Holistique

Understanding Health Studies Made Easy

If you feel overwhelmed by the number of health studies you read about, you’re not alone. Scientific publication grows about 6% a year, and doubles every 13 years, according to the National Institutes of Health. On top of that, the claims are often exaggerated and sometimes contradict each other.

Still, you can see through the hype and understand medical news without having to take a graduate course in statistics. Study these quick tips for making sense out of health research, and applying the findings to your own life.

Tips for Understanding Health Studies

Reframe the numbers. Health risks may sound more alarming than they really are. Reporters write headlines that will grab your attention, and even scientists can feel pressured to announce a breakthrough. Saying 1 in 20 adults has a certain health issue sounds more dramatic than saying 95% do not, even though the meaning is the same.

Draw comparisons. To appreciate how big the risk is for any health outcome, liken it to another event. You may have a greater chance of winning the lottery than contracting an exotic illness.

Shorten your timeframe. If you listed all the challenges you’ve faced since birth, it would sound pretty daunting. Contemplating 10 years at a time rather than lifetime risk may feel more manageable.

Assess the relevance. However serious the condition, you need to know if it’s likely to affect you. Maybe you’re an elderly female, and the study sample was adolescent males.

Focus on starting risk. Starting risk is a complicated but essential factor that’s sometimes overlooked. Keep in mind that the sicker a patient is, the more they’ll benefit from any treatment.

Look for patient outcomes. You probably care more about eliminating symptoms that bother you rather than just lowering your cholesterol. Look for results that matter to you.

Consider the source. Naturally, pharmaceutical companies fund most drug studies. They may still be high quality research, but they’re also trying to sell their products.

Think critically. Healthy skepticism can help you avoid the inconvenience and expense of unnecessary treatment. Calculate your risk and weigh the benefits of any intervention. Be cautious about preliminary findings and observational studies.

Tips for Taking Action based on Health Studies

Establish priorities. What health choices would have the greatest impact on your wellbeing? Maybe you need to quit smoking or manage a chronic condition. Make the best use of your time and energy by seeing what credible, peer-reviewed journals and government sources have to say on those subjects.

Note the side effects. Practically every drug or procedure comes with a potential downside as well. Consider how severe the side effects are, and how likely you are to experience them.

Change your lifestyle. On the other hand, many lifestyle adjustments are powerful, far-reaching, and 100% safe. Let scientists encourage you to eat your vegetables, exercise daily, and wash your hands frequently.

Talk with your doctor. Your physician and the rest of your health team can help you sort out how any individual study pertains to someone with your background and values. Ask questions and share your concerns.

Make your own decisions. Remember that medical studies give you options. Reasonable adults will reach different conclusions about how they want to respond to those findings. You may decide to seek aggressive treatment or prefer a wait-and-see approach.

Make sense out of health statistics, and use the latest medical information to enhance your own wellbeing. With a little practice, you can benefit from health studies instead of feeling confused by them.

:)

Happy ‼️

As promised, below is a link to recipes to make at home! The link is from the Herbal Academy blog! (We really liked the orange 🍊 one!)

But what are doing promoting chocolate for⁉️ Well....

"The benefits of chocolate include effects on:
🔸️Blood Pressure
🔸️Insulin Resistance
🔸️Vascular + Platelet Function
, abundant in and activate that leads to generation of NO, which lowers by promoting "
-- Chocolate, "Food of the Gods": History, Science and Human Health, NCBI-NIH

Isn't wonderful⁉️

Snap a photo and tell us what chocolatey chips treats you're making to celebrate AND to spread the of family and chocolate today❗

Homemade Chocolate Recipes for Decadent Herbal Chocolates Delicious homemade chocolate recipes are easy to make! Try the easy base recipe or choose a more complex recipe adding herbs and spices, fruits, and nuts.

Today is AND (stay tuned for a later today!) YAY!

Things to do for
even if it's in your backyard!
are always fun with the fam 💖
(and 🍫) is one of our famiy's most favorite ❤♥😍
/ on gratitude for family

We made this to help guide us all towards an to strengthen our bonds with our families, as our families are the most important relationships in our lives, whatever our family looks like

I LOVE MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY
I have a beautiful family 👪
I am grateful for my beautiful family and appreciate their presence 🙏
I love all of my family members and feel during each moment I spend with them
My family enriches my life with and
They help me see the world in a new way

MY FAMILY IS BEAUTIFUL INSIDE AND OUT
My family is a in a chaotic world 🌎
It helps me find and during challenging times
I am for our individual quirks and differences
We each other and find in every situation
We help each other after and together
My beautiful family is a from the universe ✨
It has beauty that shines beyond the external
It is a net that catches me during
It is my brick wall that will for what is right

MY FAMILY IS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE WE ALLOW LOVE TO DOMINATE
We on joy and peace instead of paon and chaos
Today, I see my family in a new light
I focus my gratitude and joy I feel with them
I am my family is part of my life and helps me every day
I treasure each minute I spend with my family 👪

SELF-REFLECTION QUESTIONS
🔸️What can I do to show my family I think it is beautiful?
🔸️How can I show appreciation for our distant family?
🔸️What can I do to spend more time with my family despite my busy schedule?

We hope you have an awesome day with your families today!

Want to save the pics to your phone? Head to on FB! Having affirmations on hand can be super helpful, sometimes, especially around family 😆🤣😂

Happy Mother's Day!

One of the most precious days of the year and, in our experience, can be celebrated in so many ways and with the most special person in our lives--our mothers!

We were all in our Mother's body before she birthed us into the world. She nutured us as best as she could to ensure our arrival.

We have women in our lives who raise, guide, love, nurture, encourage, teach, empower, enrich, and uplift us.

But remember, mothers can only give us the grace they give themselves. They are human. They go through phases and difficult times, too. No matter how super moms seem to be, we celebrate their humanness as well!

Thank you moms, all of you, for all the things you do for your family, friends and community ❤

So, a lot of controversy over Kava. So I did my research!
Let's jump straight to adverse interactions!
1. is the PROLONGED USE OF LARGE AMOUNTS which is REVERSIBLE via REDUCED INTAKE or CESSATION!
2. LIVER TOXICITY RARE but thankfully it can also regenerate if you'll be nice to it.
3. Pharmokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic interactions/potential adverse effects if mixed with certain herbs or drugs (ones metabolized by CYP 450 enzyme).
With that said here are the pros:
1. Clinical studies have shown that & are effective in the treatment of due to various medical conditions.
2. Extracts, upon drinking reported & produced "complete freedom from anxiety."
4. DIHYDROKAVAIN & YANGONIN showed highest CYCLOOXYGENASE ENZYME (COX-I & COX-II) inhibitory activities at 100 ųg/ml.
5. Moderate activities in assay at 2.5 mg/ml due to YANGONIN & METHYSTICIN.
6. It's known in other countries as an or

Our thoughts? Potentially good for pre-medical operations and panic attacks. Should not be taken daily. Your thoughts?

Having technical difficulties with our free Anatomy & Physiology group! It seems we will have to delete and start over! The actual technical difficulty is that one of our children clicked a way for us to not be able to post as us anymore! Only our personal profiles 😂

But, we noticed a few other changes that needed to be made as well. Mainly organizing it differently so each unit is easier to navigate! Yay!

We apologize for the inconvenience! Before you know it, we will be back better than ever with a FREE Anatomy & Physiology flash course in a private group where you can safely navigate, ask questions, take quizzes, and partake in discussions about our body and how it works!
** COMMENT below if you're interested in being invited to the new and improved group!

One thing we all share is the earth, our home. We need to take care of it and each other. It's a good day in DC to take in some nature and just appreciate it for a few minutes. The aesthitic beauty, sweet aromas, fresh air. How intricate and delicate, even powerful our ecosystem is. Earth gave us life.

Happy Earth Day!

LEMON BALM (melissa officinalis)
Go to link for one of many research papers on Lemon Balm! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871149/

Activities
1. Antioxidant
2. Anti-inflammatory
3. Anti-microbial
4. Anti-depressant
5. Sleep aid

Treats
1. Sleep disorders
2. Neurodegenerative diseases
3. Obesity
4. Ophthalmology
5. Cardiology
6. Oncology
7. Gastroenterology

Which do you like better?

HAPPY HERBALIST DAY!!!

Today we thank those who have come before us. We are grateful to those who taught us so that we may teach others. Thank you to those who took the time, effort and spirit to guide us on each of our paths.

One of the most incredible things about herbalism is the community. Everyone is a student and a teacher. We have many paths to choose from.

Education is at the heart of it.

We absolutely LOVE learning and sharing our evidenced-based herbalism and holistic approaches!

We just started an Anatomy and Physiology "flash course" group that's totally FREE!

We couldn't have done it without those who took their time with us--so thank you, so very much 💜

Unit 1 ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY complete with flashcards!

JOIN our FREE Flash Course, designed for learning in small portions on FB, by COMMENTING below!

Who loves bubbles!?

We 💜 bubbles!
What do we love more than bubbles!?
MAKING SCENTED BUBBLES!!!

It's getting warmer and warmer outside! Which means lots and lots of BUBBLES outside (or inside)!

What natural single or blended aromas do you want floating around you?

Lavender?
Mixed with Vanilla?
Cedarwood, Ocotea, Lime?

Just to name a few of our favorite things 😉

Have a recipe to make your own, non-toxic bubbles? Share it! We have one too!

1 cup unscented liquid castille soap
1/4 cup vegetable glycerin
10 drops favorite essential oil

Yay bubbles!

Herbal Education

Here at Holistique, we believe in being informed. Anyone seeking herbal medicine or to become a practioner should know their stuff. You want your herbalist to be educated just as you would want any health and wellness practioner to be.

Here are the American Herbalists Guild's suggested education guidelines to becoming an herbalist:

https://www.americanherbalistsguild.com/herbal_education

DM for more info on how to study herbalism for free!

HERBAL MEDICINE

"Herbal medicine differs from conventional medicine in its use of whole plants, generally as an unpurified extract; herb combining (polypharmacy); and diagnostic principles based on treating 'underlying causes.'

"Practitioners of herbal medicine tend to concentrate on treating chronic conditions and improving well-being.

"Because many plants are toxic, herbal medicine probably presents a greater risk of adverse effects than other complementary therapies.

"The potential for interactions of herbal products with conventional drugs exists and some interactions have been well-characterized."

Simply put: herbal medicine practitioners use the whole plant to treat root causes and that herbal products are similar to conventional drugs as they can cause adverse side effects. Also in both herbal and conventional medicine, you must be sure your practitioners are competent!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071505/

Welcome to Holistique!

We're here to share evidenced-based approaches to sustainable health and wellness focused on root causes. Everything shared here will be backed by science!