Breast cancer continues to occur at a high incidence in Western women. A study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition last summer indicated a surprisingly high incidence of Vitamin D deficiency in breast cancer survivors. It is difficult to take conclusions from the study, as we are not told what the incidence was in those who succumbed to breast cancer, nor are we told the incidence in a control group of individuals.

Vitamin D influences pathways related to cancer development, but little is currently known about vitamin D status in breast cancer survivors. Recent data taken from the Health, Eating, Activity and Lifestyle (HEAL) study showed a correlation between vitamin D status and breast cancer survivors. Vitamin D concentrations from 790 female breast cancer survivors were obtained and vitamin D insufficiency was found in 597 individuals – or 75% of participants. Average vitamin D concentrations were even lower among African American and Hispanic women.

Controlling for various factors such as body mass index (BMI), race/ethnicity, geography, season, physical activity, diet, and cancer treatments showed that stage of disease independently predicted vitamin D levels.

In this group of breast cancer survivors the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was abnormally high. Based on these results, health professionals and clinicians might consider monitoring vitamin D status in breast cancer patients in addition to administering appropriate cancer treatments.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 88, No. 1, 133-139, July 2008

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Dr
Alison Grimston is a holistic doctor who works with complementary therapies and
nutritional supplements. She only recommends the best, pharmaceutical grade
nutritional supplements, such as those on www.holisticdoctor.usana.com.

Disclaimer: The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.

Headaches are boring, aren’t
they?

Many people around prefer to pop
a pill to get rid of headaches. Paracetamol or Ibuprofen work quickly and
usually well. However, it is not always best to take tablets; it is habit forming
and exposes you to risks from overuse of any particular kind of drug. 

One or two bouts of headache a
month is considered natural. However, if it becomes repetitive or persistent,
it is definitely a matter of concern. You may require a medical check in such a
situation.

But first, let’s see what causes
headaches? Well, there are hundreds of causes, but the most common ones for
catching a headache are exposure to cold or hot sun, congestion, circulatory
problems, fluid deprivation, flu-like illnesses, and tension or excessive
stress. 

Sometimes weird reasons such as
indigestion and acidity can also trigger a headache.

So, what do you do when you have
a headache? 

There are numerous approaches to
curing a headache. Here, I will dwell only on some of the natural ways of curing
a headache that are of the non-repetitive type , which you can very well apply
all by yourself without taking any pill, be it a drug or a herbal product.

When you’re having a headache,
take a warm bath or shower. This improves blood circulation in your body and
helps you to get relief. 

Make sure you have drunk plenty
of water; the commonest cause I see in general practice is reduced fluid
intake. Water really is better than alternatives; it is more thirst-quenching,
too!

You can also apply an ice-pack on
the painful area, particularly the forehead, temples or the back of your neck
for quick and natural relief from headache, especially if the hot sun is
considered as the trigger. 

A gentle massage of the sore area
can not only relax the sore tissues and muscles, but also improve circulation
in the affected area making you feel better. You can use your index finger
and/or thumb and apply a rotating pressure for 10-15 seconds and then release
it. Do it for some time and I’m sure you’ll get good results.

As headaches are sometimes caused
by overstraining, rest can provide relief from headaches.  Simply take a nap, or sit down quietly in a
low-lit room. Keep your eyes closed and try to release the tension in your
neck, back and shoulders. 

Some light exercises are also
known to naturally relieve headaches quickly. I’d always suggest taking a walk.
However, if you’re in no mood to strain your legs, simply stand before an open
window where you can breathe in some fresh air. Take a deep breath, hold it for
some time and then slowly release it through both the nostrils (and not the
mouth). This exercise accelerates blood flow inside the body, particularly in
the region of the heads and gives you quick relief from headache…naturally.
   

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This is the blog of Dr Alison Grimston, a United Kingdom GP and spiritual healer who works with animals and people. Here she offers insights and information on integrating the best of complementary and scientific medicine in human and animal care.

Disclaimer:

The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.

I know how many of you are keen to find natural ways to reduce your blood pressure.

I daily recommend some of these that I know work – relaxation, breathing exercises and meditation; garlic, which can reduce cholesterol also; green tea; and as good a diet as possible – specifically high in vegetables and whole grains.

However, I have found a useful source of information that gives a little more – minerals magnesium, potassium and calcium; cider vinegar; and folic acid. Although I am not certain how much evidence there is in favour of these, it is worth giving them a try.

The trouble is, we doctors have to know so much about so much, that we have trouble finding space in our regular updates for the things that count for you – natural health.  I still have to keep up to date on the medicines that I need to prescribe (as they DO have great effects), and of other aspects of gynaecology, cardiology, paediatrics, geriatrics, reproductive health care, respiratory prescribing, arthritis, etc. This all takes so much time that I cannot keep as up to date with complementary therapies as I would like to – but at least I try.

If you click on the link to see the rest of this post, you will see some information by Joe Barton of Barton Publishing – he has found natural ways to help with hypertension. If you choose to go on & click the link at the end of his post – be warned, it is a pushy sales page, and I disagree with some of the things he says about doctors and medicines (they are not addictive).

I also want to let you know that if you do go on and buy his Ebook, this site would benefit financially – the first contribution to help run this site. At present I have funded it entirely at my own cost – not insubstantial including setting it up.

Anyway, enjoy the information and putting it in practice…

Be Naturally Healthy!

Alisonx

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Dr Alison Grimston is a United Kingdom GP and spiritual healer who works with animals and people. Here she offers insights and information on integrating the best of complementary and scientific medicine in human and animal care.

Do you know how to cure high blood pressure with no medication? Most people would probably say to eat healthy (lower your salt-intake) and make sure you exercise. Unfortunately, most doctors tell you this and forget to tell you the other treatments you can be doing to lower your score and eventually be med-free.

The truth is that doctors are educated in medical schools were natural health and simple ‘common sense’ secrets are not taught. Unfortunately, medicine and antibiotics are only being taught because our medical industry is completely reliant upon pharmaceutical companies.

But new research is now showing the sometimes medicines are not the only treatment. In fact, some natural treatments are just as effective as their medicine counterpart.

Which is making some think, "Is there something doctors are NOT telling us?"

Naturally Treat High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure Medications (Diuretics, Beta Blockers, Alpha Blockers, and Vasodilators) work because they lower your blood pressure. The problem is that they make it look that you are healthy but are your numbers showing the truth?

High Blood Pressure medications work because they synthetically alleviate the pressure of the arteries and blood. For instance, with diuretics the blood will become less salty (less thick) and your pressure with drop. Another example would be beta blockers which synthetically cause the heart to beat slower.

Though these medications look good on paper, they are NOT treating the disease known as the ’silent killer’. In fact, they could be prolonging your life but they will never fully treat the disease. And statistics show that users will eventually die from the high blood pressure.

But what if you could naturally treat high blood pressure.

7 Hypertension Tips Your Doctor Won’t Share with You

So you want to know, ‘how to cure high blood pressure’? First, you need to know how to prevent high blood pressure holistically. Because curing high blood pressure starts with a holistic treatment. Holistically treating hypertension simply means using the ‘whole’ body to cure the problem. This is completely different than taking a pill to synthetically thin out the blood.

1. Three Miracle Minerals- If you are suffering from high blood pressure, you should be supplementing your diet with 3 miracle minerals that lower high blood pressure. Magnesium, Calcium and Potassium have been shown to help lower blood pressure.

2. Garlic- Garlic has been shown to benefit the heart, lower cholesterol and lower high blood pressure naturally. The compound in garlic, allicin, is thought to naturally lower high blood pressure. Find a quality supplement today.

3. Folic Acid- Vitamin B which is found in green leafy vegetables reduces homocysteine levels in the blood. This vitamin will lower the risk of heart disease and alleviate the pressure naturally.

4. Apple Cider Vinegar- Many or my customers have found success with apple cider vinegar which contains vitamins C, A, E, B1, B2 and B6, in addition to potassium, magnesium, and copper.

5. Relieve Stress- Do you know there are numerous ways to relieve stress? Breathing exercises, exercising, or reading a book are simple ways to relieve stress and lower high blood pressure. And there are even more than this!

6. Your Diet! You know the major Do’s and Don’ts about high blood pressure dieting. Just remember to be eating your water-soluble fibers (fruits and vegetables). Fibers, especially water-soluble, will flush your system and plaque. Also, switch to whole grains! With less plaque in the arteries you will eventually be hypertension-free! Our HBP report goes into great detail about how you can treat hypertension with your diet.

7. Green Tea! It is loaded with antioxidants and research shows it lowers high blood pressure. Whether it is the ‘relaxing’ factor or the natural herbs in green tea, 1 cup of green tea will be helpful for your health!

Normalize your High Blood Pressure in 3 Weeks or Less

What foods should you be eating? What other vitamins are a must? What exercises are an absolute do? What herbs are making doctors scratch their heads? Why is chocolate now good for you?

Are you interested in lowering blood pressure naturally, with out drugs? We offer a 100% guaranteed, medical doctor-approved HBP Remedy Report which shares numerous natural health tips and guarantees to normalize your pressure in 3 weeks or less. If you are serious about living young again, please visit our How to Cure High Blood Pressure Website.

About The Author

Guaranteed to work in 3 weeks or less! Joe Barton and Barton Publishing Inc. have been publishing Hypertension Remedy Reports that teach you how to cure high blood pressure naturally. Are you next?

Click Here! to find out more….

Hi there!

I am very keen on Martin Lewis, the Moneysaving Expert, for helping us all save money.

In today’s Email he gives information about cheapest hay fever medication that you can buy, if your hay fever is severe enough to need treatment. It is a misery at this time of year for so many, especially when you are doing exams etc.

He has found one internet supplier with 6 months of tablets for just over £6 – less than a prescription fee (currently £7.30 I think). Take a look by clicking the link below – and take the opportunity to sign up for his free Emails!

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/health/cheap-hayfever-remedies

Love & light

Alison

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Dr Alison Grimston is a United Kingdom GP and spiritual healer who works with animals and people. Here she offers insights and information on integrating the best of complementary and scientific medicine in human and animal care.

Here’s some welcome advice from my good friend Marnetta Viegas of Relax Kids…

It is so important that children wake up feeling great inside and grow up knowing that they are special. Children with a deep sense of worth and self esteem will find life easier and grow up enjoying each moment and challenge.

Affirmations are a powerful tools to help boost a child’s self-esteem. Getting children to repeat a positive quality or statement about themselves is key to developing their feeling of self worth and value.

Repeating positive affirmations brings calmness, positivity as well as power and inner strength.

Here are some positive qualities that you can use and encourage children to talk about, think about, feel, draw, repeat, practice, affirm, write and act out.

I am special
I am great
I am unique
I am confident
I am loved
I am powerful
I am courageous
I am peaceful
I am happy
I am determined
I am lucky
I am calm
I am bright
I am talented
I am clever

The more children (and adults, actually) think and feel these qualities, the more the qualities will be a natural part of their life.

This is something that we could all learn from – related to my earlier postings on the gratitude dance.

Take a moment to look at the Relax Kids CDs available from my site.

I have found these CDs and products AMAZING in helping my own kids and those of my patients with sleeping and behavioural disturbance, low mood, aggression, self esteem, bullying, or just plain feeling out of sorts!

Love & light,

Alison x

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Holistic Doctor on Line is the blog of Dr Alison Grimston, a United Kingdom GP and spiritual healer who works with animals and people. Here she offers insights and information on integrating the best of complementary and scientific medicine in human and animal care.

Hi there, naturally healthy people!

I was recently approached for advice about managing depression, alongside medication.

I see many people with depression every week. It is so common in the current stressful circumstances that we live in. For many, it is not until they truly find themselves that they find the resources to get better -permanently.

I recommend http://www.livinglifetothefull.com/ , or its Australian equivalent, http://www.moodgym.anu.edu.au/   These are computerised CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which is brilliant, given that the NHS can’t afford face to face CBT for everyone who would benefit.

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The fantastic patient leaflets that I use every day are on www.patient.co.uk – search under depression & you will pick up self help guides as well as specific leaflets on medications (most used are SSRIs these days, like fluoxetine & citalopram) and even on St John’s Wort. There are also excellent self help guides on stress & anxiety; although I am not always certain how many of my patients actually fill them in, if you do so they help you to think through your problem & introduce CBT.

There are many other approaches to depression & I would recommend finding a coach to help you find ways of addressing your mind/body/spirit and home/work life balance. 

Reflexology can be excellent at helping the energy to flow again, and Spiritual healing and Reiki can help you to heal yourself.

EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)is very powerful, especially if maintained. Ann (see Tap to the Top -  EFT Workshops and Training) is absolutely fantastic, so if you are able to work with her it would be working with a guru. EFT is great, as part as a multidirectional self management plan.  The main thing is to gradually change your way of thinking about yourself, your internal conversation – NLP can also help here.

Don’t forget relaxation and meditation – my website www.TheNaturallyHealthyPet.com has the best CDs I have ever found on it, including an introduction to meditation through the chakras called Journey Through the Chakras.  But the healing CDs by Nigel Shaw (also on my site) are amazing; I only have to hear the first chords now to relax. Deep breathing is essential. Yoga can help to teach you this.

Nutrition – essential – tip out all junk foods, coke, crisps etc. Try to eat as close to natural as possible, raw foods are good (see the Raw Food Coach ), organic is better than non organic & farmed well better than factory – the food holds the energy of the animal  – I found this info amazing. Drink plenty of water – I drink filtered now.

You can guess how difficult I find it to work in the NHS, trying to give all this information out in 10 minutes as well as take a history!

LOL
Alison
www.holisticdoctoronline.com

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Hi there, naturally healthy people;

I am eager to tell you about some words of wisdom that I receive regularly into my in-box.

From all my experience in life, medicine and healing, I know that only I can change my perception of myself and those around me. We all get stressed – indeed, challenges are needed to keep interest and excitement in our lives. At times the stress seems unbearable, and we feel that it is natural to blame those around us.

In general practice, I am privileged to peek into people’s lives, and at times I am amazed at the degree of human resilience that I see. Some people cope with the most terrible life events – indeed, when we are sent such challenges, we can do nothing but get on with it, take each day as it comes, and live on – rise to the challenge.

It helps us to count our blessings if we simply take a look around the world and see what otheres are going through – years of homelessness and living in makeshift slums; starvation and infant death from preventable infectious diseases where there is no clean water supply; the monks in Burma………the list goes on. So I am grateful for water coming out of the tap, for having paid work, for having a fantastic family.

However, it is difficult to always think positively, even when you know that the decision to be positive comes from within you.  So I find these two free resources really helpful in cheering me up each day.

Take a look! I have posted today’s wonderful examples below, as well as links to their websites…

Bob Procter’s Insights of the Day

Variable in length, these anecdotes and stories can encourage us to change the way we relate to those around us – in many ways.

Mike Dooley’s Totally Unique Thoughts

Brief and easy to read, these "Notes from the Universe" prove thought provoking and stimulate the positive thinking that makes the Law of Attraction work for any of us!

TUT

Couldn’t you just pretend with the job or occupation you now have, whether or not it even pays or is recognized by others as a job, that you’re receiving a salary of millions each year for doing it? That everyday your peers, partners, or supervisors are left in awe by how you deftly handle each challenge and setback? That there are backroom discussions going on (sh-h-h-h-h….) even as you nonchalantly read this email, about retaining you no matter how high the cost? That shareholders are beginning to whisper among themselves about your legacy, and board members are each hoping to bump into you at the water cooler? That the competition has just hired a management consultancy firm just to keep up with your innovative style?

I think you could, even if you work in your pajamas, and I’d highly recommend it. Especially the "millions each year" part.

Insights of the Day

Power of Words 
"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me!"

We all heard that saying when we were children, and, like so many other childlike chants, it was a great myth. Words do have power, immense power, and they can cause much pain, because when they are repeated in negative fashion, people, especially children, may end up believing them. "You’re a bad boy," "You’ll never amount to anything." "You’re a loser," "Does your face hurt? It’s killing me." These are only slight examples of the negative language we often hear. We have all heard them, and unfortunately have been guilty of dishing them out as well.

During the 1980’s there was a big push for building self-esteem, and workshops were available everywhere teaching us how to make people ‘feel good about themselves.’ This 180 degree turn seemed valid in theory, but what happened in many cases was positive feedback became the new mantra, and yet the effect didn’t always achieve the desired results. Why? Because recipients only benefited from the praise if they believed it was genuine. This brings us to an important point. Self-talk and self-belief are the keys. No one can ruin our day without our permission, and always feeling good about ourselves is impossible. I hold this to be true – that self-esteem and self-worth are not synonymous. Self-esteem is having pride in oneself and generally feeling good about who we are. I don’t know about you, but I certainly have had moments in my life when I wasn’t too proud of my actions, and without question I have had times when I didn’t feel good about me. This moment of "lack of self-esteem" would indicate that something is terribly wrong. Contrary to the education of self-esteem, nothing is wrong – we are simply human. Self-worth, on the other hand, is acceptance of who we are – all of our strengths and weaknesses, all of our abilities (or lack thereof), all of our joyful moments as well as those times of sorrow; our contributions and our refusals, etc. See a pattern? We are worthy simply because we are His creation, and we are loved for every part of us. Whether we are in a good place or a bad one, whether we are contributing or contaminating, whether we have done something to be proud of or something to be embarrassed or ashamed of, nothing diminishes our worthiness. The negative actions and the ensuing consequences may affect our self-esteem, but it has no impact on our self-worth!

Chris Snook with Chet Snook
From Wealth Matters

Chris and Chet Snook are leading experts in personal investments, entrepreneurship, personal development, and money management. Let them show you how to unleash your inner genius and develop your wealth mindset with their new book Wealth Matters.

Love and Light

Alison

How this site is funded:

Three types of contacts are listed. The first help to fund HolisticDoctoronLine.com, as they’re ‘affiliated links’ which invisibly take you usually via affiliate linkage or commercial money sites, which then pay this site. The second type are adverts such as Google Adsense, which are not vetted in any way and are not recommendations on my part. The third are links, often from charities, that do not help with the funding of the site.

You shouldn’t notice any difference, the links don’t impact the product at all and the editorial line (the things I write) is NEVER impacted by the revenue. If it isn’t possible to get an affiliate link for the best product, it is still recommended and still included in exactly the same way. For more details read how this site is financed.

Some of the links I provide may help to fund this site, but I promise that the editorial line is never impacted by the revenue, and I would have recommended them whether or not they contribute.

Hi there,

My recent blog on HolisticDoctorOnLine has created quite an uproar of comment, especially on Ecadamy, a business networking forum, where it was entitled "Critics of complementary medicine are arrogant and close-minded".

As the subject of evidence-based medicine is relevant to animal health also, I have copied it in full here:

At last! some rare signs that I am not alone!

I have found two posts on the PULSE website that make my heart sing.

A recent survey of 200 GPs shows that 56% either provide or recommend (like me) complementary therapies.

I insist on calling them complementary therapies rather than "alternative" as is used on the site – it is essential that science and therapies work hand in hand to help people through illness to wellness and a degree of self-healing.

Acupuncture was recommended by 40%, homeopathy by 11%. The summary does not discuss osteopathy, which I feel is also more commonly recommended (as those GPs with a  purely left-brained mindset can see how it "could" work so more likely to recommend it than, say, homeopathy).

The comments on the page are, unfortunately, back to the traditional arrogant scientific view of "it’s just the placebo effect" and "poor deluded patients, imagining an effect".

Then, amongst the links to the debate to ban all complementary therapies on the basis of lack of evidence-base (you mean, like appendicectomy and paracetamol?), I found the most wonderful article by Dr Michael Dixon from Devon – a fellow – thinker, he has put into words exactly my thoughts.

What a man; like myself he thinks that, maybe, "Critics of complementary medicine are arrogant and close-minded". I had noticed this myself; my patients are so relieved when they find they can talk openly with me about their use of herbal and homeopathic medicine. If at least 60% of the general population use or have used complementary therapies, it suggests to me that the scientists are in the wrong for ignoring and trivialising this.

I would like to point out here that I have spent 4 years in pure scientific research in physiology and pharmacology, and have been trained in the "art" of pulling apart scientific papers, as well as having been on the receiving end. With that experience behind me I feel that a.) evidence based medicine is an appropriate way to distinguish between two drugs to be used for the same problem. b.) No amount of large trials will convince the sceptical scientists that complementary therapies work (as I have already seen that they/ we can pull apart any research anyway). c.) As complementary therapies work at least partly at a holistic level involving the individual in self-healing, randomising patients will not demonstrate an effect anyway – this does not mean the placebo effect (as scientists devalue anything with that term) but the self-healing effect, which should be made use of by each of us in health care (patients and therapists alike).

Dr Dixon’s post is so close to my feelings, I copy it in full below (and wish there was a facility on Pulse for me to register my support for him).

Critics of Complementary medicine are arrogant and closed-minded:

07 Jun 07

Is it bad medicine to treat some NHS patients using complementary treatments? ‘Yes!’ says the powerful pressure group Sense about Science. But is science – or indeed sense – on its side?

Many complementary approaches do have a good evidence base. St John’s wort for moderate depression or acupuncture for osteoarthritis of the knee are just two examples. In fact, there is better evidence for these than for many conventional treatments in daily use.

It has been estimated that at least 75% of conventional primary care lacks the support of double-blind placebo-controlled trials. For symptoms such as tiredness, back pain or irritable bowel syndrome, there is often no good evidence-based treatment. So why discriminate between the conventional and the complementary, providing both are safe, when neither has the evidence base that Sense about Science demands?

That question is particularly relevant in long-term disease – by definition incurable – where patient perception of improved well-being and function is the desired outcome. Why should we accept Sense about Science’s restricted, even arrogant, interpretation of science and healing? It is the science of ’scientists’ and technicians, of a regimented world far from frontline general practice where a symptom may be a metaphor for the real problem and where beliefs, background and culture are major factors in the treatment’s success.

Its science excludes feelings and suffering. It ignores the patient as an individual. It dismisses empathy, hope and our ability as self-organising beings to heal through the mind. It is a dehumanised vision designed to turn GPs into evidence-based robots.More than 50% of GPs now refer patients to complementary practitioners or practise it themselves, and 75% of patients want to receive complementary medicine on the NHS. Real science should explain that, not condemn it. What we need is a science that goes deeper, using a more pragmatic and applied research methodology, and taking in the entirety of a patient’s treatment rather than dissecting it – a science that gives practitioners and commissioners a better idea of what works and what does not. Otherwise science and patients will go in opposite directions and both will suffer.

Self-appointed experts

The trouble with Sense about Science is that its science is inhuman and its sense fails to resonate with the common sense of ordinary patients. Its self-appointed experts are dominated by emotion. They use personal invective – I have the scars to prove it. Sometimes this emotion is fear – that complementary medicine will take away money from specialist treatments. The reality is the opposite. Complementary medicine used wisely for long-term diseases should enable the right patients to be looked after cost-effectively in primary care, reducing secondary care referrals, drugs and other costs and leaving more money for conventional but costly treatments where they are needed.

I discovered complementary medicine because conventional medicine held insufficient answers. Last week I had failures and successes – a patient whose arthritis had been quiescent for a year on a herbal medicine, another whose frozen shoulder had been helped by self-administered acupressure, a third who had avoided a diagnostic laparotomy by using a complementary diet and a fourth with cancer who felt that creative visualisation and a diet had helped. All these treatments were sustained by the patients themselves and cost the NHS very little.

Fortunately we live in a primary care-led NHS, which respects patient choice. Long may that remain the case.

Dr Michael Dixon is a GP in Cullompton, Devon, visiting professor at the University of Westminster and a trustee of the Prince of Wales Foundation for Integrated Health

Hi there!

It is difficult, isn’t it? We are just not brought up to make time for ourselves! And we have to lead by example – goodness knows what messages I am giving my kids at the moment, what with setting up my animal healing website as well as being a GP – but it has been so exciting!

There are some amazing things, though.  I arrive at work at 8am, having dropped the kids off at their school bus at 0730 – it doesnt seem worth it to return home. So I start on the paperwork – blood test results, hospital letters, telephone messages from patients, changes to medication, writing prescriptions, medication reviews.

And do you know what makes a world of difference to my day? If I can just make time before morning surgery to lie down on my couch with my eyes closed for 5 minutes, with my healing music on (Nigel Shaw – see the CDs for sale on the left of my website), then I know that I love myself enough to give myself that time. It only takes 5 minutes – or even less if pushed – yet my day goes so much better, and I can easily release all those resentful feelings that we all feel at times; I am no longer a martyr!

So go on! What can YOU do to make time for yourself? Let us know, share the tips….

Love & light
[b][i]Alison[/i][/b]

Leg cramps are extremely common – most of us will experience them at some time in our life. I am going to discuss some ways of helping with leg cramps, both medical and holistic. As a GP, patients come to me with distressing leg cramps every week. Fortunately there is something we can do to help, in most cases.

What are Leg cramps?
Leg cramps are pains due to muscle spasm in the muscles of the leg, usually the calf. They can occur especially if the muscle is already partly contracted, and you move in bed to contract them further. They are commoner at night.

Leg cramps are commoner as you get older, in people with an under-active thyroid gland, and in those with peripheral vascular disease, when the arteries of the legs are partially blocked.

Most cases do not have a detectable cause. Occasionally they may be caused by medication, such as diuretics, lithium, cimetidine and asthma medication.

Other causes of leg cramps include excess muscle use during the day, dehydration, low sodium levels, pregnancy, and renal dialysis. They are commonly found after long runs such as marathons.

As leg cramps tend to settle within 10 minutes, pain killers are often not needed, although they can be effective. The most effective medicine to prevent leg cramps is quinine, which should be taken every night for at least 4 weeks to observe the effect. It should be avoided in high doses in pregnancy (unless being used to treat malaria, when the benefits outweigh the risks).

Other methods include exercises to stretch the muscles at the back of the leg (by bringing your toes up towards the knees, or leaning forward  towards a wall). This can be done during an attack as well as regularly to reduce the likelihood of an attack. It may help to eat sugary or salty foods before activity, or to raise the bed head slightly.

Quinine is present in bitter lemon and tonic water, and I have had cases (e.g. in pregnancy) where drinking some of this every night was sufficient to hold the cramps at bay.

Massage during an episode can help. Sweet marjoram oil in a carrier oil may help with the massage. Having a bath with lavender oil or nutmeg may help, while a compress of common thyme or purslane may ease the pain. The scientific evidence for these approaches is poor.

I hope that this helps with this common problem. Quinine tablets are, however, useful and effective, and are safe except in overdose, so if you have ongoing problems do see your doctor!

Please see the excellent patient.co.uk leaflet website for a good leaflet:

http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068794/

Disclaimer:
The content of our website is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor relating to any medical condition.