Show VP HQ vppHPVPWVPw f t s I i i t i ' : Opinion 12 Crossword 13 i i The Herald Journal Logan Utah Tuesday July 7 1998 f Maintain Skepticism with regard to herbs i When you hear of a I wonder drug you have to wonder ' PhD Bv Ed Blonz a DEAR DR BLONZ: Would you please jive me some information on Cat's Claw? According to the informs tion I have it is good lor cancer heart disease arthritis gastrointestinal upsets ulcers allergies PMS AIDS heroes CFS lupus diabetes fibromyalgia rheumatism depression and more Is this true? It seems like a wonder drug I know people who take this drug Is it healthful? — GA Loyal Wis DEAR CA: That is quite an impressive list It makes Cat's Claw a vine that grows in the tropics appear like a definite wooder drug From my standpoint however I “wonder" about the nature of the evidence that backs up all those claims Cat's Claw also called una de gate does indeed have a long folkkxic use and there are a number of alkaknd compounds in the herb that show some promise There is very preliminary evidence for example that one compound might protect against damage to DNA (the cell's genetic material) Other reports talk about a potential for stimulating the immune system adding dat Cat's Claw may have some usefulness with AZT a treatment for AIDS The operative word here is "may": The reports are too preliminary to know whether these claims will pan but Another important issue is quality control When you get a bottle that says “Cat's Claw" on the label there is no way of knowing what's inside There is link regulation regarding the standardization of potency with respect to herbal preparations With Cat’s Claw for example the amount of the compounds under study show great seasonal variation In my opinion foe bottom line on this herb is that it’s a bit of a guessing game In Cat's Claw's favor though I didn't find much to indicate a great potential for hazard I only wish there were funding to find out more about it There are untold wonders awaiting us as we discover the actions of the chemicals nature has put in plants I The flip side is that there can be dangers as well It always helps though to remember that most of today's wooder drugs are based on compounds that exist in nature DEAR DR BLONZ: In an earlier column you extolled the virtues of peanuts I wanted to point out that over 1 million people are deathly allergic to peanuts — even the dust of peanuts can produce a fatal anaphylactic reaction For those of us who have such a serious allergy or who have children so afflicted life is a daily struggle to find wholesome peanut-fre- e foods that will not endanger our lives After going on about the benefits of peanuts you owe it to your readers and to the public to include this warning in your column It could literally save lives — MM Los Angeles DEAR MM: Thank you for your letter Peanuts are indeed among the most of foods and allergenic (allergy-causinalong with eggs milk and soy can be responsible for serious food allergies — especially in children In general between 2 percent and 8 percent of children display allergies to certain foods In adults this number drops to about 2 percent It is estimated that about 1J percent of the general population is allergic to peanuts Unfortunately children often do not outgrow their allergies to peanuts as they do with other foods Allergic reactions to peanuts can cause hives throat swelling vomiting and even as y ju point out anaphylactic shock which severely hinders breathing andean lead to death Send questions to: “On Nutrition’ Ed Blonz do Newspaper Enterprise Association 200 Madison Ave New York NY 10016 For address inquiries to: edbkmzxom Due to the volume of mail personal replies cannot be provided g) ail Ed Blonz PMX is tw author of fw "Your Personal NuMOonisr book sarias (Signal 1996) Copyright 99S Newspaper ?: By JoLyrme J Lyon features writer ll w t Y T hen Susan Obray got married four years ago the future was looking bright Cancer had claimed the life of her former husband but after five yean alone she had started a new life with Courtney They expected a long honeymoon since the children were nearly all grown But soon after the wedding Obray was getting hints that her life’s biggest hurdle was still ahead It started with cramps in her left leg later she began to drag her foot when die walked She dealt with the symptoms for two years ' t S CJ! (' f - " Tha Northern Utah AL8 Support Group la looking for vokn- in Roy local volunteers could ho(p bare In Cacha County with a number of duties inducing fundraising In addition Tha ALS Association la sponsoring a Tima lor a Cum campaign along wHh Maurica Lacroix a Swiss watch company Tha campaign wU raisa funds to bandit MSA'S national research program and the pstisnt services w: of local afflatus : Vi Tlcfcsts are being sold at a suggested $5 donation the holder of the winning ticket will receive a trip for two to Switzerland The contest ends July 31 To buy a ticket make a donation or find out more about 8 v volunteering cal Susan Obray at & tears Though fha group meets :j 752-311- Try to keep children from eating flowers By Dr Lewis Nelson New York University School of Medicine For AP Special Features Your small child has just discovered the joys of running through the grass watching butterflies and smelling fragrant flowers But rather quickly foal carefree outdoor romp raises concern as your toddler starts putting buttercups and wild berries into his mouth The good news is that eating small amounts of the plants and flowers found in most gardens does not pose a significant health problem for children even though a large number contain irritants and toxins Often children who have eaten outdoor plants show no signs of discomfort Either they ate a part of foe plant that wasn't toxic like the stem instead of the bulb or they ate a tiny amount But many plants including azaleas English and Japanese yew wild berries pokeweed and lily of foe valley can cause vomiting and others like pepper bushes can make a child's mouth bum If your child ingested a plant and you have cause for concern call your local poison control center immediately Each state has regional poison centers that can be located by dialing for information If you can identify the plant your child has eaten toxicologists at the poison center will be in a better position to treat foe problem and tell you what to expect Call 911 immediately if your child is having seizures or trouble breathing which are both uncommon In 1996 poisoa centers around the country reported 79362 cases in which children uAt the See POISON on Page 23 underwent tests and heard some frightening speculation It might have been a brain tumor or multiple sclerosis she was told Then she learned that she had amyotrophic lateral sclerous or Lou Gehrig's disease Obray found herself wishing that it had been multiple sclerosis after all Then at least she would have more time The life expectancy of people suffering from ALS is two to five years from a disease that has no known cause cure or treatment It attacks the nerves which move the muscles causing paralysis Eventually it paralyzes the muscles used for breathing and swallowing and the patient dies It's a bleak prognosis said Obray 31 though shetauld geyucky and die from a heart Meanwhikshe lobbied Utah lawmakers in May in Washington DC to do something for future sufferers of the disease Families of ALS patients can spend up to 5200000 a year on medical care exhausting their savings As it stands now they are not eligible for Medicare until after a waiting period — die entire life expectancy of some patients Obray and some professionals from foe Northern Utah ALS Support Group asked Utah representatives and congressmen to sponsor a bill that would waive the waiting period for ALS patients The bill would also authorize $24 million to go to research on ALS though Congress would still have to go through the appropriation process before the money would go to foe National Institutes of Health The bill will probably not be passed in her th Susan Obray has Lou Gehrig's disease But she's not going to take it lying down lifetime Obray said but it will help future ALS patients As for lobbying Congress it was a frightening experience “I was petrified because it is such an emotional thing for me to talk about” she said But she agreed to go Obray was the only patient from Utah to attend the lobbying day set up by the ALS Association As it turned out meeting with US Representatives Merrill Cook Chris Canaan and Jim Hansen was a positive experiencqCShe also met with Sen Bob Bennett's aideO rhey treated her well and made it easier to tell hlr story T Obray said Both Cook and Bennett have agreed to cosponsor the bill according to Cocupe Humphrey Cook's legislative director Though ALS is rare Obray is not alone The disease strikes about as many people as does multiple sclerosis An estimated 300000 people living today in the United States will die from ALS Through her support group Obray knows of three people other than herself who air living in Cache Valley with foe disease The chances are that Susan will live longer than five yean after contracting the disease but it has already changed every aspect of her life See OBRAY on Page 20 Be open with teens about sex Dr Stephen R Gushin New York University School of Merfidne For AP Special Features In a recent survey conducted by the Center for Disease Control more than 30 percent of students in grades nine through 12 reported having had sexual intercourse Yet only 34 percent of those who were sexually active used condoms leaving foe rest vulnerable to pregnan- cy sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS These statistics highlight the need for parents to help their children navigate the treacherous waters of teen-ag-e sexuality Ideally parents should begin answering questions about sex as they arise in a manner appropriate for the child’s age Preschoolers are often curious about the differences in anatomy between boys and girls or bow babies come cut of a mother’s belly If parents enable children to ask questions about their bodies then children accumulate knowl- edge at a comfortable pace This sets foe stage for future discussions concerning foe more intimate physical and emotional details of nal relations Even with the best foundation in communication discussing sex can be difficult for both teens and par- ents Young teens whose bodies and relationships with peers are rapidly changing may feel too embaimsed to speak about what is happening to them Some parents feel anxious using anatomical lan guage or discussing sexuality in general Parents who are honest about their own discomfort put both themselves and their children at ease making it less awkward to talk about sensitive issues The sexual-ize- d images and messages commonly portrayed in movies television shows books magazines and songs can also help parents' facilitate conversations about sexuality Generally it is easier for children to have conversations about sex with a parent of foe same gender Single parents with a child of opposite gender need to gauge their child's comfort level When it is dear that a teen needs to speak with someone of the same gender a single parent can ask a dose relative or friend to step in To avoid confusing teens pwents and their substitutes need to discuss their perspectives about sexuality in advance and agree on foe message to be communicated By the time most children enter their early teens they understand how one becomes pregnant but are less certain about how to prevent pregnancy and foe spread of sexually transmitted diseases Some par- ents worry that discussing contraception or the use of condoms to protect against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases will condone sexual behavior and condone their teens to become sexually active The level of sexual activity teens engage in however is influenced by a compli cated mix of curiosity maturity peer pressure and a self-estee- m level of alcohol and drug use In fact talking about contraception can be a golden opportunity for parents to learn what their teens think about sex and foe role it plays in their lives This information is especially important for parcn‘s who want their teens to abstain from sex Discussions about absti- nence will be more meaningful when parents try to understand how their children perceive themselves if they feel pressured by their peers to have sex and if they can be assertive enough to say no Talking about contraception is also a chance for parents to highlight the responsibility that accom- panies sexual activity as well as distinguish between foe physical act of sex and its accompanying emotional components Discussing the mechanics of sex is easy compared to clarifying the feelings that are involved Teens need to be aware that the most satisfying relationships are based on trust mutual respect and genuine intimacy Moreover such relationships are not easily achieved and require time to develop One of foe most powerful teaching tools parents have is their own relationships Children will learn to be tender compassionate and respectful of their partners when they see their parents model these behaviors Wednesday Focus: Tech ed breakthrough Features: POOR COPY 4 - rivm 752-212- 1 — nmn |