December 2007

Choose Natural Treatments For Menopause Symptoms

by Sheila McCormick on December 27th, 2007

Although menopause is a natural phase of life, it can bring with it some hormonal changes that cause unpleasant side effects for many women. Menopause marks the end of menstruation and fertility and is a natural biological process. While many people joke about the menopausal symptoms, they are not at all funny to the women who experience them. Common menopause symptoms include night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness, fluctuations in sexual desire, forgetfulness, sleep disturbances, increased abdominal fat and fatigue. The age at which a woman begins menopause varies widely, with the average age being 51. However, it can occur

Protect Your Four-Legged Friends From Holiday Hazards

by Sheila McCormick on December 20th, 2007

Our beloved pets enrich our lives every single day so it is only natural to want to include them in holiday festivities. While it’s fine to include them, it is important to be aware of pet safety hazards that loom during the holiday season. Don’t allow guests to feed human food to your pets. There are many holiday foods, including fatty meats, gravies and deserts that can pose dangers. Poultry bones are particularly troublesome because they can splint, form sharp points and lodge in the roof of an animal’s mouth leading to a choking episode or infection. Uncooked meat, fish

How Does Santa Stay Healthy?

by Sheila McCormick on December 13th, 2007

Let’s face facts. Santa is obese, elderly and has some decidedly serious occupational hazards (such as climbing down chimneys in the winter, lifting heavy bags of toys and flying across the sky in a sleigh). On Christmas Eve he eats thousands of cookies left for him by children from all over the globe and he washes them down with several thousand glasses of milk. And when does the man sleep? Despite it all, he appears to be in remarkably good health. Most of us, however, are not like Santa. He does, after all, have some Christmas spirit and magic working

What’s In Your Herbal Medicine Cabinet?

by Sheila McCormick on December 6th, 2007

As more and more people become disenchanted with traditional modern medicine, the notion of herbs for healing is gaining popularity. From ancient medicine men to modern holistic healers, people from every culture have recognized the potent healing properties of plants and herbs. Many traditional medicines have their roots in herbal remedies. As studies continue to validate the benefits of herbal medicine, more and more people are choosing to augment or even substitute herbal remedies for traditional medicines. The use of herbal remedies often focuses on long-term health and treating the underlying causes rather than the symptoms. Beyond everyday herbal remedies,