Women's Physical, Mental and Emotional Wellness
Today many women are looking beyond conventional medicine alone to keep themselves well
by optimizing their health, preventing illness and treating acute and chronic conditions
naturally. A holistic approach includes diet, exercise,
homeopathy, hydrotherapy,
acupuncture, stress reduction, self-care and spiritual renewal.
Women are becoming aware that most modern maladies are caused
by prolonged exposure to a combination of negative lifestyles and
toxic environmental factors,
including junk food and malnutrition, pesticides, antibiotics,
microwaves and chemical pollution of food, water and air.
Conventional medicine, with its focus on diagnosis and treatment of
disease, has the side effect of turning everything into a "condition"
that needs treatment. The survival of
the pharmaceutical industry is dependent on the elimination by any
means of effective natural health therapies. The natural and non-patentable
therapies that focuses on optimizing health, preventing illness and promoting
wellness have become the treatment of choice for millions of women
Wouldn't it be nice to understand how we really become ill? Or why some ailments
seem to crop up time and again? Do you ever experience a cold that comes out
of no where and lasts for weeks, and nobody else catches it from you, and it
happened about the time you lost your best friend or were really sad? And how
can we take the dread out of "that" time of the month for women? Do we have
to suffer from migraine headaches, PMS, cramps, depression, or the embarrassment
of unexpected panic and anxiety attacks? Could hot flashes really be stopped
dead in their tracks?
"To heal ourselves, we must reenter our bodies and
honor them. We must resist the temptation to always place the
body and its needs last. I want to awaken that still, small,
wise intuitive voice in all of us, the voice of our own body
which we have been forced to ignore through our culture, illness,
misinformation and dysfunction. Trusting the wisdom of the body
is a leap of faith for us in this culture.." Christiane Northrup, M.D.
Annual Medical Checkup
The annual medical checkup, enshrined for decades as a cornerstone
of preventative care - is a waste of time and money, doctors now admit. Around
44 million adults in America had a routine medical check-up between 2002 and
2004, and a range of unnecessary tests - costing $350m a year - were ordered.
These included tests on blood count, serum electrolytes, and urine, plus a check
on heart health. But, says Dr. Ateev Mehrotra from the University of Pittsburgh
Medical Center, these tests shouldn't be carried out routinely. Instead, they
should be ordered only if the doctor has a good reason to do so. General preventative
advice is often given either during other surgery visits or from other sources.
The only regular check-ups worth preserving are mammogram
and cervical smear tests, he says. (Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007;
167: 1876-83)
Cystitis - The Natural Solution
Cystitis is an infection of the bladder, urethritis is an infection of the
urethra, and pyelonephritis is a kidney infection. Escherichia Coli causes the
majority of urinary tract infections, bacteria found in the intestines. Because
of the close proximity of the anus to the vagina, women seem to be
more susceptible to the spread of this bacterium. Bladder infections are relatively
common in women, and for men may be a sign of a more serious condition. Symptoms
of cystitis include frequency, dysuria, cloudy or bloody urine, with pain and
tenderness in the lower abdomen. Many plants have a local reputation as being
effective in the treatment of cystitis. Often their efficacy will vary from
fresh to dried samples, time of year they were picked, etc.etc.. In Wales, freshly
picked Yarrow, preferable from sea cliffs, had a dramatic effect.
A client with interstitial cystitis, (IC is a rare chronic pelvic pain disorder
resulting in recurring discomfort or pain in the bladder and the surrounding
pelvic region-there's no known medical cause or cure.), recently e-mailed me:
"I have been noticing more and more
improvement since taking the
Marine Phytoplankton nutrients.
Women and Thyroid Disorder
The
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center estimates that there are over
13 million more Americans who have undiagnosed thyroid problems that are causing
many of their uncomfortable symptoms (fatigue, depression, excess weight, infertility,
miscarriage, severe menopause, dry skin, constipation, hair loss). Dr. Richard
Shames, a Harvard and University of Pennsylvania graduate who served at the
NIH, Dr. R. Shames believes that we are witnessing an
autoimmune low-thyroid epidemic. Karilee Shames, RN, PhD, Assistant
Professor of Nursing, points out that a major environmental trigger of low thyroid is likely to be the
fluoride added to municipal water supplies.
Scientists believe that fluoride can depress thyroid functions with levels as low as 2. 5 mg/ day
Dr. Julian Whitaker M.D. - "By far the most common
thyroid disorder is an under-active thyroid, or hypothyroidism, which causes the symptoms above as well as others.
Hypothyroidism has numerous effects on a woman's health, it has been linked
to osteoporosis, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and even lung
cancer. And if a woman with low thyroid function becomes pregnant, the health
of her child is affected as well."
Ovarian Cyst Miracle
When symptoms of bloating, pressure, cramps or pains occur in the pelvic
area, with or without irregular periods or bleeding, periods with blood dots,
or clots, or low fever, tiredness, for women, it may due to the growth of cysts
or fibroids. About 40% of women between 20 to 50 years of age have experienced
cysts/fibroids symptoms in their life time.
The sure diagnosis is to check with a doctor, and the only 100% sure cure for cysts/fibroids problem is a hysterectomy
surgery. Medications are also used to relieve symptoms or to shrink these benign
tumors, some with side effects not acceptable to many women. However, when no
symptoms are present, one could live with cysts/fibroids for life without any
problem, because most likely, these tumors are benign and cause no real danger.
Autoimmune disease in Women
Autoimmune diseases including chronic fatigue syndrome, vasculitis, juvenile diabetes,
alopecia, Graves' disease, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis,
and multiple sclerosis -- are among the hottest topics in the medical community.
Although these diseases express themselves in different ways, in all of them,
the body's immune system begins to attack normally functioning, healthy cells.
Despite the recent surge in interest and research, these fascinating diseases
are highly mysterious, frequently misdiagnosed, and controversial in cause and
treatment. They are often interconnected in ways that are both misunderstood
and life-threatening. And one of the biggest puzzles is why 80 percent of autoimmune
disease sufferers are women.
For reasons we do not understand, about 75 percent of autoimmune diseases
occur in women, most frequently during the childbearing years. Hormones are
thought to play a role, because some autoimmune illnesses occur more frequently
after menopause, others suddenly improve during pregnancy, with flare-ups occurring
after delivery, while still others will get worse during pregnancy.
Autoimmune diseases remain among the most poorly understood and poorly recognized
of any category of illnesses. Individual diseases range from the benign to the
severe. Symptoms vary widely, notably from one illness to another, but even
within the same disease. And because the diseases affect multiple body systems,
their symptoms are often misleading, which hinders accurate diagnosis. To help
women live longer, healthier lives, a better understanding of these diseases
is needed, as well as providing early diagnosis and treatment.
The unfolding events surrounding Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome,
(SARS) is yet another painful reminder that we live in a crowded world where
continents are only a plane ride away. The SARS epidemic is only one of an ongoing
series of new emerging diseases. Our best global and personal strategy is to
do all in our power to ensure and support our unique abilities of disease resistance
and immunity.
Homeopathy for Women's Health
Homeopathy can offer good
health to women in all stages of their lives from infancy through old age.
It is beneficial for the full range of emotional, mental and physical problems
that a woman is likely to experience, and can help her through the transitional
and developmental milestones of her life.
During
the teen years homeopathy can help with the hormonal changes of puberty
and the acne that often appears at this time, but primarily it can assist
with the emotional upheavals, which frequently occur as little girls make
the transition to womanhood.
Later in life when a woman gets pregnant, or has a hard time conceiving
(homeopathy can help with problems of infertility), it can assist with difficulties
frequently encountered, such as morning sickness and depression. By treating
the mother during pregnancy and making her as healthy as she can be, we
can insure that the baby will be born healthy and free of inherited diseases.
By treating throughout pregnancy, we also assist the mother to go through
childbirth safely and joyfully.
The homeopathic healing art is beneficial in helping women overcome the
effects of hormonal shocks to the system, which can occur after a difficult
birth, abortion, hysterectomy, and the use of birth control pills. Sepia,
a remedy made from the inky juice of the Cuttlefish is a commonly prescribed
remedy for women who have lost their spunk after a hormonal shock. Just
as the Cuttlefish spreads an inky cloud around itself, so the woman needing
Sepia envelops herself in a cloud of gloom. She feels emotionally flat,
and has an inability to express love or display affection to her husband
and children. She loses her sex drive and wants to be left alone, feeling
too tired to cope with housework, and from weakness resents any demands
on her time and energies.
This therapeutic science is extremely beneficial to women during menopause.
Remedies such as Lachesis muta are able to help women pass through this
transition with relative ease. As the remedies initiate a healing process
symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, lack of energy, weepiness, and anxiety
begin to gradually disappear in such a subtle fashion that the person is
unaware of how they passed.
Homeopathy Treatment
- When treating a patient for PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), the homeopathic
practitioner will select the most appropriate remedy that covers the range
of symptoms experienced. These may include fluid retention, breast tenderness,
headaches, irritability, weepiness, mood swings.
- Homeopathic treatment is also effective in treating problems associated
with menstruation - heavy bleeding, prolonged periods, painful periods,
absent periods, etc. It is quite common for women who have experienced debilitating
menstrual cramps for many years to have pain-free menstrual cycles after
treatment.
- Homeopathy is commonly used to treat uterine fibroids, and homeopathic
treatment may prevent the need for a hysterectomy.
- Symptoms of menopause also respond to homeopathy - hot flushes, insomnia,
mood swings. See the section on Homeopathy during menopause for more information.
- Homeopathy can also be used to treat infertility conditions. Homeopathy
can also help couples conceive even when there is no known medical reason
for the infertility.
- The range of conditions that may be treated with homeopathy is very wide,
and includes cystitis, migraines, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, arthritis,
anxiety, depression, insomnia, eczema, hayfever, bladder infections, gallstones
or kidney stones, respiratory ailments, etc.
- In addition, homeopathic treatment is safe and effective during pregnancy.
It can help with symptoms of morning sickness, heartburn, constipation,
and hemorrhoids.
- Increasing numbers of women are making use of homeopathy during labour
and childbirth, and homeopathic treatment can be very helpful after delivery,
or during breast-feeding.
- Homeopathy is truly a friend to women. It is a comprehensive system of
medicine which is able to meet the needs of people in all facets of their
lives, and through all of life's transitions. By strengthening the immune
system and helping to balance the mind and the emotions, homeopathy can
help women achieve the higher purposes of their lives, and feel their very
best.
About the Author of this website
I can't remember a time in my life, prior to 1982, when I wasn't struggling
with failing health. I was overweight (185 lbs), suffered from chronic fatigue
and my health was steadily going down the drain. For years I had been a
"junkie"; addicted to prescription and over the counter drugs. I used corticosteroids
for eczema/psoriasis, antibiotics for recurring throat and breast infections.
I also used nasal decongestants for chronic sinus congestion, and other
drugs for chronic backaches and other health problems. Unfortunately, instead
of generating a cure, the medications (including a course of nine months
of antibiotics) merely temporarily suppressed my symptoms, weakened my immune
system, and in the long run made me sicker.
In 1982 my doctor told me that I had to have a mastectomy because my
body was no longer responding to medication. But I was determined to not
let them cut off my breast. I had enough of orthodox medicine; I knew
I had to change direction to improve my overall health and vitality.
Learn how I overcame a lifetime of chronic diseases
and addiction to prescription drugs, and how I lost 60 lbs in 3 months effortlessly.
Shirley
Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine
by Tori Hudson, Christiane Northrup
At least one-third of Americans use alternative medicines to heal and maintain
health--75% of those consumers are women. Today, women are demanding their
doctors have a willingness to explore and combine complementary and conventional
medical practices in their approach to female health. The result is a bridge
between the two schools of thought commonly known as integrated medicine
which requires women to become proactive in their role as patient and provides
a safe, effective approach to maintaining and healing their bodies.
Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine covers in depth the whole range
of women's health concerns including menstrual difficulties, menopause,
endometriosis, osteoporosis and others and explains how integrated medicine
can be used to treat these conditions.
Alternative Treatments for Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Guide to natural treatments for Fibromyalgia and other immune system disorders
Fibromyalgia is a painful disorder for which mainstream medicine has no
solution other than heavy, and often ineffective, use of painkillers. Perhaps
you have been told by a well-meaning but uniformed doctor that you will
"just have to learn to live with it." Well guess what... you do have options.
The good news is, your symptoms can be diminished or reduced by using natural,
nutritional, herbal and homeopathic products that address these symptoms.
Endometriosis is a disease affecting women in their reproductive years.
The tissue that lines the inside of the uterus and builds up and sheds each
month in the menstrual cycle is called Endometrium tissue. In endometriosis,
the endometrium tissue is found growing and shedding blood outside the uterus,
in other areas of the body. This misplaced tissue develops into growths
or lesions which respond to the menstrual cycle in the same way that the
tissue of the uterine lining does.
Weight Loss: Natural and Healthy Solutions
Some causes of obesity and or sudden weight gain may include: disturbance in
thyroid function; glandular malfunctions; diabetes; hypoglycemia; hyperinsulinemia;
emotional tension or stress; anxiety; depression; allergies. You may have been
on many diets and you may have even spent hundreds of dollars trying to lose
weight with pills, powders, herbs, high protein diets, low-fat and no-fat diets,
packaged foods, weight loss clinics, and the list goes on and on.
Twenty four years ago, when I was 30, I weighted 185 pounds, I suffered from
chronic fatigue and I was sick most of the time with one thing or another. I
was also a victim of the never-ending flow of propaganda from the medical establishment
(which I think of as the "disease" establishment because they focus on disease
rather than on prevention and wellness) who wants to maintain a monopoly on
the word "cure" and who wants us to believe that we have no control over our
own health and that our only hope to get "well" is with drugs, surgery and radiation.
When I turned to holistic health therapy,
I lost 60 pounds in 3 months effortlessly.
(and never had to struggle again to keep my weight down) and my energy level
and stamina improved dramatically. I was able to function better overall. I
became calmer, centered and focused, and generally I felt happier and became
much healthier.
Dr. Young PhD, maintain that the
primary culprit behind excessive weight gain,
as well as many other health problems, is a chronic state of acidity in
the body (a pH value below 7.1). Shifting the body’s chemistry to a more alkaline
pH, they maintain, will quickly and easily result in the loss of excess weight
and the buildup of more lean muscle tissue.
The acid-alkaline balance of the
body has an enormous impact on a person’s health. The pH level (acid - alkaline
measurement) of our internal fluids affects every cell in our bodies. Chronic
acidity will interrupt all cellular activities and functions - it interferes
with life itself. When the pH of the body gets out of balance (too acidic),
we may experience low energy, fatigue, excess weight, poor digestion, aches
and pains, and even more serious disorders. When the body is excessively acidic,
vital organs and individual cells are subject to damage or destruction. This
condition, known as acidosis, can be a cause, an effect, or even a symptom of
almost any health condition. By balancing the body's acidity levels, this simple
plan can help toward curing various medical conditions, including arthritis,
hepatitis, insomnia, alcoholism, and kidney disease