Is removing a woman's ovaries during a hysterectomy a bad idea? Package deal Despite the mounting evidence to the contrary, it seems that many doctors don't believe that removing a woman's ovaries during a hysterectomy is a bad idea. Each year more than half of all hysterectomies performed in this country for non-cancerous reasons also involve removing a woman's healthy ovaries along with her uterus. But a recent study in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology reveals that ovary removal doesn't do any good and might even cause harm. To draw this conclusion, the researchers used published data from other studies on risks for ovarian cancer, heart disease, stroke, hip fracture, and breast cancer to create a model of how women with different characteristics would fare with ovary removal at different ages. According to the study's lead investigator, William H. Parker of the University of California at Los Angeles, there was no clear benefit to the removal of healthy ovaries at any age. And furthermore, his models suggested that removing them actually increases the risk of dying from heart disease for women younger than age 65. Yet, most doctors consider ovary removal standard practice for any women over age 45 who is having her uterus removed. Their thinking is that with menopause on the horizon and ovarian cancer an often silent-killer, the practice is protective. To that I say: Think again! It's time to put a stop to this "package deal" mentality of surgeons and keep what is healthy intact. **************************************************** Breathe easier Q: I suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and my pulmonologist suggests inhalers to help with my breathing. Can you suggest alternate treatments? JVW: Treating COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, involves a multi-pronged approach, so what I am about to outline may seem overwhelming, but take it a step at a time and it will be manageable. The best natural treatment for COPD is nebulized, inhaled glutathione, a safe, natural treatment that has helped countless patients with COPD, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis to breathe easier. A dose of 120-200 milligrams inhaled twice a day is what I usually recommend. Each day's glutathione should be prepared in its own separate vial since it rapidly loses strength when exposed to air. A compounding pharmacist can prepare it for you with a physician's prescription and can usually supply the nebulizer, too. If your case is more advanced, intravenous therapy with hydrogen peroxide or ozone can be given in careful doses by a skilled physician. To loosen thick, bronchial secretions, I generally recommend 500 milligrams of N-acteylcysteine three times per day. If you use this for several months or more, you should add 30 milligrams of zinc picolinate and 2 milligrams of copper sebacate, but take each separately because they bind together and are then excreted from the body. Since the secretions often cause infection, it's also helpful to use 200-400 milligrams of goldenseal and at least 2 grams of vitamin C, both twice daily. And finally, to relax the smooth muscle of the bronchial tubes, take 300-400 milligrams daily of magnesium in the form of citrate, aspartate, taurate, or glycinate. I also usually recommend 50,000 units of vitamin A daily to maintain the health of the bronchial tube cells, 1 1/2 tablespoons of lecithin and flaxseed oil along with 400-600 units of vitamin E to improve the "surface properties" of all cells, and a good, general multi-vitamin/mineral supplement. Last but not least, get checked for food allergies, and if you have any, avoid them. Many people are often surprised to find that avoiding allergens can make a huge difference in how they feel. **************************************************** What is...COPD? Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is an irreversible disease caused by emphysema or chronic bronchitis or both, and is usually attributable to smoking. COPD progressively inhibits breathing. It usually begins with a morning cough that produces mucus. If the disease progresses, shortness of breath occurs upon physical exertion, eventually leading to breathing difficulty even upon limited activity. Yours in good health, Amanda Ross Editorial Director Nutrition & Healing   Sources: Parker WH, et al. "Ovarian conservation at the time of hysterectomy for benign disease," Obstetrics & Gynecology 2005; 106(2): 219-226.

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