PRE-DISSERTATION PROPOSAL _1st Draft_

PRE-DISSERTATION PROPOSAL (1st Draft) By Sharon Fleiner Smith Kindron Student ID Number: 12978 Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Individual Program – Ashkenazi Jewish Genetic Disorder Studies at Century University. To Dr. William Mayhill, Faculty Advisor CENTURY UNIVERSITY September 2, 2008 Approved____________________________________ Date Approved________________________________ 1 © Copyright 2008 Sharon Fleiner Smith Kindron 1 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. TABLE OF CONTENTS REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE MAIN QUESTION OF THE STUDY PURPOSE NEED STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM SCOPE OF THE STUDY PREVIOUS WORK IN THE AREA METHODOLOGY REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 1. Electronic bibliographic database search This first phase of the literature search will be through internet searches. This provided general information on sources to be explored further. Analysis of the results suggested the majority of abstracts that will be obtained through the searches using a keyword search. Additional articles will be ordered from references contained in the bibliographies of those articles and texts selected for the initial review from the above search online. 2. The criteria for selecting studies will be their potential to provide information relevant to the research questions and the methodological rigor of the study design. There will be essentially four phases of the review process. A. Matching the appropriate study design to the theme of the project; B. Study inclusion and exclusion criteria; C. Data extraction issues; and 1 D. Data presentation issues. 3. Matching the appropriate study design to the theme of the project A. Reading the title and abstract of each citation and reviewing the key word list; B. Scanning the abstract for methods/tools used to assess the literature to see if it is passing or failing the citation based on either P (pass), F (fail), or UD (undecided). C. The full article of all citations passing the initial screen will be obtained and reviewed.4. Study inclusion and exclusion of criteria Studies with good methodological designs will be selected in preference to those with methodologically weaker designs. It should be noted, however, that the decision to include or exclude studies on the basis of quality will be dependent on the availability of literature. Studies will be selected if they address at least one of the two key themes, (i.e., Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)/Holistic Approach). Studies not meeting this criteria will be excluded from the review. 5. Results of electronic online search: Acupuncture. Natural Standard Database Web site. http://www.naturalstandard.com. Accessed on Sept 2, 2008. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Chiropractic in the United States: Training, Practice, and Research. Rockville, MD: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research; 1997. AHCPR publication no. 98N002. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids on Lipids and Glycemic Control in Type II Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome and on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Renal Disease, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and Osteoporosis. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment no. 89. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; 2004. 04-E012-1. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Garlic: Effects on Cardiovascular Risks and Disease, Protective Effects Against Cancer, and Clinical Adverse Effects. Accessed on at http://ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/garlicsum.htm on Sept 2, 2008. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Milk Thistle: Effects on Liver Disease and Cirrhosis and Clinical Adverse Effects Evidence Report/Technology Assessment no. 21. 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BEMI Currents, Journal of the BioElectroMagnetics Institute. 1990;2:8-17. 1 MAIN QUESTION OF THE STUDY Is the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), along with Traditional Western Medicine [TWM], necessary in order to treat Ashkenazi Jewish diseases, where Traditional Western Medicine has failed when used alone? This question has never been adequately answered because, to a great extent the disciplines involved in the study the diseases of Ashkenazi Jews in America, are defined by medical authority, with a focus on modern medicine and not the history of Jews throughout the Jewish Diaspora. Ashkenazi Jewish genetic diseases are a group of rare disorders that occur more often in people of Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish heritage than in the general population. While most of these diseases are severe and life-limiting, some can be treated to reduce symptoms and prolong life. Some of these diseases can be found during a pregnancy through chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or an amniocentesis if the pregnancy is high risk for problems. This can occur if both parents are carriers of genetic diseases. Ashkenazi Jewish genetic diseases in this group include:  Bloom syndrome. Babies with this disease are born small and remain shorter than normal as they grow. Their skin may look red, and they have more lung and ear infections than normal.   Canavan disease. This disease gradually destroys brain tissue. Cystic fibrosis. This disease causes very thick mucus in the lungs and problems with digesting food.  Familial dysautonomia (FD). People with this problem cannot feel pain, they sweat a lot, and they have trouble with speech and coordination.  Fanconi anemia. People with this problem do not have enough blood cells and have problems with the heart, kidneys, arms, or legs. They also are more likely to get cancer. 1  Gaucher disease. This disease causes a type of fat called glucocerebroside to build up in certain cells in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow.  Mucolipidosis IV. This problem causes the nervous system to break down, or deteriorate, over time.  Niemann-Pick disease. This disease causes a type of fat called sphingomyelin to build up in cells of the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow.  Tay-Sachs disease. This disease causes a type of fat called ganglioside to build up in the cells of the brain and nervous system.  Torsion dystonia. People with this problem have ongoing spasms that twist the muscles in their arms, legs, and sometimes their body. Scholars have often made varying and sometimes conflicting assumptions about the origin of diseases at all. For instance, after presenting supporting arguments, Pert, whose specialty is the Molecules of Emotion: The Science Behind Mind-Body Medicine, concluded, "By establishing a biomedical basis for emotion, and explaining how our feelings, emotions, and bodies are connected—through our mind—we can begin to understand our lives like never before.‖ PURPOSE I believe many diseases, specifically, Ashkenazi Jewish genetic diseases, can be relieved, if not healed through Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) healing techniques. Healing research presents the views of healers from many traditions and cultures which I will also be the purpose of my focus. I intend to offer many options for healing, not just a couple of theories. 1 Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) healing focuses on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior; and on the powerful ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and behavioral factors can directly affect health. It regards as fundamental an approach that respects and enhances each person's capacity for self-knowledge and self-care, and it emphasizes techniques that are grounded in this approach. NEED Most people probably have a basic understanding of how modern medicine works: People have a yearly checkup, take an antibiotic when they're sick, get a cast for a broken arm, and they're good as new. But in recent years other approaches to healing have risen in popularity. Many of these "alternative" techniques come from all over the globe and have been around for thousands of years. So what is alternative medicine and what does it do? What Is It? The term "alternative medicine" is used to describe healing treatments that are not part of conventional medical training — like acupuncture, massage therapy, or herbal medicine. People used to consider practices like these outside the mainstream, which is why they got the name "alternative." Eastern countries have a longstanding tradition of teaching alternative medicine. But until recently, most Western hospitals didn't provide any alternative treatments and Western medical schools didn't teach them. Patients in Western countries are becoming more receptive to trying alternative techniques, and have been asking for them. As a result, many Western medical schools are starting to teach these medicine techniques and theories. Some hospitals and doctors are supplementing their regular medical care with alternative techniques. Many patients and health care providers use alternative treatments together with conventional therapies. This is known as complementary medicine. Both alternative and complementary medicine use the same kinds of remedies to treat a health condition. The difference is that alternative medicine is often used instead of conventional medical 1 techniques. Complementary medicine is used in addition to conventional medicine, not as a replacement. The field of complementary and alternative medicine is known as CAM for short. How Is CAM Different From Conventional Medicine? Conventional medicine (also called "allopathic medicine") is based on scientific knowledge of the body and uses treatments that have been proven effective through scientific research. Doctors are trained to have a thorough knowledge of the body's systems, diseases, and their treatments. Complementary and alternative medicine is based on the belief that a medical care provider has to treat the whole person — body, mind, and spirit. The techniques used in CAM are mostly less invasive than conventional medical practices — meaning that they don't rely on surgery or conventional medications. Some CAM therapies are supported by scientific evidence. But for most there are still questions that need to be addressed through scientific studies. This doesn't mean these therapies don't work, it just means that experts haven't studied them enough to know for sure that they do — and if so, how. Why Do People Use CAM? People often turn to CAM when they have a long-lasting problem that conventional medicine hasn't completely cured. For example, someone who has seen a doctor for years about persistent headaches might try using CAM in addition to current treatments to deal with any symptoms or side effects from conventional treatments. People may also use complementary and alternative medicine when they're not sick. Because many people believe that CAM techniques — such as yoga — can improve overall well being, healthy people often use alternative medicine to try to prevent illness or to ensure a healthier lifestyle. Specialties Just as there are many fields in conventional medicine, CAM covers many different practices. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), groups CAM practices into four areas: 1. Biologically based practices involve supplementing a person's normal diet with additional nutrients, herbs, extracts, and certain foods. If you've ever taken a vitamin or herbal supplement, you've followed 1 a biologically based practice. 2. Manipulative and body-based therapies focus on the body's various systems and structures. If you've ever seen a chiropractor or had a massage, you've been treated with manipulative therapy. 3. Mind-body interventions use the connection between a person's mind, body, and spirit to enhance total well being. Mind-body techniques include meditation, yoga, and biofeedback. 4. Energy therapies are meant to restore disturbances in the body's natural energy. Energy therapies include such practices as Qi gong and Reiki. In addition to these four different practices, CAM includes several whole medical systems. These alternative medical systems are entire systems of theory and practice, and many date back earlier than the conventional medicine we use in the West today. Examples of alternative medical systems include Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, homeopathic medicine, and naturopathic medicine. Alternative medical systems incorporate many of the different practices listed above into their treatments. For example, the Traditional Chinese Medicine practice of acupuncture may be combined with herbal medicine (a biologically based practice), and Qi gong (an energy therapy). And Ayurveda includes the mind-body therapies of meditation and yoga, along with the biologically based practice of taking specific herbs for health reasons. Some CAM practices are supported by scientific research, while others have not yet been studied. Sometimes experts have scientific evidence that a CAM practice (like acupuncture) works, but they don't have a clear understanding of why. Limitations Although CAM does have some proven benefits, like anything, it has its limitations. Experts haven't researched many CAM techniques enough to tell how effective they are as treatments. Some people may not feel it's worth investing a lot of time or money in treatments that haven't been proven effective. Insurance policies rarely cover CAM treatments, so people have to pay for them out of their own pockets with no reimbursement. For some health problems, alternative healing approaches on their own may not be enough to help a 1 person get well. Even something as seemingly minor as an infection may need treatment with traditional medications, like antibiotics. That's why it's always best to see a doctor if you have a health problem and talk openly about any CAM techniques to try. Another reason someone should be up-front with your doctor about CAM techniques is because, in some cases, CAM practices can actually interfere with traditional medical treatments. For example, certain herbal supplements can interfere with some prescription drugs, such as diabetes treatments or birth-control pills. As with modern medicine, CAM treatments that are effective for one problem will not help with all problems. For example, acupuncture has been proven to help reduce migraines for people under 18 years old, but is controversial as to whether is helps in other situations. Certain treatments are only used for certain problems, so if you want to try an alternative practice for a health reason, make sure it will help the specific problem you're looking to correct. Traditional medical doctors are not only trained, they're licensed. But that's not always the case with CAM practitioners. Some states have licensing requirements for certain specialists, like acupuncturists and massage therapists, and many are expanding their requirements for licensing as CAM practices grow in popularity. Finding a good CAM practitioner is still not as easy as looking someone up in a phone book. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) recommends asking another health care provider for a referral, talking to people who have been treated by the expert you are considering, and meeting with the practitioner to ask about his or her experience and training— the same kinds of things you'd do if you were interviewing a new doctor. A patient may have already used a complementary or alternative practice, like yoga or massage, and not even thought about it. Trying practices like meditation and breathing can't do any harm, but other CAM techniques may have consequences for people with certain health conditions. Even the more mainstream practices like yoga can hurt someone with a health condition — like a back problem — if they are not done properly. So it is recommended that everyone checks with his or her doctor before 1 trying any CAM techniques. These days, many doctors will try to guide a patient on which practices to safely try while continuing with current methods of treatments offered through traditional medicine. Patterns of Use Paula Gardiner, M.D., of Harvard Medical School's Osher Institute, presented new findings about people who use herbs for health purposes. The survey participants who used herbs were more likely than other participants to be uninsured, female, and more highly educated; to live in the West; to use prescription or over-the-counter medications; and to identify their race/ethnicity (R/E) as "Non-Hispanic Other." The people who used herbs less tended to identify their R/E as "Non-Hispanic Black" and to live in the South or Midwest. The herbs most commonly used were echinacea (41 percent), ginseng (25 percent), ginkgo (22 percent), and garlic (20 percent). Herbs were used most commonly for head or chest cold (30 percent), musculoskeletal conditions (16 percent), and stomach or intestinal illness (11 percent). Seventy-two percent of the people who used herbs also used prescription medications. More than half of the people who used both an herb and a prescription medication did not tell a conventional health care provider about this. Use by People With Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Gloria Yeh, M.D., and Russell Phillips, M.D., also of the Osher Institute, found that 36 percent of the participants who had cardiovascular disease (CVD, or diseases of the heart and circulatory system) used CAM--a rate similar to that in the general population. Among these CAM users with CVD, 23 percent used mind-body therapies (MB) such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and others. They used MB most commonly for musculoskeletal complaints (24 percent), anxiety/depression (23 percent), and stress/emotional health/wellness (16 percent). Only 13 percent used MB for their CVD specifically, but 94 percent of them felt that MB for that use was helpful. Using MB for mental health treatment and stress management may also have cardiac benefits. Social Factors According to this study's authors, studies indicate that CAM use is linked to factors such as gender, R/E, and socioeconomic position (SEP)--more specifically, women, non-Hispanic whites, and people of higher 1 SEP are more likely to use CAM. Maria Chao, Dr.P.H., and colleagues at the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Center for Complementary Medicine, Columbia University, analyzed more closely the interplay among those social factors. They found that SEP influenced how likely it is that a person will use CAM, regardless of the person's gender. While SEP also plays a role in whether a person of specific R/E will use CAM, that influence is not as strong. The concept that the mind is important in the treatment of illness is integral to the healing approaches of traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine -- A whole medical system that originated in India. It aims to integrate the body, mind, and spirit to prevent and treat disease. Therapies used include herbs, massage, and yoga, dating back more than 2,000 years. It was also noted by Hippocrates, who recognized the moral and spiritual aspects of healing, and believed that treatment could occur only with consideration of attitude, environmental influences, and natural remedies (ca. 400 B.C.). While this integrated approach was maintained in traditional healing systems in the East, developments in the Western world by the 16th and 17th centuries led to a separation of human spiritual or emotional dimensions from the physical body. This separation began with the redirection of science, during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras, to the purpose of enhancing humankind's control over nature. Technological advances (e.g., microscopy, the stethoscope, the blood pressure cuff, and refined surgical techniques) demonstrated a cellular world that seemed far apart from the world of belief and emotion. The discovery of bacteria and, later, antibiotics further dispelled the notion of belief influencing health. Fixing or curing an illness became a matter of science (i.e., technology) and took precedence over, not a place beside, healing of the soul. As medicine separated the mind and the body, scientists of the mind (neurologists) formulated concepts, such as the unconscious, emotional impulses, and cognitive delusions, that solidified the perception that diseases of the mind were not "real," that is, not based in physiology and biochemistry. In the 1920s, Walter Cannon's work revealed the direct relationship between stress and neuroendocrine responses in animals. Coining the phrase "fight or flight," Cannon described the primitive reflexes of sympathetic and adrenal activation in response to perceived danger and other environmental pressures 1 (e.g., cold, heat). Hans Selye further defined the deleterious effects of stress and distress on health. At the same time, technological advances in medicine that could identify specific pathological changes, and new discoveries in pharmaceuticals, were occurring at a very rapid pace. The disease-based model, the search for a specific pathology, and the identification of external cures were paramount, even in psychiatry. During World War II, the importance of belief reentered the web of health care. On the beaches of Anzio, morphine for the wounded soldiers was in short supply, and Henry Beecher, M.D., discovered that much of the pain could be controlled by saline injections. He coined the term "placebo effect," and his subsequent research showed that up to 35 percent of a therapeutic response to any medical treatment could be the result of belief. Investigation into the placebo effect and debate about it are ongoing. Since the 1960s, mind-body interactions have become an extensively researched field. The evidence for benefits for certain indications from biofeedback, cognitive-behavioral interventions, and hypnosis is quite good, while there is emerging evidence regarding their physiological effects. Less research supports the use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)/Holistic Approach approaches like meditation and yoga. The following is a summary of relevant studies. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM As Ashkenanzi Jews, throughout history we have changed. We have through force and through necessity. We have changed and modified our movements (denominations) of our religion and overall lifestyle, thus, we have changed our way of living as Jews, but not necessarily our beliefs of daily living. These beliefs may also be extended to the very biology of an illness that we may have inherited through our heritage and way of life. In spite of the existence of strongly differing opinions, no one has carried out a study of Ashkenazi 1 Jewish diseases, and emotional beliefs that may change the biology of inherited diseases by the mere use of emotional healing through Mind-Body medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) healing. Bruce Lipton, PhD (a cell biologist, former teacher at University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, and former pioneering researcher at Stanford University‘s School of medicine), has worked to understand the human body by studying the individual cell as a miniature hologram of the entire body. When Dr. Lipton removed DNA and RNA from cells, he found that the cells continued to thrive, grow and live for two months or more! Science formerly postulated that without the ‗brains of the cell‘ (also known as DNA and RNA), the cell would die—just as the body dies without the brain intact and operating. However, Lipton proved that the cell still has the capability to find nourishment, ingest, digest, and eliminate without DNA input! (For further explanation, see Bruce Lipton‘s book, The Biology of Belief.) Dr. Lipton believes that the real brain of our individual cells is the membrane (the external ‗skin‘ around the outside of the cell). The membrane has the intelligence to identify a positive (nourishing) substance or negative (toxic) substance, and to instruct the cell to move toward the positive or away from the negative. He states this membrane (or ―membrain‖ as a humorous memory aid to remember the significance of the cell‗s periphery) is also a communication system for the cell‘s interior, as well as with other cells and organs of the body. Lipton‘s research further shows that our cells move in just one direction at a time—either toward growth or away from harm in a protective state. Growth includes emotional feelings of neutrality or happiness (love-based environment). Harm includes emotional feelings of stress or unhappiness (fearbased environment). Lipton also equates this one-directional ability to our emotional body‘s ability to be in only one emotional spectrum at a time (that is, in love or in fear). This coincides with what metaphysicists have long taught: that as human beings, we can exist either in love or in fear, but we cannot be in these opposite emotions at the same time. Using what he witnessed under the microscope, Dr. Lipton notes how a positive attitude propels 1 individual cells (as well as the entire body) toward growth, just as a negative attitude restricts the cell to using its energy to protect and restrict itself. This certainly brings up-to-date meaning to the ―The Power of Positive Thinking‖ postulated by Dr. Normal Vincent Peale back in 1952. Basically, Dr. Lipton has found a scientifically-proved correlation to common spiritual advice: When you change your thoughts or belief systems from fear to love you are also changing cells in your body to a state of growth and strength. And, because you are then vibrating at a higher, more positive state, you will magnetize higher, more positive experiences to your life. When we create a healthy, positive emotional body and are happy, enthused and creatively engaged in solving challenges, there is more power to our ability to create wellness and determine what it really is we want in life. We then have the energy and clear direction to get it. The idea that our emotional state is more powerful than DNA means that we are not chained to the hereditary diseases which follow our familial line. Hereditary illnesses that run in our blood lines can be thwarted or relieved by our positive emotional body/environment. This is an incredibly empowering fact for us to be aware of—and to teach our children! However, when we do not pay attention to our emotional states, DNA instruction to follow hereditary patterns can take over our body. To those who have worked to shift to positive thinking but do not notice improvement in their experiences or health, Dr. Lipton advises (in a DVD series of his lectures, entitled Alignment: Chiropractice—The New Science and You): ―The conscious mind receives only about 2.000 (two thousand) bits of environmental information every second—compare that to 4,000,000,000 (four billion) bits that the subconscious is handling every second, and you see that the conscious can't focus on a lot of things. The subconscious can hold everything and handle all of them all the time. So, subconscious is the main operator. The interesting part of this is that the conscious is the creative part. That's where you can mix and match anything you want. Subconscious is not creative—it‘s rote memory. Innate intelligence is when you have control—where your spirit comes in and says, "I'm watching the (subconscious) tapes and I don't like what I see! This is where fundamental change can occur." 1 There is much evidence to suggest that repressed anger, hate, resentment and grief are the root emotional causes leading to the development of cancer. Feelings are created by the mind for the sole purpose -- to be expressed. If negative feelings are not expressed, they remain trapped inside the body and over time cause physical illness. This is due to high levels of stress within the body and can also be due to a breakdown of the emotional reflex centre in the brain. Trapped or repressed negative feelings are harmful to the body and increase a person's level of the stress hormone Cortisol - a hormone which has been found in many studies around the world to directly suppress immune system functioning. When the immune system is not functioning properly, cancer cells, that exist in every human being, can multiply and form tumor sites. In addition, suppression of anger, hate, resentment and grief, usually after a traumatic event, can also damage the emotional reflex center in the brain, causing it to slowly break down. When this center breaks down, it will start sending wrong information to the corresponding organ it controls, resulting in the formation of deformed (cancer) cells in that organ. Most importantly high stress levels deplete Adrenaline reserves, that when low, create the perfect cancer environment. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) healing therapy is an important part of the emotional healing process and involves the full and complete expression of negative feelings that have remained trapped inside usually for many years. It is designed to help significantly lower stress hormone cortisol levels in the body and to help reverse damage caused to the emotional reflex center in the brain. It is undertaken during a state of hypnosis or deep relaxation. As Jews, we carry a DNA push to Ashkenazi Jewish diseases due to our heritage and rich history of living within our own culture as Jews. If we care to allow our spiritual self to change our physical body, an important key is to find our subconscious patterns of fear and negativity. This is where the quickest healing comes from, because from healthy Spirit comes happiness, clarity, and peace, which can 1 obliterate disease-causing conditions in the body. Allow the communication and guidance we as a Spirit are sending to our bodies to change our life. SCOPE OF THE STUDY In the past, scientists believed that the way to treat diseases will be to unraveling the mysteries behind them. Ashkenazi Jewish diseases and disorders are no different. Scientists focus on the problem genes, not necessarily the emotions that people carry that may be a huge part of solving a larger problem and healing ourselves. Many defective genes have been identified and work is ongoing to discover feasible methods for "cures‖ in the areas of modern medicine. While investigations of genetic treatments continue, people are in a position to begin using the current facts for their benefit. There are nearly 4,000 genetic diseases known that afflict the world‘s population. However, in almost every ethnic, racial, or demographic group, certain genetic diseases occur at higher frequencies among their members than in the general population. Such is the case for the Jewish people. Scientists believe that certain disorders became more common among Ashkenazi Jews because of at least two processes: the "founder effect" and "genetic drift." The "founder effect" refers to the chance presence of these genes among the "founders" or ancestors who immigrated to eastern Europe at the time of the Diaspora (70 A.D.). Prior to this time we presume that these disorders will be no more common among Jews than among any other people. "Genetic drift" refers to the increase in frequency of the genes for these disorders in this group, as a result of chance. Because Jews tend to not marry outside of their faith and community, the relatively high frequency of these genes among Jews did not pass into other communities, nor will be the frequency lessened by the introduction of other genes from outside the Ashkenazi Jewish community. Ashkenazi Jewish diseases and disorders occur more frequently in individuals of Jewish ancestry. Most 1 diseases are severely incapacitating and some are tragically debilitating, leading to death in infancy or early childhood. Several recessive genetic diseases are more likely to be found in Ashkenazi Jews and Jewish individuals with Eastern European blood than in other populations. However, genetic testing and counseling can identify individuals at risk for having children with these diseases and informed decisions can be made. It has been estimated that one in four individuals is a carrier of one of several genetic conditions. Some of these diseases may be severe and may result in the early death of a child. Carrier screening is available for all of these diseases with a simple blood test. Children and adults with a rare genetic disease have multiple needs to address: health concerns, primarily, but others as well. This writer‘s mission is to serve as another information resource by surfacing areas of assistance online and in the real world around these diseases and offering homeopathic and spiritual remedies in the form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) healing techniques, most often referred to as ―Mind-Body‖ healing techniques. It is not this writer‘s intent to choose resources, but rather to make support information and resources of any kind available to the people and to the families afflicted by these diseases. There is hope, and there is help. This all will allow this writer to answer more fully the questions which I will pose in the dissertation. In my dissertation, I will evaluate scientific explanation for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) healing that may not be frequently used in our Jewish culture. For the purpose of my dissertation, Ashkenazi Jews are ideal subjects by which to examine the issues, both from a health and biology point of view, because Ashkenazi Jews have been more informed about folk traditions in the Jewish culture and may welcome new traditions that may affect inherited diseases that are related to what are known in medical texts as ―Jewish Diseases.‖ It is my hope, through my research, to show which types of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)/Holistic Approach techniques are most often used in the relief and healing of specific Ashkenazi Jewish diseases. 1 PREVIOUS WORK IN THE AREA A team of researchers at Stanford University in California found that women who repressed their emotions will be more likely to show disruptions in the normal balance of the stress hormone cortisol, compared with those who did not. Earlier studies have shown that the unbalanced cortisol fluctuations can predict early death in women with breast cancer that has spread to other areas of the body. "People who have repressive styles tend to be more prone to illness, particularly (immune-system related) diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, infections, and cancers. The concept is of unexpressed anger. If one doesn't let it out, that could have adverse consequences." (University of California Los Angeles) "Extreme suppression of anger will be the most commonly identified characteristic of 160 breast cancer patients who will be given a detailed psychological interview and self-administered questionnaire. Repressing anger magnified exposure to physiological stress, thereby increasing the risk of cancer" (Journal of Psychosomatic Research) "Extremely low anger scores have been noted in numerous studies of patients with cancer. Such low scores suggest suppression, repression, or restraint of anger. There is evidence to show that suppressed anger can be a precursor to the development of cancer, and also a factor in its progression after diagnosis." (Cancer Nursing - International Journal) A 1979 study comparing long-term survivors of breast cancer with those who did not survive, scientists at John Hopkins University found that long-term survivors expressed much higher levels of anxiety, hostility and other negative emotions. Patients who will be able to express their feelings lived longer than those who had difficulty in doing so. (Journal of the American Medical Association) In a study conducted at the University of Colorado in the US, researchers found that people who repressed their emotions after a traumatic event had lowered immune systems compared to those who shared their feelings. 1 "Our work suggests that emotional disclosure may influence immune responsiveness as well as having general health benefits. We are investigating the effects of emotional expression in women with breast cancer." (University of Auckland Medical & Health Sciences) Cancer surgeon Dr Ryke-Geerd Hamer from Germany has examined 20,000 cancer patients with all types of cancer. Dr. Hamer noticed that all his patients seemed to have something in common: there had been some kind of psycho-emotional conflict prior to the onset of their cancer—usually a few years before—a conflict that had never fully resolved. Dr Hamer started including psychotherapy as an important part of the healing process and found that when the specific conflict will be resolved, the cancer immediately stopped growing at a cellular level. Dr. Hamer believes that cancer people are unable to share their thoughts, emotions, fears and joys with other people. He calls this "psycho-emotional isolation." These people tend to hide away sadness and grief behind a brave face, appear ‗nice‘ and avoid open conflict. Some are not even aware of their emotions, and are therefore not only isolated from other people, but also from themselves. METHODOLOGY Quantitative studies are becoming more recognized as important to understanding health care with all of its richness and complexities. Quantitative studies provide answers or insights for many important questions or issues in health care and clinical research. Other important questions dealing with why, how, contexts, and experiences of individuals or groups, can be best addressed using qualitative methods. Most studies in the major clinical journals have been quantitative studies. The staff of the Health Information Research Unit has established quality criteria for the 8 categories of clinical literature that must be met before articles are judged appropriate for clinical application and publication in an abstract journal. Qualitative studies have 3 criteria:  Content relates to how people feel or experience certain situations, specifically those that relate to health care; 1  Data collection methods and analyses are appropriate (primary analytical mode is inductive rather than deductive); and  Units of collection and analysis are ideas, thoughts, concepts, phrases, incidents, or stories that become categories or themes. A comprehensive summary of research literature on Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)/Holistic Approach to healing will be my focus. In particular, quality studies will be given greater weight in my research and assessment. Observational studies will be given less weight and non-comparative studies given the least weight. Case studies and historical research in the form of Qualitative Research and Studies will focus on the following: Mind-Body Interventions and Disease Outcomes Over the past 20 years, mind-body medicine practices that focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical functioning and promote health. Examples include meditation and yoga. has provided considerable evidence that psychological factors can play a substantive role in the development and progression of coronary artery disease. There is evidence that mind-body interventions can be effective in the treatment of coronary artery disease, enhancing the effect of standard cardiac rehabilitation in reducing all-cause mortality and cardiac event recurrences for up to 2 years. Mind-body interventions have also been applied to various types of pain. Clinical trials indicate that these interventions may be a particularly effective adjunct in the management of arthritis, with reductions in pain maintained for up to 4 years and reductions in the number of physician visits. When applied to more general acute and chronic pain management, headache, and low-back pain, mind-body interventions show some evidence of effects, although results vary based on the patient population and 1 type of intervention studied. Evidence from multiple studies with various types of cancer patients suggests that mind-body interventions can improve mood, quality of life, and coping, as well as ameliorate disease- and treatment-related symptoms, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea, vomiting, and pain. Some studies have suggested that mind-body interventions can alter various immune parameters, but it is unclear whether these alterations are of sufficient magnitude to have an impact on disease progression or prognosis. Mind-Body Influences on Immunity There is considerable evidence that emotional traits, both negative and positive, influence people's susceptibility to infection. Following systematic exposure to a respiratory virus in the laboratory, individuals who report higher levels of stress or negative moods have been shown to develop more severe illness than those who report less stress or more positive moods. Recent studies suggest that the tendency to report positive, as opposed to negative, emotions may be associated with greater resistance to objectively verified colds. These laboratory studies are supported by longitudinal studies pointing to associations between psychological or emotional traits and the incidence of respiratory infections. Meditation and Imaging Meditation, one of the most common mind-body interventions, is a conscious mental process that induces a set of integrated physiological changes termed the relaxation response. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used to identify and characterize the brain regions that are active during meditation. This research suggests that various parts of the brain known to be involved in attention and in the control of the autonomic nervous system are activated, providing a neurochemical and anatomical basis for the effects of meditation on various physiological activities. Recent studies involving imaging are advancing the understanding of mind-body mechanisms. For example, meditation has been shown in one study to produce significant increases in left-sided anterior brain activity, which is associated with positive emotional states. Moreover, in this same study, 1 meditation was associated with increases in antibody titers to influenza vaccine, suggesting potential linkages among meditation, positive emotional states, localized brain responses, and improved immune function. Physiology of Expectancy (Placebo Response) Placebo effects are believed to be mediated by both cognitive and conditioning mechanisms. Until recently, little was known about the role of these mechanisms in different circumstances. Now, research has shown that placebo responses are mediated by conditioning when unconscious physiological functions such as hormonal secretion are involved, whereas they are mediated by expectation when conscious physiological processes such as pain and motor performance come into play, even though a conditioning procedure is carried out. Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning of the brain is providing evidence of the release of the endogenous neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain of Parkinson's disease patients in response to placebo. Evidence indicates that the placebo effect in these patients is powerful and is mediated through activation of the nigrostriatal dopamine system, the system that is damaged in Parkinson's disease. This result suggests that the placebo response involves the secretion of dopamine, which is known to be important in a number of other reinforcing and rewarding conditions, and that there may be mind-body strategies that could be used in patients with Parkinson's disease in lieu of or in addition to treatment with dopamine-releasing drugs. Stress and Wound Healing Individual differences in wound healing have long been recognized. Clinical observation has suggested that negative mood or stress is associated with slow wound healing. Basic mind-body research is now confirming this observation. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), whose expression can be controlled by cytokines, play a role in wound healing. Using a blister chamber wound model on human forearm skin exposed to ultraviolet light, researchers have demonstrated that stress or a change in mood is sufficient to modulate MMP and TIMP expression 1 and, presumably, wound healing. Activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) and sympathetic-adrenal medullary (SAM) systems can modulate levels of MMPs, providing a physiological link among mood, stress, hormones, and wound healing. This line of basic research suggests that activation of the HPA and SAM axes, even in individuals within the normal range of depressive symptoms, could alter MMP levels and change the course of wound healing in blister wounds. Surgical Preparation Mind-body interventions are being tested to determine whether they can help prepare patients for the stress associated with surgery. Initial randomized controlled trials--in which some patients received audiotapes with mind-body techniques (guided imagery, music, and instructions for improved outcomes) and some patients received control tapes--found that subjects receiving the mind-body intervention recovered more quickly and spent fewer days in the hospital. Behavioral interventions have been shown to be an efficient means of reducing discomfort and adverse effects during percutaneous vascular and renal procedures. Pain increased linearly with procedure time in a control group and in a group practicing structured attention, but remained flat in a group practicing a self-hypnosis technique. The self-administration of analgesic drugs was significantly higher in the control group than in the attention and hypnosis groups. Hypnosis also improved hemodynamic stability. Evidence from randomized controlled trials and, in many cases, systematic reviews of the literature, suggests that:  Mechanisms may exist by which the brain and central nervous system influence immune, endocrine, and autonomic functioning, which is known to have an impact on health.  Multicomponent mind-body interventions that include some combination of stress management, coping skills training, cognitive-behavioral interventions, and relaxation therapy may be appropriate adjunctive treatments for coronary artery disease and certain pain-related disorders, such as arthritis.  Multimodal mind-body approaches, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, particularly when 1 combined with an educational/informational component, can be effective adjuncts in the management of a variety of chronic conditions.  An array of mind-body therapies (e.g., imagery, hypnosis, relaxation), when employed presurgically, may improve recovery time and reduce pain following surgical procedures. Mind-body approaches have potential benefits and advantages. In particular, the physical and emotional risks of using these interventions are minimal. Moreover, once tested and standardized, most mind-body interventions can be taught easily. Neurochemical and anatomical bases may exist for some of the effects of mind-body approaches. Finally, future research focusing on basic mind-body mechanisms and individual differences in responses is likely to yield new insights that may enhance the effectiveness and individual tailoring of mind-body interventions. In the meantime, there is considerable evidence that mind-body interventions, even as they are being studied today, have positive effects on psychological functioning and quality of life, and may be particularly helpful for patients coping with chronic illness and in need of palliative care. STUDENT COMMENTS 1. What is my overall evaluation of the course – in terms of my needs, my present job, or future plans? I'd like to work teaching others the heal themselves. It is my lot in life to teach other the techniques that can help themselves heal themselves. We will no longer be a prisoner to the healthcare system as we know it today. We have the power to heal ourselves and not have to rely on another provider. I believe it is fact and it can indeed happen. 2. Was the course helpful? In what way? 1 This report was helpful because I have no knowledge of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) healing as it relaties to or compliments Tradational Western Medicine. 3. Did you do some additional reading (articles, books, etc.) concerning the subject matter of the course, and include at least some material or discussion from this reading in your course report (including citations to your sources)? I did quite a bit of reading from articles and texts on this subject matter. Those sources are listed in my 1st Draft. 4. Which section (or sections) of the primary text was the most interesting, or informative to you, and why? I really like the idea of Mind-Body Healing and DNA Healing. It just seems so unique yet simple. If we can heal ourselves through our own bodies and minds, then we can free ourselves from the mess of Traditional Western Medicine, which is not restorative. It is frustrating, expensive, and politically driven. 5. If you had had experience in any of the areas discussed, you might briefly discuss, or give examples of this. I have not experienced any of this. I have had years and years of Traditional Western Medicine and sometimes it does not work. In fact, sometimes it does more harm than good. 6. If you should question or disagree with the text writer on any issue or issues, please state your question or disagreement, and explain your position. I don‘t disagree with the text, because I am a novice and have to take it as fact and that it comes from scientific data that I have no reason to dispute. 1 1