What in the World is "RLS"?

"Restless Legs Syndrome"
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder of the part of the nervous system that affects movements of the legs. Because it usually interferes with sleep, it also is considered a sleep disorder.

Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome
People with RLS have strange sensations in their legs (and sometimes arms) and an irresistible urge to move their legs to relieve the sensations. The sensations are difficult to describe: they are not painful, but an uncomfortable, "itchy," "pins and needles," or "creepy crawly" feeling deep in the legs. The sensations are usually worse at rest, especially when lying in bed. The sensations lead to walking discomfort, sleep deprivation, and stress.

The severity of RLS symptoms ranges from mild to intolerable. Symptoms get gradually worse over time in about two thirds of people with the condition and may be severe enough to be disabling. The symptoms are generally worse in the evening and night and less severe in the morning. While the symptoms are usually quite mild in young adults, by age 50 the symptoms may cause severe nightly sleep disruption that can significantly impair a person's quality of life.

Who Gets Restless Legs Syndrome?
RLS affects about 10% of the U.S. population. It affects both men and women and may begin at any age, even in infants and young children. Most people who are affected severely are middle-aged or older.

RLS is often unrecognized or misdiagnosed. In many people the condition it is not diagnosed until 10-20 years after symptoms begin. Once correctly diagnosed, RLS can often be treated successfully.

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Let Off Some Steam.....

The positive effects of steam bathing have been understood for thousands of years. Hippocrates found that fever could cure many diseases, and steam baths and saunas have been producing 'simulated' fevers ever since that time and maybe even earlier than that.
There are excellent healing attributes of both saunas and steam baths but the steam bath is especially good for respiratory troubles like bronchitis, asthma, and allergies the since it offers an elevated moisture content. The steam bath is also useful for cleaning and toning the skin surface. The increased volume of sweat that is induced by the steam bath and sauna leaves the skin soft and supple while the bathers are left feeling re-energized and recharged.

Steam Baths - Special Benefits
As previously discussed, a steam bath is excellent for respiratory ailments since steam can remove allergens and mucus from the lungs. Doctors have been advising that patients breathe steam for various respiratory problems for a long time now. The steam bath allows the user to inhale a larger concentration of steam than by using a vaporizer. This allows maximum benefits to those with breathing problems.
Steam has a soothing quality for the breathing passages since it raises the moisture level in the lungs, throat and nose. People that suffer from the problems of asthma or the common cold will find they feel much better after indulging in a steam bath.
No matter how good the sauna bath might feel by relieving symptoms it is not cure for respiratory diseases. The temporary benefits of relief from the symptoms are good enough that many sufferers go back to the steam bath again and again.

Skin Benefits
A good sweat is excellent for healthy skin. Dermatologists understand the benefits of steam to create a beautiful, healthy glow. Serious sweating washes the skin better than soap and water since it unlocks the pores and lets deep-seated grime along with dead cells to be washed out. Also a steam bath increases the blood circulation to the skin contributing to a healthy, glowing manifestation, you will glisten!

Pain Relief Benefits
Heat is a useful tool for management of muscular pain. Taking a steam bath after a substantial bodily workout is an excellent method of speeding up the healing progression of hurt tissues and muscles. Heat allows the blood vessels to enlarge which boosts the blood circulation, letting increased oxygen to arrive at injured parts of the body. This has the twofold effect of pain reduction and improving the healing speed.

Relaxation Benefits
Deep sleep is one of the best medicinal ways to heal the body. Our contemporary life is filled with daily stresses, and these stresses will build up over time and can induce stress linked illnesses such as high blood pressure and hypertension. A sauna bath is a excellent method of unwinding and help relieve the daily stresses. The heat of the sauna allows the muscles to loosen up, and the steam makes available a comforting atmosphere for calming the mind.

You will discover that a steam bath ahead of bedtime is an excellent method of promoting a deep restful sleep. You come out of the steam bath experiencing a relaxed and calm state. When you take a steam bath on a regular basis, you will reap remarkable benefits for your health and your state of mind. Check out the special Mother's Day Sale at "Salmon Creek Botanicals" going on now through May 11th, 2008. When you spend $40.00, you receive a free Lavender Milk Bath. This luxurious bath is made with powder milk, powdered sugar, and baking soda with pure lavender essential oil. Visit http://www.salmoncreekbotanicals.com/ today!

The Great Debate.....

The debate over the effectiveness of St. John’s Wort in fighting depression now has added fuel.

Three recent clinical trials from 2005 and 2006 and a critical review of the literature (2006) have examined whether the herbal supplement is an effective treatment for depression. The data all indicate that St John’s Wort is indeed safe and effective for people who are mild to moderately depressed. The evidence on how it affects moderate-to-severe depression remains unclear.
This is particularly newsworthy because two prior studies—including a 2002 study sponsored by the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institute of Health, suggested that St. John’s Wort was no more effective than a placebo in treating mild to moderate depression.
Hyla Cass, M.D., chairwoman of complementary and alternative medicine at the American University of Complementary Medicine in Los Angeles, maintains that in her own practice of using St. John's Wort she has found that people “respond well and really appreciate the lack of side effects and not feeling 'medicated.' "
Contrary to U.S. medical practice, St. John’s Wort is already used extensively in Western Europe. In Germany, for example, doctors often turn to traditional antidepressants only after a trial of St. John’s Wort has not been successful.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum) is a roadside weed that has been used for centuries to treat a variety of disorders. In 350 B.C., the Greek physician and writer Hippocrates prescribed the herb’s extracts for relief from such ailments as dysentery, tuberculosis, malaria, hemorrhage, jaundice, colds, insomnia and hysteria. Today, St. John's Wort is used primarily to relieve the symptoms of depression, anxiety and sleep disorders.
The flowering tops of St. John's Wort are used to prepare teas and tablets containing concentrated extracts of the active ingredients hypericin or hyperforin. The extracts are standardized to 0.3 percent hypericin, with a typical adult dose of 300 milligrams 3 times a day (yielding 2.7 mg hypericin per day). Preparations available in the United States contain inconsistent amounts of active ingredient, so be sure to read labels to know exactly how much you're actually getting in your tablet or tea.
Many folks who regularly take St. John’s Wort note improvements in overall mood and sleep. Researchers believe that the antidepressant effect of St. John’s Wort is due to its inhibition of serotonin uptake by certain receptors in the brain—the same mechanism attributed to many widely prescribed antidepressants.
Although St. John’s Wort is generally considered safe, it can cause undesirable interactions with herbs, other supplements or prescription medicines, including theophylline and digoxin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that St. John's Wort not be used with any type of antiretroviral medication used to treat HIV or AIDS.
St. John’s Wort is not to be used if you’re pregnant or nursing. New data presented at the 21st Annual Meeting of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (August 2006) suggest that St. John’s Wort might interact with medications prescribed during pregnancy and might cause lower infant birth weights.
As with any herbal medicine do not take St. John’s Wort without speaking to your health care provider first.

By Jill Shuman, M.S., E.L.S.

Content provided by Revolution Health Group

Dragon Tamer......

Every month something less than half of all women suffer pain, bloating, anxiety to the point almost of homicidal thoughts, and depression to the point of suicidal thoughts. Well, don’t kill your husband, your boss, or yourself. Just realize that the problem is hormonal and do one or two things to level out the hormonal balance. It will not solve all of your problems, but there are treatments that can take the edge off and allow you to function more suitably for that bad week or two a month.
Evening primrose oil, for example, is an approved treatment in Great Britain for PMS. Native American women were ahead on this and chewed the seeds of the primrose to alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual or menstrual stress. Some herbalists recommend taking a capsule of primrose oil a day as a preventative and then increasing the dosage to three capsules once symptoms appear and continuing until the period’s end.
Chinese angelica is also said to work as a preventative measure, but it is not recommended for pregnant women. Angelica may also induce heavier blood flow, so it is not recommended, either, for women who have a heavy flow during menstruation.
For excessive bleeding, try cramp bark, which contains nervine substances that can also relax the uterine muscles and avert cramping. Add some cramp bark to an herbal tea. There are no known side effects to the use of cramp bark. The thyroid gland seems to have some connection to excessive bleeding and it makes sense to treat the thyroid with seaweed and dark green, leafy vegetables.
Fifty to one hundred milligrams of Vitamin B6 a day is reported to help with depression and irritability. Chaste berry as herbs or tinctures can work to regulate the ratio of estrogen to progesterone better than Vitamin B6. However, women who suffer depression with PMS should stay away from chaste berry. Vitamin E is also recommended in dosages of 150 to 200 IUs.
Dropping blood calcium levels contribute to cramping, headache, and depression. Generally, ten days before the onset of the menstrual period, women experience this drop. A daily supplement of minerals is extremely important in managing premenstrual stress; a daily dose of 1200 milligrams of calcium and 200 milligrams of magnesium is usually sufficient.
The drop in blood calcium may be what causes cramping, so eating with that purpose in mind is smart. Use tahini as a spread instead of butter, have yogurt for lunch, and include greens like spinach, parsley, and kale in your dinner menu. Eat foods rich in Vitamins C and E, such as beans, eggs, garlic, and onions.
Small, frequent meals spread throughout the day can work to keep blood sugar levels steady and avert anxiety and edginess. Caffeine and sugar, of course, will do the opposite and you are much better off avoiding both for the two-week period. Also avoid cruciferous vegetables, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower. Cruciferous vegetables are sources of natural estrogen and may throw off the hormonal balance.
Increased exercise, such as an hour’s walk three times a week instead of a half-hour’s week will increase production of endorphins to brighten your mood. Some experts say that bright light treatment during early morning and evening can help alleviate PMS-related depression. Arrange a group of bright lights and sit three feet away from it, looking at it on occasion, but not for long stretches. This should be done a week before the period commences.
Otherwise, just keep some perspective, grit your teeth, and remember it will soon be over – until the next time.

Here is a rescue remedy for taming your inner dragon:

4 gallons water

1/2 cup lavender flowers

1/2 cup rose petals

1/2 cup chamomile

1/2 cup hops

In a large pot bring herbs and water to a boil then turn off the heat and let stand for 15 minutes. Pour herbs and water directly into the bathwater. Relax and let all of your pain wash away.