Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an increasing public health concern, in part because of lack of awareness among patients and physicians. Nonpenetrating trauma to the legs may be an under-recognized potential risk factor for VTE. We report a case of VTE following vigorous deep tissue massage in a previously healthy 67-year-old man with no other identifiable risk factors. The etiology, risk factors, and implications for the prevention and detection of VTE are reviewed. There are few other published reports of VTE associated with massage, but under-reporting seems likely. Vigorous massage or any equivalent trauma to the legs should be considered and evaluated as a possible risk factor for VTE, especially in older adults. Additional research is needed to clarify the risks associated with nonpenetrating trauma to the legs in older adults and other susceptible groups. Improved awareness of VTE, including its risk factors and symptoms, is an urgent priority for more effective prevention, detection, and treatment.

Phys Sportsmed. 2010 Dec;38(4):136-9. Crump C, Paluska SA. Division of Family and Community Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA. kccrump@stanford.edu

"Trance-Master" John Cerbone is quite possibly one of the fastest and most famous clinical, street and stage hypnotists alive. John is an ICBCH Certified Clinical Hypnosis Instructor, and an NGH Fellow and Board Certified Hypnotist (BCH) and a Certified Instructor (CI). He works with Fortune 500 corporations, individuals, couples, children and groups, implementing clinical hypnosis weightloss, smoking cessation, stress management, self-hypnosis programs and more.

He teaches emergency pain management skills to medical professionals, original "Speed Trance" instant hypnotic induction methods, "Street Trance" impromptu hypnosis techniques, and ICBCH hypnotist certification programs for those wanting to begin a career in hypnosis. You may have seen John on MTV and MTVu, Fox's Good Day Philadelphia and YouTube, Fox's Strategy Room, and heard the Trance-Master's hypnotic hilarity on radio stations across the country.

As a comedy stage hypnotist, he's appeared at large (and not so large) venues, including at KRAVE/Harmon Theater at Planet Hollywood on the Strip in Las Vegas, and sports stadiums in over a dozen states. John is the co-creator of internationally acclaimed "Speed Trance: Instant Hypnotic Inductions" and "Street Trance: How to Do Impromptu Hypnosis, Anytime, Anywhere," as well as the co-instructor of the "Skits and Bits" training video, for learning to create astonishing stage hypnosis show routines, all with Hypnosis Guru, Richard Nongard.

He is also the author of Hypnotic Scripts That Work – The Breakthrough Book - A Script Encyclopedia for Professional Hypnotists, featuring 150 + major Hypnotic breakthrough suggestions and techniques that he personally pioneered.

by Tim Brunson, PhD

No great achievement in life is ever realized without first creating a firm vision of the desired results in your mind. Whether you are considering building the next great pyramid, creating the next billion-dollar Internet business, or growing and shaping your muscles for your next bodybuilding competition, without focusing on your results, it most likely will never be achieved. Why is this true?

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Full title: Selective killing of cancer cells by Ashwagandha leaf extract and its component Withanone involves ROS signaling.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ashwagandha is a popular Ayurvedic herb used in Indian traditional home medicine. It has been assigned a variety of health-promoting effects of which the mechanisms remain unknown. We previously reported the selective killing of cancer cells by leaf extract of Ashwagandha (i-Extract) and its purified component Withanone. In the present study, we investigated its mechanism by loss-of-function screening (abrogation of i-Extract induced cancer cell killing) of the cellular targets and gene pathways.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Randomized ribozyme library was introduced into cancer cells prior to the treatment with i-Extract. Ribozymes were recovered from cells that survived the i-Extract treatment. Gene targets of the selected ribozymes (as predicted by database search) were analyzed by bioinformatics and pathway analyses. The targets were validated for their role in i-Extract induced selective killing of cancer cells by biochemical and molecular assays. Fifteen gene-targets were identified and were investigated for their role in specific cancer cell killing activity of i-Extract and its two major components (Withaferin A and Withanone) by undertaking the shRNA-mediated gene silencing approach. Bioinformatics on the selected gene-targets revealed the involvement of p53, apoptosis and insulin/IGF signaling pathways linked to the ROS signaling. We examined the involvement of ROS-signaling components (ROS levels, DNA damage, mitochondrial structure and membrane potential) and demonstrate that the selective killing of cancer cells is mediated by induction of oxidative stress.

CONCLUSION: Ashwagandha leaf extract and Withanone cause selective killing of cancer cells by induction of ROS-signaling and hence are potential reagents that could be recruited for ROS-mediated cancer chemotherapy.

PLoS One. 2010 Oct 21;5(10):e13536. Widodo N, Priyandoko D, Shah N, Wadhwa R, Kaul SC. National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Dr. Sidney Rosen is, perhaps, the therapist in New York who is most experienced in teaching and using the applications of hypnotic approaches to the treatment of psychological and psychosomatic disturbances and problems. Having discovered hypnosis at age 15, he continued experimenting with it throughout his medical training. Except for a 15 year hiatus while undergoing training as a psychoanalyst, he has continued his explorations, most recently in the development of techniques for "waking self hypnosis". Since his retirement from regular teaching through NYSEPH he has been available for the treatment of patients in his private practice and for the supervision of qualified therapists.

by Tim Brunson, PhD

As nutrition is so vital to our body's health, why do so many of us turn this necessity into a problem? Normally, the answer lies in the fact that we have corrupted many of the natural capabilities of our brain. We have learned that eating not only serves as a requirement to provide nutrients to our cells and organs, it has somehow become linked to our stress-fighting defense mechanism. So, how do we transition from eating for stress to once again primarily eating for health?

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BACKGROUND: Several studies have found that a high proportion of the population in western countries use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). However, little is known about whether CAM is offered in hospitals. The aim of this study was to describe to what extent CAM is offered in Norwegian and Danish hospitals and investigate possible changes in Norway since 2001.

METHODS: A one-page questionnaire was sent to all included hospitals in both countries. The questionnaire was sent to the person responsible for the clinical activity, typically the medical director. 99 hospitals in the authority (85%) in Norway and 126 in Denmark (97%) responded. Given contact persons were interviewed.

RESULTS: CAM is presently offered in about 50% of Norwegian hospitals and one-third of Danish hospitals. In Norway CAM was offered in 50 hospitals, 40 of which involved acupuncture. 19 hospitals gave other alternative therapies like biofeedback, hypnosis, cupping, ear-acupuncture, herbal medicine, art therapy, homeopathy, reflexology, thought field therapy, gestalt therapy, aromatherapy, tai chi, acupressure, yoga, pilates and other. 9 hospitals offered more than one therapy form. In Denmark 38 hospitals offered acupuncture and one Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Light Therapy. The most commonly reported reason for offering CAM was scientific evidence in Denmark. In Norway it was the interest of a hospital employee, except for acupuncture where the introduction is more often initiated by the leadership and is more based on scientific evidence of effect. All persons (except one) responsible for the alternative treatment had a medical or allied health professional background and their education/training in CAM treatment varied substantially.

CONCLUSIONS: The extent of CAM being offered has increased substantially in Norway during the first decade of the 21(st) century. This might indicate a shift in attitude regarding CAM within the conventional health care system.

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2011 Jan 18;11:4. Salomonsen LJ, Skovgaard L, la Cour S, Nyborg L, Launsø L, Fønnebø V. National research center in complementary and alternative medicine, NAFKAM Faculty of health science, University of Tromsø, Norway. laila.salomonsen@uit.no

by Tim Brunson, PhD

Something happens that should not have bothered you. You see a car accident, hear a loud noise, or even possibly nothing at all occurs other than you just finished a cup of coffee. However, your body is reacting as if you have received a threat to your life. Your heart is racing, you breathing quickens, and you feel that you are just about to have a heart attack. Yet, you absolutely know that your reaction is illogical and should have never happened. You are having a panic attack.

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Full title: Evaluation of homeopathic Arnica montana for ecchymosis after upper blepharoplasty: a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study.

PURPOSE: Ecchymosis is commonly encountered after upper eyelid blepharoplasty. The use of homeopathic preparations of Arnica montana, a flowering herb, has been advocated by physicians, patients, and manufacturers for reduction of postsurgical ecchymosis. The authors evaluate its efficacy after upper eyelid blepharoplasty. METHODS: A prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was performed in which patients were randomly assigned to the administration of homeopathic A. montana or placebo concurrent with unilateral upper eyelid blepharoplasty followed by contralateral treatment at least 1 month later. Ecchymosis was evaluated at days 3 and 7 by rank order of severity and measurement of surface area of observable ecchymosis. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in area of ecchymosis or rank order of ecchymosis severity for days 3 and 7 after treatment with A. montana versus placebo. Additionally, there was no difference in ease of recovery per patient report, and there was no difference in the rate of ecchymosis resolution. CONCLUSIONS: The authors find no evidence that homeopathic A. montana, as used in this study, is beneficial in the reduction or the resolution of ecchymosis after upper eyelid blepharoplasty.

Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2010 Nov-Dec;26(6):395-7. Kotlus BS, Heringer DM, Dryden RM. Division of Oculoplastic Surgery, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arizona Health Science Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA. kotlus@gmail.com