Archive for December, 2009
Feeling old and blue? Green tea may help
(Reuters Health) Elderly men and women who sip on several cups of green tea a day may be less likely to have the blues, hint findings of a study from Japan.
Dr. Kaijun Niu, at Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering in Sendai, and colleagues found men and women aged 70 and older who drank four or more, versus one or fewer, cups of green tea daily were 44 percent less likely to have symptoms of depression.
Several prior studies have linked green tea consumption to reduced levels of psychological distress. This led Niu and colleagues to look at associations between drinking green tea and symptoms of depression in 1,058 relatively healthy elderly individuals.
About 34 percent of the men and 39 percent of the women had symptoms of depression, according to a report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. These symptoms were severe in about 20 percent of the men and in about 24 percent of the women.
Overall, 488 participants said they drank four or more cups of green tea a day, 284 said they downed two to three cups daily and the remaining 286 reported having one or fewer cups daily.
According to the investigators, the apparent protective effect of greater green tea consumption on symptoms of depression did not fade after they factored in social and economic status, gender, diet, history of medical problems, use of antidepressant medications, smoking, and physical activity. Read more…
Santa Clara Chiropractor: Growing Older Doesn’t have to Be Painful
It probably goes without saying that as we age our body feels and acts differently than it used to when we were younger. It just doesn’t seem fair that as our mind appears to improve and become more “inventive,” our body seems to become less “cooperative.” We’re stiff in the morning; certain activities during the day make us sore at night; and, if we’re not cautious, even a movement as simple as turning too hastily or bending over to pick up a dropped piece of paper, can cause our back or some other muscle group to go into spasm. But, it isn’t necessary for our body to go from bad to worse because there is natural treatment accessible that can not only slow down the aging process of the body, but help us to avoid some of those problems altogether.
Take arthritis for example. Most of us would agree that, with the exception of pharmaceuticals, conventional medicine does little to take care of this age-related condition. What is the basis for such a limited approach? The answer is that most medical professionals focus only on the symptoms of arthritis. The chiropractic approach is to uncover the root of the affliction and treat the pain at its source. For more than a hundred years, chiropractors, like your Santa Clara Chiropractor, have been helping individuals suffering from back pain and other challenges caused by arthritic changes in the musculoskeletal system.
Arthritic changes happen as your body ages because, over time, wear of various joints takes place as a consequence of repetitive stresses, and years of poor gait, bad posture, and lack of beneficial movement. Chiropractic treatment brings back motion into your joints and relieves pain, and it ameliorates any vertebral misalignment that may be causing irritation and restriction. In addition, did you know that misaligned vertebra, along with causing arthritic changes in the spine and escalating pain, can also reduce your resistance and immunity? It’s true, and this may be one of the reasons why it may seem that as you get older you develop more health problems and that it often takes longer for you to feel better again. According to research done on older individuals, those who received regular chiropractic care stayed healthier. In fact, you could say that, as you get older, chiropractic treatment is good for what ails you!
When it comes to the health of the musculoskeletal system, chiropractors are experts whether it’s the small, growing frame of an infant or the full-grown body of an aging adult. Your chiropractor understands the aging process and has special observational and diagnostic skills that help in locating spinal misalignments and joint problems. In fact, a chiropractic examination can often reveal certain age-related changes before they’ve begun to create noticeable pain. Furthermore, your Santa Clara Chiropractor can check your posture and check your gait to ascertain if there are any incorrect patterns that might create further arthritic changes.
So, if you have been feeling your age lately, but you’d like to feel a whole lot better, see your Santa Clara Chiropractor today!
Dr. David Hoewisch is a Santa Clara Chiropractor with over 25 years of experience helping thousands of patients get out of pain and get their lives back. His office is located at 1221 Lafayette St., Santa Clara, CA, 95050. Dr. Hoewisch has traveled around the world and is an avid outdoor enthusiast. He is a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) and learned sign language at an early age. He treats many deaf patients in his clinic. For more information go to his website at http://www.santaclarachiropractor.net
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Treat Varicose Veins and Other Leg Problems with Horse Chestnut
The Europeans have been using horse chestnut for years for a variety of vascular roles, particularly the legs. This natural supplement is now gaining ground in the United States and other places around the world because it has shown in a number of clinical trials its effectiveness in treating a variety of conditions.
Horse chestnut trees are native to Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and other countries in the Balkan Peninsula. However, you can find these trees elsewhere in the world as well. Also called the Spanish chestnut and the buckeye, horse chestnut should not be confused with the buckeye trees in California and Ohio. It is important when you use horse chestnut that you choose a seed extract supplement form rather than preparing a treatment yourself as some parts of the tree are poisonous.
If you have varicose veins, leg swelling, nerve twitching and itching, restless legs, skin ulcers or general leg pain, you could benefit from horse chestnut. Most often found as a seed extract, this supplement is also effective with a condition called CVI or chronic venous insufficiency, which also presents some of the symptoms above.
Evidence of Effectiveness
In a number of tests, horse chestnut seed extract was used in patients with CVI. In a large percentage of cases, leg swelling decreased significantly as well as pain, nerve itchiness and even leg tiredness. Restless leg occurrences were reduced as well. While some professionals are still unsure of this natural supplement, many people who suffer from a variety of vascular leg conditions have found that horse chestnut is just as effective as the common treatment of wearing compression stockings.
Other Conditions Possibly Treated
Because of the anti-inflammatory properties of horse chestnut, there are a few other conditions that might benefit from its use. Rheumatoid arthritis, deep venous thrombosis, hemorrhoids, menstrual cramps and even a variety of skin conditions could find relief with this natural supplement. People with tinnitus and post-trauma swelling have found relief too.
Some Warnings to Note
If you are otherwise in good health, horse chestnut can definitely help with inflammatory conditions. However, some people may have adverse reactions if they take anticoagulants or have hepatic or renal problems. Children should not take this supplement. If you have a metabolic condition like diabetes, medical professionals advise against using horse chestnut. Always consult with your personal physician before adding any supplement to your daily medication regiment. Read more…
Likely Culprits of Back Pain and How You Can Handle Them
Many people have back pain at some point in their life and at least half of them experience recurring back pain. Sometimes, there is no one particular cause for the pain but rather a build-up of activities they might have done. Back pain is so commonplace that it is one of the top three leading reasons why people see the doctor and miss work. The good news is that most back pain clears itself up within a few weeks. If you are one of the many people that experience back pain, there are a number of causes to consider.
Referred Back Pain
Referred back pain means that you feel pain in your back but it is attached to some other underlying health condition in your body. For example, kidney infections can cause back pain as can appendicitis and bladder infections. Women with infections or disorders in the pelvic area can also experience pain in the back.
Pulled or Stressed Out Muscles
Have you ever slept in an awkward position and paid for it in pain the next day? Sleeping funny can stress out your muscles, ligaments and tendons in addition to lifting heavy objects or even turning or twisting the wrong way. When you experience sensitivity and pain in certain muscle groups, like in your back, doctors refer to it as myofascial pain. Many kids experience this type of back pain because they tote heavy backpacks and school bags. Poor posture and improper lifting techniques can also contribute.
Musculoskeletal Diseases and Conditions
There are a number of musculoskeletal diseases and conditions that can contribute to back pain. For example, fibromyalgia causes pain and tenderness in nerve trigger points and joints in the back and other areas of the body. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition that causes deterioration of the discs between the vertebrae.
Osteoporosis can also cause back pain. Calcium leaches out of your bones over time and puts them in danger of stress fractures and breaks. If you have osteoporosis and decide to partake in heavy lifting or other overly strenuous exercise, you can create tiny compression fractures in one or more vertebrae.
Disc Problems
A herniated disc is a common cause of back problems. Wear and tear over time can cause one or more of your discs along your spinal column to rupture (herniated). Sometimes called a slipped disc, this rupture can pinch one of the many nerves that emanate from the spinal column. The sciatic nerve is one of the most commonly affected nerves and it runs down to your leg, so not only would you feel pain in the back because of a herniated disc but also feel sharp, shooting pain down your leg as well.
Over the counter pain relievers can help as can topical herbal remedies for pain such as lavender oil, eucalyptus, chamomile, witch hazel and arnica. Some herbs consumed in tea form have anti-inflammatory properties that can alleviate pain too such as chamomile, valerian, rosemary, elderberry and black cohosh. Ice packs can numb pain while heating pads can loosen tight muscles in the back.
If you can afford it, make it a point to visit a chiropractor because your spine may be out of alignment. Acupuncturists can also treat your back pain as well. What you should not do is lie around and be lazy when you have back pain because the joints and muscles may seize up. Rather, light exercise such as walking and stretching can be beneficial. With a little TLC and time, most back pain eventually resolves on its own.
Witch Hazel – A Natural Remedy for a Variety of Conditions
The herbal plant Hamamelis virginiana also know as witch hazel has long been used for a variety of health treatments because of its exceptional anti-inflammatory properties. You may remember seeing a bottle of witch hazel on your grandmother’s dresser but not known what it was. While the last 100 years or so have seen this herb being used primarily for beauty applications, there are a variety of ways it can be used.
Historical Use
Witch hazel has been used throughout history as a treatment for inflamed, swollen eyes, wounds, and irritated, bleeding or dry skin. It was also used to treat internal issues such as sore throats and gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and colitis. Native Americans introduced witch hazel to the new settlers and eventually its properties proved useful in toiletries, particularly aftershave, styptic pencils and skin treatments.
Current Applications
This herb contains a high amount of tannin, a natural astringent, along with some other beneficial chemicals. When scientists found some compounds in witch hazel that could prove toxic when ingested in large amounts, internal applications fell out of favor. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory effects however, there are still many external practical applications of witch hazel for a variety of conditions.
- Controlling blemishes – The astringent properties of witch hazel can reduce the redness and inflammation of pimples. It also reduces the oil on the skin which contributes to blemishes.
- Hemorrhoid relief – When the blood vessels around the rectum and anus become swollen and inflamed, hemorrhoids may develop both internally and externally. You can mix witch hazel with aloe vera gel or even petroleum jelly and apply the mixture to external hemorrhoids to provide itching relief as well as shrink the blood vessels contributing to the problem. Mixed with glycerin, you can create a homemade enema for treating internal hemorrhoids.
- Shrink under eye bags – Dabbing a witch hazel soaked cotton ball on your puffy under eye area will help shrink the swollen tissue and reduce bagginess while tightening your skin.
- Reduce the appearance of varicose veins – Soak a washcloth or compress in witch hazel and apply directly onto the affected area. Varicose veins cause pain and tend to swell when you are on your feet too long. By propping your legs up and applying the witch hazel, you can shrink the swelling of the veins, thereby reducing their appearance and even alleviate some discomfort.
- Speed up healing time for bruises – Dabbing witch hazel onto your bruises at least three to four times a day can hasten the healing time, sometimes cutting recovery time in half.
- Soothe itchy skin conditions – Poison oak and poison ivy can cause extreme itching and even some swelling. Applying witch hazel onto the affected areas can relieve the itching and reduce swelling. The same treatment helps with heat rash, razor burn and even a baby’s diaper rash.
- Other skin treatments – If you experience sunburn, witch hazel is a natural remedy that soothes the burning, itching feeling. It can also help heal the sunburned skin area in half the time and even reduce the likelihood that you will peel. Minor cuts and bug bites also benefit from this astringent herb. It can cleanse a small break in the skin, protect against infection and even reduce swelling around the site.
Sugary Colas Tied to Gestational Diabetes
Study found drinking five or more per week prior to pregnancy increased risk by 22%
By Ed Edelson
HealthDay Reporter
(HealthDay News) — Women who drink five or more servings of sugar-sweetened cola per week before they conceive increase their risk of developing diabetes during pregnancy, a new study indicates.
“Previous studies have shown an association with other chronic metabolic problems,” said study author Dr. Liwei Chen, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, in New Orleans. “This is the first to show an increased risk among pregnant women.”
Gestational diabetes, known as glucose intolerance during pregnancy, is one of the most common complications of pregnancy. It increases the chances of lifelong diabetes for the woman and also can have permanent effects on the unborn child, Chen said. The report appears in the December issue of Diabetes Care. Read more…