According to the Centers for Disease Control, postpartum depression in the US is between 11%-20%. Postpartum depression is a disorder that affects the mother’s ability to care for and bond with her new infant, as well as her functioning in day to day life. It can also produce long lasting consequences in children’s cognitive, social-emotional […]
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Breast feeding exclusively decreases overall estrogen secretion and this mechanism is one that may contribute to the lowered risk of ovarian and breast cancer. This relationship may also link to lowering the risk of endometrial cancer. To investigate this, researchers pooled data from 17 studies (3 cohort and 14 case-controlled), that totaled 8981 parous […]
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Women with mild to moderate postpartum depression were enrolled in this study in Tehran, Iran, the site of many botanical studies in the last few years. Women were ages 18-45 and were 4-12 weeks post childbirth. To be included in the study they had to have a score of 10 or more and 18 or […]
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Both postpartum blues (PPB) and then the more significant postpartum depression (PPD) occur within the first days-12 months postpartum. In women who have a more severe version of PPB, they are at about a 23% risk of PPD vs. those without severe PPB who have a 6% risk of PPD. PPB affects about 75% of […]
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Researchers in this study examined the use of fish oils during pregnancy and if it could prevent asthma in their children. A total of 736 pregnant Danish women were randomized to receive 2.4 gm per day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) derived from a fish oil supplement or a placebo during the […]
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Fenugreek seed has a long tradition of being used as an agent to increase the production of breast milk (“galactagogue”). There is general agreement among health care advisory organizations, including the World Health Organization, breast feeding is recommended for at least 6 months, due to its short and long term health benefits to the recipient. […]
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Lavender flower essential oil has a long traditional history of use for anxiety and stress, but also some modern meaningful scientific research confirming its excellent effectiveness in treating general anxiety disorders. Here is yet another recent randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study comparing the effects of a lavender cream and foot bathing on anxiety, stress and even […]
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A recent study using black cohosh, demonstrates a new addition to a natural medicine strategy for addressing PCOS. One hundred women with PCOS were recruited and seen in a clinic in Egypt. Women were randomly assigned to receive either 40 mg/day of black cohosh for 10 days or 100 mg/day of clomiphene for 5 days. […]
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