Last June Clifford Bloch pediatric endocrinologist here in Denver reported that young boys grew breasts after using lavender shampoo.

Gynecomastia, the medical term for enlarged male breasts, usually results from an imbalance between estrogens, which stimulate breast growth, and testosterone. The condition is very rare before puberty, rare enough that Bloch realized something was wrong with a dozen preteen boys with gynecomastia seen in his practice. Testing showed their sex hormones were at normal levels. Bloch interviewed the boys and their parents carefully and found that they were all using a shampoo, hair gel or other topical product that contained lavender.

The gynecomastia got better when the boys stopped using the lavender containing products. Bloch took this a step further. He contacted Derek Henley and Kenneth Korach of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park , N.C. These two investigators set up an experiment in their lab and exposed human- breast cells to lavender. They found that the oil turned on estrogen-regulated genes and inhibited an androgen-regulated gene. There is every reason to assume these oils have a similar but unnoticed effect in young girls. It would just be harder to notice. Earlier age of sexual development has been blamed on many environmental factors; eating too much tofu [i] and chicken or the phthalates in plastics [ii] have all been pointed to as possible culprits. Lavender exposure is another cause we should now consider Other interesting lavender research has come out this year. Lavender looks useful for treating depression and insomnia in college aged women. [iii] It changes autonomic nervous function lowering blood pressure, at least in rats. [iv] It increases appetite, slows the break down of fat and stimulates weight gain. [v] It acts as an effective anti parasitic, killing giardia and trichimonas. [vi] A study from 2005 confirmed our long time use of lavender as an antifungal. [vii]

In our eagerness to shift away from synthetically manufactured chemicals to things more natural, we may have rushed a little too quickly in assuming that pharmaceutical grade plant extracts were benign. Lavender obviously has a long history of safe use but the extracts we are now are quite strong and may cause effects unnoticed in the past. It's not just lavender. Highly concentrated plant extracts are added to almost all shampoos and soaps.

Gynecomastia of course is one of those undesirable side effects of the hormone blockade used to treat advanced prostate cancer. This might make one wonder if lavender might have a role in treating prostate cancer. Recall that lavender is one of the sources of perillyl alcohol. And indeed a May, 2006 study concluded, “These novel properties of perillyl alcohol strongly suggest that perillyl alcohol could be highly useful for intervention of prostate cancer.” [viii] Although an earlier phase II human trial published in 2003 wasn't able to demonstrate benefit. [ix] , another 2003 study called it a “promising new agent” that could be used to “radio-sensitize prostate cancer cells.” [x] While it seems unlikely that the lavender used in a shampoo provides enough perillyl alcohol to make a difference, it is still worth considering?

Irregardless of whether lavender has a role to play in cancer treatment, it is obvious that it has little use in products used on a routine basis for healthy people and especially children. Double check those shampoo bottles at your earliest opportunity. by Jacob Shor, N.D.

I already forwarded an alert to you all last week. We need more letters to Rep. Jack Pommer in HD 11. House District 11 incudes parts of East Boulder, Gunbarrel, Niwot and Longmont. Mr. Pommer himself doesn't believe in natural medicine, but he REALLY needs to hear from his constituents that they want it and that it is important to them! HIS YES VOTE IS CRUCIAL!!!!!!

Some messaging ideas:

Health care professions are not static entities. They evolve and change in relation to new technologies or changing consumer interest. Complementary medicine, is one of the fastest growing parts of the health care sector.

This discussion may be upsetting to some if not most of those currently involved in health care work. The exclusive franchise of what counts for health or even medicine will no longer be able to be controlled by a few individuals.

Trends:

Recognition that a single western scientific model of the world is no longer the only acceptable model of reality.

The paradigm of health care needs to adapt to the diverse views of the world.

The existing system has severe limitations in assumed safety.

The recognition that the mechanical biological model of health, so dominant in the 20th century exists along with other models of wellness and being.

Choice by individuals is not only a right, but often produces different and better outcomes.

Legislators role: Protect the public, and protect the rights of practitioners. NO EMAILS OR PHONE CALLS YET! Letters need to be received by April 9th! Write him at:

Honorable Representative Pommer Colorado State Capitol 200 East Colfax Rm 271 Denver, Co. 80203

or home address:

Representative Jack Pommer 605 Pine Street Boulder, Co. 80302

Dr. Paul Herscu, N.D. a naturopath and homeopath based in Massachusetts has successfully used the homeopathic remedy Lycopodium for dogs and cats poisoned by tainted dog food. I would recommend a 200c dose 3x per day but if it is an emergency, you could just pick up a 30c dose from the natural food store and administer 3x/day. It has a strong effect on the liver and Dr. Herscu has seen it work in several cases.

In honor and reverence to nature's power and the power of Kale surviving the coldest snowiest Colorado winter I've ever experienced, here are some Kale recipes from around the world! Since I'm a fairly novice gardener as they go, I'm sure that others are also eating kale from the garden already so here's to us and here's to Kale!