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Herbal Health Natural Health Newsletter, April 2004, Issue 229
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Natural Health Newsletter Issue 229
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Toll Free for orders 1-866-467-6444 Issue Editor - Patti Kantor | | Herbs - Vitamins - Minerals - Magnetics - Candles - Aromatherapy - Holiday Gifts - Bath & Beauty - Essential Oils - Condition & Ailment Guide - Womens Health - Mens Health - Weight Loss - Health Books Enter coupon code NL040104 when checking out to obtain discounts on your next purchase from http://www.Insensual.com | | Back to Top | GET ACCURATE BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS by Patti Kantor The position in which you hold your arm while having your blood pressure tested can affect the final reading, according to researchers at the University of California at San Diego. In a case of purposely exaggerated arm positions, the director of the emergency room (ER) at the University of California, Dr. David Guss, oversaw a study of 100 ER patients who all experienced heart problems. Upon admission to the hospital, blood pressure readings were taken from the left arm of each patient - first with the arm perpendicular to the body and then with the arm parallel to the body. Blood pressure readings taken while the arm was in the perpendicular position showed hypertension in 22 patients. However readings taken with the arm parallel to the body showed hypertension in 41 patients almost a 50% increase. The recorded blood pressure readings were anywhere from 8.8 points to 14.4 points lower when the arm was in the perpendicular position as opposed to when it was held parallel to the body. Although both positions were etremely exaggerated, the results demonstrated the importance of being consistent while taking blood pressure readings. The ideal position of the arm during a reading should be between the two extreme positions with the arm at heart level and the elbow slightly flexed. Unfortunately studies have shown that as many as 73% of healthcare workers do not put the patients arm in the proper position this includes using the right arm rather than the preferred left arm. It is estimated that 35 million Americans have high blood pressure with 15 million of those unaware of their condition. Only an estimated two out of five receive adequate treatment. High blood pressure is often referred to as the silent killer because it usually causes no symptoms until complications develop. Warning signs of advanced hypertension can include pulsating headaches (especially in the morning), nausea, vomiting, sweating, rapid pulse, shortness of breath, dizziness and vision problems. WHATS THE DANGER? When the heart pumps blood through the arteries, the blood presses against the walls of the blood vessels. For those who suffer from hypertension, the pressure is abnormally high. The heart must work harder to pump an adequate amount of blood to all the tissues of the body when the blood pressure is elevated. Untreated high blood pressure can damage the heart, kidneys and eyes - leading to angina, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, peripheral vascular disease, retinopathy, stroke and abnormal heart beat. Additionally, high blood pressure is often associated with heart problems, kidney disorders and obesity. HOW IT IS MEASURED Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer - a soft inflatable cuff wrapped around the upper arm. It measures two points in the hearts rhythm. The first number, the systolic pressure, is measured when the pressure from the cuff causes the pulse in the lower arm to stop. The second number, the diastolic pressure, is determined when the cuff is deflated and the blood flows freely once again. The blood pressure of a normal, healthy adult is 120/80. High blood pressure is divided into two categories. Primary hypertension is high blood pressure that is not due to an underlying health problem. Secondary hypertension is when high blood pressure is a direct result of medications or an underlying health problem. While in many cases, a doctor may not be able to pinpoint the exact cause of high blood pressure, there are some factors that are known to increase it, including:
Also, the incidence of high blood pressure is generally higher in blacks and the elderly. Other common causes of high blood pressure include:
MONITORING BLOOD PRESSURE Recently blood pressure monitoring kits have become available for home use. While most healthcare providers prefer to use the traditional mechanical gauge since these are known to be the most accurate especially in the hands of one who knows how to check blood pressure accurately - there are digital monitors that are more user-friendly. While these digital monitors may be less accurate, they are well worth the investment since they can give your healthcare provider a record of blood pressure readings. This information can be valuable in determining blood pressure problems, much more than a single reading taken while at the doctors office. Also, it should be noted that most blood pressure cuffs are designed to fit persons whose arm width is no more than 13 inches around. If your arm is larger than this, the reading will not be accurate you need to use a larger cuff. POSSIBLE LIFESTYLE CHANGES There are a number of proactive steps one can take to lower blood pressure. - Maintain a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Reduce salt intake
- Limit or eliminate tobacco, caffeine and alcohol use
- Add fiber to the diet
- Eat fruits and vegetables
- Stick to a light or moderate exercise regime after consulting with a doctor
- Take two tablespoons of flaxseed oil a day
- Reduce stress
- Monitor blood pressure at home
- Take blood pressure medications properly
In addition, consider taking essential supplements. Talk to your doctor about taking: Helpful herbs include:
Also it should be noted to avoid ephedra and licorice, since both can raise blood pressure. Click here for more information about high blood pressure and hypertension, including helpful products.
| | Back to Top | PREVENT ALLERGIES WITH VITAMIN E by Patti Kantor Vitamin E has been long touted as an antioxidant protecting against cell damage caused by free radicals. It has been known to help treat or protect against at least 80 diseases, including: VITAMIN E AND HEART PROBLEMS A good example of just how powerful vitamin E can be is perhaps best illustrated in its role in preventing heart problems. In fact, at appropriate doses, vitamin E has been shown to have virtually the same pharmacological properties as coumadin (crystalline warfarin sodium - a prescription anticoagulant), or its generic, warfarin. This means that appropriately high doses of vitamin E can possibly be substituted for coumadin. It has been learned that by simply increasing your dose of vitamin E over several weeks, starting with 200 IUs daily, and then gradually increasing the dose to eventually getting between 1,200 and 2,400 IU daily, you can greatly improve protime test results. Be sure to see your doctor regularly, especially while boosting your vitamin E. Have him or her check your protime routinely. The more vitamin E you take, the stronger coumadins effect will be, and this will be reflected in the protime results. Eventually, as your results improve, your doctor may have you cut back on your dosage of coumadin. In addition, some studies have also shown that daily use of vitamin E can be more protective than aspirin for prevention of heart attacks, and with no ill side effects. Aspirin, on the other hand, causes or contributes to an estimated 3,000 deaths in the United States per year. VITAMIN E AND ALLERGIES Now it has been learned that vitamin E may also be helpful against allergies. That is according to results of a recent study published in the British journal, The Lancet. Data drawn from a random sample of 2,633 adults (ages 18 to 70) showed that an increased intake of vitamin E reduced levels of the allergy-related antibody, IgE. This relationship proved to be incremental when each 1-milligram increase in vitamin E (up to seven milligrams) corresponded with more than a 5% decrease in serum antibody levels. Good sources of vitamin E include: - vegetable oils
- dark green leafy vegetables
- nuts
- seeds
- whole grains
Fortified cereals are also an important source of vitamin E. It can also be found in brown rice, milk, oatmeal, soybeans, sweet potatoes, watercress, wheat and wheat germ. Herbs that contain vitamin E include: - Alfalfa
- Bladderwrack
- Dandelion
- dong quai
- flaxseed
- nettle
- oat straw
- raspberry leaf
- rose hips
While most Americans are getting enough vitamin E, according to a 2000 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, the IOM cautions individuals who consume low fat diets which have gained popularity recently. These people need to make sure they are getting enough vitamin E since vegetable oils are such a good dietary source. Also, while food manufacturers fortify many foods with vitamins and minerals, it is important to read the nutrition facts panel of the food label; especially to determine whether a food provides vitamin E. More information about building a healthful diet can be found in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid at www.nal.usda.gov. TOO MUCH VITAMIN E? Apparently, the health risk of too much vitamin E is low. A review of the safety of vitamin E in the elderly indicated that taking supplements for up to four months at doses of 530 mg or 800 IU (35 times the current Recommended Daily Allowance) had no significant effect on general health. However, although this study provides evidence that taking a vitamin E supplement containing 530 mg or 800 IU for four months is safe, the long-term safety of vitamin E supplementation has not yet been tested. For now, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) has set an upper tolerable intake level for vitamin E at 1,000 mg (1,500 IU) for any form of supplementary alpha-tocopherol per day because the nutrient can act as an anticoagulant and increase the risk of bleeding. Upper tolerable intake levels represent the maximum intake of a nutrient that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects in almost all individuals in the general population, according to the IOM. Also it should be noted that the body needs zinc in order to maintain proper levels of vitamin E. If you take both vitamin E and iron supplements, you should take them at different times of the day so they dont offset each other. Click here for more information about vitamin E and helpful products.
| | Back to Top | NEW FINDINGS:
FENNEL HELPS COLIC Moms who give their baby fennel seed oil at the onset of colic may be able to reduce its intensity, according to a new study in Alternative Therapies, 2003. Infantile colic is as a condition in which an infant, usually under four-months-old, cries for at least three hours a day, at least three days a week and continues to do so for more than three weeks. During a crying spell, the infant becomes red-faced and draws his legs up to his stomach as if in pain. The cause of the apparent spasmodic pain is unknown. It is believed that colic may be due to food allergies, formula intolerance (such as lactose intolerance), excessive gas formation, or intestinal cramping. While some babies may benefit from removing suspected allergens from the diet, this does not always resolve the symptoms. Although colic is considered by pediatricians to be normal, it can be quite disturbing for parents. In fact, it is a frequent reason for visits to the doctors office or even the emergency room. In the study, 121 infants with colic were randomly assigned to receive 5 ml to 20 ml of a 0.1% fennel seed oil emulsion or a placebo up to four times per day for one week. Diaries of symptoms were kept for one week before starting the study, during the study, and for one week following discontinuation of the treatment. The amount and frequency of fennel solution given was also recorded. Colic symptoms decreased significantly by 45% in the infants taking the fennel formula, compared with only a 5% reduction in symptoms in those taking the placebo formula. Based on specific diagnostic criteria, colic was eliminated in 65% of the infants taking the fennel formula. No adverse side effects were observed in infants receiving the fennel treatment. Fennel has been shown in some studies to reduce intestinal spasm and to increase the movement of the small intestines. The effectiveness of fennel in the new study supports the belief that abnormalities of these two factors play a role in the development of colic. The only other medicine known to help colic is dicyclomine hydrochloride (Bentyl®), but studies suggest that some infants may develop major side effects, like breathing difficulties, seizures, dizziness, coma, and even death. Therefore, doctors tend to not prescribe it to babies. Instead doctors often suggest various methods in an effort to soothe a colicking baby, like try: - Offering the breast or bottle
- Changing diapers
- Burping
- Rocking
- A relaxing bath
- Laying him on his tummy over a hot-water bottle wrapped in a towel
- A constant movement such as a baby swing
- Walking with your baby held over your shoulder
- Holding your baby in a football hold (with his head positioned over your elbow while your hand supports his bottom so he is facing away from you)
- Playing music for constant background noise sometimes even the noise of a running vacuum cleaner can provide comfort
- Placing the baby in an infant seat so that he is secure and set him on the ground next to the clothes dryer while it is running. The warmth of the dryer and constant noise combined may be of comfort.
Finally, if you are unable to cope with colic, be sure to discuss this with your doctor. He or she can offer a number of other suggestions as well as assure you that your baby is healthy. If you feel like you are at a breaking point, put your baby in a safe place, such as his or her crib, and call your doctor immediately. Click here for more information about colic and fennel seed oil, including products. | | Back to Top | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: Q1. Would you recommend taking fish oil as a daily supplement with vitamins? A1. Yes. Fish oil, a wonderful source of Omega-3 fatty acids, has been shown to be very effective in maintaining as well as improving cardiovascular health. I would recommend taking it daily along with a good multivitamin. | | Back to Top | | Q2. My husband has been suffering chronic hives for eight years. He has been to many specialists but has gotten no relief or resolution. He has been tested for just about every allergy imaginable so we know the hives are not a result of something that he is breathing or eating. While we understand that sometimes the cause for hives is never found, surely something has to relieve his discomfort. Unfortunately he has tried just about every over-the-counter drug available. What do you suggest? A2. I would suggest Cats Claw tincture. It is a rain forest herb that grows in the Peruvian Amazon. It has been used by native healers for many years, and is most helpful for hives. Click here for Cats Claw and more information about hives, including products. | | Back to Top | | Q3. I am inquiring about the grapefruit miracle diet. How good is it? Have a lot of people lost weight on this diet? How much can you lose? I see it has green tea in it so I should think it works good. A3. It is difficult to specify exactly how much weight you will lose since every person is different. One customer said it made her lose water weight, so if you are one who needs to lose water weight, it might be a good product for you. Regardless, you may want to start off your weight loss program with a good colon and liver cleanse first. A cleanse helped one customer lose 35 pounds. Also try a good fiber, which is a must with a cleanse. Click here for more helpful tips for losing weight, as well as other helpful products, including the Grapefruit Miracle Diet. | | Back to Top | | Do you have a question for us? If so please send in your questions to newseditor@insensual.com We will answer all email ASAP! | | Back to Top | For assistance or to purchase products by phone call toll free in the USA 1-866-467- 6444 or World Wide 1-307-577-6444 or e-mail your questions to newseditor@insensual.com. We will answer e-mails in the newsletter as space allows.
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