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SOUND SLEEP
is essential. The few times that caffeine
has kept me up (half the night) gave me a first hand understanding
of how frustrating it is for those who have a regular problem
getting to sleep - 27% of women surveyed identified getting
a good night sleep as their top priority for personal wellness.
Count me in that group. Last month, according to Harvard Medical
School, relaxation techniques and other non-drug therapies
proved better than Ambien in treating sleep onset insomnia.
The behavior therapy includes relaxation and techniques to
re-train a person's mind in order to fall asleep - the idea
is to avoid worrying about falling asleep or getting angry
about not falling asleep, which only makes it worse. Before
treatment, it took most patients about 70 minutes to get to
sleep -- one month after treatment, the Ambien folks took
45 minutes while those in the behavior therapy group took
about 34 minutes. The behavior therapy also lasts. The particulars
about the behavior therapy (what exactly do you train your
mind to think?) may be in the body of the published article
(it's about $30) or you can contact Gregg D. Jacobs at Boston's
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and maybe he will tell
you.
Another culprit may the comfort of
your bed. If you wake up achy and stiff a lot - reconsider
how old your bed is. They are not meant to last more than
10 years. Remember when the general rule was harder is better?
Actually the science now shows that the most comfortable the
better -- with most experts recommending a firm foundation
with a soft layer on top. The best sleeping position is on
your back because your body is elongated and keeps your neck
in the most neutral position. (I think this is the worst for
snoring though) If you do sleep on your back, you need a firm
pillow - on your side you a medium and on your stomach a soft
one. Move over… all this talk is making me tired…
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/164/17/1888
for the article on behavior modification for sleeping.
Newsletter
October 2004
A GLASS OF WINE WITH AN ANTIBIOTIC
I am certainly one of those people who would never have a
drink if I was taking an antibiotic for any reason. According
to the folks at Better Nutrition, it's a myth. They don't
recommend that you over-indulge and tax your immunity system
which may have gotten you sick in the first place, but it
does not affect the performance of the medication. Go to
http://www.betternutrition.com/view.asp?issue=Oct03&article=485
and scroll down.
Newsletter
December 2003
SELF BREAST EXAMS (SBE)
If you are like me, you neglect to do the formal self breast
exam and then one of those charts stares at you from a check
out counter or appears in "goody bag" and you feel
as if you've been neglecting your health. On the flip side,
I am VERY aware of changes that occur in my body, even so
slight (like a mild, temporary little eye twitch, ever get
those?) and I hope you are the same way. Well it turns out
that our way may be just as effective. The American Cancer
Society has changed its guidelines for SBE. The important
thing to note is that the ACS is not saying don't examine
yourself or that it doesn't matter how in tune you (and your
partner) are with your body, they are saying that it doesn't
need to be in the particular SBE technique that appears on
all those charts. It has discovered that the benefit is much
smaller than originally thought and it was used before mammograms
were so readily available. As mammography has become more
common, breast cancer has dropped and it remains the only
screening method that reduces death from breast cancer.
Newsletter
June 2003
SPRING CLEANING FOR THE BODY
While you're thinking of cleaning out the closets, why not
consider giving your body a cleanse? Your writer does this
herself every year, and I can't tell you what a difference
it makes in restoring a positive attitude and vital energy.
It also takes about five years off my face. It does require
work and planning but worth every bit of it. Further, it's
something that is just for you. My only advice is to make
sure you do it at a time where nothing big is happening in
your life - personally I make no plans to go out and use the
time as quiet time. The fast I do is quite strict, it's called
"The Master Cleanser" by Stanley Buroughs available
at Amazon. This is not for everybody, but there are plenty
to choose from. Other recommended books are "The Detox
Book" by Bruce Fife or for an example of what a program
might look like go to http://www.naturalhealth-1.com/
and click on "Lose the Bloat"
Newsletter
April 2003
DOCTORS USING GRANDMA'S ORDERS
For common ailments, the Wall Street Journal reported that
more and more doctors are recommending that fewer drugs be
taken, not more. According to the article, there is growing
medical evidence that question the benefits of over the counter
remedies. Some arguments doctors are using are ones we've
all heard, suggesting that our grandmothers weren't so far
off. They are now saying things like it is better for the
body to run its course by allowing its own defenses along
with a lot of fluids to fight a [low grade] fever and that
a cold lasts exactly the same length of time whether you take
medicines or not. For common sense alternatives from decongestants
to laxatives, see the Personal Journal front page, February
5th edition or (this is a pay service)
http://online.wsj.com/public/page/0,,2_0060,00.html
Newsletter
February 2003
That's it for this month! As always,
check out our website for lots more information at www.oonahealth.com.
In Good Health,
The Oöna Team
Questions or comments? Write valerie@oonahealth.com
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