Archive for the ‘Health’ Category

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

New Help for Radiation Side Effects Available at Hurley Medical Center

Cancer patients at the Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan can now conveniently purchase Jeans Cream at the Lobby Gift Shop to help their skin cope with radiation side effects. At Hurley Medical CenterHurley, they combine state-of-the-art treatment efforts with educational and support services to achieve faster recovery rates and positive long-term outcomes. Their team of trained oncology specialists is involved in every aspect of screening, diagnosis, treatment, recovery and rehabilitation. Their board-certified physicians and nurses certified by the Oncology Nursing Society develop individual, comprehensive treatment plans for each patient.

Hurley’s cancer program has received continuous approval from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) since 1956 and meets the qualifications for a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program. This means that Hurley accessions over 650 newly diagnosed cancer cases each year and in addition to having board-certified experts on staff, the Center provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment services that are available on site or by referral. The Center is also required to participate in clinical research.

From helping patients receive the best treatments for their situation, to helping them cope with chemotherapy and radiation side effects, Hurley makes cancer care a priority.  Visit the Hurley Medical Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Three Factors That Enable a Woman To Thrive

GUEST POST BY RHONDA SMITH OF BREAST CANCER PARTNER

It seems as though over the past few months a common theme I’ve heard from women is centered on the feeling that they’re Breast Cancer Partner Headerin ”transition.”  Honestly, I think the whole world is in transition right now.

The women I have encountered talk about discovering that they’ve reached a point in their lives where they recognize that the choices and decisions they made many years ago that led them to where they are today don’t seem to be working for them anymore and are feeling unfulfilled. They have a strong desire to create a different life for themselves.

I find that some are clear on how to go about making this change, some seem “stuck,” some don’t know how to move forward and some are fearful even about the thought of abandoning the life and career they have known up to this point to pursue their passion and true purpose, even though they may be undoubtedly unhappy with their current existence.

Whatever the case may be, I think that there is some sort of transitioning happening among women.  In my personal network I see women taking charge and making changes in their lives, careers, their consumerism, their investments, and their activism.

Breast Cancer Partner Header 2I am happy to say that through my own personal journey I have discovered what I believe is my passion and purpose in life – to educate, enlighten and empower not only breast cancer survivors, but women in general to become their own health and wellness advocate. This discovery was born out of my breast cancer experience and desire to make the necessary changes in my life to put my health and wellness first after realizing what a difference doing this has made in my vitality and overall quality of life.

I have since created a business, Breast Cancer Partner that focuses on breast cancer recovery through health and wellness and taking a more integrative approach to recovery. However, in the process of getting Breast Cancer Partner off the ground, I have realized that women in general can also greatly benefit from putting their health and wellness first, becoming their own health and wellness advocate, and adopting the Recover Restore Reenergize© Philosophy.

Through my work, I have also realized how much we as women give of ourselves every single day to love, take care of and nurture everything and everyone we’re responsible for in our lives, saving ourselves for last.  I recognize how exhausting that can be whether we acknowledge it or not.

Based on my observation, I believe that the three equal factors that enable a woman to “thrive” and live a life full of vitality with grace, elegance and energy is her ability to Recover, Restore and Reenergize herself and her life on an ongoing basis.

And really, it doesn’t matter if you’re a woman recovering from breast cancer, a woman who is enduring the challenges of everyday life, or a woman living out your passion and purpose in the world – all of us need to be more mindful about how we live, work and play everyday. Most important, we must be sure to schedule the time to nurture and love ourselves each and everyday, putting our health and wellness first. That’s the way we can Recover, Restore and Reenergize ourselves each and everyday and be a better, bolder, brighter transmitter of light, love and energy to the world!

Rhonda SmithRhonda M. Smith is the Founder of Breast Cancer Partner, an organization that focuses on breast cancer recovery through health and wellness and taking a more integrative and holistic approach to recovery. Breast Cancer Partner provides tools, resources and information to help breast cancer survivors (and their families) who are nearing the end of or have completed treatment, on their journey to recovery, and those who are now living cancer free.

Ultimately, Rhonda wants to create a world in which each and every breast cancer survivor lives a life that is full of vitality, cancer-free and without fear, so that recovery is a life-enhancing rather than a life-limiting event.

To see Rhonda’s Recover Restore Reenergize© T-shirt, visit the Breast Cancer Partner website here.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Enter Our FREE Giveaway of Queasy Pops!

One of the most common chemotherapy or radiation side effects is nausea, and everyone discovers what works best for queasy popshelping them to ease theirs. Many experts recommend that patients suck on hard candy, which is why Queasy Pops and Queasy Drops are such a great way to find relief. Developed by healthcare professionals, Queasy Pops are all natural, drug free, and use a special formulation of essential oils and aromatherapy to stimulate the trigeminal nerve, a cranial nerve associated with nausea relief. They are also wonderful for helping with dry mouth and can give a nice energy boost.

Queasy Pops come in seven flavors: peppermint, cinnamon, sour lemon, papaya, ginger, sour raspberry and green tea with lemon.

Lucky for us! As a special for the Jeans Cream community, Three Lollies, the maker of Queasy Pops, is offering two free boxes of Queasy Pops to two winners of our giveaway. Just leave a comment by 6pm on Wednesday, September 28 and tell us why you (or one of your friends) would love to try Queasy Pops, and we’ll enter you in the drawing to win.


Some technical details…
1. Only one entry will count.
2. Giveaway is open to legal residents of the continental United States who are at least 18 years of age.
3. The winner will be selected at random and notified via email.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Supporting Our Immune Systems

Anyone who is trying to heal will probably want to support his or her immune system in every way possible. In addition to lowering stress, getting plenty of rest, and drinking lots of water, we can give our immune systems a boost by increasing the natural, whole foods in our diet.

For example, the good bacteria in yogurt can increase the body’s white blood cell count. Garlic has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-parasitic properties and contains antioxidants and anti-tumor components. Broccoli, bell peppers and berries have very high levels of Vitamin C. Asparagus, beets and carrots offer lots of beta-carotene; and, chard, spinach and sunflower seeds can provide the Vitamin E our bodies need to destroy germs and cancer cells. Foods such as oysters, red meat and poultry, beans, nuts, whole grains and dairy products provide zinc, which helps increase the production of white blood cells while helping them to fight infections and disease more effectively. Then there are vital minerals like selenium (found in tuna, egg yolks and brown rice) and omega fatty acids such as those in fatty fish oils and flax seeds, which act as white blood cell boosters.

When we increase any one of these foods in our diets, we benefit. But when we begin taking in a variety of fresh colorful vegetables, whole grains and healthy sources of protein and essential fatty acids, the nutrients begin to work together synergistically and fortify our immune systems greatly.

During the winter months is an especially important time to make sure we’re eating well. If you’re undergoing radiation therapy or are trying to heal from eczema, psoriasis or other conditions, then proper nutrition is non-negotiable.

Monday, November 29, 2010

Getting a Second Opinion

If a diagnosis or treatment plan has you feeling afraid or stressed out, you may consider getting a second opinion. But how do you know you’re not just wasting your time? Generally, a diagnosis based on conclusive test results, such as a blood test for diabetes, will not warrant a second opinion. But any diagnosis based on tests that do not have clear or conclusive results could be open to interpretation by another expert.

Treatment recommendations can vary greatly from physician to physician, and so if you do not feel comfortable with the Second Opinionprotocol laid out by one doctor, consider visiting your options with a second one.

If you have decided to get a second opinion and know the physician you would like to see, here are a few tips:

1. In order to get a fully informed second opinion, you’ll want to be sure the new doctor gets all the same information your first doctor had. So, don’t leave it up to your first doctor’s office to handle the transfer of medical records, test results and doctor’s notes. See if you can hand deliver them yourself. If there is something that your first doctor’s office absolutely must transfer directly, stay on top of them to make sure it gets done. Ideally, you’ll want all of your paperwork to arrive at the second doctor’s office at least a few days in advance of your appointment so it can be reviewed beforehand.

2. Remember to check with your insurance company to be sure the second opinion doctor will be covered under your plan. And if he or she is a specialist, it may require a referral from your current physician.

If the second doctor is not covered, you’ll need to decide if you want to pay for the visit out of pocket. If you choose to pay out of pocket, be aware that the second doctor may want to arrange additional tests and these may also not be covered.

3. After you’ve heard both doctors’ diagnoses and treatment recommendations, try not to give more weight to the doctor who gives you better news or is more personable. You’ll want to take some time to review all the information from both physicians, speak with your family (if appropriate) and consider what feels right for you.

Don’t hesitate to let both doctors know what the other one had to say. If their assessments differed, you may want to ask them to explain their position. This could give you critical information you might not have had otherwise.

4. If the doctors’ assessments were radically different, you may want to go for a third opinion and see which diagnosis and protocol has the most support.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Your Liquid Body

You hear it all the time: drink six-eight glasses of water a day. But do you really understand why this is so important? We’re Waternot going to lecture you here…just try to help you get a sense for the connection you already have with water. Your body right now is almost two-thirds water. That means you are more liquid than solid!

You know what happens to still water, right? It grows algae and bacteria and becomes dangerous to drink. Well, if the water in your body stays still like that, it can become toxic as well. When you drink a lot of fresh, clean water, you help to flush out the old water and keep the liquid of your organ and tissue cells from becoming stagnant, toxic and contributing to ill-health. If you are serious about your healing process and truly want to help your body, you absolutely must drink at least six-eight glasses a day. It’s not an option. This is what your body needs.

Try it – just start with doing it for three days. Try drinking the recommended amount of water. See how you feel.

Monday, June 28, 2010

Moving Forward in the Face of Chronic Illness

GUEST POST BY JAMES JORDAN

I’ve seen and experienced a great deal of illness in my personal and professional life. I was chronically ill (Chronic Fatigue James Jordan for Jeans CreamSyndrome) for six years in the 1980s and after recovering my health, changed careers from lawyer to nutritionist. After I recovered my health I continued working as a lawyer but found myself advising many of my clients and colleagues on nutrition and health. I remember one day realizing that I was more inspired to teach people how to improve their health than practice law, which began a career transition that took several years.

The first thing I needed in my own healing was a motivation to get well. I saw the world as upside down and full of injustice and suffering. There was no reason to live but I didn’t want to die either so I sat out much of my 20’s. I had rejected spirituality and life beyond the senses. When I open up to a spiritual dimension of life the decisions I made pertaining to my health became better decisions and I gradually recovered. In “Man’s Search for Meaning”, Viktor Frankl talks about how finding meaning in life was the key to surviving his experience in Nazi concentration camps. This was important for me as well.

After developing meaning for my own life, I had to address toxicity and nutrition in order for my body to heal. In becoming a nutritionist, I learned that many degenerative and chronic illnesses have toxicity and nutrient deficiency components to them. I’ve also found that different people heal with different types of diets. Since we are all biologically unique, the diet and supplements that purify and regenerate our cells the best are based on our unique metabolic imbalances and biological conditioning. And so, this has become the focus of my work in helping my clients to recover their health.

Purpose and meaning in life, along with the right diet and nutrition program, from my perspective, are the two keys to recovering from illness of all kinds. Said another way, I believe that both motivation and discernment are critical to success. Motivation to live and experience life fully, and discernment between what is good for our bodies and what is not. We can’t give up. We must use our discernment to make decisions based on what increases our health and vitality.

James Jordan, CNC, JD, is a certified nutritional consultant and a certified metabolic typing advisor who helped heal himself from a six-year battle with chronic illness. In the field for more than a decade, James has supported thousands of people in regaining their health. He has been on staff at the Optimal Wellness Center in Chicago and led his own private health practice in Illinois and Oregon. He is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in natural healing, while completing his naturopathic degree. James has also been a featured nutrition and alternative health care expert on Channel 7 News in Chicago.

NOTE: Jeans Cream does not dispense medical advice or necessarily support the views of its contributors. Always consult with your physician regarding your treatment options. Jeans Cream does not endorse any products other than Jeans Cream and receives no financial compensation from its contributors.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

What’s Your Idea of the Best Lazy Summer Day?

The verdict has been in for a while. Rest and relaxation is important to our health. So, with a whole summer ahead of you, Feet Up for Healinghow do you plan to kick back and enjoy the sunshine? What is your idea of the most wonderful way to spend a lazy summer day? Maybe you’d go to the beach or relax under a favorite old tree. Perhaps you would spend time with a loved one or delight in much needed solitude. Let your mind wander….and tell us: What’s your idea of the best lazy summer day?

Here are a couple answers from some of our staff:

1. I’d take my dogs and sit by the water with a great book. I’d bring a picnic basket of my favorite foods and a sweater for later so we wouldn’t have to leave until after I napped in the early evening sun.

2. My day would be focused around getting pampered. I’d get a spa treatment, followed by a little shopping, and then have a wonderful dinner with someone special.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

6 Most Important Things To Help You Heal

We did some research. We wanted to know: What gives the body the best shot at healing and staying well? There seem to be six main tips the experts keep giving over and over for help in keeping our immune systems at their best. These tips may come as no surprise and hopefully reading them here all together will remind us to make them a priority:

1.    Drink lots of water. Sodas, coffee and wine don’t count. Pure water helps remove toxins and wastes from our system, and helps transport oxygen and nutrients throughout our body.

2.    Get plenty of rest. This means sleeping a solid 6-8 hours a night, taking naps when we’re tired, and taking off our superhero cape from time to time.Healing

3.    Move your body. Circulation in our blood and lymph system are vital to good oxygenation and fighting disease. Working some exercise and movement into our weekly schedules is a must.

4.    Stay connected. Feeling the support and connection with others holds tremendous value in our outlook and ability to face the challenges that come our way. Love for and from others can help us feel our best.

5.    Cultivate inner peace. An angry or resentful heart or a fearful, troubled mind causes stress and can be harmful to our health. Do what you can to make peace with your life so that your body can begin reflecting your inner state of balance and calm.

Healing Apple6.    Nourish yourself well. Every body is different, but the general rule is to eat a balanced diet with lots of whole foods like whole grains and vegetables. A diet rich in varied vitamins and minerals gives our body a better array of supportive nutrients with which to draw from.

Try an honest evaluation to see if you are weaker in certain areas over others. Today could be a great day to start giving your body the most basic things it needs in order to heal.

Here’s to your health!

Note: This is not an attempt to give medical advice. Make sure to speak with your physician about any specific medical protocols you might need.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Healing Touch

“Touch is one of the most essential elements of human development, a profound method of communication, a critical healing hands touchingcomponent of health and growth… and a powerful healing force” (Zur, 2004).

Safe, positive human touch can relieve tension and help you feel connected, safe and utterly loveable. It can ease anxiety, generate hope and help you heal.

Ask a loved one to scratch your head, play with your hair, rub your feet or just hold your hand. Get a massage—do a massage “trade” with a friend if you can’t afford to pay someone. At the very least, start by caressing your own arms or massaging your own neck and shoulders.

Your body craves touch. So, especially if you’re in a healing process, try making it more of a priority in your life.