For centuries our ancestors have used a plant known as Hypericum perforatum, commonly referred to as St. John’s Wort, as an herbal remedy for many ailments, including mental disorders, diarrhea, nausea, ulcers and sleep disorders. But St. John’s Wort is most commonly known as a natural, herbal remedy for those suffering symptoms of depression and anxiety.

According to new research published in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, St. John’s Wort is effective at treating major symptoms of depression. This new research backs up previous research conducted in 2005, that came to the same conclusions.

In one of the most comprehensive clinical studies of St. John’s Wort to date, researchers studied 5,489 patients suffering symptoms of major depression. Administering both placebos and St. John’s Wort extract to patients, researchers came to the conclusion that St. John’s Wort was more effective than the placebo at treating mild to major cases of depression.

List of Clinical Studies for St. John’s Wort

This isn’t the first clinical study investigating the effectiveness of St. John’s Wort for symptoms of depression. In fact, here is a short list of studies done within the last fifteen years.

1996. St John’s Wort For Depression — An Overview & Meta-Analysis of Randomised Clinical Trials
1998. St. John’s Wort in Mild to Moderate Depression: The Relevance of Hyperforin for the Clinical Efficacy
1999. St. John’s Wort For Depression: A Meta-Analysis of Well-Defined Clinical Trials
1999. Comparison of Equivalence Between the St. John’s Wort Extract LoHyp-57 and Fluoxetine
1999. Hypericum Extract versus Imipramine or Placebo in Patients with Moderate Depression: Randomised Multicentre Study of Treatment for Eight Weeks
2000. Equivalence of St John’s Wort Extract (Ze 117) and Fluoxetine: A Randomized, Controlled Study in Mild-Moderate Depression
2002. Efficacy of St. John’s Wort Extract WS 5570 in Major Depression: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
2005. Acute Treatment of Moderate to Severe Depression with Hypericum Extract WS 5570 (St John’s wort): Randomised Controlled Double Blind Non-Inferiority Trial versus Paroxetine.
2006. The Efficacy of St. John’s Wort in Patients with Minor Depressive Symptoms or Dysthymia — A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Study

It must be noted that while there is overwhelming evidence supporting the use of Hypericum perforatum, there has been a few studies with different conclusions. In fact, one major study conducted by the National Institues of Health found that St. John’s Wort made no positive impact on patients suffering from major depression.

Possible Side Effects of St. John’s Wort

It is not uncommon for people to suffer small side effects from St. John’s Wort. Some of these side effects include headaches, nausea, dry mouth, fatigue, dizziness, and/or sensitivity to sunlight.

It is also possible for St. John’s Wort to interact with certain medications, such as birth control or antidepressants, you may already be taking, so it is wise to check with your doctor prior to taking any supplement containing Hypericum perforatum.

Things to Remember with St. John’s Wort

The overall effectiveness of St. John’s Wort depends on many variables. Where does the plant come from? Was it grown in organic conditions? Is it a tablet, powder or liquid? These are all going to affect the overall purity of the supplement. The manufacturing process of any herbal supplement can decrease the overall effectiveness of the benefits you may get from the herb. In fact, it is always best to avoid any supplement in tablet form, due to the brutal manufacturing process and because tablets are harder for the body to absorb.

Hypericum perforatum should NOT be used as a replacement to therapy. Everybody is different, please consult with your family, doctor and/or therapist, prior to taking St. John’s Wort. While it does show promise for treating symptoms of depression, it can also conteract with current medications you may be taking. So, please use caution and common sense.

Bottom line on St. John’s Wort
It is very important to do the proper research on St. John’s Wort, or any supplement you take. Most importantly, know who and where you’re buying the supplement from. Look into the Better Business Bureau records for that specific company. Try to find review’s for that product online, to see what other consumers are saying. You don’t want to ingest something that is of poor quality.

Soy milk is processed from soy beans through the use of varying manufacturing processes. You can find soy milk with a wide range of fat and protein content, with fat amounts generally ranging from 1-3%. In spite of the tremendous amount of positive press that soy in general seems to receive these days, there is some cause for concern among consumers, particularly when it comes to the consumption of soy milk.

During the past few years, the benefits of soy milk and soy foods have become widely debated. All it takes is a search online to discover some intelligent arguments and clinical studies concerning the potential health dangers that are present in the soy products that American families regularly consume.

While we certainly do not want to label ALL soy products as harmful or dangerous, it is only fair to present you with some essential data representing both sides of this discussion.

The Benefits of Soy Milk

Soy Milk is considered to be a nutritious alternative to cow’s milk for many reasons. First and foremost, soy milk is 100% Lactose-Free, meaning it is a great alternative to those whom suffer from lactose intolerance.

Soy milk may also provide you with beneficial protein, calcium and essential fatty acids, which we all need to live a healthy lifestyle. Soy milk is also low in saturated fat and sodium, but high in dietary fiber.

A recent study from the National Institute of Health & Nutrition in Japan, concludes that soy protein is effective at lowering your cholesterol, which ultimately lowers your overall risk of developing heart-related issues.

Another benefit of soy milk, is the fact that it does not contain a protein called casein, unlike cow’s milk. Casein is commonly used in many different products, ranging from medicine, foods, paints, and adhesives. It is not uncommon for people to develop an allergy to casein. Parents of autistic children need to be aware of products and foods containing casein, as it is widely believed that it can contribute to gastrointestinal disorders.

The Dangers of Soy Milk

Do the benefits of soy milk sound too good to be true? Well, recent research does indicate a few downsides to the consumption of soy foods.

Unfermented soy foods have a high amount of phytic acid, which can lead to the lower absorption of certain vitamins and minerals.

Soy contains a high level of phytoestrogen, which may affect the production of sperm in men, as well as decrease the amount of testoterone in their body. The isoflavones found in soy foods also contribute to the development of thyroid disorders, breast cancer and leukemia.

Another less thought of danger, is whether or not the soy you consume is organic. If possible, you should always avoid all genetically modified foods.

The Soy Isoflavone Controversy

Soy isoflavones, also known as phytoestrogens, are routinely marketed as treatments or prevention of certain types of cancer, including prostate, breast, and edometrium.

Part of the problem with the majority of the information that Americans are receiving is that the facts have been somewhat skewed.

For example, some reports have indicated that Asian diets are heavy in soy products, and that these soy-rich diets have resulted in reduced instances of cancers. This is misleading. Asian diets are actually quite low in soy consumption, with diets incorporating healthy amounts of poultry, eggs, fish, and meats.

The amounts of soy that are being placed in foods that Americans eat are exceeding the amounts that Asians consume in an entire day or week. The danger here is that excessive consumption of soy milk, or any other soy product, can lead to the development of many different diseases. For people who have chosen to focus on eating diets that are rich in soy-based products, this presents a very real problem. Unfortunately, many people are not aware that consuming too much soy can be hazardous to their health.

Soy Research & Product Labels

If you are a person who enjoys soy products, and you have incorporated them into your regular diet, you should understand the importance of reading product labels. It is important that you do this not only for those foods that claim to contain soy, but also on all of the food products that you buy. The reason for this is that there are many foods that contain some form of soy. The only way to be sure about this, however, is to read your labels!

The best advice is to research the types of food you eat so that you can make educated decisions about whether or not they are good for you and your family. Try to stick to organic, unprocessed foods as much as possible, and always be aware of the ingredients you are consuming. Genetically Modified Foods are something that you need to steer clear of when at all possible, and unfortunately soy is a primary component in many of these types of food products.

A healthy, lactose-free alternative to soy milk, is hemp milk.

Organic seems to be the way to go, for a healthier life and for a more sustainable environment. It’s natural to think of foods that we HAVE to eat for good health, like fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy, when we hear the word organic, but who would have thought that foods we LOVE to eat and which tend to be addictive, like chocolate, coffee and the like, also find a place under this theme? Well, they do, so the next time you go organic shopping, make sure you check out these aisles too, rather than stopping with just the produce section:

• Say it with Chocolate: Who doesn’t love to sink their teeth into a big bar of gooey chocolate and savor it as it melts on their tongue? Now you can do it with less of a guilty conscience, thanks to the organic form of this delicious candy. Organic chocolate is made from organic ingredients that must meet the strictest standards; they cannot be genetically modified, the milk powder must be free of the recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone that’s given to cows to make them produce more milk, and the cocoa must be grown under conditions that preserve the bio-diversity of forests and protect the natural habitats of animals and birds local to the area. So go ahead, indulge yourself even as you contribute to the environment in your own way.

• Wake up and smell the Coffee: If you must have your daily fix of caffeine, the least you can do is make sure it’s organic. Organic coffee is grown according to the standards set by the US Department of Agriculture – the crop must be nourished without the use of synthetic pesticides and other banned substances for three years, and farmers must adopt a crop rotation plan that prevents soil erosion and a decrease in the amount of natural nutrients.

• Add more goodness to your life with Tea: Tea, especially Green Tea, has been proven to be loaded with antioxidants that are beneficial in reducing the signs of aging and in keeping cancer-causing free radicals at bay. Now there’s more good news for tea lovers – organic tea brings more health benefits because of the way it’s grown, using eco-friendly techniques in estates that are self-sustaining. The leaves are prepared by hand and dried in natural sunlight.

• Settle down with these Snacks: Not all snacks have to be detrimental to your health. Baked as opposed to fried chips, organic fruit bars, low fat crackers and cheese – these are just a few options you find when you cruise along the organic snack aisle with your shopping cart. Now you don’t have to worry about your kids refusing to eat fruits and veggies in lieu of snacks; you can both give them what they want and make sure they eat healthy too.

• You don’t have to say no to this Alcohol: That is, if you’re environmentally conscious, a vegan or want a healthier option when you’re in high spirits (pun intended). Au contraire to various claims, organic alcohol does not give you less of a hangover or taste better than its non-organic counterpart, so stop right there before you go on a drinking binge. Organic means the spirit has been distilled from ingredients that have been grown on certified organic farms where no pesticides and fertilizers are used, and processed in a certified organic distillery where no nitrogen or other chemicals are used in the distilling process. Yes, you can say cheers with more meaning now when you drink, but make sure you stay within the limits of sobriety.

There’s a mad scramble to jump on the bandwagon labeled “organic”, mostly because these foods are sold at a premium cost. Of course, people are willing to pay more if they’re sure they’re getting a better and healthier product, but the question here is, are they really getting what they pay for? Unfortunately, there are products that are not wholly organic and yet sold under the organic umbrella. To make sure you get your money’s worth of health, check the labels carefully or better still, buy brands that your trust even if they’re more expensive.

This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of ekg tech salary. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

Colloidal silver has been used for centuries as a type of antibiotic that can be both ingested and used topically. However, with the advance of medical technology, more effective antibiotics were discovered and the use of Colloidal silver for health reasons pretty much came to an end.

In recent years, colloidal silver has started to make a comeback in the United States. These silver products were being marketed as an effective treatment for simple ailments like colds and flus. Some websites took it a step further, and started promoting colloidal silver products as a “cure” for more serious diseases such as cancer, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, psoriasis, even for relieving constipation.

With so many bogus claims floating around about the supposed benefits of colloidal silver, the FDA issued many warnings on the medical use of colliodal silver products, and started cracking down on websites touting these outlandish claims.

Seperating Silver Fact from Fiction

Silver protein is the second most commonly found type of silver product sold to the public. Silver protein is made up of a protein binder and metallic silver particles. You should watch out for product labeling that mentions protein or mild silver protein because these products are not true colloidal silver.

Most of the colloidal silver products that you are likely to find at your local market are actually made up of ionic silver solutions. Most of the silver that is found in these types of products is dissolved as opposed to being actual particles. It is important to note that ions are not the same thing as particles. The terminology used in advertising for ionic silver solutions can be very confusing for consumers, so it is important that you thoroughly research products and their manufacturers before you decide to try any colloidal silver product.

Argyria Concerns

Clinical studies have shown that it is primarily through the ingestion of large amounts of ionic silver (100 ppm and higher) that a permanent discoloration of the skin occurs. This skin discoloration is known as argyria. In cases of argyria, the skin turns a gray to blue color, and it is a condition that is not reversible.

The majority of silver products only contain 3-20 ppm of ionic silver, an amount that has not proven to be harmful to humans. However, you should be aware that it is possible for smaller amounts of silver to result in the development of argyria in some people. If you have concerns about this, you should take the time to discuss this with your physician so that the two of you can determine your safest course of action.

Check Out this CNN Report about a Man who Developed Argyria:

Making Smart Decisions

When choosing a colloidal silver product for consumption, it is very important that you conduct a fair amount of research so that you will know what to look for on product labels. One of the most important considerations is that of water purity. The type of water used in the manufacturing process of colloidal silver has a direct impact on the quality of the product that is produced. The reason for this is fairly obvious — the use of pure ingredients results in a pure product. If colloidal silver products are made through the use of unpurified water, undesirable contaminants are likely to be present in the final product.

It’s also very important to remember that your health situation is unique to you. So before you take any supplements, not just colloidal silver products, be sure you discuss it with your nutritionist or healthcare practitioner. You want to be sure that your physiology is factored in with the other research you’ve done.