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From our inbox to you: From Lynne Mctaggart on: Medical profession and the Thyroid Gland

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ANOTHER MEDICAL WITCHHUNT

BYLynne Mctaggart

One of the greatest and most far-reaching scandals of modern medicine has to do with the appalling ignorance of doctors about the workings of the glands and hormones that regulate how much energy we have.

The thyroid, a bow-tie-shaped gland at the base of the neck, is our body’s central metabolic regulator, and when it goes awry (as it can in today’s highly toxic environment), it can cause untold mayhem.

Hundreds of thousands of people—including one-sixth of the over-55s, according to one survey—are walking around with undiagnosed underactive thyroid. Half of all women and a quarter of all men will die with an inflamed thyroid.

In fact, undiagnosed thyroid problems may be one of the major elements contributing to such puzzling diseases of the 21st century as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia, all now appearing in epidemic numbers.

This becomes all the more serious when you consider that a thyroid gland out of control can sometimes even kill you.

Bad testing
The main reason that doctors have so much trouble diagnosing an underactive thyroid is that they rely on blood tests that don’t tell them about the full state of a person’s thyroid, but only about the levels of thyroid hormone circulating in the blood. These tests also can’t tell them how much thyroid hormone the body is able to use or how much is necessary to ensure an individual’s health.

To make matters even more complicated, a host of conditions and drugs can throw off a thyroxine (thyroid hormone) reading. Just taking the Pill can give a false picture of the state of your thyroid.

Holistic testing
Barry Durrant-Peatfield, formerly a Surrey-based general practitioner in the UK, spent 40 years successfully treating thousands of patients with thyroid problems by ignoring the standard blood tests, taking a careful history of the patient and examining such things as diet, micronutrient status, and allergies and other environmental influences.

He also relied on a simple, non-invasive test developed by Dr Broda Barnes, a thyroid expert, 30 years ago. Dr Barnes, who believed that many people have subtle thyroid disorders that don’t show up on any blood test, publicized a simple, accurate test for both hypo- and hyperthyroid conditions that can be done at home.

Barnes’ test involves recording your basal body temperature (BBT), the body’s lowest temperature during its waking day. This is invariably when you wake up, and before you get out of bed in the morning.

The test entails simply placing a thermometer under your armpit for 10 minutes first thing in the morning, before getting out of bed, for several days and recording the results.

A normal reading ranges from 97.8º to 98.2º F (36.6º to 36.8º C). Anything markedly below this could mean an underactive thyroid; anything markedly higher suggests an overactive one.

Of course, a good doctor will also consider and exclude other causes of a low BBT, as the armpit test is no substitute for a careful and complete history-taking.

According to Dr Durrant-Peatfield, this test has been ignored or derided by many practitioners and authorities. Doctors accustomed to diagnosing from complex quantified measurements like laboratory results tend to suspect anything as simple as a thermometer reading.

Peatfield’s other innovation was to recognize that the thyroid works in tandem with the adrenal glands and to treat them both with natural glandular extract, rather than the synthetic thyroxine generally prescribed by medicine.

Medical witch-hunt
The tragedy is that this reliance on gadgetry blinded medicine to the simple wisdom of Peatfield’s approach. After the millennium, a witch-hunt was instigated to round up all those doctors like Peatfield who refused to diagnose thyroid disorders on the basis of blood tests.

Fourteen years ago, Dr Durrant-Peatfield had his license suspended by the General Medical Council (GMC), the chief medical licensing body in the UK. Although hundreds of his patients sent letters of support to the GMC, these were totally ignored at his hearing. The decision to suspend him had been taken before the final hearing, which declared him a “danger to patients”.

Dr Durrant-Peatfield retired but decided to take his case directly to the public. He compiled all his knowledge on fatigue and how to counter it into a book, called Your Thyroid and How to Keep it Healthy: The Great Thyroid Scandal and How to Survive it, featuring many of his breakthrough ideas about why adrenal gland problems are behind many cases of fatigue and thyroid problems that go unresolved.
As with most areas of medicine, space-age equipment and high-tech lab results are no substitute for taking a good look at patients and listening carefully to their stories. To figure out how to treat some of the most puzzling new illnesses plaguing us nowadays, doctors may have to recover some of the lost art of traditional medicine as was practised by Durrant-Peatfield: learning again how to read the state of a patient’s tongue

SGC Admin Astrology Info, Moon Phase: Current Sun Sign:

The Moon and Astrology: How it affects our daily life…Transiting Moon in Sagittarius March 2016:

The Moon and Astrology

HOW IT AFFECTS OUR DAILY LIVES… 

In astrology, the moon is connected to our emotions and reactions… how we are feeling on a given day may well be influenced by the sign that is visiting the moon… Each sign stays with the moon for up to 2.5 days…. :) 

The Moon Void-of-Course: 

There are times throughout the month when the moon isn’t fully immersed in any sign… this is when we say the moon is Void of Course… and when this occurs, we may feel “foggy” and “unfocused” … We may not be sure how we are truly feeling about a situation or a person…. Therefore it is not recommended that we make long-term commitments or important decision’s while the moon is Void of Course…. However there are 4 signs in the zodiac which may prove positive during the Void-of-Course moon… 

Good for Void-Of-Course Moon:

These v/c signs may prove to be quite productive times.

  • Cancer
  • Taurus
  • Sagittarius
  • Pisces…

Opportunity Periods  (thanks to astrologer Jim Shawvan):

There are other periods throughout the month that are known as opportunity periods, when it can prove to be a positive time for most people, however if you have challenging aspects happening within your own chart you may not be able to make use of opportunity periods. 

Present Moon Sign/Phase/House:

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  • Date: March 27/28 2016
  • Moon Sign: Sagittarius at March 28 @ 2:46 am (ET) March 27 @ 11:46 pm (PT) 
  • Moon Phase: 3rd
  • Void-off-Course: March 29 @ 9:55 pm  (ET) 6:55 pm (PT) to March 30 @ 1:45 pm (ET) @ 10:45 am (PT): Moon v/c in Sagittarius is one of the 4 void off course  “good signs” (see above).
  • House(s): 2nd: 2nd house of financial and material security. 
  • Opportunity Period: None

What does it all mean?

  • Sagittarius is the most “easy-going” of the fire signs and is ruled by Jupiter “the lucky planet”
  • We are going to want our personal freedom now, so take care partners who have a possessive or jealous tendencies, they might not be tolerated for the next couple of days. 
  • Because Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter “the lucky planet” we may be feeling luckier then usual… Just take care not to go over the budget… :) 
  • We could have more energy for fun things such as music, sports and shows
  • It’s easier to try something new and exciting just take care not to get carried away.
  • Could be a good time to take a few days for rest, relaxation and laughter
  • Good time for day dreaming and making fantastic plans for the future.
  • In the 2nd house, focus is likely on our finances, some of us may even get lucky in this area… for others, you may be more generous than you should be, so check the budget and the larder first… :) … Because this house also relates to our material security, we may also be looking at buying a house or moving to a foreign land.. 
  • While this moon will have a slight effect on all of us… those with the following in their charts will feel it stronger as will those who have a strong Gemini or Cancer placement in their charts. 
    • Moon in Sagittarius
    • Jupiter in Sagittarius
    • Moon in the 9th house
    • Ascendant in Sagittarius
    • Mid-heaven in Sagittarius
    • Moon in the 2nd house
    • Sun in Sagittarius
    • Aspects to the Moon and Jupiter. 

 

copyright: Greta McKenzie Astrology 03/17/2016

 

SGC Admin Astrology Info, Astrology Notes

Astrology and how it affects our daily life: Transiting Saturn goes Retrograde March 2016

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  • Astrological Event: Transiting Saturn turns Retrograde
  • Date: March 25 2016 to August 13 2016
  • Time: 6:01 am (ET) 3:01 am (PT)

What does this mean? 

Saturn is the planet of restriction, rules and regulations. He rules Capricorn. This is the planet that puts up the boundary’s and who directs us to do the “right thing”. He has a bearing on our public image and how we conduct ourselves in our work/career’s and vocation, he is discipline and responsibility.

When a planet goes retrograde, it appears from the earth’s perspective to be going backwards. Before the planet goes retrograde there is also a period of “slow motion” and stationary movement… and again when the planet begins to turn direct as it builds up speed to once again be in alignment with the earth. 

Some folk believe retrograde, slow and stationary movements of the planets can have an impact on our charts and on our daily lives… and others don’t give these movements much thought.  :) The SGC team figure it doesn’t hurt to include them… :) 

Saturn Retrograde: 

  • Not the best time for financial dealings, which may extend to property purchase’s too. 
  • Good for assessing the past, checking old lease agreements or business plans. 
  • New commitments and the beginnings of brand new projects should be put aside until Saturn goes direct again, however, if this is not possible, take extra care about what you commit to and be sure the excitement of the new project isn’t making you “blind” to all that is involved now, and in the future. 
  • Spend some time making improvements to the things you already know how to do… and while starting to learn something new isn’t recommended learning something connected to what you already know, will help with self-improvement. And Saturn, retrograde or not, should be happy with that… :) 
  • Get those drawers and cupboards sorted out and maybe the trunk of the car too… spend some time in the garage and finally get rid of the stuff that has been sitting there for years… sort through the stuff from the past, organize it and keep only what you need. 
  • While Saturn is usually a stickler for discipline and behaving correctly, he may be a little more lax in that area now, making this the perfect opportunity to back out of previous commitments without causing too much of a stink. 
  • It could be easier for some of us to say no during this time, so don’t hesitate, if it doesn’t feel right, or you just don’t want to do it, try saying no.. :)
  • Not a good time to start a new business
  • Get the past and present sorted out now, and when Saturn goes direct again you will have a clean slate to fill and your ability to be disciplined will be much easier. 

copyright Greta McKenzie Astrology March 17 2016

SGC Admin Bits and Pieces, Classifieds: Ads: Job Postings: Craft Shows

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SGC Admin Eco News

From our inbox to you from David Suzuki on: Don’t take our clean water for granted

World Water Day reminds us not to take clean water for granted

Earth’s oceans, lakes, rivers and streams are its circulatory system, providing life’s essentials for people, animals and ecosystems. Canada has one-fifth of the world’s freshwater, a quarter of its remaining wetlands and its longest coastline. With this abundance, it’s easy to take water for granted. Many of our daily rituals require its life-giving force. Yet do we recognize our good fortune in having clean, safe water at the turn of a tap?

Not everyone in Canada is so lucky. On any given day, more than 1,000 boil-water advisories are in place across the country. Imagine having to walk to your local church every morning to fill plastic jugs with clean drinking water for your family. Or having to drive to your town’s fire station or community centre to collect bottled water. Imagine having to boil water for everything you do at home — cooking, cleaning, washing. This is the sad reality for people who live in communities with boil-water advisories, some for decades at a time.

Water problems are dangerous. In May 2000, bacteria in Walkerton, Ontario’s water supply caused seven deaths and more than 2,300 illnesses. A public inquiry blamed the crisis on flaws in the province’s approval and inspection programs, a “lack of training and expertise” among water-supply operators and government budget cuts.

In 2001, nearly half of North Battleford, Saskatchewan’s 14,000 residents became ill from contaminated water. An inquiry concluded provincial oversight was inadequate and ineffective.

Indigenous communities continue to face a widespread drinking water crisis, with people on First Nations reserves 90 times more likely than other Canadians to lack access to clean water.

Health Canada reports that 131 drinking-water advisories were in effect in 87 Indigenous communities at the end of 2015, not including British Columbia. Places like Shoal Lake 40, Grassy Narrows and Neskantaga have been under boil-water advisories for decades. In B.C., the First Nations Health Authority reports that 28 drinking-water advisories were in effect in 25 Indigenous communities as of January 31, 2016.
How can this continue in a water-rich country like Canada?

Canada recognized the right to water at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012. Yet our government has failed to live up to its commitment. As a2015 UN report points out, “The global water crisis is one of governance, much more than of resource availability, and this is where the bulk of the action is required in order to achieve a water secure world.”

We are the only G8 country, and one of just two OECD countries, without legally enforceable national drinking-water-quality standards. Federal water policy is more than 25 years old and in dire need of revision. We have no national strategy to address urgent water issues and no federal leadership to conserve and protect water. Instead, we rely on a patchwork of provincial water policies, some enshrined in law and some not. Meanwhile, highly intensive industrial activities, agribusiness and pollution are putting water supplies at risk.

The federal government will deliver its first budget on March 22 — World Water Day. The David Suzuki Foundation’s Blue Dot movement is also taking a stand on World Water Day, helping communities across Canada call on the federal government to make good on our human right to clean water by enacting a federal environmental bill of rights.

Canada’s environment and climate change minister has a mandate to “treat our freshwater as a precious resource that deserves protection and careful stewardship.” The government could take a big step toward accomplishing this by recognizing our right to a healthy environment, including our right to clean water.

The government should also implement legally binding national standards for drinking water quality equal to or better than the highest standards in other industrialized nations, and set long-term targets and timelines to reduce water pollution. And it should fulfil our right to water by addressing the drinking water crisis in Indigenous communities and establishing a Canada Water Fund to foster the clean-water tech industry and create a robust national water quality and quantity monitoring system.

Committing to these actions would help ensure all Canadians have access to clean, safe water for generations to come. On World Water Day, help protect the people and places you love by joining the Blue Dot movement.
Take action - speak up about water rights.

By David Suzuki with contributions from David Suzuki Foundation Blue Dot Communications Specialist Amy Juschka.

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