Menstrual migraines affect only women and are quite debilitating. The migraines are affected by hormones fluctuating through the menstrual cycle. Women suffer from migraines 3 times more frequently then men and those which are controlled by hormones are classified as menstrual headaches and PMS headaches. Menstrual migraines and PMS headaches occur in 60% of all women who suffer from migraines.

Menstrual migraines are a complex problem that requires a significant amount of skill to diagnose and treat successfully. Women shouldn’t be satisfied with the first answer or even the second one but should seek out care for menstrual migraines until they are satisfied that their particular menstrual migraines are adequately treated.

Serotinin is involved in the trigger of many menstrual migraines. Some researchers believe there is also a genetic link in the way that people metabolize serotonin and then the way in which the hormone interacts with the female hormones.

The symptoms of menstrual migraines are similar to those of migraines. The headaches usually start on one side, are throbbing and accompanied by nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to bright lights.  Read more...

Varicose veins are veins which are abnormally and irregularly swollen and are a condition for which many seek varicose veins treatment. This is the part of the arterial system that returns blood to the heart after oxygen has been delivered to the tissues. The symptoms of varicose veins can occur in multiple different areas of the body on both men and women.

The most common form goes down in either one or both of two large veins near the surface of the leg. Varicose veins can also occur inside the anus, the vagina and the testicles as well as spider veins which can occur on the face and upper arms.

The signs and symptoms of varicose veins will depend upon the area of the body which is experiencing the varicose veins. In the legs, individuals will recognize symptoms such as itchy or heavy legs, especially if they have been sitting or standing for any length of time. Varicose veins will also appear blue and twisted. If they are severe and without varicose veins treatment, the skin covering the leg can also become dry, itchy and swollen.  Read more...

Spider veins are like varicose veins but they are much smaller. They often began as small capillaries that are blue or red squiggles on the skin. Most common areas are over the surface of the thighs, calves and ankles. Unfortunately, it is estimated that at least one third of the adult female population will experience spider veins at one time or another in her life.

Women often seek treatment for spider veins because they are of cosmetic concern. And, for cosmetic reasons, insurance companies will not cover the treatment of spider veins. However, it is not uncommon for spider veins to also cause specific symptoms, such as aching, heaviness or itching on the legs. Spider veins are also associated with larger underlying varicose veins and are sometimes a precursor to those larger medical problems.  Read more...

If your teenager is anything like other teenagers, they have almost every moment of their day mapped out. Even if they like keeping busy or are participating in activities that they like, it can still be a source of stress for them. Help them to manage their activities so that stress works for them instead of against them.

What is stress anyway? It is our response to various situations in our lives. There is such a thing as good stress or “eustress.” A looming deadline can spur us into action to come up with something terrific for that term paper. Anxiety over public speaking can lead to long practice sessions to get the speech just right.

On the other hand, there is also stress that can lead to bad results. Worry or fear can immobilize you. It carries symptoms like loss of appetite, weight loss, weight gain, stomach aches and loss of sleep to name a few. These situations demonstrate a lack of coping skills.  Read more...

Millions of both men and women are bothered by the embarrassment and discomfort of spider veins on their legs or faces. Spider veins are those small red, blue and sometimes purple blood vessels that appear on the surface of the skin and are usually asymptomatic. In some circumstances, when the spider veins get larger in size or surface area they can cause some minor symptoms.

A varicose vein is an entirely different animal. These are tortuous large veins that have lost the function of the one-way valves that keep the blood from pooling. Without those valves, the blood pools in the veins and decreases the ability to adequately perfuse oxygen to the tissue and remove waste from a specific area of a leg. Treatment for varicose veins has progressed over the years. Initially, individuals were recommended to sit with their feet up as much as possible during the day.  Read more...

Cumin is a spice that is used in Eastern dishes to add rich flavor to the food, but it can be much more than that. Cumin can be used as an herbal remedy in your home. Here are some of its other benefits.

Those who live in the East have known about the effects of cumin for thousands of years. Now it is time for the rest of us to learn how it can help. This herb is a flowering plant from the parsley family and even its seeds are useful.

Cumin has been traditionally used to heal digestive ailments. If you suffer from gas, indigestion, diarrhea and even morning sickness, cumin is your herb of choice. You can make a tea by boiling the seeds. Combine the cumin water with coriander leaf juice and salt.

Don’t throw those seeds away, though. If you grind them into a paste and mix with water, they can be made into a salve that is used topically to treat boils. The seeds are also full of iron. Incorporating them into your diet can enhance the functions of the liver. As you probably know, the liver helps to detoxify the blood.  Read more...

Bronchitis is considered to be one among the most common respiratory disorders in the world. Infants, people with a weak respiratory system, children, old people, smokers, and people living in highly polluted atmospheres are vulnerable to this disorder. It constitutes the last stage of infection of the upper respiratory tract. People commonly contract this disorder during the cold months of the winter. Fortunately, there are a number of natural remedies for bronchitis.

Bronchitis normally follows bacterial or viral infection. Most cases of bronchitis are caused by viral infection. Sometimes bacteria are responsible for this condition, and in rare cases, fungal infection can lead to bronchitis. Natural remedies for bronchitis are available, whether it is acute or short-term bronchitis or chronic or long-term bronchitis.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Only laboratory tests can tell you whether bronchitis is bacterial, viral, or fungal. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that you visit a doctor as soon as you suspect bronchitis. Physicians will properly diagnose your condition with the help of laboratory test results.  Read more...

The first sign of a varicose vein is swelling along the path the vein takes down the leg. After this most people notice bluish or reddish tinged coloring to the area as well as a swelling along the vein. These varicose veins are result of damaged one way valves that helped push the blood through the veins and on to the heart. When the valves become damaged the blood is able to pool within the veins and decreases the ability of the body to remove toxins and oxygenate the tissues.

At this time, traditional Western medicine believes that sclerotherapy is the gold standard for treating varicose veins. However, some insurance companies do not cover this expense if there are no other underlying medical symptoms. And, some women would like to try other more natural remedies in order to treat their varicose veins and prevent any further from occurring.  Read more...

Hemorrhoids are areas in a vein where the one way valves have been damaged and allow the blood to pool. This stagnation of the blood supply causes the veins to swell and become inflamed, it reduces the amount of toxins and wastes that can be removed from the area, and causes itchiness and pain. Most of these hemorrhoids can be treated with some simple changes to the diet and bowel habits. They don’t require surgery or other invasive treatments unless they become very large and painful.

The first treatment recommendations will be to make changes to your diet that will make the stool softer and easier to pass. These recommendations include increasing the amount of fiber in the diet through fruits, vegetables and whole grains or taking a fiber supplement. If you can’t get enough fiber from your diet and decide to use fiber supplements then it is very important to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day or the stool could get harder and more difficult to pass.  Read more...

Nicotine is the addictive drug that is actually added to tobacco in order to increase the recurrence sales of cigarettes and tobacco. Nicotine will change the way in which the brain works in order to make people want to use it more and more.

In addition, there are unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that happened to individuals who stop using nicotine altogether. In other words, there are good feelings when nicotine is present and bad feelings when it goes, which makes breaking the addiction very difficult. Historically, nicotine has been one of the hardest addictions to break for individuals.

In 1988 the Surgeon General reported that cigarettes and other forms of tobacco were addicting and that the nicotine was the drug that caused the addiction. This report also came to the conclusion that pharmacological and behavioral characteristics were similar to those of drugs such as heroin and cocaine.  Read more...