healthbriefs
Calm Restless Legs Naturally
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estless Legs Syndrome (RSL) can wake both sufferers and their partners at night, and more people suffer than realize it. Even when both continue to doze through a bout of restlessness, it hampers the quality of sleep and can cause them to begin the day fatigued. Some people only notice that a problem exists by its absence when a vacation or business trip prompts sleeping in separate beds, the calmer partner will enjoy deeper, more restful sleep. Other problems can follow if the syndrome is left untreated. A 2011 study by the Interdisciplinary Pain Centre at University Medical Centre, in Freiburg, Germany, reported that untreated RSL patients exhibited depression, anxiety, compulsivity and other impaired behaviors. With topical application of appropriate herbs, oversensitive nerves in legs can be settled and the muscles can be made less responsive to such stimulation. Cramp bark, St. John’s Wort and wild yam have been used for centuries to relax oversensitive nerves and relieve residual tension in skeletal muscles. Sage also has a history of medicinal use, including modern-day application as an antispasmodic. Rosemary, another essential herb, is used to increase circulation and help flush toxins built up in stagnant muscle fibers. The journal International Clinical Psychopharmacology also recently reported that peppermint and lavender work to naturally relax the body. Combining all of these plants can prove an advantageous herbal treatment for RLS. Place tablespoon of each herb in a cup of in hot (not boiling) water to produce a decoction that can be spread or rolled on the legs. The liquid will be absorbed into the skin within a few minutes and leg restlessness will subside and motion will cease. For more information, call 888-465-4404 or visit www.mynaturesrite.com. See ad, page 9.
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New Orleans
NOLAHealthyLiving.com
Tomatoes Prevent and Even Treat Liver Disease
T
omatoes are widely known for their outstanding antioxidant content, anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties, plus benefits to heart health. Now, research from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center, at Tufts University, in Boston, Massachusetts, has found that consuming tomatoes— particularly their lycopene content—can also help prevent and even treat both liver disease and cancer of the liver. The researchers combed through 241 studies and scientific papers to connect the dots. They report that lycopene up regulates the sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) protein, meaning it increases the number of receptors on cell surfaces, thereby increasing cellular response to it. SIRT1 activation is recognized to protect against obesity-induced inflammation and degeneration of the liver, explain the study’s authors. Lycopene was found to protect against fatty liver disease, liver fibrosis and the formation of cancer in the liver and lungs. Multiple studies have shown cooked tomatoes and tomato sauce offer increased bioavailability of healthful lycopene.