Mammography screening not increase your chances of being cured ... Or

Mammography screening not increase your chances of being cured ... Or survive LONGERPosted: Farid fmEarly diagnosis of breast cancer by mammography produces high cure rates and longer survival without increasing the number of women cured or prolong their life. � How can that be It is a sleight of hand with numbers.Survival, when it comes to breast cancer statistics, is defined as living five years after diagnosis of cancer. The Cure is defined as the disease being free five years after diagnosis. A woman dies of breast cancer more than five years after his diagnosis still can be included in the statistics as a quot; curaquot;. A woman with slowgrowing cancer of the breast with metastasis to live, on average, 15 years after the onset of cancer. A mammogram can detect a slowgrowing cancer of the breast when it comes eight years. (15 to 8 = 7 years.) If this woman dies seven years after his diagnosis, which is counted as quot; curadoquot;, because he lived for more than 5 years.The same slow growth of breast cancer metastasis will be 11 or 12 years after its start, when he noticed a woman who does not touch or have regular breast mammograms. (Women who are breast selfexamination regularly or breast selfmassage usually notice a slowgrowing cancer nine years after its creation, only a twofold larger than the visible light with a mammogram.) This woman will live as long as women whose cancer is discovered by mammogram, but can not be quot; curarquot; did not want to live for five years. (15 to 11 = 4 years). Healing is only a statistic. There is no difference in the number of years lived after the onset of cancer, no difference in life span, only a difference in the number of years lived after T diagnosis.AREN # 39; MAMMOGRAMS RESCUE for women over 55 In several studies, annual mammograms for women over 55 years and reduced breast cancer mortality by one third. But this does not mean no risk of a woman is reduced by one third, according to Dr. Peter Skrabenek, a critic of mass screening. Moreover, women who participated in these studies received mammographic very successful regular physical examination of her breasts, which by itself, without the risk reduce mortality from breast cancer. The vast majority of breast cancers in older women are slow growing, metastases, and not life threatening, no matter when found.IS THERE A less risky way to participate in mammography The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the national health plans in England, Holland, Italy and Sweden, mammography screening is recommended no more than every two years and only after menopause. Several studies show no benefit to annual mammograms. Once every two or three years gives the same reduction in mortality for five years, with less radiation risk to individuals and society, and in much less cost.ARE THERE OTHER ways to find breast cancer early Addition to physical examination and breast selfmassage, thermography and ultrasound safety tests are available to women wishing to avoid mammograms. Thermography gives an idea of the heat patterns in breast (cancer are hotter than the surrounding tissues). Ultrasound bounces sound waves off the breast tissue to measure its density (the cancer is more dense than the surrounding tissues). Other techniques used in breast tissue of the image, as digital mammography and dependent on the radioactivity scans and are inherently unsafe.IF decide to have a MAMMOGRAMGet the best, even if it means a long journey.Go where they specialize in preference when they do at least 20 mammograms a day.Be sure the facility is accredited by the American College of Radiology.Insist on staff who specialize in mammography. (Taking the reading and mammograms are skills that require intensive training and a lot of practice.) Request the age of the team is. New equipment breasts exposed to less radiation. A special unit (one specifically for mammography) is best.Ask how to ensure quality control. When his unit was calibrated Upload your blood with carotene for one week before the mammogram to prevent radiation damage to his DNA.Expect be cold and discomfort during mammography, but not say anything if you're being more compressed hurt.The of tissue breast, mammography clearer. (But pressure can spread cancer cells if present.) If your breasts are tender, reschedule. During their childbearing years, mammograms 710 calendar days after using antiperspirant t begins.Don their menstrual flow, which contains aluminum, but may interfere with the imaging process. (These stones contain aluminum clear, as most commercial deodorants do). If you want another opinion, you have the original mammogram films, not copies. (Xray services only keep the movies for 7 years.) Get your doctor to agree, in writing, before the procedure, to give a copy of your mammogram. The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that women seek in writing the results of a large percentage of the mammogram.Given quot; normalquot false; of mammography, if you think you have cancer, trust your intuition.Remove radioactive isotopes of his body burdock root, seaweed, or miso.Mammograms not promote breast health. Breast selfmassage, breast selfexam, and changes in lifestyle do.Women discover breast cancer have the most time (90% of the time according to a study of English). Monthly breast selfexam (or breast selfmassage) provides early detection at a lower cost, without risk and more pleasure that each year of breast cancer detection mammograms.Most (80%) are slow growing, taking between 42 and 300 days to double in size. A yearly mammogram could find these cancers 816 months before they can feel, but this quot; precozquot detection, does little to improve the already excellent longevity of women with slow growth, not a breast metastasis cancers.The 20% of breast cancers are fastgrowing are the troublemakers. You can double in size in 21 days. Monthly breast selfexaminations are much more likely to find these cancers are aggressive annual mammograms. (A 21double cancer day is visible on a mammogram just six weeks before they can be felt.) If you examine your breasts massage or six times a year, you can take action faster and faster chips. If you rely solely on mammograms, cancer can grow undetected for months.In a look at the last 60,000 breast cancer diagnoses in the United States, 67% were found by the woman or her doctor and more than half of these were not visible on a mammogram while 33% were discovered by mammography. (This may seem a large number of cancers found by mammography, but most of them were in situ cancers, a controversial type of cancer you can but often not progress to invasive cancer.) Green Blessings.About the AuthorSusun weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12,498 Fax: 18452468081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.ashtreepublishing.com www.susunweed.com and vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has earned an international reputation for its groundbreaking lectures, teachings and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly prowoman, her animated and enthusiastic participation conferences are often deeply provocative. Susun is one of the best known authorities in the United States in herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four bestselling books are recommended by expert herbalists and wellknown physicians and are used and appreciated by millions of women around the years world.Menopausal Simply the use of herbs and SafelyPlants feed, clothe, house us, heal us , and kill us. Theres no way around it, when you use herbs, you need to be alert and aware. Here are some ways to use herbs to make sure youre safely.Identify all plants to be used by botanical name (eg Leonurus cardiaca). Only buy herbs that are labeled with the botanical name. The botanical name is specific to a single plant, while the common names overlap and may vary. Sage refers to at least five plants in at least two different families, but only means sage.Use Salvia officinalis herb garden just in a moment. Learn everything you can about an herb. Read books, experiment on yourself, others, pets, hear their stories of the elderly. If you discover that your herbal ally who likes to work with partners, in par with other herbs one at time.Seek the value of weeds in the door. Learn about, eating, or used as a remedy, a wild food or medicine that grows in your yard or lot about this year. When you make your own medicines and healing foods that eliminate one of the possible dangers of using raw herb: a mistaken identity (or the correct label, grass wrong). Not that you can not make mistakes, but youre more likely to catch their own mistake of someone elses. When you make your own medicines and healing foods that are fresh, energetic and in tune with you and your environment. You'll also feel better as you become more aware of the vitality and abundance of nature with soft expression everywhere.Begin nutritious and invigorating herbal infusions and vinegars. Look carefully for side effects during the first 24 hours the first time you use any new plant. Do not worry if your system has a couple of tries to find a way to digest a new food / herb, this is normal. Use of herbal tinctures after it has some basis in the use of herbs as foods and teas. Start with the lowest recommended dose and build slowly if needed.Build a foundation of trust in the healing effectiveness of plants through the use of remedies for minor problems before tackling serious concerns.Gather or join a support group of people interested in selfcare and home remedies and consult with them when you feel uncertain.Respect power plants, strong enough to act as stimulants, sedatives, and most drugs (such as opium) affect the body and spirit a powerful way and can be useful only in minute doses.Respect the individuality of every plant, every person, every situation.Remember that you become whole and healed in their own unique way, like you. Plants can help in this process. People can help this process. (Animals, too.) But each individual body / spirit is healing / wholing itself. Dont expect plants to be cure alls.Respect the difference between the herbs used in step 3 nutritious and invigorating herbs and used in steps 4 and 5 of stimulants, sedatives and herbs.Nourishing toxic herbs are the safest of all herbs Side effects are very rare. Nourishing herbs in general, be taken in any amount at any time. They are foods, like leafy greens, garlic, and carrots are. Provide high level of nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, trace elements, starches, simple sugars and complex, bioflavonoids, carotenoids, and essential fatty acids (EFAs). The nutritive herbs in Wise Woman Ways of years of menopause are: alfalfa, borage, calendula, chamomile, chickweed, Cornsilk, Comfrey, larger flowers or berries, fennel, fenugreek, lemon balm, mallow, nettle, oats, banana, raspberry, red clover, seaweed, sweet briar (hips), St. Joans Wort (Hypericum perforatum), elm, and violet.Tonifying herbs act slowly in the body and have a cumulative rather than immediate effect. Most beneficial when used in small amounts over long periods of time. Side effects are slightly more common with tonics. (Note that many equate stimulating herbal tonics herbs, leading to misuse and unintended side effects.) The more the bitter taste tonic, less need for it. Bland tonics may be used as nutritious herbs in quantity. Nearly half of the herbs in the most rational way for the menopausal years are stressed, including: birch, black cohosh, molasses, chaste tree, dandelion, dong quai, echinacea, false unicorn, ginseng, hawthorn , horsetail, ladys mantle, Motherwort, peony, sarsaparilla, the spikenard, wild yam, and yellow dock.Sedating / Promotion of herbs cause a variety of generally fast reactions, some of which may be undesirable. Prolonged use can lead to dependence, sedative / stimulant herbs are best used in moderate doses for relatively short periods of time. Side effects are common, there may be loss of tone or a rebound / manic effect when the grass is no longer taken. Some parts of the person may be stressed in order to help other regions. sedative / stimulant herbs in the most rational way for the menopausal years are: catnip, cinnamon, ginger, hops, licorice, myrrh, passion flower, poplar, primrose, sage, skullcap, valerian grape sauce, verbena, Ursi, and wintergreen. toxic herbs are potential poisons and potent medicines. They activate intense effort on the part of the body and spirit. Toxic herbs are taken in small amounts for very short periods of time. Unexpected side effects are common when toxic herbs are used, regardless of their power. Increase your knowledge of herbs and a sense of security when contemplating the use of a toxic herb by consulting other herbal references and several experienced herbalists. It is especially important to check possible side effects of toxic herbs if you are allergic to any foods or medicines. The toxic herbs in the most rational way for the years of the menopause are, root, cayenne cotton, gold, Liferoot, poke root, rue, sweet clover (Melilotus), and the blessings wormseed.Green! About Woodstock AuthorSusun Weed PO Box 64, NY 12,498 Fax: 18452468081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.ashtreepublishing.com www.susunweed.com and permission to reprint this article, contact us at : susunweed@herbshealing.com vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has earned an international reputation for its groundbreaking lectures, teachings and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly prowoman, her animated and enthusiastic participation conferences are often deeply provocative. Susun is one of the best known authorities in the United States in herbal medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four bestselling books are recommended by expert herbalists and wellknown physicians and are used and appreciated by millions of women around the world. Learn more at www.susunweed.comPremenstrual cravings can be tamed! Premenstrual cravings for carbohydrates have been known to women for years. While women with compulsive eating problems will really ratchet into high gear when they are premenstrual, even women whose eating patterns are normal, will realize higher cravings during the week before my daughter and I periods.When PMS was researching our book, quot; mean you do not have to feel this way quot;, we wanted to know if there are medical reasons for women experience menstrual cravings pronounced. To find out, we went to scientists who were the first researchers on the subject. Dr. Richard J. Wurtman, professor of neurology and brain chemistry and his wife, Dr. Judith Wurtman, a cell biologist and nutritionist, were the first to discover the fascinating data in both the quot; by qu�quot; of carbohydrate cravings and premenstrual new way to tame the beast. His research showed that depression, cravings for carbohydrates, and other symptoms of PMS can be significantly reduced with antidepressant medication or judgments eat certain foods that are rich in complex carbohydrates. His theory is that supplying the brain with a minimum of good (complex) carbohydrates prevents women starving themselves and going wild. � How to get to this theory To find out, my daughter Gabrielle and I interviewed Judith Wurtman at an office near his lab at MIT. Wurtman told us he had begun to think in a scientific basis for premenstrual cravings after hearing countless stories of their female patients about changes in their eating habits at the time of menstruation. quot; Just before their periods many have an overwhelming desire for sweets and starchy foods. Hear say quot; I could kill for chocolate! quot; The Wurtmans wanted to know if women really increase your intake of food the sweet and starchy food in particular quot; or just think they do it because his desire is so pronunciada.quot; These researchers analyzed a group women who were experiencing symptoms of PMS and another group who were not. All were given a choice of a variety of foods some high in carbohydrates (potatoes, rice, cookies, candy, crackers), and other high protein (chicken, cheese, tuna salad). quot; What encontramosquot, said Judith told us, quot; was that women with premenstrual syndrome were eating large amounts of foods rich in carbohydrates, but only for about three or four days before their periods. The control of women women without PMS Do not t increase their food intake throughout quot;. The two scientists had the same women consumed a meal of carbohydrates at the beginning and end of their menstrual cycle. The food was a big bowl of cornflakes quot; a neutral, highcarbohydrate foods of carbonoquot, said Judith Wurtman. Before eating dinner mood of women have tried Is it happy, sad, irritable And again an hour later. The reason for this Eating a large carbohydrate meal increases the level of serotonin in the brain, Wurtman continued. quot; And when serotonin in the brain that there is greater improvement in certain types of emotional states. People feel less depressed, calmer, less irritable, more focused, less confusing, less distracted, more tranquil. We knew that if carbohydrates in this case corn flakes are going to do anything, I probably would by increasing serotonin. quot; After the meal, the women reported that they were actually less depressed. quot; They were substantially quieter, much less tired and more alertaquot;, Wurtman said. quot; This was a wonderful discovery because it means that when women choose to eat carbohydrates at the end of their menstrual cycle, they are doing in order to feel better. And we confirmed that this brain chemical, serotonin may be involved in some of the mood swings of PMS. quot; And what about eating more carbohydrates premenstrual Wurtman told us that she thinks that in the week or so before they get their periods of women must go to a quot; highcarbohydrate comer.quot mode; This high intake of carbohydrates will not continue forever, because it has its own natural beginning, middle and end. And, of course, as a way of eating does not mean fat. What Wurtman was suggested that premenstrual women eating complex carbohydrates like rice, potatoes, pasta, lentils, beans, quot; along with, perhaps, some sweet carbohydrates if your desire is strong enough for alimentos.quot; The Wurtmans were among the pioneers the use of antidepressants in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome, in the 80 and 90. Today, the gold standard for medical treatment of PMS is a very low dose of antidepressant medication must be taken only during PMS week. Unlike antidepressant drugs taken for depression, which can take weeks to build at an appropriate level in the bloodstream, the same drug used to treat premenstrual syndrome shows a positive effect on the day of the first to suffer taken.Women both depression and premenstrual syndrome often find that they become depressed and / or irritable during the week before their periods, even when the drug protects the mood swings the rest of the month. In such cases, suggests adding psychopharmacologist very low doses of other medicines sometimes drops Prozac week.About only during the premenstrual AuthorColette Dowling, LMSW, is a psychotherapist in private practice in New York. Ms. Dowling has written many books on women and mental health issues, including the Cinderella complex: women's hidden fear of independence, an international bestseller, and quot; Mean you do not have to feel this way : Help for depression, anxiety and drug addiction quot;. Excerpts from his books can be found at www.colettedowling.com. His articles on specific aspects of women's mental health can be found at www.womenswellnessandmentalhealth.com.Inflammation, insulin resistance and PCOSPCOS long been associated with insulin resistance, and many in the medical community believe that insulin resistance is the underlying cause of PCOS. Some data suggest that inflammation that cause insulin resistance. Researchers at the University of California at San Diego argue that the inflammation induced by immune cells called macrophages leads to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Their research in mice indicates that in the absence of inflammation, obesity alone does not cause insulin resistance. This means that according to this study, some inflammatory mediators are necessary for the development of insulin resistance.If this is true, one can extrapolate the data indicate that women with PCOS do not develop insulin resistance unless the Inflammation is also implicated. This really makes sense, would have to prove that all women with PCOS have signs of inflammation. This is easier said than done! Research published in 2005, an examination of insulin resistance and inflammatory markers in obese and nonobese women with PCOS showed that all women with PCOS had elevated levels of inflammatory markers.On Moreover, a study published in European Union Journal of Endocrinology in 2004 concluded that PCOS is not necessarily related to inflammation after comparing the levels of inflammatory markers CRP and IL6 in women with PCOS with a control group. The authors write, quot; ... BMI was the parameter most closely associated with IL6 and CRP in PCOS ... In PCOS, the risk of type 2 diabetes may ... be limited to people with obesity and / or metabolic alterations rather than affecting all women suffering from the syndrome quot;. In other words, lean women with PCOS may be less likely to have elevated inflammatory markers as their overweight counterparts PCOS.A with similar trend was also noted in a 2003 study examining the effects of metformin therapy reducing CRP levels in women with PCOS, where researchers suggest that elevated CRP is associated with obesity rather than PCOS itself.Another article published in September 2007 in Gynecological Endocrinology found that obesity, rather than inflammatory markers, represented the biggest factor in predicting whether women with PCOS will develop heart disease and / or type 2 diabetes.Perhaps the contradictory results may reflect the fact that the community of women with PCOS is very diverse, not only ethnic but phenotypically (ie, the physical manifestation of the disease). Moreover, these studies have a relatively small number of participants, usually less than 100 people. Both factors may confound the attempt to simplify the issues of finding the underlying cause of PCOS and even the historical difficulty in establishing criteria for the diagnosis PCOS.In definitive conclusion, we clearly need more studies with larger number of participants to determine the relationship between inflammation and insulin resistance in PCOS, and how these factors relate to hormonal imbalance and cardiovascular risk factors. This is important because it could dictate changes in treatment strategies for women with PCOS. In addition, more attention should be paid attention to the ethnic diversity of this population with a focus on trends in the future consideration of the specific ethnic groups.About the AuthorFor more about insulin resistance, inflammation and hormonal changes of PCOS, please visit www. pcos.insulitelabs.com. Dr. Sari CohenPMS And Back Painite is no secret that many women suffer through their monthly periods, experiencing cramps, bloating and lower back pain, to name a few. However, a large number of themestimated anywhere from 30 to 90 percentalso endure the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Most women feel some discomfort before their periods. But if you have PMS may feel so anxious, depressed or uncomfortable that you can not cope at home or work.What causes PMS Nobody knows for sure what causes PMS or why some months are worse than others, but PMS is often linked to changes in hormone levels that occur during a woman's menstrual cycle. PMS is not caused by stress or psychological problems, although they may worsen symptoms. quot; probably not enough magnesium to dietaquot, says Dr. Carolyn Dean, who specializes in managing and healing commonly misdiagnosed as chronic diseases such as hormonal imbalance, and mood swings. quot; The recommended daily allowance of magnesium is 350400 milligrams (mg) per day, but for optimal health you may have the doble.quot; Dean, who serves on the medical advisory board of the Institute of Health Back, suggests taking magnesium supplements to prevent or ease PMS symptoms, including back pain due to water retention. She recommends magnesium citrate and taurate and spraying magnesium oil that is absorbed through your skin.Some researchers have found that calcium levels are lower in women with PMS and that calcium supplementation can reduce the severity of symptoms. One study, for example, reported that 300 mg of calcium carbonate four times a day significantly reduced bloating, depression, pain and mood swings.How is PMS diagnosed There is no single test to diagnose PMS, but because thyroid disease is common in women of childbearing age, and because some of the symptoms of weight PMSsuch as gainare similar to symptoms of thyroid disease, the doctor may do a thyroid test. This can help rule out a thyroid problem as the cause of their symptoms. Often a doctor will suggest you keep a diary to track your symptoms for a few months.How is PMS usually treated Drugs that are commonly prescribed include diuretics to help rid the body of excess sodium and fluid, which can ease bloating, weight gain, chest pain, abdominal pain and backache. Antidepressants can help with the severe irritability, depression and anxiety that some women with premenstrual syndrome. Los m�dicos a menudo recetan p�ldoras anticonceptivas para ayudar a reducir algunos s�ntomas del s�ndrome premenstrual por la noche a los niveles hormonales durante su cycle.Experts tambi�n recomendamos que realice algunos cambios en la dieta sencilla y estilo de vida. Estos incluyen comer m�s hidratos de carbono complejos (tales como panes integrales, pasta y cereales), m�s fibra y prote�na, y m�s alimentos ricos en potasio (como el pescado, frijoles, y el br�coli). Otras cosas que puede hacer: reducir el consumo de az�car y grasas, evitar la sal yodada (para reducir la hinchaz�n y la retenci�n de l�quidos) tratar las sales marinas, eliminar o reducir el consumo de cafe�na y alcohol, tener al menos ocho horas de sue�o cada noche, y recibe regularmente aer�bica exerciseeven un corto paseo cada d�a puede ayudar. De hecho, la investigaci�n ha demostrado que de frequencyrather ejercicio puede disminuir la intensidad del PMS symptoms.Are hay tratamientos alternativos Seg�n un estudio realizado en 2004 en el diario de medicina alternativa y complementaria, una intervenci�n sin drogas que pueden proporcionar alivio del s�ndrome premenstrual es algo que se llama quot;qigong externos. quot; En primer lugar, un poco de contexto: el qi humano proviene de dos fuentes principales: uno, sus padres, y, dos, sustancias esenciales en la naturaleza como el aire, el agua y los alimentos. Ambos qi sourcesinherited y adquiri� energiesare vital refinado y transformado por nuestro organs.By comer una dieta saludable y respirar aire fresco, la teor�a, los extractos del cuerpo de sus esencias m�s valiosas y las utiliza para ayudar a formar la energ�a vital. Siguiendo estos principios simples son los primeros pasos hacia la creaci�n de un equilibrio saludable en el Qigong externo body.In, un profesional entrenado dirige su propio Qi hacia el exterior, con la intenci�n de ayudar a liberar obstrucciones de los pacientes, eliminar el qi negativo, y equilibrar el flujo de qi en el cuerpo, aliviando as� el dolor y ayudar al cuerpo a deshacerse de ciertas enfermedades. Los cient�ficos en Corea del Sur informan que el qigong pueden mejorar muchos de los s�ntomas asociados con el PMS, y que puede funcionar tan bien como los m�todos m�s tradicionales de techniquessuch relief.Other como ejercicios de respiraci�n, meditaci�n, aromaterapia, y yogafocus en la reducci�n de la tensi�n y promover la relajaci�n. Es este sentido, tambi�n es aconsejable (siempre que sea factible) para programar eventos que esperan sea stressfulthat gran reuni�n familiar, por examplefor la semana despu�s de su per�odo. Y debido a que muchas mujeres parecen ser m�s sensibles en las semanas antes de su per�odo menstrual, los expertos sugieren a la relajaci�n de tiempo personal para relajarse, dejar salir emociones reprimidas, y se centran en cosas que alimentar a su spirit.You tambi�n puede intentar el aceite de onagra, un aceite vegetal que contiene �cido gammalinol�nico, que es una omega6 �cidos grasos esenciales. El �cido gammalinol�nico est� implicado en el metabolismo de sustancias similares a hormonas llamadas prostaglandinas que regulan el dolor y la inflamaci�n en el cuerpo. Otros remedios naturales utilizados para el PMS: ginkgo, la vitamina E, jalea real, diente de le�n, el �ame silvestre, proantocianidinas oligom�ricas (OPC), uva de oso, hierba de San Juan, la crema de progesterona, as� como proteol�ticas sist�mica Enzymes.About la AuthorIf ha disfrutado de este art�culo, y le gustar�a tener m�s informaci�n en las alternativas de tratamiento del dolor de espalda suscribirse a nuestro dolor de espalda de asesoramiento y que se una a los cerca de 1 mill�n de personas que han recibido este cambio de vida de la informaci�n. Por favor visite nuestro nuevo sitio Web en losethebackpain.com / para los art�culos m�s informativos, videos y Triumph abierto forums.My esposa sobre nada uterino FibroidsThere bastante como sentarse en un descenso n�tido domingo por la ma�ana a escribir sobre el �tero de mi esposa. Supongo que podr�a haber escrito algo gen�rico sobre el tema de los fibromas uterinos, pero yo prefiero escribir historias personales sobre experiencias de la vida real que tienen el potencial de inspirar y motivar a readers.It Todo comenz� un a�o despu�s nos casamos. During our first year of marriage, like most couples, our focus was on starting a family, which means we did our best to make this happen. Hasta ahora, por lo que Good.but despu�s de casi un a�o de intentar sin �xito, comenz� a preguntarse si algo no est� bien. Nos fuimos a ver al especialista en fertilidad, el primero que pidi� a la edad de mi esposa, entonces tom� una muestra de sangre para medir su nivel de hormona fol�culo estimulante (FSH), que es la hormona principal que participan en la producci�n de �vulos maduros. Luego hizo una prueba de ultrasonido para comprobar su uterus.When que nos dieron los resultados, se habr�a sentido mejor si hab�an utilizado una escopeta. At age 39, my wife had an FSH score of 12 (the probability of conception at anything over 10 is practically zero). No s�lo eso, sino que tambi�n encontraron tres fibromas uterinos en tres �reas diferentes, o los niveles, en el forro de su mala noticia uterus.How nos estimul� en actionI#39;ll de repuesto que la pena y el dolor que pasamos ese d�a se nos dijo daythe que nunca tendr�a un hijo. I can tell you that when bad news arrives, I feel the same emotion of despair, pain and frustration as anyone else in the same circumstances. I must also admit that I have expressed my rage in a torrent of choice words (mostly Rrated). Para m�, fue la liberaci�n que necesitaba, y fue el primer paso en nuestro camino hacia recovery.For tan r�pido como la mala noticia ha creado una sensaci�n de desesperanza, mi esposa y yo fuera capaz de dejar de lado los negativos y comenzar a para centrarse en lo que podemos hacer m�s que lo que no pod�a. Within 12 months of that terrible day, we finalized the adoption of our daughter, Jessica Taylor.In fact, from the first day we signed any paperwork to the time we were standing in front of a judge, it took only 10 monthsa land speed record in the world of domestic infant adoption. Jessica will be 5 next month, and if my wife and I had simply sat by and gotten negative and depressed, she surely would not be in our lives today.What you need to knowWhile not truly understanding what a uterine fibroid tumor was at the time and only hearing the word quot;tumor,quot; I immediately went to work to learn everything I could about them. And, like anything else, the answer is out thereyou just have to ask the right questions, find the right people, and knock on the right doors.Of course, the doctor we had only wanted to sell us a $20,000 Egg donor fertility package. He could not have cared one bit about the fibroids and the emotions my wife was experiencing when she learned she had themlet alone offer us a solution.The first bit of good news I found was that fibroids are rarely cancerous. In fact, some are even asymptomatic, meaning they have no symptoms. Many women, however, experience symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, bowel and bladder irregularity, and painful or uncomfortable sex. In some case, fibroids can cause a distended abdomen.What exactly are fibroidsUterine fibroid tumors are small, solid collections of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue that can develop in various parts of the uterus.What causes themNo one really knows why they develop, but there is a wellestablished correlation between fibroids and hormonal imbalancesspecifically, higher estrogen levels and lower progesterone levels.Being in an estrogendominant state should not come as a surprise to women these dayseven up to premenopausal agesbecause of the widespread use of birth control pills and even the large amounts of soy we all eat. Yes, I said soy.The best way to overcome a challenge is to overwhelm itIf you suspect (or know) that you have a uterine fibroid, please seek proper medical attention. In our case, were not offered treatment, which is common. The typical recommendation is to do nothing but wait and see what happens.Well, we weren#39;t going to wait until these fibroids got to be the size of bowling balls before we took any action. (Personal observation: sometimes when we are faced with a medical situation that is not lifethreatening, we tend sit back and hope that things will get better on their own. Seldom do we decide to attack the problem from as many different angles as possibleall at once, in an effort to overwhelm it, stop it, or at least control it as quickly as possible.)My wife found her solution in enzymesMy wife had been off any birth control for a while before she found out she had fibroids. However, hormonal imbalances were already evident. We looked at hormone replacement therapy (HRT), but it was just at the time that this approach was bad press and some of these products were even being recalled. She did try some natural progesterone cream for a while, until she discovered something called quot;proteolytic enzymes.quot;Can Proteolytic enzymes reverse fibroidsProteolytic enzymes are a remarkable substance, and they are responsible for a host of bodily functions. When it comes to uterine fibroids, proteolytic enzymes help break down and remove excess fibrous tissue, which is what fibroids are mostly made of. That#39;s why these enzymes work so well.Let me tell you what happened in our case. We both started to take them. Why both of us Well, for one thing, my wife had never heard of these enzymes, and she felt that it was something we should do together. In less than a week, both began to feel betterand'm talking about everywhere. Simple aches and pains began to disappear, and we found we had greater flexibility in our hands (We were both massage therapists at the time and our hands are everything to us).By week two, my wife started to have what the scientists and the developers of the enzymes call a quot;side activity.quot; Por qu� no s�lo se puede llamar un beneficio secundario es m�s all� de m�. Anyway, she started to get this type of vaginal discharge she called quot; the gooquot;. I called it quot;moneyquot; because it was a signal that remnants of the fibroids were passing through her.This continued over the next four to six weeks. My wife did not complain of any vaginal pain during this period. She simply said, quot;Things just worked better if you know what I mean.quot;The one interesting thing about enzymes is that they work at several different dosing levels, in the beginning there is an Activation dose, the Activation dose is different for everyone so you will need to experiment with your dose by incrementally adding one or two capsule per day.The Activation dose can be continued as long as your are experiencing the side activity, once the side activity starts to subside you can start on what is called a maintenance dose.That was five years ago. Today, we still take the enzymes for the numerous health benefits they provide, including cardiovascular support not to mention helping to control the levels of systemic inflammation in our bodies the root cause of virtually every disease known to man. It goes without saying that when your enzyme levels drop or stay too low for too long, you will eventually find yourself planted on the other side of the grass.About the AuthorTo learn more about proteolytic enzymes and the roll they play in help us stay healthy, I suggest you read this article: www.losethebackpain.com/inflammation6.htmlWild Foods for Wise WomenDid you know that many of those unglamorous quot;weedsquot; that you#39;ve been poisoning or pulling out of your garden and lawn are some of the world#39;s most wellrespected and powerful healing plants If not, you aren#39;t alone: many people don#39;t realize that common ordinary weeds can build and maintain good health. Common weeds that grow by you can boost your immunity, strengthen your liver, help you build strong blood, counter colds and the flu, increase your vitality, and even prevent cancer.Healthpromoting weeds are easy to find (even in the city), easy to identify, easy to prepare, incredibly abundant, and as delicious as highpriced gourmet goodies. Go outside right now and see if you can find one or more of my seven favorites: Burdock, Dandelion, Honeysuckle, Plantain, Red Clover, Violet, or Yellow Dock. (To the botanist: Arctium lappa, Taraxacum officinale, Plantago majus, Trifolium pratense, Viola odorata, and Rumex crispus.) You probably take them for granted. But if they could talk, they would say quot;Here we are! We love you! We#39;re waiting to change your life!quot;How can they change your life When properly prepared and used, these weeds can boost your immunity, strengthen your liver, renew your energy, and help prevent cancer. And the best part is, they#39;re free!IMMUNE SYSTEM BOOSTERSDandelion and Honeysuckle are particularly good builders of the immune system. (The immune system is a network of cells and cell products that defends the body against diseasecausing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and cancer cells.) Dandelion root tincture (20 drops, 2 3 times a day) actually increases the production of interferon, a protein that inhibits viral multiplication and activates Tcells.Can a powerful immune system prevent cancer Put cancer into remission Prevent the recurrence of cancer that has been treated Stop a cancer from metastasizing In my book Breast Cancer Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way, I answer these questions affirmatively (and share recipes for immunebuilding soups, too). Building powerful immunity can help us remain cancerfree and it provides longlasting benefits and long life for relatively little effort.LIVER STRENGTHENERSThe liver is the body#39;s recycling center. This large organ is critical to healthy digestive functioning, utilization of hormones, and removal of chemicals from the body. Dandelion is an outstanding liver strengthener. It is known to protect, heal and tone up the liver, helping to relieve food allergies and aid digestion, as well as repairing damage done by drugs, chemicals, alcohol, and infections such as hepatitis. Burdock, Red Clover, Plantain, and Yellow Dock are also powerful liver strengtheners.Most experienced healers that I#39;ve met are unanimous in their agreement that a healthy liver is the basis for a healthy and long life. Perhaps the single most important benefit to be gained from befriending the weeds is the strengthening of your liver function.Dandelion, Yellow Dock, or Burdock roots are used in tinctures (20 drops, 2 3 times a day) or vinegars (12 large spoonsful on salad daily); Red Clover is best taken as an infusion; Plantain leaves are eaten in salad or infused in apple cider vinegar.BLOOD BUILDERSYellow Dock builds strong blood. Strong blood is rich in iron and other minerals needed for health. Strong blood is nutrientrich so vital organs get the nourishment they need for optimum functioning. Strong blood helps muscles work well without cramping and aching. Strong blood is low in cholesterol and moves easily through the circulatory system. Strong blood is packed with plenty of energy: for life, for work, and for sex.Other green allies that build strong blood are Dandelion leaves, Red Clover blossoms, and Plantain leaves. (And for strong veins, Burdock root vinegar is a trusted ally.) Daily doses of Yellow Dock root vinegar (see below) or tincture (520 drops once or twice a day) often increase iron levels in the blood twice as fast as iron supplements. If you wish to avoid alcohol, soak chopped fresh Yellow Dock roots (or any of the other plants mentioned here) in vinegar to cover for 6 weeks. I use 12 tablespoons a day of the resulting medicinal vinegar to build strong blood.COUNTER COLDS AND THE FLUThroughout the orient, Honeysuckle flowers are steeped in water and the resulting strong tea scientifically established as antiseptic, antimicrobial, and antiinfective drunk to ward off colds and the flu. (An injectable form of Honeysuckle is used in Chinese hospitals to counter severe infections.) Red Clover blossoms mixed with ordinary mint and steeped in hot water for several hours is an effective quot;cold remedyquot; passed down from Colonial housewives.INCREASE VITALITY, EVEN PREVENT CANCERThe leaves of Violets and the blossoms of both Honeysuckle and Red Clover are renowned as safe, lifeenhancing tonics. In addition to enhancing vitality and rejuvenating fertility, they have proven effectiveness against precancerous conditions. Red Clover especially is noted for its ability to reverse in situ breast cancers, cervical dysplasia, and precancerous polyps of the colon. Violet, whether drunk in infusion or applied as a poultice, has a reputation as a dissolver of breast lumps and a protector of the lungs, even checking the growth of tumors.ANTICANCER AGENTSThe most amazing thing about these seven humble plants is that each of them has been associated with cancer prevention. Plantain is an important LatinAmerican folk remedy against cancer. Burdock as a specific cure for breast cancer dates back to at least 1887 in the Ukraine. Around the world, Red Clover is a widely used folk remedy against cancer and is known as quot;The herb of immortality.quot; Dandelion is known to stop the promotion of oncogenes. (When damaged or turned on, an oncogene initiates cancer.) Violet slows tumor growth. Honeysuckle is a popular anticancer agent in China. Yellow dock is one of the original plants in the Native American anticancer brew now known as Essiac.As you can see, these seven plants are not useless weeds by any means. Even if you don#39;t reach out and pick them from your yard (or that nearby vacant lot), I know you#39;ll be more aware of the abundance of green blessings surrounding you.For more information on how to prepare and use herbs consult any of my books including Healing Wise and Breast Cancer Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way. (Available in book stores and health food stores, or by calling 18003569315)HOW TO USE THESE AMAZING PLANTSBurdock:Dig firstyear roots in autumn; use mature seeds.Used internally, it resolves chronic skin problems; fresh root binds and removes heavy metals and chemicals.Use daily for six or more weeks; it is not unusual to take burdock regularly for 2 to 3 years.Dried root infusion: 1 to 2 cups.Cooked, dried, or raw root: eaten freely.Fresh root vinegar: 14 tablespoons.Tincture of fresh roots or seeds: 30250 drops.Infused oil of seeds: as needed on skin or scalp to encourage growth of new hair.Burdock is slow acting but miraculous.Dandelion:Leaves are nourishing, roots are tonifying.Improves outlook, improves digestion and appetite, relieves food allergies.Can use daily for prolonged use.Fresh leaves and flowers: eaten freely.Cooked greens: to 2 cups (125 to 500 ml).Dried root infusion (tea) 1 to 3 cups (250750 ml).Tincture of fresh plant, including root: 15120 drops.Wine of fresh flowers: no more than 6 oz (200 ml).Infused oil of fresh flowers: as needed.Dandelion is a superb ally for liver and breasts. Regular use internally before meals and externally before sleep helps keep breasts healthy, reverses cancerous changes. Digestion is settled and strengthened a few minutes after taking a dose. Results in breast tissue are slower, taking six weeks or more to become evident.Honeysuckle:One of the most vigorous vines known, Honeysuckle makes an excellent complementary medicine for many Western drugs, moderating or eliminating many of their damaging sideeffects. The flowerbuds are harvested in May or June, dried quickly in the sun without turning or handling, infused in water overnight (one ounce dried blossoms to one quart boiling water in a tightly sealed jar steeped for 410 hours), and drunk freely.Plantain:Use leaves, harvested any time, or ripe seeds with hulls.Internal use:Seeds: antimicrobial, against thrush;Leaves: promote blood clotting, increase in iron, strengthen digestion.Used externally: leaf poultice or oil reduces cysts, heals skin and connective tissues, stops itching and prevents scars.Daily use: no limit.Raw leaves: 320 chopped in salad.Fresh leaf vinegar: 12 tablespoons (1530 ml).Fresh leaf oil/ointment or poultice: as needed.Internal response is prompt; noticeable improvement in blood iron is seen in two weeks of daily use. External response is also rapid: itching ceases, bleeding stops, pain abates, and swelling recedes in minutes. Plantain promotes quick, scarless healing from all wounds.Red Clover:Use the justopened blossoms with a few leaves clinging.Internally: alkalinizes, builds blood; helps prevent the recurrence of cancer, protects liver and lungs, improves appetite, relieves constipation, eases anxiety; relieves symptoms of menopause, increases fertility.Externally: softens and reduces breast lumps; is antifungal.Daily use is without limit.Fresh blossoms: eaten freely.Infusion (tea) of dried flowers: up to one quart (1 liter).Tincture/mother tincture of fresh blossoms: 15100 drops.Fresh flower vinegar: 14 tablespoons (1560 ml).Note: Over consumption of bloodthinning coumarins, which are present only in low amounts in red clover but found in greater amounts in other clovers such as sweet clover, can lead to the breakdown of blood cells and increase risk of hemorrhage.Red clover (legume family) shares with its sisters, lentil and astragalus, the ability to repair damaged DNA, turn off oncogenes, and reverse both precancers and in situ cancers. According to J. Hartwell, author of Plants Used Against Cancer, medical literature has reported and confirmed hundreds of cases of remission of cancer after consistent use of red clover. I agree.Violet:Use the leaves, harvested any time, even during flowering.Externally: Eases pain and inflammation, heals mouth sores, softens skin, antifungal.Daily dose: Use without limit, nontoxic.Fresh leaves: in salad, as desired.Dried leaf infusion: up to one quart (1 liter).Fresh or dried leaf poultice: continuously.Internal and external use of violet can shrink a breast lump in a month.Yellow Dock:Use roots of a plant at least two years old, dug after autumn frosts, or very early in the spring; leaves, harvested at any time, use ripe seeds.Internally: as root tincture or vinegar, yellow dock builds healthy blood, protects liver, and acts as a laxative. As a seed tea, it heals mouth sores and checks diarrhea.Externally: Poultices dissolve lumps, counter tumors and kill fungus infections.Can be used daily for up to 12 months.Tincture of fresh roots: 1060 drops per day.Fresh root vinegar: 12 tablespoons (30 ml) per day.Dried seed tea: no more than one cup (250 ml) per day.Fresh root oil/ointment: liberally, as needed.Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material on this website/email is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise selfempowerment by seeking a second opinionAbout the AuthorSusun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 18452468081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly prowoman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America#39;s bestknown authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women#39;s health. Her four bestselling books are recommended by expert herbalists and wellknown physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world.3 Great Herbs All Women Should Know AboutWhen it comes to herbs for women, that is to specifically address womens problems, there are three important medicinal herbs, each of which have a long track record of use and effectiveness.Black CohoshFirstly there is Black Cohosh, cimicifugae racemosae commonly referred to as the menopause herb.Interest in Black Cohosh and dietary supplements containing Black Cohosh has come from women seeking alternative treatments for symptoms associated with the menopausal transition, including hot flashes and night sweats, anxiety and depression, and vaginal dryness. This interest has been heightened by recent findings from the Women#39;s Health Initiative (WHI), which pointed to a shift in the risk/benefit balance of hormone therapy due to the risks associated with cardiovascular events, stroke, breast cancer, blood clots, and other conditions.Black Cohosh is used for a variety of other complaints, but has become best known in the Western World for its beneficial effect on hormone functioning due to its phytoestrogenic properties. Herbalists also use Black Cohosh to prevent miscarriage in cases of women at high risk. Many women miscarry in the very early stages of pregnancy and may not even realize that they have been pregnant.Historically, Black Cohosh has been also been used for a range of conditions. Native Americans and the early U.S. colonialists used it for a great variety if disorders including amenorrhea, bronchitis, chorea, dropsy, fever, hysteria, itch, lumbago, nervous disorders, snakebite, yellow fever, and disorders of the uterus.Today, preparations of Black Cohosh consist of the fresh or dried rhizome with attached roots of cimicifuga racemosa.Studies recently carried out in Germany have confirmed that cimicifuga is strongly estrogenic and that it is effective in relieving menopausal symptoms.For the technically minded, its main constituents are triterpene glycosides, cinnamic acid derivatives, chromone, isoflavones, tannins and salicylic acid.Black Cohosh is regarded as a relatively safe herb, there being no documented contraindications to it.Side effects are also few, perhaps occasional gastric discomfort, and rare hepatic (liver) dysfunction.It has been suggested by some authorities that medicinal quantities of Black Cohosh may possibly magnify the effects of synthetic hormones in susceptible women, such as women taking HRT or the contraceptive pill.It has also been hypothesized in some circles that, because of its estrogenlike effects, it could promote metastasis of breast cancer tissue. (In an experiment done on mice, however, Black Cohosh increased metastasis of cancer to the lungs, but did not cause an increased incidence of breast cancer.)It is not advisable to take Black Cohosh during pregnancy or lactation.Otherwise there are no known interactions with other drugsWild YamWild Yam is another very popular herb for women and has been also used to relieve menstrual cramps or pain, menopausal symptoms, rheumatic conditions, and gallbladder complaints, bilious colic and nausea. It also has been proposed as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy but (as one might imagine) there is much debate about that.Traditionally, Native Americans used Wild Yam for birth control, also for rheumatism, menstrual pain and complications during childbirth.Studies have shown that wild yam contains steroidal saponins, mainly dioscin and diosgenin, which can be used to manufacture progesterone, and other steroid drugs used for contraception. Be aware, however, that the body does not convert dioscin to progesteroneSome authorities warn that the use of Wild Yam may be contraindicated for women taking progesterone and/or estrogen. Otherwise there are no consistent reports of adverse side effects.In recent times Wild Yam has been strongly promoted as a female breast enhancer and as a sexual stimulant and is consequently an increasingly common ingredient in female herbal supplements.Dong Quai (or Quoi), Angelica polymorpha.Dong Quai has been used for many centuries in Asia to balance female hormones and as a treatment for the various discomforts associated with menopause.It has also been traditionally used In Asia to treat arthritis.Today, Dong Quai is recognized as being rich in iron, magnesium and niacin. The root of Dong Quai is still used to relieve menstrual problems or menopausal symptoms, to improve mental acuity and alleviate symptoms of daily stress.It is used also to relieve muscle spasms, and is also used to treat PMS, vaginal dryness, and hot flashes.Dong Quai should not be used during pregnancy or by people suffering from colds and flu. It should not be taken with Warfarin as it could lead to bruising and uncontrolled bleeding.Today, many different herbs are used to address not only health disorders that are peculiar to women but to improve womens quality of life, their sexuality and general well being. Herbal remedies, however, should not be taken by people already taking pharmaceutical drugs without reference to a competent herbal medical practitioner.About the AuthorIan Finlayson is author of The Herb Spiral and several other web sites dealing with the properties of specific herbs, and is a regular writer of articles and reviews on medicinal herbs and herbal products. For information specifically dealing with womens herbs and formulas go to this page on The Herb Spiral site.Mammograms Are HarmfulProfessor Anthony Miller, Toronto National Cancer Institute, says cancer cells may be squeezed into the bloodstream under the pressure of the mammographic plates. Screening mammograms are unsafe other ways, too: they expose sensitive breast tissues to radiation, and they increase your chances of having a biopsy and being overtreated for carcinoma in situ.RADIATION DANGERSScientists agree that there is no safe dose of radiation. Cellular DNA in the breast is more easily damaged by very small doses of radiation than thyroid tissue or bone marrow; in fact, breast cells are second only to fetal tissues in sensitivity to radiation. And the younger the breast cells, the more easily their DNA is damaged by radiation. As an added risk, 1% of American women carry a hardtodetect oncogene which is triggered by radiation: a single mammogram increases their risk of breast cancer by a factor of 46 times.The usual dose of radiation during a mammographic xray is from 0.25 to 1 rad with the very best equipment that#39;s 14 rads per screening mammogram (two views each of two breasts).And, according to Samuel Epstein, M.D., of the University of Chicago#39;s School of Public Health, the dose can be ten times more than that. Sister Rosalie Bertell one of the world#39;s most respected authorities on the dangers of radiation says one rad increases breast cancer risk 1% and is the equivalent of one year#39;s natural aging.If a woman has yearly mammograms from age 55 to age 75, she will receive a minimum of 20 rads of radiation. For comparison, women who survived the atomic bomb blasts in Hiroshima or Nagasaki absorbed 35 rads. Though one large dose of radiation can be more harmful than many small doses, it is important to remember that damage from radiation is cumulative. Many women born in the 1930s and #39;40s who are now considering the benefits of postmenopausal mammographic screening have already absorbed quite a bit of radioactivity into their breast tissues from fallout from the atomic bomb tests of the 1950s.The American Cancer Society claims that the radiation danger from a screening mammogram is no more than that caused by natural radiation in the environment. Not so. The amount of radiation from even one breast xray is 11.9 times the yearly dose absorbed by the entire body, according to Diana Hunt, former saleswoman for an xray manufacturing company, UCLA Medical Center graduate, and senior staff xray technologist for 20 years. (See page 18 of Breast Cancer Breast Health the Wise Woman Way for a list of rads absorbed while skiing in Denver, flying in an airplane, and other activities often cited as comparable to mammographic screening.)A study published in the October 20, 1993 issue of Journal of the National Cancer Institute found a statistically significant increase in the incidence of breast cancer following radiation treatment of various benign breast diseases even among women older than 40 at the time of the first treatment.TREATMENT DANGERSYou increase your risk of being overtreated for breast cancer whenever you have a screening mammogram. Eight out of ten masses detected by screening mammograms are false alarms, but if something is seen in your mammogram you#39;ll be urged to undergo a biopsy.Screening mammograms lead to overtreatment. Many of the quot;cancersquot; found by mammographic examination are carcinoma in situ. At least 75% of these will remain noninvasive and can be removed surgically, if desired, at any time, or simply left alone. Of the 25% of in situ cancers that do become invasive, the number that metastasize is quite small (and unmetastasized breast cancer rarely kills).Early detection of tiny in situ tumors often leads to orthodox treatments which do not prolong life and which can cause immune system suppression, severe drug reactions, even death. Of course, early detection can also lead to lifeenhancing wholistic treatments.Green Blessings.About the AuthorSusun Weed PO Box 64 Woodstock, NY 12498 Fax: 18452468081 Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.com Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly prowoman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America#39;s bestknown authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women#39;s health. Her four bestselling books are recommended by expert herbalists and wellknown physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world.Solutions for All Lifestages and Issues Related to Women in MenopausePerimenopause. Menopause. Premenstrual syndrome. Estrogen dominance. Osteoporosis.When watching the media these days, there is a good chance you are going to encounter a discussion about one or more of the above womens health issues. Although these discussions offer much advice, it is often contradictory and debatable. In the following paragraphs, one will discover what really is happening in a womans body as she travels through her lifestages and why these changes are occurring.No matter what our age, lifes plans, personal desires, or professional goals, being a female means that our organs and hormones will cause us to experience physical changes in fairly specific intervals. Within each of these stages, normal fluctuations in our reproductive hormones occur, with high levels in puberty, and ceasing levels later in life. Since our reproductive hormones are responsible for other important functions in our bodies, completely unrelated to pregnancy and babies, these changing levels greatly affect womens health as a whole, resulting in a variety of normal and natural, but uncomfortable, symptoms. Healthcare practitioners have come to view these symptoms as problems to fix because they do cause discomfort. As for most diseases, healthcare practitioners prescribe synthetic hormones to treat these symptoms, but recent research has determined that these HRTs (hormone replacement therapies) cause far more risks than benefits. The simple fact to this research is that you dont need more hormones to treat hormonal imbalance. Instead, you need specific nutrients that restore hormonal balance and reduce symptoms, being vitamins, minerals, and good nutrition.Estrogen, which is made up of estrone, estradiol, and estriol, is produced mainly in the ovaries, but small amounts are also produced in the adrenal glands, liver, kidneys, and a womans body fat. It is necessary for normal development of the breasts and childbearing organs and helps to control a womans menstrual cycle. Estrogen also is essential in reproduction and helps to maintain a healthy heart and bones. Progesterone, which is also produced in the ovaries, is the reproductive organ associated with pregnancy, as it guides the egg to leave one of the ovaries and travel to the uterus through the fallopian tubes. Progesterone is also responsible for building up a thick cushiony lining on the wall of the uterus for the fertilized egg to attach to.A healthy woman relies on her ability to maintain hormonal balance. If her hormonal balance is disrupted, numerous health problems will follow. These imbalances can occur by exposure to xenoestrogens (chemicals used in pesticides, plastics, and fuels), as they can mimic estrogen and interfere with the bodys estrogen metabolism. After estrogen completes its required activity, it returns to the liver to be metabolized, where it is broken down into different enzymatic pathways. The first of these pathways, the 2hydroxy pathway, results in good estrogen metabolites, which account for many of the benefits of estrogen such as prevention of heart disease, and strong, healthy bones. The second pathway, the 16hydroxy pathway, produces bad estrogen metabolites, which result in hormonal metabolism imbalances. These bad estrogen metabolites can: accelerate the aging process; worsen autoimmune disorders; and cause anxiety, breast cancer, breast tenderness, cervical dysplasia, cold hands and feet, decreased sex drive, depression, dry eyes, fatigue, foggy thinking, hair loss, headaches, infertility, irregular menstrual periods, irritability, insomnia, magnesium deficiency, memory loss, mood swings, osteoporosis, premenstrual syndrome, a sluggish metabolism, uterine cancer, water retention, weight gain, and zinc deficiency.Estrogen dominance can occur through exposure to synthetic estrogens (such as chemicals that are used in pesticides, plastics, and fuels, and also through exposure to animal products. A treatment that is currently popular for hormonal imbalance is progesterone cream. Although some women report relief of milder hormonal imbalance symptoms, the additional progesterone delivered inside the body can be metabolized into estrogen, resulting in an even greater hormonal imbalance and estrogen dominance. In most cases, women dont need more hormones, but rather help in metabolizing estrogen and keeping their hormones balanced. The answer to this is found in a natural plant compound called diindolylmethane (DIM), which is found in broccoli and other cruciferous vegetables. Scientists have recently discovered that DIM improves hormonal balance by shifting the way that estrogen is metabolized in our bodies to the 2hydroxy pathway, which is responsible for good estrogen metabolites. This increase in good estrogen metabolites has a simultaneous reduction on the number of bad estrogen metabolites produced. Most women should take 120 mg of DIM complex that is standardized to 25% DIM per dose, once daily. However, women suffering with many estrogen imbalance symptoms may find even more relief by doubling the dose and taking DIM twice daily. The complex needs to me specialized to improve bioavailability so it is better able to absorb into the body.In the early/fertile/high estrogen years, which occurs until women reach their late 30s and early 40s, estrogen levels are high and progesterone levels rise and fall appropriately. However, because women in their 20s and 30s have also been exposed to a great amount of environmental and synthetic estrogen, there is a predominance of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in this age group. This frustrating and painful cluster of symptoms, which occurs just before the onset of PMS each month, ranges from mild to disabling and tends to run in the family. Physical symptoms of PMS include: breast tenderness, bloating, fluid retention, headaches, backaches, and cramping, as well as extreme food cravings and feelings of panic, anxiety, irritability, and depression. These symptoms often affect relationships with people women hold near including, children, husbands, families, and friends, causing significant distress. Researchers are not exactly sure why PMS occurs, however they do know that it is associated with estrogen and progesterone levels and their balance. DIM can reduce the symptoms of PMS by restoring estrogen metabolism to the 2hydroxy pathway, which relieves the pain and discomfort from PMS symptoms. At this stage, women also need a superior multivitamin containing vitamins A, D, E, B, and C as well as cranberry, chaste berry, iron, and calcium. They must also consume an adequate amount of folic acid, as it has a powerful ability to prevent spinal bifida, a serious birth defect.The perimenopause years, which takes place in women between the ages of 35 and 45, is the time period when women are not in menopause but something is definitely going on hormonally. Many women in this age group experience: unexplained weight gain, sore, lumpy breast, changing body temperatures, heavier or longer menstrual periods, increased menstrual cramps, loss of sex drive, irritability and shifting moods, foggy thinking, and insomnia or poor sleep quality. The conventional treatment for this stage of life is often progesterone in cycled doses, but the integrative answer to these symptoms is a collection of natural herbs and nutrients including Black Cohosh, Green Tea, Chaste Berry, Rhodiola, Valerian and Hops, and LTheanine. Black Cohosh relieves hot flashes and reduces mood swings, as well as keeps night sweats from occurring. Green Tea adds energy, maintains breast cell growth, and helps to keep weight under control, while Chaste Berry provides a natural balance of progesterone. Rhodiola enhances concentration, energy, alertness, and endurance, as Valerian and Hops promotes relaxation and deeper sleep. LTheanine alleviates nighttime muscle tension and promotes restful sleep. Along with these herbs and nutrients, a multivitamin is a must, containing iron if you are still menstruating. A woman in this stage also needs more advanced bone nutrition, with a critical need for calcium, you must look for a calcium based formula that is enriched with vitamins and minerals that make sure your bones remain active and healthy.The last stage, the menopause years, is an opportunity for a woman to become anything she wants. And in order to make sure this opportunity isnt lost, a variety of dietary supplements are needed to maintain health and vigor. Menopausal women require optimal levels of vitamins, minerals, and herbs, which only a superior daily multivitamin can provide. This multivitamin should exclude iron, as women at this age do not need it, but include calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, and other minerals. Since menopause signals the end of a womans fertility, her ovaries slowly stop producing estrogen and progesterone, causing her to possibly experience hot flashes, mood wings, joint pain, vaginal dryness, and making her more vulnerable to heart disease, osteoporosis, and other health problems. Until recently HRT was the treatment of choice for women in menopause, but in July 2002, researchers discovered that HRT causes breast cancer and heart disease. The new solution was the safe, effective, and natural way to treat the symptoms of menopause. The above Black Cohosh, Green Tea, Valerian and Hops, and LTheanine, along with Ginseng which increases energy, reduces stress, and helps Black Cohosh work better are a great, natural way to relieve menopausal symptoms. Because women in menopause still produce small amounts of estrogen and progesterone for fate cells and adrenal glands, DIM may be beneficial to prevent any symptoms of hormonal imbalance as well as their risk of breast, cervical, and uterine cancers, and osteoporosis. DIM, Black Cohosh and other great supplements can be found at your local health food store or internet health food store.About the AuthorVisit VitaNet Health Foods at vitanetonline.com/ VitaNet sells high quality supplements like Valerian Extract from Planetary herbals. Please link to this site when using this article.How to Avoid and Prevent Date RapeThe crime of date rape is becoming more and more prevalent. Fortunately, extensive media coverage of this crime and so called date rape drugs have made women more vigilant and aware of this potential threat. Still, despite increased awareness, the number of these incidents continues to climb.Parties, bars and night clubs are prime breeding grounds for acts of violence, assault and rape. With this in mind, these simple safety tips are important to keep in mind and pass along.Always get your own drink, and watch it being poured.Never leave your drink unattended. If you need to use the restroom and can#39;t take it with you, leave it with a trusted friendnot a new date!If your drink tastes funny, do not drink it and dispose of it so no one else does.Keep in mind that most drugs used to spike a drink are colorless and tasteless, so not allowing your drink out of your sight is paramount.Be aware of how your friends are acting. If they seem more quot;out of itquot; than usual, be very wary and keep an eye out for them.When it#39;s time to leave, you may have met someone you are interested in. Ask yourself if you really trust this person. Can you be sure they won#39;t make you do anything you don#39;t want to do Are you confident they will take NO for an answer If you#39;ve asked yourself these questions and still want to leave with this person, be sure to introduce them to friends and let your friends know you are leaving with them.So you#39;ve left with this person and you#39;re now in a new location. You could be in a car, your home, their home, the beach, or some other secluded spot. You could even be a consenting participant in a heavy quot;make outquot; session. But things are moving too fast, the person#39;s making you uncomfortable, or you#39;ve just simply changed your mind. At no point is it ever too late to say NO. Say it firmly and repeat it louder if you need to.Hopefully, you were right when you asked yourself if you could trust this person, that they wouldn#39;t make you do anything you didn#39;t want to do, and that they#39;d take NO for an answer. Unfortunately, despite a person#39;s best efforts, it#39;s possible to find yourself with somebody who has fooled you horribly and isn#39;t going to take NO for an answer. This is NOT your fault. However, you do need to act to ensure your safety. If screaming for help or fleeing are not viable options, you need to defend yourself.I could discuss many selfdefense tactics or possible weapons, but for this particular topic, I#39;d like to tell you about one particular item that can be perfect for a situation where date rape seems imminent. It#39;s a pepper spray disguised as a lipstick. A potential attacker is likely to drop their guard if you switch gears from resisting to saying you#39;d like to freshen your lipstick. His posture will relax when he sees you reach into your purse and come out with nothing but the aforementioned lipstick. But, the attractive case he sees packs a potent pepper spray. It holds twenty halfsecond sprays with a range of 10 feet. While your potential attacker is temporarily blinded and in excruciating pain, you have given yourself ample time to escape and go for help.Look for more articles from me discussing potential threats and your options to defend yourself. Or, you can visit my company#39;s website to find many resources, howto manuals and dvd#39;s, and products to ensure that you are personally safe, regardless of what situation you may find yourself in.About the AuthorKelly Moran Owner KW Security Surveillance Your best internet source for tasers, stun guns, pepper sprays, personal alarms and more www.kwpersonalsecurity.com/lipstickpepperspray.htm info@kwpersonalsecurity.comHow to Free Yourself from Those Dreaded Monthly Abdominal Cramps with Magnetic TherapyWell, what I say ladies , we#39;ve all been there at some time or another; first comes the tiredness, premenstrual tension, not too mention a good dose of back pain right across your lower back and last but certainly not least are those painful stomach cramps!Approximately 50% of women are affected by painful abdominal cramps every month. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, painful menstruation or Dysmenorrhea as it is medically known is officially defined as,quot;A normal cramping of the lower abdomen caused by hormoneinduced uterine contractions before the period.quot;Painful abdominal cramps have plagued women since the beginning of time; and most women have developed their own strategy for coping with them. Some of those remedies include reaching for the good old hot water bottle or over the counter pain killers or anti inflammatory drugs.So Why Do Menstrual Cramps HurtNow ladies, lets travel back in time to your Biology class; you will probably recall these all important facts:The body prepares itself for pregnancy each month by allowing the lining of the womb to thickenWhen a pregnancy does not occur, this lining becomes swollen and diesThe uterus begins to contract to rid itself of the dead liningThe lining is then passed through the cervix and out via the vagina, which we see in the form of a period each month.Sound familiar right Well, I am sure that there are many among you, who know at least one person who appears to sail through their #39;time of the month#39; without any problems at all. Now, as annoying as that may seem for the those of you who dont sail through, there is a possible reason for it, and it#39;s mainly due to a molecular compound called #39;Prostaglandin#39; .Your body releases Prostaglandin when the lining of your womb breaks down. Research has shown that women who produce high levels of Prostaglandin tend to experience more painful cramps than those with lower levels.Additional Factors Which Contribute To The PainOther factors that can have an effect on the amount of pain you experience are:Lack of exerciseA narrow cervical canalStressA retroverted uterus (a uterus which tilts backwards)Treatment Options An Alternative for You to ConsiderNo doubt, you are familiar with the various drug based options available for controlling the pain; you may even take supplements like Evening Star Primrose Oil or B Vitamins as part of your regimen. However, if youre not very good with tablets, then you may want to consider a natural pain relief alternative known as Magnetic TherapyNever heard of it Well, not a problem; Magnetic therapy can be defined as a safe, natural and noninvasive method of applying high strength negative magnetic fields to the body for therapeutic purposes. It is a Complementary Therapy which is used to treat certain medical conditions by exposure to permanent or pulsed magnetic fields.When magnets are applied directly above the site of pain or injury, the iron content within your blood becomes responsive to the magnetic field. This process results in improved circulation. The increased amount of blood supply means that the Magnetic Field also relieves pain, by tackling any inflammation present. It does this by drawing out excess fluid and toxins from the surrounding tissues and then expelling them on route via the Liver and Kidneys. Once the excess fluid and toxins are removed, the swelling will begin to reduce.According to Dr K. Kalita who is a specialist in the field of Magnetic Therapy, menstrual cramps have been successfully treated by placing a 4 x 6 x magnet directly over the cramping area. He also recommends sleeping on a Magnetic Mattress Pad with four 4 x 6 x 1 ceramic magnets at the crown of the head for relieving menstrual irregularities and any related symptoms.It may interest you to know that Magnet Therapy has been around for centuries. It was used extensively by the ancient Greeks, Indians and Chinese. It was even good enough for the likes of Cleopatra, the question is, is it good enough for youonly you can decide!About the AuthorMrs Donna Gray entered the world of Complementary Therapies as a trained #39;PersonCentered#39;counsellor. She became involved in Magnetic Therapy after personally witnessing the difference it made for mother (who had been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis). Magnetics 4 Backpain was set up in the passionate believe that Magnets can and do make a difference to the lives of chronic pain sufferers. There is a free 7 day ecourse Introduction to Magnetic Therapy for available over at www.magnetics4backpain.com.Weight Gainquot;Pack your bags for the journey,quot; Grandmother Growth advises softly. quot;Your Change may be rough in places, so cushion yourself. Your Change may have some hard edges, so let your contours round. Your wise blood is stirring and you are learning to let it move without attaching fear to its meanderings. In the same way, you can gracefully allow your natural weight gain. Struggling with your weight or dieting is bad medicine for you now, resulting only in thin bones that break easily, extreme hormone shifts that will keep you from sleeping and thinking, and an inner fire reduced to ashes or burning out of control. Pack your bags, slowly, dear one. There is no rush,quot; sighs Grandmother Growth, closing her eyes and sinking into a nap.The best ally you can have on your menopausal journey is ten quot;extraquot; pounds. I know you don#39;t want to hear this. I understand how difficult it is to desire ten extra pounds (or accept it happening to you, as it does to most menopausal women). You may have spent much of your life trying to get rid of ten extra pounds. The ultimate failure as a woman nowadays is not to be infertile, but to gain weight.When thin and young is the standard of beauty, any menopausal woman might find it difficult to maintain a positive selfimage as she sees herself becoming a thickwaisted, silverhaired Crone.I had some killer hot flashes, but the most difficult part of menopause for me was gaining weight. I knew it was going to happen; I knew it was supposed to happen. But I never thought it would happen. I read the studies; I knew that most healthy women, thin or thick or in between, gained ten to fifteen pounds during their menopausal years. But not me, I thought. I eat superbly. I exercise: an hour and a half of yoga every week, tai chi, and my ordinary farm chores (moving and splitting firewood, throwing bales of hay, hauling water, chasing goats). Not me.Yes, me. I watched my image in the mirror take on a shape more and more closely approximating the Venus figurines of prehistory. And my modern prejudices surged to the fore: quot;Yuck. You look disgusting. You#39;re overweight. It isn#39;t healthy. Lose weight!quot; I knew it wasn#39;t true. But despite years of feminism and consciousnessraising on every ism, from ageism to weightism, there was my culture yelling at me in my own mind every time I looked in the mirror.Now I looked like my aunts. Now I looked like a woman. It was as strange and unfamiliar as the sprouting of my breasts and pubic hair at puberty. I remember standing in my clothes closet at the age of thirteen, wistfully and resentfully removing my favorite littlegirl dresses, none of which fit.Not looking in the mirror didn#39;t help. (I didn#39;t have to resist looking at the scale. I don#39;t own one.) My clothes didn#39;t fit. First it was my blouses: my buttons gaping and my tshirts straining. Then it was my pants: Tight waistbands became absolutely impossible. My size fluctuated widely from morning to night, growing bigger as the day went on. For several months, I walked around the house with my pants unfastened from dinner until bedtime, a menopausal symptom my sweetheart was completely in favor of.Fortunately, I knew that dieting would not improve my health, and could easily harm me. But without the loving acceptance I felt from my lover, I might have faltered and given in to the desire to resist this change with all my might. I might have given up on being proud to look like a postmenopausal woman: like Margaret Mead, Eleanor Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony.I wish for every menopausal woman someone to tell her each evening when she disrobes, how goddesslike, how voluptuous, how attractive and desirable she is, and to say with her: quot;The best ally I can have on my menopausal journey is ten extra poundsquot;.Of course, I don#39;t mean ten pounds of ordinary fat. You want ten pounds of healthy fat supported by healthy muscle and bone. And you want to gain that weight very, very slowly. Ideally about a pound or two a year during menopause. Remember, you are cushioning yourself for the journey. Love yourself as you get quot;in shapequot; for Change.Step 1. Collect informationFat cells convert androstenedione, a substance produced by the adrenals and the ovaries, into estrone, the primary postmenopausal estrogen. Women who gain weight during menopause have less severe hot flashes, an easier Change, and denser bones, according to menopause advocate, and longtime editor of A Friend Indeed, the Newsletter of Menopause, Jeanine O#39;Leary Cobb.Despite pronouncements that extra fat is a health risk, weight gained during the menopausal years is not associated with any increase in mortality risk.And losing it will not improve your health.In fact, weight loss can lead to thyroid malfunction, severe gall bladder problems, increased insulinresistance, and weakening of the cardiovascular and immune systems.If you don#39;t have a sweetie to tell you your bigger body is bodacious, read:Radiance: The Magazine for Large Women; PO Box 30246, Oakland, CA 94604.Healthy Weight Journal; PO Box 620, LCD1, Hamilton, ON; L8N 3K7, Canada. 18005687281.You Count, Calories Don#39;t, Linda Omichinski. Box 102A, RR#3, Portage La Prairie, MN; R1N 3A3, Canada. 18005654847.Loving Your Midlife Body, Linda Moore Browning, Health Forum for Older Women, Winter 1999.Step 2. Engage the energyquot;The first time I saw pictures of my postmenopausal self I was frightened by my size!quot;Give yourself permission to take up more space. Allow your needs to be uppermost. Enlarge your view of yourself. Enlarge your world.If you don#39;t already do an hour or more of yoga, tai chi, or some other meditative physical exercise weekly, begin ... now.Go to an art gallery, or get a book from your library, and find a picture of an attractive woman with a round proud belly. Meditate with her. Become her for a moment. Feel the energy in your belly. Feel the wise blood stirring within your belly. Stirring and simmering and sending its heat up along the energy pathways of your body. Be proud of yourself and your belly.Say a short prayer of thanksgiving, or sing a song, or light a candle, or observe a moment of silence before you eat. Affirm that the food will bring you health and pleasure.Step 3. Nourish TonifyGive up dieting. Eat the widest variety of whole foods possible. Don#39;t make any foods absolutely forbidden. What you eat everyday has the most effect. The best way to stop worrying about weight gain is to eat ten or more servings of fruit and vegetables, three or more servings of whole grains, and a cup of yogurt daily.To ensure that you add hormonallyhelpful, bonestrengthening, empowering fat, include one serving of a high calorie phytoestrogenrich food and three servings of super mineralrich foods in your daily diet.Highcalorie hormonerich foods include olives, olive oil, organic butter, freshly ground flax seeds, homemade beer, alcoholfree beer, fresh peanut butter.Super mineralrich foods include nourishing herbal infusions of nettle, oatstraw, red clover, or comfrey leaf; cooked greens such as kale, collards, lamb#39;s quarter, amaranth, mustard; seaweeds; whey; whole grains including oats, millet, wheat, and brown rice; bittersweet chocolate.Beer is traditionally brewed from hops and sprouted whole grains. The fermentation creates easily assimilated B vitamins and liberates minerals. One beer a week will slowly increase your weight, improve your memory, soothe your nerves, and improve your immune system. A cup of hops tea with a spoonful of barleymalt sweetener is an alcoholfree alternative.Step 4. Stimulate/SedateMost herbal remedies sold for weight loss include stimulants which can disturb heart function, and diuretic and laxative herbs which can cause excessive fluid loss and disrupt electrolyte balance. This may lead to lifethreatening events during the menopausal years, when heart and adrenal functions are unstable. Avoid all quot;weightlossquot; herbs.If you are determined to lose weight during your menopausal years, here are some safe strategies:Eat a substantial breakfast and a large lunch and skimp on dinner. Absolutely avoid midnight snacks.Eat a cup/250 ml of fresh chickweed daily or take a dropperful of the fresh plant tincture in some water during or after every meal (at least four times a day).Gently simmer a handful of dried or fresh bladderwrack (fucus) seaweed for 15 minutes in enough water to cover. Strain. Drink a cup before each meal for no more than three months.Eat a bowl of hot soup at the beginning of the meal. You will feel more sated and eat less. Cold soups and drinks do not have the same effect.Keep active. But you don#39;t have to buy any spandex. Fiveminute periods of exercise, done several times a day, every day, are better than one long session once a week. Weight lost as a result of increased physical activity is safer than weight lost through diet manipulation. Lift weights.Depression can be associated with intense cravings for starchy foods. If we satisfy these cravings with mineralrich foods (including chocolate), the depression will be quot;treatedquot; and will dissipate. If we attempt to satisfy these cravings with mineraldeprived white flour and white sugar, the depression will deepen.Step 5b. Use drugsAppetitesuppressant drugs upset your metabolic rate and make it harder and harder for you to maintain a normal weight with a normal diet. Avoid all drugs and herbs and supplements of any kind that claim to suppress your appetite.Step 6. Break and enterScience is ready to help you deny your increasing wisdom and power by liposuctioning fat from your derrire and adding it to your face to plump out wrinkles.Susun WeedPO Box 64Woodstock, NY 12498Fax: 18452468081Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ashtreepublishing.comFor permission to reprint this article, contact us at: susunweed@herbshealing.comAbout the AuthorVibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly prowoman, her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative. Susun is one of America#39;s bestknown authorities on herbal medicine and natural approaches to women#39;s health. Her four bestselling books are recommended by expert herbalists and wellknown physicians and are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn more at www.susunweed.com br br