Tag: health

  • The Fun of Ticks And the Threat of Lymes Disease

    My wife Susan and I were walking high up on the mountain behind our house in Ardnamurchan.

    It is in the western highlands of Scotland, looking out over loch Sunart.

    loch Sunart
    loch Sunart

     

    We were checking our water supply, which is from a strong stream about half way up from the top.

    Nobody comes up here except for the few people who live in this remote area, so the water is pristine.

    The distillery a few miles away uses water from a similar source due to its purity.

    This is one of the blessings of the wild and remote western highlands.

    the water supply
    the water supply

     

    We had a very cold swim in this lovely natural pool under the waterfall a few hundred metres upstream.

    our swimming pool
    our swimming pool

     

    Followed by a picnic on the grass next to the pool.

    Wonderful fun.

    the picnic
    the picnic

     

    BUT, then we found tiny ticks on our legs. Thirty or so on Susan’s bare legs.

    We spent many years in Africa and are no stranger to all types of ticks.

    The problem is here in this seemingly peaceful place where the red deer roam, they drop ticks.

    These local little devils carry Lymes desease, which is no joke and not found in Africa to my knowledge.

    They have a  friend, the mighty scottish midge, who attacks in great numbers like the highland warriors of old.

    So between them they keep us humans at bay and protect their mountains.

    the protector or the enemy?
          protector or the enemy?

     

    However it is all worth it.

    Living here is magical, so we have come to terms with the wild.

     

  • Is Retirement Bad For Your Health?

    This is a useful article by David Blyweiss, M.D. that will help many aspiring gray babyboomers cross the retirement divide.

     

    These days there are a lot of different opinions on retirement.

    retirement

    I have a lot of patients who plan on working full or part-time well into their 70’s. I even know an 85-year old chiropractor who tells me he’s not shutting down his business until he’s 93.

    Many others are ready to take life a little slower after they turn 60 or 65. They plan on spending a lot of time gardening, travelling or spending their days on the golf course.

    Well plenty of my patients have flourished in their retirement years. I have the postcards, pictures and letters to prove it. I love hearing from each and every one of them.

    But I have another group of patients who haven’t adapted as well. They have time on their hands. And they don’t always know what to do with it.

    Despite big dreams and ideas of retirement, the minute they leave their job or cut back to a part-time position the only thing they feel is loss.

    And it’s not just because they’ve “lost” their jobs.

    Here’s a truth.

    As humans, we tend to identify ourselves with who we’ve become in the business world. It doesn’t matter if you’re a doctor, mechanic, a CEO, or a data processor. When you spend 8, 10 or 12 hours a day being good at your job, it’s hard to disassociate.

    And once that’s gone nothing else seems quite as important.

    Suddenly dreams of spending hours in the garden aren’t as appealing. Chores are out of the question. And it becomes much easier to avoid the loss of who you have been than it is to get dressed and motivated for a golf match or lunch date.

    When these retirees come into my office they look as though they’ve lost their best friend or favorite girl.

    I often wonder what causes this disparity. Why do some people thrive on retirement while others seem destined to fade away?

    New research from the Institute of Economic Affairs may shed a little light on the psychological impact of retirement. And it’s not all good news.

    They discovered after the initial bliss of retirement wears off, being retired has a very negative effect on both physical and mental health. And the number of years spent in retirement, the greater the effects.

    Once the reality of retirement sets in…

    • The probability of suffering from clinical depression increases by about 40%.
    • The likelihood of believing you are in good or excellent health decreases by 39%.
    • Your chance of being diagnosed with a physical condition increases by 63%.
    • And there is a 60% probability you will take a drug for that condition.

    My clinical experience with patients who enter into retirement tells me these numbers are pretty much on target.

    And while I’m not happy with these percentages, they do tell me there is about a 50/50 chance you can come out on top of the game.

    These aren’t horrible odds. And if you approach your new life with an open mind and active lifestyle, there are plenty ways – and more than enough time – to re-define your definition of “who you are.”

    Here’s what you can do…

    For the past 20, 30 or 40 years you may have done the same thing, day in and day out. The jobs may have changed but the rules were the same…

    Set the alarm clock. Get to work on time where you joke with your co-workers, deal with familiar issues and feel like you’ve accomplished something. Go home for dinner and get good night’s sleep so you’re ready for the next day.

    It keeps you active and gives you purpose – a mission in life. And finding a new mission after living a full life can be intimidating. But it can be done:

    Make new friends. Becoming isolated is a common problem for aging adults. Once you lose the ritual of going to work and seeing the same friendly faces every day, loss can set in. So it’s important to socialize and develop a new network of friends.

    One way to widen your social circle is to meet people who have a similar mind thought. You can do this by becoming a volunteer. Check out helping out at your local Disabled American Veteran’s center, hospital, animal shelter, soup kitchen or church. Look into local business support groups. You can donate time to those who could best use the knowledge you have from your years of experience.

    Stimulate your brain. Join classes to learn something you’ve always wanted to know more about. It could be as simple as joining a cooking class or as tough as learning a new language or playing a musical instrument. I have one patient who took up singing lessons and another who is taking acting classes. I even know a few patients who have become involved in training service dogs and find it very rewarding.

    Keep your body moving. Research out of Harvard shows retirees are 40% more likely to have a heart attack and stroke during their first year of retirement. So keeping your body in motion is one of the number one things you can do for your health, no matter what your age.

    Join a cycling group, take dance lessons or learn how to kick-box. Sign up for Tai Chi or Yoga. Take a hike in the woods. You can even join a softball, soccer or bowling league. The list is endless and all of these activities can be loads of fun. Your heart, body and brain will thank you for it!

    Unleash your curiosity. Make time to occasionally explore the unknown. Take a journey outside of your comfort zone to the quirky town up the road… the seashore you always dreamed of visiting… even a walk in the woods or a park you’ve never visited.

    The longer you remain active, interested and fulfilled, the better your chances of beating the retirement blues and enjoying your later years. Think outside of the box, revisit old dreams, make new friends and take part in activities that charge you up.

    images[8]

    David Blyweiss, M.D.
    Advanced Natural Medicine Bulletin

     

     

    To your good health and retirement my friends.

     

     

  • Natural Depression Medication

    Natural Depression Medication Could be Right for You

    The most well-known natural depression medication is probably St John’s wort, although supplement sales of SAM-e are on the rise, as well. Either one is a good alternative to conventional anti-depressant drugs. Research indicates that they are just as effective, but are rarely accompanied by unwanted side effects.

    A less well-known natural remedy is 5 HTP. The body converts the amino acid into serotonin. The goal of most anti-depressant medications is to increase the activity of serotonin, one of the body’s “feel good” chemicals. 5 HTP stimulates the production of serotonin, which is why it is effective.

    A number of clinical studies indicate that omega-3 supplementation is beneficial for post-partum depression, bipolar disorder and similar problems. Omega-3s are good fats. They make up a great deal of the weight of the brain and are necessary for replenishing brain cells and neurons.

    D-Phenylalanine is an amino acid like 5 HTP, but the body uses it to make dopamine, another feel good chemical. It is sometimes recommended as a natural antidepressant and pain reliever, although the evidence is not as strong as it is for some of the other natural remedies.

    If you are interested in trying an natural depression medication, the best choice is to start with a good multi-vitamin supplement. Some of them contain SAM-e, 5 HTP and D-Phenylalanine.

    Omega-3 supplements must be taken separately. But, because of all of the health benefits associated with supplementation, it is a good investment. Just be sure that the label lists the content of DHA, the omega-3 that is particularly important to the brain.

    St John’s wort may be accompanied by side effects and should not be combined with prescription, over-the-counter drugs and some nutritional supplements. Interactions have been seen when taken with:

    –Cough syrup containing dextromethorphan

    –Tryptophan, a nutritional supplement

    –5 HTP, mentioned above

    –Prescription antidepressants

    Otherwise St John’s wort is an excellent natural depression medication and probably has more supporting clinical research evidence than any other herb or nutrient. I personally have had good results with St John’s wort, as well as with the herbs passionflower, lemon balm and lavender. Of course, everyone is different and the only way to know if these herbs will work for you is to try them. They are safe and usually without side effects.

    Another herbal depression treatment is valerian. It is particularly beneficial when insomnia or anxiety accompany the depressed feelings, as they often do. The drug interactions that have been noted with St John’s wort are not seen with valerian. In fact, there are few, if any adverse effects, but it should not be taken in large doses or before driving, as it can cause drowsiness.

    The herbs and nutrients mentioned here can also be combined with other things like increasing your level of physical activity. Most people feel that exercise has a natural anti-depressant effect. If your symptoms are more severe, some type of counseling therapy may be helpful.

    About the Author

    Max Wardlow is an independent natural health researcher who writes from experience about anxiety and depression. He also helps manage a website about natural remedies.

    For a vast range of in-depth information on depression and related problems, please visit 

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