The Nation Newspaper

Tag: women

  • Women,“toilet infections” and some vaginal issues (3)

    We are still in the woman’s world to which caring men are invited.  After all, women are the mothers, aunts, nieces and sisters of men. To the doctor’s clinics where “toilet infections” and vaginal questions are addressed, we are hopping on a tour to learn more about what some physicians think about these challenges and how they address them. The golden rule many orthodox doctors always refer to is that women should not douche or expose the vagina to chemical substances such as scented tissue paper or perfumed soaps. This golden rule suggests, instead, that they clean up with water. But just this act may be all the petrol that germs unfriendly to the vagina may require to balloon their population.

    Every living organism requires water to grow. The cells, whether human, animal, plant or microbial, is made of about 70 per cent water. When one cell splits into two and two divide  into four, the split half parts need to urgently beef up their water stocks to become not only adult cells but to also be able to carry out their living processes which include reproduction of their kind. To do these, germs need to adhere    to tissue to suck nutrients, including amino acids (building parts of proteins) and water. If they are denied adhesion, they are starved and denatured, they are weak and unable to defend themselves adequately. Thereby, they are far more easily and readily exposed to the vagaries of war with the immune system in which they should by then become pitiable sights or gross mismatches.

    In alternative medicine, many plants offer this winning support when they are used for douching. These plants, or some others destroy proteins which are not the body’s own protein. These foreign proteins, called exogenous proteins, that is proteins foreign to the body, include the germs which, basically, are forms of proteins. Beyond these two helpful activities, herbs may help to stimulate the immune function by, say, stimulating the reproduction of macrophages, those large white blood soldier cells which eat up foreign bodies. Some of these friendly herbs are:

     

    Mango seed extract

    We know about the good, old mango (Mangifera indica) in Nigeria. We use the flowers, leaves, and bark for medicines against all sorts of ailments. We know, too, about its cousin, the African Bush Mango which is currently making the news and the waves around the world not only as an anti-microbial but, also, as a weight loss agent. The African Bush Mango seed provides us with a kernel from which draw soup is made. An American doctor who lived for some time in the Cameroon discovered that many people who ate draw soup regularly had no weight problem. He took some seeds back home which yielded good results in an experiment. Through him, African Mango seed extract gained currency world- wide as a weight loss agent.

    The Mango Seed Extract I propose here is not the extract of African Bush Mango, which the Yoruba call Oro.   (d: r). It is the extract of Mangifera Indica, the popular green or yellow mango of which there are many varieties, including cherry mango when we eat the fruit, we throw away the hard, unchewable seed. But about 15 years ago, I stopped doing that. I sun dried the seeds and broke them up. Inside every seed, there is a soft white pulp called the mango seed kernel.  I knew about it from H.K Bakhru’s HERBS THAT HEAL. He describes it as a great anti-microbial power house. In India, he says, women use it as a spermicide that is as a contraceptive. Before sex, an Indian woman would paste her vagina and cervix with Mango seed extract.  And, sure enough, it killed the sperm, helping them to avoid oestrogen-based pills, intra uterine devices (IUDs) and their many health hazards and, of course, unwanted pregnancies.  I was later to learn that as mango seed extract kills the goose, it also kills the gander, as it were. That means unfriendly germs in the vagina do not survive in its claws. Add to that its weight loss potential when it’s taken with lime and water. Mango seed extract can be peppery in the vagina when used alone as a paste. It is often suggested that it be used with a carrier such as egg white, a protein tolerated by the vagina, Bee propolis cream or coconut oil another anti-microbial.

     

    Golden seal root 

    One of the constituents of this herb which gives it powers is a chemical substance named Berberine. In China, Berberine is extracted from Berberine-containing herbs-and used as medicine. It is anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, anti-cholesterol and interacts easily with pharmaceutical medicines, for which reason it is sometimes suggested that golden seal root should not be taken with pharmaceuticals, although its Berberine content may not potentiate reactions caused by pure Berberine extract. To understand Golden Seal Root, which easily one of the most popular Berberine-containing herbs, we need to understand Berberine, if only a little.

    Dr. Mercola of www.articles.mercola.com says: “it is effective against “a wide range of bacterial, protozoa and fungi. It can be used topically on cuts and other wounds, and is perhaps most commonly used to treat gastro-intestinal issues, including Traveller’s diarrhoea and, that’s from food poisoning”

    Dr. Mercola says modern research has now come to accept what Traditional Medicine has been saying about Berberine for centuries….. That its uses extend far beyond anti-microbial activities.

    “As reported in the Natural Medicine Journal”, he says, “in the recent years…over a third of the approximately 2,800 studies listed on Pub Med were published in the last five years. These studies reveal that Berberine may have clinical application in a range of conditions.  In order to understand Berberine and why it is now vying for a position as one of the most important supplements in the world, it is important to understand adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinasa or AMPK.

    AMPK is an enzyme inside your body cells. It is sometimes called a “metabolic master switch” because it plays an important role in regulating metabolism, according to the Natural Medicine Journal. AMPK induces a cascade of events within cells that are all involved in maintaining energy homeostasis.

    “AMPK regulates an array of biological activities that normalise lipid, glucose and energy imbalances. Metabolic syndrome (METS) occurs when these AMPK regulated pathways are turned off, triggering a syndrome that includes hyperglycaemia, diabetes, lipid abnormalities and energy imbalances”

    AMPK helps coordinate the response to these stressors shifting energy towards cellular repairs, maintenance, or a return to homeostasis and improved likelihood of survival. The hormones Leptin and Adiponectin activate AMPK. In other words, activating AMPK can produce the same benefits as exercise, dieting and weight loss- the lifestyle modifications considered beneficial for a range of maladies.

    “One way to appreciate Berberine’s potential is to think of it as having the same effect on a patient as increasing exercise while at the same time restricting calorie intake. Think of the effects of AMPK suppression as similar as to that of eating a high calorie diets while leading a very sedentary lifestyle. Berberine is one of the few compounds known to activate AMPK (resveratrol).”

     

    The vagina

    In this vault, Golden Seal Root coast the tissue wall with Berberine. This is a slippery alkaloid which prevents germs from adhering to the tissue as stated earlier. Berberine goes on to activate cellular energy in the mitochondria, and this provides an impetus for the organs to depend itself. By stimulating immune response, the germs which are weakened because they cannot adhere to tissue wall and suck nurture are easily killed off through the help of Golden Seal Root. I have gone this far in respect of Berberine and Golden Seal Root because I often received enquires about my seeming love for this herb. I crave a little more time for a little more explanation by Dr. Mercola, as a way of ensuring some of these enquiries. He says:

    “Berberine works as well as Metformin for diabetes. One of the most celebrated studies on Berberine compared taking 500mg of the compound 2-3 times daily for three months with the diabetes drug Metformin. Berberine was able to control blood sugar and lipid metabolism effectively as Metformin, with researchers describing Berberine as a “potent oral hypoglycaemic agent”. A separate meta-analysis also revealed ‘Berberine has comparable therapeutic effects on type 2 DM (Diabetes melitus), hyperlipidaemia and hypertension with no serious side effects’.

    “As noted by Dr. Julian Whitaker, in people with diabetes, AMPK activation by Berberine stimulates the uptake of glucose into the cells, improves insulin sensitivity, reduces glucose production in the liver. A review published in the international Journal of Endocrinology, further explained on Berberine’s role in treating type 2 diabetes. ‘Modern pharmacological effects of BBR on glucose metabolism includes improving insulin resistance promoting insulin secretion, inhibiting gluconeogenesis in the liver’ stimulating glycolysis in peripheral tissue cells, modulating gut microbiota, reducing intestinal absorption of glucose and regulating lipid metabolism.

    BBR (Berberine) is used to treat diabetic nephropathy (DPN), diabetic neuropathy (DN) and diabetic cardiomyopathy due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity”

     

    Candidiasis

    While Golden Seal Root, as a Berberine-containing herb is good news for the diabetic and carbohydrate-consuming people who are near-border diabetics or who do not wish to become diabetic, it should be good news as well for people who suffer from candida, fungi or other yeast infections. In the treatment of candida in the vagina, doctors often prescribe Nystatin and advise their patients to avoid or limit carbohydrate foods or plain sugars. I do not think this will effectively address the problem. Women have a knack for sweet things and may not readily see the link between their vaginal candidiasis and the intake of carbohydrate foods or sugars. It should be better, in my view, they are helped to burn blood and tissue sugar and fats, which may also cause problems which the candida, fungi or yeast are confronted on other fronts. Golden Seal Root can be taken orally and used as a vagina paste. The duration should be for about seven days with a break of seven days. During this break or holiday, the infection may obtain a respite and wish to re-enforce. The break is necessary because, friendly as Golden Seal Root is to the mucus membrane, it may become dehydrating if it taken over a prolonged period of time. In the “holiday” period, other herbs such as Grape Seed Extract and Aloe Vera, may keep the watch. In the case of the vagina, vitamin E soft gels or Aloe Vera soft gel may be inserted overnight in this period. Both help rehydration and regeneration of tissue damage by the infection. Pure virgin coconut oil may also stand on guard before the return of Golden Seal Root therapy seven days after. Within one month, it should be possible to cear the vagina of all its unwanted guests. This is the stage or time to introduce the wanted guests, the friendly bacteria (probiotic). This can be done with the insertion of probiotic capsules for several days.

     

    Candida albicans

    Most women are content to know they have vagina candida and to trust their doctor’s prescription to knock out the itch, discharge and pain. Only when these drugs fail them do they begin to seek more information on this bothersome ailment. They do not seem to realise that oral thrush or greying of their tongues is a sign that candida may be overgrowing its population in the intestine and need an immediate check. Candida albicans is a single cell organism present in the eye, nose, throat, genitals and the intestine where it causes no problem if it does not overgrow its allotted population. Many factors cause it to breach this population control. Many factors may be responsible either singly or in combination with others. Basically, candida albicans should not exceed its population ratio vis-a-vis the population ratios of other organisms. Depletion of the immune system can knock out this arrangement. So can stress. So can diseases such as cancer and HIV. So can antibiotic and steroid use. So can the use of birth control pills which dismantle hormone system balance. So can emotional disturbances, environmental factors and being overweight.

    Not much may be thought of candida overgrowth expressed as through on the tongues or in the vagina until probably becomes invasive or systemic candida in the mouth looks like a mushroom, when viewed under the microscope. It has a big head, a stem and a root system buried in the tongue. We can imagine what candida in the eye may cause to vision. The dangers of invasive candidiasis are many and include death. Physicians believe candida is relatively easy to treat when it has not overgrown its normal yeast form by which time it may have graduated to what we may call the Big Boy. The Big Boy is the Hyphal form when it begins to produce filaments and biofilms and, with this capacity invades the blood stream, tissues and organs. This condition is rarely seen in people whose immune systems are not compromised. Other herbs are showing promise against candida albicans. A 2013 study showed that the plant gynema sylvetre revered the dangerous hyphal form to simple yeast cells. This is an interesting study. In the 1980s, I sold Gymnester alone or combined with other supplements of diabetes or elevated blood sugar. If it is knocking a dangerous candida albicans from back into a less dangerous state, if it is anti-sugar, if candida albicans thrives on a sugar fuel, it means anything which can help normalise blood sugar that is also anti-microbial should be able to perform this feat.

    Gynema Sylvester was reported in that study to overwhelm another terrible fungus named aspergillus. The list of herbs that can be deployed against candida and bacteria and viruses which overgrow in the vagina and disturb it is endless. Some of them are Olive Leaf Extract, Black Walnut hull, Garlic, Tea tree oil, Pau d’ Arco. I have seen great wonders wrought by proprietary blends such as Amazon AF and Amazon CF, oregano oil Olive oil and feminine wash.

     

     

  • Wives urged to stop unrealistic demands from husbands

    Female lawyers in Abuja have called on women to resist the temptation to make unrealistic demands compelling their husbands to cut corners.

    They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday that the manner in which some women rebuked their husbands was largely responsible for the widespread corruption.

    They were speaking on the occasion of the International Women’s Day with the theme: “Be Bold for Change’’.

    A respondent, Ms. Mary Akpa, told NAN that women were the bedrock of the society and could do all within their powers to ensure that their husbands live above board while holding public offices.

    “Basically, women have the task of training the children well to be honest, hard working and humble; they groom these children to be shining examples in the society as future leaders.

    “It is agreed that they need finances to handle this task but some women make demands that drive their husbands out to do all sort of things just to satisfy their needs.

    “This must be discouraged because women are known managers and so they should be able to manage whatever legitimate resources their husbands bring home,’’ she said.

    A lawyer, Mrs Alexis Enumah, advised women to be contented with whatever their husbands offered them for their upkeep.

    “I am not saying the men are corrupt because of women but most often, the men are driven to engage in corrupt practices to impress their wives just to have peace at home.

    “So the women should be contented with what the husband is bringing home and not put undue pressure on him.

    “They must also never compare their home with others bearing in mind these popular saying: ` not all that glitters is gold’ and `the sea weed is always greener in somebody else’s lake”, she said.

    Another lawyer, Florence Nwachukwu, told NAN that women should be bold enough to do the right thing when their children were not doing well in school, rather than “paying their way through the nose’’.

    She expressed displeasure at the attitude of some women ever eager to give bribe or push their husbands to do same, rather than tackling the causes of their children’s poor academic performance.

    Nwachukwu also emphasised the need for women to acquire entrepreneurial skills so as to become self-reliant and employers of labour.

    “I think that one major way we can contribute will be to stop the occurrence of sorting either in cash or kind at every level.

    “Stop sorting lectures to pass exams; stop sorting male executives to get jobs and after getting the job, we must be hardworking and not sort to get to the top,’’ Nwachukwu said.

    She said that the pride and dignity of womanhood were much more valuable than material gains, saying that this year’s theme: “Be Bold for Change’’ is a wake-up call to every woman to take a bold step to be part of change for a better society.

    NAN reports that the International Women’s Day, originally called International Working Women’s Day, is celebrated on March 8 every year.

    It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women as well as a call for gender parity.

  • NGO seeks end to domestic, gender-based violence

    Youth Initiative Against Violence and Human Rights Abuse  (YIAVHA), an NGO, has called for an end to domestic and gender-based violence in the country.

    The Executive Director of YIAVHA, Mr Pwakim Choji, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Jos.

    He said the call became imperative as the world celebrate the International Women’s Day.

    Commemorated on March 8 annually, the 2017 International Women’s Day has
    “Wake Up Call For the Achievement of Justice” as its theme.

    According to Choji, no society will experience meaningful growth and development when women are subjected to gender-based violence.

    He said “lets not forget that women can’t achieve greatness when they are not bold in their approach toward self-liberation and engagement of any individual, group or institution that undermines their humanity.

    “Women must be strategic in speaking about their demands, rather than their plights. They have this capacity because of their number.

    “Our young girls must be brought up in a manner that they would be able to speak up for their rights from childhood to adulthood.

    “It is only when we have a society where women are free from violence that we can begin to get things right.”

    The director urged women to be bold, take their destiny in their hands and disallow any form of relegation in their respective societies.

    He also called on government at all levels to put in place policies and modalities that would safeguard the place of a woman today and future generation of women in society.

    “Our women should be bold to know that whatever a man can do, they too can do; this will make them to be more active in community development.

    “Women must be bold enough to negotiate certain rights in the society; they and other ally’s must speak against domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence.

    “These acts have continued to dehumanise women directly; these acts ultimately undermine the rights of all,” Choji said. (NAN)

  • Governors’ wives lift 100 women

    Governors’ wives lift 100 women

    Abia State was agog as members of the Southern Governor’s Wives Forum (SGWF) visited Abia State for their quarterly meeting to deliberate on the welfare of women and also empower the indigent ones among them. They were hosted by the wife of the state governor, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu.

    The women on arrival first called on the state governor Okezie Ikpeazu  who commended them for touching the lives of the indigent, downtrodden  and voiceless people in the society.

    Ikpeazu pleaded with them to use their time during the meeting to pray for the health of President Mohammadu Buhari, stressing that God hears the prayers of women.

    He said that it is wrong for people to wish their leader ill health, adding that health related issues of leaders should not be politicised as every leader requires the full support of those he is leading at all times.

    The governor assured the members of the SGWF that the state will support them in their programmes and that of the wife of Mr President.

    In her response, the wife of Imo State governor and chairperson of the forum, Mrs Nkechi Okorocha said that they were in the state for their quarterly meeting where they hope to empower some women of the state to enable them improve on their lives.

    Mrs Okorocha appreciated the efforts of Governor Ikpeazu in turning the eyes of the people of the country towards the state through his made in Aba project, “Which has become a beautiful song that everyone is now singing”.

    At the meeting the forum which is made up of 17 wives of the governors from the southern part of the country which had 11 members attending where about 100 indigent women of the state were empowered with various empowerment items.

    The empowerment items given out included grinding machines, hair dressing materials, bean-cake or akara frying materials, locally fabricated ovens, roadside food vendors materials and sewing machines.

    Declaring the meeting open the wife of Imo State and chairman of the forum Mrs Nkechi Okorocha said that they are in the state to ensure that the girl child and women are well taken care off.

    Mrs Okorocha recalled that the forum was initiated by the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari which has gone a long way to break the barriers of tongue, tribe, religion and political affiliation.

    The wife of the Imo state governor said that the forum is determined to give the girl-child and women pride of place in the country, adding that the country is waiting for the women who are key to fast-tracking the development of the country.

    Mrs Okorocha said that the women in the zone are ready to champion the cause of Abia women and also empower them to enable them to become partners in progress with their husbands.

    Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu described Abia State as the home of industry, ingenuity and hard work of its people.

    Mrs Ikpeazu said, “We are here today for the purpose of empowering our people and those who are benefiting were meticulously selected in such a way to ensure that they are capable of using the items to eke out a living for themselves”.

    “The women who will be empowering will thereafter become self-reliant and train others.”

  • More women arrested for drug-related crimes

    More women arrested for drug-related crimes

    The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has revealed that 11 percent of global opiate users live in Africa, with more than half from  West and central Africa.
    The body revealed this on Thursday while launching 2016 annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) report and precursors report in Lagos.
    The INCB report has it that the number of women arrested for drug-related crimes has increased significantly.
    The Project Officer, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Ms Harsheth Virk said the reason for the development  is because once imprisoned, drug use is more prevalent among female prisoners than male prisoners.
    “There is a strong link between sex work and drug use. Some women turn to sex work as a means to support a drug dependent lifestyle,  while sex workers may use drugs to cope with the demands and nature of their work.
    Giving further insight into the report, Ms Virk said there is an increased involvement of African nationals reported in drug trafficking incidents worldwide, adding that  “West Africa has been increasingly affected by criminal operations that involve not only trafficking of cocaine from South America to Europe but also distribution for local abuse and illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs destined mainly for markets in Asia.”
    “According to the UNODC 11 percent of global opiate users live in Africa and more than half of these live in West Africa and Central Africa. Opiates originating from Afghanistan are increasingly being trafficked to East and West Africa, either for local consumption or onward shipment.
    NAFDAC Acting Director general (GD), Mrs Yetunde Oni represented by the Director Narcotic and Controlled Substance Directorate, Dr Umar Musa said the agency is trying its best in ensuring the availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, while also preventing their diversion.
    “This is achieved routinely through the issuance of the necessary papers. The Agency has carried out a number of education and awareness campaigns to discourage initial use and strengthen resistance against drug abuse. We have also published a Drug Abuse Handbook to adequately inform the public about the dangers of drug misuse and abuse,” said Mrs Oni.

  • Women, toilet infections and some vaginal issues (2)

    We are getting to a point in this series where I believe I would require a lion’s heart and, perhaps, a Lion’s Mane mushroom food supplement to make ways through a thick forest. A lion’s heart connotes courage and strength. Lion’s Mane mushroom builds energy for nerves. Most of my friends are women. And men need nerves to talk straight to women. Where I am heading is that many women are emotional, manipulative and domineering, and when they cannot conquer the environment they seek to manipulate and dominate, they breakdown emotionally, causing health havoc to their reproductive organs, especially the cervix, vagina, uterus and ovaries. Sometimes, the breasts, too, are affected. This is the thesis of Energy Medicine, which invites us to look beyond those outward symptoms of, say, candida, yeast infections, cervical or vagina cancers and so on, to the underlying “emotional, psychological, and spiritual” causes of these events.  Energy medicine is not a new medicine. It is one of the medical practices of the Eastern world. It was probably brought to the Western World, where it appears new, by Dr. C. Norman shealy M.D., Ph.D., a surgeon, and Carolyn M. Myss, M. A., journalist and spiritualist. Their experience with Energy Medicine are documented in their book titled THE CREATION OF HEALTH, which is subtitled THE EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL RESPONSES THAT PROMOTE HEALTH AND HEALING.

    It is all about the belief that earth-man is not bone, blood or flesh but a human spirit in an earth body, which, on its own, is lifeless. To be alive and to perform the duty of providing a housing for the human spirit during its sojourns on earth, the human spirit has to animate its earth body housing or casing. The animation is done through seven points which are energy outlets from the human spirit to the earth body. Western orthodox medicine has found that these seven points, known as the Chakras correspond with the locations of the endocrine glands. The seven chakras are numbered one to seven from the base of the spine to the hallo of the head.

    • Chakra one is at the base of the spine.
    • Chakra two is in the pelvis and controls all organs in this region
    • Chakra three is in the solar plexus region, where the human soul attaches to the physical body through the Silver Cord, an equivalent of the physically observable umbilical cord, which attaches a foetus to the uterus
    • Chakra four is in the heart region, the seat of love.
    • Chakra five is in the neck region and responds favourably to the healthy exercise of free will and negatively to a suppression of it, often manifesting in this regard as all sorts of throat problems.
    • Chakra six has to do with perceptive vision, being in the region of the eyes
    • Chakra seven relates with the hallo in the head region and has been linked to the invagination or sucking-in of spiritual energy through, as some authorities say, the pineal gland.

    I am fascinated by the Chakras, and have followed the thoughts of Dr. Shealy and Carolyn Myss since the 1990s. They live far apart in the United States. Whenever Dr. Shealy has a patient, he sends his or her photograph to Myss for her own diagnosis. Carolyn Myss would study the energy profile in the photograph. It is possible she is clairvoyant. And her diagnosis would tally almost 98 percent with the lab work of Dr. Shealy. Together, they suggested that breast cancer may not necessarily be caused by candida, other yeast, toxins or other micro-organisms as is often suggested, but by loss of energy in the breast which gave rise to the opportunity for these agents to have a field day. Loss of energy means the forth chakras was not properly animating this region. The Chakras is like an electricity transformer which steps down high voltage to lower one. If there were no chakras, the body would most probably be paralyzed by a surge of power from the spirit too much to bear. If a transformer breaks down, there is a black out. A breakdown of the forth chakras “transformer” would mean les of energy for the breast and the lungs, for example. Dr. Shealy and Carolyn Myss say they discovered that a negative life trend damages the charkas. In respect of breast cancer, they say the woman or man concerned would have passionately or pathologically hated a person or a cause for about 18 months prior to the onset and progression of the cancer. Where they were able to get their patients to recognize their “sins” against this center of love (the fourth chakras), and express love instead of hatred, these cancers regressed on their own without medication.

     The chakra

    Before I come to the second Chakra and diseases of their pelvic region, including those of the vaginal and cervix, I believe a small talk about the chakras is important for the understanding of the case histories that may follow. On earth, the human spirit is in a school in which it is to learn certain lessons, an understanding of which qualifies it upon leaving the earth in so-called earthly death to migrate to a world above or below the earthly plane which corresponds with its level of spiritual maturity. These lessons are said to be structured into seven-year syllabuses for every chakras. We move on to the next chakras lesson when we are due to do so, irrespective of whether we failed or passed. If we failed, we move on with a “carry-over or carry-overs”. The first chakra is all about “groundedness” or feelings of security on earth. People who did not become inwardly safe or secure after their first seven years of life “carry over” this lesson. Some carry it over to their sixties or seventies. You can always find insecure people around you. Of them, it is said that, even if they be kings they would be inwardly afraid of even their slaves. They often surfers from sciatic nerve problems and fractured hip bones or develop bone questions in the lower extremities.   I would limit this discussion of the Seven Chakras to the second chakras for want of time and space. And for this, I would rely on the case history experiences of Dr. Shealy and Carolyn Myss.

     The second chakra

    Dr. Shealy and Carolyn Myss say in THE CREATION OF HEALTH, which this column often recommends for your health library:

    “This energy Center, your second chakras bank account, relates to issues of power in the external world-specifically financial and sexual power as well as power in relationship dynamics and personal power in terms of business and social interactions. It is located in the genital region of the body. The physical organs of the body that are primarily nourished by the energy of this chakras are your sexual organs, lower intestine, lower vertebrae, pelvis appendix and bladder.

    “In continuing our pattern of developmental process, the second stage of child development is the “what’s mine state”. This is second chakra energy at work within a child’s consciousness. As the child continues through the developmental stages through adulthood, the challenges of working through the “what’s mine” stage become the challenge of learning to relate in a healthy and balanced manner to the material world.

    “The most important wisdom chips that a child needs to acquire for this chakra are those of sharing, of learning to relate with respect to other people and learning self-worth without self-thought being totally associated with material object”.

    They say that, when self-worth and material objects are equated as one, as in money or power equations, “a person’s self-worth is then determined solely by how much material gain is acquired. The absence of money, therefore, equals an absence of self-worth”. Dr. Shealy and Carolyn Myss say that lack of self-worth in adulthood causes imbalances “in all forms if relationships that exist within the material world, be these relationships in sectors such as power, money economic, political or sexual or even if they concern issues of dominance and control in personal professional and personal relationship”. Obsessiveness in these areas as attempts to compensate for absence of self-worth. When these efforts fail to yield desired dividends, a pattern of fear and insecurity envelopes the man or woman they concerned. They fell powerless, feel abused or manipulated, they may feel sexually frigid, resentful of the other gender or of a spouse, unwilling to get pregnant, feeling resentful of the financial power and control of other people, a fear “of never having enough” and the readiness to “manipulate other people in order to establish control levels in your life”. (We can see Nigerian Politicians in all of these pictures storing trillions of naira in soak-away tanks or country homes).

    The authors say the following health challenges arise from a dysfunction of the second chakra: “menstrual difficulties, infertility, vaginal infections, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, tumours and cancers of the female organs; for men, impotency and prostate difficulties, including cancer, (these dysfunctions are associated with loss of financial or political authority, in particular). For both male and female, common dysfunctions include pelvic and lower back pain, herpes and all other sexual diseases, difficulties with slipped disc, all sexual problems and bladder and urinary difficulties”.

    Some case studies

    Dr. Shealy and Carolyn Myss take us through the lives and health challenges of some people whose problems they analyzed through energy medicine prison. Frank, 41, was a successful professional who suffered from candida infection of the vagina about one year after she had some uterine fibroids surgically removed. She had no husband or child, although she wished she did and had become stressed up by emotional distress and worry that time was running out for marriage and motherhood. Her candida did not respond to the Nystatin prescription of her doctors. Carolyn Myss thought that her “inner struggle reflects what many women must confront and that is the dilemma of choosing between having a family or a career.” Frank had thrown herself into her education and, afterwards, on a practice, suppressing personal and emotional life and soon experienced “serious depression and grieve over never having had a child.” Carolyn Myss though that the sorrow of having not had a child and the fear that time had run out caused the stress which brought about both Frank’s candidiasis and uterine fibroids. Another case study was Carlotta’s. She was 32 and presented “tonsillar, pharyngeal infection (treated with antibiotics), fever and exhausting fatigue”. Carlotta Presented vaginal candidiasis as well, with more than 15 antibiotics treatment over many years. Her marriage was unsatisfactory with a “remarkably ego-centered husband who constantly tells her that she is unattractive and that he doesn’t love her” Carolyn Myss thought that Carlotta became stressed up because she could not stabilise her marriage and because she always believed her husband who often threatened to leave her. She worried all the more because he frightened her that, if he left her, she would not find another man to marry her. Carlotta’s self-esteem was battered. As of the time of her energy analysis, Carlotta had been unable to resolve her problems. Yet another case study was Lori’s she had cancer of the cervix which had spread to her uterus and intestine. Her doctors wanted to surgically remove the diseased organs and tissues which surrounded them. Lori was afraid and refused surgery. For all major organs from her waist down would have to go. She then embarked on a massive Alternative self-help therapy. She did not wish to make the cancer “real” by going surgery, something typical of “it is not my portion”   culture in Nigeria. But this was only a facade. Because, deep down, fear of the cancer govern her life. Carolyn Myss thought that Lori may have survived her cancer, if she accepted the physical reality of its presence in her cervix and empowered herself emotionally to deal with it, realising the physical and emotional stresses that may have connived to bring it about.

    In conclusion, emotional distress like physical, chemical or oxidative stress, had been found to compromise immune function and predispose to danger organs within a chakras region most affected by this crisis. The second chakras is all about the acquisition and use of power. Where a struggle for power exists and it results in a deflation of the ego or Self-worth, the tendency is for the outcome to generate negative stress in the life of a person. The negative emotions or vibrations or radiations dull or inactivate the second chakras outlet of power from the power source, the human spirit, to the region of the body it served. As the organs and tissues in this region no longer get nourished by ethereal energy, begin to wither and are unable to protect themselves against germs.

    And only a normalisation of the emotion will restore balance. Uterine fibroids, like breast lumps, have been found to regrow even after surgical removal of the previous ones simply because the root cause(s) of the problems were not resolved. Women like to take charge in every situation. They are emotional, the set their children against their fathers. They set their husbands against their extended families. They banish from their husbands their friends that they do not like. They may kill a husband who takes on other women after them. When they encounter a man who stands like a Rock of Gibraltar, that is a man who is unmoved by their antics, a man they cannot control, they break down emotionally. It was once my privilege to nurse a woman who had just been discharged from a mental hospital. She became an intern after she found her husband had cheated on her. She was not concerned about what led to this. The man’s apology fell on deaf ears. I asked her to forgive him and move on with her life as he was moving on with his. I told her she did not own him and he did not own her. He had free will like her, as a gift from his maker. He could use this gift whichever way he wanted but would be answerable to only his creator if he use it wrongly. This woman was not appeased. And the husband did not know what to do. In one breath, she didn’t want him because he had cheated.  In another, she did not want him to go although she now dislike him. So living under the same roof with him continued to give her stress which made her unwell and unable to sleep. She symbolizes and attempts by women to take sexual control of their control marriages by putting their husbands in the marriage cage where he is a prisoner. It has been suggested by someone that, in marriages where peace is seen to reign, the woman is perfectly in charge. Where she fails and pandemonium often occurs. I say guilty because parenting is meant to consciously lead children up the ladder of the seven chakra. Prince Tony Momoh, former editor and Nigerian Information Minister gave a public lecture on these subject in the 1980’s or 1990’s. It was, I believe, at a birth day party of the singer Christin Essien- Egbokwe of Sweet Mother Film are now of blessed memory.

    This is a typical second chakra failure of which many parents are guilty.

  • Good times for women

    Lagos State Governor Akinwumi Ambode has reassured Lagosians of his administration’s commitment to alleviating poverty through continuous empowerment of the people in the state.

    Ambode made the remark during the mega empowerment progr-amme for women organised by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA).

    Over 3,000 women drawn from different local government areas of the state benefitted from the programme held at LTV complex, Agidingbi, Ikeja. The beneciaroes went home with various items like sewing machines, grinding machines, vulcanising machine, cash among others.

    Addressing the beneficiary, the governor, who was represented by his deputy, Idiat Adebule, said: ”Today’s programme is another giant step among several empowerment programmes of this administration meant to take care of the needs of widows, vulnerable women, and graduates of skill acquisition centres as well as senior citizens spread across the state. Over 3,000 Lagosians are today empowered to make them self-reliant through this enablement materials and financial provision. I want to state that this administration is committed to alleviating poverty among its populace and will continue to empower its citizenry.”

    Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Commissioner Lola Akande said:  ”It is heartwarming to state that the programme is meant to take care of the needs of some categories of women in all the 20 local government councils and 37 local council development areas in the state and it involves distribution of tools such grinding machines, sewing machines, vulcanizing machines as well as financial support to senior citizens and widows.

    “This is one step taken by this administration to cushion the effects of the global economic recession being witnessed by Lagosians especially women so as to make them self-reliant as well as supporting the family income. We will carry out another mega one before the end of the year. This is in addition to several mini empowerment programmes that we have plans to execute as the year draws along.”

    The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the state government for empowering them.

    One of them, Joseph Oluwaseun, who got a hair dryer, said: “Lagos State government has by this gesture put an end to my quest to have a dryer. I have been working manually  for the past five years that I have been a hairdresser. This gesture will make me have more customers and ease the stress of attending to people manually.”

  • Muslim women condemn attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

    Muslim women yesterday expressed displeasure over the attacks on some Nigerians in South Africa.

    They spoke at a programme, Sisters’ Dawah Conference, organised by the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit at Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.

    Participants at the conference, which was attended by about 10 Islamic organisations, lamented the rate of intolerance around the globe.

    The society’s women President, Hajia Hafsah Badru, said it was wrong for South Africa citizens to consider Nigerian as threats to their survival.

    She said: “South Africans should not forget in a hurry the role of Nigerians during the struggle to end apartheid. The same Nigerians they were attacking and looting their shops were at the forefront for their freedom. The attacks on Nigerians are signs of callousness, barbarism and ingratitude on the parts of the South Africans. Their aggression should be directed to their government and not foreign nationals. Every country is facing one economic challenge or another that does not call for attacks on foreigners living in that country.

    “It is wrong to subject foreign nationals to such attacks because of economic crisis in your country, not even those that are contributing to the development of your country.”

    To Lagos State Chapter leader of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) Dr Sariyu Ashiru, South African leaders should curb the attacks and foster unity among their citizens and foreigners.

    “Togetherness aids unity and the achievement of a common goal. We really need to seek God’s intervention concerning the numerous vices witnessed in different parts of the world,” she said.

    Ansar-ud-Deen Youth Association of Nigeria (ADYAN) president Fatimo Salam, faulted South Africans for being intolerant.

    “It all boils down to being tolerant and having a strong mindset for peace. People around the world must learn to leave together in peace and harmony,” she said.

    The guest speaker, Imam Abdullahi Shuaib, who is the Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of Jaiz Zakat and Waqf Fund, said: “This is not the first time that we are experiencing such an attack in South Africa. The government and media need to make a decisive step because if care is not taken, Nigerians may attack South Africans’ interests in Nigeria.

    “Government of South Africa need to show the public that it is on top of the situation. The media must also stop inciting reports against Nigerians, especially those that are legal migrants,” he said.

  • 3 Reasons you should not fund him.

    Today we will be discussing a very contentious topic, “To fund or not fund”. It might seem like a tricky question but it is never a good idea to buy love, especially if you are a woman. Why on earth should a woman give a man (who is not even her husband) her money? Not a good idea at all! Back in the day, men took care of their wives and families, and ruled their households like mini fiefdoms. Times have changed, and women now make their own money, but men still expect us to submit, so what do we do? We submit, if only for the sake of peace. However, if a woman has to foot the bill, she has become the boss, not just a helpmate. So why do I think so?

     

    The man was designed to be the head in every marital/amorous relationship, and if he is the leader, he should foot the bills (or at least a large part of it). Why? Because money is power, whoever has it controls the power dynamics of the relationship. In all my years, I am yet to come across a man who is happy to be fed or funded by a woman, they might date (or even marry) a woman for her money, but trust me more often than not they will find a less financially buoyant woman to spend their change on, so as to feel like men.

     

    Giving a man your money puts you at risk of attracting gold diggers/gigolos. Only yesterday, I read the story of a divorced silver spoon celebrity chick. She said, “I really loved him, but when I had a financial challenge, he took off. Apparently, that was all he wanted.” Guess what, the guy in question is remarried to a younger woman today. Speaking further, she said, “I have never dated a man for money, however in another relationship; a man took my hard earned money, and ran.” Guess what? Her story is nothing new, I am yet to see an instance where the woman funded the relationship and it worked out. The only female relative I know who tried it put a man through university, clothed, housed and fed him, his mom, and siblings for years, while he was unemployed. When he finally got a job, she never set eyes again on him; after three kids.

     

    You can never really tell if it is you he loves or your money. Modern females are educated and independent, but marriage demands that we submit to our man. How does a person submit to a man one is feeding? More often than not, such women become / are accused of being shrewish, and the men feel justified in taking off. What about an old friend of mine who dated a guy while she was putting herself through the university. She would feed him, and spend her heard earned savings on him, guess the first thing he did after he graduated? That’s right, he dumped her. Obviously he never loved her, only her money. My advice? Do yourself a favour, and find yourself a man who has a job. Oh, and just in case he attempts to turn you to his ATM; dump him.

     

  • Things stylish women never do

    Things stylish women never do

    Every woman has her morning routine, the things you do from the time you get out of bed in the morning, until you head out the door to work. From taking a bath, tohitting the gym; meditating, or having a cup of tea, we all have our peculiar routine when it comes to starting a new day. But, one thing we all have no choice but get dressed for whatever lies ahead. With our constant daily to-do lists, it’s not unusual to spend an entire day running from responsibility to responsibility, which is why this year afunctional wardrobe is a must.

    When it comes to the dos and don’ts of getting dressed, the most inspiring women share a common trait: They choose comfort and versatility when picking out their outfit.Whether that means never wearing heels, or staying away from anything too restrictive, here are a few dos and don’ts to note when getting ready.  We hope these tips will make dressing up in the morning that much easier.

    Don’t: Wear Anything That’s Not Versatile Enough to Survive the Whole Day

    One word that should define the modern woman’s morning outfit decisions should be comfort.  Strive for comfort at all times. For some, it may mean never wearing heels. For others it could be wearing platforms or wedges. And don’t forget that those sneakers are in right now.

    Don’t: No visible panty lines please!

    “No visible panty lines” is another important rule to keep in mind when preparing for the day.  That way you can do your work, or go about your business without worrying that you are scandalizing anyone, or giving a negative image.

    Don’t:  No overmatching.

    And while picking the right underwear for the day ahead is crucial, another big no-go when getting dressed, being too matchy-matchy (except for denim on denim). Except you are doing the monochrome thing, your clothes, and accessories don’t necessarily have to always match, that is so old school.

    Don’t: Sacrificing comfort for glamour.

    Always dress in pieces that make you comfortable. For some it may mean not to dressing too young, or flamboyantly. Its okay to wear trends, but not at the expense of comfort. For work, avoid pieces that are restrictive or uncomfortable, for the simple reason that they will just irritate you within an hour.

    Don’t: Putting on makeup before getting dressed

    When it comes to dressing for work, when getting ready in the morning, never put on makeup before getting fully dressed.

    Don’t: Wearing leggings to work

    And whatever you do, never wear leggings to the office, except you are off to the gym. And when you do, wearing a G-string would be a good idea.

     Don’t: Wearing anything distracting

    For busy professionals, and entrepreneurial women a busy schedule means that you are constantly on the go, it’s all about clothing that can get you through anything. Entrepreneurship leaves you much less time for everything else, so versatility and comfort become increasingly important filters for one’s personal style.  Avoid anything that distracts you from focusing on what’s important; instead choose to gravitate toward real, beautiful clothes that you can live and work in.

    Don’t: Getting dressed without considering the weather

    When it comes to morning rituals, one often overlooked factor is getting dressed without considering the weather. Walking to work every day means that being prepared is key to making through the day unscathed. So you can choose to consider  the weather forecast, or face the consequences at your own peril.