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| IVL Products Health Watch - Restless Leg Syndrome Still A Mystery |
| The Official IVL Products Health Blog |
Dear Reader,
The need to get up and move, twitching and jerking of the
legs while resting, the creepy crawlies, the hibbi jibbis,
all of these terms describe what doctors call restless leg
syndrome or RLS. The symptoms of RLS seem to be triggered
when someone tries to relax or go to sleep. The
uncontrollable movements and sensations often make those
afflicted unable to rest or sleep. This contributes to
daytime fatigue; effects job performance and personal
relationships.
Twelve million Americans are believed to suffer from RLS.
More women than men seem to suffer from this condition. Many
people who suffer from RLS do not seek treatment. They feel
that they will be told that it is "all in their head", as
often happens with diseases with vague symptoms like RLS
has. Even when seeking treatment, the patient's doctor may
attribute the symptoms to nervousness, insomnia, stress,
arthritis, muscle cramps or aging.
RLS is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant
sensations deep inside the legs between the knee and the
ankle. Because movement relieves these symptoms, people who
suffer from RLS often pace the floor, constantly move their
legs while sitting, and toss and turn when in bed. These
symptoms do not occur only in bed but anytime a person is
sitting or lying down for long periods of time. Other
activities that can trigger RLS are; long car rides, sitting
in movie theaters and restaurants, airplane flights and even
doing relaxation exercises.
RLS has two categories. It is either primary or secondary.
* Primary RLS is also known as idiopathic (no know
cause). Primary RLS usually develops before the age of
40 and tends to run in families. It is often seen before
the first year of life. In primary RLS, the symptoms are
slow to develop, and often disappear for months at a
time. The symptoms of this type of RLS get worse as a
person ages.
* Secondary RLS often appears suddenly and with
greater frequency than primary
RLS. This type of RLS is triggered by an outside event
or the use of
prescription or OTC medications. Some of the causes for
secondary RLS are:
1. Any injury to the back or back surgery.
2. Iron and or folate deficiency
3. Parkinson's disease
4. Rheumatoid arthritis
5. Varicose veins
6. IBS
7. Pregnancy
8. The consumption of highly refined foods and
artificial sweeteners as well as excess caffeine and
alcohol
9. OTC medications especially over the counter cold
medications and antihistamines and anti-nausea drugs
10. Prescription medications such as those used to
treat depression such as tricyclics and SSRI's,
antipsychotic as well as certain medications used to
control seizures
The Mayo Clinic has developed the standard treatment for
RLS. This treatment plan calls for the use of powerful
prescription medications including some that are highly
addictive. The medications used by mainstream medical
doctors include:
* The same medications used to treat Parkinson's
disease such as levodopa,
pramipexole, pergolied and ropinirole. Ropinirole is the
first drug that has been approved by the FDA
specifically for the treatment of RLS.
* Opiods. These drugs include propoxyphene, oxycodone
and even methadone.
The addictive characteristic of these drugs is well
documented.
* Bensodiazepines that help those suffering from RLS in
getting to sleep and
staying asleep.
* Anticonvulsives that can help alleviate the pain that
often accompanies RLS.
For those who would like to avoid the use of these
powerful drugs, alternative methods of treatment are proving
very helpful.
The lifestyle changes that may help relieve the symptoms of
RLS include:
* Exercising for several minutes before bed
* Taking a hot or cold bath or the use of a heating pad
or even a fan
* A hot water footbath
* Vigorous deep breathing for one or two minutes before
bed
Dietary changes that can help are:
* Eliminating caffeine, refined carbohydrates, sugar
and artificial
sweeteners as well excess alcohol from the diet.
* Drinking green tea throughout the day. Green tea has
been shown to relieve the symptoms of RLS.
* Including the right amount of iron, folate and B
vitamins either by the food eaten or in supplements.
* Also make sure that both calcium and magnesium are
included in the diet. They are both very important for
nerve health.
There are many herbs and combinations of herbs that are
proving helpful in relieving the symptoms of RLS . Some
herbs help increase the circulation to the legs such as
Gingko biloba for arterial circulation and horse chestnut
and butcher's broom for venous circulation.
Other herbs help nourish and relax the nervous system such
as Chamomile, Lemon balm, Lavender flowers, Valerian, Oat
straw and Hops.
Try this simple herbal tea to help with insomnia, from
herbalist Rosemary Gladstar.
* 3 parts hops
* 1 part valerian
* 3 parts chamomile
* 1 part oat straw
* 1 part passionflower
Yours in good health,
Sheila McCormick
Editor, IVL Health Watch
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Folk Medicine is Now Proven Medical Fact. |
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In 1980, Hiroyuki Sumi, M.D. a researcher of the Japan
Ministry of Education at the blood laboratory of the
University of Chicago, documented that natto did, indeed,
possess unsurpassed powers to dissolve blood clots.
He was searching for a natural agent that could successfully
dissolve blood clots associated with heart attacks and
stroke.
Dr. Sumi found that the sticky part of nattokinase, (an
enzyme found in fermented soybeans), commonly called
"threads", exhibited a strong blood clot busting activity.
Here's what happened...
http://www.ivlonline.com/letter/natto_clear
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It's Estimated That By the Year 2010, Some 40% of
Americans 65 or Older Will Have Diabetes |
Despite regular reports in the national
press about the near epidemic level of diabetes, people
persist in thinking about diabetes as simply blood sugar
levels that are a little high or low. No big deal! Wrong!
First and foremost, diabetes is a major risk factor for
heart disease and stroke. Why?
Because when you have rapidly rising and falling glucose
levels, those extremes "destabilize" your heart.
The excess insulin produced by the pancreas to respond to
the glucose spikes causes high blood pressure problems,
which further taxes, the heart with oxidative stress. Which
is why...
http://www.ivlonline.com/letter/gluco-balance
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Visit our Health Forum and ask a question of one of the
country’s leading experts in nutritional medicine. |
Dr. Mikles is a Board Certified Internist,
and is the Medical Director of Choices Integrative
Healthcare Clinic in Sedona, Arizona. For more than 30
years, Dr. Mikles has been engaged in the study and practice
of the therapeutic effects of diet and nutrition, making him
one of the country’s leading experts.
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To learn more about IVL, call 1-800-720-1245
or visit
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Contact us by mail at:
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P.O. Box 3840
Camp Verde, AZ 86322 |
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