We told you so, and now it's validated in the medical literature:

On hormone replacement therapy:

Results from the largest, and longest, study to date indicate that estrogen does not have a therapeutic role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. The doctors involved in the research stated that "the findings are a reminder that there is not a simple translation from laboratory experiments to clinical application, and illustrate that hypotheses -- no matter how compelling the results on which they are based -- remain provisional supposition that must be proven before they can inform clinical practice."

Source: Journal of the American Medical Association 2000;283:1007-1015,1055-1056/.

Results from a cross-sectional study in Germany indicate that use of hormone replacement therapy does not protect against osteoarthritis.

Source: Annals of Rheumatoid Diseases 2000;59:105-109.

Clinical trials do not support a beneficial effect of postmenopausal hormone therapy on cardiovascular diseases. In some of the studies, more cardiovascular adverse events were reported in the groups of women on hormone therapy than in the control groups (those not taking hormone replacement therapy). The researchers conclude that recommendation of postmenopausal therapy as a method of preventing cardiovascular diseases is not justified at this time. Preventive programs should not be based on laboratory findings only. (Beneficial effects of estrogen were based on blood lipid concentrations.)

Source: Lancet 2000;355:569-71.

The addition of progestin to a woman's hormone replacement therapy regimen substantially increases her risk of developing breast cancer relative to the use of estrogen alone. In addition, giving progestins to women who no longer have a uterus is not a good idea because of the added breast cancer risk.

Source: Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2000;92:328-332.

Note that progestin is a synthetic form of progesterone. Using natural progesterone has a beneficial effect. One study, cited in our book, demonstrates how the application of natural progesterone applied transdermally to breast tissue actually reduces the proliferation of cancer cells.

Healthy-User Syndrome

Articles on the hazards of postmenopausal hormone therapy are beginning to appear in prestigious medical journals. Even more noteworthy than citing the risks for HRT, are these comments in New England Journal of Medicine (1997, June19;336:1769-75):

Observational studies have reported reduced mortality among women taking hormones, but many of the studies have had methodologic flaws that limit firm conclusions. Women for whom estrogen is prescribed are often healthier initially, and those who continue to take hormones tend to be free of disease. For example, women in whom cancer is diagnosed, often stop taking hormones. Thus, lower mortality among hormone users may be attributed erroneously to the hormone itself. Expected mortality advantages are, in part, offset by the risk of breast cancer.

Women discontinue hormone use when symptoms of a fatal disease develop. This must reflect the selection of healthy women for estrogen therapy, a potential "healthy-user"effect. Postmenopausal estrogen probably acts as a late-stage growth promoter. We know many ways to lower risk of coronary disease, but few to lower the risk of breast cancer.

Similar articles have appeared in other journals. Read on!

The British Medical Journal (1997, Jul 19;315:149-53) cites that the pooled data of clinical trials "do not support the notion that postmenopausal hormone therapy prevents cardiovascular events." These researchers looked at 22 trials involving 4,124 women. They conclude: There have been hundreds of trials studying the impact of hormones on various physiological phenomena, laboratory values, osteoporosis, symptoms, or various health problems, but few fully report adverse effects....In many trials, women were lost to follow up, and even more trials gave no data on reasons or numbers of drop outs or losses. Most trials had selected only healthy women. Therefore, the effects of postmenopausal therapy on sick women cannot be inferred from these results....Carcinogenic effects or slow tumor promotion may take years or decades to show up. (These studies were not long-term.) Studies failed to report adverse effects fully, if at all.

Additional report: American Jnl of Epidemiology 1996 May 15;143:971-8

Women who elect to use ERT have a better cardiovascular risk factor profile prior to the use of ERT than do women who subsequently do not use this treatment during menopause, which supports the hypothesis that part of the apparent benefit associated with the use of ERT is due to preexisting characteristics of women who use ERT. Beware of the "healthy-user" syndrome.

You don't necessarily have to go to the very latest studies! This information appears in our book Hormone Replacement Therapy: Yes or No. We wrote that book six years ago, but update yearly.

Mammography

Studies by advocates of early universal breast screening have been found to have flaws, according to a Lancet study. One famous study, frequently cited and conducted in Sweden, contained imbalances resulting in bias that favored screening. Although regular mammography has been recommended in Sweden since 1985, there has been no decrease in breast cancer mortality.

It has also been noted that mammography is not infallible, showing 10 to 15 percent failure rates in diagnosis. Screening mammograms are less accurate in women who use hormone replacement therapy than in nonusers, increasing the risks of both false-negative and false-positive results.

Source: Lancet 2000;355:270-274.

Viagra for Flowers!

Viagra is good not only for treating male impotence, but small concentrations of the drug dissolved in a vase of water can also double the shelf life of cut flowers, making them stand up straight for as long as a week beyond their natural life span. Viagra has been tested on strawberries, legumes, roses, carnations, broccoli and other perishables. One milligram of Viagra (compared with 50 mg in one pill taken by men) in a solution appeared to be enough for the beneficial effect.

Viagra has a similar effect on plant ripening as it does on men's sexual organs. Viagra increases the vase life of flowers by retarding the breakdown of cyclic guanosine monophosphate. If the flower industry uses this preservation method, edible flowers may become more popular than ever before.

Source: British Medical Journal 1999 July;319-274.

Note: Our book, the Remarkable Healing Power of Velvet Antler , discusses the safe use of velvet antler for libido problems (along with its long-time safe and amazing help for arthritis).

Stephen Fulder, a renown researcher, says this about velvet antler: "it can be a considerable help both to those who are potent but sexually exhausted, and to those who are impotent and wish they could be sexually exhausted."

www.bettykamen.com