Safflower Tea May Help Prevent Osteoporosis

There is some preliminary data that suggests that you can help to prevent osteoporosis with safflower tea. 

Osteoporosis results from bone loss and can develop into a serious medical condition that affects millions of people each year. The most common form of osteoporosis occurs in women after menopause and is believed to be the results of several factors, such as lower estrogen levels, inadequate weight-bearing exercise and low levels of vitamin D and calcium. Other conditions can also cause osteoporosis also and, as the population of the U.S. ages, this disease will increase.

Everything that you can do now in order to prevent osteoporosis will help you in the years to come. Here is one simple, pleasurable idea - safflower tea – especially for  postmenopausal women. For years, safflowers have been used in cosmetics, cooking oil and dyes, as well as a tea. The tea is made from the petals of the flower.

A recent study of 40 postmenopausal women ages 49 to 64-years was conducted at the Catholic University in Korea. Participants were randomly assigned to either a safflower tea supplement (Saf-tea) group (n = 27) or a placebo group (n = 13).  After 6 months, significant increases in plasma genistein and enterolactone were observed in the Saf-tea group. Bone mineral density decreased significantly in the placebo group (P < 0.01) but not in the supplemented group. It was concluded the Saf-tea had both antioxidant and potential bone protecting effects in postmenopausal women without liver toxicity.

The best treatment of osteoporosis is prevention. We know that weight-bearing exercise, good nutrition, stress reduction and vitamin D are necessary. The results from this study suggest that good nutrition may include a daily cup of safflower tea.

Source: Sung-Hee Cho et al “Effects of a safflower tea supplement on antioxidative status and bone markers in postmenopausal women”. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Catholic University of Daegu, Geumnak-ro, Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk  712-702, Korea.  Nutr Res Pract. 2011 February; 5(1): 20–27. Published online 2011 February 28. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2011.5.1.20.

Have A Wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!

Not "Picky" Enough: An Unfortunate Acupuncture Tale

Another news story that falls into the category of "Whaaaat!!!" appeared this week. A man in Illinois is being sought by police because he pretended to be a “doctor”, conducted an exam on the man, stuck toothpicks in his chest, told the patient to take pills called “Prosperous Farmer Dietary Supplements” (though the expiration date on the bottle was February 2002) and charged $200.

I am giving this disturbing story additional play because it reminds all of us to adhere to the basic rules of health care:

1. Use experienced practitioners
2. Check their credentials and consider "googling" them
3. Ask friends for referrals
4. If you are uncomfortable with any procedure, say "no".
5. If you are not being treated with respect, leave.

Final note ~ toothpicks are great for hors d'oeuvres, not treatment!

Kate Middleton + Brussel Sprouts = Pregnant Princess?

Kate and William are back from their honeymoon and the paparazzi are probably combing their garbage in the Seychelles because it has already been reported that, among the various foods consumed during the trip, they ordered brussel sprouts. Poor princess - I’m glad nobody reports on the foods I ate during this week.

Back to food.  Brussel sprouts is a food that is high in folic acid, a vitamin that is suggested for women who are or want to become pregnant. A cup of Brussels sprouts supplies 93.6 mg of folic acid (also called folate). The human body needs folate to synthesize and repair DNA.  Folic acid aids the fetus' nervous system cells to divide properly. Appropriate amounts of folic acid during pregnancy helps to prevent several birth defects, including neural tube defects like spina bifida. Lack of folic acid is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world. If you want to improve your intake of folic acid, consider adding these foods to your diet; lentils, black-eyed peas, pinto beans, chickpeas, sunflower seeds, okra, spinach, asparagus, and grapefruit/pineapple juice.

We can be certain that, now that the Royal Wedding is over (and no one cares as much about Prince Albert and Charlene’s forthcoming wedding), the discussion - maybe obsession is a better word - will turn to producing a royal heir for the British monarchy, so get ready for lots of talk about pregnancy.

The Road Not Taken

The Doctor is back! ~ Another thoughtful post from Dr. Linda Edelstein (otherwise known as mom)

Many people have written about midlife, me included. One of the most fascinating concepts came from psychologist Carl Jung.  Jung talked about the arc of life from birth to death (sun rise to sunset) with midlife obviously falling around the afternoon. He posited that, for the early years of adulthood, we work at being/doing all sorts of things, for example, being a student, friend, lover, parent, teacher or whatever else you have made the focus of your time and energy. 

Then, during the middle years, we begin to yearn for the life we did not live during the first half of life – the road not taken. If we married young, we miss the years of experimenting, if we worked hard, we envy those who can “chill out”, if we went down road X, we wonder what our lives would have been life had we traveled on road Z.  Whatever we DID NOT pursue, did not develop, we may discover the urge to find it and reclaim it.

Of course, there are always things that we haven’t pursued. We all make choices and create our lives. And, with those choices, we put other activities or people aside until, at midlife, we long for the missing pieces, search for them, and perhaps try to bring them into our lives.

Reporter For The Huffington Post Is Now An Advocate For Acupuncture

I keep writing about acupuncture's effectiveness for treating pain BUT here is someone from the Huffington Post to tell you how needles cured 30 years of ankle pain - yes, thirty years. Below are excerpts from the author's story.

"According to the American Academy of Pain Medicine, pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. I was one of them until acupuncture, and I now live relatively pain free.

Over 30 years ago I injured my left ankle. After a debridement surgery, injections, supplements, heat and cold therapy, and activity adjustments my injury was getting worse. This past year suffering from osteoarthritis and inflammation has taken a toll on my life. I am allergic to aspirin and ibuprofen, so over-the-counter medication was not a solution for pain management. Living with daily pain- rated an eight with ten being the worst pain possible - I visited the doctor who informed me after a recent MRI that the only option to permanently relieve the pain was an ankle fusion. I am a healthy 53-year-old, and for me this was not a realistic option.

Noting my reaction, the doctor advised me to consider acupuncture for pain relief. My only knowledge about acupuncture was that needles are inserted to stimulate healing by balancing energy. I was skeptical that correcting an imbalance of energy was going to ease my chronic pain. Desperate for relief, I reluctantly made an appointment with his recommended acupuncturist."

"I stood up and walked out and felt nothing! No pain! I kept walking, how is this possible? I always feel pain, like knives with every step. I walked to the car thinking this positive effect would wear off by the time I got home. I shared the great news with my husband, and we decided to look at my ankle. My deformed ankle from years of swelling was almost 50 percent smaller. I was happy, but still skeptical that it would wear off like a dose of aspirin.

The next morning I stepped into my slippers, and no pain. A few more days, still no pain. The next week I scheduled two appointments a week for the next two months. I will continue to respect my injury and work closely with my orthopedic surgeon, but acupuncture helped reduce the inflammation and pain. The quality of my life is greatly improved. I am now an advocate for acupuncture."

To read the entire article click here.

Milk Thistle is Perfect for Spring Cleaning

The milk thistle is a flowering plant of the daisy family, so named because the leaves are splashed with a white color and the plant contains a milky sap. It has been used for over 2,000 years as a treatment to promote liver health. Milk thistle can protect the liver from intake of toxins. It also encourages the liver to cleanse itself of damaging substances, such as alcohol, medications, pesticides, and environmental toxins. Several scientific studies suggest that the cleansing comes from a substance in milk thistle seeds, a flavonoid called silymarin, that protects the liver from toxins.

Milk thistle appears to be a safe option for people who suffer from liver-related ailments and for those who use alcohol or medications. However, it is important to consult with your physician before starting your herbal regimen because milk thistle can speed the clearance of certain pharmaceutical drugs. Milk thistle is usually sold as teas, pills and tincture. Ideally choose a supplement standardized to contain 70% to 80% silymarin, the active ingredient.

Have A Happy Mother's Day !

Natalie Portman Uses Acupuncture To Beat Stress

In an interview with Marie Claire magazine a pregnant Natalie Portman, talked about how she cuts down on stress with so much going on in her life.

"To me, exercise is the best way to combat stress, whether swimming or hiking," she explained. "I do yoga sometimes, but not regularly any more. And I also get acupuncture and a massage when I'm feeling stressed."

Smart lady ;)

"Don't make important decisions in anger....

                    

 ...you can always tell a person to go to hell tomorrow"  ~Paulo Coelho