A uterine fibroid is a growth that often appears in a woman during her childbearing years. This growth is benign and not connected to cancer. Because uterine fibroids do not cause one to exhibit any symptoms it goes undetected and a woman does not realize that she has them. They are often discovered quite by accident during a routine examination.

Uterine fibroids are extremely common and affect many women. They are generally not a cause for concern as they do not cause any disturbances in the body. Necessary treatment is a rare incident with uterine fibroids. If the uterine fibroids are bothersome in any way they can be removed or decreased in size.

The symptoms of uterine fibroids are a heavier menstrual flow then is normally present, bleeding in between your periods, incontinence of urine, frequency, pain or pressure that is felt in the pelvic region, pains in the legs and/or back, and constipation. A sharp, more severe type pain would signal the need for emergency treatment.  Read more...

You shouldn’t be stuck thinking up ideas for green Christmas gifts. There are so many different ways to make excellent and interesting gifts and ornaments using existing materials, or things that are easy and inexpensive to obtain. Ideas for green christmas gifts are usually only limited by your imagination, so start imagining!

Gift baskets are popular and are easily made too, and one of the best ideas for green Christmas gifts. The basket can be recycled from a cardboard box, cut to size and shape as desired, and wrapped in something original. The artwork that your children produce in school or at home is ideal for wrapping gift baskets. If you can’t find enough old ones, have them make a few new ones. Any left over artwork can be shredded and laid in the bottom of the basket to provide a suitable crinkly base for the gifts.  Read more...

The thyroid gland is a small butterfly shaped gland that sits in the front of your neck right below your Adams apple. This little gland produces hormones that regulate your bodys metabolism. It also controls your energy level.

Thyroid problems are among the most common medical conditions, but they often go misdiagnosed for awhile. This is because thyroid symptoms will appear gradually. There are three main thyroid conditions. They are hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid, hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid and thyroid nodules.

Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland does not produce enough of the hormone thyroxine. The causes of hypothyroidism can be a few different things but the most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disorder called Hashimotos thyroiditis. This is a condition in which the bodys own immune system will attack the thyroid gland and therefore, decrease the hormone production.

The most common symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, feeling cold, dry skin and hair, heavy menstrual periods, constipation and slow thinking.  Read more...

Pain is an individual experience affecting more North Americans than any other health disorder. Yet, pain is our defense mechanism and vital to our survival. Acute pain is useful in a protective way while constant or recurring pain signals that both physical and psychological elements require attention. Healing therapies and techniques can reduce or eliminate pain even when the exact cause is a mystery or cannot be removed.

Whether the pain is sudden and severe or a long-term chronic condition, the mind and entire body are affected. The most effective method of eradicating pain is finding the underlying cause. Rather than masking and suppressing pain with pharmaceutical drugs, we should empower the body to produce its own natural painkillers. Our bodies release endorphins, an intermedium used to naturally deal with pain.

The word endorphin means ‘internal morphine’. These, along with enkephalin are biochemicals produced by the brain itself to block and regulate the sensation of pain. Endorphins create a euphoric state with natural painkilling effects. Too often, people turn to conventional medicine risking dependency. These drugs produce side effects associated with ulcers, kidney failure, and bladder and liver problems.  Read more...

You probably know when you have heartburn or acid reflux (which is commonly called GERD as well). For many people, you know that when you eat, you will have burning and discomfort. This is almost always a sign of acid reflux. Acid reflux happens when the stomach acids travel up your esophagus. It can happen after a large meal, eating late at night or even eating certain foods.

If you think you have acid reflux, one of the tell-tale sign is that you get relief after taking a medication such as Tums or Rolaids. You eat and then start feeling uncomfortable. This is almost always a sign of acid reflux. What are the other signs of acid reflux? Here is a look.

One of the biggest symptoms is that you will feel a burning sensation in your throat after a meal or a snack. Sometimes this burning sensation will radiate from the stomach to the chest and up into the neck. There are certain activities that will make your symptoms worse. These most commonly include bending over after eating a meal, lifting something heavy, lying down on your back. If you feel the symptoms after a meal, then you are most likely suffering from acid reflux.  Read more...

Tension and stress headaches are often hard to treat. A patient tries over-the-counter medications, prescribed medications, and preventive measures but nothing help. Some patients suffering from tension headaches are looking at acupuncture to treat this form of headache.

The study group consisted of three different groups of patients that were diagnosed with tension headaches. In a controlled trial, a group of over 250 patients were divided into three groups. One group had normal acupuncture treatment, one group had minimal acupuncture treatment, and one group had no treatment for their tension headaches. This group study lasted for eight weeks.

The difference between traditional acupuncture and minimal acupuncture is minimal acupuncture is when the needles are inserted only partially into the skin and not necessarily at traditional acupuncture points.

The traditional acupuncture group reported their tension headaches decrease by almost 50 percent. They had fewer days with headaches. The group taking minimal acupuncture also showed a marked improvement in the frequency of their headaches. The group that did not get treatment showed only a slight decline in their headaches.  Read more...

People who may be suffering from depression or manic disorders actually exhibit or show each and every kind of symptom of depression that doctors will tell you that depressed people have. Sometimes it’s actually quite easy to overlook such symptoms and not be able to help one’s self or others who are suffering from depression for that matter.

There are actually a lot of symptoms of depression that depressed people may actually posses but they don’t have to suffer from each and every one of them before you actually help them get diagnosed and be treated for this illness. Also, since symptoms of depression actually vary, the time of their “attacks” varies as well.

Here are some common examples of symptoms of depression:

Prolonged period of sadness or not feeling “up to it,” people who are always feeling not in the mood, who’d rather mope around the house and feel sorry for one’s self is the best example for this symptom of depression.  Read more...