Wouldn’t it be great to be a child again and not have to deal with stress? As adults we often fantasize about being a child again. Sometimes it seems like stress is coming at us from all directions — work, bills, social commitments — there are many sources of stress for adults. Childhood is a brief and special period when we are innocent and free from stress and responsibilities, or is it?

The truth is, children have stress too. There are more stressors for children in today’s fast-paced society than there has ever been, yet parents often dismiss the stress that their children feel. Adults see the issues that cause a child’s stress as insignificant; however, they are not insignificant to the children who are dealing with them.

Why Do Kids Feel Stressed Out?

If we think back to when we were children, we can probably remember times when we experienced stress. Maybe we had to deal with a bully at school or an unfair teacher. Perhaps we had a big project at school that we weren’t sure we would be able to finish on time. Children today go through these types of things as well.

Another possible source of stress for children is home life. When their parents come home from work feeling stressed out, it has an impact on their children as well. If Mom and Dad argue about bills and finance, the stress makes children feel unsafe and unstable. This can manifest in lots of ways–stomach aches, nail biting, bed wetting, headaches, acting out. Overachieving parents add to their children’s stress by imposing great expectations on their children, who may lack their parents’ motivation or capabilities. Parents who push their children to excel in sports or who enroll them in too many activities can cause stress and frustration if their children don’t share their goals.

Siblings can also be a cause of anxiety. Sibling rivalry can be brutal especially if siblings don’t respect each other’s space and possessions. School-age children often have a strong concept of fairness and equality, so they might feel like one child gets preferential treatment or not understand why siblings of other ages are treated differently.

Children today have numerous academic and social pressures, not to mention the ever-present quest to fit in. In addition, they are expected to learn more at a younger age in school, and to participate in more extracurricular activities. It’s good for them to learn and be active, but they need time for creative play and relaxation.

How Can I Help My Child When He Is Stressed?

Kids often avoid talking to parents about the things that cause them stress. Still, there is a lot we can do to help them –

Talk to your child each and every day about how things are going. Ask open-ended questions about school, activities and friends. If he seems upset, ask him what’s bothering him. You’ll be surprised how much you will learn just by asking.

When your child tells you about something that is bothering him, try to help him figure out how to fix it. Provide minimal guidance and suggestions, and try to let him think of solutions on his own.

Adjust your child’s schedule if it will help. If he is participating in several sports, taking piano classes, and trying to keep up with his schoolwork, it may be too much for him. Work together to decide which things are worth continuing and which ones to drop.

Children may not face the same sources of stress as adults, but they do get stressed out sometimes. It is a parent’s job to help children learn to deal with stress in productive ways, and to eliminate stressors that are avoidable. Kids who learn to cope with stress effectively are happier and healthier, and they are less likely to suffer ill effects from stress as adults.

The three main types of herbs used for urinary tract infections are urinary antiseptics, diuretics, and and demulcents. These include Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), garlic, birch (Betula spp.), Alfalfa, Echinacea, couch grass (Agropyron repens), goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea), horsetail, Java tea (Orthosiphon stamineus), lovage (Levisticum officinale), spiny restharrow (Ononis spinosa), juniper and nettle.

All these products appear to work by increasing the volume of urine, causing extra filtration and hence flushing the bacteria out of the urinary system. The majority of these herbs or nutrients are drank as a tea or taken as a supplement pill.

Another commonly eaten food that can treat a UTI is horseradish. It has been shown that the oil released from this product has antibacterial properties. Once eaten the oil kills the bacteria and thus may be effective in treating an infection. Numerous plants products containing the alkaloid, berberine, also have been found useful in the treatment of UTIs. Plants like goldenseal with high amounts of berberine may be useful in treating UTIs.

Finally, the herb, uva ursi, has been used for decades in Europe to treat UTIs. Uva ursi is a trailing evergreen shrub that flourishes in alpine forests in many regions, including North America, Europe, the Iberian Peninsula, Siberia, and the Himalayas. The herb when ingested is converted to an active agent (hydroquinone) which can kill bacteria.

Most alternative health care practitioners recommend that the herb should be used only for a short time to kill an infection. The recommended usage to treat an infection is 3 times a day. While uva ursi is considered generally safe when taken in recommended doses and for brief periods, minor side effects have been reported. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take uva ursi. It is also not recommended for those with high blood pressure.

It has been known for many years that the bacteria, lactobacilli (a human friendly organism) protects against genital and urinary tract infections. Many yogurt products contain lactobacilli and there are numerous reports of females who claim that that by taking yogurt daily, they have do not get as many UTIs. Lactobacilli containing products are now also available in health food stores. It is believed that lactobacilli protects against UTIs by maintaining acidity in the genitalia and hindering E. coli growth.

Urinary tract infections are quite common in post-menopausal females and it is not clear why. Recent studies indicate that the daily application of an estrogen containing cream significantly decreases the frequency of recurrent infections compared to females who do not.

This has been postulated to be due to the protective effects of these hormones on the vaginal mucosa. Others claim that estrogens lower the vaginal acidity, making it more difficult for bacteria to grow. However, ingestion of an oral estrogen pills is not associated with the same effect and in fact increases the frequency of UTIs. The reason for this is not clearly understood.

Like cranberry, blueberry has been reported to decrease the frequency of UTIs. However, all the reports are anecdotal and it also appears to decrease the frequency of UTIs but have no affect on an active infection. The chemicals found in both cranberries and blueberries which inhibit bacterial growth are known as the tannins. Tannins have the ability to prevent the bacteria from attaching to the vaginal and urethral lining.

There is no doubt that vitamin C supplements are good for health. Vitamin C and vitamin A have both been touted as a cure for UTI. Some recommend mega doses of vitamins daily to prevent UTI. To date, there is no evidence to show that vitamins can prevent or cure UTIs.

Some proteolytic enzymes such as bromelain (from pineapples) and trypsin have been shown to act synergistically with antibiotics to rapidly cure UTIs. However, these products are very labile (get destroyed by the high acidity in the stomach) and thus do not get absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. Coated versions of these enzymes are available and have to be taken with antibiotics or other treatments for UTIs.

Brainwave entrainment, sometime called brainwave synchronization, is nothing new. There is evidence that it has been used for hundreds — perhaps thousands — of years. Spiritual ceremonies often make use of it. One example is the chanting of monks to invoke deeper meditation. It is considered new because of the technology we incorporate today.

It’s only recently, in the last hundred years or so, that we’ve been capable of tuning in to and reproducing certain frequencies with modern equipment. That doesn’t mean the frequencies weren’t always there, we just didn’t have the ability to pick up on them.

These new techniques use sound and frequency in the way of binaural beats, monaural beats and isochronic tones. Certain frequencies, beats and tones can stimulate many things. Some frequencies can annoy you, while another can stimulate you and still others can cause you to be relaxed.

If you’ve been into personal development for very long or studied the law of attraction, then you know that everything around you is in a state of vibration. Sound and frequency can change the vibration that radiates from your body. Have you ever noticed that certain songs make you feel good while others can make you feel depressed? This is due to the music changing the state of vibration you’re in at the time.

If you’re trying to create a more up beat and happy mood, you would listen to music that has that affect on you. Brainwave entrainment works in the same way, except the use of frequency is more prominent and focused.

Binaural beats use two separate tones which are closely related in frequency. One tone is played into one speaker or headphone and the other is played in the other side. This actually causes your brain to create a beat or pulse. It does this by combining the two tones.

Monaural beats, on the other hand, are produced in the ears. To hear the monaural beats, each tone must be the same amplitude.

Isochronic tones turn off and on very quickly and are tones which are evenly spaced. The intervals of these tones are perfectly timed. Thought patterns are changed due to the brain duplicating these frequencies.

Brainwave entrainment is used to induce different and specific brainwave patterns to bring about changes in thinking or to raise your vibration to a more suitable level, like creating a happy mood instead of a sad mood.

If you’re a novice at this method, please keep in mind that some frequencies might not produce the outcome you want. You will need to experiment to find the ones that work for you and cause you to experience relaxation, excitement, etc.

Mindbody medicine contends that chronic pain is not caused by any physical trauma such as a tear, inflammation, nerve damage, etc. but by unconscious emotional factors. Dr. John Sarno, author of The Divided Mind, has named this condition Tension Myositis Syndrome or TMS. Tension refers to the emotional tension that causes the syndrome; myositis refers to the involvement of the skeletal muscles; syndrome refers to the multitude of symptoms present. So how exactly does TMS work?

When we experience unpleasant emotions such as guilt, anger, or shame, it threatens our self-image as a good and likeable person. In self defense, the mind shoves these negative emotions into the unconscious as a self-protection mechanism. However, if the emotions are very strong, they are harder to keep repressed in the unconscious mind so your brain creates a distraction–-chronic pain.

Any doctor will tell you that stress aggravates any medical condition. It is easy to see how the stress of a bad grade or financial problem will make a medical condition worse. With TMS, even happy events will cause pain. For instance, a wedding or new job can bring on physiological illness.

Although TMS is triggered by emotional issues, TMS is not just limited to physiological problems such as back pain. It is believed that other conditions act as a distraction as well–

• Nerve dysfunction
• Sciatica
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Repetitive stress injury
• Bell’s palsy
• Fibromyalgia
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Psychological disorders
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

That’s just a partial list. Remember, the purpose of TMS is to divert attention away from the unacceptable emotions and to keep attention focused on the physical symptoms. This syndrome is very good at its job. The symptoms are distressing enough by themselves, but TMS literally adds insult to injury–x-rays, MRIs, and physical exams often show no abnormalities. Psychological and social factors add to the situation, leaving sufferers completely exasperated. Nevertheless, you’re certainly not thinking about those unacceptable emotions anymore.

The progression of TMS is summarized as follows:

• Unconscious fear and anger
• Physiological changes
• Physical symptoms
• Psychological and social factors add to the symptoms, creating a full-blown syndrome that practically rules your life.
• How to get better
• Further resources for you in your exploration of TMS

For pain that’s lasted only a few month’s, it’s appropriate to try conventional therapies such as massage, stretching, physical therapy, pilates, chiropractic, or yoga. But, if you have chronic pain, how do you know if it’s TMS?

TMS is a clinical diagnosis–-there is no standard test and you must be diagnosed by a doctor. Doctors will review your history, imaging, and do a physical exam before giving a diagnosis of TMS. Remember that if you are experiencing chronic pain due to TMS, you’re not crazy. The central nervous system sends pain signals through the body. Just because TMS is triggered by psychological and emotional reasons, does not mean the pain is not real.

Reference: The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders

No herbal weight loss series would be complete without including information on Hoodia Gordonii. This plant was discovered by the modern world back in 2004, and has since taken the world by storm. This natural weight loss herb has been featured on major talk shows, major news casts, and is talked about all over the Internet as well. Because Hoodia is a natural appetite suppressant which has no known ill side effects.

Hoodia Gordonii comes from a plant in South Africa. Many people call it a cactus but it’s actually a succulent plant instead. It has been used by the bushmen of that country for hundreds of years, to help them manage hunger when they were out hunting for long periods of time. The Hoodia plant takes several years to grow, and is protected by the South African government. Some pharmaceutical companies are said to have started hoodia plantations, so they may start selling patented products based on the plant in a few years.

There are over 20 varieties of Hoodia plants, but Hoodia Gordonii is thought to be the only one which has the appetite suppressing properties in it. Hoodia Gordonii is reported to help suppress your appetite by making you feel satiated and full, while providing you with an energy boost too.

Scientific studies have shown that Hoodia contains a molecule known as P57. This molecule essentially tricks your brain into thinking you’re full. When you eat food, the glucose, or sugars, from that food trigger nerve cells within your brain and this is what lets your body know when it has had enough food. The P57 molecule in Hoodia also triggers these nerve cells in your brain, thus your body thinks it is full of food even when you haven’t eaten.

Several journalists have tried eating actual Hoodia plants in Africa themselves, and one even reported not having much of an appetite for almost 24 hours.

A pharmaceutical company named Phytopharm did a double blind study back in 2001 to test the effects of the P57 molecule. Half of the participants received P57 while the other half received a placebo. One of the biggest take aways from this study was that the group who took P57 ate an average of 1000 calories less each day than the placebo group did.

And so far there have been no reported bad side effects from using Hoodia either. People who have tried it specifically note there is no racing of the heart, no strange tastes in their mouths, and no queasiness or nausea.

Now, Hoodia Gordonii is not recommended as a complete food replacement. In fact, it’s suggested that you use it to control snacking and binging only. Many people have problems with weight loss and hunger, because they eat foods which cause their blood sugar levels to spike quickly.

This creates a cycle where your body releases a lot of insulin to deal with the large sugar spike, but as soon as that sugar is gone, the body demands more because there is now excess insulin in your system. And this is what causes people to have severe cravings for sweets and snacks, even just an hour or so after a meal. By using Hoodia, you should be able to control and drastically reduce those wild sugar level swings within your body, thus prevent yourself from snacking and binging throughout the day.

Have you ever wondered why your cell phone gets hot when you use it? It’s because the cell phone is emitting microwaves which cause it to become hot. These days if you question the safety of wireless technology, you’re in danger of being branded a Luddite.

It would seem that wi-fi has become the acceptable standard for Internet connectivity as well as a host of other electronic gadgets. As more and more municipalities decide to blanket communities with free wireless Internet access, some citizen groups are questioning the safety of wi-fi. Is an environmental review in order? What does the research say? You may be surprised to learn that there is a lot we don’t know about the health effects of wireless technology.

One of the first groups that has come against wireless of technology is firefighters–although they might not want it publicized. Firehouses are often the targeted by cellular phone companies as ideal places to place antennas. Because firefighters work and sleep in the same location, they opposed the continuous exposure to non ionizing radiation and were able to litigate against it. The International Association of Firefighters has taken the position that firehouses should not be the site of cellular base station antennas until more is known about the long term effects of exposure.

The firefighters found that they could not respond as well when exposued to continuous radiation. They understood that by using wi-fi, you never give your body a break. Many people sleep in close proximity to wireless devices–cell phones, routers, PDAs. The intensity of the exposure is not the issue. Chronic exposure to low intensity exposure is considered to be worst than a single high intensity exposure.

The work of Canadian scientist Magda Havas is frequently referenced to demonstrate the adverse biological impact of electromagnetic radiation. Her research focuses on the effects of radio frequency radiation (RFR) used by cell phones and other wireless technologies. There is little funding in the United States for research of the biological and health effects of RFR or and EMF by government agencies. Available studies are often funded by the wireless industry, and not surprisingly, these studies often find no adverse effects.

So what are the potential health effects? Keeping in mind that much of the information is conflicting, potential health effects are:

• cancer
• genetic effects such as damage to DNA,
• cellular and molecular effects such as a reduction in enzymes critical to the central nervous system
• changes in electrophysiology such as reduced activity between nerve cells, and
• physiological and behavioral changes such as impairment of peripheral vision

Consumers can protect themselves best by simply using wired devices instead of wi-fi. Wi-fi is slower in comparison to wired technology, and wireless networks are notoriously insecure. In the meantime, educate yourself on the various issues.

Resources:

• Analysis of Health and Environmental Effects of Proposed San Francisco Earthlink Wi-Fi Network
• Health Dangers From Wireless Laptops
• School sued for installing a wireless computer network