Friends Archives - Jeffrey Sterling, MD

From the Health Library of SterlingMedicalAdvice.com: Are there herbal therapies for anxiety disorder?

Yes. Two herbal treatments for anxiety disorders that I’ll mention now include kava kava (also called kava) and valerian.
Kava has been used to relieve anxiety and improve sleep, but it appears to increase the effects of alcohol, so do not drink when taking it. Typical doses of 200 to 250 mg per day are considered safe and effective, but you must follow pharmacist or physician’s directions when considering usage. Kava use has also shown some links to liver toxicity, so the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning regarding its use.
Valerian is a mild sedative with milder side effects than Kava. Valerian’s side effects are reported to be minimal when used at the recommended dose of 300 to 500 mg per day.
Be reminded that the effectiveness of these and most herbs have not been proven by medical research, and benefits have not been directly compared to those of prescription drugs.

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Straight, No Chaser: Learn the Physical Signs of Child Abuse

Given how often this topic is in the news, we need an army to protect children against child abuse. I will intermittently be discussing various forms of abuse, but to start with, I’d like to help you recognize physical signs I tend to look for to potentially identify victims of abuse.
Symptoms include:

Black eyes

Broken bones that are unusual and unexplained
Bruise marks or lashes shaped like hands, fingers, or objects (such as a belt)

Bruises in areas where normal childhood activities would not usually result in bruising

Bite marks

Bulging soft spot (fontanelle) or separations in an infant’s skull

Burn marks, usually seen on the hands, arms, or buttocks

Choke marks around the neck
Cigarette burns on exposed areas or on the genitals

Circular marks around the wrists or ankles (signs of twisting or tying up)
Unexplained unconsciousness in an infant

If you ever see such things in children, be suspicious, be involved and get help. There are always ‘explanations’ for why things happen to children, but they too frequently seem to defy logic. Of course you can call 911 or the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD). You could save a life.
Thanks for liking and following Straight, No Chaser! This public service provides a sample of what http://www.SterlingMedicalAdvice.com (SMA) will offer beginning November 1. Until then enjoy some our favorite posts and frequently asked questions as well as a daily note explaining the benefits of SMA membership. Please share our page with your Friends on WordPress, and we can be found on Facebook at SterlingMedicalAdvice.com and on Twitter at @asksterlingmd.
Copyright © 2013 · Sterling Initiatives, LLC · Powered by WordPress