6 Excellent Reasons to Go Commando (Mommy Edition)

In our culture, there seems to be a taboo against "decent" women going without their underwear. It's viewed as inappropriate or even trashy, despite the fact that women outside Western culture have been going commando on a regular basis throughout history. Before you get caught up on all the why's of wearing underwear, take a moment to consider these why not's.

Underwear Stifles Self-Awareness

Our cultural taboo against ditching the underwear has its roots in the Judeo-Christian culture, in which menstruation is considered "unclean." If the natural rhythm that a woman's body follows is unclean, then to some extent the woman herself is "unclean." And in this line of thinking, that means that her body is something to be hidden rather than explored.

For the average woman, this leads to a diminished self-awareness of her own body, failing to tune in to the rhythms of her hormones and viewing her period as just a nuisance. At worst, some women lose the ability to feel sexual pleasure at all -- and that's more common than you might think. Of course, we can't blame panties for that; but ditching the underwear is the first symbolic step toward releasing the shame that lies beneath this phenomenon, and becoming more aware of the patterns your body naturally follows.

Underwear Loves Bacteria 

Bacteria tend to grow in warm, damp places. It's just a fact. When you go commando, there's plenty of air keeping your lady parts from becoming a breeding ground for those microscopic creatures who can wreak all sorts of havoc. But slip on a pair of cotton panties and an absorbent pantiliner, and problems ranging from bladder infections to yeast infections to unpleasant odors to itchiness start cropping up. And if you wear your undies religiously, you may not even realize just how problematic these problems are.

You Feel Cleaner Without It 

Research suggests that 25% to 45% of women have some level of urinary incontinence -- and this number includes women as young as age 18. The cultural knee-jerk reaction to this is to diagnose it, treat it with drugs if at all possible, and recommend wearing UI protection, like pantiliners or the dreaded "adult diapers." In a very few cases, these are the only measures that can be taken; for the average 20- or 30-year-old who suffers from UI after having a baby, however, losing the underwear can actually be a great motivator to solve the problem proactively rather than hiding it.

Mild UI can often be solved with the few simple measures of drinking more water, drinking less coffee and soda, and exercising lightly. Once you've kicked the undies, you can begin to tell if you're drinking enough water or if you've had too many cups of coffee, and you'll feel cleaner when the problem is resolved instead of absorbed by a pantiliner.

No Panties Means Less Laundry

Underwear don't take up that much space in the grand scheme of things, but it could add up to a whole load or two of extra laundry each week. Not to mention, folding those tiny things is a finicky job. Who wouldn't appreciate a load or two less every week, and the $50 a year you can save when you don't have to replace your old underwear every couple of months?

Your Clothes Will Fit Better

I am a long hippy-skirt wearer, and I can attest that my skirts look better without underwear lines, elastics bunched up at the waist, and random wrinkles across my butt. Underwear lines in jeans are way worse -- and with the skin-tight fashions of modernity, you could be advertising your Hanes to the world when you wrestle into those half-size-too-small jeggings. Lose the panties, and you'll lose the lines, wrinkles, and that half-size as well.

Your Lover Will Love It 

Struggling with underwear can be a real mood-killer, especially if you've just had to pause to peel those jeggings off. But even aside from sex, going commando just makes intimacy easier -- there's something of a psychological block when you know that there's a physical something in between you and your lover. There haven't been any real studies on the subject, but there's plenty of anecdotal evidence of the psychological freedom of undie-less existence out there, if you're willing to tromp through a few forums on the subject.

Going commando has some undeniable health benefits, as many experts agree. The official jury is still out on whether this advice is good for every day, or just for bedtime; but doing it all the time certainly can't hurt. As long as you wear breathable clothes that are loose enough to avoid irritating your skin, you will start to see the positive physical and psychological effects of ditching the panties.

Tune in next week to read the Going Commando Baby Edition!

Creating an Epidemic: The Power of Semantics

As astounding as the power of belief is in healing illness - or preventing healing, in some cases - the power of semantics is affecting health care more than many of us would care to realize. There is a word for every type of physical, mental, and emotional malady out there. There are mental disorders, sleep disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, various disorders on the anxiety spectrum and on the autism spectrum, different types of heart diseases, thyriod problems, joint problems, bone disorders.... the list goes on and on and on. Despite the hundreds of names for various disorders and diseases, the majority of them can be solved with simple diet and lifestyle changes - but of course Big Pharma would rather keep that under their hat.

So how does semantics, or the practice of giving a name to every slightest variation of a health condition, affect the health crisis in America? The answer is simple, and quite brilliant in its simplicity: if we can name it, then we can treat it. With every new disorder that is "discovered", the drug industry can produce at least three or four different treatments for it. Once the patent for these new medications ends, even more profit can be generated both through the introduction of generic versions of the drug, and through the creation of "better" or "stronger" name-brand products.

An Example that Applies to 90% of Americans

Headaches and migraines affect an estimated 90% of the population. There are many different types of headaches, including tension headaches, migraine headaches, cluster, cough, exercise, and sex headaches, as noted by Mayo Clinic. WebMD lists twenty different brands of headache medication - and for every brand, there are dozens of companies making money from generics. Side effects of these drugs can include symptoms like diarrhea, gastrointestinal bleeding, difficulty breathing, rash, liver damage, and ulcers.

Headaches are viewed as a normal part of life. So is popping medication for fast symptomic relief when one starts. Unfortunately, about 70% of all headaches that occur are drug-induced; taking headache medication can actually cause more headaches. As the body and brain begin to rely on the drug to control headaches, the natural processes that would prevent headaches stop working. This is known as - drumroll, please - physical dependence. Yes, 70% of Americans are addicted to one or another type of headache medication, the majority of which can be purchased over the counter.

So how should we be taking care of the headache epidemic? Ending our dependence on headache medication, as well as on caffeine and nicotine, is the first step. And in the event that a headache does naturally occur, Mother Nature's best treatment for it is abundant, safe, and completely free - water.

The Labelling of Mental Disorders

Perhaps nowhere is the power of semantics seen as strongly as in the mental health field. Don't get me wrong - there are certainly people out there with a real disorder who need real help. The traumatized war veteran, for example, or the OCD patient who compulsively picks and eats his own skin. It's just that the treatment should begin with diet and lifestyle changes, along with intense behavioral therapy. Medication should be a last resort.

In real life, however, medication is the first line of defense against almost every type of mental disorder that can be diagnosed. There are countless Americans who suffer from depression (which in many cases could also be called discontentment, poor nutrition, low self-esteem, and lack of motivation), which becomes a vicious cycle that is only fueled by medication. The vast majority of these patients would experience a dramatic reduction in their symptoms simply by eating healthier, drinking more water, and exercising.

Orthorexia

Interestingly, there is a new mental health/eating disorder that is sweeping acros the nation. It is called orthorexia, and it is characterized by a preoccupation with the purity of your food. If you are reading this post with any interest or enthusiasm, you can probably be diagnosed with orthorexia. The first step in treatment is, undoubtedly, a heavy-duty prescription medication.

If you suffer from orthorexia, you are likely to avoid genetically modified foods. In fact, you may go to some lengths to do so, like shopping at health food stores, preparing food from scratch rather than from a box, and growing your own food at home. Big Pharma wants this condition treated.

Certainly, there have been some extreme cases of orthorexia. When your diet starts to interfere with relationships, your job, and your health, then it becomes a problem. The vast majority of people who could officially be diagnosed with this disorder, however, would be better off continuing to avoid processed foods, refined sugars and grains, and chemical additives. Better orthorexia than cancer.

Modern Medicine Does Have Its Place in Health and Wellness

Lest I sound like an extremist, convinced that conventional medicine is at the heart of every medical condition in existence, let me say quite frankly that doctors and scientists have contributed a lot to our understanding of how the body and the brain work. In some extreme cases, medication is indeed necessary. Surgeries, a frightening number of which are not really needed, can at times be the only option. However, medicine as we know it today should never be the end-all-be-all of illness treatment.

Instead of focusing on which bacterium or which virus is causing particular symptoms, we should instead focus on the body system that is being affected. I have twice ended urinary tract infections not by going to a doctor, determining the bacteria causing the infection, and taking antibiotics to get rid of the infection, but simply by increasing the functionality of my urinary tract by drinking lots of water. When anyone I know has a UTI, I tell them simply to "piss it out."

A Last Word on Semantics

Far too many drugs today actually exacerbate the very problem they are intended to treat. Headache medicines cause headaches, antibiotics increase the risk of future infections, and sleep aids and antidepressants effectively lobotomize their victims. The naming of diseases makes this occur more and more.

Many people who have a medical condition (or two, or ten) are almost proud of their diseases. You may have seen them on online forums, their disorders listed like scholastic acheivements beneath their names (Betsy, Type II Diabetes, Social Anxiety Disorder, Depression, GERD). It is a way for people to individualize themselves, to socialize with others like them, and to explain or excuse what they do and how they do it (I'm sleeping in late today because I have depression). Their medicine becomes part of a reassuring routine, believing in the false hope that if they take these drugs they will feel better, at least for today. In the process, they begin to lose their own identities. They become consumed in who Big Pharma wants them to be.

4 Must-Have Staples in Every Woman's Diet

While a good diet is always essential to the maintenance of good health, this is especially true when it comes to women's health. Cramping, bloating, mood swings, and an endless parade of PMS symptoms are the unfortunate side effects of one of nature's most complex and necessary cycles. Adding these four staples to your diet can naturally reduce many of these symptoms of womanhood, in addition to offerring a myriad of other health benefits.

Carrot

Many members of the carrot family are commonly prescribed by herbalists and naturopathic doctors for feminine ailments. Adding more carrots to your diet can aid in regulating your menstrual cycle, fighting off vaginal and urinary tract infections, and increasing milk supply in lactating mothers. I know this from experience; I struggled with a low milk supply for weeks before discovering that chewing a teaspoon of fennel seed, a member of the carrot family, boosts milk supply usually by the end of the day. Fennel is also my go-to remedy for winter illnesses; fennel seed tea is gentle enough for babies and can be used to help soothe even the frailest colicky infant. 

Oats 

Oats for women! Known for its ability to smooth skin and strengthen hair, oatmeal  can also be a great tummy soother when your time of the month rolls around. Its high fiber content helps keep you regular, and it can even suppress the appetite, aiding in weight loss. Oats contain many of the vitamins and minerals that your bones need, so they are great for women who may be at risk of osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. Eat a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast every day when your period starts, and feel free to slather it on your face before you shower to refresh your skin. 

Raspberry

Raspberry leaf tea is one of the essentials during those last long weeks of pregnancy. Drinking this tea is said to help strengthen the uterus, without raising the risk of pre-term labor (although it may not be safe in women with a history of miscarriage). This tea will also help the uterus shrink after giving birth, aid in milk production, and ease cramps. Fresh, frozen, or dried raspberries are a known source of cancer-fighting antioxidants, and are extremely useful for keeping blood sugar and cholesterol levels stable. 

Green Tea 

If there is any beverage that every woman, man, and even child needs to add to their diet, it is green tea. This mood booster, appetite suppressor, cancer fighter, and overall body stabilizer can be sipped on throughout the day. Drink it to help fight off infections, regulate blood pressure, stabilize blood sugar, lower your risk of heart attack and stroke, get rid of headaches, improve brain function, and acheive internal homeostasis. The dried leaves can be used externally as well to reduce swelling, inhibit the growth of bacteria, fight skin infections, soothe burns and bug bites, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes. Sounds a lot like the health benefits of medical marijuana, doesn't it?

Whether you are just discovering the joys of womanhood, with all its aches, pains, and hormonal fluctuations, or are already on the other side of menopause, adding these four foods to your diet on a regular basis can aid tremendously in the management of feminine maladies. Check out these recipes for some ideas on increasing your intake of these healthy foods. 

A Critical Component of Homeopathy: The Power of Belief

As more and more people are beginning to turn away from "conventional" medicine in favor of gentler, natural homeopathic remedies, Big Pharma is working harder and harder to convince the population that homeopathic remedies seldom work, work poorly, or simply don't work at all. Physicians are not hard to convince; visit any doctor who wasn't trained in naturopathic medicine and ask about a natural treatment for any condition. The chances are pretty high that you will get a blank stare at best, or outright ridicule of the notion at worst. When physicians recieve paid and lavish vacations from drug companies in return for doling out their prescriptions, they rarely see the need for a natural treatment.

But Big Pharma's warpath against natural medicine goes even deeper than most of us may at first realize. Obviously, by growing our own herbs for medicine and taking charge of our own health, we are threatening the pharmaceutical companies' multi-billion dollar profit margins every year. In fact, the average person in 2014 in the US had about thirteen prescriptions written each year - that's a new prescription every single month. When these numbers begin to dwindle, so will Big Pharma's massive income.

There is one critical component of homeopathy that even the most die-hard naturalists often overlook: the astonishing power of belief. The drug industry hasn't overlooked it, though. By doing all they can to discredit herbal remedies, companies like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson also diminish the power of belief and hold on to their $16 billion profits.

Health is a State of Mind

Have you ever noticed how a day that starts badly usually tends to end badly? Or how, when you get in a fight with someone, you end up feeling more tired than if you had run a mile? How weight gain and depression have an almost direct correlation? This is because, contrary to what modern physicians would have us believe, our physical health and mental health are intricately connected.

The human body is made of various systems which must work together for the body to run at optimal performance. The respiratory system, the circulatory system, the reproductive system, and even the endocannibinoid system, for example, are all intricately connected to one another. Likewise, the brain works through a series of chemical pathways, where neurons and hormones must all be balanced with one another for stable mental health. It certainly makes sense, then, that the systems of the body and those of the mind must be connected to each other.

Emotions almost always create a physical response in the body. Anger raises blood pressure, increases heart rate, diverts blood flow away from the stomach while increasing stomach acid, and causes a chain of physical reactions that lead to fat build-up in the heart and arteries. Anxiety causes a similar physical response. On the other hand, emotions such as happiness and contentment are vital to maintaining healthy blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and even weight.

Undermining the Placebo Response

You've probably heard of the placebo response before, where in a clinical trial the "control" group, or the patients in the trial who are given a placebo, respond to the treatment as well as - if not better than - the group on the drug being tested. This phenomonon is far more common than we are lead to believe. The placebo response has been observed in trials related to dozens of medical conditions, including physical conditions such as asthma, ulcers, migraines, and menstrual cramps, as well as mental disorders like anxiety, depression, and even substance abuse addiction. In fact, a Harvard Medical School program that is dedicated to studying the placebo response notes, "Even when we take pills with active ingredients, part of their effect is likely due to the placebo effect."

Such an important part of health and wellness should not be overlooked or undermined. By simply believing that a remedy will work, patients can increase the efficacy of a treatment, possibly by a lot.

Instead of quoting a bunch of studies on the subject, I can give you a personal example of the power of belief in healing a physical ailment. When my third son was born, he came home from the hospital with a staph infection. Foolishly, I opted to treat it with the prescription medication that his pediatrician prescribed, thinking that because he was so little I didn't want to take any chances with his health. I used the cream he had been prescribed, and within a few days the infection went away.

After only a couple of days, however, the staph came back, and this time it was different. His first infection looked like little white bubbles, just a rash; but his second staph infection started beneath the skin and felt more like the staph infections that caused a MRSA scare a few years ago. The original infection had morphed into something stronger, and scarier.

As I should have done in the first place, I now treated this new infection with a homemade salve of turmeric, ginger, and goldenseal root. In about four days it was gone, but not before it was passed to me. I dutifully began treating my own infection with my salve, but it took about a week and half to go away.

When my husband found a staph bump on his leg (this was the last one to plague my family), I got him to start treatment with the salve right away. He is, admittedly, very skeptical when it comes to homeopathic medicine - his father is a nurse - and I had to nag him daily to use the salve. For weeks, he doubtfully applied the funny-smelling yellow stuff and constantly vowed that he would have to see a doctor "if this shit doesn't go away soon." It finally did, but it took nearly a month of treatment.

Big Pharma and the FDA in Cahoots

It isn't really a secret anymore that some of the country's largest pharmaceutical companies regularly pay the FDA to get and keep their products legal. Of course it doesn't look that way on the books, but many of the "experts" hired to help the FDA determine the safety of medications receive money in some way from Big Pharma.

But the FDA is also working to undermine the efficacy of herbal remedies, namely by doing nothing. With no regulation at all on some strong and even potentially dangerous herbal remedies, the FDA is effectively saying, "Herbal remedies are so ineffective that they aren't worth our time." What a subtle yet extremely powerful way to put doubt into the minds of modern Americans.

The Power of Belief

Like a child who is determined to have a bad time at a party, we often set ourselves up for poor health with a bad attitude. But the best way to make any medicine work, whether natural or conventional, is to believe that it will. While few studies have been conducted on the placebo effect, many naturopathic doctors believe that this effect can improve the efficacy and duration of almost any particular treatment. Similarly, placing a strong emphasis on the power of faith - whatever your religion - can make a treatment more effective. The end result of prayer may be "little more" than a placebo response, but that doesn't make the healing that is gained from it any less real.