Natural and herbal remedies

The use of natural and herbal remedies is on the rise. People often use natural and herbal remedies for long-term (chronic) conditions that haven't been successfully treated with Western medicine. People also use these remedies to improve their quality of life.

Many of these remedies deal with the whole person (holistic) rather than treating a specific disease or symptom. Sometimes, they heal aches and pains that over-the-counter and prescription drugs can't. Headaches, joint pain, and premenstrual syndrome are some examples.

Be careful - mixing natural substances with over-the-counter and prescription medication may produce some powerful and unexpected results. Before you start taking anything new, talk to a doctor or health care professional.

What are some of the most common natural and herbal remedies and what are they used for?

• Aloe - burns, cold sores, dry skin, pain, sunburn
• Arnica - bruises and swelling. Use Arnica cream or gel for bruises or take Arnica homeopathic pills to prevent or reduce swelling and bruising.
• Echinacea - common cold, infections, healing wounds
• Flax Seed - cancer prevention, constipation, high cholesterol, menopause, periodontal disease, premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Garlic - cancer prevention and treatment, cardiovascular disease, circulatory disorders, high cholesterol, hypertension, skin infections
• Ginkgo Biloba - improved blood flow, memory loss, headaches, depression
• Ginseng - hypertension, diabetes, depression
• Lavender - headaches, stress, cuts, burns, sunburn, insect bites and stings, insomnia (not safe for use in pregnancy)
• Melatonin - Alzheimer's, cancer treatment, depression, HIV/AIDS, insomnia
• Rescue Remedy - a homeopathic treatment for shock, anxiety or insomnia
• St. John's Wort - depression, fatigue, insomnia, pain, PMS, healing wounds
• Tea-tree oil or ointment - antifungal and antiseptic for burns, cuts, acne, boils, insect bites
   

Addressing the Public Health Challenges Nigeria Faces

The inadequate programs designed to address the numerous health problems in Nigeria have led to the little improvement in our health status. Overall life expectancy at birth is 54 years; infant mortality rate is 86 per 1000 live birth while maternal mortality ratio is 840 per 100,000 live births. This is according to the World Health Statistics of 2011. Besides the continued neglect of the importance of addressing public health issues would make matters worse for poor Nigerians most of who are at the receiving end.
The major public health challenges Nigeria faces are infectious diseases, sewage disposal, health insurance, water supply, air pollution, noise pollution, environmental radiation, housing, solid waste disposal, disaster management, control of vector some diseases, doctor-population ratio, population-bed ratio, population per health facility, payment system/methods, utilization of care, access to care, improper co-ordination of donor funds, material mortality, infant mortality, health financing, poor sanitation and hygiene, incessant doctors strike, disease surveillance, smoking of tobacco, brain drain, rapid urbanization, non-communicable diseases, alcohol abuse, environment degradation, road traffic injuries etcetera.
Nigerians will continue to die unnecessarily from preventable conditions and disease if there are no proper programs designed to address each of these problems. The first WHO Global Status Report on non-communicable disease listed Nigeria and other developing countries as the worst hit with deaths from non-communicable diseases. These diseases with a rising burden in Nigeria include cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, sickle cell disease, asthma, coronary heart disease, obesity, stroke, hypertension, road traffic injuries and mental disorders. According to the 2011 World Health Statistics, malaria mortality rate for Nigeria is 156 per 100,000 population. Nigeria has one of the highest Tuberculosis burden in the world (311 per 100,000) resulting in the largest burden in Africa. This is according to USAID. The proper design of programs to address the public health problems in Nigeria will no doubt go a long way in improving the health status of the people. Though there are programs designed to address some of the health issues, there is a need to solve many other health problems.
Currently, there is no program designed to tackle public health issues holistically. Some of the programs to be designed lie with health-related sectors such as the ministry of education, housing, transportation, works, water resources, science and technology, agriculture, information and environment. The lack of coordinated efforts among these sectors affects the design of programs to address public health problems. Reduction in the number of unnecessary deaths and increased life expectancy can only be guaranteed with the pursuance, adoption and implementation of a health policy that is based on universal coverage, emergency medical services, national health insurance as well as affordable preventive care.
So many factors are responsible for the inability to design appropriate programs to address the major public health challenges Nigeria faces. Some of them include lack of political will by government and political actors, improper investment in the health sector, the inability to see the link between health and development, lack of policy to address all the health problems and week health systems.
Design of programs to address most of the public health problems in Nigeria will greatly improve the nation’s health indices. After about seven years of revising the national health policy and with the national health act which has been watered down, there is a need for decision makers to consider a policy change.
The current national health policy have concise statements on policies of health programs such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria, Immunisation, Population, Reproductive Health, Control of Onchocersiesis, Tuberculosis and Leprosy, Blood Transfusion, Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, Adolescent health, Food and Nutrition, Child Health, Drug & Food hygiene and safety. The major thrusts of the health policy relate to issues such as National Health Systems and Management, National Healthcare Resource, National Health information system, partnerships for Health development, health research and National Health care laws. This was the outcome of stakeholders submissions on what the national health policy should look like. The public’s perception of the revised national health policy is unknown. Though there has been some improvement in the health status of Nigerians but the difference is insignificant. For instance, the achievement of the millennium development goals (MDGs) to which Nigeria, like other countries committed to achieve by 2015 remains to be seen. The issue of equity, accessibility, affordability, quality, effectiveness and efficiency which are the overall policy objectives of the revised national health policy still persistent. The primary health care on which the Nigerian health care system is based has not helped in effectively solving the numerous health problems in Nigeria. Cost effective interventions for priority public health issues such as non-communicable diseases, injuries, maternal and child health etcetera are hardly being used. Intersectoral cooperation and collaboration between the different health-related ministries still remains a major issue. Each day there are about 1,000 new infections of HIV in Nigeria. This is according to a UNAIDS 2010 report. The World Health Statistics of 2011 also showed that the number of reported cases of malaria increased from 2,834,174 in 2008 to 4,295,689 in 2009. Governments at all level are yet to show enough commitment towards attaining the goals of health for all Nigerians. National health systems remain weak while its management is ineffective and inefficient. There is no equitable distribution of human resources between urban and rural area. Over 70 percent of doctors are in urban areas where only 48 percent of the population live, leaving 52 percent of the population who live in the rural area at the mercy of inadequate health personnel.
The provision of good working condition for health workers still remains a challenge. Also, there is limited opportunities for career advancement and continuing education for health workers. Governments at all levels are yet to review their allocation of resources to health sector in line with internationally recommended standards. Only 1 percent of the health budget is allocated to preventive services while over 70% is allocated to curative services. Additional avenues for financing the health system such as community financing and donor/partner funds have not been fully explored and utilized. The national health insurance scheme (NHIS) which is over six years old cover less than 10 percent of Nigerians. The construction and institutionalization of a National health account is still in the works. There is insufficient evidence on the number of girls who die from female genital mutilation in Nigeria.
However, the National Health bill which is expected to provide a legal backing to the current health policy has been passed by the two chambers of the National assembly. It has been argued that the non-existence of health legislation in Nigeria has been the bane of non-performance of the health system. The consequences of not designing programs to addressing the many public heath challenges Nigeria faces are increasing death toll, increased burden of diseases, further impoverishment of the people and poor standard of living among others.
The changes in the crop of leaders elected at the different level of governance necessitate a new approach in the delivery of health services to the Nigerian population.

How Long Is A Normal Period? 9 Causes Of Menorrhagia, unknow as Frustratingly Long Menstruation

Everyone knows that the of the idea of there being a single kind of "normal period" is about as absurd as that blue fluid they insist on using to represent blood in maxi pad commercials. That said, we do all know what's normal for us, so when our period lasts longer than usual, it's easy to get alarmed. What is going on in there? Were seven days of bleeding not enough for you, my cruel uterine mistress? Generally, longer-than-usual periods are nothing to be worried about, even though they go by the undeniably terrifying-looking medical name of "menorrhagia" (that would be a good name for a metal band, right?). Menorrhagia is a catch-all term for any especially long or heavy periods; but the causes behind menorrhagia are varied.
But before we go any further, let's get this out of the way: your very long period almost definitely does not mean that you have cancer. While abnormal period bleeding can sometimes be an indication of a cancer of the reproductive organs, Dr. Linda Bradley, director of Cleveland's Center for Menstrual Disorders, Fibroids and Hysteroscopic Services, told the New York Times that long periods are a symptom of cancer only 10 percent of the time, mostly among older women. I know you're reading this and going "Sorry, but 10 percent of the time is still a LOT of the time!" And I mean, true. But seriously: I know I am not a doctor, but your long period likely does not have anything to do with cancer.
Instead, your long period may be totally random; a mere product of the hormone fluctuations that go on inside our bodies all the time. But sometimes, your long period does have a medical issue behind it, and often, it is one of the nine listed below. You may want to consult with a doctor if your period has suddenly begun deviating from your usual length; you might also want to bring it up during your next gyno exam if your period has always run longer than seven days.

But remember: your long period might very well be nothing, and even if your long period is being caused by one of the conditions listed below, none of them are serious, and all of them can be easily treated by a doctor is necessary. So don't freak out. It's not the end of the world; it's just a ton of shed uterine lining.

Question Is it safe to have your period for nine days? I HAVE BEEN ON FOR 9DAYS OF HEAVY BLEEDING AND I WANT TO KNOW IF THIER IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME

Answer

Having a period lasting more than 7 days is not considered to be normal. The typical length for menstruation is 3-5 days of the 28-day menstrual cycle. Your excessive menstrual bleeding is generally not good for the health. You have a condition called menorrhagia. If you are a young woman or a women in her late 40's approaching menopause, such heavy bleeding is most often due to a temporary hormone imbalance, which eventually corrects itself. There are numerous causes of menorrhagia. Without the ability to examine you and ask you more in details about the condition, it is not possible to pinpoint a specific cause of your menorrhagia. Therefore, I will propose several common sources of a heavy bleeding. An early pregnancy loss can be one possibility. Another possibility is the intake of certain drugs such as steroids and blood thinners (i.e, aspirin) during period. If your menorrhagia is recurrent, it can be a serious medical condition. To name several common causes, a blood clotting disorder, endometriosis, uterine fibroids or polyps, pelvic inflammatory disease, polycystic ovary syndrome, thyroid and pituitary disorders, and dysfunctional uterine bleeding, which is a heavy bleeding with unknown reason, may contribute to your condition. I suggest that you see a primary care doctor or gynocologist to get your heavy bleeding under control as well as to determine the underlying cause of your menorrhagia that may or may not indicate a serious medical condition.

Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern among premenopausal women, most women don't experience blood loss severe enough to be defined as menorrhagia.

With menorrhagia, every period you have causes enough blood loss and cramping that you can't maintain your usual activities. If you have menstrual bleeding so heavy that you dread your period,

The health benefits of avocado prevent and reverse cancer

The health benefits of avocado include stopping the growth of cancer, while supporting the body’s natural defense mechanisms. A nutritional powerhouse, avocados provide a combination of comprehensive cancer fighters such as, carotenoids, vitamin E, lutein, glutathione (GPx), and oleic acid. Naturally high in (healthy) fats, rich in fiber and loaded with nutrients – eating avocados make perfect sense.
Exactly how do avocados prevent cancer?
Avocados have been shown to offer significant protection against breast cancer because it contains a concentrated amount of carotenoids. It also helps the body absorb carotenoids from carotenoid-rich vegetables due to its fat content.
In a laboratory study published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, an extract of avocado containing these carotenoids and tocopherols inhibited the growth of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition stated that consuming carotenoid-rich foods along with monounsaturated fat-rich avocados can enhance the bioavailability of these nutrients. Not only did adding avocado to a salad or to salsa greatly increase study participants’ absorption of carotenoids from these foods, but the improvement in carotenoid availability occurred even when a very small amount was used – as little as 2 ounces per serving.
Vitamin E can cut your risk for cancer
Avocados are one of the richest sources of vitamin E succinate, which is noted for reducing the risk of prostate and breast cancer. Researchers have shown that vitamin E succinate can turn off many signaling agents required for cancer cells to be able to reproduce, which slows or completely stop the ability for the cancer cells to replicate.
In addition, vitamin E has demonstrated an ability to stimulate certain cancer cells to undergo apoptosis,also known as “cell suicide” , while sparing normal cells. Certain types of human breast cancer cells and prostate cancer cells are known to resist apoptosis.
However, when one of their receptors is stimulated by vitamin E succinate, the cancer cell responds by committing cell suicide.
The Nurses Health study looked at 83,234 women at baseline and then examined the incidence of breast cancer during a 14-year follow-up. Results showed that pre-menopausal women with a family history of breast cancer who consumed the highest quantity of vitamin E had a 43 percent reduction in cancer cases.
Cancer patients ought to learn about the value of lutein
Avocado is technically a large berry fruit and one of the fruits with the highest level of lutein among commonly eaten fruits – as well as large amounts of zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. These three carotenoids are notorious cancer fighters and are shown to inhibit the growth of prostate, head and neck plus oral cancers.
In addition, women with increased intake of lutein in their diets have been shown to have a lower risk of breast cancer.
Do avocados have glutathione – the body’s master antioxidant? Actually, the answer is no. Technically speaking, no food actually has glutathione (GSH) because it is an endogenous antioxidant – meaning it is made only by our body.
But, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) can be found in most fruits and vegetables including avocados.
So, to help boost your GSH levels – eat foods rich in GPx like, avocados, asparagus, broccoli, garlic, spinach, tomatoes and curcumin. All these foods will help protect cells from oxidative stress; repair DNA; regulate cell signaling, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis (cell suicide).
Improve your absorption of antioxidants with fat
Oleic acid, the primary fat in avocados, has been shown to offer significant protection against breast cancer, and women eating a diet rich in oleic acid have decreased rates of breast cancer. Nutritionally speaking, most phytochemicals are better absorbed in the presence of healthy fats and oils.
The oleic acid in avocados helps with the absorption and utilization of the antioxidants and contribute to the absorption of phytochemicals contained in other fruits and vegetables – consumed at the same time.
In addition, avocados have 60 percent more potassium than bananas, and are rich in the B vitamins and vitamin K, while have the highest fiber content of any fruit with 75 percent being insoluble and 25 percent being soluble fiber.
A breakthrough study on cancer and oxygen
Researchers from Ohio State’s College of Pharmacy, found the phytochemicals extracted from avocados targeted multiple pathways and increased the amount of reactive oxygen within the cells, leading to cell demise in pre-cancerous cell lines without harming healthy cells.
The lead author, Steven M. D’Ambrosio, a member of the molecular carcinogenesis and chemoprevention program at Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center said the study focused on oral cancer, but the finding have great implications for other types of cancers.
These findings are proving that fruits and vegetables cut the risk for various types of cancer and stop the growth of an already established cancer.
Avocados are anti-inflammatory; help maintain healthy DNA gene function and possess some of the most biologically active components against cancer.
Research is proving the protective effect of avocados and finding it doesn’t take more than one small avocado (per day) to help keep cells healthy and strong. To facilitate the health benefits of this fruit all you need do is add it to a salad, smoothie or use it in a dessert with some cacao powder, coconut butter and a small amount of sweetener like liquid stevia.

What Does a Diabetes-Friendly Meal Look Like?

Counting carbs is effective and plays a critical role in your diabetes control. So does portion control — and all you need to get started is an empty plate.
Take an ordinary dinner plate and draw an imaginary line down the center. Focus on filling half the plate with nonstarchy vegetables, then divide the remaining half into two sections; fill one with starchy foods, and the other with a protein source like meat or fish (but don't pile the food sky-high on the plate!). Following this practice is a simple and effective method to lose weight and help manage type 2 diabetes.

Here are some nonstarchy vegetable ideas to get you started on filling the first half of your plate: 

Psoriasis Treatment

• Spinach
• Carrots
• Lettuce
• Greens
• Cabbage
• Bok choy
• Onion
• Cucumber
• Beets
• Okra
• Mushrooms
• Peppers
• Turnips

Add starchy foods to one small section (1/4 of the total plate):

• Brown rice
• Whole-grain pasta
• Dal
• Tortillas
• Cooked beans or peas, such as pinto beans or black-eyed peas
• Potatoes
• Green peas
• Corn
• Lima beans
• Sweet potatoes
• Winter squash
• Low-fat crackers, snack chips, pretzels, or fat-free popcorn

In the other small section (1/4 plate), place your protein choice:

• Chicken or turkey without the skin
• Fish such as tuna, salmon, cod, or catfish
• Other seafood such as shrimp, clams, oysters, crab, or mussels
• Lean cuts of beef and pork, such as sirloin or pork loin
• Tofu
• Eggs
• Low-fat cheese

Your breakfast will look different, but the idea is the same: Whether you use a plate or bowl for breakfast, keep your portions small. Use half the plate or bowl for starchy foods, and fill the smaller sections (1/4 each) with fruit and your choice of protein.

OUR LADY HEALTH OF THE SICK HERBS AND ROOT CLINIC: The Facts About Female Hormones

OUR LADY HEALTH OF THE SICK HERBS AND ROOT CLINIC: The Facts About Female Hormones: You blame your bad moods on your hormones — but how much do you really know about them? Get the ...