Posts filed under 'Health Issues'
Chris has talked about Echinacea or purple coneflower in his blog as a
preventive against common cold. Diya, my daughter of seven, used to
get colds accompanied by high fever a bit too often until recently.
As a result she was put on antibiotics time and again, which gave her
serious problems whilst she was teething.
I used to be worried about her catching colds frequently so I put her
on Echinacea, which a herbalist had suggested. Whilst on the
supplement for more than a month Diya caught a cold and had a fever
shooting up to 105 degree Fahrenheit. I was asked to double the
dosage of the herbal supplement, which I did. But Diya was unable to
fight her cold and my worries did not seem to abate.
Echinacea, a native of America and southern Canada, has long been held out to
prevent and treat common cold, flu and other infections of the upper
respiratory system. It is believed to boost immune system.
But scientific studies carried out on the efficacy of the herb have some
discouraging findings. National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine within the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services
funded two studies on Echinacea without establishing the benefits as
traditionally claimed.
Some long-term users of the herb have known to suffer from allergic
reactions including rashes and aggravation in existing respiratory
conditions like asthma. Clinical trials on the herb showed
gastrointestinal problems as among the most common side effects.
When it comes to using a particular herb it is important to know if it has
been in use under a recognised medicinal system. A herb simply for
its being natural does not qualify it to be safe. Herbs like kava and
comfrey have been known to cause liver failures. Spirulina, sometime
back was marketed to be a protein-rich ‘wonder’ lichen
that was claimed to end malnutrition all over the world. Several
gastrointestinal and other disorders were linked to the lichen in the
studies carried out later.
Caution
is the word before using herbal supplements. Nursing and pregnant
women should specially need to be careful.
Upper respiratory problems are among the first ones which respond to now
the-much- talked-about breathing exercises called Aalom Vilom
under yoga. Diya could get rid of her frequent bouts of cold thanks
to yoga. Even if she took liberties like finishing off the 250 ml
bucket of her favourite ice-cream on a winter night and caught a
cold, she seldom has had a fever. High fever in her case is a history
for sure.
October 13th, 2006
Written By: lalitgambhir
Modern medical science has bad news for women. According to a German study, women’s skin ages faster than men’s. The study was carried out using a new laser-based technique to measure damage from sun exposure and aging.
The findings of the study have been published in Optics Letters, a journal of the Optical Society of America. The findings are based on a new technique in which pulses of laser light are used to look at the deeper layers of the skin and measure its aging.
The process of aging of the skin is associated with the degeneration of collagens and elastins leading to wrinkles and loss of suppleness. Collagens and elastins are groups of proteins found in the dermis layer of the skin. Dermis is present under the uppermost layer of the skin called epidermis. Strands of collagens and elastins form mesh architecture thus providing strength to the skin.
The process of degeneration of the proteins “appeared to be sex-dependant with women’s skin losing collagen at faster rates than men’s,” according to the researchers from Germany’s Freidrich Schiller University in Jena and the Fraunhofer Institute of Biomedical Technology in St. Ingbert.
The co-author of the Optic Letters paper, dermatologist Dr Jahannes Koehler informs that skin of a healthy 35-year old person in some areas of his body can appear like that of a 25-year old and in some other areas like someone who is 50.
In your youth your body keeps up with a consistent supply of collagens. The production of the proteins decreases with age making the skin becoming flaccid.
The German researchers have been credited with the non-invasive skin testing technique, which could pave the way to checking anti-aging cosmetic products and investigating skin diseases that affect the skin proteins.
In this context I would like to share that yoga is known to restore blood supply to the connective tissue of an aging skin. Thus on practising yoga your skin is able to regain its suppleness and strength. Blemishes and other surface marks on the skin are among the first ones to disappear, as found in number of individuals who have been practising for at least six months. Skin is one of the last organs of your body to show the good effects of yoga though.
The technique used by the German researchers could well be used to verify the effects of yoga on your skin.
Yoga may come to the rescue of women after all.
October 10th, 2006
Written By: lalitgambhir
October is bringing in autumn to the UK and it hasn’t taken me long to go down with my first cold.
I’ve spent the last week with a moderate cold, which has been more annoying than debilitating. The trouble is, though, that I seem to be susceptible to colds and I can suffer from quite a few during autumn and winter.
One of my colleagues mentioned that she takes a big dose of Echinacea every day from September onwards until about Easter, and she hardly ever goes down with a cold now, even though she works in an air conditioned office and is susceptible to colds also.
When I worked at the hospital, I remember some of my colleagues swearing by Echinacea saying that this miraculous herb protected them from colds, even when working with ill people every day. I started taking it and thought that it was amazing. I don’t think I went down with a cold once that year.
I continued to take a low strength Echinacea tablet during the last two winters, but stopped last year after I went down with a really bad cold and it seemed to be made worse by the “wonder tablets”. I chucked the remaining Echinacea tablets away, thinking they were a waste of time and money.
The big dosage of Echinacea that my colleague takes has got me thinking again though.
She gave me the web address of a firm supplying large dose tablets so I ordered some. They arrived today.
Maybe the high dosage will be more beneficial. I’m going to try them this autumn and winter. If I don’t get any major colds, I’ll be delighted and they’ll be part of my flu and cold protection from now on.
If I do continue to get colds then that’s it. No more Echinacea for me.
October 9th, 2006
Written By: chris
The All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), India’s biggest medical research institution, has conducted a study on the remarkable benefits of Winter Cherry in preventing heart attacks in rats.
Winter Cherry or Withania somnifera has been known to Ayurveda for centuries for its effectiveness in arthritis and respiratory and nervous disorders. The heart protective properties of the herb, which came to be known only recently, are now the subject of the study.
The AIIMS study, having completed its first stage of pre-clinical animal investigations, demonstrates that the Winter Cherry has strengthening effect on heart muscles. The herb is effective in preventing heart attacks and boosting the endurance of heart muscles.
The herb extract has been demonstrated to reduced necrosis. Necrosis is the death of living cells and tissues during a heart attack. The herb is also effective in reducing the release of the chemical agents from the necrotic cells which damage other cells.
In the study, heart failure was induced in the rats after they were put on a monthly dose of the herb. The animals which were fed the herb extract survived longer than those who were not. The rats fed on the herb extract had intact heart muscles while the others suffered damage.
A couple of years back I had a rich crop of Winter Cherry growing at my farm. The roots of the herb are commonly used as a tonic to improve general health, for which it was grown. A number of local doctors, I was told by my manager, visited the farm to collect their raw material for heart patients. I came to know that although Ayurveda does not specifically prescribe the herb for heart patients, the doctors of traditional medicine knew its additional usage through practice.
The AIIMS researchers are preparing to take their investigations to the first human trial very soon.
This is good news for those with heart conditions.
October 4th, 2006
Written By: lalitgambhir
It is not often one hears of a President taking an exceptional interest in a health related issue.
The President of India Abdul Kalam has visited Global Hospital Research Centre in Mount Abu in India to update himself on a nine-year study on coronary heart disease (CAD). Called Abu Healthy Heart Trial, the study is the largest and longest ever to examine how changes in lifestyle can help regress coronary artery disease.
Financed by the Ministry of Health’s Central Council for Research in Yoga & Naturopathy, the study was commissioned by the President in his earlier official position on the Defense Research Development Organisation, co-conducting the CAD research.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when the arteries or the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle become hardened and narrowed to restrict the flow of blood. The hardening and narrowing of the arteries take place due to deposition of a substance known as plaque on their inner walls.
Among the various heart disorders CAD is the most common. The incidence of CAD in India increased from 1% in 1960 to 11% in 2001. It is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women.
The study had 516 patients divided into two groups. While one group was on conventional treatment like bypass surgery and angioplasty the other group was put on lifestyle changes. The latter included a low-fat, high-fibre vegetarian diet, yoga and a daily hour-long walk.
The study records that the lifestyle change improved regression in CAD by 11.82% and improved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) by over 30%. LVEF is the pumping of oxygenated blood into the main artery supplying blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The lifestyle change also helped reduce cholesterol by 24%. Cholesterol is mainly responsible for narrowing of the blood vessels.
The study proves that yoga, vegetarian diet and walking reduces CAD by 12%. Yoga reduces angina, the chest pain and improves pumping of oxygenated blood into the main artery by 30%. The lifestyle change checked production of stress hormones like epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol and helped increase the production of happy hormones like serotonin and beta endorphins.
The President advises healthy heart lifestyle right from childhood “to bypass the need for a bypass surgery and curb rising CAD.”
October 2nd, 2006
Written By: lalitgambhir
One of the banes of industrialisation that we are forced to live with is chemical pollution. Within or without safe limits we have the presence of noxious chemicals in our water, air, soil and hence in our food. A recent study by a reputed Indian environmental group, Toxics Link, on how toxic are the toys our children play with, is an eye opener.
The study has reported the presence of lead and cadmium in toy samples collected from the major cities in the country. It warns that children chewing and sucking on PVC toys are potentially exposed to long-term health hazards.
Hence a rubber duck or a teething ring, which you might think is a harmless and a happy diversion for your child, may be poisoning and damaging his health irreparably.
The global toy market is estimated to be worth US $105 Bn. The United States is the biggest importer of toys and buys US$ 35 billion worth of toys annually and has 35% of the world market. Chinese are relatively new entrants into the global market contributing to 70% of the US$2.5 billion Indian market alone. Chinese toys have penetrated world wide for their exceptional imaginative designs and entertainment value.
The study about the toxicity of toys includes Chinese products among the unregulated manufacturers.
According to the study, toys produced in unregulated manufacturing conditions have been found to have cadmium, lead and other heavy metals, high levels of which can cause itching and allergies, even over a short term. Sustained exposure to these can damage liver and kidneys and cause memory loss. They are also known to cause dermatitis and wheezing, chest infections, movement disorders and convulsions.
Heavy metals also cause anaemia that has ripple effect on the nervous system, causing toxic metabolic encephalopathy. Any degenerative disorder of the brain is termed as an encephalopathy.
Besides, the study underlines, the soft squeeze toys like beach balls, bath toys, dolls, knapsacks, etc., have toxic additives like phthalates. Some phthalates have been known to cause cancer and damage liver and kidneys. Phthalates do not bind with PVC and can leach out easily. Since young children would put toys in their mouth, they are at potential risk.
Having known this and more on the state of our environment that our kids are inheriting, one gropes for solutions.
My yoga teacher has an answer though. “The Majority of you cannot leave your cities and towns which spew poison, but you surely can bring down toxic levels in your body by pranayama,” he says. Pranayama, being a part of yoga, is a set of breathing exercises which is known to reduce toxic levels and help improve our metabolic systems.
Teach your kids the simple techniques of yoga and save them from the scourge of chemical pollution that they have to live with.
September 22nd, 2006
Written By: lalitgambhir
I have been fascinated with acupuncture for quite a while. Being used to conventional medical practises and knowledge, I find it fascinating that strategically placed needles can have such a beneficial affect on so many conditions, which shows that there are energy flows and processes occurring in the body that conventional medicine cannot detect or influence.
Research and a cost benefit analysis by the UK health service - the NHS - has shown that acupuncture can be an effective treatment for back pain. Importantly too, in this age of cost justifications and quality of live calculations, acupuncture has been shown to be both medically effective as well as an economically viable, treatment.
I’ve suffered from a back injury so I know how debilitating back pain can be. A few years ago I trapped a nerve whilst having a “race” with someone on rowing machines at the gym. Taken to the local hospital in an ambulance, I was treated with strong pain killers and anti-inflammatories and basically told to go away until it got better.
I would have welcomed the opportunity to ease my back pain with a visit to the Acupuncturist. I would probably have recovered from my injury far more quickly, as re-gaining my mobilty, through pain management, freed the trapped nerve.
That acupuncture could be soon be generally available within our health service is good news for those suffereing from back problems. It will also help increase awareness of the more respectable alternative treatments and therapies that could be used alongside conventional medicine.
September 15th, 2006
Written By: chris
Young Onset Parkinson’s is the new scourge of our times. A study conducted in India indicates more and more patients in their late 30s are being diagnosed with the Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement, speech and posture.
The incidence of the disease in the age-group between 30 and 40 in India, as the study indicates, has risen from 3 % to 10% in the last five years. The disease afflicts both men and women almost equally.
Holywood star Michael J Fox suffers from Parkinson’s desease. But unlike several famous personalities – Salvador Dali, Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong, Mohammad Ali, Pope John Paul II- associated with the degenerative disorder, Fox was just 30 when he was diagnosed with the disease.
Hardly known in the 1990s when Fox announced he had the disease, the phenomenon of Young Onset Parkinson’s is now becoming a global reality.
0ver 60,000 newly diagnosed cases every year join the current 1.5 million tally of those affected by the disease in the USA. While the condition usually develops after the age of 65, 15% of those diagnosed are under 50, according to National Parkinson Foundation of the US.
In India 360 people per 100,000 suffer from the disease, which has no known cure. Over 5% of those over 60 are afflicted in the country.
According to specialists at the Parkinson’s disease clinic in New Delhi, the increasing prevalence of Young Onset Parkinson’s has turned the popular perception on its head. Till recently it was thought to be an old man’s disease appearing mostly in people in their 60s. Today patients in their 20s are being diagnosed with the disease. Such cases are relatively few though.
The doctors suspect the main cause to be the fast-paced modern day lifestyle marked by increased stress, improper diet and inadequate sleep. Other known reasons are genetic, environmental, high levels of toxins one has to live with and drug induced Parkinson’s.
The effects of stress, environmental pollution and pesticides in our food and water are successfully managed by time-tested regime of yoga. A well-defined system of breathing exercises under the name of pranayama and physical exercises called yogasanas have been found to be very helpful in mitigating the effects of Parkinson’s disease. Experiments to investigate the effect of yoga on the Parkinson’s disease have revealed encouraging results.
September 14th, 2006
Written By: lalitgambhir
Working in cardiology at the local hospital, as I did several years ago, I came across many patients in different age groups and with a huge variety of medical problems.
Of course each patient had to be treated differently according to their physical and mental health, however I was struck how some people in their 80’s or even 90’s had the physical energy of those twenty years younger, and also that some in their fifties or sixties had the decrepitude of someone 30 years their senior.
I came across “young” 90 year olds and “old” sixty years olds, and often the factor that differentiated them was their mental outlook on life. Frail looking 90 year ladies, born soon after the first world war, would be remarkably active and alert. By and large they enjoyed life, had a ready laugh and a discernable twinkle in their eye.
Of course many people, unfortunately, contract a disease or ailment that can dampen even the most positive of spirits over time - I imagine constant arthritic pain could wear away any desire for life, for example, however those who are lucky to remain reasonably healthy, alert and mentally positive, can enjoy an active and enjoyable lifestyle in their later years.
Why am I saying all this now?
Well, one of my wife’s relatives has always been young for her age and I’ve never really accepted that she is in fact 85, as she has the disposition of someone twenty years younger.
That was until very recently, as she has now been told that she needs a reasonably simple operation. This realisation that something is wrong seems to be playing on her mind. She has become a bit introspective and quiet and has mentioned the phrase “if I live until Christmas” several times. Her lightness of spirit is somehow diminished and I can now see her as she is - an 85 year old lady with a medical condition.
She has suddenly become an old lady and I now fear for her future.
September 4th, 2006
Written By: chris
Some of the most recent research on arthritis has been on the effect of the extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus).
Arthritis is a progressive crippling disorder in which patients suffer from acute pain and inflammation of joints. The conventional line of medication in the modern medicine for the disease revolves around painkillers which could be both steroidal and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory formulations. Both the classes of medicines have serious side effects.
Steroidal formulations particularly cannot be prescribed to the patients for long periods of time for their adverse effects on bones and general immunity. The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause damage to the lining of the stomach and intestine, often leading to ulcers (ulcerogenic). Ulcers are the result of the erosion of the gastrointestinal (stomach and intestines) lining.
Drs Miller and Ormrod of the Department of Medicine, University of Auckland, in their study established the anti-inflammatory properties of the extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel. The study also proved that the mussel extract could be considered as a natural NSAID and was not ulcerogenic. The study indicated that the extract not only had no adverse effect on the gastric lining, it was found to have a rather protective effect against aspirin and indomethacin, the most commonly used painkillers.
The mussel extract has been found to be effective against the two most crippling aspects of arthritis - pain and loss of function. It is reported that those with moderate disease showed greater improvement than those with advanced arthritis.
Ayurveda, an ancient science of medications and treatments, exclusively draws its raw materials both from the plant and the animal worlds. A number of formulations from ayurveda too have mitigating effect on the severity of arthritis. But yoga has been found to overtake any system of medication in extending relief in arthritis.
A combination of simple breathing exercises, Aalom Vilom and Kapalbharti, as described in the yoga section of this website and short term medication that works on pain and inflammation, have been found to be very effective.
With green lipped mussel extract, which is available in the market and yoga, arthritic patients are better equipped to fight their condition.
September 1st, 2006
Written By: lalitgambhir
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