Natural Health Resource

Hypnosis Myths Exploded

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:19:50 +0000

5 Hypnosis Myths Exploded

OVER the years, hypnosis has picked up all sorts of weird associations from stage hypnotists, the media and superstition. This is a great shame, because in reality, hypnosis is your single most effective tool for change. Hypnosis is your birthright, and you should know how to use it so it doesn't use you. Here we dispel the biggest hypnosis myths.

Hypnosis Myth 1 - All hypnosis is the same

As with anything, hypnosis can be good, bad or indifferent. The most common is old-style authoritarian hypnosis of the type "You are getting sleepy, you are feeling confident". Unsurprisingly, this sort of hypnosis doesn't work well with many people. Good hypnosis uses subtle psychological principles and advanced communication patterns.

It's like the difference between a football coach who thinks you'll perform best if he yells at you, compared with the more elegant style of a great leader who knows that to get the best from his people, he needs to understand motivation, to cajole, encourage and reward.

Hypnosis Downloads.com offers hundreds of sessions using the best type of hypnosis.

Hypnosis Myth 2 - Subliminals work

Subliminals are words that you can't hear. Common sense says they shouldn't work, and there's no research proving that they do.

Hypnosis Myth 3 - Some people can't be hypnotized

The only reason you can't be hypnotized is if you are incapable of paying attention due to extremely low IQ or brain damage. That's not to say that every hypnotist can hypnotize you however. The more flexible the hypnotist, the more effective she will be with the largest number of people.

Hypnosis Myth 4 - Hypnosis is something weird that other people do to you

If you couldn't go into hypnosis, you wouldn't be able to sleep, to learn, or get nervous through 'negative self hypnosis'. (You know when you imagine things going wrong and it makes you feel anxious? Well that's self hypnosis!)

Hypnosis is simply a deliberate utilization of the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) or dream state. We're not giving people medication here - if it wasn't a natural ability, hypnosis wouldn't work!

Hypnosis Myth 5 - You lose control in hypnosis

Crazy news stories, stage hypnotists and gossip have created the illusion that you lose control in hypnosis. In fact, when hypnotized, you are relaxed and focused – and able to choose to get up and walk away at any time. You choose to give your attention to the hypnotist, and you can withdraw it at any time.

If you have been scared of hypnosis in the past, this article has hopefully convinced you to at least give it a try. But remember, ensure what you're getting is the real thing. Visit www.hypnosisdownloads.com

Broccoli Prevents Colon Cancer

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:45:46 +0000

{definitionbot=disable}As reported by Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, a new study has found that broccoli is 95% lethal against colon cancer cells. This study was recently reported by Doctors Health Press, a publisher of various natural health newsletters books and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin.

As reported in Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin on Monday, December 5, 2011, in one recent clinical trial, scientists studied the effects of a broccoli extract on different human cancer cell lines.

The scientists found that broccoli specifically excelled in its performance against colon cancer cells. In fact, the vegetable showed 95% lethality when attacking the cancer cells.

Colon cancer usually takes hold in the large intestine or the rectum. Although it is considered one of the leading causes of death when compared with other forms of cancer, if diagnosed early, it can often be completely cured. Colon cancer starts to grow in glands in the lining of your colon and rectum. Doctors often refer to this type of cancer as "colorectal cancer."{div float:right|class:module_anywhere}{module Adsense Article|none}{/div}

You can be at a higher risk for colon cancer if you eat a diet high in red or processed meats, already have cancer somewhere else, have inflammatory bowel disease, or have a family history of colon cancer.

When it comes to treating and preventing the disease, diet may play a key role. Everything you eat likely makes its way to the colon eventually. The more healthy food you digest, the less chance there is for toxins and other unhealthy substances to cause negative genetic changes in your colon cells. This is exactly why you'll want to add broccoli to your diet on a regular basis.

Acupuncture Reduces Stress and Improves Memory

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:44:29 +0000

{definitionbot=disable}A new study measures that acupuncture biochemically reduces memory loss due to chronic stress. Researchers applied acupuncture at acupuncture point P6 (Neiguan, Inner Pass). P6 is located approximately two cun* proximal to the center of the wrist crease on the anterior surface of the forearm. The researchers measured biochemical and behavioral changes in laboratory rats. It was found that acupuncture stimulation at P6 increased AchE (acetylcholinesterase) chemical reaction activity in the brain.

AchE is an enzyme that converts the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetate and plays an important role in synaptic transmission. The study shows that rats exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) had significantly lower AchE activity in the hippocampus of the brain. It was discovered that acupuncture at P6 increased chemical reactivity of AchE in the hippocampus compared with the control group.

The researchers also conducted a passive avoidance test (PAT) to compare the biochemical findings with behavioral examination. The acupuncture group performed better than the control group for the PAT. The researchers concluded that acupuncture at P6 improves memory, increases AchE reactivity in the hippocampus and restores learning and memory after biochemical and behavioral impairments due to chronic mild stress.

Traditionally, P6 is used to ‘calm the spirit’ and regulate the heart. It is also well known for its ability to alleviate stomach disorders and relieve nausea and vomiting. Other traditional functions include P6’s ability to unbind the chest, clear the heat and regulate the Qi (energy)

{div float:right|class:module_anywhere}{module Adsense Article|none}{/div}P6 is one of the eight confluent acupuncture points and regulates the Yin Linking (Yinwei Mai) channel. This acupuncture channel starts on the lower leg at acupuncture point K9 and ascends medially along the leg, intersects points Liv14, Sp13, Sp15, and Sp16 in the abdominal region; moves up to the chest, and runs medially to the sternum and terminates at CV23 and CV22 in the chest and throat. The Yin Linking vessel traverses the chest where the heart and lungs reside. P6 is located on the pericardium channel and is the confluent point of the Yin Linking channel thereby making P6 important point for the treatment of heart pain and is one of the primary acupuncture points used to induce analgesia for use during chest surgery.

Why Are Parents Buying Their Children Unhealthy Foods?

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:37:12 +0000

Sure they’re fun and kids love them, but could cartoon characters used in marketing contribute to the obesity epidemic as well as create nagging children? Today, some parents find themselves having a battle in the cereal aisle. Recognizable characters and logos prompt children to make repeated requests for a range of products including low nutritional foods and beverages. To better understand the media’s impact on children’s health, a team of researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health examined the “Nag Factor.” The “Nag Factor” is the tendency of children, who are bombarded with marketers’ messages, to unrelentingly request advertised items. Researchers explored whether and how mothers of young children have experienced this phenomenon and strategies for coping. The results are featured in the August 2011 issue of the Journal of Children and Media.

Adults Demonstrate Modified Immune Response After Receiving Massage

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:02:04 +0000

Researchers in Cedars-Sinai’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences have reported people who undergo massage experience measureable changes in their body’s immune and endocrine response.

Although there have been previous, smaller studies about the health benefits of massage, the Cedars-Sinai study is widely believed to be the first systematic study of a larger group of healthy adults. It is published in the October printed edition of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.

“Massage is popular in America, with almost 9 percent of adults receiving at least one massage within the past year,” said Mark Rapaport, M.D., chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences. “People often seek out massage as part of a healthy lifestyle but there hasn’t been much physiological proof of the body’s heightened immune response following massage until now.”{div float:right|class:module_anywhere}{module Adsense Article|none}{/div}

In the study, 29 subjects received 45 minutes of Swedish massage and 24 received 45 minutes of light touch massage. Each participant underwent informed consent, a physical and mental evaluation and was deemed to be physically healthy and free of any mental disorder. Massage therapists were trained in how to deliver both Swedish and light touch using specific and identical protocols.

Prior to the massage, study participants were fitted with intravenous catheters in order to take blood samples during the study session. Then participants were asked to rest quietly for 30 minutes. Following the rest period, blood samples were collected from each person five minutes and one minute before the massage began. At the end of the 45-minute massage session, blood samples were collected at one, five, 10, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after the massage.

“This research indicates that massage doesn’t only feel good, it also may be good for you,” said Rapaport, the principal investigator of the study and the Polier Family Chair in Schizophrenia and Related Disorders. “More research is ahead of us but it appears that a single massage may deliver a measurable benefit.”

Among the study’s results:

• People in the Swedish massage group experienced significant changes in lymphocytes ,(lymphocyte numbers and percentages white blood cells that play a large role in defending the body from disease.

• Swedish massage caused a large decrease (effect size -.74) in Arginine Vasopressin (AVP) a hormone believed to play a role in aggressive behavior and linked to helping cause increases in the stress hormone cortisol.

• Swedish massage caused a decrease in levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

• Swedish massage caused a notable decrease in most cytokines produced by stimulated white blood cells.

Alternative Health Practices Show Benefits for Treating Chronic Pain

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:58:05 +0000

{definitionbot=disable}A variety of complementary and alternative health practices —including meditation and relaxation techniques, manual therapies such as massage and spinal manipulation, meditative exercise forms such as yoga, Tai Chi, and ancient health practices such as acupuncture—show promise for contributing to the management of pain according to research presented today at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pain Society.

In her keynote address to pain clinicians attending the APS conference, Josephine Briggs, MD, director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health said that these approaches are widely used by Americans as part of management of painful conditions including headache, back or neck pain, and arthritic or other musculoskeletal pain.

“Much of health care involves helping people find solutions for tough problems like pain. I think all physicians are well aware of how difficult it is to manage chronic pain patients,” said Briggs. “For example, with back pain we see that large numbers of patients are turning to these approaches with the hope of decreasing discomfort, improving function and quality-of-life, and minimizing side effects of pharmacologic treatments.”{div float:right|class:module_anywhere}{module Adsense Article|none}{/div}

Research and Real-World CAM Use: Self-care/Bench to Bedside
According to a nationwide government survey released in December 2008, approximately 38 percent of U.S. adults aged 18 years and over and approximately 12 percent of children use some form of complementary and alternative medicine. This survey also found that back pain is the most common condition for which adults use CAM. “With such a large number of people using these techniques, there are opportunities for us to develop real-world evidence regarding the application of specific approaches to symptom management and health and wellness,” said Briggs.

Published studies in this field include tai chi for fibromyalgia, as well as meditation, yoga and acupuncture for low back pain. Briggs emphasized that symptom management is where NCCAM’s research can have the greatest impact. In NCCAM’s most recent strategic plan released this past February, building a strong evidence base—for pain management, in particular—is a primary focus moving forward.

“At NCCAM we are working to strengthen our portfolio of research on non-pharmacologic pain management, addressing both safety and efficacy” said Briggs. “Building an evidence base is not just about efficacy in the setting of controlled clinical trials—we must also address whether the treatment works in a real-world setting.”

The integration of certain CAM therapies with conventional medicine for pain management is being actively pursued in a number of military health care settings. For example, there are now new military guidelines, released by the Office of The Army Surgeon General, that include select CAM modalities for treating pain.

Dreaming of a Green Christmas? Tips for an Eco-Conscious Holiday

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:55:07 +0000

It was Bing Crosby who immortalized a white Christmas in his 1942 hit single, but these days more and more eco-conscious consumers are dreaming of a green Christmas instead. If you’re looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint this holiday season, consider these tips from Dedee DeLongpre Johnston, director of sustainability at Wake Forest University.

Stay Away from the New Mom Blues

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:46:38 +0000

According to the California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS) Pregnancy Health Information Line, a statewide non-profit that educates women about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding, about 80 percent of new moms experience what’s known as the “baby blues.” The baby blues typically affect a woman three to five days after giving birth and can last for up to ten days, with symptoms that include unexplained crying, irritability and sadness.

Nutrition for Smarter Kids

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:19:27 +0000

While parents prepare to send their children back to school, they need to remember that nutrition plays a huge role in academic success. Mary Pat Alfaro, M.S., R.D., clinical manager in the Division of Nutrition Therapy at Cincinnati Children’s, says multiple studies have shown that poor nutrition adversely effects school performance and overall achievement.

Alfaro says that the best way parents can help their children nutritionally is by making sure they have a healthy breakfast. She suggests that their breakfast consists of a variety of foods, especially high-fiber and nutrient-rich whole grains, fruits, and dairy products. This may include:

• Fiber rich and whole-grain cereals with low fat milk
• Yogurt and berries
• Toast, eggs and 100 percent fruit juice
• Whole wheat bagels and cream cheese with low fat milk

Red Wine May Help Prevent Alzheimer's Disease

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:24:23 +0000

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that grape seed polyphenols—a natural antioxidant—may help prevent the development or delay the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. The research, led by Giulio Maria Pasinetti, MD, PhD, The Saunder Family Professor in Neurology, and Professor of Psychiatry and Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, was published online in the current issue of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

This is the first study to evaluate the ability of grape-derived polyphenols to prevent the generation of a specific form of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide, a substance in the brain long known to cause the neurotoxicity associated with Alzheimer disease. In partnership with a team at the University of Minnesota led by Karen Hsiao Ashe, MD, PhD, Dr. Pasinetti and his collaborators administered grape seed polyphenolic extracts to mice genetically determined to develop memory deficits and Aβ neurotoxins similar to those found in Alzheimer’s disease. They found that the brain content of the Aβ*56, a specific form of Aβ previously implicated in the promotion of Alzheimer’s disease memory loss, was substantially reduced after treatment.

Is Salt Actually Good for You?

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 13:22:22 +0000

A new eight year long European study concludes that salt consumption is not dangerous and may in fact be beneficial. This is certainly contrary to advice from American Medical Association, American Heart Association and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, which says higher sodium consumption can increase the risk of heart disease. It’s not unusual to see differing opinions, but what are we ordinary folks to make of the controversy?

The study followed 3,681 middle-aged Europeans who did not have high blood pressure or heart disease at the start of the study. They were divided into three groups: low salt; moderate salt; and high salt consumption. There were 50 deaths in the low salt group, 24 in the moderate consumption group and only 10 in the high consumption group. In fact, the heart disease risk in the low consumption group was 56 percent higher in the low salt group. What they concluded was that the less salt the participants ate, the more likely they would die from heart disease.

Olive Oil May Help Prevent Strokes

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 13:04:23 +0000

Consuming olive oil may help prevent a stroke in older people, a new study finds.

The research is published in the June 15, 2011, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

“Our research suggests that a new set of dietary recommendations should be issued to prevent stroke in people 65 and older,” said study author Cécilia Samieri, PhD, with the University of Bordeaux and the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM) in Bordeaux, France. “Stroke is so common in older people and olive oil would be an inexpensive and easy way to help prevent it.”

Extensive Television Watching Linked with Diabetes, Heart Disease and Early Death

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 00:47:29 +0000

Watching television for 2 to 3 hours per day or more, less than the average American, was associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and early death, according to a study in the June 15 issue of JAMA.

Television viewing is the most commonly reported daily activity apart from working and sleeping in many populations around the world. In the United States, the average number of daily hours of TV viewing has recently been reported to be 5 hours.

Yoga Helps Stroke Victims

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:26:35 +0000

An Indiana University study that exposed older veterans with stroke to yoga produced "exciting" results as researchers explore whether this popular mind-body practice can help stroke victims cope with their increased risk for painful and even deadly falls.

The pilot study involved 19 men and one woman, average age of 66. For eight weeks, they participated in a twice weekly hour-long group yoga class taught by a yoga therapist who dramatically modified the poses to meet the veterans' needs.

A range of balance items measured by the Berg Balance Scale and Fullerton Advance Balance Scale improved by 17 percent and 34 percent respectively by the end of the program. But equally exciting to lead researcher Arlene A. Schmid, rehabilitation research scientist at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis, was the measurable gain in confidence the study participants had in their balance.

Can Coffee Save Your Life?

Thu, 19 May 2011 18:06:32 +0000

Men who regularly drink coffee appear to have a lower risk of developing a lethal form of prostate cancer, according to a new study led by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers. What's more, the lower risk was evident among men who drank either regular or decaffeinated coffee.

The study will be published May 17, 2011, in an online edition of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

"Few studies have specifically studied the association of coffee intake and the risk of lethal prostate cancer, the form of the disease that is the most critical to prevent. Our study is the largest to date to examine whether coffee could lower the risk of lethal prostate cancer," said senior author Lorelei Mucci, associate professor of epidemiology at HSPH. Lethal prostate cancer is cancer that causes death or spreads to the bones.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among U.S. men, affecting one in six men during their lifetime. More than 2 million men in the U.S. and 16 million men worldwide are prostate cancer survivors.

Sleep Well with Yoga for Bed Time

Tue, 10 May 2011 19:09:46 +0000

Are Blueberries Special?

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:03:46 +0000

Recently a study out of the Texas Women’s University looked at whether blueberries with their high polyphenol content could help in fighting obesity. Blueberries after all have already been cited as having positive health effects on other conditions like cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. The study was conducted in Petri dishes (not live animals) using a blueberry polyphenol extract and tissue cultures from mice. On the surface the findings look positive. The purpose was to examine the effect that the polyphenol in blueberries had in counteracting the development of fat cells. The result was a 73 percent reduction in the number of fat cells using the highest dose and a 27 percent reduction with the smallest dose. Positive but, what does this actually mean?

“I wanted to see if using blueberry polyphenols could inhibit obesity at a molecular level. We still need to test this dose in humans to make sure there are no adverse effects and to see if the doses are as effective.

For Back Pain, Spinal Manipulation Holds Its Own

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:09:15 +0000

If you’re suffering from chronic lower back pain, a new review of existing research finds that spinal manipulation − the kind of hands-on regimen that a chiropractor might perform on you − is as helpful as other common treatments like painkillers.

Spinal manipulation is also safe, researchers found. Ultimately, “the decision to refer for manipulation should be based upon costs, preferences of the patient and providers, and relative safety of all treatment options,” said review lead author Sidney Rubinstein, a chiropractor in private practice and a postdoctoral researcher at the VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam.

Peppermint Helps Cure IBS

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:43:48 +0000

University of Adelaide researchers have shown for the first time how peppermint helps to relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome, which affects up to 20% of the population.

In a paper published this week in the international journal Pain, researchers from the University’s Nerve-Gut Research Laboratory explain how peppermint activates an “anti-pain” channel in the colon, soothing inflammatory pain in the gastrointestinal tract.

Dr Stuart Brierley says while peppermint has been commonly prescribed by naturopaths for many years, there has been no clinical evidence until now to demonstrate why it is so effective in relieving pain.

Blueberries Target Fat

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 13:32:23 +0000

The benefits of blueberry consumption have been demonstrated in several nutrition studies, more specifically the cardio-protective benefits derived from their high polyphenol content. Blueberries have shown potential to have a positive effect on everything from aging to metabolic syndrome. Recently, a researcher from Texas Woman’s University (TWU) in Denton, TX, examined whether blueberries could play a role in reducing one of the world’s greatest health challenges: obesity. Shiwani Moghe, MS, a graduate student at TWU, decided to evaluate whether blueberry polyphenols play a role in adipocyte differentiation, the process in which a relatively unspecialized cell acquires specialized features of an adipocyte, an animal connective tissue cell specialized for the synthesis and storage of fat. Plant polyphenols have been shown to fight adipogenesis, which is the development of fat cells, and induce lipolysis, which is the breakdown of lipids/fat. Moghe will present her research at the Experimental Biology 2011 meeting for the American Society for Nutrition on Sunday, April 10, at 12:45 pm.

Are Refined Carbs Killing You?

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:13:06 +0000

When it comes to feeding a body well, we’ve all been told we need proteins, fats and carbohydrates. For years, many of those we trust for health information have told us that the foundation of our diet should primarily consist of carbohydrates, namely, grains, breads and pastas.

Yet, according to boomer-generation brother and sister authors Dian Griesel, Ph.D. and Tom Griesel, there is plenty of scientific literature that proves there is no actual requirement for carbohydrates. More so, they claim that this flaw in established dietary thinking is the reason that every well-known diet to date continues to contribute to our growing obesity epidemic.

In their new book, TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in the Dust , the Griesel’s point out that our bodies are perfectly capable of manufacturing any glucose we might need from a combination of protein and fat in the diet.

How to Tell if Your Child Has a Cold or Allergies

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:34:31 +0000

One of the problems that parents may have during the springtime is deciphering whether their children’s sneezing is due to a cold or allergies.

“Runny, stuffy or itchy noses, sneezing, coughing, fatigue, and headaches can all be symptoms of both allergies and colds but when parents pay close attention to minor details they will be able to tell the difference,” said Michelle Lierl, M.D., a pediatric allergist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Study Finds No Association Between Mercury Exposure and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 23:17:05 +0000

Although research has shown that eating fish, which is rich in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids, is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, mixed evidence from prior studies has suggested that mercury exposure from fish consumption may be linked to higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. In a new, large-scale study from Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, researchers found no evidence that higher levels of mercury exposure were associated with higher risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, or total cardiovascular disease in two separate studies of U.S. adults.

The study appears in the March 24, 2011, edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.

A Dose of Safflower Oil Each Day Might Help Keep Heart Disease at Bay

Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:44:43 +0000

A daily dose of safflower oil, a common cooking oil, for 16 weeks can improve such health measures as good cholesterol, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity and inflammation in obese postmenopausal women who have Type 2 diabetes, according to new research.

This finding comes about 18 months after the same researchers discovered that safflower oil reduced abdominal fat and increased muscle tissue in this group of women after 16 weeks of daily supplementation.

This combination of health measures that are improved by the safflower oil is associated with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms that can increase risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Antioxidants During Pregnancy Could Help Prevent Childhood Obesity

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:50:58 +0000

Feeding rats antioxidants before and during pregnancy completely prevented obesity and glucose intolerance in their offspring, according to a new study published in the December 2010 issue of Diabetes.

The animal study conducted at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia suggests that a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet causes oxidative stress—an excess of deleterious free radicals—during pregnancy, predisposing the offspring to obesity and diabetes.

If the results in animals prove to be similar in humans, the research may have implications for reducing obesity rates in children.

“We already know that there are critical periods during human development that influence the later development of obesity,” said senior author Rebecca A. Simmons, M.D., a neonatologist at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “This research suggests that if we can prevent inflammation and oxidative stress during pregnancy, we may lower the risk that a child will develop obesity.”

Acupuncture curbs severity of menopausal hot flushes

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 22:57:37 +0000

Traditional Chinese acupuncture curbs the severity of hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms, suggests a small study published today in Acupuncture in Medicine.

The effects did not seem to be related to changes in levels of the hormones responsible for sparking the menopause and its associated symptoms, the study shows.

The authors base their findings on 53 middle aged women, all of whom were classified as being postmenopausal - they had spontaneously stopped having periods for a year. Their somatic (hot flushes) urogenital (vaginal dryness and urinary tract infection) and psychological (mood swings) symptoms were measured using a five point scale (MRS).

Twenty seven of the women received traditional Chinese acupuncture twice a week for 10 weeks, with needles left in position for 20 minutes without any manual or electrical stimulation. The rest were given sham acupuncture.

Hormone levels of oestrogen, follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinising hormone (LH) were measured before the study began and after the first and last acupuncture sessions in both groups to see if these changed.

The results showed that those women given traditional acupuncture had significantly lower MRS scores for somatic and psychological, but not urogenital, symptoms at the end of the 10 weeks than their peers given the sham treatment. The symptom registering the sharpest fall in severity was that of hot flushes.

Study Links Vitamin D to Lung Cancer Survival

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:49:50 +0000

{div float:left|class:module_anywhere}{module Adsense Article|none}{/div}Recent research suggests vitamin D may be able to stop or prevent cancer. Now, a new study, published in Clinical Cancer Research, finds an enzyme that plays a role in metabolizing vitamin D can predict lung cancer survival.

The study, from researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, suggests that this enzyme stops the anti-cancer effects of vitamin D.

Levels of the enzyme, called CYP24A1, were elevated as much as 50 times in lung adenocarcinoma compared with normal lung tissue. The higher the level of CYP24A1, the more likely tumors were to be aggressive.

Eating Berries May Lower Risk of Parkinson’s

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 20:19:59 +0000

New research by the Harvard School of Public Health shows men and women who regularly eat berries may have a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Men may also further lower their risk by regularly eating apples, oranges and other sources rich in dietary components called flavonoids.

The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 63rd Annual Meeting in Honolulu April 9 to April 16, 2011.

Study: Giving Infants Solid Foods too Early Leads to Childhood Obesity

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:57:52 +0000

Giving infants solid foods before 4 months of age significantly increases their risk of childhood obesity, according to a new study published in Pediatrics.

The study followed almost 900 infants and found that by age 3, 9 percent of the children in the study were obese.

The researchers looked at the timing of the introduction of food before 4 months, 4 to 4 months and after sixth months.
They found that formula-fed infants who started eating solid foods before 4 months of age were six times more likely to be obese by the age of 3 than infants who started solid foods after 4 months.

According to the authors, the association was not explained by rapid early growth.

“One possible reason why we saw an association among formula-fed but not breastfed infants is that formula-fed infants may increase their energy intake when solids are introduced,” wrote the authors. “Breastfeeding may promote self regulation of an infant’s energy intake, and the mother may learn to recognize her infant’s hunger and satiety cues.”

Love May Reduce Pain

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 23:23:19 +0000

Love may help reduce pain, according to a new study by researchers at SUNY Stony Brook.

The study, published in PloS One found that participants that viewed pictures of a romantic partner rated pain lower than when they were viewing photos of a friend.

As part of the study, participants who were in the early stages of a romance, nine months or less, were shown pictures one at a time of their significant other or of a an attractive friend or acquaintance while receiving pain in the form of either intense blasts of heat to the hand. They were also given a word-distraction test that has been shown to reduce pain.