Tag Archives: womens health

Finding The Best (or Craziest?) Treatment For Osteoarthritis

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Gin-soaked raisins? Cayenne pepper? Could these solutions really work as a natural treatment for osteoarthritis?

For eons, arthritis sufferers have been searching for natural treatments to help relieve the joint pain and stiffness the condition leaves in their hands, knees, hips, back or feet.

And many sufferers find strange-sounding treatments – like cherries, cider vinegar, hot peppers and more.

So do they work? And, if so, how?

Here are some of the popular ones:

  • Hot peppers. Peppers contain capsaicin, which is a naturally occurring analgesic that has been said to be able to relieve mild to moderate osteoarthritis pain. Though you don’t eat them to relieve the pain – you apply the capsaicin as a gel or cream. (Although eating hot peppers also might do some of the trick, if your stomach can take it – the spicy foods encourage the body’s release of endorphins, which are feel-good hormones.) Traditionally, however, capsaicin is applied topically. You can look for gels and lotions with capsaicin in them at your local drug store. There might be a mild burning sensation at first, which is the cream desensitizing the nerve receptors in the painful area.
  • Gin-soaked raisins. Raisins contain compounds (three different acids) that are said to be pain relievers, and gin comes from juniper berries, which has an anti-inflammatory compound. Combine them, and you get both the pain relief and anti-inflammatory benefits! Although there isn’t any actual research to prove this works, many women swear by the effectiveness. Most use golden raisins, soak for about a week in a thin layer of gin (until it evaporates), then eat just 8-9 per day.

Visit Lifescript.com to learn more about how the hot peppers and gin-soaked raisins work for arthritis pain, as well as learning additional popular, natural treatments for osteoarthritis (including cider vinegar and cherries).

Also, be sure to visit Lifescript’s new Osteoarthritis Health Center, where you can find quizzes, recipes, tips, articles and more osteoarthritis information.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Finding The Best Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis

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So you’ve just received a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, and maybe you’re wondering where to start, or where to go for help?

The good news is that combination treatments (medication, lifestyle changes, and therapies) have made RA patients’ lives much easier, and have made it possible for those with rheumatoid arthritis to get through the characteristic joint aches, fatigue, pain, swelling and fever.

But education is a big factor in treatment. Be sure to go to your doctor with a list of questions, and make sure he or she is able to answer them with you face to face, if possible.

Wondering what to ask?

Lifescript.com – a women’s health and wellness web site – has a series of “Questions to Ask Your Doctor” articles to help you start the conversation. They even include answers from top experts around the country (but you should still ask the questions of your own doctor, to hear about your specific case). The articles cover most common conditions, including RA.

For rheumatoid arthritis, the questions cover:

  • Now that I’ve been diagnosed, what’s the next step? The doctor’s answer: Most doctors will start you with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as “methotrexate,” but it doesn’t always work the same for everyone. Your physician may also give you an oral medication (like prednisone) or a biologic. The goal is to get the symptoms under control within 6 months.
  • Does having RA increase risk for other health conditions? It can. Mostly from the medications you take for rheumatoid arthritis, though, so it depends on which medications you take. (Biologics can increase your risk for infection, for instance.) Rheumatoid arthritis also has some link to heart disease, so your doctor will want to monitor you for that.

To learn more important questions to ask about rheumatoid arthritis, and to get more information from Lifescript’s experts about methotrexate, biologics, side effects, surgery, supplements and more, visit “Questions to Ask Your Doctor – RA” regarding treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

Also, be sure to visit Lifescript’s online Health Center for RA for even more rheumatoid arthritis information.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).

Weird Causes Of Headaches

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If you suffer from headaches, there are a few simple solutions that will help you that don’t come from a pill bottle.  Lifescript.com reviews the surprising reasons you may be getting headaches, and how to avoid them.

Here are a few common causes of headaches:

1. Heat – Being out in the sun and getting overheated is a sure-fire trigger for a headache. Staying inside in the air-conditioning will keep you cool, but you don’t have to confine yourself to the indoors to avoid headaches. Just be prepared to avoid getting overheated by keeping a cooling towel in your bag or purse, and keep fresh water with you at all times. Also, wear a sun hat or visor to deflect the sun’s rays.

2. Pills – It may come as a surprise, but pain medication can actually cause headaches.  Prescription narcotics and pain relievers contain caffeine and antihistamines that can spark headaches.

3. Skipping meals – If you forgot to eat, which can happen especially on busy days, your body will start firing off triggers because it’s lacking glucose (natural sugar). Eat at least every six hours and choose protein-rich foods.

4. Eating certain foods – Believe it or not, foods that have fermented can cause headaches. So try to avoid foods like aged cheeses (blue, cheddar, Swiss) , sauerkraut, cider vinegar and soy sauce, all of which contain tyramine, an amino acid that constricts and expanding blood vessels, which can cause headaches.

5. Lacking magnesium – Your headache could simply mean you need to enjoy more foods that are sources of magnesium, such as spinach, whole grains, fish, seeds and nuts.

For more tips on migraine help, visit Lifescript.com.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).