Pain medicine physician reveals 7 natural relief options to manage chronic pain: Turmeric, CBD, fish oil and more | Health Hindustan Times
* This article was originally published here
Showing posts with label women's health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women's health. Show all posts
Sunday, September 14, 2025
Thursday, September 11, 2025
What Is Oil Pulling And Can It Promote Good Oral Health?
Oil pulling – swishing an oil (generally from sesame or sunflower) around the mouth without swallowing for 15 to 20 minutes every morning – is an Ayurvedic practice that is promoted as a way to prevent a host of health concerns related to the mouth. These include the prevention of:
- Tooth decay
- Bad breath
- Bleeding gums
- Dryness of the throat
- Cracked lips
It is also touted as a way to cure a host of other health issues. Unfortunately, I’ve seen no compelling evidence that it is effective. The only study I found that had actual, positive results was from an Indian dental study that evaluated the effects of oil pulling on bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) in plaque and saliva of children, comparing its antiseptic power with that of using a conventional mouthwash containing chlorhexidine. The researchers found a reduction in the bacteria count in the plaque and saliva samples in both the study and the control groups, and concluded that oil pulling can help maintain oral health.
Based on this, while oil pulling isn’t hazardous to your health, I don’t see it as an effective means to improve your overall health. A good oral care routine that includes daily brushing and flossing, and regular visits to the dentist is a more sound and evidence-based route to choose. And do not forget that your diet plays a large role in oral health as well. Sweetened beverages and processed foods create prime real estate for the wrong bacteria to reside in your mouth.
The post What Is Oil Pulling And Can It Promote Good Oral Health? appeared first on DrWeil.com.
* This article was originally published here
Wednesday, September 10, 2025
Sunday, September 7, 2025
Are You At Risk Of Shingles?
The good news is that if you never had chickenpox, you probably don’t need to worry too much about shingles. But if you have, there’s a 10 to 20 percent chance that you may develop the small, itchy, fluid-filled blisters that occur when the same virus that causes chickenpox is reactivated. This virus, varicella-zoster, can lie dormant in the nervous system of the body for several decades. People over 60 are at the greatest risk, in part because of the decreased immunity that can happen with age. An increase in physical and emotional stress can also lead to shingles felt to be due to weakening the body’s immune defenses. Direct contact with someone who has open shingles blisters can also be a cause: in this instance even people who have not had chickenpox can be affected as they can develop chickenpox, and in turn, shingles.
The symptoms of shingles are usually a burning, itching, tingling sensation of the skin, often on the torso or face on one side of the body. It eventually leads to a rash that looks similar to chickenpox – fluid-filled blisters that eventually dry out and become crusty. It tends to start and end over a three- to five-week period. Shingles can be very painful and last even longer for some as well.
While shingles itself is more of a discomfort than anything, it can lead to more serious complications, so it’s important to see a doctor for treatment, especially if there are any lesions near the eyes or nose. Anyone with immune-deficient conditions or on immune-modulating drugs should be extra cautious and avoid people with open wounds and scabs from shingles.
Conventional treatment consists of medications to attempt to treat the virus early on, as well as for itching and pain. You may also try acupuncture and hypnosis to help address pain. Topical capsaicin (the substance that makes red chilies hot) can also help, as it depletes nerve cells of “substance P,” a natural chemical that is involved in sending pain signals to the brain. Rub the cream on the affected area of skin three times a day. Exposing your skin to hot water for 30 to 60 seconds may also be effective, as can turmeric paste: add three tablespoons of turmeric to three cups of water and boil into a paste (it should take at least eight minutes, and you may need to add more water). Apply to the affected area, being careful to avoid contact with clothes, as turmeric can stain.
Finally, if you are over the age of 50, there is a new vaccine for shingles which is more effective than past options. While it may be expensive, its effectiveness is now above 90%, where the previous option worked about half of the time. This new vaccine involves two doses, 2 to 6 months apart – work with your doctor to determine if and when is the right time to get started.
The post Are You At Risk Of Shingles? appeared first on DrWeil.com.
* This article was originally published here
Friday, September 5, 2025
Saturday, August 30, 2025
Monday, August 25, 2025
Get In Shape: 4 Ways To Start A Home Gym
It doesn’t have to be complicated. The marvels of modern shopping make it easy to get the right equipment, either new or used, into your home for your fitness needs. But it still takes willpower and dedication to adhere to a workout schedule. Here are some suggested basic items for building a simple home gym:
- Yoga mat: This low-cost purchase can be used for everything from Pilates, yoga, and tai chi to basic stretching. This can also be used to help support the knees when exercises require lunges down to a knee or balance on one or both knees.
- Resistance bands and a set of hand weights: A variety of thicknesses of elastic exercise bands and a set of 2-, 5- and 8-pound weights should be adequate. Aim higher if you can do 12 to 15 reps without much effort. Also consider bodyweight exercise straps that can mount to the ceiling or doorway for a full body challenge.
- Fitness DVDs or streaming classes: Regardless of which route you take, be sure to get a broad selection to help focus on different muscle groups and prevent boredom. Online classes can be free or paid for by the class or in bulk. Try a few out and see which ones you like best, then add them to your workout calendar to help keep you on track. Set up your screen near your workout area for easy access. If you have children at home, get them involved by having them “join” your class with you.
- Treadmill, elliptical trainer or recumbent bicycle: The stationary recumbent bicycle is especially good if you are overweight, dealing with knee or hip issues or looking for a good way to perform high intensity intervals with low injury risk. While these can all be expensive purchases, they are likely to be more cost effective than a gym membership – if you use them! Look for secondhand equipment; just make sure the machine you like runs smoothly and relatively quietly. If cost is prohibitive either way, schedule in time for free cardio: walk up and down any stairs in your home (or elsewhere), and go for a daily walk.
The post Get In Shape: 4 Ways To Start A Home Gym appeared first on DrWeil.com.
* This article was originally published here
Thursday, August 21, 2025
3 Reasons Vitamin B1 Helps To Keep Your Body Functioning Smoothly
B vitamins support adrenal function (the glands that produce hormones that play a role in controlling blood sugar, burning fat and protein, and regulating blood pressure), calm and maintain a healthy nervous system, promote key metabolic processes, and turn starch and sugar into energy by acting as a cofactor for the metabolism of carbohydrates.
Vitamin B1, more commonly known as thiamin, influences a variety of physiological functions, including:
- Nervous system and muscle functioning
- Carbohydrate metabolism
- Healthy digestion
Good dietary sources of thiamin include legumes (beans, lentils), pasture-raised beef and pork, brewer’s yeast, steel-cut or rolled oats, rice bran and wheat germ, whole milk, nuts, seeds and oranges.
Try these recipes that provide B1:
I recommend taking thiamin daily as part of a B-complex supplement that contains the full spectrum of all of the B vitamins.
The post 3 Reasons Vitamin B1 Helps To Keep Your Body Functioning Smoothly appeared first on DrWeil.com.
* This article was originally published here
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Sleeping While Traveling
Whether you’re traveling for work or pleasure (or a little bit of both), we all know the effects of traveling long distances can really take a toll on our quality of sleep. But did you also know that too much travel fatigue and frequent jet lag can have long-term impacts on your overall health? So the next time you find yourself packing your bags, make sure you’ve also prepared to keep your body rested and at ease before, during, and after your trip.
Travel Fatigue vs. Jet Lag
Have you ever found yourself on a road trip wondering why your body is so exhausted? This most likely is due to travel fatigue. Travel fatigue can be caused by a number of different physical and/or mental stressors that occur while you’re traveling such as fears and anxieties around travel, motion sickness, longer periods of time seated, pressurized cabins, different schedules, diets, or weather, and many other aspects related to traveling. One of the biggest differences between travel fatigue and jet lag is that travel fatigue can happen during any mode of traveling and does not have to involve a time zone change.
Jet lag occurs when a person travels in the air across multiple time zones, which throws off their circadian rhythm. Our circadian rhythms are crucial in telling our bodies when we should and shouldn’t be at rest, so when that is thrown off by a time zone change, our bodies experience exhaustion, insomnia, disorientation, and mood swings that can oftentimes interrupt our day-to-day schedules and lives. While jet lag is a term many of us are familiar with and have even experienced, many people are unaware of its impact. While jet lag is a temporary sleep problem, its effects can become chronic if the circadian rhythm is out of sync long enough. This is most often found in regular travelers such as pilots, flight attendants, politicians, businesspeople, and athletes who are frequently traveling across time zones.
Traveling Sleep Tips
To combat the effects of travel fatigue and jet lag, it’s important to prepare and adjust before, during, and after your travels. Start by making a plan for when you can sleep and how much you’ll need to adapt:
- Before your trip, focus on getting a few nights of quality sleep so that you’re not already sleep-deprived.
- Approximately three days before your trip, start slowly adjusting your bedtime back or forward an hour at a time to adjust to a new time zone.
- If your trip is two days or less, try sticking to your normal sleep schedule as much as possible.
- If you are landing at night local time, try to avoid sleeping on the plane so that you can sleep upon arrival. If you’re arriving during the day, sleep as much as you can during the flight so that you can stay awake as long as possible.
Keep in mind the accommodations you’ll have both during your flight and during your stay. Here are a few things you may want to pack with you just in case:
- It may be helpful to bring an eye mask to help you sleep on planes or in a lighter room.
- If you’re sleeping in a place you’re unfamiliar with for an extended period of time, it may be helpful to bring your own bedding for quality, comfortable rest.
- A quality mattress and pillow protector can help you feel clean and protected on a bed that isn’t your own.
Finally, allow yourself to plan as much as possible beforehand so that you combat extra stressors and avoid additional symptoms of jet lag and travel fatigue. Here are a few additional tips that may be helpful:
- Even if your body is feeling tired, try to reduce or avoid caffeine when you travel as this can disrupt your sleep even more.
- If you’re having trouble falling asleep, a deep breathing exercise can be beneficial.
- Try to eat healthy and exercise regularly during your trip. Even though we may prefer to “treat” ourselves while traveling, a healthy diet and exercise can help make up for jet lag and travel fatigue.
- Keep checklists to reduce stress before and during your trip.
- If possible, give yourself time to recover after your trip before jumping back into your busy schedules.
Sources
“6 Tips for Better Sleep When You Travel.” Johns Hopkins Medicine. hopkinsmedicine/health/wellness-and-prevention/6-tips-for-better-sleep-when-you-travel
“How to Travel the World Without Jet Lag.” National Library of Medicine. ncbi.nlm.nih/pmc/articles/PMC2829880/
“Jet Lag: Navigating Symptoms, Causes, & Prevention.” Sleep Foundation. sleepfoundation/travel-and-sleep/jet-lag
“Travel and Sleep.” American Thoracic Society. thoracic/patients/patient-resources/resources/travel-and-sleep.pdf
“Travel and Sleep.” Sleep Foundation. sleepfoundation/travel-and-sleep
The post Sleeping While Traveling appeared first on DrWeil.com.
* This article was originally published here
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Can Certain Foods Be Bad For The Thyroid?
If thyroid health is of concern to you, you should be aware of the foods that contain natural goitrogens. These chemicals can cause the thyroid gland to enlarge by interfering with thyroid hormone synthesis. Common food goitrogens include cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and cauliflower (corn, sweet potatoes and lima beans are other sources). If you eat generous amounts of cruciferous veggies (which ideally should be the case!), you can inactivate much of the goitrogens by cooking them – try lightly steaming them, so you can retain the benefits of the antioxidant and cancer-protective effects cruciferous vegetables offer. The bottom line is that I believe it is far better to eat a wide variety of these healthful veggies regularly than avoid them, especially when preparing them cooked.
Another goitrogen source may be soy. Excess consumption of soy can affect thyroid function, but is generally only a problem in those taking levothyroxine or other thyroid replacement medication. If you are on such medication, tell your doctor how much soy you consume so your dosage can be adjusted, if necessary. You should also know that if you eat soy foods at the same time that you take thyroid hormone, they may directly interfere with its absorption. To be safe, do not eat soy within three hours of taking your medication. Moderate soy consumption should not be a problem – that means one serving a day of whole, organic soy products, such as one cup of soy milk or a half cup of tofu, soy protein (tempeh), or crispy soy nuts.
Overall, use the moderation rule with these very healthy foods. Avoiding them completely means you miss out on the beneficial compounds and fibers, so find a balance that does not overdo it, and make them a consistent and regular part of your diet. Keep your healthcare provider updated though, and have your labs measured regularly so that your thyroid hormone levels and medications can be balanced properly.
The post Can Certain Foods Be Bad For The Thyroid? appeared first on DrWeil.com.
* This article was originally published here
Friday, August 8, 2025
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Simple Suggestions ForA Stress-Free Home
Your home – whether big, small or somewhere in between – should be your sanctuary, a place where stress is left at the door and your soul is nurtured. For a more comforting environment, gradually implement the following changes in your home:
- Bring the outdoors in. Green plants, cut flowers and blooming bulbs, pieces of wood, rocks and other organic elements can create a feeling of nature indoors. In addition, small decorative appliances that provide flowing water, or at least its sound, add peace to a home.
- Paint a room to suggest a mood. For instance, blue and green promote a relaxed feeling and may be good choices for the bedroom, while warm colors likemaroon, coralor burgundysuggest a cozy environment and may be inviting in a family or reading room.
- Surround your senses with beauty. Artwork, natural or organic fragrance, smooth textures and calming sounds all provide a pleasant environment in which to relax. Be sure to avoid artificial scents that end up being more irritating and potentially toxic. Opt instead for organic essential oils and invest in a quality diffuser to help spread the mood.
- Set aside a room or area for peace and calm. A place for spiritual reflection and meditation should provide shelter from noise and distraction. Keep your phone and computer out to have media, news and distraction out and the calm within.
- Clean out clutter. A low-maintenance home is refreshing after a day of hectic meetings, errands and chores. Fewer items can mean less frustration. Spend time regularly decluttering and following a more minimalistic philosophy by getting rid of items that no longer have any use.
- Create an atmosphere of love. Display handmade or meaningful gifts from loved ones and photos of family and friends.
See more in the photo album “Creating a Sanctuary at Home.”
The post Simple Suggestions ForA Stress-Free Home appeared first on DrWeil.com.
* This article was originally published here
Friday, August 1, 2025
Thursday, May 15, 2025
Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Friday, April 25, 2025
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Friday, April 18, 2025
Alternatives To White Sugar
Americans consume about 20 teaspoons of sugar daily, not including what is found naturally in foods like fruit, milk and beans. Sugar itself is considered safe, and its caloric contribution may be small when used in moderation, but it can play a role in adult-onset diabetes, obesity and dental problems if abused. Some alternatives to white sugar include:
- Stevia. This plant-derived sweetener is non-caloric and can be used in baking or cooking but needs to be diluted before using. I occasionally recommend it for diabetics and those who want something with a sweet taste, but need to avoid the blood sugar spike.
- Honey. While it has some antioxidant properties, honey is not necessarily healthier than white sugar, mainly because it can stick to teeth and contribute to cavity formation. However, honey does have more fructose than sugar, which causes less stress on the pancreas, but potentially more burden on the liver and blood triglyceride levels. Use sparingly, for flavor, and opt for 100 percent honey or raw honey rather than processed versions. Always try to use less than a recipe calls for to cut down your sugar intake.
- Splenda (sucralose). This artificial sweetener is 600 times sweeter than sugar. It is not all-natural, being derived only in part from sugar, and while it is FDA approved and appears safe, it has not proven itself to be beneficial in losing weight. The reason may be tied to the tongue sensing the sweetness and triggering some of the same weight-gaining hormones, like insulin, as if it were the real thing. There is also recent data that sucralose and aspartame (below) may have a negative effect on the healthy bacteria of the microbiome compared to other options.
- Aspartame and Saccharine. These artificial sweeteners are found in some foods and are available to add to drinks and some foods. For the same concerns as Splenda, I do not recommend either of these – if you want to cut calories or are diabetic, I suggest stevia instead.
- Sugar alcohols like erythritol and xylitol. These have become more and more popular in foods and drinks. While large studies have not been done, the ones that have suggest these to be safe and have no impact on blood sugar. In practice, it seems some people may get digestive bloating with these sweeteners, so I recommend moderate use when needed but avoid heavy reliance on them.
- Allulose. Allulose is a newer sweetener just starting to be available. It is naturally derived, often from dates or figs. It has a similar mouth feel and baking quality as white sugar with only 10 percent of the blood sugar effect.
You may also want to try a moderate amount of fruit juice or unsweetened applesauce as a sweetener, especially when cooking or baking. Keep in mind, however, that if you’ve been using sugar appropriately, there is no reason to reach for artificial substitutes.
My daughter Diana and I will be covering more topics such as this in our new Weil Nutrition Corner newsletter – sign up for it today.
The post Alternatives To White Sugar appeared first on DrWeil.com.
* This article was originally published here
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