eHealthandWellness

Lemon trees came from Asia (either China or India) and have been known and prized for thousands of years. First seen in the West around the 11th century, lemons became common in Europe by the 1600s. Tree-ripened lemons are sweet and not very acidic, so they are usually harvested when green and artificially ripened. Continue Reading »

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What are functional foods: A functional food is any food that exerts health properties beyond the traditional nutrients it contains. There are two categories of functional foods.

1. Foods that naturally contain biologically active, non-nutrient compounds that provide health benefits. These compounds are phytochemicals, which are also sometimes called nutraceuticals. Based on this definition, all plant foods could be considered functional foods since they are all rich in phytochemicals or nutraceuticals

2. Food products specifically formulated to have higher amounts of nutrients or phytochemicals than would naturally occur in that food. These are also called “designer foods.”

Defining Nutraceuticals or Phytochemicals: Phytochemicals are plant chemicals that differ from nutrients in some important ways. Essential nutrients—which include protein, fats, minerals, and vitamins—are essential for life. Without them, people develop acute deficiency disease symptoms that can eventually cause death. Nutrients are found in all of the food groups.

Phytochemicals are not necessary for life but they help to promote optimal health by lowering risk for chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease. They are found only in plant foods. Fruits and vegetables are among the best sources of these compounds. Phytochemicals are believed to have many health benefits.

Some groups of phytochemicals that have been linked to decreased cancer risk include:

• Allyl sulfides, which may stimulate activity of enzymes that help to eliminate toxic compounds and are found in onions, scallions, and leeks.
• Dithiolthiones and isothiocyanates, which may increase activity of enzymes that help to detoxify carcinogens and are found in the cruciferous family of vegetables—broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, turnips, and others.
• Indoles, which may interfere with estrogen metabolism and therefore could reduce risk for some estrogen-related cancers such as breast cancer. They are also found in cruciferous vegetables.
• Isoflavones, which are found in soy foods and have a number of effects that may affect cancer risk.
• Lignans, which are found in rye and flaxseed and may reduce breast cancer risk because they act as anti-estrogens.
• Flavonoids are a special class of phytochemicals that includes hundreds of different compounds. Most are excellent antioxidants and some have hormonal properties. Among some of the most studied flavonoids are quercetin, which is found in tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, and onions and kaempferol, which is found in kale and endive.
• Carotenoids are a group of phytochemicals that act as pigments, giving plants their bright green, orange, yellow, red, and blue colors.

Carotenoids include:

• Beta-carotene, found in carrots, sweet potatoes, leafy green vegetables, red peppers, and pumpkin. Beta-carotene from foods has been linked to a reduced risk for lung cancer.
• Lycopene, found in tomatoes and strongly linked to reduced risk for prostate cancer.
• Lutein, found in leafy green vegetables and linked to reduced risk for cancer and macular degeneration.

Functional foods in the marketplace: In the past, foods were commonly fortified with nutrients to help prevent specific nutritional deficiencies. Technically, any fortified food could be considered a functional food. Some examples are iron-fortified cereals, vitamin D-fortified milk, and iodized salt. Today, many functional foods are aimed at boosting intakes of phytochemicals to reduce risk for chronic disease like cancer and heart disease.

Examples of functional foods you can find at the store include:

• Cereals and breads with added isoflavones
• Fruit juices with herbs that have alleged immune-enhancing properties, such as echinacea
• Margarine with added phytosterols, which help to reduce cholesterol

Advantages of functional foods: Some functional foods make it easier to meet requirements for nutrients that are often deficient in American diets. The addition of calcium to orange juice and the B-vitamin folate to enriched flour are two examples. Some functional foods make it possible to achieve higher intakes of nutrients or phytochemicals than would be realistic with natural food sources of these compounds.

Possible disadvantages of functional foods: Functional foods that contain added nutrients or phytochemicals may send confusing messages about how to plan healthful diets. Calcium-fortified orange juice is an improvement on a food that is already healthful. Calcium-fortified candy or fiber-enriched white bread, on the other hand, involve addition of beneficial substances to foods that are otherwise devoid of healthful properties.

Manufactured functional foods cannot duplicate all of the benefits of whole plant foods, some of which are not yet known. For example, plant foods like leafy green vegetables, which are naturally rich in calcium, also provide vitamin K and vitamin C, both of which are needed for healthy bones, as well as numerous nutrients and phytochemicals that protect against chronic disease. A diet based on whole plant foods is likely to be more healthful than one based on functional foods.

Best bet for healthful eating: Moderate amounts of manufactured functional foods can provide some benefits to the diet and may help to reduce disease risk. However, they don’t offer any benefits over well-planned diets based on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Eating foods that are naturally rich in a wide array of phytochemicals makes good nutrition sense, though. The best approach to dietary planning is to use functional foods in moderation in addition to a healthful diet.

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Eczema is the common term for atopic dermatitis—a chronic, allergic skin irritation. An itchy, flaking rash may appear on the inner surface of elbows and knees, the backs of the upper arms, wrists, cheeks, scalp, or eyelids. From the homeopathic point of view, the suppression of skin eruptions (especially with cortisone or other drugs) can lead to deeper health problems. Homeopathic and herbal remedies can be soothing during flare-ups—but for deeper treatment, a constitutional remedy should be chosen by an experienced practitioner, to fit a person on many levels, and bring the body into better balance.

Antimonium crudum: People likely to respond to this remedy have eczema with thick, cracked skin and are also prone to indigestion. They are usually sensitive and sentimental, love to eat (craving pickles, vinegar, and other sour things), and may be overweight. Children can be shy and irritable, insisting that they not be touched or looked at. Itching is worse from warmth and sun exposure. Antimonium crudum is often indicated for impetigo, plantar warts, and calluses, as well as eczema.

Arsenicum album: People who need this remedy usually are anxious, restless, and compulsively neat and orderly. The skin is dry, itches, and burns intensely. Scratching can make the itching worse, and applying heat will bring relief. Indigestion with burning pain and a general feeling of chilliness are often seen when Arsenicum is indicated.

Arum triphyllum: This remedy can be useful when allergic skin eruptions are focused on the lower part of the face, especially around the mouth. The chin may look chapped and feel hot and irritated. The lips are cracked (and usually raw from the person picking them) and the nostrils may be sore. People who need this remedy are often inclined toward throat irritation and hoarseness.

Calcarea carbonica: This remedy is suited to people who are chilly with clammy hands and feet, and tend to develop eczema and cracking skin that is worse in the wintertime. They are easily fatigued by exertion, and feel anxious and overwhelmed if ill or overworked. Cravings for sweets and eggs, a sluggish metabolism, and a tendency toward weight problems are other indications for Calcarea.

Calendula: This remedy (in potentized homeopathic form) can be helpful if the irritated skin has a tendency to get infected. Topical use of the unpotentized herb in lotion, gel, or tincture form is soothing to irritated skin, and can often ease inflammation and prevent infection without artificially suppressing it.

Graphites: People likely to respond to this remedy have tough or leathery skin with cracks and soreness, and often have a long-term history of skin disorders (impetigo, herpes, etc.) The areas behind the ears, around the mouth, or on the hands are often cracked, with a golden oozing discharge that hardens into crusts. Itching is worse from getting warm in bed, and the person will often scratch the irritated places till they bleed. Difficulty concentrating, especially in the morning, is often seen in a person who needs Graphites.

Hepar sulphuris calcareum: This remedy may be helpful to very sensitive, chilly people whose eczema is extremely sore and becomes infected easily. The skin, especially on the hands and feet, looks chapped and deeply cracked and is very slow to heal. The person usually feels vulnerable and irritable, with a low resistance to illness and infection.

Mezereum: A person who needs this remedy often has strong anxiety, felt physically in the stomach. Intensely itching eruptions start as blisters, then ooze and form thick crusts, and scratching can lead to thickened skin. Cold applications often help the itch (although the person is chilly in general). A craving for fat and a tendency to feel better in open air are other indications for Mezereum.

Rhus toxicodendron: A person whose eczema has blisterlike eruptions that look red and swollen, itch intensely, and are soothed by hot applications may respond to this remedy. The person is restless from discomfort and often is very irritable and anxious. Muscle stiffness, relieved by warmth and motion, is also likely. A person who needs Rhus tox often craves cold milk.

Petroleum: This remedy is indicated for individuals whose skin is extremely dry and tends to crack, especially on the fingertips and palms. Eczema is worse in winter, with deep, sore cracks that often bleed. The person feels a cold sensation after scratching. Itching is worse at night and from getting warm in bed. The skin is easily infected, and may get tough and leathery from chronic irritation.

Sulphur: Intensely burning, itching, inflamed eruptions that are worse from warmth and worse from bathing suggest a need for this remedy. Affected areas may be red, with scaling or crusted skin. Eruptions can be either dry or moist. This remedy is sometimes helpful to people who have repeatedly used medications and ointments on their eczema without success.

Homeopathy Dosage Directions

Select the remedy that most closely matches the symptoms. In conditions where self-treatment is appropriate, unless otherwise directed by a physician, a lower potency (6X, 6C, 12X, 12C, 30X, or 30C) should be used. In addition, instructions for use are usually printed on the label.

Many homeopathic physicians suggest that remedies be used as follows: Take one dose and wait for a response. If improvement is seen, continue to wait and let the remedy work. If improvement lags significantly or has clearly stopped, another dose may be taken. The frequency of dosage varies with the condition and the individual. Sometimes a dose may be required several times an hour; other times a dose may be indicated several times a day; and in some situations, one dose per day (or less) can be sufficient.

If no response is seen within a reasonable amount of time, select a different remedy.

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Anxiety describes any feeling of worry or dread, usually about events that might potentially happen. Some anxiety about stressful events is normal. However, in some people, anxiety interferes with the ability to function.

Some people who think they are anxious may actually be depressed. Because of all these factors, it is important for people who are anxious to seek expert medical care. Natural therapies can be one part of the approach to helping relieve mild to moderate anxiety.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Physical symptoms of anxiety include fatigue, insomnia, stomach problems, sweating, racing heart, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, and irritability.

Medical treatments for anxiety

Prescription drug treatment includes anti-anxiety agents such as lorazepam (Ativan®), alprazolam (Xanax®), and buspirone (Buspar®). Antidepressants, such as fluoxetine (Prozac®), paroxetine (Paxil®), and venlafaxine (Effexor®), are often prescribed to treat generalized anxiety and panic attacks.

Underlying medical conditions, such as excess hormone secretion from the thyroid or adrenal glands, should be treated when present. Psychological counseling often accompanies drug therapy.

Dietary changes that may be helpful for anxiety

All sources of caffeine should be avoided, including coffee, tea, chocolate, caffeinated sodas, and caffeine-containing medications. People with high levels of anxiety appear to be more susceptible to the actions of caffeine.

Nutritional supplements that may be helpful for anxiety

Inositol has been used to help people with anxiety who have panic attacks. Up to 4 grams three times per day was reported to control such attacks in a double-blind trial. Inositol (18 grams per day) has also been shown in a double-blind trial to be effective at relieving the symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

An isolated double-blind trial found that supplementation with a multivitamin-mineral supplement for four weeks led to significant reductions in anxiety and perceived stress compared to placebo.

Many years ago, magnesium was reported to be relaxing for people with mild anxiety. Typically, 200 to 300 mg of magnesium are taken two to three times per day. Some doctors recommend soaking in a hot tub containing 1–2 cups of magnesium sulfate crystals (Epsom salts) for 15 to 20 minutes, though support for this approach remains anecdotal.

Niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B3) has been shown in animals to work in the brain in ways similar to drugs such as benzodiazepines (Valium®-type drugs), which are used to treat anxiety. One study found that niacinamide (not niacin) helped people get through withdrawal from benzodiazepines - a common problem. A reasonable amount of niacinamide to take for anxiety, according to some doctors, is up to 500 mg four times per day.

Herbs that may be helpful for anxiety

Several plants, known as “nervines” (nerve tonics), are used in traditional herbal medicine for people with anxiety, with few reports of toxicity. Most nervines have not been rigorously investigated by scientific means to confirm their efficacy. However, one study found that a combination of the nervines valerian and passion flower reduced symptoms in people suffering from anxiety. In a double-blind study, 45 drops per day of an extract of passion flower taken for four weeks was as effective as 30 mg per day of oxazepam (Serax®), a medication used for anxiety.

Other nervines include oats (oat straw), hops, passion flower, American scullcap, wood betony, motherwort, pennyroyal, and linden.

St. John’s wort has been reported in one double-blind study to reduce anxiety.

An old folk remedy for anxiety, particularly when it causes insomnia, is chamomile tea. There is evidence from test tube studies that chamomile contains compounds with a calming action. There are also animal studies that suggest a benefit from chamomile for anxiety, but no human studies support this belief. Often one cup of tea is taken three or more times per day.

Warning: Kava should only be taken with medical supervision. Kava is not for sale in certain parts of the world.

Until recently, the preeminent botanical remedy for anxiety was kava, an herb from the South Pacific. It has been extensively studied for this purpose. One 100 mg capsule standardized to 70% kava-lactones is given three times per day in many studies. Preliminary and double-blind trials have validated the effectiveness of kava for people with anxiety, including menopausal women. A previous study found kava to be just as effective as benzodiazepines over the course of six weeks. The latest research shows that use of kava for up to six months is safe and effective compared with placebo. Although kava rarely causes side effects at the given amount, it may cause problems for some people if combined for more than a few days with benzodiazepines.

Holistic approaches that may be helpful for anxiety

Reducing exposure to stressful situations can help decrease anxiety. In some cases, meditation, counseling, or group therapy can greatly facilitate this process.

Acupuncture has been the subject of limited research as a therapy for anxiety. In an uncontrolled study, eight patients suffering from anxiety were treated with acupuncture three times per week for eight sessions. Six of the eight patients achieved good to moderate improvement. However, a trial of acupuncture treatment for anxiety associated with quitting smoking did not provide any evidence of benefit. A double-blind study of acupuncture for the treatment of anxiety associated with dental procedures reported that acupuncture and placebo were equally effective. Acupuncture remains unproven in the treatment of people with anxiety.

A form of counseling known as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be superior to placebo for managing the symptoms of panic disorder. In a controlled trial, six months of CBT produced a response rate of 39.5%, compared to only 13% in the placebo group. When combined with the tricyclic antidepressant drug imipramine (Tofranil®), response rates were even higher (57.1%). For long-term management of panic disorder, imipramine produced a superior quality of response, but CBT had more durability and was better tolerated.

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