Alternative Medicine Blog

Want another way to beat your risk of developing cancer? Eat those veggies! Sure they get a bad wrap for maybe not being the sexiest food, but when you learn about how Mother Nature does her job of protecting you and your loved ones in "Plant-Based Flavonoids May Cut Ovarian Cancer Risk", you will want to make a concerted effort to keep those veggies a mainstay of your dinner table. What is so combative about your local green, you may ask? It's the flavonoids, whose antioxidant chemicals are said to man up our defense systems. For ovarian cancer, researchers are theorizing that isoflavones and flavonols are what we'd like to especially thank. In a study that followed 1,031 women with epithelial ovarian cancer and 2,411 women who were cancer-free but had other serious medical problems,these women were divided into five groups and given varying amounts of flavonoids. The upshot? The women who had the "highest flavonol intake " were 37% less likely than the other women to contract ovarian cancer. Isoflavones also cut this cancer risk down by 49%. Need I say more? Bon appetit!

It seems that with each day, a new carcinogenic, or cancer causer, is brought to our collective attentions. If we are not told to stay away from microwaves, be aware of grilling temperatures or freezing that gym water bottle, we are consistently bombarded with new, albeit intriguing ways, to get cancer. Well, get your pens out, because here's another cancer causer to add to your list: incense. Yes, incense. So even if your instructor doesn't light a stick of frankincense and myrrh while you are in Downward Dog position, you may be exposed to incense while smoking your house out or practically floating in its varieties of aromas and flavors at your local church or temple — this has been my experience, at least. In the article "Long-Term Exposure to Incense Raises Cancer Risk," study author Jeppe Friborg, MD, PhD, of the department of epidemiology research at Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark, discusses his findings, which surveyed more than 61,000 cancer-free Singapore Chinese between the ages of 45 and 74. His findings showed that because the smoke contains carcinogenic substances, those who were exposed to incense over a long period of time, irrespective if they were smokers or nonsmokers, almost doubled their risk of squamous cell carcinogens in their upper respiratory tract. Go figure. And although the article says, "There was no overall increased risk of lung cancer, but it did heighten the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung," even the American Lung Association is officially adding incense to its list of risk factors. Hmm. Of course, one wouldn't compare incense to the risky behavior of smoking cigarette packs every day, but I do think it would be wise to minimize your personal exposure to it (read: you really don't have to tell me twice). One question lingers, though: What am I to use for my home air freshener now?

Over the years, one of vitamin B's believed benefits is that it will protect you from mosquitoes. Supposedly, vitamin B creates such an unpleasant odor through one's pores that mosquitoes are forced to stay away from their prospective meal (that's you!). Two studies were conducted both stateside and abroad (Brazil) to determine if this urban legend was myth or truth. Indeed, both studies results are in accord: vitamin B will not protect you from these mini vampires. To get the full report, read The New York Times' http:www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/health/12real.html?_r=1&ref=health&oref=slogin">"The Claim: Vitamin B Can Ward off Mosquitoes." Where did I put those candles again ... ?

DHEA, short for dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone that's produced in the body and is converted into male and female hormones. Our natural DHEA levels typically peak in our 20s and decline with age, which is why there has been considerable interest in DHEA's role in the aging process and whether taking DHEA supplements can slow or reverse some of the signs of aging.

Although DHEA has become popular as a nutritional supplement, it's important to remember that it's also a hormone. Taking too much of it can disrupt our body's hormonal balance and cause side effects. Find out more about what DHEA is, the benefits of taking DHEA, and the possible side effects and safety concerns. What You Need to Know About DHEA

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A reader asks, What can you tell me about saw palmetto? I read that it's a good herbal remedy for hair loss and baldness.

Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens or Sabal serrulata) is a dwarf palm plant native to North America. It primarily grows along the Atlantic coast in Georgia and Florida. The active ingredients are believed to be found in the plant's brown-black berries.

Saw palmetto has become popular as an herbal remedy for a type of hair loss and baldness called androgenic alopecia, or male- and female-pattern baldness. Read the full answer: Can Saw Palmetto Stop Baldness and Hair Loss?

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A reader asks, Is there a remedy to prevent scars? A neighbor swears by honey, but I'd never heard of using it for scars.

There are a number of home remedies and natural products marketed to prevent the formation of scars and to minimize the appearance of old scars.

The kind of scars that people are often interested in preventing are hypertrophic scars. They're red and raised and can be painful or cause limited movement in the affected area (called contractures).

Here's a closer look at three of the more popular remedies for preventing hypertrophic scars. Read the answer: A Remedy for Scars?

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Eating certain foods may improve your mood, research suggests. The Food and Mood Project surveyed 200 people and found that 88% reported that changing their diet had a significant effect on mood.

Twenty six percent noticed improvements in mood swings, 26% in panic attacks and anxiety, and 24% in depression.

The top offending foods were sugar (80%), caffeine (79%), alcohol (55%) and chocolate (53%). Foods thought to benefit mood included water (80%), vegetables (78%), fruit (72%) and oil-rich fish (52%).

Don't know where to start? Consider eating more of these 5 Foods for a Better Mood.

If you're expecting a baby or know someone who is, you may be looking for ideas on how to decorate the nursery. While we tend to focus on finding just the right color or cute theme, many products found in a nursery, such as plush carpeting, new furniture, and a fresh coat of paint may emit potentially harmful chemicals into the air. Here are some practical suggestions and resources to create a nursery that's low on chemicals but high on style. Read the article: How to Create a Natural Baby Nursery

One of the more popular home remedies for acne is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is an essential oil obtained from the leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to Australia. It has been found to have anti-microbial properties, so it is often applied topically to acne lesions to kill acne-causing bacteria.

What many people don't realize about tea tree oil is that overzealously dabbing the undiluted oil onto acne lesions can irritate skin, causing as redness, blistering, overdrying, and itching. The overdrying can even worsen acne. Find out more about tea tree oil and acne, including research, tea tree oil sources, and safety concerns. Tea Tree Oil for Acne.

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photo credit: © Afonso Lima

A reader asks, "I recently heard about supplements and other products that can prevent gray hair and allow your hair to grow back in its natural color. Is there any truth in these products or are they bogus? Thanks for any input".

There is no scientific evidence that any diet, herb, supplement, or product can prevent or reverse gray hair, however, there are some underlying conditions that can cause hair to go prematurely gray and some ancient approaches you might be interested in. Read the full answer, Help for Gray Hair