Posts Tagged ‘Menopause’
A Tale of Two Macas
July 28, 2014 Written by JPMany holistically-minded consumers have heard of and/or tried Maca – a root vegetable belonging to the mustard family which has been used medicinally for thousands of years in the Andean region of South America. In health food stores, you’ll frequently find it in supplements intended to support athletic performance, hormonal regulation and virility. In addition, Maca powder is sometimes featured in juices and smoothie concoctions for added nutrition and unspecified health benefits. In essence, Maca has taken on a similar reputation as ashwagandha or ginseng, as an adaptogen which promotes balance in various systems in the body. However, not all Maca products are created equal.
Tags: High Blood Pressure, Maca, Menopause
Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 5 Comments & Updates
Pumpkin Seed Oil
July 20, 2014 Written by JPThe number of scientific studies devoted to specific natural remedies and traditional foods is difficult to predict. For instance, it’s possible to have a few to several studies published in one year and then virtually nothing more for another decade. Certainly, this is partially due to economics. Big cash crops and patented products tend to receive more scientific attention because of funding and financial interests. On the other hand, more generic herbs and nutraceuticals often fall into the previously mentioned, erratic pattern of research. Pumpkin seed oil is an example of the latter.
Tags: Hair, Menopause, Prostate
Posted in Men's Health, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 7 Comments & Updates
Shirodhara at The Hale Clinic
May 11, 2012 Written by JPDuring my last trip to London, I had the pleasure of visiting The Hale Clinic – a 25 year old institution that offers a wide assortment of alternative and complementary therapies and resources. The primary objective of this world renowned center of healing is to integrate holistic principles into the conventional medical paradigm. In addition to providing access to holistic practitioners, Hale also has a natural pharmacy and reading room on premises.
Tags: ADHD, Insomnia, Menopause
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Mental Health, Women's Health | 5 Comments & Updates
Natural Medicine in Iran
November 21, 2011 Written by JPMost of my columns are inspired by material that’s pieced together from numerous medical journals. Today, the exact opposite is true. The majority of studies referenced below can be found in recent editions of the Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. What’s more, almost all of the original studies I link to can be reviewed in their entirety for free. This may be invaluable to patients and physicians who are interested in the finer details and nuances of a medical trial.
Tags: Massage, Menopause, PMS
Posted in Mental Health, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 8 Comments & Updates
Feel Better Now!
October 31, 2011 Written by JPEffective and safe solutions to chronic health conditions are frequently sought after, but hard to come by. On a recent fact finding mission, I uncovered five natural options that fit this description. If you or anyone you know is living with lower back pain, depression, menopausal symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder or work related “burnout”, take special notice of the following research.
Tags: Depression, Menopause, Tai Chi
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Mental Health, Women's Health | 26 Comments & Updates
Antibiotics, Menopause and Corn Sugar
September 16, 2010 Written by JPOne of the dynamics in modern medicine that I hope will change in the near future is how patients and physicians interact. I’d love for most doctor’s appointments to begin with a question such as this: Doctor: “Do you have any information that you’d like to share with me before I begin my examination?” Patient: “I’ve done some research about my condition and I’ve printed out some specific details I’d like to discuss with you.” In order for this type of exchange to be successful a few common sense steps are necessary. The first is that physicians embrace the concept of patients being partners in their own health care decisions. But patients will need to do their part as well. It’s not fair or practical to deluge time-pressed doctors with piles of paper work. Instead, it’s best to be as concise as possible and reserve added details if they’re requested.
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Tags: Fructose, Menopause, Nutrition
Posted in Children's Health, Diet and Weight Loss, Women's Health | 3 Comments & Updates
Healthier Aging
March 27, 2010 Written by JPNatural medicine provides real solutions for health issues that literally span a lifetime. In today’s column, I’ve collected several items from the scientific literature that will illustrate this quite clearly. As you probably know, my goal is to have you all share at least one of these news items with someone in your sphere of influence. But some of today’s content involves rather prickly topics such Alzheimer’s Disease, constipation, menopause and Parkinson’s Disease. I realize that it may not be possible to just come right out and offer up advice about these somewhat sensitive conditions. However there’s almost always a creative way to disseminate such information. Read more »
Tags: Alzheimer's, Menopause, Pregnancy
Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 11 Comments & Updates
Nutrient Density
March 9, 2010 Written by JPSeveral weeks ago I posted a link on Twitter about the benefits of drinking water on weight loss. One response I received essentially asked, “Doesn’t everyone know that drinking water helps you lose weight?”. Well, I suppose many people do. But this reader’s question may reflect similar thoughts you’ve had while reading my daily blogs. You may detect familiar ground in some of the issues I cover. In fact, at times I even point out that I’m updating a particular health issue. The reason I do this may not be entirely clear. Scientists generally like to re-test widely held beliefs in order to clarify and verify them. Even the most widely accepted concepts in medicine benefit from further investigation. The result of such inquiries often add to the knowledge base and allow for a more accurate application of the information in question. Read more »
Tags: Menopause, Nuts, Vitamins
Posted in Diabetes, Heart Health, Nutrition | 7 Comments & Updates
Red Clover Research
December 4, 2009 Written by JPThere are two prevalent notions that I hope to dispel today. The first is the common misconception that many natural medicines are gender specific. The reality is that it’s very rare to find a holistic remedy that applies only to men or only to women. Another popular but equally counterproductive belief is that there is no middle ground in terms of the efficacy of naturopathic medicine. A supplement or therapy either works or it doesn’t. Many think it’s a black and white issue – doctors and patients alike. But that’s clearly not what it is found in the scientific literature. All complementary treatments fall somewhere between “completely useless” and “genuine panacea”. This ultimate truth can make the analysis of alternative medicine a bit complicated and, often times, messy. But that’s where the real answers are found – in the murky land of details.
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Tags: Menopause, Prostate, Red Clover
Posted in Alternative Therapies, Nutritional Supplements, Women's Health | 8 Comments & Updates
The Forgotten Superfruit
November 10, 2009 Written by JPIt’s interesting how certain aspects of the past are glamorized while others are considered “dated”. We can easily find examples in the worlds of architecture, fashion, slang/speech and transportation. The same is true of the history of nutrition. Particular foods and beverages, such as a midday tea or a bowl of stewed prunes, are generally associated with a period that’s time has long passed. Read more »
Tags: Diabetes, Heart Health, Menopause
Posted in Bone and Joint Health, Food and Drink, Women's Health | 17 Comments & Updates
Health News for Women
October 14, 2009 Written by JPMenopause is a time when many women begin to think about health issues that extend well beyond “hot flashes”. Every woman experiences this time of life in a different way. For some, the hormonal shift that occurs can profoundly influence quality of life in waking hours and even during sleep. Others are more fortunate and get through this period with only mild “reminders”. But what all women have in common are the physiological changes that are taking place, whether they feel them or not. Read more »
Tags: Anxiety, Bone and Joint Health, Menopause
Posted in Heart Health, Mental Health, Women's Health | 6 Comments & Updates
Beer and Menopause
October 5, 2009 Written by JPWhile searching through an upcoming edition of the esteemed journal Nutrition, I came across a rather curious study from Spain. The research assessed the impact of different types of alcohol on bone density in a group of middle-aged women. About half of the female participants were premenopausal, while most of the others were postmenopausal. The scientists conducting this population study examined questionnaires provided by the women and attempted to find patterns between alcohol consumption and the results of bone ultrasound tests. No correlation was found between wine drinking and bone density. However, the researchers did note stronger bones in women who drank beer regularly. Read more »
Tags: Bone and Joint Health, Menopause, Phytoestrogens
Posted in Food and Drink, Mental Health, Women's Health | 8 Comments & Updates