Natural Remedies Tips And Information

MONDAY, May 29 (HealthDay News) -- Mix and match may work well when buying clothes, but if the product is medicine, it's better to seek professional advice.

According to a new study, older women who mix over-the-counter, herbal and prescribed medication regularly could be risking their health. And, the report in the March issue of Geriatric Nursing suggests, this danger often goes unnoticed, because many women neglect to tell their doctors about all the different medications they take.

Additionally, their physicians fail to ask the right questions. "Many of these older women do not consider over-the-counter and herbal medications real drugs, and therefore, do not report them," lead researcher Saunjoo Yoon, an assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Nursing, said in a prepared statement.

Approximately half of Americans aged 65 and older take five or more medications, including prescription, herbal and over-the-counter drugs, on a regular basis. The study of a small group assessed the potential danger caused by such consumption.

The researchers analyzed 58 older women, all from North Central Florida, each taking both an herbal medication and at least one over-the-counter or prescribed medication. Seventy-four percent of participants were declared to be in danger of a moderate or high risk drug interaction, according to Gold Standard Multimedia's Clinical Pharmacology Drug Interactions, a database program that analyzes thousands of drug interactions.

Of the 136 drug interactions spotted, 41 percent were found to be high risk and 58 percent were of moderate risk, the team concluded.

The most common and dangerous combinations involved two or more nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), or NSAIDS and the herb ginkgo. Other dangerous combinations included over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen and calcium supplements with prescribed medication.

"It's so important for health-care providers to take a careful medication history to evaluate all prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal drugs to monitor interactions in older women," Yoon said. "Prevention of possible interaction is the safest practice."

More information:

Find out more about drug interactions at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration - www.fda.gov

Source: News Yahoo

May 31, 2006 11:04 - Baby Colic Home Remedy

Colic is a condition found in babies that are 3 weeks to 3 months old. The behavior is characterized by constant crying (more than 3 hours daily) for more than 3 times a week. While the exact cause of colic is unknown, most health care professionals believe that the baby's temperament, environment, and occasional stomach pain may all be contributing factors. So how can parents help to remedy colic? Giving your baby a pacifier or going for a walk or drive with your baby may soothe colic, but there are also some other home remedies that may prove helpful.

Chamomilla, otherwise known as chamomile, is one such herb that has shown benefits in treating colic. This herb is known for its calming effect upon the nervous system, and can also help soothe upset stomachs. This may be why it has shown success in combating colic. Magnesium Phosphate has also been shown to have positive effects for babies with colic. This cell salt has long been used to remedy muscle and nervous disorders, and has a relaxing influence on colicky babies.

It is important for parents to note that colic is not something that they caused. It will usually go away shortly after your baby is 3 months old, but to help treat the condition in the meantime, it may be helpful to give these natural remedies a try. Learn more about a safe baby colic remedy here.

May 16, 2006 12:50 - Vitamin E helpful in prevention of Diabetes type 2

Vitamin E has long been known to be a powerful antioxidant; it is often recommended to help detoxify the liver, amongst other uses. However, recent studies have suggested that vitamin E's uses may even include the prevention of type-2 diabetes in overweight individuals.

Insulin resistance, which often happens in people that are overweight or obese, causes the body to develop a resistance to the natural hormone that controls blood sugar. It is a precursor to the actual onset of type-2 diabetes. A recent study in New Zealand has found that vitamin E consumption actually improved insulin resistance in a group of overweight test subjects. Though these results were rather short-lived, researchers also found that elevations of a particular liver enzyme that is considered a warning sign for diabetes showed remarkable improvement during the duration of the study.

Vitamin E is found in a wide variety of foods, from nuts and seeds to whole grains and leafy green vegetables. The best way to prevent the onset of type-2 diabetes is to monitor diet and weight, but vitamin E can also help.