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 14, 2007
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
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
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