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Trouble Sleeping Leads To Increased Ratings Of Pain In Cancer Patients, Study Suggests

Mar 04

ScienceDaily
A new study suggests that sleep problems lead to increased pain and fatigue in cancer patients. The results indicate that interventions aimed at trouble sleeping would be expected to improve both pain and fatigue in this patient population.
Results show that more than half the sample reported having trouble sleeping, with 26 percent reporting moderate or severe trouble sleeping. Compared with patients who reported no trouble sleeping, patients with moderate to severe trouble sleeping reported significantly more fatigue, pain and depressed mood. Using structural equation modeling analysis to evaluate causal relations and directions of effect, the best-fitting model indicates that trouble sleeping led to increased ratings of pain.
According to the authors, the relationship between pain and sleep often has been assumed to be reciprocal. In the present study, however, a model of reciprocal causation could not be fit to the data, and models in which pain caused trouble sleeping did not fit as well as the model in which trouble sleeping caused pain.
“We believed we would find a bi-directional relationship between insomnia and pain, but instead found that trouble sleeping was more likely a cause, rather than a consequence, of pain in patients with cancer,” said lead author Edward J. Stepanski, chief operational officer at the Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network in Memphis, Tenn.
The study included demographic, clinical and patient-reported outcomes data from 11,445 cancer patients undergoing treatment at the West Clinic, a large community oncology practice in Memphis. Participants had an average age of 61.5 years, and 74 percent were female. Breast cancer was the most common form of cancer, and about 25 percent of study subjects had received chemotherapy in the last 30 days. Increases in depressed mood also led to increased ratings of pain.
Younger age and recent administration of chemotherapy were both associated with increased trouble sleeping. According to the authors, younger patients often receive more aggressive chemotherapy than older patients; therefore, younger patients may be exposed to more treatment-related toxicity.
Stepanski stated that several studies have shown that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) improves sleep in cancer patients who have insomnia. He believes that this type of intervention may decrease patients’ pain and fatigue by improving their sleep.

Adapted from materials provided by American Academy of Sleep Medicine, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.
Journal Reference:
1.The Relation of Trouble Sleeping, Depressed Mood, Pain, and Fatigue in Patients with Cancer. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, April 15, 2009

Popularity: 1% [?]

An Apple a Day? Study Shows Soluble Fiber Boosts Immune System

Mar 04

ScienceDaily (Mar. 2, 2010) — A new University of Illinois study touts the benefits of soluble fiber — found in oats, apples, and nuts, for starters — saying that it reduces the inflammation associated with obesity-related diseases and strengthens the immune system.
“Soluble fiber changes the personality of immune cells — they go from being pro-inflammatory, angry cells to anti-inflammatory, healing cells that help us recover faster from infection,” said Gregory Freund, a professor in the U of I’s College of Medicine and a faculty member in the College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences’ Division of Nutritional Sciences.
This happens because soluble fiber causes increased production of an anti-inflammatory protein called interleukin-4, he said.
The study will appear in the May 2010 issue of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity and is available online now.
In the experiment, laboratory mice consumed low-fat diets that were identical except that they contained either soluble or insoluble fiber. After six weeks on the diet, the animals had distinctly different responses when the scientists induced illness by introducing a substance (lipopolysaccharide) that causes the body to mimic a bacterial infection.
“Two hours after lipopolysaccharide injection, the mice fed soluble fiber were only half as sick as the other group, and they recovered 50 percent sooner. And the differences between the groups continued to be pronounced all the way out to 24 hours,” said Christina Sherry, who also worked on the study.
“In only six weeks, these animals had profound, positive changes in their immune systems,” she said.
known that obesity is linked to inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Yet, in a recent study, the U of I scientists demonstrated that fat tissue produces hormones that appear to compensate for this inflammation. “There are significant anti-inflammatory components in fat tissue and, if they were strategically unleashed, they could potentially protect obese people from further inflammatory insults, such as a heart attack or stroke. In obese animals, you can see the body compensating in an effort to protect itself,” he said.
Not all fat is bad, the researcher noted. The Mediterranean diet, which receives high marks for its health benefits, includes such foods as olive oil; salmon, tuna, sardines, and trout, which contain important omega-3 and -6 fatty acids; and plant sources of fat, such as flaxseed.
“Now we’d like to find a way to keep some of the anti-inflammatory, positive effects that develop over time with a high-fat diet while reducing that diet’s negative effects, such as high blood glucose and high triglycerides. It’s possible that supplementing a high-fat diet with soluble fiber could do that, even delaying the onset of diabetes,” he said.
This study is one of the first to provide two valuable lessons, said Sherry. The first, already noted, is that soluble fiber has direct anti-inflammatory effects and builds up the immune system. The second is that the amount of soluble fiber necessary to achieve these health benefits is a reasonable, not a pharmacological, amount.
The recommended daily dietary recommendation is 28 to 35 grams of total fiber, but most of the FDA’s health claims are for insoluble fiber, and that’s where things get a bit complicated, she said.
“Not all fiber is created equal, although you wouldn’t know that by reading nutrition labels,” said Sherry. “Most manufacturers don’t tell you how much of each type of fiber a food contains, and we think it’s important that this information be included on a product’s packaging.”
Good sources of soluble fiber are oat bran, barley, nuts, seeds, lentils, citrus fruits, apples, strawberries, and carrots. “We used a citrus-based pectin in our study,” Sherry said.
Insoluble fiber, found in whole wheat and whole-grain products, wheat bran, and green, leafy vegetables, is also valuable for providing bulk and helping food move through the digestive system, but it doesn’t provide the boost to the immune system that soluble fiber provides.
Co-authors are Stephanie S. Kim, Ryan N. Dilger, Laura L. Bauer, Morgan L. Moon, Richard I. Tapping, George C. Fahey Jr., and Kelly A. Tappenden, all from the U of I. Sherry is now a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Michigan. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, and the USDA among others.

________________________________________
Story Source:
Adapted from materials provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Pain Relief For Cancer Patients?

Oct 15

Eezapein

Ease Pain Naturally: neck,back, shoulder,arms, hands & fingers, menstrual cramping

Benefits

  • Non-addictive hot tea
  • Stimulates the body’s natural healing response
  • Calms the mind and body
  • Natural herbal remedies

Karen had an advanced case of breast cancer when her friend asked her to see me. Doctors had given up hope on her and wouldn’t operate and told her it was too late to treat her. She was looking for some sort of alternative health solution for the pain she was in, not the cancer, since she knew her time was limited.

At the time, I knew of nothing that could be used for the pain. In alternative health practice, the answer to reducing pain is to eliminate the cause of the pain, and in Karen’s case, this solution looked pretty grim. Certainly one could try supportive measures such as increase CoQ10 and germanium levels that would oxygenate the tissues and possibly activate some healing, or try using acupuncture to open all the right energy channels for healing energy to flow through. But as far as an actual pain relief formula for cancer goes, that drew a big blank.

I find that by posing questions during the day in my mind, answers always seem to pop up and sometimes they do within a few days. Sometimes the answer comes in a matter of minutes.

How can cancer patients get pain relief? Certainly there must be an answer out there. Enough people have gone through the ravages of cancer and someone must have tried something that worked for at least 10 to 25% of those suffering from cancer.

The answer came through an indirect way. A friend had told me about her journey through life the last year, watching four of her good friends die of cancer. It was heart-wrenching to see her friends suffer. She began searching for pain relief solutions for cancer patients. After a few months, she found one.

I learned that pain from cancer ruins the quality of life they have, and does it rapidly. One-third to almost a half of all cancer patients experience moderate to severe pain during their bout of cancer. In those with advanced cases of cancer, that percentage jumps to between 70 and 90%. The sad news is that cancer survivors can continue to suffer from the pain years later. What an unfair situation that is, to have recovered from cancer and then be left with the pain and no solution for pain relief anywhere!

My friend found an herbal combination that was specifically designed by Chinese herbalists to control the cancer pain. It was actually designed as a pain relief solution for cancer victims. She had recommended it to some people who used the herbal pain relief formula and it had worked quite well, she said.

Some of the herbs included in the formula are Notoginseng, Red Sage, Red Peony, Cnidium and other analgesic herbs. As a master herbalist, I knew there were herbs that could interact with the nervous system and some that had the capability to decrease substance P, the substance responsible for pain sensations, but had never been taught what herbs to mix together to accomplish the degree of pain relief that cancer patients needed. It makes total sense physiologically and herbally that an all natural herbal formula could make a difference in pain management.

The good news was that the Chinese had already created the pain relief formula for cancer pain. As an herbalist, if you come across a formula that works, the rule is leave it alone! Use it.

I was sad that Karen, the woman with advanced breast cancer, moved away and was unreachable for me to share the good news. But the thought of helping others find a solution for pain relief for cancer was important enough to write this article.

Herbs are the way of life for many of the world’s populations. There’s a reason for it: they work. Even in difficult cases of cancer, it is possible to get some cancer relief. For more info, visit http://www.immuneenhance.com/products/eezapein/

Dr. Donna Schwontkowski is a retired chiropractic physician and also a Master Herbalist. For more info or to sign up for regular updates on herbs and cancer, visit her website at http://www.drdonna.net

Popularity: 4% [?]

Health and Nutritional Supplements, You Need Both

Oct 09

ENERhance is a natural herbal supplement.

Also contains vitamins & minerals.

Increases energy without caffeine.

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Health and Nutritional Supplements, You Need Both

By: Tan Kim Kia

Health is the greatest treasure a man can have.

There are several factors that influence our health. Among them we find the pollution, stress, inadequate nutrition. All these factors are hurtful to our body.

Did you know that in a whole year we consume over four kilos and a half to five kilos of poisonous substances present in our food?

If not eliminated, these substances create a chaotic movement of our body cells and generate a favorable ground for the action of free radicals. These free radicals generate a great diversity of cancer forms.

Health depends on an adequate diet too. “Scientific evidence in support of the health benefits of nutritional supplements has grown dramatically in recent years,” said Jeffrey Blumberg, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston. “We must now work to translate this knowledge to health care providers, policy makers and consumers so the simple actions people can take to promote their health and prevent disease can be more fully realized. The impact of a rational use of dietary supplements can also help reduce health care costs which escalate every year as our population grows older.

Symptoms

Many problems such as : lack of energy, insomnia, headaches, depression, mood swings, anxiety, easy bruising, bleeding gums, slow wound healing etc. can be traced directly to deficiencies in specific vitamins and minerals.

Circumstances

Because of the methods applied nowadays in agriculture, which destroy the natural mineral substances, we cannot be sure that the agricultural products ensure us the necessary vitamins and minerals. Although all people should try to have healthy and balanced diet, few in reality do.

Nutritional Supplements to bridge your nutrition gaps

More and more people try the nutritional supplements as a way to combat the nutritional deficiencies and to ensure the necessary of vital nutrients for maintaining the quality of their life. Before you start taking nutritional supplements you must know a few things about them.

Nutritional supplements represent a support to our body. The nutritional supplements clean the human body and restore the deficiencies present inside. While taken constantly, nutritional supplements promote good health and help prevent disease. Nutritional supplements represent a good thing that we need . Here are a few things that you might consider before taking nutritional supplements:

1. Everybody can consume nutritional supplement and mostly if is diagnosed with a nutritional deficiency.

2. You must find out if you have a nutritional deficiency.

3. Ask your physician if it is safe for you to take nutritional supplements.

4. Does this supplement interacts with any drug or food you are consuming?

5. If you want to know more you can read about it or you can find more information at nutritional supplements guide from the Internet.

Quality

Regarding their quality, the nutritional supplements must be natural, easy to assimilate, must have a high nutritional value, must come from ecologically non-polluted areas and must be certified.

On the market are thousands of dietary supplements. Great companies fight for a place on the market. Each of them offers a diversity of products. These products seem to bring the same benefits to our body but they are in fact very different one from another. The difference is obvious when you read the label and you see the ingredients. The ingredients are the ones which make the products so valuable.

Research

The nutritional supplements are usually obtained after a period of research.

The research services work hard in order to offer us good products having great and rapid effects. It would be good for you when you choose to take nutritional supplements to inform upon the company which produces the products. If it is a world leadership or if it is among the greatest in the world than you may decide to consume the products it proposes to you. They are first tested over and over again and are only then offered to the public.

So we must be very careful when choosing nutritional supplements and do not forget to consult your physician!

About the Author:

Allan Tan Kim Kia is an nutrition scholar and author of Best Vitamin Supplements Guide who provides tips and advice how to choose and where to buy best vitamin supplements online. http://www.best-vitamin-supplements-guide.com

Printed From: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/health-and-nutritional-supplements-you-need-both-83822.html

Popularity: 1% [?]

Super Smoothie Recipe

Oct 08


Super Smoothie Recipe, Healthy Fruit Smoothy, Nutrition How to Make

Natalie shows you how to make the king of all healthy fruit smoothies.

Please visit Natalie’s website at
http://www.nutritionbynatalie.com

************************************

Popularity: 17% [?]

Healthy Immune System – Boost It Now & Avoid Illness & Disease

Jun 24

Immune System Booster. Natural Herbal Product
___________________________________________________________________
If you want a healthy immune system this article is for you as the advantages include, more energy, more resilience to getting illnesses and quicker recovery time. Looking after your immune system is important, so here are some simple tips to help you achieve a stronger immune system.
A healthy immune system will protect your body against minor ailments and even more serious ones,, that can be fatal.

You need to eat the right foods for a healthy immune system. If you do, not only will you have see improvements in your skin and also receive an energy boost.

Here are your 10 simple tips to keep your immune system healthy.

The key to a healthy immune system is a regular supply of raw natural foods and detoxification of the body and these diet changes will help.

1. Garlic

The garlic bulb has gained recognition as a medicinal remedy in Chinese and Western cultures and has often been referred to as a “Wonder drug among all herbs”

Garlic’s active ingredient allicin, destroys, and inhibits various bacteria and fungi, growing in the body

When allicin combines with the enzyme allinase, which then acts as an antibacterial agent.

1. Effective in lowering the risk of heart disease

2. Enhances the resistance of the immune system

3. Protects the liver from damage induced by pollutants.

4. Helps in the treatment of digestive disorders.

5. Helps in the treatment of high blood pressure, bladder infection, flu, liver and gallbladder problems.

2. Chew your food

Chewing your food will help the absorption of nutrients

1. Get Plenty of fruit and vegetables

You need three to five portions a day. If you are always on the juice them for a pick me up drink or get a green plant supplement

2. Diet

As an occasional treat fine but they contain refined carbohydrates which simply are stripped of nutrients and have the added disadvantage of making you fat. Try and eat food as naturally as you can to get essential nutrients.

Vitamins A, C and E are antioxidants: they slow down the aging process and protect the body from cancer, heart disease and pollution and a raw unprocessed diet will ensure you get them.

3. EPA -Omega 3

EPA is a nutrient extracted from omega 3 fatty acids; these “good fats” are found in oily fish salmon mackerel, herring’s pilchards and sardines.

Omega 3, and in particular EPA, is believed to be of particular importance for eye and brain function.

Extensive clinical studies over the past 40 using omega 3 fish oil conclude it can help with the following ailments and diseases:

1. Depression

2. M.E,

3. Bipolar disorder

4. Huntington’s

5. Chronic fatigue syndrome

6. OCD

7. Schizophrenia.

4. Echinacea

Echinacea is a bought mainly by people wishing to prevent colds.

It is also reported to boost immunity for battling upper respiratory infections.

Laboratory testing shows that it contains echinacoside, an ingredient that HAS antibiotic effects.

Another ingredient, echinacein, is seen as a preventative property to stop infectious viruses or bacteria invading the body tissue. Health Benefits include:

1. Has anti-viral properties and as an effective antibiotic

2. Enhances the body’s immune system

3. Has anti-inflammatory properties which is used to treat arthritis and lymphatic swelling

4. Used in the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome, indigestion, gastroenteritis, and weight loss

5. Used to treat respiratory illnesses, mononucleosis, ear infections, septicemia (blood poisoning), and bladder infections.

The above is a positive start!

The above are 4 simple ways to boost the immune system but boosting the immune system does not just rely on diet.

You also need to do adequate moderate exercise ( A brisk 30 minute walk each day will do ) remove stress from your life and finally, adopt a positive attitude ( these are covered in our other articles ) and you will have all round protection.

The immune system is your defense against illness disease and death so everyone needs to look after it for optimum health and happiness.

More info: On all aspects of health and more on visit our website for a huge resource of articles, features and downloads and at http://www.net-planet.org/index.html


By sacha tarkovsky

Popularity: 5% [?]

Cancer pain: Relief is possible

Jun 05

Eezapein
Ease Pain Naturally:neck,back, shoulder,arms, hands & fingers, menstrual cramping

Secondary Benefits

  • Non-addictive hot tea
  • Stimulates the body’s natural healing response
  • Calms the mind and body
  • Natural herbal remedies
  • _____________________________________________________________

Cancer pain: Relief is possible

From MayoClinic.com
Special to CNN.com

Not everyone with cancer experiences cancer pain, but one of out three does. If you have advanced cancer — cancer that has spread or recurred — your chance of experiencing cancer pain is even higher.

Cancer pain strikes in many ways. Your pain may be dull, aching or sharp. It could be constant, intermittent, mild, moderate or severe. Timothy Moynihan, M.D., a cancer specialist at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn., offers some insight into cancer pain, reasons why people might not get the pain treatment they need and what they can do about it.

What causes cancer pain?

Cancer pain can result from the cancer itself. Cancer can cause pain by growing into or destroying tissue anywhere near the cancer. Cancer pain can come from the primary cancer itself — where the cancer started — or from other areas in the body where the cancer has spread (metastases). As a tumor grows, it may put pressure on nerves, bones or other organs, causing pain.

Recent research has shown that cancer pain may not just be from the physical effect of the cancer on a region of the body, but also due to chemicals that the cancer may secrete in the region of the tumor. Treatment of the cancer can help the pain in these situations.

Cancer treatments — such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery — are another potential source of cancer pain. Surgery can be painful, and it may take time to recover. Radiation may leave behind a burning sensation or painful scars. And chemotherapy can cause many potentially painful side effects, including mouth sores, diarrhea and nerve damage.

How do you treat cancer pain?

There are many different ways to treat cancer pain. The ideal way is to remove the source of the pain, for example, through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or some other form of treatment. If that cannot be done, pain medications can usually control the pain. These medications include:

  • Analgesics, such as aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others)
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others)
  • Weak opioid (derived from opium) medications, such as codeine
  • Strong opioid medications, such as morphine, oxycodone, hydromorphone, fentanyl or methadone

These drugs can often be taken orally, so they’re easy to use. However, it you’re unable to take medications orally, they may also be taken intravenously, rectally or through the skin using a patch.

In September 2006 the Food and Drug Administration approved a new form of the opioid fentanyl (Fentora) that dissolves in your mouth. This medication may be particularly effective for intermittent pain episodes, which are sometimes called “incident pain.” These fentanyl tablets dissolve rapidly, and the drug is absorbed through the lining of your mouth.

Specialized treatment, such as nerve blocks, also may be applicable. Nerve blocks are a local anesthetic that is injected around or into a nerve, which prevents pain messages traveling along that nerve pathway from reaching the brain. Other therapies, such as acupuncture, acupressure, massage, physical therapy, relaxation, meditation and humor, may help.

In your experience, what are some reasons for not receiving adequate treatment for cancer pain?

Unfortunately cancer pain is often undertreated. There are many factors behind that, some of which include:

  • Physician knowledge. One factor has to do with a physician’s knowledge and ability to treat and recognize pain. Some physicians and other health care professionals may not specifically ask about pain, which should be a normal part of every cancer patient’s visit. Cancer patients should be asked if they are having any pain. If they are, the physician should stop there and deal with the issue. Some doctors don’t know enough about proper pain treatment. If this is the case, your doctor might refer you to a pain specialist.
  • Patient reluctance. A second factor might be a patient’s own reluctance. Some people might not want to “bother” their doctors with the information, or they may fear that the pain means that their cancer is getting worse. Some are reluctant to report it or report it as thoroughly as they should because they’re worried about what doctors or other people might think of them if they complain. They might feel that because they have cancer, they’re supposed to have pain and be able to deal with it. That simply isn’t true.
  • Fear of addiction. Another factor might be a person’s fear of becoming addicted to the pain medications. This is something that we know doesn’t typically happen if you take medications for pain. If you take them when you’re not in pain or to get high, then, yes, you can get addicted. But the risk of addiction for people who take pain medications in an appropriate fashion — for pain — is very low, so this shouldn’t be a concern.
  • Fear of side effects. Some people fear the side effects of pain medications. Many are afraid of being sleepy, unable to communicate with family and friends, acting strangely, or being seen as dependent on medications. People are also sometimes afraid that taking morphine may shorten their life. There is no evidence of any of these happening if the medication is dosed appropriately. And although strong pain medications can cause drowsiness when you first take them, that side effect usually goes away with steady dosing.

What side effects can you expect from cancer pain treatment, and what can you do about them?

Each pain treatment may be accompanied by its own unique side effects. For example, radiation treatments may cause redness and a burning sensation of the skin. And, depending on what part of the body the radiation is applied to, the radiation may cause diarrhea, mouth sores or other problems, such as fatigue. Chemotherapy certainly can cause side effects, such as nausea, fatigue, infection and hair loss, but it can be effective in relieving pain if it shrinks the tumor. There are medications to help with nausea. Relaxation techniques also may help.

Pain medications each have their own unique side effects that should be reviewed with your physician before taking them. One of the common side effects of the stronger pain medicines is constipation — common to opioids. It can be treated with appropriate bowel regimens as prescribed by your doctor, such as adding a stool softener and something to stimulate the bowels. Preventing constipation is much easier than treating it, so anyone who takes these strong pain medications should automatically begin a regimen to keep their bowels moving. Some of the other side effects of the strong pain medications include confusion, lethargy and sleepiness. The severity of these effects varies from person to person and commonly occurs with the first several doses. But once a steady amount of the medicine stays in your body, the side effects usually resolve. Hallucinations and behavior changes are uncommon.

The less potent pain medications actually may have more side effects, which also should be discussed with your physician before taking them. For instance, anti-inflammatory drugs might damage your kidneys, cause ulcers or increase your blood pressure. Aspirin can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can cause liver damage if you take too much.

When should you discuss cancer pain with your doctor, and what points should you bring up?

Report any bothersome pain to your physician. If there is a minor pain that goes away, don’t worry about it. But if the pain interferes with your life or is persistent, it needs to be reported and should be treated. Although no one can guarantee that all pain can be completely eliminated, most pain can be lessened to the point where you can be comfortable.

It may help to keep track of your pain by noting how strong it is, where it’s located, what makes it worse, what brings it on, what makes it better and anything else that happens when you have the pain. A pain-rating scale from 0 to 10 — with 0 being no pain and 10 being the worst pain you can imagine — may be helpful in reporting pain to your doctor. In addition, pay attention to what happens when you attempt to relieve your pain. If you take medicine, do you feel any ill effects from it? If it’s a massage or something physical that relieves the pain, those therapies are important to report, too. Note whether they cause any ill effects.

What steps can you take to make sure you’re receiving adequate cancer pain treatment?

First, you need to talk to your doctor or health care provider if you’re having pain. Second, you and your doctor should set a goal for pain management and monitor the success of the treatment against that goal. Your doctor should track the pain with a pain scale, assessing how strong it is. The goal should be to keep the pain at a level with which you’re comfortable. If you aren’t achieving that goal, talk to your physician. If you’re not getting the answers you need, request a referral to a facility more skilled in the care of pain, particularly a major cancer center. All major cancer centers have pain management programs. For the most part, the medications and treatment for pain are covered by standard insurance.

Popularity: 4% [?]

All you have to learn about herbal medications

Apr 14

In modern era of environmental problems, climatic changes, fast rhythm of life, stresses and various health problems, it is essential for everybody to take a good care for own health. Herbal medicine and herbal remedies can be a good solution for everyone, who looks for safe and natural methods to support own body and remain healthy and young for long time.
It was recently estimated that about 80% of the world’s population regularly uses herbal remedies and natural treatments for various ailments and health conditions. Growing public dissatisfaction with modern health care approaches and numerous disadvantages of using pharmaceuticals (including their cost, numerous unwanted effects and over-the-counter availability) produced a new wave of interest to traditional medicine and herbal remedies.

A great number of herbs and plants have strong therapeutic effects, and the humanity has not discovered the majority of those yet. Natural materials we can receive from medicinal plants contain a great deal of various chemical elements and components, which can produce powerful curative effects when they work as a composition. However, the effectiveness of herbal materials depends on some factors, such as climate, soil quality and other environmental aspects of the locality where the herb was growing, as well as the factors connected with harvesting and processing.

Herbal medicine is capable of curing a huge number of diseases and health concerns, starting from arthritis and eczema and ending with menopausal symptoms and chronic fatigue. At that, modern herbalists have a tendency to using whole plant extracts and benefit from therapeutic effects of the formulas, created by our Mother Nature rather than use extracts. However, modern herbal supplements and pills contain a great number of herbal extracts and concentrates, which are biologically derived and considered to be effective when working together. Such herbal medicines act slower in comparison with pharmaceuticals, but they usually have much better effects in long-term perspective.

There is a popular idea that herbal remedies are 100% safe because they are all natural. However, it is not true, and the people who rely on herbal remedies (especially modern natural supplements and pills with complicated formulas and dozens of ingredients) should not neglect possible side effects. Herbal remedies are also medicines, and chemical components of theirs can cause allergies, digestion problems or other negative reactions in the body. That is why it is absolutely essential to avoid self-healing and use modern herbal remedies under control of experienced herbalists or other competent medical practitioners.

You can find a great variety of herbal remedies and treatments in our pharmacies and health care shops. Essential oils used for aromatherapy and herbal teas are, probably, the most popular and safest among them. Liquid extracts, tinctures and syrups are used for treating the symptoms of such ailments as colds, headaches, increase heart rate and anxiety, depression and many others. Also, there are a lot of natural supplements, capsules, pills and tablets, which contain only naturally extracted elements and are designed for combating almost all known health problems of our times.


By Linda Moore
Published: 12/3/2008

Popularity: 1% [?]

Astragalus:The all round anti-cancer agent

Mar 09

Leucozepin bestseller
Strengthen Immune System

Secondary Benefits

  • Regulates blood cell counts
  • Boosts energy
  • Activates NK cells
  • Stimulates macrophages
  • Relieves fatigue

The all round anti-cancer agent

An all round performer

Astragalus has been around in Chinese medicine for two thousand years. It is known as ‘haung qi‘, or chi, because it boosts natural body energy levels. Astragalus is taken from the root of a perennial plant (Astragalus membranaceous) needing four to seven years to mature before the root is harvested in early spring. The root is not unlike a garlic bulb. Traditionally, this herb is known to boost the immune system and has benefits in cases of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and respiratory infections. It is also used as a general tonic and to treat burns, abscesses and for hepatitis.

An excellent Immune system booster

Its wide usage in China as an immune system booster brought interest from Europe, Japan and America. Original Chinese studies dated back to 1981, when a study by Hou et al showed that Astragalus taken orally induced greater quantities of interferon and leukocytes in the blood stream.
A common misconception is that merely stimulating the immune system will be enough to kick out a cancer. Maybe, in a few cases it will. But, by and large, the problem with cancer is two-fold – true, the immune system is weak, BUT …….the cancer evades the immune system because of the low immune system response capacity. (In English – the bad guys can’t be ‘seen’, no matter how many good guys you produce. The issue is to make lots of good guys AND stimulate the bad guys in such a way that they appear on the radar screens).

So, Medical Herbalists rightly point out that two therapeutic requirements are essential when treating cancer – Immuno-modulating action, and Adaptogenic action, and BOTH are required to work synergistically.

Open quotes Buy our All Natural Product by clicking here Close quotes

Astragalus seems to be able to do both jobs. Firstly, it has phenomenal immune system modulating effects. In tests at the Hiroshima School of Medicine in Japan, it was shown to directly increase B-lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte levels, interleukin and antibody production.
But, not only does it increase the number of various white cells and in particular the ‘hunter’ T-cells it also helps identify the viruses, bacteria and other rogue cells. The University of Texas has shown that Astragalus seems to be an adaptogenic herb ’offering up’ viruses, bacteria and even cancer cells to be seen by the immune system.

Astragalus contains bioflavonoids, choline and a polysaccharide, asragalan B, amongst other active ingredients. Astragalan B controls bacterial infection, viruses and other such ‘rogue’ bodies by binding to their outer membranes. This has two effects – it weakens their internal systems, and by sitting on the membrane it thus helps the T-cells identify rogue cells.

All this also makes its use as an adjunct to fight AIDS increasingly important.

FDA to approve role in cancer

A considerable amount of detailed German and American research has confirmed the herb’s powers, and identified an important potential role in cancer therapy. For example:

  • Researchers from the University of Texas, Houston, have reported that cancer patients receiving Astragalus have twice the survival rate of those only receiving placebos.
  • It is often used in conjunction with other herbs. In a 1994 Italian study (Morazzoni, Bombardelli) breast cancer patients were given a combination of Iigustrum and Astragalus. Patients given this mix showed a decline in mortality from 50% to 10%.
  • In another study of patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer all undergoing chemotherapy, the group taking the dual herb mix showed an average life span increase of 130%.
  • Astragalus doesn’t merely enhance interferon levels; there is strong scientific evidence that it benefits liver function (often impaired in the cancer sufferer). In China, Astragalus is widely used in the treatment of hepatitis. It seems to reduce toxin levels significantly, boost interferon levels and inhibit viral protein expression whilst having little or no effect on normal DNA. (Zhang 1995, Fan 1996)

The FDA is currently granting it approval as an anti-cancer agent.

Improves the effectiveness of Radio- and Chemotherapy

One extremely important conclusion from several US studies is that Astragalus seems to help the immune system differentiate between healthy cells and rogue cells, thereby boosting the body’s total ‘cancer fighting system’. One effect of this is the added benefit of improving the effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatments.

  • In Chinese hospitals Astragalus is now routinely used to help people recover from the negative effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
  • MD Anderson Cancer Center (Texas) researchers reported that cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy had twice the survival rates if they took astragalus during the treatment.
  • In the West some herbalists routinely provide chemotherapy and radiotherapy patients with Astragalus, and apart from boosting the immune system (which of course both orthodox treatments damage) it also seems to stop the spread of malignant cancer cells to secondary healthy tissues.

There are no known conflicting effects with drugs. Astragalus should be taken with meals at a total intake of 2,000 to 3,000 mgs per day.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Healing Herbs for Preventing and Curing Cancer

Mar 09

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Strengthen Immune System: contains Astragalus

Secondary Benefits

  • Regulates blood cell counts
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  • Stimulates macrophages
  • Relieves fatigue

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Healing Herbs for Preventing and Curing Cancer

Dina Hunter

Healing Herbs for Preventing and Curing Cancer No one knows exactly what causes cancer. Research has learned that when the immune system slows down or cannot work properly, cancer and other immune failure diseases seem to take over. The white blood cells are a main part of the immune system. When the white blood cells die or in some way become impaired, the immune system breaks down. Conventional cancer treatments usually consist of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. These can all lower your white blood cell count and wreak havoc with your immune system. White blood cells are very tough little guys, swimming through our veins, attacking infections and various other “bad germs” in our blood. But they are vulnerable to certain things. They can not do their job well when there is infection. They are killed off by chemotherapy, radiation, mold, chlorine and fluoride in our water supply and metal toxins such as mercury, iron or aluminum. What’s even more frightening is antibiotics, as well as, some pharmaceutical drugs that we are given to help combat disease and infection can sometimes destroy the white blood cells. Many times the very drugs and treatments that kill cancer end up killing the patient because their organs break down and fail to function. So there goes our immune system. In 2002 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I endured surgery and chemotherapy, which made me horribly sick and left me so weak I could barely walk across the room. When I told the oncologist I was sick and vomiting for several days after each chemo session, she told me it couldn’t be the chemo making me sick. It had to be something else making me vomit. Even after the chemo sessions were over, I was still too weak to do much of anything. I asked the oncologist if there were any herbs or certain kinds of foods I should eat. She said, “No, just eat what you normally eat.” She obviously had no knowledge of herbs or nutrition. So, it looks to me like, if you’re suffering from the effects of chemotherapy or radiation, you’re pretty much on your own. It’s very hard to cope with these vague feelings of tiredness, no energy, depression, irritability, loss of appetite, memory loss and concentration. Most doctors seem to feel these symptoms are unimportant and dismiss them without much thought. One thing we can do is take advantage of the many cancer fighting, immune enhancing herbs, some of which have been around for 1000s of years. Scientists around the world are concentrating on herbal medicines to boost the immune cells of the body in it’s fight against cancer. Find a good herbalist or Doctor of alternative medicine. He or she can put together an herbal formulation based on your body, it’s needs and your life style. Because there are many kinds of cancer and different herbs work in different ways, they are usually not given singly. They work much better in synergistic combinations. Some herbs fight disease by enhancing the immune system. Others work with the lymph system to neutralize toxins and encourage drainage of fluids which flush toxins out of the body. Water, although not an herb, does a very good job of flushing toxins from the body. Just make sure the toxic chemicals that are added to most water systems are filtered out before you drink it. According to the Department of Agriculture there are over 3000 herbs that contain anti-cancer properties. Following is a list of the more common herbs for treating this dreaded disease. Astragalus has been used for more than 5000 years in China. It enhances the immune cells and the natural killer cells that are known to destroy cancer cells. It has been shown in research to speed recovery from chemotherapy and radiation treatments and prolong life expectancy. Astragalus is rarely given alone. According to Chinese medicine it works best when given along with other immune enhancing herbs. Some studies do show that it is effective when used alone and it is certainly worth using. Flaxseed supplements help balance the hormonal system and enhances the immune system and is recommended as a preventative for women who are concerned about breast cancer. Doctors in Germany have been using yarrow along with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Garlic and onion has been shown to reduce the risk of cancer of the colon, esophagus and the stomach. Hippocrates was the first to recommend it’s use. Antioxidants are found in most fruits, vegetables and herbs and are known to fight cancer and other diseases. Pau D Arco has been known to shrink cancerous tumors. Burdock, Cat’s Claw, sweet potatoes and pineapple, all have cancer fighting qualities which can detoxify your body and boost the immune system. If you don’t have an herbalist or doctor who will prescribe a synergistic herbal combination to fight cancer for you try eating a wide variety of herbs known to fight cancer and rejuvenate the immune system. Find more information about combating disease with herbs at www.healthyherbalplants.com .

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/healing-herbs-for-preventing-and-curing-cancer-482749.html

About the Author:

Dina Hunter is the author and owner of www.healthyherbalplants.com She is a firm believer in natural healing with fresh natural foods and herbs.She uses herbs for pain, stress and joint care As a cancer survivor she has done a lot of research on herbs to help This article discusses relevant herbs for preventing and curing cancer and helping the body cope with radiation and chemotherapy, recover from the effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/healing-herbs-for-preventing-and-curing-cancer-482749.html

Popularity: 10% [?]

 
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