USA Weekend

March 21, 2010

Women who suffer from migraines may have a lower risk of breast cancer, research suggests.

Studies published in 2008 and 2009 found that women who have been treated for migraines have a 26% to 33% lower risk of breast cancer than other women.

To combat the pain, many migraine sufferers take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which also may reduce breast cancer risk. So researchers conducted a new study, published online in January in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, to determine whether migraines alone have an effect on breast cancer risk. They found that migraine sufferers were 11% less likely to develop breast cancer overall and 17% less likely to develop a hormone-sensitive breast cancer, whether or not they take NSAIDs.

The connection makes sense, researchers say, because the hormone estrogen plays a role in most breast cancers, as well as in many migraines. For example, 60% of women with migraines report having more headaches around the time of menstruation, when estrogen levels change. Many pregnant women also report fewer migraines once their estrogen levels stabilize mid-pregnancy, as do post-menopausal women.

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Read the complete article and related information at More migraines, less breast cancer?

The Gazette
Montreal

October 20, 2009

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – The association between menstruation and migraine headaches may start to become evident during adolescence, according to findings published in the March issue of Headache.

Menstrual migraine is well-recognized in adult populations but not in adolescent populations, Dr. Andrew D. Hershey, of Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, and colleagues point out.

“Whether the onset of menstrual migraine is associated with the onset of menstruation or develops with time is unknown,” they note. There is little information on when menstrually related migraine first occurs.

The researchers conducted a review analysis of headache characteristics in 896 consecutive girls between the ages of 9 and 18 years. Of the 896 girls, 331 — 50.3 percent of those who had just started to menstruate and 36.9 percent of all girls — reported experiencing headaches with the menstrual period.

Overall, 77 subjects (63.6 percent) who reported a menstrual pattern noted that migraines started between day -2 and day +3 of their menstrual period start. Associated symptoms were increased among girls with menstrual migraine compared to those without menstrual migraine. No difference in disability was observed between girls with a menstrual pattern and those without a menstrual pattern.

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Read the complete article and related information at Menstrual migraine pattern may start in adolescence

Natural News

Monday, August 17, 2009 by: Barbara L. Minton, citizen journalist

Is the average temperature of the human body still 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit? This often quoted average was determined in the nineteenth century. A more recent study has reported an average temperature of 98.2, and experts believe the decrease in body heat is the result of an epidemic of mild or moderate hypothyroidism. Some believe we are evolving into a population with the propensity for low thyroid function because antibiotics have allowed people who would have died from pneumonia and other diseases associated with hypothyroidism to remain alive and reproduce. Others see rising hypothyroidism rates as the result of diet and environmental factors. Whatever the answer is, one thing is sure. More people than ever are suffering from the myriad of symptoms associated with low thyroid levels, especially women.

Thyroid is the most important hormone in the body. Because it stimulates the production of cellular energy, production of all other hormones will be negatively impacted when thyroid hormone levels are less than optimal. Every aspect of health is affected by low thyroid function.

Hypothyroidism is behind many disease states

Hypothyroidism is signaled by fatigue and loss of energy. People with the disease don’t have any sparkle in the morning, and as the day goes on they find themselves falling asleep sitting in meetings or while driving on the highway, reading or watching TV. The only time they feel energized is from continuous movement, such as jogging or doing housework. As soon as the task is completed and they sit down, chances are good they will start to nod off.

Yet while they are fatigued, low thyroid people are often hyperactive at the same time. Thyroid expert Dr. Alan Gaby reported a study of 49 people diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Among them, 61 percent met diagnostic criteria for attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. When thyroid hormone is deficient, the nerves require abnormal stimulation to function or the body produces excess adrenalin to keep it going. The result is people become tired and tense at the same time, according to Dr. Gaby.

People with low thyroid exhibit many of the characteristics that are blamed on aging, with difficulty concentrating being the most blatant. They tend to flit from task to task and often accomplish little they set out to do. They can find themselves standing in front of an open refrigerator, unable to remember what they are looking for. They may have difficulty reading, needing to read sentences again because their mind wandered off the first time.

Low thyroid suffers are always the coldest people in the room, and their body temperatures can go down to 95 degree (F) in the cold winter months. People with moderate levels of low thyroid can experience the cold as extremely painful, and they plan their activities with minimizing exposure to cold weather as a priority. They also have trouble dealing with heat, and usually find comfort only in a very narrow range of temperatures, usually in the lower 70s. They are quite uncomfortable in overly heated rooms.

Other symptoms include inexplicable weight gain, painful premenstrual periods, fertility problems, muscle weakness and cramps, dry skin, yellow bumps on the eyelids, hair loss that includes the lower third of the eyebrows, susceptibility to infection, migraines, hoarseness, constipation, depression, difficulty getting words out when speaking, and goiter.

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Comment from Leslie

Living with your hormone cycle will alleviate many of these problems. Balance is key to health.  The body strives to live in homeostasis/balance.

Read the complete article and related information at Hypothyroidism Reaches Epidemic Proportions, Causing Fatigue and Weight Gain

NewsWise

Jennifer Wider, M.D.
Society for Women’s Health Research

June 25, 2009

Newswise — Headaches are a widespread problem in the United States, affecting roughly 45 million people. Migraine headaches affect millions of Americans each year they are the most common type of headache that sends patients running to their doctor’s office. Migraines occur when constricting blood vessels in the brain cause intense, recurring vascular headaches. Like other forms of headaches, women suffer from migraines more frequently than men.

Approximately three out of four migraine sufferers are women. Researchers have often cited hormones as a possible explanation. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than half of migraines in women transpire right before, during or after a woman has her menstrual period. And although some women experience migraines throughout their cycle, menstrual-related migraines may explain one trigger of the condition.

Right before a woman’s cycle begins, the levels of estrogen and progesterone drop sharply. This decrease in hormone levels may initiate migraine headaches because estrogen has been shown to control brain chemicals that affect pain sensation in women.

“Like in all neurological diseases, a combination of genetics and environment play a role,” says Richard Pearl, MD, a clinical neurologist in Suffolk County, N.Y. “One environmental factor is estrogen but a genetic predisposition has been firmly established.”

Although hormones are unlikely to explain the entire picture, a recent study revealed that women with a history of migraines may be less likely to develop breast cancer than other women. Because breast cancer has been linked to higher lifetime exposure to estrogen, the fact that migraines are more common when there is a drop in estrogen may support the hormone theory.

Christopher Li, MD, PhD, a cancer epidemiologist at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Wash. and study co-author is interpreting the results with caution. “It may be the treatments used for migraines,” Li told Scientific America, which include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications. But if the painkillers are excluded, the lower levels of estrogen may be responsible for lower breast cancer rates and migraine headaches.

The symptoms, duration and frequency of migraines can vary greatly from person to person. They may be debilitating for some people. Often times, migraines can come along with sensory warning signs such as seeing flashes of light, blind spots or feeling nauseous (with or without vomiting). Other symptoms include:

- Intense, throbbing pain on one, or sometimes, both sides of the head.
- Feeling “pins and needles” in a limb.
- Sensitivity to light or loud sounds.
- Pain that worsens with physical activity and/or interferes with daily functioning

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Read the complete article and related information at Migraines More Prevalent in Women

Durango-Herald
Durango, CO

By Nancy Utter

Testing saliva also can allow health-care practitioners to create a picture of how hormones change over time. This can be useful information to guide and focus treatment to rebalance hormones.

Hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, progesterone and cortisol are our body’s messengers. They tell our organs and tissues what to do to maintain homeostasis or balance. When secreted appropriately in response to internal and external changes, they keep our bodies and minds on track, happy and healthy. When out of balance, they can cause physical and emotional havoc.

The good news is that these imbalances can be corrected once we know what they are. Hormone testing can pinpoint a problem.

Some hormone-related health problems are obvious, such as premenstrual syndrome, infertility and low libido. Be-cause every tissue in the body is under the influence of hormone messaging, there are many other symptoms that can be caused by hormone imbalances.

For example, migraine headaches, gas and bloating, depression, anger and insomnia can be caused by hormones out of whack. For women, some symptoms may be related to certain times in their cycle. For men, many hormonal problems can show up as part of the aging process.

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Read the complete article and related information at Saliva testing: A great tool in the hormone-balancing act

GetHerb

It’s estimated that 40 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches. Headaches are one of the leading causes of missed work or school. So why is it that so many of us suffer from such annoying and often debilitating pains in the head? Honestly, there are several reasons.

Some of the most common triggers of migraines are stress, food allergies, caffeine withdrawal, medications, lack of sleep, extreme weather conditions, blood sugar fluctuations, and hormone imbalances.

Many migraine suffers find little or no relief in either over-the-counter or prescription medications. And, even for those that do, rebound headaches are often a resulting side effect.

When suffering from chronic headaches, it is important to learn your triggers. Keep a diary that tells the date, time, weather conditions, foods eaten in the last 24 hours, emotional stressors, amount of sleep, drugs taken or, if you are a female, where you are in your menstrual cycle. Determining your triggers can take you a long way towards reducing the frequency and intensity of migraines.

Once you have eliminated many of the triggers (yes, through hard work and dedication), you may find your headaches arrive pre or post menstrual. You have just discovered that your migraines are triggered by hormones. Oh yes, the same lovely chemical that gives us mood swings, cramps, bloating, breast tenderness and those horrible chocolate cravings will also cause your migraine headaches.

If you fall into this category, there is hope beyond medication. It’s important to understand that this will require a commitment on your part. Balancing hormones can be a tedious and difficult prospect but the rewards are well worth the effort.

Estrogen dominance is the most frequent cause of hormone imbalances.

Here are a few keys to remember about estrogen dominance.

Read the complete article and related information at Migraines and Hormones – A Natural Approach

Health & Wellness Digest

Posted by hwd editor
May 3, 2009

Hormonal headaches are suffered by women and can take place during the menstrual cycle. Hormones are what induces the pain response so both men and hormones prompt women’s headaches. Headaches are sometimes our body using a warning system that something serious is going on. Hormones regulate and start many of the body’s functions, so it is not surprising that they are in some way connected to headaches.

Menstrual migraines are hormonal headaches. Serotonin is one of the most common of the hormonal triggers. Women who suffer migraines may do so because of the way serotonin interacts with her female hormones. Menstrual migraines are caused by estrogen, which is the female sex hormone. They can get headaches when the estrogen and progesterone levels change in her cycle.

A woman may experience one-sided throbbing, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or light sensitivity or sound sensitivity.

Women who suffer from Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) may also have hormonal headaches. These headaches happen before the period starts. The PMS headache may be accompanied by acne, joint pain, and fatigue. She may also experience an increased occurrence of fear, panic attacks, a decreased sexual desire, and she may also suffer from an impaired judgment or memory problems. She may seem to be paranoid or be more sensitive to rejection. Typically these symptoms disappear as soon as the menstrual cycle begins.

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Comment from Leslie

If you continue reading on with this article it will begin to discuss the different types of drugs that you can take for hormonal headaches.  Of course there are natural solutions so research those carefully too.

The bottom line is that when women do not live with the natural ebb and flow of  their hormone cycle – they will be putting a lot of undue stress on their endocrine system – and their emotions.  Please see Female Mystique The Three Phases of Eve

My co-author and I just published our first e-book “Understanding Your Mood, Mind and Hormone Cycle and covers this information in a simple and meaningful way.

Most women are actually dehydrated and do not even realize it.  Hormonal headaches can also be a result of that.  Drinking plenty of water – not soda, coffee, juice or teas – just unfiltered water – AND NOT FROM A PLASTIC BOTTLE will also be helpful in easing headaches.

Of course, if a woman is estrogen dominate – as most are – using a natural progesterone cream will be helpful in balancing the hormones and easing the headache and other PMS discomforts.

Read the complete article and related information at Hormonal Headaches Explored

May 1, 2009

My daughter, Victoria, has been ill since February 2008.

Here is some history. My daughter had her first Gardasil vaccination November 2007. Her second vaccination was in the beginning of February 2008. Immediately after her second vaccination, Victoria experienced severe diarrhea and was nauseous for about eight weeks. She had blood work done many times and doctors thought she had a virus.

On March 31, 2008, she had her first seizure. My daughter has treated with many neurologists, all of whom have not related her seizures to Gardasil. Meanwhile, there are quite a few hundred people that I have found over the internet through my numerous postings and through Erin Brockovich, and their daughters are all experiencing the same symptoms, which occurred after the Gardasil vaccination. We have actually formed a group and share our daughters’ stories, symptoms and information.

My daughter has had CT scans, MRI’s, MRA’s, EEG’s, blood work and was hospitalized at an epilepsy center in the video EEG monitoring unit for two separate weeks in May 2008 and September 2008. She was put on many different seizure medications. After the normal EEG results, she was taken off all medications. Her SED rate has always been high and she does have protein in her urine, but doctors do not seem concerned.

I was told that her red blood are small, but this apparently is not concerning either. My daughter has been seen by several neurologists, a psychiatrist, psychologist, several neuropsychologists, an immunologist, several infectious disease doctors, and also treated a at Wellness Center for a period of time. Wellness Center physicians believe that my daughter may have Lyme disease that was dormant until the Gardasil vaccine. Infectious disease doctors differ. Which doctors are correct? I have no idea.

My daughter currently experiences the following symptoms: non-epileptic seizures, migraines, fainting, tremors, twitches, numbness, intermittent leg paralysis and facial paralysis, tingling, staring or blank episodes, eye pain, joint pain, neck pain, back pain, memory loss, confusion, brain fog, regression, mood swings and chronic fatigue. She continues to have bouts of nausea and diarrhea. She has not been in school since April 2008. My daughter can never be left home alone. She can’t go to school, go out with her friends or work or has little “normalcy” in her life.

She has very few good days and always says she doesn’t feel good.I do not know which way to turn for help. We have seen so many doctors and I can’t seem to find anyone willing to help my daughter. There are so many other young girls who have the same exact symptoms as my daughter and the one thing that all of the girls seem to have in common is the Gardasil vaccination.

We are on a fixed income, as most people, and we have expended many thousands of dollars in an effort to seek medical opinions and assistance. Although we do have medical insurance, it is very difficult to find doctors willing to treat my daughter who will accept our HMO. Also, there are no “traditional medical doctors” who will relate my daughter’s symptoms to Gardasil as I am told “there is not enough information available” about the vaccine and doctors believe it to be “safe” . The vaccine has been available for less than three years.

Meanwhile, there are some doctors who are making the correlation between Gardasil and many of the girls’ symptoms. However, the only doctors I know of right now are in California and Kansas. Other doctors are willing to “try” treatment, most of which is “homeopathic” in nature and extremely costly. Once again, I must reiterate that there are so many other young girls experiencing negative symptoms.

Each and every night, I check on my daughter many times in the middle of the night to make sure she is still breathing (like we ALL did when they were babies). I have a chime on her bedroom door so that every time she opens it, I know she has walked out of her room. I had a deadbolt put on the front door of our home with a key that can be removed from the inside. I never leave the key in the door for fear that Victoria will be confused after a seizure or when she has memory loss, and leave our home. (This has happened many times and she has been missing). When she is in the shower, I have to either stand outside the door and/or keep asking her “are you okay?”

Each day, I cry and wonder if Victoria will be next one to die from adverse reactions to Gardasil.

We are in desperate need of medical treatment for my daughter. I have run out of ideas, doctors to treat with and finances have dwindled. I do not know which direction to turn.

Any thoughts are most appreciated, especially from the medical community.

The National Vaccine Information Center is in the process of circulating a petition to have Gardasil investigated by the government. There are more than 15,000 reported cases of adverse effects from the vaccine which have been reported to the NVIC (many of the adverse effects are extremely serious) and approximately 38 deaths have been reported.

Please feel free to forward this information.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Jodi Speakman
(267) 939-0591
Jodispeaks@aol.com

P.S. My daughter’s story was posted on the NVIC website. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/14/investigate-gardasil-vaccine-risks-now

Read the complete article and related information at JodiSpeaks ~ Living the Gardasil Nightmare

By Dana McFarland
April 24, 2009

Hello Everyone,

My daughter Kelly has gotten progressively worse. She was injected  (with  the Gardasil vaccination) 12/06, 2/07, and 6/07. She has had strep 3 times with a continually high aso titer over 1000. She has had several utis, uris, extremely elevated mono, parvo, and other virus titers. She tested positive for 2 bands on the lyme western blot and slight positive for babesia. She has a slow wound healing time. Since October we had been treating her for “lyme” but no response. I think we were going the wrong direction. This week she was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome POTS. Lying down her heart rate was 55. Standing up it jumped to over 120. Here is the symptoms: ( Sound Familar?)

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia is a syndrome. As such, there is a collection of symptoms that distinguish it. The symptoms are widespread because the autonomic nervous system plays an extensive role in regulating functions throughout the body. Many of these symptoms, such as low blood pressure,* may present only after prolonged standing. Symptoms will vary from person to person. The following is a list of symptoms reported by patients. When possible, we have included the percentage of patients that research reports have experienced a given symptom.

Symptoms presumed to be related to cerebral hypoperfusion:**

Lightheadedness 77.6 % (Grubb, 2000)
Fainting or near fainting 60.5% of patients report near fainting (Grubb, 2000)
Generalized weakness 50% (Low et al.)

Symptoms presumed to be related to autonomic overactivity include the following:**

Palpitations 75% (Grubb, 2000)
Tremulousness 37.5% (Low, Opffer-Gehrking, Textor, Benarroch, Shen, Schondorf, Suarez & Rummans, 1995)
Shortness of breath 27.6 % (Grubb, 2000)
Chest discomfort and/or pain 24.3 % (Grubb, 2000)

Sudomotor symptoms include the following:**

Loss of sweating 5.3 % (Low et al.)
Excessive sweating 9.2 % (Robertson, 2000)
Loss of sweating and excessive sweating are more common in patients with elevated norepinephrine levels (Thieben, Sandroni, Sletten, Benrud-Larson, Fealey, Vernino, Lennon, Shen & Low, 2007).

Symptoms that may reflect dysautonomia:**

Delayed gastric emptying 23.7% of patients report gastrointestinal complaints, including bloating (Grubb et al., 1997)
Bloating after meals (Grubb et al., 1997)
Nausea 38.8% (Robertson, 2000)
Vomiting 8.6% (Thieben et al., 2007)
Abdominal pain 15.1% (Thieben et al., 2007)
Diarrhea 17.8% (Jacob & Biaggioni, 1999) (sometimes with alternating constipation)
Constipation 15.1% (Thieben et al., 2007)
Bladder dysfunction 9.2% (Thieben et al., 2007) (this may include Polyuria (Jacob & Biaggioni, 1999) (excessive urination)
Pupillary dysfunction 3.3% (Thieben et al., 2007) Pupillary dysfunction may or may not be responsible for some other reported symptoms, such as: Blurred Vision (Grubb, 2000) and Tunnel vision (Low et al.).

Generalized Complaint symptoms:**

Fatigue 48% (Grubb, 2000) (which can be disabling)
Sleep disorders 31.6% (Low et al.) (can cause unrefreshing sleep and an increased need for sleep)
Headache/migraine 27.6% (Grubb, 2000)
Myofascial pain 15.8% (Thieben et al., 2007) (characterized by regional muscle pain accompanied by trigger points)
Neuropathic pain 3% (Thieben et al., 2007)

Other symptoms reported in research that are not categorized above include:

Dizziness (Grubb, 2000)
Tachycardia (Grubb, 2000)
Exercise intolerance (Grubb, 2000)
Clamminess (Grubb, 2000)
Anxiety (Grubb, 2000)
Flushing (Grubb, 2000)
Postprandial hypotension (Grubb, 2000) (low blood pressure after meals)
Blood pooling in limbs (Grubb, 2000) (can make legs feel heavy and appear mottled and purple in color)
Intolerance to heat (Grubb & Karas, 1999)
Feeling cold all over (Grubb & Karas, 1999)
Low blood pressure upon standing (Grubb, Kosinski, Boehm & Kip, 1997) (Some physicians feel orthostatic hypotension is a separate entity from POTS)
Cognitive impairment (Grubb et al., 1997) (may include difficulties with concentration, brain fog, memory and/or word recall)
Narrowing of upright pulse pressure (Jacob & Biaggioni, 1999)
Cold hands (Low et al.) (and often feet & nose)
Hypovolemia (Low et al.) (low blood volume)
Chills (Low et al.)
High blood pressure (Low et al.)
Hyperventilation (Low et al.)
Numbness or tingling sensations (Low et al.)
Reduced pulse pressure upon standing (Low et al.)
Low back pain (Mathias, 2000)
Aching neck and shoulders (Mathias, 2000)
Noise sensitivity (Stewart, 2001)
Light Sensitivity (Stewart, 2001)
Disequalibrium (Sandroni, Opfer-Gehrking, McPhee & Low, 1999)

The above are symptoms reported by POTS researchers. Other symptoms sometimes reported by POTS patients include:

Arrhythmias (irregular heart beats)
Chemical sensitivities (May have multiple chemical sensitivity and can be very sensitive to medications – may only need small doses)
Easily over-stimulated
Feeling full quickly
Feeling “wired”
Food allergies/sensitivities (some foods seem to make symptoms worse)
Hyperreflexia
Irregular menstrual cycles
Loss of appetite
Loss of sex drive
Muscle aches and/or joint pains
Swollen nodules/lymph nodes
Polydipsia (excessive thirst)
Weight loss or gain
Feeling detached from surroundings
Restless leg syndrome

POTS symptoms can vary from day to day. They tend to multiply and become exaggerated upon upright posture. Blood flow and blood pressure regulation are also abnormal while supine or sitting, but these abnormalities may not be as apparent and may require orthostatic stress to become evident (Stewart & Erickson, 2002). Some patients do report symptoms occurring while sitting or lying down. Heat, exercise and eating can exacerbate symptoms. Women sometimes report an increase in symptoms around menstruation.

If you are suffering from some of the above symptoms, you need to seek professional help. Please do not attempt self-diagnosis.

*Some of the above symptoms are specifically related to orthostatic hypotension, traditionally defined as an excessive fall in BP (typically > 20/10 mm Hg) on assuming the upright posture. Not all patients will experience a drop in blood pressure upon standing. Some physicians define orthostatic hypotension as a separate entity from POTS.

If you look on the website http://www.dinet.org/ there is a ton of good info. For us, especially is the section about causes. We are now in the process of reinvestigating all the possible causes. Many can be treated. There is a possibility of an autoimmune process, although Kelly’s ana titers have been normal. There is a good section on there about what to do to help.

Her primary doctor is going to check for all possible causes listed on that website (at least she said she would..) If you delve into the causes, there is alot of out of the normal testing that needs to be done. Also we are working with Dr. Abdullah at the children’s heart institute outside of DC to manage her symptoms- he is fantastic and very sweet. He doesn’t delve into the causing condition, only treating symptoms.

Finally, last week, I contacted the NIH with Kelly’s story, so hopefully they can help. I told them a lot of girls across the counrty are experiencing the same thing. Maybe we can group together and they can help all of us.

There is power in numbers!

Dana

Comment from Leslie

Before I posted this story about Kelly, I emailed Dana to get her permission.  This is the response that I received:

Hi Leslie,

Yes, please.  I would love for Kelly’s story to get out as much as possible.  Maybe someone could help her.  And also to warn others about gardasil and how it is hurting so many girls. 

I was reading online last night on the mayo clinic website about POTS and the head of the clinic, Dr. Phil Fisher, stated in the comments section that no one ever has all the possible symptoms of POTS.  Kelly does.  And I am positve other gardasil girls do also, or may develop into it.  She had her shots finished almost 2 years ago, and she keeps getting worse.

Anyhow, thank you so much for taking interest and helping with this issue that is becoming a silent international crisis for young girls.  I think people are slowly waking up with the CDC re-looking at gardasil.  Maybe soon it will get pulled and these girls will get the attention and healthcare they deserve.

Thanks again,

Dana

Read the complete article and related information at Kelly’s Story – One Girl’s Adverse Reactions to Gardasil

ioL
www.iol.ca.za

August 11, 2008
 
By Anastasia Stephens

A new Australian study suggests that the faster speed that athletes achieve when taking performance-enhancing drugs is all in the mind. The study compared athletes on growth hormones with those given a placebo.

Those taking the placebo were able to lift heavier weights than those taking the hormones. The results imply that if you think you will perform better, you really will. That’s not news to many professional athletes who for years have used creative visualisation to boost performance.

“If you visualise being stronger, running faster or winning, you are priming your nervous system to do just that,” says Dr Aimee Kimball, the director of mental training in sports medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. “Studies have found that the method can enhance physical performance significantly, sometimes by 20 percent or more.”

What to do: Visualise your forthcoming race or match. See yourself win with ease, confidence and co-ordination in as much detail as possible. Feel the appropriate emotions as you play and win, and get a sense that you really “know” you can do it.

Imagining longer menstrual cycles and less menstrual pain may actually be able to alter your cycle, according to researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Twelve out of 15 women who used imagery for three months lengthened their menstrual cycles by nearly four days. They also slashed their perceived levels of premenstrual distress in half and reported fewer mood swings.

What to do: Focus on the area around your womb. Imagine any bloating, tension, heaviness or pain dispersing in a watery mist. Imagine the area immersed in a cooling light of whatever colour springs to mind.

Visualisation may be able to help depression caused by all sorts of factors. In a study at the University of South Florida, guided visualisation significantly lessened symptoms of anxiety, depression and fatigue in patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema. According to a study in the Journal of Holistic Nursing, the method alleviated depression and improved self-esteem in women suffering from postnatal depression.

What to do: Imagine yourself in a calm, beautiful place, smiling. You are surrounded by friends who are praising you for your qualities. Imagine feeling joyful and strong while getting what you want and doing what you want in the world.

A study in the American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis suggested that women could increase the actual size of their breasts simply by imagining it.

Thirty-five women attended hypnosis sessions in which they were asked to visualise images of their breasts pulsating, with warm water flowing over them, helping them to grow. After 12 weeks, 84 percent of the women’s breasts had grown, by an average of 3cm. A stunning 46 percent of them needed a larger bra size.

What to do: The study raises the possibility that you could use the mind for tissue regrowth of all sorts – especially to help healing.

If you are bruised or injured, vividly imagine the area immersed in a healing white light. In this light, see your tissue becoming “vitalised” and growing back until the area is fully healed. Repeat two or three times a day.

Leading gastroenterologists are calling for hypnotherapy to be used more widely in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Images such a fast-flowing river in the gut slowing down and soothing the bowel may be able to significantly improve symptoms, say researchers at King’s College London.

In one study at Withington Hospital, 12 weeks of hypnotherapy helped 71 percent of patients ease their IBS symptoms for five years after the treatment.

What to do: Sitting quietly, imagine your whole body becoming softer and heavier, limb by limb. Visualise a soothing river flowing through your gut.

Imagine the river flow first at the “current speed” of your bowel, then slow it down to the “imagined” speed needed for symptoms to cease.

The simple act of relaxing before a medical procedure could bring a whole range of benefits. In a study at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, hypnosis-induced relaxation was given to 200 breast cancer patients who needed a biopsy. After 15 minutes of hypnotherapy, which included suggestions for relaxation and pleasant mental images, the women needed less anaesthetic during the procedure. They also reported less pain, nausea, fatigue and emotional distress afterwards.

What to do: Before a stressful event, spend 10 minutes consciously relaxing each limb of your body, allowing each area to “melt” away stress and to become heavier, calmer and more peaceful.

In a study at University College London, migraine sufferers reported a decrease in the intensity of their headaches after being trained in guided imagery, though electronic monitoring devices showed no change in migraine activity.

What to do: Joanne Walters says: “Breathing deeply, imagine your headache wash away as a stream of cool blue light or fluid runs through your head, dispersing the pain and calming the whole area down.”

Imagining that your immune system is strong may be all that you need to do to increase your body’s levels of natural killer cells – the ones that kill viruses and cancer cells – according to Danish researchers. Although it is far from being a cancer treatment, cancer patients using daily imagery for a year managed to increase the numbers of a range of immune cells.

What to do: Find an image for a strong immune system that you most closely relate to, such as a coloured light pulsing in the area that needs attention, or an army of fighting cells destroying an invader. Feel your body as stronger and healthier as your immune system “wins”.

A study in a neonatal intensive care unit in Holland found that women produced more than twice as much milk when, on a daily basis, they imagined milk flowing from their breasts and the baby’s warm skin against theirs.

What to do: As in the study, imagine your milk flowing freely through your nipples to your baby’s mouth. There is as much milk as you need. Vividly imagine the warmth and smell of the milk and how it feels in your breast. Spend 10 minutes doing this exercise twice daily. – Foreign Service

Read the complete article and related information at Think yourself to better health