Health Alerts

Here is a great video describing how to deal with a chronic neck complaint called "text neck"

1)  Herbal Product that May Interfere with the Effedts of Coumadin

Increases the effects:  Angelica (Dong Quai), Aniseed, Arnica, Asafoetida

                                   Bogbean, Bromelains

                                    Capsicum, Celery, Chamomile, Clove, Cranberry Juice

                                    Dandelion, Danshen, Fenugreek, Feverfew

                                    Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng (Panax)

                                     Horse Chestnut, Licorice, Meadowsweet, Onion

                                     Parsley, Passion Flower, Poplar, Quassia, Red Clover

                                     Sweet Clover (Meliot), Sweet Woodruff, Tonka Beans, Willow Bark

Decreases the Effects of Coumadin

                                      Coenzyme Q10, Goldenseal, Green Tea, St. John's Wart, Yarrow

2)  Dosage for using Herbs for pain control of osteoarthritis

                    Willow bark - 45 or 60 milligrams of salicin per tablet

                    Boswellia as pain control - 400 mg of boswellic acids in 1,000 mg of extract/day

Stress relieving exercises

Relaxed Breathing: Stress typically leads to rapid, shallow breathing, which sustains other aspects of the stress response, such as increased heart rate and perspiration. Controlling your breathing is a simple and effective way to combat the effects of stress so it doesn’t spiral. Relaxed breathing, or diaphragmatic breathing, can help.

Try this technique twice a day, every day, and especially when you feel tense or stressed:

• Mouth closed, shoulders relaxed, inhale slowly and deeply through your nose to a count of six, allowing the air to fill your diaphragm.
• Keep the air in your lungs as you slowly count to four.
• Exhale through your mouth as you slowly count to six.
• Repeat this cycle three to five times.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: The aim of this is to reduce the tension stored in your muscles. Find somewhere you won’t be interrupted. Loosen clothing, remove glasses, dim the lighting – whatever’s necessary for you to feel relaxed.

Tense each of the following muscle areas for a minimum five seconds before relaxing for at least 30 seconds. Repeat before moving to the next area.

• Upper face: Raise your eyebrows upwards, feeling the tension in your forehead and scalp. Relax. Repeat.
• Central face: Squint your eyes tightly, wrinkle your nose and mouth, feeling the tension there. Relax. Repeat.
• Lower face: Clench your teeth and pull back the corners of your mouth, showing your teeth like a snarling dog. Relax. Repeat.
• Neck: Gently lower your chin to touch your chest, feeling it pull at the back of your neck. Relax. Repeat.
• Shoulders: Raise your shoulders toward your ears, feeling the tension in the shoulders, head, neck and upper back. Relax. Repeat.
• Upper arms: Pull your arms back, pressing your elbows into your flanks. Don’t tense your lower arms. Feel the tension in your arms, shoulders and back. Relax. Repeat.
• Hands and lower arms: Make a tight fist and tense your wrists. Feel the tension in your hands, knuckles and lower arms. Relax. Repeat.
• Chest, shoulders and upper back: Pull your shoulders backwards like you want the shoulder blades to touch. Relax. Repeat.
• Stomach: Tighten your stomach muscles as you suck in your tummy. Feel the tension. Relax. Repeat.
• Upper legs: Squeeze your knees together as you lift your legs up off the chair or the floor. Feel the tension in your thighs. Relax. Repeat.
• Lower legs: Lift your feet toward the ceiling while flexing them back to point at your body. Feel the tension in your calves. Relax. Repeat.
• Feet: Turn your feet inward as you curl your toes up and spread them out. Relax. Repeat.

Perform these progressive muscle relaxations twice each day to get the maximum benefit. Take about 10 minutes in total for each session.