Thursday, April 03, 2008
Newsletter Archive
HealthFitLabs, February 2007
We are happy to issue our second monthly newsletter. We have had a busy month with the addition of two new vendors to our site: JASON Natural Products and Optimum Nutrition. JASON adds to our Bath and Personal care lines, and Optimum adds to our Sports Nutrition and Diet & Energy lines.
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Our Mission: At HealthFitLabs we sell only the highest-quality natural vitamins and nutritional supplements. We're passionate about customer service and dedicated to helping our customers and affiliates meet their personal health goals.
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Hot Headlines
We have been researching a lot of different topics here at HealthFitLabs, and a health issue that has been running rampant lately is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Here is an article about alternative treatments to the symptoms. Also, our expert Dr. Dan, will weigh in on the topic as well (see Ask the Expert, below).
Natural Pain Relief for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
by Cathy Wong
What is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that causes pain, numbness, and tingling in the fingers or hands, particularly the thumb, index, middle, or ring fingers. Loss of sensation in the fingers and weakness in the hands can also occur.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive finger and hand use (especially with improper positioning). A nerve called the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel, the narrow passageway of bones and ligaments on the underside of the wrist. Conditions such as obesity, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, arthritis, and diabetes can also cause carpal tunnel syndrome.
Natural Remedies for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Here are eight natural remedies that are used for carpal tunnel syndrome:
1) Acupuncture
Acupuncturists insert thin needles into specifics point on the body. Traditional theory holds blockages along energy pathways in the body, called meridians, can cause pain. Acupuncture releases these blockages and improves the flow of energy along meridians. A scientific explanation is that acupuncture may release natural pain-relieving chemicals into the body, promote circulation in body, and balance the nervous system.
What is a treatment like? For carpal tunnel syndrome, acupuncture points are generally on the wrist, arm, thumb, and hands, as well as other parts of the body such as the upper back, neck, and leg.
The number of acupuncture sessions depends on various factors such as how long you've had the symptoms, symptom intensity, how much you use your arms and hands, and your overall health.
Laser acupuncture, which uses a handheld laser instead of acupuncture needles, is also used for carpal tunnel syndrome. One study looked at 36 people with a median pain duration of 24 months. Fourteen had one to 2 surgical release procedures with no results. After three laser acupuncture sessions a week for 4 to 5 weeks, 33 people had no pain or their pain was reduced by more than 50%. All of the people who had failed surgery had a noticeable improvement. Acupuncture wasn't a quick-fix-the follow-up after 1-2 years found that pain returned for only 2 people out of 23 people, and they were successfully treated within several weeks.
2) Acupressure
Acupressure is based on the same principles as acupuncture. Instead of applying needles to acupuncture points, pressure is applied, which is thought to stimulate blood flow to the wrists and hands and ease numbness and swelling in the area. Acupressure points for carpal tunnel syndrome are typically on the wrists, forearms and hands.
3) Vitamin B6
In several research studies, vitamin B6 deficiency has been associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. A study by the Portland Hand Surgery and Rehabilitation Center in Oregon examined 441 people and found that higher levels of vitamin B6 were associated with fewer carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms. Researchers also found that higher levels of vitamin C relative to lower vitamin B6 levels were associated with a higher prevalence and greater frequency of carpal tunnel symptoms.
A Japanese study of 174 university students found that students with lower levels of vitamin B6 showed symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Food Sources of vitamin B6 include sweet potatoes, avocados, brown rice, sunflower seeds, chick peas, salmon, pork, chicken, turkey, potatoes, bok choy, barley, bananas, and mangoes.
Risk factors for vitamin B6 deficiency:
-diet lacking in vitamin B6
-use of oral contraceptives or HRT
-consumption of foods containing yellow dye #5, such as some types of macaroni and cheese and pickles
-stress
A typical dose of vitamin B6 for carpal tunnel syndrome is 50 mg 2 to 3 times a day. Side effects may include increased urination. It can take up to 6 weeks to notice an improvement. The maximum intake from all sources should be less than 200 mg a day, unless otherwise recommended by your doctor.
4) Herbal Medicine, Vitamins, and Supplements
Enzyme supplements such as bromelain or combination enzyme products (e.g. Wobenzym) may help to reduce tissue swelling associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. It can take several weeks to notice results. The main food source of bromelain is pineapple.
Arnica – a double blind randomized study by the Department of Plastic Surgery of Queen Victoria Hospital in West Sussex, England examined whether arnica can speed up the recovery of hand surgery compared to placebo. People who took homeopathic arnica tablets and arnica ointment had a significant reduction in pain after two weeks. There was no difference in grip strength or swelling between the two groups.
Vitamin B12 - a study looked at the effectiveness of vitamin B12 for people with carpal tunnel syndrome due to overuse of the nonparalyzed arm after stroke. For two years, 67 people in the study received 1500 mcg of vitamin B12 a day, and the remaining 68 did not. After two years, there was significant improvement in the group taking vitamin B12 compared to the untreated group.
5) Yoga and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Yoga can help to reduce symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. A study by the University of Pennsylvania looked at the effectiveness of yoga for 42 people with carpal tunnel syndrome. People in the yoga group did 11 yoga postures twice weekly for 8 weeks and had a significant improvement in grip strength and pain reduction compared to people in the control group, who wore wrist splints.
6) Chiropractic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Chiropractic may help to reduce symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and improve function. A study looked at chiropractic care vs. conservative care (ibuprofen and night-time wrist supports) in 91 people with carpal tunnel syndrome. Chiropractic care included manipulation of the soft tissues and body joints of the arms and spine, ultrasound over the carpal tunnel and night-time wrist supports. Researchers concluded that chiropractic was as effective as conventional care for carpal tunnel syndrome.
7) Feldenkrais
Feldenkrais is a form of movement re-education. People are taught individually or in group sessions how to move their bodies more efficiently to improve their co-ordination, reduce joint stress and muscle strain, and improve flexibility.
8) Hellerwork
Hellerwork is a form of bodywork that has three main components:
deep tissue work - treatment usually begins with work on the soft tissues around the forearm and wrist.
education about correct posture and movement, ergonomic assessment of the workstation (e.g. chair too low, monitor too high)
dialogue to address emotions that lock muscles into "holding patterns" and affect breathing. People often begin to notice a reduction of symptoms in one to three sessions.
*Find the products recommended in this article at our Vitamins and Minerals Section on the HealthFitLabs website.*
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Valentine's Day can be Romantic AND Healthy!
The Foods of Love
by Emma Smith
Montezuma, they say, drank 50 cups of chocolate a day to increase his virility. Casanova popped raw oysters daily. And Marc Antony fed Cleopatra grapes to get her in the mood. Foods that purportedly increase sexual desire or performance, or aphrodisiacs, have been part of our cultural lore (and Saturday night courting rituals) for millennia.
Some foods, such as chocolate and chili peppers, are valued for their physiological effects, like heat or euphoria, thought to mimic the flush of being in love. Other foods are prized for their erotic shapes or textures (think bananas and oysters). According to Jonathan Zearfoss, Professor in Culinary Arts at the Culinary Institute of America, while the science behind the lore is scant, the psychological effect — knowing a food is rumored to have amorous powers — can count for a lot.
Zearfoss recommends cooking at home to increase romance. "We associate food with love. Making a meal for someone shows there's caring and commitment and that in itself will predispose people toward positive feelings." He also suggests serving interactive food, like fondue, or dishes that have to be eaten with your hands. And if all else fails, there's always chocolate, a treat whose psychological associations with decadence and sin, says Zearfoss, are practically a shortcut to seduction.
Ready to get started? Here are some classic aphrodisiacs and healthy ways to work them into a romantic Valentine's Day dinner à deux:
Oysters: They're loaded with zinc and are believed to have, uh, a positive effect on the male libido. Have them shucked, then arrange the half-shells on a tray of shaved ice and serve with fat-free sauce: mix together rice vinegar, chopped ginger, diced chives and a squeeze of lemon juice.
Lobster: It's pricey — but very worth the splurge. If cracking them at the dinner table doesn't make your heart thump, remove the meat ahead of time, mix with mango, red onion and a light dressing and scoop into lettuce cups for "mmm"-inducing finger food.
Asparagus: According to folklore, its vaguely suggestive shape drives women wild. Combine with mushrooms and saffron for a heavenly risotto — just skip the finishing butter. (For added flavor, purée half of the stalks — not tips — with a cup of the cooking broth.) Lazy day option: Spray asparagus with nonfat olive oil cooking spray and roast until tender; sprinkle with sea salt, lemon zest and chopped parsley.
Chili peppers: Certainly, they make you hot and sweaty. Whip up a spicy salsa to feed to each other on baked tortilla chips, or spoon on top of poached white fish or chicken breasts for a main course. Just chop rehydrated ancho or pasilla chiles with tomatoes, onions and cilantro.
Chocolate: It contains the potentially mood-enhancing stimulant phenylethylamine, which is thought to relieve depression — and the Aztecs swore by it. You don't need much—pear halves poached in a sugar-water solution and drizzled with store-bought chocolate sauce is elegant and delectable. Alternatively, break up a small, high-quality dark chocolate bar to munch with dried apricots and figs.
Strawberries: They're juicy — causing you to lick your lips a lot. Make individual trifles by layering sliced berries with low-fat ricotta whipped with almond extract. Or, simply drizzle with good balsamic vinegar.
Keep these tips in mind for added amour:
Seduce with small dishes: Nibbling at an array of appetizer-sized dishes is more suggestive than working away at a slab of steak.
Go the extra mile: Consider splurging on a special-occasion-only treat — fresh tuna from the fish market, for instance, or an aged balsamic vinegar from an Italian gourmet shop.
Finger-licking encouraged: And because knocking yourself out over the stove isn't exactly sexy, invite your partner to chop and dice along with you.
*For more recipes and articles, please visit our Healthy Library.*
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Healthy Humor
"The old saying that 'laughter is the best medicine,' definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart," says Michael Miller, M.D., F.A.C.C., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack," says Dr. Miller who is also an associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.
So go ahead, have a good chuckle!
What did the paper clip say to the magnet? "I find you very attractive."
What did the French chef give his wife for Valentine's Day? A hug and a quiche!
What did one pickle say to the other? "You mean a great dill to me."
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Ask the Expert
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) Defined
by Dr. Daniel Gerwig
CTS can be a very debilitating problem, the syndrome of pain, numbness, parasthesia and weakness can make using your hands and fingers very difficult. If you suspect you have CTS then the first thing you need is to get a correct diagnosis. The biggest misunderstanding with CTS is that the nerve that is affected in the hand (the median nerve) has a very treacherous course through the neck, shoulder and elbow before it reaches the wrist. It can become impinged in any number of areas as it comes down the arm which can produce symptoms similar to carpal tunnel syndrome. This can usually be determined by a physical examination, if more information is needed a simple test known as a Nerve Conduction Test can pinpoint the problem. Once the problem area is pinpointed, treatment can be specialized to the affected area. Treatment options include the use of a wrist splint at night, physical therapy/exercises, Chiropractic, deep tissue massage and the use of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory medications (Tylenol and other common OTC medications). If none of these therapies proves to be effective then surgery becomes an option, but it should only be used as a last option after the physical medicines have been attempted.
Dr. Daniel J Gerwig is hosting a free seminar on Thursday, February 22, at 7:00 PM that will explain these and many more common misconceptions about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. If you or someone you know suspects that they have CTS call today to reserve your seat at Absolute Healthcare Chiropractic, (630) 790-1422. Seating is limited, so call today!
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