IN THIS ISSUE: Beyond hot flashes: How the right forms of estrogen may help fight cancer, MS and more; The amazing medical privacy disappearing act: now appearing in neighborhoods everywhere; The first step in heart disease prevention: Check your testosterone levels; SARS: Breathe easy with these five herbal solutions; Increasing dosage—the safe way; A bladder infection remedy so safe even a baby can use it; Low stomach acid and food allergies: The new “which came first” argument

Over the last three years, you’ve probably read a lot (especially from me) about “good” and “bad” estrogen. The first time you see these references it can be somewhat confusing: How can estrogen be good and bad? Isn’t it just one substance?

Q: I’m 32 and have had heartburn since I was a teenager. I controlled it with TUMS. A year ago I finally went to a GI doctor and he immediately prescribed Prevacid. It worked great. I could eat anything, even my favorite pepperoni pizza. After a year on the drug I decided to quit cold turkey. I didn’t want to have to take this drug the rest of my life, especially after hearing some of the possible long term side effects (stomach tumors). I had horrendous heartburn non stop for 2 weeks. …I got to thinking that something else might be going on. I called my sister who worked at an allergy clinic. She had me come in to speak with the doctor. He ordered food allergy tests. Sure enough…dairy, tomatoes, corn, peanuts. At about the same time I found your book (Why Stomach Acid Is Good For You). This book explains why it is very probable that I got these food allergies from STOMACH ACID SUPPRESSION.

I am writing to thank you for saving my son a lifetime of health problems. My son Noah was diagnosed with Grade 4 vesicoureteral reflux (“VUR”) at the age of 2 months…On release from the hospital and following his diagnosis of VUR, he was placed on prophylactic antibiotics…

Q: I am 79 years old and have been a diabetic for over 25 years. I am taking Insulife three times a day. I also exercise a lot. My doctor decided to test my blood for insulin. It came back <2 (none). He tested it again and got the same result… My glucose fell from 149 to 119.

Question: Can I take more than one Insulife per meal?

SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) seems like it came out of nowhere, doesn’t it? It certainly caught us all off guard, and I think most people feel unprepared to fight it. The good news is that nature is prepared, and some of its best weapons against viruses of all sorts (even mysterious, powerful ones like SARS) are two herbs you probably already know about: Echinacea and St. John’s wort. But before I explain how these and a few other herbs can help protect you from deadly viruses, let’s take a minute to review what researchers do know about SARS so far.

Estriol isn’t the only hormone back in the limelight these days. Very recently, yet another research report underlined the importance of testosterone and cardiovascular disease in men.

Sue Blevins (president of the Institute for Health Freedom) asked recently: “What would you call a federal regulation that gives more than 600,000 doctors, insurers, and data-processing companies permission to share your medical records without your consent? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) calls it a medical privacy rule.”