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Robert McDowell's Herbal Treatments 13 May 2005 Herbal Help for Humans and their CompanionsAnd the Good News is:-Happiness helps people stay healthy 17:55 18 April 2005 NewScientist.com news service Shaoni Bhattacharya People who are happier in their daily lives have healthier levels of key body chemicals than those who muster few positive feelings, a new study suggests. This means happier people may have healthier hearts and cardiovascular systems, possibly cutting their risk of diseases like diabetes. Previous studies have shown that depression is associated with health problems compared to average emotional states. But few studies have looked at the effects of positive moods on health. Now, researchers at University College London, UK, have linked everyday happiness with healthier levels of important body chemicals, such as the stress hormone cortisol. “This study showed that whether people are happy or less happy in their everyday lives appears to have important effects on the markers of biological function known to be associated with disease,” says clinical psychologist Jane Wardle, one of the research team. “Perhaps laughter is the best medicine,” she adds. “This is the best data to date that associates positive emotional feelings with good effects on your health,” says Carol Shively, at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, US. “We usually concentrate on things that are either bad or wrong, rather than good or right.” Civil subjects The team studied 216 middle-aged men and women living in London, UK, who are part of the ongoing “Whitehall II” study of thousands of civil servants, led by Michael Marmot. This subset was asked to rate how happy they had been feeling in the last five minutes at about 33 points during their working or leisure days. At these points, their heart rates and blood pressures were also measured by an automated system. Saliva samples were also taken from the volunteers at eight points during a working day and a leisure day to test levels of the stress hormone cortisol. On one occasion, the subjects were invited into the lab and given a “mildly stressful” task to perform while their biological responses were measured. The team controlled for factors such as socioeconomic position, age and gender to try to tease out the effects of happiness alone on health. “The happier you were, the lower your cortisol levels during the day,” says Wardle. “For men, but not for women, the happier you were the lower your average heart rate was.” Cortisol is a stress hormone of which high levels are linked to conditions such as type II diabetes and hypertension. And lower heart rates are associated with good cardiovascular health. Sticky blood In addition, individuals who said they were happy nearly every time they were asked had lower levels of a blood protein called fibrinogen following the stressful task. This molecule makes blood “sticky” and is vital in the clotting process, but high concentrations can signal future coronary heart disease problems. Shively notes that scientists have theorised that emotions enable individuals to respond appropriately to the environment. “Here’s a great example of how happiness might be modulating responses to the environment. Happiness might be every bit as important as other emotions which get a lot more press, like anger or depression.” Wardle adds that the way the brain functions during happy states “perhaps makes the little hassles and irritations of everyday life loom less large, so you don’t get such strong reactions to them”. This week we feature:-
Canine - Hip dysplasia Hip dysplasia usually means abnormal growth. It’s a developmental condition resulting in abnormal looseness of the hip joints. Its often an hereditary disease but nutrition, exercise and previous trauma have an impact as well. Over time, Osteoarthritis develops in the joint. If it is either hip dysplasia or a case of arthritis then the following treatment is recommended . Arthritis is a very general term but denotes changes in the bones of the joints which are either degenerative or have resulted in roughness or spurs growing within the joint itself. These processes will cause pain, inflammation and stiffness. Many companion dogs are more and more subject to this and in my opinion it is really due to the poor nutrition which commercial dog foods provide. In fact diet plays a major role . Step No. 1 therefore is to put your dog on a raw meat and bones diet and get rid of the dog food altogether. There is a book review on my website on. http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/herbal_treatment_articles.html which further describes such a diet. Step No. 2 is to provide your dog with a bone healing tonic which will reverse the processes of change in this animal. Degenerative bone processes are one of the most common conditions we treat nowadays and we have a Herbal Bone healing formulation which quickly shows positive results. This may be found on the website at; http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/dog_bone_healing_maturity.html This tonic will start work immediately to reverse the degenerative changes and with the support of a diet with lots of raw bones will speedily produce signs of healing in terms of less stiffness and pain on its own without any sorts of pain killers.. If your animal is too uncomfortable at present, we have a safe (and side effect free) herbal Anti-Inflammatory formulation which uses the herbs traditionally used for Arthritis and Rheumatism and which will offer some support to comfort levels during the initial stages of healing. This is to be found on the website at http://www.herbal-dogkeeping.com/dog_bone_healing_maturity.html Equine - Cribbing I do have well proven standard herbal treatment approaches to cribbing. It does include St Johns Wort as one of 5 nervous system herbs (so called Nervines). The Nervous System Rehabilitation Mix is described on the link; http://herbal-treatments.com.au/horse_nervous_rehabilitation.html This course of herbs is designed to strengthen the nervous system (not dope it) and will allow your horse be feel more resilient and comfortable within himself and less obsessive. You must also consider boredom, because as you know horses are herd animals and need to be able to spend lots of time hanging out with their own kind. Normally, positive signs are seen within the first 4 weeks of a program. Human - Adhesions Adhesions are scar tissue that forms bands resulting from improper tissue healing . They are caused by surgery that leads to inflammation. Following surgery they can form in just one day and continue growing for months . Surgery that puts patients most at risk is an operation on a reproductive organ or in the pelvic cavity, 75% of these patients end up with adhesions. The scar tissue binds organs together causing them to rub and tug , This causes pain and also gastrintestinal problems I have a treatment program which I use to help soften and to begin to reabsorb all this connective tissue which has attempted to protect you from further intrusions. This program consists of an internal program of concentrated herbal extract drops taken as a supplement over the long term and is described on the link: http://www.altivoe.com/herbs_abdominal_adhesions_protective.html Depending on how severe the situation is, it may take a while to completely reduce the pain you are experiencing but you should notice some improvements within the first month. If this is the case you will know that the work of softening and reabsorbing has begun and that it will continue. The process will have been reversed and you will not need to face the prospect of further and further problems which could result if the advance of this scarring is never turned around. Home Remedies - Flax seed Oil - Omega 3 and 6 Fatty Acids Are you consuming enough for all your essential fatty acid requirements? Flax Seed Oil (also known as linseed) may be the altenative to Fish Oils, the essential fatty acids (EFA's) in flaxseed oil are its key healing components. EFAs are particularly valuable because the body needs them to function properly, but can't manufacture them on its own. Essential fatty acids work throughout the body to protect cell membranes, keeping them efficient at admitting healthy substances while barring damaging ones. One of the EFAs in flaxseed oil--alpha-linolenic acid--is known as an omega-3 fatty acid. Like the omega-3s found in fish, it appears to reduce the risk of heart disease and numerous other ailments. Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of omega-3s: Just 1 teaspoon contains about 2.5 grams, equivalent to more than twice the amount most Americans get through their diets. Flaxseeds also contain omega-6 fatty acids in the form of linoleic acid; omega-6s are the same healthy fats found in vegetable oils. In addition, flaxseeds are a rich source of lignans, substances that appear to positively affect hormone-related problems. Lignans may also be useful in preventing certain cancers and combating specific bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including those that cause cold sores and shingles. When taken in ground form, flaxseeds provide an extra fiber boost, easing the passage of stools and benefiting the digestive tract in multiple ways. Specifically, flaxseed oil or linseed may help to: · Counter inflammation . · Lower cholesterol, protect against heart disease · Control constipation, hemorrhoids, diverticular disorders and gallstones. . · Treat acne, eczema, psoriasis, sunburn and rosacea. . · Promote healthy hair and nails. Cold pressed Liquid flaxseed oil is the easiest form to use, although it must be kept refrigerated. One tablespoon a day is the general recommended dosage. Reader Feed Back We value your feedback so much that we are making it easier for you to send us a sentence or two. Please fill in the form below and click 'Submit' Wishing you and your companions the best of health and happiness. Yours Truly, Judith Burton for Robert McDowell |
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