Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Have You Heard of Lemon Balm?

I found this article about the benefits of Lemon Balm very interesting. Being a fan of natural, organic/herbal remedies and health aids, I was surprised to find how little I knew about this plant.


Lemon Balm
By Eric Cho

Lemon Balm, or Melissa officinalis, is a sweet-scented
perennial found in southern Europe, with a striking name that
makes it ideal for cosmetic use. But is there more to this lemon
balm than meets the eye?

Lemon Balm Facts

Melissa officinalis is particularly apt to describe lemon balm
– 'Melissa' is a Greek translation meaning 'honeybee' for its
yellowish colour, and 'officinalis' denotes an engrained linkage
with medicine and therapy, which reflects lemon balm's usage for
assisting with a number of conditions. Lemon balm has been used
for thousands of years as a stimulant and sedative, and it is
frequently used in herbal teas for its calming abilities.

What does Lemon Balm Look like?

Despite its natural origins, lemon balm has been artificially
spread across the world, and has adapted perfectly to a variety
of climates and soil types. Lemon balm is so called for the
distinctive lemon smell emitted when the yellowish leaves are
picked. The leaves themselves usually form toothed heart shapes,
which bloom later on in the year from mid summer to late autumn.

Lemon balm has been cultivated across the world, and survives
in a range of different conditions. It was introduced to most of
Europe by the Romans, and now survives in moist lowlands and dry
mountains alike, adapting to the various conditions to which it
is subjected. Its bright yellow, golden leaves make it a firm
favourite with decorative and landscape gardeners, whilst
physicians and alternative therapists appreciated the healing
properties it can offer.

Benefits of Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is used largely to promote relaxation and sleep.
Beyond that, it can be used in a number of treatments to help
relieve painful symptoms. Vomiting, menstrual cramps, irregular
digestion and even vertigo can be helped by lemon balm, which
was used by the Romans to revive spirits after battle, and to
boost morale. Furthermore, recent research has shown that lemon
balm might actually be useful in treating nervous disorders
through acting on and soothing specific sections of the brain.

Additionally, lemon balm can also be used for cooking with fish
and poultry, and is great as a liqueur. Why not try a marinade
of lemon balm and other herbs for white meats, or frying some
lemon balm in the pan alongside a tuna steak? Its strong
flavours work perfectly alongside fish to add a further
dimension and enhance the taste of the meat.

Lemon balm can be drunk as a tea to help curb different
sickness symptoms. To make lemon balm tea, add a teaspoon to a
cup of hot water (short of boiling) to help relaxation.
Additionally, a spoonful of peppermint works well to enhance the
effectiveness of this tea. Alternatively, why not try infusing
30 oz ground lemon balm to one and a half pints of boiling water
for five minutes? Add honey to sweeten to create an herbal
remedy that works ideally for treating digestive disorders and
complaints.

Drinking lemon balm is also thought to slow the signs of aging
and promote longer life through regular use, in addition to
clearing the digestive tract and promoting quicker metabolic
function. It can also be made into a cordial over fifteen days
with a collection of other herbs, such as mint, sage and basil,
and alcohol to help treat indigestion and heartburn.

About the Author: Lemon Balm Herbshttp://www.naturalherbalism.com/L/Lemon_Balm.html
Source: http://www.isnare.com

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Periods and Hip Pain

Having suffered this symptom for years without anyone understanding, this article jumped right out at me! Years ago I would complain of this pain to my doctor, who would just prescribe pain medication. There is a certain peace of mind in knowing why this pain was happening (a worried mind can play nasty tricks) and that there are alternatives to just pill-popping. Anyway, here's the article

The Endometriosis Hip Joint Pain Link

Although not one of the more commonly known symptoms of
endometriosis, hip joint pain can be a real problem for some
sufferers.

An estimated 5-10% of the female population lives with
endometriosis, causing them great inconvenience and disruptions
in their day to day lives. The fact that endometriosis effecting
the hips and your ability to walk is not widely known means that
many women don't make the connection between the two.

Although some women who have endometriosis may not feel its
effects, the disease can manifest with various signs and
symptoms — hip joint pain being one of them.

Hip joint pain can be associated with the other symptoms that
accompany endometriosis, such as pain in the pelvic area,
increased discomfort during menstruation, constipation,
dysmenorrhea, diarrhea, pain while urinating, pain while having
sex, fatigue, lower back pain and more.

Those with more serious occurrences of endometriosis may even
become infertile. Because of these serious life-disrupting
symptoms, endometriosis is considered to be a very serious
matter in women's reproductive health.

Endometriosis occurs when cells similar to the endometrium, a
thin tissue lining of the uterus, appear outside the uterus and
attach themselves to neighboring organs in the abdomen,
including hip tendons.

Inline with the endometrium in the uterus these cells grow and
are shed each month. However, unlike the uterus, the menstrual
blood and tissue has no escape, causing inflammation, scarring
and over time adhesions form.

Adhesions are web-like structures made up of scar tissue that
bind internal organs and ligaments together. These stretch and
pull causing pain.

Hip joint pain caused by endometriosis is usually because
endometrial tissues have attached themselves to the sciatic
nerve, the hip ligaments or are present in the lower pelvic
region. This type of hip pain normally worsens during
menstruation and improves during the rest of the month. For some
women it can cause limping or may even effect their ability to
walk altogether.

The actual cause of the disease is still not entirely known.
Early theories about the cause of endometriosis suggested that
the misplacing of endometrial cells occurred when women had
retrograde menstruation. This is where menstrual blood goes
inward to pelvic organs instead of being flushed out of the
uterus. However, this is largely disproved since most women
experience retrograde menstruation but not all of them go onto
develop endometriosis.

Recent studies about the disease revealed that endometriosis
may result from an immune response exhibited towards the spread
of endometrial cells. Furthermore, studies also shown a genetic
link with the disease and thus heredity could be a significant
factor. Unfortunately these studies have still not come up with
a definite answer to what causes endometriosis. More studies are
being conducted about this now.

The degree of endometriosis varies greatly among women, and so
the treatment also differs quite extensively. When choosing a
treatment option, there are a number of considerations to bear
in mind.

A number of the medical treatments available are hormonal in
nature and repress the production of estrogen in the body. This
generally improves symptoms but means you will be unable to
conceive due to ovulation stopping.

For mild endometriosis symptoms you can take painkillers and
anti-inflammatories which are available either as
over-the-counter medicines or prescription pain relievers.

Some women opt for conservative surgery. This primarily
involves the removal and destruction of endometriosis implants
and adhesions. This can also help eliminate the hip joint pain
caused by the disease. Surgeries are usually done using a
laparoscope for minimal invasion, but more serious treatments
might require larger incisions.

If you're interested in discovering natural ways to combat
endometriosis symptoms, keep reading to sign up to our free
Endometriosis newsletter below.

Endometriosis hip joint pain can interfere with your life quite
dramatically each month. If you think you have the signs of the
disease, you should immediately consult your doctor. Otherwise,
it is best to regularly check with your OB/GYN to maintain good
reproductive health.

About The Author: Sign up for Shelley Ross' free Endometriosisnewsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to helpyou discover more about endometriosis hip joint pain athttp://www.treatendometriosis.com?source=is

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Women Need to Eat Healthy

Following is a great article that focuses on a woman's need to eat healthy in order to preserve her health. There are some great tips to show you how easy it is to eat healthy even when you "don't have the time" to cook or want to avoid the fast food trap.....

Women and Healthy Diets

In today's modern world, women and healthy diets don't seem
to be making time for each other. Whether women are busier
now or diets are simply more complicated, that may never be
fully understood. What people do understand right now is
that women and healthy diets are connected in ways that
will affect their future health.

Excuses that Women Use... All the Time

If you were honest with yourself, the link between women
and healthy diets is something you already know. However,
you might be suffering from these normal excuses:

- I just don't have the time to (insert healthy habit here)

- I'm working longer hours

- I'm too tired to cook

- I deserve some 'naughty' foods for working so hard

- I don't want to make separate foods for myself and for my
family

- Healthy food doesn't taste good

But with each excuse, you are pushing yourself further and
further away from health and fitness. This is the time to
realize that excuses are just that... excuses!

Creating New Habits Instead

What most women don't realize is that good health doesn't
have to take up a lot of time. By simply looking for ways
to increase the nutrition in each day, women and healthy
diets can work together – without being inconvenient.

- Try adding a multivitamin to each day to ensure you're
getting the nutrition you need

- Add one piece of fruit as an afternoon snack

- Add vegetables to every meal

- Cut down to one drink a day

- Try to drink more water each day

- Let yourself cheat once a week, or have a smaller treat
everyday

When you begin to look at your health as being a series of
small steps in the right direction, you can see that it's
not that hard or time consuming to start looking after
yourself.

Convenience Will Win in the End

Many healthy women and healthy diets they choose are based
on convenience. Here are some ways that you can add
convenience to your menu:

- Try healthy frozen dinners when you don't have a lot of
time

- Cook once a week, freeze the meals in single serve
portions and reheat as needed

- Try prepackaged salads and sandwiches

- Pack your foods the night before

- Only go to restaurants with healthy choices

Good and healthy doesn't have to mean that you're
sacrificing the rest of your life. These changes can apply
to all women and healthy diets can affect all women's lives.


----------------------------------------------------
Michelle Van Otten is the founder and owner of UltimateBody Potential located in Los Gatos, Ca. UBP offerspersonal training, fitness classes, outdoor fitnessbootcamps and much more. To learn more and sign up for lotsof free information please visithttp://www.ultimatebodypotential.com/

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Ok.....I'm ranting tonight!

I'm sure that I am not the only one with this complaint & I'm only venting to hopefully lower by blood pressure which has been through the roof, since visiting my OB/GYN's office today. I live in an area of West Palm Beach, Florida much like other metropolitan areas across the country, where good doctors wishing to make ooooodles of $$$$$ form a large group, thereby reducing their patients to a mere number. We need to stand up against these type of groups! There is no personalization anymore in an area that really demands it. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors. I'm angry, in a hurry to make up for missed work today and am not going to proof any of this - it's ranting.

I have been going to this particular Doctor for a number of years. When I first started seeing her, she was only with one other female Doctor in a small office behind a Target store. Since I feel more comfortable with female OB/GYN's, I was fine with seeing either one of them. After a few years they split, one staying in my neighborhood, but forming a group with what is now 9 other doctors and the other moved a few cities away on her own (but is now with one other Dr). I visited her once, only because I could not get get an appointment within a decent time frame (should have been a clue). I couldn't continue going to her location, because of it's location and my work location, so I returned to the other partner.

This year, when trying to make my annual appointment, I had to wait 3 months! I was told that since it was "just routine" it was not a priority, but if I was having a problem, I could get an appointment in a week. She suggested that I should relay my feelings about their scheduling, to the Doctor, during my appointment. Sounds like a touchy subject! Anyway, I don't know about you, but if you're having a problem, even a week is too long.

I made the appointment three months ago, for today's date. Well, during that time my period was thrown off schedule. So, one month before this scheduled appointment (being the considerate person that I am), I called her office and explained that my period might interfere with the appointment and that I needed to cancel and reschedule. I was told that it would be another two months before I could get in, so obviously, I was a little upset that my annual visit would now be about 1 1/2 years since my last. (because of issues that arose at my last appointment) I explained this to the secretary, I'll call Karen, and she was very understanding. She scheduled an appointment for March and said that she would let my January appointment stay the way it was and that way, if I could make my January appointment, I could cancel the March appointment when I came in. Great! I was very happy and appreciative for her quick thinking.

So today, I walked in 20 minutes before my appointment, waited patiently & then was called up to the desk by the a woman who claimed to be the "supervisor" - she said that my appointment wasn't until March!!! I proceeded to tell her just what I have told you and she said they "never schedule two appointments" "it just isn't done that way" - I asked her to look at who scheduled the appointment (how I love computers) & ask her. I mean, really, why in the world would I make up such a thing? So she told me to "sit back down" and closed the 'window' (oooohhhhhhh!). Ten minutes later, she called me back up to say that Karen "didn't recall the conversation" .....of course; imagine my shock and surprise. Basically I am a liar & the smirks from the waiting room (full of pregnant women more important than I) reduced me to a non-entity. So, I asked if I could at least get the "prescription" (more medical b.s.) for my mammogram that I had already scheduled. Gee, I'd hate to have something show up on that. I might be dead before I could get an appointment.

Needless to say, and sadly to say, I'm shopping for another Doctor.

Monday, January 22, 2007

Mammogram Reminder!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is in October, which is when my yearly mammogram appointment is usually scheduled. Thought it was an easy way to remember when my last one was, but so much for that little trick. Yes, October came and went, November and December I used the excuse of the holidays and being too busy. Now, a friend's breast cancer discovery has me racing in for a mammography. Not the kind of reminder I wanted.

So to those of you, like me, who have put it off, or found one way or another to procrastinate, try to remember that even though the latest news reports say that the breast cancer numbers are down, it is mostly because of early detection. Breast Cancer is still the most common cancer among women, besides skin cancer, and it is the second leading cause of death due to cancer, after lung cancer.

You should start having regular mammograms at age 35, or sooner depending on your family history - check with your doctor. Most insurance programs cover at least one mammogram per year, so review your policy. I found out that I can have two per year at no charge, since I am between 40 and 49. If you do not have insurance, there are places that offer low cost to free mammograms sever times per year - check with your local health agencies.

Remember that monthly self examinations, regular check-ups and mammograms are the key to early detection.