Tag: medical

Indigestion Issues?

by Brittany M. Edwards, posted in Health & Wellness

Indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is the uncomfortable feeling you get in your belly usually during a meal or after. It usually comes with bloating, nausea or vomiting, belching, and gas. In some cases, you can feel it while or after having a drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). It can occur after eating spicy or fatty foods, food high in acidity, and from overeating. It is usually the symptom of an underlying problem like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcers, gallbladder disease, or irritable bowel syndrome just to name a few.

If you are having indigestion issues and are tired of taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, you might have already started looking into natural remedies to help you overcome those issues. There are many natural remedies to choose from, but there are a few that stand out the most and actually top of the list when helping ease the pain and comfortability of indigestion and all that it brings.

There are some preventive measures that can be taken to minimize indigestion symptoms. These would be the first line of defense to combat indigestion. Such as frequently eating smaller meals. You can do this by eating a small meal or snack every 2 to 3 hours. Also, eating at a slower pace can help your indigestion; it also reminds you to eat more mindfully. Limiting your caffeine intake and increasing your water intake are also good ways to help with indigestion. Make sure not to eat too late in the evening, this actually causing the heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion that you are working to combat. Adding whole foods to your diet such as lean meat, fruits and vegetables are a great way to get your body healthy and avoid upset stomach and avoiding spicy foods.

Sometimes it can be hard to remember to do all these things (especially avoiding spicy foods in my case), so there are other natural remedies out there that will help with indigestion as well. These are the top few I found while doing my research:

  • Baking soda – acts as an antacid
    • Mix about 1/2 a teaspoon baking soda with a cup of water.
    • Can drink up to 2 to 3 times daily.
  • Ginger – promotes healthy digestion
    • You can add ginger as a spice to your meal.
    • You can make yourself a ginger tea to drink.
    • You can add 2 teaspoons of ginger juice and 1 teaspoon of honey to a warm cup of water to drink.
  • Apple Cider Vinegar – has alkalizing effect
    • Mix a tablespoon of ACV and a teaspoon of honey in a cup of water.
    • Can drink up to 2 to 3 times daily.
  • Fennel Seeds – contain volatile oils that help reduce nausea and control flatulence
    • In a cup of hot water, add 2 tablespoons of fennel and leave it to steep for a while. Strain the water and add a teaspoon of honey. Can drink up to 2 to 3 times daily.
    • You can chew a spoonful of fennel seeds.
    • You can dry roast, grind, and sieve fennel seeds. Take 1/2 a teaspoon of this powder along with water. Follow this remedy twice daily.
  • Chamomile – calms the stomach and soothes spasms in the intestinal tract
    • You can take a half-teaspoon chamomile tincture up to three times daily.
    • You can have a nice cup of chamomile tea.
  • Peppermint – the oil soothes intestinal muscle spasms and helps relieve nausea
    • You can take one or two capsules containing 0.2 milliliters of oil per capsule three times a day, between meals.
    • You can have a nice cup of peppermint tea.
  • Aloe vera juice – reduces inflammation
    • If you have a 1/2 cup of aloe vera juice before a meal, it will settle your stomach.
    • It is also a laxative, so be mindful that you will probably need to be near a bathroom.

There are plenty more remedies out there, what are some you have tried?

Celebrating Black History Month with African American Medical Pioneers

by Brittany M. Edwards, posted in Uncategorized

To get Black History Month started, I decided to find some information on the pioneers in the medical field. I love that so many great accomplishments from my culture paved the way for later generations. I hope that one day I too can become a pioneer in my own right. I will continue to pay homage to those that came before me and appreciate their great works.

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1858–1931)

Known as the physician to perform the first successful open heart surgery, Dr. Williams became acutely aware of the lack of training for black doctors and nurses. As a result, he organized the first black-owned hospital in the United States, Provident Hospital and Training School for Nurses, in 1891. (source)

Mary Eliza Mahoney (1845-1926)

After working at the New England Hospital for Women and Children Training School for Nurses for 15 years, Mahoney was finally accepted into the school in 1879. She became the first professionally trained black nurse in America and went on to advocate for race equality in the medical field. (source)

Dr. William Augustus Hinton (1883-1959)

Born to former slaves, Dr. Hinton attended the three-year, pre-medicine program at University of Kansas. He completed the program in two years and transferred to Harvard University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1905. After teaching for several years, Dr. Hinton enrolled in Harvard’s medical school and eventually became the first black instructor at the prestigious university, where he taught bacteriology and immunology for more than 30 years. He became internationally recognized for his work on the detection and vaccination of syphilis, known as the “Hinton Test”. Dr. Hinton published the first African American textbook, Syphilis and Its Treatment, in 1936. (source)

Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831-1895)

Frequently recognized at the first African American women to earn a Doctor of Science degree, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, M.D, graduated in 1863 from the New England Female Medical College. “She devoted her life to improving health in the black community through research and clinical work. When the Civil War ended, she realized that whole communities of newly-freed blacks in the South would urgently need medical care,” according to PBS.

Dr. Charles Drew (1904-1950)

During World War II, Dr. Drew “forged a new understanding of blood plasma that allowed blood to be stored for transfusions,” according to PBS. He was also the first director of the American Red Cross Blood Bank.

So many more advancements and medical milestones are attributed to African Americans and include these contemporary pioneers:

  • Dr. Benjamin Carson became the first African-American neurosurgeon to separate conjoined twins.
  • Dr. Jocelyn Elders became the first Black Surgeon General of the US in 1993.
  • Dr. David Satcher became the first Black to head the CDC in 1993.

IU Health, a unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine, one of the nation’s leading medical schools, honors the accomplishments of these medical professionals whose lessons are still taught today.

Source: Celebrating Black History Month with African American Medical Pioneers