Women's Health Articles

SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS DON'T INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF BEING CURED ... OR OF SURVIVING LONGER
Posted: farid fm
Early diagnosis of breast cancer by mammographic screening produces higher rates of cure and longer survival times without actually increasing the number of women cured nor lengthening their lives. How can that be? It's sleight of hand with numbers.

Survival, when it comes to breast cancer statistics, is defined as being alive five years after the diagnosis of cancer. Cure is defined as being disease-free five years after diagnosis. A women who dies of breast cancer more than five years after her diagnosis can still be included in statistics as a "cure."

A woman with a slow-growing metastasizing breast cancer will live, on the average, 15 years after the cancer's inception. A mammogram can detect a slow-growing breast cancer when it is about eight years old. (15 - 8 = 7 more years to live.) If this woman dies seven years after her diagnosis, she will be counted as "cured" because she lived for more than 5 years.

The same slow-growing metastasizing breast cancer will be 11 or 12 years from its inception when noticed by a woman who neither touches her breasts regularly nor has mammograms. (Women who do regular breast self-exam or breast self-massage usually notice a slow-growing cancer nine years after its inception, just one doubling bigger than visible to a mammogram.) This woman will live as long as the woman whose cancer was discovered by screening mammogram, but won't be "cured" because she didn't live for five more years. (15 - 11 = 4 years).

The cure is only a statistic. There is no difference in the number of years lived after the inception of the cancer, no difference in the length of life, only a difference in number of years lived after diagnosis.

AREN'T MAMMOGRAMS LIFE SAVING FOR WOMEN OVER 55?

In several studies, yearly mammograms of women aged 55 and older reduced breast cancer mortality by one-third. But this doesn't mean any one woman's risk is reduced by one-third according to Dr. Peter Skrabenek, a critic of mass screening. Furthermore, the women enrolled in these very successful mammographic studies received regular physical examination of their breasts, which - by itself, without risk - reduces breast cancer mortality. The vast majority of breast cancers found in older women are slow-growing, non-metastasizing, and not life-threatening, no matter when they're found.

IS THERE A LESS RISKY WAY TO PARTICIPATE IN SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY?

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, as well as the national health plans of England, Holland, Italy, and Sweden, recommend screening mammography no more than every two years and only after menopause. Several studies show no advantage to yearly mammograms. Once every two or three years confers the same decrease in five-year mortality, with less radiation hazard to individuals and society, and at far less cost.

ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO FIND EARLY-STAGE BREAST CANCERS?

In addition to physical examination and breast self-massage, thermography and ultrasound are safe tests available to women who wish to avoid mammograms. Thermography gives a picture of the heat patterns in the breasts (cancers are hotter than the surrounding tissues). Ultrasound bounces sound waves off the breast tissues to measure their density (cancer is denser than the surrounding tissues). Other techniques used to image breast tissues, such as digital mammography and scintimammography rely on radioactivity and are inherently unsafe.

IF YOU DECIDE TO HAVE A MAMMOGRAM

Get the best, even if it means a long journey.
Go where they specialize, preferably where they do at least 20 mammograms a day.
Be sure the facility is accredited by the American College of Radiology.
Insist on personnel who specialize in mammograms. (Taking and reading mammograms are skills that require intensive training and a lot of practice.)
Ask how old the equipment is. Newer equipment exposes the breasts to less radiation. A dedicated unit (one specifically for mammograms) is best.
Ask how they ensure quality control. When was their unit calibrated?
Load your blood with carotenes for a week before the mammogram to prevent radiation damage to your DNA.
Expect to be cold and uncomfortable during the mammogram, but do say something if you're being hurt.
The more compressed the breast tissue, the clearer the mammogram. (But pressure may spread cancer cells if they're present.)
If your breasts are tender, reschedule. During your fertile years, schedule mammograms for 7-10 days after your menstrual flow begins.
Don't wear antiperspirant containing aluminum; it can interfere with the imaging process. (Those clear stones do contain aluminum, as do most commercial antiperspirants.)
If you want another opinion, you'll need the original mammographic films, not copies. (X-ray facilities only keep films for 7 years.)
Get your doctor to agree, in writing, before the procedure, to give you a copy of your mammogram. The U.S. Public Health Service advises women to ask for written results from a mammogram.
Given the high percentage of "false normal" mammograms, if you think you have cancer, trust your intuition.
Remove radioactive isotopes from your body with burdock root, seaweed, or miso.

Mammograms don't promote breast health. Breast self-massage, breast self-exam, and lifestyle changes do.

Women find their own breast cancers most of the time (90% of the time according to one English study).

Monthly breast self-exam (or breast self-massage) provides early detection at lower cost, with no danger - and more pleasure - than yearly screening mammograms.

Most breast cancers (80%) are slow growing, taking between 42 and 300 days to double in size. A yearly mammogram could find these cancers 8-16 months before they could be felt, but this "early detection" does little to improve the already excellent longevity of women with slow-growing, non-metastasized breast cancers.

The 20% of breast cancers that are fast growing are the trouble-makers. They can double in size in 21 days. Monthly breast self-exams are much more likely to find these aggressive cancers than are yearly mammograms. (A 21-day doubling cancer will be visible on a mammogram only six weeks before it can be felt.) If you massage or examine your breasts even six times a year, you can take action on fast-growing lumps. If you rely on mammograms exclusively, the cancer could grow undetected for months.

In a recent look at 60,000 breast cancer diagnoses in the United States, 67% were found by the woman or her doctor - and over half of these were not visible on a mammogram - while 33% were discovered by mammogram. (This may seem like a substantial number of cancers found by mammography, but the majority of them were in situ cancers, a controversial type of cancer that may - but often does not - progress to invasive cancer.)


Green Blessings.
About the Author

Susun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 1-845-246-8081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world.


Menopausal Years - Using Herbs Simply and Safely



Plants feed us, clothe us, house us, heal us, and kill us. There’s no way around it, when you use herbs, you need to be alert and aware. Here are some ways to be sure you’re using herbs safely.

Identify all plants you intend to use by botanical name (e.g., Leonurus cardiaca). Only buy herbs that are labeled with the botanical name. The botanical name is specific to only one plant, while common names overlap and vary. “Sage” refers to at least five plants in at least two different families, but Salvia officinalis only means garden sage.
Use only one herb at a time. Learn all you can about that one herb. Read books; experiment on yourself, others, pets; listen to your elders’ stories. If you discover that your herbal ally likes to work with partners, pair her up with other herbs one at a time.
Seek out the worth of the weeds on your doorstep. Learn about, eat, or use as a remedy, one wild food/medicine that grows in your yard or nearby lot this year. When you make your own medicines and healing foods you eliminate one of the possible dangers of crude herb use: mistaken identity (or right label, wrong herb). Not that you can’t make mistakes, but you’re more likely to catch your own mistake than someone else’s. When you make your own medicines and healing foods, they are fresh, full of energy, and in tune with you and your environment. You’ll also feel better as you become more aware of the vitality and abundance of nature expressing herself everywhere.
Begin with gentle nourishing and tonifying herbal infusions and vinegars. Watch carefully for side effects during the first 24 hours the first time you use any new plant. Don’t worry if it takes your system a couple of tries to figure out how to digest a new food/herb; that’s normal. Use herbal tinctures after you have some grounding in the use of herbs as foods and infusions. Start with the smallest recommended dose and build up slowly if needed.
Build up a foundation of trust in the healing effectiveness of plants by using remedies for minor problems before tackling serious concerns.
Gather or join a support group of people interested in self-care and home remedies and consult them when you feel uncertain.
Respect the power of plants; those strong enough to act as stimulants, sedatives, and near-drugs (such as opium) affect the body and spirit in powerful ways and may be useful only in minute doses.
Respect the unique individuality of every plant, every person, every situation.
Remember that you become whole and healed in your own unique way, as you will. Plants can help in this process. People can help in this process. (Animals, too.) But each individual body/spirit does the healing/wholing itself. Don’t expect plants to be cure-alls.
Respect the difference between herbs used in Step 3 — nourishing and tonifying herbs — and those used in Steps 4 and 5 — stimulating, sedating, and toxic herbs.

Nourishing herbs are the safest of all herbs; side effects are quite rare. Nourishing herbs may generally be taken in any quantity for any period of time. They are foods, just as leafy greens, garlic, and carrots are. They provide high-level nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, starches, simple and complex sugars, bioflavonoids, carotenes, and essential fatty acids (EFAs). The nourishing herbs in Wise Woman Ways for the Menopausal Years are: alfalfa, borage, calendula, chamomile, chickweed, cornsilk, comfrey, elder blossoms or berries, fennel, fenugreek, lemon balm, mallows, nettles, oatstraw, plantain, raspberry, red clover, seaweeds, sweet briar (rose hips), St. Joan’s wort (Hypericum), slippery elm, and violet.

Tonifying herbs act slowly in the body and have a cumulative, rather than immediate, effect. They are most beneficial when they are used in small quantities for extended periods of time. Side effects are slightly more common with tonics. (Note that many herbalists equate stimulating herbs with the tonics, leading to misuse and unwanted side effects.) The more bitter the tonic tastes, the less you need to take of it. Bland tonics may be used like nourishing herbs, in quantity. Nearly half of the herbs in Wise Woman Ways for the Menopausal Years are tonics, including: birch, black cohosh, blackstrap molasses, chaste tree, dandelion, dong quai, echinacea, false unicorn, ginseng, hawthorn, horsetail, lady’s mantle, motherwort, peony, sarsaparilla, spikenard, wild yam, and yellow dock.

Sedating/Stimulating herbs cause a wide variety of usually rapid reactions, some of which may be unwanted. Long-term use can lead to dependency, so sedating/stimulating herbs are best used in moderate doses for fairly short periods of time. Side effects are frequent; there may be loss of tone or a rebound/manic effect when the herb is no longer taken. Some parts of the person may be stressed in order to help other parts. the sedating/stimulating herbs in Wise Woman Ways for the Menopausal Years are: catnip, cinnamon, ginger, hops, licorice, myrrh, passion flower, poplar, primrose, sage, skullcap, uva ursi, valerian, vervain, willow, and wintergreen.

Toxic herbs are potential poisons and potent medicines. They activate intense effort on the part of the body and spirit. Toxic herbs are taken in tiny amounts for very short periods of time. Unexpected side effects are common when toxic herbs are used without regard for their power. Increase your herbal knowledge and sense of security when contemplating use of a toxic herb by consulting other herbal references and several experienced herbalists. It is especially important to check on the possible side effects of toxic herbs if you are allergic to any foods or medicines. The toxic herbs in Wise Woman Ways for the Menopausal Years are: cayenne, cotton root, goldenseal, liferoot, poke root, rue, sweet clover (Melilot), and wormseed.

Green blessings!


About the Author

Susun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 1-845-246-8081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com For permission to reprint this article, contact us at: susunweed@herbshealing.com Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at www.susunweed.com


Premenstrual Cravings Can Be Tamed!



Premenstrual cravings for carbohydrates have been known to women for years. While women with binge eating problems will really ratchet into high gear when they're premenstrual, even women whose eating patterns are usually normal will notice over the top cravings during the week or so before their periods.

When my daughter and I were researching PMS for our book, "You Mean I Don't Have to Feel This Way?", we wanted to know whether there are medical reasons for the pronounced cravings women experience premenstrually. To find out, we went to the scientists who were early researchers on the subject. Dr. Richard J.Wurtman, a professor of neuroscience and brain chemistry and his wife, Dr. Judith Wurtman, a cell biologist and nutritionist, were the first to uncover fascinating data on both the "why" of premenstrual carbohydrate craving and a new way of taming the monster. Their research showed that depression, carbohydrate craving, and some other symptoms of PMS can be significantly reduced with antidepressant medication--OR by judiciously eating certain foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates. Their theory is that supplying the brain with a minimal amount of good (complex) carbohydrates prevents women from hungering for them and going wild. How did they come up with such a theory? To find out, my daughter Gabrielle and I interviewed Judith Wurtman in an office near her lab at MIT. Dr. Wurtman told us she'd begun thinking about a scientific basis for premenstrual cravings after hearing innumerable stories from her women patients about the changes in their eating habits around the time of menstruation. "Right before they get their periods many have an irresistible craving for sweet and starchy foods. You'll hear them say,'I could kill for chocolate!'"

The Wurtmans wanted to find out whether women actually do increase their food intake--in particular sweet and starchy food--"or whether they simply think they do because their craving is so pronounced." These researchers tested a group of women who were experiencing PMS symptoms and another group who weren't. All were given a choice of a variety of foods--some high in carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, cookies, candy, pretzels) and others high in protein (chicken, cheese, tuna salad). "What we found," Judith told us, "was that the women with PMS were eating large amounts of carbohydrate foods, but only for about three or four days before their periods. The control women--the women without PMS--didn't increase their food intake at all."

The two scientists had the same women consume a carbohydrate dinner at the beginning and at the end of their menstrual cycle. The meal consisted of a large bowl of corn flakes--"a neutral, high-carbohydrate food," said Judith Wurtman. Before eating the dinner the women's moods were tested--did they feel happy, sad, irritable?--and again an hour afterward. The reason for this? Eating a large carbohydrate meal increases the level of serotonin in the brain, Wurtman continued." And when brain serotonin is increased there's an improvement in certain types of emotional states. People feel less depressed, more calm, less irritable, more focused, less confused, less distractible, more tranquil. We knew that if the carbohydrates--in this case the cornflakes--were going to do anything, they would probably do it by increasing the serotonin."

After the meal, the women reported that they were indeed less depressed. "They were substantially calmer, substantially less tired and more alert," said Wurtman. "This was a wonderful finding because it means that when women choose to eat carbohydrates at the end of their menstrual cycle, they're doing so in order to make themselves feel better. And it also confirmed for us that this brain chemical, serotonin, may be involved in some of the mood changes of premenstrual syndrome."

So what about eating more carbohydrates premenstrually? Wurtman told us she thinks that in the week or so before they get their periods women should go into a "high-carbohydrate-mode of eating." This high-carb eating will not go on forever, as it has its own natural beginning, middle and end. And, of course, such a mode of eating doesn't involve fats. What Wurtman suggested was that premenstrual women eat complex carbohydrates like rice, potatoes, pasta, lentils, or beans, "along with, perhaps, some sweet carbohydrates if their craving is strong enough for those foods."

The Wurtmans were among those who pioneered the use of antidepressant medication in the treatment of PMS, in the 80s and early 90s. Today, the gold standard for medical treatment of PMS is a very low dose of antidepressant medication that ONLY has to be taken during the premenstrual week. Unlike antidepressant medication taken for depression, which can take weeks to build to adequate levels in the blood stream, the same medication used for the treatment of PMS shows positive effects on the day it's first taken.

Women suffering from both from depression and PMS will often find that they become depressed and/or irritable during the week before their periods, even when the medication protects them from mood swings the rest of the month. In such cases a psychopharmacologist will suggest adding very low doses of another medication--sometimes drops of Prozac--just during that premenstrual week.


About the Author

Colette Dowling, LMSW, is psychotherapist with a private practice in New York. Ms. Dowling has written many books on women's psychological and health issues, including, The Cinderella Complex: Women's Hidden Fear of Independence, an international best seller, and "You Mean I Don't Have to Feel This Way?: New Help for Depression, Anxiety and Addiction". Excerpts from her books can be found at http://www.colettedowling.com. Her articles on unique aspects of women's mental health can be found at http://www.womens-wellbeing-and-mental-health.com.


Inflammation, Insulin Resistance and PCOS



PCOS has long been associated with insulin resistance, with many in the medical community believing that insulin resistance is the underlying cause of PCOS. Some evidence points to inflammation as causing insulin resistance. Researchers at University of California San Diego assert that inflammation induced by immune cells called macrophages leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Their research on mice indicates that in the absence of inflammation, obesity alone does not cause insulin resistance. This means that, according to this study, some inflammatory mediators are necessary for the development of insulin resistance.
If this is true, one may extrapolate the data to indicate that women with PCOS do not develop insulin resistance unless inflammation is also involved. For this truly to be meaningful, we would have to prove that all women with PCOS exhibit signs of inflammation. This is easier said than done!
Research published in 2005 examining insulin resistance and inflammatory markers in obese and non-obese women with PCOS showed that all women with PCOS had elevated levels of inflammatory markers.
On the other hand, a study published in the European Journal of Endocrinology in 2004 concluded that PCOS was not necessarily correlated with inflammation after comparing levels of inflammatory markers CRP and IL-6 in women with PCOS to a control group. The authors write, "BMI was...the parameter most strongly related to IL-6 and CRP in PCOS... In PCOS, the type 2 diabetes risk may...be confined to those with obesity and/or metabolic alterations rather than affecting all women suffering from the syndrome." In other words, lean women with PCOS may not be as likely to exhibit elevated inflammatory markers as their overweight counterparts with PCOS.
A similar trend was also noted in a 2003 study examining the effects of metformin therapy in lowering CRP levels in women with PCOS, where the researchers suggested that elevated CRP was related to obesity rather than PCOS itself.
Another article published in September 2007 in Gynecological Endocrinology concluded that obesity, rather than inflammatory markers, represented the greater factor in predicting whether or not women with PCOS would develop heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes.
Perhaps the contradictory results may be due to the fact that the community of women with PCOS is very diverse, not only ethnically but also phenotypically (that is, the physical manifestation of the disease). Furthermore, these studies have a relatively small number of participants, usually less than 100 people. Both of these factors may confound the attempt to simplify the issues of finding the one underlying cause of PCOS and even of the historical difficulty in establishing criteria for the definitive diagnosis of PCOS.
In conclusion, we clearly need more research with larger numbers of participants to determine the interrelationship between inflammation and insulin resistance in PCOS, and how these factors relate to hormonal imbalance and cardiovascular risk factors. This issue is important because it could dictate changes in treatment strategies for women with PCOS. Furthermore, more attention needs to be paid to the great ethnic diversity in this population with a future focus on examining trends among specific ethnic groups.
About the Author

For more information about insulin resistance, inflammation and the hormonal changes of PCOS, please go to http://www.pcos.insulitelabs.com. Dr. Sari Cohen


PMS And Back Pain



It's no secret that many women suffer through their monthly periods, experiencing cramps, bloating, and lower back pain, to name just a few. But a large number of them—estimated at anywhere from 30 to 90 percent—also endure the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Most women feel some discomfort before their periods. But if you have PMS, you may feel so anxious, depressed, or uncomfortable that you can't cope at home or at work.

What causes PMS?

No one know for sure what causes PMS or why some months are worse than others, but PMS is often linked to the changes in hormone levels that happen during a woman's menstrual cycle. PMS is not caused by stress or psychological problems, though these may make the symptoms worse.

"We probably don't get nearly enough magnesium from out diet," says Dr. Carolyn Dean, who specializes in managing and healing commonly misdiagnosed and chronic conditions such as hormone imbalance, and mood swings. "The Recommended Daily Allowance for magnesium is 350-400 milligrams (mg) per day, but for optimal health you may need twice as much."

Dean, who serves on the medical advisory board of the Healthy Back Institute, suggests taking magnesium supplements to prevent or ease PMS symptoms, including back pain due to water retention. She recommends magnesium citrate and taurate, as well as spraying on magnesium oil that is absorbed through your skin.

Some researchers have found that calcium levels are lower in women with PMS and that calcium supplementation may reduce the severity of symptoms. One study, for instance, reported that 300 mg of calcium carbonate four times a day significantly reduced bloating, depression, pain, and mood swings.

How is PMS diagnosed?

There is no single test to diagnose PMS, but because thyroid disease is common in women of childbearing age, and because some of the symptoms of PMS—such as weight gain—are similar to symptoms of thyroid disease, your doctor may do a thyroid test. This can help rule out a thyroid problem as the cause of your symptoms. Often, a doctor will suggest that you keep a diary to track your symptoms for a few months.

How is PMS usually treated?

Medicines that are commonly prescribed include diuretics to help the body rid itself of extra sodium and fluid, which can ease bloating, weight gain, breast pain, abdominal pain, and back pain. Antidepressants can help with the severe irritability, depression, and anxiety that some women have with PMS. Doctors often prescribe birth control pills to help reduce some PMS symptoms by evening out hormone levels during your cycle.

Experts also suggest making some simple diet and lifestyle changes. These include eating more complex carbohydrates (such as whole grain breads, pasta and cereals), more fiber and protein, and more foods rich in potassium (such as fish, beans, and broccoli). Other things you can do: cut back on sugar and fat; avoid iodine salt (to reduce bloating and fluid retention) try sea salts, eliminate or cut back on caffeine and alcohol, get at least eight hours of sleep each night, and get regular aerobic exercise—even a short walk every day can help. In fact, research has shown that frequency—rather than intensity—of exercise can decrease PMS symptoms.

Are there alternative treatments?

According to a 2004 study in Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, a drugless intervention that may provide relief from PMS is something called "external qigong." First, a little background: Human qi comes from two primary sources: one, your parents; and, two, essential substances in nature such as air, water, and food. Both of these qi sources—inherited and acquired vital energies—are refined and transformed by our organs.

By eating a healthy diet and breathing fresh air, the theory goes, the body extracts their most valuable essences and uses them to help form the vital energy. Following these simple principles are the first steps towards creating a healthy balance in the body.

In external qigong, a trained practitioner directs his or her own qi outward, with the intention of helping patients' clear blockages, remove negative qi, and balance the flow of qi in the body, thus relieving pain and helping the body to rid itself of certain diseases. Scientists in South Korea report that qigong can improve many of the symptoms associated with PMS, and that it may work as well as more traditional methods of relief.

Other techniques—such as breathing exercises, meditation, aromatherapy, and yoga—focus on reducing stress and promoting relaxation. It this regard, it is also advisable (where practical) to schedule events you expect will be stressful—that big family reunion, for example—for the week after your period. And because many women seem to be more sensitive in the weeks before their menstrual period, relaxation experts suggest setting aside personal time to unwind, let out pent-up emotions, and focus on things that will nourish your spirit.

You may also want to try evening primrose oil, a plant oil that contains gamma-linolenic acid, which is an omega-6 essential fatty acid. Gamma-linolenic acid is involved in the metabolism of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins that regulate pain and inflammation in the body. Other natural remedies commonly used for PMS: ginkgo, vitamin E, royal jelly, dandelion, wild yam, oligomeric proanthocyanidins(OPCs), uva ursi, St. John's wort, progesterone cream as well as Proteolytic Systemic Enzymes.

About the Author

If you enjoyed this article, and would like more information in alternative back pain treatments sign up for our Back Pain Advisory and you will join the nearly 1 million people that have received this life changing information. Please visit our new web site at http://losethebackpain.com/ for more free informative articles, videos and open forums.


My Wife's Triumph Over Uterine Fibroids



There's nothing quite like sitting down on a crisp fall Sunday morning to write about my wife's uterus. I suppose I could have written something generic about the topic of uterine fibroids, but I prefer to write personal stories about true-life experiences that have the potential to inspire and motivate readers.

It all started about a year after we got married. During our first year of marriage, like most couples, our focus was on starting a family, which meant we did our best to make that happen. So far, so good.

But after almost a year of trying without success, we began to wonder if something might be wrong. Off we went to see the fertility specialist, who first asked how old my wife was, then took a blood sample to measure her level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which is the main hormone involved in producing mature eggs. Then he did an ultrasound test to check out her uterus.

When they gave us the results, it would have felt better if they had used a shotgun. At age 39, my wife had an FSH score of 12 (the odds of conception at anything over 10 is virtually zero). Not only that, but they also found three uterine fibroids in three different areas, or levels, in the lining of her uterus.

How bad news spurred us into action

I'll spare you the grief and heartache we went through that day—the day we were told we would never have a child. I can tell you that when I get bad news, I feel the same emotions of hopelessness, grief, and frustration as anyone else would in the same circumstances. I also have to admit that I expressed my rage in a torrent of choice words (mostly R-rated). For me, it was the release I needed, and it was the first step on our road to recovery.

For as quickly as the bad news had created a sense of hopelessness, my wife and I were somehow able to put aside the negative and begin to focus on what we could do rather than what we couldn't. Within 12 months of that terrible day, we finalized the adoption of our daughter, Jessica Taylor.

In fact, from the first day we signed any paperwork to the time we were standing in front of a judge, it took only 10 months—a land speed record in the world of domestic infant adoption. Jessica will be 5 next month, and if my wife and I had simply sat by and gotten negative and depressed, she surely would not be in our lives today.

What you need to know

While not truly understanding what a uterine fibroid tumor was at the time and only hearing the word "tumor," I immediately went to work to learn everything I could about them. And, like anything else, the answer is out there—you just have to ask the right questions, find the right people, and knock on the right doors.

Of course, the doctor we had only wanted to sell us a $20,000 Egg donor fertility package. He could not have cared one bit about the fibroids and the emotions my wife was experiencing when she learned she had them—let alone offer us a solution.

The first bit of good news I found was that fibroids are rarely cancerous. In fact, some are even asymptomatic, meaning they don't have any symptoms. Many women, however, will experience symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, bowel and bladder irregularity, and painful or uncomfortable intercourse. In some case, fibroids can cause a distended abdomen.

What exactly are fibroids?

Uterine fibroid tumors are small, solid collections of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue that can develop in various parts of the uterus.

What causes them?

No one really knows why they develop, but there is a well-established correlation between fibroids and hormonal imbalances—specifically, higher estrogen levels and lower progesterone levels.

Being in an estrogen-dominant state should not come as a surprise to women these days—even up to premenopausal ages—because of the widespread use of birth control pills and even the large amounts of soy we all eat. Yes, I said soy.

The best way to overcome a challenge is to overwhelm it

If you suspect (or know) that you have a uterine fibroid, please seek proper medical attention. In our case, we were not offered any treatment, which is common. The typical recommendation is to do nothing but wait and see what happens.

Well, we weren't going to wait until these fibroids got to be the size of bowling balls before we took any action. (Personal observation: sometimes when we are faced with a medical situation that is not life-threatening, we tend sit back and hope that things will get better on their own. Seldom do we decide to attack the problem from as many different angles as possible—all at once, in an effort to overwhelm it, stop it, or at least control it as quickly as possible.)


My wife found her solution in enzymes

My wife had been off any birth control for a while before she found out she had fibroids. But the hormonal imbalances were already evident. We did look into hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but this was right around the time when this approach was getting bad press and some of these products were even being pulled from the market. She did try some natural progesterone cream for a while, until she discovered something called "proteolytic enzymes."


Can Proteolytic enzymes reverse fibroids?

Proteolytic enzymes are a remarkable substance, and they are responsible for a host of bodily functions. When it comes to uterine fibroids, proteolytic enzymes help break down and remove excess fibrous tissue, which is what fibroids are mostly made of. That's why these enzymes work so well.

Let me tell you what happened in our case. We both started to take them. Why both of us? Well, for one thing, my wife had never heard of these enzymes, and she felt that it was something we should do together. In less than a week, we both started to feel better—and I'm talking all over. Simple aches and pains began to disappear, and we found we had greater flexibility in our hands (We were both massage therapists at the time and our hands are everything to us).

By week two, my wife started to have what the scientists and the developers of the enzymes call a "side activity." Why they can't just call it a side benefit is beyond me. Anyway, she started to get this vaginal discharge that she called "the goo." I called it "money" because it was a signal that remnants of the fibroids were passing through her.

This continued over the next four to six weeks. My wife did not complain of any vaginal pain during this period. She simply said, "Things just worked better if you know what I mean."

The one interesting thing about enzymes is that they work at several different dosing levels, in the beginning there is an Activation dose, the Activation dose is different for everyone so you will need to experiment with your dose by incrementally adding one or two capsule per day.

The Activation dose can be continued as long as your are experiencing the side activity, once the side activity starts to subside you can start on what is called a maintenance dose.

That was five years ago. Today, we still take the enzymes for the numerous health benefits they provide, including cardiovascular support not to mention helping to control the levels of systemic inflammation in our bodies the root cause of virtually every disease known to man. It goes without saying that when your enzyme levels drop or stay too low for too long, you will eventually find yourself planted on the other side of the grass.

About the Author

To learn more about proteolytic enzymes and the roll they play in help us stay healthy, I suggest you read this article: http://www.losethebackpain.com/inflammation6.html


Wild Foods for Wise Women



Did you know that many of those unglamorous "weeds" that you've been poisoning or pulling out of your garden and lawn are some of the world's most well-respected and powerful healing plants? If not, you aren't alone: many people don't realize that common ordinary weeds can build and maintain good health. Common weeds that grow by you can boost your immunity, strengthen your liver, help you build strong blood, counter colds and the flu, increase your vitality, and even prevent cancer.

Health-promoting weeds are easy to find (even in the city), easy to identify, easy to prepare, incredibly abundant, and as delicious as high-priced gourmet goodies. Go outside right now and see if you can find one or more of my seven favorites: Burdock, Dandelion, Honeysuckle, Plantain, Red Clover, Violet, or Yellow Dock. (To the botanist: Arctium lappa, Taraxacum officinale, Plantago majus, Trifolium pratense, Viola odorata, and Rumex crispus.) You probably take them for granted. But if they could talk, they would say "Here we are! We love you! We're waiting to change your life!"

How can they change your life? When properly prepared and used, these weeds can boost your immunity, strengthen your liver, renew your energy, and help prevent cancer. And the best part is, they're free!

IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTERS

Dandelion and Honeysuckle are particularly good builders of the immune system. (The immune system is a network of cells and cell products that defends the body against disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and cancer cells.) Dandelion root tincture (20 drops, 2 3 times a day) actually increases the production of interferon, a protein that inhibits viral multiplication and activates T-cells.

Can a powerful immune system prevent cancer? Put cancer into remission? Prevent the recurrence of cancer that has been treated? Stop a cancer from metastasizing? In my book Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way, I answer these questions affirmatively (and share recipes for immune-building soups, too). Building powerful immunity can help us remain cancer-free and it provides long-lasting benefits - and long life - for relatively little effort.

LIVER STRENGTHENERS

The liver is the body's recycling center. This large organ is critical to healthy digestive functioning, utilization of hormones, and removal of chemicals from the body. Dandelion is an outstanding liver strengthener. It is known to protect, heal and tone up the liver, helping to relieve food allergies and aid digestion, as well as repairing damage done by drugs, chemicals, alcohol, and infections such as hepatitis. Burdock, Red Clover, Plantain, and Yellow Dock are also powerful liver strengtheners.

Most experienced healers that I've met are unanimous in their agreement that a healthy liver is the basis for a healthy and long life. Perhaps the single most important benefit to be gained from befriending the weeds is the strengthening of your liver function.

Dandelion, Yellow Dock, or Burdock roots are used in tinctures (20 drops, 2 3 times a day) or vinegars (1-2 large spoonsful on salad daily); Red Clover is best taken as an infusion; Plantain leaves are eaten in salad or infused in apple cider vinegar.

BLOOD BUILDERS

Yellow Dock builds strong blood. Strong blood is rich in iron and other minerals needed for health. Strong blood is nutrient-rich - so vital organs get the nourishment they need for optimum functioning. Strong blood helps muscles work well without cramping and aching. Strong blood is low in cholesterol and moves easily through the circulatory system. Strong blood is packed with plenty of energy: for life, for work, and for sex.

Other green allies that build strong blood are Dandelion leaves, Red Clover blossoms, and Plantain leaves. (And for strong veins, Burdock root vinegar is a trusted ally.) Daily doses of Yellow Dock root - vinegar (see below) or tincture (5-20 drops once or twice a day) - often increase iron levels in the blood twice as fast as iron supplements. If you wish to avoid alcohol, soak chopped fresh Yellow Dock roots (or any of the other plants mentioned here) in vinegar to cover for 6 weeks. I use 1-2 tablespoons a day of the resulting medicinal vinegar to build strong blood.

COUNTER COLDS AND THE FLU

Throughout the orient, Honeysuckle flowers are steeped in water and the resulting strong tea - scientifically established as antiseptic, anti-microbial, and anti-infective - drunk to ward off colds and the flu. (An injectable form of Honeysuckle is used in Chinese hospitals to counter severe infections.) Red Clover blossoms mixed with ordinary mint and steeped in hot water for several hours is an effective "cold remedy" passed down from Colonial housewives.

INCREASE VITALITY, EVEN PREVENT CANCER

The leaves of Violets and the blossoms of both Honeysuckle and Red Clover are renowned as safe, life-enhancing tonics. In addition to enhancing vitality and rejuvenating fertility, they have proven effectiveness against pre-cancerous conditions. Red Clover especially is noted for its ability to reverse in situ breast cancers, cervical dysplasia, and pre-cancerous polyps of the colon. Violet, whether drunk in infusion or applied as a poultice, has a reputation as a dissolver of breast lumps and a protector of the lungs, even checking the growth of tumors.

ANTI-CANCER AGENTS

The most amazing thing about these seven humble plants is that each of them has been associated with cancer prevention. Plantain is an important Latin-American folk remedy against cancer. Burdock as a specific cure for breast cancer dates back to at least 1887 in the Ukraine. Around the world, Red Clover is a widely used folk remedy against cancer and is known as "The herb of immortality." Dandelion is known to stop the promotion of oncogenes. (When damaged or turned on, an oncogene initiates cancer.) Violet slows tumor growth. Honeysuckle is a popular anti-cancer agent in China. Yellow dock is one of the original plants in the Native American anti-cancer brew now known as Essiac.

As you can see, these seven plants are not useless weeds by any means. Even if you don't reach out and pick them from your yard (or that nearby vacant lot), I know you'll be more aware of the abundance of green blessings surrounding you.

For more information on how to prepare and use herbs consult any of my books including Healing Wise and Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way. (Available in book stores and health food stores, or by calling 1-800-356-9315)

HOW TO USE THESE AMAZING PLANTS

Burdock:

Dig first-year roots in autumn; use mature seeds.
Used internally, it resolves chronic skin problems; fresh root binds and removes heavy metals and chemicals.
Use daily for six or more weeks; it is not unusual to take burdock regularly for 2 to 3 years.
Dried root infusion: 1 to 2 cups.
Cooked, dried, or raw root: eaten freely.
Fresh root vinegar: 1-4 tablespoons.
Tincture of fresh roots or seeds: 30-250 drops.
Infused oil of seeds: as needed on skin or scalp to encourage growth of new hair.
Burdock is slow acting but miraculous.

Dandelion:

Leaves are nourishing, roots are tonifying.
Improves outlook, improves digestion and appetite, relieves food allergies.
Can use daily for prolonged use.
Fresh leaves and flowers: eaten freely.
Cooked greens: ½ to 2 cups (125 to 500 ml).
Dried root infusion (tea) 1 to 3 cups (250-750 ml).
Tincture of fresh plant, including root: 15-120 drops.
Wine of fresh flowers: no more than 6 oz (200 ml).
Infused oil of fresh flowers: as needed.
Dandelion is a superb ally for liver and breasts. Regular use internally before meals and externally before sleep helps keep breasts healthy, reverses cancerous changes. Digestion is settled and strengthened a few minutes after taking a dose. Results in breast tissue are slower, taking six weeks or more to become evident.

Honeysuckle:

One of the most vigorous vines known, Honeysuckle makes an excellent complementary medicine for many Western drugs, moderating or eliminating many of their damaging side-effects. The flowerbuds are harvested in May or June, dried quickly in the sun without turning or handling, infused in water overnight (one ounce dried blossoms to one quart boiling water in a tightly sealed jar steeped for 4-10 hours), and drunk freely.

Plantain:

Use leaves, harvested any time, or ripe seeds with hulls.
Internal use:
Seeds: anti-microbial, against thrush;
Leaves: promote blood clotting, increase in iron, strengthen digestion.
Used externally: leaf poultice or oil reduces cysts, heals skin and connective tissues, stops itching and prevents scars.
Daily use: no limit.
Raw leaves: 3-20 chopped in salad.
Fresh leaf vinegar: 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 ml).
Fresh leaf oil/ointment or poultice: as needed.
Internal response is prompt; noticeable improvement in blood iron is seen in two weeks of daily use. External response is also rapid: itching ceases, bleeding stops, pain abates, and swelling recedes in minutes. Plantain promotes quick, scarless healing from all wounds.

Red Clover:

Use the just-opened blossoms with a few leaves clinging.
Internally: alkalinizes, builds blood; helps prevent the recurrence of cancer, protects liver and lungs, improves appetite, relieves constipation, eases anxiety; relieves symptoms of menopause, increases fertility.
Externally: softens and reduces breast lumps; is antifungal.
Daily use is without limit.
Fresh blossoms: eaten freely.
Infusion (tea) of dried flowers: up to one quart (1 liter).
Tincture/mother tincture of fresh blossoms: 15-100 drops.
Fresh flower vinegar: 1-4 tablespoons (15-60 ml).
Note: Over consumption of blood-thinning coumarins, which are present only in low amounts in red clover but found in greater amounts in other clovers such as sweet clover, can lead to the breakdown of blood cells and increase risk of hemorrhage.
Red clover (legume family) shares with its sisters, lentil and astragalus, the ability to repair damaged DNA, turn off oncogenes, and reverse both pre-cancers and in situ cancers. According to J. Hartwell, author of Plants Used Against Cancer, medical literature has reported and confirmed hundreds of cases of remission of cancer after consistent use of red clover. I agree.

Violet:

Use the leaves, harvested any time, even during flowering.
Externally: Eases pain and inflammation, heals mouth sores, softens skin, antifungal.
Daily dose: Use without limit, non-toxic.
Fresh leaves: in salad, as desired.
Dried leaf infusion: up to one quart (1 liter).
Fresh or dried leaf poultice: continuously.
Internal and external use of violet can shrink a breast lump in a month.


Yellow Dock:

Use roots of a plant at least two years old, dug after autumn frosts, or very early in the spring; leaves, harvested at any time, use ripe seeds.
Internally: as root tincture or vinegar, yellow dock builds healthy blood, protects liver, and acts as a laxative. As a seed tea, it heals mouth sores and checks diarrhea.
Externally: Poultices dissolve lumps, counter tumors and kill fungus infections.
Can be used daily for up to 12 months.
Tincture of fresh roots: 10-60 drops per day.
Fresh root vinegar: 1-2 tablespoons (30 ml) per day.
Dried seed tea: no more than one cup (250 ml) per day.
Fresh root oil/ointment: liberally, as needed.



Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material on this website/email is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion
About the Author

Susun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 1-845-246-8081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world.


3 Great Herbs All Women Should Know About



When it comes to herbs for women, that is to specifically address women’s problems, there are three important medicinal herbs, each of which have a long track record of use and effectiveness.

Black Cohosh

Firstly there is Black Cohosh, cimicifugae racemosae – commonly referred to as the menopause herb.

Interest in Black Cohosh and dietary supplements containing Black Cohosh has come from women seeking alternative treatments for symptoms associated with the menopausal transition, including hot flashes and night sweats, anxiety and depression, and vaginal dryness. This interest has been heightened by recent findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), which pointed to a shift in the risk/benefit balance of hormone therapy due to the risks associated with cardiovascular events, stroke, breast cancer, blood clots, and other conditions.

Black Cohosh is used for a variety of other complaints, but has become best known in the Western World for its beneficial effect on hormone functioning due to its phyto-estrogenic properties. Herbalists also use Black Cohosh to prevent miscarriage in cases of women at high risk. Many women miscarry in the very early stages of pregnancy and may not even realize that they have been pregnant.

Historically, Black Cohosh has been also been used for a range of conditions. Native Americans and the early U.S. colonialists used it for a great variety if disorders including amenorrhea, bronchitis, chorea, dropsy, fever, hysteria, itch, lumbago, nervous disorders, snakebite, yellow fever, and disorders of the uterus.

Today, preparations of Black Cohosh consist of the fresh or dried rhizome with attached roots of cimicifuga racemosa.

Studies recently carried out in Germany have confirmed that cimicifuga is strongly estrogenic and that it is effective in relieving menopausal symptoms.

For the technically minded, its main constituents are triterpene glycosides, cinnamic acid derivatives, chromone, isoflavones, tannins and salicylic acid.

Black Cohosh is regarded as a relatively safe herb, there being no documented contraindications to it.

Side effects are also few, perhaps occasional gastric discomfort, and rare hepatic (liver) dysfunction.

It has been suggested by some authorities that medicinal quantities of Black Cohosh may possibly magnify the effects of synthetic hormones in susceptible women, such as women taking HRT or the contraceptive pill.

It has also been hypothesized in some circles that, because of its estrogen-like effects, it could promote metastasis of breast cancer tissue. (In an experiment done on mice, however, Black Cohosh increased metastasis of cancer to the lungs, but did not cause an increased incidence of breast cancer.)

It is not advisable to take Black Cohosh during pregnancy or lactation.

Otherwise there are no known interactions with other drugs

Wild Yam

Wild Yam is another very popular herb for women and has been also used to relieve menstrual cramps or pain, menopausal symptoms, rheumatic conditions, and gallbladder complaints, bilious colic and nausea. It also has been proposed as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy but (as one might imagine) there is much debate about that.

Traditionally, Native Americans used Wild Yam for birth control, also for rheumatism, menstrual pain and complications during childbirth.

Studies have shown that wild yam contains steroidal saponins, mainly dioscin and diosgenin, which can be used to manufacture progesterone, and other steroid drugs used for contraception. Be aware, however, that the body does not convert dioscin to progesterone

Some authorities warn that the use of Wild Yam may be contraindicated for women taking progesterone and/or estrogen. Otherwise there are no consistent reports of adverse side effects.

In recent times Wild Yam has been strongly promoted as a female breast enhancer and as a sexual stimulant and is consequently an increasingly common ingredient in female herbal supplements.

Dong Quai (or Quoi), Angelica polymorpha.

Dong Quai has been used for many centuries in Asia to balance female hormones and as a treatment for the various discomforts associated with menopause.

It has also been traditionally used In Asia to treat arthritis.

Today, Dong Quai is recognized as being rich in iron, magnesium and niacin. The root of Dong Quai is still used to relieve menstrual problems or menopausal symptoms, to improve mental acuity and alleviate symptoms of daily stress.

It is used also to relieve muscle spasms, and is also used to treat PMS, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes.

Dong Quai should not be used during pregnancy or by people suffering from colds and flu. It should not be taken with Warfarin as it could lead to bruising and uncontrolled bleeding.

Today, many different herbs are used to address not only health disorders that are peculiar to women but to improve women’s quality of life, their sexuality and general well being. Herbal remedies, however, should not be taken by people already taking pharmaceutical drugs without reference to a competent herbal medical practitioner.


About the Author

Ian Finlayson is author of The Herb Spiral and several other web sites dealing with the properties of specific herbs, and is a regular writer of articles and reviews on medicinal herbs and herbal products. For information specifically dealing with women’s herbs and formulas go to this page on The Herb Spiral site.


Mammograms Are Harmful



Professor Anthony Miller, Toronto National Cancer Institute, says cancer cells may be squeezed into the bloodstream under the pressure of the mammographic plates. Screening mammograms are unsafe other ways, too: they expose sensitive breast tissues to radiation, and they increase your chances of having a biopsy and being over-treated for carcinoma in situ.

RADIATION DANGERS

Scientists agree that there is no safe dose of radiation. Cellular DNA in the breast is more easily damaged by very small doses of radiation than thyroid tissue or bone marrow; in fact, breast cells are second only to fetal tissues in sensitivity to radiation. And the younger the breast cells, the more easily their DNA is damaged by radiation. As an added risk, 1% of American women carry a hard-to-detect oncogene which is triggered by radiation: a single mammogram increases their risk of breast cancer by a factor of 4-6 times.

The usual dose of radiation during a mammographic x-ray is from 0.25 to 1 rad with the very best equipment - that's 1-4 rads per screening mammogram (two views each of two breasts).

And, according to Samuel Epstein, M.D., of the University of Chicago's School of Public Health, the dose can be ten times more than that. Sister Rosalie Bertell - one of the world's most respected authorities on the dangers of radiation - says one rad increases breast cancer risk 1% and is the equivalent of one year's natural aging.

If a woman has yearly mammograms from age 55 to age 75, she will receive a minimum of 20 rads of radiation. For comparison, women who survived the atomic bomb blasts in Hiroshima or Nagasaki absorbed 35 rads. Though one large dose of radiation can be more harmful than many small doses, it is important to remember that damage from radiation is cumulative. Many women born in the 1930s and '40s - who are now considering the benefits of postmenopausal mammographic screening - have already absorbed quite a bit of radioactivity into their breast tissues from fallout from the atomic bomb tests of the 1950s.

The American Cancer Society claims that the radiation danger from a screening mammogram is no more than that caused by natural radiation in the environment. Not so. The amount of radiation from even one breast x-ray is 11.9 times the yearly dose absorbed by the entire body, according to Diana Hunt, former saleswoman for an x-ray manufacturing company, UCLA Medical Center graduate, and senior staff x-ray technologist for 20 years. (See page 18 of Breast Cancer? Breast Health the Wise Woman Way for a list of rads absorbed while skiing in Denver, flying in an airplane, and other activities often cited as comparable to mammographic screening.)

A study published in the October 20, 1993 issue of Journal of the National Cancer Institute found a statistically significant increase in the incidence of breast cancer following radiation treatment of various benign breast diseases even among women older than 40 at the time of the first treatment.

TREATMENT DANGERS

You increase your risk of being over-treated for breast cancer whenever you have a screening mammogram. Eight out of ten masses detected by screening mammograms are false alarms, but if something is seen in your mammogram you'll be urged to undergo a biopsy.

Screening mammograms lead to over-treatment. Many of the "cancers" found by mammographic examination are carcinoma in situ. At least 75% of these will remain non-invasive and can be removed surgically, if desired, at any time, or simply left alone. Of the 25% of in situ cancers that do become invasive, the number that metastasize is quite small (and unmetastasized breast cancer rarely kills).

Early detection of tiny in situ tumors often leads to orthodox treatments which do not prolong life and which can cause immune system suppression, severe drug reactions, even death. Of course, early detection can also lead to life-enhancing wholistic treatments.

Green Blessings.

About the Author

Susun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 1-845-246-8081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world.


Solutions for All Lifestages and Issues Related to Women in Menopause



Perimenopause. Menopause. Premenstrual syndrome. Estrogen dominance. Osteoporosis.

When watching the media these days, there is a good chance you are going to encounter a discussion about one or more of the above women’s health issues. Although these discussions offer much advice, it is often contradictory and debatable. In the following paragraphs, one will discover what really is happening in a woman’s body as she travels through her lifestages and why these changes are occurring.

No matter what our age, life’s plans, personal desires, or professional goals, being a female means that our organs and hormones will cause us to experience physical changes in fairly specific intervals. Within each of these stages, normal fluctuations in our reproductive hormones occur, with high levels in puberty, and ceasing levels later in life. Since our reproductive hormones are responsible for other important functions in our bodies, completely unrelated to pregnancy and babies, these changing levels greatly affect women’s health as a whole, resulting in a variety of normal and natural, but uncomfortable, symptoms. Healthcare practitioners have come to view these symptoms as problems to fix because they do cause discomfort. As for most diseases, healthcare practitioners prescribe synthetic hormones to treat these symptoms, but recent research has determined that these HRT’s (hormone replacement therapies) cause far more risks than benefits. The simple fact to this research is that you don’t need more hormones to treat hormonal imbalance. Instead, you need specific nutrients that restore hormonal balance and reduce symptoms, being vitamins, minerals, and good nutrition.

Estrogen, which is made up of estrone, estradiol, and estriol, is produced mainly in the ovaries, but small amounts are also produced in the adrenal glands, liver, kidneys, and a woman’s body fat. It is necessary for normal development of the breasts and childbearing organs and helps to control a woman’s menstrual cycle. Estrogen also is essential in reproduction and helps to maintain a healthy heart and bones. Progesterone, which is also produced in the ovaries, is the reproductive organ associated with pregnancy, as it guides the egg to leave one of the ovaries and travel to the uterus through the fallopian tubes. Progesterone is also responsible for building up a thick cushiony lining on the wall of the uterus for the fertilized egg to attach to.

A healthy woman relies on her ability to maintain hormonal balance. If her hormonal balance is disrupted, numerous health problems will follow. These imbalances can occur by exposure to xenoestrogens (chemicals used in pesticides, plastics, and fuels), as they can mimic estrogen and interfere with the body’s estrogen metabolism. After estrogen completes its required activity, it returns to the liver to be metabolized, where it is broken down into different enzymatic pathways. The first of these pathways, the 2-hydroxy pathway, results in “good” estrogen metabolites, which account for many of the benefits of estrogen such as prevention of heart disease, and strong, healthy bones. The second pathway, the 16-hydroxy pathway, produces “bad” estrogen metabolites, which result in hormonal metabolism imbalances. These bad estrogen metabolites can: accelerate the aging process; worsen autoimmune disorders; and cause anxiety, breast cancer, breast tenderness, cervical dysplasia, cold hands and feet, decreased sex drive, depression, dry eyes, fatigue, foggy thinking, hair loss, headaches, infertility, irregular menstrual periods, irritability, insomnia, magnesium deficiency, memory loss, mood swings, osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, a sluggish metabolism, uterine cancer, water retention, weight gain, and zinc deficiency.

Estrogen dominance can occur through exposure to synthetic estrogens (such as chemicals that are used in pesticides, plastics, and fuels, and also through exposure to animal products. A treatment that is currently popular for hormonal imbalance is progesterone cream. Although some women report relief of milder hormonal imbalance symptoms, the additional progesterone delivered inside the body can be metabolized into estrogen, resulting in an even greater hormonal imbalance and estrogen dominance. In most cases, women don’t need more hormones, but rather help in metabolizing estrogen and keeping their hormones balanced. The answer to this is found in a natural plant compound called diindolylmethane (DIM), which is found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. Scientists have recently discovered that DIM improves hormonal balance by shifting the way that estrogen is metabolized in our bodies to the 2-hydroxy pathway, which is responsible for “good” estrogen metabolites. This increase in “good” estrogen metabolites has a simultaneous reduction on the number of “bad” estrogen metabolites produced. Most women should take 120 mg of DIM complex that is standardized to 25% DIM per dose, once daily. However, women suffering with many estrogen imbalance symptoms may find even more relief by doubling the dose and taking DIM twice daily. The complex needs to me specialized to improve bioavailability so it is better able to absorb into the body.

In the early/fertile/high estrogen years, which occurs until women reach their late 30’s and early 40’s, estrogen levels are high and progesterone levels rise and fall appropriately. However, because women in their 20’s and 30’s have also been exposed to a great amount of environmental and synthetic estrogen, there is a predominance of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in this age group. This frustrating and painful cluster of symptoms, which occurs just before the onset of PMS each month, ranges from mild to disabling and tends to run in the family. Physical symptoms of PMS include: breast tenderness, bloating, fluid retention, headaches, backaches, and cramping, as well as extreme food cravings and feelings of panic, anxiety, irritability, and depression. These symptoms often affect relationships with people women hold near including, children, husbands, families, and friends, causing significant distress. Researchers are not exactly sure why PMS occurs, however they do know that it is associated with estrogen and progesterone levels and their balance. DIM can reduce the symptoms of PMS by restoring estrogen metabolism to the 2-hydroxy pathway, which relieves the pain and discomfort from PMS symptoms. At this stage, women also need a superior multivitamin containing vitamins A, D, E, B, and C as well as cranberry, chaste berry, iron, and calcium. They must also consume an adequate amount of folic acid, as it has a powerful ability to prevent spinal bifida, a serious birth defect.

The peri-menopause years, which takes place in women between the ages of 35 and 45, is the time period when women are not in menopause but something is definitely going on hormonally. Many women in this age group experience: unexplained weight gain, sore, lumpy breast, changing body temperatures, heavier or longer menstrual periods, increased menstrual cramps, loss of sex drive, irritability and shifting moods, foggy thinking, and insomnia or poor sleep quality. The conventional treatment for this stage of life is often progesterone in cycled doses, but the integrative answer to these symptoms is a collection of natural herbs and nutrients including Black Cohosh, Green Tea, Chaste Berry, Rhodiola, Valerian and Hops, and L-Theanine. Black Cohosh relieves hot flashes and reduces mood swings, as well as keeps night sweats from occurring. Green Tea adds energy, maintains breast cell growth, and helps to keep weight under control, while Chaste Berry provides a natural balance of progesterone. Rhodiola enhances concentration, energy, alertness, and endurance, as Valerian and Hops promotes relaxation and deeper sleep. L-Theanine alleviates nighttime muscle tension and promotes restful sleep. Along with these herbs and nutrients, a multivitamin is a must, containing iron if you are still menstruating. A woman in this stage also needs more advanced bone nutrition, with a critical need for calcium, you must look for a calcium based formula that is enriched with vitamins and minerals that make sure your bones remain active and healthy.

The last stage, the menopause years, is an opportunity for a woman to become anything she wants. And in order to make sure this opportunity isn’t lost, a variety of dietary supplements are needed to maintain health and vigor. Menopausal women require optimal levels of vitamins, minerals, and herbs, which only a superior daily multivitamin can provide. This multivitamin should exclude iron, as women at this age do not need it, but include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and other minerals. Since menopause signals the end of a woman’s fertility, her ovaries slowly stop producing estrogen and progesterone, causing her to possibly experience hot flashes, mood wings, joint pain, vaginal dryness, and making her more vulnerable to heart disease, osteoporosis, and other health problems. Until recently HRT was the treatment of choice for women in menopause, but in July 2002, researchers discovered that HRT causes breast cancer and heart disease. The new solution was the safe, effective, and natural way to treat the symptoms of menopause. The above Black Cohosh, Green Tea, Valerian and Hops, and L-Theanine, along with Ginseng which increases energy, reduces stress, and helps Black Cohosh work better are a great, natural way to relieve menopausal symptoms. Because women in menopause still produce small amounts of estrogen and progesterone for fate cells and adrenal glands, DIM may be beneficial to prevent any symptoms of hormonal imbalance as well as their risk of breast, cervical, and uterine cancers, and osteoporosis. DIM, Black Cohosh and other great supplements can be found at your local health food store or internet health food store.
About the Author

Visit VitaNet Health Foods at http://vitanetonline.com/ VitaNet sells high quality supplements like Valerian Extract from Planetary herbals. Please link to this site when using this article.


How to Avoid and Prevent Date Rape



The crime of date rape is becoming more and more prevalent. Fortunately, extensive media coverage of this crime and so called date rape drugs have made women more vigilant and aware of this potential threat. Still, despite increased awareness, the number of these incidents continues to climb.

Parties, bars and night clubs are prime breeding grounds for acts of violence, assault and rape. With this in mind, these simple safety tips are important to keep in mind and pass along.


Always get your own drink, and watch it being poured.
Never leave your drink unattended. If you need to use the restroom and can't take it with you, leave it with a trusted friend-not a new date!
If your drink tastes funny, do not drink it and dispose of it so no one else does.
Keep in mind that most drugs used to spike a drink are colorless and tasteless, so not allowing your drink out of your sight is paramount.
Be aware of how your friends are acting. If they seem more "out of it" than usual, be very wary and keep an eye out for them.


When it's time to leave, you may have met someone you are interested in. Ask yourself if you really trust this person. Can you be sure they won't make you do anything you don't want to do? Are you confident they will take NO for an answer? If you've asked yourself these questions and still want to leave with this person, be sure to introduce them to friends and let your friends know you are leaving with them.

So you've left with this person and you're now in a new location. You could be in a car, your home, their home, the beach, or some other secluded spot. You could even be a consenting participant in a heavy "make out" session. But things are moving too fast, the person's making you uncomfortable, or you've just simply changed your mind. At no point is it ever too late to say NO. Say it firmly and repeat it louder if you need to.

Hopefully, you were right when you asked yourself if you could trust this person, that they wouldn't make you do anything you didn't want to do, and that they'd take NO for an answer. Unfortunately, despite a person's best efforts, it's possible to find yourself with somebody who has fooled you horribly and isn't going to take NO for an answer. This is NOT your fault. However, you do need to act to ensure your safety. If screaming for help or fleeing are not viable options, you need to defend yourself.

I could discuss many self-defense tactics or possible weapons, but for this particular topic, I'd like to tell you about one particular item that can be perfect for a situation where date rape seems imminent. It's a pepper spray disguised as a lipstick. A potential attacker is likely to drop their guard if you switch gears from resisting to saying you'd like to freshen your lipstick. His posture will relax when he sees you reach into your purse and come out with nothing but the aforementioned lipstick. But, the attractive case he sees packs a potent pepper spray. It holds twenty half-second sprays with a range of 10 feet. While your potential attacker is temporarily blinded and in excruciating pain, you have given yourself ample time to escape and go for help.

Look for more articles from me discussing potential threats and your options to defend yourself. Or, you can visit my company's website to find many resources, how-to manuals and dvd's, and products to ensure that you are personally safe, regardless of what situation you may find yourself in.

About the Author

Kelly Moran Owner KW Security & Surveillance Your best internet source for tasers, stun guns, pepper sprays, personal alarms and more http://www.kwpersonalsecurity.com/lipstickpepperspray.htm info@kwpersonalsecurity.com


How to Free Yourself from Those Dreaded Monthly Abdominal Cramps with Magnetic Therapy



Well, what I say ladies , we've all been there at some time or another; first comes the tiredness, pre-menstrual tension, not too mention a good dose of back pain right across your lower back and last but certainly not least are those painful stomach cramps!

Approximately 50% of women are affected by painful abdominal cramps every month. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, painful menstruation or Dysmenorrhea as it is medically known is officially defined as,

"A normal cramping of the lower abdomen caused by hormone-induced uterine contractions before the period."

Painful abdominal cramps have plagued women since the beginning of time; and most women have developed their own strategy for coping with them. Some of those remedies include reaching for the good old hot water bottle or over the counter pain killers or anti inflammatory drugs.

So Why Do Menstrual Cramps Hurt?

Now ladies, let’s travel back in time to your Biology class; you will probably recall these all important facts:

The body prepares itself for pregnancy each month by allowing the lining of the womb to thicken
When a pregnancy does not occur, this lining becomes swollen and dies
The uterus begins to contract to rid itself of the dead lining
The lining is then passed through the cervix and out via the vagina, which we see in the form of a period each month.

Sound familiar right? Well, I am sure that there are many among you, who know at least one person who appears to sail through their 'time of the month' without any problems at all. Now, as annoying as that may seem for the those of you who don’t ‘sail through’, there is a possible reason for it, and it's mainly due to a molecular compound called 'Prostaglandin' .

Your body releases Prostaglandin when the lining of your womb breaks down. Research has shown that women who produce high levels of Prostaglandin tend to experience more painful cramps than those with lower levels.

Additional Factors Which Contribute To The Pain

Other factors that can have an effect on the amount of pain you experience are:

Lack of exercise
A narrow cervical canal
Stress
A retroverted uterus (a uterus which tilts backwards)

Treatment Options – An Alternative for You to Consider

No doubt, you are familiar with the various drug based options available for controlling the pain; you may even take supplements like Evening Star Primrose Oil or B Vitamins as part of your regimen. However, if you’re not very good with tablets, then you may want to consider a natural pain relief alternative known as Magnetic Therapy

Never heard of it? Well, not a problem; Magnetic therapy can be defined as a safe, natural and non-invasive method of applying high strength negative magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It is a Complementary Therapy which is used to treat certain medical conditions by exposure to permanent or pulsed magnetic fields.

When magnets are applied directly above the site of pain or injury, the iron content within your blood becomes responsive to the magnetic field. This process results in improved circulation. The increased amount of blood supply means that the Magnetic Field also relieves pain, by tackling any inflammation present. It does this by drawing out excess fluid and toxins from the surrounding tissues and then expelling them on route via the Liver and Kidneys. Once the excess fluid and toxins are removed, the swelling will begin to reduce.

According to Dr K. Kalita who is a specialist in the field of Magnetic Therapy, menstrual cramps have been successfully treated by placing a 4” x 6” x ½ magnet directly over the cramping area. He also recommends sleeping on a Magnetic Mattress Pad with four 4” x 6” x 1” ceramic magnets at the crown of the head for relieving menstrual irregularities and any related symptoms.

It may interest you to know that Magnet Therapy has been around for centuries. It was used extensively by the ancient Greeks, Indians and Chinese. It was even good enough for the likes of Cleopatra, the question is, is it good enough for you…only you can decide!


About the Author

Mrs Donna Gray entered the world of Complementary Therapies as a trained 'Person-Centered'counsellor. She became involved in Magnetic Therapy after personally witnessing the difference it made for mother (who had been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis). Magnetics 4 Backpain was set up in the passionate believe that Magnets can and do make a difference to the lives of chronic pain sufferers. There is a free 7 day e-course Introduction to Magnetic Therapy for available over at http://www.magnetics4backpain.com.


Weight Gain



"Pack your bags for the journey," Grandmother Growth advises softly. "Your Change may be rough in places, so cushion yourself. Your Change may have some hard edges, so let your contours round. Your wise blood is stirring and you are learning to let it move without attaching fear to its meanderings. In the same way, you can gracefully allow your natural weight gain. Struggling with your weight or dieting is bad medicine for you now, resulting only in thin bones that break easily, extreme hormone shifts that will keep you from sleeping and thinking, and an inner fire reduced to ashes or burning out of control. Pack your bags, slowly, dear one. There is no rush," sighs Grandmother Growth, closing her eyes and sinking into a nap.

The best ally you can have on your menopausal journey is ten "extra" pounds. I know you don't want to hear this. I understand how difficult it is to desire ten extra pounds (or accept it happening to you, as it does to most menopausal women). You may have spent much of your life trying to get rid of ten extra pounds. The ultimate failure as a woman nowadays is not to be infertile, but to gain weight.

When thin and young is the standard of beauty, any menopausal woman might find it difficult to maintain a positive self-image as she sees herself becoming a thick-waisted, silver-haired Crone.

I had some killer hot flashes, but the most difficult part of menopause for me was gaining weight. I knew it was going to happen; I knew it was supposed to happen. But I never thought it would happen. I read the studies; I knew that most healthy women, thin or thick or in between, gained ten to fifteen pounds during their menopausal years. But not me, I thought. I eat superbly. I exercise: an hour and a half of yoga every week, tai chi, and my ordinary farm chores (moving and splitting firewood, throwing bales of hay, hauling water, chasing goats). Not me.

Yes, me. I watched my image in the mirror take on a shape more and more closely approximating the Venus figurines of pre-history. And my modern prejudices surged to the fore: "Yuck. You look disgusting. You're overweight. It isn't healthy. Lose weight!" I knew it wasn't true. But despite years of feminism and consciousness-raising on every -ism, from ageism to weightism, there was my culture yelling at me in my own mind every time I looked in the mirror.
Now I looked like my aunts. Now I looked like a woman. It was as strange and unfamiliar as the sprouting of my breasts and pubic hair at puberty. I remember standing in my clothes closet at the age of thirteen, wistfully and resentfully removing my favorite little-girl dresses, none of which fit.

Not looking in the mirror didn't help. (I didn't have to resist looking at the scale. I don't own one.) My clothes didn't fit. First it was my blouses: my buttons gaping and my t-shirts straining. Then it was my pants: Tight waistbands became absolutely impossible. My size fluctuated widely from morning to night, growing bigger as the day went on. For several months, I walked around the house with my pants unfastened from dinner until bedtime, a menopausal symptom my sweetheart was completely in favor of.

Fortunately, I knew that dieting would not improve my health, and could easily harm me. But without the loving acceptance I felt from my lover, I might have faltered and given in to the desire to resist this change with all my might. I might have given up on being proud to look like a postmenopausal woman: like Margaret Mead, Eleanor Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony.

I wish for every menopausal woman someone to tell her each evening when she disrobes, how goddess-like, how voluptuous, how attractive and desirable she is, and to say with her: "The best ally I can have on my menopausal journey is ten extra pounds".

Of course, I don't mean ten pounds of ordinary fat. You want ten pounds of healthy fat supported by healthy muscle and bone. And you want to gain that weight very, very slowly. Ideally about a pound or two a year during menopause. Remember, you are cushioning yourself for the journey. Love yourself as you get "in shape" for Change.


Step 1. Collect information

Fat cells convert androstenedione, a substance produced by the adrenals and the ovaries, into estrone, the primary postmenopausal estrogen. Women who gain weight during menopause have less severe hot flashes, an easier Change, and denser bones, according to menopause advocate, and long-time editor of A Friend Indeed, the Newsletter of Menopause, Jeanine O'Leary Cobb.

Despite pronouncements that extra fat is a health risk, weight gained during the menopausal years is not associated with any increase in mortality risk.

And losing it will not improve your health.

In fact, weight loss can lead to thyroid malfunction, severe gall bladder problems, increased insulin-resistance, and weakening of the cardiovascular and immune systems.

If you don't have a sweetie to tell you your bigger body is bodacious, read:

Radiance: The Magazine for Large Women; PO Box 30246, Oakland, CA 94604.
Healthy Weight Journal; PO Box 620, LCD1, Hamilton, ON; L8N 3K7, Canada. 1-800-568-7281.
You Count, Calories Don't, Linda Omichinski. Box 102A, RR#3, Portage La Prairie, MN; R1N 3A3, Canada. 1-800-565-4847.
Loving Your Midlife Body, Linda Moore Browning, Health Forum for Older Women, Winter 1999.

Step 2. Engage the energy

"The first time I saw pictures of my postmenopausal self I was frightened by my size!"

Give yourself permission to take up more space. Allow your needs to be uppermost. Enlarge your view of yourself. Enlarge your world.

If you don't already do an hour or more of yoga, tai chi, or some other meditative physical exercise weekly, begin ... now.

Go to an art gallery, or get a book from your library, and find a picture of an attractive woman with a round proud belly. Meditate with her. Become her for a moment. Feel the energy in your belly. Feel the wise blood stirring within your belly. Stirring and simmering and sending its heat up along the energy pathways of your body. Be proud of yourself and your belly.

Say a short prayer of thanksgiving, or sing a song, or light a candle, or observe a moment of silence before you eat. Affirm that the food will bring you health and pleasure.

Step 3. Nourish & Tonify

Give up dieting. Eat the widest variety of whole foods possible. Don't make any foods absolutely forbidden. What you eat everyday has the most effect. The best way to stop worrying about weight gain is to eat ten or more servings of fruit and vegetables, three or more servings of whole grains, and a cup of yogurt daily.

To ensure that you add hormonally-helpful, bone-strengthening, empowering fat, include one serving of a high calorie phytoestrogen-rich food and three servings of super mineral-rich foods in your daily diet.

High-calorie hormone-rich foods include olives, olive oil, organic butter, freshly ground flax seeds, homemade beer, alcohol-free beer, fresh peanut butter.

Super mineral-rich foods include nourishing herbal infusions of nettle, oatstraw, red clover, or comfrey leaf; cooked greens such as kale, collards, lamb's quarter, amaranth, mustard; seaweeds; whey; whole grains including oats, millet, wheat, and brown rice; bittersweet chocolate.

Beer is traditionally brewed from hops and sprouted whole grains. The fermentation creates easily assimilated B vitamins and liberates minerals. One beer a week will slowly increase your weight, improve your memory, soothe your nerves, and improve your immune system. A cup of hops tea with a spoonful of barley-malt sweetener is an alcohol-free alternative.

Step 4. Stimulate/Sedate

Most herbal remedies sold for weight loss include stimulants which can disturb heart function, and diuretic and laxative herbs which can cause excessive fluid loss and disrupt electrolyte balance. This may lead to life-threatening events during the menopausal years, when heart and adrenal functions are unstable. Avoid all "weight-loss" herbs.

If you are determined to lose weight during your menopausal years, here are some safe strategies:

Eat a substantial breakfast and a large lunch and skimp on dinner. Absolutely avoid midnight snacks.

Eat a cup/250 ml of fresh chickweed daily or take a dropperful of the fresh plant tincture in some water during or after every meal (at least four times a day).

Gently simmer a handful of dried or fresh bladderwrack (fucus) seaweed for 15 minutes in enough water to cover. Strain. Drink a cup before each meal for no more than three months.

Eat a bowl of hot soup at the beginning of the meal. You will feel more sated and eat less. Cold soups and drinks do not have the same effect.

Keep active. But you don't have to buy any spandex. Five-minute periods of exercise, done several times a day, every day, are better than one long session once a week. Weight lost as a result of increased physical activity is safer than weight lost through diet manipulation. Lift weights.

Depression can be associated with intense cravings for starchy foods. If we satisfy these cravings with mineral-rich foods (including chocolate), the depression will be "treated" and will dissipate. If we attempt to satisfy these cravings with mineral-deprived white flour and white sugar, the depression will deepen.

Step 5b. Use drugs

Appetite-suppressant drugs upset your metabolic rate and make it harder and harder for you to maintain a normal weight with a normal diet. Avoid all drugs and herbs and supplements of any kind that claim to suppress your appetite.

Step 6. Break and enter

Science is ready to help you deny your increasing wisdom and power by liposuctioning fat from your derrière and adding it to your face to plump out wrinkles.


Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081


Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com
For permission to reprint this article, contact us at: susunweed@herbshealing.com
About the Author

Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at www.susunweed.com