It’s A Long And Winding Road

A normal amount of anxiety is useful as when facing a dangerous situation. However, if a person has the rush of adrenaline, quick beating heart, muscle tension a quick breathing when there is no reason for the reaction, it is not healthy. It can progress to cause high blood pressure, headaches, stomachaches. Your health care professional can help you decide on conventional medication, alternative treatments or a combination of both.

* Exercise. Tests show that regular exercise reduces lactic acid, which is found to be higher in those who suffer from anxiety attacks. The endorphins produced during exercise may also help with this condition.

* Triggers. Caffeine, sugar and alcohol have been shown to trigger anxiety attacks in some individuals.

* Herbal Supplements. Kava has been found to work as well as conventional prescribed medications in many cases. Valerian can be taken in small doses throughout the day to ward off an anxiety attack.

* Biofeedback. With some work, biofeedback has been shown to work wonders in teaching an individual ways to react positively when an attack is first coming on.

When the body’s red blood cells (or the hemoglobin) is deficient the necessary oxygen does not get to the body organs. The first signs of an anemic condition may show up as paleness, weakness, tiredness or lightheadedness. There is a general misconception about anemia that it’s “no big deal.” They don’t know if the condition goes untreated it can lead to death. Once a health care professional has diagnosed the problem, there advice should be followed. However, discuss using some of these alternate treatments either along with conventional treatments or instead of them.

* Supplements: Add vitamin/mineral supplements to your diet. Depending on the type of anemia, there may be a deficiency in iron, vitamin C (which aids iron absorption), vitamin B12 or folic acid.

* Herbs: The herb, yellow dock, will supply the body with absorbable iron. Dandelion, burdock and mint also have an abundance of iron. Try them in tea form for good absorption.

* Diet: Spinach and liver (if you can handle it) as well as dried beans, nuts, cheese, fish will add iron to your diet.

An abscess is the bodies way of isolating an infection so that it does not become widespread through out the body. The first signs of an abscess are a pink or red area that feels irritated, is swollen and sensitive. If abscesses show up over and over again, they could be a sign of a larger problem and it could indicate a bowel infection, diabetes, poor nutrition and/or a weak immune system. If ever in doubt, a person should not self-medicate but see their health care professional.

* Zinc and vitamin C are proven sources of supplements that will stimulate the immune system. Adding these two nutrients to your diet will help with the healing process as well as help our system to fight off future infections.

* Chinese medicine advises making a compression from herbs (chamomile, thyme or sage) in order to draw out the infection of the abscess. The compression must be changed several (3 or 4) times daily.

* Consider your diet. Junk food which include white sugar, white flour, fatty and fried foods have been proven to be detrimental to our bodies. Change your eating habits to include more fresh vegetables and fruits (raw is best), lean meats, whole grains and nuts.

A compression can be made by brewing strong tea. Using a natural fibered cloth, soak it in the tea and apply to the abscess leaving it to draw out the infection.

Milk Thistle is an herb used primarily for liver and gallbladder conditions such as liver cirrhosis and inflammation. It seems to detoxify the liver while protecting it. It may be used in complimentary with conventional medication. You should, however, always discuss the use of any product with your health care professional to make sure the natural substance will interact well with your prescribed medication.

Milk Thistle is known to:

* Lower cholesterol levels
* Improves liver function
* Reduces insulin resistance in type II Diabetics who also had cirrhosis
* Reduces the growth of cancer cells in some cancers
* Has antioxidant properties
* Encourages liver cell growth

Side Effects

Few, if any side affects have bee associated with the use of Milk Thistle.

It won’t be long before winter has past and spring allergies and hay fever hit us once again. Because of the misuse of over-the-counter medications, many are not available without a doctor’s prescription. With the added expense of an appointment (most of us have to pay something even with medical insurance) many people just suffer through it all. We all know those medications aren’t good for us anyway, but when you are really suffering… Here are some natural decongestants.

* Onions - Raw onions are a natural way to loosen the mucus in your sinuses. Simply cut up some raw onion with the plan of using it for dinner. Just the use of the “fumes” from the raw onion may help and adding it to your food will give you an extra punch.

* Spicy Salsa - Who needs an excuse to eat salsa and chips? Make your own baked chips or purchase baked ones (they are better for you) and help yourself to some heavy dipping. Actually any spicy food will relieve congestion.

* Steam - A vaporizer alone will help with decongestion, but add a bit of eucalyptus oil and you’ll get some extra help. An alternative is a hot steamy shower. Get in or just sit in a small bathroom with the hot shower running.

* Vitamin C - This vitamin works as a natural decongestant. The dosage you should take during bouts of hay fever or allergies is 5 grams/day. However, start slow at 500 milligrams/day and increase gradually.

* Bromelain - It’s a natural substance made from the stem of the pineapple plant and is a natural decongestant. The recommended dosage is 500 milligrams/day.

Nutritional Remedies

With so much physical pain in the world, we should be able to manage some of it naturally. In part one of this series on alternative treatments for pain we discussed movement based therapies. In part two we are discussing nutritional based remedies. Chronic pain can be helped by nutritional improvement and/or supplements. However, certain types of pain are helped more than others. Nutritional remedies help abdominal, inflammatory and headache pain. In general, they may help by improving sleeplessness, decreasing inflammation and boosting the bodies natural immunity.

Nutrition and Supplement Therapies

* Anti-inflammatory diets such as a Mediterranean diet which is high in fresh fruits, whole grains, leafy vegetables, fish and extra virgin olive oil has shown to reduce boy inflammation.

* Omega 3 fatty acids also reduce boy inflammation. Including more fish and/or flaxseed into your diet or by adding supplements containing fish oil or flaxseed oil will improve painful conditions over time.

* Ginger has been shown to reduce pain-causing molecules in the body. It’s also good for nausea.

* Turmeric supplements or as a spice in food reduces inflammation.

* MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) is a natural bone and cartilage building nutrient.

* Capsaicin (a component of chili peppers) temporarily reduces pain. It’s a great benefit to arthritis sufferers who use it as a topical application in cream form.

* Sam-e (Sadenosylmethionine) is a naturally occurring amino acid and seems to relieve inflammation and increases brain chemicals that are considered the “feel good” chemicals, which is why it is used for depression.

In part 3 of Naturally Pain Free we will be discussing mind-body alternative treatments for relieving pain.

Free Radicals

The body needs oxygen to function properly. However, oxygen also causes free radicals to form. Free radicals aren’t entirely bad for us as our cells actually need a small amount of them. When there is an imbalance (nutrition and anti-oxidant deficiency), additional free radicals attach to cells causing damage and cell mutation. This is the cause of most degenerative diseases such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes II and stroke. In the U.S. hundreds of thousands of individuals die each year from degenerative diseases. The good news is that they can be prevented, for others it may be stoppable and for a few they can be reversed.

With the addition of too much meat and fat along with not enough plant food in the diet, the body cannot keep itself healthy. Meat and fat cause more free radicals than complex carbohydrates because their metabolism process requires more oxygen. There is also the fact that plant foods contain numerous anti-oxidants to ward off free radicals.

Deterioration of the body is inevitable. However, excessive deterioration can be prevented or at least slowed. So, how is this done. There are particular foods that contain a high antioxidant content. If you can’t or won’t eat them, supplements are your next best bet.

DON’T

* Eat excessive amounts of meat and fat. You need good quality protein, so don’t cut out animal foods completely unless you are vegetarian. 5 ounces of lean animal protein is plenty for each meal. When adding fats (oils) use extra virgin olive oil.

DO

* Eat foods rich in carotenoids and vitamin A. These include carrots, broccoli, squash, sweet potatoes, kale, tomatoes, collards, peaches, cantaloupe, apricots and other brightly colored fruits and vegetables.

* Eat foods rich in vitamin C. These include citrus fruits, broccoli, green peppers, tomatoes, strawberries and green leafy vegetables.

* Eat foods rich in vitamin E. These include nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables and whole grains.

* Eat foods rich in flavonoids and polyphenois such as red wine, some soy, red wine, concord grapes, cranberries, pomegranates and some teas.

* Eat foods rich in lycopene such as tomatoes products, watermelon and pink grapefruit.

* Eat foods rich in luten such as kale, broccoli, kiwi, brussels sprouts and spinach.

* Eat foods rich in Lignan such as flax seed, oatmeal, rye and barley.

* Eat vitamins displaying properties like anti-oxidants such as coenzyme Q10.

* Do exercise, it enhances anti-oxidant defense system

This is by no means a complete list, but will get any person going on the right track to improving their ability to defend their body against free radicals.

We all know what anxiety feels like. I might describe it as extreme nervousness and agitation. Although, I don’t have anxiety attacks on a regular basis, I have felt anxious at times when there was no apparent reason for it. Some individuals have these kinds of feelings on a regular basis and at a much higher rate. Although, a certain amount of anxiety is an important human function as it can give us the “fight or flight” reaction we need in dangerous situations. It is unhealthy to have it often and when it is not warranted. It’s not only uncomfortable, but it increases blood pressure, it can cause headaches and stomach problems and it can cause poor concentration.

There are two different forms of anxiety disorders. There is generalized anxiety which is considered a chronic condition and brings about a sense of foreboding and agitation on a recurring basis. The other form of anxiety disorder is panic attack which can come on very suddenly. It can be so violent that it might be thought to be a heart attack.

Although, for any condition your health care professional should be consulted, conventional medication for anxiety by have negative side effects and could be addictive.

Herbs and Supplements

Kava has been shown in several studies to perform nearly as effective as conventional medication in reducing symptoms such as nervousness, heart palpitations and dizziness.

Vitamin and mineral supplements helpful in supporting the nervous system are vitamin B complex, magnesium and calcium.

Valerian, ordinarily used for sleeplessness, can be used at low doses throughout the day for a calming effect. And it can be used during the night at a higher rate for a restful sleep.

St. Johns Wort can be added to valerian and/or Kava with no negative effects. This is a good natural addition if you are feeling any depression along with the anxiety condition.

There are other steps you can take to help alleviate anxiety. If you are a coffee drinker (or drink any caffeine based food or beverage), reduce or cut out your consumption. Alcohol and sugar are two substances that have been known to trigger anxiety in some people. Get some form of aerobic exercise each day for about 20 to 30 minutes. Get in the habit of walking or playing tennis, even swimming. Exercise produces endorphins which is a “feel good” chemical. It also improves oxygen in your bloodstream allowing your body to work more efficiently.

Our bodies naturally make alpha lipoid acid (also called lipoid acid or ALA). In fact, this fatty acid can be found in every cell of our body. It’s used to convert glucose into our bodies energy. It is also an antioxidant. However, it is unique as an antioxidant as it is both fat and water soluble and it is a recycler of other antioxidants in our body.

Foods containing alpha lipoid acid are spinach, broccoli, peas, brussel sprouts and rice bran. Supplements should be taken on an empty stomach for the most benefit. You might wonder why you would need supplements if the body already makes it. Perhaps the healthy person does not, except that additional antioxidants are not usually a bad thing for anyone. However, certain conditions can be greatly helped by it’s addition to a person’s daily regimen.

Like anything else, our bodies probably make less of this fatty acid as we age. Staving off free radicals with alpha lipoid acid may help slow the aging process. This fatty acid also has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. It may even be beneficial neurologically. Although studies are not conclusive, it has been suggested that this fatty acid supplement may benefit MS, cataracts, glaucoma, Alzheimer and stroke. It is also used for blood sugar control in diabetic patients.

A recent study performed by the Mayo Clinic and a Russian clinic in tandem showed results that diabetics suffering from neuropathy (nerve damage) were greatly helped quickly and severely by a decrease in sharp pains, prickling and numbness. The complete article can be seen at http://www.mayoclinic.org/news2003-rst/1733.html. Dr. Dyke, head of the study said, “There have been no known complications.”

Ginger is one of those alternative medicines that have been around for eons. It was used in ancient times and in the recent past in folk medicines. It’s hard to tell what it’s benefits can be with out scientific research. The good news is that there has been some scientific research on the use of ginger.

1. Ginger and Ovarian Cancer
A study performed by J. Rebecca Liu, M.D. and her research group at University of Michigan Medical School found that ovarian cancer cells died with the use of ginger. Ordinarily ovarian cancer cells don’t respond well to the current standard treatments.

2. Morning Sickness and Motion Sickness
A number of reviewed studies show that both of these conditions are helped by the use of ginger. A recent Danish study used 80 navel cadets to test how one ounce of ginger would benefit those normally prone to motion sickness. The study showed that those given ginger suffered less within a four hour period than those that didn’t take it.

3. Pain and Inflammation Reduction
Ginger has long been thought to have inflammation reduction properties. Researchers at the University of Sydney found it’s use does, in fact, reduce these two conditions. They are now working on finding out exactly what type of pain benefit’s the most from it’s use.

4. Menstrual Cramp Relief
Traditional Chinese Medicine uses a combination of ginger tea and brown sugar to relieve crams as well as helping the body to clear waste. Here is the recipe.

Peel a one inch piece of ginger and slice it thinly. Bring 5 cups of water to a boil. Add the ginger and simmer, covered, for 20 minutes. Add and dissolve the brown sugar by stirring. Remove ginger pieces and pour into a cup. Save the remainder in the refrigerator and reheat as needed.

Note: Many Chinese women say that cold food or drink will trigger menstrual pain.