How useful condoms are in preventing herpes

Practicing safe sex is one of the best preventative health measures a person can take, and the best form of safe sex, outside of abstinence, is the condom. Not only do condoms safeguard against unwanted pregnancies, they also protect against infection from various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as HIV, gonorrhea, Chlamydia and trichomoniasis; discharge diseases that are transmitted through infected semen or vaginal fluids. However, researchers say condoms provide a lesser degree of protection against the spread of another STD—genital herpes—because it can be transmitted through contact with infected skin that isn't covered or protected by the condom, but the exact protective effect has remained unclear. To get a more definitive idea of how useful condoms are in preventing herpes, researchers at the University of Washington analyzed data on a total of 5,384 people; two-thirds of whom were male, 94 percent were heterosexual. All study participants were free of infection when the studies began, but over a follow-up period of 12 to 19 months, 415 became infected with the herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), the virus that most often causes genital herpes. For those who reported using a condom 100 percent of the time, the risk of contracting the virus was found to be 30 percent less than those who did not use condoms. "Although the magnitude of the protective effect was not as large as has been observed with other STIs, a 30 percent reduction in HSV-2 incidence can have a substantial benefit for individuals as well as a public health impact at the population level," said lead author Dr. Emily T. Martin of Children's Hospital Research Institute at the University. "Thirty percent is partial protection, but its protection." The researchers said the risk of being infected was reduced 7 percent "every additional 25 percent of the time condoms were used during anal or vaginal sex" and increased with the frequency of unprotected sex. There was no significant difference in condom effectiveness between genders. "It's the consistent use of the condom that's important," Martin said. "If you don't know the STD status of your partner, a condom is always a good idea." Dr. Jeffrey D. Klausner, director of STD Prevention and Control Services at the San Francisco Department of Public Health, said the study provides more scientific evidence that condoms work. "We know condoms can prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections like HIV, herpes, warts, hepatitis, gonorrhea, Chlamydia and syphilis, but it's always been hard to show that in research studies," he said. "If condoms can hold air and water, I never understood why folks thought they would not prevent the spread of germs, which are much, much larger than air or water molecules." Klausner added that these findings should help in efforts to get condoms into the hands of sexually active adults and teens. As many as 50 million Americans—about one in five adults—are infected with the genital herpes virus, with about one million new infections each year. As many as 80-90 percent of those infected fail to recognize herpes symptoms or have no symptoms at all. People with herpes may spread the disease even though they don't realize they have an infection or while their disease appears to be inactive and no sores can be seen. Herpes is a lifelong disease with no cure, but antiviral drugs can partially control the duration and severity of episodes.

Botanical medicine.

Plants have been used as medicine since the dawn of human civilization. Also called "botanical medicine" or "phytomedicine," herbal medicine uses all the parts of various plants for healing: seeds, berries, leaves, roots, bard, flowers. The World Health Organization reports that 80 percent of people worldwide use herbal medicine. In 1998, Americans alone spent over $4 billion on herbal products.

Over 700,000 different plants have been identified, but many more grow in isolated and remote environments, like the Amazon jungle. We have scientific data about only a handful, but even these have proven very useful as many modern pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants. For instance, digitalis, from the foxglove plant, has been used by herbalists to treat heart disease. Extracts from this plant and its compounds are used in modern heart medications. The herb ephedra has been used in Chinese Medicine for over 2,000 years to treat asthma. The extract, Ephedrine, is used in commercial asthma medications

Though the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not recognize licenses of drugs from overseas, research in other countries has brought many medicinal plants into modern usage in Europe. Germany utilizes over 600 plants in medicines available by prescription. These plant-medicines are prescribed by over two-thirds of German doctors.

History
Healing with plants has been mentioned as far back as man has been keeping records. Ancient Egyptian papyrus relate recipes for cures using plants, as do medical systems from other cultures, such as Ayurveda in India and Traditional Chinese Medicine. With the advent of modern chemistry, scientists began to analyze the chemical make-up of various plants, and then synthesized compounds for use in pharmaceuticals and medicine. The FDA now classifies many herbs as dietary supplements, since the U.S. Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. Most herbs are sold over-the-counter, that is, without a prescription, and registration as a dietary supplement does not regulate the manufacture of herbal medicine.

Usage
Herbs can be taken internally as tea, tinctures, or extracts. They can also be added to oils or creams and used externally, not only for the hair or skin, but for absorption through the skin to treat various ailments.

Some of the more commonly used herbs in the United States are echinacea, used to boost immunity, and ginkgo bilboa, used for memory retention. Commonly utilized teas include chamomile and peppermint. Food plants such as ginger, chocolate, flax seed oil, and garlic are also classified in herbal medicine because of their healing qualities.

Side Effects from Herbal Medicine
Some herbal remedies do have side effects or allergic reactions, so it is important to talk over health concern with your doctor or health provider before beginning any new therapy. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested that over half of people using herbal medicines did not report the usage to their doctors, and this can interfere with other drugs or medical treatments. You can research warnings and safety advice at the FDA website  or the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.



Integrating natural and conventional treatments is often the most beneficial path to health, as one third of Americans know, so keeping our health providers informed will only speed the integration of herbal medicine into its rightful place as a healing agent

Fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to treat

Fibromyalgia is notoriously difficult to treat. Medication tends to reduce muscle pain, fatigue, and other symptoms of the chronic condition by just 30% to 50%. As a result, many patients turn to diet and lifestyle changes for added relief. Learning which foods to avoid is a good place to start, since fibro patients often have food sensitivities that may not show up in food allergy tests. In one survey, 42% reported that certain foods made their pain and stiffness worse.

pharmaceutical ingredient

"Herbal Diet Natural" contains an undeclared pharmaceutical ingredient similar to the prescription drug sibutramine. Sibutramine may pose serious health risks, particularly to people with heart problems. Consumers who have purchased "Herbal Diet Natural" are advised to consult with a medical professional if they have used the product or have concerns about their health, says Health Canada.

Sibutramine is a prescription drug used to treat obesity.  The use of sibutramine may cause serious side-effects, including cardiovascular reactions, such as increased blood pressure, chest pain, and stroke, in addition to dry mouth, difficulty sleeping and constipation. Sibutramine should only be used under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner. Sibutramine should not be taken by people who have had a heart attack, coronary artery disease, heart-related chest pain, irregular heart beats, congestive heart failure, a stroke or symptoms of a stroke, in individuals with unstable or poorly controlled high blood pressure, or in patients who have clinically diagnosed depression or have a psychiatric illness. Sibutramine is not recommended for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant.

According to the product label, Herbal Diet Natural also contains glucomannan used for the treatment of weight loss. In January 2010, Health Canada advised Canadians that natural health products containing the ingredient glucomannan in tablet, capsule or powder form, which are currently on the Canadian market, have a potential for harm if taken without at least 8 ounces of water or other fluid. The risk to Canadians includes choking and/or blockage of the throat, esophagus or intestine. These products should NOT be taken immediately before going to bed.