1. Numerous studies show that cinnamon regulates blood sugar, making it a great choice for diabetics and hypoglycemics alike.  That’s also great news for anyone who wants stable energy levels and moods.

2. It reduces LDL cholesterol levels.  LDL is also known as the harmful cholesterol.  Reducing it may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

3. It has natural anti-infectious compounds.  In studies, cinnamon has been effective against ulcer-causing H. pylori bacteria and other pathogens.

4. It reduces pain linked to arthritis.  Cinnamon has been shown in studies at the Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Korean Hospital, to reduce cytokines linked to arthritic pain.

5. Research at the University of Texas, published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, shows that cinnamon may reduce the proliferation of cancer cells, holding promise for cancer prevention and sufferers of the disease.

6. It is a natural food preservative.

7. It contains fiber, calcium, iron, and manganese—albeit small amounts to the typical dose of ground cinnamon.

8.  It’s been proven effective for menstrual pain and 9. infertility.  Cinnamon contains a natural chemical called cinnamaldehyde, which studies show increases the hormone progesterone and decreases testosterone production in women, helping to balance hormones.

10. Cinnamon holds promise for various neurodegenerative diseases, including: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, and meningitis, according to research at the Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas.  Their research shows that cinnamon reduces chronic inflammation linked with these neurological disorders.

11.  Not a health benefit, but a great reason to love cinnamon, it’s versatile.  It works with sweet and savory dishes alike.  Consider that many curries and savory Moroccan dishes include cinnamon.

It’s not just for apples anymore.

*Source – Care2.com

A severe deficiency of niacin, or vitamin B-3, in your diet may lead to cognitive changes, including memory loss, disorientation and confusion. Most Americans get enough niacin from dietary sources to prevent dementia related to a niacin deficiency, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. However, an inadequate intake of niacin may still cause symptoms of cognitive decline, the MayoClinic.com.

Read the full article about the link between niacin and dementia at ElderCareAdvice.wordpress.com

Have you been awakened from sleep by pain in your leg(s)/ Is your partner complaining about your restless, jerky leg movements throughout the night? Are you being robbed of nourishing sleep or much needed relaxation while you are reclined or sitting for long periods of time?

Restless Leg Syndrome is a new phrase or term to most people. Only recently has medical science recognized this as a common condition. Leg cramp pain is often known as “Charley Horse”, and that term has been with us much longer.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder in which patients experience irrepressible sensations in the legs or arms while sitting or lying still. Terms used to describe RLS may include creepy, crawly, pulling, tingling, itching, or gnawing. Often the person with RLS has difficulty being specific about the sensations in their legs. The sensations are rarely described as painful. RLS differs from the “pins and needles” feeling when the blood supply is cut off from a limb (“My foot fell asleep!”). These uncomfortable feelings usually begin in the evening and upon arrival to bed, unless severe, RLS is absent during the morning and early afternoon.

Symptoms are worse or only present when the affected individual is at rest. The sensations usually disappear or diminish when the limb is moved. The person with RLS may experience movements of the toes, feet or legs in the evening when he/she sits or lies down. For this reason, RLS individuals are often labeled “nervous” or “fidgety.” Because those with RLS have a constant need to stretch or move their limbs to get rid of the uncomfortable feelings, sleep is often disturbed. Those who suffer from RLS can have very severe insomnia.

Chances are the root cause of this condition is compromised circulation resulting in nerve endings being cut off from necessary blood supply.

To watch a clever video about restless leg syndrome click here

RLS may be related to abnormalities in brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that help regulate muscle movements, or to abnormalities in the part of the central nervous system that controls automatic movements. Research is still being done in these areas.

To watch an educational video about restless leg syndrome click here

Several different medical conditions can cause secondary RLS, however, the two most common conditions are iron-deficiency( anemia) and peripheral neuropathy.
Iron-deficiency anemia (“low blood”) means low levels of hemoglobin, the substance in the blood that carries oxygen and makes the blood appear red.
Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves of the arms and legs. Peripheral neuropathy has many causes. Diabetes is a common cause of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy causes numbness or lack of sensation, tingling, and pain in the affected areas.

As many as 40% of pregnant women experience RLS symptoms. The symptoms usually fade within a few weeks after delivery.

Doctors will typically just write you a prescription for a sleep aid or a painkiller. But remember these are short fixes that just cover up the problem instead of curing it. May patients are prescribed a medication called Qualaquin. Qualaquin is approved by the FDA for the treatment of Malaria, but many doctors are prescribing the drug for the treatment of restless leg syndrome. The FDA has not approved the drug for this use. The FDA has received reports of serious life-threatening reactions from the use of this drug – a total of 38 times. These included severe lowering of blood platelets, permanent damage to the kidneys, need for hospitalization and even death.

Quinoline

The FDA urges restless leg syndrome patients that are taking this drug to consult their doctors and discuss other treatment options available to them. There are many synthetic pharmaceuticals on the market which are used to treat the symptoms of this annoying condition, but remain mindful of the side effects which can often be worse than the superficial symptoms or vent he underlying cause of the condition.

So, what might be the secret of repairing your body so it will heal itself. How can you achieve relief from annoying symptoms and perhaps solve the underlying problem ? If an individual suspects he or she has RLS, self-help measures may alleviate the tingling sensations. These include avoiding stimulants (coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, certain medications), becoming overly tired, and exposure to very warm or very cold environments before going to bed.

A regular exercise program in the late afternoon, especially involving the legs, has shown to be effective in treating very mild cases of RLS. However, it is interesting to note that symptoms often get worse at the onset of regular exercise, but decrease after a week or two. Extension stretching of the calves, thighs, and hips at bedtime may help relieve symptoms. Home remedies such as a hot bath, leg massage, heating pad and aspirin may also help. Vitamin or mineral supplements can also be investigated, although to make an objective evaluation about whether or not they are effective, keeping a sleep log is recommended.

Take horse Chestnut in an encapsulated form.

Horse chestnut and/or Japanese pagoda herbs can repair blood vessel walls and enhance circulation. Try convenient encapsulated formulations of these herbs for convenience or get the raw herbs in bulk and create your own compresses or infusions.

If self-help remedies prove ineffective, a visit to a healthcare provider is recommended. In addition to a thorough physical examination, appropriate laboratory tests, and a medical history, patients are often diagnosed on the basis of three classic symptoms. These symptoms include an increase in the sensations in one or more limbs when at rest, an irrepressible urge to move or relieve the sensations in the affected limb, and the reduction of the symptoms after movement. The physician will need to verify if the symptoms are genetic or nutrient-related.

Certified Care.org co-sponsors traveling  elder care certification program

About the Founder, Cathleen V.  Carr

It seems my path in life is always involved somehow with  helping others. Through sharing information about the law, health and wellness, care giving or business I have been able to build a career that incorporates love as a cornerstone. Our seminars are grounded in how to live and help others live with confidence and love. The field of care giving requires empathy, tough as well as easy love, and a knowledge of human psychology while also profitably employing right and left brain skills like home economics, sociology, health and wellness, and human behavior.

I stumbled into care giving decades ago and have embraced what I found there:  a calling that is rewarding, meaningful, and challenging. Which makes it fun, worthwhile, and a job where I find myself wishing for more hours in the day. I like everything about it. And so I’ve been getting more and more questions on the topic of care giving these days. It’s not that I’ve solved all of the problems by any stretch of the imagination — we still have a lot of work to do here at Sweet Relief™.   But what I have done is create a training and certification program that tours the country to help people learn the right way to take care of adults who depend upon them for simple- and not so simple care.

Sweet Relief Care Giving Seminars are for pros and non-pros alike.

Our program is designed for the professional and non-professional caregiver. We combine at home eldercare training with training for caring for people who are injured, recovering from surgery or dealing with a chronic illness.

We address all of the critical topics in our two day seminar:

• What Anyone Starting in Care giving Needs to Know

• Senior and General Caregiving Resources

• Mastering Everyday Challenges of the Elderly or Infirmed

• Dealing with Relatives

• Managing Medical Issues

• Safety Issues

• Mental Health Issues

• Legal and Financial Issues

• Avoiding, Detecting and Dealing with Abuse

• Death and Dying

• Caring for the Caregiver

• How to Hire Professional Caregivers

• Caregiving Job Options

• Sweet Relief Job Placement Assistance Program

• How to Start Your Own Care giving Business

Sweet Relief 2 day home caregiving seminars travel the country.

Our training and certification programs are built around images — a picture really is worth a thousand words. Especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings, people don’t want to be squinting to try and read our manual. So the standard presentation is slides, and other than a quote from a noted source, best tips for the one time or professional caregiver… its images, lectures and demonstrations, little reading.

Whew! Seems like a lot to get through, but the certification seminars move quickly along and people know more of this than they might realize, and in the hours of presentation and Q&A, we have a lot of laughs and we all leave having learned something important and others leave certified.

So if there are 10 or more people who could benefit from this unique training opportunity let us know. Our distinguishing feature is that we come to you!  We would love to help your town get is full portion of certified caregivers.

Please send an email to certifiedcaregivers@yahoo.com

We will look forward to seeing you in your town soon!

Warmest regards,

Cathleen Carr,  Founder Sweet Relief Certified Home Caregivers™

Keeping good medical records is a cornerstone of good care giving. Caregivers for the elderly or infirmed should assist on keeping track of their parent’s health records. This can be a daunting task as many seniors control issues can be triggered by this arrangement, but it is critical.

Seniors generally see multiple physicians who may prescribe several medications for a variety of conditions. Keeping good medication and medical records can help prevent dangerous medical and medication errors if the senior is not able to speak for themselves.

Good record keeping entails keeping track of medical history – that includes pre-existing conditions, past surgeries, hospitalizations, family medical history, doctor names and emergency contact information, and a complete list of all prescribed and herbal medications being taken.

These types of lists are vital for emergency visits!

Those assisting seniors can help them keep an updated medication list (including over the counter medications) on a computer or in a notebook. Make a routine of updating the records after every visit or trip to the pharmacy. An updated list makes it easier for everyone since the first question most doctors ask for is the patient’s list of medications and any changes since they were last seen. Even if they are not available for every appointment, the caregiver can be confident that the up to date information can make it to the appointment with someone else.

Expiration of prescriptions should be monitored to avoid delays when a prescription renewal is needed.

Take these lists to every Dr.’s appointment along with a list of any other issues your senior or their family may want to address. These simple steps help to ensure that the medical professionals provide accurate care.

To learn how to keep health records for the elderly or infirmed visit http://certifiedcare.org certifiedcare.org for a training session in your area.
REFERENCE:

http://www.newsweek.com/2008/07/02/patient-protection.html

By Cathleen V. Carr

These recipes for natural repellents will repel mosquitoes and other biting flying insect s and are safe to use on plants, adults, babies and children, and will not harm pets. They are devoid of DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) which is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents but is toxic. These essential oil blends will rid you of sand gnats, horseflies, deer flies, and mosquitoes without a drop of poison.

Some essential oils favored for their effectiveness as insect repellents are:

• Eucalyptus, recommended as effective by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Catnip oil, containing nepetalactone, which researchers at Iowa State University have found to be ten times stronger than DEET

• Citronella, long used as an insect repellent, and Lavender, Basil, Lemongrass, Thyme and Patchouli can provide other repellent qualities and delightful fragrances to make interesting blends.

Make a natural insect repellent by using a spray bottle that combines water and essential oils combined together, such as Lemongrass, Lavender, Tea Tree and Citronella. Another good blend combines Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Citronella. Both combinations work and smell good on the wearer.

For example, use the Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Citronella combination. Peppermint, eucalyptus and citronella all have especially potent properties that repel many flying, biting pests.

All you will need is a bottle and either a distilled water or a carrier oil. Pour the oil or water into a 1ounce bottle. Adding 20-100 drops of each essential oil allows you to get the scent just right for you.

Shake each time you use the mixture to ensure the oils are mixed and distributed evenly before applying.

You might find that you need to reapply frequently for maximum effectiveness so reapply as necessary. Under normal outdoor conditions, the repellent will last an hour or more. You can safely mist as often as you like to suit variations in your biochemistry or a particular environment. Spray it all over, even your face. Be careful not to spray it into your eyes. Peppermint is very irritating to soft mucous tissues like eyes.

Here is a link to a video showing the easy steps to making your own natural insect repellant: http://www.ehow.com/video_4994300_make-natural-insect-repellent.html

Be sure to keep your mist close on hand and in keep some in your picnic or bicycle basket. To maximize effectiveness be sure your bath soap fragrance will not attract bugs and do not wear perfumes and colognes if you plan to be outside for any length of time mid spring through late autumn.

If making your own insect repellent is not going to make your ‘list of things to do’ there are several brands on the market that you can comparison shop before buying. Herbaria Citronella Mist has been featured in Vegetarian Times Magazine and claims that their lemon eucalyptus mist has been found by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to be as effective against mosquitoes as popular brands containing small amounts of DEET.

Used as intended these hard working essential oil products effectively give relief from biting pests and do not cause harm to humans, pets or the environment.

Cathleen V. Carr, Natural Medicine Ink © 2009 All Rights Reserved.

Cathleen V. Carr is the National holistic Health Examiner for Examiner.com and writes articles, product reviews, etc. about green living and natural health for various media outlets.

FDA Warns Consumers Not to Purchase Herbal Version of “Ecstasy”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning that consumers should not consume a liquid dietary supplement called Green Hornet. This product has been marketed on the Internet and sold in stores as a herbal version of the illegal street drug “Ecstasy”. Four teenagers were rushed to hospital emergency rooms suffering from seizures, excessive heart rates, severe body rashes and high blood pressure after consuming the product. The product involved in the case of the teenagers were distributed by Kekio, Inc. of Colorado Springs, doing business as a store called Mind Excursions, however, the manufacturer remains unknown. Two active ingredients contained in the product are over-the-counter antitussive (dextromethorphan) and antihistamine (diphenhydramine) agents.

by Cathleen V. Carr

Visit the Best Natural Health Directory.com

Drugs and vitamins not yet accepted by mainstream medicine include: anti-oxidizing agents; cell treatment; chelation therapy; metabolic therapy; oxidizing agents (ozone, hydrogne peroxide). The interesting thing is that when you take them, more often than not, it does seem that you feel better.

By Cathleen V. Carr
• American Apitherapy Society: information on bee venom therapy
• British Columbia Cancer Agency
  • Unconventional Cancer Therapies: Manual for Patients, 3rd edition 2000 and 4th edition 2005
• Cyberbotanica: Plants and Cancer Treatments, maintained by Lucy A. Snyder : “plants and chemotherapy (also still under construction), but other chapters are in the works: plants used in bioremediation, fungi which produce antibiotics, and genetically engineered fruits and vegetables”. See also, American Eastern Institute.
• Drug Po.licy Alliance: “a drug policy organization working to broaden and better inform the public debate on drug policy and related issues. The LindesmithCenter, created in 1994, is the leading independent drug policy institute in the United States. The Drug Policy Foundation, founded in 1987, represents supporters who favor alternatives to the current war on drugs and is the principal membership-based organization advocating for drug policy reform”
• International Coenzyme Q10 Association
• The Kombucha Center: devoted to Kombucha, a popular health promoting beverage made by fermenting tea. It contains information on its history, current rise to popularity, health benefits, how to make it, and where to get it. The site is maintained by Jim Sease.
• Links to Information about Therapeutic Cannabis
• Maggot Therapy Project : “medical use of live maggots (fly larvae) for cleaning non-healing wounds.”
• Memorial Sloane-Kettering Cancer Center New York, New York: Information Resource: About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products: “objective information for oncologists and healthcare professionals, including a clinical summary for each agent and details about constituents, adverse effects, interactions, and potential benefits or problems”
• National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML): information on medical marijuana.

Index

This index is based on the classification scheme developed by a multidisciplinary workshop held in 1992
by the Office of Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health and American Eastern Institute.

• Alternative Systems of Medical Practice
  Health care ranging from self-care according to folk principles, to care rendered in an organized health care system based on alternative traditions or practices includes: acupuncture; ayurveda; environmental medicine; homeopathic medicine; Latin America rural practices; Native American practices; natural products; naturopathic medicine; past life therapy; Tibetan medicine; Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• Associations & Organizations
• Bioelectromagnetic Applications
  The study of how living organisms interact with electromagnetic (EM) fields includes: blue light treatment & artificial lighting; electroacupuncture; electromagnetic fields; electrostimulation & neuromagnetic stimulation devices; magnetoresonance spectroscopy.
• Databases
• Diet, Nutrition & Lifestyle Changes
  The knowledge of how to prevent illness, maintain health, and reverse the effects of chronic disease through dietary or nutritional intervention includes: changes in lifestyle; diet; Gerson Therapy; Macrobiotics; megavitamins; nutrional supplementation.
• Diseases & Conditions
  • AIDS & HIV
  • Arachnoiditis
  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Bioterrorism (Biological Weapons: Small Pox, Anthrax)
  • Cancer
  • Dementia, Memory & Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Diabetes
  • Environmental Illness
  • Epilepsy
  • Headaches
  • Hepatitis C
  • Insomnia
  • Menopause
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Sarcoidosis
• Fraud & Quackery
• Government Resources
• Herbal Medicine
  Employing plant and plant products from folk medicine traditions for pharmacological use includes: Echinacea (purple coneflower); ginger rhizome; ginkgo biloba extract; ginseng root; wild chrysanthemum flower; witch hazel; yellowdock.
• Hospitals & Health System Programs
  Integrative programs at allopathic medical schools, hospitals and health systems.
• Indexes, Guides & Directories
• Mailing Lists & Newsgroups
• Manual Healing
  Using touch and manipulation with the hands as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool includes: acupressure; Alexander technique; biofield therapeutics; chiropractic; Feldenkrais Method; massage therapy; osteopathy; reflexology; therapeutic touch; Trager Method; Zone Therapy.
• Mind/Body Control
  Exploring the mind’s capacity to affect the body, based on traditonal medical systems that make use of the interconnectedness of mind and body includes: art therapy; biofeedback; counseling; dance therapy; guided imagery; humor therapy; meditation; music therapy; prayer therapy; psychotherapy; relaxation techniques; support groups; yoga.
• Pennsylvania Resources
• Pharmacological & Biologic Treatments
  Drugs and vitamins not yet accepted by mainstream medicine includes: anti-oxidizing agents; cell treatment; chelation therapy; metabolic therapy; oxidizing agents (ozone, hydrogne peroxide).
• Practitioner’s Directories
• Related Resources
• Schools, Training and Licensure