Health Tip: Safe Use of Candles

(HealthDay News) -- Many people enjoy burning candles to enhance their home's cozy atmosphere. But candles can be a fire hazard if not used correctly.
The City of Fairfax, Virginia, offers these candle safety tips:

• Never leave a room with a candle still burning.
• Light a candle in an area far from flammable materials, such as drapes, bedding, furniture, paper or wallpaper.
• Make sure that a burning candle can't be reached by children or pets.
• Only burn a candle that is in a sturdy, non-flammable base.
• Keep the candle wick trimmed to about one-quarter of an inch.
• Don't burn candles right next to each other, near doors or windows, or on a surface that may catch fire or melt from the heat.
• Throw a candle away when the wax is down to about 2 inches from the base.
• Don't use a candle that has flammable materials (such as twigs or pinecones) inside the wax.

Health Tip: Warding Off Age-Related Memory Loss

(HealthDay News) -- Memory loss in seniors is common, but occasional forgetfulness doesn't necessarily mean dementia.
Rotary International offers these recommendations for what you can do to help prevent memory loss:

• Get plenty of regular exercise to boost oxygen to the brain and reduce your risk of disorders that can lead to memory loss.
• Pack your diet full of vegetables and fruits, healthy fats and whole grain foods.
• Keep stress under control, which will help make it easier to concentrate.
• Get enough quality sleep each night.
• Avoid smoking, which increases the risk of vascular problems that can lead to stroke and reduce oxygen to the brain.

Health Tip: Allow Yourself to Grieve

(HealthDay News) -- While you're grieving because of a major life change or loss, you need time to cope.

Rotary International offers these suggestions to help manage grieving:

• Accept your loss, and deal with your feelings. Ignoring your emotions may lead to emotional and physical problems later.
• Be creative in expressing your emotions. Try writing in a journal, writing a letter or creating a photo album or scrapbook.
• Stay physically healthy with a good diet, plenty of sleep and regular exercise.
• Avoid using drugs and alcohol to deal with grief.
• Allow yourself to grieve on your own schedule. Express whatever emotions you feel -- cry, laugh or just be sad.
• Know that grief may re-emerge at certain times, such as on birthdays or holidays. Don't let it surprise you, and try to prepare for it as much as you can.

Hallucinations Are Rare Side Effects of ADHD Medications

(HealthDay News) -- Children who take medications for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may rarely experience some disturbing side effects, such as hallucinations.

U.S. government experts reviewed clinical trials and post-marketing reports of side effects from the commonly prescribed ADHD stimulant medications, such as Concerta, Ritalin and Strattera. They found that out of every 100 "person-years" of treatment, one or two children will experience serious side effects, such as hallucinations of bugs or snakes.

"Patients and physicians should be aware that psychosis or mania arising during drug treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder may represent adverse drug reactions, the study's authors wrote in the February issue Pediatrics.

"These reactions are very rare," said Dr. Roy Boorady, director of the psychopharmacology service at the New York University Child Study Center in New York City.

"We see a lot of children on medications here, and I would say maybe one a year or once every two years, we might hear about a child with tactile hallucinations, where kids feel like they have bugs on them. It's usually really young kids who are on medications, and once they back off or stop the medications, the sensation is gone," he said.

Almost 8 percent of children in the Unite States -- about 4.5 million -- have ever received a diagnosis of ADHD, according to background information in the article. And, it's estimated that 4.3 percent of American children are taking medications to treat ADHD. The main signs of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.

Concern about potential psychiatric side effects from these medications led to the current study.

The FDA experts reviewed the results of 49 randomized, placebo-controlled trials and asked drug manufacturers to analyze their post-marketing surveillance databases.

They found that 11 psychosis or mania episodes occurred for every 743 person-years of treatment. No episodes of psychosis or mania occurred in children taking placebo treatments. For every 100 person-years, the rate of psychosis or mania was 1.48, according to the study.

The post-marketing reports found more than 800 incidences of psychosis or mania. In about 90 percent of cases, there was no previous history of a similar psychiatric condition, the study found.

The most common hallucinations were visual or tactile sensations of insects, snakes or worms.

"Any medication has side effects, some of which are very, very rare," said Dr. William Cohen, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician in the Child Development Unit at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. "Whenever your child is taking any new medication, if something new starts, consider it a side effect and call your doctor. With these medications, it's safe to stop them and call your doctor."

Boorady said that sleep problems and a loss of appetite tend to be more common side effects of these types of medications. And he doesn't think parents should be overly concerned about the possibility of psychiatric symptoms, because they are so uncommon.

More information
The Nemours Foundation has more on ADHD medications and their side effects.

Health Tip: Breathe Fresh Air at Home

(HealthDay News) -- If the air inside your home is dirty, you and your housemates can have symptoms including headache, dizziness, asthma and allergy symptoms, and fatigue.





The National Women's Health Information Center offers these suggestions to keep the air in your home clean:

• When using chemicals such as paint or paint thinner, open the windows and keep the area well-ventilated.
• Use a humidifier or dehumidifier to keep humidity levels between 30 percent and 50 percent.
• If you use a humidifier, clean it and replace the water daily to prevent the growth of mold and mildew in the appliance.
• Use an exhaust fan in the kitchen and bathroom, and vent clothes dryers outside.
• If rugs or carpets get wet, quickly have them cleaned to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
• Clean your home regularly, being careful to remove dust and any other allergens.

Health Tip: Your Children Need Iron

(HealthDay News) -- Young children are at great risk for iron deficiency because of rapid growth and increased iron requirements, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Iron deficiency can occur because of a lack of iron in the diet. Anemia is the result of a relatively severe deficiency.

Although an inadequate dietary intake of several nutrients may reduce the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin, the most common cause of anemia throughout the world is iron deficiency.

Poverty, abuse and living in a home with poor household conditions also place children at risk for iron-deficiency anemia. Iron-deficiency anemia is seen most commonly in children aged 6 months to 3 years old. Those at highest risk are low birth-weight infants after 2 months of age, breast-fed term infants who receive no iron-fortified foods or supplemental iron after 4 months of age, and formula-fed term infants who are not consuming iron-fortified formula.

As babies move to solid foods, foods with high amounts of iron should be selected. These include most meats, egg yolks and certain vegetables, such as spinach.

Iron-deficiency anemia significantly impairs mental and psychomotor development in infants and children. Although iron deficiency can be reversed with treatment, the reversibility of the mental and psychomotor impairment is not yet clearly understood. Thus, prevention and treatment need to be emphasized.

Health Tip: If You Have a Food Allergy

(HealthDay News) -- A food allergy is an immune system response to a food that the body mistakenly believes is harmful, according to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.

Once the immune system decides to treat a particular food this way, eating that food can prompt the massive release of chemicals known as histamines. These chemicals, in turn, trigger allergic reactions that can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and cardiovascular system.

Avoiding these foods altogether is the only sure way to prevent a reaction.

Although someone can be allergic to just about any food, the following edibles account for 90 percent of all reactions: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (including walnuts and cashews), fish, shellfish, soy, and wheat.

Health Tip: When Arthritis Affects the Hands

(HealthDay News) -- Arthritis in the hands can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks. While the condition can be managed with proper medical care, first you must recognize its common warning signs.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers this list:

• Dull or burning pain in the fingers and hands, especially after you've been holding tightly to an object for an extended period.
• Swelling and warmth in and around the joints.
• A feeling of being able to move the joints less easily.
• A feeling that the joints in your hand are grinding together.
• A feeling that your joints are loose, or not as stable as they once were.
• Cysts, or small bumps that appear around the joints of the fingers.
  

Health Tip: Do I Have a Cold or Flu?

(HealthDay News) -- If you're sneezing, coughing and have a fever, do you know how to tell whether you've caught a cold or have the flu?

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers this list of cold symptoms, and how to tell them apart from symptoms of the flu:

In general, cold symptoms are milder and come on slowly, while symptoms of the flu tend to occur very suddenly.

• It's probably a cold if you have a fever no higher than 102 degrees. The flu usually causes fevers higher than that.


• It's probably a cold if you have symptoms including a congested or runny nose, sneezing and coughing, watery eyes, and a sore throat.


• Symptoms of the flu often include nausea, chills, sweats, vomiting, muscle aches, and loss of appetite.

Health Tip: Taking ADHD Medications

(HealthDay News) -- Medications prescribed to treat Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may effectively manage symptoms, but they can also cause a number of side effects.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to minimize side effects caused by ADHD drugs:

• Take only the minimal dose necessary to control your symptoms. Speak with your doctor about determining the right dose for you.
• If you have stomach upset, take your ADHD meds with food.
• As long as your doctor says it's OK, consider the weekend "drug-free days" when you can skip your medication.
• If ADHD meds cause undesired weight loss, add healthy snacks to the day's menu.

Health Tip: Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

(HealthDay News) -- Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can lead to serious illness or death if inhaled in significant amounts.

Potential sources include: unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, furnaces, wood stoves, gas stoves, fireplaces and water heaters, and automobile exhaust.

Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning could include tiredness, headache, confusion, nausea and dizziness.

The National Safety Council offers these suggestions to help protect you and your loved ones from carbon monoxide poisoning:

• Make sure that every appliance in your home is installed properly and is working correctly.
• Have your furnace, chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned each year.
• If using a fireplace, make sure the flue is open.
• Never heat your home with a gas range or oven.
• Be sure that your stove and furnace vent outdoors and there are no leaks in the exhaust systems. Also make sure that your furnace takes in enough fresh air.
• Never burn charcoal indoors or in any enclosed space, such as in a camper or R.V.
  Never leave a gas-fueled tool or vehicle running inside a garage or tool shed, or anywhere indoors.
• Never use kerosene or gas heaters indoors.

Health Tip: Douching Isn't Recommended

(HealthDay News) - Douching is a method of cleansing the female genitalia with a fluid mixture, often of water.

According to the U.S. National Women's Health Information Center, douching is generally not recommended by doctors, as it can adversely affect the body's natural balance of bacteria.

The agency offers these additional potential side effects of douching:

• Irritation of the vagina.


• An infection called bacterial vaginosis.


• Increased risk of sexually transnitted disease or pelvic inflammatory disease.


• Vaginal infections that could spread to other parts of the female reproductive system.

101 Painless Ways to Detoxify Your Mind, Body, and Home

By Laura Milligan
Crash diets and certain fads that promise to give your body the detox treatment are not only harmful to your health, but they can leave you feeling cranky, irritable, exhausted and starving. There are some beneficial long term effects of detoxification, however, including a more focused mind, more energy, clearer skin and decreased chances of developing cancer and other chronic diseases. If you’re interested in detoxifying your entire mind, body and living spaces, but aren’t ready to starve yourself or cause yourself more stress on a crazy diet, use this list to incorporate 101 painless ways to get the results you want.

Bad Habits to Break
Hardcore smokers may not consider giving up their vice "painless," but there are alternative treatments that help you break these and other bad habits, freeing your body of harmful chemicals, slower metabolisms and inefficient digestive systems.

Smoking: Every time you smoke a cigarette, your body has to fight off harmful amounts of tar, smoke, nicotine, ammonia and carbon monoxide, as well as other toxins.

Alcohol: While some doctors and scientists argue that a low to moderate consumption of alcohol is beneficial to your health, alcoholic beverages put a lot of stress on your body, and are full of sugar and calories. If you drink even a little too much, you may notice differences in your digestion, headaches, nausea, sluggishness, and other toxic side effects.

Not getting enough sleep: Even though you’re not putting anything harmful in your body, not getting enough sleep can be harmful to you. Follow these tips to fall asleep faster and understand why sleep is so important.

Eating fast food and frozen food: Even if you think you’re getting a good meal from a frozen dinner, the important minerals and vitamins have probably been cooked out of the foods already. Fast food tends to have a lot of extra salt, fat and artificial flavoring, all of which add unnecessary toxins to your body and make you feel weighted down.

Short temper: If you’re constantly getting angry at people or suspecting them of cheating you out of something, your mind is never at peace. Learn to relax by learning to fix a short temper.
Over dieting: Though a good diet that’s free of fast food, junk food and too much alcohol is an important step in detoxifying your body and mind, over dieting can be harmful as well. If you’re depriving your body of nutrients or causing your body stress by binging and purging, you need to change your dieting habits.

Clutter: A cluttered home causes emotional stress. Increase productivity and give yourself a sense of calm by taking out the trash, cleaning the dishes and reducing clutter.
Being negative: Get rid of negative thoughts and feelings, and you’ll find that a life filled with feelings of gratitude, optimism and perspective will make you more successful and happy.

Caffeine addiction: Being addicted to caffeine can be a serious problem for some people: too much coffee affects sleep patterns, energy levels, social skills, concentration and focus, and job performance. Get tips for breaking the caffeine habit here.

Isolation: Taking time out for yourself is a good way to get centered, but spending too much time alone isn’t good for your spirit. Visit a neighbor or family member for a little social interaction, which will keep you from feeling depressed and lonely. Read more>>

Health Tip: Don't Overdo Fast Food

(HealthDay News) -- Fast food is a tempting option for hungry people on the run. But eating it too often or downing too much can wreak havoc on your health and waistline.

Keep these tips in mind when considering fast food, provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine:

• Fast foods are often high in calories, fat, sugar and salt.


• Many fast foods are cooked with high-calorie fats and butters.


• Fast food choices tend to lack fresh fruits and vegetables.


• The large portion sizes offered can encourage overeating.


• Many fast food restaurants have begun publishing nutritional information about their foods. In other cases, it is available on request. This information can help you better plan what you order.

The Liver Flush

One of the more simple and popular cleansing techniques is known as the Liver Flush.

It is used for removing excess fatty acids and other toxic substances from the liver. A healthy liver can play a crucial role in contributing to the healing of the immune system as it is an important part of digestion and plays the main role in processing toxic and allergy-causing substances in the bloodstream.

The Liver Flush can be done at any time, but is commonly done in the Spring and Autumn.

i. Simple Liver Cleanse

The following herbal products can be used to assist in cleansing and rebuilding the liver. I use the formulas for three to four weeks.
- Hepato-Pure You can purchase this formula (made by Planetary Herbal Formulas) from your local natural food store or call Planetary Herbal Formulas 800-606-6226 for the nearest distributor. It contains Bupleurum (a chinese herb reknowned for liver cleansing), Wild Yam Root, Oregon Grape Root, Lycii Berry, Cyperus, Dandelion Root Extract, Dong Quai, Peony Alba, Ginger Root, Fennel Seed, Green Citrus Peel, Dandelion Root, Milk Thistle Seed Extract (83% Silymarin), Dong Quai Extract.

- DeLiver 1 and DeLiver 2
These two formulas can be purchased from Arise & Shine (602/293-1098).

DeLiver 1 contains Cholic acid, Deoxycholic acid, Taraxacum (Dandelion), Burdock Root, Rhubarb Root, Cynaris, Catalase.

DeLiver 2 is formulated for severe congestion of the liver.
- Liv Alive Caps
You can purchase this herbal formula from your local natural foods store or contact the manufacturer, Crystal Star Herbal Nutrition (209/532-6474), for the nearest distributor. The formula contains Beet Root, Oregon Grape Root, Dandelion Root, Wild Yam, Milk Thistle Seed, Yellow Dock Root, Ginkgo, Biloba, Wild Cherry, Licorice Root, Gotu Kola, Ginger Root, Barberry Bark, Choline, Inositol.

- Milk Thistle Seeds
Milk Thistle has a reputation of being the most powerful herb for healing and strengthening the liver. You can get a tincture or tablets of the powdered concentrate in most natural foods stores. Take approximately 150mg (3 tablets) / 3 times per day or 20 drops of tincture / 3 times per day. This can be done for a couple of weeks after performing a Liver Flush (see below) or taking a liver cleansing herbal formula for a few weeks. You can find out more about Milk Thistle by reading "Milk Thistle

-- The Liver Herb" by Christopher Hobbs, Botanica Press, c1992,

ii. Castor oil compress

A castor oil compress is usually performed every other day during the Liver Flush regimen. It is helpful in encouraging the liver to dump excess fats. Soak a piece of wool or flannel (or a baby's cotton diaper) in castor oil. Ring out the cloth so that it doesn't drip. Place over the liver area (on the right side, just under the ribcage). place a hot water bottle (purchase from a drug store), not an electric heating pad over the cloth. Then place a towel over the hot water bottle. Leave on for 1.5 hours, replacing the water when necessary so that the area is kept hot (but not too hot to stand). After removing the compress, spend 5 to 10 minutes rubbing small amounts of virgin olive oil into the liver area.

iii. Coffee Enema

A coffee enema is usually used as a *part* of a cleansing program in order to encourage the liver to dump large amounts of toxins. You may wish to try this technique *once or twice* when you are performing the Liver Flush, Gallbladder Flush or GI Tract cleanse. Do not use this technique obsessively, just on occassion when performing a cleanse. You can get a coffee enema instruction sheet for free from Arise & Shine.

iv. Liver Flush

The following Liver Flush instructions are based upon Christopher Hobbs' suggestions in his book, "Foundations of Health: The Liver and Digestive Herbal." For 10 days you do the following:

1. In the morning after a little exercise (e.g., short walk, yoga, breathing exercises, etc.), drink the liver flush mixture (see below).

2. After drinking the liver flush mixture, drink two cups of herbal tea designed to cleanse the liver. Alternatively, take one of the liver cleansing formulas listed above as directed.

3. Follow a healthy, natural foods diet during the rest of the day. Also, remembering to breath deeping, using the diaphram, can be helpful. A light abdominal massage once per day can also be helpful.

4. Take (or continue taking) one of the liver cleansing formulas listed above for two to three more weeks.

5. Take Milk Thistle and Red Beet Crystals (see above) for a few weeks after finishing the liver cleanse. This will help the process of rebuilding the liver. 6. Optional and helpful - Perform the Castor oil compress every other day. - Perform one coffee enema during the cleanse. - Perform abdominal massage every other day. Liver flush mixture

Mix freshly sqeezed citrus juices together (e.g., orange, grapefruit). Mix in as much freshly sqeezed lemon (or lime) as possible. The more sour the taste, the better the cleanse. Add 1-2 cloves of fresh-sqeezed garlic. Add a small amount of ginger root juice (grate the ginger and sqeeze the resultant fibers to obtain ginger juice). Finally, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil (use the expensive stuff from a natural foods stores). Shake or blend and drink. Cleansing herbal tea

Example 1 - "Puri-Tea" from Brigitte Mars (herbalist in Colorado) Peppermint, red clover, fennel, licorice, cleavers, dandelion, Oregon grape root, burdock root, butternut bark, chickweed, parsley root, nettles. You should be able to find something similar at your local natural foods store.

Example 2 - Fennel Seed (1 part), Fenugreek (1 part), Flax Seed (1 part), Licorice Root (1/4 part), Burdock (1/4 part), Peppermint (1 part). Simmer all herbs except the peppermint for 20 minutes. Add 1 part peppermint and let the tea steep for 10 minutes. Use approximately 1 ounce (wt.) of total dried tea per pint of water. See the following books for more information on healing the liver:

i. Foundations of Health: The Liver and Digestive Herbal by Christopher Hobbs Botanica Press, c1992

ii. Natural Liver Therapy by Christopher Hobbs Botanica Press, c1993 (3rd revision) This book contains alot of good information on restoring the health of the liver as well as many natural remedies.

Rebuilding & Strengthening

1. Milk Thistle Seeds (see above)

2. Herbal Formula such as Hepato-Pure from Planetary Herbal Formulas (see above).

3. Building a healthy population of beneficial bacteria in the intestines is very helpful for preventing the building of toxins which can overwork the liver. Regularly eating fermented foods (if tolerable) or taking a probiotic suppliment can be very helpful in doing this. See the "Probiotics" section of the "Food & Nutrition" chapter for more information.

4. Abdominal Massage once per day.

5. Deep breathing exercises and yogic breathing exercises (see "Yoga" chapter and "Emotional Healing" chapter for Hendricks Breathing Exercises).

6. Healthy diet without dairy.

7. See "Natural Liver Therapy" by Christopher Hobbs for additional tips.

Health Tip: Prevent Runner's Knee

(HealthDay News) - Symptoms of runner's knee typically include pain in and around the kneecap, particularly when running, squatting, kneeling or walking up or down stairs.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers these suggestions to help prevent runner's knee:

• Take time to get your body in good condition before performing activities that stress the knees.
• Try to lose weight. Being overweight puts additional stress on the knees.
• Always warm up and stretch your legs before you exercise. Remember to stretch after your workout, as well.
• Increase activity gradually. Trying to do too much before your body is conditioned for it can cause injury.
• Wear supportive running shoes that absorb shock well. Try to run on somewhat softer surfaces.
• Practice good form when running, leaning slightly forward and keeping your knees bent.

Health Tip: Allergy Shots Aren't for Everyone

(HealthDay News) - Allergy shots help sensitize your body to allergens -- things to which you're allergic.
While the shots are safe and effective for most people, not everyone should have them, the American Academy of Family Physicians warns.Here's the academy's list of people who probably shouldn't have allergy shots:

• People with severe asthma.
• People who have heart problems.
• People who take a beta blocker for a heart condition.
• Children under age 5.
• Pregnant women.

Health Tip: Protect Your Child From Flu

(HealthDay News) - Children are in constant contact with germs, and can easily spread them to others. Flu is a particularly nasty nemesis, but it can be prevented.

Here are ways to help reduce your child's risk of getting the flu, courtesy of the Children's Hospital at the University of California, San Francisco:

• Flu vaccine is recommended for children aged 6 months to 23 months, and for children aged 2 and older who are at a high risk of contracting flu.
• Hand washing also is an easy way to help prevent flu. Your child should wash her hands thoroughly and frequently, with soap and warm water.
• Parents and caregivers should also should wash their hands often, and get a flu vaccine.
  Teach your child to cover her mouth when she coughs or sneezes, and to wash her hands afterward.
• Try to keep your child away from others who are sick. Keep her home from school if she has symptoms of a cold or the flu.

Health Tip: Soothing Engorged Breasts

(HealthDay News) - After giving birth, a woman's breasts can become large and swollen -- called engorged. This is caused by congestion of the blood vessels in the breast. When this happens, the nipples may not protrude to allow the baby to nurse.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine lists these suggested remedies:

• Try to feed often throughout the day -- at least eight times in a 24-hour period.
• Feed for at least 15 minutes at each sitting.
• If your breasts feel uncomfortable and you are unable to feed your baby, express your milk with a breast pump.
• Take a warm shower to soothe soreness.
• Apply a cool compress to reduce swelling and ease pain.

Health Tip: Exercise for Teens

(HealthDay News) - A daily trip to the gym isn't a popular pastime for some teens. So the Nemours Foundation offers these ideas for fun and different ways for teens to get exercise:

• Go for a walk with friends, ride a bike, or take the dog for a walk.
• Clean your room, mow the lawn with a push mower, or wash the car.
• Play video games that force you to move around.
• Turn on the music, close the door, and dance in your room to your favorite songs.
• Try a new sport or a new type of exercise -- and get a friend to try it with you.