The root of this daisy-like flower revs up the immune system.

Echinacea for Colds and Flu

The root of this daisy-like flower revs up the immune system. According to an analysis by University of Wisconsin researchers, in eight of nine studies evaluating echinacea for upper-respiratory infections, the herb reduced symptoms and accelerated recovery compared with placebos. "As soon as I feel a cold coming on, I take it--and my cold is mild and brief," says Duke. Echinacea is available in teas and capsules, though most herbalists prefer tinctures. Liquid echinacea products may cause temporary, harmless numbing or tingling of the tongue; minor stomach upset is possible with tinctures.

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VITAMIN B2 (Riboflavin) Needed for red blood cell formation

VITAMIN B2 (Riboflavin) Needed for red blood cell formation, aids growth and reproduction, promotes hair, skin and nail growth. Important in the prevention and treatment of cataracts.HERBAL SOURCES: Alfalfa, bladder wrack, burdock root, catnip, cayenne, chamomile, chickweed, eyebright, fennel seed, fenugreek, ginseng, hops, horsetail, mullein, nettle, oat straw, parsley, peppermint, raspberry leaves, red clover, rose hips, sage, yellow dock.

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Evidence Echinacea

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Evidence Echinacea

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.

Uses based on scientific evidence
Prevention of upper respiratory tract infections (adults and children) Preliminary studies suggest that echinacea is not helpful for preventing the common cold in adults. A recent meta-analysis suggested that standardized extracts of echinacea were effective in the prevention of symptoms of the common cold after clinical inoculation, compared with placebo. In children, a combination of echinacea, propolis, and vitamin C has been reported to reduce the number and duration of cold episodes. However, prevention research overall has not been well designed, and additional trials are needed before a clear conclusion can be drawn.	B
Treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (adults) Although multiple low quality studies have previously suggested that taking echinacea by mouth by adults when cold symptoms begin may reduce the length and severity of symptoms, a clinical trial reported in July 2005 did not demonstrate any clinical benefit. Recent meta-analyses are conflicting; one suggested that standardized extracts of echinacea were effective in the prevention of symptoms of the common cold after clinical inoculation, compared with placebo, whereas the other reported no such benefit. Further research is needed.	B
Cancer There is a lack of clear human evidence that echinacea affects any type of cancer.	C
Immune system stimulation Echinacea has been studied alone and in combination preparations for immune system stimulation (including in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy). It remains unclear if there are clinically significant benefits. Additional studies are needed in this area before conclusions can be drawn regarding safety or effectiveness.	C
Low white blood cell counts after X-ray treatment (leukopenia) Studies have reported mixed results, and it is not clear whether echinacea has benefits for this use.	C
Uveitis (eye inflammation) Oral  Echinacea purpurea  may offer some benefits in people with low-grade uveitis. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.	C
Vaginal yeast infections When echinacea is used at the same time as the prescription cream econazole nitrate (Spectazole®), vaginal yeast infections ( Candida ) may occur less frequently. However, further research is needed to confirm this.	C
Genital herpes Initial human studies suggest that echinacea is not helpful in the treatment of genital herpes.	D
Treatment of upper respiratory tract infections (children) Initial research suggests that echinacea may not be helpful in children for alleviation of cold symptoms, possibly because parents are not able to recognize the onset of common cold symptoms soon enough to begin treatment, or because the dose of echinacea for use in children is not clear. There are fundamental differences in causes of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms in children versus adults (bacterial versus viral causes, different viruses, different sites of infection, etc). Until additional research is available, echinacea cannot be considered effective in children for this use. Furthermore, development of rash has been associated with echinacea use, and therefore the risks may outweigh the potential benefits in this population.

Albert Whittamore-Smoking killed me

A smoker who died after battling emphysema has had his dying wish granted with the placement of a "Smoking killed me" sign on his hearse and his grave.

Albert Whittamore blamed his youthful smoking habit for the lung disease.

He said before he died at age 85 in February that he wanted the sign to serve as a warning to young people about the dangers of tobacco smoking.

The sign was designed to look like the health warning on a packet of cigarettes.

The printed placard at his grave will be left in place for a week.

The hearse carrying his body through the town of Dover 100 miles southeast of London had several of the printed signs displayed in the windows.

Women have a higher pain threshold

How we experience pain depends on our sex. Plus: Why female redheads are different.

For years, researchers assumed that women have a higher pain threshold and are less sensitive to pain than men. After all, men don't have to pass a head the circumference of a large grapefruit through an opening that starts at the diameter of a Cheerio as women do to give birth.

But recent research has called into question the assumption that women have greater pain tolerance. Science is providing new insights into pain relief, anesthesia and, oddly enough, redheads.

Jeffrey Mogil, Ph.D., is professor of pain studies at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He explains that while not all studies have found sex differences, those which have all point in the same direction that contradicts conventional wisdom. "Females are more sensitive to pain, less tolerant and more able to discriminate different levels of pain than males," he says. This is true in studies of both humans and animals.

Women are also much more likely to suffer from chronic pain conditions than men. Researchers originally suspected that this was primarily due to the fact that they are more likely to seek medical care in general. But while women do indeed seek more care, they're also genuinely more likely to develop painful conditions like fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and migraines. For example, 80 to 90 percent of people with fibromyalgia are women, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.

Pregnancy actually is the exception to the rule. While pregnant, women do become progressively less sensitive to pain as they get closer to giving birth.  Natural painkillers like endorphins are elevated during pregnancy and labor, helping fight pain.

Says Mogil, studies show "there is [pregnancy-related pain relief] in both rats and humans," but, he adds, very little research has been done on this in recent decades. He also notes that it's not very effective in humans, given the amount of pain that most women still suffer.

Qualitative differences

Scientists have discovered that women's experience of pain may be not only quantitatively different, but qualitatively as well. And here's where the redheads come in.

Anesthesiologists had long reported that redheads tended to need more anesthesia than others. But until 2002, no studies had been presented on the subject. Up until that point, it could have just been a clinical myth prompted by a few memorable anesthesia-resistant Gingers. However, when a research group in Louisville, Ky., studied the phenomenon, they found that redheads did indeed need larger doses of a common anesthetic—about 20 percent higher, on average—to blunt the pain from electrical shock.

This finding turned out to only be part of the story.

In research conducted by Mogil's group on opioid medications, only redheaded women were different from others in the way these drugs relieved their pain. Plus they needed less opioid painkillers than brunettes or blondes. Male redheads were the same as everyone else.


http://health.msn.com/health-topics/pain-management/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100218149&page=2

Vaginal birth after cesarean.

Too many pregnant women who want to avoid a repeat cesarean delivery are being denied the chance, concludes a U.S. government panel that urged doctors to rethink litigation-spurred policies that have swung the pendulum back toward the days of "once a C-section, always a C-section."

Fifteen years ago, nearly three in 10 women who had a first C-section were able to deliver their next baby vaginally, a trend called VBAC for "vaginal birth after cesarean."

Now that rate has dropped to one in 10, in part because a third of hospitals and half of physicians ban women from attempting VBAC, a panel of specialists convened by the National Institutes of Health said Wednesday.

But VBAC remains a safe alternative for the right candidates, and when those women try labour, between 60 per cent and 80 per cent of the time they do give birth vaginally, the NIH panel concluded. It urged that doctors offer mothers-to-be an unbiased look at the pros and cons, so they can decide for themselves.

"We believe that many women should have an opportunity to give it a try," said panellist and Delaware obstetrician Dr. Nancy Frances Petit of the U.S. Uniformed Health Services.

Overall, nearly a third of U.S. births are by cesarean, an all-time high. Cesareans can be lifesaving but they come with certain risks - and the more C-sections a woman has, the greater the risk in a next pregnancy of problems like placenta abnormalities or hemorrhage.

Decades ago, doctors almost always recommended a repeat C-section, worried that the rigours of labour could cause a uterus scarred from the first surgery to rupture. But in 1980, government experts concluded that many mothers could safely deliver vaginally the next time, citing evidence that their risk of a uterine rupture was less than one per cent.

Yet the last decade saw the pendulum swing back again: Among 19 states that track VBAC, 92 per cent of women had a repeat cesarean for their next delivery in 2006. And in 1999, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists issued guidelines saying VBAC should be attempted only in hospitals equipped for immediate emergency surgery - and many smaller and rural hospitals aren't.

What sparked the latest shift? It's partly concern over litigation, the NIH panel said, because while a uterine rupture remains very rare, it can be devastating to the family and end in a high-dollar lawsuit.

Case-by-case decisions are crucial, the panel said, because there may be instances where another C-section is better for the baby but not for mom or vice versa.

Who's a good candidate? The panel said that needs further study. But in general, VBAC is for women who've had one prior C-section done with a "transverse" scar, the most common kind today, said panel chairman Dr. F. Gary Cunningham of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. Women should be otherwise low-risk, he said: Not carrying multiples or a large baby, being obese or having high blood pressure or diabetes.

"There's still a lot we don't know about which women will be successful in having a VBAC, but we believe it's essential that women's desires and preferences be respected throughout the decision-making process," Cunningham said.

Don't try to pre-judge candidates, said Dr. Emily Spencer Lukacz of the University of California, San Diego.

"All women who have prior cesarean delivery should talk to their providers about VBAC," so they can decide on a case-by-case basis if it makes sense, Lukacz said.

It can be difficult for women to find a doctor or hospital that offers VBAC, said Debra Bingham of Lamaze International. She points to California, which now lists VBAC availability for every hospital on a website: http://www.calhospitalcompare.org">www.calhospitalcompare.org .

Slow walk can be more beneficial to those seeking weight loss.

One of the basic components of any long-term exercise plan is walking. It can be done in your neighborhood, at a local park, or even on the treadmill at a gym. And adding stairs – numerous times up and down the stairs of your home or apartment building, or opting for the stairs instead of the elevator at work – can only add to the amount of walking done as part of a workout plan.

Walking at a moderate pace for 30-60 minutes at a time burns stored fat and builds muscle, thereby increasing metabolism and weight loss. It has also been found to cut risks of heart disease, breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes, and stroke. And walking can decrease anxiety, improve concentration, and reduce stress.

While some people enjoy a brisk walk, a slow walk can be more beneficial to those seeking weight loss. More calories are burned per mile at low speeds because each step expends energy; faster movements create more momentum and require less energy. A quicker pace is better suited for those seeking to build muscle.

Before beginning a regular walking routine, it is important to possess the correct footwear and clothing. A shoe store salesperson should be able to direct you to a pair of shoes that are flexible for walking and sized properly for the swelling of the feet that happens while walking. The shirt or tank top should be of a light material like polypropylene – not cotton – that will keep sweat away from the body, and a larger t-shirt, sweatshirt, or light jacket can be added if the weather warrants. Depending upon the time of day, a hat and/or sunscreen might need to be added to the lineup.

While walking, use your arms to counterbalance the leg motions by bending them 90 degrees and swinging them back and forth opposite the legs. This helps with power, speed, and posture. Also, straighten the back and keep the chin parallel to the ground.

It is most important to stay hydrated before and after walking. It is recommended to drink one eight-ounce glass of water every hour throughout the day, but more specifically, ten minutes before a walk. Another cup of water is advised at 20 or 30 minute intervals during the walk, and one to two glasses of water will rehydrate after the walk. If the walk lasts more than two hours, an electrolyte-replacement sports drink in addition to the water is advised.

Walking is an important part of any exercise regimen and can be done in the morning, evening, or even on a lunch break at work. It is a basic form of exercise that holds the potential for numerous mental and physical benefits if done regularly.

http://www.healthnews.com/fitness-exercise/womens-health-walking-it-off-4094.html

Woman lack the resources for adequate contraception

An average self-paying patient was charged $372 for a surgical abortion at 10 weeks and between $438 and $490 for a medical abortion in 2009. Second-trimester surgical abortions are 2 to 3 times more expensive than first-trimester surgical abortions. Most patients pay out of pocket. Only 26% of abortions are billed directly to public or private insurance. Most insured patients are reluctant to file claims because of concerns about confidentiality. Some health plans cover sterilization but not abortion, leaving poor women in the unenviable position of having to choose sterilization if they lack the resources for adequate contraception.

The 1978 Hyde Amendment prohibits federal Medicaid dollars from being spent on abortion, except to preserve a woman's life or in cases of rape or incest. Twenty-two states allocate a portion of their share of Medicaid funding to cover abortion. The Hyde Amendment was applied to Medicare, which covers disabled women, in 1998. Women of color are more likely than white women to be poor, to lack health insurance, and to rely on government healthcare programs. Thus, they are disproportionately harmed by prohibitions on public funding for abortions. In addition, black women and Hispanic women are more likely than white women to have an abortion. Higher rates of abortion are explained, in part, by higher rates of unintended pregnancy, a greater proportion of conceptions that end in abortion, and greater poverty.

The Defense Department, through TRICARE, provides health coverage to military personnel and their families. TRICARE has instituted a permanent ban on abortion coverage, except when the life of the woman is endangered. American Indians and Alaskan natives covered by the Indian Health Service are subject to the Hyde Amendment.[20]The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program pays for abortions only in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest. Women in federal prisons are allowed to obtain an abortion only when their lives are endangered or when the pregnancy is the result of rape, which may be difficult to prove.


http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/507404_3

Don’t to take Antidepressants during pregnancy!!!

Babies of women who take antidepressants during the latter part of pregnancy are slower in reaching some developmental milestones, new research shows.

Using data on more than 81,000 babies born in Denmark, researchers found that children whose mothers took antidepressants during the second or third trimester sat without support later and walked later than children of depressed mothers who did not take medication. This was especially true for boys.

Despite the delays, the children's progress was still well within the bounds of normal development, the researchers noted. Children whose mothers took antidepressants sat about 16 days later and walked nearly a month later than the children of mothers who didn't take the drugs .

According to the paper, researchers said they did not know if the changes were permanent or only temporary.

By 19 months, they found no differences in motor skills between kids exposed and not exposed to antidepressants .

But the 19-month-old children whose mothers had taken antidepressants were less able to occupy themselves for more than 15 minutes than toddlers whose mothers hadn't taken antidepressants .

No other delays in any of the other 14 developmental milestones mothers were asked about, including language development, social development or other motor skills such as head control or rolling from back to belly, were noted among exposed children.

The study is published in the March issue of Pediatrics.

Despite some concerns, Dr. Diane Ashton, deputy medical director of the March of Dimes and an ob-gyn, urged women not to make any hasty decisions about discontinuing the drugs and to consult with their doctors first.

"For the most part, we feel it's important for women to be adequately treated for depression during pregnancy," Ashton said. "Depending on the severity of the symptoms, you may not have a choice. If the mother is depressed or suicidal to the point of hurting herself, she needs treatment."


While the study isn't the first to show that antidepressants may impact fetal development, it is among the first to look at the child's development after birth, Ashton said.

A 2009 study in the British Medical Journal, also by the Danish researchers, found women who take certain antidepressants during the first three months of pregnancy were at a slightly increased risk of giving birth to babies with septal heart defects, or malformations in the wall separating the right side of the heart from the left. The risks were seen in sertraline and in citalopram .

Other research, however, about the risks of congenital abnormalities has been inconclusive.

So what should women do?

Discontinuing antidepressants is an option, but it has risks, especially if the mother's depression is severe, said David Blackburn, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral science at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, Texas.

Untreated depression may lead women to miss prenatal appointments, eat poorly — either too much or too little — and sleep poorly. Some people who are depressed also become socially isolated, or self-medicate with drugs or alcohol. Depression is also a risk for suicide or other self-destructive behaviors.

"Whether women continue with antidepressants has to be decided on an individual basis," Blackburn said. "You have to weigh the risk of the depression with the slight risks of taking the antidepressants."

In the United States, about one in five women have symptoms of depression while pregnant, according to the March of Dimes.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have issued warnings about an increased risk of heart defects associated with the use of the Paxil during pregnancy.

Blackburn urged women who don't want to take medications during pregnancy not to try to go it alone and instead consider psychological counseling or support groups.



http://news.health.com/2010/02/23/antidepressants-pregnancy-may-delay-developmental-milestones