Women’s Health Blog

Women’s Health Issues

Archive for July, 2007

07 9th, 2007

The practice of chiropractic care focuses on the relationship between your spine and your nervous system.  The spine is the structure, and the nervous system is the function.  Chiropractors believe these two systems work in unison to keep and then restore your body’s health.  The word “chiropractic” is taken from Greek, and means “done by hand”.  This is exactly how chiropractic care works.  The chiropractor uses his or her hands to manipulate your body, and help it to heal itself.  It is the branch of the health sciences which focuses on the neuromusculoskeletal system.  That’s a very big word to simply say how your spine and nervous system work together.  The spine is the highway for your central nervous system; if the highway is blocked or traffic is jammed, they are usually able healers. Many cultures, the Egyptians, the Greeks, the Chinese, and even the Africans have used some form of chiropractic care for hundreds of years.

 

Modern alternative medicine and holistic healers believe in the power of the energy that flows through our bodies; this energy radiates from our mind as well.  It is believed to be the chief from of transportation for our body’s nervous system to carry out communication.

Acupuncture is one of the key components of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and operates on the premise that the body is divided into two opposing and inseparable forces, the yin and yang.  Yin represents the cold, slow, or passive principle, and yang represents the hot, excited or active principle.  According to TCM health is achieved by maintaining a balance state of the yin and yang.  This is done through the vital pathways or meridians that allow for the flow of qi, or vital energy.  The vital energy flow occurs along pathways known as meridians. These meridians connect over 2,000 acupuncture points along the body.  There are 12 main meridians, and 8 secondary meridians.  Although traditional western medicine does not completely understand how acupuncture works, the proof that it does work has been shown in several studies conducted by western medical facilitiesFinally, in the last few years, traditional western medicine has come to accept the role that your mind, body and soul have in keeping each other healthy, during daily processes, or recovering from surgery.  Almost every form of healing accepts and incorporates the fact that our bodies have a “vital energy force” that flows through, from top to bottom.  This “life force” as some refer to the energy, helps to keep us connected, mind, body, and soul.  To come to the understanding, as modern medicine finally has, that there are certain aspects of our health that we cannot place neatly in a physical process, has been a difficult revelation for believers of the purely scientific approaches to healing and medicine.It’s impossible to separate the mind from the body, or the body from the soul.  Their interconnectivity is the basis for our life’s meaning and existence.  It is because of this connection, that we are able to heal ourselves in the beginning.

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Despite a multitude of prescribed and over-the-counter medications available today, many women affected with yeast infections are looking for a natural remedy for yeast infection treatment. Anti-fungal medications such Miconazole have been proven to be effective, but aren’t there other treatments that work?

In this article, we will explore the various natural remedies purported to cure or treat yeast infections and their effectiveness.

Cranberry juice has been used to help treat yeast infections. Do this natural treatment really work? The answer is that it does indeed work for those infected with yeast. Is it really a stand-alone treatment? No. It should be used as an adjunct to a main remedy.

How about yogurt? That helps, doesn’t it? Actually, this is a very helpful treatment in combating thrush. Thrush is a form of yeast infection that is present in the mouth. In fact, it is not uncommon for many physicians to tell their patients to eat yogurt as part of their overall treatment plan.

What about compounds that contain Lactobacillus acidophilus? Do they work? According to at least one study, women who used suppositories that contained Lactobacillus acidophilus did report a relief from yeast infection symptoms. Another study that was done showed little benefit from using these products. So, the jury is still out on these preparations.

Other popular natural home remedies for treating yeast infections are vinegar douches, garlic or boric acid based vaginal suppositories, and tea tree oil cream. Again, do they work? Many women report that these are effective, while others do not report any relief from symptoms.

Scientifically speaking, is it always easy to clinically demonstrate that a natural remedy for yeast infection, actually works? The short answer is no. In reality, there needs to be more data obtained via truly stringent studies. One must really apply the same standards to natural remedies for yeast infections, as is applied to the compounds manufactured by the drug companies.

When seeking out any natural remedy, it is important to remember that not all of these compounds will be equally effective for every person afflicted with yeast. You must do your due diligence in deciding which preparation is right for you. And don’t forget, a call to your doctor would always be helpful in making an informed decision.

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07 7th, 2007

Acupuncture for infertility problems is increasing in popularity. It may seem a strange type of treatment for infertility but, it is becoming one that is helping infertile couples. The thought of needles may not be something that sounds appealing to you. Yes, needles are involved but, you need to rethink the thoughts you are having and realize that acupuncture for infertility is not painful at all. You may feel a little twinge at the spot of the needle and you may have slight bruising in the area. If you think about other methods of infertility treatments, the discomfort that comes with acupuncture for fertility is nothing to fear. You may even find that it is something you will want to add to your regular life.

How does Acupuncture For Infertility work?
Acupuncture for infertility works because the channels of energy run through the different parts of the body and the body surface. When these channels are blocked for whatever reason, they stop the energy from flowing freely. The needles in acupuncture for fertility help to open these obstructed areas. The needles are used for stimulation of the various nerves and cause them to release chemicals into the muscle, brain, and spinal cord. This allows the body to start healing itself. Acupuncture for infertility has helped couple is areas that the regular medical procedures can not.
Acupuncture for infertility works of those who have a functional reason for the problems conceiving. If you have a physical problem that is causing your infertility like damaged reproductive organs, it is not advised to help. You should know after a few visits to the acupuncturist if the treatment is something that will help you and your partner. Acupuncture for infertility is a good thing to combine with conventional medical treatments for infertility. You may also want to explore herbal remedies as well. They compliment each other in a very nice way.
Research Is Important

If you are searching for alternative ways to treat your infertility, you need to try acupuncture for infertility. The key to getting the best out of your treatment is to do your research. You may find that along with the traditional treatment you are undergoing, acupuncture for infertility may be a good thing to add. You may also want to check into herbal treatments to enhance everything else. Acupuncture for infertility is an option that can not hurt and that may help you.

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07 6th, 2007

Obesity has become a common problem in America. So common in fact, that two in every three Americans is considered overweight, and one in every three is classified as obese. Obesity is determined through a formula called the body mass index or BMI. An obese person has a BMI that is over 30. Obesity is a condition that can lead to many other health problems including diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis. Coronary artery disease is also a common malady among obese people putting them at much higher risk for things like heart attacks and strokes. Because there are many potentially health risks involved with obesity, it is important to try to discover the causes of the condition and ways to treat it. This has led doctors and scientists to examine the link between obesity and fast food in America.

Fast Food Restaurants have replaced the Dinner Table

It is true that fast food has become a large percentage of this country’s diet, so it is no wonder that a link has been considered between fast food and obesity in America. Some studies have shown that eating fast food for three or more meals each week results in a higher incidence of obesity and larger BMI’s. This is an alarming statistic for a nation with such a high incidence of obesity and a fast food chain on nearly every corner. With the increase in activities and overall business of families today, eating out has become a quick and convenient alternative to the homemade family dinner. The food that we consume from fast food restaurants has a tendency to be packed with fat and calories, not to mention sodium and sugar. Studies have also shown that families that eat fast food more often are also less likely to keep healthy fare like fresh fruits and vegetables in the house to offset some of the negative effects of the burgers and fries.

How do we Diminish the Link between Fast Food and Obesity in America?

The solution in reducing the link between fast food and obesity in America is to cut back on this type of diet. Fast food does not have to be avoided altogether and at all costs – it just needs to be considered the exception rather than the rule in your family’s diet choices. When you eat the bulk of your meals at home, make sure that you are serving plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains on everyone’s plate. That Big Mac should be a special treat to be enjoyed on occasion, instead of the primary ingredient in your diet. With a few wise choices and an understanding of good health and nutrition, the link between fast food and obesity in America may be greatly reduced.

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A lot of people have problems of hair overgrowth in different parts of their bodies. Fir people who could not stand the excess hair in their body, they should seriously consider undergoing laser hair removal treatment.

The good thing about laser hair removal treatment is that you get rid of the excess hair in your body with minimum discomforts. The treatment usually does not take long and it does not require the patient to stay in the hospital for the treatment. Furthermore, for most people, the hair do not really come back after the laser hair removal treatment.

There are at least four types of laser lights that doctors commonly use in laser hair removal treatment. The Alexandrite, the ruby, the diode and the ND and LP ND Yag or the Candela Gentle Yag are considered as the safest when it comes to laser hair removal.

How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?

Technically, laser hair removal treatment works by sending out laser light to the hair follicles and destroying the roots of the hair. Dermatologists use just enough amount of laser light to destroy the hair follicles without really harming the surrounding tissues. Once the roots of the hair are destroyed, the hair usually does not grow again. In some cases, the hair does grow back again but the grain of the hair is now finer and would not really look as ugly as it used to be.

How Does the Laser Beam Find the Hair Follicles?

In finding the hair follicles, the dermatologists usually focus on the dark color of the hair to guide them. Consequently, the laser beam is targeted on the dark colored portions in the skin of the patient. Since laser hair removal treatment relies on the difference between the colors of the skin and the hair of the person, not all persons would qualify for this type of hair removal treatment.

People who have very light colored skin and those with very dark colored skin are usually not qualified for this type of treatment. According to dermatologists, very fair people usually have very fair hair that it is very difficult for them to distinguish the skin from the hair follicles.

For very dark people, the problem of identifying the hair form the skin is even more difficult. Since it is dangerous to just point the laser beam to non-specific directions in the skin, most dermatologists would rather not perform laser hair removal treatment on very fair and very dark types of skin.

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