Is Colon Cleansing Right For You?

Posted on June 14, 2010 by admin

202

We have all heard the cry “Cleanse Your Colon!” But do we really need to do this as much as certain people recommend? The reader will have to decide this for themselves. There are so many different colon cleanse program options out there that range from the simple to the complex and challenging. With all this information ot can be difficult to decide what to do and if this is really the right process for you. So what do you do about this?

There are many different ways to use a colon cleanse program. One of the simplest is simply to regulate your diet and get more fruits and vegetables into it and cut out the sugar, salt, white flour, processed foods and change to a more natural way of eating natural foods. It is just that simple. You will be surprised at the results from just a sensible diet change and not going through all these ridiculous programs that may do more harm than good for your body. While having a clean colon is vital, you do not need to go overboard with it.

You have to have at least one bowel movement per day in order to keep your system clean and that is the basis of many different types of colon cleanse program options that are available to you on the market. But can you honestly believe the hype about each type of program? Advertising and hype can make you believe that a program will do what it says, but there are some things to watch out for when taking this sort of thing for a clean colon.

Not all colon cleanse program ideas are safe or even viable for many people. Granted now and again your system may need a little help, but some of the program claims are just totally imaginative to say the very least and unfortunately some contain ingredients that can sacrifice your health if you do not know that they are there. Why pay someone for a program to cleanse your colon when you can do it yourself by using the diet described above? That is the true question here to deal with. Are these programs even safe to use?

It will depend on the colon cleanse program that you are taking a look at. One thing to do would be to consult your doctor or physician about these before taking them. They can better advise you on what would be the best to take or if just a simple thing as a dietary change would be the better idea for you. Many of these programs do have the right goal in mind, just go about it the wrong way and with herbs that really are not the safest in the world to use for all people. The old adage “when in doubt, check it out” still applies especially to something that you may be taking for colon cleaning.

Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Posted on June 14, 2010 by admin

150

People today want results quickly in all walks of life, and certainly that’s one reason why they are searching for fast ways to lower blood pressure. It’s also an important health issue and the sooner you can make progress then the less risk there is that you’re facing. Don’t worry though, because you won’t need medication or surgery to get the job done. The best fast ways to lower blood pressure usually just incorporate natural improvements to your lifestyle.

First of all, many people today have been seeking alternative health clinics for lower high blood pressure goals and results. This is because people are fed up with the general medical guidelines and taking drugs and all of that. Many people have seen great success by seeking out this kind of help once they have decided to go down that path, while many others never really make that leap into alternative care.

Many others have turned to various herbs or supplements to try to see results. From fish oil capsules to resveratrol supplements, there are many different solutions aimed at improving heart health and blood pressure. Some people swear by them but others don’t see the kind of results that they’d like. Whether or not you want to look into all of these solutions may depend on the kind of success or progress you see first by maintaining a healthy lifestyle in general.

For example, one of the best fast ways to lower blood pressure is simply by monitoring the foods that you eat. Blood pressure is a very quickly changed problem when approached properly, which makes it different from many other health problems or illnesses. You can make huge strides in just two weeks in some cases when you follow the right program.

You should learn how to construct a diet that’s healthy and contains the right kinds of foods. For one thing you will need to avoid junk foods, processed foods and anything fried. The main goal is to completely remove trans fats from your diet, reduce saturated fats as much as possible and also moderate sodium.

So that means you will want to eat lots of whole grains, fruits and veggies, legumes, nuts and beans. Easy changes can be made such as switching whole fat dairy foods into 1% or skim dairy products. Use lean cuts of meat and limit your meat intake in general to maybe once per week. Eat more fish such as salmon which contains healthy unsaturated fats, and also chicken which is lean and packed with protein.

There is not one single idea that works for everybody in terms of the fast ways to lower blood pressure. Changing diet is the most effective and the easiest for most people, but others prefer alternative health and treatment plans. Other people focus on exercise and basically getting into better shape which can also be very effective. Whatever it is that you do, learn how to do it and dive in and hopefully you see results sooner than later.

SEE OUR POST ON “L-ARGENINE”

Treat A Yeast Infection The Natural Way

Posted on June 14, 2010 by admin

It’s difficult sometimes to find natural treatments that work. Especially when you need to find it fast. If you’re in need for a yeast infection treatment you’ll come across a lot of contradictory advice posted on the internet. No wonder when people get confused as to what really works. Also your doctor may reject natural treatments like many doctors do in general because they often only believe in conventional medication.

They will hide the actual fact that medication companies usually are liable to earn money. The things they tend to be not liable to would be to create pharmaceutical therapies which certainly tackle persons health issues. Most people are not alert to this. Nevertheless the moment they realize that they’re dismayed and as a result a lot more individuals will definitely give preference to healthful natural treatment plans.

The Benefits of Using Natural Treatments

Just one of the main positive aspects of organic candida treatment options is simply their risk-free application and the absence of unintended side effects influencing your body in any damaging way – contrary to standard prescriptions that may bring about undesirable secondary results that will grow the complications whilst covering up the real trigger. Right when you discontinue consuming the medication the yeast infection develops again.

The eradication of candida is complete practicable. All you may need is the right holistic medication. That nonetheless does not imply that all pure treatments are the suitable cure. That it is “natural” does not articulate anything with regards to usefulness. Besides, numerous supposed “biological” solutions are merely pledging to be natural and in fact they’re not. It has brought on lots of detrimental publicity to natural items recently. Yet highly effective and secure holistic candida albicans remedies are readily available. They are able to help to make Candida fade away definitely.

Anticipate every one of the tormenting signs and symptoms completely disappeared once and for all! Never again pain and itching that separates from living an unburdened life. Your own vitality will return once again and also will your healthy slumber. A good holistic remedy of the problem will improve your living straight away and there is nothing healthier you are able to do.

The Way Natural Treatments Will Help You

One advantage of healthy cures is the fact they not simply get rid of the particular symptoms but in addition the origins. Only combating the signs or symptoms like traditional prescriptions are employed to do may permit you to believe ease for that instant. The root of the dilemma nonetheless won’t be removed. If you don’t start using a cure which combats the true trigger of the fungus infection you by no means can not remove candidiasis.

Look at the importance of your eating habits in preventing your body from health difficulties. Most well being complications that will occur throughout your lifetime will be in some way triggered by your current eating habits as well as style of living. Thrush isn’t any exclusion. Thus changes which you come up with within your eating habits could be part of thein the natural cure. Some meals are usually extremely helpful within the procedure of treatment while others require to be prevented.

Yeast infection is going to affect your actual life in a really frustrating way. But yet you will have to refuse getting used to this irritation. In the end you will find a holistic medication which eliminates the yeast infection for good.

Introducing – Passion Flower

Posted on March 28, 2010 by admin

135

The dried aerial parts of passion flower ( Passiflora incarnata ) have historically been used as a sedative and hypnotic (for insomnia) and for “nervous” gastrointestinal complaints. However, clinical evidence supporting any therapeutic use in humans is lacking. Early evidence suggests that passion flower may have a benzodiazepine-like calming action.

Evidence for significant side effects is also unclear, and is complicated by the variety of poorly classified, potentially active constituents in different Passiflora species.

Passion fruit ( Passiflora edulis Sims), a related species, is used to flavor food.

Apigenin, apricot vine, banana passion fruit ( Passiflora mollissima ), Calmanervin® (combination product), chrysin, Compoz® (combination product), corona de cristo, coumarin, cyanogenic glycosides, EUP, Euphytose® (combination product), fleischfarbige, fleur de la passion, flor de passion, granadilla, grenadille, harmala alkaloids, harmaline, harmalol, harman, harmine, Jamaican honeysuckle ( Passiflora laurifolia ), madre selva, maypops, Naturest, Passiflora incarnata , Passiflora laurifolia , Passiflora mollissima , pasipay, Passiflora , passionflower, passion vine, Passionsblume (German), purple passion flower, Sedacalm®, umbeliferone, Valverde® (combination product), vitexin, water lemon, wild passion flower.

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Congestive heart failure

An extract containing passion flower and hawthorn has been studied as a possible treatment for shortness of breath and difficulty exercising in patients with congestive heart failure. Although the results are promising, the effects of passion flower alone are unclear. High quality human research of passion flower alone compared to prescription drugs used for this condition is needed before a strong recommendation can be made. C

Sedation (agitation, anxiety, insomnia)

Passion flower has a long history of use for symptoms of restlessness, anxiety, and agitation. Early evidence from animal studies and weak human trials supports these uses. Better research is needed before a firm conclusion can be drawn. C

Uses based on tradition or theory

The below uses are based on tradition or scientific theories. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Alcohol withdrawal, antibacterial, anti-seizure, anti-spasm, aphrodisiac, asthma, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), burns (skin), cancer, chronic pain, cough, drug addiction, Epstein-Barr virus, fungal infections, gastrointestinal discomfort (nervous stomach), Helicobacter pylori infection, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, menopausal symptoms (hot flashes), nerve pain, pain (general), skin inflammation, tension, wrinkle prevention.

The below doses are based on scientific research, publications, traditional use, or expert opinion. Many herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested, and safety and effectiveness may not be proven. Brands may be made differently, with variable ingredients, even within the same brand. The below doses may not apply to all products. You should read product labels, and discuss doses with a qualified healthcare provider before starting therapy.

Adults (18 years and older)

Safety and effectiveness have not been established for any dose. Standard or well-studied doses of passion flower are currently lacking. Different preparations and doses have been used traditionally. Doses of 0.5-2 grams of dried herb have been taken 3-4 times daily by mouth. Doses of 1-4 milliliters of tincture (1:8) have been taken 3-4 times daily by mouth. Tea made from dried herb (four to eight grams) has been taken daily. A dose of 2.5 grams in an infusion has been used 3-4 times daily.

Children (younger than 18 years)

There is not enough scientific data to recommend passion flower for use in children at any dose.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not strictly regulate herbs and supplements. There is no guarantee of strength, purity or safety of products, and effects may vary. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy. Consult a healthcare provider immediately if you experience side effects.

Allergies

Few reports of allergic reactions, asthma, irritated sinuses, skin rashes, and skin blood vessel inflammation (vasculitis) have been reported in the available literature with the use of passion flower products. It is believed that some reactions may have been caused by impurities in combination products, not by passion flower itself.

Side Effects and Warnings

Passion flower is generally considered to be a safe herb with few reported serious side effects. In cases of side effects, the products being used have rarely been tested for contamination, which may have been the cause. Cyanide poisoning has been associated with passiflora fruit, but this has not been proven in human studies.

Rapid heart rhythm, nausea, and vomiting have been reported. Side effects may also include drowsiness/sedation and mental slowing. Patients should use caution if driving or operating heavy machinery.

Passion flower may theoretically increase the risk of bleeding and affect blood tests that measure blood clotting (international normalized ratio or “INR”).

There is a case report of liver failure and death of a patient taking a preparation of passion flower with kava. Use cautiously with any kava-containing products, as kava has been associated with liver damage. It has been suggested that the cause of the liver damage is less likely related to the presence of passion flower.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

There is not enough scientific evidence to recommend the safe use of passion flower in any dose during pregnancy or breastfeeding. During the 1930s, animal studies found uterine stimulant action in components of Passiflora .

Many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and should be avoided during pregnancy.

Most herbs and supplements have not been thoroughly tested for interactions with other herbs, supplements, drugs, or foods. The interactions listed below are based on reports in scientific publications, laboratory experiments, or traditional use. You should always read product labels. If you have a medical condition, or are taking other drugs, herbs, or supplements, you should speak with a qualified healthcare provider before starting a new therapy.

Interactions with Drugs

Certain substances (harmala alkaloids) with monoamine oxidase inhibitory (MAOI) action have been found in small amounts in some species of Passiflora . Although levels of these substances may be too low to cause noticeable effects, passion flower may theoretically increase the effects of MAOI drugs, such asisocarboxazid (Marplan®), phenelzine (Nardil®), and tranylcypromine (Parnate®). Increased sedation or low blood pressure could also result from taking passion flower with tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil®), and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac®).

Based on animal research, use of passion flower with alcohol or other sedatives may increase the amount of drowsiness caused by some drugs. Examples include benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam (Ativan®) or diazepam (Valium®); barbiturates, such as phenobarbital; narcotics, such as codeine; some antidepressants; and alcohol. Caution is advised while driving or operating machinery.

In theory, passion flower may increase the risk of bleeding when taken with drugs that increase the risk of bleeding. Some examples include aspirin, anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as warfarin (Coumadin®) or heparin, anti-platelet drugs such as clopidogel (Plavix®), and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®) or naproxen (Naprosyn®, Aleve®).

Many tinctures contain high levels of alcohol and may cause nausea or vomiting when taken with metronidazole (Flagyl®) or disulfiram (Antabuse®).

Passion flower may also interact with anti-anxiety drugs, antibiotics, anticonvulsants, antifungals, antihistamines, anti-cancer drugs, antispasmodics, antitussives, caffeine, CNS depressants, drugs broken down by the liver, flumazenil, naloxone, and other neurologic agents.

Interactions with Herbs and Dietary Supplements

Certain substances (harmala alkaloids) with monoamine oxidase inhibitory (MAOI) action have been found in small amounts in some species of Passiflora . Although levels of these substances may be too low to cause noticeable effects, in theory, use of passion flower with herbs or supplements with MAOI activity may cause additive effects. Kava ( Piper methysticum ) is believed to have weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor effects and may thus interact with passion flower. In addition, tricyclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may lead to increased sedation or low blood pressure when taken with passion flower.

Based on animal research, use of passion flower may increase the amount of drowsiness caused by some herbs or supplements, such as valerian and kava.

Passion flower may have additive effects when taken with herbs or supplements that increase the risk of bleeding. Multiple cases of bleeding have been reported with the use of ginkgo ( Ginkgo biloba ), and fewer cases with garlic and saw palmetto. Numerous other agents may theoretically increase the risk of bleeding, although this has not been proven in most cases.

When taken with caffeine or herbs containing caffeine or caffeine-like compounds, passion flower may increase blood pressure.

Passion flower contains lycopene and may have additive effects when taken with lycopene supplements.

Passion flower may also interact with herbs or supplements taken for pain, anxiety, seizures, fungal infections, bacterial infections, or cancer. In addition, interactions with antihistamines, antispasmodics, antitussives, CNS depressants, herbs and supplements broken down by the liver, and other neurologic agents are possible.

Bacteria With Tiny Projections Can Make Efficient Fuel Cells

Posted on March 18, 2010 by admin

BOSTON – A team of scientists has isolated bacteria with large numbers of tiny projections called pili, which were more efficient at transferring electrons to generate power in fuel cells than bacteria with a smooth surface.

The team was led by Professor Derek Lovley from the University of Massachusetts, US.

The researchers isolated a strain of Geobacter sulfurreducens, which they called KN400 that grew prolifically on the graphite anodes of fuel cells.

The bacteria formed a thick biofilm on the anode surface, which conducted electricity.

The researchers found large quantities of pilin, a protein that makes the tiny fibres that conduct electricity through the sticky biofilm.

“The filaments form microscopic projections called pili that act as microbial nanowires,” said Professor Lovley.

“Using this bacterial strain in a fuel cell to generate electricity would greatly increase the cell’s power output,” he added.

The pili on the bacteria’s surface seemed to be primarily for electrical conduction rather than to help them to attach to the anode. Mutant forms without pili were still able to stay attached.

Microbial fuel cells can be used in monitoring devices in environments where it is difficult to replace batteries if they fail, but to be successful, they need to have an efficient and long-lasting source of power.

According to Professor Lovley, G. sulfurreducens strain KN400 might be used in sensors placed on the ocean floor to monitor migration of turtles.

Seaweed Extract Hold Promise For Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Posted on March 12, 2010 by admin

BERKELY – Seaweed extract may eventually emerge as a lymphoma treatment, according to laboratory research presented at the second AACR Dead Sea International Conference on Advances in Cancer Research.

Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system and is classified into Hodgkin‘s and non-Hodgkin’s types, which are then further classified into B-cell and T-cell groups.

“Some forms of B-cell lymphoma are especially resistant to standard treatment and thus new therapies are needed,” said Mohammad Irhimeh, Ph.D., assistant professor of hematoncology and stem cells at the Hashemite University in Jordan. “In this study, we looked at a new treatment strategy using novel active compounds derived from a natural source seaweed.”

Seaweeds containing fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide similar to heparin in chemical structure, have been reported to have anti-tumor activity in mice and some cell lines.

For the current study, Irhimeh and colleagues at the University of California, Berkeley, and Royal Hobart Hospital in Australia treated lymphoma cell lines with a commercially available seaweed extract.

They found that the extract had an inhibitory effect on the growth of lymphoma cell lines, while leaving the control healthy cells intact. The researchers also noted a significant pattern of activity in the genes known to be linked with apoptosis, or cell death, in lymphoma.

Irhimeh said they would continue to study the mechanism of action for these biological effects and had a goal of conducting phase II or III clinical trials.

Face, Nose, Bust Lift-Without Surgery?

Posted on March 12, 2010 by admin

379

MANILA – The non-invasive Oriental medicine approach utilizes acupuncture and chiropractice

AT THE KAYA KOREAN RESTAURANT, A lecture-demonstration by Dr. Kim Jae Woo from Korea on natural facelift gathered nearly a full room 30 minutes before the start.

Host was Kathy Park, owner of the Kaya Restaurant in Bel-Air (tel. 8950862), and she set the mood by telling the audience she had just had herself treated in November, had previously spent hundreds of thousands on Botox until she discovered the noninvasive type of treatment from Dr. Kim. She showed off her impeccable face that, to those who had known her, was many years younger. Forever young, she quipped.

Dr. Kim is the director of public health and president of the International Oriental Medicine Cosmetic Surgery Society. He’s also CEO and director of Complete Body Oriental Medicine Clinic.

With the aid of an interpreter, Dr. Kim talked about his practice in nonsurgical face-lifting that makes use of acupuncture (the insertion of fine needles to stimulate the flow of vital energy at certain points of the body) in combination with chiropractice (the manipulation of the spine, joints and soft tissues) familiar to many who have witnessed sports-related ailments.

Both acupuncture and chiropractice, expectedly, are still considered alternative medicine by practitioners of mainstream medicine and science. But Kim points out that acupuncture operates along that of the principle of tissue regeneration, like laser-light surgery.

The field of cosmetic beautification and enhancement worldwide has grown by leaps and bounds since a mere 30 years ago when patients went under the knife for facelifts, bust augmentation, nose lifts, chin reduction, hair loss, removal of wrinkles, eye treatments, buttock lifts, obesity, vagina plastic surgery. All these are today possible using his noninvasive nonsurgical method, Dr. Kim says.

Most of us in the audience were women (plus a sprinkling of men, including actor Ricky Davao, who wanted treatment of shoulder pains). Many belonged to the medical field while some in the audience had had unhappy experiences with traditional cosmetic surgery. Society figures such as Becky Garcia, Tina Ferreros, Geena Zablan, Cory Quirino and Maurice Arcache were present.

Tina Ferreros had agreed to be the subject of the demonstration. She had been given anesthesia an hour before as she was so nervous about the procedure. “I don’t know why I agreed,” she told the audience.

In action

Kim pointed out the areas of her face that needed treatment—her uneven chin alignment, laugh lines that were deeper on one side, wrinkles, a general imbalance of the joints of her upper body.

He started working on the jaw, inserted acupuncture needles with stems inside her mouth and told her to bite on the stems. He later worked on the side of her face that was sagging and had defined laugh lines: With a single fine needle, he started massaging and manipulating her chin. Then it was all over and he asked the audience for comments.

Tina’s chin did appear more aligned. The procedure on wrinkles and laugh lines would be more obvious after the swelling had subsided. In a month’s time, Kim says, regeneration of tissues would show the difference in her face.

This idea of making the body heal itself is endemic to Chinese and Asian practices. In the Orient there has been traditional resistance to tampering with what God has given. That is why many still prefer going to a “hilot” for body pains, drinking organic herbal juices for various ailments, taking a beauty bath in carabao milk, treating minor itchiness and allergies with guava leaves. Medical tourism records show that the West has likewise been invaded by this thinking.

Foreign visitors to Singapore for cosmetic medical tourism in 2007 was around 350,000, which has more than tripled today. Thailand had around 750,000 in 2008, which now should be around 1.5 million.

In contrast, South Korea had only 50,000 in 2009 even while the cost of similar treatment is 30 percent less than that in the US, and 60 percent less than that in Japan. The main problem, according to research, is that of language, a matter that Dr. Kim and Katy as his agent here are determined to solve.

While not directly confronting traditional medicine, Kim says the popular Botox is at best a temporary solution and cautions that it will weaken muscles which may cause deformity. He says one may look beautiful after going under the knife in one’s youth with bad effects appearing upon reaching one’s 50s.

We are suddenly reminded of the case of one show-biz wife whose problem now has been inadvertently divulged by her mom. Kim is not saying no to surgical procedures en toto, but just advising one should be careful.

The main theory behind Kim’s Oriental medicine practice is not to use anything synthetic inside the body. The final shape of our body is formed by membrane, fats, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, skin and our bone structure, which determine the final form of our body. Dr. Kim shows how we can reshape each of our body parts through various acupuncture techniques, a procedure similar to chiropractice, procedures involving enhancement of the muscles and the skin. These will result in delaying aging while becoming healthier at the same time.

In a demonstration of how the body points can rule one’s final appearance, he shows how the muscle beside the spinal cord can affect the appearance of one’s nose. “After stimulating the muscle two to three times a day for a couple of months, you will notice a marked difference in your nose’s appearance. ”

By Bibsy M. Carballo

Mayo Clinic Introduces Two Consumer Mobile Applications

Posted on March 2, 2010 by admin

Mayo Clinic is launching two research-based consumer applications (apps) for iPhone and iPod Touch this quarter, the first in a variety of mobile health products and services supporting the goal of making Mayo’s expertise available to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Mayo Clinic Symptom Checker, which launches today, provides users with focused, useful and actionable information from Mayo Clinic experts. User research dictated the simple, less-is-more nature of both the app design and its content. The free app features an adult and child symptom checker optimized for the mobile experience. It is designed to help people manage acute problems and provides guidance on practicing self-care at home, as well as insights into when additional care is needed. Mayo Clinic Symptom Checker also enables users to search MayoClinic.com for more information about thousands of health topics, and provides access to information about care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo’s approach was to apply user research to guide the first release and then get it into the hands of users as soon as possible. Feedback from users will guide the priorities for future releases. For a demonstration, go to Mayo Clinic News Blog.

Another app, Mayo Clinic Meditation, launched in early January and provides a form of alternative medicine that focuses on the mind-body connection. The app, which is currently available for $2.99 on iTunes, is based on four years of research by Amit Sood, M.D., a physician in complementary and integrative medicine at Mayo, and has been clinically validated by Mayo Clinic. Mind-body techniques strengthen the communication between your mind and body. Integrative medicine practitioners say these two systems must be in harmony for a person to stay healthy. The easy-to-use app can be practiced in the home, office or any quiet place.

While these first two applications are for consumers, Mayo Clinic envisions developing meaningful mobile health offerings for audiences that include patients, consumers, corporate clients, medical professionals, and academia. Some mobile products and services will be designed for use before, during, and after care at Mayo Clinic. Others will provide mobile enhancements and expanded distribution for Mayo Clinic’s many existing products and services. Ultimately, Mayo’s mobile health strategy will be a mix of native and mobile Web applications available across a variety of handsets and platforms.

“We are diligently focused on understanding the intricacies of a mobile platform and the needs and desires of users,” says Scott Eising, director of Advanced Market/Product Development at Mayo Clinic. “We intend to pair our expertise in health care with our growing understanding of the mobile world to develop products and services that are optimized for the mobile audience.”

For more information on Mayo Clinic’s mobile health applications, visit Mayo Clinic News Blog.

America’s Deadliest Sweetener Betrays Millions

Posted on March 2, 2010 by admin

165

Aspartame, nutrasweet, aminosweet, sugarAspartame producer Ajinomoto is launching a new initiative that will rebrand the sweetener as “AminoSweet”.

Aspartame is used in many foods and beverages marketed as low calorie or sugar-free. However, its reputation has been clouded somewhat by studies that have investigated reports of ill effects.

Just to remind you, the side effects of aspartame can include:

* Headache

* Change in vision

* Convulsions and seizures

* Hallucination

* Nausea and vomiting

* Joint pain

It can cause many, many other problems as well.

Aspartame is the most controversial food additive in history, and its approval for use in food was the most contested in FDA history. In the end, the artificial sweetener was approved, not on scientific grounds, but rather because of strong political and financial pressure. After all, aspartame was previously listed by the Pentagon as a biochemical warfare agent!

It’s hard to believe such a chemical would be allowed into the food supply, but it was, and it has been wreaking silent havoc with people’s health for the past 30 years.

The truth is, it should never have been released onto the market, and allowing it to remain in the food chain is seriously hurting people – no matter how many times you rebrand it under fancy new names.

The Deceptive Marketing of Aspartame

Sold commercially under names like NutraSweet, Canderel, and now AminoSweet, aspartame can be found in more than 6,000 foods, including soft drinks, chewing gum, table-top sweeteners, diet and diabetic foods, breakfast cereals, jams, sweets, vitamins, prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

Aspartame producer Ajinomoto chose to rebrand it under the name AminoSweet, to “remind the industry that aspartame tastes just like sugar, and that it’s made from amino acids – the building blocks of protein that are abundant in our diet.”

This is deception at its finest: Begin with a shred of truth, and then spin it to fit your own agenda.

In this case, the agenda is to make you believe that aspartame is somehow a harmless, natural sweetener made with two amino acids that are essential for health and present in your diet already.

They want you to believe aspartame delivers all the benefits of sugar and none of its drawbacks. But nothing could be further from the truth.

How Aspartame Wreaks Havoc on Your Health

Did you know there have been more reports to the FDA for aspartame reactions than for all other food additives combined?

In fact, there are over 10,000 official complaints, but by the FDA’s own admission, less than 1 percent of those who experience a reaction to a product ever report it. So in all likelihood, the toxic effects of aspartame may have affected roughly a million people already.

While a variety of symptoms have been reported, almost two-thirds of them fall into the neurological and behavioral category consisting mostly of headaches, mood alterations, and hallucinations. The remaining third is mostly gastrointestinal symptoms.

Unfortunately, aspartame toxicity is not well-known by doctors, despite its frequency. Diagnosis is also hampered by the fact that it mimics several other common health conditions, such as:

Multiple sclerosis Parkinson’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease Fibromyalgia

Arthritis Multiple chemical sensitivity

Chronic fatigue syndrome Attention deficit disorder

Panic disorder Depression and other psychological disorders

Lupus Diabetes and diabetic complications

Birth defects Lymphoma

Lyme disease Hypothyroidism

How Diet Foods and Drinks CAUSE Weight Problems

In recent years, food manufacturers have increasingly focused on developing low-calorie foods and drinks to help you maintain a healthy weight and avoid obesity. Unfortunately, the science behind these products is so flawed, most of these products can actually lead to increased weight gain!

For example, researchers have discovered that drinking diet soda increases your risk of metabolic syndrome, and may double your risk of obesity – the complete opposite of the stated intention behind these “zero calorie” drinks.

The sad truth is that diet foods and drinks ruin your body’s ability to count calories, and in fact stimulate your appetite, thus boosting your inclination to overindulge.

Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United States recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable alternative to sugar, which is at best confusing and at worst harming the health of those who take their misguided advice.

Even More Toxic Dangers of Aspartame

Truly, there is enough evidence showing the dangers of consuming artificial sweeteners to fill an entire book — which is exactly why I wrote Sweet Deception. If you or your loved ones drink diet beverages or eat diet foods, this book will explain how you’ve been deceived about the truth behind artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose — for greed, for profits, and at the expense of your health.

As mentioned earlier, almost two-thirds of all documented side effects of aspartame consumption are neurological.

One of the reasons for this side effect, researchers have discovered, is because the phenylalanine in aspartame dissociates from the ester bond. While these amino acids are indeed completely natural and safe, they were never designed to be ingested as isolated amino acids in massive quantities, which in and of itself will cause complications.

Additionally this will also increase dopamine levels in your brain. This can lead to symptoms of depression because it distorts your serotonin/dopamine balance. It can also lead to migraine headaches and brain tumors through a similar mechanism.

The aspartic acid in aspartame is a well-documented excitotoxin. Excitotoxins are usually amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate. These special amino acids cause particular brain cells to become excessively excited, to the point that they die.

Excitotoxins can also cause a loss of brain synapses and connecting fibers. A review conducted in 2008 by scientists from the University of Pretoria and the University of Limpopo found that consuming a lot of aspartame may inhibit the ability of enzymes in your brain to function normally, and may lead to neurodegeneration.

According to the researchers, consuming a lot of aspartame can disturb:

The metabolism of amino acids

Protein structure and metabolism

The integrity of nucleic acids

Neuronal function

Endocrine balances

Furthermore, the ester bond in aspartame breaks down to formaldehyde and methanol, which are also toxic in their own right. So it is not surprising that this popular artificial sweetener has also been found to cause cancer.

One truly compelling case study that shows this all too well was done by a private citizen named Victoria Inness-Brown. She decided to perform her own aspartame experiment on 108 rats over a period of 2 years and 8 months.

Daily, she fed some of the rats the equivalent (for their body weight) of two-thirds the aspartame contained in 8-oz of diet soda. Thirty-seven percent of the females fed aspartame developed tumors, some of massive size.

How to Ditch Artificial Sweeteners, and Satiate Your Sweet Tooth

If you suffer from sweet cravings, it’s easy to convince yourself you’re doing the right thing by opting for a zero-calorie sweetener like aspartame. Please understand that you will do more harm than good to your body this way.

First, it’s important to realize that your body craves sweets when you’re not giving it the proper fuel it needs.

Finding out your nutritional type will tell you exactly which foods you need to eat to feel full and satisfied. It may sound hard to believe right now, but once you start eating right for your nutritional type, your sweet cravings will significantly lessen and may even disappear.

Meanwhile, be sure you address the emotional component to your food cravings using a tool such as the Meridian Tapping Technique (MTT). More than any traditional or alternative method I have used or researched, MTT works to overcome food cravings and helps you reach dietary success.

And, if diet soda is the culprit for you, be sure to check out Turbo Tapping, which is an extremely effective and simple tool to get rid of your soda addiction in a short period of time.

Non-Acceptable Alternative Sweeteners

And I’m not only talking about high fructose corn syrup, which is virtually identical to table sugar. The only major difference between the two is HFCS is much cheaper so it has contributed to massive increase in fructose ingestion, far beyond safe or healthy.

Please understand you need to keep your fructose levels BELOW 25 grams per day. The best way to do that is to avoid these “natural” sweeteners as they are loaded with a much higher percentage of fructose than HFCS.

Please note that avoiding these beyond 25 grams per day is crucial, even if the source is fresh, raw, and organic. It just doesn’t matter, fructose is fructose is fructose…

Acceptable Alternative Sweeteners

For those times when you just want a taste of something sweet, your healthiest alternative is Stevia. It’s a natural plant and, unlike aspartame and other artificial sweeteners that have been cited for dangerous toxicities, it is a safe, natural alternative that’s ideal if you’re watching your weight, or if you’re maintaining your health by avoiding sugar.

It is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar and truly has virtually no calories.

I must tell you that I am biased; I prefer Stevia as my sweetener of choice, and I frequently use it. However, like most choices, especially sweeteners, I recommend using Stevia in moderation, just like sugar. In excess it is still far less likely to cause metabolic problems than sugar or any of the artificial sweeteners.

I want to emphasize, that if you have insulin issues, I suggest that you avoid sweeteners altogether, including Stevia, as they all can decrease your sensitivity to insulin.

Lo han is another sweetener like Stevia. It’s an African sweet herb that can also be used, but it’s a bit more expensive and harder to find.

So if you struggle with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes or extra weight, then you have insulin sensitivity issues and would benefit from avoiding ALL sweeteners.

But for everyone else, if you are going to sweeten your foods and beverages anyway, I strongly encourage you to consider using regular Stevia or Lo han, and toss out all artificial sweeteners and any products that contain them.

By: Dr. Mercola

Communicating With Your Teenager

Posted on March 1, 2010 by admin

Improving the channel of communication between yourself and your teenager is essential to a respectable and loving parent-child relationship. Just as a radio channel signal must to be clear in order for listeners to hear and understand the voices communication between a parent and their teenager must be clear. There are some essential communication tools that can improve the quality of Communication With Teenagers;

1. Listen

2. Set boundaries that reflect your values and provide appropriate punishment

3. Ask and value their opinions

4. Give them privacy

5. Develop an interest in their life

6. Let them know you believe in their potential as a human being and that they are of precious value to you and to the world

Listen

Listening is different to hearing. Often people are having a conversation that consists of them sharing their opinion and then while the other person speaks they are thinking about what they are going to respond without listening. Listening is not a natural quality a lot of people posses rather it is cultivated and developed through constant effort. Listening means that when someone else is talking you are listening to their words, focused on their countenance and sensitive to their emotions. When a person truly listens to another they pick up signals the other person is sending out such as body language. Body language is a huge tool to help one understand the feelings of another. By focusing on another person that person will feel important and therefore are more likely to respect your opinion.

With your teenager they might use phrases such as, “you just don’t understand” or “fine, whatever.” These phrases are closed and basically say “you don’t care about my opinion so I’m not going to listen to you.” If you teenager is constantly repeating “you just don’t understand” then ask her to explain what is so important to her and listen. Now just because you listen and focus all you attentions on your teenager doesn’t mean that you need to agree with then. But it will provide them with an opportunity to evaluate their own feelings and values. Teenagers don’t think that their parents were ever teenagers. Sometimes sharing appropriate stories of being a teenager and making decisions can make you more tangible and real to you teenager.

Boundaries

Purely being your teenager’s best friend will do them no favors. Teenagers Need Structure. Without rules and consequences they will never be prepared for the wide world which awaits them. With this said there must be a balance. Too many rules and not enough freedom will only cause your teenager to rebel. Decide what is must important to you, what do you value must about life. Avoid giving them set rules and provide them with principles. A principle is an accepted code of conduct that may apply in many facets of life. Here are some examples:

Don’t yell – Be respectful

Don’t make a mess – Take care of your possessions

You must clean your room – cleanliness of next to Godliness

Use your manners – Acknowledge your blessings through an attitude of gratitude

The only way that your teenagers will integrate these principles into their life is if they see them exemplified through your actions.

When deciding an appropriate consequence to bad behavior involves your teenager. Have family discussions and ask them what they think would be an appropriate consequence. This way when they are disobedient they can not moan about the consequence because they helped create it. Also involving your teenager in the discipline process is a manifestation that you care about what they think and that elevates them with a sense of maturity.

Ask

Teenagers are developing their ideas and opinions about the world in which they live and although those with evolve throughout their life they thrive on sharing their present thoughts. Ask you teenager what they think about smoking, teenage pregnancy, sex, underage drinking, higher education, work ethics etc… By asking then the questions they will be thinking about those topics and will be more likely to make logical and smart choices.

Privacy

Everyone enjoys some privacy especially teenagers who’s body is changing with soaring hormones. The emotional rollercoaster that accompanies the teen years often calls for some well need privacy.

Be interested

If your teenager knows you are interested in their life and their hobbies they will feel more comfortable in sharing things with you.

Importance

If you can try to always discipline with love your teenagers will soon learn that you do all you do because you love them. Tell them that they have great potential because of who they are rather than because they were captain of the football team or received an “A” in an exam. This doesn’t that these things are not accomplishments but make sure you are praising your teenagers for the choices they make and person they are becoming.

By: R. Kapoor

INDEX OF POSTS AS OF MARCH 1, 2010

Posted on March 1, 2010 by admin

YOU MAY FIND THE POST BY ENTERING KEYWORDS IN THE SEARCH BOX

1 in 5 U.S. kids found deficient in vitamin D

1 Million Premature Babies Worldwide Die Every Year

3 in 4 British Kids Don’t Know Junk Food Could Kill Them

3-D Structure of Human Genome Deciphered

540 Common Phobias

75-Year-Old Grows New Skull

8 Million Americans Seriously Consider Suicide Annually

800-Year-Old Apple Could Be Healthiest to Eat

A Discussion on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

A Guide To How Much Water, Potassium, Sodium, You Should Take

A Mind That Touches the Past

A Primer on Mineral Supplements and Dosages

Active Elders Live Longer: Study

Acupuncture, herbal medicine become more popular in U.S.

Adding Flaxseed to Juices, Salads, Jellies Fight Prostate Cancer

Alcohol Protects Accident Victims from Distress

Alcoholism Affects Sleep During Sober Periods

Aligning Your Chakras

Alternative Supplements Can Now Be Claimed on Your Insurance and Get a Cash Refund

Alternative Treatments For Autism

Alzheimers Risk Linked to Level of Appetite Hormone

Ancient Surgeries – Trepanation and Nose Jobs

Animals Using One Side of their Brains are More Successful

Anti-Ageing Creams Could Cause Cancer

Antidepressant Found to be Just as Effective as Placebo in Child Pain Relief

Antifungal Effects of Pumpkin Protein

Antioxidant in Melon Relieves Stress

Ants Can Count

Anxiety, Depression Much More Common Than Thought

Appealing Health Insurance Denials

Are There Toxins in Your Herbs?

Are You Unwittingly Practicing Alternative Medicine?

Artificial Sweeteners Linked to Kidney Decline

Aspirin Is Only for Heart Patients

Aura’ Migraines a Stroke Risk

Aussie Scientists Find HIV Reservoir in Brain

Autopsy Reveals Ancient Egyptian Mummy Died of TB

Bacteria Can Help Build Durable Bone Implants

Bacteria Can Help Convert Waste to Power

Bacteria Can Transform Minerals Electrically

Bad Drug Reactions, Side Effects – 500,000 US Kids to Doctor Each Year

Bangladesh Telemedicine Firm Plans to Reach Out to South Asian Workers

Basic Diabetic Diet

Basic Hygiene More Effective Against Swine Flu than Drugs

Being Too Optimistic could Harm Weight Loss Efforts

Best Vitamins for Women

Better Ventilation May Ease some Asthma

Bike Rides for Women Over 50 Can Cut 16 Years off Age

Binge Drinking Weakens Body’s Ability to Fight Infections

Biodynamic the New Organic?

Biofeedback is the Best Stress-Buster for Students

Bionic Eye May Help Blind See: Retinal Prosthesis Shown To Restore Partial Vision

Blueberries Keep Brain Active In the Afternoon

Bone Strengthening Drugs Linked To Lower Breast Cancer Incidence

Brain Can Quickly Learn a Forgotten Language Again

Brain Circuit That Controls Binge Eating Uncovered

Brain Function of Earthquake Survivors Acutely Affected

Brain Prods You Into Gorging on Good Food

Brain’s Face Processing Ability does Reduce with Age

Brains Can be Trained

Brain-to-Brain Communication Developed

Brainy Ingredients Get Brawny

Breakdown of Who Lacks Health Insurance by State

Breast Milk Best if Consumed as Soon as it is Expressed

Breast Tissue Feature Could Predict Woman’s Cancer Risk

Breathalyzer Screening may Help Spot Lung Cancer Early

Breathing Technique can Reduce Asthma Severity

Brit Men Having Boob Jobs on the Rise

British Jail Staff Red-Faced after Inmates Get Drunk on Anti-Swine Flu Gel

Broken Heart ‘Ups Heart Attack Risk’

Brown University Study Of Marijuana Use In Head And Neck Cancer

California’s Real Death Panels: Insurers Deny 21% of Claims

Calorie Restriction Reduces Disease and Extends Life

Can Eastern Medicine Meet Western Medicine?

Can Sweeteners Be Blamed For Rise In Obesity?

Cancer patients and their experiences of using the Internet

Cannabis Helps Sleep Apnea

Cannabis in The Old Testament

Celiac Disease and Osteoporosis Link Brings Possible Treatment

Cherry Juice May Help Ease the Pain of Sore Muscles

Childhood Physical Abuse Linked To Arthritis, Study Finds

Chilling Brains Aids in Cardiac Care

Chinese Herbal Medicines For Preventing Diabetes In High Risk People

Chinese herbs may hold back diabetes

Chinese Martial Arts Tai Chi Offers Effective Treatment for Dizziness, Balance Disorders

Chlorophyll Compounds may Help Treat Cancer

Chocolate Can Help Prevent Stroke

Chocolate, Water Can Melt Away Your Pain

Cholesterol Crucial to Brain Development

Chromosomal Birth Defects Linked to Absence of a Gene

Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients Going for Alternative Medicine

Chyawanprash: Ancient Indian Elixir

Citation for 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

Cities, Human Brains Evolved in Similar Ways

Cocaine Changes How Genes Work in Brain

Cocktail with real snake venom has bite

Coffee Can Give Kids Sleepless Nights, Breathing Problems

Coffee May Stop Liver Disease

Cola Drinking Linked to Diabetes in Pregnancy

Color Therapy

Combination Heart Device Cut Chances of Heart Failure by 41 Percent

Common Abbreviations Used in Nutrition

Common Attitudes About Personal Pain

Communicating With Nature Makes You More Caring

Complementary Therapies for Eczema

Comprehensive Eating Disorders Dictionary for Parents

Computer Model of Brain Can Help Victims of Anxiety Disorder

Consciousness is Brains Wi-Fi Network

Controlling Your Breathing Helps Sea Sickness

Cookware Chemical Linked to Thyroid Disease

Cosmetic Surgery Patients At More Risk Than Ever

Could Chinese Herb Be a Natural Viagra?

Could Higher Levels Of Vitamin D Cut The Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes?

Could This Forbidden Medicine Eliminate the Need for Drugs?

Cup of Aloe Nutritious Shake, Herbal Tea make for a Healthy Breakfast

Cup of Mint Tea is an Effective Painkiller

Curcumin May Protect Smokers from Nicotine-Induced Head, Neck Cancers

Curry Compound Kills Cancer

Curry Spice ‘Kills Cancer Cells’

Cutting Caffeine Won’t Quiet Ringing in the Ears

Dairy Foods Help Fight The Flab

Dentures with Paste is Best Cleaning Method

Depressed Teens Higher Risk of Mental Health Problems in Later Life

Depression Leads to Protein Linked to Heart Disease

Depression Ups Cancer Patients Dying Risk

Determining the Quality of your Supplements.

Dietary Fiber Can Keep Diseases at Bay

Different Anxiety Disorders

Dimensions of the Most Attractive Face

Dioxin In Your Daily Life Causes Cancer

Disease-Detecting Device Vibrates with Potential

Do Multivitamins Curb Kids Allergy Risk?

Doctors Feel Choosing To Be Thinner In 2010 – Bad For Your Health

Doctors Unable to Restrain Mentally Ill From Smoking

Does Acupuncture Help Your Back?

Don’t Spank Your Kids if You Want Them to be Intelligent

Don’t Watch Your Wife Give Birth or You May Get Divorced

Drinking Coffee During Midlife May Reduce the Risk of Dementia in Later Life

Dung of the Devil Plant Roots may Offer Swine Flu Cure

Eat the Butter: Study Finds Fatty Foods Help Pilots on Mental, Flying Tests

Eating Fruit the Correct Way for Good Health

Eating Walnuts Cuts Cholesterol

Efforts to Promote Breast Feeding Urged

Egyptian Mummies Had Clogged Arteries

Elderly Women Sleep Better Than They Think, Men Nap Worse

Enjoy Life Now

EU Grants Nearly $2.25M For Complementary Medicine Research

Exercise can Cut Heart Disease Deaths by 60 per cent

Exercise in Adolescence May Cut Brain Tumor Risk

Exercising in the Heat may Help You Eat Less

Experts Map the Body’s Bacteria

External therapy Cannabinoids Effective in Reducing Pain Patients with Herpes Zoster

Extra-Virgin Olive Oil may Help Prevent, Treat Alzheimer’s

Eye Test that Spots Alzheimer’s 20 Years Before Symptoms

Facebook May Boost your Brain’s Working Memory

Face-to-Face Medical Care over the Internet?

Facial Structure Can Predict Propensity to Aggression

Fake Blood-Clotting Products to Heal Wounded Soldiers

Fashion and Beauty Trends in Fall Takes Toll on Health

Feverfew Herb

Fibromyalgia: Treatable With Chiropractic Care and Reimbursable Through GE

Fighting Infection With Manuka Honey

FIRST-OF-ITS KIND HEALTH CARE PLAN REIMBURSES USERS OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Flaxseed May Lower Cholesterol

Flickering Bright Colors Likely To Trigger Epileptic Fits

Flower Essence Therapy

Focus and Concentration

For Patients Suffering With Chronic Rhinosinusitis

For Very Obese, Gastric Bypass May Extend Life

Forgotten Memories Still Exist in the Brain

Four Major Food Groups for a Healthy Life

Four Things You Didn’t Know About Natural Medicine

Frequent Nasal Irrigation May Increase Infections

Functional Ingredients Found in all Supplements

Gene Map of Anti-Malaria Plant Could Boost Supply

Gene Mutation May Cause Pupils’ Low Grades

Gene That Controls Number of Brain Cells Identified

Gene Therapy May Soon Help Dieters Keep Off Weight Gain

Genes Linked to Brittle Bone Identified

Genetic Link Between Psychosis and Creativity Revealed

Gingko Biloba May Protect From Radiation

Glucosamine Effectiveness

Glucose Could Potentially Power Our Gadgets, Cars

Got a Pet Tarantula? Better Protect Your Eyes

Got Cognitive Activity? It Does a Mind Good

Green Spaces ‘Improve Health’

Green Tea may Help Improve Bone Health

Hand Size–Not Sex–Determines Sense of Touch

Having a Pet Can Help You Stay Healthy

Health Benefits of Chocolate

Health Canada Warns of Health Risks Posed by Rating Raw Bean Sprouts

HEALTH CARE REFORM – MONEY AWARDED FOR PEOPLE USING VITAMINS

Health insurance Premiums Rose Modestly in 2009

Healthy Foods that Contain Vitamin A

Healthy Older Brains Not Smaller than Younger Ones

Heartburn Drugs Safe for Fetuses, says Israeli Study

HERBAL MEDICINES IN YOUR BACKYARD

Herbal Remedies Linked To Poor Asthma Control

Herbal Supplements: What to Know Before You Buy

Here Are Some Terms Used in Homeopathy – Easier to Understand

Here is Why Evolution is Irreversible

Here’s How Exposure to Diesel Fumes Causes Cancer

Here’s What Causes Arteries To Clog Up

Here’s Why Sugar in Green Tea is a Healthy Idea

Here’s Why Wine is Good for Health

High Dose Folate And B Vitamin Supplements Increase Uterine Cancer Risk

High-Fat Diet Harms Muscle Health in Pre-Diabetic Teens

High-Fructose Diet Increases Blood Pressure Risk

High-Protein Diets Shrink the Brain

Hippocampus Governs How We Devise Concepts in the Brain

History of Homeopathy

HIV Outwits Yet Another Microbicide

Holistic Hospitals Appear in Maine

Home Remedies Series – Alcoholism

Home Remedies Series – Allergies

Home Remedies Series – Amnesia

Home Remedies Series – Anemia

Home Remedies Series – Angina

Home Remedies Series – Anorexia

Home Remedies Series – Anxiety

Home Remedies Series – Arthritis

Home Remedies Series – Athletes foot

Home Remedies Series – Belching

Home Remedies Series – Body Rash

Home Remedies Series – Burns

Home Remedies Series – Cataracts

Home Remedies Series – Celiac Disease

Home Remedies Series – Colitis

Home Remedies Series – Conjunctivitis

Home Remedies Series – Cough

Home Remedies Series – Cracked Heels

Home Remedies Series – Dandruff

Home Remedies Series – Dark Circles

Home Remedies Series – Depression

Home Remedies Series – Diarrhea

Home Remedies Series – Dizziness

Home Remedies Series – Dry Skin

Home Remedies Series – Edema

Home Remedies Series – Hair

Home Remedies Series – Insomnia

Home Remedies Series – Intestinal Worms

Home Remedies Series – Kidney Stones

Home Remedies Series – Laryngitis

Home Remedies Series – Leg Cramps

Home Remedies Series – Mononucleosis

Home Remedies Series – Obesity

Home Remedies Series – Pyorrhoea

Home Remedies Series – Razor Burns

Home Remedies Series – Varicose Veins

Home Remedies Series – Vertigo

Honey Sends Virility-Seeking Men to the ER

Hormone Replacement Therapy Beneficial for Postmenopausal Women

How Addictive Drugs Influence Learning and Memory

How Color Plays Musical Chairs in the Brain

How Do Sensory Signals Make Themselves Heard?

How Infant Pain Has Repercussions in Adulthood

How Marijuana Inhibits Brain Cancer

How Proximity to Convenience Stores Promotes Child Obesity

How Salmonella can be Used To Kill Tumors

How Silver is Used in Wellness

How Some People Maintain Weight Loss, Others Don’t

How the Brain Encodes Memories at a Cellular Level

How to Eliminate and Prevent Cancer

How to Get Your Medical Insurer to Cover Alternative Medicine Treatments, If you are Not USTM Patient

How to Make Antibiotics More Effective at Lower Doses

How To Relieve Pain Without Medicine

How We Navigate Through Undesired Objects to Reach What We Want

Humidity, Rain Linked to Kids Headaches

Imaging Techniques Can Identify Plaques Likely to Cause Heart Attacks

Implants Don’t Increase Women’s Breast Cancer Risk

India Suggests Therapeutic Cloning

India, Nigeria, Congo Account for 40 percent Child Deaths

Individual Reactions to Traumatic Stress

Indoor Plants Can Reduce Toxic Ozone Levels

Innovative, Low-Cost Medical and Diagnostic Tests

Intelligence In Young Children Is Not Influenced By Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Introducing – Aloe Vera

Introducing – Alpha Lipoic Acid

Introducing – Bee Propolis

Introducing – Beta-Carotene

Introducing – Bilberry

Introducing – Black Walnut

Introducing – Cinnamon

Introducing – CoQ10

Introducing – Devil’s claw

Introducing – DHEA

Introducing – Ephedra

Introducing – Garlic

Introducing – Ginger

Introducing – Glucosamine

Introducing – Goji Berries

Introducing – Guarana

Introducing – Kava

Introducing – L-Carnitine

Introducing – Licorice Root

Introducing – Melatonin

Introducing – Milk Thistle

Introducing – Multivitamins

Introducing – Omega-6 Fatty Acids

Introducing – Policosanol – The Natural Statin

Introducing – Saw Palmetto

Introducing – Spirulina

Introducing – St. John’s Wort

Introducing – Tea Tree Oil

Introducing – Tribulus

Introducing – Valerian

Introducing – Velvet Bean: Herbal Alternative for Parkinson’s

Introducing – Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

Introducing – Vitamin C

Introducing – Vitamin E

Introducing – Vitamin K

Introducing – White Willow Bark

Introducing – Wild Yams

Introducing – Yohimbe

Introducing – Zinc

Introducting CAM – Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Iodine Must for Developing Kids’ Intellect

Iron Accumulation in a Cell Can Cause Disease

Is Marijuana a Medicine?

It’s Not a Tumor, It’s a Brain Worm

Jet Lag Cure A Step Closer

Joint and Bone Health are Connected

Juggle Your Way To a Sharper Brain

Keep the Body Alkaline for Optimum Health

Key Mechanism in Development of Nerve Cells Found

Key Protein Behind Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Identified

Kids With Small Head Size at Risk of Neurologic Problems

Know the Difference between Cold and Swine Flu Symptoms

Kuwait Government Approves New Alternative Medicine Hospital

Lack of Sunshine Vitamin Linked to High BP in Women

Laptop Save Student From Dropping Dead

Large Thighs May Protect Heart

L-Arginine is wonderful for Blood Pressure, Erectile Dysfunction, Wound Healing

Laser-Processes May Help Create Better Artificial Joints, Arterial Stents

Lesser Known Chinese Herbal Remedies

Light, Photosynthesis Harmful to Fresh Produce

Linking Breast Cancer Patients With Alternative Therapies

Linking To US-Tele-Medicine Blog and Twitter

Living Proof – A Man’s Unusual Prescription for Bone Cancer

Long Lasting Weight Loss

Long Working Hours Make Parents Compromise on Food Choices

Loss of Loved One make Grievers Vulnerable to Heart Attacks

Low Incomes Leads to Higher Mortality Rate In Prostate Cancer Patients

Low Vitamin C Levels Related to Vascular Disease

Lower Fat Hormone Levels Turn Blood Infection Deadly

LSD and Cannabis Less Harmful than Alcohol, says UK Drug Expert

Lupus News

Lychee Fruit for Metabolic Syndrome

Malaria Parasite Infects Gorillas, Not Just Humans

Male and Female Chromosomes do Communicate with Each Other

Males Experience Loss of Libido During Hepatitis-C Therapy

Man ‘Allergic’ to His Wife

Managing Blood Sugar Emerges as a Top Concern

Marijuana Rivals Mainstream Drugs For Alleviating HIV/AIDS Symptoms

MDs Could Learn From African Healers

Measles Vaccine Inhaler Shows Promise

Meat Linked to Prostate Cancer

Mechanism Related to Onset of Genetic Diseases Identified

Meddling in Mosquitoes Sex Life Could Cut Malaria

Medical error is a lot more dangerous than homeopathy

Melatonin Improves Mood In Winter Depression

Memory Test Spots Pre-Dementia

Men More Vulnerable to Mental Illness, Say Experts

Microwaving Hot-Dogs can Provide Protection Against Food-Borne Illness

Mid-Life Obesity Cuts Women Chances of Healthy Survival

Migraine Sufferers More Vulnerable to Hangover

Milk During Pregnancy May Lower a Baby’s Risk of Developing MS Later in Life

Mind Really Does Matter When It Comes to Health and Healing

Mobile Microscopes Illuminate the Brain

Monkey Brain ‘Hardwired’ for Simple Math

More good news about bad times: the Great Depression increased US life expectancy

More On Life Saving L-Arginine – Heart Health

More On the Great L-Arginine – Improves Blood Flow and Exercise Capacity

More People Rely On Alternative Medicine

More Women Opting to Remove Healthy Breast After Cancer Diagnosis

Most Babies Born This Century Will Live to 100

Most Deaths in Young People are Preventable: WHO study

Most Medical Students Support Complementary Therapies

Multi-Drug Resistant TB on the Rise in Australia

Nano Drug Delivery Helpful in Treating Erectile Dysfunction

Nanotechnology and Resveratrol

Nasal Spray Raises Hope for Autistics

Nationwide Survey Shows Americans Oppose A Cosmetic Tax

Native American Herbal Remedies No. 1

Native American Herbal Remedies No. 2

Natural Compounds in Vegetables Make Chemotherapy More Effective

Natural Drug to Fight Cancer and AIDS Begins Trials in Cuba

Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy

Natural Hydrogel May Boost Spinal Cord

New Aircraft Air Filter System Destroy 99.9% of Bugs

New Approach to Wrinkles Could Replace Botox

New Biomarker Can Bring Rapid Relief from Major Depression

New Brain Pathway for Regulating Weight, Bone Mass Identified

New Chip Can Detect Cancer Early

New Drug Kills Cancer Like a Stealth Slayer

New Evidence for Homeopathy

New Evidence That Marijuana is Safe, Effective

New iPhone Apps to Study Human Body in 3-D

New Microchip-Based Device Can Put an End to Painful Biopsies

New Patsari Stove Smproves Women’s Lung Health

New Radioactive Imaging Agent may Revolutionize Skin Cancer Diagnosis

New Series of Posts Presenting Phobias

New Weight-Loss Fad Uses Tongue Patches Make Eating Painful

Nigerian Government Trains Herbal Medicine Practitioners

No Need for Pregnant Women to Fast During Labor

No Pain, No Gain Applies to Happiness too

Noisy Roads Ups High Blood Pressure Risk

Non-Invasive Way of Diagnosing Sleep Apnea

Normal Ranges for the Two Types of Cholesterol

Not All Expert Advice is the Right Advice – Medical Myths

Novel Cancer Therapy Found by TA Researchers

Novel Minimally Invasive Technique to Treat Snoring

Novel Treatment Helps Paralyzed Rats Walk Again After Spinal-Cord Injury

Novel Two-Step Chemical Process Makes Cancer Cells Glow Quickly, Safely

Now a Molecular GPS’ to Help Probe Aging and Disease Processes

Obese Kids Aged 12 Early Signs of Heart Disease

Obese Women have Less Chances of Enjoying Old Age

Obesity Spurs a Tide of Cancer in Europe

One in Five U.S. Teenagers Has High Cholesterol

On-Off Fasting Helps Obese Adults Shed Pounds

ORPHCAM Project first to look at GP-CAM interface in rural areas

Overweight People Less Likely to Have Sex

Oxidized Form of Vitamin A May Treat Bowel Diseases

Oxygen Therapy Can Help Cluster Headaches

Paris Rooftops Gardens Hives of Activity for Beekeeping

Parkinson’s – A Novel Therapeutic Target

Patients in Vegetative State Can Learn, say Researchers

Peculiar Pageant Focuses on Surgically Enhanced Beauties

People Having Social Groups Stay Healthy

People Susceptible to Colon Cancer Cut their Risk in Half with Aspirin

Pervasive E-health services using communication technology

Phobias – 540 Common Phobias

Physically Active Boys Are Smarter

Pig bristles latest cure for eye problems

Pituitary Tumor Caused World’s Tallest Man’s Gigantism

Port Wine Birthmarks Now Easy to Remove with Laser Therapy

Presenting – Agoraphobia

Presenting – Claustrophobia

Preservation of Antibiotics

Preventing Hepatitis

Prevention In Getting H1N1 Flu

Prince of Wales Says Spiritual Care Can Help Healing Process

Prospects for Brain Regenerative Medicine

PROTECT YOURSELF TOXIC CHEMICALS IN PERSONAL CARE AND SKIN CARE PRODUCTS

Protecting Your Liver When You Have Diabetes

Protecting Your Virtual Privacy – Health Information

Protein that Repairs Alzheimer’s Brain Damage Identified

Qwest’s Connections Power Colorado Telehealth

Radon Gas the Second Leading Cause of Lung Cancer

Rap Fans At Increased Car Accident Risk

Reduce the Side Effects of Antibiotics

Regular Exercise Cuts Prostate Cancer Risk

Relieving Pediatric Respiratory Disease Symptoms By Hypnosis

Remains of World’s Oldest Human Brain Found in Armenia

Researchers Find a Way to Block Fat Consumption

Researchers Test Smart Bandage for Wireless Vitals Monitoring

Researchers tout cheap eHealth alternative

Researchers Unlock Secret Behind Acupuncture

Restless Legs Syndrome, Erectile Dysfunction may be Linked

Resynchronization Cuts Down Risk of Heart Failures

Retinal Implant Could Help Restore Part of Vision

Rhubarb Can Help Fight Cancer, Claim Scientists.

Right Dose of Omega-3 Fatty Acid May Be Identified

Santa Should Get Off His Sleigh, Give Up Brandy and Walk

Scientists Crack Brain’s Numerical Code

Scientists Create Super-Strong Collagen

Scientists Create World’s Tiniest Laser Squeezing Light

Scientists Develop Better Technique to Study Bacterial Swimming

Scientists Develop Tiny Sensor to Sniff Toxins

Scientists Developing Probiotics to Ambush Disease-Causing Gut Bacteria

Scientists Grow Liver Cells From Patients’ Skin Cells

Scientists Identify Another Step in Memory Formation

Scientists Identify Bacterium That Helps in Formation of Gold

Scientists Map How White Blood Cells Repair Wounds

Scientists Show Blue Light Can Help Reset Sleep Cycle

Scientists Trying to Identify Sanjivani Herb

Scientists Uncover New Anti-TB Compounds

Scientists Uncover Vulnerable Enzyme that Can be Targeted to Kill Dangerous Pathogens

Scientists Unveil Brain Area Involved In Alert Status Control

Scientists Watch Evolution Unfold In a Bottle

Secondhand Smoke Linked To Sleep Problems In Children

Secrets of Anti-Aging Adaptogenic Herbs

Sexually Satisfied Women Experience Greater Vitality

Shame Is Essential, But You Can Get Out Of It

Shockwave Therapy Shows Promise for Erectile Dysfunction

Short-Term Stress Boosts Anti-Tumor Activity

Skinny Friends with Big Appetites Bad for Weight Watching

Sleep Loss May Affect Health by Curbing Exercise

Sleep Loss may Lead to Alzheimer’s

Soccer Better Than Running for Womens Fitness

Social Isolation Speeds Up Breast Cancer Growth

Sodium bicarbonate helps to save countless lives every day

Soluble Fiber Effective in Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Some Colors Offer Better Sun Protection

Soon, Booster Broccoli to Keep Diseases at Bay, Control Weight

Soon, Chip on the Shoulder to Remind Patients to Take Pills

Soon, Robo-Bees that Mimic Bees Behavior

Soon, Single Shot to Protect Against Rabies

Soybean Compounds Could Prevent Heart Disease, Cancer

Soybeans May Sub for Fish Omega-3

Space-Industry Technology May Help Treat Breast Cancer

Spectacular Treatment for Skin Cancer Developed

Statin Use Reduces Heart Attacks, Deaths After Surgery on Blood Vessels

Steroid Hormone Deficiency May be Behind Cardiovascular Disease

Still Alive and Well – Confirmed Bicarbonate Cancer Cure

STILL TRYING TO BURN OFF HOLIDAY WEIGHT?

Stressed? Dark Chocolate Might Help, Scientists say

Student Study Shows Energy Drinks Don’t Boost Performance

Study Finds Women Happier than Men, While Youth Most Distressed

Study Links Vitamin D, Race, And Cardiac Deaths

Study: Alternative medicine use on the rise in U.S.

Successful Aging – DNA and Lifestlye

Sudoku Can Make You Fat

Sunlight May Help Cancer Patients Survive

Sunshine States Really are Happiest

Superhero Comics to Help Kids Understand Diseases, Treatments

Supplement May Offer a Statin Alternative For Some

Surge In Infertility Tourism Leads to Viking Babies

Surgical Masks Offer No Protection Against a Pandemic

Sweat Lodges, Steam Rooms Aren’t for Detox

Sweeteners Make Sweet Life But Promise Cancer Instead

Swine Flu Prompts Calls for Kissing Strike in Spain

Tai Chi Relieves Osteoarthritis Knee Pain: Study

Tanning Linked to Moles in very Light-Skinned Children

Teddy Bear-Shaped Nurse Robot Developed

Teen Internet Addicts More Apt to Self Harm

Teen-Age Good at Reasoning but Lack Emotional Maturity

Teenage Hormones – Watch Out

Teens Who Smoke Marijuana But Not Tobacco Are Different From Other Teen Groups

TELE-MEDICINE SERVICE OVER SATELLITE NETWORK.

Testimonies document the medicinal properties of cannabis and its derivatives

Testosterone Spray May Help Post-Menopausal Women Fight Dementia

Tests Reveal Why Light Can Worsen Migraines

THC Normalized Impaired Psychomotor Performance and Mood

The Best Commercial Bread To Buy

The Cause and Treatment of Heart Disease

The Connection Between Acne and Gluten

The Dietary Supplements Labels Database

The Emergence of E-Patients

The Immunity Herb – Echinacea Purpurea

The Importance of Potassium

THE LIFE SAVING BUDWIG PROTOCOL

The Origins of Tidiness

The Pill Bottle Gets a Cell Phone, to Remind You to Take Your Medicine

The Purpose of Sneezing

The Truth About the Composition of Different Fats – Oils We Eat

The Wireless Revolution in Medical Devices

Thinking of Cryogenics? Here Are Some Sources

Too Many Chocolates- Mental Problems Linked to Acne in Teens

Too Much Liquorice During Pregnancy may Affect Child’s IQ and Behavior

Too Much of Vitamin A is Bad for Human System

Topical Cream for Erectile Dysfunction could Prove Safer

Touching Toes May Indicate Heart Risk

Traumatic Childhood Might Take Years Off Adult Life

Treating Multiple Sclerosis with Diet

Trouble Thinking? Better See the Dentist

Truth About RGBH Milk Hormone – Again

Two Out of Every Three Blind in India are Women

Two-Thirds of World’s Blind are Women: Study

Types of Holistic Healing Therapies and Treatments

UAB To Study The Effects Of Olive Oil On Breast Cancer

UAE uses SMS to Raise Awareness about Swine Flu

Understanding Amino Acids and Proteins

URMC Study Links Vitamin D, Race, And Cardiac Deaths

US House Bill 3962 – Will Limit Alternative Health Care

US Tele-Medicine – Our Philosophy

US Tele-medicine Blog is Now on Twitter

US TELE-MEDICINE ENGAGES LAWRENCE MADOFF, M.D.

US TELE-MEDICINE ENGAGES WILLIAM T. POIRIER M.D.

US Tele-Medicine Offers FREE Refunds on Your Purchases of Alternative Remedies

US Tele-Medicine Offers NO COST Refunds on Your Purchases of Alternative Remedies

Using Glutathione Therapy For Parkinsons Symptoms

Virtual Medical Visits

Virtual Reality Tele-Rehab Improves Hand Function

Vitamin B6 Tied to Better Prostate Cancer Survival

Vitamin C can Help Protect DNA Damage of Skin Cells

Vitamin D Helps Improve Survival From Bowel And Skin Cancer

Vitamin D may save your life from swine flu

Vitamin Supplements Lowers Risk of Heart Disease

Vitamin-Like Substance Could Slow Down Parkinson’s Progression

Vitamins and Minerals for Healthy Blemish-Free Skin

Walking Regularly Taking Supplement Can Significantly Ease Pain of Arthritis

Want To Boost Your Confidence – Sit Straight!

War Talks Can Boost Older Adults’ Mental Health

Warning Pictures on Cigarettes

Ways To Improve Your Brain Health and Fitness

Weight Loss Supplements Are Misleading

Well-Being: Hawaii Tops Utah for Nation’s Best

What about Cholesterol?

What Are Nutraceuticals?

What Are Probiotics?

What Are the Adrenal Glands?

What are the Types of Anxiety Disorders?

What Does Anti-Aging Mean?

What Emotions Do

What Holistic Healing Means

What is Anorexia? What is Bulimia?

What is Asthma?

What is Bipolar I Disorder?

What is Blood Pressure?

What is Lupus?

What is Neurogenesis?

What is Shamanic Smudging?

What is Tele-Medicine?

What Makes Human Muscle Age

What Men Should Know About Low Testesterone

What Types of Eggs Are Best For You and How to Eat Them

What You Need to Know to Save on Out-of-Pocket Health Care Costs

Which Diet Makes You Happy?

Whisky Hangover Worse Than Vodka, Study suggests

White Wine, Beer Can Ruin Appetite

White Wines ‘Bad for the Teeth’

WHO head backs role of traditional medicine Two Years Ago – So what happened?

WHO Maps World’s Deadliest Roads

Whole Grains May Help Blood Pressure

Why Frequent Blinking is Essential for Healthy Eyes and Optimal Vision

Why Some Women Suffer Breast Cancer Relapses

Why Use Bioidentical Hormones

Why We Can Remember 7 Digits In the Brain

WORLD WIDE MEDICAL CANNABIS NEWS

World’s Oldest Surviving “Medicine” System Gets Government’s OK

Yoga Reduces Cytokine Levels Known To Promote Inflammation

Yolks May Reduce Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Young Adults Likely to Outgrow Bipolar Disorder in Later Life

Young Patients With Chronic Illnesses Find Relief In Acupuncture

Your Weird Body Explained

Surge In Infertility Tourism Leads to Viking Babies

Posted on March 1, 2010 by admin

LONDON – In vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a popular method by which women who are having trouble getting pregnant are able to use donor sperm to achieve pregnancy. In the UK, however, there is a shortage of donor sperm that is causing British women to have to travel to countries like Denmark in order to find some.

A 2005 British law change outlawed the donating of sperm anonymously. UK law also has a long-standing rule that prohibits men who donate from receiving any sort of monetary compensation. Because of these rules, and the fact that many men fear having to provide their identities with the donation because the children may eventually try to find and meet them, few British men are donating sperm these days. As a result, the waiting list to receive IVF in the UK is several years.

In 2007, Denmark changed its laws and now permits anonymous donors, which has led to a surge in foreign women coming there to receive IVF treatment. Danish donors are also compensated between $60 and $200 for their donations which has helped to facilitate a large number of casual donors. The Danish sperm bank, Cryos, is the largest sperm bank in the world and is a popular destination for “infertility tourists” seeking to have children.

Denmark is one of the few nations that allows anonymous donations as well as monetary compensation for them. For this reason, Danish clinics are flourishing with increased business. DanFert in Copenhagen more than doubled its IVF customers since 2007. Vita Nova in Copenhagen has seen a 40 percent increase in women seeking IVF from Britain alone.

Danish clinics also cater to single women who are trying to have children, a controversial scenario rejected by many other nations who aim to serve couples trying to conceive. Such liberal laws have attracted all sorts of women from around the globe who wish to bear children but are otherwise unable.

Because of the popularity of the program, Danish banks have begun opening up franchised fertility clinics in other countries that permit it, including in the US and India. In these countries, men who are looking to make some extra cash often donate to the clinic, a practice that has all but ceased in Britain due to the laws.

Many women are hoping that UK laws will once again allow for anonymous sperm donors. They believe it will help to increase supply and end the shortage that has prevented many women from receiving IVF there.

Rap Fans At Increased Car Accident Risk

Posted on February 28, 2010 by admin

LONDON – Drivers who listen to songs by artists such as Eminem, Dizzee Rascal and Jay-Z in their cars are most at risk of accidents, claims a new study.

According to a survey of over 2,000 drivers by Auto Trader magazine, almost half of the volunteers admitted that rap or hip hop music affects their mood adversely while driving.

Nearly one in five drivers say that makes them aggressive behind the wheel.

Just six per cent said that listening to rap or hip hop helps relaxes them on the road, reports The Telegraph.

Neil Grieg, director of policy and research at road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists, said: “We all know the drivers who play loud, pounding rap music where you can hear the ground shake before they arrive.

“Police crash investigation reports do not say what music people were listening to before an accident, so it comes down to self-reporting, opinion research.

“If people recognize within themselves that they were listening to a certain type of music when they had road rage problems or crashes, it would be worth them considering changing the music.

“But if you listen to rap music in the car, you are most likely to be young and male and unfortunately that is the target group least likely to listen to road safety advice.”

‘Spectacular’ Treatment for Skin Cancer Developed

Posted on February 28, 2010 by admin

NEW YORK – American scientists have developed, what is being hailed as a “simply spectacular” treatment for skin cancer that could shrink the tumours at a “rapid and dramatic” rate in patients whose disease had spread.

The results of the drug trial are significant because skin cancer, though curable when caught early, usually become fatal when it spreads to other parts of the body.

Experts described the results as “simply spectacular” and said the drug, known at the moment only as PLX4032, could improve and extend the lives of those fighting the disease.

It is already known that around half of all malignant melanomas are fuelled by a mutation in a gene, known as Braf.

And now, for the first time, scientists have developed a drug that can interfere with this gene’s protein, cutting off the fuel supply to the tumours.

The small study, conducted on 31 patients showed that patients treated with the twice-a-day pill saw their tumours shrink rapidly and a larger trial is now needed to confirm the findings.

But the results showed that in two thirds of the 22 patients evaluated, the tumours shrank by 30 per cent in only a month.

A further six patients also saw their tumours shrink, but not by as much.

Cancer experts are excited by the findings because it means that PLX4032 could also work in other cancers triggered by the Braf mutation, which includes around five per cent of bowel cancers, accounting for 1,500 new cases a year.

In addition the drug also offers hope to the thousands of skin cancer patients who have very few treatment options once their tumours have spread.

However, experts admit the drug will not cure metastatic melanoma.

“We are very excited. So far 70 per cent of patients have responded,” The Daily Express quoted Dr Paul Chapman, from the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York, which carried out the trial, as saying.

Introducing – Wild Yams

Posted on February 28, 2010 by admin

100

It has been hypothesized that wild yam ( Dioscorea villosa and other Dioscorea species) possesses dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-like properties and acts as a precursor to human sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. Based on this proposed mechanism, extracts of the plant have been used to treat painful menstruation, hot flashes, and headaches associated with menopause.

However, these uses are based on a misconception that wild yam contains hormones or hormonal precursors – largely due to the historical fact that progesterone, androgens, and cortisone were chemically manufactured from Mexican wild yam in the 1960s. It is unlikely that this chemical conversion to progesterone occurs in the human body. The hormonal activity of some topical wild yam preparations has been attributed to adulteration with synthetic progesterone by manufacturers, although there is limited evidence in this area.

The effects of the wild yam saponin constituent “diosgenin” on lipid metabolism are well documented in animal models and are possibly due to impaired intestinal cholesterol absorption. However, its purported hypocholesterolemic effect in humans and the feasibility of long-term use warrant further investigation.

There are few reported contraindications to the use of wild yam in adults. However, there are no reliable safety or toxicity studies during pregnancy, lactation, or childhood.

Atlantic yam, barbasco, batata silvestre, black yam, China root, colic root, devil’s bones, Dioscorea , Dioscorea barbasco , Dioscorea hypoglauca , Dioscorea macrostachya , Dioscorea opposita , Dioscorea villosa , Dioscoreae (family), diosgenin, Mexican yam, natural DHEA, phytoestrogen, potassium, rheumatism root, shan yao, white yam, wild yam root, yam, yellow yam, yuma.

Note: “Yams” sold in the supermarket are members of the sweet potato family and are not true yams.

High cholesterol

Animal studies have shown that wild yam can reduce the absorption of cholesterol from the gut. Early studies in humans have shown changes in the levels of certain sub-types of cholesterol, including decreases in low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad cholesterol”) and triglycerides and increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good cholesterol”). However, no changes in the total amount of blood cholesterol have been found. More studies are needed in this area.

Menopausal symptoms

Most studies have not shown a benefit from wild yam given by mouth or used as a vaginal cream in reducing menopausal symptoms. However, replacing two thirds of staple food with yam for 30 days was shown to improve the status of sex hormones, lipids, and antioxidants in a recent study in postmenopausal women. The authors suggest that these effects might reduce the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. Further research is needed before a recommendation can be made. C

Hormonal properties (to mimic estrogen, progesterone, or DHEA)

Despite popular belief, no natural progestins, estrogens, or other reproductive hormones are found in wild yam. Its active ingredient, diosgenin, is not converted to hormones in the human body. Artificial progesterone has been added to some wild yam products. The belief that there are hormones in wild yam may be due to the historical fact that progesterone, androgens, and cortisone were chemically manufactured from Mexican wild yam in the 1960s.

Antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, asthma, bile flow improvement, biliary colic, breast cancer, breast enlargement, cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease, carminative (prevents gas), childbirth, cramps, croup, decreased perspiration, diverticulitis, energy improvement, excessive perspiration, expectorant, intestinal spasm, irritable bowel syndrome, joint pain, libido, liver protection, low blood sugar, menstrual pain or irregularities, morning sickness, nerve pain, osteoporosis, pancreatic enzyme inhibitor, pelvic cramps, postmenopausal vaginal dryness, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), rash, rheumatic pain, spasms, urinary tract disorders, uterus contraction, vomiting.

Adults (18 years and older)

Allergies

Rubbing the skin with Dioscorea batatas (a yam species related to Dioscorea villosa ) has been reported to cause allergic rash. Workers exposed to Dioscorea batatas in large amounts and for a prolonged time have developed asthma that is made worse by exposure to the yam. A person who is known to have an allergy to Dioscorea batatas may also be allergic to other Dioscorea types.

Side Effects and Warnings

Rubbing the skin with Dioscorea batatas , a related yam species, has been reported to cause a rash at the site of contact. Wild yam cream caused no rash in 23 healthy women in one reported study. In another study, wild yam given by mouth was reported to cause stomach upset at high doses.

Wild yam was believed in the past to have properties similar to the reproductive hormone progesterone, but this has not been supported by scientific studies. It has been suggested that some wild yam creams might be tainted with artificial progesterone. Based on theoretical hormonal properties and possible progesterone contamination, people with hormone-sensitive conditions should use wild yam products with caution. This caution applies to people who have had blood clots or strokes and to women who take hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills. In addition, women with fibroids, endometriosis, or cancer of the breast, uterus, or ovary should be aware that these are hormone-sensitive conditions that may be affected by agents with hormonal properties.

Caution is advised in patients with diabetes or low blood sugar and in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Blood sugar levels may need to be monitored by a healthcare provider and medication adjustments may be necessary.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Use of wild yam is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to a lack of safety information. Wild yam is believed to cause uterine contractions and therefore use is discouraged during pregnancy. Wild yam was once thought to have effects similar to those of reproductive hormones, although this has not been proven in scientific studies. Artificial progesterone may be added to some products.

InteractionsReturn to top

Interactions with Drugs

It is not clear whether blood sugar is lowered by Dioscorea villosa (wild yam). Dioscoretine, a compound found in the related species Dioscorea dumentorum (bitter or African yam), has been shown to lower blood sugar levels, but this has not been shown for Dioscorea villosa . Effects on blood sugar in humans have not been reported. Nonetheless, caution is advised when using medications that may also lower blood sugar. People taking diabetes drugs by mouth or insulin should be monitored closely by a qualified healthcare provider. Medication adjustments may be necessary.

Early evidence suggests that wild yam lowers blood levels of indomethacin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and reduces irritation of the intestine caused by indomethacin. Human studies have not been reported in this area and it is not clear if wild yam affects the blood levels of other anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®).

Diosgenin, thought to be the active substance in wild yam, has been found in animals to reduce absorption of cholesterol from the intestine and to lower total cholesterol levels in the blood. Studies in humans show no change in the total amount of cholesterol in the blood, although the amounts of specific types of cholesterol in the blood may be changed; low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad cholesterol”) and triglycerides may be lowered and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good cholesterol”) may be increased. It is thought that wild yam may enhance the effects of other cholesterol-lowering medications, including fibric acid derivatives such as clofibrate (Questran®), gemfibrozil (Lopid®), and fenofibrate (Tricor®). In animals, wild yam has been found to improve the effect of clofibrate in lowering cholesterol levels.

Tinctures of wild yam may contain high amounts of alcohol and may lead to vomiting if taken with disulfiram (Antabuse®) or metronidazole (Flagyl®).

An early study suggests that wild yam may interfere with the body’s ability to control levels of the reproductive hormone progesterone. Progesterone is a key ingredient in some hormone replacement and birth control pills. There are reports that some wild yam products may be tainted with artificial progesterone. Women taking birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy should speak with a licensed healthcare provider before taking wild yam.

Wild yam may also interact with steroids, although human evidence is lacking.

Interactions with Herbs and Dietary Supplements

It is not clear whether Dioscorea villosa (wild yam) lowers blood sugar levels. Although dioscoretine, produced by the related species Dioscorea dumentorum (bitter or African yam), has been shown to lower blood sugar, this reaction has not been seen with Dioscorea villosa and has not been reported in humans. Nonetheless, caution is advised when using herbs or supplements that may also lower blood glucose. Blood glucose levels may require monitoring and doses may need adjustment.

In an early study, a wild yam preparation was reported to block the body’s natural production of progesterone. However, this finding was not supported by later research. There have been several reports that some wild yam products are tainted with synthetic progesterone. Because wild yam may contain progesterone-like chemicals, the effects of other agents believed to have hormone-like properties, in particular those with estrogen-like properties, may be altered.

Wild yam may also interact with potassium vitamin C or steroids, although human evidence is lacking.

The Telemedicine Reporter

A Library of Eclectic Medical Wisdom

Tag Archives: US Telemedicine

Is Colon Cleansing Right For You?

Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure

Treat A Yeast Infection The Natural Way

Introducing – Passion Flower

Bacteria With Tiny Projections Can Make Efficient Fuel Cells

Seaweed Extract Hold Promise For Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Face, Nose, Bust Lift-Without Surgery?

Mayo Clinic Introduces Two Consumer Mobile Applications

America’s Deadliest Sweetener Betrays Millions

Communicating With Your Teenager

INDEX OF POSTS AS OF MARCH 1, 2010

Surge In Infertility Tourism Leads to Viking Babies

Rap Fans At Increased Car Accident Risk

‘Spectacular’ Treatment for Skin Cancer Developed

Introducing – Wild Yams

May 2013
M	T	W	T	F	S	S
« Apr
		1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31