Tag: medicine

Word of the day

~~WORD OF THE DAY~~


doctrine of signatures

:

 

Doctrine of Signatures
Doctrine of Signatures (Photo credit: pollyalida)

 

\DAHK-trun-uv-SIG-nuh-cherz\ noun

: a theory in old natural philosophy: the outward appearance of a body signals its special properties (as of magic or healing virtue) and there is a relationship between the outward qualities of a medicinal object and the diseases against which it is effective

Examples:

 

The title page of The English Physitian.
The title page of The English physician. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

Among the documents are the notes of a 17th-century physician, who discusses his use of the doctrine of signatures to determine which medicinal plants to use for which ailments.

“Lungwort (Pulmonaria) is legacy from the ancient doctrine of signatures, which included a belief that a plant resembling a part of the anatomy had medicinal properties for that part. The broad, elongated white-spotted leaves of this plant were thought to resemble the lung and used to treat pulmonary ailments.” — From an article by Julie Finucane in The Argus-Press (Owosso, Michigan), November 12, 2012

Did you know?

The idea that a plant’s appearance might give clues to its healing capacities is an old one (it was advocated by the Roman scholar Pliny the Elder). The word “signature” (from Latin “signare,” meaning “to sign or mark”) has been used to refer to a plant feature that suggests its potential medicinal value since the 1600’s. For instance, blood-root  with its red sap, was considered effective against blood disorders, and liverwort, which has a three-lobed leaf that resembles the liver, was used to treat—you guessed it—liver diseases. Many examples of the variety of herbal medicine espoused by the doctrine of signatures can be found in Nicholas Culpeper‘s pseudo-scientific A Physical Directory, published in 1649.

 

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wellness

~~WELLNESS TIP~~


Food Tip:

Manage

English: ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (May 14, 2009) A ...
English: ST. JOHN’S, Antigua (May 14, 2009) A registered nurse from the Antigua and Barbuda Nurses Association checks the blood sugar level of a patient at a free health screening during a Continuing Promise 2009 medical community service project. Continuing Promise is a four-month humanitarian and civic assistance mission to Latin America and the Caribbean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Brian Finney/Released) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

with mindful eating. Listening to the body’s hunger cues may help diabetics lose weight and lower their blood sugar.

Diabetics may be able to get a handle on their weight and blood sugar by practicing mindful eating. Researchers found that when patients with type 2 diabetes were trained to listen to their bodies’ cues — eating only when hungry and just until they were full — they ate fewer high-glycemic-index foods and fewer total calories. This, in turn, helped them lose weight and lower their blood sugar. By staying in the moment and letting our hunger guide us, we can learn to better appreciate the food we eat and to make healthier choices. Listening to our body’s needs reminds us to eat when we’re starting to feel hungry, instead of waiting until we’re ravenous, and thus too hungry to take the time to put together a nutritious snack or meal. It also trains us to be conscious of the food we’re putting into our mouths. When we slow down and savor the smell, taste and feel of our food, we enjoy it more, and we end up needing less of it to feel satisfied. It’s a good practice for all of us — not just for those with diabetes.

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~~WELLNESS TIP~~


Body Tip When the leaves change, it’s a sign that flu season is around the corner. Get vaccinated now to avoid missing school or work.

English: Kaleb Denton, a 4-year old pre-kinder...
English: Kaleb Denton, a 4-year old pre-kindergartner at Pierce Terrace Elementary School, receives a nasal mist seasonal flu vaccination from Sgt. Coland Caswell, 165th Infantry Brigade. Dozens of students and parents were vaccinated during the school’s flu vaccination drive Monday. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What comes right on the heels of back-to-school shopping and autumn leaves? Flu season. The best way to avoid getting sick — and missing school or work — is to get your whole family vaccinated now, before influenza strikes in your region. The CDC recommends that everyone over the age of six months get a flu shot every year. It takes two weeks for the vaccination to become effective, so the sooner you get it, the better your chance of avoiding the flu. Make an appointment with your doctor today to get vaccinated, or use the CDC’s online flu shot locator map to find a clinic near you.

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~~WELLNESS TIP~~


Mind Tip Blood sugar level not where it should be? Take steps to control it. Preventing, or even delaying, diabetes helps avert cognitive decline.

The worse your diabetes, the greater your risk of cognitive issues, including memory and reasoning problems. Whether you have diabetes or not, getting your blood sugar levels under control may help reduce that risk. Research suggests that preventing diabetes, delaying its onset, or even controlling your condition if you have it may stave off cognitive decline. Researchers found that people who had diabetes at the beginning of the study showed faster mental decline than people who developed it later on. In turn, these people were, on average, worse off than those who never developed diabetes at all. The people who did the worst on memory function tests were those with the most severe cases of diabetes who did not control their blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar levels aren’t within a healthy range, work with your doctor to get your sugar under control.