10 Home Remedies for Chemothery Side Effects

This is my second "go round" with cancer and chemoptherapy, this time I'm much more educated in helping myself deal with side effects and would like to pass my remedies on to others.

Chemotherapy affects the stomach in a very devastating manner from the top to the bottom and though the prescribed Katrill was a life saver, it doesn't do it "all". Here are a few home remedies your oncologist will not tell you about...he's busy with the chemical aspect of treating the disease and not much into home remedies....I am!

1. Ginger

Ginger has long been known as an anti-nausea agent....I used fresh ginger, sliced it up thinly and put it in the freezer. I would put a few slices from the freezer into a cup of hot water and sip it as tea. I was surprised to read that they have a clinical trial going on using ginger in capsule form to treat nausea in chemo patients...worked for me!

2. Aloe

Aloe is another soothing agent to the stomach and intestinal tract and aloe water is tasteless and can be found in any supermarket in the produce department. It's inexpensive and helpful...I personally know a man that cured himself of bleeding ulcers with aloe juice, his doctor was amazed.

3. White food

Now for eating....I read many years ago that eating "white food" was a good idea as most white food doesn't have a strong smell or strong taste....I can't say that it worked for me but it could work for you. I'm a believer in organic food and foods made from scratch....we have enough chemicals racing around our body, we don't need more. You might want to check out the "Budwig Diet" on the internet.

4. Baldness

Your oncologist will tell you if you will lose your hair....for me it was somewhat of a blessing, not having to shave my legs, no blow drying etc. Cut your hair very short and once it starts falling out, shave it! The American Cancer Society will give you wigs free of cost....I prefer my baldness as I live in Florida and I also have a nicely shaped head. My eyebrow are very sparse and rather than pencil them in, I use eye shadow that I apply with a brush....it's more natural looking.

5. Attitude

Should you experience depression...fight it, talk to yourself, convince yourself that depression will not help you and imagine yourself healthy again....and smile as you talk to yourself...I don't know why, but it works.

6. Acupuncture

I went to an acupuncturist during my first experience with cancer....it helped so much with the horrendous headaches and the nausea. I don't know why I didn't do it through this battle.

7. Water

Drinking water is of the utmost importance and I'm sure your doctor will tell you that, but he doesn't tell you to drink mineralized water which will put your body in an alkaline state

8. Exercise

DO NOT let yourself become a couch potato....even if you must force yourself to walk around the block, it will be helpful. Somedays you must force yourself to put one foot in front of the other....but do it. Exercise helps your body, but it also helps your mind. You will feel good about yourself and proud.

9. Grooming

Keeping yourself well-groomed can be an effort on some days, but it's a must! I found on the days I HAD to go out and groom myself with make-up etc....something magical happened and I'd feel better....the effort was great but well worth it......I try and do that everyday now. I mean beyond taking a shower and brushing my teeth.

10. Power of Prayer

I think one of the most important remedies is prayer....it has such power and has gotten me through some really rough times. I don't know how it works, IT WORKS.

Oops! Forgot something.....dealing with constipation. I hate the thickness of prune juice and read on the internet to combat that... put dried prunes in a cup, pour boiling water over them... drink the liquid while warm and then eat the prunes. One woman told me her nurse told her to add a bit of butter to it... I chose to pass on that one but the woman found it quite effective. Flaxseed is also quite effective and you can add them to your cereal or mix them in a salad or just eat a teaspoonful... of course, taking laxatives work but they are not a good idea unless it's an emergency as your body will come dependent of them.

Good luck to all you "warriors" and I hope that I've helped you in your battle... it's a tough battle but it can be won... keep positive... it's the attitude that will get you through this... fight on and beat it!

By Donna Parra  

Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Medicine

There are reasons why people chose alternative medicine and reasons why they avoid it, preferring conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is safer than standard health treatments and usually works. It's true that it can't be used in severe conditions like car accidents or other severe emergencies, but be that as it may, there are enough situations in which alternative medicine is recommended. When it comes to emotional and spiritual needs, non-conventional medicine may come up with the solution. Furthermore, it's better for preventing illnesses than standard medicine. More and more physicians nowadays agree upon the benefits of alternative medicine and also even advise their clients to choose the best natural treatment for them.

One of the advantages of alternative medicine is that it encompasses a broad range of therapies, treatments and products, thus the search for obtaining positive results doesn't flow on a narrow path at all.
A pretty important disadvantage states the idea that, even though the expenses of using acupuncture or chiropractic are sometimes covered by health insurances, the majority of alternative treatments are not reimbursed.

There are certain risks that come along with the usage of natural remedies. Despite the use of herbs throughout the years and even ancient times, not all of them have been studied regarding their safety and efficiency. There are issues concerning their purity and their possible interaction with other substances related to conventional therapies. The majority of information regarding herbs have been perpetuated throughout history and with the help of tradition. Many people assume that herbal medicines are better than synthetic drugs simply because, well, they are natural and not synthetic, therefore present no risk. But they are not risk free; they can do more harm than good if taken without having the details of their effects over the body.

People might abuse of natural medicines the same way as they do it in the case of synthetic drugs. They have the misconception that if unconventional medicine consists of herbal products which are natural, then there is no harm done if they triple the dosage or more. This is totally wrong and can have serious consequences. Take vitamins for example. They are just vitamins, right? They can't possibly do any damage inside the body. But they do. Vitamin overdosing or vitamin toxicity can lead to unpleasant effects depending on the vitamin that has been taken one too many times. Vitamin A over dosage can cause liver problems, osteoporosis, hair loss and other dangerous effects and Hypervitaminosis D leads to dehydration, vomiting, anorexia and even kidney stones.

An advantage of using herbal remedies concerns the effectiveness related with chronic health issues that don't respond well or even at all to traditional medicines. If long term medication is needed, then herbs are pretty much safer than conventional drugs. The alternative medicine industry takes advantage from this and keeps evolving and developing due to the constant need for natural remedies.

Another advantage is the low cost of herbal products compared to synthetic drugs which are highly priced for the simple reason that researching and testing the products is expensive. Furthermore, herbal products can be bought without a prescription and are easy to procure. The availability of natural remedies is outstanding; chamomile for example can be easily picked out from a nearby field.

The advantages of using herbal medicines are numerous, but so are the disadvantages. The best idea would be to consider modern medicine according to the severity of the illness, to consult a physician upon the proper medication and dosage and if you do chose the alternative medicine, try to gather enough information upon both kinds of treatments, natural or synthetic, so you may reassure yourself that you took the right decision to balance your health situation.

By Peter Rosenblum

How to Cure and Prevent Varicose Veins Naturally

To prevent and maintain varicose veins, you need to strengthen the walls of your veins. There are several natural treatments available today that will cure and prevent varicose veins without the use of drugs or chemicals.

The herb horse chestnut provides hope for those people with varicose veins. Horse chestnut has in it a natural chemical called aescin, which strengthens vein walls and prevents leaking.
In a study of 22 people with varicose veins, 22 percent of people given horse chestnut had decreased vein leakage, compared to an increase in vein leakage in the people who were given a placebo.
It is recommended that people interested in using horse chestnut to cure varicose veins take two to four 500-mg capsules of the herb daily.
Another thing found to help cure and prevent varicose veins is antioxidants. Antioxidants contain bioflavonoids that strengthen veins. People with varicose veins should eat antioxidant-rich foods, which include fruits and vegetables. The more colorful the fruits and vegetables, the better.
Acupuncture can also help varicose vein problems. Acupuncture reduces the size of varicose veins with no side effects. In one study, five treatments of acupuncture reduced the pain in most people with varicose veins.
Believe it or not, pineapples also contain a natural chemical that treats varicose veins. The chemical, called bromelain, reduces the swelling and soreness that are caused by varicose veins. Bromelain can be taken in capsule form.
Onions, apples, and black tea have also been found to help varicose vein problems. These foods have a chemical called quercetin, which is an anti-inflammatory. Quercetin also comes in capsule form. It should be taken together with bromelain for optimum effectiveness.
Another, simpler way of preventing and treating varicose veins is to simply put your feet up for 10 minutes per day. The idea is that your legs should be raised higher than your heart so that blood can flow away from your veins and give them a chance to get stronger. To do this, lie back and put your feet up on a coffee table or chair.
If this 10-minute-per-day break is hard for you to fit into your schedule, you can purchase a mattress wedge that raises the foot of your bed by several inches. This way you can help your varicose vein problem while you sleep.
Another solution is to wear compression stockings or an anti-embolism hose. You must get these fitted because if they are too tight they can do more harm than good. Compression stockings and anti-embolism hoses restore veins and help them function properly.
If these natural solutions fail to help a varicose vein problem, there are other, more invasive procedures, including: laser and low-level radiofrequency energy, sclerotherapy, TriVex, and endovenous ablation. These procedures may remove varicose veins but they can be expensive and inconvenient..
The above-mentioned treatments are simple, pain-free ways to deal with varicose veins. They can always be used on their own or as a complement to varicose vein removing procedures.

By Michael Russell

Natural Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatments for Pain Relief

The condition in which numbness, pain, and tingling is experienced in the hands or fingers, especially the index, middle, ring fingers or the thumb, is known as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In this condition, weakness in the hands and loss of sensation in fingers is also experienced.
Repetitive hand and finger use, especially with improper positioning, is the main cause. The compression of the median nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel results leads to this condition. It can also occur because of conditions like arthritis, diabetes, hypothyroidism, obesity, and pregnancy.
Natural Treatments
Following is a list of some very effective and natural Carpal Tunnel Syndrome treatments that can help relieve the pain:
1. Acupuncture
Thin needles are inserted into particular points on the body by acupuncturists. According to traditional theory, pain occurs because of blockages along with body's energy pathways, known as meridians. These blockages are released by acupuncture and the flow of energy along meridians is improved. According to science, natural pain-relieving chemicals are released by acupuncture into the body, as a result of which circulation in the body is promoted, and the nervous system is balanced.
2. Acupressure
Like acupuncture, the same principles are followed in acupressure too, but rather an acupressurist applies pressure to the acupuncture points instead of needles. It is believed that blood flow to the hands and wrists is stimulated, and the swelling and numbness in the area are eased by this. Typically, the acupressure points are on the forearms, hands and wrists.
3. Vitamin B6
According to research studies, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is associated with a deficiency of vitamin B6. It has also been discovered by researchers that the frequency and prevalence of it also increased because of lower levels of vitamin B6. Avocados, bananas, barley, bok choy, brown rice, chicken, chick peas, mangoes, pork, potatoes, salmon, sunflower seeds, sweet potatoes, and turkey are among the food sources containing vitamin B6.
4. Yoga and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms can be reduced with the help of yoga. Patients with it can benefit from yoga to quite an extent, including reduction in pain and improvement in grip strength. Yoga postures are meant to balance, strengthen and stretch the upper-body joints, including those in the hands and wrists.
5. Chiropractic and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms can also be reduced with the help of chiropractic care, and function can be improved too. In chiropractic care, the body joints and the soft tissues of the arms and spine are manipulated. It has been concluded by researchers that chiropractic care is as effective as traditional care.
Some people suffering from mild Carpal Tunnel Syndrome symptoms can take breaks more frequently to rest their hands and apply cold packs to ease their discomfort and reduce swelling. If this does offer relief within a couple of weeks, then they can try one or all the mentioned natural and effective treatments for pain relief.

Saad Naveed Bari