Natural remedies for bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is a very common condition that occurs in women.  Though the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis include vaginal discharge, itching and/or odor, bacterial vaginosis is neither a sexually transmitted disease nor a yeast infection.  Bacterial vaginosis occurs when the normal bacterial flora of the vagina are altered from their normal balance.  This vaginal dysbiosis results in a degree of inflammation that causes the symptoms experienced during a bout of bacterial vaginosis.

Most cases of bacterial vaginosis will resolve over time without any treatment.  However, some women are treated with antibiotics such as metronidazole (Flagyl) because they find the symptoms too bothersome or are experiencing multiple episodes of recurrent bacterial vaginosis.

There are several popular natural cures for bacterial vaginosis (also called BV).  These natural medicines are used to both treat active BV and prevent recurrent BV.  Unfortunately, there is limited evidence investigating the safety and effectiveness of many of these treatments.  The best researched natural methods of treating bacterial vaginosis include ... read FULL ARTICLE

Understanding small intestine bacterial overgrowth syndrome

In normal, healthy individuals the intestines are colonized by beneficial bacteria soon after birth.  The numbers of bacteria in the bowels are kept in check via several different mechanisms.  However, in some individuals these mechanisms are altered and the ensuing environment within the intestines can promote the excessive growth of intestinal bacteria.  This condition is known as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth... read FULL ARTICLE

Understanding trigger point injections for fibromyalgia

Trigger points are tender spots found in individuals with fibromyalgia and other myofascial pain syndromes. Trigger points feel like hard spots within muscles that are sore when pressed. These tense spots are often located in different muscle groups, usually near areas where muscles attach to bones.

How do trigger point injections work?

Trigger point injections are used to interrupt the pain cycle in individuals with fibromyalgia. Often, interrupting the cycle of pain can produce prolonged pain relief... Read FULL ARTICLE

How to screen for and diagnose dementia in the elderly

Dementia is a specific medical disorder defined as cognitive impairment that causes a decline in one's ability to function. Most forms of dementia are more common in the elderly, thus the screening and diagnosis of dementia in this population deserves particular attention... read FULL ARTICLE

How hypnosis and guided imagery can treat fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic, painful condition that has few effective treatment options.  The majority of individuals with fibromyalgia are women, many of whom experience depression and/or anxiety in addition to the widespread pain, fatigue and stiffness common in fibromyalgia.  With this knowledge, researchers have begun evaluating psychotherapeutic approaches to fibromyalgia treatment.  In particular, hypnosis and guided imagery may be able to improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia... read FULL ARTICLE

How to avoid the sexual side effects of antidepressants

Antidepressants have a well deserved nasty reputation when it comes to sex.  Achieving an orgasm while on an antidepressant can become difficult or down right impossible (a condition called anorgasmia) for both men and women.  In fact, the antidepressant Prozac can actually be used to treat premature ejaculation.

Many individuals erringly believe that they must either tolerate the frustrating sexual side effects of their antidepressant or stop the antidepressant altogether.  Unfortunately, discontinuing antidepressant medications is not an option for many individuals being treated for depression or anxiety.  For people reliant on antidepressants, there are ways to avoid the sexual side effects of psychotropic medications.

Methods to avoid these sexual side effects include... read FULL ARTICLE

Seven clinical trials support the use of hypnosis for weight loss

Many overweight men and women are trying to lose weight.  These individuals will likely receive the following advice when they ask their physician about losing weight, “It’s a simple matter of making sure that the calories you burn exceed the calories you eat.  You can use whatever method you think will work for you.  You could cut back on carbs, go low fat, get rid of those sodas and sweets, or try a vegetarian diet.  Try to get more exercise so you burn more calories.  Good luck.”

But deep down we all know it’s not that simple to lose weight.  How many obese men and women have lost a significant amount of weight only to gain it back in a year?  How many overweight people have gotten off to a great start on their new diet and exercise plan only to find that their weight loss plateaus and not even one more pound will drop?  Is there evidence to suggest that hypnosis could be of any use in weight loss? ... read FULL ARTICLE

Tips on staying awake after a sleepless night

Unless you plan to stay cuddled up in your house avoiding sharp objects and large machinery, staying awake after you’ve been up all night is dangerous.  Unfortunately, this situation is sometimes unavoidable.  Following these three tips to stay awake can make the aftermath of a sleepless night significantly more bearable...
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Homeopathy may improve symptoms of fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome of unknown etiology. Patients with fibromyalgia are most often women of childbearing age, though this condition can occur in children and in men. There are few effective treatment options for fibromyalgia, leading many people with fibromyalgia to experiment with complementary and alternative medicine.

One complementary healing modality, in particular, is well-established in India and various European countries. Though homeopathy often finds itself at the core of heated debate in scientific literature, this alternative medicine system has maintained and even increased in popularity over the past 250 years since its inception...
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Homemade oral rehydration solution (ORS) for diarrhea

Any child or adult that is experiencing diarrhea, no matter the cause, can easily become dehydrated.  The fluid lost with each liquid bowel movement during a bout of diarrhea can be quite significant.  It is essential that individuals with diarrhea replace their fluid losses.  One effective way of replacing fluid lost during diarrhea is with an oral rehydration solution.

An oral rehydration solution, or ORS, can be purchased or made at home.  Examples of oral rehydration solutions that are available in drug stores and grocery stores include Pedialyte, Rehydralyte, Ricelyte or the oral rehydration solution used by the World Health Organization called WHO-ORS.

Oral rehydration solutions for diarrhea can be easily made at home.  Homemade ORS is as effective as store bought ORS.  However, it is absolutely essential that the recipe for homemade oral rehydration solution is followed correctly.  One of the most common reasons for treatment failure when using a homemade oral rehydration solution is that the solution was made incorrectly...
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The anti-aging health benefits of mindfulness meditation

Could mindfulness meditation have an anti-aging effect on those who practice regularly? This interesting question is the topic of much speculation, but many individuals are unaware that the issue of anti-aging and meditation is also the topic of recent scientific investigation...
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The benefits of self-administered acupressure in asthma sufferers

Without the daily use of medications, many asthma sufferers experience shortness of breath, wheezing and chest tightness.  These symptoms can significantly decrease the quality of life in individuals with asthma and many asthma sufferers feel that chronic medication use is the only answer.  However, research is beginning to elucidate the role of complementary and alternative medicine practices, such as acupressure, in the treatment of asthma...
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