The following is an excerpt from the book Unattended Sorrow: Recovering from Loss and Reviving the Heart
by Stephen Levine
Published by Rodale; February; $23.95 US; 1-59486-065-3
Copyright © 2005 by Stephen Levine

WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO AWAKEN TO A DAY WITH OUR HEARTS open to our pain?

What would it be like to approach the mean habit of rejecting our pain, which turns it into suffering, with mercy and awareness? When we are no longer mesmerized by our wounds or making a religion of the pain by which we so often define ourselves, we stop running for our lives.

Some years ago, sitting next to a fifteen-month-old child whose cancer had begun in her mother's womb, as I prayed for her life, something very deep inside told me to stop, that I didn't know enough to make such a prayer. It said that I was just second-guessing God. That I could not really comprehend what her spirit might have needed next, that only this pain in this fleeting body, which was being torn from the hearts of her loved ones, might teach her as she evolved toward her ceaseless potential. That she, like us all, was in the lap of the mystery, and that the only appropriate prayer was, "May you get the most out of this possible!"

Sharing our healing, we send wishes for the well-being of all those who, like ourselves, find themselves in a difficult moment, as the heart whispers, "May we all get the most out of this possible."

And we can say to ourselves, in appreciation of the healing potential of approaching with mercy and awareness that which so recently may have been an aversion to our situation, "May I get the most out of this possible."

It is said that nothing is true until we have experienced it, so as an experiment in sending love where the fear is, we can use the presence of mild pain to test the truth of softening and sending mercy into an area of our body that is perhaps captured in the constriction of fear. Knowing that working with physical pain demonstrates a means of working with mental pain as well, we can let go of the tension around physical discomfort.

If you watch closely, you'll notice that when you experience physical pain, you ostracize and isolate that part of yourself. You close off what is calling out for your help. We do the same thing with our grief.

When you stub your toe, more than physical pain is generated; grief is released into the wound, followed by a litany of dissatisfactions and "poor me's," a damning of God sent heavenward. When we trip and fall in the darkness, we are all too ready to curse ourselves for being so clumsy, as well as for not being able to hold our bladder until dawn, for not counting the hours in our just-expended 1,000-hour lightbulb, and the bruise is suffused with self-judgment and an irrational sense of responsibility.

The next time you have a minor wound, such as a stubbed toe or bumped elbow, note how long it takes that wound--when you soften to it and use it as a focus for loving kindness--to heal. Then compare it with the number of days it takes a similar wound to heal when you turn away from it, allowing the fear and resistance that rushes toward it to mercilessly remain. Contrast the healing of an injury in the mind or body in which loving kindness has gradually gathered to one that has been abandoned.

This softening and opening around pain has been shown in several double-blind studies to provide greater access of the immune system to an area of injury. It opens the vice of resistance into a never-considered acceptance of the moment. It denies hopelessness a home. It proves we are not helpless, that we can actively intercede in what we previously believed we had only to endure.

Working with our pain, or the pain of loved ones, cultivates a mercy that allows us to stay one more moment at their bedside when we are most needed. It allows us to not run away.

To open some of our healing potential, soften around the pain to melt the resistance that isolates it. Enter it with mercy, instead of walling it off with fear. Pass through the barricades of fear and distrust that attempt to defend the pain. Let what seems an improbable love--the ultimate acceptance of our pain--enter the cluster of sensations that so agitate the mind and body.

It takes patience to let go of doubt. So many fears warn us against opening beyond the numbness that surrounds pain. But when we allow ourselves to be open to and investigate these fears, we come to see them and our negative attachment to them, our compulsive warring with them, as a great unkindness to ourselves. As we open into our pain we may weep with gratitude when at last the pain does not so much disappear as become dispersed through the gradually expanding spaciousness of awareness.

As pain teaches us that fear can be penetrated by mercy and awareness, from some inherent knowing there resonates from our suffering a perfect teaching in compassion. We find in our pain the pain we all share. Softening around pain with mercy instead of hardening it with fear, the heart expands as "my' pain becomes "the" pain. Odd as it may sound, when we share the insights arising from our pain we become more able to honor the pain.

Following a tributary from the personal to the universal, we can find in our pain the pain of others as well. In our own wish to be free of suffering, others are calling out to be freed from their difficulties. Finding them in ourselves, the loving kindness that we extend to all sentient beings moves Earth toward heaven.

When we meet pain with mercy, there is a silent sigh of understanding and relief that can serve the whole world. There is exposed a meaning to life, a connection through ourselves to all others, that proposes a balm to the suffering in the world.

Reprinted fromUnattended Sorrow: Recovering from Loss and Reviving the Heart by Stephen Levine © 2005 by Stephen Levine. Permission granted by Rodale, Inc., Emmaus, PA 18098. Available wherever books are sold or directly from the publisher by calling (800) 848-4735 or visit their website at www.rodalestore.com

next:Articles: A Lesson in Change that Changed My Life

Codependence and Alcoholism

"When I first came into contact with the word "Codependent" over a decade ago, I did not think that the word had anything to do with me personally. At that time, I heard the word "co-dependent" used only in reference to someone who was involved with an Alcoholic - and since I was a Recovering Alcoholic, I obviously could not be Codependent.

I paid only slightly more attention to the Adult Children of Alcoholics Syndrome, not because it applied to me personally - I was not from an Alcoholic family - but because many people whom I knew obviously fit the symptoms of that syndrome. It never occurred to me to wonder if the Adult Child Syndrome and Codependence were related.

As my recovery from alcoholism progressed, however, I began to realize that just being clean and sober was not enough. I started to look for some other answers. By that time the conception of the Adult Child Syndrome had expanded beyond just pertaining to Alcoholic families. I started to realize that, although my family of origin had not been Alcoholic, it had indeed been dysfunctional.

I had gone to work in the Alcoholism Recovery field by this time and was confronted daily with the symptoms of Codependence and Adult Child Syndrome. I recognized that the definition of Codependence was also expanding. As I continued my personal Recovery, and continued to be involved in helping others with their Recovery, I was constantly looking for new information. In reading the latest books and attending workshops, I could see a pattern emerging in the expansion of the terms "Codependent" and "Adult Child." I realized that these terms were describing the same phenomenon."

next: Alcoholism and Co-Dependence

Chamomile is an alternative herbal treatment for anxiety and tension, various digestive disorders, muscle pain and spasm, and menstrual cramps. Learn about the usage, dosage, side-effects of Roman Chamomile.

Botanical Name:Chamaemelum nobile
Common Names: Roman Chamomile

• Overview
• Plant Description
• What's It Made Of?
• Available Forms
• How to Take It
• Precautions
• Possible Interactions
• Supporting Research
  -----------------------------------------

Overview

There are two plants known as chamomile: the more popular German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) and Roman, or English, chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). Both belong to the Asteraceae family, which also includes ragweed, echinacea, and feverfew. Both have been used traditionally to calm frayed nerves, to treat various digestive disorders, to relieve muscle spasms and menstrual cramps, and to treat a range of skin conditions (including minor first degree burns) and mild infections. Chamomile can also be found in a variety of face creams, drinks, hair dyes, shampoos, and perfumes.

Most research on chamomile has been done with the closely related plant, German chamomile, which has similar, but not identical, active ingredients. Roman chamomile has not been used in studies of people as much as German chamomile, so claims about its use for specific health conditions are based on clinical experience and will have to be verified through future research. Nevertheless, Roman chamomile is an ingredient in many teas, ointments, and other types of medicinal preparations.

Traditionally, Roman chamomile has been used to treat nausea, vomiting, heartburn, and excess intestinal gas that can happen when feeling nervous. It is widely valued for its tension-relieving properties. As legend has it, Peter Rabbit's mother used Roman chamomile tea to calm him down after his adventures in Mr. MacGregor's garden. This herb may also reduce inflammation associated with cuts or hemorrhoids, and may ease the discomfort associated with conditions such as eczema and gingivitis (swollen gums). The traditional uses of Roman chamomile, again while not studied scientifically are quite similar to the uses for German chamomile.

Plant Description

Roman chamomile originates in northwestern Europe and Northern Ireland, where it creeps close to the ground and can reach up to one foot in height. Gray-green leaves grow from the stems, and the flowers have yellow centers surrounded by white petals, like miniature daisies. It differs from German chamomile in that its leaves are thicker and it grows closer to the ground. The flowers smell like apples.

What's It Made Of?

Chamomile teas, ointments, and extracts all start with the white and yellow flower head. The flower heads may be dried and used in teas or capsules or crushed and steamed to produce a blue oil, which has medicinal benefits. The oil contains ingredients that reduce swelling and may limit the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Available Forms

Roman chamomile is available as dried flowers in bulk, tea, tinctures, and in creams and ointments.

How to Take It

Pediatric

There are no known scientific reports regarding the appropriate pediatric dose of Roman chamomile. For this reason, children should not take this herb.

Adult

Roman chamomile can be taken a number of ways. A cup of hot chamomile tea may help soothe an upset stomach or help those who suffer from insomnia. The oral dosages listed below should help relieve stomach discomfort; chamomile has also been used for reducing menstrual pain and the swelling of gums in the case of gingivitis. The ointment and bath recommendations are for skin conditions.

• Tea: Pour one cup of boiling water over 1 heaping tablespoon of dried herb, steep 10 to 15 minutes.
• Liquid extract (1:1, 70% alcohol) 20 to 120 drops, three times per day
• Bath: Add two teabags or a few drops of Roman chamomile essential oil to a full tub of bathwater to soothe hemorrhoids or skin problems
• Cream/Ointment: Apply cream or ointment containing 3% to 10% chamomile content

Precautions

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.

Chamomile is considered generally safe by the FDA. Roman chamomile contains an ingredient, anthemic acid, which can induce vomiting if taken in high doses. Highly concentrated tea may therefore cause vomiting.

Those who are allergic to ragweed or other plants in the Asteraceae family (including echinacea, feverfew, and chrysanthemums) should avoid chamomile. Allergic reactions are somewhat common, actually, and may include stomach cramps, tongue thickness, swollen lips and eyes (called angioedema), itching, hives, throat tightness, and even shortness of breath. The latter two symptoms are medical emergencies and medical care should be sought urgently.

Possible Interactions

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use Roman chamomile without first talking to your healthcare provider.

Sedatives

Because of its calming effects, chamomile should not be taken in conjunction with sedative medications (particularly those that belong to a class called benzodiazepines such as alprazolam and lorazepam) or alcohol.

Warfarin

Patients taking blood-thinning medications such as warfarin should use Roman chamomile only under the careful supervision of a healthcare practitioner. Although not proven scientifically, this herb may, in theory, enhance the effects of the medication.

back to: Herbal Treatments Homepage

Supporting Research

Blumenthal M, ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Boston, Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998:320-321.

Briggs CJ, Briggs GL. Herbal products in depression therapy. CPJ/RPC. November 1998;40-44.

Cauffield JS, Forbes HJM. Dietary supplements used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Lippincott's Primary Care Practice. 1999;3(3):290-304.

Ernst E, ed. The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An Evidence-Based Approach. New York, NY: Mosby;2001:110-112.

Foster S, Tyler VE. Tyler's Honest Herbal. New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press; 1999:105-108, 399.

Heck AM, DeWitt BA, Lukes AL. Potential interactions between alternative therapies and warfarin. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2000;57(13):1221-1227.

Leung A, Foster S. Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Wiley & Sons; 1996.

McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A. American Herbal Products Associations's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, Fla: CRC Press; 1996:27.

Miller L. Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions. Arch Intern Med. 1998;158(20):2200-2211.

Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health Care Professionals. London, England: The Pharmaceutical Press; 1996:72 73.

O'Hara M, Kiefer D, Farrell K, Kemper K. A review of 12 commonly used medicinal herbs. Arch Fam Med. 1998:7(6):523-536.

Robbers JE, Tyler VE. Tyler's Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals. New York, NY: The Haworth Herbal Press;1999:69-71.

Rotblatt M, Ziment I. Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine. Philadelphia, Penn:Hanley & Belfus, Inc. 2002:119-123.

back to: Herbal Treatments Homepage

sexual fantasies

Visitor Input

Men's sexual fantasies are probably a lot tamer than you think. For the most part, they don't even involve multiple partners, foreign objects or a tight, skimpy French maid's outfit. Male sexual fantasy tends to stick to a very tight formula: hot rambunctious sex with people we aren't supposed to be having it with. This pool is extended to include platonic friends, our girlfriend or spouse's friends and ex-girlfriends who were great in bed.

From Sarah: Based on the men I've talked to about this, I'd have to say they're not all the same. Some supposedly common male sexual fantasies (two women at once, for example) that I know appeal to some men I've known, don't even make sense to my husband. I've found myself trying to explain them to him while he looks at me with an 'this is just wierd' expression! And I've known some men who really fantasized about violent sex or S&M that would wierd out others. But, I think Mr. Answer Man is probably on safe ground with his answer! Beautiful women with passion and creativity always seem to be part of the picture. Though for the single guy, it can also include women who aren't necessarily off limits, just not actually accessible right now...

From Robert: The two women thing is true! Guys DO fantasize about that- another one is to be completely taken advantage of by a woman; to have her totally in control of him.

Kajay: I am a woman who has the knack of getting my playmates to open up and speak freely to me about anything. So I can tell you that most men's fantasies involve sexual acts with women who are not their "type"--sexual acts that they would not dare try with their wife or girlfriend.

Lyselre: I'm a 19 y/o female who totally agrees with your opinion about the x girlfriend. I recently broke up with a 22 y/o male as he was too obsessed. He is now badgering to have sex with me still and I did the lamest thing I could have ever done. I gave in to him the other night and gave him what he wanted. I now regret it bigtime and I hope that all of you that read this that are in this situation think more carefully on the matter. I don't wish for any of you out there to go through the stress I am going through right now. So anyone in this position - PLEASE think about it and whether or not it is worth it before you do it.

Sporty: Almost every guy I know wants a threesome, with two women. However, if I teasingly say that I want a threesome (I have no real interest in one) with him and another guy, they in no way want a part of it! Double standard! A few others that guy friends have shared with me include women who are COMPLETELY shaved and being videotaped having sex.

Anonymous: I personally know my guy's fantasy.....to be with another guy. He wants only oral contact (thank you) and to know the sensation of another man's touch. I help him with this thru internet/video/porn or just rating guys at the mall. It makes him more at ease and very, very into me. I do not feel intimated or jealous, as we both realize it is fantasy and he has no real desire to experience it in the flesh. But I completely support him and love the fact he told me his deepest, darkest, sex fantasy.

Ranger Man: I think that fantasies are meant to be just that...fantasies! I know so many people who have acted out their fantasy and found it to be very disappointing when they actually did it. And now they are reluctant to try ANYTHING new. Everyone has a different fantasy, and it doesn't matter how strange or wierd it is. Having fantasies is good for the imagination, and help keep the sexual relationship interesting. If a couple is open with each other about their fantasies, it will help both of them with trying new things. But I feel that your ultimate fantasy should not be lived out because chances are good that the events, people, and surroundings will not live up to what you had imagined.

Jane34: I recently found out my husband's fantasy was to have anal sex after discovering his internet searches. At first, I was disgusted, then we tried it and it hurt at first but now I really enjoy it. We are waiting now to fulfil my fantasy to see him with another woman! Yeah most guys fantasise about that I know and mine is no different, but he never mentioned it as he felt it was too off limits. Should have seen his jaw drop. Anyway, we are in the process of making it happen. I have no idea why I, as the woman, want to see this but it shows it is not just a man's thing.

What group of men know more about their wives' sexual fantasies?

next: Male Sexual Assault

How does Today's Advertising Impact on Your Body Image?

Advertisers often emphasize sexuality and the importance of physical attractiveness in an attempt to sell products,¹ but researchers are concerned that this places undue pressure on women and men to focus on their appearance. In recent survey by Teen People magazine, 27% of the girls felt that the media pressures them to have a perfect body,² and a poll conducted in 1996 by the international ad agency Saatchi and Saatchi found that ads made women fear being unattractive or old.³ Researchers suggest advertising media may adversely impact women's body image, which can lead to unhealthy behavior as women and girls strive for the ultra-thin body idealized by the media. Advertising images have also been recently accused of setting unrealistic ideals for males, and men and boys are beginning to risk their health to achieve the well-built media standard.

The Beautiful Message

The average woman sees 400 to 600 advertisements per day,⁴ and by the time she is 17 years old, she has received over 250,000 commercial messages through the media.⁵ Only 9% of commercials have a direct statement about beauty,⁶ but many more implicitly emphasize the importance of beauty--particularly those that target women and girls. One study of Saturday morning toy commercials found that 50% of commercials aimed at girls spoke about physical attractiveness, while none of the commercials aimed at boys referred to appearance.⁷ Other studies found 50% of advertisements in teen girl magazines and 56% of television commercials aimed at female viewers used beauty as a product appeal.⁸ This constant exposure to female-oriented advertisements may influence girls to become self-conscious about their bodies and to obsess over their physical appearance as a measure of their worth.⁹

A Thin Ideal

Advertisements emphasize thinness as a standard for female beauty, and the bodies idealized in the media are frequently atypical of normal, healthy women. In fact, today's fashion models weigh 23% less than the average female,¹⁰ and a young woman between the ages of 18-34 has a 7% chance of being as slim as a catwalk model and a 1% chance of being as thin as a supermodel.¹¹ However, 69% of girls in one study said that magazine models influence their idea of the perfect body shape,¹² and the pervasive acceptance of this unrealistic body type creates an impractical standard for the majority of women.

Some researchers believe that advertisers purposely normalize unrealistically thin bodies, in order to create an unattainable desire that can drive product consumption.¹³ "The media markets desire. And by reproducing ideals that are absurdly out of line with what real bodies really do look like...the media perpetuates a market for frustration and disappointment. Its customers will never disappear," writes Paul Hamburg, an assistant professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.¹⁴ Considering that the diet industry alone generates $33 billion in revenue,¹⁵ advertisers have been successful with their marketing strategy.

Advertising's Impact

Women frequently compare their bodies to those they see around them, and researchers have found that exposure to idealized body images lowers women's satisfaction with their own attractiveness.¹⁶ One study found that people who were shown slides of thin models had lower self-evaluations than people who had seen average and oversized models,¹⁷ and girls reported in a Body Image Survey that "very thin" models made them feel insecure about themselves.¹⁸ In a sample of Stanford undergraduate and graduate students, 68% felt worse about their own appearance after looking through women's magazines.¹⁹ Many health professionals are also concerned by the prevalence of distorted body image among women, which may be fostered by their constant self-comparison to extremely thin figures promoted in the media. Seventy-five percent (75%) of "normal" weight women think they are overweight²⁰ and 90% of women overestimate their body size.²¹

Dissatisfaction with their bodies causes many women and girls to strive for the thin ideal. The number one wish for girls ages 11 to 17 is to be thinner,²² and girls as young as five have expressed fears of getting fat.²³ Eighty percent (80%) of 10-year-old girls have dieted,²⁴ and at any one time, 50% of American women are currently dieting.²⁵ Some researchers suggest depicting thin models may lead girls into unhealthy weight-control habits,²⁶ because the ideal they seek to emulate is unattainable for many and unhealthy for most. One study found that 47% of the girls were influenced by magazine pictures to want to lose weight, but only 29% were actually overweight.²⁷ Research has also found that stringent dieting to achieve an ideal figure can play a key role in triggering eating disorders.²⁸ Other researchers believe depicting thin models appears not to have long-term negative effects on most adolescent women, but they do agree it affects girls who already have body-image problems.²⁹ Girls who were already dissatisfied with their bodies showed more dieting, anxiety, and bulimic symptoms after prolonged exposure to fashion and advertising images in a teen girl magazine.³⁰ Studies also show that a third of American women in their teens and twenties begin smoking cigarettes in order to help control their appetite.³¹

Boys and Body Image

Although distorted body image has widely been known to affect women and girls, there is growing awareness regarding the pressure men and boys are under to appear muscular. Many males are becoming insecure about their physical appearance as advertising and other media images raise the standard and idealize well-built men. Researchers are concerned about how this impacts men and boys, and have seen an alarming increase in obsessive weight training and the use of anabolic steroids and dietary supplements that promise bigger muscles or more stamina for lifting.³² One study suggests that an alarming trend in toy action figures' increasing muscularity is setting unrealistic ideals for boys much in the same way Barbie dolls have been accused of giving an unrealistic ideal of thinness for girls.³³ "Our society's worship of muscularity may cause increasing numbers of men to develop pathological shame about their bodies... Our observations of these little plastic toys have stimulated us to explore further links between cultural messages, body image disorders and use of steroids and other drugs," says researcher Dr. Harrison Pope.³⁴

The majority of teenagers with eating disorders are girls (90%),³⁵ but experts believe the number of boys affected is increasing and that many cases may not be reported, since males are reluctant to acknowledge any illness primarily associated with females.³⁶ Studies have also found that boys, like girls, may turn to smoking to help them lose weight. Boys ages 9 to 14 who thought they were overweight were 65% more likely to think about or try smoking than their peers, and boys who worked out every day in order to lose weight were twice as likely to experiment with tobacco.³⁷

Source: Body Image and Advertising . 2000. Issue Briefs. Studio City, Calif.: Mediascope Press. Last revision was April 25, 2000.

Body Image and Advertising Article References:

1. Fox, R.F. (1996). Harvesting Minds: How TV Commercials Control Kids . Praeger Publishing: Westport, Connecticut.
2. "How to love the way you look." Teen People , October, 1999.
3. Peacock, M. (1998). "Sex, Housework & Ads." Women's Wire web site. (Online: http://womenswire.com/forums/image/D1022/. Last retrieved April 14, 2000]
4. Dittrich, L. "About-Face facts on the MEDIA." About-Face web site. [Online: http://about-face.org/r/facts/media.shtml. Last retrieved April 14, 2000]
5. Media Influence on Teens. Facts compiled by Allison LaVoie. The Green Ladies Web Site. [online: http://kidsnrg.simplenet.com/grit.dev/london/g2_jan12/green_ladies/media/ . Last accessed April 13, 2000]
6. Dittrich, L. "About-Face facts on the MEDIA," op. cit.
7. Media's Effects on Girls: Body Image and Gender Identity, Fact Sheet. 
8. Ibid.
9. Dittrick, L. "About-Face facts on BODY IMAGE." About-Face web site. [Online: http://about-face.org/r/facts/bi.shtml . Last retrieved April 14, 2000]
10. "Facts on Body and Image," compiled by Jean Holzgang. Just Think Foundation web site. [Online: http://www.justthink.org/bipfact.html . Last retrieved April 14, 2000]
11. Olds, T. (1999). "Barbie figure 'life-threatening'." The Body Culture Conference. VicHealth and Body Image & Health Inc.
12. "Magazine Models Impact Girls' Desire to Lose Weight, Press Release." (1999). American Academy of Pediatrics.
13. Hamburg, P. (1998). "The media and eating disorders: who is most vulnerable?" Public Forum: Culture, Media and Eating Disorders, Harvard Medical School.
14. Ibid.
15. Schneider, K. "Mission Impossible." People Magazine , June, 1996.
16. Dittrich, L. "About-Face facts on the MEDIA," op. cit.
17. Ibid.
18. Maynard, C. (1998). "Body Image." Current Health 2 .
19. Dittrich, L. "About-Face facts on the MEDIA," op. cit.
20. Kilbourne, J., "Slim Hopes," video, Media Education Foundation, 1995.
21. Media Influence on Teens, op. cit.
22. "Facts on Body and Image," op. cit.
23. Media Influence on Teens, op. cit.
24. Kilbourne, J., op. cit.
25. Schneider, K., op. cit.
26. Woznicki, K. (1999). "Pop Culture Hurts Body Image." OnHealth web site. [Online: http://www.onhealth.com/ch1/briefs/item,55572.asp . Last retrieved April 13, 2000]
27. "Magazine Models Impact Girls' Desire to Lose Weight, Press Release," op. cit.
28. "Facts on Body and Image," op. cit.
29. Goode, E. "Girls' Self Image Survives Effect of Glossy Ads." The New York Times , August 24, 1999.
30. Ibid.
31. Morris, L. "The Cigarette Diet." Allure , March 2000.
32. Shallek-Klein, J. "Striving for the Baywatch Boy Build." Silver Chips Newspaper, October 7, 1999.
33. "Body Image Disorder Linked to Toy Action Figures' Growing Muscularity," Press Release..(1999). McLean Hopital.
34. Ibid.
35. Schneider, K., op. cit.
36. Wax. R.G. (1998). "Boys and Body Image." San Diego Parent Magazine.
37. Marcus, A. (1999). "Body Image Tied to Smoking in Kids." Health Scout. Merck-Medco Managed Care.

next: Many Great Women Have Been Plagued by Depression and Body Image Disorders
~ eating disorders library
~ all articles on eating disorders

Parents of special needs children creating a student profile with notes about academic and non-academic things that can be easily shared with others.

Lisa aka Darky from adders.org forum boards has given permission to add this about a child's profile. It can be used within school, where notes can be made about academic and non-academic things. The profile would be provided to support staff, supply teachers, when moving up a year to a new teacher - things like this. So thanks to Lisa for giving permission to use this here.

The Student Profile

The idea behind a child profile is that notes can be made for things such as particular difficulties - preferences to learning styles - likes and dislikes - preferences to various things within class setting or playground setting. With information given by parents and maybe the teacher. This is to give those who work with your child on a daily basis or on a very irregular basis such as supply teaching.

It is not easy to explain the type of things to put in this profile as all children are different - so Lisa has very kindly written out a sort of sample of things that could be entered into the Childs Profile as an example. I am sure that all parents will be able to have ideas of things that would be very helpful for members of staff who come into contact with their child would find it very helpful to know about in a short format when they first come into contact with the child so adding these to those of the school would be really helpful.

However it should be said that this does need to be brief and to the point not long winded!!

Briefing Notes For C L Class

Then it says summary of difficulties,

• asperger syndrome
• poor visual perceptual memory
• poor fine/gross motor skills
• mild language delay

Then it says in particular;

• C seems happy, hardworking and organised but he is very good at putting up a front when he is lost, anxious or worried.
• We (the school) have asked mum to let us know as soon as possible particular worries as he tends to take worries home.
• He is sensitive to noise - please reassure him if you have to speak sharpley to the class or particular children (he tends to assume you are upset with him.
• He needs regular routines and lots of warnings about change or things happening.
• He needs lots of reassurance
• He is good at seeming to understand when he does not.
• He is very literal minded and not very good at drawing conclusions.
• He has a strategy of repeating back what he has heard and finds this helpful.
• He tends to assume you know what he is thinking without having to tell you.
• He has a history of motor control difficulties and has some exercises to help with this. He will tend to struggle in PE, especially ball skills.
• He is desperate to please and does work hard. Trying to put in some of the childs good points such as being considerate of others or desperate to please really makes this a very positive document that I am sure will be a huge asset to many children and schools.

A review of scientific literature reveals that stimulant medication for ADHD children actually reduces the chances of later substance abuse.

Does Stimulant Therapy of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Beget Later Substance Abuse? A Meta-analytic Review of the Literature

Timothy E. Wilens, MD*, Stephen V. Faraone, PhD*,, Joseph Biederman, MD*, and Samantha Gunawardene, BS* * Clinical Research Program in Peiatric Psychopharmacology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Objective. Concerns exist that stimulant therapy of youths with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may result in an increased risk for subsequent substance use disorders (SUD). We investigated all long-term studies in which pharmacologically treated and untreated youths with ADHD were examined for later SUD outcomes.

Methods. A search of all available prospective and retrospective studies of children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD that had information relating childhood exposure to stimulant therapy and later SUD outcome in adolescence or adulthood was conducted through PubMed supplemented with data from scientific presentations. Meta-analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between stimulant therapy and subsequent SUD in youths with ADHD in general while addressing specifically differential effects on alcohol use disorders or drug use disorders and the potential effects of covariates.

Results. Six studies-2 with follow-up in adolescence and 4 in young adulthood-were included and comprised 674 medicated subjects and 360 unmedicated subjects who were followed at least 4 years. The pooled estimate of the odds ratio indicated a 1.9-fold reduction in risk for SUD in youths who were treated with stimulants compared with youths who did not receive pharmacotherapy for ADHD (z = 2.1; 95% confidence interval for odds ratio [OR]: 1.1-3.6). We found similar reductions in risk for later drug and alcohol use disorders (z = 1.1). Studies that reported follow-up into adolescence showed a greater protective effect on the development of SUD (OR: 5.8) than studies that followed subjects into adulthood (OR: 1.4). Additional analyses showed that the results could not be accounted for by any single study or by publication bias.

Conclusion. Our results suggest that stimulant therapy in childhood is associated with a reduction in the risk for subsequent drug and alcohol use disorders.

Key Words: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, substance use, pharmacotherapy

Abbreviations: ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, SUD, substance use disorders, OR, odds ratio, POR, precision of the odds ratio, SN, standard normal deviate, CI, confidence interval.

Source: Wilens TE, et al. (2003). Does stimulant therapy of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder beget later substance abuse: A meta-analytic review of the literature. Pediatrics, 111(1): 179-185.

next: Natural Alternatives: Reliv, St. John's Wort for ADHD, Depression
~ back to adders.org homepage
~ adhd library articles
~ all add/adhd articles

This new Act strengthens the right to place a child with special educational needs in a mainstream school and outlaws discrimination in schools and colleges.

What does the new Act mean for children with a learning disability?

When parents want a mainstream school for their child, this has to be arranged except when it affects the "efficient education" of other children at the school. When parents want a special school for their son or daughter, they still have the right to state that preference.

These new rights do not mean that every child will be able to go the school of their choice. All parents are able to state their choices of school but do not automatically get their first choice. The Act does mean that all schools have to look at what changes they could make in order to include a child with a learning disability.

What does the Act mean for schools?

Schools will have to make significant changes to the training of staff and to the curriculum and to plan positively to include a wider range of pupils including children with all types of learning disability. All schools have to develop an accessibility plan by April 2003.There is extra funding for schools to help them do this and OFSETD will monitor their progress.

Schools will not be able to refuse a place to a child with a learning disability unless they can prove that the education of other children would be adversely affected. It will become unlawful for schools to discriminate against pupils with a learning disability.

What help is there for parents in understanding these changes?

Under the new Act, all Local Education Authorities have to provide information and advice to parents of children with special educational needs. This information and advice is available through the Parent Partnership Service and you local council office would be able to give you contact details. If you want additional help the Parent Partnership Service will be able to put you in touch with a trained Independent Parental Supporter.

I have heard about Statements, what are these?

Children have different types of learning disabilities and generally schools are able to provide some extra help in the classroom to support the child's learning. Some children need significantly more support, and for these children a Statement of Special Needs is written by the Local Education Authority. This follows a full assessment, involving you, professionals and whenever possible your child. The Statement describes your child's special educational needs and what will be provided to meet these needs. Statements are reviewed with you every year and can be changed as your child's needs change over time.

What happens if I don't agree with the school or the Education Authority?

In the first place you can contact your local Parent Partnership Service and discuss your concerns. From January 2002 all Education Authorities have to provide a disagreement resolution (mediation) service to help you and the school or education authority reach an acceptable agreement. This mediation service is independent of the Education Department and you can find out about this through the Parent Partnership Service or your child's school. If you are not able to reach agreement you can appeal against certain decisions to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.

Who makes sure all this happens?

• School governors have a duty to make sure that their school is planning to include all pupils and making the necessary changes. All schools have to produce a written special educational needs policy.
• Local Education Authorities have duties to complete and review Statements within clear timescales. The new Act means that they also have to monitor admissions of children with special educational needs and remind schools what they are expected to provide from their own budgets.
• OFSTED inspect schools and education authorities regularly and have to report on how special education is being provided.
• The decisions of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal now have to be carried out by schools and education authorities within clear time limits.
• The Secretary of State can instruct schools or education authorities to change their plans if they fail to stop discrimination.

I want to find about more about getting the right education for my child

• Complaints, Appeals and Claims
• Choosing a school for your child with special educational needs
• Questions to ask schools
• Special Educational Needs Code of Practice 2002
• Parent Partnership Services

Full Guidelines for Schools Click Here

Full Guidelines for Parents Click Here

Further info on SEN & DISABILITY ACT Click Here

This new Act strengthens the right to a place in mainstream school for children with special educational needs and makes discrimination in schools and colleges unlawful.

What does the new Act mean for children with a learning disability?

When parents want a mainstream school for their child this has to be arranged except when it affects the "efficient education" of other children at the school. When parents want a special school for their son or daughter they still have the right to state that preference.

These new rights do not mean that every child will be able to go the school of their choice. All parents are able to state their choices of school but do not automatically get their first choice. The Act does mean that all schools have to look at what changes they could make in order to include a child with a learning disability.

What does the Act mean for schools?

Schools will have to make significant changes to the training of staff and to the curriculum and to plan positively to include a wider range of pupils including children with all types of learning disability. All schools have to develop an accessibility plan by April 2003.There is extra funding for schools to help them do this and OFSETD will monitor their progress.

Schools will not be able to refuse a place to a child with a learning disability unless they can prove that the education of other children would be adversely affected. It will become unlawful for schools to discriminate against pupils with a learning disability.

What help is there for parents in understanding these changes?

Under the new Act, all Local Education Authorities have to provide information and advice to parents of children with special educational needs. This information and advice is available through the Parent Partnership Service and you local council office would be able to give you contact details. If you want additional help the Parent Partnership Service will be able to put you in touch with a trained Independent Parental Supporter.

I have heard about Statements, what are these?

Children have different types of learning disabilities and generally schools are able to provide some extra help in the classroom to support the child's learning. Some children need significantly more support, and for these children a Statement of Special Needs is written by the Local Education Authority. This follows a full assessment, involving you, professionals and whenever possible your child. The Statement describes your child's special educational needs and what will be provided to meet these needs. Statements are reviewed with you every year and can be changed as your child's needs change over time.

What happens if I don't agree with the school or the Education Authority?

In the first place you can contact your local Parent Partnership Service and discuss your concerns. From January 2002 all Education Authorities have to provide a disagreement resolution (mediation) service to help you and the school or education authority reach an acceptable agreement. This mediation service is independent of the Education Department and you can find out about this through the Parent Partnership Service or your child's school. If you are not able to reach agreement you can appeal against certain decisions to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal.

Who makes sure all this happens?

• School governors have a duty to make sure that their school is planning to include all pupils and making the necessary changes. All schools have to produce a written special educational needs policy.
• Local Education Authorities have duties to complete and review Statements within clear timescales. The new Act means that they also have to monitor admissions of children with special educational needs and remind schools what they are expected to provide from their own budgets.
• OFSTED inspect schools and education authorities regularly and have to report on how special education is being provided.
• The decisions of the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal now have to be carried out by schools and education authorities within clear time limits.
• The Secretary of State can instruct schools or education authorities to change their plans if they fail to stop discrimination.

Passionflower is an alternative herbal remedy for anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Learn about the usage, dosage, side-effects of Passionflower.

Botanical Name:Passiflora incarnata 

• Overview
• Plant Description
• Parts Used
• Medicinal Uses and Indications
• Available Forms
• How to Take It
• Precautions
• Possible Interactions
• References

Overview

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) was used in traditional remedies as a "calming" herb for anxiety, insomnia, seizures, and hysteria. During the early twentieth century, this herb was included in many over-the-counter sedatives and sleep aids. In 1978, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned these preparations due to a lack of proven effectiveness. In Germany, however, passionflower is available as an over-the-counter sedative (in combination with other calming herbs such as valerian and lemon balm). It is also used in German homeopathic medicine to treat pain, insomnia, and nervous restlessness. Today, professional herbalists use passionflower (often in combination with other calming herbs) to help treat insomnia, tension, and other health problems related to anxiety and nervousness.

Plant Description

Native to the southeastern regions of North America, passionflower is now grown throughout Europe. It is a perennial climbing vine with herbaceous shoots and a sturdy woody stem that grows to a length of nearly 10 meters. Each flower has petals varying in color from white to pale red. Inside the petals are wreaths that form rays and surround the axis of the flower. According to folklore, the passionflower was given its name because its corona resembles the crown of thorns worn by Jesus during the crucifixion. The passionflower's ripe fruit is an orange-colored, multi-seeded, egg-shaped berry containing an edible, sweetish yellow pulp.

Parts Used

The above-ground parts (flowers, leaves, and stems) of the passionflower are used for medicinal purposes.

Medicinal Uses and Indications of Passionflower

Although the safety and effectiveness of passionflower have not been thoroughly investigated in scientific studies, many professional herbalists report that this herb is effective in relieving anxiety, insomnia, and related nervous disorders. Also, there are some over the counter remedies for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that contain passionflower along with valerian, kava, and lemon balm. The safety and effectiveness for these combination remedies for ADHD is not known, particularly since there have been case reports of hepatitis from kava.

One recent study including 36 men and women with generalized anxiety disorder found that passionflower was as effective as a leading anti-anxiety medication when taken for one month. A second study including 91 people with anxiety symptoms revealed that an herbal European product containing passionflower and other herbal sedatives significantly reduced symptoms compared to placebo. An earlier study, however, failed to detect any benefits from an herbal tablet containing passionflower, valerian, and other sedative herbs.

Passionflower may also relieve anxiety in people who are recovering from heroin addiction. In a recent study including 65 heroin addicts, those who received passionflower in addition to a standard detoxification medication experienced significantly fewer feelings of anxiety than those who received the medication alone.

Available Forms

Passionflower preparations are made from fresh or dried flowers and other above-ground parts of the plant. Both whole and cut raw plant materials are used. Flowering shoots, growing 10 to 15 cm above the ground, are harvested after the first fruits have matured and then either air-dried or hay-dried. Available forms include the following:

• Infusions
• Teas
• Liquid extracts
• Tinctures

How to Take It

Pediatric

Adjust the recommended adult dose to account for the child's weight. Most herbal dosages for adults are calculated on the basis of a 150 lb (70 kg) adult. Therefore, if the child weighs 50 lb (20 to 25 kg), the appropriate dose of passionflower for this child would be 1/3 of the adult dosage.

Adult

The following are recommended adult doses for passionflower:

• Infusion: 2 to 5 grams of dried herb three times a day
• Fluid extract (1:1 in 25% alcohol): 10 to 30 drops, three times a day
• Tincture (1:5 in 45% alcohol): 10 to 60 drops, three times a day

Precautions

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. Herbs, however, contain active substances that can trigger side effects and that can interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, herbs should be taken with care, preferably under the supervision of a practitioner knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.

In general, passionflower is considered to be safe and nontoxic. However, there are isolated reports of adverse reactions associated with this herb. Nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and rapid heartbeat are among some of the adverse reactions reported.

Do not take passionflower if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Possible Interactions

Sedatives
An animal study has demonstrated that passionflower enhances the effects of pentobarbital, a medication used to promote sleep and for seizure disorders. Caution is advised when taking passionflower with sedatives because the herb may increase the effects of these substances. Additional examples of medications with sedative properties include certain antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine and hydroxyzine; drugs for anxiety, like a class called benzodiazipines including diazepam and lorazepam; and other medications used to treat insomnia. Interestingly, passionflower appears to work similarly to benzodiazipines.

back to: Herbal Treatments Homepage

Supporting Research

Akhondzadeh S, Naghavi HR, Vazirian M, Shayeganpour A, Rashidi H, Khani M. Passionflower in the treatment of generalized anxiety: a pilot double-blind randomized controlled trial with oxazepam. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001;26(5):369-373.

Akhondzadeh S. Passionflower in the treatment of opiates withdrawal: a double-blind randomized controlled trial. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2001;26(5):369-373.

Baumgaertel A. Alternative and controversial treatments for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Pediatr Clin of North Am. 1999;46(5):977-992.

Blumenthal M, Busse WR, Goldberg A, et al. ed. The Complete German Commission E Monographs. Boston, Mass: Integrative Medicine Communications; 1998: 179-180.

Blumenthal M, Goldberg A, Brinckmann J. Herbal Medicine: Expanded Commission E Monographs. Newton, MA: Integrative Medicine Communications; 2000:293-296.

Bourin M, Bougerol T, Guitton B, Broutin E. A combination of plant extracts in the treatment of outpatients with adjustment disorder with anxious mood: controlled study versus placebo. Fundam Clin Pharmacol. 1997;11:127-132.

Brinker F. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. 2nd ed. Sandy, Ore: Eclectic Medical; 1998:109-110.

Capasso A, Pinto A. Experimental investigations of the synergistic-sedative effect of passiflora and kava. Acta Therapeutica. 1995;21:127-140

Cauffield JS, Forbes HJ. Dietary supplements used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Lippincotts Prim Care Pract. 1999; 3(3):290-304.

Ernst E, ed. Passionflower. The Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Edinburgh: Mosby; 2001:140-141.

Gruenwald J, Brendler T, Jaenicke C, ed. PDR for Herbal Medicines. 2nd ed. Montvale, NJ: Medical Economics Company; 2000:573-575.

Newall C, Anderson L, Phillipson J. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-care Professionals. London, England: Pharmaceutical Press; 1996: 206-207.

Rotblatt M, Ziment I. Evidence-Based Herbal Medicine. Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus, Inc; 2002;294-297.

Soulimani R, Younos C, Jarmouni S, Bousta D, Misslin R, Mortier F. Behavioural effects of Passiflora incarnata L. and its indole alkaloid and flavonoid derivatives and maltol in the mouse. J Ethnopharmacol. 1997;57(1):11-20.

Speroni E, Minghetti A. Neuropharmacological activity of extracts from Passiflora incarnata.Planta Medica. 1988;54:488-491.

White L, Mavor S. Kids, Herbs, Health. Loveland, Colo: Interweave Press; 1998:22, 38.

Zal HM. Five herbs for depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Uses, benefits, and adverse effects. Consultant. 1999;3343-3349.

The publisher does not accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information contained herein, including any injury and/or damage to any person or property as a matter of product liability, negligence, or otherwise. No warranty, expressed or implied, is made in regard to the contents of this material. No claims or endorsements are made for any drugs or compounds currently marketed or in investigative use. This material is not intended as a guide to self-medication. The reader is advised to discuss the information provided here with a doctor, pharmacist, nurse, or other authorized healthcare practitioner and to check product information (including package inserts) regarding dosage, precautions, warnings, interactions, and contraindications before administering any drug, herb, or supplement discussed herein.

back to: Herbal Treatments Homepage