Researchers have evidence that some women may be able to improve their chances of getting pregnant by reducing stress.
Many factors, affecting both men and women, can cause fertility problems. It's long been thought that the stress of daily life is related to infertility.
Acupuncture techniques may improve the chances of conceiving a child by managing and reducing stress in women with a condition known as amenorrhea, in which a woman's monthly periods are interrupted and ovulation doesn't always occur. Amenorrhea is thought to be caused by poor nutrition and over-exercising.
A combination of stress management therapy and diet and exercise coaching restored fertility in 80 percent of the women who took part, compared to 25 percent in a control group.
The researchers measured stress by monitoring levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the women. The psychotherapy and behavioral therapy appeared to reduce the levels of cortisol and restore ovulation.
The researchers say this study underlines the contribution lifestyle factors play in fertility.
Failure to ovulate is thought to be the result of too much energy being used up by excessive exercise and poor nutrition. But the researchers in this study theorize that dieting and excessive exercise might actually be a way of trying to cope with underlying stress, especially in women who aren't ovulating.
If you are having trouble conceiving a child, talk to your doctor to get a diagnosis. There are many causes of infertility and many treatments available that have helped many couples. Chinese medicine can be very helpful to increase fertility chances.
Meridian Harmonics
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Super-bug linked to tattooing
People who get tattoos from unlicensed sources are at risk of developing a drug-resistant bacterial skin infection, federal health officials warn.
Six recent outbreaks of infections with this "superbug," methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been traced to unlicensed tattoo artists, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
MRSA infection typically manifests as abscesses or areas of inflammation on the skin, though it can also lead to more serious problems such as pneumonia, blood infections or, in some cases, necrotizing fasciitis, also referred to as the "flesh-eating disease."
While the bug was once largely confined to hospitals, it is becoming increasingly common in the general public -- showing up among prison inmates, athletic teams and others who are in close contact and may share contaminated items.
The six tattoo-related outbreaks affected 44 people in Kentucky, Ohio and Vermont, the CDC reports in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Thirty-four had recently gotten a tattoo from an unlicensed source, while 10 others contracted the infection from close contact with the tattoo recipients.
Health officials' investigations found that the tattooists in many cases did not follow standard hygiene practices like changing gloves between clients, using skin antiseptic and disinfecting equipment. Three tattooists had recently been in prison, where they could have picked up MRSA. In some cases, the amateur artists used makeshift equipment like guitar strings and computer ink-jet cartridges instead of tattoo dye.
"Persons considering a tattoo should be aware of the potential for community-acquired MRSA infection and should only use the services of a licensed tattooist who follows proper infection-control procedures," the CDC advises.
That means using sterilized or single-use equipment, including needles, tattoo guns and inks.
Consideration should also be given to how tatooing affects a person's energy system. Tatooing, along with other scarring, will permanently obstruct the flow of the Qi or energy in the superficial meridian pathways, eventually affecting the ability of the associated organ to perform its functions at an optimal level. This, in turn, affects a persons overall health and vitality.
Meridian Harmonics
Six recent outbreaks of infections with this "superbug," methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been traced to unlicensed tattoo artists, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
MRSA infection typically manifests as abscesses or areas of inflammation on the skin, though it can also lead to more serious problems such as pneumonia, blood infections or, in some cases, necrotizing fasciitis, also referred to as the "flesh-eating disease."
While the bug was once largely confined to hospitals, it is becoming increasingly common in the general public -- showing up among prison inmates, athletic teams and others who are in close contact and may share contaminated items.
The six tattoo-related outbreaks affected 44 people in Kentucky, Ohio and Vermont, the CDC reports in its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Thirty-four had recently gotten a tattoo from an unlicensed source, while 10 others contracted the infection from close contact with the tattoo recipients.
Health officials' investigations found that the tattooists in many cases did not follow standard hygiene practices like changing gloves between clients, using skin antiseptic and disinfecting equipment. Three tattooists had recently been in prison, where they could have picked up MRSA. In some cases, the amateur artists used makeshift equipment like guitar strings and computer ink-jet cartridges instead of tattoo dye.
"Persons considering a tattoo should be aware of the potential for community-acquired MRSA infection and should only use the services of a licensed tattooist who follows proper infection-control procedures," the CDC advises.
That means using sterilized or single-use equipment, including needles, tattoo guns and inks.
Consideration should also be given to how tatooing affects a person's energy system. Tatooing, along with other scarring, will permanently obstruct the flow of the Qi or energy in the superficial meridian pathways, eventually affecting the ability of the associated organ to perform its functions at an optimal level. This, in turn, affects a persons overall health and vitality.
Meridian Harmonics
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