At last, my jug has come along

After months of dehydrated searching, I've finally been united with the perfect beverage receptacle. My brother gave me the top item on my Christmas list, the Sigg Traveler Classic Water Bottle.

Its made of aluminum, which is lovely to look and to drink from. It holds a lot of water without too much bulk, is pleasantly cool to the touch, reusable with a lifetime warranty , and BPA-free.

Best of all, it keeps your water totally delicious. I've dug it out of my purse after two days, and the water still tasted clean and fresh.

My brother also got me the Sigg Vintage Water Bottle. Its really cute and at 14oz, its great for carrying beverages you wouldn't want or need by the liter.

I love these bottles so much they've inspired me to come out of [blogging] retirement. This new found hydration has left me spilling over with ideas, so I should be updating at least a few times per week. Cheers!

nalgene bottes get even uglier

I've always hated nalgene bottles; they're so ugly, and they always get gross. In my efforts to reduce my contribution to environmental decay while staving off thirst, I've occasionally gotten past appearance and tried one out, but it never stuck. Learning that they are made mostly of the plastic BPA, a known estrogen (exposure to which can be linked with estrogen-based cancers, especially breast cancer), and that there were indicators the plastic could leak into the stored water, I swore off nalgenes completely. So I'm glad the results of a longitudinal study looking at BPA exposure in humans got enough press to provoke the first class-action lawsuit filed against nalgene (asserting they understated the health risks to consumers), to get bottles pulled off the shelves, and to incite nalgene to phase out BPA. So while they'll still be hideous, at least they won't cause cancer anymore.

I'm still in the market for a refillable bottle that is relatively stylish. I usually refill old bottles, but glass is to fragile and I'm temporarily ignoring the horror stories I head about refilling disposable plastic bottles because I don't really have any other option.

If you have any suggestions for attractive reusable water bottles, post in the comments!

tame overwhelm with guided meditation

When I have too much work and not enough time, I find myself going into a state of manic overdrive in order to get everything done. While I'm in it, it feel like this state of frenzy helps me get things accomplished, but in actuality it leads me to get distracted, burned out, make mistakes, or simply give up.

So this week I'm trying something new, and when I feel overwhelmed I am trying to take a moment to slow down. I'm on day two of this strategy, and I must admit its still a bit uncomfortable (how can I take 5 minutes to sit quietly and breathe with all these deadlines looming?), but I really think if I stick with it this strategy will save me time in the long run.

Since sitting still on my own volition seems impossible, I've been doing these guided meditations available from the Meditation Room. They range from 3-10 minutes in length, and there's even one specifically for taking a workplace break.

water myth washed up

Whenever I go home to visit my dad I give him a hard time about his beverage choices, which he typically limits to diet iced tea, alcohol, and black coffee. When I'd nag him to drink more water, he'd rebut that (in addition to his distaste for the stuff) there was no scientific evidence proving water improved health. Well Dad, I hate to admit it, but you were right!

In a new report, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania analyzed over 30 years of data concerning the effect of water and could not confirm its supposed health benefits. They evaluated water's ability to flush our toxins, help organ functioning, help with weight loss, clear skin, and ward off headaches, and found little sound evidence supporting or negating any of these claims. Read more here.

Despite the cold hard science in my face, I still have a hard time accepting this, as I often think I can observe the benefits of water in my body. I guess its the old placebo effect in action again. Still, I am not going to cease drinking copious amounts of water, but I will lay off my dad.

soothe hay fever with a sinus rinse

It is unfair that the magical blossoming of spring inevitably triggers such a horrific allergic response in those of us who deal with seasonal allergies. The lush of spring is right on the horizon...those shivery cold night are numbered. With bulbs blooming and trees budding, runny noses and itchy eyes are creeping in the corner.

If you are a sinus suffer, look into nasal saline irrigation, also known as neti. This type of sinus and nasal cleansing is a purification technique has been used in ayurvedic medicine and purification rituals for thousands of years, and more recently there have been studies that demonstrated its efficacy in reducing sinus discomfort.

I've been plagued by itchy throats and springtime sneezing as far back as I can remember, so I've tried most of the pharmaceuticals, a year or so of shots, and I've been eating local honey for five years. I was really impressed with how quickly and gently rinsing eased my sinus pressure, and after a few months of rinsing a few times a week I feel less irritated and congested.

The sensation is a bit startling at first, but once you get the swing of things it is really no weirder than flossing. To ease into it, try this great sinus rinse kit.

Back from Brazil

This time last week I was with my mom on a rainforest expedition along the Rio Negro, the largest tributary to the Amazon River. Now I'm back in front of my computer. Sigh.
Led by very knowledgeable local naturalist guides, we explored the rainforest by canoe and on foot, and stopped in villages in the Amazon River Basin. We not only got to enjoy the lush beauty of the jungle, but we got to learn a lot about the utility of plants in the rainforest, the habits of jungle animals, and the culture of Amazon villages and towns.
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I will likely get a bit off-topic, but in coming weeks I'll be writing about different aspects of this trip, including medicinal plants of the rainforest and healthcare in Brazil.

Support H.R. 1424: Call your state representative today!

Tomorrow the house will be voting on bill H.R. 1424, the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. This bill, if enacted, would fight insurance discrimination against the mentally ill by requiring mental health parity. Insurance plans that currently cover mental health would have provide the same benefits and same limits for mental health services as for physical health services. While this bill (sponsored by Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)) would not cure all of the inequities surrounding mental health care, it would be a positive step forward for health care reform.

Stigma surrounding mental illness and misunderstanding of its prevalence, manifestations, and treatment options allow insurance companies to shortchange customers on mental health coverage. While there is data to dispute the misconceptions about mental health, much of that information never makes it to the general public.

One common misconception is that covering mental health care would be too much of a financial drain. In testimony to the house opposing H.R. 1424, the National Retail Federation states the bill would increase cost of coverage for retailer and employee alike. However, untreated mental illness is a great drain on the economy. The Wall Street Journal estimates the cost of untreated mental illness at over $90 billion a year, including lost productivity and resulting medical expenditures. Untreated mental illness causes increased absenteeism and lower productivity. Another damaging misconception is that mental illness occurs infrequently, so it doesn't need to be a priority. As discussed in a previous post, mental health issues are very common in the US. According to the Surgeon General, fifty-four million Americans, about 1 in 5 people, are affected by mental illness each year, regardless of ethnicity, sex or socioeconomic class.

The most damaging misconception about mental illness, particularly substance abuse, is that the illness is not real. The pervasive fallacy that one can control one's mental illness but simply chooses not to allows people to believe that someone seeking psychiatric treatment does not deserve the same medical attention as someone seeking physical treatment. This notion is ridiculous. Perhaps my psych degree and employment at a drug and alcohol center makes me more attuned to this issue than the average person, but it seems ludicrous to me that anyone with the option to thrive would choose to suffer. Mental illness is very real, and without proper treatment its consequences cause a great burden on the sufferer and anyone in their orbit. However, even if this were a valid argument for limiting treatment of mental illness, then shouldn't coverage be limited for people with type 2 diabetes who choose a poor diet, or people with high blood pressure who choose to lead sedentary lives? Nobody would ever dream of enforcing those types of limitations on physical problems (well...maybe the insurance companies dream it, but they couldn't get away with it), yet this double standard is tolerated for mental health issues.

So call your representative today! H.R. 1424 will not only expand coverage, but it will help to challenge outmoded beliefs, fight discrimination, normalize mental illness, and allow people to get the treatment they deserve.

UPDATE 3/6/08
It passed!

FDA approves laughter for treatment of malaise

Perhaps I should have listened to my own advice, but as usual my winter-induced ennui convinced me to spend the last two months in hibernation. While I haven't really felt like doing anything, I have been able to stave off the sadness of SAD with a daily dose of laughter. While the FDA hasn't actually validated the ol' adage, there is plenty of data to prove that laughter can reduce pain, improve oxygen flow to the brain, and generally lift spirits.

So if winter is trampling your mood, try renting Super Troopers, reading some Sedaris, joining a laughter yoga group, or just yucking it up at my new favorite joke:

Bush and Cheney are at a restaurant for lunch. The waitress comes over and asks what they will be having.

Bush says, "I'll have a quickie."

The waitress steps back in disgust and says, "Mr. President, I thought that kind of piggish behavior went out with the last administration!"

She storms off and Dubya looks confused. Cheney shakes his head at the president and says, "George, it's pronounced QUICHE."

Inspiration: Chris Kilham

When I first developed interest in alternative and traditional herbal medicine, I took a class called "The Shaman's Pharmacy" with medicine hunter Chris Kilham. When Chris is not studying with shaman and conducting medical research around the world, he teaches ethnobotany at Umass Amherst. One of his notable achievements is popularizing kava kava (think herbal xanax...I'll elaborate in a separate post) in the western world. In preparation for a trip to the Amazon I'm taking in March, I'm re-reading Chris' book Tales from the Medicine Trail. Part travelogue, part herbal reference, this book is a great read for anyone with an interest in ethnobotany.

Coincidentally, after I initially posted this entry I came across an article in yesterday's New York Times about Chris' business, Medicine Hunter Inc. and his involvement in marketing the stimulant herb maca.

parsley: not just a garnish

This pretty green herb can add much more than decorative value to your kitchen. Parsley is rich in antioxidants, and is a great source of the essential nutrients vitamin C and vitamin A (via beta-carotene), as well as vitamin K, folic acid and iron. These nutrients are linked with heath benefits including heart health and protection against arthritis.

Parsley tea can be a fertile woman's best friend. Parsley is also known to nudge along a late period; its mild emmenagogue properties can stimulate menstruation, as long the lateness isn't due to pregnancy. Parsley is traditionally thought to relax the cervix and improve digestion, so it is also useful in relieving menstrual cramps and bloating. To prepare the tea, simply fill a mug with fresh chopped parsley and steep in hot water for about a half hour. Drink a cup every few hours to stimulate menstruation or ease menstrual distress.

feel great in 08: vitamin b-complex

A late night of merriment and champagne can upset an earnest New Year's resolution before it even has a chance. While the traditions of boozing on New Year's Eve and turning a new leaf on New Year's Day may contradict each other, your resolutions can be easier to face with the help of vitamin B complex.

While there's not much evidence to support the theory that vitamin B deficiency contributes to hangovers, numerous anecdotal reports of b-complex easing the consequences of partying inspired me to try it out. The results proved so effective that I now keep a bottle of sublingual b complex in my purse when I go to parties to share with friends. Unless you're wearing a lampshade on your head at the night's end (in which case you'll have to just dump all resolutions and sleep it off), vitamin B complex can save the day.

yoga at your desk

Spending the day seated at a desk can leave you weary. The video above is from a series of desk yoga sequences that are suitable for the office. The 4 minute routines will leave you more refreshed than an afternoon espresso. If a video is too obtrusive for your work situation, try this inconspicuous series.

SAD: Winter's silent bummer

I notice it first around the end of daylight savings time; a mere week of walking home from work in the dark triggers sleepiness, lethargy, and general ennui. It typically peaks in February, (although the start of March is often terrible) at which point I dedicate myself to sleeping until the crocuses start to bud.

Many people slow down in the winter; increased eating and sleeping during the cold, dark months becomes a form of human hibernation. However, some experiences of winter that move past rest to a period of prolonged distress, sadness, and anxiety could be attributed to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). If you suffer from internet-induced hypochondria, keep in mind that the rates of SAD are relativity low; only about 1 in 20 people are thought to have SAD. However, one of the simplest and least obtrusive treatments for SAD is a walk during lunchtime, and that would be a healthy lifestyle addition for anyone, the depressed and the hypochondriac alike.

SAD is caused by limited exposure to light during the darker months, and standard treatment for SAD is light therapy. Light-boxes are typical, but one study demonstrated that walking for an hour a day in winter sunlight can be as effective as 2.5 hours of light therapy. Its important that the sun be absorbed through the retina, so avoid wearing sunglasses while outside. Since daily exercise improves overall health, this treatment can have numerous health benefits.

In more severe cases of SAD (or if its too cold and miserable to go outside), light therapy shows efficacy in numerous clinical trials. 30 minutes a day in front of a 10,000 lux lamp improved symptoms in 3/4 of research participants in trials at Columbia University.

And of course, if you're feeling hopeless, worthless or suicidal, talk to someone and seek professional help.

Big hopes for a little bulb

Health beverages are abundant in Japan. Between the amino-acid infused water and vitamin c fiber drink, you'll find airplane bottles of ginger extract, garlic extract, and various extracts I could not identify by the picture on the bottle. While visiting my boyfriend who was living in Tokyo, I had the (unfortunate) opportunity to test the antibiotic properties of garlic.

I'm pretty sure I transported a bug from the US, because my man got terribly ill the day after I arrived. Having no luck finding echinacea, zinc, or any of my regular cold combatants, I selected garlic extract. The bottle looked almost identical to the one on the right, but the the drawing on the label depicted garlic instead of ginger. He drank one every few hours and was feeling much better within a day.

Today I crossed the boundary from calling my sneezing allergies to accepting I'm coming down with something, so I'm loading up on odorless garlic extract tablets. Hopefully it will help salvage my weekend.

How sad is your state?

The nonprofit agency Mental Health America released a report that ranks depression for each state. The organization developed a composite measure of depression levels based on data from SAMSHA's National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health and the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (two of my favorite data sets!).

Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey were found to be the mentally healthiest states, while Idaho, Nevada, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming were found to have the poorest mental health.

Available resources, affordable treatment, insurance coverage, and utilization of available services were all factors associated with better mental health. So basically, the more people who can and do use mental health services in a state, the lower the suicide and depression rates. States with more generous mental health coverage tended to be the states where more people accessed treatment, resulting in lower suicide rates.

Who paid for this research, you ask? Why, the kind folks at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. How nice of them! I'm sure they weren't thinking at all about their meds down the pipeline, like Pristiq, an anti-depressant undergoing regulatory review right now, or vabicaserin, an anti-depressant currently in phase 3 research. I'd love to see a marketing map of target advertising audiences when Pristiq is approved. Oh wait, I already posted it above, silly me. However, while I am suspicious, I don't classify this kind of industry support as "bad", just saddening. Data like this informs the psych health policy debate while helping to destigmatize mental health treatment, so studies like this need to get done. Unfortunetly, as it often seems when it comes to mental health, only ones willing to foot the bill are those with potential for financial gain.

Ode to Ginger

Ginger tops my list of favorites for both spices and home remedies. I became addicted to the flavor, pink picked sweet slices with sushi and the zest in my dad's stir fry, and never thought about why my mom would get me ginger ale whenever my stomach was upset.

I became passionate about ginger after learning that it is traditionally served with sushi to combat any bacteria that may be ingested with raw fish. The simplicity of such a delicious tradition made ginger my favorite tummy stand-by.

There's data to show that ginger helps with motion sickness, morning sickness, post-operative surgery related nausea, chemotherapy nausea, and inflammation, and it is thought in Traditional Chinese Medicine to increase energy and heat.

For a cheap treat, make some fresh ginger tea by steeping fresh ginger root for 5-10 minutes in hot water with a dash of honey and lemon.

the data is in: grandma was right!

Always delighted to read clinical evidence that supports home remedies, I'm happy to report that honey got some evidence-based positive press today.

In a comparison of buckwheat honey, dextromethorphan (DM) cough syrup (honey-flavored, notes the abstract) and no treatment for cough in children, honey was rated the best by study participants and their parents.

The study, conducted by researchers at Penn State Pediatric Center in Hershey (the sweetest place on earth demonstrating its nature, as usual) was recently published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. It should be noted that funding was provided by the National Honey Board, and industry-funded government based agency whose mission statement focuses on the promotion of honey; however I'd be surprised if the honey industry handles its investigators the same way as big pharm.