Health Tip: Managing Your Child's Migraines

(HealthDay News) -- If your child gets migraine headaches, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to help prevent them:

• Make sure your child eats meals on a regular schedule, and never skips a meal.


• Keep your child on a regular sleep schedule.


• Make sure your child gets daily exercise, but don't overdo it.


• Figure out what triggers migraines in your child, and try to avoid those factors. Common triggers include stress, too much intense exercise, or changes in weather or altitude.


• Avoid foods that are known to trigger your child's migraines. Popular culinary causes include: cheese, processed meats, chocolate, caffeine, nuts, pickles and foods high in the preservative monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Can Caffeine Cause a Miscarriage?

By Ross Weale
Health magazine contributor Roshini Raj, MD, discusses the connection between caffeine and miscarriage on the Today show on Jan. 21.




DR. ROSHINI RAJ
Roshini Raj, MD, a Health magazine contributor and part of the magazine’s Health Expert Network, is board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine with degrees from the New York University School of Medicine and Harvard University. Currently Dr. Raj is an attending physician at NYU Medical Center’s Tisch Hospital in New York City. She also serves as an assistant professor at the NYU School of Medicine, and she has a special interest in women’s health and cancer screening. She has also published several research articles on colon-cancer screening.

Dr. Raj has discussed health topics on numerous television outlets including NBC’s Today show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, FOX News, and Discovery Health. She has been quoted in publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health, Women’s Health, and Fitness on the state of health care and other health news of the day. Dr. Raj is often called upon to explain and demystify complicated health topics.

Caffeine May Block High Cholesterol Linked to Alzheimer's

(HealthDay News) -- A little caffeine every day could offer some protection from Alzheimer's disease for people with high cholesterol.

Rabbits given the daily caffeine equivalent of one cup of coffee and fed a cholesterol-rich diet for 12 weeks suffered relatively little damage in their blood-brain barrier (BBB), which protects the central nervous system from the rest of the body's circulation, new research found.

The findings were published in the open-access publication Journal of Neuroinflammation.

Previous studies have shown that high levels of cholesterol break down the BBB, exposing the central nervous system to damage from blood-borne contamination. BBB leakage occurs in a variety of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

"High levels of cholesterol are a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, perhaps by compromising the protective nature of the blood-brain barrier. For the first time, we have shown that chronic ingestion of caffeine protects the BBB from cholesterol-induced leakage," Jonathan Geiger, of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, said in a prepared statement.

Caffeine appears to offer protection by helping proteins maintain the tight binding of the cells in the BBB, so they stop unwanted molecules from entering the central nervous system.

The findings also confirm previous studies showing that caffeine protects against memory loss in aging and in Alzheimer's disease.

"Caffeine is a safe and readily available drug, and its ability to stabilize the blood-brain barrier means it could have an important part to play in therapies against neurological disorders," Geiger said.

More information
The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more about Alzheimer's medications.

Health Tip: Your Diet and Sleep

(HealthDay News) -- If you've noticed that you feel particularly sleepy or more energized after eating certain foods, that's because what you eat can have an impact on how well you sleep and how awake you are during the day.

Here are examples of foods that can affect your sleep, courtesy of the National Sleep Foundation:

• Carbohydrate-rich foods, such as pastas and breads, can make you more sleepy.


• Carbohydrates work well with proteins to induce sleepiness, which makes combinations such as peanut butter on toast, cereal with milk, or cheese and crackers good bedtime snacks.


• A large meal can make you more tired, especially one with a lot of carbohydrates.
  Caffeine in foods and beverages is a stimulant that blocks hormones in the brain that make you feel sleepy.


• While alcohol may help you relax and fall asleep in the short term, over the course of the night it inhibits the sleep process and can prevent you from getting deep, restful sleep.

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Energy Drinks Could Pose Blood Pressure Risks

(HealthDay News) -- Energy drinks boost blood pressure and heart rate and could pose risks to people with hypertension and heart disease, say Wayne State University researchers.

They found that drinking two cans of a popular energy drink increased blood pressure and heart rate in 15 healthy adults, average age 26.

Within a few hours of having the energy drinks, the volunteers' systolic blood pressure (top number) increased by as much as 9.6 percent, and diastolic blood pressure increased by as much as 7.8 percent. Heart rate increased by as much as 11 percent.

"This occurred while participants were sitting in chairs watching movies," study leader James Kalus noted in a prepared statement. "The increase in heart rate and blood pressure weren't enough for something to happen acutely, but a person on hypertension medication or who has a cardiovascular disease may not respond as well."

"While energy drinks increase concentration and wakefulness, people with risk factors for heart disease could have a bad reaction. The subjects in this study were healthy with low blood pressure," Kalus added.

He and his colleagues noted that most energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine and an amino acid called taurine, both of which have been shown to have effects on heart function and blood pressure. The researchers emphasized that energy drinks are different from sports drinks, which don't contain ingredients designed to heighten alertness.

The study was expected to be presented Nov. 6 at the American Heart Association annual meeting, in Orlando, Fla.

More information
The Nemours Foundation has more about energy drinks and food bars.

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High-Sugar, Low-Caffeine 'Energy' Drinks Don't Work

FRIDAY, July 21 (HealthDay News) -- People who think sugary drinks are a pick-me-up may be in for a letdown: New research finds sweetened beverages actually boost sleepiness.

"People wishing to alleviate sleepiness through the consumption of a high-sugar, low-caffeine content energy drink -- erroneously believing the 'sugar rush' to be effective -- should avoid drinks that have little or no caffeine," said study co-author Clare Anderson, from the Sleep Research Centre at Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

"It is caffeine that is particularly effective for alleviating sleepiness, not sugar," she added.
Anderson and her colleague Jim Horne found that, one hour after drinking a high-sugar, low-caffeine drink, people had slower reaction times and experienced more lapses in concentration than if they had consumed a caffeine- and sugar-free beverage.

They reported the findings in the July online edition of Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental.
As Anderson explained, "Many soft drinks contain large amounts of sugar, and previous findings had indicated that such large amounts may improve cognitive performance. However, these effects were almost immediate."

The real question, for Anderson, was whether that quick boost had any longer-term effect beyond the first 15 minutes after the so-called sugar rush disappeared.
To help answer that, she and Horne had 10 healthy adults restrict their sleep to just five hours on the day prior to the trial. Then, 60 minutes after eating a light lunch, these healthy adults were given either a high-sugar, low-caffeine energy drink (42 grams of sugar plus 30 milligrams caffeine) or an identically tasting zero-sugar drink used as a placebo. Forty-two grams of sugar is equal to about 8 teaspoons, Anderson said.

The participants were next asked to complete a 90-minute test during the afternoon low-energy period. The test assessed their level of sleepiness and ability to concentrate.
"Around 70 minutes after consumption, there was a worsening of sleepiness --delayed reaction time, increased lapses in attention -- following the consumption of a high-sugar drink, in comparison to a placebo," Anderson said.

Her conclusion: Highly-sugared drinks without caffeine do not counteract sleepiness beyond perhaps a short sugar rush. In fact, they appear to boost drowsiness.
"These drinks are of little benefit to sleepy people," Anderson said. "Caffeinated drinks, even sugary ones, are much better for counteracting detrimental effects of sleepiness."

One nutrition expert agreed that sugar won't help push energy levels past the initial minutes-long sugar rush, and even caffeine won't help you stay awake beyond a few hours.
"Energy drinks are a misnomer," said Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "Sure, they provide energy in the form of calories, usually from some form of a simple sugar," she added.

Sandon explained that simple sugars are digested, absorbed and metabolized very quickly, so the energy they contain doesn't last long. "Some energy drinks may have just enough caffeine to stimulate your central nervous system and give you a false sense of feeling energized for a short period of time," Sandon said. "Keep in mind, a dose of caffeine large enough to have an energizing effect -- about 1 regular soda or cup of coffee -- will only last about 3 hours."
According to the Texas expert, there is a more lasting and healthy means of staying fresh: good sleep and a healthful diet.

"To improve a feeling of having energy, start by getting plenty of rest, fluids, and fuel your body with quality nutrients from fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein sources," Sandon said. "A balanced diet, including carbohydrate, fat, and protein, will keep you feeling satisfied longer."

More information
For more on combating sleepiness, head to the U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Last reviewed: 07/21/2006 Last updated: 07/21/2006

Coffee Could Protect Liver

Drinking coffee may be related to a reduced risk of developing the liver disease alcoholic cirrhosis, according to a report in a recent issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

Cirrhosis progressively destroys healthy liver tissue and replaces it with scar tissue. Viruses such as hepatitis C can cause cirrhosis, but long-term, heavy alcohol use is the most common cause of the disease in developed countries, according to background information in the article.

Most alcohol drinkers, however, never develop cirrhosis; other factors that may play a role include genetics, diet and nutrition, smoking and the interaction of alcohol with other toxins that damage the liver.

Arthur L. Klatsky, MD, and colleagues at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, Calif., analyzed data from 125,580 individuals (55,247 men and 70,333 women) who did not report liver disease when they had baseline examinations, between 1978 and 1985.

Participants filled out a questionnaire to provide information about how much alcohol, coffee and tea they drank per day during the past year. Some of the individuals also had their blood tested for levels of certain liver enzymes; the enzymes are released into the blood stream when the liver is diseased or damaged.

By the end of 2001, 330 participants had been diagnosed with cirrhosis, including 199 with alcoholic cirrhosis. For each cup of coffee they drank per day, participants were 22% less likely to develop alcoholic cirrhosis. Drinking coffee was also associated with a slight reduction in risk for other types of cirrhosis.

Among those who had their blood drawn, liver enzyme levels were higher among individuals who drank more alcohol, indicating liver disease or damage; however, those who drank both alcohol and coffee had lower levels than those who drank alcohol but did not drink coffee, with the strongest link among the heaviest drinkers.

Tea drinking was not related to reduced risk in the study, suggesting that it is not caffeine that is responsible for the relationship between coffee and reduced cirrhosis risk. "Previous reports are disparate with respect to whether the apparently protective coffee ingredient is caffeine; in our opinion this issue is quite unresolved," the authors write.

The findings do not suggest that physicians prescribe coffee to prevent alcoholic cirrhosis, the authors continue. "Even if coffee is protective, the primary approach to reduction of alcoholic cirrhosis is avoidance or cessation of heavy alcohol drinking," they conclude. "Assuming causality, the data do suggest that coffee intake may partly explain the variability of cirrhosis risk in alcohol consumers.

Basic research about hepatic coffee-ethanol interactions is warranted, but we should keep in mind that coffee might represent only one of a number of potential cirrhosis risk modulators." This article was prepared by Mental Health Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports.

Copyright 2006, Mental Health Weekly Digest via NewsRx.com.
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Pelvic Prolapse Problems?

Pelvic Prolapse Problems?
Provided by: DrWeil.com

Q: I was recently diagnosed with uterine prolapse. Doctors say there is nothing I can do, but live with it or have a hysterectomy. My uterus is healthy, just in the wrong place. Is there anything I can do to make the ligaments that support my uterus strong again? -- Laurie A: Uterine prolapse is a very common problem that occurs when the ligaments and muscles that normally hold the uterus in place are stretched or damaged, usually by pregnancy or childbirth. As a result, the uterus drops down into the vagina. The same problem can affect the bladder (a condition called cystocele or anterior wall prolapse), the rectum (rectocele), and the top of the vagina or vaginal vault. Symptoms include a feeling of pelvic heaviness or fullness or a sense that something is falling out of the vagina (or, in the case of a rectocele, difficulty having bowel movements). You also may feel a pulling or aching in the lower abdomen or pelvis. If you have a prolapsed bladder, you may experience urine leakage when you cough, sneeze, lift heavy objects or exercise. In severe cases the uterus (or bladder) bulges into the vagina and may even protrude from the vaginal opening.
Mild cases of uterine (or bladder) prolapse don't require treatment. More bothersome cases can sometimes be helped by taking one or more of the following measures:
Cut down or avoid caffeine, which acts as a diuretic and may worsen problems with urine leakage.
Use a vaginal pessary, a plastic device that can be inserted into the vagina to support the pelvic organs. You must remove the pessary periodically to clean it but otherwise you can wear it continuously, even during sex.
Try Kegel exercises, which can strengthen the muscles surrounding the openings of the urethra and vagina.
If these measures don't help, I'm afraid the only remaining option is surgery. Hysterectomy has long been the most commonly performed operation for these problems, but pelvic support surgery, which puts the sagging organs back in place, is also done. Your gynecologist can assess whether you're a candidate or refer you to a specialist (urogynecologist) who performs these operations.
Andrew Weil, MD
Last Reviewed: July 2005

The Caffeine Overdose in Energy Drinks

If you were wondering whether energy drinks were any safer than typical soft drinks, forget it. Energy drinks may contain as much as four times more caffeine than the average sugary sweet drink, according to a new study.

In fact, caffeine levels are so high, researchers believe American energy drinks should be labeled, just as they are in Europe for energy drinks, as high-caffeine products if they exceed 150 mg. per liter. Under that simple guideline, nearly all of the 10 products scientists analyzed would qualify.

Unfortunately, the FDA doesn't require soft drink manufacturers to list the caffeine content on labels, even though there's a standing rule that limits their content to 65 mg. per 12-ounce can. That said, all 19 soft drinks tested in this study contained less caffeine than the FDA standard, and, in some cases, far less than you'd think.

By comparison, most energy drinks contained 65 mg. of caffeine in an 8-ounce serving versus a Coca-Cola or Pepsi with less than half as much in a 12-ounce can. And, one energy drink contained 141 mg. of caffeine, two times more than a double-shot of expresso.

In a separate study, scientists also debunked another myth associated with energy drinks: Consuming them along with alcohol may make you feel more sober than you really are.

No question, energy drinks are no real substitute for eating the right foods, handling stress better and getting more sleep and exercise.

Journal of Analytical Toxicology, Vol. 30, No. 2, March 2006: 112-114
Yahoo News March 29, 2006
MSNBC March 28, 2006

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FIBROCYSTIC BREAST DISEASE

by Tori Hudson, N.D.

Tender or lumpy breasts are one of the most common reasons why women consult their women's health practitioner for assessment and treatment.

Since painful breasts are not always lumpy, and lumpy breasts are not always painful (and neither is usually abnormal), it is useful to create descriptive categories of symptoms and conditions to replace the generic term "fibrocystic."Physiological, Cyclical Pain and SwellingMany women notice painful or sensitive breasts just prior to menstruation.

This has been attributed to a more prominent estrogen than progesterone effect on breast tissue at this time. Occasionally, less progesterone is made late in the cycle, as in irregular ovulation.

Other women may have average amounts of progesterone but increased tissue sensitivity to estrogen with related fluid retention. Most women tolerate this well enough once reassured it is normal, and the symptoms always resolve with menses.

Women who take exogenous estrogen, such as oral contraceptives or estrogen replacement therapy during menopause, may be similarly affected.

Mastalgia Mastalgia refers to any breast pain, unilateral or bilateral, severe enough to interfere with the quality of a woman's life, causing her to seek treatment. Physiologic cyclical mastalgia is this severe about 15 percent of the time, and comprises the bulk of this group.

Women who suffer from noncyclical pain are more rare, and the pain is less likely to be hormonal in cause. Pain may be due to old trauma, acute infection, or sometimes inflammation of the intercostal cartilage, i.e. costochondritis.

In contrast, breast cancer presents as a unilateral painful firm lump about 5 percent of the time. The majority of the time, breast cancer does not present as breast pain, and especially tends not to present as cyclic present pain. Painful swellings that flux with the cycle unchanging over time are not worrisome as cancer signals.

Breast Nodularity or Diffuse LumpinessBreast lumpiness may be either cyclic or non-cyclic, and may be painful. The distinction between these and normal breasts is often simply a matter of degree. Normal breasts are always irregularly textured because the breast tissue is not homogeneous. It is a mix of glands, fat, and connective tissue.

Glands can vary in prominence, and are more or less obscured by fat or fluid, so all breasts feel different on physical exam. Symmetry is important; finding a mirror-image thickening in the opposite breast indicates a normal condition.

Non-Dominant Masses

Densities that are not symmetrical are largely due to benign non-progressive causes, but do require careful distinction from dominant masses.

When palpation of the lump reveals that the density merges in one or more places with the surrounding breast tissue, it is considered "non-dominant" and may be comfortably observed for change over time. When these lesions are biopsied or, preferably, a sample of cells is taken in the office through a needle to be looked at microscopically (fine-needle aspirate), approximately 70 percent will show "non-proliferative changes" (adenosis, fibrosis, microcysts, mild hyperplasia, and more); 20 percent will show "proliferative changes without atypia" -- mostly epithelial hyperplasia. None of these conditions places one at increased risk for cancer, and all are self-limiting.

Only a fraction, roughly the 5 percent that show atypical hyperplasia, carry a significantly increased risk of breast cancer, especially when coupled with a positive family history.

Dominant Masses

Non-cyclical unilateral lesions are clearly distinct on all sides from the surrounding breast tissue.
They persist over time, and except in the very young, demand some kind of assessment. Although rare, breast cancer can occur in women in their twenties. Assessments in younger women are more difficult due to the dense breast tissue therefore rendering mammograms less accurate. And, since most of these unilateral lesions are benign, mammograms and biopsies deserve a more restrained approach, although continued monitoring and revisiting clinical decisions are very important.

Most commonly dominant masses are either fibroadenomas or gross cysts. A fibroadenoma is a rubbery, smooth, benign, fibrous tumor common in younger women. In women under age 25, it can be observed over time. They generally do not grow bigger. Large cysts are more common in women aged 25 to 50 -- an age group when cancer just begins to appear.

They are softer, squishier, and can be made to disappear by draining them through a needle in the office. Unless they recur frequently, no further treatment is necessary. Recurrent large cysts have been shown to slightly increase cancer risk in some studies but not in others; fibroadenomas do not. Unfortunately, non-cyclical unilateral dominant masses can sometimes be cancerous.

Overview of Alternative Treatments for Cyclic Breast Pain and Swelling

Alternative medicine principles for fibrocystic breast tissue or cyclical pain and swelling include the recognition that the liver is the primary site for estrogen clearance or estrogen metabolism. A compromised liver function can lead to a state of estrogen dominance, contributing to texture and density changes in the breast.

To assure that estrogens are being metabolized properly, it may be necessary to provide nutritional and herbal support for the liver.Digestion and elimination are also fundamental factors involved in a more holistic approach to hormone-related health problems.

Women having fewer than three bowel movements per week have a risk of fibrocystic breasts four to five times greater than women having at least one bowel movement per day. The longer it takes food to move through the colon, the more waste products can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream, creating a potentially toxic physiological environment.

Bacterial flora in the large intestine, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, improves the transit time of bowel toxins, as well as improving the excretion and detoxification of estrogens.

NutritionRemoval of caffeine from the diet is probably the most well-known alternative lifestyle approach for fibrocystic breasts. The first randomized study of a large number of women was conducted by Dr. Virginia Ernster.

One hundred fifty-eight women eliminated all caffeine (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, and caffeinated medications) from their diets for four months.1 There was a significant reduction in clinically palpable breast findings in the abstaining group compared with the control group, although the absolute change in the breast lumps was quite minor and considered to be of little clinical significance. Several other studies provided mixed reports: three studies show no association between methylxanthines and benign breast disease,2,3,4 and two studies show a correlation with caffeine consumption.5,6
Caffeine content of common items

Beverage
Serving Size
Caffeine (mg)
Coffee, drip
5 oz
110-150
Coffee, perk
5 oz
60-125
Coffee, instant
5 oz
40-105
Doffee, decaffeinated
5 oz
2-5
Tea, 5 minutes steep
5 oz
40-100
Tea, 3 minutes steep
5 oz
20-50
Hot cocoa
5 oz
2-10
Coca-Cola
12 oz
45
Food
Serving Size
Caffeine (mg)
Milk chocolate
1 oz
1-15
Bittersweet chocolate
1 oz
5-35
Chocolate cake
1 slice
20-30
OTC Drugs
Dose
Caffeine (mg)
Anacin, Emprin
2
64
Excedrin
2
130
NoDoz
2
200
Aqua-Ban
2
200
Dexatrim
1
200
How dietary fat affects the human breast is confusing and controversial. Reducing the fat content of the diet to 15 percent of total calories, while increasing complex carbohydrate consumption, has been shown to reduce the severity as well as the actual breast swelling and nodularity in some women.

Reducing the dietary fat intake to 20 percent of total calories also results in significant decreases in circulating estradiol. Since fibrocystic breasts are a result of estrogen dominance, it is logical that decreasing estrogens in the body would improve the symptoms of breast pain and swelling.

However, only a slight reduction in fat intake has repeatedly shown very little, if any, effect on breast problems, including breast cancer. A more rigorous approach to lowering the amount of fat in the diet is clearly needed. Of note, women on a vegetarian diet excrete two to three times more detoxified estrogens than women on an omnivorous diet.Nutritional SupplementsVitamin EFor more than 35 years, clinicians have used vitamin E in the medical management of benign breast disease.

This practice was initially based on positive reports from small numbers of patients as far back as 1965, and in subsequent studies in 1971, 1978, and 1982. When larger numbers of women were studied, vitamin E did not show significant effects. However, two studies demonstrated that vitamin E is clinically useful in relieving pain and tenderness, whether cyclical or non-cyclical.7,8 The studies have been done with varying dosages: 150, 300, or 600 IU daily.

In clinical practice, practitioners generally recommend from 400-800 IU of D-alpha-tocopherol with a minimum trial period of two months.Evening Primrose OilThe pain and tenderness of benign breast disease associated with "cyclic mastalgia" have been alleviated with evening primrose oil, the only one of the fatty acids to be scientifically studied in relation to fibrocystic breasts. In a study of 291 women who took three grams per day of evening primrose oil for three to six months, almost half of the 92 women with cyclic breast pain experienced improvement, compared with one-fifth of the patients who received the placebo.

For those women who experienced breast pain throughout the month, 27 percent responded positively to the evening primrose oil, compared to 9 percent on the placebo.9 Another study of 73 women received three grams per day of evening primrose oil or placebo.

After three months, pain and tenderness were significantly reduced in both cyclical and non-cyclical groups, while the women who took placebo did not significantly improve. IodineThyroid hormone with low or even normal thyroid function may result in improvement of fibrocystic breasts.

These results suggest that iodine deficiency may be a factor in fibrocystic breasts. Breast tissue has an affinity for both thyroid hormone and iodine. Without iodine, it becomes more sensitive to estrogenic stimulation, which in turn produces microcysts high in potassium content. The potassium is believed to be an irritant that produces fibrosis and eventually cyst isolation.

Four types of iodine have been studied in the treatment of fibrocystic breasts, only one of which has been truly effective for both pain reduction and cyst reduction, and free of side-effects on the thyroid gland. All forms of iodine relieve subjective clinical symptoms: sodium iodide (Lugol's solution); potassium iodide; caseinated iodine (protein-bound); and aqueous (diatomic) iodine.

Symptom relief varied a great deal with the different iodines, but only the aqueous or diatomic iodine achieved both symptom relief in 74 percent of the women, as well as objective reduction in nodules and resolution of fibrosis in 65 percent of the patients, without adverse effects on the thyroid gland.10 The recommended dose of aqueous iodine is a prescription of 3-6 mg per day.

Other

Supplements that may improve liver function and thereby perhaps promote a more balanced estrogen metabolism include methionine and choline. B vitamins, particularly vitamin B-6, can help the liver to properly metabolize and conjugate estrogens. Probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus may be able to improve the absorption and transport of estrogen by supporting a normalized intestinal microflora environment.

Botanicals

Herbal therapies for addressing the symptoms of breast pain, swelling, and cystic nodules in breast tissue are largely arrived at from traditional uses of herbal medicines and from observational empirical evidence in clinical practice.

Herbal diuretics can be useful in decreasing breast swelling and the discomfort associated with it.

The most effective of these is dandelion leaf, but other diuretics to consider are cleavers, yarrow, and uva ursi. Poke root has been used in traditional naturopathic medical practices for decades. It can be applied topically as an oil to the breasts, reducing painful lumpiness and nodularity.

Herbal support for the liver improves how the liver metabolizes steroid hormones. Traditional herbs that support the liver and the normalization of biochemical steroid pathways may include burdock root, dandelion root, and milk thistle.

Natural Progesterone

Assuming fibrocystic breasts are at least in part due to a high-estrogen, low-progesterone ratio, then it is logical to use progesterone therapy as a treatment. Many practitioners and women have experienced that the application of natural progesterone in a cream or gel routinely solves the problem. It may be that progesterone is desensitizing the breast to estrogen. General use guidelines are tsp twice per day, on days 15 to 27 of the monthly cycle.

Summary

These simple therapies, along with lifestyle modification, generally yield very satisfying results within 1 to 3 months, even in women with significantly painful breasts. Although uncommon, if there is no change after three menstrual cycles, a more aggressive alternative treatment plan must be initiated.

If this does not bring relief, then the conventional medical approaches, to be contemplated in very difficult, unbearable cases with no response from natural therapies, include decreasing hyperinsulinemia, synthetic progestin, Danazol, Tamoxifen and bromocriptene. Many women's medicine healthcare providers agree that the term fibrocystic breast "disease" or "condition" should be abandoned in favor of a more accurate physiologically based description. Benign breast conditions are present in almost all women to some degree.

Moreover, the widespread misconception that women with painful or lumpy breasts are at increased risk of breast cancer is inaccurate. This reinforces misinformation and fear, and obscures the safe and simple means that exist for obtaining relief and reassurance.

References1 Ernster V, Mason L, Goodson W, et al. Effects of caffeine-free diet on benign breast disease: a randomized trial. Surg 1982;912:263-267.2 Lubin F, et al. A case-control study of caffeine and methylxanthine in benign breast disease. JAMA 1985; 253(16)2388-92.3 Shawer C, Brinton L, Hoover R. Methylxanthine and benign breast disease. Am J Epid 1986;124(4): 603-11.4 Marshall J, Graham S, Swanson M. Caffeine consumption and benign breast disease: a case-control comparison. Amer J Pub Health 1982;72(6):610-12.5 La Vecchia C, et al. Benign breast disease and consumption of beverages containing methylxanthines. JNCI 1985;74(5):995-1000.6 Boyle C, et al. Caffeine consumption and fibrocystic breast disease: a case-control epidemiologic study. JNCI 1984;72(5):1015-19.7 London R, et al. Mammary dysplasia: Endocrine parameters and tocopherol therapy. Nutr Res 1982;7:243.8 London R, et al. Endocrine parameters and alpha-tocopherol therapy of patients with mammary dysplasia. Canc Res 1981;41:3811-13.9 Pye J et al. Clinical experience of drug treatment for mastalgia. Lancet 1985;2:373-77.10 Ghent W, et al. Iodine replacement in fibrocystic disease of the breast. Can J Surg 1993. Oct; 35(5):453-60.

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Ask the Experts:How Can I Stop That Ringing In My Ears?

Naturopath Tinnitus is often caused by inflammation of the inner ear, the center for hearing and balance. The primary symptom is ringing in the ear--the same kind of high-pitched hum or tone you'd hear after standing near a speaker at a concert.

Inflammation increases lymphatic fluid in the inner ear, raising the inner-ear pressure and causing stimulation to the auditory nerve, which the brain interprets as sound. To reduce inflammation, try herbal anti-inflammatories like curcumin, devil's claw, or bromelain in tea, tincture, or capsule form.

Decreasing the fluid level with diuretics can also help ease tinnitus symptoms. One of my favorite diuretics is corn silk: Husk an ear of organic corn, roll the silk into a golf ball-sized wad and place it in 2 cups of water, then let it steep for about 10 minutes; mix the water with an equal portion of your favorite herbal tea, and drink. --Evan Fleischmann, N.D., West Milford, N.J.-based spokesman for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians Otolaryngologist A variety of treatments can be used for tinnitus, but no single approach works for everyone.

One of the most common is counseling--not to get rid of the sound, but to understand and cope with the tinnitus. This usually involves behavior modification therapy, which teaches relaxation techniques to help eliminate the anxiety that many people experience as a result of the condition. It's best to consult a psychologist specifically trained in tinnitus. There are machines that can replicate the sound you're hearing to distract you from the noise in your head.

These include hearing aid-like apparatuses and tabletop white-noise devices. To prevent tinnitus, avoid exposure to loud noises. Also limit the amount of products you take containing aspirin, since aspirin may worsen symptoms. Caffeine is a stimulant and irritant to hearing cells, so you should avoid it as well. --Cindy Go, M.D., Ph.D., spokeswoman for the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery Dietitian Multiple studies have linked tinnitus to high levels of insulin in the blood, so try following a diabetic diet: Cut calories to maintain your ideal body weight, and get 50 percent of your calories from carbohydrates, 30 percent from fat, and 20 percent from protein at every meal.

Tinnitus is a component of Meniere's disease, a condition that includes vertigo and fluctuating hearing loss. In one study, long-term management of Meniere's included a diet avoiding all processed foods and limiting daily salt intake to about 1 gram. Enhance food flavors with lemon juice, herbs, and spices instead. Research shows that elevated blood fats may cause inner-ear malfunction. Follow a low-fat diet by avoiding fatty meats, high-fat cheeses, fried foods, and commercially baked foods. And remember: Just because a product has no trans fat doesn't mean it's low in fat. --
Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D., spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association

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Sharpening Your Memory With Coffee?

Seems there's been an increasing number of studies extolling the virtues of drinking coffee as of late, including a new one that suggests drinking two cups may be enough to keep your memory sharp.

Two cups contain 100 milligrams of caffeine -- the most widely used and cheapest drug in the world -- which increases activity in the frontal lobe of the brain responsible for short-term memory (recalling information like a phone number you looked up online) and the anterior cingulate cortex that controls your attention span.

Fifteen male patients drank 100 milligrams of caffeine dissolved in water or plain water over two days. Every man improved their reaction times on memory tests after drinking caffeine, and not the placebo. Although how caffeine works on your brain is unknown, for now anyway, researchers suspect it may have something to do with how this chemical interacts with the brain's nerve cells or small blood vessels.

All the good news aside, drinking coffee is, at best, problematic, as it can interfere with your body's ability to keep cholesterol levels in check and increases your risk of stroke.


And, if you think going decaf is any safer for you, guess again...

Forbes.com November 30, 2005