Relaxing In the Sun: Good Preventative Medicine

Vitamin D has been in the news quite a bit lately, with a variety of studies publicized that link a number of serious health issues to vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D has been long established as a critical factor in bone strength and calcium absorption, its benefit proven years ago when it's deficiency was definitively linked to the childhood disease rickets.

However, further studies have indicated that vitamin D deficiency can contribute to a long list of other ailments, many more than previously thought. Evidence has emerged that suggests links between insufficient levels of vitamin D and autoimmune illnesses, chronic pain, cancer, depression, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders, autism, heart disease, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, and many others. Vitamin D deficiency has been shown to severely weaken the immune system, factoring in the spread of viral illnesses like influenza and the common cold.

Most vitamin D in the body is produced by exposure to sunlight. Many people, heeding warnings by health care professionals about skin cancer prevention, are restricting their exposure to the sun with the use of sunscreen or by remaining indoors. This trend has made maintaining an adequate level of vitamin D in the system difficult, resulting in deficient levels in approximately 40% of adults. Deficiency rates are highest among people of color, as skin pigmentation blocks a portion of the ultraviolet light to which it is exposed, but is a prevalent problem in all segments of the population.

While preventing skin cancer is certainly important, evidence is mounting that a moderate amount of sun exposure is critical to good health, and supplements may be wise in the winter months when sunlight is weakest. Some experts suggest that just an hour of sunshine a day can be enough to prevent deficiency in the summer months.

There is a lot more information on the subject available, with some of the articles and studies I found most interesting and informative linked in the text....but be sure to step away from the screen for a few minutes to enjoy a bit of sunshine, guilt free...

"Natural" Colic Remedy Recall Due To Potential Parasite Contamination

From an Associated Press report published in the Mercury News:

"California health officials on Wednesday warned parents not to give their children a liquid herbal supplement that is marketed as a remedy for colic and teething pain because several bottles tested positive for a parasite that may have a sickened a 6-week-old infant in Minnesota.

Lab tests conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium, a parasite that can cause diarrhea and intestinal infections, in unopened bottles of apple-flavored Baby's Bliss Gripe Water, according to the state health department. The supplement's s distributor, MOM Enterprises of San Rafael, has recalled about 17,600 bottles of the product that were being sold through the Internet and at retail stores nationwide, the health department said."

I'm not a big fan of herbal supplements for babies, especially when they are just 6 weeks old. They're too little and they're too new. Herbs are plants, and their medicinal content can vary according to soil conditions, growing area, etc. Babies are just so tiny that a little too much of something can have a real effect. So, natural or not, I lean towards being very cautious about what I give an infant.

For colic, there is a much more natural solution -- breastfeeding. That is the best thing you can do to prevent colic and you certainly don't have to worry about any recall related issues... unless you've got chemical filled implants.

Beyond Drugs: Pain Management Strategies

Chronic pain can suck the joy right out of life, leaving the sufferer physically miserable, as well as mentally exhausted and even depressed. For many, drugs just are not the answer, offering only partial relief or relief that fades all too fast, as the body becomes tolerant of the medication, demanding more and more, until finally the pain relieving medication no longer is effective.

Yet another set of recent clinical studies have demonstrated the value of a more integrated approach to pain management. As has been shown with back pain, for those suffering from some types arthritis, there is some indication that therapies that seek to increase and improve movement can be helpful not only for managing pain, but also for helping to prevent further injury.

Meditation has also shown promise to aid in the management of chronic pain, as well as its associated stress, anxiety and depression. While meditation is much more common in the Eastern part of the world, it is starting to become a much more mainstream concept here in the West.

Chronic pain is tough to live with, and all too frequently cannot be controlled by drugs alone. Exploring the possibilities of a more integrated and holistic approach can make a real difference in overall quality of life.

Welcome To Natural Health and Alternative Medicine Information

My name is Sharon Secor and I am a freelance writer and single parent, which means I definitely understand the effects of the high cost of health care today. It was the high cost of care and being poor that pushed me into the study of natural health and alternative medicine many years ago, long before I became a single parent.

From there, I began to learn about the history of Western medicine, the dangers associated with many of the treatment and pharmeceutical fads Western medicine went through and is still experiencing, and the value – not only to the pocket – of learning about how to use herbs and other natural remedies. I also began to study nutrition as a means of achieving and maintaining health, as well as its role in fighting and healing disease.

However, I do not discount the value of Western-style modern medicine. I have three children that were born prematurely, two of which would not be here without the seemingly miraculous feats accomplished by modern Western medicine.

With this blog, my sister, Melinda Secor – who spent more than 15 years working in health care before she made the shift into freelance writing – and I plan to offer practical, useful information as we explore the issues and subjects associated with natural health and alternative medicine.