Our nervous system is made up of three basic parts:
Central Nervous System - the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System - nerves that run to and from the central nervous system
Autonomic Nervous System - Sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric nervous system
The sympathetic nervous system is aroused by stress, anger or fear.
The parasympathetic nervous system calms and relaxes.
The enteric nervous system is responsible for the gut or alimentary canal.
Essentially, our nervous system not only keeps us informed about the world outside us and inside us, but it also allows...
Panic Attacks, Anxiety & Depression
One of the most common disorders caused by nutritional deficiency is anemia due to an insufficiency of B-12. This nutrient has the largest molecular structure of any single vitamin and consequently presents a serious absorption problem.
The typical approaches to treating anemia are to administer large dosages of ferrous sulfate (iron sulfate) which may cause gastrointestinal bleeding, or a 1 c.c. (1000 mcg.) intramuscular injection of vitamin B-12, which is difficult to maintain over a long period of time.
Absorption of B-12 in the diet is reduced...
Hyperthyroidism makes the body speed up. It occurs when there is too much thyroid hormone in the blood ("hyper" means "too much"). Nearly 10 times more frequent in women, it affects about 2% of all women in the United States.
The most common cause of hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, is caused by problems with the immune system and tends to run in families. It affects at least 2.5 million Americans, including Olympic athlete Gail Devers who won a gold medal in track after being diagnosed with and treated for Graves' disease.
Symptoms include:
fast heart rate
nervousness
increased...
The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland just below the Adam's apple. This gland plays a very important role in controlling the body's metabolism, that is, how the body functions. It does this by producing thyroid hormones (T4 and T3), chemicals that travel through the blood to every part of the body. Thyroid hormones tell the body how fast to work and use energy.
The thyroid gland works like an air conditioner. If there are enough thyroid hormones in the blood, the gland stops making the hormones (just as an air conditioner cycles off when there is enough cool air in a house). When the body...
Interestingly, the word progesterone is given its name because of its vital supportive role in gestation (Latin: gestare), a fact that sheds some insight into its importance in pregnancy and the reproductive process.
Modern science confirms that insight, as, of all female hormones, progesterone is the one most essential for conception and to the survival of the fertilized egg and the fetus throughout gestation. It is necessary for full-term pregnancy.
At ovulation, progesterone levels rapidly rise from 2-3 mg/day to an average of 22-25 mg. per day, peaking as high as 30 mg/day. If fertilization...
At least one-quarter of all women develop fibroids—benign uterine growths that are usually symptom less but can cause excess menstrual bleeding, pain, heaviness and discomfort. Most fibroids don't require treatment; however, when bleeding or other symptoms become severe, a woman may choose to have them removed.
The natural health approach to uterine fibroids is to combine cleansing programs that are typical of cancer programs with a hormone balancing program to reduce excess estrogen. Both of these approaches act to increase the liver's detoxification systems. The liver removes wastes and other...
Okay, to put it as simply as possible, early menopause is menopause that comes well before the average age of normal menopause -- when you're still in your 20s, 30s, or early 40s. But to really understand what early menopause is, first you have to understand what menopause itself is. And it's pretty simple: Menopause is technically the stop (pause) of your periods (menses). Your periods stop because your ovaries have run out of eggs, have been damaged, or have been surgically removed.
Before your periods stop, you go through a transition period called perimenopause -- this can last on average...
Day 1 of your cycle is the first full day of menstrual bleeding. The uterine lining built up in the previous cycle is cleared away, and the hormone levels from the previous cycle take a sharp decline, causing the physical and emotional symptoms commonly associated with menstruation.
Pre-Ovulation
The pituitary gland releases a hormone called FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone), which stimulates an ovarian follicle to grow and an egg to mature. The pituitary gland also releases LH (Luteinizing Hormone) which stimulates the follicle to manufacture and secrete estrogen. Estrogen causes the uterine...
All women of childbearing age experience a menstrual period about once a month - but for some women, this normal occurrence causes considerable discomfort. Here are some of the most common menstrual problems
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Almost every woman is familiar with at least some of the symptoms of PMS. Here are some of the most common
Irritability
Breast tenderness
Mood swings
Bloating or fluid retention
Feelings of sadness or depression - "the blues"
You can almost always get some relief from PMS symptoms by making healthy changes in your lifestyle.
These include
Exercise...
