male brain. Dr. Shanna H. Swan, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the director of the University of Rochester Medical Center for Reproductive Epidemiology, was the lead author. She has called for more research into the long range effects of phthalates on the brain. The good news may be the chemical culprit that's mutating brain development may have been found. The bad news is: phthalates are found everywhere. http://www.helium.com/items/2311729-chemical-pollution- linked-to-upsurge-in-homosexuality-transgenderism
Endocrine Disruptors 1. What is the endocrine system? The endocrine system is a complex network of glands and hormones that regulates many of the body's functions, including growth, development and maturation, as well as the way various organs operate. The endocrine glands -- including the pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, thymus, pancreas, ovaries, and testes -- release carefully-measured amounts of hormones into the bloodstream that act as natural chemical messengers, traveling to different parts of the body in order to control and adjust many life functions. 2. What is an endocrine disruptor? An endocrine disruptor is a synthetic chemical that when absorbed into the body either mimics or blocks hormones and disrupts the body's normal functions. This disruption can happen through altering normal hormone levels, halting or stimulating the production of hormones, or changing the way hormones travel through the body, thus affecting the functions that these hormones control. Chemicals that are known human endocrine disruptors include diethylstilbesterol (the drug DES), dioxin, PCBs, DDT, and some other pesticides. Many chemicals,
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Continued from page 43 Endocrine Disruptors 6. Is there direct evidence that humans are susceptible to endocrine disruption? Yes. In the 1950s and 1960s pregnant women were prescribed diethylstilbestrol (DES), a synthetic estrogen, to prevent miscarriages. Not only did DES fail to prevent miscarriages, but it also caused health problems for many of these women's children. In 1971, doctors began reporting high rates of unusual vaginal cancers in teenage girls. Investigations of the girls' environmental exposures traced the problem to their mothers' use of DES. The girls also suffered birth defects of the uterus and ovaries, and immune system suppression. 7. Are children at greater risk from endocrine disruptor exposure? Yes. Because endocrine disruptors affect the development of the body's vital organs and hormonal systems, infants, children and developing fetuses are more vulnerable to exposure. And as was the case with DES, parents' exposure to certain chemicals may produce unexpected -- and tragic -- effects in their children, even decades later. 8. These days don't chemicals have to be safe to be allowed on the market? No. The majority of the more than 2,000 chemicals that come onto the market every year do not go through even the simplest tests to determine toxicity. Even when some tests are carried out, they do not assess whether or not a chemical has endocrine interfering properties. 9. What can I do to reduce my risk of exposure? Educate yourself about endocrine disruptors, and educate your family and friends. Buy organic food whenever possible. Avoid using pesticides in your home or yard, or on your pet -- use baits or traps instead, keepin your home especially clean to prevent ant or roach infestations. Find out if pesticides are used in your child's school or day care center and campaign for non-toxic alternatives. Avoid fatty foods such as cheese and meat whenever possible. If you eat fish from lakes, rivers, or bays, check with your state to see if they are contaminated. Avoid heating food in plastic containers, or storing fatty foods in plastic containers or plastic wrap.
Do not give young children soft plastic teethers or toys, since these leach potential endocrine disrupting chemicals. Support efforts to get strong government regulation of and increased research on endocrine disrupting chemicals. http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/qendoc.asp
Radiation Exposure and Sperm: Basics Every Man Should Know By Tinamarie Bernard March 31, 2011
You light up my sperm? What a man should know if contemplating fatherhood. Male fertility depends on healthy sperm. Just as there are ways a man can enable optimum sexual fitness via diet (whats good for the heart is often good for a mans libido) and erectile supplements for example, we are now more keenly aware of how certain toxins can permanently alter sperm production and function. The recent disasters around the globe, particularly the nuclear reactor crisis in Japan, highlights how these forces often out of our individual control. With concerns of radiation exposure on the top of peoples minds, we at Greenprophet.com want to offer basics every man in the Middle East should know with regards to radiation exposure and his sexual health. To impregnate his partner, a mans body must produce appropriate levels of testosterone and other hormones involved in the production of sperm in the testicles. There has to be enough sperm, carried via semen, to be ejaculated out of the penis. And the motility and morphology of sperm must be such that they can reach and penetrate a womans ova. It should be noted that globally, sperm counts have been declining. Continued on page 45
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Continued from page 44 - Radiation Exposure and Sperm: Basics Every Man Should Know Greenprophet.com reported on the forty percent decline in sperm count among Israelis, attributing these changes to cell phone use and hormone exposure. A low sperm count is considered fewer than 20 million sperm per milliliter of semen. What about environmental elements that can harm sperm? The Mayo Health Clinic sites heat, toxins and chemicals as common sources of concern. Pesticides. Some men exposed to pesticides such as ethylene dibromide and organophosphates have lowered sperm counts. Pesticide exposure has also been linked to testicular cancer. Most studies have been done on men who work in agriculture or live in agricultural areas. Heavy metal exposure. Exposure to lead or other heavy metals also may cause infertility. Exposure to radiation or X-rays. Exposure to radiation can reduce sperm production. It can take several years for sperm production to return to normal. With high doses of radiation, sperm production can be permanently reduced. Overheating the testicles. Frequent use of saunas or hot tubs may temporarily lower your sperm count. Sitting for long periods or wearing tight clothing also may increase the temperature in your scrotum and reduce sperm production. Prolonged bicycling. Prolonged bicycling is another possible cause of reduced fertility due to overheating the testicles. In some cases, bicycle seat pressure on the area behind the testicles (perineum) can cause numbness in the penis and erectile dysfunction. Its the third item on that list raising questions these days. According to the Health Physics Society, a USA-based scientific organization comprised of 6000 professionals members who specialize in radiation safety, the common concern about testicular radiation exposure is birth defects. Referencing to large population studies, one of which looked at thousands of patients who were exposed to radiation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, after 50 years of studying this population, there has been no demonstrable increase in genetic disease. What was learned is that the risk is extremely small and that you need very large populations to demonstrate this risk. In other words, the risk from the radiation is too small to be detected amid the spontaneous incidence of mutations and the heredi- tary component of mutations that may affect the offspring. The National Cancer Institute in the United States has studied thousands of male patients exposed to radiation therapy as part of cancer treatment. Families of these individuals also have not demonstrated an increase in birth defects or miscarriage. Still, the author cautions that infertility or sterility may occur after exposure, though birth defects are unlikely. Studies of the atomic bomb survivors indicate even in the high-exposure group that there is not an increased incidence of chromosome abnormalities or genetic disease in the next generation. That is also the case for studies from the National Cancer Institute, which indicate that patients who had cancer and received chemotherapy and radiation did not have an increased incidence in genetic disease or birth defects in the next generation, although they did have problems with infertility. They advise men whove had even diagnostic exposures to radiation to wait for at least two spermatogenesis cycles, which is about four months before attempting to impregnate their partner. It takes approximately 48 days for new sperm cells to form, and 14 days for them to reach maturation. In general, the more frequently a man ejaculates, including via masturbation, the more efficient his sperm-production will be. In previous articles, we discussed the risks of exposure to toxins on a mans sperm and offspring that suggest even small changes in diet can have long-term deleterious consequences. For specifics from the Health Physics Society on the Japanese fukushima reactor, visit their site. :: Mayo Clinic and Robert Brent, MD, PhD, Health Physics Society http://www.greenprophet.com/2011/03/radiation-exposure- sperm/
Israeli Sperm Count Drops A Whopping Forty Percent By Maurice Picow May 12, 2009 It could be something out of the worst nightmare of a Woody Allen flick like Everything you wanted to know about sex but are afraid to ask. Continued on page 46
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Continued from page 45 Israeli Sperm Count Drops a Whopping Forty Percent But there may be truth in some recent findings about a radical reduction in male sperm count by Dr. Ronit Haimov Kochman from Hadassah Hospitals Mt. Scopus campus in Jerusalem. The study was conducted between 2004 and 2008, and found that the amount of sperm in Israeli males who took part in the study has dropped by a whopping 40% over a decade earlier. Environmental factors, including cell phone use, are to blame. Why this has happened appears to be due to a number reasons including changes in diet (more use of alcohol, eating fast foods, etc.) as well as increased use of cellular phones. The increased use of cell phones appear to be one of the most acute reasons for loss of male sperm count, that in males studied, dropped from 107 million sperm cells per cubic cm of test fluid, or semen, to only 67 million. That means a drop of the little squiggly rascals of around 40%. Radiation from cell phones, especially those carried in one pockets (hey, where else are we going to carry one?) seem to be especially good at zapping the lil critters; but even the water the people drink seems to have an effect as well. Whats even more worrisome is that not only the number of sperm has dropped significantly but the quality as well; which could have an effect on ones with XY chromosomes that are supposed to involved in producing male offspring and are said to be more vulnerable to conditions while en route to the ova in the female body. Dr. Haimov-Kochman went on to say that if this keeps up, male sperm count will be down to only around 20 million per cubic cm by the year 2030, which will have a definite effect on human reproduction. It also appears that hormone imbalance may also be a factor as too much female estrogen hormones also has a role in problems dealing with human reproduction. Many men acquire female estrogen hormones when they get older which often accounts for problems with the prostate gland, larger breasts in men, and even prostate cancer. The increase in estrogen hormones, including that in women also seems to be effected by diet, including eating certain fruits and animals given estrogen to increase milk production. And of course, the use of estrogen-packed birth control pills used by women, and which make their way to our drinking water, isnt helping the situation either. Prof. Levenfeld, head of the Israel Fertility Institute at Beershevas Soroka Medical Center, added that there appears to be an overall reduction in male sperm counts and sperm quality all over the world, also as the result of conditions similar to those in Israeli men involved in the study. Before making definite conclusions, however, Prof. Levenfeld suggested that studies be made on a new group of test subjects who dont zap their privates with cell phone radiation and who eat a more healthy diet. If anyone reading this article saw the movie Children of Men which portrayed a childless world in about the year 2030, the future might seem very chilling indeed. http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/05/israel-sperm-count- environment/
The Dental Connection to Infertility Mark A. Breiner, DDS The FDA and EPA have advised that women who might become pregnant, women who are pregnant, nursing mothers and young children should limit their intake of fish. Why? Because of the mercury levels in fish. As we will see, mercury has profound effects on fertility. What everyone seems to ignore when the topic of mercury is discussed is the fact that according to the World Health Organization the major source of mercury for a human being is from dental "silver" fillings. You get more mercury from your mercury laden dental fillings then you do from your food or from the environment. The mercury in a silver amalgam filling accounts for about 50% of a dental restoration. If you have these fillings, then you are inhaling toxic mercury vapor every day. Anything you do to stimulate the filling will cause large increases in the amount of vapor coming off the filling. If you chew, grind, brush, bleach your teeth, have them polished by a hygienist or have them touched with a drill you greatly increase the amount of mercury coming from the filling. It comes out in a vapor form which allows it to easily pass to all your tissues and organs, including those of reproduction. Men, Mercury and Reproduction Mercury has an affinity for sperm. Mercury and other heavy metals are found in male ejaculate and seminal Continued on page 47
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Continued from page 46 The Dental Connection to Infertility fluid, with the heaviest amount in the sperm. Besides the fact that mercury disrupts all living systems via many different pathways, there are two ways mercury in male reproductive fluids may be a problem with respect to infertility. 1) A women may be hypersensitive or allergic to mercury and thus have antibodies to mercury which will then react with the sperm and kill them. 2) Sperm with low motility are low in zinc and manganese; these are needed in the enzyme systems necessary for sperm motility. Mercury inhibits zinc and manganese. Thus there can be an indirect effect of mercury on sperm. Selenium is also involved in sperm motility as well as in normal development of sperm. Selenium has a very high affinity for mercury and is one of the body's natural protectors against mercury. If the selenium is tied up with mercury it is not available for other important functions like healthy sperm. Another side effect of mercury in humans is loss of libido. We can all appreciate how this can have an effect on fertility! Guess what was always used in contraceptive gels because it kills sperm? Right ... mercury. Mercury also inhibits the synthesis of DNA in sperm forming cells. DNA is what carries our genetic information. I had a patient who came to remove his mercury fillings specifically because of his low sperm count and motility. He was a chiropractor and had researched the issue. He and his wife had been trying to have a baby for a few years and finally went for testing. His wife was fine, but he was not. Six months after removal of the fillings and detoxification of metals from his body, his wife became pregnant. They now have three beautiful children. So much for the men, what about the other half? Women are not as simple as men (but all you women know that). There is a lot more going on and therefore a lot more areas mercury can have an impact. Remember mercury from fillings comes off in the vapor form. It has no electrical charge-it is elemental mercury. It goes to the blood and in one minute circulates to the whole body. Having no charge it easily passes to various tissues and organs and then becomes charged. It then binds to proteins and is thus called inorganic mercury. Mercury can destroy the biological function of any protein it binds to. According to the Center for Disease Control one in twelve women of child-bearing age already have unsafe blood levels of mercury. This is scary because blood is not even a good indicator of mercury-it is when it leaves the blood and binds to proteins that it becomes a problem. Remember a woman's body is very complex. With all the rising and falling of various hormones, mercury accumulates in the hypothalamus and pituitary. Both of these hormone producing glands are responsible for the proper functioning of the female hormones. Fertility is based on the functional integration of the hypothalamus, pituitary, ovaries and uterus. The hypothalamus produces Gonatatrophin Releasing Hormone which tells the pituitary to release the Follicle- Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone (LH). Studies on women who work around mercury show menstrual cycle disturbances, hypomenorrhea, or hypermenorrhea. I know from my own experience in practice, that many women have all sorts of problems with their periods. Very often they report tremendous improvement when the mercury is removed and chelated out of their bodies. Also with mercury poisoning we know there is an increased rate of spontaneous abortion and neonatal mortality. We especially see this in female dentists and assistants. Some studies suggest endometriosis is linked to abnormal immune function. Mercury weakens the immune system. One of the ways it does this is by depleting the adrenal glands of B-5 and ascorbic acid. This causes a decrease in adrenal hormones which then leads to decreased immune function. Add stress, which can also ultimately decrease adrenal function and you have a recipe for problems. I find it is helpful to supplement all mercury-toxic patients to support the adrenal glands. Also the pituitary is important in adrenal functioning. Mercury loves to accumulate here. Mercury interferes with an enzyme called cytochrome P450. This enzyme is important in the production of progesterone, a major female hormone. The list goes on and on. A study was done in Hong Kong on 150 infertile couples undergoing in-vitro fertilization versus 20 fertile couples. The infertile couples had significantly higher blood mercury then the fertile group. Over 1/3 of infertile men had abnormally high mercury and about 1/4 of the infertile females had high mercury levels. They blamed it on sea food consumption. Considering they looked only at blood, fish may have been the culprit. Mercury in the blood often will reflect fish intake. However, fish is not usually a major source of one's mercury. Too bad they did not run tests to check on the tissue burden of mercury. Nevertheless, this study reinforces the fact that mercury levels need to be investigated when dealing with infertility, both in the male and the female. Suffice it to say, I believe that any couple having trouble conceiving should be checked for heavy metal toxicity. As one new patient said, "When I decided to become Continued on page 48
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Continued from page 47 The Dental Connection to Infertility pregnant I did all I could to be as healthy as possible. I made sure I ate healthy foods, abstained from all alcohol and stopped eating fish. I am really upset that nowhere did I read or did anyone tell me that "silver" fillings are a major source of mercury. Maybe that is why I had trouble getting pregnant and when I did I lost two babies in utero." The American Dental Association likes to say that mercury in a filling is no longer mercury and therefore is safe. This is absurd. Just remember mercury is mercury and mercury is toxic. 2005, Mark A. Breiner, DDS http://www.wholebodymed.com/library_education_details.php ?pid=31
Continued from page 40 Smaller Penis (And Regret) May Follow Prostate Cancer Treatment However, some researchers have suggested that the loss of erectile function related to ADT might contribute to shortening, note Dr. Nguyen and his coauthors. Dr. Cormier does not put much stock in actual measurements, which could be "stressful" for patients. "The patients' perception of penile length is the key point," he writes. But this is tricky, Dr. Cormier says. "Sexual activity needs to be thoroughly measured, owing to the obvious relationship with the patients' perception of penile length. Finally, the psychological effect of disease recurrence might modify patients' perception of penile length," he writes. No validated self-administered questionnaire exploring all these domains exists, Dr. Cormier explains. His speculations do not, however, address a key study finding that radiotherapy was not associated with any size loss, but surgery and ADT were. Dr. Nguyen and his coauthors state that radiation could, in fact, cause shrinkage. They observe that other researchers have speculated that "long-term inflammatory changes to the microvasculature, neural tissues, and structural changes to the corporeal smooth muscle, all resulting from external-beam radiation therapy...can contribute to penile length changes." It is unclear why penile reduction occurs after surgery. The authors suggest that denervation atrophy associated with erectile dysfunction and possibly fibrosis of the cavernous smooth muscle might occur.
Millions of Fewer Girls Born Due to Nuclear Radiation? "Unexpected" findings suggest bomb tests, plant accidents boosted male births BY KER THAN June 2, 2011 National Geographic News Nuclear radiation from bomb tests and power plant accidents causes slightly more boys than girls to be born, a new study suggests. While effects were seen to be regional for incidents on the ground, like Chernobyl, atmospheric blasts were found to affect birth rates on a global scale. The result: Millions fewer females have been born worldwide than would otherwise be expected, researchers estimate. And given Japan's current nuclear troubles, another boy boomlet could be on the way, experts say. For the new study, scientists analyzed population data from 1975 to 2007 for 39 European countries and the United States. They found an increase in the number of male births relative to female births in all of the countries investigated from 1964 to 1975and in many eastern European countries for several years after 1986. In "normal" circumstances, male births outnumber female births by a ratio of 105 to 100, study co-author Hagen Scherb said. "It's not known what is the biological reason for this ratio," he added. "It's a natural constant, like the constant of gravity." The statistical bumps observed in the study are in addition to that slight natural imbalance. The 1960s and '70s increase is attributed in the study to the global dispersal of radioactive atoms from atmospheric atomic bomb tests. The tests lofted radioactive atoms high into the atmosphere, where air currents caught the atoms and then dispersed them around the planet. Open-air nuclear tests were most common from the late 1940s until 1963, when the Limited Test Ban Treaty sent such testing underground, at least for signatories the United States, Soviet Union, and United Kingdom. Chernobyl's Hidden Fallout? The scientists think the second spike in their data is due Continued on page 49
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Continued from page 48 Millions of Fewer Girls Born Due to Nuclear Radiation? to the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, in which a nuclear reactor exploded in Ukraine, which was then part of the Soviet Union. In Chernobyl's case, the effect was more localized, since the radioactive release occurred on the ground. "The closer the country was to Chernobyl, the stronger the effect," said Scherb, a biostatistician at the German Research Center for Environmental Health in Munich. For example, more males were born relative to females in neighboring Belarus than in France, hundreds of miles away (regional map). No post-Chernobyl effect was seen in the U.S., which was presumably too far away for the radioactive atoms to reach in sufficiently high amounts, Scherb added. In both instances, the increase in the ratio of male to female births was meagerless than one percent. But the effect lasted years before leveling off or reversingnot surprising, since radioactive atoms can remain harmful for several years, the study authors say. And even with such a small increase in the percentage of male births, the global release of nuclear radiation has, over decades, led to several million fewer girls being born worldwide than would otherwise be expected, the authors estimate. Female Chromosomes Especially Vulnerable? The biological mechanism behind the skewed sex ratio wasn't investigated in the study. But previous radiation experiments on animals suggest the boost in males may be due to damage to X chromosomes in sperm, Scherb said. In humans, a sperm cell contains either an X or Y chromosome, while an egg contains no Y chromosome. If an embryo has an XY combination, it will become a boy. An XX combination results in a girl. It's not known exactly why X chromosomes in sperm would be more likely to sustain radiation damage than Y chromosomes or in X chromosomes in eggs, Scherb said. Perhaps it's because X chromosomes are simply bigger targets or because eggs insulate their chromosomes better than sperm cells do, he speculated. It could also be that, because X chromosomesbeing larger than Y chromosomescarry more genes, X chromosome damage is more likely to result in a fatally deformed embryo, he said. Whatever the exact mechanism, the result of disproportionately damaged X chromosomes should be fewer daughters and more sons, the authors sayprecisely the effect seen in the new study. "Most Convincing Documentation" The new study is "the most convincing documentation" to date that radiation can lead to sex bias in humans, according to geneticist Karl Sperling of the Institute of Medical Genetics and Human Genetics in Berlin. The findings challenge the conventional belief that exposure to nuclear radiation has no, or negligible, genetic effects in humans, added Sperling, who wasn't involved in the study, published in the latest issue of the journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research. For the scientific community, Dr. Scherbs findings are completely unexpected [but] statistically well proven, Sperling wrote in an email. U.S. West Coast to See Spike in Boy Births? Though based largely on Cold War-era statistics, the findings are newly relevant, according to study co-author Scherb. In the wake of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, radiation could once again lead to a gender bias in humans, he said. "We do not know how much radioactivity was emitted through Fukushima and how it will spread throughout the world," he said. "Maybe it's confined to just Japan ... but if it gets in the water and the air, it's possible that we could see a similar effect, especially on the West Coast of America." http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/06/110602- millions-fewer-girls-nuclear-radiation-births-science/
Disappearing Muscles, Lack of Energy, Mood Swings, Snoring... Is your Man suffering Low Testosterone? By Anna Hodgekiss 11 October 2011 Tired? Prone to weight gain? It might not just be lack of sleep or simple greed thats the problem. If youre a man, your excuse could be low testosterone. For years, many medics regarded the idea of low testosterone as a bit of a joke. Now it is increasingly being recognised by the medical profession as a key factor in mens health. Scientists at the University of California, for instance, Continued on page 50
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Continued from page 49 Disappearing Muscles, Lack of Energy, Mood Swings, Snoring have found that low levels may drastically increase the risk of death in men aged over 50. A study of 800 men found that those with low levels had a 33 per cent increased risk of dying over an 18-year period than those with higher levels. As many as ten per cent of British men are thought to suffer from low testosterone or testosterone deficiency syndrome. Yet many men may not be aware that it is even a problem. Three-quarters of men have not heard of the condition, according to a study of more than 1,000 British men presented last week at the Mens Health World Congress in Vienna. Furthermore, while 85 per cent of the 220 British GPs also questioned in the study considered it a medical condition worthy of treatment, 90 per cent admitted they were not aware of how it should be treated. Testosterone deficiency syndrome is caused when the testicles, which produce testosterone, do not function normally, or when the bodys overall hormone production is out of balance. Age is a risk factor (testosterone levels fall by around one per cent a year by the time a man is 30) age- related low testosterone is commonly referred to as the male menopause, or andropause. Other causes of low testosterone include diabetes, obesity and excessive alcohol consumption, explains Professor Tom Trinick, consultant physician at the Ulster Hospital in Belfast, a leading authority on testosterone deficiency. Obesity, diabetes and alcohol lead to fat forming around the middle this pumps out the female hormone oestrogen, counteracting testosterone. Other men produce testosterone but may be resistant to it, just like diabetics are resistant to insulin, says Dr Malcolm Carruthers, founder of The Centre for Mens Health in London. But men dont have to be fat to get testosterone deficiency syndrome, says Dr Geoff Hackett, a consultant in the urology department at the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, a GP, and one of the co-authors of last weeks study. I have a patient with low testosterone who is extremely fit he runs triathlons and is perfectly slim. Damage to the testes as a result of mumps or chemotherapy for cancer can also affect testosterone levels, adds Pierre-Marc Bouloux, professor of endocrinology at University College London and The London Clinic. As well as raising the overall risk of premature death, low testosterone is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes which can, in turn, lead to lower testosterone, explains Dr Hackett. Just like raised cholesterol can cause high blood pressure and high blood pressure can cause high cholesterol, you just treat both rather than ask which came first. Low testosterone is linked to other, more immediate problems men need the hormone for muscle strength, healthy bones, positive mood and energy. Too little can lead to weight gain, loss of facial and body hair, and joint pain. Low testosterone also causes hot flushes. Its also, not surprisingly, vital to a mans potency and sex drive, says Hugh Jones, honorary professor of andrology at Barnsley Hospital and the University of Sheffield. Many men in the UK blame their age or their relationship for problems with their sex lives, when actually it could be due to a hormonal imbalance. Under guidelines drawn up last year by the British Society for Sexual Medicine, diagnosis of the condition should be based upon symptoms such as weight gain, poor morning erection, low sexual desire and erectile dysfunction, combined with a blood test taken in the morning on more than one occasion. Often the diagnosis and treatment are not clear cut, so a short-term trial on testosterone replacement therapy for three to six months is used to help clarify whats wrong. Gels and injections are the most common means of application; a single jab can last three months. When testosterone replacement therapy is prescribed, it can change the lives of patients and their wives, says Dr Hackett. Your GP should always be your first port of call with any concerns about low testosterone. However, others have yet to be convinced that the problem is as widespread as some say. Some men do have low levels, but the root cause may be lifestyle factors such as obesity and lack of exercise, says professor Bouloux. We must be careful that this is not being driven by the drug industry. Obese men, for example, often find that once they lose weight, hormone levels bounce back. Continued on page 52
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African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES Low-T Syndrome: Another Word for Male Menopause By SUSAN DONALDSON JAMES ABC News, August 10, 2009 Low-T Syndrome Is Real, Some Doctors Say, and a Money Maker for Drug Companies By the time Dan hit 57, he didn't recognize himself. He was always tired, fell asleep after dinner and was angry all the time. "My libido was less and I was beginning to have a loss of erection while having sex, but I thought that was part of the normal aging process," said Dan, who did not want his real name to be used. "I had just changed doctors and he asked me, 'Are you more grumpy and less interested in things like sex?'" Dan, now a 60-year-old California counselor, said. "Yeah, I am more grumpy, get less enjoyment out of life and certainly am having less sexual activity with my wife of 40 years," Dan answered. "I had excellent health all my life and he said there was a name for it -- male menopause." The doctor ordered a series of blood tests and found Dan had low levels of testosterone. "My levels were in the basement," he said. Dan, according to his doctor, has andropause, what is now euphemistically being called low-T syndrome. Television ads for low-T syndrome have cropped up on prime-time nightly news programs, joining direct-to- consumer drug ads for erectile dysfunction, or "ED," as well as other aging ailments such as high cholesterol, enlarged prostates and dry eyes. Andropause is a "term of convenience" in describing the complex symptoms in aging men with low testosterone levels, according to one study at the University of Toronto Department of Medicine. Some studies show only 25 percent of all men with low testosterone levels ever experience symptoms such as
Dan's, as well as bone loss and fracture, sleep disturbances and lethargy. The very existence of andropause is contentious and large- scale studies on hormone treatment are only a decade old. Many say the underlying cause of some men's complaints are part of the normal aging process. Two Canadian studies cited by the National Institutes of Health illustrate the debate on low testosterone and its treatment. Dr. Richard Casey, director of the Male Health Centers in Oakville, Ont., argues that andropause is primarily market- driven, "largely promoted by industry, accepted by a handful of physicians and embraced by some patients who are looking for an antidote to aging." "We need to resist the marketing efforts and consider the science," writes Casey. "The range of normal testosterone levels is quite broad; levels depend on time of day and no consensus exists on what measurement of testosterone correlates best with symptoms or treatment success." But Dr. Alvaro Morales of Queens University in Ontario supports the concept of "testosterone deficiency syndrome" (TDS) and advocates well-monitored therapy. "The absurd view that TDS is an invention of industry blatantly and conveniently ignores medical observations and reports going back 500 years and accelerating since the mid 20th century," writes Morales in his study. "It does not merit further discussion." 'Male Menopause Is Real' "Male menopause is real," said Jed Diamond, a psychologist and author of a series of books on the topic, including, "Irritable Male Syndrome." "I describe it as adolescence, the second time around," he said. "Everybody goes through it, just as no one can say I Continued on page 52
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Continued from page 51 Low-T Syndrome: Another Word for Male Menopause didn't go through puberty. Some have a fairly easy time and, for some, it's more difficult." Part of the normal part of aging, male menopause is accompanied by a gradual decline in their sexuality, mood and overall energy. For most men, it arrives between the ages of 40 to 55, but for some it happens as early as 35 and as late as 65. Not All Men Have Symptoms of Low Testosterone "Men are more in denial about this than women," said Diamond, who has a Ph.D. in international health and a master's degree in social work. "It's taken guys a little longer for the medical evidence to come out and for doctors to find ways to treat this. But more men are getting help." More men are also taking testosterone treatment in creams, gels or injections, Diamond said. Dan began a holistic course of treatment that included testosterone shots and more exercise, better eating habits, herbal supplements, as well as a multivitamin and zinc. "Those made a big difference," he said. "But exercise has been the most profound thing. Without it, the other wouldn't work. I do weights and yoga twice a week." After Treatment, Noticing Fewer Aches and Pains "After a year, the injections worked," Dan said. "It's not like I am doing physical feats that I was not doing before, but I was noticing a change when I would take groceries out of the car and move wood into the pile. Before, I used to groan as I did it and had more aches and pains." Diamond, who runs the Men Alive Clinic in Willits, Calif., said all men treat menopause differently. Some are in denial and others treat it medically. But male menopause is more complex than just increasing testosterone levels -- involving hormonal fluctuation, changes in brain chemistry, interpersonal and societal changes. "The changes have to do not only with hormones, but also sex changes that have to do with relationships and self-esteem changes. We evaluate all of these different areas," he said, "We don't just look at the test." Unlike women's hormone replacement therapy, which uses estrogen from horses, doctors treat men with bio- identical testosterone, Diamond said. "Biologically, it's the same and it isn't as expensive and they can manufacture it in large quantities," he said. That's why doctors say the pharmaceutical companies are pushing treatment for low-T syndrome on television. Interestingly, direct-to-consumer advertising is only allowed in two countries in the world -- New Zealand and the United States. "The drug companies want to figure out new ways of making money," said Dr. Robert Butler, president of the International Longevity Center in New York City and author of the landmark book, "Human Aging." All men do not experience low testosterone levels, he said. "Not everyone goes through a decline, though there is a small category of men in their 50s and 60s, but it's a new market," he said. Men should be monitored while taking testosterone because it can cause problems for those with heart conditions or prostate cancer that is underway, Butler said. "I don't fault [the drug companies] for being good marketers," he said. "But I think the public should beware in terms of endangering themselves." But Dan said he has confidence in his doctor and, oddly, the regimen has had the least impact on his sex life. "I don't have to be fearful and anxious and I feel like I am equipped to meet whatever comes my way," he said. "When you are 18 to 20, you think you are immortal. At 30 and 40, you think you have the world by the tail." "I began to lose that sense for no good reason," Dan said. "Now, I feel a psychological sense of completeness and robustness and maleness." http://abcnews.go.com/Health/MensHealthNews/story?id=82 79787&page=2#.UOxNVqyO498
Continued from page 50 - Disappearing muscles, lack of energy, mood swings, snoring... Another common argument against testosterone replacement therapy has been that it may increase the risk of prostate cancer. However, a new study by Dr Carruthers and Mark Feneley, a consultant urological surgeon at University College London, which followed more than 1,500 men who had received testosterone replacement therapy for up to 15 years, found men taking it were at no more risk of cancer than those not given the treatment. This would suggest doctors should feel happy to recommend testosterone therapy. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article- 2047662/Disappearing-muscles-lack-energy-mood-swings
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Aggression in Men: Hormone Levels Are a Key By DANIEL GOLEMAN July 17, 1990 WHEN men are domineering and intensely competitive, it may be just another case of raging hormones, specifically the male sex hormone testosterone, researchers say. Scientists have long linked abnormally high levels of testosterone to an unusually early involvement with sex and drug use and to certain violent crimes, like particularly vicious rapes. But now a series of new findings show that high testosterone levels play a role in the normal urge for the upper hand. Those men who are most likely to try to dominate in a social situation, be it in a prison yard or a board room, are likely to have higher testosterone levels than their peers, new data show. Scientists caution against placing too much stock in the importance of hormones like testosterone in human affairs, since so many other factors, from childhood experiences to social status, shape the expression of a given behavior like dominance or competitiveness. ''This doesn't mean that people can't be dominant or aggressive without high testosterone,'' said Dr. Robert Rose, a psychiatrist at the University of Minnesota medical school. ''A woman, of course, can be as competitive as a man, even though her testosterone levels are much lower.'' Scientists emphasize that the effects of hormones on human behavior are small relative to social and psychological factors, showing up most clearly in studies of large numbers of people. And Dr. Rose is among a group of scientists who are skeptical that the hormone is a strong and direct cause of specific human behavior. He cites a series of studies, most involving small numbers of people, that have posted contradictory findings. ''In animals behavior like mating, nesting and aggression is much more tightly linked to hormones than is true in humans,'' Dr. Rose said. ''In humans hormones only set the stage, while social factors determine if and how they are expressed.'' Still, a growing body of new evidence portrays a distinct role for testosterone among men jockeying for power. High testosterone levels have long been known to typify the dominant males in groups of primates like baboons, and in unusual groups of men like prison inmates and hospitalized psychiatric patients. But the recent research has found the same differences in men who seek social dominance in normal realms of life. ''Hormonal secretions create a propensity for certain behaviors,'' Dr. Rose said. ''Testosterone seems most strongly linked to competitiveness and dominance.'' The findings apply only to men. After puberty, testosterone levels in men are about 10 times higher than in women. ''The highest testosterone level in women tends to fall within the low range for men, so that the hormone is a far greater factor for men than women,'' said Dr. Richard Udry, head of a center for population study at the University of North Carolina, who is studying the effects of testosterone on sexuality. But researchers agree with Dr. Rose that other factors can make women just as competitive as men. The newest and strongest evidence about the effect of testosterone comes from a study of 1,706 men in the Boston area, aged 39 to 70. The men were selected at random as part of a larger study on aging. Those who agreed to participate were interviewed in their homes and given psychological tests, and blood samples were taken. Those who had higher levels of testosterone and related hormones had a personality profile that researchers described as ''dominant with some aggressive behavior.'' ''The picture we get is of a man who attempts to influence and control other people, who expresses his opinions forcefully and his anger freely, and who dominates social interactions,'' said John B. McKinlay, a psychologist at the New England Research Institute in Watertown, Mass., who was on the research team. The study, which will be published in Psychosomatic Medicine, is considered significant because it is the first to examine so many randomly chosen men. Most studies of testosterone in humans have been on small numbers in select populations, like prison inmates. Other studies, Dr. McKinlay noted, have found that men high in the trait of social dominance tend to rise to positions of leadership in business and other organizations. But for many others, some traits associated with testosterone present an obstacle to success. Exactly how a man's high testosterone level is expressed depends in part on his social class, another new study has found. For men of lower social and economic status, it is likely to show up as a readiness for fights, a history Continued on page 54
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Continued from page 53 Aggression in Men: Hormone Levels Are a Key of minor crimes, and chronic trouble with parents, teachers and peers in childhood. But that is not true at higher social and economic rungs, where the display of dominance is more subdued, researchers say. Study of Vietnam Veterans The findings are from data collected by the Federal Centers for Disease Control from 4,462 Vietnam veterans who were studied starting in 1985 to assess long-term effects of military service. The men's social and economic standing was rated as high if they fell into the top half of the United States population in both income and education level, and low if they fell into the bottom half. An analysis of data on their testosterone levels was reported in the current issue of Psychological Science by James Dabbs Jr., a psychologist at Georgia State University. ''The overall picture among the high-testosterone men is one of delinquency, substance abuse and a tendency toward excess,'' Dr. Dabbs said. ''They have more trouble with people like teachers while they are growing up, have more sexual partners, are more likely to have gone AWOL in the service and to have used hard drugs. But that was so mainly for men who had low income and little education.'' There is disagreement over the social effect of testosterone on high status men. Dr. McKinlay sees these results from the study of veterans as dovetailing with his own on testosterone and social dominance, with high status men having different outlets for their impulse to dominate. ''How hormone levels are expressed depends on social factors,'' he said. ''You can drive a fast car instead of stealing them, for instance. Social dominance could be channeled into organizational leadership if you have the opportunities.'' An Obstacle for Some On the other hand, Dr. Dabbs believes that many men with high testosterone levels are too impatient and aggressive to find their ways to positions of responsible leadership. Men with the highest testosterone levels were two and a half times more likely to be low-status as high. The traits of some men with high testosterone may not suit them to rising in organizations where cooperation and consensus are valued, Dr. Dabbs noted. He cited other studies showing that among rapists, high levels are found in those who committed the most vicious attacks,
and that among young men, schoolyard bullies have high levels of the hormone. ''Those successful in the business world use the machinery of social power, and many men with high testosterone may not be patient or docile enough to learn that mastery,'' he Dabbs said. ''They'd rather be out doing something physical. They're showoffs and swaggerers, anti-social and selfish.'' In a comparison of men in occupations ranging from the ministry, medicine and college professors to actors, football players and firemen, Dr. Dabbs found that testosterone levels correlated with certain vocations. Ministers were low in the hormone, while actors and football players had the highest levels. That study will be published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. ''I was surprised that actors had such high levels,'' Dr. Dabbs said. ''But I found that among the Vietnam veterans, those who described themselves as entertainers also had high testosterone. There is a certain renegade quality to acting as a career.'' Dr. Dabbs is now studying lawyers to see if those specializing in litigation have higher testosterone levels than lawyers who do not fight it out in court. In a series of other recent findings, fluctuations in testosterone levels in the 20 to 30 percent range have been found to reflect competitive triumphs and defeats. While most studies have focused on testosterone's influence in causing traits, these studies suggest that the hormone may be sensitive to the ups and downs of competition. For instance, in one study the testosterone levels of the six members of the University of Nebraska varsity tennis team were monitored before and after six meets. Players with the highest testosterone levels before each match were the most ''psyched,'' feeling optimistic about the match. Afterward, testosterone levels rose in those who won. How well the players felt they performed was also strongly related to the hormone levels: the better the player evaluated his own performance, the higher the level. ''There is a link between triumph and testosterone levels, which possibly could account for the momentum of a losing or winning streak,'' said Alan Mazur, a sociologist at Syracuse University who was an author of the study. The results were published in Hormone and Behavior in 1989. Continued on page 55
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Continued from page 54 Aggression in Men: Hormone Levels Are a Key Triumph and Humiliation In the same vein, an earlier study by Dr. Mazur showed rises in the testosterone levels of men in the hours after being awarded their M.D. degrees. And, conversely, research by Dr. Rose found that testosterone levels fell in men going through harassment during the first few weeks of officers' candidate school. Dr. Mazur sees testosterone at play in the small contests that establish pecking orders among men in social life. ''The sporting contest is an analog for any social competition,'' he said. ''It needn't be physical. We've found the same hormone changes in chess matches.'' ''Finding your place in the hierarchy is a basic part of primate life, and testosterone is tightly linked to the outcome of battles for dominance in other species,'' he added. ''In humans, of course, face-to-face dominance is highly symbolic. I'd guess that any meaningful elevation of status would raise testosterone levels, and a blow to your status would lower them, though it hasn't been measured yet.'' http://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/17/science/aggression-in- men-hormone-levels-are-a-key.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm
When a Penis is a Weapon By Mary Knudson March 10, 2011
A New York Times story about 18 teenagers and men raping an 11-year-old girl is generating a lot of repercussion for the Times because of the way the story was written. What seems to be missing in the understanding of the reporter and the papers editors is that when a penis is used for violence, it is no different from a gun or a knife or a club. In rape, the penis is a weapon. Would the newspaper have written the story in the same way if the 11-year-old child were stabbed or clubbed by 18 men? I think not. There is terribly, distressingly something associated with the act of sex that in the eyes of some lets the crime of rape off with much less cry for punishment, much less sympathy for the victim. It is impossible to even imagine the incredible deep physical and psychological trauma these teenagers and young men inflicted one by one each one responsible for his own indecent, illegal act upon this helpless child. An affidavit said the rapists threatened the child with a beating if she did not comply. As others have pointed out here and here, and, Im sure, elsewhere, there are significant problems with the NYT story. There is a quote from a woman who knows several of the males charged in the crime who remarked These boys have to live with this the rest of their lives. There is no quote expressing outrage and sorrow for the child who was raped, first in a house, then in a filthy abandoned trailer. Then there was this paragraph: Residents in the neighborhood where the abandoned trailer stands known as the Quarters said the victim had been visiting various friends there for months. They said she dressed older than her age, wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s. She would hang out with teenage boys at a playground, some said. Excuse me? Is this blame the victim, the child who was playing dress-up? Where are the quotes from anyone who knew the little girl and could express who she really was? Who could express the anguish they felt for what happened to her? A science story has recently been making the rounds about the history of the penis: male chimpanzees have knobby spines on their penis that humans lost during evolution. Makes me wish that females had retractable spines in their vaginas that were more like needles than knobs and, when being attacked, the female could release her spines and sink them into the intruding penis. If the little girl who was gang raped could have done that, maybe the 17 teenagers and men who heard the screams of the first would have tucked their collapsing penises into their pants and run for the woods. http://blogs.plos.org/blog/2011/03/10/when-a-penis-is-a- weapon/
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Rape and HIV as Weapons of War By Obijiofor Aginam June 27, 2012
UN Photo/Louise Gubb Based on his chapter in a recently published book, UNU-ISPs Obijiofor Aginam discusses the indiscriminate deployment of rape by combatants and the breakdown of public health infrastructure in war/conflict zones, and calls for effective reparation for HIV-infected victims of rape in post-conflict societies. While the history of wars and conflicts is replete with systematic incidents of sexual violence against vulnerable women, modern-day wars have witnessed large-scale indiscriminate deployment of rape as a weapon of war by combatants. In recent armed conflicts such as in the former Yugoslavia, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Sierra Leone and Rwanda the widespread use of rape as a tool of warfare has become a conspicuous phenomenon. One striking difference between the use of rape as a weapon of war in pre-1990 conflicts and in latter-day wars is the emergence and willful transmission of HIV to the victims. Serious questions have been raised in the social science literature about the actual time of transmission and infection, and whether the intent of the perpetrators could conclusively be to infect the victim with HIV. Nonetheless, there is evidence from the victims accounts confirming the deliberate nature of these acts. In her 2004 book, The Right to Survive: Sexual Violence, Women and HIV/AIDS, Franoise Nduwimana reported the testimony of one of the many rape victims during the genocide: For 60 days, my body was used as a thoroughfare for all the hoodlums, militia men and soldiers in the district. Those men completely destroyed me; they caused me so much pain. They raped me in front of my six children. Three years ago, I discovered I had HIV/AIDS. There is no doubt in my mind that I was infected during these rapes. This is an example of the persuasive proof that rape was widespread during the Rwandan conflict, and that there was clear intent by the perpetrators to infect their victims with HIV. Women who were victims of rape during conflicts have an inalienable right to reparation, psychological and physical rehabilitation, access to social measures, and health security. In efforts to reconstruct post-conflict societies, the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) processes should include sustainable policies and programmes aimed at holistic reparation for victims of rape during wars and conflicts. Conflict, war and disease in history The emergence of HIV/AIDS in the past two decades, and the complex interaction between the virus and conflicts, has reinforced both the human and state security dimensions of disease. Whilst the state security dimension focuses on the collapse of the apparatus of governance, the human security dimension focuses on threats to the vulnerable groups, especially women and girls, during conflicts. Although the history of wars and conflicts is replete with massive and systematic sexual violence against vulnerable women, modern-day wars in African nations and elsewhere are increasingly characterized by the use of rape as a weapon of war, the intentional or willful transmission of the HIV to innocent victims, and the neglect of these victims in post-conflict reconstruction programmes. The securitization of HIV/AIDS has led to intense academic and policy debates since the popularization of the notion of human security by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 1994. Human security recognizes the emergence of new threats to the security of peoples: safety from chronic threats such as hunger, environmental degradation and natural disasters, disease and repression. The International Crisis Group, in its 2001 report entitled HIV/AIDS As a Security Issue categorized HIV/AIDS as a personal security issue, economic security issue, communal security issue, national security issue and international security issue. The Commission on Human Security noted that human security embraces far more than the absence of violent conflict, and one of the bodys core policy conclusions focuses on the health challenges for human security in three key areas: global infectious disease, poverty- Continued on page 57
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Continued from page 56 Rape and HIV as Weapons of War related threats, and violence and crisis. HIV/AIDS neatly fits into these three categories because it is a global pandemic; it is poverty-related, at least in most poor countries, and the pandemic is exacerbated in complex ways. Although one school of thought led by some prominent African and Africanist scholars, especially Allan Whiteside, Alex de Wall and Tsadkan Gebre- Tensae has strongly contested the common assertion that wartime rape is a significant factor in the spread of HIV either by design or as a by-product of systematic sexual violence, they nonetheless concede that there is strong evidence to support and prove this assertion at least in the case of the Rwandan genocide. The case of Rwanda, they argue, was a concerted and systematic attempt to completely eradicate a population and is an exceptional case by any standards. The structural problem with the scholarship and school of thought of Whiteside, de Wall and Gebre-Tensae is the fact that, as de Brouwer and Chu stated, the magnitude of sexual violence in conflict situations will never be fully known, since the stigma associated with being a victim discourages women and girls from reporting the crime. This is particularly true of most African conflict situations where cultural and traditional practices, beliefs and norms shape societal values and ethics. While rape has been systematically deployed in past, recent and ongoing conflicts, we may not be able to empirically determine the linkages between these acts and transmission of HIV. Relying on unofficial statistics and data, Stefan Elbe observed that human rights workers in Sierra Leone reported that during the countrys eight-year civil war, armed rebels and insurgent forces raped thousands of women. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 500,000 women were raped during the genocide in Rwanda that lasted 100 days. In the one hundred days of genocide that ravaged the small Central African nation of Rwanda... an estimated 250,000 to 500,000 women and girls were raped Sexual violence occurred everywhere, and no one was spared. Anne-Marie de Brouwer and Sandra Ka Hon Chu The Men Who Killed Me: Rwandan Survivors of Sexual Violence (2009) In the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, various civil society groups and United Nations agencies have reported widespread, systematic rape in- volving thousands of women and young girls. These rapes and other acts of sexual violence are being performed with impunity and brutality, and in flagrant violation of age-old laws, customs and norms of war by virtually all sides to the conflict civilians, militiamen, armed groups and members of the Congolese Armed Forces. During the Liberian civil war, between 1999 and 2003, about 49 percent of women between ages fifteen and seventy experienced at least one act of sexual violence from a soldier or armed militia member. In Sierra Leone, about 64,000 internally displaced women experienced war-related sexual violence between 1991 and 2001. When compared with the atrocities and gross violations of the dignity and basic rights of vulnerable women in the conflicts in the Balkans, which often involved mass rape and cleansing of ethnic minorities, it is fair to state that this is not, therefore, an African phenomenon. Going as far back as World War I (19141918), Brouwer and Chu stated that rape, forced prostitution and other forms of sexual violence were prevalent in Europe during World War I (largely by the German army and the armies of other Axis powers); in Asia during World War II (involving the Japanese Imperial Army); in Europe during World War II (involving the German army); and in Bosnia- Herzegovina and Kosovo during the Balkan conflicts in the 1990s. It is obvious that armed militias and combatants may have started using HIV as a weapon of war going by the evidence from the Rwandan genocide, and the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As already stated, one striking phenomenon of modern-day wars is the willful transmission of HIV. Notwithstanding the seriousness of the questions that have been raised concerning whether the actual intent of the perpetrators of rape could have been to infect the victim with the virus, Elbe cites the account of one rape victim in Rwanda who the rapists taunted by saying: We are not killing you. We are giving you something worse. You will die a slow death. There is also another account that captured women in Rwanda were taken to HIV-positive soldiers specifically to be raped. (Margaret Owen in Widows Expose HIV War Threat, Worldwoman News.) These types of incidents, driven by the weapon- zation of HIV, raise serious human security issues in post-conflict societies. The complementary nature of human and state security therefore makes HIV less Continued on page 58
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Continued from page 57 Rape and HIV as Weapons of War obscure in security discourses because the virus strikes soldiers and civilians in war situations because of the breakdown of infrastructure and the indiscriminate deployment of rape as a weapon of war by combatants. In International Humanitarian Law the set norms that generally criminalize genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity precedents now abound on the criminal conviction of individuals who systematically deployed rape as a weapon of war in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia. In the trial of Jean-Paul Akayesu for genocide before the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Tribunal found the accused guilty of aiding and abetting acts of sexual violence involving the systematic rape of Tutsi women. These acts of systematic rape of Tutsi women, carried out in areas under the authority of Akayesu, were accompanied with the intent to kill these women on the grounds of their ethnicity. Despite the legal precedents of cases like Akayesu, do international legal mechanisms offer a holistic paradigm for the reconstruction of post-war societies? Has the link between HIV, victims of rape, and psychological and other reparation been taken into account in post-conflict reconstruction and peace-building processes? DDR and victims of rape in post-conflict societies Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) programmes have now been recognized by the UN and other important actors as an integral component of post- conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction processes. Nonetheless, DDR programmes remain complex because of their multidimensional nature that involves military, humanitarian and other socio-economic components. DDR processes raise a lot of challenges for its non- military components. In the context of victims of rape during conflicts, Nduwimana, in her study of the victims of rape during the Rwandan genocide for The Right to Survive: Sexual Violence, Women and HIV/AIDS, interviewed 30 women who were among the thousands of rape victims infected with HIV. Writing in 2004, more than a decade after the Rwandan genocide, Nduwimana questioned whether we can accurately refer to these women as survivors of the genocide, when every day, these women, linked by the miserable three-pronged destiny of genocide, rape and HIV/AIDS, witness their friends, acquaintances, neighbors, and family members dying in anonymity, with the world utterly indifferent to their fate. Rwanda is not an isolated event. Similar calls and proposals have been canvassed for victims of rape during the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone. DDR processes, in the case of Rwanda and other post- conflict societies though mostly in Africa have overly emphasized disarmament and demobilization (the two Ds) to the detriment of reintegration (the R). Even where reintegration receives attention and resources, it often neglects the victims of rape by focusing more on reintegration of child soldiers and ex-combatants into their communities. Victims of rape intended as a weapon of war, I argue, have an inalienable right to financial reparation, psychological and physical rehabilitation, access to social measures, and health security. If, as in most DDR programmes, cash payments are often made to ex-combatants for de-mobilization, there is no reason why equal payments should not be made to rape victims infected with HIV. The right to survive, as Nduwimana, calls it, should take the centre stage in contemporary AIDS diplomacy. DDR processes in most post-conflict African societies must strive to integrate this very important social problem the psycho-medical rehabilitation of HIV-infected victims of rape during conflicts. This article is based on a chapter in recently published edited volume, HIV/AIDS and the Security Sector in Africa, edited by Obijiofor Aginam & Martin R. Rupiya (UNU Press, 2012). http://unu.edu/publications/articles/rape-and-hiv-as- weapons-of-war.html
Extra Small Condoms for 12 year-old Boys go on sale in Switzerland By Alexandra Williams 03 March 2010 Called the Hotshot, the condom has been produced after government research showed 12 to14-year-olds did not use sufficient protection when having sex. The study, conducted on behalf of the Federal Commission for Children and Youth, interviewed 1,480 people aged 10 to 20. It showed more 12 to 14- year-olds were having sex, in comparison with the 1990s. The Hotshot condoms, which cost 7fr60 (4.70) for a packet of six, have been created by Lamprecht AG, a leading condom manufacturer in Switzerland. Continued on page 59
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Continued from page 58 Extra Small Condoms for 12 year- old Boys go on sale in Switzerland The company has said the UK would be "top priority" if they expanded abroad, considering that it has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe. Nysse Norballe, a spokesman for the company, said: "At the moment we are only producing the Hotshot in Switzerland. But the UK is certainly a very attractive market since there is a very high rate of underage conception. The UK would definitely be top priority if we marketed abroad." A standard condom has a diameter of 2ins (5.2cm) in comparison with the Hotshot's diameter of 1.7ins (4.5cm). Both are the same length 7.4ins (19cm). According to a German study of 12,970 13 to 20-year- olds, a quarter said a standard condom was too large. Family planning groups and the Swiss Aids Federation campaigned to have the Hotshot produced after a number of studies, including the government study researched at the Centre for Development and Personality Psychology at Basel University. Nancy Bodmer, who headed the research, said: "The result that shocked us concerned young boys who display apparently risky behaviour. They have more of a tendency not to protect themselves. They do not have a very developed sexual knowledge. They do not understand the consequences of what they are doing and leave the young girls to take care of the consequences. "The results of this study suggest that early prevention makes sense." The age of consent in Switzerland is 16, although if the age difference is not more than three years there will be no punishment. Other concessions exist if the older person is not more than 20 or believed the younger person to be at least 16. The Swiss initiative comes as the UK government announces an overhaul of its teenage pregnancy strategy after new figures showed conception rate among 18s were not falling fast enough. The UK has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe. In 1999, the government pledged to halve the teenage conception rate within 10 years. But data released last week from The Office for National Statistics shows it has clearly failed to make any significant impact. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/7361181/Extra- small-condoms-for-12-year-old-boys-go-on-sale-in- Switzerland.html
To Cut or not to Cut: Why has Male Circumcision become a Dilemma? By John Onen 15 January 2013 Just as you begin to think that the dispute about including male circumcision as part of HIV/Aids prevention has ended, a sceptic rocks the boat and the debate appears to start all over again and; some people begin to wonder whether to cut or not to cut When the proponents of safe male circumcision for HIV/Aids prevention present their arguments, you actually begin to think that male circumcision is the way to go. Their arguments are based on scientific evidence from research studies known as randomised clinical trials. They say that such trials are the gold standard when it comes to issues of research evidence and, they go on to cite studies that show that inclusion of safe male circumcision in the array of HIV/Aids prevention strategies will result in a reduction of HIV/Aids infection. According to the male circumcision advocates, male circumcision is the most compelling evidence-based HIV/Aids prevention strategy to emerge since the results from mother-to-child HIV/Aids transmission clinical trials. They point out that although male circumcision does not provide absolute protection (reduces the risk of HIV infection by about 60 per cent), implemented as part of a prevention package that includes HIV counselling and testing, treatment of sexually transmitted infections and promotion of safe sex practices; there would be a reduction in HIV/Aids infection. But, not everybody seems to be convinced. The skeptics contend that the randomised clinical trial that the proponents of safe male circumcision talk about are not only flawed and does not reflect the reality outside the study environment, but mixes up the issues of surgery and behaviour. They insist that safe male circumcision provides a false sense of protection that can lead to an increase in HIV/Aids infection. They go on to cite examples of countries where male circumcision is widely practiced yet there is no evidence that HIV/Aids infection rates has dropped significantly. According to the sceptics, a risk reduction of 60 per cent means that a total of about 60 men have to be circumcised to avert just one HIV infection in places where HIV/Aids infection rates are high. Continued on page 63
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African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES Sexual Anarchy: The Kinsey Legacy By Judith A. Reisman, Ph.D. and Mary E. McAlister, Esq. August 24, 2011 LifeSiteNews.com Our children are under attack by an insidious and virulent enemy. On August 17, 2011, more than 50 activists attended a conference for minor-attracted adults, i.e., pedophiles, which sought to eliminate the stigma attached to pedophilia and to redefine pedophilia as a normal sexual orientation. The United States Department of Justice has determined that 64 percent of forcible sodomy victims are boys under the age of 12 and that 58,200 children were kidnapped by non-family members in 1999. So-called experts in the field of human sexuality claim that children are sexual not only from birth, but even in the womb and are willing participants in sexual acts with adults. Children are encouraged to experiment with sex early and often and to engage in sex with members of the same-sex as well as the opposite sex. Sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers are at epidemic proportions, and new and sometimes fatal strands of diseases are being reported. More than 50,000 teens have contracted HIV which has advanced to full blown AIDS and by 1992 more than 7,000 boys and 1,500 girls have died from HIV/AIDS. How did we get here? How do we stop the madness before we lose an entire generation? The question of how we got here can be answered by two words: Alfred Kinsey. Even 55 years after his death, Dr. Alfred C. Kinsey continues to profoundly affect American culture. Two of his most ardent supporters, Dr. Carol Vance, Columbia University anthropologist and lesbian activist, and Dr. John Money, an out pedophile advocate and pioneer of transgender surgery at Johns Hopkins, have cogently summed up Dr. Kinseys legacy a legacy they consider sexual progress but is in reality sexual anarchy.
Speaking at a 1998 Kinsey symposium of fellow sexologists at San Francisco State University, Dr. Vance said, Biography is the battleground.[1] Should Kinsey be discredited, she warned, 200 years of sexual progress can be undone. Dr. Vances statements echo comments made in 1981 by Dr. Money at the 5th World Congress of Sexology in Israel. They also agreed that the information contained in Table 34, below, and the other data chronicling Kinseys and his teams widespread child abuse, described in detail in Kinseys 1948 study on male sexuality, would be the undoing of the Pre and Post Kinsey eras globally and in the USA. In fact, Dr. John Bancroft, director of the Kinsey Institute said at the 1998 conference, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of Kinseys studies, that he prayed that a British television program, Secret History: Kinsey Paedophiles, would never be shown in the United States because the public would not understand the science involved in Kinseys publication of tables 30-34. He understood that should those tables be widely publicized in the United States, then the whole field of human sexuality and human sex education would be destroyed. This field of human sexuality and human sex education and 200 years of sexual progress that these elite scientists were so worried would be destroyed is better described as sexual anarchy. This sexual anarchy that has given these scientists and their followers prestige, money, credibility and control over the deconstruction of the Judeo-Christian civil society was crafted by Dr. Kinsey. A gall-wasp zoologist at Indiana University from 1920 to his death in 1956, Dr. Kinsey is most famous for his earth-shaking books, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948)[2] and Sexual Behavior in the Human Continued on page 61
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Continued from page 60 - Sexual Anarchy: The Kinsey Legacy Female (1953),[3] funded by Indiana University and the Rockefeller Foundation. Dr. Kinsey said that his mission was to eliminate the sexually repressive legal and behavioral legacy of Judeo Christianity. He claimed that this repressive sexual legacy was responsible for socio- sexual ills like divorce, rape, illegitimacy, venereal disease, juvenile delinquency, promiscuity, homosexuality, adultery, and child sexual abuse. Furthermore, he argued that if we Americans would admit that we really were engaged in widespread licentious conduct, instead of hypocritically denying it, then these socio-sexual ills would be dramatically reduced. In large measure, Dr. Kinseys mission has been accomplished, mostly posthumously, by his legion of true believerselitists who have systematically brainwashed their fellow intellectual elites to adopt Kinseys pan- sexual secular worldview and jettison the Judeo Christian worldview upon which this country was founded and flourished. The result of Dr. Kinseys mission has been totally antithetical to the utopia he predicted. Instead of reducing the socio-sexual ills that he claimed were rampant in pre- Kinsey America, the implementation of the Kinsey worldview has increased extant global sexual trauma while ushering in a host of new ills that are objectively defined as sexual anarchy. Like a cancer spreading throughout the body, sexual anarchy has spread throughout the fabric of society, affecting every aspect of American life and every man, woman and child. According to the Rockefeller-funded Kinsey study, his science proved that humans had all along been copulating like insects or monkeys but systematically and hypocritically lying about their conduct. Adults claimed they were virgins, or maritally faithful, but, according to Kinsey, the truth was that most people were promiscuous and the widespread promiscuity had done no harm to the civil society. Therefore, Kinsey said, all of the laws restraining sexual behaviorthe laws that had favored and protected women, children and the family for generations were simply old- fashioned leftovers from an uninformed and hypocritical era. Such sex laws were no longer valid in a sexually enlightened and honest era. Enter Kinseys pamphleteer, Hugh Hefner and his Playboy magazine. At Kinseys urging, the countrys laws were gutted to resemble the free love, free life style Kinsey alleged Americans were living all along, and could finally live out with a free and open spiritno more lies or pretense. Thus the 1955 American Law Institute Model Penal Code jettisoned the common law sexual standards that were based upon Biblical authority/precedent for scientific law based on Kinseys allegedly objective data. The ALI recommended laws trivializing rape and allowing fornication, cohabitation, sodomy and adultery. Shortly thereafter, fornication, cohabitation and adultery were decriminalized so that they would become common, normal, and harmless, as Kinsey said they had been all along. In 1957, the United States Department of Defense used Kinsey and his team to conclude that homosexuals do not pose a security risk. The ALI also recommended changing the definition of obscenity, which the Supreme Court did in 1960. That same year Kinseys claim that 10% to 37% of the male population is at least sometimes homosexual was used to promote gay rights in elite professions, e.g., medicine, psychiatry, social work, education, etc. In 1961, Illinois became the first state to legalize heterosexual sodomy. In 1962 Ralph Slovenko wrote in the Vanderbilt Law Review that four or five year olds are provocateurs: Even at the age of four or five, this seductiveness may be so powerful as to overwhelm the adult into committing the offense. That same year, the United States Supreme Court declared prayer in public schools unconstitutional[4] and the following year declared that Bible reading in public schools was unconstitutional.[5] The Judeo-Christian worldview was expunged from the classroom. Schools could no longer teach that fornication, adultery or cohabitation were illegal, nor could the health teachers imply that sex should be confined to marriage because that would reflect a religious, thus allegedly a non- scientific, worldview. The only avenue remaining for the teaching of human reproduction was the scientific, i.e., Kinseyan, secular worldview. By 1968 over 51,000 sex professionals had been trained by the unaccredited IASHS (Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality) to teach Kinseyan sexuality in schools and medical schools and to design school sex education curricula. In1975, the IASHS began to accredit sex educators in safe sex through the Ph.D. level. Contraception became a necessity in the face of the radical changes in the sexual landscape, and so it was legalized in 1965.[6] As evidence of lack of consent became the only criteria for sex crimes, alleged rape victims were commonly Continued on page 62
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Continued from page 61 Sexual Anarchy: The Kinsey Legacy challenged as liking the rough sex and as consenting to the sexual activity. Prostitution and rape were increasingly referred to as victimless crimes in the courts and in the media. Thus, the right to have sex for fun and profit became the justification for a sex industry, inaugurated by Kinseys publicist, Hugh Hefner, that includes child and adult pornography, exhibitionism, prostitution and strip clubs, to name a few. That industry has grown to a multi-billion dollar market, giving its purveyors the resources and clout to negotiate grants to sexology research groups and organizations that create the sex education curricula for the nations schools, as well as access to lobbyists and, arguably, to state and federal legislators to continue to change the law to favor the sex industrys interests. Playboy, et. al also have funded Planned Parenthood, Sex Information & Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), the Kinsey Institute, and other sexology institutions. In 1967, Playboy provided the first of many grants to the ACLU to support drug use, pornography, abortion, homosexuality, school sex [mis]education and the elimination or reduction of sex offender penalties. Beginning in 1970, Playboy officially granted funds to NORML, the National Organization for the Repeal of Marijuana Laws. The year 1969 brought about significant events related to the systematic effort to normalize homosexuality as championed by Kinsey 21 years earlier. The Gay Liberation Front was formed at the New York Alternative University. The American Sociological Association officially stated that homosexuality is normal, citing Kinseys research. The National Institutes of Mental Health Task Force on Homosexuality recommended legalizing private consensual homosexual acts (sodomy) citing to Kinseys data.[7] In 1972, the NIMH Task Force, led by Kinseyan disciples, urged that homosexuality be taught as a normal sexual variation in the nations schools. No fault divorce was ushered in by California in 1970. By 1985, no fault divorce was the law in 49 states. This triggered a massive increase in the divorce rate and the impovertization of women and children, increasing the need for welfare and abortion, with the latter legalized in 1973.[8] The absence of fathers in the home decreased the economic, social, emotional and spiritual home life, which triggered epidemic child sexual abuse, increased promiscuity, increased criminalityincluding rape and prostitutionincreased venereal diseases and sterility in young women. With no father in the home, children were significantly more vulnerable to molestation by older children, which was redefined as harmless peer sex play by Kinsey. This harmless sex play led to increased rates of venereal disease, promiscuity, homosexual acting out and suicide. These disorders then opened the door to additional, more virulent forms of mandated sex [mis]education couched as pride in ones sexual orientation, anti- bullying, AIDS prevention and more instruction in safe sex, including mutual masturbation, oral and anal sodomy and viewing pornography. By 1981 Dr. Mary Calderone, SIECUS president and past medical director of Planned Parenthood, took Kinsey one step further, asserting that children are sexual in the womb (Kinsey said children were sexual from birth). Calderone announced that awareness of childhood sexuality was a primary goal of her organization. This set the scientific standard for distributing condoms to children nationwide. Therapeutic interventions were instituted to aid the now increasingly traumatized youth. Pharmocological intervention also increased, including mandated Hepatitis B vaccines for infants and HPV vaccines for elementary age children as STD protections, both of which were advocated in a 1977 Child Rights pedophile manifesto. Hundreds of pages could be written on these issues and the additional fallout from Kinseys successful promiscuity propaganda that plummeted Reagans shining City on a Hill into a state of sexual anarchy. We must focus now on how we stop the madness not by ignoring the problem or by giving up in despair. God is on our side, just as He was on the side of those who founded this country. God used 56 God-fearing Continued on page 63
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Continued from page 59 Sexual Anarchy: The Kinsey Legacy men to stand up to the largest imperial force in the free world and birth this great nation. He can use us to stand up against the current state of sexual anarchy, return this nation to our Judeo-Christian roots and rescue our children from the enemy who seeks to steal, kill and dstroy. As beneficiaries of Gods miraculous creation of these United States we cannot do anything less. Kinsey and his disciples at the Kinsey Institute have had more than 60 years to re-shape American culture. With Dr. Reismans decades of research we have the weapons to gain the upper hand, and we must band together to create the Judeo-Christian answer to the Kinsey Institute. We have the backing of the God of the universe. We can and must win this battle. Notes: 1. Biography has become a battleground as moral conservatives like Dr. Judith Reisman strive to discredit Alfred Kinsey in order to revisit another America era warned Professor Carole Vance. Another infamous sexologist stated, I have some problems, and Im sure several of us do, with the use of the word normal. If you look at sexual abuse in children, the problem with defining it is, to what extent are we talking about aspects of behavior that we would call wrong.we dont know really how harmful those experiences are. (November 6, 1998, San Francisco State University seminar, Kinsey At 50: Reflections On Changes In American Attitudes About Sexuality Half A Century After The Alfred Kinsey Studies, lionizing Kinsey and addressing anarchist strategies for a new global sexual future). 2. In the same year, Carnegie Foundation funds the ABA/ALI Legal Education Committee. Other pro-Kinsey books are published calling for sex law reforms and leniency for perpetrators. 3. In that year, the Reece congressional committee was prohibited from investigating Kinseys data. Also, Planned Parenthood is founded in Washington, D.C. 4. Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962). 5. Abington School District v. Schempp, 372 U.S. 203 (1963). 6. Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479 (1965) (married couples), Eisenstadt v. Baird, 405 U.S. 438 (1972) (unmarried couples). 7. The Supreme Court upheld the criminalization of sodomy in Bowers v. Hardwick, 478 U.S. 186 (1986), But then oerturned Bowers and found that homosexual sodomy could no longer be criminalized in Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003). Lawrence was based largely on the 1955 ALI Model Penal Code, which has been widely referred to as a Kinsey document.
8. Roe v. Wade, 410 US 113 (1973). As Justice Kennedy noted in the Lawrence opinion, Griswold and Eisenstadt were part of the background for the opinion in Roe. Lawrence, 539 U.S. at 565. This illustrates how Kinseys legacy has permeated every aspect of society. Copyright 2010 LifeSiteNews.com, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/sexual-anarchy-the-kinsey- legacy/
Continued from page 59 To Cut or Not to Cut Sometimes, the debate just degenerates into name- calling with the pro-circumcision camp accusing the skeptics of being self appointed quack scientists who do not know what they are talking about. The skeptics also retort that the pro-circumcision advocates are just agents of circumcised scientist and profiteers using their financial power to force their beliefs and lucrative agenda on Africans. Without consensus or a cease-fire agreement between the two camps, the pro-circumcision coalition has rolled- out safe male circumcision with the skeptics watching in awe. While the advocates for safe male circumcisions are encouraging men to go for the snip, the skeptics are also cautioning the men about the folly of removing their genital foreskin. Amidst this confusing situation, male citizens of this country whose foreskin and behaviour has been at the centre of the dispute, are expected to decide on whether to cut or not to cut despite the fact that they seem to have been left out of the debate. Neither the pro-male circumcision camp nor the skeptics are brandishing minutes of meetings or even research finding about post- male circumcision sexual behaviour (that cover the socio- economic diversity in this country) to support their arguments. The dispute about surgical removal of the male prepuce and HIV/Aids is most likely to continue for a while. Whether there will ever be consensus about including male circumcision in HIV/Aids prevention, only time will tell. As to how much damage the skeptics have done to the male circumcision drive, no one can ascertain at the moment. One thing that you can be sure of is that some years to come, attributing any increase or decrease in HIV/Aids infection rates to safe male circumcision will be controversial. Mr. Onen is a Non-profit Management Consultant with Ascend- Consult. http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/To-cut-or-not-to- cut--why-has-male-circumcision-/-/689364/1665732/-/q3jefg/- /index.html
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African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES Circumcision Fight: Profit, Pleasure, or Population Control? By Kuumba Chi Nia February 22, 2007 If the experiment fails, Africans are likely to feel abused and exploited by scientists who recommended the circumcision policy It is important that, while circumcision interventions are being planned, several points must be considered carefully. If the experiment fails, Africans are likely to feel abused and exploited by scientists who recommended the circumcision policy. In a region highly sensitive to previous colonial exploitation and suspicious of the biological warfare origin of the virus, failure of circumcision is likely to be a big issue. Those recommending it should know how to handle the political implications. - James P.M. Ntozi. Using circumcision to prevent HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa African people worldwide know about experimentation in the name of scientific advancement. However, often-vital information goes without mention and the outcome devastates the victim as in the case with the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment in Alabama, USA. This is precisely why suspicion remains around HIV\AIDS reduction experiments, but with little investigative attention by the corporate media groups. The good scientists would have us to believe that their efforts are to reduce HIV in the most vulnerable areas in the world. Africa is the death basket of HIV, but my hypothesis is that the current misuse of science is driven more so by profit and population control. More than 1.2 million babies are circumcised in the U.S. per year at the cost range for $150 million to $270 million. The procedure is optional, but it is strongly suggested by medical doctors. What happens to foreskin?
Foreskin removal represents a bio material waste management issue, but what scientist would simply discard of the all this skin? They would not discard it so easily as long as it can be sold and used for beautifying women. Alternet posted a story February 9, 2007 Foreskin Face Cream and Future Beauty Products, which illustrates the profitability of foreskin as follows: The Coriell Institute is only one of dozens of websites that offer foreskin fibroblast for sale." Foreskin flakes cost $85.00 -- plus shipping and handling. Foreskin fibroblasts are big business. A fibroblast is a piece of human skin that is used as a culture to grow other skin or cells -- like human yogurt kits. According to the Alternet article Foreskin Face Cream and Future Beauty Products, human foreskin fibroblast is used in all kinds of medical procedures. For example, foreskin is used for burn victims and for eyelid replacement and for those with diabetic ulcers (who need replacement skin to cover ulcers that won't heal), to making creams and collagens in the cosmetics industry (yes, the product that is injected into puffy movie-starlet lips). One foreskin can be used for decades to produce miles of skin and generate as much as $100,000 -- that's not the fee from a one-time sale, but the fees from the fibroblasts that are created from those original skin cells. One of the most publicized examples of the foreskin- for-sale trend involves a skin cream that has been promoted by none other than Oprah Winfrey, according to the article. SkinMedica, a face cream, costs more than $100 for a 0.63-oz. bottle, used by many high-profile celebrities (such as Winfrey and Continued on page 65
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Continued from page 64- Circumcision Fight: Profit, Pleasure, or Population Control? Barbara Walters) as an alternative to cosmetic surgery. Winfrey has promoted the SkinMedica product several times on her show, and her website, which raves about "a new product that boosts collagen production and can rejuvenate skin called TNS Recovery Complex. TNS is comprised from six natural human growth factors found in normal healthy skin ... the factors are engineered from human foreskin!" On Winfreys show, the doctor promoting SkinMedica cream warned that some people may have ethical questions regarding using a product that is made from the derivative of foreskins (to which Winfrey made no response). Why is an ethical question? The foreskins come from circumcisions, and male circumcision is now a controversial topic. In a discussion on Mothering.com, the question raised, "If the cream was made from the bi-product of baby Afro-American clitoral skin, would Oprah still be promoting it?" There's no answer to that question on Mothering or Winfrey's site, and Winfrey declined a request for an interview for this article. The next question is what is the science of circumcision? WebMD Medical News, June 9, 2000 article The Foreskin: An Open Door for HIV pointed out the The foreskin of the uncircumcised penis is a welcome mat for HIV, at the time of a study. The finding [at the time] strengthens a growing consensus among public health experts that both infant and adolescent circumcision programs ought to be a major tool in the fight to stop AIDS, especially in countries where HIV is rampant. Roger V. Short, ScD, professor of obstetrics/gyne- cology at the University of Melbourne Royal Womens Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, and Robert Szabo, analyzed penis tissues from autopsies of 13 men age 60 to 96 years, seven of whom had been circumcised. Among their findings was that the inner side foreskin is rich in a type of cell that carries HIV to T cells. The T cell is the cell where the virus replicates itself. Africa became the logical experimental lab namely Uganda. On July 10, 2000, more questions surfaced in light of the experiment. WebMD Medical News, printed the article, Male Circumcision as the Answer to the African AIDS Epidemic? However, the push was still for removing the foreskin. The article read that About 25 million Africans [had] AIDS or are infected with the HIV virus . . . many of [them lived] . . . where circumcision was not a regular practice. In Gauteng province of Azania\South Africa the Orange Farm experiment took in 3000 or better African males from a towns population of 350,000. Circumcision is supposed to reduce the disease by millions yearly. In Gauteng the estimated HIV prevalence among antenatal clinical attendees in the year 2000 was 29.4 percent and increased to 32.4% in 2005. The Orange Farm snip happy pappy proved wrong, with the notable increase of HIV and AIDS statistics for South Africa. More than 20-years passed since the initial claim surfaced that there is a correlation between a lack of circumcised African men and HIV versus circumcised African men. The French and U.S. are leading the way with World Health Organization support. The San Francisco Chronicle reported on July 6, 2005, Medical anthropologists began noticing as early as 1989 that the highest rates of HIV infection in Africa were occurring in regions of the continent where the predominant tribal or religious cultures did not practice circumcision. The lead medical scientists are Dr. Betran Auvert of the University of Paris and Adrian Puren of South Africas National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Ronald Gray a Johns Hopkins University epidemiologist Ronald Gray are conducting an experiment in Uganda of 5,000 men in the Rakai district. The same experiment occurred in Kenya with more than 2,700 men being snipped. The experiments termination date is in 2007. The findings are generalizations that are neither conclusive nor exhaustive and therefore represent a problem in male circumcision and the role in HIV prevention? In the tradition of bogus science, the data that was presented by advocates of circumcision remained inconclusive and dangerous as pointed out by De Vincenzi and Mertens (1994) with the salient point that most of the quoted studies were not designed to test a hypothesis about circumcision and did not report their methodological details for evaluation. Furthermore, there is no evidence that enough statistical rigors (sic) were applied to the data. That is inconclusive information. Meanwhile, where, in small- scale studies, this was done by controlling for several variables like age, number of partners, [and] contact with prostitutes, ethnic origin and findings that did not fit into the conventional thinking of the hypothesis were rejected by the journals as not interesting, or the researchers did not submit them for publication for fear of rejection. The good doctors know that there is nothing conclusive about their work as admitted by Dr. Auvert: Continued on page 66
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Continued from page 65 Circumcision Fight: Profit, Pleasure, or Population Control? Circumcision "prevented six to seven out of 10 potential HIV infections," said Auvert. He said the study did not analyze the effect of circumcision on male-to-female transmission or if circumcision provides effective protection over the long term. At least three more studies are under way to confirm the effectiveness of circumcision. Dr. Auvert and company said the study was cause for guarded optimism. These experiments continue but do not work. An experiment like this should have never been practiced and funded, and represents bad science. It is more likely to isolate the African masses from medical scientist, and treatments that touted as lifesavers, while they fall short of reducing HIV/AIDS in Africa.
It is important that, while circumcision interventions are being planned, several points must be considered carefully. If the experiment fails, Africans are likely to feel abused and exploited by scientists who recommended the circumcision policy. In a region highly sensitive to previous colonial exploitation and suspicious of the biological warfare origin of the virus, failure of circumcision is likely to be a big issue. Those recommending it should know how to handle the political implications. - James P.M. Ntozi Kuumba Chi Nia is a Mathaba author. http://mathaba.net/news/?x=551050
Prevalence of Male Circumcision and its Association with HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections in a U.S. Navy Population By A G Thomas, L N Bakhireva, S K Brodine, R A Shaffer Abstract: Background: Lack of male circumcision has been found to be a risk factor for HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) in several studies performed in developing countries. However, the few studies conducted in developed nations have yielded incon- sistent results. Policy regarding circumcision of male infants as a prevention measure against HIV/STI remains a controversial topic. This study describes the prevalence of circumcision and its association with HIV and STI in a U.S. military population. Methods: This is a case-control study of male HIV infected U.S. military personnel (n= 232) recruited from 7 military medical centers and male U.S. Navy controls (n=516) from a general aircraft carrier population. Cases and controls completed similar self-administered HIV behavioral risk surveys. Case circumcision status was abstracted from medical charts while control status was reported on the survey. Cases and controls were frequency matched on age. Multiple logistic regressions were constructed separately to evaluate the role of circumcision in the acquisition of HIV and STI. Results: The proportion of circumcised men did not significantly differ between cases (84.9%) and controls (81.8%). Prevalence of circumcision among men born in the U.S. was higher (85.0%) than those born elsewhere (58.1%). After adjustment for demographic and behavioral risk factors lack of circumcision was not found to be a risk factor for HIV (OR = 0.9; 95% CI: 0.51, 1.7) or STI (OR = 1.08; 95% CI 0.52, 2.26). The odds of HIV infection were 2.6 higher for irregular condom users, 5 times as high for those reporting STI, 6.2 times higher for those reporting anal sex, 2.8-3.2 times higher for those with 2- 7+ partners, nearly 3 times higher for Blacks, and 3.5 times as high for men who were single or divorced/ separated. Conclusions: Although there may be other medical or cultural reasons for male circumcision, it is not associated with HIV or STI prevention in this U.S. military population. Naval Health Research Center, DHAPP P.O. Box 85122 San Diego, CA, United States [CIRP Comment: This study found that 84.9 percent of infected males were circumcised as compared with 81.8 percent of non-infected men were circumcised. This difference (3.1%) may not be statistically significance, however, it does show a higher percentage of circumcised males among those who are infected.] Citation: Thomas AG, Bakhireva LN, Brodine SK, Shaffer RA Prevalence of male circumcision and its association with HIV and sexually transmitted infections in a U.S. navy population. Abstract no. TuPeC4861. Presented at the XV International AIDS Conference, Bangkok, Thailand, July 11-16, 2004. (File revised 24 November 2006) http://www.cirp.org/library/disease/HIV/thomas1/
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Mass Circumcision Drive in Africa - And a Hospital near You Soon This is medical malpractice on an epic scale. Not only is there proof positive that there is no proof that circumcision prevents HIV infection. There is proof that in various countries there is a higher instance of circumcised men testing positive than uncircumcised men testing positive. Of course the difference is so small that it is very close to or within the statistical error range. The evidence for this entire campaign is based on three random clinical trials held within 2 years of eachother - in Kenya, Uganda and South Africa. Quote: Male circumcision for HIV prevention in men in Rakai, Uganda: a randomised trial. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17321311 Male circumcision for HIV prevention in young men in Kisumu, Kenya: a randomised controlled trial. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17321310 Randomized, controlled intervention trial of male circumcision for reduction of HIV infection risk: the ANRS 1265 Trial. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16231970 However, with the full backing of population control enthusiasts like Bill Gates, they now want to implement mass circumcision in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa, if not more countries. I am still looking what their angle is with regards to population control. Is it psychological, in that they are preparing people's minds of the idea of a massively intrusive government? Is it intimidation? Look at what we were able to do to you just by making it policy? They must know by now that there is no scientific evidence that circumcision prevents HIV infection, or even lowers the risks. In fact in various countries there are higher numbers of HIV positives among circumcised men than among uncicumsized men. And yet they are doubling down, and want to circumcise all newborns in Zimbabwe. (NEWZIMBWE, REUTERS) Impact of male circumcision on HIV doubted Quote: Researchers Gregory J. Boyle and Gregory Hill claimed the 60 percent reduction in transmission was only relative with the absolute reduction rate actually
no more than 1.3 percent. Boyle and Hill said: What does the frequently claimed 60 percent relative reduction in HIV infections actually mean? Across all the three female-to-male trials, of the 5,411 men subjected to male circumcision, 64 (1.18 percent) became HIV positive while among the 5,497 controls 137 (2.49 percent) became HIV positive. So the absolute decrease in HIV infection was only 1.31 percent, which is statistically not significant. " This is what the claim of 60% reduction in HIV transmission is based on. Lies and deception. On the general proof that circumcision means reduced HIV infection, they state: Quote: " In Malawi, the HIV prevalence rate is 13.2 percent among circumcised men and 9.5 percent among those who are intact. (Again) in Cameroon prevalence among those circumcised is 5.1 percent compare to 1.5 percent for those who are intact. " Yet, they march on in the campaign to get every newborn circumcised: (NEWZIMBABWE) Newly-born babies to be circumcised 19/07/2012 by Phyllis Mbanje Quote: "The ministrys AIDS and TB unit co-ordinator, Getrude Ncube, said a pilot project targeting babies between one and 28 days old would be launched before year end with the full programme likely to be rolled out in 2014." "The project will start in Harare and Bulawayo," Ncube said adding that, gradually, all maternity sites across the country would be circumcising newly born babies by 2014. " Question: how are they going to get informed consent, knowing that the data do not support the idea that circumcision prevents or even reduces HIV infection? Also see: (NYASATIMES) Malawi promises to raise contraceptive prevalence rate to 60% VP (NYASATIMES) Britain committed to helping Malawi in family planning. Also interesting: Randomized trials stopped early for benefit: a systematic review.
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Continued from page 67 Mass Circumcision Drive in Africa CONCLUSIONS: RCTs stopped early for benefit are becoming more common, often fail to adequately report relevant information about the decision to stop early, and show implausibly large treatment effects, particularly when the number of events is small. These findings suggest clinicians should view the results of such trials with skepticism. http://www.thomhartmann.com/forum/2012/07/mass- circumcision-drive-africa-and-hospital-near-you-soon
Circumcision for All; Free Choice for None By Stephanie R. Murphy I was shocked, surprised, and flabbergasted to hear it. I'm sure that you'll never believe it, either. The federal government is get this, readers butting into your most personal and private business. OK, you've caught me in a rare moment of sarcasm. Maybe I wasn't really that surprised. After all, government bureaucrats attempt to control what types of substances you put into your body, what kind of work you do with your body, and even how you can legally dispose of your body after death; it makes perfect sense that they would also scramble for power over what parts of your body should remain attached. Yes, that's right. The CDC is now considering a campaign for universal circumcision in the US. The reason for pushing this one-size-fits-all policy stems from the results of several studies, all done in Africa, which have demonstrated the benefits of male circumcision for reducing the transmission of HIV. The studies on circumcision and HIV transmission are very interesting. They are large, randomized, controlled trials; the methodology is solid. They show, on average, a 4060% reduction in the risk of a circumcised, HIV negative man contracting the virus from an HIV positive woman, as compared to an uncircumcised man. The precise mechanism of circumcision's protective effect is unknown. There are many potential explanations, none of which are mutually exclusive. First, the foreskin has a relatively high population of cells that are receptive to being infected by HIV. Second, it acts as a reservoir which may trap infected secretions. Third, the foreskin has a higher propensity to ulcerate (become scraped) and become infected with other sexually transmitted infec-
tions that cause open sores. It seems that removing the foreskin also removes several potential avenues for HIV entry into the body. However, when considering the benefits of circumcision, there are some significant caveats. For one, circumcision is not a panacea; it does not completely prevent transmission of HIV, it just lowers the probability that a man will contract the virus during any given sexual encounter with an HIV positive woman. It should be noted that these studies only examined the effect of circumcision on transmission of the virus from an HIV positive woman to an HIV negative man. While this is a relatively common scenario in Sub-Saharan Africa, HIV epidemiology in the US is different. Overall rates of infection are lower. Also, HIV in the US is relatively more common among men who have sex with men (MSM). There is no evidence that circumcision protects against HIV acquisition in MSM. Circumcision also does nothing to protect anyone against acquiring HIV via bloodborne routes, such as sharing needles with an HIV positive person. It should go without saying that men can protect themselves from acquiring HIV in other ways besides getting circumcised, such as practicing safe(r) sex and avoiding intravenous drug use. These methods are much more reliable than the 40 60% risk reduction conferred by circumcision. Circumcision also has risks and demerits. My personal philosophy on medicine leads me to look skeptically at any procedure that removes a part of the body which is not causing harm, pain, or annoyance to the patient; in other words, don't mess with success. As with any surgical procedure, infections and pain after circumcision are both possibilities that should not be ignored. Medical errors should be considered as a legitimate risk during circumcision, too. There are rare case reports of penile amputation that have occurred during botched circumcisions. There are also many more reports of less extreme, but still real, consequences resulting from circumcision mishaps. Of course, the question on the minds of many who are considering circumcision is that of whether the procedure impacts sexual enjoyment and satisfaction. That question is, in my opinion, impossible to answer accurately. To distill the immense debate surrounding this issue to its barest essence, choice seems to play a significant role in how men view their foreskins (or lack thereof). Men who choose to get circumcised tend to be happy that they did so; those who did not have a choice in the matter because they were circumcised at birth are more likely to lament it. Continued on page 69
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Continued from page 68 Circumcision for All; Free Choice for None That brings me to my main point in writing about the prospect of universal circumcision: the issue of choice. If my patient asked me about circumcision, I would discuss with him the information above. I would also encourage him to do his own research about the procedure if he felt interested. He would make his own decision about whether he wanted to have the surgery. By contrast, the CDC's attitude demonstrates a lack of consideration for patient autonomy and consent, two essential elements in all medical decisions. The CDC would like every baby boy born in America to be circumcised, no matter the opinion of his parents and, more importantly, without the boy's consent. If circumcision were a medically necessary and life-saving procedure with no possible ill effects, things might be different. In reality, it is a surgical procedure that is not essential for the health of a normal man; furthermore, it has both risks and benefits. The relative importance of those risks and benefits is subjective. Every man may value them differently. For that reason, it's essential that each individual be afforded the choice about what to do with his own foreskin. To be perfectly blunt, I do not see any justification for removing a part of a baby boy's body without his consent. Men can always get circumcised as adults if they wish; by contrast, once the foreskin is gone, it's gone forever. Most people will concede that the procedure is painful even for babies, but they insist that the pain is justified because the baby will not remember it. I wince at the thought of causing pain to a newborn boy. I say that even if he does not remember the physical pain as an adult, he may still suffer from the psychological sting of having had a body part removed without his permission. Another argument from the advocates of universal circumcision is that it makes good hygiene easier. This is a typical government one-size-fits-all solution: parents are too stupid, in the minds of government agents, to teach their sons good hygiene, so instead we should just circumcise everyone. People are also too stupid to practice safe sex, so we should circumcise them all because they will gain a marginal reduction in the overall risk of contracting HIV. I've also heard arguments for circumcision based in religious tradition and cultural norms. Sure, circumcision is common and a very old tradition in some religions and cultures. But does that make it right? I don't think that's for us to decide. I think that each individual, the owner of his own body, should make the call about whether or not circumcision is appropriate for him. It's difficult for me to assume the mindset of statists who advocate for this kind of thing, so I raised the issue of universal circumcision in conversation with a few people whose opinions I thought would be unencumbered by that pesky philosophy of leaving others alone and letting them make their own decisions. In addition to the religious and culturally based arguments that several people trotted out, one colleague had an interesting comment. He thought that universal circumcision was a good idea, envisioning a world where no more would awkward teens have to worry about getting teased in the locker room, because "everyone would look the same." Oh really? The last time I checked, people came in all shapes, colors, and sizes, and that was a good thing! I guess that if everyone looked alike, wore the same clothes, and had the same hairstyles, nobody would ever have to worry about not fitting in. Would this egalitarian also propose to redistribute the wealth from the best-endowed men to those who are not quite as blessed by Mother Nature? Ridiculous. I certainly cannot agree with the CDC's move toward making a blanket recommendation that all boys should undergo a medical procedure at birth, without their consent. I want each man to have the opportunity to make his own decision about what to do with his foreskin when he reaches an age at which he is capable of doing so, based on his understanding of the risks and benefits, and how much he personally values each. The bloated, overreaching federal government apparently does not want the same. September 2, 2009 Stephanie R. Murphy is an MD/PhD student living in New Hampshire. Copyright 2009 Stephanie R. Murphy http://www.lewrockwell.com/murphy-s/murphy-s12.1.html
The Misleading Call for Circumcision By Otieno Mbare, PhD (Research Fellow) August 20, 2008 I would not have ventured into this sensitive debate if it did not have direct consequences for my children, the posterity of the Luo nation and other non-circumcising communities around the world. However, the debate has been fueled following a research that was carried out by some researchers in Kenya and Uganda and; consequently published in January 2008 in the BJU Continued on page 70
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for those who are practicing it for it is seen as a rite of passage marking a boys entrance into adulthood. Sometimes it was performed as a means of suppressing sexual pleasure, or used as an aid to hygiene where regular bathing was impractical. At other times, it is performed as a means of differentiating a circumcising group from their non-circumcising neighbors, as a means of discouraging masturbation, or to increase a mans attractiveness to women, or as a symbolic castration. The Luos have since used and abandoned other cultural practices that marks the passage of a boy to adulthood. We have refused to embrace circumcision for various reasons; First, circumcision is not part of our culture. It is foreign! Second, our other objection which is supported by the existing literatures and research is that circumcision changes physical sensitivity in the penis of a man. A 2007 study funded by an organization which opposes circumcision, and published in the journal BJU International, found a difference in fine touch sensitivity between men who were circumcised and those who were uncircumcised (such that circumcised men had less sensitivity to fine touch in all but one area of the penis). This same study also compared the sensitivity thresholds at various points on the penis and concluded that the most sensitive part of the uncircumcised penis was more sensitive than the most sensitive parts of the circumcised penis. The authors argue that the parts of the penis removed by circumcision represent the most sensitive parts of the penis. Similarly, in a poll conducted by an anti-circumcision organization, 61% of men who were circumcised as infants reported decreased sensation over time, which they report resulted in sexual dysfunction. And recently, a study by DaiSik Kim and Myung-Geol Pang on the The effect of male circumcision on sexuality found there was a decrease in masturbatory pleasure and sexual enjoyment after circumcision, indicating that adult circumcision adversely affects sexual function in many men, possibly because of complications of the surgery and a loss of nerve endings. I do not want to speculate that some high-level conspiracy has been hatched to render Luo men dysfunctional. I will simply stick to the issue which can be corroborated through the overwhelming existing body of knowledge concerning the matter at hand. Let me further buttress my argument by citing Erickson Paige 1978 article The Ritual of Circumcision, where she writes: In the United States, the original reason for the surgical removal of the foreskin, or prepuce, was to Continued on page 71 Continued from page 69 The Misleading Call for Circumcision International. Had it not acquired political overtones that sought to authenticate an otherwise a lop-sided research whose methodology, validity, plausibility and veracity are in doubt, I would have not wasted my precious time debating it. Yet, this issue touches on the very nerves of the communities that are not practicing circumcision. It is an old time debate that has been misguidedly used to show cultural superiority and supremacy among different communities. The same argument has sadly been used to stigmatize, lower the image and undermine the culture of the Luo community. Scientific research as evidenced in the Mexico conference has rejected that line of thinking as a dead-end research. It will further give a false hope that a cure has finally arrived albeit with devastating consequences to our society. It is therefore surprising that none other than my friend Hon. Raila Odinga (no disrespect intended!), who has suffered the wrath of these cultural purists, was the one who went out prescribing the new medicine for the uncut. This happened a few days after receiving with his in-laws from central Kenya. I will not question Hon. Odingas wisdom but this is a very sensitive cultural issue that a person of his standing in Luoland and Kenya in particular, cannot afford to discuss it casually they way he did. I understand people have started saying derogatively that Luoland sasa ni kichinjoni because the PM has said so! The endorsement for circumcision in the Luo nation is totally unacceptable! I dont intend to argue here that our culture is pure and superior. But, let me make it clear that there are certain cultural practices that need to be eradicated without legislation. Practices such as inheriting someones wife whose husband, probably died of aids and, other promiscuous habits. These are issues that have to be addressed and develop a common position not only for one community, but for the entire society. Abstention and regular use of the condom is the sure way out of the current HIV quagmire. This is what elected leaders should be advocating instead advocating for something which is meant to demean and portray our culture as inferior! It is for this reason that most members of the community have felt provoked by an assault directed at our culture. Yet, the research is so hollow that there is no knowing whether the sample group and the control group had been subjected to a full-blown situation to validate their research finding! I do not want to dispute circumcision
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Continued from page 70 The Misleading Call for Circumcision control masturbatory insanity (what the Luo would call, thelo-oyuma!) - the range of mental disorders that people believed were caused by the polluting practice of self-abuse. And here, she describes Self-abuse as a terminology commonly used to describe masturbation in the 19th century. According to Paige, treatments ranged from diet, moral exhortations, hydrotherapy, and marriage, to such drastic measures as surgery, physical restraints, frights, and punishment. But how was this conundrum conceived in the bible. Because the Luo nation have always followed the bible and what was bequeathed to them by Ramogi at Go- Kwer! The scriptures, which my late father, Jakwath Festo Mbare made his constant book of reference says that the Council of Jerusalem in Acts of the Apostles 15 addressed the issue of whether circumcision was required of new converts to Christianity. Both Simon Peter and James spoke against requiring circumcision in Gentile converts and the Council ruled that circumcision was not necessary. However, Acts 16 and many references in the Letters of Paul show that the practice was not immediately eliminated. Paul of Tarsus, who was said to be directly responsible for one mans circumcision in Acts 16:1-3 and who appeared to praise Jewish circumcision in Romans 3:2, said that circumcision didnt matter in 1 Corinthians 7:19 and then increasingly turned against the practice, accusing those who promoted circumcision of wanting to make a good showing in the flesh and boasting or glorying in the flesh in Galatians 6:11-13. In a later letter, Philippians 3:2, he is reported as warning Christians to beware the mutilation. These teachings and others reinforces the very beliefs we have upheld as a community. Finally, the American Academy of Pediatrics (1999) stated There are anecdotal reports that penile sensation and sexual satisfaction are decreased for circumcised males. Boyle et al. stated that the genitally intact male has thousands of fine touch receptors and other highly erogenous nerve endingsmany of which are lost to circumcision. They concluded, Evidence has also started to accumulate that male circumcision may result in lifelong physical, sexual, and sometimes psychological harm as well. The caveat that I have to express is that circumcision has not, and will never be part of our culture. Who ever want to do it is free to do so without involving the
community. But if you get circumcised, know that they are amputating your foreskin. One should be informed that the sensitivity that you feel, not only in that skin, but the surrounding tissues, including the glands, will be drastically affected and diminished. Researchers also allege that not only are the nerve endings gone with the foreskin, but remaining nerve endings are severed, blood flow permanently disrupted, and the shaft skin will be tight, possibly painfully tight. Several months after this, the sensitivity remaining will begin to fade, and will continue to do so. The warning to our people is, Circumcision will damage your penis and your sexual ability; thats what it does. Even the British Medical Association has reported that there is significant disagreement about whether circumcision is overall a beneficial, neutral or harmful procedure. At present, the medical literature on the health, including sexual health, implications of circumcision is contradictory, and often subject to claims of bias in research. Published by Korir, Chief Editor, African Press International - API http://africanpress.me/2008/08/20/the-misleading-call-for- circumcision/
Museveni sticks to Position on Circumcision
In Summary HIV/Aids fight. The President says the safe male circumcision campaign is bound to mislead people into ignoring the ABC strategy. President Museveni has reaffirmed his earlier stand against safe male circumcision in eliminating HIV, saying the campaigns in favour of the method are misleading Ugandans into unchecked sexual behaviour. Continued on page 72
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Continued from page 71 Museveni sticks to Position on Circumcision In his end of year message to the nation on Sunday, the President said there was need to revisit the earlier strategy of Abstinence, Being faithful and Condom use (ABC) strategy if the current trend of HIV is to be reversed. The 2011 Uganda Aids Indicator Survey figures show that the prevalence of HIV among adults has increased from 6.4 per cent in 2005 to 7.3 per cent in 2011. Ministry of Health figures also indicate that new infections increased by 11.5 per cent between 2007/8 and 2010/11. The President said Ugandans should return to morality and sexual discipline if HIV\Aids is to be fought effectively, adding that HIV/Aids is not a medical but a moral problem that should be treated as such. Mr Museveni had made the same call in Rakai during the World Aids Day celebrations on December 1, 2012. The Presidents call is in disagreement with that of scientists who advocate for safe male circumcision as another preventive measure which offers up to 60 per cent protection from the HIV virus that is yet to have a cure. Officials of the Aids Control Programme (ACP) at the Ministry of Health received the news with criticism, saying HIV is a big problem in Uganda that cannot be tackled with a single strategy but rather a combination of all scientifically-proven preventive measures, including circumcision. Currently, the scourge is on the rise despite the fact that the ABC campaign has existed for several years now, said Dr Alex Ario, the ACP programme manager. Dr Ario added: Other methods cannot be excluded at a time when we have to ensure that the rate of infection is brought down. He, however, said the government should acknowledge that there is a problem so it can adopt all the available preventive measures. We are not telling people to go on rampage because they are circumcised. We will continue to use a combination of preventive measures until that time when we will get one method that offers 100 per cent protection against HIV. The UNAIDS Country Representative, Mr Musa Bungundu, said the ABC strategy is not enough to reduce the increasing HIV infection rate and therefore should be used alongside other measures.
He said if the President thinks that circumcision is not effective, the government should ensure that policies against mother-to-child transmission of HIV are implemented beyond paper to check the more than 15,000 children who are born infected every year. http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Museveni-sticks-to- position-on-circumcision/-/688334/1655680/- /view/printVersion/-/coeu41/-/index.html
Male circumcision is culturally motivated. In many cultures male circumcision is closely associated with the rite-of-passage to manhood. These cultures include some sub-Saharan Africans, aboriginal Australians, the Aztecs and Mayans, certain inhabitants of the Philippines and Eastern Indonesia and several of the Pacific Islands, such as Fiji and the Polynesian islands. In South Africa the Xhosas view the foreskin as the feminine element of the penis, the removal of which, amongst other things, makes a man of the child.
Rise of the Feminine Power By Yamaya Cruz 21 February 2012 There are many movies airing today about artificial intelligence. These movies explain how logic has superseded emotion and sensibility. The story lines normally involve a robot, or a bunch of robots that become more powerful than man. Then, man has to work to take back his power, but the machines are ten times smarter, faster, and stronger. In the end, man wins, because he is able to use the power of emotion. This theme is analogous to the human mind. It is logical, precise, and mechanical, much like a machine. However, it will never reach its fullest potential without the power of the heart. There are a million and one books in New Age that speak about the power of the mind. Some say that we need to become the watcher of our thoughts. While others say that we need to focus our intention, only then are we able to manifest the things that we desire in life. But these are just thoughts! Man has created a spiritual science that is biased in many ways, for the variables of love and emotions are missing. There are many who would say that we should free the mind. When in truth, we need to free our heart. Freeing the heart seems dangerous, because then we become vulnerable to the vicissitudes of life. Raw emotions, untamed by logical thought can result in chaos. Continued on page 75
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African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES A Shamanic Perspective on Balancing Male & Female Energies with Many Knives By Celeste Allegrea Adams Awareness Magazine, January/February 2004 Many Knives, (Bvshpolawa), also known as Boe Glasschild, is a Choctaw Shaman whose father was Blackfoot, African and Cherokee. His mother was Choctaw, and he is aligned with that tribe. His first initiation was with Kitua Nighthawk, of the Cherokee Medicine Society, then he became a Turtle Island dreamer and worked with The Deer Tribe. His true calling is as a Lightning Dancer, which is the medicine of the Plains Indians. Many Knives is the author of The Shores Within, a wonderfully insightful collection of personal experiences and teachings set forth by the authors spirit guide, Laughing Dog Red Feather. Each teaching strikes a deep chord of truth, and includes guidance on realigning the dreams of our physical world, with the greater reality of dream-time, and a roadmap for leaving behind the bondage of consensus reality and the drama of human existence through creative response over automatic reaction. It is for those seeking a pathway to personal mastery through shamanism. Over the past few years, Ive spoken to people in fields as varied as physics, archaeology, history, mythology, psychology and feminist studies, and most agree that we are moving from an age where masculine energies dominate towards a new cycle of feminine emergence and a balance between male and female energy. I was interested in a shamanic perspective on this subject as it relates to both the personal and planetary level, and met with Many Knives who explains that in this Aquarian Age, we are returning to a time when feminine energies are emerging because the planet is sick and in need of healing. Celeste: Why did male energy become dominant during the last cycle? Many Knives: Female power is nurturing and, as Ive been instructed by spirit, it allowed the male energy to run dominant. It exposed generations and generations of people to the male mindset, the aggressive side of us, the sun that burns us. Celeste: Can you describe the differences between feminine energy and masculine energy? Many Knives: The feminine quality is receptive. It is a quality of bringing in. The male quality is aggressive and conquering. We have both Yin and Yang in our bodies, but there is also the other side. There are three sides to the coin: the head, the tail, and the edge, which is that overlooked potential. If you notice, the human body has three primal structures. Were a microcosm of the planet. We have the brain, the heart, and the marriage basket, which is our reproductive area. In the male, the male energy lies in the head. The sun energy is his aggressiveness. That is why he thinks the way he does. In the female, the head holds the moon energy thats why she is receptive. In the heart space we have both energies in balance; to love, create harmony and balance. In the reproductive areas, the male has the moon energies; therefore his body is like the moon pulling the oceans. When that energy is aroused he expands out. The female in her reproductive areas has the sun energies. She is like the desert. She heats up with the sun. The planet is like that too. It has those three basic things. It has the sun, moon and earth, which is like the heart center. At this time were moving into the heart center and the moon is a big influence. It teaches us the rhythms and the cycles. And as we learn these things, we become more balanced in a feminine way. We do not desire to conquer, but we desire to share. Continued on page 75
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Continued from page 74 - A Shamanic Perspec-tive on Balancing Male & Female Energies Celeste: What can nature teach us about balancing the male and female roles within a relationship? Many Knives: Mother Nature is the great teacher of harmony and balance for female and male energy in relationships. The Grand Mother allows each gender to evolve and complement each other as a team, this is the natural way. When both genders are awakened to the fact that each is a microcosm of the Universe (one verse), the competition between female and male energies for leadership and/or control within the relationship ceases as the individual strengths come to light. Both the female and male energies begin to experience growth together. It appears that the relationships between female and male energies are/were more harmonious in indigenous cultures as these societies are not as externally influenced and dysfunctional as those of today. More stressful living conditions exist in modern-day societies, for relationships as concepts of standards, materialism, and social prestige influence and refocus the direction of the relationship. Once the relationship begins to identify with these external icons and images of successful unions the relationship becomes less of the unique bond it began as, opting instead to emulate the successful examples. The square peg now seeks to enter the round hole. Celeste: In this new cycle we are entering, how do you see the roles and relationship between men and women evolving? As we enter the new cycles of spiritual evolution, the evolution of the roles of female and male in relationships will be relative to the relationships themselves. This appears to be because not everyone will experience the same shift as we move into the harmonic concordance. Its all so arbitrary. For some females, there will be an emphasis on the masculine self, and vice-versa. The level of the individuals personal enlightenment will facilitate any and all spiritual shifting. Celeste: What does an imbalance of male and female energy look like within oneself and on the planet? Many Knives: One needs to view the world through awakened eyes to see the imbalances around them. There are lacks of passion and commitment. There appears to be a Me First philosophy prevalent, there is little or no concern for the connections between the worlds of the human and those of the stone people, the plant people, and the animal brethren. There are both abuses of the individual by the individual, and abuse of the planet by the collective. It appears that the consensus is becoming anxious and zealous in its struggle for survival and progress while at the same time drifting backwards as it attempts to force itself forward. But this has been the nature of mans most advanced societies it is a parasitic creature that seeks a host to feed on so that it may progress. Celeste: Among Amerindians, did women have the same opportunities to learn shamanic traditions as men? Many Knives: Female energy has always been the medicine keepers and the first healers on Earth Mother. It is the mother energy that nourishes, caresses, and initially guides the newborn, so the mothering energy is shamanically healing on all levels. In the earliest societies of Amerindians [First Nations People] the female was totally honored and highly valued as the one to carry life forward. Amerindians had no derogatory words for female energy until the arrival of the Europeans. The word squaw was first introduced to the Eastern nations by the French. Today there appears to be a return to the esoteric traditions by women in our societies. This is very good (not to imply that male energy has been negative for the shamanic arts, this has not been the case at all). Once the arts had an abundance of female practitioners, but between 1600 and 1900 an estimated nine million women were prosecuted as witches worldwide. This female holocaust may have stymied female participation and initiation into shamanic sects at one time, but there has been a welcomed return of female mystics. Shamanism is one of the most natural ways of relating to Earth Mother, totally transcending gender, race, and age. When committed to a shamanic path of heart, the student gets the medicine (lessons) needed for their individual path to enlightenment. The teacher is nothing more than the vessel, the cup bearing the water. A teacher in the moment of truth totally transcends issues pertaining to gender to move the student through the maze of life (this is walking impeccably by the teacher). The student gets the needed energies to facilitate growth as they answer their calling. Many Knives: I do it by paying respect to Grandmother Moon. In all of her cycles and changes, she is a microcosm of the cycles of life. She has the new Moon, which is not visible the sky is black. That is the beginning. She has the waxing Moon, which is growing. That is the growth. She has the full Moon, which is maturity. That is when everything comes full circle. Continued on page 76
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Continued from page 75 - A Shamanic Perspective on Balancing Male & Female Energies And she has the waning Moon, when she starts decaying and dies to become the full Moon again. Celeste: How do you honor the feminine energy in ritual? I honor those cycles because life begins like that, ends like that, and continues like that. The planet does that, the universe does that, and the galaxies do that. The whole microcosm or macrocosm has that same cycle. You can see it in insects. They are born as eggs or larvae, they become adult, and then they die. It happens every day. Celeste: Can you describe a Lightning Dance Exercise to bring balance to male and female energies within oneself and the planet. Many Knives: The pathway of Lightning Dance Shamanism is a movement towards balancing the female and male energies on all levels, beginning at the personal level of the practitioner. As we are each a microcosm of the Universe, to balance these energies within us rebalances the energies within our space on the web of life, which in turn begins to reharmonize the realities around us. The pathway of the Lightning Dancer empowers both the female and male as it transcends all concepts of gender and other limiting parameters. http://www.awarenessmag.com/janfeb4/JF4_MANY_KNIVES. HTML
Continued from page 73 - Rise of the Feminine Power However, it is in this state that we become our best selves. How many people fall in love when they are not looking for it? How many others stumble across opportunities, or have casual aha life-changing moments at the weirdest time? The mind, cluttered with thoughts would say that this is luck. But theres really no such thing as luck. There is something called passion, and it is 100% stronger than any thought we could ever have. In fact, some of the best scientist, writers, and artist had major breakthroughs when they were in a state of pure bliss and joy. Our emotional state has a strong effect on our ability to attract great things in our lives. Even in a state of no thought, how we feel can still affect our reality. But we continue to suppress our emotions, because society associates femininity with weakness. We can look around and see the results of a world ruled by the masculine essence. Our relationships are failing, our families are falling apart, and many children feel abandoned and neglected. The only way to fix these problems is to encourage men and women to balance the feminine and masculine powers within themselves. This will allow us to be strong enough to stop the rise of the machines and restore the power that is derived from the feminine essence. Yamaya Cruz is the author of When The Shadows Began To Dance. She writes about African spirituality, chakra healing, shamanism and much more. http://newafricanspirituality.com/page3/files/74f525558f254 c5b63e90b485ea64015-66.html#
Balancing the Inner Masculine and Feminine Energies By Shems Nbedjer November 7, 2012 In a Patriarchal culture, it is not only men that shift out of balance. Everyone does. Today, many of the women among you have dominant male energies, and need to reconnect with the Inner Female energies. This has been the result of Feminism in your culture, which, "liberated" women and allowed them to develop their potential in ways never before experienced. But it has also lead to many of them becoming too masculine. Also, as a result of Feminism, many men in your western cultures have sought to reconnect with their Inner Feminine energies, ironically becoming too feminine and passive. And so we have a new "out of balance" situation, where women are often too masculine and men are too feminine. So - the key to finding balance for every individual is to balance the Inner Male and Female energies, in order to create a new template for the Collective Consciousness, one that will replace the older one. Each of you needs to be connected to the inner Male energy. It is the energy of the Spiritual Warrior and Leader within you. This is the Solar energy. It is radiant, strong, confident, warm and assertive. It is the energy of "doing". It tells you when you need to assert yourself; it gives you confidence and helps you to get things done in the material world. It is outward flowing and active. The Feminine energy is the Lunar energy. It is soft, receptive, gentle, loving and unconditional, but also very powerful. It is the energy of being. It is inward Continued on page 76
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Continued from page 75 Balancing the Inner Masculine and Feminine Energies flowing and passive (as in peaceful). It allows you to be with yourself and with others in non-judgemental ways. It is the place where creative ideas are conceived and birthed and then passed to the masculine so that they may become real in the world. In a balanced individual, there is a balanced flow between being and doing, active and passive, masculine and feminine. And this inner balance is reflected in the outer or external world in the creation of relationships between beings that are equally balanced in themselves and so can create and maintain relationships that are balanced and loving. A balanced relationship being one where neither partner dominates the other, spiritually, mentally, emotionally and or sexually. http://destee.com/index.php?threads/balancing-the-inner- masculine-and-feminine-energies.73871/
Continued from page 3 Egyptian Myth: The Osirian Cycle Isis heard of this and made Her way into the palace, residing there for many months. At last she convinced the Queen of Byblos to give Her the pillar, and she cut it open to reveal the coffin inside. She was given the best boat in Byblos, and She journey home to Egypt; finally hiding Osiris' body in the marshes by the Nile. One night, whilst Mighty Isis slept, Seth happened upon the Dead King. In a fury, He tore the body of Osiris into fourteen pieces and scattered them throughout Egypt to ensure they would not all be found. When Isis found the empty coffin, her cries reached unto the heavens; even unto the ears of Her beloved Nephthys. She came to Isis' side, and the two sisters searched the land for the scattered body of Osiris. For many sad years the Daughters of Nuit wandered through Egypt. Everywhere they found a fragment they built a shrine. At last, all the pieces were gathered; with the exception of the God's phallus. Isis reassembled Osiris' body, and fashioned a phallus of pure gold to replace the lost member. She wrapped the body in cloth and perfumed it with many scents. Thus was Osiris whole again, and mummification was created. Isis then transformed herself into the form of a swallow, and with her wings she fanned the Breath of Life into Her husband. The Lord of Eternity arose, restored to life at last. But it was only to last for the length of one night, so that He and Isis could conceive their Divine Son Horus. Because of the loss of His phallus, He could not return to
the land of the living. Instead,Re-Atum made Him the King of the Dead in the relm of the Beautiful West. From that time onwards, every Egyptian knew that death was nothing to fear, for his spirit would live on in the Kingdom of Osiris. Even Horus could not have been come into being had not His Half-Brother Anubis sacrificed a day of His own life so that Horus could be born. The Young God lived a perilous childhood, yet survived to grow strong and proud. Soon He came of age and set out to fullfill His destiny- to pull the Crown from His uncle, Seth, and thus avenge His Father's death and claim His place as rightful Heir to the Throne. http://www.theologywebsite.com/etext/egypt/osiris.shtml
What Can Naturally Produce More Testosterone? By Melissa McNamara Jun 14, 2011 Low levels of testosterone can be frustrating for men trying to gain muscle size and failing at their attempts to have children. For most men, testosterone levels peak during the early to mid 20s, but gradually decreases with age. According to the Atlanta Medical Institute, nearly 50 million men in the United States experience some sort of hormone deficiency. Identification Testosterone is primarily a male sex hormone produced in the testicles. Other than the obvious sexual organs that identify males and females, testosterone plays an important role in the secondary male sex characteristics, such as increased muscle size, body hair growth, deepened voice and overall sexual responses. According to a report on the Colorado State University website, the luteinizing hormone that binds to receptors on the testicle's leydig cells stimulates the gonads. This stimulates the production and secretion of testosterone. Symptoms While trying to gain muscle size, you may feel you're at a standstill with your results regardless of how much weight you lift. If you're trying to have children, a decline in testosterone can decrease your sperm count and your sex drive. A low sperm count would not prevent you from having children, but it can make it more difficult. According to Body Building, low testosterone can also cause depression, weakness, hair loss and put you at risk for osteoporosis. Continued on page 81
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African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic Volume 8, Issue 1 NEWSLETTER January 2013 FEATURED ARTICLES Nutrition Linked to Sperm DNA Quality By Nathan Gray 30 August 2012 Nutrition and diet have again been linked to the quality of male sperm, with a new study revealing that high micronutrient intakes is strongly associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men. The study published in Fertility and Sterility examined the diet and sperm quality of 80 healthy men between the age of 22 and 80 years, finding that men older than 44 who consumed a healthy intake of micronutrients had less damage to the DNA of sperm than those who did not. Led by Dr Andy Wyrobek from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA, the research team found that men over 44 years of age who consumed the most vitamin C had 20% less sperm DNA damage compared to men older than 44 who consumed the least. They revealed that the same was true for vitamin E, zinc, and folate. "It appears that consuming more micronutrients such as vitamin C, E, folate and zinc helps turn back the clock for older men, said Wyrobek. We found that men ... who consumed at least the recommended dietary allowance of certain micronutrients had sperm with a similar amount of DNA damage as the sperm of younger men," he explained. "This means that men who are at increased risk of sperm DNA damage because of advancing micronutrients in their diets or through supplements. Study details Previous research conducted in Wyrobek's lab found that the older a man is, the more he's likely to have increased sperm DNA fragmentation, chromosomal rearrangements, and DNA strand damage. With more men than ever choosing to have children after the age of 35, the research team believes their work comes at an important time. The research team analysed the sperm quality of 80 healthy male volunteers between the ages of 22 and 80 with an average age of 44. The men were recruited several years ago as part of the California Age and Genetic Effects on Sperm Study. Each man who participated in the study filled out a 100-item questionnaire that estimated their average daily vitamin intake, both from food and supplements. In addition, their sperm DNA quality was assessed via a lab analysis in which a voltage gradient pulls broken DNA strands from intact strands within the sperm nucleus. Each volunteer's intake of a micronutrient was classified as low, moderate, or high based on how they compared to other participants. The scientists then analyzed the data several ways and came up with the same result each time: a diet high in antioxidants and micronutrients may decrease the risk of producing sperm with DNA damage, especially in older men. "The different response of the old and young men presents new opportunities for health care, especially for older men planning families," said Wyrobek. However, he warned that more research is needed adding that although the scientists found a clear link between higher vitamin intake and improved sperm DNA quality in older men, they don't know whether this link extends to male fertility and the health of offspring. "Our research points to a need for future studies to determine whether increased antioxidant intake in older fathers will improve fertility, reduce risks of genetically defective pregnancies, and result in healthier children," he said. Continued on page 78
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Continued from page 77 - Nutrition Linked to Sperm DNA Quality "The research also raises a broader question beyond sperm DNA: How might lifestyle factors, including higher intakes of antioxidants and micronutrients, protect somatic as well as germ cells against age-related genomic damage?" Source: Fertility and Sterility Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.07.1126 Micronutrients intake is associated with improved sperm DNA quality in older men Authors: Thomas E. Schmid , Brenda Eskenazi , Francesco Marchetti , Suzanne Young , et al http://www.nutraingredients.com/Research/Nutrition-linked-to- sperm-DNA-quality
7 Foods that Boost Male Fertility
1. Foods rich in Omega 3 Fatty acids Sub fertile men have been found to be deficient in Omega 3 Fatty Acids. It makes sense to boost these in your diet. Good sources include oily fish like salmon, herring and mackerel which you can eat a couple of times a week and some nuts, particularly walnuts. You can eat a good handful a day. To be beneficial, nuts must be fresh and NOT roasted. Omega 3 Fatty Acids also help to keep blood vessels healthy and help with blood flow the the penis and testicles. You can also take a fish oil or krill oil supplement. 2. Foods rich in Vitamin C A study has suggested that vitamin C helps to prevent sperm clumping together (aggultinisation). Foods that are very rich in Vitamin C include cantaloupe and water melons, kiwi fruit, citrus fruit, mango, papaya, pine- apple, and all berries. Vegetables include: broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, sweet peppers, other leafy greens and tomatoes. Eat a couple of portions of really fresh ripe fruit daily and a good heap of lightly cooked vegetables with your dinner. If you want to take a supplement take a time release 1000 mg pill or two 500mg at intervals through the day. 3. Foods rich in other anti-oxidants Vitamin C is an anti oxidant, a nutrient that protects cells from damage. Sperm are very susceptible to oxidative damage. All highly coloured fruit and veg are rich in anti oxidants. Nuts and seeds (again fresh and unroasted) and avocados are rich in another anti oxidant: vitamin E. A handful of nuts or seeds a day is good. I also recommend that most men take a supplement of pine bark extract (Pycnogenol) or grape seed extract which contains a super antioxidant I written about elsewhere. 4. Arginine rich foods Sperm contain large amounts of the amino acid arginine. Studies have shown that arginine is important to sperm count and motility. Arginine is also essential to health blood circulation and strong erections. Water melon, corn (corn on the cob, tinned sweet corn, pop corn, corn cakes etc), high protein foods: nuts and seeds, beans and pulses, dairy foods, chicken and beef, prawns and sea food. Make sure any chicken or meat you eat is organic. You can also supplement with arginine. Try a dose of 1500mg a day with a break every few months. 5. Zinc rich foods Many studies have shown that zinc is essential to proper sperm production. It is also an important antioxidant present in semen in large quantities probably to protect the sperm. Supplementing with zinc up to about 40mg is ok for short periods but care is needed longer term. It is better to include lots of zinc rich foods particularly pumpkin seeds, oysters (the tinned sort are fine) if you cannot face them straight from the shell. sesame seeds, chocolate (but only cocoa rich varieties, at least 85%), Beef lamb and liver, but again only organic. 6. Foods that boost testosterone Testosterone, the essential male hormone is essential for healthly sperm and semen production. Many of the foods I have mentioned already may enhance testosterone production, particularly those rich in Zinc, vitamin B6 and vitamin A. Animal studies have also suggested that ginger may help to build testosterone. Continued on page 79
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Continued from page 78 7 Foods that Boost Male Fertility Generally a diet that is higher in protein and healthy fats and lower in carbohydrate is thought to enhance testosterone levels. 7. Foods to limit estrogen A mans body naturally contains a small amount of the female hormone estrogen. However aging, environmental pollutants and lifestyle choices can increase estrogen levels to a point where they can adversely affect fertility. As with testosterone a diet somewhat higher in protein and fats and lower in carbohydrate will help. Members of the cabbage family, broccoli, kale, cauliflower etc contain nutrients which help to limit estrogen. A bit more controversial are foods that contain weak estrogen like chemicals. Some studies suggest these phyto-estrogens actually reduce the impact of estrogen on the body. Other commentators are afraid that they add to the estrogen load. I take the view that for a fully grown male, they have a potential estrogen limiting effect. Soya products, flax seeds and sesame seeds are useful sources. Foods to avoid First the really bad news. Alcohol and particularly beer, creates a toxic and highly estrogenic environment in the body. So let me be be straight. If you want to be a dad severely curtain your drinking and cut out beer completely. It is a sad irony that alcohol consumption has become associated with manliness when in fact its affect is the opposite. Also avoid: all junk food, take aways, snack foods like crisps, biscuits and other baked goods and sweet sugar rich foods. http://integramassage.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/7-foods-that- boost-male-fertility/
Continued from page 76 - What Can Naturally Produce More Testosterone? Diet Cholesterol is the building block of testosterone; however, high levels of bad cholesterol can lower your testosterone. Maintaining a healthy balanced diet is important for optimal levels of health for all organs of your body. According to Body Building, you can naturally increase your testosterone levels by increasing your zinc intake. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, red meat and poultry provide the majority of zinc in the American Diet. Some foods that are also high in zinc are oysters, beans, whole grains and nuts. Take vitamin B-6 and magnesium, used to absorb zinc, according to Body Building. Vitamin C can also improve your testosterone levels, according to Think Muscle.
Lifestyle Get a minimum of eight quality hours of sleep each night. According to Body Building, inadequate amounts of sleep can reduce testosterone by 40 percent. Limit the amount of alcohol you consume. Occasional drinkers can experience a 20 percent decrease in serum levels in testosterone, and chronic alcoholics can have a 50 percent decrease, according to Body Building. Reduce the amount of stress in your life by staying organized, practicing thoughtful breathing through meditation or yoga, and avoiding procrastination. Stress increases the hormone cortisol, which decreases testosterone levels. Ejaculating at least once per week can also keep your testosterone levels from dropping, according to Body Building. Considerations Making changes in your diet and lifestyle will give you the main natural boosts of testosterone. If you have had prolonged testosterone decline, seek assistance from a doctor to learn about necessary steps to increase your testosterone. In some cases, your doctor may recommend a less natural approach. http://www.livestrong.com/article/283786-what-can-naturally- produce-more-testosterone/
Curcumin is a Potent Tool in the War against Prostate Cancer and Dementia By John Phillip February 27, 2012 (NaturalNews) Curcumin, the active anti-inflammatory compound found in the Indian spice tumeric, has gained an impressive reputation in the fight against many deadly forms of cancer. New evidence released in the journal Cancer Research finds that the natural phenol can slow prostate tumor growth by blocking receptors used to propagate cell tissue growth. Additional research published in the journal PLoS One explains the precise mechanism exerted by curcumin molecules to target the amyloid fibrils associated with the unnatural progression of protein-like plaque tangles that are characteristic in Alzheimer's disease patients. Adding curry spice to your healthy diet or supplementing daily with a standardized curcumin capsule will help win your individual war against cancerous proliferation and Alzheimer's dementia. Prostate cancer is one of the most common forms of the Continued on page 80
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Continued from page 79 Curcumin is a Potent Tool in the War against Prostate Cancer and Dementia disease, with more than 250,000 diagnoses in the US each year. Any natural compound that targets the proliferation of prostate cancer cells would provide a significant remedy compared with the allopathic methods of radiation, surgery and chemical agents. To conduct the study, researchers subjected prostate cancer cells to hormone deprivation in the presence and absence of curcumin with 'physiologically attainable' doses. Curcumin blocks prostate cell receptors to thwart cancer progression The researchers found that curcumin blocked two genetic receptors necessary for prostate cancer advancement. These receptors have been shown is past studies to predict cancer incidence and rate of growth of existing tumors. They noted that the spice extract was "a potent inhibitor of both cell cycle and survival in prostate cancer cells." The lead study author, Dr. Karen Knudsen and her team found that other cancer cell lines multiply by a similar receptor mechanism and may also be inhibited by the curry compound. She commented that curcumin "also has implications beyond prostate cancer... in other malignancies, like breast cancer. In tumors where these play an important function, curcumin may prove to be a promising therapeutic agent." In a separate research body, scientists found that curcumin prolongs life and enhances activity of brain neurons, acting as a neuroprotective shield against Alzheimer's disease advancement. The research team determined that curcumin acted to prevent the damaging accumulation of amyloid fibrils around the nerve synapse. Amyloid tangles are known to prevent normal electrical and chemical transmissions required to form memories and maintain cognition. Scientific research models continue to extol the virtues of natural spice and herbal extracts such as curcumin to help prevent and treat many deadly diseases that kill countless millions each year. Incorporate curry spices as part of your healthy diet or include a daily supplement(250 mg to 500 mg standardized curcumin extract) to significantly lower cancer risk and support healthy brain function. http://www.naturalnews.com/035076_curcumin_prostate_can cer_dementia.html
Improve Your Sex Life with Horny Goat Weed
By Chris Kilham April 19, 2011 The name horny goat weed catches everybody's attention. But behind the clever name lies a serious herb. For horny goat weed is a genuine sex-enhancer, a time- tested aphrodisiac that increases libido in men and women, and improves erectile function in men. Known also as Epimedium or Yin Yang Huo, horny goat weed leaves were purportedly the food of the yin yang, a mythical animal which achieved one hundred sexual climaxes a day. This legend points to the reputed sexual potency of horny goat weed, and its honored place in traditional Chinese medicine. Used for over 2,000 years, horny goat weed is any of several species of epimedium (brevicorum, sagittatum and grandiflorum), a leafy plant which grows profusely in the wild, most abundantly at higher altitudes. The leaves of the plant contain a variety of flavonoids, polysaccharides, sterols and an alkaloid called magnaflorine. One of the flavonoids, icariin, is believed to play a role in the sex-boosting effects of the plant, which is used to restore sexual fire, boost erectile function, allay fatigue, and alleviate menopausal discomfort. To get to the truth about horny goat weed, I travelled to Shanghai and met with six top doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including the chief physician of Shanghai's famous Longhua hospital, a top gastroenterologist, a pharmacogonocist, a phytochemist and two other practicing medical doctors. "What do you think about epimedium?" I asked the group. "Is it truly effective as a sex-enhancer?" There were affirmative shaking of heads all around. "Oh, yes, yes." exclaimed Continued on page 81
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Continued from page 80 Improve Your Sex Life with Horny Goat Weed one. "We have all used epimedium for decades in our practices. It is the very best sexual tonic for both men and women." I probed further. Does the plant truly help with erectile function as some claim? Two of the physicians explained that in clinical practice, they have successfully used epimedium to treat erectile problems, to boost waning libido, and to rebuild youthful sexual vitality. "It gives you back your sexual strength," noted another with emphasis. With a group of Chinese medicinal plant experts including a botanist named Sheng, we set off to see where epimedium, or horny goat weed, grows in the wild. Our destination was Tianmushan, a large mountain area in the northern corner of Zhejiang Province. As we journeyed to remote Tianmu Mountain, Sheng explained the collection of epimedium, horny goat weed. "All epimedium is picked wild, and this raises a lot of questions. The plant is very abundant. It grows all over, so there is a lot. But people ask about epimedium being over-harvested. There is nothing to worry about in that regard. As long as the roots remain in the ground, it comes up every year. We only ever pick the leaves, never the roots. Epimedium is always there. Nobody applies any chemicals to the wild plants, so it is clean and pure." We parked at the base of the mountain, and set off for the summit. With Sheng in the lead, we hiked off into dense forest, and up a rugged trail on the mountain's steep western peak. The tropical sun beat down on us when we stepped out of the woods, and we were drenched in sweat as we made our way up the mountain. "Most of the epimedium on the mountain has already been picked this year," Sheng informed us. "But further up near the peak we will find plenty. The pickers don't like to climb that high." Further up we came to a rock outcropping, where we saw our first clusters of epimedium growing in the wild. "The plant likes rocks," Shen told us. From that point on toward the peak we found numerous clusters of epimedium. The plant proved abundant at higher elevations, and I was happy to see it for myself in its natural habitat. In the United States, horny goat weed has become a phenomenon. But does it work? The distinguished botanist Dr. James Duke has long insisted so. And science is backing that claim, With a human clinical study supervised by New York physician Dr. Steven
Lamm and Gerald Secor Cousins. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of an herbal complex product in which horny goat weed was the primary ingredient. The formula was tested for it effects on sexual satisfaction in healthy male volunteers and male volunteers who use Viagra. In the study, 25 healthy men and 13 men who used Viagra received daily doses for 45 days of the horny goat weed- based herbal formula. Additional doses were taken one to two hours prior to sexual activity to determine its effect on sexual interest, sexual performance, and overall sexual satisfaction. After 45 days, the double-blind phase of the study began with a placebo product and active product randomly given to healthy men who had reported a positive response in the first phase. All subjects were evaluated after the first 45 days of treatment and finally after 60 days. Results of the study showed that daily use of the herbal complex for a minimum of 45 days resulted in an enhancement of sexual satisfaction in 60 percent of healthy male subjects and 45 percent of men using Viagra. Does horny goat weed work? Considering a long history of positive use, and the study noted above, we can probably say yes. More studies should be conducted to support these conclusions. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/04/19/improve-sex-life- horny-goat-weed/
What are the Risks of Taking Horny Goat Weed? Side effects. Most people seem to tolerate short-term use of horny goat weed fairly well, at least at the doses studied. It may cause upset stomach and dry mouth. In some, horny goat weed may result in irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, nosebleeds, and mood changes. High doses have been linked to spasms and respiratory failure. Risks. Horny goat weed may not be safe in high doses or as a long-term treatment. People who have health conditions such as immune disorders, heart or lung problems, low blood pressure, bipolar disorder, or thyroid problems -- should not use horny goat weed without their doctors approval. Interactions. If you take any medicines or supplements regularly, talk to your doctor before you start using horny goat weed. It could interact with drugs like blood thinners, aspirin, birth control pills, antidepressants, treatments for immune disorders and Continued on page 82
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Continued from page 83 What are the Risks of Taking Horny Goat Weed? thyroid problems, and medicines that lower blood pressure or cholesterol. Using horny goat weed with nitroglycerin can be extremely dangerous. Similar to its use with pharmaceutical erectile dysfunction medicines, mixing nitroglycerin with horny goat weed can even be fatal due to the potential for severe drops in blood pressure. Given the possible risks, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and children should not take horny goat weed. http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-and-supplements/lifestyle- guide-11/horny-goat-weed-epimedium
Pumpkin Seeds, Honey Boost your Libido By Vision Reporter May 31, 2012 Dieticians and nutrition experts assert that you do not have to go on a shopping spree, all the foods you need to spice up your sex life may be in your garden or your kitchen. Below are some of the foods that can help you keep it hot between the sheets. Pumpkin seeds Pumpkin seeds contain zinc. A deficiency can also make a woman completely lose her sex drive. These yummy seeds are also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital to overall sexual wellbeing. Mulondo Prof. Kyamuhangire, who has researched and processed Omulondo liquor, says Omulondo contains good levels of zinc; a micronutrient known to boost the levels of testosterone, which in turn improves libido and reduces sexual exhaustion. Oily fish Oily fish is rich in zinc, magnesium and selenium, all vital for a good sex drive. Examples of oily fish include: salmon, mackerel, trout, herring, fresh tuna and sardines. Oily fish is also rich in omega-3, which makes the nervous system more efficient. Get nutty All nuts play a role in supporting the libido. They contain essential fatty acids that produce hormones that we all need to stay romantic. Groundnuts, simsim, oatmeal, peanuts, cashew nuts, soybeans among many are rich in L-Arginine, which improves circulation and enhances
erectile response hence improving sexual performance. If other nuts are hard to get, simply roast groundnuts or prepare groundnut sauce for him. Celery Raw celery boosts the production of libido, enhancing androsterone, an odourless hormone men release through perspiration during sex and women find it extremely attractive. Chop the celery and add to sauce or soup as a spice. Bananas Bananas are rich in bromelain, which is important for sexual health. Bananas are also a good source of Vitamin B, which increases the bodys energy. They are rich in potassium, which is vital for the production of sex hormones. Avocado Though avocado may not get your fire going, eating it will give you energy in form of healthy fat. Avocado contains high levels of folic acid which help break down proteins and in turn provide energy. It is also rich in vitamin B6, which improves male hormone production and potassium, which helps to regulate a womans thyroid gland. You can prepare an avocado shake or serve the fruit as salad. Asparagus Asparagus is very high in vitamin E, which is vital for good sex. The Vegetarian Society says eating asparagus thrice a week produces the most powerful effect. Asparagus is rich in folate, a vitamin B that increases the production of histamine, which is essential for increasing the sex drive for both men and women. Spice it up! The right spices not only heat things up on the tongue but also in the bedroom. Chili-red pepper contains capsaicin, the substance that gives it a burning sensation, stimulates nerve endings and raises the heart rate. This helps to release endorphins and other feel good hormones necessary for a spicy sex life. Hot spices like ginger, cayenne and cumin curry improve circulation and warm up the body. Basil Basil increases blood circulation, stimulates sex drive and boosts fertility. This tasty herb has an aroma that can excite his hormones and stimulate his sex drive. Add a leaf of basil to his coffee or tea. Garlic Bad on the breath but good on the sex. Ssenoga says garlic has aphrodisiac properties; allicin, Continued on page 83
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a small penis? Are these problems affecting your sex life? I am going to introduce you to African sexual herbs that have been in use in Africa since time immemorial. The evidence of usage of these herbs lies in the high childbirth on the continent and stickiness of women to their partners despite the low level wealth. Many men have more than one wife openly and none of them is complaining. It is not an easy fit. There is the 'mulondo' herb. This is indigenous to East Africa. The 'mulondo' is used to control early ejaculation and increase your erection. It targets those parts of your body responsible for sexual stimulation and ejaculation. It increases the stimulation as well as increasing the blood into your penis. The result is a longer sexual performance and a stronger erection. Many African men are capable of having sex with their several wives on a daily basis leaving each of them satisfied. They allocate each woman a day and each woman is always looking forward to her day with her husband. She knows that he will perform effectively thanks to the 'mulondo' herb. Then there is the 'Entengo' which is common in Southern Sudan. The 'Entengo' has been used in the societies of Southern Sudan for a long time. People in these societies discovered a long time a go that a penis can only grow normally to a few inches. They discovered that a normally grown penis can hardly satisfy a woman. They went to the forest in search of herbs to remedy the problem and they discovered the 'Entengo'. This herb is used often with exercises to grow penises of children from an early age. When used consistently the penis takes on a new dimension gradually. That is why men from these regions have longer than normal organs. These herbs can be used by any one from anywhere with the same results. http://EzineArticles.com/5676480
Continued from page 86 Prunus Africanus Description: An evergreen tree, usually 10-25 m high, with straight, cylinder trunk and dense, rounded crown. Flowers are small, fragrant and white or cream in color. Fruits are cherry-shaped, red to purplish-brown. The wood is very hard and heavy, pale red with strong cyanide smell when freshly cut, darkening to rich dark red or mahogany-brown on exposure to air. Dried bark is red to blackish-brown and has a strong odor, characteristic almond smell. Continued on page 84 Continued from page 82 Pumpkin Seeds, Honey Boost your Libido which improves blood flow to the sexual organs. People who over-indulge in sexual activities should take garlic in their diet or as a supplement to protect themselves from nervous fatigue. However, allicin is only produced if the garlic has been chopped into tiny pieces. As a bonus, allicin also fights fungal infection. Prepare a bowl of garlic soup for your man or use it as a spice in his meals. Honey The natural sugars found in honey can improve libido and also increase sexual stamina. The term honeymoon was derived from an ancient custom where newly-weds would go into seclusion and share a special honey drink. The concoction was believed to increase their sexual desire. Word of caution Ssali says eating the foods is not enough to give sexual satisfaction. You may chew a bunch of Omulondo, but if you are stressed you will find it hard to have good sex because sex depends entirely on the mind set, he warns. Adequate preparation in form of foreplay will enhance bonding and prepare the body. http://119.82.71.117/newvision/news/631541-pumpkin-seeds- honey-boost-your-libido.html
African Sexual Herbs, They Will Change Your Bedroom Life Forever By Salva Kenyi
Mondia whytei Are you dissatisfied by your sexual life? Are you having a weak erection? Is early ejaculation your problem? Is it
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Continued from page 83 Prunus Africanus Pygeum extracts have been used for more than 30 years in France, Germany, and Austria for patients suffering with prostate enlargement. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate that occurs in most men over 60, can lead to urinary frequency and nocturia (waking up at night to go to the bathroom). Frequent interruption of sleep leads to daytime tiredness. The pharmacologic use of plants and herbs for the treatment of BPH has been growing steadily. Major Chemical Constituents: Active constituents include docosanol and B-sitosterol. Other major constituents include alkanols, fatty acids (62.3% comprising myristic, palmitic, linoleic, oleic, stearic, arachidic, behenic, and lignoceric acids), sterols, and triterpenes. The presence of the cyanogenic glycoside amygdalin has been documented in the bark, leaf and fruit of this species. Medical Uses: Treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (enlargement of the prostate), stages I and II (nocturia, polyuria and urinary retention), in cases where diagnosis of prostate cancer is negative. Bark preparations are used by the Zulu people to treat intercostal pains and elsewhere in Africa as a purgative and a remedy for stomach pains. In Europe, bark extracts are used in the treatment of BPH. Clinical data support its use for the relief of lower urinary tract symptoms of Stage 1 and 2 BPH (nocturia, polyuria and urinary. Pharmacology: Research studies have demonstrated that African prune stimulates the secretory activity of the prostate, has anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic tendencies and inhibits cell proliferation. Standardised bark extract (lipid/sterol fraction) has been in clinical use in Europe since 1969. There have been numerous studies aimed at establishing both efficacy and precise mode of action. The beneficial effects noted in patients suffering from BPH following treatment with standardised bark extract include significant reduction in frequency of urination and residual urine volume and an increase in voided volume and flow rate, as compared with placebo. A reduction in edema and inflammation as well as diminished histamine-induced vessel permeability has been demonstrated. These effects have been attributed to the presence of phytosterols (anti-inflammatory, anti- estrogen), pentacyclic triterpenes (anti-edema, immunostimulant) and ferulic acid esters (hypocholes- terolaemic).
Dosage forms: In traditional practice, bark infusions are taken orally. In Europe, the lipid/sterol fraction, usually obtained by extraction of the bark with chloroform or dichloromethane, is taken orally. Tadenan is one such preparation. For the treatment of BPH, 100-200mg of standardised extract/day in divided doses. Contraindications: Preparations of this species are contraindicated in cases of known allergy to members of Rosaceae, as well as during pregnancy, lactation and in children under the age of 12 years because of effects on androgen and oestrogen metabolism. Lipophilic bark extracts appear to be well tolerated in humans. A few cases of minor and transient gastrointestinal side effects e.g. diarrhoea, nausea and gastric pain have been reported and single cases of constipation, dizziness and visual disturbance. Precautions: A diagnosis of BPH is preferable before commencing treatment with standardised bark extract. Currently available evidence does not suggest carcinogenesis, mutagenesis or impairment of fertility associated with the use of Prunus africana. www.blackherbals.com
Effects of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guineense on Sexual Behaviour of Male Rats By Kamtchouing P, Mbongue GY, Dimo T, Watcho P, Jatsa HB, Sokeng SD.
Aframomum melegueta Abstract The effects of aqueous extracts of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guineense on the sexual behaviour of male rats were studied, considering many criteria, such as penile erection, copulatory behaviour and Continued on page 85
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Continued from page 84 Effects of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guineense on Sexual Behaviour of Male Rats orientation activities towards themselves (genital grooming) and female rats (ano-genital sniffing, mounting). For 8 days different groups of rats received a daily administration of distilled water (control) or a plant extract: A. melegueta at 115 mg/kg or P. guineense at 122.5 mg/kg. Both plant extracts stimulated male sexual behaviour. In fact, A. melegueta and P. guineense significantly increased penile erection index, and the frequencies of intromission and ejaculation. These plant extracts were found to enhance the orientation of males towards females by increasing mounting and ano-genital investigatory behaviour. Results of this study showed that A. melegueta and P. guineense modified the sexual behaviour of male rats by increasing sexual arousal. Source Laboratoire de Physiologie Animale, Facult des Sciences, Universit de Yaound I, Yaound, Cameroun. Behav Pharmacol. 2002 May;13(3):243-7. PMID: 12122315 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12122315
Pentagon opts not to intervene in Ban of Lesbian by Fort Bragg Spouses Club By Bill Briggs January 16, 2013 The Pentagon is endorsing a move by leaders at Fort Bragg to stay out of a decision made by its on-base spouses club to refuse membership to the lesbian spouse of a female Army lieutenant, a Department of Defense spokesman said Wednesday. The legal basis for the Pentagons stance is a department-wide instruction drafted in 2008, three years before the repeal of the militarys anti-gay Dont Ask Dont Tell policy, said Nathan Christensen, a spokesman for the Pentagon. That directive ensures that non-federal entities operating on U.S. military installations dont discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, age, disability, or national origin. There is no mention of discrimination based on sexual orientation. NBC News reported Dec. 14 that Ashley Broadway, the newlywed wife of Lt. Col. Heather Mack, was blocked from joining the spouses club at Fort Bragg, N.C., sparking accusations from a national military spouses organization that Broadway was being blackballed only because she is a lesbian. The Armys handling of that matter runs counter to a directive issued Jan. 9 by Marine Corps leaders who ordered that same-sex spouses be allowed to participate in spouses clubs at all Marine bases. This is no longer about me joining this officers club. This is about the Pentagon and the Department of Defense and the Department of Army telling the country that it is OK to discriminate against gay and lesbian service members and their families, Broadway told NBC News. This is not the end. Im not going to drop this. Im not going to sit back and take the discrimination when I know good and well the Pentagon and Secretary of Defense can sign rights today that would also authorize military IDs and extend housing (to the same-sex spouses of service members), she added. The decisions here at Fort Bragg, and in the Department of Army, have showed absolutely no gesture of: Hey, youre important and this is discrimination. If anything, theyve shown they absolutely dont care. Disappointed? Extremely. Frustrated? Extremely. Surprised? No. Broadway, meanwhile, has been nominated for the Fort Bragg Military Spouse of the Year award, a precursor to the Army Military Spouse of the Year award and perhaps, ultimately the 2013 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year award, which represents all branches. She is one of about 10 Bragg spouses nominated for the award from that base. Online voting for the base-level award takes place Jan. 22. Mack has received overwhelming support within her Army unit at Fort Bragg, Broadway said. The Pentagon's position on the Fort Bragg matter is legally viable despite the repeal of Dont Ask Dont Tell because, Christensen said, the Department of Defense still follows the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). That law defined marriage as the legal union of one man and one woman. Under DOMA, the federal government doesnt recognize same-sex marriages and doesnt offer same-sex military spouses some benefits given to heterosexual spouses. Asked if the Marine Corps recent directive banning the discrimination of same-sex spouses at its spouses clubs conflicts with the Pentagons stance, Christensen responded: The DOD policy has not changed. But Mary Reding, a California attorney and president of Continued on page 86
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Continued from page 84 Effects of Aframomum melegueta and Piper guineense on Sexual Behaviour of Male Rats Military Spouse JD Network the largest association of military spouse attorneys contends that the Pentagon's legal hair-splitting contradicts the spirit of Dont Ask Dont Tell. "While the Army's position is defensible based on outdated internal policies, Reding said, "the current climate and the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' would indicate a shift in acceptance that should be a catalyst for an immediate review of discriminatory practices in all policy areas." http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/16/16547738- pentagon-opts-not-to-intervene-in-ban-of-lesbian-by-fort- bragg-spouses-club?lite
Uganda will not tolerate Promotion of Homosexuality BY Pascal Kwesiga and Mary Karugaba December 17, 2012 President Yoweri Museveni has said that Uganda will not tolerate the promotion of homosexuality and warned pro-gay activists against such activities. "I have been telling these people (pro gay activists) that nobody will kill or prosecute them for being homosexual, but there should be no promotion of homosexuality," Museveni said Sunday at the installation of new Archbishop of Church of Uganda, Most. Rev. Stanley Ntagali, at the St. Paul's Cathedral, Namirembe in capital Kampala. Museveni said he recently met with the US ambassador to Uganda and told him that the country would not allow pro-homosexuality activists to continue with their promotional campaign of homosexuality. "I told him I have never held rallies to even promote heterosexual issues. The problem is promoting, you hear people holding conferences to promote homosexuality as if it's a good thing," the President added as the Christians inside and outside the church chanted 'Amen'. Museveni said he had explained to the American ambassador of the existing cultural clash between the people from the Western countries and Africa where sex is an issue that is not discussed in public. "I told him that I have been married to my wife for 39 years, but I have never kissed her in public and in my house before the children. If I did it I would lose elections and you know I am not about to accept that
idea of losing elections," the President added. Museveni caused laughter when he said that he hoped that European clergy in attendance were in support of the stance of the Anglican Church in Uganda against homosexuality. "I hope these (white bishops) are your partners in the struggle against homosexuality and I commend the church for the fight against this practice. There are some people who have been wasting our time," he said. The President said before the whites came into contact with Africans, there were two prominent kings and a chief who practiced homosexuality and no one was bothered about their sexuality because they didn't promote or encourage others to follow suit. "I knew of two kings and one chief who practiced homosexuality. They were not persecuted, discriminated or killed. The chief actually did very good work but homosexuality was not promoted. People would whisper and ignore, the issue now is promotion as if it's good, that we can't accept," Museveni said. He said he was worried about the current HIV/AIDs prevalence rate that has increased tremendously in Uganda that was a model country in the world when the prevalence rate went down considerably in the 1990's. Museveni observed that the drop in the HIV prevalence due to governments vigorous campaign promoting abstinence, faithfulness and condom use. Museveni noted that conflicting messages such as circumcision are to blame for the rising HIV prevalence. He urged the church leaders to embark on a campaign to guide the young people on how to avoid contracting the disease. http://www.newvision.co.ug/news/638184-uganda-will-not- tolerate-promotion-of-homosexuality.html
MALE REPRODUCTION It is fair to say that male reproduction is in trouble. From diseases of the reproduction system caused by gmos, radiation, chemicals, drugs, alcohol and tobacco, HIV/AIDS, venereal diseases, endocrine disruptors, too low or too high hormone levels causing cancer, erectile dysfunction, infertility and in some cases homosexuality. Its a wonder women can reproduce at all. Is reproduction using sex, a thing of the past? Will our babies be fertilized in test tubes carried by surrogates? What is the future of the human race? After all, presently Continued on page 87
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The BodyTemple Instiute of Wholistic and Herbal Studies http://thebodytemple.ning.com/
Continued from page 86 - Male Reproduction
it does take two people of the opposite sex to produce children. This is by design. Divine Design. I am not gay-bashing but we must be aware of the hows, the whats and the whys, this is happening. From a scientific point of view our gender line is being blurred. Environment chemicals, such as the chart of plastics above, can influence our sexuality. Estrogen-containing substances are changing the sex of animal species especially those that inhabit water. Can it not happen to us? Could environmental chemicals be changing the sex of boys and girls prenatally? Instead of looking for equality, why are we not looking for the real culprits? If this is a medical emergency, intervention is needed. Many of the drugs we take for common illnesses and conditions contain chemicals that disrupt the normal reaction of men causing erectile dysfunction. ED is so common that pills like Viagra are needed to behave like a man. Many of the pesticides and herbicides used in farming are causing prostate cancer. Many of our containers we use to preserve our food are causing reproductive problems in both men and women. Some forms of infertility can be overcome by a nutrit- ious diet and by the use of natural herbal products. Sexual reproductive glands need detoxing of environ- mental chemicals. Sometimes it is all that is needed. As Africa and other so-called third world countries accept more and more of the western culture these chemicals will occur more and more and the changes they induce will also occur more and more. Is this being done purposely? With regard to African culture, maybe Africans are not so backward as the West would have us to believe. Male circumcision is culturally motivated. In many cultures male circumcision is closely associated with the rite-of-passage to manhood. In South Africa the Xhosas view the foreskin as the feminine element of the penis, the removal of which, amongst other things, makes a man of the child. Circumcision is not the answer to HIV/AIDS. It has not decreased the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Uganda. In fact, the rate has increased. Lastly, we and the world are completely out of balance. We are seeing the aggressiveness of males all over the world. Men need to be reminded that they also had a mother and it is only through a woman that men even exist. The woman deserves respect. We need to balance our male and female energies, if we as humans are expected to survive. Blackherbals A Marcus Garvey Pan-African Universitys Community Site of Knowledge
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Herbs of the Month PRUNUS AFRICANUS BARK
Pygeum africanum Parts Used: Dried bark of the trunk of Prunus Africana Common Names: African plum tree, African prune, armaatet, bitteramandel, chati, inkhokhokho, iyangazoma-elimnyama, kiburabura, lemalan migambo, mueri, muiru, murugutu, muutimailu, mweria, mwiritsa, nuwehout, ol-koijuk, oromoti, red stinkwood, rooistinhout, tenduet, tendwet, twendet, umdumizulu, umkakase, umkhakhazi, umlalume. Traditional Uses: Aphrodisiac, bladder sphincter disorders, fever, impotence, inflammation, kidney disease, malaria, male baldness, partial bladder outlet obstruction, prostate cancer, prostatic adenoma, prostatitis, psychosis, sexual performance, stomach upset, urinary tract health. Geographical Distribution: Found in mountain forests of equatorial Africa including Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, South Africa, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Continued on page 84
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Mission Statement Our aim at The African Traditional Herbal Research Clinic is to propagate and promote the awareness in Afrikan peoples at home and abroad of their health, biodiversity, history and cultural richness. We gather pertinent information on these issues and disseminate these freely to our people in Uganda, the rest of the continent, and anywhere in the Diaspora where Afrikans are located. One of the main ingredients for increasing poverty, sickness, exploitation and domination is ignorance of one's self, and the environment in which we live. Knowledge is power and the forces that control our lives don't want to lose control, so they won't stop at anything to keep certain knowledge from the people. Therefore, we are expecting a fight and opposition to our mission. However, we will endeavor to carry forward this work in grace and perfect ways. Where there is no God, there is no culture. Where there is no culture, there is no indigenous knowledge. Where there is no indigenous knowledge, there is no history. Where there is no history, there is no science or technology. The existing nature is made