Archive for November, 2011

Menopause – What is It, Are you currently Dealing with It, and What You Can Do to Alleviate Your Symptoms

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Most women notice that a hot flash is a manifestation of menopause, even if they are not sure what one feels as though. But how about all of those other uncomfortable symptoms for example unexpected migraines, or moodiness that create you to definitely weep uncontrollably at the site of a newborn baby? How can we be sure what we should are experiencing is menopause, and so what can we all do to make ourselves much more comfortable?

To begin with, know that you’re not alone.

Menopause currently affects a lot more than 50 million women in the US. As a result, we’re finding more and improved methods to cope with the various physical symptoms that can appear throughout the mid-life transition. This time can also come with a plethora of emotions we aren’t necessarily accustomed to coping with. The good news is that when a lady enters the second half of her lifetime, the change could be beautiful as we notice what’s happening to us on the physical, mental and emotional level.

Somewhat, menopause feels as though a rush towards the finish line which can be fun for many and an excessive amount of pressure for others. Many times, it comes simultaneously we’re facing huge life challenges for example a clear nest, losing family members, shifting marital roles, and/or looking after elderly parents. Is it any wonder a lot of us think it is overwhelming?

One thing is for certain, for those who have any unfinished business that you have been sweeping underneath the carpet, it is going to rear its head during menopause. As Dr. Christiane Northrup says in her book, The Wisdom of Menopause, menopause puts your lifetime within microscope. It’s a time when we think about our life lived, and decide what we wish to accomplish with the remainder from it. A time of getting to know you, once again as well as of self-care and healing.

Let’s address some of the changes the body may be going through and what you can do about the subject. The controversy remains between traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and also the new bio-identical and alternative therapies. The intent here’s to simply construct options to help you make a smart decision on your own as well as review methods to find some practical help.

Menopause is really a natural process in each and every woman’s life, but due to the way it is treated like an illness by some doctors, women often feel confused and devalued. On the other hand, a lot of women find a renewed sense of vigor at menopause. This transition brings the chance to accomplish all those stuff that we now have placed on the back burner. It can be a sweet time because women are much smarter at this time of life and understand how to relax and revel in themselves better.

Being aware of the signs of menopause is vital in being in a position to feel free. Menopause is determined by our cycle’s cessation for at least 12 consecutive months. Consequently, in a lot of cases, what women make reference to as menopause is really perimenopause.

Perimenopause occurs as our reproductive function starts to relax. It generally hits within the late 40s or early 50s and lasts for just two to Four years. During this time, our body makes less and less estrogen once we lose the ability to become pregnant. You might experience skipped periods or they might even stop for some time and then restart. You might have menopausal flashes, sweating, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, weight gain and mood swings. You might begin having problems sleeping. Vaginal dryness can start to play havoc with your sex life.

Remember, menopause symptoms are caused by an imbalance of female hormones. Symptoms lasts a few months, while some may persist for years. Some women are bothered greatly by the the signs of menopause, while others have very few complaints.

You need to note that natural menopause differs from what women who have surgery experience. Women who have had a hysterectomy can undergo what’s labeled surgical menopause and also the symptoms are experienced instantly post surgery. This type of induced menopause can also occur when the ovaries are damaged by chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Here are some general survival tips that can be done immediately that will make a substantial difference in dealing with your menopause symptoms:

Make healthy food choices choices- eat lots of fruits and vegetables. Avoid fatty, fried voids and drink plenty of water.
Get 30 minutes of exercise every single day, it doesn’t need to be strenuous! Walking is perfect much like dancing, swimming or cycling.
Maintain a healthy weight range should you choose these first two tips, it’s not necessary to be worried about that one.
Keep magnesium handy some women find relief from headaches, palpitations and constipation by taking magnesium.
If you smoke, STOP! It’s never past too far.
Avoid caffeine, alcohol and excess salt and sugar.
Find methods to reduce stress like getting lots of sleep, keeping your sense of humor and finding out how to pamper yourself (this is often the fun part of getting older).

Last and surely not least, find a doctor that will use you on whatever treatment you choose. Remember that most western doctors, unless they specialize in endocrinology, did not spend considerable time studying hormones. Nor can a guy understand what you are going through while he hasn’t been there. However, many doctors are now being familiar with integrative medicine there are lists available of these practitioners over the US.

Some women still have confidence in and continue to take HRT. Using the creation of the current Women’s Health Initiative report that indicated women taking HRT suffered from more cardiac arrest, strokes and blood clots, you may want to seek out alternative treatments. Find a good news source maintain to date on these scientific studies.

There are plenty of natural options that can soothe symptoms. Review bio-identical hormones. I have been in a position to balance declining progesterone levels with an over-the-counter cream. Within days I was relieved of debilitating mood swings, irritability and the occasional hot flash. I additionally fight depression with 5HTP.

Honey – Another Long Forgotten Cough Suppressant

Friday, November 25th, 2011

Most of us can attest to the very fact, that having those old annoying cold symptoms of a stuffy head, sore throat, which general run down feeling is nearly bearable compared to the uncontrollable coughing that often disrupts normal routines and prevents evening rest. An old natural folk remedy, however, has recently been rediscovered in helping to reduce your child’s cough as a result of cold, or an upper respiratory infection.

As you’ve probably heard recently, OTC (over-the-counter) cough and cold syrups, for children younger than 2, have been voluntarily pulled from the market by the manufacturers of those products.

Coincidentally, following a petition filed by concerned pediatricians and public nutritionists, who have been questioning the potency of these specific preparations for years, a FDA advisory panel also issued a warning statement to oldsters that these OTC formulas ought to be avoided in children under 6.

The serious health risks that may occur from using these items comes from unintended overdoses, or accidental ingestion. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) endorses the FDA warning in youngsters under age 2 because previous research studies have already shown these products are not just ineffective, but youngsters simply react to drugs differently than adults.

Like a concerned and loving parent, this is surely a bit of information that can help force away your child from through an unnecessary, adverse a reaction to a drug, but it actually makes good quality common sense too, will it not? Imagine the possible affects that any artificial chemical could have on a small body mass that weighs about one quarter of an adults.

Being a parent you might be frantically searching for a safer, more efficient, alternative method in assisting to reduce your child’s cough the next time relief is needed. In the end, a better nights sleep is what you need to have the ability to give your child, in addition to one on your own, right?

Before opting to take the path of least resistance by shopping the shelves of the nearest pharmacy, remember OTC cough syrup preparations only treat the symptoms and not the cause. They may have pretty tempting promises, but there are plenty of other, natural, alternative remedies which help relieve a cough while promoting the body’s, own, natural ability to heal itself.

Well, at last, here comes what’s promising. And, while there’ll always be some naysayers and critics in a crowd, this research at least enlightened some people, to the fact, that a natural method can, realistically, compete in reducing a common symptom of a chilly.

Recently, a medical university study lead by Dr. Ian Paul, director of pediatric clinical research at ‘Penn State’, further explored the potency of a classic folk remedy, honey, at reducing children’s coughs because of colds or perhaps an upper respiratory tract infection. Many years just before his honey study, he seemed to be involved with a clinical study that proved that over-the-counter cough medications were forget about good at reducing a cough than the usual placebo. From frustration, he was determined to find safer alternatives.

Paul’s honey study selectively used 105 children, ages 2-16, with coughing symptoms that prevented sleep due to upper respiratory tract infections. Doses ranged in one half teaspoon for kids 2-5, one teaspoon for 6-12 year olds, and a pair of teaspoons for 12-18 year olds.

Out of this group, 35 from the study group received the honey treatment for coughing. The mother and father of these kids reported that coughing episodes were relieved enough that the children slept better, than the group of children which were not given any treatment. When compared with the group that received OTC cough syrups, the kids that used honey fared slightly better within the reduction of symptoms.

Statistically, the differences might not have been that noticeable, but consider how rather small and unpolished the study was. Obviously, the results were promising enough that more alternative studies, like this one, ought to be done.

It is also important to help spread a note of caution, here, that giving honey to an infant is never recommended. Children younger than 1 pose an infrequent chance of developing infantile botulism. Honey can, sometimes, have a rare form of bacteria that an infants internal system isn’t able to battling, producing a paralytic illness that can lead to death.

Paul’s study also used ‘buckwheat’ honey, a notably darker colored, an extremely molasses like, or malty tasting, type substance compared to lighter colored, more popular varieties. This type of honey was chosen for it’s known antimicrobial properties, and better antioxidant, mineral content. In other medical studies this specific honey seemed to be shown to help heal wounds effectively.

Buckwheat honey is thought to help calm a cough due to it’s natural sweetness, causing an increase, and swallowing, of saliva produced in the mouth, thus, keeping the throat more coated and guarded.

Another, often overlooked, natural cough expectorant is water. Remember to have your son or daughter to drink plenty of water during the amount of an upper respiratory tract infection, colds, or other kind of temporary sickness. Water works rather diligently at breaking down the surplus mucus. When the cough becomes productive within the loosening of phlegm (never try to suppress a phlegm type cough), the sufferer can begin to get rid of it, over time, in the body.

As you will discover, upon investigating, there are various ways a parent can without danger offer, natural and alternative methods to dealing with an irritating cough inside a child. Additionally, you will be clearing your conscious, and giving your better nights sleep along the way.

More natural tips about treating coughs, along with other ailments, because of the common cold and upper respiratory system infections are available by objectively searching the web.

Coughing is the body’s natural, defense mechanism in being in a position to clear out airways of irritating excess mucous, other foreign secretions, or objects. This is an important body recovery process. A certain amount of this action is normal and to be expected, and really should not be prevented with artificial chemicals, that at best, have been clearly proved to be ineffective. Another point to consider, is that multi-symptom formulas in many cases are mixed with a host of other chemical ingredients within the sugary base that you may, or might not, need.