Another Hot Night

You've waited for this evening for weeks. Finally you and your husband have the time and a few dollars to go out for the night to spend some romantic time together. The grown kids are now gone off to college, married, or are chasing their promising career and the house is essentially empty. No longer do you hear the calls of, "Mom, I can't find my...", "Did you wash my...", or "What's for supper? I'm starved!" Those days are gone.

Instead you hear the phone ring or once in awhile, the door bursts open without a knock and your tiny, precious baby now stands there tall and strong with the grin you've loved for years and a black garbage bag full of dirty laundry. No, you'll never stop being 'Mom', but the role of 'Mom' has now changed. However, for tonight, you are Mrs. Romantically Female; an actual woman again.

As you look in the mirror, the maturity of all the things you've experienced for the past decades is evident; the long nights with sick kids, the rushing to sports' events and concerts, the tedious jobs of folding clothes and cooking meals.

You slip on that special pink dress and maybe even don a pair of heels if they still fit. The hairdo has to be just right so after every hair is in place you spray it lightly. You put on your foundation, shadow, eyeliner and mascara. Then you add just a touch of blush to brighten the now slightly sunken cheeks. As you're applying the final touch of lipstick, it hits.

That dreaded hot flash! As you begin to feel your insides heat up you start fanning yourself trying to cool off before the well-known affects of the last hour's hard work begin to cause a meltdown. Your deodorant kicks into second gear; and then third; as the perspiration begins to run between your breasts at an alarming rate.

The temperature rises as the beads of sweat try to seep from under your make-up. You can feel the evaporation from your hairline, and under your nose, and you dab at it with a tissue hoping to head off the inevitable while still keeping collateral damage to a minimum.

As your scalp begins to moisten and your perfect hair begins to lose all the body you worked so hard to instill, you lean forward to keep your back off the chair hoping a little air circulation will help. It doesn't.

Your heart races a mile a minute and it seems the more you panic to cool off, the more you heat up. As the panic turns to frustration, the hairdo begins to fall, the mascara runs under your eyes, the shadow collects into creases on your lids, and your clothes display their own personal imprints of perspiration in the most uninviting places.

Now you try to hold back the tears so you can salvage what's left of the make-up, change into something more casual... that's not sweat laden... in darker colors... and replace the nylons and heels with socks and sneakers. Deciding that a burger and fries tastes just as good as lobster and salad, you pull yourself together and announce to your husband maybe a more casual evening like a movie and McDonalds would actually save money anyway.

Don't despair. Any woman who's going through menopause has been there. Just when you think you can begin to have a life of your own, now that the kids are old enough to fend for themselves, you begin turning the corner into "older" age and the hot flashes (or "flushes" as they're also referred to) remind you of your more mature age. There is hope!

Sure you can get hormone replacement therapy to ease some of the symptoms of menopause, but not everyone is comfortable with taking them. There are dozens of rumors about all the serious side effects, and although many women can take them without any negative repercussions, many others are just not ready to take the chance. So, what's a woman to do?

There are some new products and methods that are either just now being introduced into the market, or that are currently being tested and are soon to be available.

One of those is called Verita`. Unlike regular medicines or drugs, Verita` is not ingested. Rather, it is a topical spray that is intended to cool your skin during a hot flash.

When you begin to feel a hot flash coming on, this topical application is sprayed directly on any exposed skin such as your arms, legs, neck or chest. It comes in an easily accessible and compact bottle that can be kept in your purse, your car, a tote bag, a desk drawer, or anywhere else you happen to be. It's advertised to break the cycle of hot flashes on contact.

Because Verita is comprised of a blend of botanicals and marine algae, and because it's topical in nature, it can't upset any hormone balance in your system. The maker has also considered the fragrance so she's added a light blend of aloe and cucumber scent. Melissa France from ME Cosmeceuticals is the developer and states that product sales are doing well locally.

There is also a new treatment that comes in the form of a gel and it's called "Low-dose Transdermal Estradiol (E2) Gel". Ronald Ackerman, MD., the Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of Comprehensive Clinical Trials in West Palm Beach, Florida is quoted as saying, "The treatment goal is to provide the least amount of estrogen over the least amount of time which can be effective for the individual patient. Transdermal is a growing trend owing to its ability to bypass the liver and be given at lower doses."

The testing of Transdermal was done on 488 women between the ages of 18 to 65 who experienced more than 50 hot flashes per week, regardless of whether the flashes were due to age or other medical factors such as a hysterectomy. After twelve weeks of applying the gel alternately to each thigh, 92% of the tested women reported that their hot flashes were now mild to moderate, with the more adverse symptoms being experienced by only those who were being treated with the higher doses.

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) suggests that Low-dose Transdermal Estradiol just may be an alternative to the traditional hormone replacement therapy.

Because many women have a fear of cancer and heart disease from the widely taken medications known as Prempro and Premarin, a new pill has been developed and is being tested. This most recent menopause pill is a combination of bone-loss therapy and estrogen and in recent studies Aprela is boasted to have reduced hot flashes from 80%.

The parent company Wyeth also reports that Aprela should be available in about a year, provided it passes the testing and is approved.

So, in the meantime, keep your tank top and your sweater handy for the thirty second temperature explosions followed by the cold chill three minutes later. Carry an extra roll-on deodorant and can of hairspray in your purse, keep cotton swabs handy for make-up touchups, and put a smile on your face. After all, the kids are still on their own, you can come and go as you please without first getting a sitter, the food bill has diminished significantly, and you have some wonderful memories that came with every one those laugh lines.

Wear them proudly! They're proof you've earned time for you.

Dawn M. Olsen is an Advocate for Better Women's Health through Education, Recipe Developer, Soy Food Enthusiast and the Author of "Menopause A to Z - A Definitive Guide to Modern Menopause available online now at a http://www.menopauseatoz.com Find out more about how to deal with menopause symptoms.

Conkus of the Bonkus

I first heard this term used by my colleague Dr. Steve Nugent. Dr. Nugent is the Chief of Alternative Medicine for a nutritional research and development company.

Give a name to a symptom and call it a disease.

Conventional medicine has long taken the position that if you have a symptom, there is probably a disease associated with it that has either a Latin or Greek root.

Here are a few examples: Rheumatoid Arthritis, "The name is derived from the Greek. Rheumatos means "flowing", and this initially gave rise to the term 'rheumatic fever'. The suffix -oid means "resembling", i.e. resembling rheumatic fever. Arthr means "joint" and the suffix -itis, a "condition involving inflammation". Thus rheumatoid arthritis was a form of joint inflammation that resembled rheumatic fever."

Diabetes Mellitus, "The term diabetes (Greek: διαβήτης) was coined by Aretaeus of Cappadocia. It is derived from the Greek word διαβαίνειν, diaba�nein that literally means "passing through," or "siphon", a reference to one of diabetes' major symptoms-excessive urine production. In 1675 Thomas Willis added the word mellitus to the disease, a word from Latin meaning "honey", a reference to the sweet taste of the urine. This sweet taste had been noticed in urine by the ancient Greeks, Chinese, Egyptians, and Indians. In 1776 Matthew Dobson confirmed that the sweet taste was because of an excess of a kind of sugar in the urine and blood of people with diabetes"

So our medical system takes a symptom and gives it a fancy word. Or better yet, we have disease conditions associated with the doctor who "discovered" a particular set of symptoms and seeing no other name for it, used their own name. Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Crohn's, etc.

So then Conkus of the Bonkus can mean, "hit upon the head".

That is what I wish I could do with those in control of our so called "health care" system - hit them upside the head! They just don't get it, and unfortunately many of you don't either. This is why America ranks 37th in the world for health care.

Somewhere along the line of learning the marvelous wonders of our body, scientists and doctors forgot one important fact. The body has the innate intelligence to heal, repair, restore, defend, cleanse, feed, regulate, and regenerate itself, without the need for toxic pharmaceuticals. If we provide the body with what it needs, the body will do the rest.

So what do we need? Food, fresh wholesome food in abundant quantity that has all the nutrients we need, adequate amounts of naturally induced sleep, clean water, clean air, exercise, and no stress.

Obviously we do not live in an optimal world so we need to address the areas that we can change.

Let's look at our food supply first. Over 90% is processed with chemicals that have never been evaluated by the EPA or FDA for safety. They want to eliminate vitamin companies but the bigger threat is our food. Vitamins are relatively absent in our food supply so companies attempt to "fortify" our food with synthetic vitamins and minerals that have about as much a chance as being absorbed and assimilated as does the Rock of Gibraltar. Food is grown in nutrient deficient soil with chemicals, fertilizers, and pesticides added. I'll pass thank you. Water is often contaminated and the air is so dirty you can't see mountains 5 miles away. All of our fruits and vegetables are harvested "green". This means they are harvested prior to the necessary nutrients even reaching the part of the plant we eat.

This resulted in the AMA in 2002 publishing an article in JAMA that stated it would be prudent for all American's to take supplements.

The problem then is, what supplements do I use? The ones that have what your body is missing!

Nutritional companies for the most part focus on one area for the most part. While a particular exotic juice may have several fruit extracts, our body needs more than just sugar and flavonoids.

We need to address our immune system. This can be seen by all the autoimmune conditions we see. In the 1940's we had only 4 autoimmune conditions. Now we have over 80. Better science? Perhaps. Poor food supply? Definitely.

Cancer, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, etc.

We need to address our endocrine system. We have an estimated 87 hormones in our body that controls and regulates many of our body's functions. Sleep, moods, sexual drive, reproduction, metabolism, healing, digestion, etc. While we use 17 for the reproductive system, the other 70 are crucial for optimal health.

Contrary to popular belief hot flashes are not caused by a deficiency in Premarin (manufactured from horse urine).

We need to address our defense mechanisms from attack of free radical damage, a result of oxidative stress. Cancer, cardiovascular conditions, etc.

We need to address our digestive system through proper intake of probiotics, enzymes, essential fatty acids, a natural source of soluble and insoluble fiber, as well as amino acids.

We need to address our total lack of vitamins and minerals. We need a supplement that is food sourced, plant based, that can provide absorbable amounts of what is required.

But more importantly than all the above, is that our cells have to have the proper structural configuration to utilize what we ingest. Improper structure means improper function. Improper function means we get to go the doctor and get a fancy name attached to our symptoms and then get a drug to mask the symptoms.

Glyconutrients therefore are required for complete cell to cell communication to facilitate proper structure and allow other supplements to be bioavailable.

So it becomes apparent that there is no one supplement that addresses all these areas. There is no one exotic juice, or shake, or pill, or potion that has it all.

Part 2 of this series will detail glyconutrient technology followed by anti-oxidants, immune support, digestive support, vitamins and minerals.

For detailed science prior to part 2 being published, please contact me and I can provide you with resources.

"Doctor, do I have Conkus of the Bonkus?"

Dr. Tom has trained thousands in lifestyle improvements over the course of 9 years. As a Lifestyle Adjusting Coach Dr. Tom takes what you bring him and helps you to see the potential of your health and wealth.

Dr. Tom can be contacted at drtomt@verizon.net or 760-446-1088.For information on weight loss go to: http://drtomt.perfectbodyshape.com/welcomeMy blog is http://drtomt.blogspot.com

Women's Hormone Replacement Therapy - Are You In Balance?

It has been two years since the Women's Health Initiative Estrogen plus Progestin (WHI) arm of this large trial was stopped early because it caused harm. The WHI showed the opposite of what was expected--Estrogen (Premarin) plus Progestin (Provera) caused heart disease and breast cancer as well as blood clots and strokes. WHI results show that estrogen does not improve the quality of life for women. WHI estrogen plus progestin results are "evidence-based."

We now have evidence-based proof that "HRT" is harmful to women. But people are still taking Hormone Replacement Therapy and are concerned about estrogen deficiency. Why? "Little has changed because the fundamental, negative ideas about women and about menopause have not changed. Universal menopausal hormone therapy ... (is) based on a cultural belief that women are inferior and need fixing. For over twenty years I have been saying that menopause is a natural part of women's life cycle, the low estrogen levels after menopause are healthy and not abnormal. This made me unpopular--I have been labeled as "way-out" or worse. Therefore the WHI results for me were a vindication", says Jerilynn C. Prior BA, MD, FRCPC Professor of Endocrinology, Scientific Director, Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research, University of British Columbia. And, she is correct.

Two years after the WHI study little has changed. If you go to your doctor today and request HRT most will prescribe it for you. Despite the fact that The Women's Health Initiative, the largest controlled trial of ovarian hormone therapy ever performed, provided the strongest proof that Medicine (which has been strongly influenced by the Pharmaceutical Industry) causes harm for women. The website for the WHI study said, "Women should stop their study drugs immediately." Following that order led to hot flushes in many women who were on hormone therapy because their body had adjusted to that higher level of estrogen. Women who heard the news of the study in the media also often stopped their therapy abruptly. That led to severe hot flushes in hundreds of thousands of women and in virtually all women who had previously experienced them. "Because it is well known that rapid withdrawal from estrogen causes night sweats and hot flushes, all physicians should have been ready with advice for women wanting to stop estrogen." Says Dr. Prior.

For Lack of helpful information, and because the resulting symptoms of night sweats/hot flushes were so miserable, many women, in desperation, reluctantly restarted unwanted HRT treatment. It seems logical to now say that the WHI results require re-thinking of the concepts on which menopausal "replacement" and "estrogen deficiency" were based. The primary assumption that all women needed estrogen because they were deficient still needs to be addressed. I like what Dr. Susan Love said, "If estrogen deficiency is a disease, all men have it!" Destroying the concept of estrogen deficiency will be hard and may take many years to achieve. In the mean time where does that leave you and I?

Estrogen Dominance not estrogen deficiency, according to Dr. John Lee is at the crux of our dilemma and bringing our hormones back into balance will be the key to hormonal health.

STEP 1. Become informed. The "Let's Talk About Hormones" video provides valuable information on hormone balancing. Dr. Lee's "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause" has just been updated. Information is the key to your power!

STEP 2. Evaluate your own hormones with a saliva test whether you are on hormones currently or not. Find out if you have adequate hormone levels or are truly deficient.

STEP 3. Work with someone who understands the issues. Dr. Lee felt that most women can themselves oversee their hormonal challenges. If you must select a healthcare provider choose one who like Dr. Prior says, "I will never again prescribe estrogen as a pill. There is now overwhelming controlled trial evidence that pill forms of estrogen cause unacceptably high rates of clots and perhaps, through clotting, also increased strokes and heart disease. There are not yet strong data but it is likely that estrogen given through the skin (as a gel, cr�me or patch) will be less likely to activate liver clotting factors and thus safer. To me it means "bio-identical" or "natural" kinds of estrogen and progesterone both given in physiological doses."

STEP 4. Just know that balancing hormones is not just about taking additional hormones but about diet and lifestyle changes. I believe that we have a unique opportunity, right now, as women on this second anniversary of the initial WHI results. We can become pro-active about our own hormone health and share with those women around us who are struggling with their hormone challenges. Women reaching out to other women will have a greater effect than waiting for the research to catch up. Each of us must practice living with these important ideas. Then hormonal health will be ours.

This Article Is Copyright 2006 Jackie L. Harvey & Saliva Testing com

Jackie Harvey is an International speaker, radio program host, seminar leader, business trainer, and a mother of seven. She works in partnership with nurses, medical doctors and health care practitioners.

Jackie is a men & women's health advocate specializing in hormonal and menopausal health. Thousands of men & women have watched her informative DVD "Let's Talk About Hormones". Jackie is committed to making a positive change in peoples lives.

Visit SalivaTesting.com for more information Saliva Hormone Tests Kits & her Best Selling 1-hour DVD "Let's Talk About Hormones with Jackie Harvey". Click For More information on Men's & Women's Saliva Hormone Testing and Saliva Test Kits.

Top Tips To Treat Low Back Pain

Low back pain is practically a universal problem. The crucial things to remember are that this problem is common (most people get it), painful (incredibly), medically minor (most of the time), and that the cause is nearly always an injury that requires time to heal completely. Medication cannot speed the healing process. If there is any sign of nerve damage, if a fracture might have occurred, or if the pain just won't go away, see the doctor. Sudden pain with minor or no injury occurring a bit higher in the back may represent a collapsed fracture of a vertebrae; this is the most common complication of osteoporosis and is a very frequent problem. This kind of fracture usually requires about six weeks to resolve, and many older people will have several such fractures over time.

The purpose to treat acute low back pain is to prevent chronic, long-lasting low back pain. You want natural healing, and then you want to strengthen the involved parts so that the problem doesn't happen again.

Think of low back problems as similar to a sprained ankle. An injury causes bruising and swelling for two or three days, and then slow healing begins to become evident, even though you cannot see what is actually happening. The pain improves in less than a week, but six weeks is required fro full healing. Re-injury is costly, since the healing process will have to start again from the beginning.

Do not take painkillers and muscle relaxation and then go on as if your back were all right, this practice will likely result in re-injury. Either take medication and rest flat in bed, or listen to the pain message and do only what you can do in reasonable comfort.

Don't apply heat to the area the first day; if anything, use cold packs to decrease pain and swelling. Heat may be cautiously applied after the first day, but it won't help much. A firm mattress or a bed board is part of the standard advice. Back problems vary, however, and if you are more comfortable at night and the following morning with a slightly softer mattress, use that. Aspirin or other mild pain relievers are probably all right, but they won't help much. A small pillow or folded towel beneath the low back may increase your comfort when sleeping flat. When you get up, draw your knees up, then roll side-ways and sit up. The position of lying on your side, knees up, is more comfortable than lying on the back for many people, and it is all right.

You doubtless have some accompanying muscle spasms. Although painful, they are protecting your injured back. If you can outlast the discomfort without muscle relaxants and without a lot of pain medication, your back may heal more strongly, and you decrease the chance of re-injury.

Exercises shouldn't be started for a week or so, until things feel much better, and then they should be begun slowly. Exercise is designed to make recurrence less likely by toning the muscles and ligaments so that the spine has greater strength. Abdominal muscles assist spinal stability and should be part of the exercise program. If you have some weight to lose, get started with the weight reduction right away.

Exercises should be repeated twice daily and gradually increased in number and in exertion. Toe-touching, side-bending, and twisting exercises are not particularly good. For the back, you are more interested in strength than in suppleness.

Good posture helps. Sit in a straight chair. Keep your shoulders back and down. Have a good mattress on your head. Lift heavy objects using your legs, not your back. Never lift from a bending forward position. Avoid sudden shifts and strains, particularly those actions that throw the upper body backward. Tennis, for example, should not be rushed as your back recovers. You can safely walk, swim, or bicycle along before it would be safe to resume an activity like tennis.

Adequate calcium in your diet is important to minimize the chance of fractures. If you don't have four servings a day of calcium-rich foods such as non-fat milk or low-fat ice cream, then calcium supplementation is advisable. This is very important for women. Women over 65 should have at least 1,500 mg of calcium daily and men at least 1,000 mg. a glass of milk contains about 250 mg. The best supplementation is calcium carbonate, which is available as Tums, Os-Cal, or other similar brands. Women should discuss the pros and cons of estrogen supplementation with their doctor. Premarin and similar drugs can significantly reduce the chance of osteoporotic fractures.

Raymond Lee Geok Seng is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is a writer specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He has spent countless of time and efforts conducting research and share his insightful and powerful secrets to benefit men and women all over the world. He is currently the author of the latest edition of "Neck Exercises and Workouts." Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

Are There Any Side Effects of a Hysterectomy?

It's a logical and frequently asked question - are there any hysterectomy side effects?

Absolutely!

Hysterectomy is defined as the surgical removal of the vital organ called the uterus. Most hysterectomies are performed on women between the ages of 20 and 49. In the United States, the rate of hysterectomy is higher among African-American women and is higher in the Southern states. There are 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States every year.

There are two types of hysterectomy, the partial hysterectomy and the total hysterectomy. In a partial hysterectomy, the uterus is removed and the ovaries are left in place. In most cases, because the circulation of blood to the ovaries is diminished, the ovarian function will cease all together, although it's unknown why this happens. In a total hysterectomy or "surgical menopause", the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries are removed which results in the interruption of the ovarian hormone production.

After the surgical procedure called hysterectomy, since hormone production has been altered, a woman may experience one or more of the following side effects:

- Anxiety


- Depression, mood swings


- Dizziness and nervousness


- Fatigue


- Hair loss


- Headaches


- Heart palpitations


- Insomnia


- Irritability


- Joint pain


- Low sex drive, painful sexual intercourse


- Memory lapses


- Unexplained weight gain


- Urinary incontinence


- Vaginal dryness

Women who have had a hysterectomy are at increased risk for developing heart disease, arthritis and osteoporosis.

There are medical conditions for which hysterectomy may be needed, especially if malignant cancer is involved. However, many hysterectomies are used to remove fibroids and to treat other related conditions. For these kinds of conditions, hysterectomy may be not needed, but women may not know of effective less radical and alternative treatments that should be considered and discussed with their physician. And women are frequently mistakenly afraid of developing cancer if a hysterectomy is not performed and may decide to have the procedure, according to a study as reported by the Reuters News Agency.

When a woman undergoes a hysterectomy, she goes into surgically induced menopause that results in the condition called "hormone imbalance", even if the ovaries are left intact. Even with the ovaries not removed, the blood supply to the ovaries lessens after the surgery and the ovaries usually cease functioning within 1-3 years.

The body needs hormones to function properly. And for a woman -- progesterone, Testosterone and estrogen are vital. How and when does a woman's body produce progesterone? It's produced in the regular menstrual cycle when ovulation occurs. No ovulation, no progesterone!

After a hysterectomy, women will experience a deficiency of two critical hormones -- progesterone and Testosterone. If only the uterus is removed in a partial hysterectomy, progesterone levels will fall dramatically in one to two months and estrogen levels will decrease in one or two years. Progesterone deficiency is related to numerous side effects including the side effects of a hysterectomy listed above. Progesterone deficiency is related to increased risk of developing certain kinds of cancer, including endometrial cancer. Testosterone deficiency in women causes low sex drive, low energy levels, thyroid deficiency and depression, for which there is no clear medical explanation.

Women who enter menopause as a result of hysterectomy should monitor their estrogen (estridiol), progesterone and Testosterone levels -- and natural estrogen alone should not be taken without natural progesterone. Hormone levels are easily and accurately measured with the saliva test, which will indicate the levels of the critical hormones in the body. Since a hysterectomy creates a deficiency of vital hormones in the woman's body, hormone replacement therapy should be considered. However, using synthetic hormones comes with additional risks and side effects.

Instead, women considering hysterectomy or already having had the procedure should seek the help of physicians trained in the use of natural bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormones are hormones that are identical to what the body makes and what normally would exist in the body. Synthetic drugs such as Premarin, Provera and Prempro are not natural nor the same as the body makes, and these kinds of synthetic drugs have numerous side effects. Naturopathic physicians, alternative medicine and holistic physicians are educated and trained in both conventional medicine and the use of bio-identical hormones, including bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

Hysterectomy is a permanent, irreversible surgery that will likely result in unwanted side effects. Unless malignant cancer or other life-threatening condition exists, instead of hysterectomy, consider natural bio-identical hormone replacement therapy to treat fibroids, endometriosis and other conditions related to hormone imbalance. Read all you can and learn more about what to expect after a hysterectomy and effective alternative treatments that may be better for your health.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

If you or someone you know has had a hysterectomy, visit hysterectomy recovery to learn more about what to expect after a hysterectomy and related health issues. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of physician-recommended natural solutions for a variety of women's health problems.

Follicular Cysts And Corpus Luteum Cysts

A cyst can rupture be it a, most likely it's a follicular cyst or a corpus luteum cyst. These are the so-called functional cysts, or the functional cyst with pregnancy. When they rupture generally nothing happens. In fact, there's usually a pressure relief.

Because any distended cyst is often what gives, as a cysts nerves are increased by the distension, by the fluid, that's often what causes the pain. The relief of the pain comes whenever it ruptures. Often like, unfortunately a ruptured appendix. Sometimes when a patient feels an appendix ballooning up and brings him to the doctors the fact that the appendix becomes distended. Immediately after that there's a rupture and they don't feel the pain. Unfortunately what causes the problems with ruptured cysts is if the cyst has a very rich blood supply and that blood supply, the arteries start pumping blood and don't seal off and the abdomen can fill up with blood. And I've dealt with many cases both as an ectopic pregnancy, but the conditions usually much worse, but also, as a, rarely as a ruptured cyst that's bleeding off a cystic pregnancy. And often times the abdomen can literally become distended. In a severe case woman can go into shock meaning their blood pressure falls out, it's an emergency, life threatening situation that if undiagnosed can be fatal. Fortunately, with emergency rooms being equipped the way they are, doctors being as smart as we are - we rarely miss this. But once in a great while this is a complication. And when the cyst ruptures it doesn't, you can usually preserve the ovary. Usually it can be sutured over, quarterized. The ovary stays in tact and even in a rare case if it had to be removed, again that does not affect fertility.

Generally if you have weight loss - unexplained weight loss is always a problem and should be looked into by a doctor. It doesn't necessarily mean that it's ovary cancer. But a benign cyst, a functional cyst, any of these cysts that we talked about with the exception of the cancerous cysts which are rare, will not be associated with a weight loss. Obviously if we have pain or anxiety about a tumor or cyst often times that's the cause of the weight loss. As far as weight gain, the weight gain is not because of a cyst. However, in the case of the polycystic ovary it's a condition that's sort of related. The cyst doesn't cause the obesity but they seem to be related. And the reason for polycystic ovary disease is unknown. Dr. Christopher Freville describes it as multi-factor but again one of the treatments I mentioned was to try to get the patient to lose weight and it often helps the other symptoms.

Some health pills such as Noni- Tahitian. Noni-Tahitian is the Indian mulberry Plant. It grows in the South Pacific and like a lot of the natural foods there's a lot of claims around all of these. In fact Noni-Tahitian, this is just an example. One company called Morinda, Inc. was pretty well known. It was 1998. Morinda, Inc. was investigated by the FDA - Federal Drug Administration, because they were actually labeling their Noni Tahitian, which I think is a drink. I've never had it myself. But they had all these claims, and the FDA said listen, we no longer - the FDA in this country will leave a company alone as long as it's considered a food supplement, nutrition supplement. When you start making claims, as Morinda did, they said, "No you can't do that."

They did an extensive investigation and charged them $100,000.00 for that investigation, and had them cease and desist. So any type of health food that claims that they're going to prevent cysts is unfortunately bogus. I will say while I'm on that, other things that are associated with cysts, women who take estrogens. This has always been a controversy since estrogens came out, and there's so much data on estrogens.

Drugs like Climara, various forms of Estradiol, Premarin, they're all various categories of the same type of drug, they're estrogen supplements. Estrogens do not cause cysts. If anything, estrogens, especially those in birth control pills can decrease cysts. Which brings up a point if a woman on birth control pills, oral contraceptives, develops a cyst, that's rare.

Hillary Templeton gives advice to women of all types of ovarian cysts on her website. Click here for more information on ovarian cysts and pregnancy.

Garden Variety Estrogen

"Estrogen is estrogen," my sister says matter-of-factly. The voice of authority has spoken. And I know that I cannot convince her otherwise.

Sarah works for a very successful group of family physicians in Williamsburg, VA. Steeped in conventional pharmaceutical wisdom, the docs there make the same mistake docs everywhere make: they trust their drugs reps to give them the skinny on the latest drug research. And then they pass that wisdom onto their staff and patients. To think any differently about this system of information is to be called alternative.

Problem is, those companies perform their own latest drug research. Data is routinely skewed, and then the FDA puts their stamp of approval on it. Why? Because the FDA receives 80% of funding from testing drugs.

Perhaps a slight conflict of interest, but I digress. . .

Estrogen is not estrogen. There is no such thing as a garden variety hormone.

HRT, hormone replacement therapy, uses synthetic estrogen. The same is true with progesterone. The drugs Prempro and Premarin were the two culprits identified in the 2002 Women's Health Initiative studies. Horses' hormones were used as the foundation for these two drugs. (The manner in which these horses were used and abused is deplorable, but that's another post)

Although similar, equine hormones are not the same as human hormones. Still, drug companies insisted there was no viable alternative. There was and is an alternative, just not a patented one.

Pharmaceutical companies developed synthetic hormones so that the drugs could be patented. Their hope was that this slight difference, creating synthetic hormones, would not make a real difference in women's bodies.

But, time has proven otherwise. Escalating evidence of the dangers of HRT persist. And drug companies recite the litany of their safety. But if "estrogen is estrogen," then why is there such controversy over HRT? And why are drug companies lobbying to have bio-identical hormones removed from the market?

You guessed it; the money tree.

Bio-identical hormone treatment, or BHT, has been around for years. But most practitioners are unfamiliar with the treatment. Drug companies have done a thorough job in skewing physicians, and their patients, toward their risky line-up of products.

Bio-identical simply means that the structure of the hormone is perfectly identical to the hormone produced in women's bodies. BHT is natural and our bodies can metabolize the hormones, as they were designed to do. Sounds good so far, doesn't it?

The problem is, drug companies can't patent it. So they're on a rampage to outlaw it. Again, unable to stem the fallout from WHI's initial study, pharmaceutical companies have put their own spin on BHT. With the new Climara patch, companies have created a patented sticky transdermal hormone delivery system. The estrogen cannot be patented because it is identical to the human estradiol.

And there's the rub. Isn't the market big enough for both products, bio-identical and Climara? Evidently not. The drug industry is hell-bent on outlawing BHT.

Like a spoiled child, they don't want to share. The malarkey posted by drug companies that there is no alternative to synthetic hormone treatment is ludicrous. Especially when it falls on the heels of their introduction to Climara. A desperate attempt, at best, to continue their stranglehold over our health, drug companies are waging all out war for control over our bodies.

We all need a safety blanket. We want to believe our doctors have our best interests at heart. I want to believe that. I love my doctor. But when it comes to drug counseling, I do my homework.

I also consult my Naturopathic Doctor. If there is any way I can avert the use of prescription drugs, I take that exit first. If not, I explore the risks.

I'd love to believe in a magic pill. But the only magic here is the massive effort by drug companies to pull the wool over our eyes. Hence, my sister's na�ve statement about hormone replacement.

The bottom line is: estrogen is not estrogen. And it's your job to question everything, including this article. Find the answers you can live with. And remember, money only grows on pharmaceutical trees.

Spa owner for seven years, Susan has a passion for healthy living. She regularly writes for her own spa on health & wellness issues facing women today.

Discover Natural Herbs As An Alternative To Hormone Replacement Therapy

Over the years, natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy have soared. Indeed, with the proven dangers of hormone replacement therapy more and more women are interested in learning more about natural therapies and alternatives. Moreover, some women simply don't like ingesting their estrogen from the prescription drug Premarin, which comes from horses horse urine, to be precise.

So, without further adieu, let's delve into natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

Befriend black cohosh. Black cohosh has long history as a treatment for a variety of "Female complaints," including menopausal symptoms and painful menstrual cramps. Black cohosh has been shown to have estrogenic activity and inhibits the secretion of the luteinizing hormone, which is responsible for many unpleasant symptoms associated with menopause that wreak havoc on a women's life. More specifically, black cohosh may help fight hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, sleep disturbances, and nervousness. In fact, black cohosh is highly touted as one of the natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

Get aid from Asia. For centuries, Dong Quai has been used by Asian healers to balance Female hormones and to prevent PMS and menopausal symptoms. Dong Quai is most commonly used to treat menstrual problems, including cramps and pain during menstruation as well as to ease some of the symptoms of menopause, such hot flashes and night sweats.

Try your luck with red clover. Red clover contains isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogens that have effects similar to estrogen. More specifically, phytoestrogens mimic some of the effects of estrogen and, as such, this herb is used to help combat menopausal symptoms and hot flashes. Red clover may even help important factors in a woman's sexual function and pleasure by maintaining vaginal tissue and lubrication (vaginal dryness.) In addition, it may help prevent osteoporosis due to its weak estrogenic effects. Indeed, despite a lack of research support, this herb is finding a place on the herbal medicine shelf as one of the natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy, meaning a remedy for menopausal discomforts.

Get acquainted with wild yam. Wild yam has been highly promoted as one of the natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. More specifically, wild yam is used as a natural alternative for estrogen replacement therapy. Wild yam may be helpful for menstrual disorders and to relieve postmenopausal vaginal dryness and other menopause-related symptoms, amongst others.

Chase away menopausal symptoms with Chasteberry. Chasteberry, also known as vitex or chaste tree, is said to help regulate hormones involved in the menstrual cycle and, as such, it is used to help fight menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. In addition, chasteberry is used for menstrual irregularities and for premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms, amongst others.

Meet other herbs that may help. Sage and sarsaparilla are also natural estrogen promoters.

Nutritional-Supplement-Educational Centre's Opinion On Natural Herbs As An Alternative To Hormone Replacement Therapy

Discover the power of comprehensive formulas. Nowadays, there are highly sophisticated companies that have designed comprehensive formulas specifically to help combat menopausal symptoms. In fact, a comprehensive formula using carefully selected ingredients can offer more therapeutic benefits, often better than taking a single herb or nutrient on its own.

Therefore, it's important to understand the how and why of what makes some these comprehensive products useful - an important factor in making an informed choice. Moreover, mixing and matching nutrients and herbs on your own can be very dangerous to your health as well as expensive.

Bottom Line...

We believe you're better off taking a product that is professionally and scientifically formulated by a highly-credentialed scientific team that can ensure the proper blending of ingredients to maximize the therapeutic benefits needed to combat menopausal symptoms.

Final note...

It's important that you always speak to a physician before taking any dietary supplements, including natural herbs as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

Cindy Amorin is the chief editor of Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre.com, an information-rich site that discusses nutritional, dietary, and herbal supplements and their potential therapeutic value. She is the editor of menopause information a section of Nutritional-Supplement-Educational-Centre discussing a variety of topics associated with menopause.

For those of you interested in learning more about menopause natural treatments and tips on how to buy quality supplements meet us on the web at our menopause natural treatments web page.

Abdominal Hysterectomy: Recovery Time After Hysterectomy

Having an abdominal hysterectomy and the recovery time after hysterectomy are significant events in any woman's life. Since an abdominal hysterectomy is an in-patient surgical procedure, you should plan on being away from home and work during the surgery and perhaps during the beginning recovery time after hysterectomy. The length of the hospital stay depends on what type of hysterectomy you have, how your surgery goes and what your doctor recommends.

While the hysterectomy recovery time may take a few weeks, here are things you can do to help speed up your hysterectomy recovery:

1. Take all the pain relievers your doctor has prescribed. You will want to be as comfortable as possible during your recovery time after hysterectomy.

2. Keep sanitary pads handy since you may have some discharge and bloody drainage for several days after your abdominal hysterectomy.

3. Use a heating pad over your abdomen and another under it, if necessary. Be careful and do not sleep with a heating pad in direct contact with the skin because doing so can burn you.

4. Avoid all lifting after the abdominal hysterectomy surgery and during the post hysterectomy period. Just ask others to do all the lifting for you.

5. Avoid dairy foods during the post hysterectomy time since dairy products will tend to cause constipation. Pain medications taken during the recovery time after hysterectomy also tend to make you constipated.

6. Avoid alcoholic beverages totally during the recovery time after hysterectomy, especially while taking medications.

7. Drink 8-10 glasses of filtered water each day to adequately flush your system of toxins which would otherwise accumulate and cause discomfort or illness. Drinking pure clear water daily is a healthy habit to continue even once you are fully recovered.

8. Eat as healthy as you can since your body needs nutrients to help with healing. Be sure and include cold-water fish, turkey, chicken, organic bread, soups, salads, fruits and broths.

9. Take the best vitamin/mineral/nutritional supplement you can find. It's not just about the vitamins and minerals. Providing your body with important nutritional supplements is a good idea before and after your abdominal hysterectomy to help fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have.

10. Use your recovery time after hysterectomy to really take care of yourself. Listen to your favorite music, watch your favorite television programs and read your favorite books. Relax and give your body a chance to adjust and recover from the surgery.

After an abdominal hysterectomy, women will likely experience a deficiency of the critical hormones progesterone, estrogen and Testosterone. If only the uterus is removed in a partial hysterectomy, progesterone levels will fall dramatically in one to two months and estrogen levels will decrease in one or two years. Progesterone deficiency is related to numerous side effects including increased risk of developing certain kinds of cancer, including endometrial cancer. Testosterone deficiency in women causes low sex drive, low energy levels, thyroid deficiency and depression. Estrogen deficiency can result in vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats.

Women considering abdominal hysterectomy or having had the procedure should seek the help of physicians trained in the use of natural bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormones are hormones that are identical to what the body makes and what normally would exist in the body. Synthetic drugs such as Premarin, Provera and Prempro are not natural nor the same as the body makes, and these kinds of synthetic drugs have numerous side effects.

There is a hormone health test provided by a leading women's health clinic that you can take online. The test takes just a few minutes and is free. Learn as much as you can about hormone imbalance, the recovery time after hysterectomy and physician-recommended natural alternatives for hormone replacement therapy.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about hysterectomy recovery and alternatives for hormone replacement therapy. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com a website of natural health articles and information.

Hormone Balancing and the Risks for Heart Disease

Risk factors for heart disease are primarily the same in women as they are in men. Smoking, high blood pressure, excessive weight, sedentary lifestyle (little or no exercise), high Homocystine levels, diabetes, high cholesterol, age and family history of heart problems all increase a woman's chances of having heart disease.

The one addition for women is HRT. Since July 2002 HRT can be considered a risk for heart disease according to the WHI study which evaluated PremPro a Premarin and Provera combination therapy which was gaining popularity with medical practitioners.

Research shows that anovulatory cycles and lowered progesterone levels occur prior to menopause. Then progesterone levels after menopause and continue to fall to close to zero. Estrogen, on the other hand, falls only 40 to 60 percent with menopause.

A woman's passage through menopause then results in a greater loss of progesterone than of estrogen. It is believed that perhaps the increase in heart disease risk after menopause is due more to progesterone deficiency than to estrogen deficiency. Dr. John R Lee author of the book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause" states that in his clinical experience, lipid profiles improve when bio-identical progesterone is supplemented. The synthetic versions of progesterone called progestins or progestagens do not offer the same effects. In fact, the WHI study and more recent studies from Harvard and the UK all point to the fact that HRT- Estrogen plus a progestin increases a woman's risk for heart disease and may even contribute to heart disease.

Bio-identical progesterone on the other hand appears to increase the burning of fats for energy and, in addition, has anti-inflammatory effects. Both of these actions would be protective against coronary heart disease. Progesterone protects the integrity and function of cell membranes, whereas estrogen allows an influx of sodium and water while allowing loss of potassium and magnesium. Progesterone, a natural diuretic, promotes better sleep patterns and helps us deal with stress. When one reviews the known actions of progesterone, it is clear that many of its actions are also beneficial to the heart.

The key to reducing a woman's risk of heart disease is to maintain a balance of hormones in her body and at the same time actively pursue a program to prevent heart disease.

Steps to take would be:

1. Use a Saliva test to determine the status of estradiol and progersterone.

2. If either are deficient increase progesterone levels first using a bio-identical cream.

3. Increase Fiber in the diet and use a supplement like Fiber Source 7 which has the additional advantage of containing probiotics. High fiber diets have been shown to improve hormone levels and to assist with heart health.

4. Increase EFA's in the diet. Essential Fats promote good hormone production as well as heart health.

5. Increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables focusing on greeny leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables which contain anti oxidants and indole-3-carbinol. Taking a fruit and vegetable concentrate and an indoles supplement in addition to eating more makes sense to guarantee you are getting all the nutrients needed and to fill the gaps in your diet. 6. Using a calcium/magnesium supplement for your bones and for your heart health is often suggested in prevention programs.

We must take charge of our health. Prevention is always the best medicine. It is never too late to make lifestyle changes. Exercise, a healthy diet and the right supplements and perhaps a little hormone balancing can all ensure that we don't fall victim to the silent killer that is relentlessly stalking our heart and ultimately - our life.

This Article Is Copywright 2006 Jackie L. Harvey & Saliva Testing com

Jackie Harvey is an International speaker, radio program host, seminar leader, business trainer, and a mother of seven. She works in partnership with nurses, medical doctors and health care practitioners.

Jackie is a men & women's health advocate specializing in hormonal and menopausal health. Thousands of men & women have watched her informative DVD "Let's Talk About Hormones". Jackie is committed to making a positive change in peoples lives.

Visit SalivaTesting.com for more information Saliva Hormone Tests Kits & her Best Selling 1-hour DVD "Let's Talk About Hormones with Jackie Harvey". Click For More information on Men's & Women's Saliva Hormone Testing and Saliva Test Kits.

Alternatives for Hormone Replacement Therapy

Do alternatives for hormone replacement therapy exist? Yes! Available alternatives for hormone replacement therapy consist of two primary forms -- synthetic therapy and natural hormone replacement therapy.

The synthetic hormone replacement therapy drugs are not the same as natural hormones that occur in the body. Since substances occurring naturally cannot be patented, drug companies alter the molecular structure and create new substances that are patentable and therefore protected for business purposes. Examples are Premarin, Prempro and Provera -- these synthetic drugs are different in their molecular structure from the estrogens and progesterone found in the human body.

But alternatives for hormone replacement therapy using synthetic drugs may not treat your symptoms of menopause safely! And the problem with synthetic drugs is -- since they are different from what occurs naturally in the human body, the body treats them differently, and the result is often harmful side effects. Synthetic hormone replacement therapy risks may exceed the benefits based on numerous clinical trials such as the Women's Health Initiative studies!

On the other hand, natural alternatives for hormone replacement therapy use natural estrogen and/or natural progesterone hormones. Natural hormones are also referred to as bioidentical hormones. Using safer natural alternatives for hormone replacement therapy is recommended by numerous physicians since the body is able to receive, use and eliminate the natural hormones as needed. Most women may not need synthetic drugs with related side effects to regain health and eliminate symptoms of hormone imbalance.

The two primary hormones for a woman are estrogen and progesterone. Both are needed to function normally and for good health. In a healthy woman and normal menstrual cycle, estrogen is the main hormone produced for the first 10-12 days following the previous menstrual flow. With ovulation, the body begins producing progesterone that continues for the next 12 days or so. If pregnancy does not occur, estrogen and progesterone levels will drop at around day 28 and menstruation begins. However, if there is no ovulation, progesterone will not be produced by the body that cycle. This event is called an annovulatory cycle, and it is happens frequently today for women in their thirties and forties -- no ovulation and no progesterone.

What this means is the woman will be deficient in progesterone with an excess of estrogen, which will likely result in symptoms of hormone imbalance. Progesterone balances or opposes many actions of estrogen. Without suitable progesterone in the body, symptoms of hormone imbalance will likely be experienced. The symptoms of hormone imbalance can be signs that your body isn't getting the support it needs.

If the woman has had a hysterectomy, surgical menopause means the body produces little or no progesterone, creating hormone imbalance. And in postmenopausal women, the production of progesterone ceases as ovulation no longer happens. However, even after menopause, estrogen production will still be 40 to 60 percent of what it once was.

How does a woman know more about appropriate natural alternatives for hormone replacement therapy? One way is to work with a naturopathic doctor who is schooled and trained in both conventional medicine and natural alternative medicine. If you are currently on synthetic HRT and want to change to natural HRT, you should consult with doctors experienced in the use of natural hormone replacement therapy. Naturopathic physicians are medical doctors that work to restore and support the body's systems by using medicines and techniques that are in harmony with natural body processes. A naturopathic physician will prefer treatments which keep harmful side effects risks at a minimum.

Another way is to take the online hormone health test provided by a leading women's health clinic. The online test takes just a few minutes and is free. Find out more about your health, symptoms, what the symptoms may be telling you and what to do about it based on your answers to important questions. And read more about hormone imbalance and physician-recommended natural alternatives for hormone replacement therapy.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about natural progesterone and natural estrogen alternatives for hormone replacement therapy. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com a website of natural health articles and resources.

Hysterectomy: Recovery After a Hysterectomy

Hysterectomy recovery after a hysterectomy is a crucial time in a woman's life. Recovery after a hysterectomy means a woman needs some time to adjust, to heal and to complete her hysterectomy recovery process. Here are some tips for speeding up the recovery time:

1. Your first two weeks at home will likely be the most difficult, depending on what type of hysterectomy procedure you have had. Use this time to sleep, relax, read, and listen to your favorite music until your post hysterectomy is over. At the end of two weeks, you should be more able to begin moving around and slowly getting back to your normal activities.

2. Do not climb stairs or drive a car during this hysterectomy recovery period. This is the time to let family and friends help you.

3. Do not prepare your own meals for the first couple of weeks after a hysterectomy. Ask a friend or family member to do it for you or order your meals from sources that can deliver to you.

4. Have a thermometer at home to monitor your temperature. Call your doctor for advice if your temperature goes up.

5. Laugh as much as you can. Watch funny TV programs, rent some of your favorite funny movies or share fun stories with family and friends. Laughter provides a wonderful boost to the immune system during the hysterectomy recovery healing process.

6. Drink 8 glasses of filtered water each day to flush your system of toxins after a hysterectomy. Drinking pure clear water daily is a healthy habit to continue even once you are fully recovered.

7. Eat as healthy as you can during hysterectomy recovery since your body will need and use nutrients to help with healing. Include cold-water fish, turkey, chicken, organic bread, soups, salads, fruits and broths. If possible, consume fresh vegetable juices daily which will provide nutrients that improve health and speed healing.

8. Take the best vitamin/mineral/nutritional supplement you can find. A really good daily supplement contains much more than just vitamins and minerals. Providing your body with important nutritional supplements is a good idea before and after a hysterectomy to help fill in the dietary gaps that everyone will have.

9. Begin to exercise as soon as your doctor authorizes it. Exercise will definitely speed up your post hysterectomy recovery. Take it easy but begin moving. Take walks or use your treadmill when you are home.

10. Begin to learn about your hormones, hysterectomy recovery and hormone imbalance. Having a hysterectomy will interrupt your normal production of progesterone, estrogen and Testosterone which can result in symptoms associated with hormone imbalance.

Women considering hysterectomy or having had the procedure should seek the help of physicians trained in the use of natural bio-identical hormones. Bio-identical hormones are hormones that are identical to what the body makes and what normally would exist in the body. Synthetic drugs such as Premarin, Provera and Prempro are not natural nor the same as the body makes, and these kinds of synthetic drugs have numerous side effects.

There is a hormone health test provided by a leading women's health clinic that you can take online. The test takes just a few minutes and is free. The women's clinic has helped tens of thousands of women safely deal with hormone imbalance and related health issues. Learn as much as you can about hormone imbalance, hysterectomy recovery and physician-recommended natural alternatives for hormone replacement therapy.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about hysterectomy recovery side effects of hysterectomy and alternatives for hormone replacement therapy. Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com a website of natural health articles and information.

Facts About Alzheimer's

Dementia is defined as a progressive loss of memory and mental capacity that is usually experienced by people as they get older, though there isn't any predetermined age in which such a condition can strike. Dementia is a slow, progressive disease process that can exhibit signs and symptoms for months, or even years. Of all the types of dementia, Alzheimer's disease is by far the most prevalent. Almost 70% of dementia cases are diagnosed as Alzheimer's disease, and the word has spread far and wide with its alarming, irreversible and dehabilitating consequences.

Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease that affects the brain and results in gradual memory loss of both long-term and short-term memory capabilities, as well as personality change and impaired ability to reason and think. It isn't difficult for a physician to diagnose dementia, and several tests will help determine whether or not you or a loved one might be experiencing early stage Alzheimer's. The disease affects people differently, as well as their life expectancy after diagnosis. Some people decline rapidly while others don't. Some people live only a few years after diagnosis, while others live twenty or more years with the disease. Today, roughly four million people have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the United States alone. It is most common in people over 65 years of age, though people in their forties and fifties have been diagnosed with it as well. For about 10% of those diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's in their forties and fifties, there is a family history of the disease present.

While much progress has been made to understand what Alzheimer's disease is and how it affects the human body, it isn't yet exactly clear what causes it, nor has a drug been developed that will cure it. It's well understood that a combination of brain cell death and a lack of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine causes symptoms of Alzheimer's.

People these days are desperate to find a way to prevent or slow the onslaught of Alzheimer's, but studies are slow to show progress. Some recent studies tend to show that daily doses of a nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drug may reduce chances of being stricken with the disease, but results are non-definitive to date. One thing is certain, however, despite common rumor, and to the contrary, Prempro or Premarin hormone therapy does not prevent the disease. Another common rumor is that the herb ginkgo may help to reduce the chance of succumbing to the disease, but again, results aren't definitive.

People diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease are encouraged by doctors to remain as active as possible in order to help prevent a rapid decline of mental acuity. Social interaction, stimulation and regular forms of exercise will help keep brain cells active. Maintaining a schedule may help patients maintain cognitive levels longer, as well as the creation of notes or small signs throughout the home to help with visual-cognitive functions.

The diagnosis of Alzheimer's in a loved one is a terrible blow. There are no easy answers on how to deal with the disease. Information is knowledge, however, and the more we know about the how's and whys of the disease, the better equipped we will be to help care for those diagnosed with Alzheimer's.

For more information on Alzheimers, try visiting http://www.helpwithalzheimers.com - a website that specializes in providing Alzheimers related tips, advice and resources to include information on Alzheimers.

Is There A Lasting Solution To Vaginal Dryness?

Vaginal dryness makes you sensitive, self conscious and you repel sex. Your sex life makes a turn around and heads for the worst. But you can overcome your agony by trying out various remedies and medical solutions to pull you out of such a stalemate. Vaginal dryness is caused by lack of adequate estrogen. You have tried all manner of remedies to no success. It is time to try vaginal estrogen therapy which comes in various forms. Estring or vaginal estrogen ring is a soft and flexible ring which is placed or inserted into the upper most part of the Female sex organ. It is a unique ring as it consistently but surely releases a dose of the needed estrogen. The ring is usually replaced after every three months. Vaginal estrogen cream like Premarin and Estrace are inserted directly into the vagina using an applicator moments before bed time. Your doctor will usually give you the right prescription and dosage which is generally three or two times in a week.

Sometimes vaginal dryness might be triggered by the onset of menopause in a woman. Menopause is known to affect hormonal changes in the body. This sometimes affects the chemical balance in the vagina which results into severe vaginal dryness. Some of the menopause symptoms include moderate or sometimes severe hot flashes. The doctor might recommend a gel, patches, estrogen pills or a higher dose estrogen ring. It is always good to hold talks with your doctor so that a decision can be made on whether estrogen treatment is good for you. If you settle on estrogen, your doctor should advice on what is best for you. For instance he can recommend a vaginal estrogen tablet which is placed in your vagina using a disposable applicator. Your doctor gives you the right dosage and usage, usually taken twice a week.

There are also self care measures if you are really uncomfortable with vaginal dryness. These remedies come in form of lubricants and moisturizers. The moment vaginal dryness starts making you uncomfortable, you can just order a lubricant or a moisturizer over the counter. Water-based lubricants are the best. Avoid gels, soaps and bubble baths as lubricants, they might turn out to be irritants or inflame the vagina. The best over the counter lubricant is Astroglide, K-Y gel. It is a water-based lubricant which lubricates your vagina for several hours. You can apply the lubricant on your partners penis just before intercourse or better still, you can apply it on your vaginal opening. Vaginal moisturizers such as Replins and Lubrin are renowned for decreasing vaginal dryness for up to three consecutive days with a single application. They have a capacity of lasting longer than lubricants.

Complimentary and other alternative medicines can be used to combat vaginal dryness. Some of these alternative therapies include products like wild yam, isoflavones and black cohosh. However it is important to note that there is no concrete evidence to indicate that any of these alternative remedies are effective. Some of these approaches are subject to debate and more research to determine their effectiveness and safety. It is therefore advisable to always consult with your doctor before venturing into alternative and complimentary therapies. This is important especially if you are pregnant, nursing a child or on medication.

Francis K. Githinji Is A Online Dating Expert. His Latest Project Vaginal Dryness Shows How The Power Of Online Dating Can Be Harnessed Internationally and With Great Success, Or You Could Post Your Valued Comments On His Blog At Vaginal Dryness.

The Evolution of Menopause - From Nature to Illness and Back Again

It's something we've all seen before. From puberty to childbirth, the medical profession does it's very best to "medicalize" each and every condition that it possibly can. How many young women are being placed on birth control pills during puberty to "regulate" their cycles, even though though their cycles are supposed to be irregular during that point in their lives?

Even childbirth was once considered a perfectly natural event. Sometime during our grandmother's time, childbirth moved out of the midwife's hands at home, into the doctor's hands at the hospital. While the results of that change weren't universally negative (infant and maternal mortality rates were drastically reduced), the rate of cesarean births shot through the roof.

most recently, there has been a strong push by the medical industry to "medicalize' the perfectly natural condition known as menopause. The medical industries concept of "treating" menopause as an illness was born with the advent of antidepressants and tranquilizers in the mid to late 1950's. Although first used in mental hospitals, the pharmaceutical companies quickly grasped that a much larger market could be tapped in the form of middle-aged women. By the sixties, these drugs (among other psychotropics) were being widely promoted to doctors as a method to "cure" their menopausal patients of their "symptoms". Although prescribing tranquilizers as a form of treatment was quickly abandoned, the damage had been done: Menopause was now thought of as an "illness" that needed to be treated.

This approach then shifted quickly from the mind to the body. According to doctors, the women who were experiencing these menopause symptoms weren't nuts, they were just had a "estrogen deficiency disease". This, despite the fact that if estrogen deficiency were really a disease, all men should have been declared chronically ill. Instead, doctors declared this "disease" to be the result of a problem specific to Females which they defined in the gynecological texts as ovarian or reproductive "failure". In short, women who were entering this perfectly natural stage in their reproductive lives were being labeled as "sick" failures. What's worse is that this type of thinking continues to dominate the medical approach to menopause. It's an approach that echoes the age old attitudes that were held about menstruation and childbirth. While men are free to naturally progress from youth to old age, women's progression through life leads to "illness" and "disease".

A perfect demonstration of this attitude can be demonstrated by a 1967 entry in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society by F.P.Rhoades which went so far as to call menopause a tragedy: "Many women are leading an active and productive life when this tragedy strikes. They are still attractive and mentally alert; they deeply resent what to them is a catastrophic attack upon their ability to earn a living and enjoy life." (Rhoades, F.P. "Minimizing the menopause." Journal of the American Geriatric Society 1969; 15(4):346-354)

Today, despite the fact that more and more medical professionals have begun to accept a less melodramatic approach to menopause; describing it as simply the transitional period from reproductive to non-reproductive status, many of the "old school" still prefers to approach menopause as a disease, which can have a number of unfortunate implications. On a practical level (the one that is further trumpeted by the pharmaceutical companies), it implies a distinct need for medication. In their opinion, it is a disease to be "treated" like any other. Unfortunately, this has led to a mindset among middle-aged women that they are ill simply because they have entered the "change".

Follow the Money - Menopause is Big Business

Despite the fact that women in so many other cultures experience menopause as a natural stage of life, there is one overwhelming reason why menopause has been turned into a "disease". In a word - money, money, money. The fact is, diseases need treatment, and (at least in the for-profit health system that exists in the United States) treatment costs money. The medical establishment in the U.S. has long been both a victim and willing participant of manipulation by the pharmaceutical industry.

Although we may think of the medical establishment as (*ahem*) above manipulation and the drug makers as altruistic, the fact is that the big pharmaceutical industry exists first and foremost as a vast profit machine. You need look no further than the relatively recent proliferation of television advertisements that are touting drugs for treating "conditions' that just a few years ago literally did not exist. Couple that with the fact that they are just as adept at marketing to medical professionals as they are to the general public (if not more so), and you have the perfect environment for creating the perception that the body's natural processes not only need to be treated, but that it will actually be harmful NOT to do so.

Furthering this climate is the ongoing perception that because medical "treatments" are scientific, that the doctors simply MUST be right. If the doctors say I need hormones because my body is "broken", then it must be true, right?

The Media - A Willing Accomplice

Unfortunately, big drug companies and medical professionals are not the only one responsible for perpetuating the myth of menopause as a disease. The mass media have been more than willing and eager to spread the misinformation touted by big pharma. Almost weekly, the media confuse press releases, marketing, and tentative findings generated from very small studies as if they had already been proven in the mainstream. On the cover of the December 1995 Reader's Digest Premarin was boldly labeled the "pill that keeps women young", this despite the fact that an insert for Premarin stated plainly that "You may have heard that taking estrogens for long periods (years) after menopause will keep your skin soft and supple and keep you feeling young. There is no evidence this is so and such long-term treatment may carry serious risks."

Many popular women's magazine are even encouraged to run as many stories as possible about osteoporosis and heart disease, which attracts plenty of ads for hormone replacement therapy. Think that's a coincidence? consider this example:

In the first edition of Prevention magazine (a very popular monthly health magazine geared towards baby boomers), there were at least two major articles touting the advantages of hormone replacement therapy. In that very same issue were ads for Premarin. When they later ran articles advancing soy protein as an alternative to expensive estrogen treatment for reducing hot flashes, there were no hormone replacement drug ads to be found.

Is it any wonder that so many women are confused about their choices for dealing with the change? With so many people and companies invested in keeping menopause classified (at least in the minds of women) as a disease that needs medical treatment, it is getting harder and harder to filter out the noise and find what will option work for YOU.

Alternatives to Drugs - From the West to the East

The good news is, thanks to the internet there is a plethora of information covering natural and alternative remedies for menopause. Form natural supplements and herbs, to acupuncture and other alternative treatments, there are some great treatments that involve less risk and changes to your lifestyle than a strictly pharmacological approach. Here's a list of a few of the herbs that have been found useful (I recommend you Google each one) in treating many of the various symptoms of menopause:

• Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

• Chaste tree (Vilex agnus- castus)

• Damiana (Turnera diffuse)

• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

• Dong quai (Angelica sinensis)

• False unicorn root (Chamaelirium luteum)

• Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

• Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus, Panax quinquefolius)

• Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

• Liferoot (Senecio Bursas)

• Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

• Red clover (Tritolium pretense)

• Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• St. Johns Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

• Sarsaparilla (Smilax officinalis)

• Saw palmetto (Serenoa serrulata)

• Shepherd's purse (CapseIla bursapastoris)

• True unicorn root (Aletris farinosa)

• Wild yam (Dioscarea villosa)

There are, of course, legitimate uses for almost every approach to "treating" menopause symptoms. However, I recommend you weigh ALL the risks associated with hormone replacement therapy, the possible benefits to alternative treatments, and find what's right for YOU.

Dawn M. Olsen is an Advocate for Better Women's Health through Education, Recipe Developer, Soy Food Enthusiast and the Author of "Menopause A to Z - A Definitive Guide to Modern Menopause available online now at http://www.menopauseatoz.com Find out more about how to deal with symptoms of menopause and life post menopause.

Sexual Difficulties and Menopause

A lot of women are happy to be going through menopause because this saves them the worries and fears of unwanted pregnancy. They also tend to be more in touch with and comfortable about their sexual needs and desires than they were earlier in life. Regrettably, there are also many women who find that menopause has an unfavorable impact on their sex lives. There are a number if different changes that can occur during menopause that may cause sexual problems.

Many of the sexual difficulties menopausal women experience are a direct result of declining levels of sex hormones. Among other things, deficiencies of the sex hormones estrogen and Testosterone often produce shrinkage and dryness of the vagina and reduce sexual desire. Over half of all women at menopause and beyond are bothered by dryness of the vaginal tissues. This can lead to discomfort and even pain during sexual intercourse.

There are several different strategies that you can use, either singly or in combination, to overcome vaginal dryness and fragility. For a temporary lubricating action, you can use a bland jelly, or vitamin E cream, which also has a healing effect. These can be used before or during sexual intercourse, as needed. There are also products, such as Replens, that are formulated especially for this condition and that, when used on a daily basis, are supposed to offer longer lasting relief. These products are available at drug stores without prescription.

To actually restore and strengthen the vagina, however, you need to use a hormonal cream or vaginal suppository, especially if your menopause was early or you want to resume sexual activity after a long period of abstinence. Hormonal creams and vaginal suppositories rejuvenate, thicken and moisten the mucosal folds and lining of the vagina and they improve circulation, thus restoring the capacity of natural lubrication and orgasm. If you feel that your vagina has shrunk, this can be overcome by regularly massaging the inside and opening of the vaginal walls using an estrogen cream. Place some estrogen cream on your fingers and rub it into the vaginal walls, gently stretching the walls apart and exerting gentle pressure backwards at the opening of the vagina. There is not need to stretch excessively and cause any discomfort. Ten minutes daily of this gentle massage and stretching will suffice. Estrogen creams and suppositories require a doctor's prescription, as they contain hormones; known brands are Premarin, Estrace and Ogen. For some women, the addition of Testosterone to the vaginal estrogen cream can make it much more effective than estrogen cream alone in restoring sexual responsiveness. You can ask your doctor to write a prescription for your pharmacist to mix you a special vagina cream containing both estrogen and Testosterone. You may massage your entire vaginal area with this cream for three to four weeks, after which time you should need to use it only twice a week. Most menopausal women find hormonal creams suppositories much like an aphrodisiac and make them feel sexier.

Michael RussellYour Independent guide to Medical Billing

A Natural Hormone Supplement - What Is It and Why Use It?

A natural hormone supplement is a hormone that is identical to what occurs naturally in the body. Most prescription drugs are not the same as a natural hormone supplement. Why?

In the USA since the late 1800's, U.S. laws allow medicines to be patented only if they are not naturally occurring substances. If a drug company discovers a natural substance that can be used medically, anyone else can also use/make/sell that substance. So for business purposes, what happens is that the pharmaceutical companies create synthetic hormones that are intentionally different from a natural hormone supplement. Examples are Premarin, Prempro and Provera -- these synthetic drugs are different in their molecular structure from the estrogens and progesterone found in the human body.

And the problem with synthetic drugs is -- since they are different from what occurs naturally in the human body, the body treats them differently and the result is often harmful side effects. Studies such as the Women's Health Initiative have concluded that synthetic hormone replacement therapy risks may exceed the benefits! For example, one of the studies conducted by the WHI was for women on synthetic HRT using Prempro, which is a synthetic estrogen plus progestin combination. The study found there was a 41% increase in the incidence of strokes, a 100% increase in the rate of blood clots and for women over 65, a 100% increase in the rate of Alzheimer's disease.

For women, a natural hormone supplement program will use natural natural progesterone and/or natural estrogen. Both hormones are crucial for good health in women. In a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen is the hormone produced for the first 10-12 days of the cycle. Ovulation signals the body to produce progesterone that continues for the next 12 days or so. If there's no pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone levels drop at about day 28 and menstruation begins. However, if there is no ovulation, progesterone is not produced that cycle. This happens frequently today for women in their thirties and forties -- no ovulation and no progesterone, likely resulting in symptoms of hormone imbalance.

If the woman has had a hysterectomy, surgical menopause means the body produces little or no progesterone, creating hormone imbalance. And in postmenopausal women, the production of progesterone ceases as ovulation no longer occurs. However, even after menopause, estrogen production will still be 40 to 60 percent of what it once was.

For men, natural hormone supplement therapy uses natural Testosterone, not one of the synthetic Testosterone drugs. Testosterone replacement therapy requires the supervision of a physician in the USA.

Using a safer natural hormone supplement such as natural progesterone or natural estrogen is recommended by numerous physicians since these hormones are identical to what occurs in the body, having few or no side effects like the synthetic drugs have. There are reliable online sources of natural hormones. Learn as much as you can about when to use natural hormone supplements to help stay strong, energized, healthy and free from the many symptoms associated with growing old prematurely.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Find information and reliable sources of natural progesterone and estrogen natural hormone supplements for women and low testosterone information for men. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural health articles and resources.

Why Choose Bio-identical Hormones Over Traditional Hormones?

Any woman interested in bio-identical hormones should know the difference between natural hormones (bhrt) and synthetic hormones (hrt). Bio-identical hormones are derived from yams or soy and are the chemical replicates of the exact hormone found in the human body. Synthetic hormones such as Premarin and Provera are drugs made and patented by drug companies. Some of these hormones are derived from pregnant horses urine. The chemicals used are similar to our hormones but have been changed slightly in order to be patented.

Bio-identicals cannot be patented because the drugs have been available for over 15 years. Since bio-identicals can't be patented there is no way for the drug companies to make large amounts of money on them.

Many drug studies have been preformed on synthetic hormones.

The Women's Health Initiative study (WHI) was preformed in 2002 and was stopped early because of the findings. The study involved thousands of women from multiple sites all over the country. The research was done on diet, exercise, calcium supplements, and synthetic hormones. The results were that these drugs should not be given to prevent heart disease, strokes, venous thrombosis, or breast cancer. The findings showed they may increase a woman's risk of developing these problems over time.

The problem with most studies is that the drug companies are funding the study. Therefore, if bio-identicals can't be patented, then the drug companies are not going to spend money on a study.

If you research bio-identical hormones, you can find drug studies on them.

Breast cancer and BHRT

Androgens and Mammary growth and neoplasia

Antiestrogen action of progesterone in breast tissue

Cancer and Hormonal balance

Epidemiology of breast cancer

Hormones in the etiology and prevention of breast and endometrial cancer

This is only 5 examples of the hundreds of studies found on Dr. Rebecca Glaser's website, hormonebalance.org. Dr. Rebecca Glaser also has studies on other topics (not just breast cancer) such as cortisol, estriol, dosage delivery, Testosterone and progesterone to name a few.

My belief is that bio-identical hormones bring the menopausal or pre-menopausal woman back to the hormone levels found in a youthful woman. By doing this, the drugs have shown an improvement in heart health, skin, hair, and memory.

Two other benefits are they slightly lower cholesterol and they will keep bone density from decreasing further. Other than relief from the normal menopausal symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, etc.) I believe bio-identical hormones can also help with heart, bones, memory and cholesterol. I do not think they will decrease the risk of breast cancer, but taken in the correct dosage amount I think they do not increase the risk of cancer.

In other words, if you are on the correct strengths of hormones there will be no increase or decrease in cancer risk.

BHRT can be a much safer alternative for menopause symptoms treatment. For more information on bio-identical hormones, visit http://www.bhrt-resource.com

Menopause Symptoms - Is HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) A Good Thing?

"I can't take these hot flashes anymore!" This is a common reaction to most of the symptoms associated with menopause. While some women have been unscathed by the effects of menopause, there are more who are experiencing severe menopause symptoms and want them alleviated. There will come a point when the question will be asked, "Is hormone

replacement therapy a good thing?"

Many women have chosen this course of treatment to decrease menopause symptoms. However, there are issues to consider. While HRT can be a blessing for some, it can also be a curse for others. Although it is reported to maintain strong bones and prevent heart disease, it can also increase the risk of breast cancer. In addition, it may assert itself by invoking side affects which can affect a woman's life.

Because the production of estrogen ceases during menopause, the loss results in the symptoms commonly associated with menopause. Thus, many women decide to replace the lost estrogen through HRT in order to reduce these menopause symptoms. However, there are contradictory reports about the long-term effects, leaving women in an uncomfortable position as to whether or not replacement therapy is right for them.

There are two schools of thought on using HRT as a menopause treatment. While it has been documented that Hormone Replacement Therapy is an effective remedy in reducing symptoms such as: hot flashes sleep disturbances, and vaginal discomfort; others believe women who did not have menopause symptoms had worse physical function and lower energy levels when taking hormone therapy.

Many women decide against using HRT because they are concerned about the risk of developing cancer. Often, they prefer to take other steps to reduce their risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Studies are on-going to determine the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy over a long period of time. While some women and their doctors feel that HRT's beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and general quality of life outweigh the risk of developing cancer; others are concerned about the possible negative effects of long-term HRT use. Many women choose to reduce the risks of osteoporosis and heart disease by exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco products, eating a balanced diet, and/or taking dietary supplements or other medications.

Whether or not to take HRT is a decision you ultimately have to make. In recent years, there have been reports of health risks associated with hormone replacement therapy. If you have been prescribed either Primpro or Premarin, you may choose other alternatives, such as utilizing a natural form of estrogen. By establishing a balance a proper diet, stress management and using natural progesterone supplementation, the hot flashes, night sweats and other menopause symptoms are either significantly alleviated or completely eliminated.

More than 1,000 hours of painstaking research, collaboration, writing, and editing have gone into the publishing of the most reliable, informative and user-friendly book on menopause and menopause symptoms ever written. . . And YOU are about to benefit - Tremendously! Visit http://www.TheMenopauseInfoSite.com TODAY. What you are about to discover will change your life forever...

A Horrific Prescription for Menopause

A friend of mine believing she had finally reached menopause because of frequently occurring hot flashes that were driving her nuts, made an appointment at her doctor. The doctor set her up to have a hormone panel done. With the positive results of the tests, her suspicions were confirmed, she had indeed reached menopause.

Before we go any further in this article, let me tell you a little about my friend. She is a very joyful woman, is very happily married, has two wonderful kids and a great attitude towards life. Enough about my friend.

Let me tell you her horror story.

So she went to her doctor to discuss her hormone panel results and, after enough reading the research, she decided she wanted to get bioidentical hormones. Her doctor refused and told her they don't work. What her doctor prescribed for her was a rather horrific solution for menopause. Her doctor prescribed Premarin (pregnant horse's urine), a D&C and anti-depressants.

Horrified, my friend left the doctor's office.

We are asking, why would a doctor prescribe anti-depressants to a happy woman? Anti-depressants cause among other side effects: suicidal thoughts, dry eyes and dry vagina. My happy girlfriend said the last thing she wanted was a dry vagina and suicidal thoughts.

We ask also, why would a doctor prescribe a D&C?

The problem overall is that very few doctors understand menopause. Not many doctors stay up to date with the latest findings on menopause and other research. Many ordinary people believe that most doctors finish their Med school and that's it. This particular doctor is in her late 50s, so this doctor would have completed her training about 20 to 25 years ago.

A further problem is that there is not the money to do more research into bioidentical hormones. A further problem is that the all-powerful pharmaceutical companies have seen their profits decline because of the latest negative research on traditional HRT (chemical hormone replacement theory) and would not profit from BHRT because its mixtures cannot be patented. One pharmaceutical giant has even launched legal action against the makers of compounded bioidentical hormones.

So, millions of women in North America and Europe do their own research, find a compounding pharmacy and find a doctor capable of prescribing and monitoring their hormones with BHRT. It's time that governments do the official research. Women are rebelling.

T.K. Robb became an anti-aging expert over the last few years from an interest which led to serious study on the subject, which in turn, led to the development of the PureAgeless.com website. Her research led to the writing of articles, reviewing organic products and services for companies which provide health and wellness services. Her website is based on the organic approach to fighting the diseases of aging, from bioidentical hormones to nutritional supplements. Check out the website: http://www.pureageless.com