February 2011

www.niim.com.au

Dear NIIM Members & Supporters,

Happy New Year and welcome to the first issue of the NIIM E-News for 2011

Our new year at NIIM is well underway. We are filled with enthusiasm about our projects for the year ahead and look forward to your involvement and continued support! As the forces of Mother Nature have ushered in a tumultuous beginning to this year, our thoughts are with the people of Queensland and northern NSW who have had to endure such difficult circumstances first by flooding and then the devastating cyclone. They have lost lives, businesses and their homes - and need our help. If you would like to assist, please see: http://www.qld.gov.au/floods/donate.html

NEWS FROM NIIM

The EXECUTIVE INTEGRATIVE HEALTH CHECK (EIH) - Updates…. Things are building for the Executive Integrative Health check (EIH) in 2011. We successfully launched the program in late 2010, and with 21 participants so far, the feedback has been very positive! People are discovering new things about their health and effective ways to improve their overall health using NIIM’s integrative approach. Some recent additions to the program include more comprehensive pathology testing; i.e. hormonal profile, levels for Vit B12, red cell folate, fibrinogen, cortisol, lipoprotein (a), plus an abdominal ultrasound. Next month each participant of the program will be receiving a digital copy of their results on a CD (along with a full written report), plus a video from Professor Sali on the key principles of Integrative Health. We are also launching an automated reporting system for our EIH practitioners to further streamline the management of our Health check reports. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for some very exciting stress management tools to be included in the program –

coming soon! For more information, please contact

Program Manager: Robert Bujnowski - robertb@niim.com.au

UPCOMING WORKSHOP SATURDAY 26th MARCH: ‘Meditation Plus’ with Miyuki Yamamoto. This unique program has been developed to help connect you with mind-body-spirit, creating a balance life and sense of harmony, hope and peace. Suitable for patients undergoing treatments or any of us seeking to restore balance and wellness to our lives. Miyuki is an experienced Nurse, Educator and conducts workshops in Japan, USA and Australia. Don’t miss this opportunity learn some essential life-long skills to maintain your health and wellbeing. For Bookings: See www.niim.com.au or Email Miyuki: miyuki@global-echo. net OR contact Anna Ryan at NIIM - (03) 9804-0646

Now available for purchase: A Guide to Evidence-based Integrative & Complementary Medicine A new book co-authored by Professor Avni Sali, with Dr Vicki Kotsirilos & A/Prof Luis Vitetta This excellent book is packed with great information for treating conditions from an evidence based integrative medicine perspective. The book covers non-pharmacologic treatments for common medical practice problems, with the support of current scientific evidence. Approaches include advice for lifestyle and behavioural factors, mind-body medicine, stress management, dietary changes, exercise and sleep advice, nutritional and herbal medicine, acupuncture and complementary medicines that may impact on the treatment of the disease(s). It is an excellent resource for all Practitioners and general public with an interest in keeping up with the latest in Integrative Medicine.

To order your copy: see publishers Elsevier: www.shop.elsevier.com.au

NIIM would like to acknowledge the generous sponsors and supporters who enable the work of NIIM to continue…. Adam Garrison Biological Therapies Best Practice Software Grant Moffitt Graham Candy Microhire Michael Drapac Nature’s Cuppa Organic Teas Peter Vial Rowland Pinder PR SWISSE Vitamins PL Stannards Accountants Sharon Kepper The Copulos Foundation The Kantor Family The Fried Family The Spotlight Foundation The Zervas Family The Bagot Gjergja Foundation Village Roadshow

Upcoming EVENT at NIIM::

The NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE invites you to join us

for the first in a series of FREE LECTURES for 2011.

Date: WEDNESDAY 13th

APRIL Time: 7pm – 8.30pm Venue: National Institute Integrative Medicine, 759 Burwood Road, Hawthorn East

LECTURE TOPICS:

‘GARLIC, CHOCOLATE, TOMATOES –GOOD FOR BLOOD PRESSURE OR CHOLESTEROL?’ Dr Ried will present findings from her extensive research in these fields.

Dr Karin Ried, PhD, MSc, GDPH, Cert Integrative Medicine, is Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide with over 15 years experience in medical and primary health research. Her research interests are in complementary and integrative nutritional medicine. Her current research focuses on nutraceuticals and functional foods for cardiovascular health, in particular blood pressure and cholesterol.

‘LATEST ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE’ Presented by NIIM Director: Professor Avni Sali [MBBS, PhD, FRACS, FACS, FACNEM]

Professor Sali will give a general presentation on the Latest Advances in Integrative Medicine, highlighting common medical conditions and the best integrative medicine approaches and treatments.

DON’T MISS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THESE EXPERT SPEAKERS, AT THIS FREE EVENING.

Limited places – BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL, please contact: Anna Ryan on (03) 9804-0646 or E: annaryan@niim.com.au

Professor Avni Sali’s - Happy Page -

outlines four simple things we can all do each day to

boost our overall mood, feel positive and

improve our wweellllbbeeiinngg! Encourage your friends and colleagues to adapt these

four simple and enjoyable ways for positive changes…

see attached pdf … Print it to display at your home & workplace!!

Education at NIIM At National Institute of Integrative Medicine, we are continuing to adhere to our mandate of expanding Integrative Medicine into the mainstream medical model. One way we hope to achieve this is through the delivery of education. We are excited about our new COMPLEMENTARY

MEDICINE AND HEALTH (CMH) SHORT COURSE - soon to be launched. The CMH short course has been created by leading experts in integrative medicine and will be delivered via a cutting-edge online platform that incorporates video and text material, as well as online assessments and lecturers available for academic support.

The course will appeal to a wide range of healthcare professionals and well as other people working in the healthcare environment (including pharmacy assistants and pharmacists, health store sales assistants, hospital and medical administration staff), as well as the general public, with an opportunity to increase their understanding of the benefits and science of the various modalities of complementary medicine. For further information please see: Web: www.niim.com.au Email: study@niim.com.au

DONATE TO NIIM

If you would like to be a SPONOSOR or SUPPORTER OF NIIM – we would love to hear from you! Please contact Business Manager: Steve Bunce sbunce@niim.com.au THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE IS A DGR (DEDUCTIBLE GIFT

RECIPIENT) ENDORSED CHARITABLE ORGANISATION.

The NIIM CLINIC

The NIIM Clinic is well placed as one of Australia’s few truly ‘integrated healthcare clinics’, to meet this demand by the public. With specialist practitioners offering a range of services including: Integrative GP’s; Osteopathy; Traditional Chinese Medicine; Naturopathy; Exercise Physiology. Our Clinic also offers cutting edge screening, diagnostic and treatment options.

To make an appointment, contact one of our friendly reception staff: Julie, Deborah or Amanda on (03) 9804-0646

LATEST RESEARCH, NEWS & PIECES OF INTEREST (click on link to access full article…..)

Patients will be able to compare the performance of hospitals across the country from 10 Dec, as the government’s much-anticipated ‘MyHospitals’ website goes live: See http://www.myhospitals.gov.au

ADHD

Try diet before drugs for ADHD LINK

ALZHEIMERS Green Tea and Alzheimer's - Intriguing new findings from England suggest that the compounds responsible for the health protective properties of green tea become even more effective against triggers of Alzheimer's disease once the tea is digested. LINK

CANCER: Selenium may reduce risk of bladder Cancer, LINK

Can eating burnt toast give you cancer? LINK

Rare cancer linked to breast implants LINK

Could Raspberries Help to Fight Off Cancer? LINK

Resveratrol inhibits pancreatic cancer stem cell properties. LINK

Does Light at Night Raise Breast Cancer Risk? LINK

Dog sniffs out prostate cancer, LINK

EARS Device may silence ringing in the ears, LINK For decades antibiotics have been the choice of prescription when treating otitis media, or middle ear infection. But recent research has suggested that this might not always be the best way to proceed. Professor Jerome Klein of Paediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine sheds some light on what's changed. LINK

EYES

Omega 3 may protect against blindness, LINK

EXERCISE: Physical fitness prevents seasonal flu infections far better than vaccines. LINK

HAIR A white forelock usually signifies poliosis, LINK

A personal experience with ‘Live Blood Analysis’ With a surprisingly painless finger prick, a few tiny drops of my blood are pressed onto a glass slide (look away, fainters, look away!). My technician, a NIIM Biomedical Scientist, has explained to me the process of looking at my blood under the powerful microscope, magnified 135,000 times, and how she will use a dark field microscopy technique to bring up my blood cells on the plasma screen. However, I have forgotten most of this within 30 seconds as I am gripped with the feeling that she will look at my blood, gasp in horror and proceed to tell me I have 10 days to live. So, as I sit, nervously regretting the amount of junk food I consumed as a teenager, an image appears on the screen. It should be noted, for those of you uncomfortable with blood, that magnified at this level, your blood really doesn’t resemble anything remotely blood-like at all. Instead, some large, pale circles drift gently around the screen, in ones and twos, varying in brightness. She tells me it looks pretty good, mostly healthy. Although I have some nutritional deficiencies and some of my cell walls are not very solid. Although it turns out I have plenty of white blood cells – hooray! – they are somewhat lazy and not moving around a whole lot, meaning my immune system could be better. How do I get my white blood cells to move around more? I ask her, wondering how I can affect my health at a cellular level. The unexpected answer is to laugh, meditate, relax and be happy, apparently they really like that. I silently resolve to watch a comedy movie a week and schedule more coffee catch ups with friends. As I have no particularly unusual features in my blood, such as crystals or protein linkages, we move on to the clot retraction test. My vitamin C levels are quite good, but I’m stressed, she tells me. I laugh and try on the old “Of course I’m stressed, I work full time, look after the house, have lots of commitments, etc etc...” But she does not let me off so easily, gently explaining to me that I can’t genuinely improve my health now, and for disease prevention later in life, without rectifying this stress issue. And with her giant microscope and unflinching eye contact, I really, really believe her. Following a few more interesting bits and pieces, I leave feeling quite inspired. Usually, I can’t understand the effects of my unbalanced lifestyle so clearly, barring some darkness under my eyes and a burning desire to nap all day, but now I feel like I can’t avoid taking responsibility. I’m excited to return in a year and see the results of the changes I have made. NIIM Patient (LIVE BLOOD ANALYSIS is available at the NIIM Clinic: 03 9804-0646)

Thank you to

Nature’s Cuppa

Organic teas for

supplying NIIM

with all our favourite

Organic Herbal Teas!

NATURE’S CUPPA

OFFICIAL

SUPPLIERS

OF TEA & COFFEE

TO NIIM

w w w . n a t u r e s c u p p a . c o m

FERTILITY / CONCEPTION Women are turning to naturopaths and Chinese medicine practitioners for preconception care because they don’t think this is the GP’s role or because they think their family doctor is too busy, new research suggests. LINK

GUT / GASTROENTEROLOGY Scientists unravel probiotics gut defence. LINK

HEART HEALTH: Fish oil mechanism for preventing AF Fish oil supplements have anti-fibrillatory effects by reversing the structural or cellular-level abnormalities that occur in response to persistent atrial arrhythmias a study by cardiologists at the Royal Melbourne Hospital published in Heart Rhythm

suggests. Link

Research finds higher resting heart rate can point to increased likelihood of heart disease in women too. LINK

Added Sugar Intake in US Adolescents Linked to Cardiovascular Risk. LINK

LOL! Laugh out loud Laughter really is the best medicine. Just 15 minutes of laughter is about equivalent to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise with respect to our cardiovascular health. Laughter has also been linked to the healthy function of blood vessels, an increase of the brain hormones that improve mood, and reduction of pain and anxiety. LINK

PAEDIATRIC Probiotics may protect against respiratory illness in infants. LINK

Babies' brains damaged by mothballs. LINK

SKIN Hot topic: nanoparticles, LINK

Garlic for Athlete’s Foot, LINK

TEETH Fixodent denture cream can cause nerve damage, says report, LINK

VITAMIN D

Vitamin D fights urinary tract infections. LINK

Sun exposure and vitamin D lower MS risk. LINK

MISC:

Industry-sponsored trials not transparent enough: Experts have called on greater transparency in systematic reviews of drug-sponsored clinical trials to ensure the integrity of claims made about the efficacy of medications. Link

End to sleep nightmare in sight as heat drags on. LINK

Cholesterol falling in Australia, but we’re fatter than ever. LINK

Nobel Prize Winner Luc Montagnier Supports Science of Homeopathy. LINK

Cannabis and psychosis link confirmed. LINK

55 GGrreeaatt rreeaassoonnss ttoo ssttaarrtt ddrriinnkkiinngg GGrreeeenn TTeeaa ddaaiillyy …… Looking for a simple resolution to improve your overall health? Start drinking green tea. Green tea is a potent source of catechins - healthy antioxidants that can inhibit cancer cell activity and help boost immunity. Need more reasons to drink green tea? It can also:

Lower cholesterol levels and rates of heart disease

Help protect against bacterial infections

Promote joint health and stronger bones

Reduce inflammation

Enhance the effects of antibiotics, even against drug-resistance bacteria and ‘superbugs’

Green tea is available in a wide range of varieties - introduce yourself by substituting a cup of

green tea for a cup of coffee and you will soon be enjoying the health benefits of this delicious beverage! Learn to appreciate the subtle fragrance of good-quality green tea and use tea time to unwind, meditate and take respite from your stress du jour. LINK

Super Foods: POMEGRANATES The pomegranate is an extraordinary fruit, steeped in history: the number of seeds (roughly

613) found in a single fruit were said by ancient scholars to correspond to the 613 commandments of the Hebrew Torah (Source:

www.drweil.com)

Many studies1 have found enormous health benefits of the

Pomegranate fruit which include benefits for: heart disease, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, prostate cancer and

Alzheimer's disease. Pomegranates contain a vast array of Vitamins: C, B5, Beta Carotene, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, folic acid, and vitamin E. As well as Minerals including potassium, an indispensable mineral and electrolyte, they also contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, selenium and contain Polyphenol and Fibre. They are a super – antioxidant fruit! Note also that other deep-coloured fruits such as cherries, blueberries and raspberries, and deep-coloured vegetables, all offer similar benefits. (see studies at:

http://www.wonderfulpomegranateresearch.com/studies)

EEEVVVEEENNNTTTSSS CCCAAALLLEEENNNDDDAAARRR:::

NIIM is an endorsing organisation for this unique international event you won't want to miss!

Nutrition in Medicine Conference Introducing the International Conference on the Science of Nutrition in Medicine and Healthcare, presented jointly by

The Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine (ACNEM), the Food and Nutritional Sciences Division of the CSIRO and the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA).

Location: Swiss Grand Hotel and Resort, Bondi Beach, Sydney. Date: 13‐15 May 2011. Themes: Epigenetics & Nutrigenomics; Metal Health; Metabolic & Cardiovascular Conditions; Cancer; Scientific Abstracts Stream. Who Should Attend: GPs & Medical Specialists; Nurses; Scientists & Researchers; Naturopaths; Dieticians; Nutritionists; Psychologists; Other health professionals and Public health professionals. Call for Abstracts: closes 15 March.

Don’t miss the first early bird 15 March, second early bird 15 April.

For Brochure: http://www.nutritionmedicine.org.au/Nutrition_in_Medicine_Brochure.pdf

For Website: http://www.nutritionmedicine.org.au

CHAKRA HEALING With Yoga Bhishmacharya

SRI BALA RATNAM

At the workshop you will learn the ancient secret to good health and longevity:

Breathe deeply, slowly and rhythmically in different ratios to regenerate and rejuvenate.

Chant AUM to feel its vibrational resonance relax both body and mind

Meditate at the Heart Centre to experience inner peace and emotional healing.

IT HAS TO BE EXPERIENCED, TO REALISE ITS HEALING POTENTIAL! Saturday FEBRUARY 19, 5 – 7 pm

AUGUSTINE CENTRE, 2 MINONA STREET, EAST HAWTHORN

Donation: $20 Inquiries/Registration:

9545 0545/sribala@vbt.com.au

The National Institute of Integrative Medicine is an Endorsing Body for the Happiness & Its Causes Conference 16-17 June 2011, Special guests include His Holiness the Dalai Lama. At the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The conference program, full list of speakers and brochure are available on www.happinessanditscauses.com.au

NATIONAL INSTITUTE

OF INTEGRATIVE

MEDICINE

759 Burwood Road,

Hawthorn East,

Melbourne, Victoria

3123 AUSTRALIA ABN 15 09 5 139 20 9

T 61-3-9804 0646 info@niim.com.au www.niim.com.au THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE IS A DGR (DEDUCTIBLE GIFT

RECIPIENT) ENDORSED CHARITABLE ORGANISATION.

WORLD WELLNESS PROJECT SUMMIT Thursday, 24 February, 2011 12:00 PM – Saturday, 26 February, 2011 5:00pm Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre The 2011 WWP Summit is a gathering of wellness leaders, bringing together over 40 speakers and industry experts from across the globe. You will be inspired by those who are creating wellness in all endeavours, increasing quality of life and business productivity while preserving the planet. This amazing program will nourish your mind, body and spirit equipping you with the tools and techniques to build your “Wellth”. This Summit is for anyone that wants to learn about the leading health, wellbeing and sustainability research, advancements and opportunities.

www.worldwellnessproject.com

WEBSITES OF INTEREST: Alliance for Natural Health International USA - http://www.anh-usa.org Europe - http://www.anh-europe.org/

VIDEOS TO WATCH: Have a laugh watching this piece with Ronnie Corbett and Harry Enfield “My Blackberry’s not working” http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/01/21/my-blackberry-is-not-working.aspx

Fluoride is a Poison -- Says Top Researcher on Australian TV, LINK

Thank you for supporting NIIM and helping us achieve our goals.

Yours in Good Health!

Anna Ryan & the team at NIIM

Please feel free to email me at NIIM: annaryan@niim.com.au

(If You Do Not Wish To Receive This Newsletter Please Advise Us At The Above Email

NIIM © Property of NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

NAT IONAL INST I TUTE O F INTEG RAT IVE MED ICINE

759 B ur wood R oad, Hawthorn Eas t , Me lbour ne, V ic tor ia 3123 AUSTRAL IA A B N 1 5 0 9 5 1 3 9 2 0 9

T 61-3-9804 0646 info@niim.com.au www.niim.com.au