Herbal Health

Side effects of Duphaston

Most women using Duphaston only experience one or two mild side effects which sometimes settle with time.

The most common side effects that have been reported include breast tenderness, weight gain, bloating, depression, headaches, lethargy and tiredness, dizziness, nausea, irregular vaginal bleeding and cramps.

The side effects of Duphaston are reversible and they diminish soon after treatment ceases.

There are no known long-term side effects of Duphaston therapy.

How effective is Duphaston

It is extremely difficult to provide any figures regarding the effectiveness of Duphaston in the treatment of endometriosis as there has been almost no research published on the issue. Duphaston has been used as a treatment for endometriosis for many years and it has shown itself to be an effective treatment for many women. One unpublished Australian study suggests that nine months treatment with Duphaston is as effective as six months treatment with Danazol.

The only study published to-date found that 43 of the 49 women had complete or partial relief from their symptoms and of the 19 women with infertility who wished to conceive, 10 did so.

There is no information available on the recurrence rate of endometriosis following treatment with Duphaston.

Duphaston, pregnancy and breastfeeding

The manufacturers of Duphaston state that it should not be used during pregnancy as progestogens may cause abnormalities in the developing foetus.

The use of Duphaston while breastfeeding is not recommended by the manufacturers. Small amounts of progestogens have been found in the milk of mothers taking the drug and effects on the child are unknown. However, some gynecologists believe that Duphaston can be safely used during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Interaction with other drugs, alcohol or foods

There are no known interactions of Duphaston with any foods, alcohol or other drugs.

*39 /41/5*

New antidepressant

The most popular antidepressant in the United States these days is Prozac, the brand name of fluoxetine. Part of the reason for the enormous success of this medicine is that its side effects, when present, are often less troublesome than those of other antidepressants. While many antidepressants act on a variety of neurotransmitter systems, Prozac appears to work exclusively on the serotonin system. While some other antidepressants can cause weight gain, Prozac seems less likely to do so—a feature of particular interest for people with eating disorders. In fact, some people taking Prozac experience a decrease in weight.

Another interesting feature of Prozac is that it seems to reduce obsessive thinking in some patients. There is growing research on the overlap between obsessive-compulsive disorder and anorexia, and Prozac is being evaluated for its effectiveness in both or these disorders. Current evidence seems to show that Prozac is as effective in reducing bingeing in bulimia as other antidepressants. Side effects can include agitation, nausea, fatigue, and insomnia. But on the whole, it is well tolerated by most patients.

When to Use Antidepressants?

Different doctors use medications differently. Some feel confident that these drugs work and should be tried first. Doing so, they feel, is cost-effective, and produces the most benefit in the shortest time. Other doctors prefer to use the various forms of psychotherapy. Then, if those strategies fail to produce enough improvement, they’ll decide whether to step up to the use of medications.

Although I am convinced antidepressants can work, I am not so sure they result in long-term improvement once the patient stops taking them. If the patient’s psychological, social, and family pressures haven’t changed, then it’s possible that her illness will persist or return. Of course, I will usually not hesitate to use antidepressants in patients who also have a clinical depression.

Research hasn’t yet shown how long a bulimic patient should keep using antidepressants. As a rule, if the patient shows improvement during the initial six-week trial, we continue with the drug for at least six months. Doing so decreases the possibility of relapse.

Many patients fear using medications. They are afraid the drug will make them “high,” like cocaine, or that they will become addicted. I try to reassure patients that such fears are groundless. While antidepressants do help a depressed person return to a normal mood, they do not produce a “high” in someone who is already at a normal level. They are also not addictive.

*63/35/5*

In a roundabout way, Sandra Wadsworth credits her dry cleaner with motivating her to lose weight.

“In 1993,1 finally accepted the fact that my dry cleaner wasn’t shrinking my clothes,” laughs the 41 -year-old Brandywine, Mary-land, resident. “And I admitted to myself that my zippers weren’t breaking because my clothes were poorly made.” Sandy knew that, at 150 pounds, she was heavier than she had ever been, because her eating habits were out of control. But every time she tried to lose weight, she quit as soon as she made even the most minor mistake, like choosing a “bad” food or eating too much. Embarrassed by her inability to stick with a weight-loss program, she refused to discuss her problem with her family or closest friends.

Eventually, Sandy sought help from Weight Watchers, thinking that a structured approach to weight loss might be what she needed. Through the program, she learned how emotional upsets such as boredom and stress drove her to binge on junk food and fast food. “I also became aware of my habit of ‘unconscious eating’— munching on a handful of M&M’s at work and not remembering whose candy dish I had raided,” she says.

Even more important to Sandy was the rebirth of her self-esteem. “Weight Watchers helped me see that I wasn’t a bad person because I was overweight,” she says. “I just needed to learn healthier habits.”

After 5 months in the program, Sandy lost 20 pounds. She has stayed at her goal weight of 130 pounds for more than 5 years.

Sandy admits that she has had her share of slip-ups. The difference is that she no longer views every setback as a failure. “Everyone makes mistakes,” she says. “The key to weight-loss success is turning each mistake into a learning experience.”

WINNING ACTION

Challenge all-or-nothing thinking. So you ate a half-pound of your favorite chocolates. That doesn’t mean that you failed, that you’re a bad person, or that your diet jis over. Acknowledge the blip and just pick up where you left off. Even the most successful “losers” slip up.

That’s called being human. The trick is to learn from the situation and keep trying. Every day really is a new day.

*117\89\8*

VITAMIN C

Functions: vital for a healthy immune system • helps protect body cells from oxidation (damage due to inappropriate combining of molecules with oxygen) • plays a vital role in forming collagen, the substance that holds the body’s cells together • encourages iron absorption • functions in regulation of cholesterol levels • necessary for proper functioning of the brain and nerves • important for health of capillaries and sex organs. Deficiency signs and symptoms: lassitude • weakness • irritability • vague muscle and joint pains • loss of weight • inflamed and bleeding gums • loosening of the teeth • hemorrages under the skin • bruising • the classic vitamin C deficiency disease of scurvy.

Vitamin C’s enemies: cigarettes • heat • excessive boiling of food • light • stress.

VITAMIN D

Functions: promotes absorption of calcium and phosphate. Deficiency signs and symptoms: nervous-system disorders • tooth decay • the classic vitamin D deficiency diseases are rickets (in children), osteomalacia (in adults) and osteoporsis (thinning of the bone).

Vitamin D’s enemies: anything that reduces the amount of sunlight you receive (such as smog and staying indoors all the time) interferes with vitamin D production by your body.

VITAMIN E (tocopherol)

Functions: vital for a healthy immune system • protects body cells against oxidation • helps control free radicals (unstable molecules in the body that can cause cancer and other problems). Deficiency signs and symptoms: nervous-system disorders • gastrointestinal problems • premature aging of the skin • dry, itchy skin • infertility • destruction of red blood cells in infants, leading to anemia.

Vitamin E’s enemies: mineral oil • cooking and processing of foods • heat • freezing • iron • chlorine.

*166\80\8*

“I am upset not by events, but rather by the way I view them.”

—Epiclitus

A young woman sat in my office and said, “Whatever I do turns out wrong. I’ve been on five or six diets, but I can’t lose any weight. I’ve gone to three colleges in seven years, and I’ll never graduate. All I can get are jobs as a clerk or waitress. Then I do a lousy job and get fired after a while. I make resolutions to study harder, to work harder, to get along with my boyfriend. Nothing ever goes right for me! I don’t even try anymore because I know I’m a loser.” Like millions of Americans, she is depressed and has a negative self-image. She “knows” she’s a loser. Her conviction becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as she fails at one thing after another.

These unhappy people often wind up in doctors’ offices, complaining of various aches and pains, if they’re lucky. The unlucky ones may have more serious problems, such as cancer. These people aren’t hypochondriacs suffering from imaginary diseases. Depression and unhappiness cause physical illnesses.

Other patients I see are angry, eager to take on the whole world, to get back at someone, to show everybody what’s what. Herb A. was like that; he couldn’t wait to make his old boss eat his words. -

“Dr. Fox, I’m going to make him so sorry he fired me!” Herb fumed. “He said I didn’t run my department the right way. Well, I’m going to get a job with a bigger firm, take over the whole company and run it my way. That’ll show him! I’m going to buy him out, too. Just so I can fire him!”

The only person Herb showed was himself. His constant state of anger drove his blood pressure higher and higher until he had a heart attack.

Unfortunately, these people aren’t alone in their gloomy thoughts. Tens of millions of Americans are depressed, angry, bitter and frustrated. Many of them turn to alcohol, tranquilizers and other prescription or illegal drugs. Thanks to the magic of chemistry, they lose themselves for a little while. But the real problems haven’t been solved; the depression, anger and self-doubt always return. Meanwhile, the drugs and alcohol are busy attacking their body, destroying their relationships, harming their ability to work, draining their bank accounts and deepening their anger and/or depression.

Many of the patients I’ve seen through the years have told me , that they can’t get through the day without a tranquilizer, a few drinks or some marijuana. When I ask them if the drugs and/or alcohol make them any happier, they shrug and say no, but at least they’re surviving. My goal for you isn’t merely survival; it’s living life to its fullest. Dimming the lights of thought and perception isn’t living.

*123\80\8*

KASHA (BUCKWHEAT) AND FISH

Here’s a tasty and wholesome meal that’s easy to prepare.

2 cups kasha

6 ozs. low-fat fish

garlic powder

white pepper

lemon juice

curry powder

Cook the kasha. Steam fish (see page 69). When fish and kasha are ready, fork-cut fish into small pieces and mix with kasha. Season with garlic powder, white pepper and lemon juice, and/or curry powder. If you prefer, use rice, barley or other whole grains.

Serves 2.

1
banana
2
apricots
1/4
Fresh cantaloupe
1
papaya
1
peach
1
lemon
1 cup
low-fat yogurt
3 cups
unsweetened, unfiltered apple juice
Peel and chop the banana, apple, apricots, cantaloupe, papaya and peach. Squeeze juice from the lemon into a cup and discard rind. Place all ingredients in blender and blend until thick and

MIDDLE EAST RICE OR MILLET

2 cups brown rice or millet

2 tbls. sesame seeds

2 tbls. .raisins

1 tbl. lemon juice

Cook brown rice or millet. Add other ingredients, mix and serve.

Serves 2.

YOGURT MILLET OR RICE

2 cups brown rice or millet

2 cups plain yogurt

2 tbls. fresh ginger, finely chopped

1/2 sweet red pepper, diced

1 tsp. celery seeds

Cook brown rice or millet. Add other ingredients, mix and serve.

Serves 2.

*80\80\8*

Beta carotene/vitamin A is also great for your health in general. Vitamin A has long been known for its ability to protect the skin and linings (mucous membranes) of the respiratory, digestive and urinary tracts. The first line of defense against invading organisms and environmental poisons, these are very important parts of your “doctor within.”

Without sufficient vitamin A, your immune system suffers. Some important parts of your immune system (thymus and lymphoid tissue) shrink, and the total number of vital, immune-system soldiers (T-cells and B-cells) decreases, further crippling your ability to fight off disease. Because surgery normally depresses a person’s immune system, I advise my patients facing surgery to boost their immune system by eating lots of beta-carotene-rich foods well before their operation.

Various studies have shown that vitamin A is especially helpful in protecting the lungs and airways. For example, the lining of the respiratory tract is destroyed in laboratory animals exposed to noxious gases. But if the animals are pretreated with vitamin A, the lining grows back.

Notice the large amounts of beta carotene in carrots, spinach and sweet potatoes. You also get healthy doses of potassium and vitamin C in raw spinach.

*37\80\8*

In food intolerance, it is almost always commonly eaten foods that are the source of the problem. In Britain and other western countries, this means wheat and milk, which are usually consumed several times a day. In America, wheat and milk are just as important, but sensitivity to maize (corn) is also widespread – this finds its way into many prepared foods, in the form of cornflour, cornstarch and corn syrup. These maize products are also used in the UK, but less corn is eaten overall, and sensitivity to corn is not quite as common here. In the same way, peanuts are a frequent problem in America, because so much peanut butter is eaten, but they are less important in Britain at present. As eating habits change, so too do sensitivities. Now that soya beans and soya flour are more widely used in processed foods, cases of intolerance to soya are being seen for the first time. Where wheat and milk are not staple foods, other sensitivities prevail – a doctor practising in Taiwan found that the most common culprit foods there were rice and soya beans.

The impression gained from patients’ case-histories is that a large intake of one food, regardless of what it is, can trigger off intolerance of that food. For the breast-feeding mother, large amounts of a food can have a sensitizing effect on her baby.

*124\180\8*

It is mainly young people and athletes who find it difficult to be sensible and not go beyond what is physically good for their health. There are times when they do not seem to understand the importance of warming up in order to help the muscles and internal organs to acquire sufficient elasticity. Sports physicians, gynaecologists and other specialists are well aware of this since they have to deal with the consequences of carelessness. We should not overtax ourselves to the point of exhaustion in our work, and how much less should this be done in sports activities! Those who go beyond what is reasonable when they are supposed to relax and restore their energies show a lack of knowledge and understanding. In some cases they are driven by ambition that, strictly speaking, creates an attitude which has nothing to do with sportsmanship.

It is impossible to establish general rules that would constitute an exact standard or yardstick regarding the energy we can safely spend, because each person has to take into account his constitution, his physical and mental reserves and, last but not least, his age. It really depends upon our individual capabilities and need for rest and sleep, which can vary enormously from one person to another. For this reason, what follows are only guidelines, intended to point you in the right direction regarding how much you can do.

*1200/28/1*

For several decades now there have been new materials and products on the market, based on fibres that are made synthetically by machines. The principle of manufacture is similar to the one used by the silk worm in making its fibre or thread. Indeed, every time man intends to produce a substitute for a natural material he has to learn from the marvels of nature. A liquid pressed through fine nozzles hardens into a tough thread when exposed to the air. The thread is then spun and woven like silk. The resulting artificial fibre, called nylon, perlon or other names, is of great importance to industry. However, is wearing such synthetic materials healthy and can it be recommended? The answer to this question is of great interest to the many patients whose letters have so often made this enquiry.

We can only base our answer on experience and observed facts; for example, these artificial fibres had hardly been on the market any time at all when many women began to complain of aches and pains after wearing stockings made from them. Synthetic lingerie produced the same unpleasant reactions, such as pain similar to that experienced with rheumatism. Yet it is strange that not all people are affected in the same way when wearing synthetic materials.

*1131/28/1*