I am a big supporter of natural pain relief. I have had my own chronic pain to deal with for many years now, actually my whole adult life.
I had a really bad hit and run accident when I was 18 - me on bike, the other guy in a BIG red truck. Needless to say the 5 herniated discs and blown out shoulder are just a few of my daily aches and pains after 20 years.
Since the accident, there were other car related incidents that re-injured and added to my list of pain to deal with.
In the years of trying to have babies, we found that I have internal scarring related to endometriosis that is quite painful and was making it very hard to have children. WE were successful and have 3 miracles now, but it was not an easy path, nor pain-free.
I have had many opportunities to take over-the-counter drugs on a regular basis, and a plethora of prescriptions given to me by sympathetic doctors. But, I don't like pills and I didn't take them, I would just deal with the pain instead. So I found myself naturally looking for alternatives over the years.
Here is a great article that touches on how to deal with pain naturally and suggests some supplements to take.
http://preview.deliciouslivingmag.com/health/conditions/chronic-pain/0301-pain-natural-remedies/
I will most likely write an article on the subject myself in the near future, so I will make a point to post it here then.
Showing posts with label supplements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label supplements. Show all posts
5.25.2010
3.21.2010
10.22.2009
The Potentially Adverse Effects of Prescription Drugs
Courtesy of:
www.meta-ehealth.com
Discovering dangers of prescription drugs after they have been marketed to the medical community and public is common. Generally, 51% of FDA-approved drugs have serious adverse effects not detected prior to approval.1 Each year prescription drugs injure 1.5 million people so severely they require hospitalization. In addition, prescription drugs cause 100,000 deaths annually.2 With these numbers, how can the public be protected from dangerous drugs?
A recent study in JAMA examined the incidence of serious and fatal adverse drug reactions (ADR) in hospital patients. An ADR is any harmful, unintended, or undesired effect of a drug. This definition does not include drug abuse nor intentional or accidental drug overdose.2 The results of this study were conclusive: the rate of severe and deadly adverse drug reactions in U.S. hospitals was found to be extremely high—high enough that ADRs ranked fourth, after heart disease, cancer, and stroke, as a leading cause of death in the U.S.2
Despite FDA attempts to incorporate various drug safety measures prior to approving prescription drugs, they often overlook potentially dangerous effects. The use of prescription drugs is often crucial; however, in order to avoid potentially harmful side effects and drug-interactions, natural remedies should be incorporated whenever possible. Herbal therapies and nutritional supplements may support the relief of many health problems without the harmful effects of prescription drugs.
www.meta-ehealth.com
Discovering dangers of prescription drugs after they have been marketed to the medical community and public is common. Generally, 51% of FDA-approved drugs have serious adverse effects not detected prior to approval.1 Each year prescription drugs injure 1.5 million people so severely they require hospitalization. In addition, prescription drugs cause 100,000 deaths annually.2 With these numbers, how can the public be protected from dangerous drugs?
A recent study in JAMA examined the incidence of serious and fatal adverse drug reactions (ADR) in hospital patients. An ADR is any harmful, unintended, or undesired effect of a drug. This definition does not include drug abuse nor intentional or accidental drug overdose.2 The results of this study were conclusive: the rate of severe and deadly adverse drug reactions in U.S. hospitals was found to be extremely high—high enough that ADRs ranked fourth, after heart disease, cancer, and stroke, as a leading cause of death in the U.S.2
Despite FDA attempts to incorporate various drug safety measures prior to approving prescription drugs, they often overlook potentially dangerous effects. The use of prescription drugs is often crucial; however, in order to avoid potentially harmful side effects and drug-interactions, natural remedies should be incorporated whenever possible. Herbal therapies and nutritional supplements may support the relief of many health problems without the harmful effects of prescription drugs.
9.22.2009
Liver Health
Does our environment impact the liver? What is liver damage? What holistic protocols can help?
The main function of the liver is to metabolize substances in the blood to preparation for excretion. It has many other important functions, including synthesis of most essential proteins, production of bile, and regulation of nutrients such as glucose, cholesterol, and amino acids. The liver has over 500 known functions, too many to list here. Suprisingly you can do fairly well with only one-sixth of your liver functioning. If 50% of your liver were surgically removed, the liver would normally grow back to full size in about 3 months. What all this means is that it is often hard to find out if the liver is malfunctioning until the damage is extreme.
As the main detoxifying organ of the body the liver filters the unfortunate and substantial amounts of toxic substances in the food we eat, the city water we drink, the air we breathe, the gaseous toxins by many building materials, etc... The liver in most people needs a lot of help. Aside from detoxifying these external toxins, the liver also detoxifies excess hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc., partly digested proteins, ammonia from the breakdown of protein, and other toxins produced internally. In some cases the byproducts of normal function are themselves toxins; e.g., chemicals made in detoxifying alcohol consumed in large amounts and over a long time period can destroy the liver.
Environmental impacts on the liver's health can be exposure to toxins in our polluted industrial world - untamed waste products and rain water/river run off. The water we drink - added chlorine and fluoride plus any other toxins that may leach their way into the drinking water tables in the community. The quality of food we eat - with plenty of additives and preservatives, pesticides and herbicides. And more recently, genetically modified fruits and veggies that no body knows the true impact of yet.
Liver congestion is mainly caused by poor diet and exercise very prevalent in todays busy work place. These burdens can make fats build up in the liver tissues and clog the matrix of the organ, disabling it in moving fats into the blood stream.
Symptoms of congestion can include headaches, indigestion, tiredness, apathy, poor appetite, easy weight gain, and general muscle weakness.
Liver dysfunction has many causes besides the toxic foods we eat and the use of drugs, most of which tax the liver. Prolonged constipation is one major cause. Diets high in protein (such as meat, gluten, isolated soy protein, etc.) overwork the liver, as do fried foods, excess animal fats, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable fats (margarine, etc.), roasted nuts, tannic acid in tea, artificial sweeteners, refined sugars, alcohol, tobacco and deficiencies of B vitamins.
Liver damage (cirrhosis) can be caused by many factors - chronic alcohol consumption, heart failure, overeating, excess protein and carbohydrates in the diet . Causes can also include inherited diseases – such as cystic fibrosis; viral diseases -- hepatitis B and hepatitis C (these cause inflammation of the liver and damage over many years); autoimmune inflammation of the liver (the body's own immune system attacks the liver); Disorders of the drainage system of the liver (the biliary system); metabolic disorders of iron and copper (hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease respectively) each of which can deposit in the liver; medications and environmental toxins (rarely). Cirrhosis can also happen suddenly in the case of an accident if there is severe damage to the liver tissues.
It can happen continuously over many years as in the case of alcohol abuse.
Liver damage forms scars and circulation through the liver is impaired, creating congestion and functional disability. Often it is so severe that recovery is impacted. Scarring causes disruptions to the flow of blood and bile through the liver and keeps the liver from working properly. The most common symptoms include fatigue and weakness; loss of appetite, weight loss, and nausea; small, red spider-like blood vessels under the skin; yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice); redness of the palms of the hands (palmar erythema); swelling of the belly caused by fluid retention (ascites); swelling of the legs, feet, and back caused by fluid buildup (edema); breast development in males and, possibly, shrinking testicles; whole body itching (called pruritus); mental confusion (called hepatic encephalopathy), caused by a buildup in the blood of harmful toxins. Quite an amazing list infers the importance of keeping this organ healthy to insure a quality of life.
Protocols for maintaining liver health can include regular consumption of dandelion tea (whole plant), or you can make coffee with the dandelion root, if you roast it first. There are many herbs that lend a hand to helping the liver resume normal function and/or cleanse itself - dandelion, as mentioned above, milk thistle (Silymarin) is another invaluable herb, it contains some of the most potent lver-cleansing compounds available.
A regular elimination regime can rid the liver of stored toxins, cleaning out the tissues. This can be as simple as a short juice fast - giving the liver and the rest of the digestive organs a break from the daily routine allows them to repair and clean house. Elimination diets can get rather complex and specific, if needed. Some examples may include doing a 7-day liver cleanse with mostly liquid foods and water - no solids; or drinking a concoction of hot water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper several times a day. Another elimination option is colon cleansing, since constipation and lack of stimulation leads to loss of nutrients absorbed. Flushing the colon can greatly help in eliminating toxins and speed up the metabolism.
A diet with an abundance of liver-friendly foods can also be beneficial on a regular basis. This would include beets, artichokes, peas, parsnips, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, squash, yams, beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, okra, onion, and parsley. Choose organically grown produce as often as possible to avoid pesticides and lighten your body’s toxic load.
Consuming plenty of fresh clean water everyday - 64 oz. is highly recommended; this provides the liver plenty of fluid to function properly.
A decent exercise regime will keep the blood flowing and fats moving through your system.
Eating less fatty foods, or at least moderation of consumption, will benefit the liver by not overwhelming it with too many lipids to process. By nature, the liver will store excess amounts of fats, congesting the organ. Eating too much sugar, dairy (mucous forming), salt, alcohol, preservatives, additives, and pesticides also cause internal congestion. It is all hard for the liver to process.
Using glandular supplementation is another holistic option for liver health. This involves actually consuming the similar organ of an animal, or in some cases concentration of an organ. Nutritional glandulars have a very long history of safe and effective use by healing professionals in most of the countries of the world. The U.S. conventional medical system has chosen to use synthetic replicas instead. The wonderful thing about glandulars is that they provide the body with the exact nutrients needed for a specific organ in a perfectly harmonious synergistic balance, in this case using liver to support the liver. Glandular supplements help in tonifying the specific organ tissues and can provide enzymes for proper cellular health. It is possible to find a glandular that is specific to the liver, and this would help in repairing any known damage to the organ.
The main function of the liver is to metabolize substances in the blood to preparation for excretion. It has many other important functions, including synthesis of most essential proteins, production of bile, and regulation of nutrients such as glucose, cholesterol, and amino acids. The liver has over 500 known functions, too many to list here. Suprisingly you can do fairly well with only one-sixth of your liver functioning. If 50% of your liver were surgically removed, the liver would normally grow back to full size in about 3 months. What all this means is that it is often hard to find out if the liver is malfunctioning until the damage is extreme.
As the main detoxifying organ of the body the liver filters the unfortunate and substantial amounts of toxic substances in the food we eat, the city water we drink, the air we breathe, the gaseous toxins by many building materials, etc... The liver in most people needs a lot of help. Aside from detoxifying these external toxins, the liver also detoxifies excess hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, etc., partly digested proteins, ammonia from the breakdown of protein, and other toxins produced internally. In some cases the byproducts of normal function are themselves toxins; e.g., chemicals made in detoxifying alcohol consumed in large amounts and over a long time period can destroy the liver.
Environmental impacts on the liver's health can be exposure to toxins in our polluted industrial world - untamed waste products and rain water/river run off. The water we drink - added chlorine and fluoride plus any other toxins that may leach their way into the drinking water tables in the community. The quality of food we eat - with plenty of additives and preservatives, pesticides and herbicides. And more recently, genetically modified fruits and veggies that no body knows the true impact of yet.
Liver congestion is mainly caused by poor diet and exercise very prevalent in todays busy work place. These burdens can make fats build up in the liver tissues and clog the matrix of the organ, disabling it in moving fats into the blood stream.
Symptoms of congestion can include headaches, indigestion, tiredness, apathy, poor appetite, easy weight gain, and general muscle weakness.
Liver dysfunction has many causes besides the toxic foods we eat and the use of drugs, most of which tax the liver. Prolonged constipation is one major cause. Diets high in protein (such as meat, gluten, isolated soy protein, etc.) overwork the liver, as do fried foods, excess animal fats, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable fats (margarine, etc.), roasted nuts, tannic acid in tea, artificial sweeteners, refined sugars, alcohol, tobacco and deficiencies of B vitamins.
Liver damage (cirrhosis) can be caused by many factors - chronic alcohol consumption, heart failure, overeating, excess protein and carbohydrates in the diet . Causes can also include inherited diseases – such as cystic fibrosis; viral diseases -- hepatitis B and hepatitis C (these cause inflammation of the liver and damage over many years); autoimmune inflammation of the liver (the body's own immune system attacks the liver); Disorders of the drainage system of the liver (the biliary system); metabolic disorders of iron and copper (hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease respectively) each of which can deposit in the liver; medications and environmental toxins (rarely). Cirrhosis can also happen suddenly in the case of an accident if there is severe damage to the liver tissues.
It can happen continuously over many years as in the case of alcohol abuse.
Liver damage forms scars and circulation through the liver is impaired, creating congestion and functional disability. Often it is so severe that recovery is impacted. Scarring causes disruptions to the flow of blood and bile through the liver and keeps the liver from working properly. The most common symptoms include fatigue and weakness; loss of appetite, weight loss, and nausea; small, red spider-like blood vessels under the skin; yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice); redness of the palms of the hands (palmar erythema); swelling of the belly caused by fluid retention (ascites); swelling of the legs, feet, and back caused by fluid buildup (edema); breast development in males and, possibly, shrinking testicles; whole body itching (called pruritus); mental confusion (called hepatic encephalopathy), caused by a buildup in the blood of harmful toxins. Quite an amazing list infers the importance of keeping this organ healthy to insure a quality of life.
Protocols for maintaining liver health can include regular consumption of dandelion tea (whole plant), or you can make coffee with the dandelion root, if you roast it first. There are many herbs that lend a hand to helping the liver resume normal function and/or cleanse itself - dandelion, as mentioned above, milk thistle (Silymarin) is another invaluable herb, it contains some of the most potent lver-cleansing compounds available.
A regular elimination regime can rid the liver of stored toxins, cleaning out the tissues. This can be as simple as a short juice fast - giving the liver and the rest of the digestive organs a break from the daily routine allows them to repair and clean house. Elimination diets can get rather complex and specific, if needed. Some examples may include doing a 7-day liver cleanse with mostly liquid foods and water - no solids; or drinking a concoction of hot water, lemon juice and cayenne pepper several times a day. Another elimination option is colon cleansing, since constipation and lack of stimulation leads to loss of nutrients absorbed. Flushing the colon can greatly help in eliminating toxins and speed up the metabolism.
A diet with an abundance of liver-friendly foods can also be beneficial on a regular basis. This would include beets, artichokes, peas, parsnips, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, squash, yams, beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, mustard greens, okra, onion, and parsley. Choose organically grown produce as often as possible to avoid pesticides and lighten your body’s toxic load.
Consuming plenty of fresh clean water everyday - 64 oz. is highly recommended; this provides the liver plenty of fluid to function properly.
A decent exercise regime will keep the blood flowing and fats moving through your system.
Eating less fatty foods, or at least moderation of consumption, will benefit the liver by not overwhelming it with too many lipids to process. By nature, the liver will store excess amounts of fats, congesting the organ. Eating too much sugar, dairy (mucous forming), salt, alcohol, preservatives, additives, and pesticides also cause internal congestion. It is all hard for the liver to process.
Using glandular supplementation is another holistic option for liver health. This involves actually consuming the similar organ of an animal, or in some cases concentration of an organ. Nutritional glandulars have a very long history of safe and effective use by healing professionals in most of the countries of the world. The U.S. conventional medical system has chosen to use synthetic replicas instead. The wonderful thing about glandulars is that they provide the body with the exact nutrients needed for a specific organ in a perfectly harmonious synergistic balance, in this case using liver to support the liver. Glandular supplements help in tonifying the specific organ tissues and can provide enzymes for proper cellular health. It is possible to find a glandular that is specific to the liver, and this would help in repairing any known damage to the organ.
6.04.2009
5 HTP Supplement
5 HTP Supplement Facts - Similar Effects of Prescription Anti-Depression Drugs
As seen @ Shapefit.com
As seen @ Shapefit.com
What is 5 HTP?
5 HTP (Hydroxytrytophan) is a compound that is produced from the amino acid tryptophan. This acts as a precursor to serotonin (a neurotransmitter) and melotonin (a hormone). 5 HTP is created by the body during conversion of these compounds which are involved with several brain functions - behavior, stress mechanisms, appetite control and sleep cycles, to name a few. It is a naturally occurring compound in protein food sources, but to have a therapeutic effect, higher levels are needed. Therefore supplementation is an ideal option to obtain the benefits of 5 HTP. The source of over the counter 5 HTP is from the seeds of an African plant, Griffonia simplicifolia
What Symptoms Can 5 HTP Relieve?
This supplement has been found to help reduce the symptoms of depression, fibromyalgia, insomnia, Migraines. It has also been found to be helpful for people trying to lose weight due to its appetite suppression qualities.
What Are The Benefits of Taking 5 HTP?
This is becoming a very popular supplement worldwide due to the similar effects of prescription anti-depression drugs. According to natural healing principles, using any supplement can help stimulate the body's own ability to heal. This is a fundamentally different approach than the current medical ideology which places its emphasis on eliminating a patient's symptoms, not necessarily relieving the cause. 5 HTP deficiencies have been attributed to many cases of depression; so its use may indeed help those with mild to moderate depression.
People suffering from insomnia or any sleep disorder can benefit from this compound's ability to balance out the sleep cycle. It has been shown to reduce the time a person requires to fall asleep and can improve the quality of your sleep. This is especially significant for those suffering from insomnia, depression related sleep disorders and fibromyalgia.
Any malady regarding mood can be helped with its use; therefore people with depression, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SADS) or Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), however mild or severe, can benefit from its use. Daily stress reduction and mood enhancement is good a possibility with the general use of 5 HTP.
People who suffer from fibromyalgia can definitely benefit from the effects of 5 HTP, simply due to the above mentioned items - since all are contributing symptoms of this ailment. This supplement has been shown to enhance serotonin synthesis, thus increasing pain tolerance and ideally a decrease in the number of painful areas and morning stiffness.
What Are The Side Effects of 5 HTP?
Because 5 HTP converts into serotonin the lack of sexual arousal and reduced sensation in the genitals is always a possible side effect. This can be avoided by taking a break in supplementation for a week at a time.
Other known side effects that may occur include nausea, stomach upset, loose stools or constipation, and headache.
Taking frequent breaks from supplementation with this nutrient can definitely avoid most known side effects, as with any potent micro-nutrient. Any long term use of a supplement should be done only under the advisement of a professional health practitioner.
5 HTP has been sold in the USA since 1994 and after more than a decade of use, there has been no known life threatening of other serious side effects attributed to the use of 5 HTP.
Who Should Not Take 5 HTP?
If you have a serious illness or are taking any medications for a serious illness, consult your physician before starting a supplement, to make sure there are no drug interactions. Also, any person taking serotonin reuptake inhibitors or MAOs (both popular prescription anti-depressants) should not take 5 HTP as there are known complications.
General Precautions With Any Supplementation
I do not suggest in any manner the reader should self diagnose in any serious case, or if your symptoms are recurring - please see your physician. This information is suggestive and offers a method of alternative therapy for several symptoms or maladies - migraines, anxiety, insomnia, fibromyalgia, weight loss, depression and PMS. If you have a serious illness or are taking any medications for a serious illness, consult your physician before starting a supplement, to make sure there are no drug interactions.
Product Sourcing
Any supplement user should be cautious of the source for 5 HTP, since low grade options are available, and have been cause for FDA regulations and recalls in the past. So check out your supplier's reputation through client testimonials or claims of service.
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