Devil’s Club
Oplopanax horridum popularly known as the devil’s club/devil’s walking stick, is a very big understory shrub, found from Alaska down through the westernmost Canadian provinces and into Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. It is also found in the Great Lakes area. The name Oplopanax is a compound word hailing from the Greek όπλο or oploweapon…
Acupuncture May Reduce Chronic Pain
An analysis of patient data from 29 randomized controlled trials suggests that acupuncture may be better than no acupuncture or sham acupuncture for the treatment of some chronic pain, according to a report published online first by the Archives of Internal Medicine. Acupuncture, the practice of inserting and stimulating needles at specific points on the…
Acupuncture May Aid Weight Loss
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009-2010) two out of every three American adults are overweight or obese. So it’s no surprise that many people include losing weight on their New Year’s resolution list. As Americans gear up to watch what they eat and hit the gym, the National Certification Commission for…
Starting a Fitness Program
So you are thinking about starting a fitness program huh? This could well be something that you have thought over time and time again with nothing to show for your thoughts. If this is so, you are certainly not alone, as tens and hundreds of thousands of people seem to have these re-occurring thoughts of…
A Natural Remedy for Mild Anxiety
Background Mild or occasional anxiety is a common complaint. Herbal preparations have long been a mainstay for maintaining a healthy, adaptive response to everyday stress and promoting restful sleep. Lavandula angustifolia is the most common species of lavender utilized for health purposes. Lavender is native to the Mediterranean, the Arabian Peninsula, Russia and Africa. Throughout…
A Great Breakfast Alternative
Ingredients: 1 cup raw almonds 1 cup raw sunflower seeds 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds 1 cup steel cut oats Place ingredients in a bowl and fill with water 1 inch above seeds and grains, stir and rinse well in a colander. Return to the bowl and add water to within 1 inch above seeds…
A Good Yeast: Saccharomyces boulardii
There is no doubt that not all yeasts are your friends, but this one is! Saccharomyces boulardii is a true “biotic” which has been shown to have beneficial effects by improving intestinal microbalance. Specifically, S. boulardii functions in the modulation of both innate immunity by activating the complement system, and adaptive immunity by boosting the…
A Golden Gem For Brain Health
We are constantly stressed with deadlines and pressured to produce tasks faster and with more efficiency. In today’s workforce, our mental clarity plays a major role in delivering quality work. Practices to help think more clearly may include better sleep, controlled anxiety, and brain supplements. One such “brain supplement” with research bragging rights is curcumin,…
A Day in the Life of a Diabetic
Bob wakes up every morning with anticipation of getting a good breakfast and making the most of his day. But before he can start preparing his meal, he sits down at the breakfast table, and punches a hole in his finger to draw blood, so he can test his blood glucose (bg). Once he gets …
A change of Pace for Runners
Whether you are training for a 5k or are a beginner, running is a great form of exercise to gain or regain cardiovascular health and overall strength. Once you have become consistent at jogging, you can try and change your regular pattern of straight-ahead running, whether on a running track or the road, for more…
