The Healthy Village

Eczema or atopic dermatitis usually appears on toddlers. This is a rash in the skin usually which occurs on the scalp and cheeks. Eczema toddler symptoms are rashes that seem to be dry, thickened and scaly or oozing red bumps when become infected. Eczema is irregular and is not contagious. Eczema toddler symptoms are very uncomfortable and can bring about infection. To know eczema toddler symptoms is quite useful to prevent or lessen the discomfort and risk for infection.

Eczema is a skin condition that is a chronic inflammation. It develops commonly in infants and toddlers. The real cause of eczema is unknown, though the reason that toddlers acquire eczema can often be genetic or inherited. Your son or daughter is more likely to have problems with eczema if a member of your family has had allergies like asthma or eczema.

Eczema toddler symptoms may be aggravated by irritants like heat or something that comes in contact on the toddler’s skin. Such irritants that come in contact are soap, lotions, detergents and fragrances. Stress may also aggravate eczema toddler symptoms. The symptoms have to be identified to determine the presence of eczema inside the toddler and to avoid aggravation.

The symptom which brings the most discomfort to a toddler with eczema is itching. Oahu is the hallmark sign that distinguishes atopic dermatitis or eczema business rashes. The itching is very intense that puts the toddler and also parents on a very challenging time. Scratching can lead more to a severe sensation of itch. The itching is regarded as the difficult symptom as it makes the toddler frequently scratch the rashes and may lead to infection.

Another eczema toddler symptom is skin patches which may be discolored or thick. The patches are dry scaly lesions that will appear in grey or I brown. These usually develop prior to the age of 5. The area affected can appear flaky or tender. Usually, these patches show up on the scalp or even in the face. Less frequently this symptom occurs behind the knees, ankles and chest.

Skin lesions caused by eczema in a toddler may appear bumpy and rough. Because of itching sensation, toddlers may scratch the lesions or patches causing to leak pus. If scratching is prevented the lesion may heal forming an approximate and yellowish crust in the area. This one type of eczema toddler symptoms may subside for a while but can also persist into adulthood.

When the eczema toddler symptoms happen in the scalp the toddler is more likely to experience baldness. In some case like if the eczema toddler symptoms come in the face especially near the eye or forehead, doctor’s advice is always to temporarily cut the hair near the affected area in order to avoid exacerbation and infection.

Eczema is not a kind of allergic reaction but irritants like allergens within the environment can trigger the surface. Examples of environmental allergens are tobacco smoke, pollens and dust. Less frequently, your child’s diet may also contain allergens that may trigger eczema symptoms. To understand the eczema toddler symptoms may identify the location affected. In this way the triggering factors could be avoided.

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Vertigo, which is an illusion of movement in relation to the environment, is commonly experienced as part of a migraine headache.

Migraine is a disease characterized by periodic headaches, but patients often experience other symptoms, including dizziness. In some patients, dizziness can be the only symptom. The dizziness associated with migraines is called vertigo.

Vertigo is basically a sensation of a room spinning around you, while at rest. Nausea and sometimes vomiting is always associated with vertigo.

Motion sickness is a common migraine accompaniment as well. Most studies report about 50% of patients with migraines have motion sickness. Patients with migraine-associated vertigo often provide a long history of motion intolerance during car, boat, or air travel or all three. People with migraines are, in general, more sensitive to motion of the environment and to busy environments.

The symptoms of migraine-associated vertigo are variable and may feel like a room spinning at rest (true vertigo), a constant feeling of imbalance, and/or dizziness associated primarily when moving and not at rest. Symptoms directly associated with a migraine headache can occur prior to the onset of headache or during a headache.

Vertigo Without Headaches

It is also quite common to experience vertigo during a headache-free interval. As such, many patients who experience migraine-associated vertigo will experience dizziness as the main symptom even in the absence of a headache! In fact, most patients with migraine-associated vertigo have dizziness that occurs independently of the headache.

This last condition of someone experiencing vertigo without any headache confuses doctors and patients alike. It is far more common than thought and most of the time is a missed diagnosis and thereby a missed opportunity for treatment.

Prevalence of Migraine-Associated Vertigo

Reports indicate that 27-42% of all migraine patients report episodic vertigo. What is interesting is that about a third (about 36%) of these patients experienced vertigo during headache-free periods. The remainder experienced vertigo either just before or during the headache. The incidence of vertigo during the headache period was higher in patients with aura as opposed to those without aura.
Duration:

The vertigo symptoms may last for a few minutes or may be continuous for several weeks or even for months! In women, there is a strong association of dizziness occurring within the menstrual cycle.

The duration of the vertigo can also be quite variable. The frequencies of different durations of vertigo spells in migraine-associated vertigo are as follows:

o 7% experience vertigo for a duration of seconds.
o 31% experience vertigo for minutes to up to 2 hours.
o 5% have vertigo for 2-6 hours.
o 8% have vertigo for 6-24 hours.
o 49% experience vertigo for longer than 24 hours.

What Causes the Vertigo Associated with Migraines?

The most commonly accepted theory regarding the pathophysiology of migraine-associated vertigo is the Cortical Spreading Depression theory (CSD). Multiple authors propose that episodes of dizziness are similar to that of a migraine aura or are actually part of the aura.

But since only about 20% of migraine sufferers actually experience an aura, researches attribute the vertigo as part of a fluctuation of nerve cell ion channels. Recent understandings in a particular type of migraine – Familial Hemiplegic Migraine (FHM) have shown two genes responsible for controlling ion flow across nerve cell membranes.

These two genes affect changes in calcium, sodium and potassium channels. This alters the electrical conduction potentials of nerve cells. The result is a transient wave front that suppresses central neuronal activity. This depression spreads in all directions from its site of origin. These changes result in a reduction in cerebral blood flow in the areas of spreading depression.

Two authors have suggested that when dizziness is unrelated to headache, the dizziness occurs from the release of neuropeptides, including substance P, neurokinin A, calcitonin and gene–related peptide [CGRP]. No single hypothesis explains the headache or dizziness process in migraine at this time. Thus, the causes of the symptoms of migraine remain controversial.

Meniere’s Disease

There is another relatively common form of vertigo called Meniere’s Disease. Meniere’s Disease is not related to migraines at all. It has a classic triad of vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus (ringing of the ears). The vertigo of Meniere’s Disease is frequently confused with migraine-associated vertigo.  Fortunately, the vertigo associated with the more common forms of migraines rarely have any hearing loss and also does not have much in the way of tinnitus.

Basilar Migraines

The is one ominous variant of migraine headaches called Basilar Migraines (or also known as Bickerstaff ‘s syndrome) which is a cross between a migraine and occasionally ends up in a stroke. Some features of Basilar Migraines include vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. Up to 80% of patients with Basilar Migraine have been reported to have sensorineural hearing loss.

So in the case of the Basilar Migraines, the vertigo might be indistinguishable from Meniere’s Disease during the headache-free intervals. Otherwise the presence of the headache would lend it toward the migraine component and should be treated as a migraine.

Clearly, Basilar Migraines are a more pernicious variety of migraine headache. Even though Basilar Migraines are classified as a sub-group of migraines, some believe that the stroke-like damage that is frequently associated with this group of headaches places it in a different category and should be treated very differently from the typical migraine.

Treatment

Unfortunately, the vertigo component of migraines is extremely resistant to standard treatment. The triptan class of drugs is relatively ineffective. Also, the standard anti-vertigo drugs like meclizine and phenergan also do not work well.

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For some people, the worst thing about a migraine is not the pain – it’s migraine nausea.

Nausea and vomiting are two very distressing symptoms accompanying migraines in some people. About 80% of migraine sufferers get nauseous, but only 30% actually throw up. In rare occasions, a person may vomit so many times they actually become dehydrated.

Most of the time, simply treating the migraine relieves the nausea. However, the nausea and vomiting may be so bad that it actually prevents a person from taking their migraine relief medications. When this happens the nausea only serves to prolong the agony.

There are two types of migraine nausea:

• Nausea that’s caused by extreme pain from any source – whether it be from a headache, neck or back pain, or abdominal pain.
• Nausea produced by the brain sending signals down the vagus nerve into the stomach causing acute queasiness.

In the first instance, standard anti-nausea medications may be used to relieve symptoms. These medications may be taken orally as pills – or in severe cases where someone just cannot hold down anything – as rectal suppositories.

Examples of standard anti-nausea medications include:

• Phenergan (promethazine hydrochloride)
• Thorazine (chlorpromazine)
• Compazine (prochlorperazine)
• Tigan (Trimetho-benzamide hydrochloride)
• Reglan (metoclopramide hydrochloride)
• Gravol (dimenhydrinate)

All of the above are available in suppository form except for Reglan.

One natural method that delivers real benefits is ginger. Taking ginger in the form of tablets or even a tea has been shown to alleviate some of the nausea accompanying a migraine, as well being effective for other conditions, including motion sickness, pregnancy and vomiting after surgery.

For the type of nausea primarily caused by the brain itself, the activity that causes the migraine also causes the nausea. This is where the “triptan” drugs are used.

Effects of Triptans on Migraine Nausea

Triptan drugs have become the primary migraine prescription medication used since the 1990’s. Examples of triptans include:

• Imitrex (sumatriptan)
• Maxalt (rizatriptan)
• Amerge (naratriptan)
• Zomig (zolmitriptan)
• Axert (almotriptan)
• Frova (frovatriptan)
• Relpax (eletriptan)

A 2001 study comparing four of the triptans concluded that Maxalt and Zomig were more effective at relieving nausea associated with migraines than Imitrex or Amerge. Of course about a third to a half of the patients in the study got better in two hours based simply on the placebo effect.

This isn’t to say that triptan medications should be used to combat nausea in non-migraine situations. Triptan medications don’t directly affect the nausea itself – they work in alleviating the migraine – which in turn eases the nausea.

As with any oral medication, unless you can keep it in your stomach – it’s not going to do you much good. Of the above triptans, all come in oral forms, but some can be taken in ways other than swallowing a pill.

There are 5 possible triptan formulations available:

• Standard oral tablet (all triptans)
• Subcutaneous (under the skin) injection (Imitrex)
• Quick dissolving oral tablet (sub-lingual) (Maxalt, Zomig)
• Nasal spray (Imitrex, Zomig)
• Rectal suppository (Imitrex)

For example, Imitrex comes as an injection, which is fast acting and relatively effective, but has a host of unpleasant side effects and is extremely expensive. Imitrex has recently become available as a nasal spray and also comes as a rectal suppository.

Zomig and Imitrex are the only two triptans that are available as nasal sprays. Sprays have the advantage of being rapidly absorbed and being quick acting – with relief coming as early as 15 minutes after use.
Zomig and Maxalt are also available as quick dissolving sub-lingual (under the tongue) tablets, doing away with any problems associate with swallowing.

The triptan formulations offering an alternative to swallowing a pill allows patients the opportunity to possibly abort a migraine attack at its onset. This is very reassuring to those migraine sufferers who frequently encounter nausea – especially vomiting.

Early administration of treatment, particularly the triptans, during a migraine attack is vitally important. The preferred method of taking conventional pills and tablets is perfectly reasonable – so long as the patient is able to swallow and keep the medication down long enough for absorption to take place.

However, in situations where nausea with or without vomiting is frequent or likely, alternate forms of the triptan medications should be carefully considered.

A Better Method

There is another option – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and never worry about nausea or vomiting again.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a women’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

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If you happen to be unfortunate enough to suffer from eczema, then you are most likely already in search of eczema natural remedies which work. The best treatments are soothing to your irritated skin and just as importantly, safe to use. For this reason, natural remedies are a preferable option compared to the chemical-laden products often recommended for this condition.

After you have thoroughly cleaned your skin, it is important to keep it hydrated. A lotion will help keep your skin moist, but you must make sure it is one that will help your skin heal more quickly and protect you from future outbreaks.

Unfortunately, many of the skin lotions on the market are made with chemicals which are known allergens and can cause, rather than soothe eczema. Even those which do not necessarily trigger the condition can often exacerbate it.

Natural moisturizers are the best eczema natural remedies of all, especially those which contain blueberry leaf and licorice extracts. These ingredients help to soothe your skin and in the case of blueberry leaves, can protect your skin from bacteria and other disease-causing microbes.

This type of moisturizer can help to prevent infections from setting in and give your skin a little help in healing itself. It will also help to reduce the inflammation, redness and itching which accompanies this common skin condition.

Licorice extract is known to be a powerful natural anti-inflammatory which can provide quick relief from the swelling and redness of eczema as well as acting as a pain reliever. You’ll find that there is less pain, irritation and perhaps most importantly of all, less itching when you use a product which contains this ingredient.

While you can find skin lotions which contain blueberry leaf and licorice extracts, it is just as easy to prepare these eczema natural remedies at home. Simply add these ingredients to any chemical and fragrance free lotion you prefer and you will be able to relieve your eczema naturally.

Make sure you always start with a natural lotion that is free of dyes, oils, and fragrances. An aloe vera and/or zinc based lotion is the best choice among lotions that are eczema remedies.

All you need to do to use blueberry leaf and licorice extracts with your lotion is to add 2 drops of the former and one or two of the latter to the same amount of lotion you would normally apply. Mix the extracts with the lotion using your finger and apply as usual.

If your eczema is particularly severe, then you can use a little bit more licorice extract to relieve the itching and inflammation.

There are many other remedies for eczema, but this one will greatly help alleviate your suffering, soothe your skin, and help you heal.

You can use your favorite search engine to find more information about eczema natural remedies or you can simply visit my site, which goes into greater depth about natural treatments for this condition. You will also find more general information on eczema and how to treat it safely and naturally.

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A UTI is an infection of the urinary tract. While it is painful, it is usually not overly serious and is easily treated. The urinary tract becomes infected when bacteria is introduced into the tract. The most common cause of a urinary tract infection is from bacteria that lives in your digestive tract and is transferred to your urethra. Once this bacteria enters the urethra, it travels upwards and can cause infection in the urinary tract or bladder. Sexual intercourse is a common cause of UTI’s because during sexual activity, bacteria is moved from the vaginal area into the urethra. Another cause of UTI’s is waiting too long to urinate. This causes your bladder to weaken, in which case it may not empty completely and some urine will be left in the bladder. This will increase your chance of a urinary tract infection.

Increasing your hygiene can decrease the amount of bacteria and germs that are on your body.
Drinking cranberry juice can help the body get rid of toxins and bacteria. It helps fight the causes of UTI because it is well known to help flush your body of potential triggeers and causes of UTI. If you smoke, you are only increasing your cause of UTI. If you quit smoking, you decrease your chance of irritating your bladder and could cause bladder cancer.

There are several natural solutions that you can implement to reverse the causes of UTI. Drinking a lot of water is a good way to get rid of potential bacteria that can cause a UTI. avoiding coffee and spicy food can combat the causes of UTI because these foods can irritate the bladder. Decreasing your sexual activity can combat the causes of UTI. By decreasing your sexual activity you decrease the chance of infection entering your urethra and bladder.

Urinary tract infections are often treated by antibiotics (which can have side effects such as nausea, diarrhea or allergic reactions) or the home remedies listed above. Home remedies may help decrease the number of bacteria or provide UTI relief, but rarely can completely eliminate the infection itself.

Some home remedies provide UTI relief, but that relief may be only temporary. First and foremost, you should drink plenty of fluids (especially water) to flush out the bladder. Cranberry juice is helpful as well in providing UTI relief, as it inhibits the growth of bacteria and makes it harder for the bacteria to cling to the urinary tract walls. Celery, watermelon and parsley can also contribute to UTI relief by acting as a diuretic and flushing out the bladder.

Urizol, a natural urinary tract formula, can be used to treat UTI infections effectively. Urizol is a safe herbal supplement with a special proprietary blend of substances to treat UTI infections and relieve symptoms quickly. Urizol is well researched and clinically proven to not only treat UTI infections, but also help prevent future infections. By taking just one capsule of Urizol every morning and evening, you will soon find relief from the painful symptoms of UTI infections.

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Thousands of children in the United States are affected with Cystic Fibrosis (CF), a condition that affects the growth pattern of sufferers, as well as causing a deterioration of the lungs. Once considered to be an incurable disease, due to the fact that many patients do not live past the age of 21, CF, a progressive condition, is the most common inherited condition known to man, and one that is potential lethal.

CF occurs in approximately 1 out of every 2,000 births, but today, many CF patients are living well into their thirties, and in some cases, even longer. In fact, there are even adult female CF patients who are able to have children, but of course, because of their condition, there is always the risk of complications.

In addition to developmental and lung problems, CF affects the sweat glands. CF patients do not sweat as average people do, and sodium and chloride, which is normally sweated away, just lays on top of the skin, leading to an electrolyte imbalance. This can ultimately lead to other conditions, including heart arrhythmias. CF patients should season their foods with salt in order to ensure that they are getting the amount of sodium they need.

The Need For Good Nutrition For CF Patients

It’s no secret that everyone needs a healthy, well-balanced diet in order to remain healthy, but for CF patients, the need increases drastically. Children with CF often need double, or more, calories in the run of a day than the average child. A teenager with CF may require 5,000 calories per day, whereas an average teenager requires a maximum of 2,500. Also, CF patients require at least two quarts of water each day, in order to avoid dehydration, which is common with this condition.

The reason CF patients require more in their diets is because of their inability to process food to get the nutrients the body needs. In a way, CF patients are lucky, because, unlike their peers, who, especially in the formative teen years, are weight conscious, CF patients are often encouraged to eat foods that are high in fat and carbohydrates. One rule does stay the same: fried foods are unhealthy! Not only do they cause weight gain and acne, in order for the body to digest fried foods, the liver must produce extra bile, which is not healthy for CF patients.

CF Patients Digest Food Differently

In most people, the digestion process involves food going through the digestive tract, with the help of slippery mucus. As the food breaks down, the nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal walls, and into the bloodstream. Then, the heart circulates the nutrients, and sends them where they are needed throughout the body. The process is different in CF patients. The mucus is not slippery, but gummy, making the digestive process difficult, because the food does not slide easily through the digestive tract. For this reason, the nutrients are not processed as easily by the body, therefore the need for extra calories, and dietary supplements.

Proper Medical Care Is Essential For CF Patients

Obviously, children and teens suffering from CF need to visit their physicians regularly, even frequently, so they can have their nutrient levels tested. Often, the amount of supplements the patient is taking needs to be adjusted to go along with the nutrient levels in the body, because the body absorbs nutrients at different paces on different days. In order to make sure that they stay as healthy as possible, frequent testing is recommended.

Why Should I Use Protein Supplements In My Diet?

Protein is a macronutrient that the body needs in order for survival, so it only makes sense that if we aren’t getting enough protein from dietary sources, we should use supplements to ensure that we are getting the proper nutrients for a strong, healthy body.

When it comes to treating children with CF, there is even more of a need to make sure that they are getting the proper nutrients, including protein. Of course, there will be other courses of treatment, including physical therapy, in order to loosen mucus in the lungs caused from CF. Another course of treatment is antibiotics, and some patients are given enzymatic supplements daily in order to help them to be able to digest food more easily. Unfortunately, children with CF are most often subjected to an extreme regimen of pills daily.

Children with CF can benefit from having protein supplements added to their diets, for a number of reasons. Protein supplements are a great way for patients to get the protein and other nutrients they need, in an easy-to-digest form. There are a wide variety of protein supplements, from powders to liquids, to capsules, that can be used to create delicious, healthy meals that even the fussiest child will love. And, protein drinks will also provide CF patients with much-needed liquids.

All About Protein Powders

Protein powders are an extremely popular form of dietary supplement, and one of the most versatile. The four main types of protein powders are whey, egg, soy, and rice, some even being prepared in combinations.

Whey Protein: This is a derivative of milk, and a bi-product from the cheese-making process. One of the most common and most popular protein supplements, whey contains all 22 of the essential and non-essential amino acids, making it a complete protein. Because it boosts the immune system, whey is an ideal supplement for CF patients, except those who have problems digesting milk and milk products.

Soy Protein: This is another complete protein, and one of the most digestible. It is a vegetable protein, making it ideal for vegetarians. Soy can cause digestive troubles, and if this happens, patients may want to try a different type of protein supplement.

Egg Protein: This is the ideal protein source, and comes from egg whites. Egg protein should not be used by patients who have allergies to eggs or poultry.

Rice Protein: This protein comes from brown rice, and is a hypoallergenic protein. Because it is from rice, this protein is another excellent supplement for vegetarians.

Protica Research (Protica, Inc.) specializes in the development of Capsulized Foods. Protica manufactures Profect, IsoMetric, Pediagro, Fruitasia and over 100 other brands, including Medicare-approved, whey protein supplements for cancer patients. You can learn more at Protica Research

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A team of researchers reported in June 2007 in Nippon Rinsho have found what is sure to be a great health breakthrough for chronic fatigue syndrome saying that far infrared sauna therapy is showing to be a promising new treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients. This study, which involved thirteen patients from the Masuda Clinic in Japan, has offered important insight into CFS treatment. In this study, thermal therapy was performed using far infrared ray dry sauna for CFS patients who had symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and low-grade fever. These symptoms were dramatically improved in two patients, so prednisolone administration was discontinued. These two patients did sauna therapy consisting of a far infrared ray dry sauna at sixty degrees Celsius, with post-sauna warming. This therapy was preformed once each day, for a total of thirty-five days. Symptoms such as fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and low-grade fever were dramatically improved after only fifteen to twenty sessions of thermal therapy. Although the steroid administration was discontinued, the subjects did not show any relapse of symptoms during the first year after their discharge. The other eleven patients with CFS showed improvement in their physical symptoms such as fatigue and pain. Additionally, they reported that repeated thermal therapy had a relaxing effect and reduced appetite loss and complains in those patients who were mildly depressed. These results show that repeated thermally therapy may be a great method for the treatment of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Far infrared technology wavelengths get into the body to create heat, which in turn creates great therapeutic benefits such as increasing blood flow to the muscles which delivers more concentrated oxygen, and therefore creating more energy to heal. Additionally, far infrared therapy stimulates circulation, helping the body to eliminate metabolic debris and waste.

Working with CFS requires daily therapy and the trouble with relying on a health professional’s office for your far infrared therapy means everyday trips to the office and more than likely fees. The best place to find far infrared heat is inside a Sunlight Sauna, which uses an exclusive Solocarbon heater, and operates at a lower temperature which is perfectly compatible with the human body. This lower heat frequency causes the production of more vital infrared light energy.

Infrared light is the part of the sun’s invisible spectrum of light that is able to penetrate the human tissue. Infrared heater technology uses these characteristics to heat the body directly instead of just the air. Far infrared saunas increase the body’s core temperature, helping the body to rid itself of harmful toxins through a deeper sweat. Conventional saunas heat the air with steam, which can often be extremely hot and only cause you to sweat on the surface. The steam also makes the air difficult to breath. A far infrared sauna, on the other hand, uses dry far infrared heat that is well ventilated which makes it extremely comfortable and relaxing. Many of America’s leading doctors and health experts endorse the use of Sunlight Sauna units. If you put one of these units in your home or practice for regular use, the health benefits are guaranteed to be well worth the investment, especially for those with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

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More information on chronic fatigue and vitamin supplements can be found at VitaNet, LLC Health Foods. http://vitanetonline.com/

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Women find their own breast cancers most of the time (90% of the time according to one English study).

Monthly breast self-exam (or breast self-massage) provides early detection at lower cost, with no danger – and more pleasure – than yearly screening mammograms.

Most breast cancers (80%) are slow growing, taking between 42 and 300 days to double in size. A yearly mammogram could find these cancers 8-16 months before they could be felt, but this “early detection” does little to improve the already excellent longevity of women with slow-growing, non-metastasized breast cancers.

The 20% of breast cancers that are fast growing are the trouble-makers. They can double in size in 21 days. Monthly breast self-exams are much more likely to find these aggressive cancers than are yearly mammograms. (A 21-day doubling cancer will be visible on a mammogram only six weeks before it can be felt.) If you massage or examine your breasts even six times a year, you can take action on fast-growing lumps. If you rely on mammograms exclusively, the cancer could grow undetected for months.

In a recent look at 60,000 breast cancer diagnoses in the United States, 67% were found by the woman or her doctor – and over half of these were not visible on a mammogram – while 33% were discovered by mammogram. (This may seem like a substantial number of cancers found by mammography, but the majority of them were in situ cancers, a controversial type of cancer that may – but often does not – progress to invasive cancer.)

Green blessings!

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Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498

www.susunweed.com

www.ashtreepublishing.com

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Mammographic screening increases risk of breast cancer mortality in premenopausal women. A Canadian study of 90,000 women (published in Lancet, November 1992) showed a 36-52% increase in mortality from breast cancer in women 40-49 who had annual mammograms.

The Swedish Malmo Screening Trial (as reported in The British Medical Journal, 1988) which also included tens of thousands of women, showed 29% greater mortality from breast cancer in women under 55 who were regularly screened with mammograms. (Studies of women 50-59 showed no difference in breast cancer mortality between women who did and women who did not have regular screening mammograms.)

Critics of these studies claim that newer mammographic equipment uses less radiation. This belies the point that mammograms are inherently dangerous. Orthodox medicine tells me again and again to overlook the harm that it has done to women and promises a future where the machines will be better calibrated and safer. But what of the harm that has been, and is now, done?

Mammographic screening is not and never will be a safe way to find breast cancer. Although safer after menopause than before, mammography is never without risk entirely.

Why I haven’t had a baseline mammogram: The idea behind having a baseline mammogram -that there will be a norm to refer back to – is erroneous. Breast tissues are constantly changing as menstrual, ovulatory, pregnancy, lactational, and menopausal hormones change. Science, the constant straight line, meets woman, the ever-changing spiral. And younger breast tissue is especially sensitive to radiation. According to J. W. Gofman (M.D., Ph.D., authority on dangers of radiation exposure), a 35-year-old woman whose normal risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 1500 increases it to 1 in 660 by exposing herself to the radiation of a baseline mammogram. The National Women’s Health Network says baseline mammograms should be abolished.

If you’ve already had a baseline mammogram and now feel worried, make yourself a soup of lentils (to restore damaged DNA to normalcy), seaweed (to remove radioactive isotopes), and carrots (to support your immune system). Season with miso and tamari (to stop the promotion of cancer cells), and thyme, rosemary, and garlic (to further strengthen the immune system). Breathe in, relax, don’t worry.

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Green Blessings.
Susun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 1-845-246-8081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com. For permission to reprint this article, contact us at: susunweed@herbshealing.com

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On average, we need about seven to eight hours of sleep a night to function optimally. In today’s fast paced and high stress society, a third of the population reports difficulties with sleep, and about 10% of people report chronic insomnia, a condition that involves trouble falling or staying asleep, waking up in the middle of the night or too early in the morning, persistently poor sleep quality, and trouble functioning the next day.

There are many reasons why people have trouble sleeping. High levels of stress, anxiety, and/or depression are often the culprit. Other possible causes include medical problems or conditions, chronic pain, use of certain medications, excessive use of alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine, or the presence of a more complicated sleep disorder (such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome).

In order to address sleep difficulties, it is important to identify the specific cause. It is wise to consult with your family physician to rule out medical problems that could be causing poor sleep.

If sleep problems are caused by depression, anxiety, or high levels of stress, consulting with a psychologist is a good idea, as psychological treatments such as cognitive-behavioural therapy have been shown to very effective at decreasing anxiety and depression and helping people to improve how they cope with stress. Certain medications that target anxiety and depression can also be prescribed by your physician. If an underlying depression or anxiety disorder is properly treated, sleep problems often improve.

Sometimes people have sleep problems or insomnia in the absence of any other psychological difficulties such as depression or anxiety. In these cases, seeing a psychologist can still be very helpful, as certain psychological interventions have been shown to be effective at addressing poor sleep directly. Psychologists can teach you to learn to relax, cope with stress, and improve your “sleep hygiene” (or habits). Psychologists can also use other behavioural strategies to help target sleeping problems. About 75% of people with insomnia report significantly improved sleep after undergoing such psychological treatment.

Family physicians often prescribe hypnotic medications that help people to sleep. These medications are often helpful for individuals who are going through a stressful period. It is advised to only use these medications in the short-term as they can become addictive and less effective if you use them nightly over longer periods of time. Moreover, some of these medications can result in drowsiness and concentration difficulties the following day. Over the counter sleep supplements have generally been found to be ineffective.

As a general rule, sleeping medication can be helpful in the short-term but becomes less effective over time, whereas psychological treatments are effective in the long-term.

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Dr. Jeremy Frank is a Toronto psychologist in private practice in North York.

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No one knows the reason, but there is a close relationship between acid reflux and obesity. A recent and staggering statistic that was published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that approximately 61% of the American population is obese or overweight.

That now puts 6 out of 10 U.S. Citizens at risk for gastro-esophageal reflux disease (commonly referred to as GERD) which is now nearing epidemic proportions. Acid reflux, is heartburn in the most severe form.

It is often accompanied by a variety of other symptoms and it is more challenging to treat than heartburn alone.

Statistics like the ones recently released from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are very telling. Americans, who are prone to super-size everything, now have one more reason to re-think their diet and exercise regimen: acid reflux.

Although researchers are still unsure as to why acid reflux and obesity are linked, they are certain that a notable correlation does exist. If you are a sufferer and you think that your weight might be the culprit, a visit to your family physician may be in order.

Only he or she is qualified to make that diagnosis. The specific measure that is used to determine whether a person is “obese” or “overweight” as it is related to the symptoms of acid reflux is called a BMI, or body mass index, which is a calculation that is based on your weight and height.

BMI typically correlates with, but does not directly measure, body fat. The BMI is the measurement recommended by the CDC because it is inexpensive, readily available and easy to use for both the general public as well as doctors. It also allows you to gauge how your own body mass index compares to the vast majority of the country’s population.

If you would like to see where you rank, you can use the BMI calculator found www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/bmi/ You cannot depend on the kitchen scales to accurately measure your BMI, and there may be extenuating circumstances that you may not be taking into consideration, so it is essential that you consult a professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment options.

Once your healthcare provider calculates your BMI it is important to know that current studies have consistently revealed that the severity and frequency with which an individual experiences acid reflux symptoms is greater as their BMI increases. In other words, the heavier you are, the more you risk getting acid reflux.

That alone should be enough to motivate most sufferers to change their habits. Losing weight is not an easy thing to do. Nobody likes the word “diet” but if your acid reflux interferes with your life (with things like “heart-attack like” symptoms) you may be doing yourself a disservice by not exploring all of the non-medically related options that are available.

Prescription medications for acid reflux can be very expensive, especially if you are a cash paying patient. Although they are effective, they only mask the problem: your weight. Since acid reflux and obesity are obviously linked, the right diet and exercise plan may eventually eliminate the need for medication altogether by treating the underlying cause instead of the symptom.

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Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a relatively common problem, affecting up to seven million Americans, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

But you don’t need to suffer from this uncomfortable backing up of stomach acid that manifests as heartburn, regurgitation of stomach liquid and nausea. And you don’t need to resign yourself to taking a pill every day for the rest of your life to keep symptoms down.

I know what I’m talking about because my father had a major reflux problem caused by a surgery in which a bile duct was connected to his stomach instead of his intestine. For almost a year, he suffered for GERD that was so severe he threw up several times a day.

But eventually he discovered, quite by chance, that a simple supermarket apple made him feel better. He eventually determined how much apple and what kind of apple was the best to be consumed each day to keep all of his symptoms in check for good.

There are many other things that people with acid reflux can do to eliminate their symptoms. One of the most important things is to try to stop causing irritation and scratching of your esophagus, which will just make your acid problems worse.

Eating smaller meals is often helpful for people who have acid reflux. Some people recommend not drinking during a meal, since the liquid dilutes the acid and makes it easier for the acid to reflux. On the other hand, it’s a good idea to drink a glass of water after eating, because it helps cleanse the lower esophageal sphincter, which then closes up tighter, which means less acid will be able to get to your esophagus.

Cutting back coffee, alcohol and carbonated beverages, especially at meal times, are also good natural aids to eliminating acid reflux. It’s a good idea to cut back your coffee intake to just one cup a day, because coffee is acidic. If you do continue to drink coffee, drink a glass of water right after to clear away the acid.

One of the most important things you can do if you have GERD and you smoke is to quit smoking. Of course there are all sorts of wonderful reasons to quit smoking, but one that has to do with acid reflux is that smoking actually irritates your throat. What’s more, the chemicals in cigarettes cause your lower esophageal sphincter to relax, which allows even more fluid and other unpleasantness into your esophagus. Some people find that even quitting for just a couple of days is a big help for eliminating some of their irritation.

No one remedy works for everyone, but these ideas (plus tons of others in the Reflux Remedy Report) should get you back to feeling like your old self in no time.

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Joe Barton is an expert in natural healing of acid reflux, heartburn, gastritis and other gastroesophageal problems. His Reflux Remedy Report shares more successful ideas for quickly, safely and naturally treating acid reflux. Find out more at http://www.refluxremedy.com.

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On average, we need about seven to eight hours of sleep a night to function optimally. In today’s fast paced and high stress society, a third of the population reports difficulties with sleep, and about 10% of people report chronic insomnia, a condition that involves trouble falling or staying asleep, waking up in the middle of the night or too early in the morning, persistently poor sleep quality, and trouble functioning the next day.

There are many reasons why people have trouble sleeping. High levels of stress, anxiety, and/or depression are often the culprit. Other possible causes include medical problems or conditions, chronic pain, use of certain medications, excessive use of alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine, or the presence of a more complicated sleep disorder (such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome).

In order to address sleep difficulties, it is important to identify the specific cause. It is wise to consult with your family physician to rule out medical problems that could be causing poor sleep.

If sleep problems are caused by depression, anxiety, or high levels of stress, consulting with a psychologist is a good idea, as psychological treatments such as cognitive-behavioural therapy have been shown to very effective at decreasing anxiety and depression and helping people to improve how they cope with stress. Certain medications that target anxiety and depression can also be prescribed by your physician. If an underlying depression or anxiety disorder is properly treated, sleep problems often improve.

Sometimes people have sleep problems or insomnia in the absence of any other psychological difficulties such as depression or anxiety. In these cases, seeing a psychologist can still be very helpful, as certain psychological interventions have been shown to be effective at addressing poor sleep directly. Psychologists can teach you to learn to relax, cope with stress, and improve your “sleep hygiene” (or habits). Psychologists can also use other behavioural strategies to help target sleeping problems. About 75% of people with insomnia report significantly improved sleep after undergoing such psychological treatment.

Family physicians often prescribe hypnotic medications that help people to sleep. These medications are often helpful for individuals who are going through a stressful period. It is advised to only use these medications in the short-term as they can become addictive and less effective if you use them nightly over longer periods of time. Moreover, some of these medications can result in drowsiness and concentration difficulties the following day. Over the counter sleep supplements have generally been found to be ineffective.

As a general rule, sleeping medication can be helpful in the short-term but becomes less effective over time, whereas psychological treatments are effective in the long-term.

For more information on sleeping problems and insomnia, go to National Sleep Foundation website.

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Dr. Jeremy Frank is a Toronto psychologist in private practice in North York.

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She ought to be dead, but adult stem cell therapy has ensured a California woman with Cardiomyopathy continues to live an active life without any further deterioration to her damaged heart.

Clara Chestnut from California has just become one of only a handful who have received her second treatment of adult stem cells for her failing heart. “I’ve been going downhill since 2000, with every year more of my heart being dead,” she said. “But after my first treatment in April 2006 my cardiologists have done a huge attitude shift and now recognize that ‘No change’ is a certificate of my wellbeing. Staying the same is terrific, so if it takes coming back every year I will do that.”

Like many heart patients Clara had experienced several heart attacks without knowing what they were. Her doctor concurred that at 59 the pains she experienced were probably arthritis, so she started carrying her purse on the other arm, but it made no difference. Then in 2000 she had two major heart attacks and started on the downhill slide. Specialists gave her 30days to live without a bypass and also told her she probably would not survive the surgery.

Clara got mad and searched until she found someone who could help her. “I wasn’t ready to die, and I knew that someone, somewhere, knew more than those people,” she said. Her new doctor gave her the first of seven stents and she felt “wonderful”. She read about singer Don Ho and his success story with VesCell adult stem cells, so did her research and in the face of her doctors’ opposition went to Bangkok in the care of TheraVitae, a leading international biotechnology company whose product, VesCell, has now helped hundreds of heart failure and PAD patients. “I was most impressed with the professionalism of the doctors and the nursing staff. Everything went fine and the following February I returned to my specialist for a cardiogram. He told me nothing had changed, so I asked him ‘Would you go back to Bangkok if you were me?’ He said that he would, but that I didn’t have to leave the next morning! That is an enormous attitude change.”

People looking for hope and help, who want to feel better and be more active, are the most outspoken advocates of adult stem cell therapy. “I listen to myself and I feel anybody with any sense would listen to themselves and know it’s something they should do. They know how they are feeling. They know how wonderful it would be to feel better. I don’t see why anybody would be reluctant,” she said.

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Jon Bradshaw writes constantly about the next to miraculous effects of adult stem cells. Theravitae’s Vescell adult stem cells the new frontier of regenerative medicine. They offer a return to a more active, longer and healthier life to patients who have heart disease or PAD. They are derived from the patient’s own blood so cannot be rejected by the body.

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Over 40% of people with severe headache pain aren’t even aware their condition is technically and medically a migraine.
Additionally, many migraine headaches have been actually misdiagnosed as tension headaches, sinus headaches or even TMJ – headaches associated with jaw problems. Most people who are researching the internet for information on migraines clearly understand that they have migraine headaches. But for the remainder it may not be so clear. Many of you have written us with detailed descriptions of your headaches and asking, “Do I have migraine headaches”? Nearly half of the messages our clinic receives on a daily basis can be summed up in a single question:

“What kind of headache do I really have?”

And the answer is usually very simple:

Your TENSION (or SINUS) (or CLUSTER) headache might actually be a MIGRAINE headache!

Here are the facts – approximately 1 out of every 10 Americans experiences migraines. For women, it is much higher number – as much as 1 out of every 3 around the age of 35.

Yet many people suffer needlessly because neither they nor their doctors recognize the symptoms that can accompany migraines. They also underestimate the impact that their headaches are having on their lives and on their families.

The bottom line is if you don’t get the relief you need for your frequent bad headaches, you may have migraines. In fact, in the United States alone over 14 million people who suffer from migraines have not been diagnosed with migraines yet. Could you be one of them?

Cluster Headaches are often misdiagnosed as well.

Cluster headache, which is an incredibly severe headache, is frequently just another form of a migraine headache. Cluster headaches are usually found in men. There is a great deal of controversy whether cluster headaches are a subset of migraine headaches since many of the symptoms overlap.

If you experience any 3 or more of the following symptoms, you are highly likely to have migraines:

• Your headache feels like someone has stabbed an ice pick inside your brain
• Pain is usually one-sided (but can be both-sided, especially if around the eyes)
• Your headache does not respond to regular over-the-counter painkillers
• Pain is pulsating, pounding, or throbbing
• Light and sound bother you a lot
• Pain worsens when you move or bend over
• Pain becomes so intense that you throw up or become nauseated
• You get dizzy just by turning your head (lying in bed)
• You feel that you have to lie down, go to bed, or withdraw to a quiet dark room
• Vision may be blurred, like a curtain comes down over your visual field in one or both eyes
• The headache can last from several hours to several days (or even weeks)

People with tension headaches or sinus headaches do not and never will have a disabling headache. Cluster headaches are frequently a subset of a migraine headache.

The key word here is “DISABLING”. If your “tension” or “sinus” headache is disabling, then you do not have a tension or sinus headache. You have a migraine. Only migraine headaches are disabling.

If you are reading this article because of severe, debilitating headaches that are poisoning your life, do not respond to painkillers, and keep coming back over and over again, you are very likely to have migraines. People with standard tension or sinus headaches do not bother to look them up on the Internet.

You are here because YOUR bad headaches are interfering with your life and you are looking for a way to fix that. If you keep suffering through tremendous pain along with other symptoms mentioned above, then you have migraine headaches.

For those of you who have been told by numerous doctors over the last decade that your disabling headaches are not migraines – the good news is that migraine headaches are now a treatable and curable condition.

A Better Method

There is another option as opposed to suffereing and just treating the “outbreaks” – a migraine cure. Cure the migraine and never worry about headache pain again.

Recent reports indicate migraine headaches can indeed be totally abolished – as a number of elite medical clinics catering to women have testified. Under their treatment protocols, migraines are completely eliminated in 80% of their patients.

These successes are limited to women only, as addressing a woman’s hormones is the basis of the cure. Some clinics have published their treatment protocols and even made them available to the public.

The Women’s Health Institute of Texas believes that a migraine cure certainly eliminates the migraine headaches altogether – at least in women.

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Dr. Andrew P. Jones, M.D. is the Medical Director for the Women’s Health Institute of Texas. http://www.WomensHealthInstituteofTexas.com He is Board Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and by the American Academy of Biologically Identical Hormone Therapy. Find out more about Dr. Jones and the cure for migraine headaches at: http://www.migraine-headaches-information.com His medical experience primarily revolves around the relationship of women’s health issues and bio-identical hormone management of PMS, menopause and migraine headaches.

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