The Complete Herbal Guide: A Natural Approach to Healing the Body - Heal Your Body Naturally and Maintain Optimal Health Using Alternative Medicine, Herbals, Vitamins, Fruits and Vegetables (40 page)

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Progestin therapy:
In some research studies, women taking progestin’s experienced a decrease in sexual desire and vaginal blood flow. However, in other studies, women experienced improvements in desire and arousal when they took a progestin in addition to estrogen. More studies are under way to see if different progestin regimens, alone or in combination with estrogen and other hormonal agents, may benefit sexual function. Progestins generally are prescribed to balance estrogen's effect on the uterus and not to treat sexual dysfunction.

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Androgen therapy:
Androgens include male hormones, such as testosterone. Testosterone is important for sexual function in women as well as men, although testosterone occurs in much lower amounts in a woman. Androgen therapy for sexual dysfunction is controversial. Some studies show a benefit for women who have low testosterone levels and develop sexual dysfunction, for instance after surgical menopause due to removal of the ovaries. In these women, testosterone therapy reportedly improved libido, arousal and sexual thoughts. Other studies show little or no benefit of testosterone therapy for women.

Other treatments

Researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and other drugs approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men in treating certain types of female sexual dysfunction. Early results from the studies are mixed. Most studies have shown little benefit for women, but some have reported a benefit for women with sexual dysfunction due to antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication side effects.

Tibolone is a drug currently used in Europe and Australia for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. In a small study, women taking the drug experienced an increase in vaginal lubrication, arousal and sexual desire. However, Tibolone has not yet received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in the U.S.

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Symptoms of an insect bite result from the injection of venom or other substances into your skin. The venom triggers an allergic reaction. The severity of your reaction depends on your sensitivity to the insect venom or substance.

Most reactions to insect bites are minor, causing little more than an annoying itching or stinging sensation and minor swelling that go away within a day or so. A prolong reaction may cause fever, hives, painful joints and swollen glands. You might experience both the instant and the late reactions from the same insect bite or sting. Only small amounts of people develop harsh reactions (anaphylaxis) to insect venom. Symptoms of a severe reaction include facial swelling, difficulty breathing and shock.

Bites from bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and fire ants are typically the most troublesome. Bites from mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies and some spiders also can cause reactions, but these are generally milder.

For mild reactions:

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Go to a safe area to avoid more stings.

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Scrape or brush off the stinger with a straight-edged object, such as a card or the back of a knife. Wash the affected area with soap and water. Do not try to pull out the stinger; doing so may release more venom.

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To decrease pain and swelling, apply a cold pack or cloth filled with ice.

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Apply hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion or a baking soda paste with a ratio of 3 teaspoons baking soda to 1-teaspoon water to the bite or sting several times a day until your symptoms go away.

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Take an antihistamine containing diphenhydramine such as Benadryl, Tylenol Severe Allergy or chlorpheniramine maleate (Chlor-Trimeton, Teldrin).

Allergic reactions may include mild nausea and intestinal cramps, diarrhea or swelling larger than 2 inches in diameter at the site. See your doctor promptly if you experience any of these signs and symptoms.

For severe reactions:

Severe reactions may progress rapidly. Dial 911 or call for emergency medical assistance if the following signs or symptoms occur:

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Difficulty breathing

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Swelling of your lips

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Swelling of the throat

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Faintness

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Dizziness

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Confusion

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Rapid heartbeat

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Hives

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Nausea

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Cramps

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Vomiting

Emergency Care:

Take these actions immediately while waiting with an affected person for medical help:

1. Check for special medications that the person might be carrying to treat an allergic attack, such as an auto-injector of epinephrine. Use the drug as directed, usually by pressing the auto-injector against the person's thigh and holding it in place for several seconds. Massage the injection site for 10 seconds to enhance absorption.
   

1. After administering epinephrine, have the person take an antihistamine pill if he or she is able to do so without choking.
   

1. Have the person lie still on his or her back with feet higher than the head.
   

1. Undo tight clothing and cover the person with a blanket. Do not give the person anything to drink.
   

1. If there is vomiting or bleeding from the mouth, turn the person on his or her side to prevent choking.
   

1. If there are no signs of circulation (breathing, coughing or movement), begin CPR.
   

If your doctor has prescribed an auto-injector of epinephrine, read the instructions before a problems develops.

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Chronic daily headaches occur more than 15 days out of the month.  Most people who suffer from this condition experience chronic headaches daily.  Most people experience headaches occasionally.

Types:

Chronic daily headaches are classified as either primary or secondary.

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Primary chronic daily headaches
- These are often in people who have had migraine or tension-type headaches for many years. Over time, these headaches slowly increase for headaches they are experiencing on a daily basis.

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Secondary chronic daily headaches
– These are caused by a disease or condition.

Symptoms

Chronic daily headache in migraines

Sometimes migraines gradually become more frequent, until you experience pain nearly every day. This is known as transformed migraine. You may feel steady pain on one or both sides of your head, as well as pain in your neck and face. The common migraine symptoms of nausea and sensitivity to light and sound often fade, but you may continue to experience occasional acute migraine attacks. Depression, sleep disturbances, anxiety and panic are common as well.

Chronic tension-type headache

Occasional tension-type headaches sometimes progress to daily attacks. The pain involves both sides of the head and the back of the head and neck. It is often described as a dull ache or a tight band of pressure around the head. The pain may fluctuate throughout the day or be steady for days, weeks or even years at a time.

New daily persistent headache

New daily persistent headaches begin abruptly in people without a history of headaches. Sometimes the headaches are triggered by an infection, surgery or stressful life event, but often there is no recognized cause. The pain is often described as throbbing, dull, achy, stabbing or burning, or as pressure or tightness. The pain continues unabated throughout the day. Some new daily persistent headaches go away within several months. Others persist for years or even decades.

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Hemicrania continua is a rare type of chronic daily headache. The pain occurs on one side of the head and varies in intensity without ever disappearing completely. The pain is usually moderate but may include jolts of severe pain that last less than a minute. The flare-ups of severe pain may be accompanied by tearing or redness of the eye on the affected side, swelling or drooping of the eyelid, and a stuffy or runny nose. You may experience nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to noise and light. Sometimes auras — such as blind spots or flashing lights in your visual field or sensations of numbness or tingling — are present as well.

In the episodic form of hemicrania continua, periods — usually months — with daily headaches alternate with periods with no headaches. In the chronic form, headaches occur daily with little or no break, sometimes for years.

Causes

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Medication overuse

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Abnormal response of the brain to stimulation, such as muscle tension or tissue inflammation

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Abnormal function of brain structures that suppress pain

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Changes in the nervous system due to frequent headaches

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Stimulation of the central nervous system due to stress, infection or trauma

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Genetic predisposition to increased pain sensitivity

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Injury to or painful stimulation of the upper spine

Different diseases or conditions may cause secondary chronic daily headaches,
such as:

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Inflammation of the arteries (giant cell arteritis)

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Inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis)

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A new, abnormal formation of tissue (neoplasm)

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Infection

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Sleep disorders (such as obstructive sleep apnea)

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask a series of questions about your headaches, including when they started and what they feel like. Be sure to list all the medications you are taking, including the doses.

Your doctor will probably do a physical exam to check for signs of illness, infection or neurological problems. If the cause of your headaches remains uncertain, you may need blood or urine tests to identify any underlying medical conditions. Sometimes imaging studies — such as an X-ray, computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging — are recommended.

Treatment

Treatment for any underlying diseases or conditions often stops chronic daily headaches. When no underlying diseases or conditions are present, treatment focuses on stopping the pain before it starts. Specific prevention strategies vary, depending on which type of headache you have and on whether medication overuse is contributing to these headaches.

If you are taking pain relievers more than two days a week, the first step in treatment may be to stop using these drugs. When you are ready to begin preventive therapy, your doctor may recommend:

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Antidepressants

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Beta-blockers:
These drugs, commonly used to treat high blood pressure, are also a mainstay for preventing episodic migraines.

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Anti-seizure medications:
Some anti-seizure drugs seem to prevent migraines. Now these medications may be used to prevent chronic daily headaches as well. Options may include divalproex (Depakote), gabapentin (Neurontin) and topiramate (Topamax).