Articles yet to be posted here

 Article yet to come in this blog

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2025/06/articles-yet-to-come.html

Non-Drug Management of Migraine

 

My sister-in-law Mary Chong Lee Moy who is recently a just retired Senior Nurse Clinician at the National University Hospital in Singapore phoned me this afternoon  from Johor Bahru complaining about her migraine. 

Let me take this opportunity to share my advice to her with other migraine sufferers too, especially for women reaching their menopause. 

Professor Dr SC Ling in a WhatsApp group also encouraged me to post this advice here so that others too can benefit  

Below is what I spoke to my sister-in law orally over the phone  

-----------------------------

 

Migraine Management & Relief 

Dear Mary,

Thank you for reaching out to me regarding your migraine concerns. I'm grateful for the opportunity to offer some support. Migraines can be complex and vary from person to person, but there are both immediate and long-term strategies that may help you manage them effectively.

Immediate Relief with Cold Compress Therapy

Applying cold compresses to both sides of the neck, forehead, and back of the head can be helpful in managing migraine pain. Cold therapy offers multiple benefits:

Vasoconstriction: Cold compresses narrow the blood vessels (especially the superficial carotid arteries), which may help counteract the vasodilation involved in migraines.

Numbing effect: Cold reduces nerve conduction and dulls pain perception.

Inflammation control: Cold limits the release of inflammatory mediators.

Muscle relaxation: It helps release neck and shoulder tension, a common migraine trigger.  

How to Apply:

Use a cold pack or crushed ice wrapped in a towel.
Apply for 15–20 minutes at a time, up to 4–6 times daily as needed.
Avoid direct ice contact to prevent skin burns.

Complementary Non-Drug Therapies

In addition to cold therapy, consider:

Meditation and mindfulness breathing (especially diaphragmatic breathing)

Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR)

Yoga for migraine (specific poses help relieve cervical tension)

Hypnotherapy: Clinical hypnosis can reduce stress-induced migraines. Some trials have shown reduced frequency and severity with consistent sessions

Acupuncture: Evidence supports its role in chronic migraine prevention

Avoiding Common Migraine Triggers

Lifestyle and environmental triggers are significant in migraine management. These include:

Environmental Triggers:

Bright or flickering lights (including sunlight through tree leaves).

Strong odors (smoke, perfume)

Noisy environments

Skipping meals or irregular sleep schedules.

Dietary Triggers (to avoid)

Aged cheese (tyramine content)

Red wine and other alcohol

Chocolate (phenylethylamine)

Processed meats (nitrates/nitrites)

Caffeine: For some, it relieves migraines; for others, it triggers or worsens them, especially with sudden withdrawal.

MSG, aspartame, citrus fruits, dried fruits, nuts, bananas, onions, avocados, garlic, and fermented/pickled foods.

It’s helpful to keep a migraine diary to track and identify individual food and lifestyle triggers.

 

Herbal and Natural Supplements:

Several herbs may help reduce the frequency or severity of migraines. However, dosage, purity, and drug interactions must be considered.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium):

Mechanism: Reduces inflammatory prostaglandins, serotonin release, and platelet aggregation.

Dose: 100–300 mg daily of standardized extract (with 0.2–0.4% parthenolide).

Avoid during pregnancy.

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus):

Mechanism: Anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic on vascular walls.

Dose: 75 mg twice daily of PA-free (pyrrolizidine alkaloid-free) extract.

Not recommended for long-term use due to possible liver toxicity.

Ginger:

Useful for nausea and vomiting during migraine attacks.

Can be taken as tea, capsules (250 mg), or raw ginger.

 Melatonin:

Mechanism: Regulates circadian rhythm; modulates serotonin.

Dose: 3 mg at bedtime.

Especially useful in migraines with sleep disturbances or hormonal links.

White Willow Bark:

Contains salicin (like aspirin).

Dose: 120–240 mg salicin/day.

May be beneficial for general headache and pain relief.

Aromatherapy & Oils

Lavender oil: Inhalation or massage (2–3 drops diluted in carrier oil) may relieve migraines.

Peppermint oil: Apply diluted oil on temples or forehead for tension headache relief.

Conventional Migraine Medications

If migraines become more frequent or disabling, the following may be considered under a physician’s supervision:

Acute Migraine Relief:

Paracetamol (Acetaminophen): 500–1000 mg at onset.

NSAIDs: Ibuprofen 400–800 mg or Naproxen 500 mg.

Triptans (for moderate to severe attacks):

Preventive Therapy (if >4 attacks/month):

Beta-blockers: Propranolol 40–120 mg/day.

Calcium channel blockers: Verapamil.

Tricyclic antidepressants: Amitriptyline 10–75 mg/day.

Anticonvulsants: Topiramate (25–100 mg/day), Valproate.

These should be prescribed after full assessment.

 Caution with Herb–Drug Interactions

Feverfew may interact with NSAIDs or warfarin (increased bleeding)

.
Butterbur and melatonin may interact with liver-metabolized drugs

Herbs may affect the action of triptans, beta-blockers, antidepressants, and anti-seizure medications.

Always consult a healthcare provider before starting herbal supplements, especially when taking conventional medication.

Please let me know how you feel after trying the cold compress therapy alone. If it helps even partially, it’s a good sign. Then you may proceed to trial feverfew and melatonin or butterbur, depending on your tolerance and medical history.

You are not alone in this. Migraine is a complicated but manageable condition. Let us work together to explore the best strategy that suits your unique case.

 As a care-giver, I am one who sees beyond pills into the person.

Take care always, dear Mary. I’m here anytime you need me.

With blessings, and  brotherly love

lim ju boo 

(Articles yet to come in this blog): 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2025/06/articles-yet-to-come.html

“Treating the Living Soul: A Reflection on Healing, Compassion, and the Way of Jesus (Part 2)

 

Treat the Patient as A Living Soul - Not Treat the Disease.

by lim ju boo 

Continuing with my thoughts on how Jesus managed to instantly healed a list of incurable diseases by today standard here:

Beyond Medicine

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/2025/07/beyond-medicine-returning-to-divine.html

Here's what I believe.

Jesus must have treated the sick as a person, one that has a living soul, not as some machine that requires "oiling" when it gets sick and rusty. 

What is the best way to treat a body when it is ill? Should we use pharmaceuticals that are actually chemicals made from petroleum introduced by John D Rockefeller to change the chemical pathology of the body and silence its cries (symptoms of discomfort). If this is a chronic lifestyle disease, it often may lead to another linked disease - such as high blood pressure leading to stroke, kidney problems, and diabetes, or shall we be kind to it by removing the root causes first, rest it, then stimulate and nourish it gently to help the body to use its own inbuilt healing mechanisms to recover on its own? There is a difference between treating the disease and treating the patient. 

The patient is a living body with a body, mind and soul. It is not a machine that requires oiling when it gets rusty or makes frictional noises. This is similar to "oiling" a patient when it gets sick, especially chronic diseases due to damaging lifestyles of all kinds by using chemicals under the hidden and glorified name as "medicines" The Canadian physician Sir Willian Osler, the Father of modern medicine one of the foundering professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital reflect his wisdom in medicine when he quoted: "the good physician treats the disease, the great physician treat the patient who has the disease" I think the body is fearfully and wonderfully made as given in Psalm 139:14, and to treat it with drugs that are actually chemicals, we are only altering its chemical pathology and diverting it elsewhere into other emerging linked diseases. It is like diverting the continuously flowing water of a polluted river elsewhere or damning it up somewhere else till the dam bursts to flood even more polluted all over the surrounding areas. This analogy is similar trying to use chemical drugs to treat a chronic lifestyle disease when the root cause at the source was never treated Often this is the case with allopathic medicine practised in hospitals using drugs to control the disease and or to shut up its cries (symptoms, swelling and pains) to be given the same medicine at higher doses or other similar substitutes. 

The patient never got cured because we are treating the chemistry of the disease, not the patient with his health-damaging lifestyles - the root causes In short, we aggrieved and insult the ailing body with chemicals under the gloried hidden names as "medicines" to shut up its cries (symptoms) and ask the patients to come back again for more of the same "medicines" in the next appointment, instead of removing the root cause(s) first, rest it, stimulate it gently using massage, acupuncture, using a combination of low doses of botanical medicines acting gently and synergistically in all direction, using dietary approaches, giving love, care and encouragement to the patient for the body to revert to its own slower healing mechanism already programmed there.

“Treating the Living Soul, Not Just the Disease: A Reflection on True Healing”

Let me rewrite this in another way after being Inspired by the Healing Ways of Jesus and the Wisdom of the Body

What Is the Best Way to Treat the Body When It Is Ill?

When illness strikes, the question we must ask is not merely what drug to prescribe, but rather: How do we treat the human being, this living soul, with dignity, kindness, and wisdom? Should we silence the cries of a suffering body with synthetic chemicals? Or should we listen compassionately, search for the root causes, and gently encourage the body to activate its own God-given healing mechanisms?

In the world of modern medicine, particularly allopathic medicine, the prevailing model is to treat the symptoms of disease, often with chemical pharmaceuticals that alter the body’s biochemistry. Many of these drugs are derived from petrochemical sources, popularized through the influence of industrial tycoon John D. Rockefeller, who helped reshape medicine to rely heavily on synthetic pharmaceuticals, sidelining traditional natural remedies in the process.

These medicines may bring temporary relief, but when it comes to chronic lifestyle diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions, this approach often creates a cascade of interconnected pathologies. A drug prescribed to reduce blood pressure may burden the kidneys; another to manage inflammation may stress the liver; yet another to control blood sugar may alter hormonal balance. Thus begins a downward spiral, where one disease feeds another, and the patient becomes trapped in an endless cycle of medication.

A Machine or a Living Soul?

The human body is not a mechanical engine that needs “oiling” when it gets rusty, nor a malfunctioning machine requiring new parts or suppressive chemicals. It is a living, breathing soul - a sacred creation that houses body, mind, and spirit in profound unity.

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works.”
— Psalm 139:14

Yet, modern treatment protocols often treat the body mechanistically, giving the same drug to every patient with a given disease label, without regard for the patient’s individual constitution, emotional state, lifestyle, environment, or spiritual needs. This is akin to damming a polluted river rather than purifying its source. Sooner or later, the dam bursts, and the toxins spread even further.

Just as you cannot fix a river by blocking its flow, you cannot heal the body by simply silencing symptoms. The symptoms are not the disease, they are the body’s cries for help, signals from within that something has gone wrong.

True Healing: Kindness to the Ailing Body

True healing begins by honoring the body, not assaulting it. Instead of prescribing stronger chemicals or higher doses of suppressive drugs, we might ask:

• What is damaging this person’s health, physically, emotionally, spiritually?

• Can the body heal if we remove the root causes, poor diet, stress, toxic habits, sedentary lifestyle?

• Can we nourish and stimulate the body's innate ability to repair itself through natural means?

These questions reflect a radically different approach to healing, one that resembles how Jesus treated the sick.

Jesus did not administer chemical substances. He healed with a word, a touch, or simply by being present. His healings were instantaneous, not because of any medical procedure, but because He treated the person as a whole, body, mind, and soul.

“The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”
— Sir William Osler, Father of Modern Medicine

The Allopathic Trap: Silencing the Cry Without Listening to the Pain

All too often, allopathic medicine shuts down symptoms without addressing their origin. The same drug is repeated, the dose increased, side effects appear, new drugs are added, and yet the root cause remains untouched.

It’s like ignoring a fire alarm and silencing it without putting out the fire.

Eventually, the patient returns, not cured, but dependent, tied to a system that manages disease rather than promotes healing. In this process, we often aggrieve and insult the body, which only wanted to be heard, to be rested, and to be gently encouraged to recover.

A Better Way: Healing the Person, Not Just Treating the Illness

A more humane and holistic approach might include:

• Identifying and removing root causes: poor diet, toxins, stress, trauma, sleep deprivation.

• Resting, and restoring the body through sleep, sunlight, silence, and spiritual peace.

• Gentle stimulation: massage, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, breathing exercises, mild movement.

• Synergistic botanical medicine: herbs in low doses, working together across multiple pathways.

• Nourishing the soul: love, care, prayer, encouragement, forgiveness, and faith.

These are not merely alternative methods, they are the original design of how the body heals itself. They do not override the body but work with it, honoring the sacred programming already written into our being by the Creator.

Conclusion: Let the Body Speak, Let the Soul Heal

The body speaks through pain. The soul speaks through discomfort. The wise healer listens to both, not just with knowledge, but with compassion and reverence.

We do not truly heal by “fighting” disease with chemicals. We heal by listening to the cries, removing the burdens, and loving the person behind the diagnosis. In this sacred task, let us follow not only the science of medicine but the heart of the Healer—Jesus Christ, who came not only to cure, but to restore.

Historical and Medical References:

          1.   Sir William Osler, Johns Hopkins Hospital:

“The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.”
(Attributed to Osler in many medical philosophy texts and lectures.)

2. The Rockefeller Influence in Modern Medicine:

• Sources discussing how John D. Rockefeller influenced the shift to petrochemical-based pharmaceuticals and funded the Flexner Report to restructure medical education in favor of allopathic medicine.
  (See: “Rockefeller Medicine Men” by E. Richard Brown, and articles from Health Impact News or GreenMedInfo.)

• 3. The Flexner Report (1910) – Sponsored by Rockefeller Foundation and Carnegie Foundation to standardize medical education around allopathy.

Often cited as a turning point where traditional medicine (botanicals, naturopathy, homeopathy) was marginalized.

4 Video Reference:

"A Town Called Allopath" (YouTube):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lllrm5_iGRY

— A creative commentary on the mechanistic, pharmaceutical-based model of medicine.

Beyond Medicine: Returning to The Divine Design of Healing - List of Incurable Diseases Jesus Treated (Part 1)

In a WhatsApp chat, Prof Dr SC Ling asked me on the mystery how did Jesus manged to heal the sick, lame, paralyzed and the blind without medicine?  

I shall answer that separately in another article to follow this.

I too am always amazed at how Jesus treated the various types of diseases and ailments without using any chemicals doctors called them as "medicine. First see this video called:

"A Town Called Allopath" 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lllrm5_iGRY

All the diseases treated by Jesus over 2,000 years are incurable using modern conventional medicine till this day in the 21st Century as practised in our scientific state-of-art hospitals, and yet Jesus needed only a single touch of His hands, and they were all instantly healed. How did He do it?  One clue I guess was, Jesus treated the body as a living soul, not as some kind of a body chemistry that requires chemicals under the hidden and glorified name as "medicine" like we do in hospitals today using allopathic medicine.  

By treating the body as a living soul, intricately knit by the Creator, with spirit, mind, and body in union. His healing ministry stands as a divine testimony of compassion, authority, and power that transcended any human medicinal system. Let me  walk together with you  through the types of diseases and ailments Jesus healed, and then reflect on how He might have done it. I shall write about these medical miracles, how Jesus did it separately. 

First, let us have a list of types of diseases and ailments Jesus healed

Jesus healed all manner of diseases, from physical disabilities to spiritual afflictions, always responding with compassion, authority, and often with a word or a touch. Here is a summary with scriptural references:

1. Leprosy (Skin diseases)

• Matthew 8:2–3 – “And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him… and immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

• Also: Luke 5:12-13, Mark 1:40-42.  He touched the untouchable, showing divine authority over unclean conditions.

2. Paralysis

• Matthew 9:2–7 – Jesus heals a paralytic brought to Him on a bed. He says, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven… Get up, take your mat and go home.”

• Also: Luke 5:18–25, Mark 2:1–12. Spiritual healing ("your sins are forgiven") came before physical healing.

3. Blindness

• John 9:1–7 – A man born blind receives sight. Jesus spits on the ground, makes clay, anoints the eyes, and tells him to wash in the pool of Siloam.

• Also: Matthew 9:27–30, Mark 8:22–25, Matthew 20:29–34

Healing of the eyes often symbolized spiritual awakening.

4. Deafness and Muteness

• Mark 7:31–37 – A deaf and mute man is healed. Jesus puts fingers into his ears, spits, touches the tongue, and says "Ephphatha" (Be opened).

• Matthew 9:32–33 – Jesus casts out a demon and the mute man speaks.

Some conditions had spiritual roots (e.g., demonic oppression).

5. Demon Possession / Mental Afflictions

• Luke 8:26–39 – The Gerasene demoniac, who lived among tombs, was restored to sanity.

• Mark 1:23–26 – A man with an unclean spirit cried out in the synagogue. Jesus rebuked it.

• Also: Matthew 17:14–18 – A boy with seizures, whom the disciples couldn’t heal.

 Jesus showed that not all illnesses are purely physical, some are spiritual in origin.

6. Fevers and Common Illnesses

• Mark 1:29–31 – Peter’s mother-in-law had a fever. Jesus took her by the hand, lifted her up, and the fever left her.

• Also: Luke 4:38–39

7. Hemorrhaging / Bleeding Disorders

• Mark 5:25–34 – A woman with an issue of blood for 12 years touches Jesus’ cloak. Jesus says, “Your faith has healed you.”

• Also: Matthew 9:20–22, Luke 8:43–48

Faith itself became the medium of healing—"Power has gone out from me," He said.

8. Resurrections (Healing from Death)

• Luke 7:11–17 – Widow’s son at Nain

• Mark 5:35–43 – Jairus' daughter

• John 11:1–44 – Lazarus, who had been dead for four days

9. Deformities / Withered Hands / Lameness

• Luke 6:6–10 – Man with a withered hand restored.

• John 5:1–9 – Lame man at the Pool of Bethesda, paralyzed for 38 years.

How Did Jesus Heal Without Medicine?

Here are a few clues to reflect on:

1. Divine Authority and Oneness with the Father

“The Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing...”
— John 5:19

Jesus healed with divine authority, not as a doctor treating symptoms, but as the Creator restoring His creation. His words carried creative power, like at the beginning of Genesis: “Let there be light.”

2. Compassion and Faith Activation

“Jesus, moved with compassion, touched their eyes…”
— Matthew 20:34
“Your faith has made you well.”
— Mark 5:34

He healed as an expression of divine love, often requiring faith, or awakening faith in others. Healing wasn't merely mechanical—it was relational.

 3. The Soul-Body-Spirit Unity

Jesus never dissected man into organs or chemistry. He saw the whole being—body, mind, spirit—as interconnected. That’s why He often said:

“Your sins are forgiven… go in peace… your faith has saved you.”

Illness may have roots in sin, trauma, spiritual oppression, or loss of peace. Jesus healed at the root, not just the symptoms.

4. He Bypassed Chemistry, Healed with Word and Touch

“He sent out His word and healed them…” — Psalm 107:20
“Only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” — Matthew 8:8

No drugs. No potions. No surgeries. Just command, presence, and compassion.

 My Impression: A Body as Living Soul vs. Body Chemistry

My feeling and  insight is deeply spiritual that tallies with biblical truth. Modern medicine, especially allopathy, often reduces the human being to biochemical reactions needing pharmaceutical corrections. In contrast, Jesus acknowledged the divine breath in man (Genesis 2:7) and healed with divine resonance, not chemicals.

Regarding the Video: “A Town Called Allopath”

This thought-provoking video critiques the dominance of allopathic medicine, especially its reliance on chemical pharmaceuticals, many of which suppress symptoms rather than address root causes.

Jesus’ model reminds us:

• The soul must be healed.

• The mind must find peace.

• The body will follow.

Faith, forgiveness, spiritual alignment, compassion, rest, peace, these are true medicines, invisible to pharmacology, but powerful in their effect.

My Reflection and Conclusion: 

“He Himself took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” — Matthew 8:17
“By His wounds we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:5

 Scriptural References:

1. Psalm 139:14 – “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”

2. Matthew 8:2–3 – Jesus heals the leper with a touch.

3. Matthew 9:2–7 – Jesus heals a paralyzed man and forgives his sins.

4. Matthew 9:20–22 – The woman with the issue of blood is healed by faith.

5. Mark 7:31–37 – Jesus heals a deaf and mute man with the word “Ephphatha.”

6. Luke 6:6–10 – Healing of the man with the withered hand.

7. Luke 8:43–48 – Healing of the woman with bleeding for twelve years.

8. John 9:1–7 – Healing of the man born blind.

9. John 11:1–44 – Raising of Lazarus from the dead.

10. Matthew 20:34 – “Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes…”

Does Beta-Carotene Causes Lung Cancer?

 My nephew, Professor Dr Ong Wei Yi , a neuroscientist at the National University of Singapore casually mentioned in a family WhatsApp group on Wednesday, 2 July, 2025 this: 

I quote what he said in inverted comma in pink 

"Excessive consumption of beta carotene in smokers actually increases the risk of lung cancer, not decreases. So a certain level of free radicals may act against cancer cells too"

Yes, I am aware of this a long time ago.

Actually I have already written on that  on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 here" 

Reasons Why Health and Nutrition Supplementations Are Harmful for Health

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=beta+carotene+increases+lung+cancer+

Unfortunately, the hundreds of articles on various subjects  I write here, seldom do readers respond to them. I am unsure if they even understand what I am trying to tell, else I waste a lot of my time and effort.  

Let me respond again with greater detail that  touches on a fascinating and important area of nutritional science and cancer risk, especially regarding beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A and a powerful antioxidant. Let us look at the science-based answer and distinguish between food sources and supplements, as well as smokers vs. non-smokers.

Smokers and Beta-Carotene: The Risk of Lung Cancer

Indeed, there is an increased lung cancer risk with high-dose beta-carotene supplementation in smokers is a well-established finding based on major clinical trials. This was shown in these key studies:

1. ATBC Study (Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Trial) – Finland, 29,000 male smokers:

20 mg/day beta-carotene for 5–8 years. Increased incidence of lung cancer by ~18% in the supplemented group.

2. CARET Study (Beta-Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial) – U.S., smokers & asbestos-exposed workers:

25 mg/day beta-carotene + 25,000 IU retinyl palmitate.

Trial was stopped early because of a 28% increase in lung cancer. The reason is, in smokers, the lungs already face oxidative stress from cigarette smoke. Beta-carotene may act as a pro-oxidant under this stress rather than an antioxidant, causing DNA damage instead of protection. Beta-carotene supplements at high doses are harmful in smokers and should be avoided.

What About Natural Foods Like Carrots for Smokers?

There is no strong evidence to suggest that eating carrots or other beta-carotene-rich foods (like sweet potatoes, spinach, pumpkin) increases lung cancer risk, even in smokers. The reason is, natural foods contain a complex mix of antioxidants, vitamins, and phytochemicals that work synergistically. The beta-carotene content is much lower compared to supplements. The body regulates the conversion of beta-carotene from food into vitamin A as needed.

Imagine a cancerous lung cell as a fragile, damaged ball. If you strike it with a single, concentrated stick, representing high-dose beta-carotene in supplement form, the blow may worsen the damage, possibly sending the ball flying out of control, symbolizing the potential for metastasis or progression.

However, if you surround that same ball with many supportive sticks from all directions, representing the wide array of natural antioxidants found in whole foods like purple sweet potatoes, pumpkins, spinach, and carrots, these diverse compounds can help stabilize the environment around the cell. Together, they prevent erratic movement, reduce oxidative stress, and may even support the body's own repair mechanisms.

Similarly, think of a chair. A single leg sticking out on one corner cannot support any weight. If you try to sit on it, you’ll fall,  just as relying on one isolated antioxidant may destabilize internal balance. But a well-designed chair with four legs, each representing different antioxidants acting synergistically, provides stability, safety, and resilience.

Thus, nature’s design, in the form of whole foods containing a symphony of nutrients in modest concentrations, offers a safer and more harmonious approach than isolating one antioxidant. 

Epidemiological studies even show that diets high in fruits and vegetables may be protective for general health, including some cancers, although this protection is reduced or negated in heavy smokers.

Non-Smokers and Excessive Beta-Carotene

For non-smokers, natural food sources of beta-carotene are safe, even in large quantities. High-dose supplements are generally not needed unless medically indicated, and may not provide any extra benefit. Too much beta-carotene from food may turn the skin slightly orange (carotenemia), especially in children, but this is harmless and reversible.

There is no solid evidence showing increased lung cancer risk in non-smokers from beta-carotene, whether from food or supplements ,  but the benefits of supplementation remain unclear, and moderation is wise. Thus I agree that beta-carotene supplements at high doses are harmful in smokers and should be avoided, but there is no strong evidence to suggest that eating carrots or other beta-carotene-rich foods (like sweet potatoes, spinach, pumpkin) increases lung cancer risk, even in smokers let alone for non smokers 

In short, we should not discourage smokers and non-smokers from eating foods rich in beta carotene that also has a wide variety of other antioxidants because there is no evidence to suggest that these foods cause lung or other cancers. Maybe only for high doses of  stand-alone beta-carotene found artificially in food supplements, but not in low doses found in natural foods. Overall all, naturally coloured fruits and vegetables are exceedingly protective against all chronic diseases, not just against cancers.

My conclusion is beta-carotene from supplements may not be safe for smokers, but beta-carotene from food (e.g. carrots) may be safe even for smokers. But for non-smokers avoid unnecessarily high doses from supplements, but safe and possibly beneficial from natural sources like carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, pumpkin and even tomatoes too that  contains lycopene and other carotenoids that has been shown in numerous animal studies to protect against prostate cancer. 

The main cause of lung cancer is smoking and lesser due to asbestos exposure. So stop smoking and let the body recover naturally and not blame it on beta-carotene supplements or found naturally in foods

Does Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease? here:

 Title: Re-evaluating Cholesterol: The Myth, the Science, and the Truth Behind Coronary Heart Disease

By Dr. Lim Ju Boo and Prof. MC Sage

On  Tuesday, August 17, 2021 I  singly wrote an article entitled: 

Does Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease? here: 

https://scientificlogic.blogspot.com/search?q=does+cholesterol+cause+heart+disease

Today, I am writing to answer this same question again, friends and the public asked over  and over again. 

This time I shall answer this age-old question again together with my senior most research partner Professor MC Sage. 

It is very unfortunate the gullible public believe in everything their doctors tell them, example "cholesterol causes heart disease, and you need to take the medicine (statin) I shall prescribe for you"   

Introduction

For decades, cholesterol has been demonized as the central villain in coronary heart disease. Public health campaigns, dietary guidelines, and medical prescriptions converged on a simple yet potent message: avoid cholesterol, reduce saturated fats, and lower your serum cholesterol to prevent heart attacks.

But is cholesterol truly the cause of heart disease? Or is this one of the most profound misinterpretations in medical history? This article seeks to re-examine this question with a critical lens, combining firsthand analytical experiences, historical reflections, and rigorous scientific studies.

The Early Narrative: Cholesterol and the Framingham Heart Study

The Framingham Heart Study (FHS), launched in 1948, was instrumental in shaping our understanding of cardiovascular risk factors. Early analyses of FHS data did indeed find a statistical correlation between high total serum cholesterol levels and increased risk of coronary heart disease, especially among middle-aged men.

This correlation catalyzed the diet-heart hypothesis, most famously championed by Ancel Keys, who postulated that saturated fat intake raised cholesterol, which in turn caused heart disease.

In parallel, massive public health policies were enacted. The American Heart Association, USDA, and global health bodies issued strong guidelines to reduce cholesterol and saturated fat intake.

The Shift in Understanding: Later Phases of FHS and Beyond

As FHS continued over multiple generations and decades, later findings began to challenge the initial conclusions:

• Cholesterol levels were not predictive of heart disease in the elderly.

• A significant number of patients who experienced myocardial infarctions had normal cholesterol levels.

• Other factors emerged as stronger predictors: smoking, hypertension, diabetes, stress, sedentary lifestyle, and systemic inflammation.

In fact, Dr. William Castelli, a former director of the Framingham Study, famously stated:

"In Framingham, Mass, the more saturated fat one ate, the more cholesterol one ate, the more calories one ate, the lower the person's serum cholesterol... and the people who ate the most cholesterol, saturated fat and calories were the most physically active and weighed the least."

(Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, 1992)

This marked a significant reversal of the cholesterol narrative.

My Personal Professional Observations and Experience

As a Senior Medical Research Officer at the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), Malaysia (1968–1994), I had the privilege and responsibility of signing tens of thousands of diagnostic reports on serum cholesterol levels.

Blood samples arrived daily from government hospitals across the country, from Johor Bahru in the south to hospitals near the Thai border in the north, including East Malaysia.

Our lab technicians and analysts found no consistent correlation between cholesterol levels and the clinical notes provided by physicians. Patients suspected of ischemic heart disease, angina, or myocardial infarction often had normal cholesterol levels.

We reanalyzed samples to rule out analytical errors:

• Repeated tests showed less than 1–2 mg/dL variation.

• Spiking experiments using known cholesterol amounts confirmed our accuracy.

• Cholesterol recovery analysis also validated our procedures.

We concluded the fault was neither with the patient nor the lab, but possibly with a flawed foundational theory still widely believed by clinicians.

Cholesterol: Biochemistry, Physiology, and Misconceptions

Cholesterol is not inherently harmful. It is a pale-yellow, waxy compound, essential for numerous physiological functions:

• Cell membrane structure

• Synthesis of steroid hormones (testosterone, estrogen, cortisol)

• Vitamin D metabolism

• Myelin sheath formation in nerves

The liver produces about 85% of the body’s cholesterol, tightly regulating blood levels through homeostatic feedback mechanisms.

Even consuming large quantities, e.g., 10 eggs a day (providing ~1860 mg cholesterol), barely shifts serum cholesterol, as the body adjusts endogenous production accordingly.

I have personally eaten two eggs daily for over 70 years and frequently consumed goat’s brain curry (high in cholesterol and choline) for 10 years, with no abnormal serum cholesterol nor any cardiovascular events.

Dietary Cholesterol: Revisions in Guidelines

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAC) officially removed cholesterol from the “nutrients of concern” list:

*"Available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and serum cholesterol."

This marked a policy U-turn after decades of caution. Foods like eggs, butter, dairy, coconut oil, and liver were no longer demonized.

Even Dr. Steven Nissen, a renowned cardiologist, affirmed:

"We got the dietary guidelines wrong. They've been wrong for decades."

LDL, HDL, and Oxidation Theory

While LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) is labeled “bad” and HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) “good,” this distinction is simplistic.

What makes LDL dangerous is oxidation:

• Oxidized LDL becomes sticky and gummy, adhering to the damaged intima of arteries, forming plaques.

• Free radicals, especially from stress, smoking, and poor diets, oxidize LDL, leading to atherogenesis.

Cholesterol itself, when pure, is neither sticky nor soluble in water. It requires lipoprotein carriers to travel in blood.

Stress, Inflammation, and the Real Culprits

Research increasingly points to inflammatory processes as the true cause of atherosclerosis, often initiated or aggravated by:

• Chronic psychological stress

• Elevated cortisol and adrenaline

• Oxidative stress and free radical damage

• Endothelial dysfunction

See this detailed article: "Why Reducing Stress is More Important Than Lowering Cholesterol" - 

https://www.stress.org/why-reducing-stress-is-much-more-important-than-lowering-cholesterol

Statins and the Pharmaceutical Industry

By the time the Framingham Study began softening its stance on cholesterol, statins had already flooded the market.

Drugs like atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin, etc., were producing billions in revenue.

In 2002 alone, statin prescriptions reached USD 88 million. Today, they yield nearly USD 60 billion annually.

While statins lower LDL and reduce cardiovascular events in high-risk populations, their over prescription in healthy individuals has drawn criticism.

The US government and medical research bodies were slow to update guidelines, possibly influenced by powerful pharmaceutical interests. Doctors rarely read primary literature and instead rely on pharma sales representatives.

Emerging Research: Beyond Cholesterol

Many modern studies support a more holistic approach:

• Oxidative damage as the catalyst for plaque formation

• Calcium buildup and osteoblastic cell differentiation in arterial walls (see Hyo-Soo Kim, Seoul National University)

• Genetics, infections, gut microbiome, and dietary sugar play significant roles

Dr. John Yudkin (1910–1995), my former professor at Queen Elizabeth College, University of London, was one of the earliest to warn about sugar, not cholesterol. His book "Pure, White and Deadly" was prophetic, but dismissed at the time.

Supporting Literature & References

1. Framingham Heart Study and its Legacy – ACC

2. Framingham Study – NCBI Historical Perspective

3. Dietary Cholesterol and Cardiovascular Disease – PMC

4. 7 Myths About Cholesterol – TIME

5. BMJ: No link between LDL cholesterol and mortality in elderly

6. Stress and Heart Disease – Taylor & Francis

7. US Government removes cholesterol from 'naughty list'

Conclusion

The once unchallenged view that cholesterol causes heart disease is now being re-evaluated. While cholesterol, particularly oxidized LDL, can contribute to atherosclerosis, it is not the primary cause.

The true culprits appear to be stress, inflammation, oxidative damage, dietary sugar, sedentary behavior, and poor lifestyle choices.

It is time the medical community reorients itself with updated science, reduces unnecessary prescriptions, and adopts a holistic model of cardiovascular care. The myth of cholesterol as the singular cause of heart disease must be laid to rest.

Signed with gratitude and scientific clarity,

Dr. Lim Ju Boo
Senior Medical Research Officer (Ret.)
Institute for Medical Research, Malaysia

Prof. MC  Sage
 Research Scholar and Scientific Partner

Articles Yet to Come

 Thank you M. Sethi for your kind and encouraging  words. Not really. I merely write within my knowledge and experience.  Thank you for enjoying my thoughts. 

I write all day and night long as a hobby else my mind will not just become stagnant but begin to degrade. 

As to answer your other questions, here are the articles I shall release in stages as the weeks go by: 

1. Relief from Fear can Only come from Something Living 

2. Ghosts are More Frighten of Us than We. Why? 

3.  Why do the Public  Trust Doctors, Scientists and Teachers Most?  Should They Really? Something wrong with this thinking   

4. Urban Lights Detected on Another Planet ?

5. Did Scientists Discover Another Universe?

6. The Universe May End Sooner than We Think

7. A New Theory on the on The Origin of Life

8. Man who Died for 45 Minutes to Tell All 

9. Our Accumulating Waste - A Mounting Debt We Own to Nature 

10. Human -Animal Bond in Memory of A  Baby Crocodile I  caught 

11. A New Theory on The Origin of the  Universe

12. Strange Eerie Sounds from Another World

13. Creation vs Evolution. Who is Right? 

14. Traditional Wisdom vs Modern Medicine 

15. How modern medicine has been hijacked (Part 1 & 2) 

16. Medicine of the Future