Here is a testimonial of some side benefits of HypnoBirthing from a former class member:
So I have been meaning to write to you for weeks! I just wanted to pass along my thoughts about the skills I learned in HypnoBirthing post birth. More than a year after Caroline's birth I still use "HypnoBirthing" daily...although admittedly I have forgotten much of the official lingo. It is so normal for me I barely notice it but I have noticed a true impact.
I have had borderline blood pressure for as long as I can remember in my adult life. In the last year it has been excellent (well within normal limits) and I attribute completely to regular use of relaxation techniques. The other time I use techniques regularly is when I am trying to sleep, especially if I am in a strange place or their are noises disrupting me. For example, recently a neighbor was having a party and instead of allowing the noise to disrupt me I just told myself that every time I heard a noise from the party to relax deeper and deeper. Worked like a charm. I do the same thing for elevator noises and air conditioning in hotel rooms and for my husband's occasional snoring.
Anyway, I just wanted to share these examples with you because I think that hypnobirthing has an impact far beyond labor and delivery-it is truly a valuable life skill!
-Christine
Thanks, Christine, for sharing that! HypnoBirthing is a childbirth education class, but it was developed to be used more as a philosophy than just a class by Marie Mongan 20 years ago.
I know that several former HypnoBirthing clients (moms, dads & partners) have reported that listening to the Rainbow Relaxation CD after the baby arrives helps them get more restful sleep & helps the mom relax while breastfeeding, which also helps with milk letdown.
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Moisturizers Linked to Skin Cancer?
Moisturizers Linked To Skin Cancer?
Studies: 4 Commonly Used Moisturizing Creams Promote Tumors In UV-Exposed Mice
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/14/health/webmd/main4351459.shtml?source=search_story
(WebMD) Four commonly used moisturizers promoted skin cancers in mouse studies.
Mice are not men. But the unexpected finding suggests that these -- and perhaps other products -- may not be as safe as they're thought to be.
The moisturizers tested in the study were Dermabase, Dermovan (a wholesale only product discontinued in 2006), Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream, and Vanicream.
In a mouse model of sun-related skin cancer , frequent application of each product resulted in more skin tumors and faster tumor growth, says study leader Allan H. Conney, PhD, director of the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research and professor in the school of pharmacy at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. "This was unexpected. We really did not expect to see the tumor-promoting activity of these creams," Conney tells WebMD.
In fact, Conney and colleagues were getting ready to use one of these moisturizers -- Dermabase -- in human clinical trials of topical caffeine, which prevents skin cancer in animal studies.
"We thought it would be prudent to test Dermabase by itself to see if it had tumor-promoting activity," Conney says. "We did not think it would. But lo and behold, to our surprise we got an increased rate of skin cancer."
This led to new tests of Dermabase and the three other moisturizers, which the Conney team hoped to use in their human study. For these new animal studies, the researchers used hairless mice irradiated with ultraviolet light twice a week for 20 weeks. With no further irradiation, such mice eventually develop skin cancer -- very much like humans overexposed to sunlight early in life.
Five days a week, for 17 weeks, the researchers rubbed moisturizer into the animals' skin. The result:
Dermabase increased the total number of tumors by 69%.
Dermovan increased the total number of tumors by 95%.
Eucerin increased the total number of tumors by 24%.
Vanicream increased the total number of tumors by 58%.
"The multimillion-dollar question is, what about humans?" Conney asks. "The answer is, we don't know. Our study raises a red flag and points out the need for epidemiologists to take a look at people who use moisturizing creams. And the companies that market these products should take a look at animal models and see if their products promote tumors."
Testing Moisturizers for Safety
Dermatologist Keyvan Nouri, MD, director of dermatologic surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and author of the best-selling book Skin Cancer, agrees that companies that make moisturizers should test their products.
"This study could definitely be a warning to alert these companies to consider testing moisturizing creams with some sort of assay," Nouri tells WebMD. "These creams need to be tested first before they come to market."
Moisturizers are classified as cosmetics by the FDA, which does not require that they undergo the same safety and efficacy tests required for drugs.
The moisturizers did not cause cancer in the mice. That came from their early-life radiation exposure. But the creams did make skin cancers grow faster and more readily.
Nouri notes that the radiation damaged the skin of the mice before the moisturizing creams were applied. That, he says, might account for the moisturizers' unusual tumor-promoting effect.
However, he notes that the skin cancers are becoming much more common in humans.
"There are over a million cases a year," he says. "It is by far the most common cancer we deal with. Skin cancers account for more than half of all cancers combined. But most skin cancers are totally curable."
What is it about the moisturizers that might promote cancer?
The Conney team asked Johnson & Johnson to make them a "custom blend" moisturizer without two ingredients previously linked to skin iritation (sodium lauryl sulfate) and tumor promotion (mineral oil). The custom blend (on which Rutgers University and Johnson & Johnson hold a patent) did not promote skin cancer.
But not all of the products tested use these ingredients, so exactly what -- if anything -- might be linked to cancer isn't known. And it's certainly clear that mouse and human skin are very different.
Moisturizers Still Necessary
Nouri warns consumers not to stop using moisturizers.
"As we get older, our skin gets drier," he says. "We need to moisturize, otherwise our skin gets dry and we get eczema , dermatitis , rashes , and so on. It is too soon to say from this study people should stop moisturizing."
Eucerin is made by Beiersdorf Inc.
"We have just learned about this study and are currently reviewing it to understand the findings," Beiersdorf says in a statement to WebMD. "Eucerin Original Creme has been on the market for more than 100 years and is a highly respected, dermatologist-recommended brand. It has been widely used by both individuals with normal skin and those with diseased skin under the care of physicians, and no incidents of this nature have ever been reported."
Vanicream is made by Pharmaceutical Specialties Inc. In a statement to WebMD, PSI President Conrad O. Thompson, RPh, says there is nothing in the Conney study to indicate any need for change in current recommendations for use of Vanicream.
"Treatment with Vanicream Skin Cream clearly did not increase the proportion of animals that developed tumors," Thompson notes.
Dermovan, a wholesale-only product used as a base to which other ingredients are added by compounding pharmacists, was made by Healthpoint Ltd. until the product was discontinued in 2006.
"The product has been around for 50 years, and has no safety issues related to it," Healthpoint spokesman Mark Mitchell tells WebMD.
Dermabase maker Paddock Laboratories Inc. did not respond to WebMD's request for comment.
The Conney study appears in the Aug. 14 advance online issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
**If you want a moisturizer made from Certified Organic (to food grade levels) ingredients that are cold-pressed & cold-extracted, choose Miessence products. Go to my website at http://www.awelllivedlife.net/ & click on the Miessence tab to learn more.
http://www.awelllivedlife.net/
http://www.awelllivedlife.blogspot.com/
Studies: 4 Commonly Used Moisturizing Creams Promote Tumors In UV-Exposed Mice
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/14/health/webmd/main4351459.shtml?source=search_story
(WebMD) Four commonly used moisturizers promoted skin cancers in mouse studies.
Mice are not men. But the unexpected finding suggests that these -- and perhaps other products -- may not be as safe as they're thought to be.
The moisturizers tested in the study were Dermabase, Dermovan (a wholesale only product discontinued in 2006), Eucerin Original Moisturizing Cream, and Vanicream.
In a mouse model of sun-related skin cancer , frequent application of each product resulted in more skin tumors and faster tumor growth, says study leader Allan H. Conney, PhD, director of the Susan Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research and professor in the school of pharmacy at Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. "This was unexpected. We really did not expect to see the tumor-promoting activity of these creams," Conney tells WebMD.
In fact, Conney and colleagues were getting ready to use one of these moisturizers -- Dermabase -- in human clinical trials of topical caffeine, which prevents skin cancer in animal studies.
"We thought it would be prudent to test Dermabase by itself to see if it had tumor-promoting activity," Conney says. "We did not think it would. But lo and behold, to our surprise we got an increased rate of skin cancer."
This led to new tests of Dermabase and the three other moisturizers, which the Conney team hoped to use in their human study. For these new animal studies, the researchers used hairless mice irradiated with ultraviolet light twice a week for 20 weeks. With no further irradiation, such mice eventually develop skin cancer -- very much like humans overexposed to sunlight early in life.
Five days a week, for 17 weeks, the researchers rubbed moisturizer into the animals' skin. The result:
Dermabase increased the total number of tumors by 69%.
Dermovan increased the total number of tumors by 95%.
Eucerin increased the total number of tumors by 24%.
Vanicream increased the total number of tumors by 58%.
"The multimillion-dollar question is, what about humans?" Conney asks. "The answer is, we don't know. Our study raises a red flag and points out the need for epidemiologists to take a look at people who use moisturizing creams. And the companies that market these products should take a look at animal models and see if their products promote tumors."
Testing Moisturizers for Safety
Dermatologist Keyvan Nouri, MD, director of dermatologic surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and author of the best-selling book Skin Cancer, agrees that companies that make moisturizers should test their products.
"This study could definitely be a warning to alert these companies to consider testing moisturizing creams with some sort of assay," Nouri tells WebMD. "These creams need to be tested first before they come to market."
Moisturizers are classified as cosmetics by the FDA, which does not require that they undergo the same safety and efficacy tests required for drugs.
The moisturizers did not cause cancer in the mice. That came from their early-life radiation exposure. But the creams did make skin cancers grow faster and more readily.
Nouri notes that the radiation damaged the skin of the mice before the moisturizing creams were applied. That, he says, might account for the moisturizers' unusual tumor-promoting effect.
However, he notes that the skin cancers are becoming much more common in humans.
"There are over a million cases a year," he says. "It is by far the most common cancer we deal with. Skin cancers account for more than half of all cancers combined. But most skin cancers are totally curable."
What is it about the moisturizers that might promote cancer?
The Conney team asked Johnson & Johnson to make them a "custom blend" moisturizer without two ingredients previously linked to skin iritation (sodium lauryl sulfate) and tumor promotion (mineral oil). The custom blend (on which Rutgers University and Johnson & Johnson hold a patent) did not promote skin cancer.
But not all of the products tested use these ingredients, so exactly what -- if anything -- might be linked to cancer isn't known. And it's certainly clear that mouse and human skin are very different.
Moisturizers Still Necessary
Nouri warns consumers not to stop using moisturizers.
"As we get older, our skin gets drier," he says. "We need to moisturize, otherwise our skin gets dry and we get eczema , dermatitis , rashes , and so on. It is too soon to say from this study people should stop moisturizing."
Eucerin is made by Beiersdorf Inc.
"We have just learned about this study and are currently reviewing it to understand the findings," Beiersdorf says in a statement to WebMD. "Eucerin Original Creme has been on the market for more than 100 years and is a highly respected, dermatologist-recommended brand. It has been widely used by both individuals with normal skin and those with diseased skin under the care of physicians, and no incidents of this nature have ever been reported."
Vanicream is made by Pharmaceutical Specialties Inc. In a statement to WebMD, PSI President Conrad O. Thompson, RPh, says there is nothing in the Conney study to indicate any need for change in current recommendations for use of Vanicream.
"Treatment with Vanicream Skin Cream clearly did not increase the proportion of animals that developed tumors," Thompson notes.
Dermovan, a wholesale-only product used as a base to which other ingredients are added by compounding pharmacists, was made by Healthpoint Ltd. until the product was discontinued in 2006.
"The product has been around for 50 years, and has no safety issues related to it," Healthpoint spokesman Mark Mitchell tells WebMD.
Dermabase maker Paddock Laboratories Inc. did not respond to WebMD's request for comment.
The Conney study appears in the Aug. 14 advance online issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology.
**If you want a moisturizer made from Certified Organic (to food grade levels) ingredients that are cold-pressed & cold-extracted, choose Miessence products. Go to my website at http://www.awelllivedlife.net/ & click on the Miessence tab to learn more.
http://www.awelllivedlife.net/
http://www.awelllivedlife.blogspot.com/
Monday, September 8, 2008
A great website
Here's info about a new website...Wellsphere.com. I'm a featured blogger in the HypnoBirthing section. The site is full of helpful information, resources, videos & articles about pretty much any health-related topic. Hope you find it helpful!
Here's the press release:
We’ve made Health Knowledge Personal! Wellsphere launches the next generation health website
Wellsphere, the fastest-growing top 10 health website has just launched its groundbreaking solution for finding expert health knowledge and personal support. The new Wellsphere introduces “WellPages,” comprehensive, personalized webpages that connect people with the best health knowledge from experts, doctors, patients and healthy living professionals – providing immediate answers to their specific health questions.
Every WellPage is powered by Wellsphere’s cutting edge, proprietary Health Knowledge EngineTM. Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge, Wellsphere’s Chief Information Officer, a Stanford Computer Science PhD and former Harvard Medical School faculty member, told reporters today that the new Health Knowledge Engine understands people’s everyday health questions, instantly translates them into medical terminology, finds the most relevant credible knowledge, and presents it all on a single user-friendly WellPage. “Each WellPage provides users with a comprehensive set of articles carefully selected from leading medical experts, research institutions, healthy living professionals and other trusted health writers so users don’t have to visit multiple websites to find answers to their health questions. WellPages also provide a rich user experience by combining health information with relevant informative videos and high quality medical images that helps users understand better what they have and how to cope with it.” said Dr. Rutledge.
Wellsphere has seen tremendous growth in traffic in the last few months to a rate of more than 2 million monthly unique visitors, with more visitors discovering the new website daily. “Listening to users in our supportive online communities, we realized that they are not satisfied with the information about their condition or symptom that generic health websites or encyclopedias provide. What they’re really looking for is a credible, one-stop-shop where they can quickly get a personal perspective on their specific health issues – from medical experts and fellow patients. A 26-year old mother of two recently diagnosed with breast cancer is looking for different kinds of information and support than a 74-year old grandmother facing a seemingly similar diagnosis. We wanted to make sure that each of these individuals could easily find expert medical information that’s relevant to them, as well connect with other patients and health writers with similar experiences” said CEO Ron Gutman.
WellPages offer a comprehensive perspective on millions of health topics by drawing from hundreds of thousands of articles written by Wellsphere’s network of 1,200 rigorously selected health writers and experts who dedicate their writing to helping others improve their lives. Many of the leading medical minds from Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale and other top Medical Institutions are currently sharing their knowledge alongside patients who bravely share their journeys through stories, pictures, videos, and personal discussions. Patients can also connect in any of Wellsphere’s more than 100 new health communities to share advice and support one another.
To experience the new Wellsphere, visit http://www.wellsphere.com/wellpages.
About Wellsphere
Wellsphere, the fastest growing health technology company, is based in San Mateo, CA. Wellsphere develops web and mobile technologies that help millions of people live healthier, happier lives by providing a free consumer health website at www.wellsphere.com, and by building online health platforms for large organizations.
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
Here's the press release:
We’ve made Health Knowledge Personal! Wellsphere launches the next generation health website
Wellsphere, the fastest-growing top 10 health website has just launched its groundbreaking solution for finding expert health knowledge and personal support. The new Wellsphere introduces “WellPages,” comprehensive, personalized webpages that connect people with the best health knowledge from experts, doctors, patients and healthy living professionals – providing immediate answers to their specific health questions.
Every WellPage is powered by Wellsphere’s cutting edge, proprietary Health Knowledge EngineTM. Dr. Geoffrey Rutledge, Wellsphere’s Chief Information Officer, a Stanford Computer Science PhD and former Harvard Medical School faculty member, told reporters today that the new Health Knowledge Engine understands people’s everyday health questions, instantly translates them into medical terminology, finds the most relevant credible knowledge, and presents it all on a single user-friendly WellPage. “Each WellPage provides users with a comprehensive set of articles carefully selected from leading medical experts, research institutions, healthy living professionals and other trusted health writers so users don’t have to visit multiple websites to find answers to their health questions. WellPages also provide a rich user experience by combining health information with relevant informative videos and high quality medical images that helps users understand better what they have and how to cope with it.” said Dr. Rutledge.
Wellsphere has seen tremendous growth in traffic in the last few months to a rate of more than 2 million monthly unique visitors, with more visitors discovering the new website daily. “Listening to users in our supportive online communities, we realized that they are not satisfied with the information about their condition or symptom that generic health websites or encyclopedias provide. What they’re really looking for is a credible, one-stop-shop where they can quickly get a personal perspective on their specific health issues – from medical experts and fellow patients. A 26-year old mother of two recently diagnosed with breast cancer is looking for different kinds of information and support than a 74-year old grandmother facing a seemingly similar diagnosis. We wanted to make sure that each of these individuals could easily find expert medical information that’s relevant to them, as well connect with other patients and health writers with similar experiences” said CEO Ron Gutman.
WellPages offer a comprehensive perspective on millions of health topics by drawing from hundreds of thousands of articles written by Wellsphere’s network of 1,200 rigorously selected health writers and experts who dedicate their writing to helping others improve their lives. Many of the leading medical minds from Stanford, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Yale and other top Medical Institutions are currently sharing their knowledge alongside patients who bravely share their journeys through stories, pictures, videos, and personal discussions. Patients can also connect in any of Wellsphere’s more than 100 new health communities to share advice and support one another.
To experience the new Wellsphere, visit http://www.wellsphere.com/wellpages.
About Wellsphere
Wellsphere, the fastest growing health technology company, is based in San Mateo, CA. Wellsphere develops web and mobile technologies that help millions of people live healthier, happier lives by providing a free consumer health website at www.wellsphere.com, and by building online health platforms for large organizations.
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com
Saturday, December 29, 2007
The Story of Stuff
This is a really cool informative video about what happens to our "stuff".
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. Go to www.storyofstuff.com to watch the video. Please forward this info to your friends & family...it's definitely worth watching!
I thought I was pretty educated about things & did my part to recycle & buy organic, but this really showed me that there are so many other things that affect our stuff. I'm going to think again the next time I find that "great deal". I'm also really glad that I've become a Representative for Miessence Certified Organic products. The company has created the world's 1st extensive range of certified organic (to food grade levels) health & beauty products. Don't be fooled into thinking you're buying safe, non-toxic products when the label says "natural" or even "organic" because the cosmetic industry has found a way around label descriptions & there are still carcinogenic chemicals even in "organic" & "derived from coconut oil" ingredients. Miessence limits the amount of packaging, thus decreasing its footprint on the earth. It is also carbon neutral! Visit my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net & click on the Miessence tab to learn more about this great line of products.
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever. Go to www.storyofstuff.com to watch the video. Please forward this info to your friends & family...it's definitely worth watching!
I thought I was pretty educated about things & did my part to recycle & buy organic, but this really showed me that there are so many other things that affect our stuff. I'm going to think again the next time I find that "great deal". I'm also really glad that I've become a Representative for Miessence Certified Organic products. The company has created the world's 1st extensive range of certified organic (to food grade levels) health & beauty products. Don't be fooled into thinking you're buying safe, non-toxic products when the label says "natural" or even "organic" because the cosmetic industry has found a way around label descriptions & there are still carcinogenic chemicals even in "organic" & "derived from coconut oil" ingredients. Miessence limits the amount of packaging, thus decreasing its footprint on the earth. It is also carbon neutral! Visit my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net & click on the Miessence tab to learn more about this great line of products.
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