healthbriefs
Acupuncture Relieves Depression During Pregnancy
A
new study presented at this year’s Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine’s
annual meeting showed that acupuncture can be a safe and effective treatment for depression during pregnancy. This is especially good news because expectant women are naturally reluctant to take medications and understand that the use of antidepressants during gestation poses risks for the developing fetus. About 10 percent of pregnant
women meet criteria for major depression and almost 20 percent report increased symptoms of depression during pregnancy. The eight-week study involved 150 participants, in which half received depression-specific acupuncture treatments.
Allergy Prevention Tips
W
ting chilled, which can contribute to allergy flare-ups.
Source: Dr. Murray Grossan, consulting physician, department of otolaryngology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
CRUCIFEROUS VEGGIES HELP WITH CYSTIC FIBROSIS
S
Yoga May Decrease Dowager’s Hump
N
hen pollen counts and other allergy risks are high, these prevention tips can help. Avoid using lipstick, perfume or any scented product that may irritate eyes; get plenty of rest, since this is the time when the body replen- ishes natural cortisone, its own anti-inflammatory; avoid iced beverages and instead drink lots of warm liquids to stimu- late nasal cilia, especially hot green tea, because it’s high in antioxidants that can help reduce allergy symptoms; blow the nose gently, so as not to force mucus into healthy sinuses and ear canals; and keep a sweater or jacket handy to avoid get-
ew research suggests that, for those prone to contracting it,
dowager’s hump (hyperkyphosis) “is not a fait accompli,” advises Dr. Gail Greendale, a physician who specializes in women’s health with an interest in alternative and com- plementary therapies. Results of a pilot study she led at the University of California, Los Angeles, showed that elderly participants who prac- ticed yoga for six months saw their upper spine curvature lowered by about 5 percent, compared to those who did not. Those with greater spinal flexibility at the start showed a 6 percent improvement. More than 100 otherwise
healthy individuals with indicators of moderate hyperkyphosis par- ticipated. The study group was 81 percent female, with an average age of 75 years. During the six-month study
cientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Health System discovered that a dietary antioxidant found in vegetables like broc- coli and cauliflower helps protect cells from damage caused by chemicals generated during the body’s inflammatory response to infection and injury. The finding has implications for inflammation-based disorders including cystic fibrosis, diabe- tes, heart disease and neurode- generation.
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Collier/Lee Counties swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com
period, the yoga group also showed significant relief from upper back pain, were less likely to report early wakening or insomnia and needed less time to stand up from a chair. Many members of the control group experienced increases in the curva- ture of their spines during the same period.
Source: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
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