Vitamin C is in almost everyone’s medicine cabinet or supplement shelf in the kitchen or pantry. It’s the number one supplement people grab for when they are coming down with a cold, flu or infection of any type. And rightfully so, since vitamin C plays an important role in fighting bacterial and viral infections and boosting the immune system as an antioxidant.

Many childhood diseases can be prevented with vitamin C, including measles, polio, encephalitis, tuberculosis, diphtheria, staphylococcus, herpes, pneumonia and tetanus. When vitamin C therapy was given to those who had whooping cough, the vitamin prevented the disease from progressing to the spasmodic stage in 75% of the cases.

Vitamin C plays such a strong role in the immune system that researchers in Arizona checked levels of the vitamin in the blood of those with cancer. Every cancer patient checked had levels that were extremely low, and amounts of 46 grams per day were given in an IV for two weeks before levels came back to normal. In some cases, vitamin C stopped the metastases of cancer.

In February 2007, researchers reported an improvement in health, daily function and cancer symptoms after administration of high doses vitamin C through IVs. In 2008, a reported 50% decrease in tumor weight and growth rate in mice was discussed in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The cancers were that of the brain, ovaries and pancreas.

Role in Healing Exceeds All Other Vitamins

It also helps heal wounds and burns because it is an essential component of collagen and connective tissue such as joints, tendons, and ligaments. As an integral part of skin, vitamin C can help slow down aging and the formation of wrinkles. Many beauty spas across the U.S. utilize topical applications of vitamin C in facials for reversing signs of aging. Often a difference is seen with one treatment. Many people injure their backs at one time or another during life. Higher levels of vitamin C have been found to preserve the disks in the back, as reported in a study at Baylor University.

Anemia May Result From Not Enough Vitamin C

Many people are not aware of the little known functions of vitamin C. It aids in the formation of red blood cells and helps prevent hemorrhaging in the intestinal tract from alcohol or aspirin. It activates the inactive form of folic acid as well. These two functions are important to prevent anemia.

Smarter With Vitamin C

As an antioxidant, vitamin C protects vitamin B1, B2, folic acid, pantothenic acid, and vitamins A and E from oxidation. The brain and spinal cord are also protected from oxidation from vitamin C. And also as an antioxidant, vitamin C also can assist the brain in performing its functions at optimum levels. Research has found that IQ levels rose about 3 points when vitamin C levels were increased in the diets of volunteers.

Since studies have shown that those with mental illness have much higher needs for vitamin C, supplements are often part of nutritional protocols for treating anxiety and schizophrenia.

The body’s heat-regulating centers are located in the brain. Vitamin C influences these centers and can prevent heat stroke and prickly heat rash, and also protects against frostbite.

Stress-Reducing, Detoxifying Effects

As a stress-buster, vitamin C is used up rapidly by the adrenal gland when someone is under stress. The adrenal gland only stores 50 mg although the entire body stores up to 5000 mg. Poisons are neutralized with this vitamin C because the vitamin is is a strong detoxifier in the body, participating in reactions that detoxify carcinogenic nitrosamines and nitrates found in some foods such as lunch meats. It also has been used successfully to neutralize the venom of snake and spider bites, insect stings and rabies. A topical solution can clear up poison ivy or poison oak if the vitamin is taken orally as well.

Large doses of vitamin C have been used in the detoxification process of those addicted to methadone, heroin and barbiturates. Researchers reported that the users were calmer, had their appetite restored, and the vitamin eliminated abnormal thoughts during the detox.

Vitamin C also detoxifies the body of harmful effects from alcohol.

Vitamin C can reduce the amount of some drugs that are needed; for example, painkillers and L-Dopa. In the case of painkillers, the natural endorphins are protected from being broken down by vitamin C.

Ascorbic acid acts as an electron donor in biochemical reactions for eight different enzymes. Two of them are in the synthesis of carnitine which transports fats into the mitochondria so they can be broken down and used for energy. Another one is important for the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

There are different forms of vitamin C available on the market: ascorbic acid, ester-C, calcium ascorbate, sodium ascorbate, potassium ascorbate, The ascorbate forms are not as effective as ascorbic acid.

Food Sources of Vitamin C

The camu camu fruit contains the highest amount of vitamin C (2800 mg per 100 grams) besides the Kakadu plum (3100 mg per 100 grams). Rose hips and acerola berries are also rich in vitamin C. Lemons, grapefruit, oranges and tangerines contain smaller amounts of vitamin C, around 30 mg per 100 grams. Black currants provide 200 mg; red pepper 190 mg, and parsley 130 mg. The persimmon provides 60 mg.

How Much Vitamin C Do You Need Each Day?

The North American Dietary Reference Intake recommends between 90 mg and 2000 mg vitamin C per day for adults. Nutritionists may recommend more to remedy specific diseases.

Vitamin C Deficiency

Those who are vitamin C deficient bruise easily, even after just brushing up hard against a coffee table. Their joints hurt, they may suffer from nosebleeds, and any new wounds or fractures heal slowly. Gums bleed, tooth enamel weakens, digestion is impaired and the person may also have shortness of breath. Often there is depression and the appearance of liver spots on the skin can also be considered a deficiency sign.
Vitamin C deficiency is called scurvy. In advanced cases, there is loss of teeth.

Toxicity of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is not toxic although large doses can cause loose stools. Because of this, most practitioners recommend that the amount taken is divided into smaller doses. Side effects of high doses may include skin rashes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, flushed face, and disturbed sleep. However, these side effects are generally not seen in those who are sick, only those who are healthy.

Blood tests

Complete blood count

This test screens for anemia, which is very common during pregnancy. Anemia may be due to low iron levels, or can be an inherited form, such as thalassemia.

Blood type

This test will determine your blood type

as well as show if you are Rhesus positive (Rh+) or negative (Rh-). If you are Rh- you will usually receive a medication called rhogam after medical procedures such as amniocentesis, or if you have vaginal bleeding. You will usually get an extra dose at around 28 weeks.

Antibody screen

This test determines whether you have antibodies that could cross the placenta and cause the baby to become anemic.

Hepatitis B

This test will identify women who are actively infectious with hepatitis B, a viral liver disease that can be transmitted to the baby during pregnancy and labor.

HIV

This test will identify women who have been infected with the HIV retrovirus.

Rubella

This blood test determines whether you are immune to rubella. If you are not, you will usually get vaccinated right after delivery. You cannot have the vaccine during pregnancy.

Syphilis

Syphilis does not always cause symptoms but can cause serious problems for the fetus.

Urine test

This test looks for extra sugar or protein in your urine, and for signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI). Extra protein can be a sign of kidney disease extra sugar may indicate diabetes. UTls will be treated with antibiotics to prevent a serious kidney infection, which can cause pregnancy complications.

Cervical smear

Unless you have had one recently, you may have a cervical smear (PAP smear).

Blood pressure

Blood pressure usually falls at the beginning of pregnancy. Women with high blood pressure or blood pressure at the high end of normal early in pregnancy are at increased risk of having blood pressure problems later.

Weight

This baseline value will let your care provider calculate how much weight you have gained as your pregnancy progresses, and guide how much weight you need to gain during the pregnancy.

If your are uncertain as to whether you have had chicken pox, a blood test will let you know whether you should stay away from people with this infectious disease while you are pregnant. If you are not immune, and do happen to be exposed, there is treatment to prevent severe chicken pox during pregnancy. If you are African American, Hispanic, or of mediterranean , descent you will have tests for blood disorders such as sickle cell anemia or thalassemia, which are more common in these groups.

Last but not least, you will be given your due date at this appointment (some times called the EDC – estimated date of confinement). Your due date is based on your last menstrual period. Even if you think you know the date you conceived, your last menstrual period is usually the most accurate way to estimate your due date. The exception occurs when you don’t remember when your last period was or if you have very irregular periods. In this case, an early ultrasound will be the most accurate way to date your pregnancy. Don’t get too attached to your due date remember, it is only an estimate.

Usually your care provider will see you again in 4-6 weeks to review your test results and discuss first trimester screening results. However, your doctor should call you before your second visit if any of the results are abnormal.

People often suffer due to the dark circles under their eyes. The issue becomes worse with problems like age spots, dark spots and scars, etc. These may be due to several reasons. These are often caused due to iron deficiency and are called as the anemia dark circles.

Here are some tips to get rid of these problems naturally:

* Anemia dark circles can be reduced easily. You just need to fulfill your iron requirements. Your body requires all the essential nutrients in the right amount. In case your body lacks iron then it may lead to this problem. You need to take iron rich foods. Take as much green leafy vegetables as possible. They are rich sources of iron.

* The other thing that you can do is to drink plenty of water everyday.

* Take a good sleep as it is very important to remove these circles under your eyes. Avoid straining the eyes.

* Apply cucumber slices over closed eyes or you may also apply the plain tea bags. Avoid taking too much of the dietary salt.

* You may also use lemon juice on the affected areas to reduce the age spots.

* Vitamin K creams are very effective in treating the dark circles.

* Drink carrot juice in order to treat the dark circles.

* Apply a good sunscreen lotion or cream to prevent your skin from the damages caused by the sun. This helps in getting rid of age spots.

* As far as the age spots and scars are concerned they may be lightened by several natural creams that are available in the markets like Meladerm. It is all natural and shows its results within 14 days. It helps you get rid of age spots, hyper pigmentation, dark patches etc.

Normally when talk about infertility, it is always associated with problems of the fallopian tube, sperm count or sperm motility. Rarely do people think that having problems with the thyroid gland can lead to infertility, or at least thyroid disorders will make it difficult for the woman to conceive.

The thyroid gland is located in the neck, just under the Adam’s apple. It is responsible for secreting two important hormones, namely thyroxine and triiodothyronine, which help to regulate the proper functioning of the body.

There are primarily two types of thyroid disorders — hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. In hyperthyroidism, the thyroid gland becomes underactive and does not secrete sufficient amounts of hormones. As a result the body processes become sluggish and slow. Women who suffer from hypothyroidism have many symptoms including weight gain, fatigue, muscular pain, problems with the digestive system, heavy menstruation and long menstrual cycle. Heavy menstruation causes the body to lose a lot of blood and this can result in anemia and depletion of vitamins, which reduce the chances of conception. So also with weight gain.

An over active thyroid gland leads to hyperthyroidism. Here the thyroid process hormones in excess and the woman ends up suffering from fatigue, weight loss, light menstruation or no menstruation, palpitations and increased heart rate. The fact that menstruation stops, points to cessation of ovulation and therefore, infertility.

There are medications available to help overcome the problems of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism. Taking proper medication thyroid disorders will improve your chances of getting pregnant. There are other invasive procedures to help reduce the size of the thyroid gland but invariably you will still have to take medication.

Keep a current and comprehensive list of all of the medications you are taking. Include not only those obtained by prescription, but also over-the-counter medications such as cold remedies, aspirin, vitamins and herbal supplements. On this list, also include any allergies you have to medications, and any other allergies you have. Whether you use one or multiple pharmacists, be sure that all have a copy of your medications list (see #1). When you go to any doctor, give the doctor a copy of your medications list (see #1). When a doctor gives you a written prescription, ask him the name of the medication, its purpose, and dosage. Have him point to the information on the prescription paper. In haste, sometimes a doctor may forget to write the “milligrams” or “frequency,” etc. By having him “read” the prescription to you, he will catch any information accidentally skipped. If you can’t read the doctor’s handwriting on the prescription, there is high likelihood that the pharmacist won’t be able to either. Is the number a “7″ or a “2″? Is your name spelled clearly and correctly? Politely ask the doctor to rewrite the prescription to ensure the pharmacist can follow the instructions. If the doctor is insulted, just tell him you’re trying to save him or his staff the time of returning a pharmacist’s phone call later on to clarify the prescription. This request is also crucial because often a doctor’s nurse will handle pharmacy calls, and she may misread the doctor’s illegible handwriting which could result in your getting the wrong medicine. Ask your doctor “What are the common side effects of this medication?” This will make you aware of potential complications. Ask your doctor: “What should I do if I experience any of the side effects you named or others?” This will give you a clear action plan, rather than waiting out what could be precious time to see if the side effects dissipate or the potential panic of trying to obtain medical care quickly. Ask your doctor: “Do I need to take this medication with or without food?” A drug-food interaction can occur if directions are not properly followed; the food you do or do not eat can affect the ingredients in a medicine you are taking so the medicine cannot work the way it should. For example, taking some medicines at the same time that you eat may interfere with the way your stomach and intestines absorb it. The food may delay or decrease the absorption of the drug. On the other hand, some medicines are easier to tolerate when taken with food. Ask your doctor: “Will or can this drug interfere with any of the other medications I take?” (Be certain he has your most recent medications list.) Your doctor may need to make adjustments to prevent potential problems. For supplemental information, there are a variety of internet sites in which you can research drug interactions. Keep a photocopy of the prescription for yourself. You can ask the doctor’s front office staff to make a copy for you when you check-out. When you pick up your medicine at the drugstore (or receive it in the mail), refer to your photocopy of the prescription to make sure it is what the doctor ordered. If you use a drugstore, when you pick up the medicine and the pharmacist inquires if you have any questions, ask the pharmacist to go over the medicine and dosage requirements. Even though your doctor already provided this explanation, hearing the information a second time will only help ensure you take the medication safely and accurately. Don’t mix medicine into hot drinks because the heat may keep the drug from working. And, never take medicine with alcoholic drinks. Don’t stop taking your medication just because you “feel better.” Complete the entire required dosage (unless instructed otherwise by your physician). If you arbitrarily quit, there is high probability your symptoms or illness will return.

Chronic kidney failure is a condition you generally don’t even know you have until your kidney has suffered substantial and loss of function. As with a number of other dangerous and potentially life-threatening diseases, there are no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

Many illnesses can cause chronic kidney failure, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Most people with CRF need to take medications. Some need dialysis.

Kidney failure can make you very sick and require hospitalization. Approximately ten percent of the time, it results from a severe allergic reaction to medicines. This is called interstitial nephritis. People with interstitial nephritis generally recover. Their kidneys begin working normally again after a few weeks. Other patients, however, may need a year to get better. The patient’s previous health, the severity of the illness, and the results of a kidney biopsy will help a doctor determine how long recovery it will take.

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Failure

Chronic kidney failure symptoms may include:

*anemia
*bleeding
*blood in stools or vomit
*easy bruising
*excessive urine output
*insufficient urine flow
*lowered mental alertness
*muscle cramps
*muscle twitches
*nocturia (nighttime urination)
*a numb sensation in the extremities
*seizures
*sleep disorders
*uremic frost (deposits of white crystals in and on the skin)
*yellow-brown skin color.

Treatment

Treatment for may include:

*Stopping the medicines that cause the illness or that might damage your kidneys.
*Treating infections and other problems such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
*Other treatments such as steroids.
*Dialysis.
*Removal.
*Transplantation.

To avoid interstitial nephritis, you should never take any prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, herbal or nutrition supplements without consulting your doctor.

Also be sure to take medicines for diabetes and high blood pressure regularly, and follow your doctor’s instructions carefully.

The circulatory system undergoes several changes during pregnancy. One of the most frequently-encountered problems which women face during the second and third trimesters is bad circulation in pregnancy, particularly leg cramps. This sudden stiffening of the leg muscles can sometimes be very painful. The reasons for developing such cramps during pregnancy are not clear; however changes in blood circulation during pregnancy, the stress on the leg muscles caused by carrying the extra weight of the baby are cited as probable factors contributing to the cramps.

While bad circulation in pregnancy does not pose a threat, if it is accompanied by redness, swelling or a warm feeling, you should consult your doctor. There are very simple exercises which could help you prevent leg cramps during pregnancy. Stretching your legs before you go to sleep could help in the reduction of stress on your leg muscles. When you straighten your legs, you must stretch your heels first and do some circular motions with your toes, clock and anti clock-wise. While doing the exercises, avoid pointing your toes.

The other thing you need to avoid is to remaining one position, standing or sitting, for a long period of time. Being in one position would restrict the blood flow and can cause circulatory problems. During pregnancy, some simple but effective exercises like walking promotes blood circulation. Leg cramps can also be treated with gentle massage or application of a warm towel round the legs

It is not uncommon to feel a bit light-headed during pregnancy. This is due to the fact that during this period, the cardiovascular system can undergo some very quick changes, with heart rate going up and the heart pumping more blood per minute. Even the quantum of blood in your body increases by 40 to 45%. During normal pregnancy, you would experience a reduction in blood pressure during the early stages. This reaches its lowest point some time in the middle of pregnancy and then starts to rise till it reaches normal level at the end of pregnancy. While the cardiovascular and the nervous system can handle these changes, at times it fails to do so and it can result in a feeling of dizzy and light-headed. So long as you do not faint as a result of this light-headedness there is no cause for worry. You just have to lie down so that you do not fall down and hurt yourself. If you are in a place where lying down is not possible, you could sit down for some time and try to put your head between your knees.

One of the ways you could prevent this feeling of light-headedness during pregnancy is to always try to lie down on your left, as then it is easy for the blood to flow to your heart and the brain. Here is some more information on the causes of light-headedness during pregnancy and how you can prevent them:

Never change your body position too fast. For instance, if you are lying down, do not get up too fast and if you are sitting, do not stand up with a jerk.

When you are stationary in one position, keep on twirling your legs from one position to the other. This will promote circulation.

Avoid lying down on your back during the second and third semesters. This affects the blood circulation negatively. Your heart rate will increase, blood pressure may drop and you may feel light-headed, dizzy or nausea. Instead it is safer to lie on your side than flat on the back.

Drink enough fluids and eat properly. When you do not eat well, your blood sugar level drops and result in your feeling dizzy and uneasy. If you do not feel like eating at the right time, keep on having small quantities of food at regular intervals.

Iron deficiency anemia is responsible for having fewer amounts of blood cells to carry the oxygen to your brain. Make your diet iron-rich so that you have enough blood to feed your heart and brain.

Blood is the life-maintaining fluid that circulates through the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries. Because the blood performs many and complex functions, there are many disorders related to blood that require clinical care by a physician or other health care professional. These conditions include anemia, bleeding disorders, as well as cancers of the blood.

Certain factors may cause Blood Disorders, disorders that affect the cells in the blood (blood cells) or proteins in the blood clotting or immune systems. Laboratory tests of blood samples are recommended to diagnose and monitor blood diseases. Because the liquid portion of the blood (plasma) carries so many substances essential to the functioning of the body, blood tests can be used to find out what is happening in many parts of the body.

There are a number of Blood Disorders prevailing these days. Some of them are Anemia, Pernicious Anemia, Sepsis, Sickle Cell Anemia, Hypoglycemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia and Leukemia.

Different type of Blood Disorder shows different symptom. Symptoms of blood disorders are often vague and nonspecific, that is, they could indicate a disorder of almost any part of the body. However, although no single symptom unmistakably indicates a blood disorder, certain groups of symptoms suggest the possibility. Such groups of symptoms most commonly relate to decrease in blood cells, such as a reduced number of red blood cells (anemia), a reduced number of white blood cells, a reduced number of platelets or increased numbers of blood cells.

Disorders of substances (factors) responsible for normal blood clotting may result in insufficient blood clotting (manifesting as excessive bruising or bleeding or as small red or purple spots on the skin) or in the formation of abnormal blood clots (producing warm, painful areas in the legs or sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or both). These problems may arise because the body does not produce enough of these factors, the factors are abnormal, or the body is using up the factors too quickly.

Doctors may prescribe different treatment options according to the type and stage of Blood Disorder. A number of treatment options are being suggested like bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, Blood Transfusion, Chemotherapy etc.

When you think of a transplant, you may have an image of a major surgical procedure to replace a diseased organ. But stem cell transplants do not involve surgery. And the “organ” involved is bone marrow — not a solid organ such as a liver.

A stem cell transplant is the infusion of healthy stem cells into your body. If all goes well, these healthy stem cells take hold in your body and begin normal production of blood cells.

Treatment becomes less complex if the disorder is diagnosed at an early stage.

There is a certain mindset today regarding pregnancy: if you are pregnant, it is “normal” to feel bad. Women frequently say to me, “I am just beginning to feel pregnant. I have indigestion, tender breasts, lower back pain, fatigue and the list goes on.” I believe that if a woman is balanced nutritionally and is healthy, she should be surprised to be pregnant.

Remember in old movies and still sometimes today where women suspect they may be pregnant, do the test and are surprised to find out they ARE pregnant! Probably the only way they suspected was because they missed their periods. I have two friends who had this happen to them. They were suspicious because they missed their periods and were surprised when they took the test.

Another friend did not stop her period at all. She still had the same monthly bleeding, but she was gaining weight. She was eating according to Pritikin and was going to the Pritikin center here in Los Angeles, only to find that she was gaining weight quickly. She decided that she might be pregnant. When she went to get checked, the doctor could hear the heartbeat! She was four months pregnant and didn’t have a clue!

It seems today that these cases are more atypical than typical. When a woman is experiencing discomforts, she simply is missing something in her diet or lifestyle or both. And when women say that these discomforts are “normal” in pregnancy, I don’t believe it is. Women should feel different when pregnant but not miserable. They should feel full of life and enjoy their pregnancies, not feel burdened by physical ailments just because they are pregnant. The three most common ailments are indigestion, lower back pain and headaches. These are all caused because something is missing in the woman’s life.

Indigestion

Indigestion is more common than not in pregnancy, but it is NOT normal. Indigestion is caused by the physiological suppression of hydrogen chloride (HCl) and other digestive acids because of the increased secretion of progesterone used to support the uterine lining for the pregnancy. If a woman is stressed, this will further decrease her enzymatic output. If she doesn’t eat relaxed or sits in a parasympathetic state, she will go into a sympathetic state of the nervous system. The difference is that a sympathetic state would also occur if she were running from the bear in the forest. Her body is not supporting digestion in the sympathetic state and will therefore create indigestion.

Indigestion can also lead to a whole slew of other problems such as hiatal hernia, anemia, cramping in the calves and feet, fatigue, hair loss, and not absorbing calcium in which case her body will pull calcium from her bones for the fetus’ needs. So this is NOT something to take lightly and just suck on Tums. Some antacids contain aluminum which is absolutely contraindicated for pregnancy, because it further depletes the stomach acids, which is the opposite of what really needs to be done.

Severe pain beneath the sternum may accompany the indigestion. This would be the creation of a hiatal hernia which is very common in pregnancy. A chiropractic adjustment most often times provides INSTANT relief and correction of the hiatal hernia, but will not fix the problem at hand.

To relieve the discomfort caused by indigestion is to analyze the woman’s lifestyle and eating habits as well as adding digestive enzymes to each meal. I have seen thousands of women benefit from enzymatic supplementation in pregnancy.

Another good thing to do is try some acid! That’s right! Sound crazy but eat more foods with acidity. Oranges, cooked tomato sauce, lemon squeezed on your foods and in water will trigger the brain to stop producing acid. Sometimes the body gets busy and puts the regulation of HCl on the back burner and it just keeps going on and on and on. By eating the acidic foods, the body sees that it doesn’t have to produce so much and will cut back.

Lower Back Pain

This discomfort could be one of the first signs that a woman is pregnant. When a woman experiences low back pain (LBP) during her period, it is usually because she is secreting relaxin to allow the cervix to open up to release the menstrual blood. During pregnancy, she will secrete relaxin in surges to allow for the ligaments to relax and change her body to accommodate the growth of the fetus. This should not be a severe discomfort. More often than not, these women who have LBP are, first of all, out of alignment. When the pelvis and spine are misaligned or “subluxated”, she will experience LBP. A simple chiropractic adjustment should relieve this quickly and effectively.

Sometimes, more vitamin E will help solve this problem. Vitamin E supports the uterus as well as the buttock muscles. Some experts in nutrition believe that vitamin E helps to reduce the chances of miscarriage. If you have a chiropractor who does Applied Kinesiology, as I do, he/she can test the muscles supporting the lower back that relate to vitamin E. Upon tasting the supplement the muscles will strengthen. This will help to support a pregnant woman’s lower back and pelvis, therefore minimizing and hopefully eliminating LBP.

Headaches

One of the very first signs of pregnancy can also be headaches. The reason for this is that the pituitary gland just got the message that there is a pregnancy and must alert all endocrine glands to start producing in order to create and maintain the pregnancy. These types of headache will mimic a “hormone” headache, a dull, overwhelming headache. Hormonal balance is the key here. The Phytosterols and the Glyconutrient complex along with a chiropractic adjustment should help to relieve this discomfort.

Not because you hear the word natural herbs can you think that all natural herbs are safe to use in pregnancy, as with all medications in pregnancy it is strongly recommended that you consult with a physician before proceeding to take any type of medication. It is strongly recommended that you should not take aloe vera by mouth during pregnancy, because it may cause cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and uterine contractions. It should also be avoided during breast feeding, because it can be passed on to the infant during breast feeding and cause complications for the newborn.

It is possible for you to use mild creams that contain aloe vera on your face for the treatment of acne during pregnancy, but you should still ask your physician about the safety of using these types of cream before you start using them to treat your acne while pregnant. You should also pay attention to the labels before purchasing any product during pregnancy, read the fine print as there is certain to be some warning ( as with most products) on whether it is recommended for women who are pregnant or women who may be breastfeeding.

Some of the recommended treatments that are relatively safe for the treatment of acne during pregnancy are benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin. Benzoyl peroxide is a topical medication that is often prescribed during pregnancy for the treatment of acne, it makes the old skin peel allowing new skin to surface, and it also has an antibacterial effect to prevent inflammation and infection. It is not really known how safe the use of this treatment is on pregnant women but researchers believe that the risk of fetal malformation is most probably very low. Take note however that when these creams are applied to the skin during pregnancy it is absorbed through the skin in very small quantities and that is why it is considered relatively safe to use during pregnancy.

Although the use of topical creams during pregnancy have been scientifically proven to be safe, those that contain sodium sulfacetamide should not be used during pregnancy, because research has found that can lead to toxicity, resulting in anemia and jaundice in newborns and further states that these topical creams should only be used during the first two trimesters of pregnancy. Also topical creams that contain tretinoin should not be taken during pregnancy because research has found that women who used this topical cream during the first trimester of pregnancy had an increased number of birth defects.