Herbal Health – information on herbal medicine

Q. So we come to the final part of the intestinal system — the rectum and anus.

A. Correct. The rectum is simply a continuation of the large bowel or colon, and is the storehouse of the remnants of the food we have eaten, minus the nutrients and water which have been sucked up by the blood stream and used by the system. Material will remain in the rectum until a convenient time arises when it may be eliminated. This is termed defaecation, and the material excreted is technically referred to as faeces, or stools. It is interesting to note that faeces comes from an ancient Latin word which means “the dregs” — for correctly, it represents the dregs which were useless to the system. It is also commonly known by a more euphonious word stools, which comes from an ancient Anglo-Saxon word “stol” which means seat — for most Australians use a seat when defaecating — although in many eastern countries they still squat.

This, in reality, is a more natural method of elimination, and allows the muscles to work far more normally and naturally. Some eastern toilets are a cultural shock to Australians who travel abroad. Foot plates are present, so is a hole in the floor, but no seat — you simply squat down and hope for the best!

Q. Isn’t cancer becoming a major hazard with the large bowel?

A. The answer is a very definite ‘Yes’. In fact, many doctors claim that numerically speaking, cancers in this situation are growing quicker than in any other organ. Cancer, or carcinoma (to use the doctor’s term) is fairly common in the colon, as well as the next part of the bowel, the rectum. It is more likely in older people, specially those 45 years and more. That is the bad news. The good news is that we have on hand extremely effective methods of diagnosis today. We use x-rays, plus an ingenious device called the colonoscope. This enables rapid, early diagnosis, and it also enables effective treatment which in many early cases is extremely effective and definitely life-saving.

Q. What about diverticulosis. We seem to hear a great deal about this today.

A. That is another disorder of the large bowel. It means that small outcroppings like little balloons occur along the walls of the colon. The condition is called diverticulosis. Sometimes, if food and germs are trapped in the pockets, they become infected. These may produce considerable pain, a bit like appendicitis. Early diagnosis and treatment are effective, but it may be recurring and cause a lot of discomfort. I might add that the modern day use of unprocessed bran — chook food (as I call it), or fibre, which sounds much more euphonious, is often effective in checking symptoms from developing.

Q. What about the anus?

A. The rectum leads into a narrow tube called the anal canal, at the end of which is the anal sphincter or valve. This opens and closes voluntarily, so that material may be excreted under one’s conscious will. Sometimes if the contents are very watery, and there is excessive bowel activity (called peristalsis) such as with severe bowel infections, it may be difficult to control the valve and accidents may take place.

This is also common in infants, and it takes babies some time — usually around 18 to 30 months — to develop voluntary control over the anal valve. Incidentally, there is a great deal of social one-upmanship on baby’s bowel actions. Many young mothers claim they have “trained” their infants by the age of six months. But they are really fooling themselves. Simply because they manage to place a potty under little Sean just as he defaecates, this is not an indication of successful training. His nervous system has not developed to this point before at least the time span given above. So, good though these efforts are, little Sean will be like most of the other little fellows in the neighbourhood, and will learn proper bowel control when Nature decrees!

Q. So that is the story of the G.I. system, and some of the events that take place on a regular basis.

A. Correct. It is a wondrous system. The remarkable fact is that despite the way in which it is abused by the owners, it will continue to function in a magical manner. Heave down a terrible array of foodstuffs and fluids, and it will continue to stoically perform year in and year out. Finally it may rebel, but usually only when major abuse takes place for many years. In the main, it functions smoothly.

Q. Well, what now?

A. We plan to discuss some of the more common and more important disorders of this wondrous system. Because it affects so many people, it is our plan to concentrate for some time on the stomach and duodenum, and speak specifically about peptic ulcers. So, stay with us, for if you are an average Australian, there are very high chances that you will be an ulcer victim. It may only be a matter of time. In fact, you — the person reading this booklet right now — probably have an ulcer gnawing at your vitals!

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Just how difficulties in the back cause sciatic pain – this being a typical example of what is called ‘referred pain’ (medical name: synalgia), that is a pain that occurs in a part of the body other than where it might have been expected – will be explained in full in the next chapter. In the meantime, let us briefly note that referred pain is quite a common phenomenon: for example, we all know that some heart disorders can cause pain in the left arm and fingers. Equally, an abscess below the diaphragm may lead to referred pain in the shoulders. The confusion created by referred pain stems from the fact that the sensory nerves from different parts of the body share common pathways when they reach the spinal cord. To treat any referred pain successfully, its origin must be located first, because that’s where the treatment will have to be effective to bring about permanent relief.

It follows from this that the treatment of sciatica must ultimately be addressed to its source, and this is invariably in the spine, and not where the pain may manifest itself. Having said that, some local treatments applied to the site of the pain – such as heat or gentle massage – can be extremely useful in reducing its severity, but these approaches will only reduce the pain temporarily, not cure it or improve its root cause. Nevertheless, palliatives – the name given to treatments that relieve or soothe the symptoms of a disease or disorder without effecting a cure – can be of great help. Pain-killing medicines, such as aspirin or paracetamol, are essentially palliatives, their effect limited either to making the pain disappear or at least lessening it, so that it becomes more bearable. Such simple remedies can, however, have an extremely important role to play in the management of sciatica, especially when the symptoms are fairly mild and/or occur but rarely and the main purpose of treatment is to stop them from interfering with the tasks of daily life.

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When elderly people become incontinent of urine, this is usually assumed to be permanent. Such pessimism, however, is unjustified since about 80-90 percent of these cases can be cured, the Annals of Internal Medicine (104:429) points out. Even the incontinence that follows a stroke can, in many instances, be overcome.

Before anything can be done, though, the patient must be seen by a physician who has special training (usually a geriatrician or urologist) to have the cause of the incontinence correctly determined. Some cases, of course, are “surgical” and can be cured with an operation for such things as prostate enlargement or a uterus that has slipped down out of place. For patients not needing surgery, treatment with an appropriate medicine, biofeedback, or habit training cures over 70 percent.

Older people whose incontinence is caused by muscular weakness can do a lot to help themselves with exercises that tone up the muscles of the pelvic floor. The exercises involved tightening and relaxing the muscles repeatedly for 15 minutes three times every day, the U.S. Pharmacist (12#8:92) reports. By stopping and starting the flow of urine, victims of incontinence can learn to identify those muscles that need to be strengthened. The same muscles control the passage of stools. Identical exercises, incidentally, are employed by women after childbirth to tone up muscles that support the uterus. To do any good, these exercises need to be performed three times every day for at least three months. Victims of incontinence should be aware of the fact that both constipation and alcohol can interfere with the function of the pelvic floor muscles. They should also avoid drinking coffee, tea and grapefruit juice, all of which can suddenly increase the need to pass more urine. Cranberry juice is a useful substitute.

In addition, they should routinely empty the bladder before and after every meal and at bedtime, even if they feel no need to do so. They should always respond promptly to the urge to urinate, and must never ignore it. In a few cases, surgical repair may be required, especially if the bladder has become displaced by repeated childbirth or by removal of the prostate.

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Symptoms

Sprains: pain, swelling, tenderness, stiffness, internal bleeding.

Dislocations: visible malformation, inability to use joint.

Home care

A dislocation should not be treated at home.

A sprain can be treated by immobilizing and then resting the affected area.

Cold compresses applied to the area help relieve swelling.

Aspirin or paracetamol can be given for pain.

Precautions

-    A sprain that does not improve rapidly may indicate a bone fracture and should be examined by a doctor.

-    After a dislocation has been corrected, the joint may remain unstable for some time.

-    A severe sprain that is improperly treated can result in a permanently weak joint.

-    A sprain that is still swollen or painful to move is not healed.

-    Elastic bandages do not adequately support or protect a sprained ankle.

All joints of the body are surrounded by ligaments, the tough connective tissues that hold bones together. These ligaments can be partially or completely torn when the joint is forcibly twisted beyond its normal range of movement. A partially or completely torn ligament is called a sprain.

If the ligaments are badly torn the bones of the joint may become dislocated (slip out of position). Besides the usual symptoms of a sprain, a dislocation causes a visible malformation of the area, and marked or total loss of function of the dislocated parts. Even after the dislocation has been corrected, the joint remains unstable for weeks.

Sprains are common during childhood, but dislocations other than a dislocated elbow are rare. Sprains most often occur in the fingers, toes, ankles, neck, and back. Dislocations can also occur in the fingers, toes, kneecaps, and shoulders.

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Tobacco

Smoking may create or aggravate existing respiratory allergy because cigarettes may contain (besides tobacco) many potentially allergenic ingredients, such as licorice and molasses.

An allergic person, child or adult, should avoid small rooms and enclosed spaces where crowds gather and smoke (such as the smoking section of movie houses) because hot tobacco smoke is a nonspecific irritant besides being a potential allergen.

Pyrethrum

Pyrethrum is a powder prepared from the dried flower of the pyrethrum plant, which is related to the ragweed plant. It is used as an insecticide to spray plants in backyards or in moth killers to preserve winter clothing and carpeting.

Kapok

These fibers are used for filling life preservers (because they remain afloat for hours without much absorption of water); for insulation purposes; and for less expensive sleeping bags and mattresses. (Kapok was used in the past as a filling for pillows to avoid highly allergenic feathers. However, this practice has now stopped because of the development of foam rubber, plastics, and synthetic fibers.) Kapok seeds provide an oil used in making soap and in the preparation of certain foods.

Flax

Flax is the Latin word for the linen plant which provides linseed oil and linen fibers. Linseed oil may cause allergies when eaten, inhaled, or touched, and linen fibers may cause eczema and rashes when they are used in clothing.

Flax fibers, seeds, or oil may be inhaled when one is near flaxseed meal (which is a food given to cattle and poultry) ; in beauty salons and barber shops (as some wave sets, shampoos, and hair tonics (Kreml) may contain it); using bird lime, carron oil, flaxseed poultices, furniture polish, linseed oil, paints, varnishes, linoleum, printer’s and lithographic ink, some soft soaps, and some depilatories; or using damask, table linen, cambric, handkerchief linen, toweling, oilcloth, and sewing thread.

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This is the most common reason for a miscarriage and is usually the result of a one-off genetic abnormality in the baby that is unlikely to recur. In other words nature is working according to the law of survival of the fittest. When the baby is abnormal it will try to stop that pregnancy continuing.

You and your partner each contribute 23 chromosomes to the baby, making 23 pairs in total. Each chromosome pair determines specific characteristics of your child and geneticists have given a number to each pair. For example, number 23 is the pair which determines the sex of the baby.

Only a small portion of chromosomal abnormalities are inherited and these can be screened. The others can occur before, during and after fertilisation, as the chromosomes divide. It is thought that up to 50 per cent of miscarriages can be due to a genetic abnormality.

The most common chromosomal abnormality diagnosed is where there are three chromosomes in the pair instead of two. Depending on which pair this happens to, it will give rise to a specific abnormality. Not all abnormalities always end in a miscarriage. For instance, Down’s Syndrome is caused by an extra chromosome on pair number 21 and for that reason is also called trisomy 21. It is thought that most trisomies are caused by an abnormal division in the egg which occurs before fertilisation.

This may explain why older women have always been thought to have a higher risk of having a Down’s Syndrome baby, since older women’s eggs are more likely to be abnormal. But the Down’s Syndrome Association claims that eight out of ten babies with Down’s Syndrome are born to mothers under the age of 35.The extra chromosome can also come from the man’s sperm. So, at the moment, scientists do not know for sure what causes Down’s Syndrome.

However, there are links between Down’s Syndrome and mineral deficiencies. For example, people with Down’s Syndrome children have lower levels of zinc and selenium compared with others of the same age. It has also been found that in Down’s Syndrome blood levels of the ‘antioxidant defense system’ enzymes (super-oxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) are over-produced. Both these enzymes are produced by the body to disarm free radicals. The building blocks for these enzymes include the minerals zinc and selenium.

Selenium is known to protect against chromosome (DNA) damage by protecting the body against toxins and pollutants, and future research may demonstrate the importance of prospective parents having good levels of this mineral in the months before conception when both sperm and eggs are maturing.

The idea that toxin damage could be implicated in Down’s has been borne out by a study in the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Babies born nine months later showed a six-fold increase in cases of Down’s Syndrome. Studies on animals have also shown it is possible to damage the chromosomes by introducing a toxin.

So the opposite may also be true: that you can protect your chromosomes from damage by stopping your intake of all the toxins we have been talking about and making sure that you have enough antioxidants to fight unavoidable pollution (like traffic fumes).

Turner’s Syndrome

If one chromosome of the pair is missing the condition is called monosomy. The most common abnormality of this type is where one X (female chromosome) is missing from the sex pair (number 23).This condition is called Turner’s syndrome. It does not usually cause a miscarriage but the baby, which is always a girl, will have certain physical characteristics. She can have heart defects and fertility problems, because her ovaries may be absent or fail to develop and because of this she will have under-developed breasts. As she gets older, she will need hormone treatment and counseling.

Inherited Genetic Problems

This is a much less common reason for a miscarriage, and chromosome testing (karyotype analysis) would be recommended for both partners where couples have experienced recurrent miscarriages. One of the most common structural changes in chromosomes is translocation, where part of one chromosome comes away and reattaches to a different chromosome.

Some gene defects can cause miscarriages but it is more likely that the genetic problem will cause abnormalities in the baby, such as cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy.

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What is it?

There are basically two important types of skin cancer. The non-malignant type is the more common and is seen in fair-skinned people who expose themselves excessively to sunlight. It is easily treated and does not kill. The malignant type is called a malignant melanoma and is a killer. Skin cancers are most common on the face and other areas where the skin is exposed to the sun. Any skin damage that does not heal properly should be seen by a doctor. Also, should a pigmented patch of skin you have had for years start to become more pigmented, be suspicious and seek advice. One type of skin cancer starts as a pale, pearly, raised, translucent nodule that slowly enlarges and then ulcerates. The next most common type is a small, raised area or patch that can be reddened or darkened and hard. A common site for this latter type is on the lower lip.

What causes it?

Researchers at the University of Arizona (a very sunny site) found that the incidence of the malignant form of skin cancer jumped 34 per cent over a ten-year period. Since 1960 until the present day the incidence of the non-malignant type has also risen by a startling 500 per cent. Nearly half of all the tumours were found in people aged between 50 and 69. Malignant melanoma is rising in incidence at a rate of 5 per cent per year in the US.

Other researchers have found that pale-skinned, easily burned people with an estimated lifetime sun exposure of more than 30,000 hours have a twenty times greater risk of developing skin cancer than a comparable group with less than 10,000 hours of sun exposure. More than 200,000 cases of skin cancer occur in the US annually though the incidence is much less in the UK because there is less sun. Northern climates have less sun and so less cancer of the skin. For every 265 miles you go closer to the equator the incidence of skin cancer doubles.

Another form of skin change caused by sunlight is the breakdown of the normal connective, elastic tissue called collagen. This produces premature ageing of the skin and is a reason why Californian women so envy the skin of English women.

Prevention

• Use a sunscreen preparation if you are in the sun a lot.

• Be guided by the general rules for preventing sunburn.

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Endometriosis is a chronic disease that will require ongoing treatment and investigations by a qualified specialist. It is important that you choose your doctor carefully.

If you are buying a car you would not take the first one you see, so why should shopping around for a doctor be any different?

Road test the doctor, ask questions, talk to other women. Your health is worth the effort. You should be encouraged to be involved in your health care and to make informed decisions about treatment and surgery.

Many women are surprised to learn they have a chronic illness, so they are usually in a state of shock when treatment options for their endometriosis are discussed.

You need a doctor who understands the emotional as well as the physical aspects of the disease and who can provide counselling and support.

For those women who have had little contact with the medical profession, or for teenagers who are not ready to be assertive or demanding with an adult, challenging your doctor or seeking a second opinion can be difficult.

Where do you start? How do you know if the doctor you have selected will be the best for you? How do you take control?

Many women have asked these questions before so do not feel you are in any way inadequate or foolish for being afraid to question your doctor. After all, they are professionals experienced in the treatment of gynecological problems so it is not uncommon to feel that your doctor knows best and should not be questioned.

Many women say they do not feel confident enough to seek a second opinion. Others may feel they should not waste their doctor’s time by asking questions. These feelings are also common but also learn to trust your own judgment. It should be possible for you and your doctor to work together. If the treatment schedule mapped for you is not what you expected, discuss the options with your doctor. Consider all the options and make sure you are happy with what has been planned.

Unfortunately, women frequently complain that they feel embarrassed that they may ask a ‘stupid’ question. It is essential to overcome this. Many doctors incorrectly assume their patients understand what their illness is, how it developed and how it may be treated. And it can be confusing when doctors use medical terminology – with which only they can be expected to be familiar. For instance, a doctor may talk about ‘patent tubes’. What is really being said is that the fallopian tubes are functioning and normal.

Obviously it would be easier if doctors used a language that their patients understood, so do not feel embarrassed to ask for an explanation – even though it can be a normal tendency to sit back and pretend you know what the doctor is on about!

Remember, it is your health, your body, so it is up to you to take control and be assertive.

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Most families now have a car and many have two. Of all our everyday activities, driving is one of the most dangerous, killing 5,599 people in 1984 in Great Britain and injuring a further 319,000. The cost to the nation of all these accidents is 2,650 million pounds. The fact is that by adopting some fairly commonsense preventive measures much of this illness, suffering and financial cost could be avoided. Here are the top twenty guidelines for safe driving drawn up in the UK by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

•     Keep your vehicle in good condition with frequent inspection and regular servicing.

•     Ensure that you are fit and alert before driving. Do not drive after drinking and be sure that medicines will not affect your ability to drive.

•     Maintain your observation well ahead and plan your approach to hazards. Use mirrors frequently.

•     Handle your vehicle with positive precision and aim for the smoothest possible drive.

•     Give clear and early signals for all manoeuvres. Help other road users to understand your intentions.

•     Always think ahead and exercise caution. If in doubt-don’t.

•     Assess speed carefully to take account of all conditions. Avoid sudden changes of speed or direction on slippery surfaces.

•     Never drive so fast that you cannot stop safely in the distance you can see to be clear.

•     Remember the additional hazards of driving at night. Adjust your speed accordingly.

•     Know the problems which a truck driver faces and make due allowance when such vehicles are manoeuvring.

•     Traffic legislation has been developed to improve safety for all. Do not break the law.

•     Be considerate of the comfort and safety of your passengers. Ensure that children are properly restrained and drive as you would wish to be driven. Remember that the law says you as the driver, and your front-seat passengers, must wear seat-belts at all times.

•     Know and understand signs, signals and road markings all have valuable information for the driver.

•     Remember that 95 per cent of the accidents are caused by human error. Always maintain maxi concentration on the task in hand.

•     Always drive within the limits of your capability and within the limits of your vehicle.

•     Park in such a way as to cause minimum inconvenience and danger to other road users.

•     Learn some basic first aid so that you know what to do if you an accident.

•     Maintain courtesy on the road. Be considerate towards the needs and problems of other road users.

•     Take a pride in your driving, but remember that all drivers have room for improvement.

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Meditation is an integral part of Eastern religions and forms the basis of some Christian traditions. This gives rise to the many myths surrounding meditation. As a consequence some people are unsure of meditation and are concerned about practising it. Therefore it is important for these issues to be discussed. If we have doubts about meditation because of our religious background, we need to speak to our minister or priest and be guided by our own feelings of what is right for us.

Meditation is like so many of the other Eastern techniques and disciplines we have adopted, such as various martial arts, tai chi and yoga. In India the word ‘yoga’ is a generic name for a multitude of meditation disciplines. The word ‘yoga’ was originally defined as ‘the way to go’, but more recently it has been defined simply as ‘union’.

We associate yoga with the practice of gentle physical and breathing exercises. This form of yoga is derived from a very strict meditation discipline called ‘hatha yoga’. The West has adapted hatha yoga to its needs by stripping it of all its religious and ascetic practices. This form of yoga is now an accepted part of our Western lifestyle.

Other forms of meditation from the Eastern traditions have also been adapted. The comprehensive and intricate visualisations of various deities have been replaced with images of beaches or forests, the devotional ‘gazing’ has been replaced with flowers or candles, and the sacred mantras have been replaced with everyday words.

There is nothing mysterious in these techniques. The strict adherence and disciplines required for their religious and philosophical aspects have been stripped away, leaving their bare essence, techniques for relaxation. Learning to meditate does not mean we have to change our religion, our lifestyle or our diet. The only thing which will change will be our response to stress and anxiety.

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