Senseless Violence-The Real Cause

We don’t know enough about brain chemistry to be fooling around with it. There is a hubris in Pharmaceutical-driven medicine that says humans are guinea pigs and it is okay to mess around with our natural chemistry to alter our behavior and mood. If every human being was exactly the same, this might work. But we are vastly different; in weight, gender, nutrition, genetics, age, psyche and habits. We are each different day to day, moment to moment, depending on whether we ate cake or chicken for lunch, how much sleep we had, where we are in our hormonal cycles, what time of the day it is, Whether our dog just died, or we just got a raise, or just listened to someone say “I love you”.
So, is it any wonder that some people will react violently when certain chemicals are given to alter their brain chemistry? Many psychotropic drugs are known to cause homicidal or suicidal reactions and some carry black box warnings by the FDA to this effect. But they are still prescribed.

Here is what an award winning investigative reporter wrote about the shootings in the Navy Yard.

Despite 22 international drug regulatory warnings on psychiatric drugs citing effects of mania, hostility, violence and even homicidal ideation, and dozens of high profile shootings/killings tied to psychiatric drug use, there has yet to be a federal investigation on the link between psychiatric drugs and acts of senseless violence.”

By Kelly Patricia O’Meara
September 18, 2013

It took less than 48 hours to learn that Washington Navy Yard shooter, Aaron Alexis, is another in a long line of psychiatric drug-induced perpetrators.

The New York Times has reported that while in Providence Rhode Island on August 23, 2013, and again, five days later, in Washington , D.C. , Alexis had been prescribed Trazodone, an antidepressant that carries an FDA black box warning for suicide, and is documented to cause mania and violent behavior.

Now, twelve innocent people (plus the shooter) are dead at the Washington Navy Yard.  Yes, these senseless deaths are sad, tragic, and incomprehensible. And it is time to point the finger at those who are responsible.

Because lawmakers, both at the state and federal level, refuse to address the enormous amount of information revealing theconnection between violence and prescription psychiatric drugs, mass shootings, like the massacre which occurred at the Washington Navy Yard, will continue.

Despite 22 international drug regulatory warnings on psychiatric drugs citing effects of mania, hostility, violence and even homicidal ideation, and dozens of high profile shootings/killings tied to psychiatric drug use, there has yet to be a federal investigation on the link between psychiatric drugs and acts of senseless violence.

Seriously, how many mass shootings have to occur by shooters with a psychiatric drug history before those who have the power to make a difference finally take the necessary action to protect the American people?

The list of shooters receiving psychiatric care and psychiatric drug use is long. In just a little over a year there have been three such mass shootings, including Aurora, Co., Newtown, Ct., and now the Washington Navy Yard, totaling 52 dead and 69 injured. In each case, as in dozens of other mass shootings, the common denominator is that the shooters were either receiving psychiatric care, taking mind altering psychiatric drugs or both.

Alleged Navy Yard shooter, Aaron Alexis, is reported to have been taking the antidepressant Trazodone.

While law enforcement fumbles around trying to figure out a motive, it may behoove them to look at  Alexis’ psychiatric history and, specifically, his complete psychiatric drug “treatment” record. This information is imperative and, yet, it is astounding that, more often than not, obtaining the psychiatric drug information of the shooters is withheld from the public for months and years.

A perfect example of this is the lawsuit that has been filed in Connecticut to force the state’s Medical Examiner to release the psychiatric history and psychiatric drug data regarding gunman, Adam Lanza.

The same difficulties occurred with Aurora, Co., shooter, James Holmes, who also was under psychiatric care, and although police recovered four prescription bottles from his apartment, they have yet to make public what psychiatric drugs Holmes had been prescribed.

People are dying needlessly. This information isn’t a state secret. The proverbial cat has been out of the bag for years about the connection between psychiatric drugs and violence.  Even the Food and Drug Administration, FDA, gets it, plastering Black Box Warnings on most of the psychiatric drugs because they are known to CAUSE violence.

Ironically, even the military has finally begun to address the over-prescription of psychiatric drugs because of the epidemic of military suicides. Unfortunately, a recent study, conducted for the Department of Defense, DoD, looked at dozens of factors that may contribute to the military suicides but, believe it or not, failed to even mention psychiatric drug use, which according to DoD’s own data, is increasing yearly.

These are not benign drugs. They alter the mind. The FDA’s MedWatch system reveals that between 2004-2011, there were 14,656 reports of psychiatric drugs causing violent side effects—1,415 cases of homicidal ideation/homicide, 3,287 cases of mania & 8,219 cases of aggression.  The FDA admits that less than 1% of all serious events are ever reported to it, so the actual number of side effects occurring are most certainly higher.

This isn’t guess work. It is documented. At least 31 school shootings and/or school-related acts of violence have been committed by those taking or withdrawing from psychiatric drugs, resulting in 162 wounded and 72 killed.

Mania, hostility, violence, suicidal ideation and even homicidal ideation are adverse effects of psychiatric drugs. Twenty-two international drug regulatory warnings have been issued for psychiatric drugs.

What part of these national and international warnings, the FDA’s Black Box Warnings and the lengthy list of shooters (including Alexis) with psychiatric drug use, don’t lawmakers understand? How many more innocent people have to die because lawmakers lacked the courage to explore the possibility of a connection between psychiatric drugs and violence?

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Kelly Patricia O’Meara is an award winning former investigative reporter for the Washington Times, Insight Magazine, penning dozens of articles exposing the fraud of psychiatric diagnosis and the dangers of the psychiatric drugs – including her ground-breaking 1999 cover story, Guns & Doses, exposing the link between psychiatric drugs and acts of senseless violence. She is also the author of the highly acclaimed book, Psyched Out: How Psychiatry Sells Mental Illness and Pushes Pills that Kill. Prior to working as an investigative journalist, O’Meara spent sixteen years on Capitol Hill as a congressional staffer to four Members of Congress. She holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Maryland .

Tin Cans and Ice- The Quest to Keep Food Fresh

I have been reading a book by one of my favorite nonfiction authors, Bill Bryson. He has some fascinating facts about the history of food. Did you know that canning of food was invented between 1810 and 1820? The first cans were made out of wrought iron. They had to be opened with a hammer and chisel, or a bayonet, if you happened to have one handy. By 1880, machines could mass produce about 1500 cans a day. But it was still dicey and dangerous to get the food out of the can to eat it. It was not until 1925 that a modern can opener was invented.
The first ice for food preservation was cut from frozen rivers in the mid 1840’s and transported by train or ship across great distances. The U.S. was shipping ice to England, until the Norwegians stepped into the game. Sawdust was used an insulator for the humongous chunks of ice, and only about 30% melted down along the way, once custom officials figured out how to classify 300 tons of dripping cargo. Americans embraced ice on a larger scale than Europeans and Manhattan alone consumed 1 million tons a year. Soon, refrigerated rail cars were carrying Maine lobster to Chicago and transporting meat and poultry from the heartland coast to coast. Small local farms started disappearing and agriculture started to become big business.

Today you could probably buy food from abroad any day and never eat from your native land. But should you? In the 1800’s there was no way to measure the nutrients in food. While meats may travel well, vegetables and fruits have to be picked before ripe to be transported great distances. The hardy strains are bred for toughness, not flavor or nutrient value.

So, eat local as much as you can when it comes to fresh food. Talk to the growers who bring their wares to Farmer’s Markets. They can teach you the secrets to choosing the freshest and most flavorful produce. You can squeeze and sniff live food that will reward your taste buds. I don’t think it is possible to be healthy eating out all the time. If you cannot cook, take lessons, pay someone to cook for you, or eat raw. But you have to eat freshly prepared food or pay the price with your health. Restaurant food is not high enough quality these days. Too many microwave ovens and cheap substitutes. Fall is a great time for the Farmer’s Market. You can enjoy the harvest and unwind from your week listening to live music and sampling a variety of ethnic foods and rare treats. Raw milk is available at the Hollywood market. At all the markets you can dip into some amazing olive oils. Buy some and make a homemade dressing. You will never accept bottled dressing again.

My favorite recipe for salad dressing is 1/2 olive oil, 1/3 cup vinegar (balsamic, reduced balsamic, white balsamic or apple cider vinegar) 1/2 tsp of your favorite mustard, 1/4 tsp sea salt. Shake well in a jar. Add crushed garlic, rosemary, chili pepper flakes or any other seasoning you like. You can use fresh lemon juice instead of vinegar for a change. Enjoy!

How To Prevent a Broken Heart

Whenever I speak to a patient about a heart issue, I approach it very gently, because I know what a scary subject heart disease is. We have all known someone who had a “sudden” stroke or heart attack, with terrible consequences. Bur heart disease is fairly preventable, if you know how to take care of your heart. There are a few factors, so I will mention one here and address others in future blogs. This year I have seen more flu, colds and bronchial illness than ever before in many years of practice. My colleagues report similar findings. One explanation may be that we have been affected by the radiation from Japan, and that has weakened our immune systems. Regardless of the source, I am seeing a lot of immune challenges. How does this affect your heart? The lining of the arteries is a protection, but inflammation can disrupt the lining and allow virus’s or bacteria to enter and attack the wall of the artery. This weakens or further inflames the wall and it may cause a breach, or blockage. If the blockage prevents blood from reaching the heart, that is a heart attack. The answer is not to take antibiotics. In fact, overuse of antibiotics may be part of the problem. While antibiotics are sometimes life-saving, if overused, they kill off the healthy gut organisms which protect our intestines from harmful bugs, fungus and bacteria. When there is an overgrowth of unhealthy flora in the intestine, not only is our digestion affected, but the intestine is the gateway to the blood. Once in the blood, pathogens are pirates seeking plunder in the most vulnerable areas and our defenses are compromised. You need a strong army of white blood cells to attack and eliminate the invaders. The lymphocytes and phagocytes actually engulf and destroy harmful organisms found in the blood. But they have to be supported to be able to do their job effectively. There are many things you can do to promote a strong and responsive immune system. Limit sugar and wheat products, which cause inflammation, spike and then crash your blood sugar, and feed the bad bugs. Eat organically and use unscented and natural household products to lower your exposure to chemical toxins. Eat naturally fermented products like sauerkraut, kefir and kombucha, Take immune enhancing supplements such as Echinacea, whole food complex C, and calcium lactate. Apple cider vinegar helps maintain stomach ph and is an old country remedy. Iodine, liquid or as kelp supplements, is good for the immune system and vital for thyroid function, as well as cancer preventive. You can take immune supplements every day, to help your body ward off exposure to pathogens, and to enhance the protection to your heart lining. Congaplex, Immuplex, and Thymex are all good choices. These supplements activate your own immune system. Don’t wait until you are coming down with something or there is a mini-epidemic at your office before getting on immune support. And no heart attack or stroke is sudden. It takes a long time for the body’s defenses to break down. It is just the there were not enough warning signs and there is almost no true prevention in the medical model. You have to be smarter and learn for yourself how to give your heart the love it deserves. From my heart to yours.

Joint Pain Relief-Find the Source

Here is a Success Story from one of my patients who has his own handyman company and is very physically active.
My right knee was hurting for almost a week. Dr. Dunev tested the knee, did her “magic” and no more pain! Thank you! A.H.

I did not touch his knee. The “magic” I did was locate the actual source of the inflammation in the knee joint. In this case it was the gall bladder/bile duct. The bile duct is the avenue that carries toxins from the liver to the intestine. The gall bladder is a little sack that attaches to the duct and catches some of the bile and stores it. When you eat fats such as avocado, butter or oil the gall bladder releases some bile, which also acts as a detergent and emulsifies (breaks down) and disperses  fat so that it can be absorbed along with other nutrients to protect cells and help brain function. The brain is the only organ that is about 80% fat and healthy  dietary fats and a well-functioning gall bladder help keep the brain operating  well.

If the gall bladder is so important, why do surgeons remove them so often? There are two reasons. They have no other solution when stones form in the gall bladder and people can live without their gall bladder, just as they can live without an appendix.

That does not mean that the gall bladder is not important-it just means you won’t die if it is removed.

If you have gall stones, seek a holistic doctor and find out how easy it is to get the body to purge stones. Even large gall stones are made from cholesterol and are  soft enough that they usually pass easily through the bile duct and out the intestine when a gall bladder program is followed.

Many odd symptoms and pains in the body can be relieved when the gall bladder and bile duct are not congested and partially blocked.  Migraine headaches and acne are often dramatically improved, also.

One way to love your liver (vital for detoxification) is to take good care of your gall bladder.  Avoid phoney fats like margarine and corn oil and eat organic butter, virgin coconut oil and raw nut oils.  90% of the fat in steak is the same kind of fat that is in olive oil!  The gall bladder needs good fats to keep the bile flowing so stones do not form. Good fats are a friend to the body and will also help cut sugar and bread cravings.

Eat healthy fats because they taste delicious- and they happen to be healthy! Nature equals nurture.