Words & Thoughts Affect Surgical Outcomes

"For years, it had been suspected by many doctors (and dismissed by many more) that patients under anesthesia could hear their surgeon’s comments and that what they heard affected them. There were many anecdotal stories of doctors who, upon opening up a patient, would see a tumor and comment out loud that it looked malignant. And then, even though the tumor would later prove to be benign, the patient nevertheless would fade rapidly and be dead in a matter of days. Well, new studies are now proving that not only is this true, but to a degree far higher than previously imagined. Dr. Henry Bennett, a psychologist from the University of California Medical School at Davis, suggests that, under anesthesia, patients might be especially vulnerable to upsetting remarks they overhear since their normal coping techniques aren’t available to them.

Studies that support this statement include a number of patients who were given the suggestion during surgery that one of their hands was becoming warmer and the other cooler. The temperature of both hands changed accordingly. In another study, patients were played a taped message while they were anesthetized during surgery that told them that if they heard the same message later, they should signify this by touching their ears in a postoperative interview. Later, in the interview, all of the patients absentmindedly tugged at their ears, although not one of the patients could recall having heard the message. During back surgery, which normally causes urination problems for the patients after surgery, researchers suggested to the anesthetized patients that they would be able to relax their pelvic muscles after the surgery, and thus would need no catheter. None of the patients who received the suggestion subsequently needed a catheter."

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And the Blind Shall See

In Star Trek Next Generation, most of the characters are perfect physical specimens. One crew-member, though, is an exception. The engineer Geordi La Forge has been completely blind since birth, but his handicap doesn't stop him because he's got technology on his side. Geordi wears a pair of thick, wrap-around goggles that attach to his brain, and these goggles help him to see things that even humans can't.

Well, as it turns out, like so many science fiction projections, it seems it was not so much fantasy as just ahead of its time. In fact, one of the most extraordinary advances of medicine in the past few years has been the development of real-life visors that actually help legally blind people see again. There are several such products out there already and more in development. Perhaps the most remarkable is the "e-Sight" device, which looks something like a cross between spelunker goggles, sunglasses, and the Star-Trek visor, although in this case, no attachment to the brain is required.

eSight is the brainchild of Canadian engineer Conrad Lewis, who has two vision-impaired sisters. Lewis managed to raise $30 million from investors to launch his company and then set about to create a portable, wearable vision-assist device. As the company's website explains:

"eSight's wearable, hands-free headset houses a small, high-speed camera that captures everything the eSight user is looking at. The captured live video stream is instantly sent to a powerful computer that uses proprietary software to process each pixel of video captured by the camera…The enhanced video is sent back to the headset and displayed on two, powerful Organic-LED screens in front of the user's eyes. Typically, these full color video images can be clearly seen by the eSight user with unprecedented visual clarity -- in essence breaking through most underlying eye conditions that cause their blindness."

The aesthetics of the device aren't quite perfected yet, to say the least, and the so-called portability involves carrying around a small control box attached to a wire on the goggles or attaching the box to your belt. On the other hand, the company claims that eSight should work for the vast majority of legally blind, but not necessarily sightless, individuals. In the company's own trials, they've found that three-fourths of those who try the device are able to see when using it it. For the 14 percent of blind individuals who have absolutely no vision or very profound vision loss, as well as for those with severe peripheral vision loss, the glasses are, unfortunately, ineffective.

Conditions that eSight typically helps with include macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Stargardt's Disease, and many other sight loss conditions that create a blind spot in the main field of vision. It may not work for vision loss caused some forms of glaucoma, since glaucoma typically involves loss of peripheral vision.  As company representative Alexandra Dalimonte explains, "As long as they have peripheral vision we're able to use that to almost overstep the blind spot. We can fill in that gap that their natural sight can't see anymore." The device also doesn't usually work for those who have retinitis pigmentosa.

The claims of effectiveness to date have been based on a Canadian study and enough user testimonials to earn FDA approval. And it's already on the market. eSight isn't subject to the same rigorous regulatory conditions and testing protocol as some medical devices since it requires no surgery and isn't taken internally. Nevertheless, the company decided to run clinical trials anyway to leave no doubt that the product actually works well. Clinical trials are now being initiated at some of the leading eye-care facilities in the US, including Johns Hopkins Eye Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute in Miami, and Kellogg Eye Center at the University of Michigan. In fact, most of these locations are currently recruiting legally blind volunteers between the ages of 13-75 for the clinical trials, so if you know anyone who might be eligible, do alert them.

The price tag for eSight runs $15,000 (unless you get it free as part of the clinical trial). There's no insurance coverage as of now, but if you have (or can raise) the funds, the company offers free demonstrations nationwide so you can easily find out if it will work for you. Those people for whom it does work claim the device changed their lives, and there are many tear-jerker video testimonials on the eSight website attesting to that fact. There, you can watch sight-impaired mothers seeing their own children for the first time, blind kids getting a first look at their parents, blind men finally viewing their wives, even a blind man flying a plane. The testimonials are moving enough to make you want to empty your bank account to help those who can't afford the device.

Not everyone is so enthusiastic, though. In a thorough and honest You Tube review, "Sam with a Blind Spot," offers his comments after experiencing his first eSight demonstration. While Sam's ability to read an eye chart improved 400 percent while wearing the eSight device, he wasn't able to read text close-up, as the device won't focus at a distance closer than 12 inches. Plus, because his condition involves extreme light sensitivity, he couldn't see well in bright daylight.

"I've got to say I'm disappointed," he said after his demo, although he emphasized that eSight might work lots better for others than it did for him. He pointed out several shortcomings that aren't highlighted in the literature, including the fact that the batteries only last four hours before needing recharging. Also, it takes five months of training for most users to learn how to correctly use their eSight device.

The company is working to develop a smaller, lighter, wireless version with more capacity, and no doubt, vast improvements are on the horizon. Meanwhile, other companies are developing   vision restoring devices, too, particularly Second Sight, which has developed an assistive technology for those with retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that causes death of cells and rods in the retina so that the individual gradually has severe loss of vision.

And then there's Second Sight. Unlike eSight, Second Sight requires users to get an implant that gets surgically placed during a four-hour procedure.  After that, the system works in a way similar to eSight. As the company website explains,

"A miniature video camera housed in the patient's glasses captures a scene. The video is sent to a small patient-worn computer … where it is processed and transformed into instructions that are sent back to the glasses via a cable. These instructions are transmitted wirelessly to an antenna in the implant. The signals are then sent to the electrode array, which emits small pulses of electricity. These pulses bypass the damaged photoreceptors and stimulate the retina's remaining cells, which transmit the visual information along the optic nerve to the brain creating the perception of patterns of light. Patients learn to interpret these as visual patterns."

In other words, Second Sight allows patients to distinguish patterns and light, but not images in the traditional sense.

One thing seems clear: In the not-too-distant future, many sight-impaired people will be slipping on goggles­­­--or better yet, fashionable glasses --so that they can see again (or for the first time), providing that the price for the technology comes down and the insurance companies agree to pick up the tab.

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Today is National Watermelon Day 03rd Aug

Today is National Watermelon Day, and that is definitely a reason to celebrate! Watermelon is among the most popular of summertime fruits. It has long been a staple at barbecues, picnics, and other forms of backyard fun when the weather gets warm. The extremely high water content of watermelon—at a whopping 92 percent—gives it that refreshing taste that can't be beat when you're hot.

It used to have a reputation as somewhat of a less healthy type of fruit. Many people believed that it only offered water, sugar, and not much else. But watermelon is way more than just a delicious treat. Now we are much more aware of its true nutritional value, and we know that watermelon contains all kinds of healthy goodness.

A two-cup serving has only 80 calories. And in every serving, you get vitamins, antioxidants, and more.  For sure, there is plenty of water in watermelon, which helps you stay hydrated even if you're outside in the hot weather, and although it is relatively high in sugar, with approximately 20 grams in a two-cup serving, this natural sugar can effectively replace electrolytes lost when you sweat much more healthfully than any sports drink.

Watermelon is a rich source of lycopene, an antioxidant and phytonutrient that successfully reduces inflammation. Perhaps because of its anti-inflammatory capabilities, lycopene has been linked in studies to a lower the risk of heart disease, the promotion of stronger bones, and the prevention of prostate cancer.

Interestingly, it's easy to tell when a watermelon offers a greater amount of lycopene. It is this nutrient that is mainly responsible for watermelon's red hue, so the redder the fruit, the greater its lycopene concentration. So wait until it is fully ripe to eat it, but don't limit your consumption to only the reddest flesh. Not only is every part of a watermelon completely edible, but other areas offer nutrition as well. In fact, nutritional analyses have found that antioxidants, flavonoids, lycopene, and vitamin C are present not only in the center of the melon, but in its ends and the portion near the rind.

And lycopene is far from the only valuable nutrient present in watermelon. Citrulline, an amino acid found in watermelon that is another type of phytonutrient, is also very beneficial to our bodies. Once ingested, citrulline is converted to arginine, which aids the circulatory system. It has been found to influence aspects of health tied to better blood flow, such as the strengthening the cardiovascular system and improving erectile dysfunction problems. Plus, a 2014 study at Florida State University in Tallahassee found that people who are overweight and have hypertension might be able to improve their blood pressure levels by consuming more watermelon due to the effects of arginine. This, by the way, is the reason Jon Barron includes citrulline malate (the supplement form of citrulline) in his Nutribody Protein formula.

Nor does the good news stop there. Watermelon also contains a high level of vitamin A, which is essential for the skin. Vitamin A contributes to the production of new collagen and elastin cells. The growth of these cells slows considerably as we age, and combatting this process is vital to keeping skin smooth and helping it retain moisture.

Finally, the fiber in watermelon helps fill you up on a relatively low number of calories. This in turn increases the likelihood that you will not overeat and therefore lowers your risk of obesity. Additionally, a high-fiber diet is great for digestion and will help keep your bowel movements regular.

So don't hesitate to enjoy a few slices of watermelon today on National Watermelon Day—and every other day while it's in season!

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Positive Marketing to Kids

We are all aware of how much advertising and marketing campaigns can influence children. The commercials they see when watching cartoons are often persuasive enough to get them to beg mom and dad for the latest sugary cereals, cookies, and all sorts of other junk foods and drinks. But what if these powerful messages were used to promote healthy eating instead? According to new research, the right advertising might be a very successful method of improving kids' dietary habits.

The study, which was conducted by scientists from Ohio State University in Columbus and Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, found that a simple marketing strategy promoting vegetables may be effective in getting children to consume more of them at meals. The subjects were students in 10 elementary schools in an urban area. The schools were randomly selected for various elements of vegetable marketing or none at all, serving as controls.

A marketing campaign focusing on animated characters that are vegetables called the Super Sprowtz was employed. Some of the school cafeterias were decorated with Sprowtz banners on the salad bars; some had short videos of the Sprowtz playing; some had both banners and videos; and in the control schools no changes were made to the cafeterias. The Super Sprowtz appeared in the participating schools for a four-week period.

The marketing efforts were shown to be a notable success. Compared to baseline statistics gathered one to two weeks before the experiment began, the schools displaying just a banner of the Super Sprowtz had close to twice the number of kids choosing vegetables from the salad bar, jumping from fewer than 13 percent up to 24 percent. In the schools that displayed a banner and played the Sprowtz videos in the cafeteria, the percentage of kids helping themselves to vegetables more than tripled, skyrocketing from a mere 10 percent to nearly 35 percent.

Interestingly, however, although the videos seem to have contributed to the increase when used in concert with the banners, they had no impact whatsoever when used alone. The banner appears to be the more effective tool, perhaps because of its location on the salad bar itself.

There are some flaws in this study, despite its positive findings. The short length of time in which the experiment was performed does indicate that changes can occur quickly, but we have no idea whether they will last. Is there a novelty aspect to the children taking more vegetables, or would persistent messaging be enough to keep them coming back for more?

And speaking of the messaging, another issue is the fact that a marketing campaign featuring animated characters is only going to resonate with children up to a certain age. But considering how many older kids and adults watch Family Guy, South Park, The Simpsons, Futurama, etc., that might not be that big a deal. The bottom line is that it's an open question as to whether or not the same techniques employed in a middle school or high school would fall flat. In any case, there is always the option to offer different advertising messages promoting vegetables to older kids that might appeal to their sensibilities. In addition, if the marketing of vegetables does work for younger kids over the long-term, there might not be as much of a need to push produce on older children since, in theory, they would have developed a greater taste for vegetables years earlier.

At any rate, we can't lose sight of the bigger picture here. That is, strategies for getting kids to eat healthier foods in school is terrific, but they spend far more time and eat many more meals at home so we need to make better choices as parents too. Offer up fruits and vegetables multiple times a day, both with meals and as snacks. If your children have a poor track record of fruit and vegetable consumption, don't give up. Serve veggies with a tasty dip such as hummus or a little low-fat ranch dressing to add flavor. And some kids do better with fruit because they like its sweetness. But if you buy less of the processed junk food and keep fruits and vegetables in plain sight, your children may develop better eating habits in the long run.

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Tribulus Terrestris for Energy, Stamina, Strength

Tribulus terrestris has a long history of medicinal use possibly dating back to ancient Greece. The flowering plant is native to warm and tropical regions of Europe, southern Asia, Africa, and even Australia. Considered a weed to some in the US, it has many common names such as puncture weed, cat's head, and devil's weed. However, this "weed" has been used historically as a natural health ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine as well as in Indian Ayurveda practice.

In modern times, Tribulus terrestris benefits have been known by weightlifters for years, especially during the last 10 days prior to competition. Active components are plant steroids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and glycosides. For men's health issues, Tribulus has been shown in at least one study to increase levels of natural testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, and steroids without any harmful side effects. Some may find increased stamina, which is beneficial for developing muscle size and strength.

For women's health issues, it increases libido, improves ovulation effect, decreases vasomotor symptoms accompanying menopause, and reduces apathy and aggressiveness. One study showed a 98% reduction of menopausal symptoms. This study showed that the effectiveness of Tribulus terrestris was equivalent to or better than the estrogen/testosterone hormonal preparation Ambosex, without adverse side effects such as virilization and weight gain. It also has been used to improve fertility naturally.

Other positive changes observed in a number of cases include a reduction of cholesterol and positive psychological effects such as improved mood and increased self-confidence. No adverse effects were noted in any of the clinical studies. Additional research using animals demonstrated no adverse effects on the central nervous or cardiovascular systems.

This herb may also help with cardiovascular conditions beyond cholesterol as well including angina, high blood pressure, anemia, and poor circulation. It is also believed to be helpful with some digestive disorders such as constipation, flatulence, food poisoning, and overeating.

Administration of Tribulus had a mild diuretic effect in several cases in the human trials.

It has also been found to fight infections and play a role in curing urinary tract infections. It also is credited with helping:

• Maintain energy levels
• Promote better sleep
• Coping with stress
• Stabilize mood

All in all, when we look at all of the reasons listed above, we find that the Tribulus terrestris can help you in a myriad of ways, whether you need something to enhance your mood, rev up your libido, increase your physical strength and energy, reduce apathy, or help with high cholesterol.

Tribulus terrestris can be found in a powder, capsule, or tea form. One of the most powerful forms of taking Tribulus terrestris is in a tincture, where you can get the highest concentration and quickest absorption of active ingredients. In fact, you can find it in this form in both Jon Barron's Men's Formula and Women's Formula.

As for contraindications, recent studies have proven that rumors that Tribulus can increase estrogen levels in men are unfounded. And whereas some studies suggest that Tribulus might increase prostate weight, other studies indicate that its high sterol content can alleviate symptoms of prostate problems—that it may actually prevent prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. Overall, it appears to be virtually free of side effects, but like all herbal medicines that actually work, avoid taking in excess. Too much of any good thing is no longer good for you.

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How Your Thoughts Can Affect Diseases

"In 1952, the British Medical Journal reported on an extraordinary case concerning Brocq's disease, a genetic disorder that causes the skin to resemble the scales of a reptile. What was so extraordinary about this case is that although Brocq's disease is a hereditary condition, and considered incurable by the medical community, it was nevertheless cured in this particular case through hypnosis. Under hypnosis, the patient, a 16-year-old boy, was able to 'go in' and reprogram his DNA. The net result was that within ten days of starting treatment, the boy remained symptom free for at least five years, at which point his therapist lost touch with him.

A now well-known example was reported by Dr. Bruno Klopfer in 1957. A patient of Dr. Klopfer's, whose cancer had metastasized and riddled his body with tumors, had reached the point where all available medical approaches had failed, and he was confined to bed with only a few days to live. Then, just before the end, the patient heard about Krebiozen, an experimental drug then being tested. Desperate, he demanded that his doctors include him in the experimental trials. Believing that the man was as good as dead anyway, and that they therefore had nothing to lose, they put him on Krebiozen. Miraculously, the man's tumors began to melt away. He made a remarkable recovery and was discharged from the hospital.

Two months later, however, reports began to appear that continuing research on Krebiozen had raised serious doubts about the efficacy of the drug. Within a few days of the patient's reading these reports, his tumors had returned and he was once again on the verge of death. At this point, his doctor did something unusual—he lied to his patient and told him that they now had a newer and more potent version of Krebiozen. He then proceeded to inject the man, not with a new and improved version of Krebiozen, and not even with the original drug, but with plain water. Astoundingly, the man's tumors once again began to melt away. As before, the man made a remarkable recovery and went home.

He then remained perfectly healthy, in full remission for seven months, until he saw a news report that declared 'Nationwide AMA Tests Show Krebiozen to Be Worthless as a Cancer Treatment.' Two days later, the patient was dead."

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Spurring Success in Office Walking Programs

One of the most common excuses made for not exercising regularly is lack of time. But what if you could work out during your day at the office or immediately before...or after? Wouldn't that make it easier to have exercise become an important--and enjoyable--part of your routine? And what if there were added incentives from your employer? Would that provide an even greater motivation? In fact, new research suggests that by adding a few appealing motivational factors, companies can entice many more employees to join their walking groups.

The study, which was conducted through Independence Blue Cross Insurance in Pennsylvania, found that the use of promotions and rewards can greatly increase involvement in workplace wellness programs. The subjects were 474 employees at several businesses taking part in a fitness-oriented plan created by the insurance company. There were 13 groupings of employees based at six different workplaces, with an age range spanning from 19 to 77.

All of these participants were randomly placed in either a standard walking program or an "enhanced" program. The standard program entailed providing volunteers with pedometers to use for keeping count of their daily steps and access to a website to input and track that data weekly. In addition, promotional flyers and posters were dispersed around the office and management was given reference materials aimed at boosting employee involvement. Those in the enhanced wellness program received the same preparation along with coaching, feedback, competitive challenges, monthly workshops on wellness themes, and various rewards to recognize employee participation.

The trial lasted for a period of nine months. Two weeks prior to the start, every subject received a physical examination and completed questionnaires focused on their general health, stress levels, and mood. The physicals and surveys were repeated again at the three, six, and nine-month marks of the program. As the scientists analyzed the data, they found that involvement in either version of the program was healthy, but the program with incentives was more beneficial overall.

Participants in both the standard and enhanced groups were shown to have a substantial increase in their daily number of steps throughout the first 10 weeks of the program. However, at that point the differences began to appear between the groups. Beyond the 10-week mark, the number of steps taken started dropping off in those involved in the standard program. By the end of the nine months, those who took part in the enhanced version had an average total of 726 more steps each day and much more frequently met the goal number of at least 10,000 daily steps versus their peers in the standard program.

Among male volunteers in both programs, those who increased their steps by 1,000 a day or more compared to their rate at the start shed 3.8 pounds on average. The women who achieved the same 1,000-step increase were slightly less successful, but still reached an average loss of 2.1 pounds. And in both sexes, this greater daily step count was associated with reports of improvement in energy levels, better moods, and an overall healthier feeling.

While it might be helpful for human resource managers to understand which aspects of the incentives might have been most effective, the study was not designed to provide that information. But quite honestly, that is not the main point here. Any type of incentive that can get employees interested in exercising and maybe even joining together to work out is a great success. From a business point of view, you have workers with a higher level of energy and good mood coming in every day, not to mention that if they are keeping fit they will also be less likely to get sick. A 2010 study at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina found that taking a moderately-paced walk for 30 to 45 minutes daily increases immunity to the common cold.

So as an employee, take advantage of any incentive program your company offers. But whether you get some sort of reward or not, find a way to motivate yourself. Learn new things about health and wellness, or even just make new friends who are also interested in becoming active, and you will get a lot out of it. The benefits of daily exercise to your mental and physical health are well worth the small time commitment.

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Start Your Day With Lemon Juice

Lots of us give our mornings a kick-start with a mug or two or three of coffee every day—and that’s just to start the day. But there are better options that won’t leave you jittery from all that caffeine. Consider a tall glass of water with fresh lemon juice as a replacement for your coffee. Lemon water offers a good source of refreshment and hydration first thing in the morning as well as a host of other benefits.

Adequate hydration is essential to our bodies. We consist of approximately 60 percent water, so even just a dip of less than two percent can leave us dehydrated. This can easily occur from exercising, spending too much time in the heat, or simply failing to drink enough hydrating fluids. And even mild dehydration can contribute to low energy levels, headaches, dizziness, and cognitive difficulties. So water is a great choice, and adding lemon only makes it better.

One of the things that makes lemon water ideal is that it aids in digestion. Whereas drinking plain water with meals dilutes your digestive juices, the citric acid in lemons interacts with digestive enzymes and helps increase the production of gastric juices. This breaks down food particles more fully and assists the intestines in the absorption of nutrients. By improving these digestive processes, the body also moves waste matter more efficiently through the system and keeps bowel movements regular.

Both the kidneys and liver recover more of their ability to function optimally as they can release greater quantities of the toxins they store. And drinking lemon water has been shown to dissolve painful kidney stones, gallstones, pancreatic stones, and calcium deposits. The juice raises citrate levels in the urine, which were found in a 1997 study at Kaiser Permanente Medical Care in Oakland, California to lower the risk of developing calcium stones.

In addition, even though lemons are acidic, your body treats them as an alkaline forming food, which means they assist in balancing an acidic pH of your body. The optimal pH for blood in the human body is approximately an alkaline state of 7.4, and lemons help us achieve this naturally. This is vital to maintaining good health and defending ourselves from illness, and our pH can often become unbalanced by a poor diet and stress.

Speaking of defending ourselves from illness, lemons are a great source of antioxidants, which are a known anti-inflammatory. Fresh lemon juice can diminish swelling throughout the body, and has been associated with a reduction in gingivitis. This is important not just for oral health, but because gum disease has been linked in studies with cardiovascular problems, Alzheimer’s disease, respiratory illness, and other ailments. The antioxidants confer some protection from an assortment of inflammation-related issues, including various forms of arthritis, by lessening painful swelling in the affected joints. And research has suggested that the liminoids in citrus fruits like lemons can help protect cells against free radical damage and lessen the risk of developing certain cancers.

Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, which bolsters the immune system and helps us fight off disease. And vitamin C is valuable for another reason as well; it enables our bodies to take in more of the nutrients we need. In fact, it improves our absorption of calcium, thereby aiding in the prevention of osteoporosis, as well as our absorption of iron. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, a disorder that can result in organ damage and heart failure.

Stroke risk may be reduced through consumption of lemons and other forms of citrus. A 2012 study at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, United Kingdom showed that a greater intake of citrus fruits is associated with a 19 percent lower risk of ischemic stroke in women compared to their peers consuming the least amount of citrus.

When exploring the multitude of ways lemons can benefit our physical health, we don’t want to forget the positive effects they may offer our mental health. Lemons have a high potassium level, which has been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as improve both concentration and memory.

So head to the supermarket and buy yourself a big bag of organic lemons. Move your coffee mugs to the back of the cupboard and keep a nice pitcher front and center. Then squeeze a few of your lemons and mix the juice and water in the pitcher for a great, healthy drink to enjoy each morning—and throughout the day.

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Senna Leaf - Nature's Colon Cleanser?

What does an herb used in love sachets in the Middle East have to do with your colon? You may be surprised. Senna's first known use can be traced back to two Arabian physicians, Serapion and Sesue. They are said to have given the herb its Arabic name “Senna” and employed it as a purgative. The Chinese were a little more literal in their naming of the herb. In China, the name for senna, Fan Xie Ye, means "foreign-country laxative herb."

How far back can we trace this herb's use in the healing arts? As it turns out, senna is one of the oldest known herbal medicines and is included in most of the world's pharmacopoeias. Today it is used worldwide to treat a variety of colon related issues.

Primarily, senna is used as a natural remedy for constipation. And a much-needed one it seems. In 2011, 63 million people were affected by chronic constipation in the US alone. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, if you have fewer than three bowel movements per week or your stools are harder than usual, you may have constipation. Then again, according to health expert Jon Barron, if you are not having one major movement for each major meal you ate the day before, then you definitely have constipation.

Senna contains naturally occurring chemicals called anthraquinone glycosides. They are strong stimulant laxatives that soften stools and increase muscle contractions of the intestines, thereby increasing bowel movements. Senna usually starts to work in three to nine hours. Anthraquinone laxatives, such as senna, work in two ways.

First, they help assist with constipation by increasing the amount of water and electrolytes in the intestine. They also work by stimulating contractions of the colon muscles, which help to accelerate the passage of stool. Senna is considered among the strongest of the anthraquinone laxatives—surpassed only by cape aloe. Its effectiveness as a purgative has been supported by centuries of anecdotal reports as well as modern human and animal studies and is why Jon Barron uses senna in his colon corrective formula.

In addition to constipation, senna may be recommended for people with hemorrhoids, fissures, or those undergoing surgery involving the abdomen, anus, or rectum. Senna may also be used to clear the bowel in order to improve the visibility of abdominal organs during an ultrasound procedure.

In addition, senna is an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce any swelling associated with irritation as well as in the overall healing process.

Surprisingly, senna has also been used topically to treat a variety of skin conditions. In Ayurvedic medicine, senna leaf is made into a paste and used as a compress to help heal ringworm, Pityriasis versicolo, and other similar types of skin issues.

Today senna is commonly found in capsule and tablet form, tea bags and loose tea, as well as liquid extracts. The undiluted dried root can typically be found in health food stores.

Incidentally, its use in Love Sachets is probably based on its highly aromatic smell—reminiscent of mild green tea.

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How Stress and Depression Affect Your Health

"Stress is your body's response to all of the demands made upon it. The body responds to all stresses, both positive and negative, by trying to get back to normal. Unfortunately, the stressful and fast-paced times we live in are taking their toll. Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects due to stress, and 75–90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints or disorders. Stress is said to be responsible for more than half of the 550 million workdays lost annually because of absenteeism.

When a stressor is perceived, the hypothalamus triggers the adrenal glands to release corticosteroids to increase metabolism and provide an immediate increase in energy. Simultaneously, your pituitary releases adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which causes your adrenal glands to release epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine, which work to prolong your body's fight-or-flight response. If a stressful situation goes on for too long without any relief, you may feel tired, irritable, depressed, or anxious. Chronic stress can lead to trouble sleeping or eating, and to diseases and disorders such as headaches, insomnia, high blood pressure, kidney disease, ulcers, asthma, heart attack, or stroke. Eventually, your body's energy reserves become exhausted, and it breaks down. Recent research has confirmed the role of stress in cardiovascular disease, cancer, and gastrointestinal, skin, neurological, and emotional disorders, as well as a host of disorders linked to immune system disturbances, ranging from the common cold and herpes to arthritis and AIDS.

Depression works on your body in different ways than stress, but the results are the same. Your body is a product of your thoughts. As we've already discussed, the cells of your body, including your immune cells, have receptor sites for the various neuropeptides you produce. When you are happy, you produce a set of neuropeptides that tell your immune system to jack up, which it does. In other words, happy thoughts improve your health. However, when you are depressed, the opposite happens: the neuropeptides your body produces shut down your immune system. In effect, negative thoughts can actually kill you."

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Pros and Cons of 5-HTP

They sample it at Costco, promising that you'll feel better if you take just a few doses daily. The name makes it sound like a type of car oil, but 5-HTP (short for hydroxyl L-tryptophan) actually is a chemical that the body produces as it processes the amino acid tryptophan in the foods you eat. It's what the tryptophan in your milk becomes after you drink it. Once tryptophan becomes 5-HTP, it converts again to serotonin—a key neurotransmitter that supports good mood and sleep. You need naturally produced 5-HTP to maintain your sunny disposition, but if you're stressed, it could be in short supply. In that case, you can buy 5-HTP supplements derived from the seeds of a West African shrub.

The touted benefits of 5-HTP are many, but then again, so are the warnings about taking it. What's the real story?

On the plus side, several studies have found that 5-HTP works as well as antidepressants to fend off the blues. (Of course, given the dismal performance of most antidepressants, that's not an earth-shattering result.) Research has also found that 5-HTP has fewer side effects than its pharmaceutical counterparts, and that's a big deal. It works within 30 minutes for most people. That's a whole lot faster than antidepressants work, and most can tolerate it well with far fewer side effects than antidepressant users experience. It isn't completely without side effects, though. Some complain of nausea, mild headache, vomiting, and diarrhea, and there's even some evidence it can worsen symptoms of schizophrenia in psychotic patients.

On the other hand, the study samples were small and to date, we're talking about just two studies out of 30 that were run to completion. There are thousands of user testimonials, but again, real studies are lacking and most experts say more research is needed to evaluate the effects. Why only two completed studies? Because while the research was being conducted, a smattering of 5-HTP users contracted EMS, or eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, which damages muscles and can actually be fatal. Some experts say the problem was caused by a single batch of 5-HTP contaminated with a poison called Peak X, others say the contamination problem still exists (although there is no evidence to that effect), and still others think the EMS may be attributed not to the contaminant but to 5-HTP itself (with, again, no actual evidence to that effect).

Only 10 patients were affected by the disease, and some advocates say avoiding 5-HTP is like avoiding strawberries altogether because a single batch had salmonella a few years ago. It was a limited outbreak resulting from the single bad batch. Others say that we still don't know why the outbreak happened and that it would be wise to avoid 5-HTP at all costs. Of course, many of those in the “stay away from the stuff” camp are medical professionals who recommend pharmaceutical antidepressants instead. The irony is that the pharmaceutical antidepressants have been connected to far more adverse effects than the 5-HTP supplements. In fact, an article in the British Medical Journal claims that antidepressants lead to half a million deaths worldwide annually by provoking sudden heart failure and suicide. Doing the math, it would seem obvious that 5-HTP is a safer bet, even given the fact that a whole lot more people take antidepressants than 5-HTP. Then again, thousands of people swear by it on Amazon.

Still, it would be wise to exercise some caution and not exceed recommended dosage. Also, if you're taking antidepressants already or certain other medications, you run the risk of flooding your system with too much serotonin if you also take 5-HTP, and that can lead to seizures and death. So, check for drug interactions before adding 5-HTP to your supplement regimen if you're taking any prescription medication. And, if you have hypertension, proceed with caution. Studies show that 5-HTP constricts blood vessels, and given that vessel constriction causes hypertension in the first place, it's not a good thing to exaggerate the effect. On the other hand, the studies finding such constriction all were conducted within test tubes, whereas studies done on actual humans found a blood-pressure lowering effect from 5-HTP.Go figure. Even the experts are befuddled.

The thing is, even with all the cautionary notes, 5-HTP offers so many benefits besides its antidepressant properties that it's certainly worth considering. (Remember, the side effects are far rarer and, for the most part, more benign than those that come with pharmaceuticals).

One of those other benefits is its use as a sleep aid. One study found that when combined with GABA, 5-HTP helped insomniacs to fall asleep sooner, stay asleep longer, and enjoy better quality rest. That may be because 5-HTP produces not only serotonin, but melatonin as well. It's also been found to reduce night terrors in children. Several other studies found promising results when fibromyalgia patients took 5-HTP to reduce pain and morning stiffness. Because it increases serotonin, it's also been found useful as a sleep aid, an anti-anxiety aid, and to control appetite.

Bottom line: If you want an alternative to pharmaceuticals, you might want to try 5-HTP, but make sure to buy a high-quality brand and get a formula that also contains B-6, which increases availability.

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Your Gene's Determine A Diet's Success

With all of the many sources of information on losing weight available in our online world these days, it's tough to determine which kind of diet might truly work and not be simply full of hype. You might go by word of mouth based on what was successful for a friend, or maybe a specific diet just sounds more appealing. But ultimately, none of that may lead you to a plan that actually helps you shed pounds. According to new research, your dietary triumphs all appear to depend on your genetic makeup.

The study, which took place at Texas A&M University in College Station, found that our genes may contribute significantly to the body's reaction to a particular diet, making different diets more beneficial to certain people than to others. Instead of human subjects, this investigation was carried out using laboratory mice. There were four groups of mice, and within each group the mice shared the same genes. Therefore each group of mice represented a unique person.

Five distinct diets were fed to various mice in each of the groups during the six months of the experiment. These were the mouse version of a typical Western diet that is high in fat and refined carbohydrates; a Japanese-based diet including rice and green tea; a Mediterranean-style diet, with wheat as the primary carbohydrate and red wine on the menu; a version of an Atkin's (or ketogenic) diet featuring low carb, high fat food; and normal mouse chow, to serve as a control.

Permitted to consume whatever quantity of food they desired, each mouse was tracked for intake levels. The scientists also took note of any effects the diets were having on the health and weight of the mice. They then evaluated all of the data to determine how the mice reacted to each different diet.

In a completely unsurprising finding, the Western diet had the most overall negative outcome for the mice. In general, the mice consuming the Western diet gained more weight, showed evidence of fatty liver disease, and their LDL or “bad” cholesterol levels went up. However, that being said, there was a major discrepancy between how much more some mice were affected than others.

The mice eating the Atkin's-like diet varied as well in response. Two of the mice groups did not display any health consequences from the high-fat, low-carb fare. But the other two groups certainly did. They became obese and began to exhibit symptoms of metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by hypertension, abnormal cholesterol levels, and elevated blood sugar levels.

Of course, we need to keep in mind that this study was conducted on mice rather than humans, so the results would not necessarily translate to us. Mice were chosen due to their genetic similarities to people, but that still doesn't mean we react in all the same ways. However, a 2015 study at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel showed that there is great variability in different human reactions to a diet, suggesting outcomes that are consistent with those of the current research. That said, the diets used in these studies are only vaguely representative of the actual versions of the diets used by humans. As Jon Barron has explained, the rat chow and mouse chow used in studies are very artificial constructs and have very little in common with real life rodent diets—or human foods for that matter.

Nevertheless, this study serves as a good reminder of the fact that no fad diet or even style of eating can be considered a magic bullet. You can't expect to follow a diet's rules for a limited time, lose weight, go back to your old habits, and keep the weight off. Instead of thinking of diets as short-term cut backs and restrictions, you need to change your overall eating habits. If you look at the situation from a long-term perspective, you'll see it is about choosing lower calorie, more nutritious foods that will help you not only shed excess weight for good, but also become healthier. For more on what guidelines to follow for a diet that makes the most sense for the greatest number of people, check out Doctors Don't Know Diets.

And another aspect not addressed at all in this study is the important role of exercise in losing weight and keeping it off. You need daily physical activity if you are to be healthy, so make sure as you start eating more nutritiously, you engage in a workout routine too.

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