Book Reviews

Health and Nutrition Secrets That Can difficult to estimate from animal studies. uals have genetic predisposition for certain
Save Your Life, by Russell L. Blaylock, The effects of high pharmacological doses diseases, there is much that healthy living
M.D., 459 pp., hardcover, $29.95, ISBN: used in animal experiments should not be and proper nutrition can do to prevent the
0-929173-42-2, Albuquerque, N.M.: extrapolated to draw conclusions about activation of genetic switches linked to the
Health Press, 2002. natural, physiological amounts of these degenerative diseases of aging. He also
substances in humans. affirms that all degenerative diseases of the
Dr. Russell Blaylock’s latest magnum Moreover, researchers James T. Bennett brain share a common etiological process,
opus is arranged in two major sections, and Thomas J. DiLorenzo have noted that whether begun by trauma, exposure to
either one alone more than worth the book figures from the EPA, FDA and other toxins, or a lifetime of poor nutritional
price. It is a welcome addition to his earlier government agencies are often politically habits and/or stress. Degeneration may
work on excitotoxins.1 influenced and arrived at in less than good ultimately manifest itself in such disorders
Superb chapters cover essentially every faith.2 Sometimes bureaucrats define the as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, or
aspect of health and nutrition; brain and toxic level of a chemical in collusion with arteriosclerosis and stroke.
body protection against toxins, injury, and private entities that may have a vested It is not surprising that it has taken so
disease; and even defense against financial interest in having certain higher or many years of study by a neuroscientist of
bioterrorism. His discussion on “protecting lower values placed for regulatory Dr. Blaylock’s eminence, with his vast
your brain” is an outstanding read, and his purposes. It becomes clear that we cannot knowledge in so many fields–
chapter on “surviving a terrorist attack” is always trust the designated “experts” to tell neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, pathol-
timely indeed. us the truth about toxic substances. We must ogy, embryology, biochemistry, pharma-
He covers causes of degenerative be increasingly prepared to look after our cology, nutrition–to be able to process all
diseases, including the bad effects of free own health if we are to preserve it. this potentially lifesaving information and
radicals and the benefits of certain miner- First, clinicians and enthusiasts must present it to the reader in a cogent, clear,
als, vitamins, and other more powerful recognize the phenomenon of hormesis, the and precise fashion. This is due not only to
antioxidants; nutrition, genes, and genetic pharmacological truism that “the dose his writing skills but his artistic ability: he
switches; the danger of mercury from makes the poison.”3 While some substances even draws his own illustrations!
various sources; the effect of fluoride from such as lead are toxic at infinitesimal doses, This book is destined to be among the
drinking water, toothpaste, and other most other natural substances and chemi- most treasured books in preventive
sources; other toxic metals to avoid; cals become harmful only in higher doses. medicine, nutritional medicine, and
vaccination hazards; toxic food additives; Second, the clinician must not fall into geriatrics. It is for medical professionals as
pesticides and other harmful chemicals; the trap of post hoc, ergo propter hoc (“after well as for lay people who want to preserve
and causes of arteriosclerosis, stroke, heart this, therefore because of it”). In other their health and prolong their lives.
attack, and other diseases of aging and how words, does a high level of a toxic sub- Moreover, it takes moral courage to
to prevent them. stance cause a disease, or does it merely write such a powerful tome, exposing so
Dr. Blaylock offers one of the best accumulate as the result of the disease many inimical health practices, such as the
discussions on the pathophysiology of free process itself? ongoing but needless addition of dangerous
radical formation and the damage it causes Thus, while Dr. Blaylock points toward chemicals to foods (monosodium gluta-
various human cells and tissues, particu- a particular agent such as mercury as highly mate, aspartame, carrageenan) and water
larly in the central nervous system. His toxic and responsible for damage to many supplies (fluoride). Health and Nutrition
description of the mechanisms of cellular areas of the brain, he is careful to note that Secrets That Can Save Your Life is a
injury is clear and persuasive. So is his cited nutrition, state of health, genetic suscepti- brilliant and compelling tour-de-force that
research and explanation for clinical bility, and levels of antioxidant protection, will reverberate in the health and nutrition
protection provided by proper nutrition and rather than a single factor, play a role in field for years to come.
the human antioxidant network, including causing disease at a certain level in a
vitamins, enzymes, and other antioxidants specific individual. The fallacy of applying REFERENCES
post hoc, ergo propter hoc reasoning may
1
such as glutathione and alpha lipoic acid. Blaylock RL. Excitotoxins: the Taste that Kills.
For all this, Dr. Blaylock has only also refer to the life processes: in his Albuquerque, N.M.: Health Press; 1994.
2
gathered material and drawn medical excellent discussion on aging, Dr. Blaylock Faria MA Jr. Public health: from science to
conclusions that, although reflecting the carefully notes that “While it is true that politics. Review of From Pathology to
most advanced state of medical knowledge, Politics: Public Health in America by JT
many people’s endocrine systems begin to
cannot be written in stone. This book, like Bennett and TJ DiLorenzo. Medical Sentinel
fail with age, it is more likely that progres- 2001;6:46-48.
any cutting-edge medical text, requires a sive endocrine failure is a product of the 3
Faria MA Jr. Vandals at the Gates of
caution for the uninitiated, whether health aging process itself, rather than its cause.” Medicine: Historic Perspectives on the
enthusiast or unwary clinician. Throughout the book Dr. Blaylock uses Battle over Health Care Reform. Macon, Ga.:
Remember, the absolute amount at cogent arguments and provides scientific Hacienda Publishing; 1995:347-340.
which any substance becomes toxic is details emphasizing that although individ-
Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 8 Number 2 Summer 2003 63
The Ballad of Carl Drega: Essays on auction at the first sign of private defiance In fairness, Dr. Angell applauds the
the Freedom Movement 1994 to of their collective will.” prescription while saying nothing about the
2001, by Vin Suprynowicz, 696 pp., He backs this up by citing cases such as actual book.
soft cover $24.95, ISBN , 0-9670259-2- that of Carol Pappas in which, to exploit a There is a thin veneer of scholarly
3, Reno, Nev: Mountain Media, 2002. small but defiant property owner, the state pretension, with some endnotes and a
acted in collusion with giant private “selected bibliography.” The style is
The Ballad of Carl Drega by journalist interests, applying unjust laws and forming highly colloquial, overladen with cliches
Vin Suprynowicz is an eye-opening book a corrupt “relationship between govern- and banalities in every paragraph, many
that libertarians and informed conserva- ment and private property rights that my calling attention to themselves with
tives will cheer. His uncompromising dictionary defines as fascism.” quotation marks. The bibliography is
stance and indefatigable pursuit of freedom The government realizes that an armed
citizenry in this country at some point will indeed highly selected–from the left side
is sure to inflame the minds of those who of political commentary. The sum of
worship omnipotent government. reach its limit and become an explosive
obstacle to further erosion of private “comprehensive analysis and data on the
Yet despite his passion and stridency, of U.S. health care system” is six sources,
which he is proud, Suprynowicz wants to property rights. Suprynowicz writes, “This
is why the tyrants are moving so quickly to including a book by Rudy Mueller;2 one by
ignite the spark of freedom in his readers' David Himmelstein, Steffie Woolhandler,
hearts, not trap them in polemic argument. take away our guns. Because they know in
their hearts that if they continue the way and Ida Hellander; and two references to
The book's succinct introduction sets
the tone for the rest, containing a brief but they've been going–boxing Americans into the Kaiser Family Foundation.
masterful discussion of the true meaning of smaller and smaller corners, leaving us no The book being boilerplate cant from
political compromise, based on Ayn Rand's freedom to decide how to raise and school Physicians for a National Health Program,
1962 essay, “Doesn't Life Require and discipline our kids, no freedom to it is not surprising that its author is a former
Compromise?” Our 21 -century politi-
st purchase or do without the medical care we PNHP president and is praised effusively
cians who sacrifice liberty on the altars of want on the open market, no freedom to by PNHP stalwarts Himmelstein and
expediency and political correctness should withdraw $2,500 from our own bank Woolhandler: “LeBow isn’t just one of the
study this. accounts, let alone move it out of the best physicians in the U.S.–he is one of the
The powerful section, “Live Free or country, without federal permission, no best physicians to take on the whole health
Die: How Many More Carl Dregas?” is a freedom even to arrange the dirt and trees care system as his patient.”
shocking revelation of how we are losing on our own property to please ourselves–if
That is the fatal conceit of the whole
our freedom and marching in step toward a they keep going down this road, there are
going to be a lot more Carl Dregas, seductive socialist program: the idea that
virtual police state. People who have finally a mild-mannered medical director of a
stood up for their freedom and property hundreds of them, thousands of them, fed
up and not taking it any more.” metropolitan community health center in
rights have been crushed with hardly a Idaho, together with any number of other
whimper of public protest. Why? Because This is an explosive book that every
American who values freedom must read alumni of Harvard and Johns Hopkins,
the lapdog mainstream media have been can design a medical utopia. And all
complicit with government in keeping the and thoroughly digest if we are to use
Suprynowicz's “libertarian candle” to light without higher costs, administrative
public in the dark. hassles, or big government.
Carl Drega was an older man living in the path for restoration of our freedom, and to
rural New Hampshire. Environmental guide us back to the vision of our Founders. There are some stunning insights that
officials repeatedly harassed him for you may not be able to find anywhere else.
violation of an arbitrary edict, with which MiguelA. Faria Jr., M.D. The birthplace of “concierge” care is–
he could not afford to comply. One day he Macon, GA Communist Cuba!–where it benefits the
was stopped on the road because he had poor and downtrodden. The Evil Empire is–
Miguel A. Faria, Jr., M.D. is a former professor of
some rusty equipment in his pickup truck. neurosurgery (ret.) and adjunct professor of the AMA!–for having delayed the dawn of
Pushed over the edge by meddling officials, medical history (ret.) at Mercer University School not-socialized medicine.
Drega lost control. He pulled a gun, shot the of Medicine, editor emeritus of the Medical If you ever have to debate about single
patrolman, and went on a rampage, Sentinel, author of Vandals at the Gates of payer or single risk pool or universal
Medicine (1995), Medical Warrior: Fighting
shooting several of his former bureaucratic Corporate Socialized Medicine (1997), and Cuba
coverage or whatever not-socialized
tormentors before being killed in a battle in Revolution: Escape From a Lost Paradise medicine is called this week, you must read
with police. (2002, www.haciendapub.com). this book. Take it with you the next time you
Suprynowicz follows up Drega's case have a long flight or train ride and nothing
with those of Gary Watson, Donald Scott, Health Care Meltdown: Confronting else to read, not even an HHS regulation.
David Aguilar, Ralph Garrison, and others. the Myths and Fixing Our Failing I enjoyed the illustrations, especially
Unlike Waco and Ruby Ridge, none of System, by Bob LeBow, M.D., M.P.H., the patent-medicine advertisements from
these cases is well known. In fact, as 277 pp., index, $16, ISBN 0-9710972-1-
th
the 19 century–in an ironic sense.
Suprynowicz writes, “The real signifi-
cance, I believe, lies in the fact you've never 6, Boise, Id., 2002.
REFERENCES
heard of them. Or, if you have, that no 1
Danehower CC. Universal Coverage. J Am
magazine writer, no TV reporter, no The prestigious purveyors are out in
force, as Dr. Danehower warned in the last Physicians Surgeons 2003;8:5.
documentary filmmaker has ever before 1
2
Orient JM. Review of As Sick As It Gets: A
juxtaposed all these deaths at the hands of issue. The most interesting part of this Diagnosis and Treatment Plan by Rudolph
the regulatory state.” book is the endorsements, leading off with Mueller. Medical Sentinel 2002;3:103-104.
Suprynowicz explains: “In little more one by Marcia Angell, M.D., former editor
than 30 years, we have gone from a nation of the New England Journal of Medicine. Jane M. Orient, M.D.
where the quiet enjoyment of one's private Other enthusiasts include Dr. Rudy Mueller Tucson,AZ
property was a sacred right, to a day when whose own book was previously reviewed
2
the so-called property owner faces a here, other authors of books also advocat- Jane M. Orient, M.D., is an internist who serves
hovering hoard of taxmen and regulators ing schemes they claim are not “socialized as editor of AAPS News.
threatening to lien, foreclose, and go to medicine,” and Ralph Nader.

64 Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons Volume 8 Number 2 Summer 2003