Avoiding Hot Flashes Naturally

Reposted from The Healthy Home Economist

http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/these-things-bring-on-hot-flashes/

Hot flashes are a common and sometimes debilitating symptom of menopause.
A reader recently emailed me for help with this problem. She writes, “Sarah, I am having a terrible time with hot flashes. I’m having to get out of bed multiple times a week in the middle of the night to go stick my head in the freezer for relief. Can you suggest anything that might help me?”

As a matter of fact, there are definitely some very simple things a woman can do to avoid hot flashes potentially never experiencing them at all. The advice below comes from my trusted doctor of many years who is both a Doctor of Chinese Medicine and a MD, which gives her the very rare and valuable perspective of both mainstream and alternative medicine.

Hot Flashes a Dreaded Symptom of Menopause

Perimenopause is that period of time when a woman’s body naturally transitions toward a nonfluctuating hormonal state known as menopause which concludes the fertile phase of her life. Women start perimenopause at widely varying ages. Some women notice “The Change” coming on as early as their mid-30’s while others are well into their 50’s before any noticeable transition begins to occur. This phase can be just a few months or as long as a decade in length.
Interestingly, women who wear a lot of makeup appear to be more prone to experiencing an early menopause up to 15 years earlier than women who don’t. Researchers have theorized that this is likely due to the ovarian disrupting effect of the toxins widely found in conventional makeup. One has to wonder if use of toxic personal care products and makeup for many years starting as an adolescent might also contribute to uncomfortable perimenopausal symptoms decades later.
The hallmark of perimenopause is an uneven rise and fall of the main female hormone estrogen. Some women experience no symptoms at all from these fluctuations. In the Japanese language, there is not even a word for “menopause”, an indication that this journey which all women eventually go through is not considered a big deal or traumatic occurrence. For others, “The Change” can trigger terribly uncomfortable symptoms.
These complications can include occasional or frequent hot flashes, probably the best known and most dreaded (peri)menopausal symptom of all.

Hot Flashes Greatly Affected by Lifestyle Choices

What many doctors won’t tell patients that are suffering from hot flashes is that this symptom is greatly affected by lifestyle choices. Even worse, they might be far too quick to suggest the health destroying, long term effects of hormone replacement therapy or just tell them to buck up and get through it because “it won’t last forever.”
This type of advice is not in any way helpful to a woman simply trying to get a decent night’s sleep or afraid to go to a social gathering for fear of an embarrassing hot flash coming on.

The truth is that there are some simple things a woman can avoid doing that will greatly affect the frequency and severity with which she experiences hot flashes.

Below are the three major things that a woman should avoid doing as these habits can bring on problems with hot flashes in a hurry according to my doctor and her experience of several decades treating women with hormonal imbalances during The Change.

Sugar Consumption Triggers Hot Flashes

First of all, she suggested to drastically cut back on sugar in the diet as this is a common problem for women who experience hot flashes. Given how much sugar Westerners eat today, this is probably not a big surprise. The average American consumes a whopping 180 lbs/81.6 kg per year of refined sugars (this does not even include fruit and other natural sugar sources), which is a 27% increase just since 2003 when refined esugar consumption was 142 lbs per person per year.
Be aware that too much fruit or refined carbs like pasta can be a problem too. Yes, you can eat too much fruit and pasta is not a healthfood! Most people have absolutely no idea how much sugar they are really consuming until they sit down and really take a look at it in detail. My guess is that most women who have a problem with hot flashes would almost invariably also have a problem with too much sugar in the diet.
A realistic goal if this is a problem for you would be to only allow natural sugars in the diet that combine to total no more than 36 grams per day. One medium banana contains 14 g, for example. A single can of soda, a Starbucks latte, or a “healthy” bottle of fruit juice would put you over the daily limit in a hurry.
According to Tom Valentine of Search for Health, research has shown that significant immune system suppression begins to occur above 36 grams (for adults, less in children) so this is the manageable cut off point that seems reasonable to shoot for.

Alcohol and Hot Flashes

My doctor suggested that the second thing that will bring on a hot flash in a hurry is drinking alcohol. Alcohol tolerance varies widely among people, so it is very important to know what will trigger a problem for you.
For some people, a single glass of wine occasionally consumed at a party might bring on a hot flash. For others, it might be a couple of drinks every night for a week that results in a problem.
Consequently, if you already have a problem with hot flashes, it seems advisable to go cold turkey off the booze until you get the situation under control. At that point, if you feel comfortable, reintroduce a drink here and there and observe the effects to understand what your personal metabolic limits are.
Note that going off alcohol will frequently cause difficult to control sugar cravings and too much sugar is also a trigger for hot flashes. Recovering alcoholics, for instance, are in great danger of becoming sugar or ice cream-aholics instead. This tragically was the experience of my late uncle who eventually succumbed to liver cancer.
The solution for some is to enjoy fermented beverages like kombucha which are naturally very low in sugar and non-alcoholic, according to Nourishing Traditions.

Exercise and Hot Flashes

Many women might be surprised to learn that exercise can also bring on a problem with hot flashes. While exercise is certainly beneficial and can greatly assist with hormonal balance (see this article for details), suddenly starting on an exercise program and going overboard with it is a recipe for hot flashes in a hurry!
The key is to build up to any new exercise program slowly giving the body time to adjust appropriately. As always, it is best to consult with your practitioner before initiating any exercise program anyway – especially if you are a perimenopausal woman already experiencing hot flashes or other complications.
In summary, keeping sugar and alcohol consumption to a bare minimum (or none at all) and ensuring that any exercise program is sensible and moderate will avoid the three most common things that bring on hot flashes during perimenopause and menopause. This advice comes from a practitioner with both a holistic and conventional background who has helped hundreds of women in her career deal with “The Change” in a non-medicated, life embracing fashion.

Coconut Oil Kills Over 93 Percent of Colon Cancer Cells in Vivo

Reposted from World Truth

http://worldtruth.tv/coconut-oil-kills-93-of-colon-cancer-cells-in-vivo/

In this newly published lab study, lauric acid (coconut oil is about 50% lauric acid) killed over 93% of human colon cancer cells (Caco-2) after 48 hours of treatment. Intriguingly, the lauric acid poisoned the cancer cells by simultaneously unleashing profound oxidative stress while strongly reducing their levels of glutathione (which is exactly what the cancer cells needed to protect themselves from the increased oxidative stress).

While we are just now discovering coconut oil's full anti-cancer potential, its many health benefits have already been well established through medical research.  It naturally kills multiple viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites.  It aids digestion and liver metabolism, reduces inflammation and promotes healthier skin and faster wound healing when applied topically.  It may also be an effective aid for diabetes, as it has been shown to raise levels of the beneficial cholesterol HDL in women, improve the LDL:HDL ration, and resulted in superior weight loss and abdominal fat when compared to soybean oil.

Coconut oil is now being used in clinical trials for improving cholesterol in patients with chronic heart disease, in fighting Alzheimers and for improving blood pressure and blood sugar levels.  Coconut oil is unique in that it is about 50% lauric acid, a medium chained triglyceride that is otherwise very hard to find in our diets (palm kernel oil is also about 50% lauric acid).  Interestingly, lauric acid make up about 2% of the fat in cow's milk but 6% of the fat in human milk, implying that humans may have a naturally higher need for this fatty acid. 

These studies don't necessarily mean coconut is the panacea of cancer, what it means is that nature has provided many natural ways to combat disease and the more research  we can do and the more information we can  share with others gives us opportunities to possibly find cures and preventive measure using Mother Nature instead of simply putting our faith in the medical communities singular approach to disease. 

 

An Evidence on How Baking Soda and Coconut Oil Kill Cancer in 38 Days

Reposted from Health and Love Page

http://www.healthandlovepage.com/baking-soda-and-coconut-oil-kills-cancer-in-38-days/

Who would’ve thought that baking soda and coconut oil can be so helpful? A woman who had to deal with basal cell carcinoma skin cancer on the top of her head was healed thanks to the cure based on baking soda pastes.

This cure was proposed by her daughter. Just as many other patients, Kyneret Azizo didn’t want to use this remedy, but her daughter who is a known writer and supporter of natural remedies performed a thorough research and found out that hundreds of people have eliminated skin cancer thanks to a mixture of plain water and baking soda – bicarbonate of soda (not baking powder).

Mrs. Azizo has undergone three surgeries which didn't provide any results before agreeing to try this simple cure.  She used a mixture of baking soda and raw organic coconut oil with resulted in a thick paste

Cocnut oil is a well known remedy which has the ability to regenerate skin cells and it was used as a booster in the baking soda remedy.  The mixture is applied on the affected area without massaging or rubbing and left there for a while.

Azizo used only one pharmaceutical drug called Polysprin Triple 3 antibiotic that was applied overnight.  This antibiotic was used as a protection against possible infections because the would was opened.  Some people suggest that we can use cotton soake in colloidal silbere as a natural alternative. 

No matter which type of remedy you chose, their use is limited to preentive measures against infections.  Azizo has continuously used baking soda and coconut oil and some cotton soaked raw vinegar wrapped around the affected area which helped her affect the roots of the cancer.  Many experts suggest that DMSO is even more effective solvent in this case. 

Azizo used baking soda and coconut oil mixture for 38 days consecutively when she noticed that the skin cancer is completely gone and the wound is completely cleared. Even though this particular form of skin cancer is not lethal, like melanoma for example, it can spread fast and disrupt your everyday life if left untreated.


Remember that we are talking about regular baking soda used in the household, not some special type of baking soda. The remedies based on aluminum in baking soda are just rumors and myths. Baking powder usually contains aluminum. On the other hand, baking soda is increasing alkaline production and cancer tumors are not very fond of alkaline environment.

Another Scarier Story – Vernon Johnston right after treatment

 

Vernon Johnston has one of the worst periods in his life when he was diagnosed prostate cancer.
He was freshly divorced and with a tight budget when with the help of Veteran’s Administration system he found out that he has prostate cancer that has entered Stage 3 and what is even worse, this cancer has started spreading in the bone matter found in his hips and soon turned into Stage 4 cancer.
He was waiting for the final examination which would’ve suggested the adequate therapy when his son suggested the use of substances that have ability to alkalize themselves fast on a cellular level.


Mr. Johnston has instantly ordered cesium, but he had to wait for days before the shipment arrives. That’s why he decided to experiment with baking soda and blackstrap molasses. These molasses were used as an alternative for maple syrup or as a bait for cancer cells to open up and receive the alkaline effects of baking soda which would ultimately lead to destruction of cancer cells.
In other words, he used a completely natural remedy and when he saw the results of the bone scan that took place two weeks later he was amazed – the cancer has stopped spreading. Thanks to his do-it-yourself treatment the PSA has decreased from 22 to 5 and even to 0.1.
Besides practicing this DIY treatment, he also spent a lot of time on sunlight, learned many breathing techniques that increase oxygen presence in the cells and changed his diet with a new healthier one. Mr. Johnston has also practiced positive visualization too. All these techniques can be found in his eBook called Vernon’s Dance With Cancer: After the Jolt. You can find more about this book HERE.

By the way, this book was written about five year after he started using his unique do-it-yourself baking soda treatment. Vernon is always ready to give lectures and he is in very good shape in the past few years. Those who are free of cancer for five years are considered to be healed by all standards.

Keep in mind that there are alkaline substance that actually don’t produce alkalinity in the body and there are also acidic substances like lemons and limes, that become alkaline when they are inside the body. So, you cannot expect to increase your pH level from acidic to alkaline if you drink alkalized water regularly. Baking soda is an ingredient that is alkaline and producing.

Dr. Mark Sircus is a respected doctor and supporter of baking soda as a natural remedy for cancer and he has created a book that supports his claims and beliefs called Sodium Bicarbonate – Full Medical Review.


 
  

Low Cholesterol Levels Associated with 990% Higher Mortality After Heart Attack

Reposted from Dr. David Brownstein

http://blog.drbrownstein.com/low-cholesterol-levels-associated-with-990-higher-mortality-after-heart-attack/

I remember when I graduated from medical school, the dean told our class, “What we have just taught you was the most up-to-date information about medicine. Unfortunately, 50% of what we taught you was wrong. Your job is to figure out which 50% was wrong.”

I remember feeling stunned  at the Dean’s omission. Now, 26 years later, I think the dean was too conservative. Now I feel that approximately 75% of what I was taught was wrong.

In my training, I was taught that high cholesterol was a risk factor for heart disease. Furthermore, I was taught that a high triglyceride level was also a risk factor for heart disease. It was drilled into every medical student’s head that a lower cholesterol was always better than a higher one.

Folks, what I was taught about cholesterol was 100% wrong. What I was not taught was that approximately 50% of people who suffer heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels. Furthermore, I was not taught that a higher cholesterol level was predictive of a longer life span in the elderly. Nor was I taught that lowering cholesterol levels with cholesterol-lowering medications fails well over 97% of the patients who takes them.

A recent study in Critical Care Medicine (43:1255-1264, 2015) is titled, “Lipid Paradox in Acute Myocardial Infarction- The Association with 30-Day In-Hospital Mortality.” This study followed 724 hospitalized patients who suffered an acute heart attack (i.e., myocardial infarction). The scientists attempted to clarify the relationship between the lipid profiles and the 30-day mortality in patients who suffered a heart attack.

The authors found that those with higher LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels had a significantly elevated mortality risk when compared to patients with higher LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels. In fact, lower LDL-cholesterol less than 62.5mg/dl and triglyceride less than 110mg/dl were identified as optimal threshold values for predicting 30-day mortality. The lower LDL-cholesterol level was associated with a 65% increased mortality and the lower triglyceride level was associated with a 405% increased mortality. Furthermore, as compared to patients with LDL-cholesterol levels >110mg/dl and triglycerides >62.5mg/dl, those with lowered LDL and triglyceride levels had a 990% (or 10.9x) increased risk for mortality.

Why would lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels be associated with a higher mortality rate? Fats from triglycerides are a major energy source and LDL-cholesterol is critical for cell membrane synthesis and is needed to fight infections. Adequate LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels may be critical for cell function and survival in the case of a heart attack—as well as in other conditions.

Folks, we have been hoodwinked to believe that we must all take cholesterol-lowering medications in order to prevent and/or treat heart disease. People do not get heart disease because their cholesterol level is elevated. Remember, 50% of patients who suffer a heart attack have normal cholesterol levels.

I have written extensively about the failure and danger of statin drugs in my book, The Statin Disaster. If you are taking or contemplating taking a statin medication, I would encourage you to educate yourself about what statins do in the body. Unfortunately, you cannot depend on your doctor to give you a balanced view of statins as most do not understand how statins poison the human biochemistry and the adverse effects associated with their use. I feel, since they fail the vast majority who take them—over 97%–and they are associated with serious adverse effects, statins should be pulled from the market place.

Remember, you are ultimately responsible for your medical decisions. The patients with the best results are the patients who take an active role in their health care decisions and educated themselves about the risks and benefits of any treatment.

Homemade Miracle Drink: It Turns Gray Hair Back to Its Natural Color!

Reposted from Health & Weightloss Done

http://www.losingweightdone.com/homemade-miracle-drink-turns-gray-hair-back-natural-color/


All the people that used this remedy will tell that this drink definitely improves sight and the health of the skin. But the most special effect of this homemade drink is that it turns the white hair to its previous (natural) color and makes your hair thicker than it was before.

Ingredients needed for this amazing drink:

• 200 grams /7 oz of flaxseed oil
• 4 lemons
• 3 cloves of garlic (small)
• 1 kilogram/2,2 lbs of honey

The method of preparation:

Put the lemons and the garlic in a blender and mix them well. You should peel just 2 of the lemons before you put them in a blender. Then, you should add the honey, flaxseed and mix it again. Put the resulted mixture in a glass bowl and close it well with a lid. Put the mixture in the fridge and let it stay there.

How to consume this homemade drink:

Thirty minutes before each meal, you should consume 1 tablespoon of the mixture. It’s recommended to use wooden spoons instead of metal ones!
You should consume it 3 times a day.

This is a truly amazing drink and remedy where its powerful ingredients represent excellent allies to our health. The are available almost everywhere, which makes this drink simply perfect.

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs DO NOT Prevent Heart Attack and Stroke but Can Cause Cancer

Reposted from Health and Love Page

http://www.healthandlovepage.com/cholesterol-lowering-drugs/

(HealthAndLovePage) There are literally millions of people all over the world who take statins – specially designed drugs used to lower cholesterol levels. This drug alone creates an income of more than 29 billion dollars for the pharmaceutical industry every year. Most doctors recommend statin drugs for patients that want to prevent the emergence of stroke, heart attack, inflammation and other illnesses.

Although cholesterol lowering drugs are very popular, they are very inefficient and in most cases they cannot prevent stroke or heart attack. In addition, their regular consumption often leads to cancer and other life-threatening health problems.

Justin Smith, a former personal trainer at the BBC, has created a documentary film called $29 Billion Reasons to Lie About Cholesterol in which he debunks the myth about the need and efficiency of these drugs. According to Smith, in the period between 1994 and 2006 the number of men at the age between 65 and 74 diagnosed with high cholesterol levels has significantly decreased. However, the number of people dealing with heart disease has not changed.


In addition, different age groups have experienced more cases of heart disease.

Cholesterol Lowering Drugs Lead to Cancer

Numerous scientific studies have confirmed the relation between the ue of these drugs and different types of cancer.


According to the Journal of the American Medical Association published in 1996, all cholesterol lowering drugs including the two most used ones (the statins and the fibrates) lead to cancer in lab mice that were exposed to similar amount of these drugs used in humans. Of course, this finding requires long-term clinical trials and scientific observance in the next decade in order to determine the connection between cholesterol lowering drugs and cancer occurrence in men and women.
Until we get some solid results, many experts recommend avoiding this type of treatment and its use only in cases of high risk of emergence of coronary heart disease.

In addition, a study that was performed four years ago and published in the reputable The Prostate Journal, men who used statin drugs regardless of their type are much more prone to experience prostate cancer compared to those who stay away from these drugs. According to the same study, men who have never taken statin drugs have about 85% less chance to develop this type of cancer.

A Few Other Reasons To Stay Away from cholesterol lowering drugs:

• Statins drain the levels of CoQ10 in your system. If you take statin drugs on a regular basis and avoid taking CoQ10, you will expose your body to a serious health risk.
• Statins significantly increase the chances of developing chronic disease. Statin drugs are affecting the insulin levels which lead to inflammation in the body and this is a clear sign of the vast majority of chronic diseases.
• Cholesterol lowering drugs reduce the level of testosterone in men
• Statin drugs can produce a negative impact on memory.
• Cholesterol lowering drugs are associated with more than 300 different side effects. Some of these side effects include: thyroid disruption, chronic fatigue, anemia, neuropathy and certain diseases that are typical for the elderly like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.

It is good to point out that cholesterol doesn’t lead to heart disease. Cholesterol is actually a very important organic molecule that supports the work of many different organs in the body.

According to Dr. Stephen Sinatra, a well-known expert in natural cardiology and a certified cardiologist, cholesterol is something that human body needs. If we take a closer look at the Multiple Risk Factor intervention trial study which included more than 180.000 men that were analyzed for more than 13 years, men with higher cholesterol levels have experienced less hemorrhagic strokes than those with cholesterol levels under 180.

In other words, the higher level of cholesterol will actually protect you from cases of hemorrhagic stroke. Of course, this doesn’t apply for cases of ischemic stroke.

Our body needs cholesterol in order to activate Vitamin D3 received through sunlight in the skin. In addition, people need cholesterol for many other things like production of reproductive hormones, adrenal hormones, for lubrication, proper neurotransmitter functioning in the brain etc. It is no surprise why many patients with very low LDL level suffer from certain memory problems and early symptoms of Alzheimer’s. Some of them experience total global amnesia too.

This is actually really shocking and unfortunately it is not rare. There are many other factors that affect our health and lead to stroke and heart attack and cholesterol is certainly not one of the main factors.

How To Reduce Bad Cholesterol Levels in a Natural Way

Luckily, there are some simple steps that each of us can take in order to balance and manage cholesterol levels. In addition to healthy diet and physical activity on a regular basis, you can also add some of these things in your everyday life:

• Include cinnamon in your diet – Scientists have confirmed that cinnamon can help the body reduce blood sugar level, triglycerides and cholesterol. In a recent study which included 60 patients suffering from type 2 diabetes, it was confirmed that ¼ teaspoon (or 1 gram) of cinnamon was able to reduce blood sugar by 25%, triglycerides up to 30% and LDL cholesterol by 20%.
• Have one avocado a day – This tasty exotic fruit is a great source of monounsaturated fat which is good for the health.
• Use lemongrass essential oil – A study conducted in 1989 by the scientists from the Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin and published in the reputable Lipids Medical Journal, lemongrass essential oil can reduce cholesterol levels. This oil is used externally. Buy it here.

 

 

Natural Remedies To Help You Quit Smoking

Reposted from Herbs Info

http://www.herbs-info.com/blog/natural-remedies-to-help-quit-smoking/

We first came across this interesting topic over at Raw For Beauty however we decided to investigate further and see if we could locate the original scientific work behind the claims.

St. John’s Wort is a well known herb which is often used to elevate mood and alleviate tension or mild to moderate depression. It may therefore have potential to elevate mood and assist during withdrawal symptoms, thus alleviating cravings. Note (important) that St. John’s Wort can interact seriously with a variety of prescription medications and so is typically recommended by physicians to be avoided by those using prescription meds. A detailed list of known / reported St. John’s Wort interactions can be found at ^[1], p.140-141.

Ginger has been considered since ancient times to be beneficial to digestion. Recent studies have indicated that ginger can assist with nausea caused by seasickness, morning sickness and chemotherapy ^[2] – and it is therefore considered possible that ginger may assist with nausea experienced as a symptom of withdrawal.

Cayenne – the well-known fiery red pepper, is claimed to desensitize the respiratory system to tobacco and thereby thwart cravings. This information is widely repeated – however after much searching (Pubmed, Wikipedia, Google) I have not been able to locate the original source of this claim. It does not appear to have its basis in scientific study, however it may have some basis in reports of individual experimentation. Cayenne is generally considered to have numerous health benefits, and so the inclusion of it in the diet may well be beneficial anyway.

Lobelia (caution – read carefully) was an inclusion in the list that attracted considerable controversy. Due to its biological similarity to tobacco, it has been included in several proprietary anti-smoking products as a nicotine replacement. However Lobeline – the main active component – has been withdrawn from sale in the USA. There are 415 species of Lobelia and the species used most commonly in modern herbalism is Lobelia inflata (Indian tobacco) ^[3] however L. inflata is known to have some adverse effects and a known emetic – reported to cause nausea and vomiting if used in too great a quantity.

One scientific review has claimed that lobelia is ineffective as an anti-smoking aid: “Lobeline is a partial nicotine agonist derived from the leaves of an Indian tobacco plant (Lobelia inflata) and has been used in proprietary smoking remedies. The Food and Drug Administration no longer permits it to be marketed in the United States, although Health Canada has recently licensed a cessation aid containing lobeline. The Cochrane review found no trials with six months of follow up. An unpublished study of a sublingual tablet found no evidence of efficacy at six weeks.” ^[4]
Although lobeline (derived from Lobelia inflata) is no longer permitted in the USA, lobelia extract (dried herb and seed) is still available via Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Herb-Pharm-Lobelia-Extract-Supplement/dp/B00014GJLO and interestingly, one of the customer reviews claims that it is helping with giving up smoking.
 
Our conclusion is that Lobelia should not be experimented with lightly – and should only be used under the careful supervision and recommendation of a qualified, expert herbalist.
Ginseng is an adaptogenic herb and therefore considered beneficial in rebalancing the body’s systems. A 2009 study http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19678784 has shown that ginseng consumption is associated with a longer life span in males. I found one interesting study (1998) that correlated ginseng with mitigation of cancer-related health issues resulting from smoking. Ginseng may have benefits during tobacco withdrawal, perhaps assisting the body to adjust to life without nicotine – however after searching Pubmed I was not able to find the scientific research behind this claim.

Peppermint is considered a digestive aid and tension reliever. It is also cooling to the respiratory system – so for all these reasons it may be of value to those giving up smoking. Peppermint sweets / candies may provide a pleasant sensation and thereby distract from the ‘oral fixation’ of cigarette smoking.
However a recent study (2010) found that peppermint gum did not decrease negative effects of nicotine withdrawal.

More Natural Smoking Remedies
Licorice is a herb that is commonly suggested as a supplement for people attempting to give up smoking. Natives of the West Indies have traditionally chewed on licorice sticks when attempting to give up smoking and it is claimed that it has helped them. You can also obtain licorice as a herbal tea. However remember that over-consumption of licorice has been reported to lead to hypertension (high blood pressure).

Saunas are another thing that is often suggested for people quitting smoking (and other drugs). The theory behind this is that the heat of the sauna leads to a more intense sweat than normal, which causes detoxification as the body sweats out the toxins faster and more strongly. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids (i.e. lemon water or cucumber water) to counter the dehydrating effect and also flush the system.

Other tips. These are not scientifically verified, but I write them as an ex-smoker who has won this battle. I smoked from the age of 14 to 30 and then quit “cold turkey” and have not smoked a single cigarette in 14 years since. First, mental power is always the best thing you can use. I told myself “Which is stronger? Me or this stick made out of dead leaves? If I cannot conquer this, I am nothing. I do not want to be nothing. I will not be nothing.” Next, consider that smoking is a ritual. A form of “meditation gone wrong”. One of the things we crave is to take a two minute break, and take a deep breath. So do that. Just stop, and take a deep breath. Fill your lungs with pure, fresh air. Let oxygen be your drug. It’s good stuff. Another tip is to remember that smoking gives you something to do with the hands – and having something to do with the hands seems to be calming. Playing a game of cards, rolling spheres around in the hands or doing something creative will often fill part of the same urge. As for the nicotine, remember that the worst of it is gone in 24 hours. One more tip – change your lifestyle. Being around other smokers often causes people to relapse. You may need to change who you hang out with. Tough choice, but the alternative is to risk an early death. It’s the truth. I write from experience. My last word – Take heart. You CAN do it.
Please note – as with other pages on this site, this article is not medical advice nor to be considered a substitute for professional medical evaluation or treatment.

References:
[1] Mitchell Bebel Stargrove, Jonathan Treasure, Dwight L. McKee “Herb, Nutrient and Drug Interactions” (available via Amazon – http://amzn.to/1on4DQS (affiliate link))
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10793599
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobelia
[4] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1118332/

D-Mannose: Destroy Urinary Tract Infections Without Antibiotics or Cranberry Juice

Reposted from Dr. Mercola

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/20/a-simple-natural-treatment-for-urinary-tract-health.aspx?x_cid=20150804_ranart_a-simple-natural-treatment-for-urinary-tract-health_facebookdoc

The effect of cranberry proanthocyanidins (PACs) is dependent on the dose. Higher doses are significantly more effective at maintaining urinary health.
A new study supports the theory that at least 36 milligrams of proanthocyanidins (PAC) are needed to reduce the adhesion of E. coli bacteria to urinary tract walls. A lower dose proved to be less effective.
However, according to NutraIngredients:

“On the other hand, a higher dose of 72 mg was even more efficient at protecting against bacterial adhesion in the urinary tract, according to findings published in the open-access journal BMC Infectious Diseases.”

Urinary tract infections affect up to half of all women over the course of a lifetime and are responsible for eight million doctor visits each year.¹
Women are more prone to urinary tract infections than men, in part because of their shorter urethras. Adult men have another factor going for them—a bacterial growth inhibitor injected directly into their urinary system² by their prostate glands.
You’ve probably heard that drinking cranberry juice can be helpful in supporting a healthy urinary tract. Studies do show that cranberry juice can help by promoting a healthy flora.
What many studies fail to mention is that most cranberry juice is loaded with fructose, a monosaccharide (simple sugar) that can potentially lead to health problems.
So, in effect, you are trading good urinary health for blood sugar instability, stress on your liver, and increased uric acid levels that can raise your blood pressure, along with other negative health sequelae.
That’s why I don’t recommend cranberry juice. It’s not a beneficial trade-off.

Honeymooners Rejoice!

But there is a great discovery that has come from the cranberry juice-urinary tract connection. The active ingredient in cranberry juice responsible for its benefit to your urinary system has been identified and isolated—and that is D-mannose.
D-mannose can be derived from berries, peaches, apples, and some other plants. Pure D-mannose is amazingly 10-50 times stronger than cranberry, non-toxic and completely safe, with NO adverse effects.
Why drink sugary cranberry juice if you can get the active ingredient instead, with none of the damaging metabolic consequences?
D-mannose can help cure more than 90 percent of all UTIs within 1 to 2 days!
The condition euphemistically called “Honeymoon Cystitis” is now preventable—no abstinence required.

D-Mannose: An Example of a Healthful Sugar

D-Mannose is not a drug. It’s a naturally occurring sugar, closely related to glucose and you even produce it in your body. And very importantly, it does NOT produce the metabolic stresses that fructose does because it’s more like glucose, which every cell in your body is designed to use.
Your body absorbs D-mannose much more slowly than glucose, and the D-mannose does not convert to glycogen or get stored in your liver. Only very small amounts of D-mannose are metabolized, so it doesn’t interfere with blood sugar regulation.
Most of the D-mannose is filtered through your kidneys and routed to your bladder, then quickly excreted in your urine.
D-mannose helps to nourish your healthy flora because it doesn’t affect “friendly” bacteria. It doesn’t kill any bacteria—it just renders them unable to stay in your urinary tract.
When you take antibiotics for a urinary tract infection (UTI), the good bacteria are killed along with the bad, which is why you can develop secondary yeast infections and digestive problems.
But how can a natural sugar combat a UTI?
The answer lies in how bacteria adhere to the inside of your bladder.

A Sticky Situation to Control UTIs

More than 90 percent of all UTIs are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli), which is normally found in your intestinal tract. Problems only arise when this ordinary bacterium is present in high numbers in places where it shouldn’t be—like your urinary system.
It should be noted that this is NOT the same E. coli associated with killer outbreaks in unsanitary food processing plants—that is a mutant variety, probably created by antibiotic overuse in our country. This E. coli is typically a normal part of your gut flora and typically is accidentally transferred to the bladder through lapses in optimal hygiene.
When normal E. coli gets into your urinary tract and multiplies, you experience the usual signs and symptoms of a UTI:

• Burning with urination
• Frequent urges to urinate
• Lower abdominal pain or aching
• Blood in your urine (sometimes, but not always)
• Cloudy urine

You might be wondering, if the bacteria are in my urine, why doesn’t my body simply flush them out when I urinate?
As it turns out, the cell walls of each E. coli are covered with tiny fingerlike projections called fimbria³ allowing them to “stick” to the inner walls of your bladder and even work their way upward to your ureter and kidneys. Because they cling to your urinary organs, they can’t simply be washed out.
These little fingerlike projections are made of an amino acid-sugar complex, a glycoprotein called lectin, which makes them sticky.
Lectin on the bacteria’s fimbria binds to mannose, which is produced by your cells and covers the internal lining of your urinary organs. This mannose allows the bacteria to adhere to you—like Velcro.
Lenard and Wright describe what happens when you take D-mannose:⁴

“Now imagine what would happen to E. coli in the urinary tract if those sweet little mannose molecules they crave were present not just on the surface of the epithelial cells but surrounding them in the urine as well. The E. coli couldn’t turn around without bumping into D-mannose 'just floating around' in the urine.
Unable to resist the tasty bait they suddenly find themselves swimming in, they would latch onto the nearest mannose molecules, and happily sail off into the porcelain sunset. Those few E. coli left clinging to mannose molecules on cells then become easy prey for white blood cells and other agents of the immune system.”

Research Backs Up the Therapeutic Value of D-Mannose

Physicians who employ natural therapies have been using D-mannose since the mid-1980s with great success. Laboratory studies have now confirmed what these physicians and patients have known for many years.
Consider the three following studies:

• Rats whose urinary tracts were inoculated with E. coli were found to have significantly lower levels of bacteria in their urine when given D-mannose than rats given the inoculation without the D-mannose.
• E. coli infected rats given a mannose-like substance showed a 90 percent reduction in bacterial attachment in their urinary tracts.
• Research in humans shows that ingesting D-mannose significantly raises blood mannose levels, which is what is needed to raise urinary mannose levels.

Antibiotics Should Be Your LAST Choice

Why avoid the use of antibiotics for a UTI whenever possible?
There are a number of very good reasons:

1. Antibiotics are highly overused in humans and pets, as well as in livestock, and this careless overuse has created antibiotic-resistant superbugs like MRSA and antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis. 
2. Antibiotics kill the good bacteria, along with the bad, as described earlier, setting you up for fungal infections, diarrhea, and other digestive trouble.
3. Many antibiotics have terrible side effects and can cause dangerous allergic reactions.
4. Antibiotic treatment does not successfully kill all the bacteria participating in the infection and may, in fact, encourage many of the bacteria to persist in a resting state.
5. Using unnecessary antibiotics with children prevents them from developing their own natural defenses as their immune systems mature.
6. Physicians often prescribe newer, very expensive antibiotics for UTIs instead of “old gold standards,” which is a strain on your pocketbook.

The majority of urinary tract infections can be cured when symptoms first arise, or prevented altogether by following these home remedies for kidney infection outlined in this article.
Occasionally, despite preventative measures, a kidney infection can develop. If you suspect you have a kidney infection—especially if you have a fever—it might be necessary to see a physician and employ an antibiotic so the infection does not spread to your kidney and cause some very serious problems.

How to Recognize a Kidney Infection

Urinary tract infections can affect any part of your urinary tract, but the lower urinary tract is far more common—specifically, your bladder (cystitis) and urethra (urethritis). Once in a while, a UTI can progress up to the kidneys (nephritis or pyelonephritis), which is a more serious infection and warrants a trip to your health care provider.
Kidney infections can cause permanent kidney damage and kidney failure if not promptly resolved, or can spread to your bloodstream.
In addition to the classic UTI symptoms listed earlier, symptoms of kidney infection can include:

• Fever
• Back, side (flank) or groin pain
• Abdominal pain

If you do use an antibiotic, it is important to take a high quality, high potency probiotic to replace the beneficial bacteria killed by the antibiotic. It is advisable to take the probiotic as far from the antibiotic dose as possible. For example, if you take your antibiotic at 8am and 8pm, take your probiotic at 2pm to minimize the effects from the antibiotic.

Steps to Promoting a Healthy Urinary Tract

As a woman, there are some specific hygiene steps you can take to maintain a healthy urinary tract:

• Drink plenty of pure, filtered water every day
• Urinate when you feel the need; don't resist the urge to go
• Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering your urethra
• Take showers instead of tub baths; avoid hot tubs/Jacuzzis
• Cleanse your genital area prior to sexual intercourse
• Avoid using feminine hygiene sprays, which may irritate your urethra
• Use only white unscented toilet paper to avoid potential dye reactions, or better yet—a bidet

In addition, a healthy diet is key in supporting your urinary tract.
Research shows that frequent consumption of products containing probiotic bacteria can promote good urinary tract health—fermented foods such as kefir, sauerkraut and other fermented vegetables are great for your overall health—including your urinary system. 

Four Things I wish All Women Knew About Mammograms

Reposted from Complete Health and Happiness

http://complete-health-and-happiness.com/4-things-i-wish-all-women-knew-about-mammograms/?t=DM

An annual mammogram is a highly recommended prevention tool for breast cancer.  At least, that’s what doctors tell us women to do. Annual mammograms are something we all dread to do.  Maybe rightly so?  It is not as effective as we are told and it can actually cause a lot of harm!  This is something nobody talks about.  If you have ever gone through the mammogram procedure, do you ever remember being told about any dangerous side effects?  The reality is, most of us blindly trust our doctors who, in our minds, would never want to harm us.  But breast cancer is a huge money making business, and mammography is one of its highest money making departments. Did you know that several recent studies found that mammograms do not save lives and can possibly harm women?

“One of the largest and most meticulous studies of mammography ever done, involving 90,000 women and lasting a quarter-century, has added powerful new doubts about the value of the screening test for women of any age.

It found that the death rates from breast cancer and from all causes were the same in women who got mammograms and those who did not. And the screening had harms: one in five cancers found with mammography and treated was not a threat to the woman’s health and did not need treatment such as chemotherapy, surgery or radiation.”

Mammograms can cause cancer.

The mammogram procedure is far from being safe. Like all x-rays, mammograms use doses of ionizing radiation to create an image. Ionized radiation can cause cancer. It can trigger mutations and other genetic damage and also cause normal cells to become malignant.

“Our work shows that radiation can change the microenvironment of breast cells, and this in turn can allow the growth of abnormal cells with a long-lived phenotype that have a much greater potential to be cancerous,” Paul Yaswen, a cellular biologist and breast cancer research specialist with Berkeley Lab’s Life Sciences Division, said in a statement to the press.

The risk of radiation is apparently higher among younger women. The NCI released evidence that, among women under 35, mammography could cause 75 cases of breast cancer for every 15 it identifies. But here is the most shocking fact about mammograms  – you are subjected to energy x-ray 30kVp radiation, which is 300 percent more carcinogenic than high energy radiation that comes from atomic bomb blasts!

The Mammogram Myth: The Independent Investigation Of Mammography The Medical Profession Doesn’t Want You To Know About

Mammograms are not as effective

Mammography is not that accurate, it actually falsely causes a lot of women to have chemo and
radiation for no reason at all.
 Here’s a very disturbing fact – 80 percent of the 1.6 million breast biopsies done each year in the United States, because of a suspicious mammography, are negative.  So why does conventional medicine keep pushing this unnessary test?

 The New England Journal of Medicine has pointed to approximately 1.3 million cases of misdiagnosed breast cancer, which shows that mammograms are leading millions of women astray, making them think they have cancer when they really don’t.

The problem with mammograms is that they often detect “cancer” that would never spread or do any harm if left untreated. It’s called “stage zero” cancer. It can be regressed without any medical treatment.

Mammograms do not lower death risks

To compound matters, some research, including a recent large Canadian study which followed 90,000 women for 25 years, showed that mammograms did not lower the overall death rate from breast cancer. It is clear that while mammograms could have saved some women, it’s probably also harming others.  Here, it is important to make the distinction between emotional and statistical analyses and keep the big picture in mind.

Better Alternatives to Mammograms

A good alternative to mammography is thermography. This is a simple, non-invasive way of accessing your risk for breast cancer. It can detect breast cancer many years earlier than physical exams and even mammograms. Progressive physicians in Europe and the US have been using thermography since 1962. The main difference between mammography and thermography is that thermography can see cancer formations at the size of 256 cells, while mammograms can’t detect cancer until there are roughly 4 billion cells clumped together.

 According to Moshe Dekel, M.D., board certified in GYN and a specialist in breast thermography, “thermography is a physiological study. The infrared camera detects the heat (infrared radiation), which is emitted by the breast without physical contact with it (no compression) and without sending any signal (no radiation).”

“Thermography shows small, unilateral temperature increases which are caused by an increased blood supply to cancer cells. Cancer cells have an ability to create new blood vessels (neoangiogenesis) in order to satisfy the increased demand for nutrients resulting from the higher rate of growth and metabolic demands of the new colony.”

Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20146798
http://envirocancer.cornell.edu/factsheet/ph…

Turmeric more Effective than Prozac at Treating Depression

Reposted from Complete Health & Happiness

http://complete-health-and-happiness.com/turmeric-more-effective-than-prozac-at-treating-depression/?t=DM

It’s common knowledge in the natural health world that pharmaceuticals often (if not always) do more harm than good. It’s also clear that foods, herbs, and other natural sources can offer similar benefits without those nasty side effects. Once again, our beliefs have been affirmed by science: A recent study published in Phytotherapy Research says that not only is turmeric effective at treating depression, it may even be more effective than some of the most common anti-depressant drugs currently on the market.

While previous studies have indicated the effectiveness of turmeric (curcumin) in treating serious depression, this study was the first randomized controlled clinical trial of its kind.
Researchers with the Department of Pharmacology of Government Medical College in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India compared the effects of turmeric and Prozac (fluoxetine), both used together and individually, in 60 patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD).
According to GreenMedInfo.com, the researchers used the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale to measure their results:

“We observed that curcumin was well tolerated by all the patients. The proportion of responders as measured by the HAM-D₁₇ scale was higher in the combination group (77.8%) than in the fluoxetine [Prozac] (64.7%) and the curcumin (62.5%) groups; however, these data were not statistically significant (P = 0.58). Interestingly, the mean change in HAM-D₁₇ score at the end of six weeks was comparable in all three groups (P = 0.77). This study provides first clinical evidence that curcumin may be used as an effective and safe modality for treatment in patients with MDD without concurrent suicidal ideation or other psychotic disorders.”

While reading the researchers conclusions indicates one treatment (turmeric) is equally effective as Prozac, it doesn’t account for the negative effects of Prozac, which boost turmeric’s value considerably. Prozac is known to cause “suicidal ideation or other psychotic disorders,” frightening side effects that are clearly absent in turmeric use.
In addition to fighting depression, the bright yellow root commonly used in Indian cooking known as turmeric has been found to have numerous health benefits. In addition to this enlightening research on its efficacy in depression treatment, we know it also has value in the treatment of inflammatory conditions, diabetes, and even cancer. If that isn’t enough, it’s also been shown effective in aiding in weight loss and cutting heart disease risk. Plus, it tastes amazing.
Anti-depressant medications are some of the biggest of Big Pharma’s many big money-makers. Equipped with knowledge like the findings of this most recent study, consumers have the potential to undermine their goal of drugging America and the world.