Cranesbill is a short plant of up to 0.5 metres, with very aromatic, deeply dissected, green-red leaves, small pinkish flowers and oblong pointed fruits which resemble a stork’s bill. Other species which are used in traditional medicine and as gardening plants include G. maculatum (American cranesbill), G. dissectum (English cranesbill) and G. sanguineum (bloody cranesbill). Geranium nepalerise and G. wailichianum are used for dyes and tanning.

Latin: Geranium robertianum

Common Names: Herb Robert, erba roberta, herbs a Robert (French), geranium robertin, Ruprechtskraut (German), czcuta rossa (Italian).

Origin

Originating in Europe and Asia, Cranesbill was naturalised in North and South America (G. robertianum); central and eastern and North America (G. maculatuni).

Parts Used

Whole dried herb (Geranii robertiani herba).

Actions

Anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal.

Properties and Uses

Cranesbill has been traditionally used to treat urinary tract infections and mild diarrhoea. It has also been used externally as a styptic, to cure slow-healing wounds, eczema and mucosal inflammations. Cranesbill has also been used in the treatment of stomach ulcers, heavy menstrual bleeding, and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome). Fresh rhizomes from G.robertianum are used by homoeopathic practitioners.

Dosage and Preparation

Cranesbill tea can be prepared using two teaspoons of the dried herb, or one teaspoon of the dry root. When used in homeopathy, it is usually at a potency of D1. Cranesbill is also available in capsules, powder, liquid extracts, creams and salves.

Active Ingredients

An essential oil can be extracted from Cranesbill leaves, but it has an unpleasant smell since it contains geraniol, germacren D, limonene, linalool and terpineol. The main phenolics of Cranesbill leaves include ferulic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, kaempferol and quercetin. Cranesbill has a high concentration of gallo- and ellagitannins (up to 30%).
Geraniin is the main compound in Cranesbill.

Pharmacological Effects

Cranesbill’s tannins are astringent and have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects because of their ability to non-selectively disrupt and cause proteins to lose their tertiary structure and secondary structure. These tannins have anti-diarrhoeal effects, can form a protective layer over skin and mucosa and thereby have a vasoconstricting effect on small vessels, which will produce fluid loss from the skin.

Warning

Severe diarrhoea (especially in children) can be dangerous due to the risk of dehydration and must be treated by a health care professional.

Status

Traditional medicine.

Back in January of 2009 I was started on Remicade. This is a drug which you take via an infusion, and it is approved by the FDA for Ulcerative Colitis. For me, I travelled down to the PAMF Infusion center which is actually in Mountain View, California where Google is headquartered. I am guessing you have probably heard of Google. I will go into details on a later post about the Remicade and the infusion process. The long story short is the Remicade was not working as planned, and I was then started on Humira for my ulcerative colitis.

I can remember the first day I started Humira clearly. I made my way up to my GI doctor’s office to meet with his nurse, a woman who at this point was one of my closest friends. (for those of us who have had been given the present of severe Ulcerative Colitis, it is truly amazing how close you can become with your nurses/doctors/even receptionists since they are the first person you see when you arrive at the doctors.

How many people on this planet really don’t mind having shots? I feel like I am a macho person sometimes. Fell down playing ice hockey when I was 12 or thirteen and slammed my face against the ice, blood was flying out of my mouth since my teeth cut some things up along with the impact blowing a hole in my lower lip. But needles…for some reason never got used to them. All along, my doctor was telling me how it was no big deal. Well, my doctor was right. Needles like the Humira needle are no big deal. It is so small, I had to blow the picture up to the left just so you could see the thing. Once I arrived, I had my actual prescribed Humira in my hands.

So, on my first day to start Humira, I arrived with my 4 Humira pens and the 4 yellow pages of side effect information that is included. When it came time to do the actual shots, this is when I really started to stall with the nurse. You could ask her, but I believe we may have counted down doing the “ten,nine, eight, seven, wait wait wait wait….” anyways, I was there for about 45 minutes before I had all 4 shots of Humira in me. I was hoping that, when I was supposed to take the medications next(in two weeks) that I would get it going much faster. (That never really was the case, but I did start taking them at home which must have made the physicians assistant happy!)

So that is my story of the first encounter with treating my ulcerative colitis via Humira.

Did Humira Treat My Ulcerative Colitis?
Great great question. One that is a topic of debate among the medical world. Going into taking my Humira I was really severe with Ulcerative Colitis. Has anyone ever been prescribed Humira for Chron’s or UC when they were just dealing with a “mild” case of their respective disease? I guess I just assume they save the Humira for when people are not responding to any of the “less dangerous” medications. Well, the fact of the matter is that I was very severe. In looking back on the situation, I would probably only take Humira again if I had tried all the other medications available on this planet including crack cocaine, PCP, opium etc… and going to the bathroom 150 times/day. But that is just my personal decision on when to try Humira again.

Within Two or Three Weeks of Starting Humira:
This was probably about the time where things started getting a bit weird. Someday if the Ulcerative Colitis community thinks it would be valuable, I will pull up my medical records and transcribe them on this website, but for now, I think it was about two or three weeks after starting Humira that some side effects start to appear. It all began as some aches and pains in my upper back/shoulder area. It is the type of thing that anyone can easily pawn off as “oh, I must have slept wrong” or “maybe I pulled a muscle yesterday…”

That is exactly what I did for several days if not a week or more. But as all good things must come to an end, I eventually said no way jose, and dragged myself back the gastroenterology department of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. My favorite gastro doctor was on vacation while this was happening, so I began working with another excellent doctor until the return of my main one. At this point, I had been under the influence of Humira for maybe about 3 or 4 weeks and I simply could not move. Again I don’t remember how bad the skin problems were at this point, but my joints were all messed up. It felt like they emptied out oil in my elbows, shoulders, sternum, and some other parts and I simply was all locked up. To give an example, when it was time to sleep at night, my wife had to push a pillow under my head since my arms were useless. I basically would sit down on the side of the bed, and lay back. Wherever I landed was where I laid. It was almost like dropping off a scuba diving boat, just Humira style. Yeah that’s right, my upper body was all messed up including my elbow area. From the waist down, things were fine, thankfully. At least I could walk.

Decision to Stop Humira
As I mentioned, all good things come to an end, and I stopped Humira. This was a decision that was made by me, my temporary GI doctor, and the rheumatologist doctor I saw at the Palo Alto Med. One great part about going to the doctor this day was they prescribed me some Vicodin to take care of the pain. One thing is for sure, Vicodin works on me. Humira does as well, just not how I would have liked, but Vicodin definitely works as intended. The vicodin gave temporary relief, which was better than any present or gift I have received. At this time, there was also a decision made for me to go and up my dose of prednisone to 60mg/day which for a 160lb guy like me is a high amount. But, these were bad times, and drastic measures had to be taken.

Even stranger side effects from Humira:
Along with the Ulcerative Colitis, I now had some horrible joint pains in many spots. The consensus as to what I had come down with was some type of Arthritis. This is actually interesting because Humira is normally prescribed to Arthritis patients to help that. In all honesty, I have a very good friend who is on Humira for arthritis and is doing reasonable good. He has not had any fingernails fall off yet.

For me, another little bonus to go along with the ulcerative colits and joint problems was some real strange bumps on my head. They were something like really large pimples, and they were on my scalp under my hair. And man were they itchy sometimes. The doctors all thought this combination was rather strange, as did my family. I can only imagine what it is like to watch someone in your family go through such strange ordeals. Also, for many of us who have UC, it is not something that just happened overnight, there is usually a long history that goes along with it. So to be adding some more fun on the fire, well lets just say if it don’t kill you it makes you stronger. I must be pretty darn strong then!

Time to go to Vegas
After leaving the doctor’s office this time, I was heading home with my dad, and the plan was to start up the steroids and also some Vicodin and to get ready for azathioprine. At this point, I was very familiar with all the names of the medication, and this was just another situation where I was going to try out another medication since the previous ones were not getting me better. WRONG. For some reason I can’t explain, I always thought the word Azathioprine was scary. maybe its the “z” in there. I did pick up that prescription, but this was the first time I decided not to take it. Basically this was the first time I was going against the doctors orders for any of my treatments up to this point. I wanted to wait until my main gastro doctor was back in the office before popping some more pills. That night, I got home and told my wife the deal, and went online to buy a plane ticket via Orbitz.com and flew on down to Las Vegas, Nevada. I stayed at the Monte Carlo and tried to take my mind adrift, which surely happened.

How much did I like my Ulcerative Colitis at this Point?
Most of the doctors I have met with in the past few
years have at times asked me this question: “On a scale of 1 to 10 how bad is the pain?” I was asked some variation of this when I went to meet with the doctors from the previous paragraph. I think this is when I started responding with this type of line: “If I had to choose from UC or this joint problem for the rest of my life, I would chose the ulcerative colitis!” That is what was starting to go on in my head, simply based off how limited you are if you can’t move. It would be better to need to go to the bathroom 10-15 times per day, then to not be mobile at all right?

Lets fast forward about 8 months to January 2010.
So, now, it is time to share some photos my current skin problems that started developing back in May of 2009, and its January 2010. Most definitely, the skin problems have gotten much better, but they are still there for sure. I have been prescribed things like Clobetosol which is a very strong steroid cream. UV Rays, other rx creams, and other stuff I don’t remember. I really don’t think these skin problems are here to stay forever right? But, again, the consensus from the doctors at Stanford Hospital, Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale Arizona, and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation is that my skin problems are a direct side effect from the Humira.

If anyone has similar side effects as this, please contact me, supposedly it is a very small group of people who have this type of reaction to Humira, and I would be truly honored to speak live with someone in the same shoes. Lastly, this particular post is very negative on Humira, or at least that is what I am expecting some people may think. Please realize that my goal is the same as every doctor that is exists on this planet. That is to see as many people as healthy as possible. If you or someone you know is currently taking Humira, and is having great results(much like my good friend) than please congratulate those people. My hope would be that someone considering Humira as a treatment option for ulcerative colitis may actually find a way to treat their UC with a much much smaller chance of having these side effects. Had I treated myself with my diet, I am convinced none of this stuff would be taking place now or in the past.

High Blood Pressure is not something to be taken lightly. But neither should lack of knowledge. Educating yourself on what works and what doesn’t and why – can help you make better decisions for your health. Medication is the first choice of treatment when it comes to hypertension but is all medication good for you? Blood pressure medication side effects play a big part in your decision making process when choosing treatment.

This article will outline all possible side effects associated with BP medication and suggest alternative treatments for you to consider.

Medication in most cases will not cure high blood pressure it will just regulate it. Most people become dependent on these drugs for the rest of their lives. That doesn’t mean that you can’t revert this process. On the contrary there are alternative treatments you can choose to treat hypertension without the need to rely solely on medication.

Below is a detailed list high blood pressure medication side effects and commonly used drugs:

Vasodilators: this BP medication causes the blood vessels to open by relaxing the muscle in the vessel walls. Common side effects of this medication include: dizziness, hot flushes, headaches, nausea, excess hair growth, chest pains, fluid retention and heart palpitations.

Diuretics: A very popular drug used for removing fluid and excess salt from the body in order allow the blood to flow easier. Common side effects associated with this type medication includes: dizziness, frequent urination, breast enlargement in men, an increase in the levels of sugar in the blood, an increased rate of cholesterol, gets rid of important nutrients such as potassium, irregular heartbeat, erectile dysfunction and menstruation irregularities.

Ace Inhibitors: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors causes the blood vessels to relax allowing blood to flow easier. Common ACE medication side effects include: heart palpitations, constipation, dry cough, dizziness, reduced appetite, headaches and swollen ankles.

Alpha Blockers: this BP medication reduces nerve impulses to the blood vessels thus relaxing them so that the blood can flow easier. Common side effects associated with this type medication include: headaches, weight gain, nausea, dizziness, a pounding heart and in very rare cases over prolonged use it can even cause heart failure.

Beta Blockers: this common treatment causes the heart to beat slower and with less pressure. Common side effects associated this medication include: cold hands and feet, depression, insomnia, exhaustion, shortness of breath, dizziness and a reduced sex drive. For most people that come off beta blockers, the rebound can be so dramatic to their health they many have to be put back on the treatment.

Alternative Treatments for High Blood Pressure

If you are currently on any of these drugs do not stop them but if you want to naturally and safely lower BP without dangerous side effects talk to your doctor about your intention to treat it naturally.

So what are your options for treating it naturally: Weight Management is the number one way to treat high BP naturally. Losing a mere 10 pounds can help lower your blood pressure, start with losing a pound a week. It’s very easy to do and the results are very rewarding.

Regular exercise is the second most effective way to reverse BP. A mere 20 – 30 min. brisk walk daily will do more for your blood pressure in the short term than some of the common blood pressure medication we just talked about, not to mention the effect that brisk walking has on burning up calories.

Tackle your diet next to include proper nutrition – a popular diet for treating blood pressure is the DASH Diet.

Taking supplements such as CoQ10, Hawthorn, Selenium and Fish Oil can be very effective for your BP with no dangerous side effects.

Homeopathic remedies for treating hypertension include: Passiflora incarnate and Olea Europea to name just a few- well known for their ability to lower blood pressure.

Naturopathy is another type of holistic treatment that can help lower blood pressure naturally without any of the common blood pressure medication side effects.

Quitting smoking had always been the issue involved with most of the smokers all over the world. The most common problem is that smokers always claim that they enjoy smoking and they do not want to quit but, the real cause is that they do not have the strong will to quit smoking. One of the worst things about smoking is that it is a double edged addiction, while the nicotine is controlling your nervous system and brain; the habit itself is also preventing you from quitting.

Let us browse some of the most popular stop smoking tips that can really help you greatly when you really want to stop smoking. These tips will not help you deciding to quit smoking but it will help you to carry out your stop smoking cessation decision. It all starts with your will, you decide to stop smoking and at that particular point you can use these stop smoking tips to carry out your plan.

There are two main ways to quit smoking, gradual or what is called “Cold Turkey” and abrupt quitting. Both methods work depending on what type of person you are but, generally the abrupt quitting is more suitable for those who are not heavy smokers. You can also combine both methods together in order to get better results. For example, you can start to decrease the number of cigarettes you smoke daily then when you reach a real low number of cigarettes per day, you can move to the abrupt stopping. That will help you to ease the quitting side effects like nausea, cravings and bad headache. No matter what is the approach you choose but, you need to set a date when you will not smoke a cigarette again. Plan this date carefully, arrange a picnic with your family so you do not have time to sit and smoke or try hanging out on that day with your non-smoker friends.

You also need to break the habit of lighting up a cigarette. People always link smoking with other behaviors like drinking alcohol, finishing launch or watching a movie with friends. One of the best stop smoking tips is to determine what incidences causing you to light up a new cigarette and try to avoid them. For example, if you go to the pub to drink and smoke with friends then try to avoid hitting the pub at the first couple of weeks of quitting.

One of the best stop smoking tips is to change the brands you are smoking while decreasing the amount of cigarettes in order not to enjoy the flavor or the cigarette that you are used to. This will help to enhance the thought that the cigarette is not giving you the “sweet mode” you are used to.

Passing the first 24 hours is your toughest test but, after that things are going to be easier with time. There are some stop smoking tips that you may want to apply at that particular period. The most common stop smoking tips at this period is to sit in non-smoker sections in public places, hang out with non-smoker friends and spend more time with your family.

Candidiasis is an infection caused by a group of microscopic fungi. While there are more than 20 species of Candida, the most common specie among the group is the Candida albicans. These fungi live on all surfaces of the human body which is why under certain conditions; they can cause infection especially on moist and warm parts of the body such as the underarms, nail beds, under the breast and lower abdomen area and beneath skin folds. Normally, our skin effectively blocks yeast however cuts or skin breakdown may enable these fungi to penetrate.

Some examples of such infections are vaginal, skin, thrush, diaper rash and nail bed yeast infections. Adults increase their chances of contracting oral yeast infection as they age. Fortunately most candidal infections are only superficial and may easily be treated with various remedies. However, if left untreated, infection may spread throughout the body and in systematic candidal disease, 75% of people may die because of widespread infection. Common mouth and vaginal yeast infection may also cause serious health problems and may be resistant to normal remedies. Also, note that frequently occurring infections may be a sign of more serious conditions such as diabetes, leukaemia or AIDS. Here are the most common causes of yeast infection:

Antibiotics and Steroids- Antibiotic and steroid use are some of the most common causes of yeast overgrowth in most people. For women, pregnancy, menstruation, diabetes, birth control pills and semen may contribute greatly to getting a yeast infection.

Weak Immune System- Weakened immune system caused by cancer treatments, steroids or diseases such as AIDS may result in candidal infection on the entire body. This can be a life-threatening condition where the heart, blood, eyes and kidneys may be affected. In some cases, infection is severe that fungi are found growing in the lungs, liver and spleen. 15% of people with weak immune system develop a systematic disease caused by Candida. These types of microorganisms enter the bloodstream through skin breakdown or mucous membranes.

Skin Implants- Devices that are implanted on the skin such as urinary catheters and IV ports may also allow fungi to enter the body. IV drug addicts using contaminated needles may possibly inject the yeast directly into their bloodstream or deep tissues.

Signs and symptoms of a candidal infection can differ based on the location of the infection. Treatments for this type of infection depends on the location of the infection. Fortunately there are a lot of over-the-counter medicines that are sold commercially, mostly in cream forms. However, always check with doctor first before settling for an effective treatment.

Vaginal Yeast Infection- Overgrowth of yeast in the vagina may cause burning pain, vaginal discharges, unpleasant smell and discomfort. White discharges, similar to cottage cheese, painful intercourse or urination and itchy, irritated outer tissues are the common symptoms of vaginal yeast infection. The overgrowth of yeast in women is normally caused by vaginal changes.

Thrush or Oral Yeast Infection- Thick, white and lacy patches on top of a red base forming on the tongue, palate or anywhere else in the mouth is a sign of thrush. This type of infection may cause the tongue to look redder without the white coating and makes it difficult to eat.

Superficial candidal skin infections – While candidal microorganisms thrive on the surface of the skin, they may enter the body once the outer skin is broken down. Superficial candidal skin infections are red flat rashes with sharp scalloped edges.