Articles by Walter Ballenberger at ArticlePros.com

Ping Putters- i Series, Karsten and Redwood Series, and the JAS Craz-E One

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Ping has an almost astounding number of choices of putters for golfers. I counted 176 different varieties of putters that are available in different types of metals, inserts and other technologies. This does not count the 36 additional options that are available in the Specify line which lets golfers mix, for example, the front of a Ping Anser putter with the back of a Zing model. So if a golfer has an idea about the type and style of putter he prefers, Ping will almost certainly have a solution. The Ping philosophy is to offer putters from their established lineup of models in the different technologies they have adopted. In other words there is a Ping Anser putter available in just about every one of the series that are offered. Each series of putters will use a certain metal or combination of metals, as well as a certain type of putter face insert or other technology. The company also has an on-line fitting program which directs golfers to the location of qualified putter fitters. This article will describe the new i Series and Karsten series, as well as the Redwood series and the JAS Craz-E One putter, another new product offering.

The i Series by Ping
The i Series is a brand new line of putters that won’t ship to retailers until November of 2007. All the putters in this product line will have a two piece insert system, consisting of a urethane insert with a thinner material on top of the urethane. This technology is used to give good feedback to the golfer, in other words a soft feel and good sound. There are a total of 10 models available with the i Series technology, including old standards like the Anser and Zing, as well as the Piper, B60, Craz-E, ½ Craz-E, and ½ Moon models.

The Karsten Series
These putters are of course named after Karsten Solheim who was the founder of Ping. Again, this is a brand new product line which won’t begin shipping to retailers until October of 2007. The faces of these putters are made of steel, and an elastomer insert is added into the face in the ball contact area. Weight has been redistributed to the perimeter of the club head which increases the club head moment of inertia (MOI), and this adds forgiveness on off-center hits. These putters also have what is called a mult-level alignment aid. The thin and rectangular top edge of the putter contrasts to the aiming lines in the back cavity to make alignment easier. There are seven models to be offered in the Karsten series including the Anser, Anser 2, B60, B67, Zing, Craz-E, and Piper models of putter heads.

The Redwood Series
This series is named after Redwood City, California, where Karsten Solheim started working on putters in his garage, and this was the start of the Ping company. These putters are all milled from 303 stainless steel. Some golfers like the feel of a milled putter. Three traditional models are offered in this format, the Anser, Zing, and Piper.

The JAS Craz-E One
This is a new addition to the JAS line of putters. This putter has a shape that somewhat resembles some of the two ball putters on the market today, but it does not use balls as alignment aids. It does have a rectangular alignment aid on its large back plate. The putter head is made of lightweight C805 aluminum, and 4 heavy tungsten weights have been added to the perimeter, which creates a very high MOI. In fact the JAS Craz-E One has the highest MOI of any putter in the Ping lineup, so it is therefore the most forgiving putter in the entire product offering. The color is deep black and it has a modern appearance. I would say it is quite attractive looking.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Golf Putters. For a Free Report visit Golf Putters.

The Detour Line of Putters by Scotty Cameron

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

This article will describe the Detour line of putters by Scotty Cameron. The Scotty Cameron line of putters from Titleist is a very extensive line. The Scotty Cameron company merged with Titleist about 10 years ago and since then all the putters marketed by Titleist are designed by Cameron. All the brand names associated with Scotty Cameron putters are owned by Titleist. Cameron’s designs are esthetically pleasing, and some of his putters almost look like works of art or sculpture. The Detour line of putters are rather remarkable looking instruments. The putter heads consist of a blade type putter face and an attached back body plate, perpendicular to the face, which has a long aiming line. Both the back body plate and the aiming line are curved. Cameron is convinced that an arced stroke is the proper stoke for putting rather than a stroke that attempts to be straight along the target line from back to finish. The arc of the putter would move inside the target line in the back stroke, the putter would come square to the target line at ball impact, and the arc would continue inside the target line after the ball is struck. This is sometimes referred to as an inside-neutral-inside putting stroke. Not all the experts agree that an arced stroke is the proper one for putting. The renowned short game guru, Dave Pelz, states in his book “Putt Like the Pros” that most golfers would be better off with a stroke that remains along the target line throughout, although he acknowledges that many golfers, including top pros, use the arced stroke method, often with considerable success. Belly putters have become popular in recent years, and it is obvious that one is forced to use an arced stoke with such a putter. The arced back plate is made of an aircraft aluminum material. It has some holes in the bottom to take weight out of the middle of the plate, and a stainless steel weight is inserted in the back to place weight further back. The putter face is made of stainless steel and has a higher toe than heel. An addition weight is inserted into the toe of the putter head as well. The putter face also has a cushion material, called an Elastomer cushion, to give a softer feel at impact. All these weight redistribution techniques are used to increase the moment of inertia (MOI) of the putter and place the center of gravity (CG) of the club head in what Cameron considers the optimum positions. Increasing the MOI means that the club will be more forgiving on off center hits. The main and most obvious feature of the Detour line, however, is the curved back plate and curved aiming line which is truly a unique innovation. There are a total of 4 putters that have the Detour technology. They include the Detour and Detour 2, and the difference in these two clubs is that the Detour has a one shaft offset, whereas the shaft of the Detour 2 is straight. The Detour technology has also been incorporated into one of the older and popular lines of Cameron putters called the Newport line. The Newport 2 and the Newport 2.5 Detour putters both sport the curved flange and its associated weight distribution system described above. All four Detour putters have a loft of 4 degrees and a standard lie angle of 71 degrees. The Detour 2 and the Newport 2.5 Detour are not available for left handers. There are some options for length and club head weight on most of the models. The Detour putters by Scotty Cameron are remarkably creative innovations. Great attention is paid to esthetics and how the putter sits and looks to the golfer’s eye. IN addition the mix of materials used t produce the clubs take into account not only weight distribution and such technical issues as MOI and CG, but great effort is also placed into optimizing the feel and sound the putter makes at ball impact. It will be interesting to see how popular these ideas become in the future, especially the long curved aiming line. All four of the Detour putters have a retail price of $300, so they are expensive, premium clubs.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Golf Putters. For a Free Report visit Golf Putters.

Cameron Mallet Putters, the RED X® and Futura Phantom, and Two Limit Edition Cameron Models

Sun, 07 Oct 2007 04:00:00 GMT

This article will discuss several putter product lines offered by Scotty Cameron and Titleist. These will include the two lines of mallet putters, the RED X® series and the Futura Phantom, as well as two limited edition putters.

RED X® Mallet Putters
As is the case with many of Scotty Cameron’s putters, the mallet head designs of this line are very sculptured looking and pleasing to the eye. There is at once a certain boldness in the designs but also a simplicity as well. One wonders if Cameron doesn’t do sculpture on the side. The newest putters in this series, the Red X3 and the Red X5, are just being shipped to Titleist retailers as this article is being written in mid-September 2007. Both of these putters are milled from 303 stainless steel, and they have a black anodized sole plate as well as a glare resistant charcoal mist finish. Cameron has used this glare resistant finish on a number of his putter designs for 2007. All the mallet putters in the product line have a single alignment line. The differences between these two putters are that the Red X3 has a traditional shaft with a ¼ shaft offset obtained by a single bend in the shaft, and that the Red X5 has a full shaft offset and a plumbing neck. Both have the standard 4 degrees of loft and 71 degrees of lie angle, and they both come in lengths of 33, 34, and 35 inches. For left-handers, only the Red X3 is available in a 35 inch length.

The older members of this product line are the Red X and the Red X2, and there are a number of variations of these. There are belly putters for both models, called the Red X Mid and the Red X2 Mid, and there is a long length putter called the Red X2 Long. These putters were designed in 2003, and Cameron did a lot of research with different materials to obtain the best feel and sound possible at impact. The heads are made of stainless steel, and there is an additional face insert made of a different type of stainless steel, and the insert is given an elastomer border which helps give good feel and sound at impact. The difference between the Red X and the Red X2 is in the shaft configuration. The Red X has a single bend one shaft offset and the shaft connects to the putter head about half way between the center of the mallet head and the heel. There is no shaft offset on the Red X2, and the shaft connects to the mallet just behind the middle of the putter head. All the putters in the Red X line retail for $300.

Future Phantom Mallet Putters
There are two putters in this product line, the Mallet and the Mallet 2. The difference between the two is that the shaft connects to the mallet head at almost the center for the Mallet 2, whereas for the Mallet putter the shaft connects closer to the heel. There is no shaft offset for either putter. As the product line name implies, these putters have a very futuristic and stylish look to them. Behind the flat putter face is a stainless steel back plate that has a five-line alignment configuration. Behind that is a semicircular bar which gives the putter its mallet shape. It is obvious from simply looking at these putters that the weight has been redistributed to obtain a high moment of inertia, or MOI, which provides forgiveness on off-center hits. The putters come with the standard loft of 4 degrees and standard lie angle of 71 degrees, have no shaft offset, and are available in lengths of 34 and 35 inches. The Mallet 2 is only available in right-handed models. The materials used to produce the mallet heads are 661 aircraft aluminum with a stainless steel back weight, as mentioned above. Both putters retail for $300.

Limited Edition Catalina Classic
This is a classic putter design with only about 2000 pieces produced. The head of the putter is made of carbon steel and is coated with the charcoal mist anti-glare finish which also increases the putter’s durability. There is a single aiming line on the back center flange, and the grip is a soft stitched leather.

Teryllium Ten Limited Edition
Teryllium is a copper metal made from 12 different alloys, and it provides a soft feel and good sound due to the thick copper insert. Cameron released the first teryllium putters 10 years ago and is following up with an updated version. The sleek black look combined with the copper metal color, as well as the putter’s shape, make it a really beautiful instrument. Soft hand stitched leather grips are standard.

The two mallet putter product lines offered by Cameron and Titleist, the RED X® series and the Future Phantom mallet putters, offer an exceptional range of choices for golfers who are sold on mallets. I have used a mallet for years because it let me hit solid putts on a consistent basis. For the golfer who has everything, the two limited edition lines provide unique putter choices as well.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Golf Putters, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “Make More Putts Using Balanced Golf Balls ” visit Golf Putters

Odyssey White Hot XG Golf Putters

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT

The Odyssey White Hot XG golf putters product line is only one of several lines offered by the Odyssey company, but it is extensive in itself with 18 different models to choose from. These break down into two groups, the Core Models which account for 11 different putter types, and the Progressive Models, which consist of 7 types of putters with more modern shapes and design features.

All of the Odyssey White Hot XG putters are based on an advanced putter face insert technology which is designed to give a softer feel. The company states that the design was inspired by newer multi-layer golf balls which also are softer. Two different materials are used in the putter face to achieve this effect. First there is what is called an Elastometer core material which gives the putter its softer feel. On top of this is a thin outer striking surface which is a harder material. The impact zone is textured and supposedly this provides added feel, and the textured zone also surrounds and indicates the correct impact area, or sweet spot. In addition to this mixed-material insert technology, the Odyssey White Hot XG line of putters was designed to get the CG (center of gravity) of the clubs low and to the back of the club head. Accomplishing this also increases the MOI of the club which will provide some level of forgiveness if putts are not struck squarely on the sweet spot.

Odyssey White Hot XG Core Models
The Core Models all use the technologies described above and are putters based on classic designs. That is, they are all variations of traditional blade or mallet putters. They are simply named Odyssey White Hot XG no. 1, no. 2, etc. up through no. 9. The no. 5 putter has a “CS” version, which means it is the same as the regular no. 5 but with a center shaft configuration. There is also a White Hot XG Rossi model. The Rossi model and the No. 1, no. 3, and no. 9 putters come in left-handed versions. In fact the no. 9 putter was used by lefty Phil Michelson to win the 2007 Players Championship. As mentioned, these clubs are takeoffs of traditional blade or mallet putters, but they come in different styles, with different amount of offsets, different shaft placements and other features. The most radical looking is putter no. 7, which is called a modified mallet putter with weighted wings in the back to help alignment of putts. All these putters come with an MSRP of $119 and can be purchased through a vast network of dealers or directly from the Odyssey web site. Pictures of each putter can be found on the Odyssey web site as well.

Odyssey White Hot XG Progressive Models
The Odyssey Progressive line of putters uses more modern designs, especially with regard to putt alignment aids, as in the 2 Ball putters, and with more modern putter head weight redistribution techniques.

There are two versions of the White Hot XG Marxman putters. One is more of a mallet configuration, while the other is based on a blade design. The main visual features are the long alignment stripes. The putters essentially look like two ball putters, but they have long parallel stripes rather than additional golf balls to help line up the putt. Aligning putts properly is a huge problem for most golfers, and most of us have a tendency to be misaligned, leaving the chances of making putts up to subconscious corrections or perhaps just luck. Both of the Marxman putters have in-line weighting and full shaft offset, and both retail for $169.

The remaining five putters in the Progressive line are 2 Ball putters, and these have become popular with PGA Tour pros. As is the case with the Marxman models, there are 2 Ball putters based on both mallet and blade designs. These clubs both have full shaft offset, and the mallet model comes in a left-handed version. There is also a mallet-type model with a center shaft and no offset. All three of these putters retail for $169.

The newest putters in the White Hot XG lineup use a design called “Saturn Ring Technology”. Basically a semi-circular ring of metal is added to the rear of the club head. This approach will clearly redistribute weight and improve the MOI of the club. This means that even if the putt is not struck exactly on the sweet spot, the club will not twist as much and will thus provide forgiveness on off-center putts. There is a standard length and long-shafted version of this design available. Both putters have a half-shaft offset and both retail for $189.

Since most recreational golfers are notorious for hitting putts off-center and for having poor alignment, the Progressive Models of the Odyssey White Hot XG golf putters product line would seem to offer solutions that might help players hole more putts, lower scores, and have more fun playing the game.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Golf Putters, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “Make More Putts Using Balanced Golf Balls ” visit Golf Putters

Odyssey Golf Putters- Black Series

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT

The Odyssey company offers extensive lines of putters, and this article will describe one of their product lines, the Odyssey Black Series of putters.

The Odyssey Black Series consists of 3 putter head designs all of which take advantage of the design and technology features developed for this product line.

One feature used on all three models is a tungsten flange at the back of the putter head. This flange adds weight to the rear of the putter head and creates a low CG (center of gravity) which is deep in the club face. This feature helps to lift the ball slightly upon impact and get it rolling quicker. Since the golf ball actually is slightly nestled down into the grass of the putting green, hitting the putt initially with an upward angle helps get the ball rolling. In fact there is a short video on the Odyssey Black Series web site that shows a comparison between these clubs and another allegedly typical putter. The Black Series putter got the ball rolling about 1 ½ inches before the other putter did. Working in conjunction with the placement of the CG is the loft of the putter face. Each of the putter heads in the line, which are simply called Black Series no. 1, no. 2, and no. 3, have a different loft angle of the putter face which is optimized to get the quickest roll possible for the given CG location of each particular putter head. The theory is that the sooner the ball stops skidding after impact and begins a true roll, the more accurate the putt will be, and this certainly makes sense. It should also be noted that the weighted flange helps to create a higher MOI as well, and this provides some forgiveness for putts not hit exactly on the “sweet spot” of the putter face.

These putters are certainly top of the line and carry a retail price tag of $249 each. Black Series no. 1 putter has a rounded heel-toe weighted putter blade with a so called “crank-neck” hosel and a one shaft offset. The crank neck simply means that the offset is achieved by moving the shaft forward at 90 degree angles instead of a gradual bending of the hosel or shaft. The Black Series no. 2 putter has the same features but is more squared-off in appearance. Black Series model no. 3 is a mallet style putter with a double bend shaft that gives the same full-shaft offset.

The putter head is made of 1025 carbon steel and features a mix-milled face design which indicates the proper impact area. In other words the face has two different mill patterns on it. There is also a urethane damping layer between the flange and the milled carbon steel head that dampens vibrations.

The three traditional shaped heads of the Odyssey Back Series golf putters offer an interesting alternative for the serious golfer who prefers a traditional type of look and who can afford to spend $249 on his putter. They are certainly worth a look.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Golf Putters, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “Make More Putts Using Balanced Golf Balls ” visit Golf Putters

Odyssey White Steel and Dual Force Putters

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 04:00:00 GMT

This article will discuss two product lines of putters from Odyssey, the White Steel and Dual Force putter lines. White Steel The White Steel product line consists of 8 different putters broken down into two general classifications, the core models, which are based on traditional blade and mallet putter designs, and the Progressive models, which use more modern techniques for weight distribution and alignment aids. The common denominator of the White Steel putter line is the putter face. There are two inserts in the putter face, one is a light urethane insert that is also used in the White Hot line of putters. This insert is rather large and takes up a fair amount of the putter face. The material is light and provides for a soft feel at impact. This light material in the face means that there is more weight to the rear of the putter head and this places the CG (center of gravity) of the putter head farther back and also helps improve the MOI (moment of inertia). With a higher MOI the putter head will not twist as much on off-center hits, and this improves accuracy. A second insert of milled stainless steel is placed over the larger urethane insert. This insert is machine milled and has a consistent flat surface which improves the roll of the ball. It also has a pleasing sound, which also improves the overall “feel” of the putter. This line of putters also features a two-line alignment system, and the putters come with an anatomical grip which adds to the overall soft feel. There are 3 putters currently offered in the core product line, and these are called White Steel no.1, no. 5, and Rossie models. The White Steel no. 1 putter is a blade style which has a full-shaft offset. The White Steel no. 5 putter is a mallet style with a double bended shaft that gives a one-shaft offset. The White Steel Rossie is also a mallet putter with a one-shaft offset. All these putters have an MSRP of $119 and all the White Steel features described above, the double insert putter face, the two-line alignment feature, and an Odyssey Red Twirl Grip produced by Winn Grips, are included. In the Progressive product line there are three types of 2-Ball putters. The White Steel 2-Ball has the White Steel features along with 2-Ball alignment. This club retails for $169. The White Steel 2-Ball Mid has a mid-length shaft and retails for $235. The White Steel 2-Ball Blade 2 is a 2-Ball putter that has more of a blade shape on the heel and toe areas, and of course it has the 2-Ball alignment in the middle. The Odyssey web site did not have a sales page for this club on the normal link one clicks to see the price and place an order. Either they are out of stock or they have an incorrect link on the site- I suspect the latter. In any case no price is given for this putter. There are two putters offered with SRT (Saturn Ring Technology), a 3-Ball and a 2-Ball design. A semicircular ring of metal is on the back side of the putters. This configuration must have a very high MOI, so these would be great putters for golfers who have trouble consistently hitting putts solidly on the sweet spot. The White Steel Tri Ball SRT putter retails for $199, and the White Steel 2-Ball SRT putter sells for $189. Once again, all the White Steel product line features are on these clubs as well. Dual Force Odyssey Golf Putters The Dual Force 2 is an improved version of the classic putter that revolutionized putter design with the use of inserts on the putter face. In the new version the insert is called a Stronomic insert. The MOI of these putters has been increased as well. There are three putters available in this family, and these have the same forms as the ones in the White Steel core family, that is, no. 1, no. 5, and Rossie versions. As stated earlier, the No. 1 putter is a blade style design while the no. 5 and Rossie putters are mallet-style. They all have a one-shaft offset, and they each retail for $89, so these have the lowest prices of any putters in the Odyssey family.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Golf Putters, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “Make More Putts Using Balanced Golf Balls ” visit Golf Putters

Taylor Made Hybrid Golf Clubs

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

The Taylor Made Hybrid Golf Clubs line is extensive. The company offers five different club solutions in their Rescue line of hybrids. The different models target different levels of golfers and their tendencies. This article will discuss the 5 models of Taylor Made Hybrid Golf Clubs. For those not aware, hybrids are designed to replace hard to hit long irons. A 3 hybrid, for example, should replace your 3 iron.

The Burner Rescue
This model is made for golfers with driver swing speeds of between 70 and 105 MPH. The Burner has a relatively large head which enables more perimeter weighting and a center of gravity (CG) a bit lower and farther back than some other models. This translates into both a forgiving club face and shots launched at a high trajectory. In other words the club is easy to hit. Another feature is what is called “Steel Pull-Face” construction which results in a club face with a high COR (coefficient of restitution- it means the club has a spring-like effect), and this translates into more distance. As with all the Taylor Made hybrids, there are choices of stock graphite and steel shafts, and some other custom shaft choices are available as well. There are 4 clubs available in this model: 3, 4, 5, and 6 hybrids, and they come in both women’s and left handed versions (except the 6 hybrid for lefties). In general this set would fit below average, average, and some above average players.

The Rescue TP
This model is designed for more advanced players with higher driver swing speeds, that is from 90-115 MPH, which is getting up to professional levels on the high end. The face is shallow and smaller than the Burner, as more skilled players don’t need such a forgiving club. The launch angle is lower and the club doesn’t produce as much backspin. These are all attributes of clubs used by low handicap players who are able to hit solid and consistent shots with long clubs. The four clubs available in the series are 1, 2, 3, and 4 hybrids, so clearly these are made for more advanced players. All but the 4 hybrid are available for left handed players. There is not a women’s club in this line, as very few women have swing speeds in this range. Once again, a number of different steel and graphite shafts can be chosen for Rescue TP hybrids.

The Rescue Dual Hybrid
This line of hybrids offers Taylor Made’s “Movable Weight Technology™”. Weights can be moved on the club which will result in more of a draw bias, so this will be helpful for players who have a tendency to hit a slice. The weight shift can also modify the ball trajectory. More advanced players don’t need or want a high launch angle, as they hit the ball hard and it will get high enough into the air. The club head is relatively small, but the club still offers a moderate amount of forgiveness. This line of clubs is recommended for golfers with driver swings between 55 and 105 MPH, which is a wide range. Basically this says that below average players and even some above average players could benefit from these clubs. It’s a question of whether the movable weights will be of help for your particular swing. Once again, 4 clubs are available for right handed players, a 2, 3, 4, and 5 hybrid. Only the 3 and 4 hybrids come in left-handed versions, and there are no ladies clubs in this line.

The Rescue Dual TP Hybrids
These clubs are for skilled players with driver swing speeds over 105 MPH. The movable weight system is in this line as well. The CG is slightly higher than in the Rescue Dual, and thus the ball flight is lower and more piercing. Strong players prefer this type of ball flight since they can control the ball better. Tour level shafts are used in this model, and 4 choices of clubs are available. There are two choices of a 2 hybrid, one with a 14 degree loft and the other with 16 degrees of loft. 3 and 4 hybrids are also available. The 14 degree 2 hybrid and 4 hybrid are not made in left-handed versions.

The r7 Draw Rescue
This line of hybrids can be used by players needing a club that can be hit easily and gets into the air quickly at a high launch angle. The club is also designed to produce a hook bias to aid golfers who habitually slice the ball and to help them hit straighter shots. The specs say that anyone with driver swing speeds from 55-105 MPH can use these clubs effectively. The club head is large, and this allows for a CG that is well back from the club face. This also allows for more perimeter weighting leading to a club that is forgiving of off-center hits. There are 3, 4, 5, and 6 hybrids available, except for the 6 hybrid for lefties. Women’s clubs are available. The clubs are designed for use with lighter shafts to develop more club head speed for those who need all the distance they can get. This is another line for below average, average, and some above average golfers. The main issue is to address a correction for a constant slice that many golfers have. It differs from the Rescue Dual line in that it does not have the movable weight system.

It is clear that making a choice of which hybrids to put in your bag is a confusing one as there are so many choices. And here we have only been discussing the offerings of Taylor Made Hybrid golf clubs. Obviously all the golf equipment brands have their own lines as well. If you are going to pay $120- $175 or so for each of these clubs, it would behoove you to have a custom fitting with a knowledgeable professional, preferably a certified custom club maker, before making your purchases. That person can help guide you into clubs you can use effectively and get the most out of. If you don’t do this, you might be not only wasting your money, but paying a high price to play poorly.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

Nike Hybrid Golf Clubs

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Nike Hybrid Golf Clubs are available in two versions of two different models, for a total of 4 product lines. These include the Slingshot Hybrid and Slingshot Tour Hybrid, the CPR3 Wood and CPR3 Iron-Wood. This article will review the attributes of each of these hybrid golf clubs.

Slingshot Hybrid and Slingshot Tour Hybrid
Both of these clubs have an MSRP of $199 US for either steel or graphite shafts. The Slingshot Tour is targeted for low handicap golfers, and the Slingshot is for less skilled players. Both clubs aim to deliver a center of gravity (CG) that is low and as far back behind the face as possible. This type of club head design is geared to making the ball get up into the air easier and to be forgiving of off-center hits. Both clubs look like a hybrid or small fairway wood with the upper back section removed. This is readily evident on the company’s web site. The weight thus removed is then redistributed in a thick sole and a thick bar around the back of the clubs called a Slingback bar. The result of this design is to have 70% of the mass of the club head below the equator of the ball. The face plate on both clubs is made of 455 stainless steel which is normal for high-end hybrid clubs like these.

There are 5 clubs available in the Slingshot line. These are 2-6 hybrids. Perhaps it bears repeating that hybrid clubs are designed to replace long irons that are difficult for most golfers to hit solidly on a consistent basis. A 3 hybrid will replace your 3 iron, for example. All the clubs in the Slingshot product line are available for both left and right handed golfers. There is no women’s version of this model available, or for any of the Nike hybrid golf clubs models for that matter. Of course both steel and graphite shafts are available. Custom fitting options exist for club length (-1/2” to +2” from standard) and for lie angles (-2 to +4 degrees from standard). One would need to have a custom club fitting to know if he needs to order any of these changes. This is a good idea in any case for a person thinking of investing in a set of new golf clubs.

As stated, the Slingshot Tour Hybrid is for low handicap players. In fact Nike notes that their Tour staff requested such a model be developed. Four clubs are available in 1-4 hybrids. The shafts on the Slingshot Tour Hybrid are slightly heavier than on the Slingshot. The same options to customize club length and lie angle can be chosen.

CPR3 Wood and CPR3 Iron-Wood
These two hybrids have an MSRP of $139 with steel shafts and $159 with graphite. The CPR3 Wood clubs have a deeper sole and have more of a wood bottom footprint, thus the name. The upper back section is cut out, and thus again weight can be redistributed around the periphery of the sole to lower the CG and move it back. 2-5 hybrids are available, and all lofts come in left handed models. No women’s versions of this product line are available, nor are there any options for customization as there are with the Slingshots.

The CPR3 Iron-Wood has a smaller footprint which is more like a typical hybrid club. This version is targeted to lower handicap golfers and is available in 1-4 hybrids in either steel or graphite shafts. Left handed clubs are available, and as with the CPR3 Wood, there are no custom options for club length or lie angle.

Nike Hybrid Golf Clubs do not come with versions to provide a hook bias to help golfers with a consistent slice, or adjustable club head weight versions as is offered by Taylor Made, for example. It will be interesting to see if the popularity of those design features or the demand for women’s hybrids will be high enough to motivate Nike to add these types of clubs to their product offerings. Nike is certainly a top rank golf company, however, so if one of their models fits you properly, you will be playing with excellent clubs.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

Ping Hybrid Golf Clubs

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

There are two product lines in the Ping hybrid golf clubs lineup. These are called the Rapture hybrids and the G5 hybrids. The Rapture is the newer of the lines, and as you will surmise from the discussion below, Ping club designers were working to obtain a center of gravity (CG) that is lower and farther back in the club face to make the ball easier to get up into the air.

Rapture Hybrid Golf Clubs
Three different materials are welded together to make the Rapture club head. The body of the head is made of 17-4 stainless steel. A tungsten nickel sole plate is welded onto the bottom of the club head adding weight to the sole and lowering the CG while also forcing the CG farther back from the club face. This is a design goal for every make of hybrid club and helps provide a higher launch angle. The face plate is made from what is called 475 super steel, and this is said to produce a “hot responsive hitting area”. The appearance of the Ping hybrids is pleasing with a sloped crown. This feature also helps to produce a CG that is low and back in the club face. The club head itself is fairly large and forgiving of off-center hits. The Rapture line offers 3 clubs, 2-4H. There is a good selection of standard graphite shafts, and of course steel shafts are also available. All 3 Rapture clubs are available for lefties. The MSRP for the Rapture is $225 with graphite and $195 with steel shafts. This club does not have a ladies version, but the G5 line, to be discussed next, does.

G5 Hybrid Gold Clubs
The G5 hybrids were the precursors of the Rapture line, and they look similar, since both sport the pleasing sloped crown look. The main difference in the two clubs is that the Rapture has the tungsten nickel sole plate and the G5 does not. Another difference is price. The MSRP for the G5 is $175 in graphite and $150 with steel shafts. The face plate of the G5 hybrid is machined from 455 stainless steel, which is used in most of the hybrids in the industry at this point. The club head is compact and a bit smaller than the Rapture. There are four versions of the G5, 2-5H. Once again there are a number of graphite standard shaft choices, and steel shafts can also be used. All the clubs are available in left-handed versions. For the ladies a 5H and 6H are available.

As is the case with most of the name brand club makers, Ping is recognizing the trend and the need for custom club fitting. There are so many hybrid golf clubs to choose from that one should invest $50-$150 or so in a custom club fitting session, preferably with a certified professional club maker who has all the needed equipment to provide a top notch fitting experience. After all, if you are going to purchase a new set of clubs, you can easily spend $1,500 or more, and you might as well have clubs that fit and will allow you to get the most out of your game. Once you have a proper club fitting and know the technical characteristics of the clubs that would be best for your particular swing, you can make an informed choice about whether to choose Ping hybrid golf clubs or some other brand. To get started with this and get a feel for what a proper club fitting entails, you can fill out the web fitting form on the Ping web site. I also strongly recommend that anyone planning to buy new clubs should read the excellent book by Tom Wishon, “The Search for the Perfect Golf Club”.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

Callaway Hybrid Golf Clubs

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

There are three different product lines in the Callaway hybrid golf clubs lineup. These align with their sets of woods and irons. They are the FT-Hybrids, X-Hybrids, and Big Bertha Heavenwood Hybrid lines. The attributes of each will be discussed separately.

FT-Hybrids
These clubs fit into the Fusion Technology line in which different materials are fused together to alter the club head characteristics. In this way weight can be redistributed to achieve certain goals. More weight is placed around the periphery of the club to both lower the center of gravity (CG) and place it farther back in the club head. This makes for more forgiving off-center hits and allows the ball to get into the air easier. One distinguishing feature of the FT-Hybrid line is the opportunity to choose hybrids with a hook bias. This helps golfers who slice the ball most or all of the time to hit straighter shots. This is an option on some of the clubs offered and will be discussed in more detail shortly. Other distinguishing features in Callaway hybrid golf clubs are VFT and S2H2 technologies. VFT stands for Variable Face Technology, and this makes the face thicker in the center and creates more distance. S2H2 takes weight out of the hosel which is redistributed to the club head perimeter. S2H2 means short, straight, hollow, hosel. Five different clubs are available, 1-5H, although the 1H is not produced in a left-handed version. The draw bias option is available in the 2-4H clubs as is a neutral version. The 5H only comes in the draw option and thus there is no neutral version for that club. There are a number of standard graphite shafts to choose from, and of course the clubs can be made with steel shafts. The FT-Hybrid line is the most expensive, and the clubs retail for $179 with steel shafts and $199 with graphite.

X-Hybrids
The X-Hybrid product line is a bit less expensive, retailing for $139 with steel shafts and $159 with graphite. Both the VFT and S2H2 technologies described above are utilized in the X-Hybrids as well. These clubs also have a unique sole design which is meant to cut through tall grass in rough areas easier. The clubs also have perimeter weighting and a low and deep center of gravity. Four clubs are available, 2-5H, but the 5H is not made for lefties. A good selection of standard graphite shafts can be chosen from as well as a standard Callaway brand steel shaft.

Big Bertha Heavenwood Hybrids
These clubs are the least expensive in the Callaway hybrid golf clubs product line, selling for $99 with steel shafts and $129 with graphite. Some of the core Callaway technologies are in this clubs as well, like S2H2. The clubs use a modified War Bird sole and have an elongated and low-profile face which is said to inspire a confident feel. They also feature a high Moment of Inertia, which helps with off-center hits. There are a lot of clubs offered in this line, 1-7H, so one could eliminate most irons except for 8, 9 and wedges. Left handed versions are only available in 2-5H, however. Once again there are a half dozen standard graphite shafts to choose from, as well as a Callaway designed steel shaft.

It should be noted that all three members of the Callaway hybrid golf club product lines are available in women’s versions. Of course there are differences from the men’s offerings described above, and these can be easily seen by visiting the company’s web site.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

Clone Golf Clubs- Are They Worth It? Part 2

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Less Risk- More Cost- Go to a Certified Club Maker/Fitter
This is the best approach to obtain high quality clubs that are right for you personally. It is also the best way for most golfers to improve their games. The cost savings you would achieve in the other approaches will be gone, but you will have high quality clone golf clubs that fit your swing. Do top PGA Tour players use off-the-shelf standard clubs? Not on your life. Even though they endorse certain brands and use clubs from their sponsors, those clubs have been modified and customized for each player. If the best players in the world need to have their clubs customized for their individual swings, wouldn’t it benefit you as well, whose swing is less perfect? If you have a set of clubs made by a professional club maker/fitter who is certified by PCS (the Professional Clubmaker’s Society- try to find a PCS Class A clubmaker) or the GCA (Golf Clubmaker’s Assoc.), you will receive a set of clubs that will get everything possible out of your game. If this approach is beyond the means of your budget, it is possible to do a club fitting on-line. If you can find a professional accredited clubmaker from one of the two professional organizations mentioned above who offers on-line fitting and clubmaking services, that solution would be your best bet. To identify such a person, look on the web site of the PCA.

Some Basics Before Buying Clubs
Your professional club maker will collect a certain amount of data before choosing the components to make your clone golf clubs, and you should know this information even if you buy a set of standard, off-the-shelf clubs. He’ll measure your swing speed with both a driver and five iron. He’ll measure the distance from the floor to the top of our wrist to determine the proper length for your clubs (most standard clubs are too long). He will observe your swing and determine the proper loft for your driver and other clubs (most golfers use a driver with too little loft). He’ll determine if you normally slice or fade the ball and make necessary adjustments in the club face settings. He’ll ensure you have the proper lie angle on your irons, which can dramatically improve accuracy. In all there are more than two dozen adjustments a club maker can vary to optimize clubs for your swing, although of course some are more important than others.

Conclusion
You can approach procuring a set of clone golf clubs in three ways. You can simply find a web site that sells cheap clones, you can purchase quality components and assemble them yourself, or you can go to a certified professional club maker/fitter and get the best set possible for your game. Even if you can’t afford the latter approach, you should at least know your swing speeds in order to choose proper shafts, and you should get clubs that are the proper length and correct loft for your size and swing. In addition, I would highly recommend that anyone looking to invest in a new set of golf clubs read Tom Wishon’s book, “The Search for the Perfect Golf Club”.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

Clone Golf Clubs- Are They Worth It?- Part 1

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Why would anyone want to use clone golf clubs instead of the real brand the clones are mimicking? Obviously the answer is to save money, and that is understandable. Drivers can easily cost $400-500, and some hybrids cost over $200 each. These days a good set of clubs can be a significant investment, so there is certainly a temptation to save money if at all possible. How might one approach this using clone golf clubs?

Three Ways to Purchase Clone Golf Clubs
This article will discuss three ways to purchase clone golf clubs. The more money one is willing to pay, the less risk there is in obtaining a high quality set. Let’s examine these three approaches.

Purchase Ready Built Clones
Of course you can go to one of many web sites selling clone golf clubs and simply make a purchase. These golf clubs often look like those from Calloway, Titleist, or other major brands, but they are substantially less expensive. This is the most risky alternative. If you pay $39 for a club that looks just like a brand name club priced at $169, are you getting the same thing? Was the club made in the same factory and on the same machinery as the brand name club or at another with equivalent quality? Was it manufactured using raw materials of the same quality and to the same tolerances? The chances of all that being the case are small. Let’s examine this for a moment.

Outsourcing of Club Manufacturing
The vast majority of clubs sold by the major brands are outsourced to factories in low wage parts of the world. Of the less than 100 foundries in the world which make golf clubs, only a small number have the solid quality systems in place to interest the major brand golf club companies. The others produce clubs that sell for very low prices in department stores or low cost web sites, for example. They only survive because they can sell their output at low prices. So would it be a surprise if lower quality raw materials were used, like scrap metal instead of carbon steel? Could their machines hold the same tolerances as the quality foundries do? Can they afford to train their employees to the same level? Do they use the same quality golf shafts in their clubs? If they are selling low cost products on thin margins, they will probably cut corners wherever possible. Let’s just put it this way: you are not going to get a $169 club for $39, no matter how much the two may be made to look the same.

Make Your Own Clubs
A less risky alternative is purchasing the components and assembling the clubs yourself. To end up with a higher quality product you need to be sure the heads are manufactured in a quality foundry. There are component suppliers who are reputable and who can prove they sell top quality parts. As for shafts, there is a large component market for shafts from the top companies like Aldila, Grafalloy or True Temper, among many others, who supply the major brand club companies as well. Quality grips are also readily available. Assembling clubs and grips is not that difficult. Golfsmith sells components and can instruct you how to do this. Not too many tools are required, and Golfsmith can also provide support at either their retail stores or on the phone. The main problem with this approach is that you need to know which components to purchase, which heads, what type of shaft, etc. This will be discussed in more detail below.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

Custom Golf Clubs- The Way to Go

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

If you really want to get the most out of your golf game and enjoy the sport as much as possible, custom golf clubs are your best option. The downside of having custom fitted and custom made clubs is obviously the cost. However, I have spoken to certified custom club makers who say that they can get a golfer into a high quality set for about the cost of an off-the-shelf set from the top club sellers like Calloway or Titleist, for example. These clubs will not carry the leading brand names of course, but they are produced in the same factories as those of the top brand name clubs, on the same equipment and to the same quality standards. For a set of eight irons with steel shafts, this can de done for about $800 or so, depending on the specific components chosen. Of course each custom golf club maker sets his or her own prices so these numbers can vary substantially. You should speak with a certified club maker to figure out what the exact cost would be for your set of custom golf clubs. A web site URL to locate a certified custom club fitter/maker near you will be pointed out at the end of this article. What Does a Custom Club Fitting Consist Of? Hitting a few balls with a couple of different clubs from a company trailer at a driving range is not a real custom fitting. You may get a feel for what clubs with different shafts, weights, lie angles, etc., feel like, but that’s about it. Most custom club makers will have a procedure that resembles the following: -Interview and existing equipment analysis -Measurement of swing speeds with driver and 5 iron and measurement of launch angles -Measurement of height and wrist to floor distance -Swing Analysis to determine optimum shaft weight and flex, swing weight and/or optimum MOI (there are actually several moments of inertia to be considered in the process) -Determine specific shafts and matching club heads -Determine set make-up, driver loft, loft and lie angle of irons, loft and bounce angles of wedges, proper grips -Build clubs and make final loft and lie adjustments. Some club makers might even build a prototype club for the golfer to try out before making final decisions. Clubs Just Right For You If you go out and spend a lot of money on a set of brand name off-the-shelf golf clubs, you really don’t know if those clubs will fit you properly or fit your game. They were no doubt made for some hypothetical “average” golfer of average size and ability. Is that you? Chances are about 10 to 1 it isn’t. The only way to be certain about this is to have custom golf clubs built for you, and more and more golfers are realizing this and getting better results. An excellent resource to locate a certified club maker near you is the web site of Tom Wishon, noted club maker and author. On his site at www.golfclubliteracy.com is a list of certified club makers he personally recommends, as well as a link to the web site of the PCS (Professional Clubmakers Society) which has a list of its members.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

Hybrid Golf Clubs- Should You Use Them?

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Hybrid golf clubs have appeared in the past few years, and their popularity will no doubt continue to increase. Phil Mickelson used a hybrid numerous times during his win at the 2007 Player’s Championship. Many other top PGA Tour players use hybrid clubs as well, and the popularity of these clubs will continue to skyrocket. Taylor Made has said that one-fourth of all its wood sales in 2007 will be hybrids. Almost one-third of U.S. golfers now choose to carry a hybrid golf club in their bags compared to about 7% in 2004. The trend is clear.

Why Use a Hybrid Golf Club?
In short, a hybrid golf club is easier to hit than a long iron with the same loft, and with a hybrid golf club the ball will have a higher trajectory. To understand this one needs to know about two things: the 24/38 rule, and the vanishing loft phenomenon which has occurred in golf over the past 20-30 years.

The 24/38 Rule
This is a rule known by golf clubmakers. Essentially it says that most golfers, that is the vast majority, do not have the ability to consistently hit an iron with 24 degrees or less of loft and 38 or more inches of length. For the vast majority of golfers in today’s world, this means that they cannot hit shots consistently with any iron longer than a five iron. Here’s why.

The Vanishing Loft Phenomenon
Surely every golfer is aware that the lofts of iron clubs have crept lower over the years. Golf club companies would introduce new clubs and promote how much farther you can hit a 5 iron, for example, with their new clubs than you could with your old 5 iron. They didn’t immediately tell people that the new club had less loft and was really more like their old 4 iron, but eventually this became obvious. So a 4 iron today has generally settled into lofts of 23-24 degrees vs. 28 degrees some years ago. Applying the 24/38 rule to this means that only a few golfers today can consistently hit a 4 iron. How is it that the lofts and lengths of clubs were allowed to change? It so happens that there are no official standards for these and other golf club design parameters. Thus the golf club companies could make the lofts be whatever they thought was best for the marketing department, within reason.

Why Does The Ball Fly Higher With a Hybrid Golf Club?
The answer to this question is easy to understand. With a hybrid golf club the center of gravity (CG) of the club is farther back. For example, the CG of a 4 iron or any other iron club for that matter is slightly behind the club face. A 4 hybrid, which looks like a small wood club (wood as in 3 wood, 5 wood, etc. All these are made of metal these days) has a CG that is farther back. This make the ball get into the air easier and thus the club seems easier to hit.

Should You Hit Hybrid Golf Clubs?
Unless you are a very skilled player to whom the 24/38 rule does not apply, the answer is probably yes. Even PGA Tour players, who clearly are not bound by the 24/38 rule are using them because sometimes they want to get those long iron shots higher into the air. In fact for most players, the longest iron in their bag should probably be a 5 iron. 3 and 4 hybrids should replace your 3 and 4 irons, which most golfers cannot hit properly and consistently. And remember, your hybrid golf clubs should be the same lengths , or at most a half inch longer, than the iron which they are meant to replace. You want to replace the 3 and 4 irons with the equivalent hybrid golf clubs. What you don’t want is a club that will hit the ball further and create a yardage gap between the 4 hybrid and 5 iron, for example. Thus, the lofts of hybrid golf clubs and the irons they are to replace should be equal as well. You want your 4 hybrid to travel the same distance that your 4 iron did. Give hybrid golf clubs a try- they are a great addition to the game.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

Junior Golf Clubs- What to Do?

Tue, 22 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

30 years ago there weren’t too many sets of real junior golf clubs to be found, and there weren’t that many people buying components and making their own clubs either. I found a person who did make clubs and had some old ones cut down for my two kids. My son must have been barely 3 years old, and his 9 iron didn’t show much of the metal shaft: it was all grip! The head was extremely heavy, and he couldn’t really swing the club, he sort of picked it up and hacked down at the ball like the club was an axe! The kids both had fun, however, and they always lit up when I suggested going to the driving range to hit balls. These days parents have many more options, and they can find decent junior golf clubs at surprisingly reasonable prices. Doing it Right Earl Woods always made sure that Tiger had clubs that fit him when he was growing up. With clubs that are too long or too heavy and with grips too large, the junior golfer is going to have to make swing adjustments that will probably cause bad habits which will be difficult to correct later on Club Length This is the major consideration, and suffice it to say that your junior golfer should not be playing with clubs that are too long. Sure, you want your kids to “grow into them”, but if they have to choke up more than 2 inches they will have to modify their swings. Your kids will probably only get 2 to 3 years maximum out of a set of junior golf clubs, so you should set that expectation if you want your kids to play and enjoy golf. Unless you purchase a Calloway junior set or a set from another major brand, new clubs can be acquired at very reasonable prices. More on that shortly. Club and Club Head Weight Don’t do to your junior golfer what I did to my son. Get him or her clubs that are the correct weight. Junior sets normally have light and flexible graphite shafts and proper club head size and weight. Grips Youngsters need grips on their junior golf cubs that fit their hands. Fortunately thin grips for kids are readily available these days, and most decent junior sets use those. Prices- New Clubs A quick internet search showed an number of interesting options. AMF had a set of junior golf clubs for ages 3-5 for about $80. The set had a wood, a hybrid club, an iron, and a putter. The clubs had light weight flexible graphite shafts, and the golf bag and a few other accessories were included. They also had sets aimed at 5-8 year olds and 9-12 years of age for a bit more money. In contrast, I saw a junior Calloway set for 9-13 year olds selling for $240. Why Not Ebay? A quick search on Ebay for “junior golf clubs” resulted in seeing several hundred auctions, most of those for brand new clubs. If you find a reliable seller you can get some excellent deals. I saw a brand new set for the 5-9 age group that had a top bid of only $15, and there were only 15 minutes left in the auction! So to get that very first set to determine if the child will be interested in playing golf, Ebay might be a great solution. Conclusion My grandson is 1½ years of age right now, and I’m already thinking about taking him to the driving range in about a year. He’ll be luckier than his uncle (my son) was at his age, and he’ll have junior golf clubs that fit him reasonably well and which he can actually swing. I can’t wait to see him hit a few shots that get up into the air a bit for the first time. The sooner he can accomplish that and experience some success, the more he’ll enjoy playing golf not just as a youngster but throughout his life.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

The Basics of Buying Ladies Golf Clubs Part 2

Sat, 19 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Irons Golfers with slower swings should take the following into consideration when choosing their irons. First of all, you should probably have a 6 or 7 iron as your longest iron club. Only carry a 5 or even a 6 iron if you can hit it confidently and consistently. Most people with slow swings cannot accomplish this. Higher number fairway woods and hybrids will replace the long irons. Another consideration is a wide sole that is rounded to prevent from digging more into the ground and slowing the club face even more. For the same reason don’t choose a large iron head design. By all means, do use irons with a deep back cavity and perimeter weighting. Hybrids You should use hybrid clubs to replace at least your long irons. The Nancy Lopez ladies golf club line offers sets with hybrids up to the 7 iron in some cases, and even some sets with hybrids completely replacing all the irons except the pitching and sand wedges. Which hybrids you choose will depend on which fairway woods you carry. You will need to determine how far your ball will fly with your highest numbered fairway wood and then choose your lowest numbered hybrid to fly 10-15 yards less than that. The Nancy Lopez site will give you a good idea about what club choices are appropriate for your swing and ability level. Wedges Your pitching wedge (PW) should have at least 4 degrees more loft than your 9 iron. The sand wedge (SW) should have at least 56 degrees of loft or even more. There is probably no need for a gap wedge (GW) unless you have a substantial difference in how far you hit the PW compared to the SW. For people with slower swing seeds, this difference is not normally enough to justify another club. A lob wedge (LW) can also be a good addition to your set. For both the SW and the LW, there is no need for golfers with slower swings to have a large bounce angle, since there will not be enough force in the swing to dig too far into the sand or ground in any case. Conclusion If you are a serious golfer and can afford it, the best solution for a great set of ladies golf clubs is to find a certified custom fitter and club maker. The standard, off-the-shelf sets of ladies golf clubs sold in most shops will only fit a small percentage of the population. It is essentially a “one size fits all” proposition. Another good alternative is the Nancy Lopez ladies golf club product lines. You should at least look at their web site to see how they approach fitting your clubs and choosing the right ladies golf clubs to put in your bag. Knowing your swing speeds and what the length of your clubs should be is fundamental in this process. Be aware that most people, both men and women, use clubs that are too long, and they do not use enough loft on the driver.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

The Basics of Buying Ladies Golf Clubs Part 1

Sat, 19 May 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Ladies are at a disadvantage when it comes to putting together a set of golf clubs that fits them well and from which they can get the most out of their games. The reason is that there are few choices in normal off-the-shelf ladies golf clubs. With typically less than 10% of sales for a golf club company coming from ladies golf clubs, there are simply few choices in club styles, shaft flex, swing weights, or lofts normally available in most golf shops. An exception to this is the excellent line offered by Nancy Lopez Golf Clubs. That is the subject of another article, but you can easily find their web site with a simple search. In general women have slower swing speeds than men and need shorter clubs and higher loft. There are of course women with better and stronger swings than most men. Lorena Ochoa of the LPGA tour averages about 270 yards on her tee shots. This is astonishing for a woman who weighs about 115 pounds! She is the top rated professional woman player in the world, however, and this article is meant for women with less ability than the top LPGA pros possess. Driver Considerations You must know your swing speed with at least a driver and preferably with both driver and 5 iron. Women who can swing the driver more than 70 MPH can use titanium faced drivers effectively and take advantage of the spring effect off the face that such a club offers. If your driver swing speed is more like 60 MPH, you would have to find a special titanium face, and these are not readily available. If you are that serious you will probably be having custom ladies golf clubs made by a certified fitter and club maker. So in that case ask your club maker if he or she can offer options. As for club face loft, the slower your swing, the higher the loft is needed. If you can easily get the ball in the air, a loft of 13-14 degrees should work well for your driver. If you have trouble getting the ball in the air, you may need to use a 16 degree 3 wood to get the most out of your swing. Other ways to help get the ball a bit higher in the air are to use an offset hosel or a more flexible shaft. Fairway Woods Fairway woods are critical clubs for women or men with slower golf swings. If your swing speed is in the 60MPH range, you should start your fairway woods with a 5 wood and leave out the 3 wood. Your other woods would then probably need to be a 9 and 13 wood. The reason for skipping an odd numbered wood is because you won’t be hitting the ball that much farther with a 5 wood than you will with a 7 wood, for example. In other words the gap in distance between the two clubs is not enough to justify carrying the other club. Regarding club length, there should be at least a one inch difference for each odd numbered club. That is, the 7 wood should be one inch shorter than the 5 wood, and the 9 wood should be 2 inches shorter than the 5 wood, for example. For women who swing 70 MPH or greater, a 3 wood could be a good choice, but it should have at least a 16 degree loft in order to keep the ball in the air longer. This group of golfers can justify having every other odd number wood in their bags, such as 3, 5, 7 and 9 woods, for example.

Walt Ballenberger is a life-long golfer and founder of Hybrid Golf Clubs, a resource site for golfers. For a Free Report entitled “How to Find the “Sweet Spot” on Your Golf Clubs in 10 Minutes” visit Hybrid Golf Clubs

Sinusitis and Biofilms- An Introduction- Part 2

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Properties of Biofilms As mentioned, the scum layer produced by the biofilms seems to form a sort of protective barrier for the bacteria and other microorganisms it encases. The literature states that the bacteria in biofilms can be up to 500-1000 times more resistant to antibiotics than normal free-floating bacteria, and research is ongoing to determine the exact mechanisms to explain this. In addition, biofilms occasionally release a portion of their bacteria, and this discharge can migrate and cause infection at a new location. At present there are no simple methods available to test for the presence of biofilms, so it is not an easy task to determine if they are present in a patient’s nasal system. The slime or scum layer looks a great deal like normal mucus. Status of Biofilm Research as it Pertains to Chronic Sinusitis Research regarding biofilms and sinusitis is still in its early stages. Most scientific papers describing research into the subject have been attempts to prove the theory that biofilms are present in chronic sinusitis patients and that they are a factor in the condition. We are a long way from seeing studies that might test how beneficial a certain treatment might be, or even how an ENT could easily determine if a patient has biofilms in his nasal passages. Available Treatments Some people suggest that nasal irrigation can be beneficial for people with biofilms, and this is certainly a good idea for other reasons as well. In fact it may be the single best thing that people with chronic sinus problems could do for themselves in the opinion of this author. Some studies seem to indicate that the only cure at present is debridement, or physical removal of the substance by an ENT. Again, we are in the early days of research into the theory, so it will be years before it becomes main-stream and other treatment therapies are developed and tested. If I were desperate with sinus problems and had tried every known therapy with no success, (including topical fungal therapy, which is also a relatively new approach) I think I would try to contact one of the medical schools at the universities that are doing research on this topic and see what I could learn or if I might be included in one of their formal studies. Among these are the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, West Virginia University in Morgantown, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, the Universite of Montreal in Canada, the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, Cambridge in England, Dartmouth College, the Center for Biofilm Engineering at Montana State University, and the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, among others. I easily found extracts of papers written by all of these entities with a simple internet search on “biofilms”. Conclusion Research thus far shows a strong correlation between chronic sinusitis and the presence of biofilms in the nasal cavities of chronic sinusitis sufferers. Much more research to prove the theory definitively and to see it become a main-stream diagnosis remains to be done. At this point people are not even talking about such treatments as nasal sprays or other medications. Sinus sufferers should at least be aware of the issue and keep an eye on what research is being reported, as well as irrigating their noses with a saline solution daily. As noted above, there are a good number of research labs studying all aspects of biofilm research around the world, both medical and non-medical, so hopefully we will have some day an answer to the question posed at the beginning of this article and be able to effectively treat the group of people who continue to suffer from sinusitis despite years of treatment and multiple surgeries that do not bring permanent relief.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Sinusitis and Biofilms- An Introduction- Part 1

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Why is it that some sinusitis sufferers do not respond to normal treatments, medications and surgical procedures and continue to come down with sinus infections regardless of the treatment they have been given? One answer to this question appears to be an atypical immune reaction to fungus, and topical anti-fungal therapies heave been developed by Mayo Clinic researchers. Another possible answer to this question has surfaced in the past couple of years: biofilms. This article is meant to be a brief introduction to biofilms and how they might be a factor in recurring sinus infections.

Definition, Description and Medical Implications of Biofilms
What are biofilms and how to they resist normal treatments for sinusitis such as antibiotics? “Biofilms are composed of microbal communities that are attached to an environmental surface. The microorganisms usually encase themselves in an extra-cellular polysaccharide or slime matrix”. In other words, biofilms are a collection of bacteria and other microbes that encase themselves in a sort of slime. It is apparently the slime material that protects the bacteria from being destroyed by antibiotics, for example. Biofilms have been shown to play a major part in other medical conditions involving chronic infections, such as cystic fibrosis, Legionnaire’s Disease, and otitis media, the most common type of acute ear infection in children in the U.S., among others. In addition, they can also form on medical implanted products such as stents, implants, catheters, and other devices. They appear to destroy cilia when present in sinusitis patients, and the loss of cilia is detrimental to the normal drainage system of nasal passages, so this is a serious issue since destroyed cilia cannot be replaced.

Non-medical Implications of Biofilms
Biofilms are not just associated with medical conditions, however. In fact biofilms are ubiquitous and can form under the right conditions on almost any kind of surface, including metals, rock, and of course human tissue. Two common examples of biofilms are pond scum and dental plaque. Detrimental biofilms are the cause of billions of dollars in damaged products and equipment systems in such fields as food processing, water treatment and metal-working. The also cause damage by clogging household drains and water pipes. Their effects are not always harmful, however, for example when they attach to the roots of certain plants they seem to aid the transfer of nutrients from the soil to the plant. Also, they are used in sewage treatment facilities to help treat sewage water before it is released to the environment, and they are utilized in treating contaminated ground water as well.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

The Upcoming Presidential Election in France

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

This article describes the top four candidates in the upcoming Presidential election in France and their general political stances, as well as their standings in the latest public opinion polls. In several weeks there will be a Presidential election in France which will end the 12 year reign of Jacques Chirac. It looks to be a close and interesting race, and the first round of voting is on April 22. Here is a brief look at the top four candidates in the polls. There are in fact 12 candidates who have qualified to be on the ballot based on obtaining the endorsement of at least 500 elected officials (mostly town mayors). This list will be pared down to two, and a second round of voting will occur two weeks after the first to decide the winner. The reason for two rounds of voting is that the President must be elected by a majority of those voting, and that is virtually impossible in one round with so many candidates. Polls are notoriously inaccurate in France for choosing the eventual winner of an election. Many people do not decide upon their choice until the end of the campaign, and at best the polls are a snapshot of feelings on a given day. The leading candidate in the polls thus far has been Nicolas Sarkozy, the leader of the UMP party. M. Sarkozy is known to be tough, sometimes blunt, decisive, and ambitious. He generally favors free enterprise as opposed to socialistic tinkering with the economy and markets. In particular he opposes the mandatory 35 hour work week limit passed several years ago by a socialist government. He is also outspoken about the existing immigration policies in France. He recently resigned as Interior Minister, a top cabinet position, in order to concentrate full-time on the campaign. He has held a lead in the polls for some time, but that lead is normally only a few percentage points. Polls currently indicate that he will be the top vote getter in the first round and would defeat Mme Royal in a second round match-up but would lose to Francois Bayrou in the second round. The second strongest candidate in the polls thus far is Segolene Royal of the PS (Parti Socialist). The PS is of course on the left of the political spectrum. Mme Royal would be the first female President of France. One might say that she has a certain advantage in that the UMP party with Jacques Chirac, her most significant opponents, has held the office for 12 years, and the French might be ready for a change. M. Chirac’s popularity is currently quite low, although it has picked up a bit in recent weeks since he finally announced recently that he would not be a candidate again. Mme Royal has been slightly behind in the polls, but it is entirely possible that she can win. The third strongest candidate in the polls thus far, Francois Bayrou of the centrist UDF party, has been a surprise. At the beginning of the year his poll numbers were low, about 6% intention to vote in the first round. He has steadily moved up in the polls to over 20%, a major advance, and he is thus not far from Mme Royal and M. Sarkozy. His centrist position seems to be appealing to the French, and in fact if he manages to make it to the second round, the polls show him defeating both Sarkozy and Royal! If he does not place in the top two, however, he will certainly have a large voice in determining the eventual winner, assuming his followers will adhere to whatever advice he chooses to give. The fourth major factor in the campaign is Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the FN party. M. Le Pen is still dynamic at over 80 years of age, and he has been an outspoken factor in French politics for a long time. He actually made it to the second round of the 2002 election by defeating the PS candidate. This was a huge shock for the French at that time. It is inconceivable that M. Le Pen would ever be elected President of France. His message is very much right wing, and he is a strong nationalist and would certainly curtail immigration to France substantially. He is a lightening rod for anti-immigration sentiment and has a loyal following with whom his message resonates. Current polls show him at 13.5% intention to vote in round one, rather far behind Sarkozy at 28%, Royal at 23%, and Bayrou at 21%, according to the Ifop poll released on 30 March 2007. Le Pen surprised everyone in 2002, however, and the polls did not predict his success at that time, so anything is possible. The other 8 candidates in the race, mostly from small far left or right wing parties, are splitting up the remainder of the vote. No other candidate has more than 3.5% intention to vote in the first round, according to the Ifop poll cited above. These candidates are in the race to promote themselves and get their messages out as best they can. The upcoming Presidential election in France could easily be won by any of the top three candidates. The results for the first round should be known at about 2pm New York time on April 22, unless it is too close to call at that moment.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Beaux Voyages which offers affordable luxury in active vacations. For a free a Free Ebook entitled “80 Inexpensive Parisian Restaurants” visit Beaux Voyages and sign up for our monthly newsletter.

Sinus Infection Treatment- Without Antibiotics?

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 04:00:00 GMT

A gentleman named Jason H. recounted to me recently how he managed to treat a sinus infection without the use of antibiotics. Jason has a long history of 15 years of chronic sinus problems, and he has undergone 4 sinus surgeries. He is happy about his last operation to remove polyps and fix a deviated septum, and he has also begun using pulsating nasal irrigation with the Grossan Hydro Pulse® device. Nonetheless, he recently managed to come down with another sinus infection. Concerned that he has taken too many antibiotics in his life, he decided to attack the problem using the nasal irrigator. At this point a disclaimer is in order. Neither Jason nor the author of this article are doctors or medical professionals, we are both just sinus sufferers. As such neither of us is qualified to offer medical advice. I would personally urge anyone with a sinus infection, particularly those with chronic problems, to see an ENT specialist. In any case Jason used his nasal irrigation system 6 times on the day he realized he had an infection, which is a lot, but the next day he felt a lot better. He continued to use the system once or twice a day thereafter, as he normally would, and after three or four days he felt like he was completely over the problem. It was the first time he had ever dealt with a sinus infection without resorting to the use of antibiotics. I personally know it is possible for the body to heal itself with sinus infections although the process can be long and painful. When I was much younger I used to say “when I get a cold it is really a lulu”, and I would typically be sick for 2 to 3 weeks. It wasn’t unusual for me to be bedridden for 2-4 days with severe headaches and nasal discharge and tearing in the eyes during that period as well. Of course colds don’t last that long, and I now know that what I was experiencing was a sinus infection. Clearly the body will eventually heal itself, but the healing process can be much faster using proper medications, such as antibiotics in this case. However, I too began to wonder if I was taking too many antibiotics after a number of years. At present I’m pleased to say that my nasal irrigator keeps the amount of antibiotics I use down to a low number. The main benefit of pulsating nasal irrigation is for prevention, however, rather than treatment of sinus infections that have already taken hold, as Jason used it. I’m personally coming to the conclusion that this procedure would benefit almost everybody. I used to be a person who would become sick fairly regularly, but now I almost never become ill. I’ve gone over 1 ½ years without a cold or sinus infection, and it only happened on that occasion because I was exhausted before a long overseas flight. At that point I simply could not hold the infection off. I sometimes hear about people who don’t have chronic sinusitis and who come down with colds, and this tends to surprise me. I used to be the one who got sick all the time, but now that is almost never the case. If I do feel a cold coming on I’ll use my nasal irrigator two or even three times a day for 1-2 days (I normally use it twice a day in any case). If I feel a possible infection coming on I’ll also take 5 mg of prednisone, and I normally also use a steroid spray, flonase, although there are a number of such products on the market. For about five years now this regimen has worked well for me. One needs to be careful with prednisone, however, as it can cause harmful side-effects. I use it sparingly, and my doctor says it is not an issue. Once again, I would recommend that most people seek advice from their doctor when they begin to fall ill. People like Jason and I, who have long histories battling sinus infection, can tell when we have one, but that is not the case for most people. There is no doubt, however, that pulsating nasal irrigation with a saline solution is a huge help, and I’m convinced it would help lower the number of colds caught by most people, even those who do not have chronic sinus problems. And it can be used even for treatment of a sinus infection, as Jason did, although it might be best to try this under a doctor’s supervision.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Properties and Characteristics of Silk

Wed, 14 Mar 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Cultivated silk from the Bombyx mori silkworm, which is and has always been the most common type of silk used, has a number of interesting and desirable properties that have been admired for over 5,000 years. First of all, silk takes well to dyes, both natural and synthetic, which results in colorful fabrics. Another property of silk is its soft feel, and it retains it shape well, even after having been stretched. In appearance silk has a sheen and luminosity that makes it look luxurious. Since silk production is labor intensive and costly it has often been used by royalty and people of wealth for centuries, and it has in fact sometimes become a symbol for wealth and achievement. In England, for example, when an attorney reaches a certain status and earns the honor of being a QC (for Queen’s Council), he or she is said to “take the silk”. From then on they will wear a silk gown during court proceedings. In fact silk dresses from pure English silk are normally worn in royal weddings in England, and this is a tradition that has been upheld for centuries. There are still small silk making operations located there in modern times. Silk has the property of being a very flexible material. For example, a silk scarf can readily be pulled through a wedding ring, and it will quickly retake its original shape without a lot of wrinkling. It is light in weight, and it can be easily folded. Silk scarves are excellent for women who travel, as a lady can change her look by changing scarves and can get away with carrying fewer outfits than she normally might wear at home. In addition, silk tends to fall naturally and hangs delicately when used as clothing. This gives it an appeal over other fabrics that are more stiff and rigid. In addition, silk holds its structural integrity and will not rot. Silk is also more heat resistant than many other fabrics, including wool, for example, and is actually rather difficult to burn. One remarkable property of silk is its high tensile strength and its fibers will not easily be torn or damaged. It is also an elastic material that can be stretched and then will recover to its original size unless stretched beyond 20-25% of its original length. It has been used in the past in making guy ropes to take advantage of this characteristic. Silk clothing keeps one cool in the summer, and it provides surprising warmth in the winter and is often used as an insulation layer in different types of clothing or even in sleeping bags. Silk can absorb a fairly significant amount of moisture before it feels wet. Silk can be woven together with other fabrics in blends, and it is most often used in articles of clothing such as dresses, pants, sweaters, gowns, and shirts, for example. Silk ties for men have a look and feel that is exceptional, and many men prefer silk ties and use them almost exclusively. For all these reasons silk has been desired for centuries. The secrets of its production were held tightly in China for over 2,000 years, but finally the knowledge and raw materials (silkworms and mulberry trees) were to be found elsewhere in the world, and many countries had a significant number of people employed in the production of silk goods. China is today the world leader in silk production, just as it was several thousand years ago. China produces over half the world’s silk, and India accounts for about a quarter of the Chinese production. India is, however, the leader in production of wild silks, that is, silk spun from species of silkworms other than B. mori which live in the wild, such as the tussah silkmoth. Silk production from these wild silkworms is much less predictable and much more difficult to control, since these insects cannot be domesticated like the B. mori. Furthermore, tussah silk is said to be somewhat more coarse than silk from B. mori. Despite the arrival of less costly synthetic fabrics like rayon and nylon, the properties and characteristics of silk account for its continued significant demand.

Walt Ballenberger is web master for Hand Painted Silk Scarf owned and founded by his wife, Linda Ballenberger. For a $10 discount on your first purchase, visit Hand Painted Silk Scarf. Each silk scarf is unique and all are hand painted by Linda, an accomplished artist.

Silkworms- Part 2

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 05:00:00 GMT

According to Dr. Feltwell in his book cited earlier, about twelve thousand silkworms would need twenty sacks of mulberry leaves a day. About 220 kg of leaves (485 lbs) would produce a kilogram of silk (2.2 lbs). Most of the cocoons are used to recuperate silk, so not many pupa turn into moths. An important step is to place the cocoons in boiling water for a period of time. This takes off the glue-like substance secreted by the silkworms which holds the cocoon together. In the hot water bath most of the pupa are killed. For moth production, only the best cocoons are chosen. It is possible in the cocoon stage to determine if the moth will be female or male, as the female cocoons are heavier. Thus, the appropriate numbers of male and female moths are allowed to develop to support the next generation of production. In the heyday of silk production in France, many cocoons would be produced by individual families. One needed access to a substantial supply of mulberry leaves, and an appropriate number of eggs were distributed from the local silk cooperative. The individuals would make room for cocoon production in their attic or another suitable building. This was not a simple venture, however. The process was very labor intensive, and there had to be a constant supply of mulberry leaves ready. Silkworms are also prone to disease, and one had to be very careful in raising them. They needed to be kept warm, and normally wood stoves were used to heat the rooms they were raised in. If fresh mulberry leaves were too hot, however, the silkworms could become ill, so the leaves had to be left in the shade for several hours to cool. At one point the famous doctor Louis Pasteur was called to the silk region to determine the cause of a mysterious illness of silkworms. He eventually determined it was a particular virus and suggested cleanliness procedures and that moths be chosen from only the best cocoons. After the cocoons were harvested, they were taken back to the cooperative and weighed, and the families that raised them were paid, their work for the year completed with regard to the silk industry. Next the cocoons were shipped to a factory were they would be sorted for quality. The silk thread extraction process from the cocoons came next, and machinery has existed for many years to help in this process. Tying the ends of the delicate silk fibers to the machines was another delicate process that required good touch and experience to perform properly. After the threads were unwound from the cocoons they were wound onto spools and eventually placed on looms and woven into fabric. The cocoons which contained pupa that were allowed to continue on to the moth stage were not usable for silk production. The moth had to excrete a chemical and essentially burned a hole through the cocoon, and this meant the silk was damaged. Considering all the above effort, it is not surprising to see that the production of silkworms and silk tended to shift to locations and countries where low cost labor was available. Thus China and India are the leaders today. Of course the introduction in the early 20th century of synthetic fabrics like rayon and nylon had an enormous effect on the silk industry, but there will always be a demand for the real thing. Silk is a luxurious and versatile fabric that has an allure which will always be in demand.

Walt Ballenberger is web master for Hand Painted Silk Scarf owned and founded by his wife, Linda Ballenberger. For a $10 discount on your first purchase, visit Hand Painted Silk Scarf. Each silk scarf is unique and all are hand painted by Linda, an accomplished artist.

Silkworms- Part 1

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Two things are needed to produce silk, silkworms and a supply of food for them, which is exclusively mulberry leaves. They seem to prefer the white mulberry, but the black mulberry variety has been used as well. According to Dr. John Feltwell in his book “The Story of Silk”, there are about 1,200 species of caterpillars that produce silk cocoons. The one species that accounts for the vast majority of silk production in the world is Bombyx mori. This species has been domesticated for over 5,000 years. It originated in China, the only place where the silkworms and mulberry trees lived together. It is one thing to think about a domesticated mammal, such as a dog or cat, but it is not often one thinks about domesticated insects. That is in fact the case for Bombyx mori, however. They no longer exist in the wild, and they are only kept alive for silk production. They do not wander far from their pens, where groups of caterpillars are often kept on flat beds or trays, stacked to the ceiling of a room, perhaps in about 10 layers, to maximize the space available for raising them and to give them enough space and air to grow. The moths have wings, but they are useless and the moths cannot fly. Only enough moths are allowed to hatch to ensure enough eggs and silkworms for the next generation of silk production.

With natural production as practiced before modern times there was one generation of silkworms per year. The female moth would emerge from its cocoon and then would immediately mate with a nearby male which fertilized her eggs. She would then lay the eggs on her cocoon or on leaves and branches nearby. Typically about 300-500 eggs would be laid by each female. These would remain there and hatch just when the new mulberry leaves were ready to sprout in the springtime. The springtime warmth would start the incubation process, which takes about 10 days, at the proper time to coincide with the emergence of new leaves on the mulberry trees. Eventually processes were developed with artificial heating and lighting to produce multiple generations of silkworms each year, even as many as 6 to 8 generations. Artificial food was developed which could be made available at any time of the year. This consists of ground mulberry leaves that are dried and then given to the caterpillars when mixed with water. It has been proven that silkworms take to this substitute for natural leaves quite well.

There are 4 stages in the life of silkworms. These are commonly referred to as egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and adult. Scientifically the stages are called ova, larva, pupa and imago. In the caterpillar stage the silkworms are essentially mulberry leaf eating machines. In the month of feeding that is required for them to mature they need to be fed about every four hours, day and night. Their body weight will increase by a factor of 10, and they will grow in size from about 1mm in length to about 70-80 mm in that time. During the total period of their development they will shed their skin a total of five times, and the fifth shedding will actually occur in the finished cocoon. When growth reaches a certain point and the skin gets to tight, it is shed and the process continues with another layer of skin that allows the caterpillar to grow larger. The fully developed silkworms are generally oyster-white in color and sometimes have black bands. They have eight pairs of legs and breathe through nine pairs of air tubes on the sides of the body. After the fourth layer of skin is shed, the caterpillar starts to extrude silk from glands below its mouth to produce a cocoon. The purpose of the cocoon is to provide protection for the pupa, which will undergo metamorphosis and turn into a moth. Silkworms work for 2-3 days extruding a single strand of silk that is typically 400-600 meters in length. The head moves back and forth continuously and secretes a liquid substance which dries into silk when it is exposed to air. After the cocoon is finished following those 2-3 days, the silkworm rests. It then sheds its skin one last time and enters into the pupa stage.

Walt Ballenberger is web master for Hand Painted Silk Scarf owned and founded by his wife, Linda Ballenberger. For a $10 discount on your first purchase, visit Hand Painted Silk Scarf. Each silk scarf is unique and all are hand painted by Linda, an accomplished artist.

Silk Production- A Bit of History

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

There are few stories in the history of mankind that are as remarkable as that of silk. Silk has been produced for over 5,000 years. It originated in China, and the Chinese successfully guarded the secret of producing silk for several thousand years. Eventually the knowledge spread, probably being passed along the silk road, that exotic sounding trade route that ran from China to the Mediterranean and then beyond via ships.

People started following the silk road some 4,000 years ago. Very few people traversed its entire length, with the notable exception of Marco Polo (1256-1323), the famous explorer. Polo noticed silk in many of the fairs and bazaars he saw while traveling through what is today the Middle East, Iran, Uzbekistan, and elsewhere. Thus silk production was clearly widespread in the middle ages of our era.

The secret to silk production is to have both silkworms and mulberry trees, preferably the white mulberry, which is the only food the silkworms, or more accurately, caterpillars, will eat. They are essentially mulberry leaf eating machines. When the caterpillars are fully grown they produce a cocoon by extruding silk from their bodies. The extrusion starts as a liquid and then solidifies after contacting air. The purpose of the cocoon is to protect the pupa, which will eventually turn into a moth, although only enough moths are allowed to develop to support the next generation of silk worms.

The cocoons are remarkable in that they are made from just one long, thin, strand of silk, and it takes know-how to unravel the single strand, which is normally about 400-500 meters in length. The strands, or threads, are eventually woven into cloth. Clothing is of course the main product made from silk, however other products have also been produced. These include ropes and such things as parachutes and maps in WWII.

In the 15th century silk production came to France, and eventually the city of Lyon (pronounced lee on), now the third largest city in France and a great place to visit, became the center of European silk production. Lyon still has an important silk museum. By 1544 about 12 thousand people were involved in silk production there, according to Dr. John Falkwell in his book “The Story of Silk”. The industry progressed steadily, and in the 1880’s there were 200,000 people employed in Lyon, a remarkable number.

With an eye on the success of the silk industry in France, King James I of England made a major effort in the 17th century to establish a silk industry both in England and in the colonies at the time (i.e., the U.S. today). These efforts never really took hold in the long term, and the silk industry in those places never came close to the level achieved in France.

Silk production is a very labor intensive effort, and in the early 20th century a combination of labor strife, and especially the invention of synthetic fabrics like rayon and nylon, largely led to the demise of the silk industry in Europe. What remains are little cottage industries here and there, as in several parts of England. The top producing country today is once again China. India also produces a lot of silk, and they are the leading producers of wild silks, that is, silk produced from wild caterpillars, in particular tussah silk, from the silk moth of the same name.

The history of silk production is long and legendary. In fact legend has it that a Chinese princess over 5,000 years ago discovered how to unravel silk when a cocoon dropped into her hot cup of tea. (Cocoons are immersed in hot water in order to remove the sort of glue produced by the insect that holds the cocoon together.) In any case it is amazing that one of the world’s most desired fabrics comes from the secretions of a caterpillar. Even more remarkable is the significant role this fabric has played in the world’s economy for over 5,000 years.

Walt Ballenberger is web master for Hand Painted Silk Scarf owned and founded by his wife, Linda Ballenberger. For a $10 discount on your first purchase, visit Hand Painted Silk Scarf. Each silk scarf is unique and all are hand painted by Linda, an accomplished artist.

Pulsatile Irrigation, ENS, and Other Sinus Issues- A Discussion- Part 2

Sun, 25 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Secondly, I read the story on sinu-clear laser surgery. I am not familiar with this particular surgery, although it does seem interesting. However, some people who have laser surgery to reduce their turbinates end up with a similar version of empty nose; Dr. Houser calls this "ENS-Type" as they have sufficient turbinate tissue remaining but still experience some empty nose symptoms, such as paradoxical congestion. You see, the laser surgery, in this instance, damages the outer layer of nasal mucosa in order to reduce submucous turbinate tissue - the inner layer, damaging both in the process. So that's a bad experience with laser surgery. Dr. Houser has corrected these patients with alloderm implant, which has helped.

Are you familiar with sinuplasty surgeries "balloon sinuplasty" and the success/failure with it? I would think it would be neat for the pnd website to do an article on it. I wonder if it is a fad or here to stay.

Lastly, just want to comment on your statement: "To think that one’s sinus problems could be so miserable as to make a person uproot their homes is pretty drastic." Unfortunately, that is how I - and others - sometimes feel with empty nose. The cold, dry air in winter makes dealing with this problem tough. People in warm, moist climates appear with empty nose appear to cope better in the winter, since our noses have lost the turbinates, which humidify, warm, and filter air. I was just talking with an empty nose sufferer from MA who plans to move to Florida in the winter, which brings him immediately relief, maybe 25-50%.

Thanks for the article, Walt. Keep up the good work on the pnd site!

Chris”

My response to Chris was as follows: “Chris, In fact we do have an article on sinuplasty on our site: www.postnasaldrip.net/sinussurgery.htm.

I agree with your comments about pulsating nasal irrigation. I’ve mentioned it to many people over the years, but few really buy the machine and try it. I don’t know if it is the money to purchase the machine or if it just seems “weird” to people. I tried using a neti pot before finding Dr. Grossan’s books, and it really didn’t work for me well at all. Also, the saline solution I used at the time was too strong for me. Even Dr. Josephson in his new book treats both methods as being of equal utility, but he personally uses the pulsating method, which tells you something. He didn’t mention the benefit of inciting cilia to move and function, if memory serves, and this is the main thing Dr. Grossan pushes all the time. There is no way for me to know for certain if my cilia start moving after nasal irrigation- all I know is that I’m much better using pulsating irrigation and can now control sinus infections for the most part.

I’ll pass your comments about laser surgery on to Jason, the person who had the operation done. He should be made aware of this.

I can imagine that living in a cold climate would be really tough for ENS sufferers. I’ve noticed that when we are in Europe (about 2 months per year- in the summer normally) I rarely need to do nasal irrigation, although I have a travel water pik for that purpose. I don’t know if it’s the humidity or what. Another person on our list from Texas, (who actually wears some sort of filter at work every day to avoid high levels of fungus in his office!) said he felt much better on a recent trip to Italy. Environment definitely plays a part. I use a humidifier in our home and measure the level as well, but it’s not the same.

Again, looking forward to reading your book in June. WB

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Pulsatile Irrigation, ENS, and Other Sinus Issues- A Discussion- Part 1

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

I recently have had several contacts with Mr. Chris Martin. Chris is one of the driving forces behind the ENS Symposium. ENS stands for “Empty Nose Syndrome”, a condition suffered by patients who have had their turbinates totally or partially removed during sinus surgery. This is a practice that was once considered harmless, but in recent years it has proven to be very harmful indeed. For those not familiar with the term pulsatile irrigation, it refers to nasal irrigation done by a small appliance that sends pulses of saline solution into one nostril, and the solution exits from the other nostril. The procedure is repeated in the opposite nasal passage as well. Pulsatile irrigation was pioneered by Dr. Murray Grossan. It cleans out the nasal and sinus cavities and also gets the cilia in the nose moving and working.

Chris Martin will publish a book in the June time frame about his experiences with ENS. As an ENS sufferer for over six years, Chris did not find many resources available to help him in dealing with his condition, so he has authored his book to help others. Information about how to find the book will be available at a later date at www.postnasaldrip.net and at the web site of the ENS Symposium, emptynosesyndrome.org.

Chris wrote me recently and touched on several sinus related topics, including pulsatile irrigation, and I subsequently responded. There are a number of interesting points for sinus sufferers in our exchange below. In his comments Chris is referring to a report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories” which we provided to him.

Chris: “Thanks, Walt, for the e-book and article. I enjoyed reading the success stories and will read the 'bad breath' book soon. I just want to add some comments on what I read re: treatment success stories. I notice a recurring theme in many of these articles is how pulsatile irrigation helps, which is certainly true in the case of ENS as well. In fact, one of the premises in my book on ENS is that treatments that work for sinusitis also are very helpful for ENS, and vice-versa. I think there is a lot of universality in sinus treatments that really work, although it seems these ideas are not well understood. Having ENS, in some respects, it seems I have had to become my own doctor. Now, back to pulsatile irrigation...what irks me is that in my own experiences most ear, nose and throat doctors do not recommend using pulsatile irrigation to help improve their sinuses. It took me six years of suffering from empty nose before recognizing how much this treatment could and has helped me. That's a shame. On the bright side, sinus rinsing seems to have become much better recognized in recent years; just notice the number of saline products in any drugstore. I realize the doctors will not make a lot of money off it, but think of how much prevention can save us financially, emotionally, and health-wise in the long run. An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure. I wish saline irrigation was tantamount to washing our hands!

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Book Review of “Sinus Relief Now” by Dr. Jordan Josephson- Part 2

Fri, 19 Jan 2007 05:00:00 GMT

4. Regarding surgery, Dr. Josephson was a pioneer in the procedure called FESS (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery) which is now considered state of the art. This procedure uses an endoscope for both a diagnosis as well as during the surgical procedure. This gives the surgeon an excellent view of the area being worked on, and thus there is less bleeding, more accuracy, and packing is rarely necessary, which is very important. He says many of his patients simply go home and go to work the next day. I would have liked him to comment about endoscopic surgery using lasers as well, but he didn’t make mention of that technique. People have told me that this laser procedure worked exceptionally well for them. Dr. Josephson is obviously totally committed to FESS, however, and with the micro tools he uses, he apparently is able to keep bleeding and pain levels low for patients, as is the case for endoscopic laser surgery. He also makes no comments about a new surgical procedure called sinuplasty, which is similar in concept to angioplasty. I would certainly like to hear his opinion of that new procedure. 5. He wrote at length about new research developments, especially the remarkable work done by Mayo Clinic researchers regarding the effects of fungus on sinusitis. Although the results are still somewhat controversial, this team has shown that an atypical immune response reaction to fungus in certain people to common fungus might be the root cause of sinusitis. The theory is growing in popularity and new topical anti-fungal medications are being developed. 7. He emphasizes that eating the right foods can make a big difference, but he isn’t totally dogmatic about it. I was turned off once by another book in which the author stated that one must simply give up certain foods if they wanted to get over sinusitis, and these included cheese, chocolate, wine and all other alcoholic beverages, among other things. For a person like me who lived for several years in France, this would be unbearable. I might mention that for a French person it would be unthinkable. 8. A clean living environment is also stressed, and the book has motivated me to break out the bleach bottle and give our bathroom the once over. Molds can apparently grow very rapidly on wet items, so one should be careful about having wet clothes or rags lying around, for example. 9. Also included in the book is a discussion about the validity of alternative therapies, like acupuncture, holistic medicine, and chiropractic, for example. I think this is useful, and in fact a niece recently told me she had acupuncture treatments for her sinus problems and she was excited about how much better she felt. The five step plan that Dr. Josephson recommends is presented at the end of the book. The steps are: 1. Take care of your sinuses through proper irrigation. 2. Clean up your environment 3. Be vigilant about food choices 4. Take your medication (i.e., take the entire prescription) 5. Embrace life-altering changes and enjoy your health. There has been a lot of progress made in the treatment of sinusitis in the past 5-10 years, and Dr. Josephson’s book puts it together and brings us up to date. “Sinus Relief Now” is certainly a great reference for anyone with CAID problems. There are descriptions of just about every medication used in any of the treatments, both prescription and OTC. I learned several things I didn’t know before. For example, I didn’t know that antihistimines are only effective against allergies. I thought they would simply prevent excess mucus forming in any case. Also, Dr. Josephson feels that decongestants should not be used long term but only for a week at a time as he believes they can cause problems if used for long periods. In general the book is almost a reference work for any type of respiratory or digestive condition. All sinus sufferers would do well to read “Sinus Relief Now” and then to refer to it any time problems come up. It is the best sinus book I’ve ever read.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Book Review of “Sinus Relief Now” by Dr. Jordan Josephson- Part 1

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 05:00:00 GMT

When I first started seeing an ENT specialist years ago for my sinus problems, I purchased a couple of books on the subject of sinusitis. When I mentioned this to my doctor and asked a couple of questions that showed a bit more knowledge of the subject than most people had, he frowned and had a worried look on his face. He then commented that having only “a little bit of knowledge was dangerous”. I therefore appreciated the comments by Dr. Josephson in his new book entitled “Sinus Relief Now- The Groundbreaking 5 Step Program for Sinus, Allergy, and Asthma Sufferers”. He stated: “If your physician responds negatively to your newfound knowledge or is obviously uncomfortable working with a patient who is well educated about his or her disease, it’s another clear signal that it’s time to move on” (and find another doctor). I wish I had had this advice at that time, as the doctor eventually performed my first sinus surgery, caused me immense pain, and he didn’t improve my situation at all. It should be mentioned at this point that Dr. Josephson is a well known and highly regarded ENT specialist and surgeon. He has several times been on New York magazine’s “Best Doctors” list. He has been an expert commentator on many local and national television programs, and he is the Director of the New York Nasal and Sinus Center. I personally believe this book should be part of the home library of anyone who suffers from what Dr. Josephson calls CAID, or Chronic Airway-Digestive Inflammatory Disease. In the U.S. alone this includes about 70 million people who suffer from sinus disease, asthma, allergies, reflux diseases GERD and LRPD, as well as sleep problems like snoring and sleep apnea. Dr. Josephson believes that all these problems can be related for the simple reason that they all are associated with parts of the body which are directly connected together in the upper and lower respiratory and digestive systems. This is an interesting concept and is explained clearly and thoroughly in the early chapters of the book. Dr. Josephson discusses the symptoms of all these maladies and then offers a CAID test, which helps the reader understand which branch of CAID is causing his problems. He explains symptoms and possible treatment options in great detail for the various “limbs” of CAID, sinus disease, allergies, asthma, GERD and LPRD, and sleep disorders such as snoring and sleep apnea. One point is made clear throughout the book: like high blood pressure, sinus disease cannot be “cured” in the sense that it is gone once and for all, but it can only be controlled. But with this awareness and being knowledgeable about one’s problem, it is possible to control these health issues, and one can improve his or her life and not be forced to “just live with it”. There are a number of things I was pleased to see in “Sinus Relief Now”: 1. Dr. Josephson is a sinus sufferer himself. He has undergone sinus surgery, uses the therapies he recommends, and “knows the feeling”. I got the feeling when reading the book that this person has gone through some of the same pain I have experienced. 2. Dr. Josephson strongly emphasizes the use of nasal irrigation. He uses a sinus irrigation device every day, as do I. He also talks about using a neti pot for sinus irrigation, but I’ve used both and find the irrigator much more effective. I personally would not even recommend the neti pot method. 3. Dr. Josephson is a surgeon, and he pushes for a very conservative approach regarding turbinates. In the past many surgeons routinely cut out parts or even most of the turbinates in people. In recent years it is becoming apparent that this can have disastrous effects on patients over time, and there are many horror stories to read at the forum of the ENS Association web site. ENS stands for Empty Nose Syndrome, which is the term coined for this condition. 4. Dr. Josephson says that smokers with CAID problems simply must quit. He has some appreciation of the difficulty of quitting, however, and offers some guidelines for that as well.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Sinus Laser Surgery “Changed My Life” Said One Patient

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 05:00:00 GMT

A gentleman named Jason contacted me and said he recently had sinus laser surgery from Dr. Harvey Paley, whose practice is in Beverly Hills, CA. He said flatly that this operation “changed my life”. This gentleman has had 3 other conventional surgeries in the past 15 years during which time he had lost his sense of smell and sense of taste. Hearing about such a success after a sinus operation is rare in my experience. I personally have had two of them, and they basically didn’t work, since I continued to have sinus infections after both of them. In fact, I’ve heard of very few people who have had sinus surgery and who were pleased about the results over time.

So when someone is as enthusiastic about his operation as Jason is, it is time to listen, especially considering his background of sinus problems. The operational procedure is called Sinu-Clear, and it uses a laser as well as an endoscope. The laser equipment also provides a steady stream of salt water to flow through the nasal passageways while the operation is taking place. There is apparently very little bleeding during the procedure, since the laser cauterizes the tissue being operated on. Because of this there is no need for nasal packing, and this is a huge positive, as those of us who have gone through a conventional operation with a scalpel and had our noses packed can attest. For me it was just awful. The endoscope allows for good viewing by the surgeon, as the camera projects a picture of the nasal cavities being worked on onto a television screen.

This type of approach seems to make perfect sense. That is, using laser and endoscope technology to limit bleeding and see clearly what is being operated on. The first question I had is “why are there only a small handful of surgeons in the U.S. doing this operation?” It is not brand new, and in fact this laser sinus surgery was apparently pioneered by Dr. Daniel M. Schuman from Boca Raton, Florida over 10 years ago. Apparently Dr. Schuman has subsequently retired from his medical practice.

I asked this question to a gentleman from the company that produces the Sinu-Clear laser equipment, a company called PhotoMedex. He said there are many reasons for so few surgeons using the procedure, and most seem to boil down to the reluctance of people, in this case sinus surgeons, to change. In fact PhotoMedex is emphasizing different product lines of medical laser equipment, and the gentleman I spoke with was not optimistic about growth aspects for this procedure. To me this is certainly a shame. I personally have only spoken to one person, Jason, who has undergone the procedure, but he is extremely enthusiastic. I hope to speak to others and get more inputs. I can only say that when someone who has had 3 other operations tries sinus laser surgery and says he has finally regained his sense of smell again after 15 years, then this is worth taking note of, at the very least.

In addition to Dr. Paley in Beverly Hills, CA, I found out about two other otolaryngologists who perform the Sinu-Clear sinus laser operation. One is Dr. Vincent Pisciotta in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the other is Dr. Robert Bonham in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Bonham also performs another new operation called Sinuplasty, which is similar to angioplasty but for the sinus cavities. I understand there may be a few other surgeons in the country who routinely perform the Sinu-Clear operation, and I intend to continue to research this and get the word out. Results will be posted on the blog and forum at http://www.postnasaldrip.net. I only wish I had heard about this sinus laser surgery procedure years ago. It sounds like it might have been more effective and certainly less painful than the operations I did have. If you are considering being one of the 300,000 people who have sinus operations in the U.S. alone, this procedure is certainly something to know about and consider as an option, even if it were to require travel.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Deviated Septum- Think Twice About an Operation

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 05:00:00 GMT

The first of my two sinus operations was to correct a deviated septum. The operation, or more precisely, the post-operative recovery period, was very painful. I had splints in my nose to help support it since the septum had been rebuilt, and my nose was “packed”. This means that a large amount of gauze was pressed into the nose to stop bleeding.

Since no air can pass through the nostrils for the week or so that the packing is in place, things like eating became a challenge. You cannot eat and breathe at the same time, so small bites and lots of soups and other liquids are favored. The splints were awful. When I tried to lie down normally in bed, the pressure on either side was very painful, and I couldn’t sleep normally. My doctor suggested I get a Lazy Boy chair which reclined somewhat and sleep on that. In fact I did this, but sleep was difficult, and it was a long week.

Actually it was only about 5 days, as I begged my doctor to take out the splints and packing because the pain was so bad. One reason for this was that I had developed an infection as a result of the surgery and then had to deal with that as well. As for taking out the packing gauze, my surgeon said “This will feel like I’m pulling your brains out through your nose”. He was right.

Normally I would be willing to suffer for a while in order to “fix” whatever problem was being addressed once and for all. The problem with operations for a deviated septum is that oftentimes it simply does not work for very long and people continue to come down with sinus infections after about six months or so. That is exactly what happened to me, and then I also had a second sinus operation, by a different surgeon, about 18 months after the first. He told me my septum had been straightened out, so there must have been other things causing my sinusitis. In other words, all the pain I went through the first time was for nothing.

Therein lies the problem. There are many reasons for the onset of sinus infections. There could be allergies, yeast infections causing candida, blockage by polyps, rhinitis or chronic rhinitis, etc. Ongoing research is looking at other causes as well, and new treatments such as antifungal therapy are being developed, along with new medications to implement them. There are also new and less invasive operations being done, like sinuplasty.

Some people are lucky and respond well to standard treatments and medication. Many people, myself included, have tried all the standard treatments, medications and even operations, and still keep coming down with sinus infections. Something else is obviously in the mix.

It is said that 80% of the population has a deviated septum to some degree. There are about 300,000 sinus operations performed each year in the U.S., and a good number of these are to fix a deviated septum. I’m sure that some of these have cured sinusitis in a number of people, but personally I’ve never met anyone who has said the operation “worked” for them. Another downside to this operation is that surgeons will sometimes also cut out some of the turbinates in the nose to help clear the nasal cavities and ostensibly make drainage easier. In the past it was felt that removing some or most of the turbinates had no harmful effects. Surgeons and especially patients who have had this done are now finding out that this can be a catastrophic after about 5 years or so. The condition is now referred to as ENS, or Empty Nose Syndrome. This condition is irreversible, since the turbinate and cilia-bearing tissue which has been cut away cannot grow back or be transplanted from elsewhere in the body. If your mucosal/cilia system ceases to function, you are in big trouble. In extreme cases some patients with ENS were so miserable and depressed with their lives that they committed suicide!!

I’m sure my first and second surgeons meant well and thought they were helping me by recommending surgery for a deviated septum and for other reasons. The fact is, however, that the operations simply didn’t produce good results, as I kept coming down with sinus infections not long after both of them. What has helped me since then is pulsating sinus irrigation, and I have addressed that in other articles.

If your ENT specialist is recommending surgery to fix your deviated septum, I would recommend caution and skepticism. You need to educate yourself thoroughly and understand precisely what tissue will be cut or more importantly removed from your nose. Don’t just trust the word of someone else, even if he is a specialist. Learn about new operations being developed, like sinuplasty, and the research that is going on with antifungal therapy. This treatment is not widespread as yet since it is new, but you may not need to correct your deviated septum. Remember, your deviated septum has probably been there for years before your sinus problems became an issue, so maybe that isn’t the real cause of your problems. In any event, don’t let a surgeon cut out your turbinates or mucosal tissue. If you need convincing about that issue, just go to the web site of the ENS Symposium and read some forum entries by people who have had this done to them.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Pulsating Nasal Irrigation- A Comparison of Two Products

Sun, 03 Dec 2006 05:00:00 GMT

I have used pulsating nasal irrigation for about 5 years in an effort to obtain sinus relief after having gone through two sinus operations, both rather ineffective. My experience is that pulsating nasal irrigation is much more effective than other systems, such as using a squeeze bottle or neti pot. Until a few weeks ago I used a Water Pik machine with a special adaptor for pulsating nasal irrigation. The Water Pik machines seem to last only about a year or so, and I have gone through about 4 of them. When the latest one broke down, I went to purchase another and noticed that the design has changed since my last purchase, and my nasal adaptor no longer fit. I thus decided to purchase a device called the Hydro Pulse Nasal/Sinus Irrigation System and have been using it for my daily nasal irrigation routine for several weeks. This article will discuss the pros and cons of these two pulsating nasal irrigation systems.

The Hydro Pulse is designed specifically for nasal irrigation as well as throat and tongue cleansing, and the Water Pik is of course a dental hygiene product. Both produce pulsating streams of water to accomplish their intended purposes. It is not surprising that the Hydro Pulse seems to be a bit better for nasal irrigation than does the Water Pik. The main reason for using pulsating nasal irrigation as sinus therapy is to clean out the nasal cavities and especially to help the nasal and sinus cilia oscillate and thus do their job of cleaning out the nasal system by moving mucus and creating proper drainage. I assume the Hydro Pulse has a frequency more closely matched to the natural frequency of cilia movement than does the Water Pik, which would never take cilia movement into consideration in its design, as its goal is to clean teeth and exercise gums. The fact that the frequency of pulsating water jets in the Water Pik is relatively close to that of normal cilia movement is a lucky coincidence. My impression is that the Hydro Pulse stream of saline solution is also a bit softer than that of the Water Pik, yet it seems to complete the job of rinsing 16 oz. of saline solution through the nostrils a bit quicker and a bit more comfortably. This could be because the Hydro Pulse might be easier to regulate than the Water Pik since it has two controls, one on the machine itself and another on the nasal adapter. In general I give the edge to the Hydro Pulse for comfort and ease of use.

The Hydro Pulse also comes with an adaptor for throat irrigation and tongue cleansing. Some people have problems with bad breath, and using this adapter can help clean the mouth and eliminate small food particles which can contribute to bad breath. The throat cleansing can be done with the same saline solution that is used for nasal irrigation, with plain water, or with a mixture of water and mouth wash. Until now I have just used water, but it would seem that the mouth wash mixture would make the most sense for people with bad breath. In any case, plain water needs to be run through either machine after each use to clear out any saline solution in the system, as this could lead to corrosion over time.

As for clean-up after use, the Hydro Pulse is slightly easier, although its 16 oz. water tank is a vertical cylinder, and its small opening makes it a bit hard to get a tissue into it to dry it out.

For years I stuck with the Water Pik because it not only accomplished the pulsating nasal irrigation I was looking for, but it also helped clean my teeth and exercise my gums, which is what it is designed for. I am a person who tends to accumulate a lot of build-up on my teeth between semi-annual cleanings, and the dental hygienist would have to spend a lot of time scraping off buildups of calculus. This situation has greatly improved since I started using the Water Pik. In fact a dentist recommended that I use the machine many years ago, and I wish I had taken his advice.

It would seem that the best overall solution for pulsating nasal irrigation would be either a Hydro Pulse with the tooth and gum cleansing action of a Water Pik, or a Water Pik with the throat and tongue cleaning adaptor. I’ll probably end up using both machines, but ideally I’d like the ease of one for both purposes.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Sinus Pressure Relief and Air Travel- 4 Steps to Take

Thu, 16 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT

Many people have a tendency to come down with sinus infections during or after air travel. The four steps discussed in this article can help provide sinus pressure relief for those who travel by air on a regular basis.

There are a number of reasons why people who are susceptible to sinus infections tend to contact them during air travel. Sharing stale air in close proximity to others is certainly one reason, and oftentimes this air contains more bacteria and viruses than the air in our normal living environments. The low humidity in plane cabins is another contributing factor. The dry air we breathe in airplanes tends to impair the normal mucous-cilia system and make people more prone to bacteria and viruses. Since airplane cabins are pressurized and the pressure is changing during climb and descent, this can also have harmful effects.

Four suggestions to obtain sinus pressure relief in conjunction with air travel include: drinking lots of water before and during long flights; using a saline solution during the flight; doing the Modified Valsalva maneuver; and taking a decongestant before air travel.

Drink Lots of Water
The air intake that occurs at very high altitudes to ventilate plane cabins contains very dry air. Drinking water prior to and during flights can help retain moisture in the body and keep the nasal system as moist as possible. In addition, alcohol and caffeine are often consumed by people on long flights, and these also tend to dehydrate people. Making an effort to drink water regularly on long flights can help avoid dryness of the nasal passages.

Use Saline Solution Often During the Flight
It is wise to bring a small bottle of saline solution along and use it every hour or so to help keep the nose moist. Over the counter saline solutions all contain preservatives, and some people are bothered by these. It is possible to mix a solution yourself without preservatives and avoid this problem. One-half of a teaspoon of salt added to 8 oz. of water is a proper mixture. I personally use a product called Breathe-ease XL® for both nasal irrigation and for making a spray bottle without preservative, and this will be good to use for about a week. These saline sprays offer sinus pressure relief by keeping the nasal membranes irrigated and maintaining proper drainage.

Use the Modified Valsalva Maneuver
Dr. M. Lee Williams describes the maneuver in his book “The Sinusitis Help Book”. To do this one clamps the nose between the thumb and forefinger, swallows, and then immediately blows into the nose without letting go. One should not blow forcefully into the nose, a gentle pressure will suffice. Dr. Williams says that this should be done several times per minute during ascent and especially descent as cabin pressure is changing during those times. It should also be done several times per hour while the plane is at altitude. It is important not to forget to swallow just before blowing gently into the nose.

Consider Taking a Decongestant Before the Flight
I generally use flonase spray each night as part of my regular regime to combat sinus problems. I’ll also use it about an hour or two before any flight. On long flights to Europe, I’ll also take 5 mg of prednisone. I find this keeps my nasal passages clear and functioning well, even though flights to Europe from the U.S. are long. Prednisone should be used very sparingly, however, as it can cause damage to the immune system, so this should be taken only in consultation with your doctor.

By realizing that the air in airplane cabins is stale, dry and often polluted, one can obtain sinus pressure relief by drinking lots of water before and during flights, using a saline spray, doing the Modified Valsalva maneuver as described above, and taking a decongestant prior to takeoff, especially on long trips. You should also try to simply avoid air travel if you have a cold and stuffiness prior to a trip.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

ENS Means Significant Nasal Problems

Wed, 15 Nov 2006 05:00:00 GMT

If you’ve ever had a sinus operation or are thinking about having one, you need to be aware of one of the most tragic of nasal problems, ENS.

ENS stands for Empty Nose Syndrome. This condition causes nasal problems in some people that can be devastating. The condition is tragic because it is doctor induced. That is, when nasal turbinates are extracted in whole or in part during sinus surgery, the condition can subsequently occur, sometimes taking 5 or 6 years to manifest itself.

Turbinates can swell and cause blockages in nasal cavities, leading to sinus infections. Thus, cutting out turbinate tissue during sinus surgery used to be a common practice. It is now better understood that these turbinates are part of a system that regulates the flow of air through the nose and into the lungs. The turbinates also filter air going into the lungs, and they add humidity such that the respiratory system does not dry out. Furthermore, turbinate tissue produces mucous and contains cilia, which are vital for the proper functioning of the nasal system. Cilia can be permanently damaged, and if that occurs the nasal system will simply break down, and you are bound to feel miserable

Dr. Eugene Kern of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota coined the term Empty Nose Syndrome in the 1990’s after he and his colleagues observed that people who had turbinates or turbinate tissue removed during sinus surgery were still complaining about having stuffiness, sinusitis and other nasal problems, even though their nasal passages were very open, since their turbinates had been removed. These patients also experienced other symptoms, including shortness of breath, nasal dryness and caking, pain in the face, as well as depression and anxiety and a loss of the ability to concentrate. Dr. Kern studied the cases of over two hundred people with this condition and came up with the term “Empty Nose Syndrome” now commonly referred to as ENS. Dr Kern even treated two people who were so miserable with this condition that they committed suicide! He has been counseling surgeons to be conservative in their surgeries, but since the concepts are still relatively new, not every ENT is convinced, and many will still extract turbinates and turbinate tissue. The bottom line is this: don’t let your surgeon cut out your turbinates or their tissue if you are going to have sinus surgery. Another tragic aspect of the problem is that once the tissue is removed it cannot grow back, and techniques currently do not exist for successful transplants of other tissue.

One can learn more details about this condition by going to the web site of the ENS Association. Just do a search for “empty nose syndrome” and you’ll easily find the site. It features a forum in which people share their experiences, and just reading through some of the comments by people who are suffering from ENS nasal problems should be enough to make you extremely cautious if you are contemplating surgery.

One thing to keep in mind is that oftentimes people do not start experiencing ENS symptoms until 5 or 6 years after they have had surgery, as mentioned above. Essentially it can take that long for the remaining cilia left after the surgery to succumb to being overloaded and to fail. I personally had my second sinus surgery about six years ago, and I am watching out for ENS symptoms which fortunately are not an issue in my case thus far.

Anyone who has had sinus surgery or is contemplating it is strongly urged to go to the ENS web site. Scroll down the home page, and you will find a button where you can listen to Dr. Kern presenting a lecture to other surgeons. His talk is about a half hour in length, and it is particularly poignant when he describes the two patients he treated who committed suicide. It quickly becomes clear that this condition is a very serious one. You will learn a lot by listening to this tape and by studying the other information on the site. In fact anyone who suffers from sinusitis or other nasal problems should be aware of ENS in case they are ever confronted with sinus surgery.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Sinus Allergies- The Basics

Thu, 19 Oct 2006 04:00:00 GMT

One of the first things an ENT specialist should check for in persons having chronic sinusitis is whether or not the patient has sinus allergies.

A diagnosis for sinus allergies can now be done by a blood test, which is much easier than the skin tests that were required in the past. In my case I had weak allergies to several things including dust, dust mites, and certain molds. Although my sinus allergies were not strong, my ENT specialist recommended that I start a series of injections to counter the above allergens (an allergen is an allergy causing substance, for example, dust or dust mites in my case). The doctor said that although he could not be sure if the shots would help much, we should proceed with them because we ought to try everything within our power to overcome my sinus allergies and sinusitis

I thus received shots weekly for about two years. For the second year it became inconvenient for me to go to the doctor’s office every week for a shot, so I was taught how to give myself the injections. Thereafter I only had to personally go to the doctor’s office about once a quarter to pick up a new batch of serum. At first the thought of giving myself shots seemed a bit revolting, but it really was quite easy to do after one gets the hang of it. I stopped taking the shots after about two years, and I can’t say for certain that they helped. I don’t think they did any harm, however, and I don’t think that sinus allergies are a big factor in my particular situation at present.

The mechanism for triggering allergies has to do with an over-reaction of a person’s immune system. Certain allergens, which cause no reaction whatsoever in some people, can trigger an overly aggressive immune system response in others. This exaggerated response of the immune system can cause inflammation and result in the release of histamines and other chemicals in the body leading to the creation of excess mucus in the nasal system, then possible blockage and infection.

Common allergens causing sinus allergies include pollen from trees, grass and weeds, animal dander, feathers, dust, dust mites, molds, mildew, smoke, perfumes, cockroaches, industrial chemicals, insect stings and certain foods, such as milk, eggs, peanuts, shellfish, and chocolate, among others.

The best solution to avoid triggering sinus allergies is to avoid coming in contact with the specific allergen that affects the individual. As can be seen from the above list, however, that is often impossible. In addition to the injections discussed previously, one can also use nasal irrigation to clean out the nasal passages, and this will provide some help, even if it might be limited. Several articles on the subject of pulsating nasal irrigation can be found at the http://www.postnasaldrip.net web site.

Since 70-80% of people who suffer from sinusitis have allergies, it is important that sinus sufferers get treatment for their sinus allergies. If not, the constant inflammations and soreness can lead to permanent problems, in particular cilia damage, which will only make one’s sinusitis worse in the long run. Sinus allergies can often be treated successfully and improve conditions, even if they don’t eliminate one’s sinus problems entirely, as in my case.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of http://www.postnasaldrip.net a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit http://www.postnasaldrip.net and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Nasal Polyps- A Primer

Tue, 17 Oct 2006 04:00:00 GMT

Nasal polyps are a well known cause of sinus pressure and pain and occur in the nasal and sinus passages of many people. Chronic sinus sufferers may have anatomical obstructions in their nasal and sinus cavities, and nasal polyps are one of the most common of these. This article will briefly discuss the causes and effects of having nasal polyps. Doctors are not 100% certain what the precise causes of nasal polyps are. In general it is thought that chronic inflammation in the nasal cavities can cause polyps to grow, often resulting in blockage of the sinus passages and resulting in infections. In addition, it appears that aspirin intolerance also seems to increase the likelihood of nasal polyps. Men over 40 years of age are more prone to develop polyps than are women or people in other age groups, unless asthma is a concurrent condition. It is not believed that allergies are the main cause of polyp growth since they occur in just as many people who do not have nasal allergies as in those who do. Some physicians say that polyps are more likely to grow in people who also suffer from asthma. Dr. M. Lee Williams in his book entitled “The Sinusitis Help Book” writes: “It is often surprising how many asthmatics with sinusitis already have, or eventually go on to develop, nasal or sinus polyps, and how much improvement in their asthma may sometimes result from removing the polyps and clearing up their obstructive sinus disease.” He continues: “Unfortunately, even after polyps have been removed, more than one-third of the patients with nasal polyps will have a recurrence of them, and this is especially true for those with superimposed allergy, frequent sinus infections, repeated colds, asthma, cystic fibrosis, or aspirin intolerance.” Polyps are not a separate growth, as is a tumor, and they consist of the same tissue as does their surrounding areas. The polyp tissue can contain cilia and secrete mucous, but sometimes the tissue hardens and flattens and the cilia are lost due to chronic infection or from being irritated by constant exposure to the nasal air stream. Nasal polyps are often described as looking like some sort of rounded grape-like growth. Adding obstructions inside the nose, polyps can block the drainage passageways and therefore result in bacteria growth and infection. Polyps that develop in other parts of the body can become cancerous, but in general that is not the case with nasal polyps. Normally doctors do not seek biopsies when treating polyps in the nasal and sinus cavities. Nasal polyps can often be controlled using mediations, especially corticosteroid medications like prednisone or steroid sprays. If the polyps cannot be controlled by medication, surgery might be necessary. In some patients who have polyps, no blockage occurs and in such cases many doctors will choose to forego surgery. Unfortunately, polyps have a strong tendency to return after they have been surgically removed. It should be noted that nasal irrigation is not recommended for people with nasal polyps. This is because the pressure from the nasal irrigation procedure can be traumatic in that the fluid stream of saline solution would be pushing against the sensitive and exposed tissue of the polyp. As is the case with other anatomical obstructions in the nasal cavities such as swollen turbinates or cysts, nasal polyps often cause blockage and can result in chronic sinus infections. Sinus sufferers should consult their physicians and have them determine if they have nasal or sinus polyps, and seek appropriate treatment. Fortunately nasal polyps can often be treated successfully with medications alone and surgery is not always a necessity.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Candida- An Introduction

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 04:00:00 GMT

Many people suffer from an excess of candida in their bodies, and sinus problems are among the effects. The yeast (a form of fungus), is called candida and the disease is referred to as candidiasis. If you feel listless, achy, or even light-headed or “spacy”, in addition to having sinus and other health problems, you many have an excess of candida.

Candida can flourish in the body when the immune system is impaired. The disease is often a result of taking too many courses of antibiotics or other medications that can harm the immune system. Dr. Robert Ivker, in his book “Sinus Survival” states “What I have repeatedly observed in my practice is that the vast majority of people with chronic sinusitis, who have taken three or more ten-day to two-week courses of antibiotics within a six month period, probably have some degree of candidiasis.” Certain hormones can also contribute to the disease, including those in birth control pills, as can cortisone medications such as prednisone. A high-sugar diet can also help the growth of candida, which uses sugar as a food. Diabetics have a higher than normal propensity for having candidiasis.

Unfortunately there is no easy test that can be used to determine if one has the disease, and many people tend to diagnose the problem themselves after numerous visits to a doctor, who cannot diagnose exactly what is wrong with them. Many candida sufferers are told “it’s all in your head”. There is a simple test of spitting into a glass and observing the mucus and how it dissipates. This seems rather folkloric, but there are usually grains of truth in folklore. Certainly this would not constitute a definitive diagnosis, but it might give some people an indication. This test is easily found on an internet search with the keyword, candida. Oftentimes the best diagnosis is to set out on a course of treatment to see if there is improvement in the patient’s conditions. Background questionnaires are also commonly used to determine probability of the presence of candida. If this seems possible and one has a number of the symptoms, it would make sense to seek out a physician or specialist who has extensive experience in treating fungal diseases.

Sinus problems are only one of the many issues that are confronted with candida. When candida spread throughout the body they tend to congregate in moist mucous tissue in the lungs and nasal areas, so sinus problems are often a result of candida. Other symptoms include sluggishness and a feeling of being “spaced out”, irritability, depression, mood swings, as well as itching and burning sensations when urinating. Diarrhea, cramping or constipation, and of course stuffy or runny nose and sinus infections are also experienced by candidiasis sufferers. Also noted as symptoms are cravings for certain foods, such as breads, sugars, cheeses, and alcohol.

Treatment is not simple and generally consists of a “candida” diet. This diet is high in protein and vegetables and low on carbohydrates. It must be difficult to maintain this type of diet for extended periods. The diet aims to take away the fuel needed by candida to thrive. There are products available on the internet that claim to help candida patients, and one should research these thoroughly before taking them. Certainly one should obtain a doctor’s opinion before taking some sort of supplement. One could even try to personally contact people who have given endorsements for the product. Some of these are not very expensive, however, and the cost of trying them, given approval by a doctor, might be worth the cost and effort. Sinusitis in itself is a difficult problem to live with as is well documented at Post Nasal Drip, but candida sufferers must endure other health issues as well. Many of these supplement products and more information can be found easily by doing an internet search for “candida” or “candidiasis”.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Sinusitis Cures- A New Treatment Therapy is Available

Sun, 08 Oct 2006 04:00:00 GMT

I am one of the 35,000,000 Americans who suffer from chronic sinusitis. I’ve looked at numerous potential sinusitis cures over the years and have undergone two painful sinus operations. I still was coming down with sinus infections after that, which was pretty discouraging, and I had to make lifestyle changes I wasn’t pleased with. Over the past four years or so I’ve found help using pulsating nasal irrigation with a saline solution, and the situation is relatively “under control”. I still get clogged up most nights, however, and have to take several medications, including a steroid spray.

Research has been done by the Mayo Clinic in the hope of finding new sinusitis cures. I’ve been in touch with one of the physicians on the Mayo Clinic research team who advised me that there is a new therapy which may actually treat the root cause of chronic sinusitis in many people. In this article I’ll summarize in layman’s terms the results of the research.

The research showed that people with chronic sinusitis have a different immune response in their nasal cavities to naturally occurring fungi, which they showed is present in the nasal cavities of almost everyone. The research team was able to demonstrate that in some people (chronic sinusitis sufferers) certain white blood cells, known as eosinophites, activate and thereby produce a chemical, called MBP, which causes damage to nasal membranes. Bacteria can then invade the damaged areas and cause sinus infections. It therefore made sense that an option in the search for new sinusitis cures would be to treat the fungus rather than treat the bacteria with an antibiotic, which is often the therapy followed conventionally.

Mayo Clinic studies have shown that 75% of chronic sinusitis sufferers saw improvement when treated with a topical fungicide. The Therapy is called topical antifungal therapy. An antifungal called Amphotericin B has already been approved by the FDA for other treatments and is normally administered to patients as an injection. For sinusitis cures it is made into a topical nasal spray and applied daily. The recommended dose is 100 micrograms/ml. This medication is generally not available in most pharmacies today. One must get the prescription filled through a compounding pharmacy such as Anazao.
The best thing to do is find a physician who is trained in administering this therapy, and that doctor can no doubt explain how to obtain the medication prescribed.

In some people the eosinophiles do not react to fungi present in the nasal mucus, and these people generally do not have chronic sinusitis. Why the eosinophiles act differently in different people is not yet known. Also, it is difficult to administer a test which will tell if one person has this type of reaction occur in his body or not. However, this theory would explain why some people are chronic sinusitis sufferers even after extensive conventional treatments or sinus operations. The conventional therapies and surgeries to date have simply not addressed this issue, since it was not known prior to the Mayo Clinic studies and patient tests.

Chronic sinusitis sufferers should be aware that this new therapy is available today in some locations, that it is gaining popularity, and it is becoming part of the arsenal of sinusitis cures available. People desperate for help should try to locate a physician who has been trained to administer this treatment and determine if it would help in their case. If you cannot locate such treatment in your area, please go to Post Nasal Drip and click the Contact Us button and we’ll try to help, but travel may be required.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers like himself. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit Post Nasal Drip and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers.

Recurring Sinus Infection- An Explanation?

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 04:00:00 GMT

As part of our efforts to chronicle the experiences of sinusitis sufferers, a gentleman named Carlton contributed a “Sinusitis Treatment Success” story.

He pointed out a study conducted by the Mayo clinic and the University of Buffalo addressing the issue of recurring sinus infection. It states that "chronic sinusitis is an immune disorder caused by fungus."
I asked Carlton in a follow-up email if he had tested positive for fungi in previous
allergy tests, and here is his response:

“Hello Walt:
I had 2 different allergy tests, both negative.
The Mayo/U. of Buffalo research says this is not an allergic reaction like a pollen allergy, so it wouldn't show up in an allergy test. It's an over reaction to fungus by T-cells that damage the sinus lining and gives bacteria a place to grow. Most people have no reaction, but most people with chronic sinusitis do. Apparently there is a test, but ENT's are skeptical. Mine said the fungus idea was false and suggested surgery. If I was cynical, I might think his opinion was because there's no surgical solution.
This is leading edge stuff. Mayo received a patent on anti-fungal treatments.
I decided to try this approach after everything else failed. I don't want surgery, because I've never heard of one that worked.
I'll let you know how it goes, but so far, I feel much better.
Carlton”

Huge Implications in the Study Results
There are huge implications in this study for those who suffer from recurring sinus infection. This work could lead to treatments that treat the root cause of the problem for the first time.

Another article in the Health Solutions Newsletter of Sept 2005 also referred to the Mayo Clinic/U. of Buffalo study and adds further clarification. Their article was entitled “Mayo Clinic Announces Startling New Sinus Discovery”

“Jens Panikau, sinus researcher at Mayo Clinic, has published a new finding that explains why sinus disease persists despite so many new drugs. Dr Panikau found that the main cause of sinus symptoms was that the eosinophiles �" your special cells that defend your body against infection, - get into the mucus and produce a toxic product called MBP that is made in order to kill bacteria. Unfortunately, among sinus sufferers, there is an excess of this MBP in the mucus that also damages the cells of the nose and impairs its ability to sweep bacteria out of the nose. Dr Panikau shows that it is the MBP that makes the patient sick, with fever, pain, fatigue, and secondary infections.”

Anyone who suffers from recurring sinus infection issues and who cannot find adequate relief after treatment by an otolaryngologist or after unsuccessful surgery are urged to do what Carlton has done:

1. Start using pulsating nasal irrigation to cleanse the nose of crusty old mucus which could be carrying toxins.
2. Test your environment to see if you are exposed to high levels of fungus.
3. If the tests are positive for fungus, try to improve your environment to lower the amount of fungus you are exposed to.

There are numerous books and articles which address this subject.
Hopefully the follow-on work of the Mayo Clinic and University of Buffalo will identify antifungal treatments that can finally go after the root cause of recurring sinus infection. Sinus sufferers should be aware of these research efforts and be ready to discuss these findings with their ENT specialists. Maybe serious help is finally on the way.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Post Nasal Drip. To find out more about how to test for fungus levels and using pulsating nasal irrigation, get a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories” by visiting PostNasalDrip and click on the Free Report link.

Nasal Congestion- The Role of Humidity Control

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 04:00:00 GMT

While in Europe recently, I found that I didn’t need to use nasal irrigation to prevent nasal congestion. I did bring along a travel WaterPik device which I often use for this purpose when away from home, but I didn’t feel the need to use it even once for the entire month we were gone. I attribute this to the higher humidity levels in Europe compared to those in Colorado where we live.

I normally use nasal irrigation with a saline solution once or twice per day. It would be unthinkable to go for a month in Colorado without doing this. I would almost certainly come down with a sinus infection during this length of time, even while continuing to take my normal medication.

According to Dr. Robert Ivker, D.O., former President of the American Holistic Medical Association, the ideal level of relative humidity for sinus health is between 35-45%. I noticed in one of the hotels we stayed at in France that the humidity was in the low 70% range, and I’m sure it was at least that high at other times as well during the month. For whatever reason, this level of humidity seems to work better for my particular nasal congestion problems, and I have noticed before the general tendency of having fewer sinus problems while in Europe. We travel there fairly often as we operate tours in France. Dr. Ivker prefers to use a warm mist room humidifier which requires no filters and kills bacteria. He claims to have had good luck with Bionaire Clear Mist units.

Upon returning from this latest trip I decided to purchase an inexpensive humidity gauge and put it in our bedroom to deep a closer eye on the actual levels in our sleeping environment. Right now the levels are in the 50% range, which is pretty good. We live at over 7,000 feet of elevation, and we have several windows open at night at this time of year to cool off the room. During most of the year we do use a humidifier, especially in the winter months. When the furnace is on the humidity drops quite a bit, and I will now be able to monitor the levels and make better use of a humidifier with the humidity gauge. Air conditioning will also dry out the air in a room or in an automobile, so keeping close watch of this is important for people like me who continually battle nasal congestion problems.

The device I purchased was an inexpensive combination thermometer and humidity gauge. It was only about $4, but one can find digital devices with more functionality in the $20-40 range in stores like Kmart or Walmart. I would strongly recommend that people who suffer from chronic sinusitis make this small investment and keep a device to measure relative humidity in their sleep and also possibly their work environments. This simple item can be a significant tool in the regimen of all sinus sufferers to help prevent nasal congestion, especially while sleeping.

Walt Ballenberger is a sinus sufferer and founder of PostNasalDrip.net. For a free report entitled “Sinus Treatment Success Stories”, visit PostNasalDrip.net and click on the Free Report link. This resource can be of significant help to chronic sinus sufferers. Follow this link for other sinus treatment articles.

Sinus Irrigation and a Suggested System

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:00:00 GMT

Sinus irrigation is the main component in my personal arsenal to battle sinusitis and sinus infections. While struggling with numerous sinus infections a number of years ago, I ran across a book by Dr. Murray Grossan entitled “The Sinus Cure- 7 Simple Steps”. This book explained the pulsating nasal irrigation system that I now use every day and have for a number of years. The book is a great resource for people suffering from sinusitis.

When I first started following Dr. Grossan’s advice he suggested using a WaterPik machine,
and these have been sold for years as devices to improve gum and dental health. Dr.
Grossan’s company simply sold an adaptor and a saline solution, although one can use normal table salt. Although much more expensive than table salt, I find that the saline solution is convenient, works well, and has no preservatives. I usually purchase a dozen containers at a time, and these will last up to a year with one application per day. One simply puts a spoonful of saline solution into the WaterPik tank and then about 16 oz. of warm water to dissolve the powder. The nasal adaptor is then put into one nostril and the machine will gently propel half the liquid through one’s nasal canal, and it will drain out the other side. One then puts the adaptor in the other nostril and repeats the procedure on that side. This process is done while leaning over a sink. I then normally put more water into the tank and use the WaterPik on my teeth as it was originally intended, and I’ve helped my gum and dental health as well. My dental hygienist has made several comments about how much better my gums and teeth are when I go in for cleanings, so there is a definite side benefit to this procedure. The whole effort only takes about 5 minutes or so, including wiping everything dry. I normally do the irrigation once a day about an hour before bed, but if I happen to wake up with more than the usual congestion in the morning, I’ll do it then as well.

The Easiest Way to Start
In the past couple of years Dr. Grossan’s medical supply company has come up with its own sinus irrigator. It is called the Hydro Pulse® Nasal Irrigation System. One receives the Hydro Pulse Nasal/Sinus Irrigator®, 2 Original Sinus Irrigator Tips ®, 2
Original Throat Irrigator Tips®, Breathe-ease® XL Nasal Moisturizer (this is the saline
solution), and excerpts from "The Sinus Cure" by Dr. Grossan.

This is the easiest way to start, as you have everything needed. If the system works well and you want to continue to do nasal irrigation on a daily basis, I would suggest choosing the pack of one dozen saline solution boxes, as the price is lower per box and there is only one
shipping charge to pay. Of course one could still purchase a WaterPik at a retail store and
buy the Dr. Grossan’s adaptor and saline solution to work with it. In fact I continue to do this in order to use the device on my teeth and gums since it works so well. Every year or so the WaterPik needs to be replaced. I suspect that the salt has a corrosive effect, although I rinse the machine with fresh water immediately after each use. The WaterPik company even sells a small travel model, and I use one of those when on the road.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of PostNasalDrip.net, a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers. Ballenberger is not a medical professional, just a sinus sufferer for years. He found relief using pulsating nasal irrigation among other things. The site has articles and information, including a blog where others can exchange ideas about treatments, products, etc.

Infection of the Sinus- A Symptom: Toothache

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:00:00 GMT

Can an infection of the sinus be signaled by a toothache? The short answer to this question is yes. I personally had an experience with this phenomenon several years ago and was completely fooled by what was happening. Hopefully others might find clarification if they have a similar experience.

Several years ago on a trip to France, I started having minor toothaches in the upper right portion of my mouth. I took Tylenol at first, and that dulled the pain for a while. The toothaches gradually became more severe, and even though I doubled the dosage of painkiller, it got so bad that I could not sleep at night.

I finally asked our hotel to contact a local French dentist and schedule an appointment with him. The dentist took X-rays and examined my teeth, and he tried to identify which tooth was the culprit in order to diagnose the problem. He tapped on several of my teeth, and each time asked if the pain became worse. As much as I wanted to cooperate and pinpoint the source of the pain, I could not help him identify the exact tooth that was the source of my discomfort. The X-rays did not signal any problem either, so the dentist told me he could not do anything more with my teeth. He prescribed large ibuprofen tablets for pain. I called them “horse pills”, and he told me to take those until I returned home and could see my normal dentist. Unfortunately the “horse pills” made me violently sick to my stomach, and I’m not sure which was worse, the disease or the cure. It should also be pointed out as a matter of side interest that I had to pay in cash for the visit, and the price was 20 euros, or about $25 U.S. at the time, which included the X-rays. That amount was less than the co-payment required by my medical insurance coverage at home in the U.S.

The tooth pain did eventually subside, however, as did the upset stomach, and by the time I saw my dentist at home in the U.S., I was feeling well. He made an examination of my teeth, and also took more X-rays. He showed these to me, and I was quite surprised to see that the roots of several of my upper teeth were clearly visible inside my sinus cavity, which he pointed out was rather large. He eventually concluded that the problem had been an infection of the sinus, and not a tooth problem.

I’ve had many sinus infections over the years and have suffered through two painful sinus operations. This was the only time that an infection of the sinus affected me in this way. I did not have the normal deep headaches, runny nose and eyes, and nasal congestion, as was always the case in the past. This time, and this time only, the only symptom was the toothache. So it is apparent that an infection of the sinus can manifest itself in several ways, and sinus sufferers should be aware of this.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of PostNasalDrip.net, a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers. Ballenberger is not a medical professional, just a sinus sufferer for years. He found relief using pulsating nasal irrigation among other things. The site has articles and information, including a blog where others can exchange ideas about treatments, products, etc.

Sinus Infection Book Review- “The Sinus Cure- 7 Simple Steps” (Part 2)

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 04:00:00 GMT

What are cilia and what is their function?
Cilia are tiny hairs that line certain membranes in the body including sinus cavities. They move in a wavelike motion and carry anything on their surface out of the respiratory tract. Dr Grossan has determined that cilia move back and forth at about 16 to 18 times per second. This just happens to be the frequency at which a Water Pik device sends out its pulsating beads of water. It should also be noted that the pressure of the streamlets is quite low, and this is beneficial.

Allergies
Allergies and their causes are also discussed in the book’s first section. These often go hand in hand with sinusitis. When I first started seeing an ENT specialist I was tested for allergies and subsequently took weekly shots for several years as part of my treatment. I did test positive for allergies to dust and dust mites, although these allergies were low-level. I do believe these shots helped somewhat. One needs a multi-pronged attack against sinusitis, and each person’s problem is unique, so one type of cure does not work for everyone.

The 7 Steps
Part two of the book discusses the 7 steps people should consider to cure their sinusitis. These are:
1. Make the Diagnosis: Tests You May Need
2. Use Nasal Irrigation to Keep Your Nasal Passages Clean
3. Consider Complementary Treatments
4. Clean Up the Air around You
5. Boost the Levels of Healing Nutrients in Your Body
6. Destress to Stay Well
7. Choose the Most Effective Medical Therapies

In my opinion the most important aspect of the treatment program is the pulsating irrigation system. I continue to do this twice a day, even when on travel, as I purchased a small travel model of my Water Pik device. Other important aspects of the program include cleaning the air in one’ environment and maintaining proper room temperature and humidity levels ( 40- 50% relative humidity).

Medications and herbal remedies
There is significant discussion about medications and possible herbal remedies that some people find helpful. The only criticism I can offer is that these days one reads results of recent studies that point out harmful effects of taking overdoses of certain nutrients, and so I suggest people be careful and discuss any supplements they plan to take with a family physician or ENT specialist. A recent study about taking too much beta-carotene, for example, circulated in the news media not long ago.

Sinus Surgery
The last section of the book discusses sinus surgery, including different types of surgery, and why they are needed.

Having endured two very painful sinus operations, my personal recommendation is that sinus surgery should be a last resort, unless one has polyps, for example. I still came down with a sinus infection about six months after each operation, so the results were not good. I strongly suggest that sinus sufferers read Dr. Grossan’s book and follow some of his suggestions, especially the sinus irrigation system, before opting for sinus surgery.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of PostNasalDrip.net, a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers. Ballenberger is not a medical professional, just a sinus sufferer for years. He found relief using pulsating nasal irrigation among other things. The site has articles and information, including a blog where others can exchange ideas about treatments, products, etc.

Sinus Infection Book Review- “The Sinus Cure- 7 Simple Steps” (Part 1)

Wed, 14 Jun 2006 04:00:00 GMT

In his book “The Sinus Cure- 7 Simple Steps to Relieve Sinusitis and other Ear, Nose and Throat Conditions”, Dr. Murray Grossan, M.D., defines a “sinus cure” as follows: “ A cure is defined as partial or complete relief of symptoms”. With the inclusion of the word “partial” in this definition, this means I have been cured. Do I still experience stuffiness at night? Yes, indeed. On some nights I wake up and need to elevate my head on one hand or the other to have a clogged nostril drain. However, I have not had a sinus infection for quite some time, and I give the credit to Dr. Grossan. Hopefully this book review can help others who need help from the horrific pain and terrible inconvenience of a sinus infection.

For years I had numerous sinus infections and was often on antibiotics. I had two painful sinus operations and was still coming down with infections. I tried a number of different methods and procedures which were ineffective. It was only when I happened upon Dr. Grossan’s book and started using his suggestions, in particular the pulsating nasal irrigation system, did I start getting control of my sinusitis problem. If you wish to learn how to use the irrigation system, please read my article describing it.

“The Sinus Cure” is not a technical book written for medical professionals. It is clear and understandable and is written for the layman. It includes numerous quotations from sinusitis sufferers, and if you are among that group of unfortunates, you will recognize the pain and aggravation these people describe.

What is sinusitis?
The book starts out by explaining the details of sinusitis, what causes it, and how our respiratory system should function. Sinusitis is defined as “inflammation of the facial cavities around your nose- those above the eyes (frontal), behind the nose (sphenoids), on either side of the top of the nose (ethmoid), and beneath the eyes in the cheek area (maxillary) Explanations are given for the reasons we have sinuses, and how the mucous-cilia system works in healthy people to properly drain mucus out of our sinuses.
When the openings that connect our sinuses become clogged (they are only about the size of pencil lead) mucus gets blocked and becomes thick and dry, and the cilia, or tiny hairs that oscillate and move mucus and cause it to drain properly, cannot function. As one of my ENT specialists put it succinctly, “the issue is simply drainage”.

Pulsating nasal irrigation
The first part of the book jumps right into a discussion of pulsating nasal irrigation. One uses a Water Pik dental cleaning device with a special adaptor, along with a saline solution in about 16 oz. of water. Half the solution goes into one nostril and drains out the other, and then the procedure is repeated in the other nostril. This has two effects. First, any dry or thick mucus is cleaned away. This dry mucus can easily become infected, since it is just sitting in the nasal cavities. Secondly, the pulsating beads of water work to help the cilia function properly. Having cilia that function properly is the best way to prevent sinus infection.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of PostNasalDrip.net, a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers. Ballenberger is not a medical professional, just a sinus sufferer for years. He found relief using pulsating nasal irrigation among other things. The site has articles and information, including a blog where others can exchange ideas about treatments, products, etc.

Sinus Irrigation Using a Neti Pot vs. Pulsating Sinus Irrigation

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 04:00:00 GMT

In a previous article I discussed the pulsating sinus irrigation system using a Water Pik or Hydro Pulse device. This is certainly the system that works best for me, but before finding out about this procedure I tried doing sinus irrigation with a neti pot.

Many ENT doctors recommend using a neti pot for sinus irrigation. This is a vessel that looks somewhat like a small teapot with a long, thin neck. A saline solution is mixed in the pot, and one places the end of the neti pot into a nostril while bending over a sink. To do this one bends over as if looking up to the ceiling. The saline solution can then be poured into one nostril, and the solution will run out the other. The procedure is repeated on the other side.

Personally I did not like the neti pot method. It was a mess to use and I almost had to take my shirt off to keep from getting it wet. More importantly, it also was not effective for me. I find the slow pulsating stream from the water pik method gives far better results than did the quick rush of water from the Neti pot, no matter how slow I tried to pour the solution into my nostrils. It also seems to clean out the nostrils much more thoroughly. Some people say a neti pot works well for them, so it might be worth a try, but I would strongly suggest simply using the pulsating method. Dr. Murray Grossan, in his book “The Sinus Cure- 7 Simple Steps” gives a reason for the superiority of the pulsating system. He explains how sinus cavities are lined with cilia, tiny hairs that move back and forth when sinuses are functioning properly. He states that the pump of a water pik sends out pulses of water that happen to be at about the same frequency at which the cilia function. These pulses can therefore reinforce the movement of the cilia such that they can function properly and move mucus out of sinus cavities and down into our digestive systems, where it is dealt with my stomach acids. The hydro pulse Nasal/Sinus Irrigator does the same thing.

Dr. Grossan explains that cilia can become temporarily or permanently damaged and thus cannot remove mucus from our sinus cavities. This mucus then dries up and causes blockage. Mucus that cannot drain builds up and can easily become infected. It should also be noted that cilia can be permanently damaged by using afrin. As many sinus sufferers are aware, afrin is an over-the-counter product, and the warnings on the label say to use it for only 4 days or less. This medication can damage the cilia in one’s sinuses and cause permanent damage if used too much. As frequent users know, there is also an effect called rebound congestion, so after using it you might end up just as congested as when you started. Thus, people are tempted to continue using it, and it is said to become addictive. Dr. Grossan simply recommends that you throw your afrin into the garbage and stay away from it. I have not used it for years now and am glad to be rid of it.

In either method of sinus irrigation one should use a saline solution made from lukewarm water. If the water is too hot or too cold, the procedure will be very uncomfortable, regardless of the method used. Of course the warm water also causes the salt mixture to dissolve more easily and thoroughly than if the water was cool.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of PostNasalDrip.net, a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers. Ballenberger is not a medical professional, just a sinus sufferer for years. He found relief using pulsating nasal irrigation among other things. The site has articles and information, including a blog where others can exchange ideas about treatments, products, etc.

Post Nasal Drip- What Works for Me

Sun, 11 Jun 2006 04:00:00 GMT

“Postnasal drip is an unscientific term that refers to the sensation of thick phlegm in the throat which can become infected”. So says Dr. Murray Grossan in his book “The Sinus Cure, 7 Simple Steps”. He goes on to explain that this is caused when our cilia-mucous system is not functioning properly and how pulsating nasal irrigation can help correct this situation.

It has been several years since I’ve felt the pain and discomfort of a severe sore throat caused by post nasal drip. I have been using the pulsating nasal irrigation system since then and have been free of the process that led me into colds and sinus infections. Looking back, even into my childhood, the sequence went like this:
- A little tickle in the throat appears lasting a day or two.
- A more serious sore throat caused by post nasal drip begins.
- Onset of a cold with lots of congestion and blockage, runny nose and eyes.
- Onset of a sinus infection and the associated deep headaches and pain in my upper nasal cavities and around the eyes.
- A course of antibiotics for 10 days to two weeks.

Even now there are occasions when I start to feel the familiar old “tickle” that begins the process. This is a dangerous warning sign, and I will do several things including additional nasal irrigation (at least twice or even three times per day), and I will also take 5 mg. of prednisone. Sometimes in order to fight off the coming attack, I’ll need to take the prednisone for two or three days. This is in addition to taking flonase before going to bed, and possibly zyrtec, which is an antihistamine. Prednisone is a steroid and can have serious side effects if too much is taken. However, it does open up sinus cavities so they can drain properly, and the above amounts are not too much to cause problems, according to my ENT specialist.

In almost every case over the past 5 years or so, the above procedure has prevented the old sequence of events that led to a sinus infection. When I was very young I used to say, “ when I get a cold, it’s a doozy”. Little did I know that I was experiencing sinus infections. A normal cold only lasts 5 days to a week or so, but my “colds” would last 10 days or sometimes two weeks, and they were difficult to deal with. My nose and eyes would run so much I could only lie in bed with my eyes closed for days.

If the above scenario sounds familiar, I highly suggest using the pulsating nasal irrigation process on a daily basis, and to follow the above procedure if you start to feel the ominous “tickle” in your throat.

It is normal for mucus to run down the back of one’s throat as part of the normal cilia-mucous system functionality. Generally this is not even noticed. But when it becomes thick, sticky, and starts to cause pain, it is obvious that post nasal drip has made itself evident. It should be noted as well that the thick phlegm is often infected since it is just sitting there and pooling up in your nose and throat. This obviously exacerbates the post nasal drip problem, so clearing this out with nasal irrigation is even more important.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of PostNasalDrip.net, a resource web site for sinusitis sufferers. Ballenberger is not a medical professional, just a sinus sufferer for years. He found relief using pulsating nasal irrigation among other things. The site has articles and information, including a blog where others can exchange ideas about treatments, products, etc.

New Sinus Surgery Operation- Sinuplasty

Thu, 08 Jun 2006 04:00:00 GMT

A new sinus surgery procedure has emerged in recent months. It is called sinuplasty, and it is similar in concept to angioplasty. That is, a small balloon is inserted into the sinus passages of the patient, the balloon is inflated, then deflated, and then removed. It is claimed that the passage will remain open for some time because of the small malleable bones in the part of the head where the sinuses are located. The theory is that once the balloon is withdrawn, these bones have been moved slightly and will remain in place. If this in fact proves to be true by follow-up tests and studies, this would undoubtedly be an interesting option for many sinus sufferers.

It is claimed that there is little pain in the sinuplasty procedure. I personally have had two sinusitis operations, and the pain and discomfort involved in each was substantial. After the first operation my nose was “packed”. That is, a large amount of gauze was placed in each nostril to stop bleeding and help start the healing process. Thus, all breathing has to be done through the mouth for the week or so that the gauze stays in the nose. It is very difficult to eat like this, because one cannot swallow food and breathe at the same time. Removing the gauze was another painful experience. The ENT specialist said that “this will feel like I’m pulling your brains out”. He was right, and that is exactly what it felt like. With regard to pain, I feel that I’m willing to tolerate it if going through the pain will accomplish something. In the case of my two sinus operations, I was still coming down with infections afterwards, so all the pain was really for nothing.

There are no long-term, scientific studies yet to show how effective the operation is. Several are under way, however, and it will be interesting to see the results. One study of 100 patients is due to be released in September, and another with 80 participants should be released subsequently. I personally don’t recommend sinus surgery to people because it seems that even if there are positive results, they only last a short time. I’ve heard of people having had 4 or 5 sinus operations, and one wonders what operation number 5 might accomplish that numbers 1-4 did not. The anecdotal stories of people who had suffered from chronic sinusitis and tried sinuplasty are encouraging, however. The ABC evening news ran a story about the procedure not long ago, and they interviewed a person who said her results were immediate and excellent. In any case I would recommend trying pulsating nasal irrigation with a saline solution before any surgery procedure, but if simplasty proves to be effective in the long term, this may be an excellent option for many sinusitis sufferers. If one has polyps, however, it should be noted that sinuplasty will not be an option, as the polyps will need to be removed by invasive surgery.

The sinuplasty procedure was invented by a doctor who himself had severe sinus problems, and he had the thought that something analogous to the angioplasty balloon procedure might be applicable in the sinus cavities. He is now producing and selling the medical device which is used in the procedure, and this has recently been approved by the FDA for use in operations. Only about 100 doctors in the U.S. have been trained to do this operation so far. The results of the studies mentioned above will no doubt influence if some of the over 350,000 traditional invasive sinus surgeries performed each year in the U.S. can be changed to this non-invasive variety.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of PostNasalDrip.net. The site has articles and info, including a blog about sinus problems and solutions.

Lascaux and the Vezere Valley- 4 Excellent Venues

Fri, 07 Oct 2005 04:00:00 GMT

The Vezere river is a tributary of the Dordogne, and the two meet near Les Eyzies-de-Tayac before the Dordogne continues on toward Bordeaux and the Atlantic ocean. Near the village of Montignac, about 30 kilometers upstream on the Vezere, are some excellent and unique venues, including the famous Lascaux cave. Here are four that can be visited in one day.

1. Lascaux II-
Lascaux is considered to be the number one prehistoric site in all of Europe. The paintings on the site date from 17,000 to 15,000 years ago. Shortly after that the cave entrances were closed by mudslides or other natural means, and thus the paintings were perfectly preserved until the modern era. The cave was rediscovered in 1940 by two local boys who
were chasing their dog, and several years later it was opened to the public. However, in 1963 it was closed again, as it was discovered that too many people in the cave were causing the paintings to deteriorate. Since then only a few scientists, scholars or art historians per day were allowed in for several hours maximum. For the past few years even those limited visits have been stopped, as new signs of further deterioration have been observed. The French government, however, took up a 10 year project to make an exact duplicate of the cave. This effort, which opened in 1983, uses exactly the same pigments that were used by the Cro-Magnon artists thousands of years ago, and is dimensionally accurate to less than one inch of error. It is called Lascaux II, and is located only about 400 yards from the original cave.

The quality of the artwork is the main reason that Lascaux is considered the finest example of prehistoric cave paintings. Done with only oil lamps for light and using high
scaffolding, the prehistoric artists who created this site were highly accomplished
artists. Most of the guided visits to Lascaux II are conducted in French, but there are tours in English on most days. One needs to call the Lascaux ticket office in Montignac or the Montignac Office of Tourism to find out if and when there is an English tour on any given day. If you have a group they will probably set up an English tour for you and other English speakers, but this needs to be arranged in advance through the ticket office. Even though Lascaux II is a replica and not the original, it is very well done, very informative, and not to be missed.

2. St. Leon sur Vezere- This is another of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France". Built in a picturesque loop of the Vezere river, this charming village possesses two
castles and one of the finest Romanesque churches of the Perigord. The church
was part of a Benedictine priory which was founded in the 12th century. It was built
on the ruins of a Gallo-Roman villa. The remains of one of the villa's walls can be
seen on the river side. There is a picnic area next to the church on the banks of the river, and a caf� is nearby as well. This is an excellent spot to have a pleasant lunch or a refreshing drink.

3. La Roque St. Christophe (St. Christopher's Rock) is a huge
Troglodyte cave complex. For about a half mile in length this majestic cliff
rises vertically above the Vezere valley to a height of over 250ft. It is like a huge
hive with about 100 caves hollowed out of the rock on five tiers. Excavations have
proved that the cliff dwellings were inhabited from the Upper Paleolithic Age
onwards. In the 10th century the cliff terraces served as the foundation for a
fortress which was used against the Vikings, and again later during the Hundred Years War. It was subsequently destroyed during the Wars of Religion at the end of the 16th
century. The self-guided tour explains the evolution of human life at La Roque St. Christophe, which took place over many centuries . In fact even Neanderthal fossils have been found at this site and at other locations nearby.

4. Chateau de Losse- This renaissance chateau sits on the right bank of the Vezere river, and it has a large terrace that overlooks the river and offers picturesque views. The chateau is well known for its excellent furniture and tapestries, which can be seen on the guided tours. The tours are in French, but foreign language guides are available, and these are easy to follow so one does not miss anything. The tours are quite good, and one can also visit the well kept gardens and stroll around the outside of the chateau in the former moat area.

As stated earlier, these four venues in the Vezere Valley near Montignac can easily be visited in one day, since they are relatively close and do not take too long to visit any of them. If one is staying nearby, in Sarlat, for example, only about 25 kilometers away, a visit to these sites is well worth the effort.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Beaux Voyages , which provides active tours in France including bike tours in the Lot/Dordogne and other regions, wine tours, and Tour de France bike tours. He has lived and worked in France and speaks the language fluently. France travel planned and not sure what venues to visit? Get FREE ADVICE

The Dordogne Region of France- 5 Must-See Venues

Wed, 05 Oct 2005 04:00:00 GMT

The Dordogne Valley, or the Perigord as it is also called by the locals, is home to many of the "Most Beautiful Villages of France". This area is not as well known as others in the country, but it is certainly one of the most beautiful. These 5 venues are among the top sites in the region, and a visit to the Dordogne is not complete without seeing them all.

1. Domme- Domme is a village situated at the top of a rocky cliff overlooking the
Dordogne valley. From the lookout area, the view embraces the valley
from the Montfort meander in the east, to Beynac in the west. The view of the tranquil river and fields of crops belies the violence that took place here in the middle ages.
Domme is a bastide village that was founded by Philip the Bold in 1283, so it is actually newer than other villages in the area. People at the time were encouraged to go to newly founded towns, called bastides, most of which were planned around a central covered market area. There are numerous bastides in France dating from this general period. Although worth a visit any time, Domme is especially nice on market days when one will find homegrown and homemade fruits and vegetables, sausages, olives, cheeses, cured hams, and of course a staple of the Dordogne, foie gras. Check any of the local Offices of Tourism to find the schedule for markets at Domme or other villages.

2. La Roque Gageac- This charming village is huddled against a cliff which drops vertically to the river Dordogne. It features attractive little streets with interesting homes, churches, and other buildings, including the Manoir de Tarde, a manor house of the once locally famous Tarde family. One stretch has semi-tropical plant life in abundance, as the protection of the cliff is such that the flora there can survive even in the winter months.
A walking path runs behind the buildings at the foot of the cliff and provides great views and pictures. The Troglodyte caves are to be found along here as well, and they are worth a visit.

3. Beynac- About 2 miles down the road is beautiful Beynac. The Chateau de Beynac stands on a remarkable site, rising from the top of a rock as it overlooks the
valley spotted with hills crowned with castles. The castle was once captured by Richard the Lion Hearted, and over the years and during numerous wars it was destroyed and then rebuilt. There is a sheer drop of almost 500 ft. from the chateau to the river, and the view is spectacular. The panorama includes the nearby castles of Marqueyssac, Castelnaud, and Fayrac. The village, tucked at the foot of the cliff adjacent to the river, is where the motion picture "Chocolat" was filmed. A steeply sloping footpath known locally as the Caminal del Panieraire (basket maker's path- this was seen in the opening scenes of the film "Chocolat") leads from the bottom of the village, through rows of renaissance houses dating from the 15th to the 17th centuries, to the castle and the church on top. This walk is definitely recommended, but it does get steep toward the top. Tours of the chateau are normally in French, but English language tours are available some mornings. Check with one of the local tourism offices for availability.

4. Castelnaud- This "chateau fort", or fortified castle, stands only about 2 kilometers from the chateau de Beynac, and it was between the two that the battle front between the English and the French shifted during the Hundred Years War. The chateau changed hands between the two sides numerous times. There were several periods of restoration after the middle ages, the last starting recently in 1969. The castle provides superior views of the Dordogne valley, and it also houses a museum of medieval and siege weaponry. One can see several catapults in the courtyard, even from the valley below. There are also two films, one relating to the weapons museum and another about the history of the castle. The surrounding village is quaint, but be prepared for a steep climb on foot to reach the chateau.

5. Sarlat- A bustling town today, Sarlat grew up around a Benedictine abbey founded in the 9th century. The abbots retained their power until the 13th century when internal strife and corruption caused their downfall. The 13th and early 14th centuries were a prosperous time for this busy market town, but the Hundred Years War left it weakened and depopulated. After this came a period of reconstruction, and most of the town houses to be seen today were built between 1450-1500. This has created an architectural unity in renaissance style which is very attractive. If possible, have dinner in one of the many restaurants in the old town and see the village at night as well, as it is attractively lit up. Sarlat's old village has a number of interesting places to visit including the Cathedrale of St. Sacerdos; the Maison de la Boetie, where Etienne de la Boetie, a famous writer and friend of Montaigne, and who also influenced Rousseau, was born; the Hotel de Maleville; among others. There are many charming shops, galleries, and restaurants.

The Dordogne region hosts a number of other interesting sites in addition to the 5 described above. As these sites are within about 10 kilometers of each other, one can visit all of them comfortably in two days. If you have more time to spend in the area, there are other chateaux and gardens to see, as well as canoeing, kayaking, and other activities. The area is very popular among the British and Dutch, many of whom either have second residences in the region or have moved there full time. In my opinion this is one of the prettiest and most pleasant parts of France. The food is excellent, and you cannot visit here without trying confit or magret de canard, duck confit or duck breast. It goes without saying that sampling some foie gras is practically mandatory.

Walt Ballenberger is founder of Beaux Voyages , which provides active tours in France including bike tours in the Lot/Dordogne and other regions, wine tours, and Tour de France bike tours. He has lived and worked in France and speaks the language fluently. France travel planned and not sure what venues to visit? Get FREE ADVICE FREE ADVICE