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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2004)
Develop and strengthen your mediation practice for relaxation and mental clarity. Wed Jan 28-March 3, 4:45-5:45 Bowerman Building Heritage Hall • free cadi 346-4456 for info Workshop Learn to prepare quick, easy and nu tritious meals. Work shop fee of $15 in eludes mixing bowls* skillet, utility knife kitchen tools. PLUS you get three weeks and great meals. January 28, February 4 and 11 Health Center Cafeteria Calf Kristen Olmos at CPE Certification dflMjtgl ' V Two year certification from the American Heart Association. Mondays Feb. 2 and March I 5:00-9:00 p.m. UO Health Center Cafeteria * $30 346-2770 to register CHAT Campus Health Action on Tobacco Students and staff are invited to join a campus advisory board which wil! help design pro grams and policies to reduce tobacco use on campus. Next meeting isTBA Contact Plauia Staight for mote information at pstaigh(t@dark wing.uonegon.edu . fWKi Free Nicotine Re placement Therapy (patch and gun) is available at the Health Center for students who are trying to quit tobac co. Come to the Peer Health Education Of fice or the Pharmacy for information or to piekupNRT. FPEP The federal grant providing free con traception and fami ly planning services for qualified students has been extended at the Health Center un til October 2006. Call 346-2770 orfifi out the on line application at http7/health centeruoregon.edu to see if you qualify: Herbal Supplements as complementary medicine By Revati Patel As the cold and flu season peaks, we become more acutely aware of our health. Many of us take over the counter medicines, or get a prescription from a practi tioner. However, these are not the only ways in which people attempt to maintain health. An enormous field of medicine called complementary medicine is gaining popularity in the U.S. Complementary medicine is a group of medical and health care systems, practices and products that are not considered to be part of conventional western, or allo pathic, medicine. Complementary medicine includes Aromatherapy, Chiropractic, Ayurveda, Homeopathy Naturopathy ^nd Herbalism. HERBALISM IS ONE FORM OF COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE Herbalism makes use of plants to produce desired effects on the body The World Health Organization estimates that 80 per cent of the world’s population uses plants for medicinal purposes. Approximately 25 percent of pre scription drugs are derived from substances in plants. Aspirin, for example, has its origins in willow bark. Taxol,used in cancer chemotherapy, originates from the Pacific Yew tree. Echinacea, an herbal immune system stimulant, was discovered by Native Americans and many people use it today to treat the common cold. It is important to realize that herbal medicines in the US are sold as dietary supplements and are not tested by the FDA to see if their health claims are accurate. The FDA simply attempts to make sure that the product is safe. Herbs contain a wide variety of chemi cals whose concentrations will depend on the kind of plant, how it was grown, storage etc. Before try ing an herbal supplement, learn about the supplement; determine if the product will really help you with your condition by looking up scientific literature about it through IBIDS. If you experience allergic symptoms as a result of using sup plements, contact your medical practitioner. ON CAMPUS According to the 2000 Health Center survey, 35% of UO students have used some form of herbal medicine. About 52% of those who take herbal supplements reported that they do not inform their med ical practitioner about taking herbal supplements. But since the FDA does not review or approve the ingredients that go into the medicinal supplements, it is really important to consult a physician before taking any of the herbal supplements for serious illnesses. Furthermore, medical practitioners can better help prevent drug inter actions if you are forth coming with using herbal supplements. If you are considering herbal supplements, more information can be found in books in the Lending Library in the Health Center. You can also talk to physi cians, nurse practitioners or phar macists at the Health Center. We are located on 13th and Agate, right across from Oregon Hall. Herbs Available at THE HEALTH CENTER PHARMACY Chamomile Used for indigestion Those allergic to ragweed and flowers in the daisy family may suffer from allergic reaction. Echinacea Used as an immunity booster Those allergic to sunflowers may suffer from allergic reac tion Ginger Used for nausea Too much can inhibit clotting Ginkgo Biloba Used for circulation, improved memory Ginseng Improves circulation High doses may cause insom nia or nausea Garlic Used for high cholesterol High doses may prevent blood clotting St. John’s Wort Used for mild to moderate de pression Testicular Cancer 8/ Jessyca Thompson If you come to the Student Rec Center on Wednesday afternoons, you’ve seen us, the Peer Health Educators, staffing health information tables. Recently, our topic was breast and testicular cancer preven tion. In addition to stats and tips for prevention, we had these wonderful fleshy models of a breast and testicles with small lumps inside. The idea, of course, was to feel for the lump and encourage self exam for both sexes. What I observed was that men were far less comfortable feeling the testicular model than women were in feeling the breast model. What’s with that? INVINCIBILITY SYNDROME I asked Dave Miller, director of the UO Men’s Center, what he thought of this discrepancy between men and women’s willingness to learn about cer tain cancers. He suggested that men are aware that testic ular cancer exists but have the invincibility syndrome of,“it can’t happen to me”. He also commented on the social cli mate around touching one’s own genitalia.The full answer is undoubtedly a complex social/sexual one and makes for interesting party conversa tion. But because of the testic ular model aversion 1 wit nessed at the Rec. Center, 1 realize that college age men are largely unaware of their chance of developing testicu lar cancer. MOST COMMON IN YOUNG MEN According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), testicu lar cancer is the most com mon form of cancer in men between ages 15 and 35. In fact, men are more likely to be diagnosed with testicular can cer at this age than later in life. About 7,500 men in the US are diagnosed with testicu lar cancer each year. ACS emphasizes the importance of doing monthly testicular self exams and becoming familiar with your testicle anatomy so you are aware of any changes or abnormalities. WHAT TO FEEL FOR If you find that one of your testicles is much larger or firmer than the other, or if you find a lump, whether painful or not, don’t panic.The prob lem is usually not cancer, but you should see your medical practitioner to make sure. Medical staff can also go over testicular self exam technique and answer questions. You can make an appointment at the UO Health Center by call ing 346-2770. While at the Health Center, check out the Health Education lending library books and literature on men’s health issues. The UO Men’s Center, located in the EMU, has a weekly discussion group including health topics such as testicular cancer. Contact Dave Miller at 346 2715 for more information. Winter 2004 Contributing Writers and Peer Health Educators (left to right) Missy Columbo, Ursula Evans/Heritage, Adrienne Gee, Lilee Hua.Josh Green, Akiko Gordon, June Wang, Revati Patel, Lauren Peters, Patricia Prevost.Jessyca Thompson, Emma Thornborg photos by: Annie Dochnahl
