We all have families and careers, and sometimes they can be too much for us to handle. We get stressed with certain issues in life and we need to just off load these issues.

You don’t need a spa treatment or journey to an exotic location to overcome stress. Here are some simple ways on how to deal with stress before it deals with you.

MEDITATION

Meditation is commonly known as the practice of turning your attention to a single point of reference, either a word or focusing on the breathing. Research suggests that daily meditation may alter the brain’s neural pathways, making you more resilient to stress,” says psychologist Robbie Maller Hartman, PhD, a Chicago health and wellness coach.

Sit up straight with both feet on the floor. Close your eyes and Focus your attention on reciting out loud or silently  a positive mantra such as “I love my life.” Place one hand on your belly to sync the mantra with your breaths. Let any distracting thoughts float by like clouds.

EXERCISING

To exercise doesn’t necessarily mean going to the gym, you can also do some yoga,go bike riding or even go for a walk or take a jog. By the time you finish your shower you will be feeling a lot better and relieved.

I’m sure there are so many things that you can try out, but first talk to you family or friends.

Remember, ‘A problem shared is a problem half solved.‘

Xoxo,

African Queen.

Here are a few things i thought you should know in-case you are trying to get pregnant.

Cycle confusion

Women are different and cycles vary depending on the woman. Alot of women dont understand their cycles. Ovulation is two weeks before your period. Most people think that it’s two weeks after, but that’s only if you have a four-week cycle. Also sperms can live for three days in the cervix, so you don’t have to have sex on the day of ovulation, it could be the day before. Lubricant decreases sperm motility and transfer, so you shouldn’t use lubricant when you’re trying to get pregnant.

Keeping a positive attitude

It is always good to keep a positive attitude as our minds and body have a connection. Do not listen to the negative information but rather concentrate on making lifestyle changes and planing ahead for the baby.

Stress

You need to avoid stress causing factors by all means possible. According to naturopathic doctor Via Bitidis, co-director of the North Toronto Naturopathic Clinic, balance and calm are a crucial part of trying to conceive. Instead of altering your day to day routine, you can take some therapy or counseling and even do some exercises and meditations.

Sleep

When you deprive your self of sleep you lower your chances of conceiving as your body is too overworked and it cannot work as the immune system is also down.

Weight

Excess weight can have a huge effect on fertility, bu on the other hand a woman who is underweight or overweight may have some difficulty conceiving a baby. An undernourished body may not ovulate properly. If you do get pregnant when you’re overweight, the risk are; miscarriage, diabetes and premature delivery.

Lifestyle changes

You will definitely have to make some changes in regards to your current lifestyle. For example both you and your other half will have to quit smoking (incase you do smoke that is). Smoking affects your general health, but we know it can affect the lining of the uterus, making implantation an issue. Plus, smoking releases a lot of toxins and it’s just not maximizing the environment the embryo is going to be trying to implant into.

But the most important part of all is to seek professional assistance.

Xoxo,

African Queen.

Different women have different methods of how they handle that time of the month and what they use. Here is a look at some of them.

1. SANITARY PADS

It can also be called a sanitary napkin, sanitary towel, menstrual pad, maxi pad, or pad. It is an item worn by women during that time of the month to absorb blood flow from the vagina. These pads are not to be confused with generally higher absorbency incontinence pads, which are worn by men or women who have urinary incontinence problems or experience stress incontinence.  It is worn externally, between the vulva and a woman’s undergarment.

There are different types of sanitary pads:

• Panty liner – Designed to absorb daily vaginal discharge, light menstrual flow, or as a backup for tampons/ mestrual cups.
• Ultra-thin – A very compact (thin) pad, which may be as absorbent as a Regular or Maxi/Super pad but with less bulk.
• Regular – A middle range absorbency pad.
• Maxi / Super – A larger absorbency pad, useful for the start of the menstrual cycle when menstruation is often heaviest.
• Overnight – A longer pad to allow for more protection while the wearer is lying down, with an absorbency suitable for overnight use.
• Maternity – These are usually slightly longer than a maxi/Super pad and are designed to be worn to absorb bleeding that occurs after childbirth.

2. TAMPONS

It is a plug of soft material inserted into the vagina to absorb menstrual blood. Historically, the word “tampon” originated from the medieval french word “tampion”, meaning a piece of cloth to stop a hole, a stamp, plug, or stopper. Tampons are designed to be easily inserted into the vagina during menstruation and absorb the menstrual flow.

Tampons are available in several absorbency ratings, which are consistent across manufacturers;

• Junior/Light absorbency: 6 g and under
• Regular absorbency: 6 to 9 g
• Super absorbency: 9 to 12 g
• Super Plus absorbency 12 to 15 g
• Ultra absorbency 15–18 g

There was a case i read about a 13 year old girl who died from using tampons. Link to the story is attached.

https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/13-year-old-dies-from-using-1262473630326838.html

So let us see the guidelines to follow when using tampons;

• Follow package directions for insertion.
• Choose the lowest absorbency needed for one’s flow.
• Consider using cotton or cloth tampons rather than rayon.
• Change the tampon at least every 4 to 6 hours.
• Alternate between tampons and pads.
• Avoid tampon usage overnight or when sleeping.

3. MENSTRUAL CUPS

It is a type of feminine hygiene product which is usually made of medical grade silicone, shaped like a bell and is flexible. It is worn inside the vagina during menstruation to catch menstrual fluid (blood), and can be worn during the day and overnight. 

About every 4-12 hours (depending on the amount of flow), the menstruating woman removes the menstrual cup from her vagina, empties the collected menstrual blood into a toilet or sink, washes the cup under running water and inserts it again.

The menstrual cup is first folded, and then inserted into the vagina. It will normally unfold automatically and create a light seal against the vaginal walls. Menstrual cups are safe when used as directed and no health risks related to their use have been found. However, no medical research was conducted to ensure that menstrual cups were safe prior to introduction on the market.

The benefits of using them are;

• They are reusable and a woman will save money by using a menstrual cup.
• Tampons absorb all vaginal moisture, including secretions that are needed to maintain the proper pH and beneficial bacteria populations. Menstrual cups collect menstrual flow and allow the vagina to regulate its own moisture levels.
• If a woman needs to note how much menstrual fluid she is expelling for medical reasons, a cup can allow her to tell more accurately. Some cups even have measuring marks on them.

As much as they have benefits they also have their own st backs;

• Individual menstrual cups are more expensive than a package of sanitary napkins or tampons and require some upfront investment.
• Some women experience difficulty in inserting or removing the menstrual cup depending on previous experience and certain physical factors.
• Some women find menstrual cups uncomfortable.
• Removing a menstrual cup can be messy, with spillage of menstrual blood onto the floor being a possibility.
• Cleaning a menstrual cup in a public toilet can pose problems as the hand washing sinks are usually in public eye.

To get to understand how to insert them just check the link below.

http://www.mylovecup.com/#!how-to-use-your-menstrual-cup/czvz

In the end we always choose the one that makes us comfortable.

Xoxo,

African Queen.

The last time i talked about the health benefits of having sex, so today i feel like talking about what men do wrong or what they are supposed to do during sex.

What do women like in bed?

• To be unwrapped and revealed slowly like a present. Not saying that raw passion is bad, but at times he needs to take his time and for me to see it in him.
• Dirty talk. I like a vocal guy who expresses himself. A little bit of dirty talk can go along way.
• Control. At times you should let her take control. Not all the time, but some times. She might want to try things that might please you and this is the perfect time to do this.
• Role play. This actually turns on some women. When you play an officer or she plays the naughty nurse, it might actually stimulate your sex life.

• movement variety. I want a combination of in-and-out with a clockwise rotation. It accesses all of me, and the top of his pelvis brushes my clit on the upward motion.
• Try and make it all about her. There’s no better feeling than a massage with baby oil running down your thighs and lower back.
• Take control. At times you should also take control.  I need him to manhandle me a little bit. I want to feel him want me. Put me against the wall and pull my clothes off.
• Complements. Tell her she is a very special woman and the light of your life. I feel like most guys are not so great with the compliments, and after you’re naked with someone, that’s all they really want.

• Surprises. I would love to be whisked away on a last minute trip somewhere exotic, have a lovely, innocent dinner, then on a walk back to our hotel, sneak off in an alley for an illicit, highly-charged round.
• Get hands. It takes things to a whole new level when you let your fingers do the walking. Let your fingers involved with the oral part of love making.
• Set the mood at least once in a while. pour us some drinks, touch my leg under the table at dinner. Just do something to change the mood from a normal one to a hot one.

I would have talked about things that men want during sex, but hey, im a woman. I only know what i want.

Xoxo,

African Queen.

I recently read an article that gave these benefits of having sex and i thought it best to share.

SURPRISING HEALTH BENEFITS OF HAVING SEX

1.) Having sex relieves headaches, every time you make love, it releases the tension in the veins of the brain.

2.) A lot of sex can clear the stuffy nose. Sex, is natural antihistamine. It helps to fight against asthma and spring allergies.

Xoxo,

African Queen.

Each one of us have either been affected or infected by cancer and as we age, there is an increase in the number of possible cancer-causing mutations in our DNA. This makes age an important risk factor for cancer.. So let us break it down as much as we could.

What is cancer?

Cancer also called malignancy, is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Some viruses and bacteria are linked to certain cancers. For example, people with persistent infection with the hepatitis B virus or the hepatitis C virus have an increased risk of developing cancer of the liver. Another example is the link between the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer.

What are the different types of cancer?

breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma,  mouth, testicles,  rectum  e.t.c

How does it occur?

Cancer starts when cells in a part of the body start to grow out of control. Cancer cell growth is different from normal cell growth. Instead of dying, cancer cells continue to grow and form new, abnormal cells.Cancer cells can also invade (grow into) other tissues, something that normal cells can’t do.

How is it diagnosed?

The earlier cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of its being cured. Some types of cancer such as those of the skin, breast, mouth, testicles, prostate, and rectum, may be detected by routine self-exam or other screening measures before the symptoms become serious. Most cases of cancer are detected and diagnosed after a tumor can be felt or when other symptoms develop. In a few cases, cancer is diagnosed incidentally as a result of evaluating or treating other medical conditions.

What are the symptoms?

Cancer symptoms are quite varied and depend on where the cancer is located, where it has spread, and how big the tumor is.

• Some cancers can be felt or seen through the skin.
• A lump on the breast or testicle can be an indicator of cancer in those locations.
• Skin cancer (melanoma) is often noted by a change in a wart or mole on the skin.
• Some oral cancers present white patches inside the mouth or white spots on the tongue.
• Some brain tumors tend to present symptoms early in the disease as they affect important cognitive functions.
• Pancreas cancers are usually too small to cause symptoms until they cause pain by pushing against nearby nerves or interfere with liver function to cause a yellowing of the skin and eyes called jaundice.
• Symptoms also can be created as a tumor grows and pushes against organs and blood vessels. For example, colon cancers lead to symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stool size.
• Bladder or prostate cancer cause changes in bladder function such as more frequent or infrequent urination.
• As cancer cells use the body’s energy and interfere with normal hormone function, it is possible to present symptoms such as fever, fatigue, excessive sweating, anemia, and unexplained weight loss.

How is cancer classified?

• Carcinomas are characterized by cells that cover internal and external parts of the body such as lung, breast, and colon cancer.
• Sarcomas are characterized by cells that are located in bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, muscle, and other supportive tissues.
• Lymphomas are cancers that begin in the lymph nodes and immune system tissues.
• Leukemias are cancers that begin in the bone marrow and often accumulate in the bloodstream.
• Adenomas are cancers that arise in the thyroid, the pituitary gland, the adrenal gland, and other glandular tissues.

How is cancer treated?

Cancer treatment depends on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer (how much it has spread), age, health status, and additional personal characteristics. There is no single treatment for cancer, and patients often receive a combination of therapies and palliative care. Treatments usually fall into one of the following categories:

surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, or gene therapy.

For more information visit the National Cancer Institute:

http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer

Xoxo,

African Queen.

There are various types of STD’s that you can get without having any sex, so im going to share this article that i read so that you can also get informed. The article was featured by a certain Alyssa Dweck, M.D., an ob-gyn in Westchester, New York, and coauthor of V Is for vagina.

1. Molluscum Contagiosum
   It sounds like a Harry Potter spell, but it’s nowhere near as fun. Although it’s technically a viral infection and not an STD, Dweck has seen a rise in women who get the resulting raised lumps with craters on their genitals instead of elsewhere on their bodies. “We see more women getting this from things like skin-to-skin contact or even a tanning bed,” says Dweck. The lumps aren’t painful, but after you get one they can multiply, which can quickly lead to panic. “The virus goes away by itself, and the bumps can be scraped or frozen off,” says Dweck. “Although, if they’re frozen, I can’t send it to the lab for testing.” Once the virus is gone, this infection doesn’t usually recur.
2. Trichomoniasis
   This tongue-twister of an STD isn’t well-known, but it’s worth reading up on for one big reason: The virus can live on an inanimate object for a period of time after someone with the infection touches it. It may present itself as a vaginal infection with a foul-smelling discharge accompanied by itching and irritation. “It can be transmitted through things like a dirty bath towel or a vibrator that’s been used and not washed,” says Dweck. Although there’s no clear-cut information on how long the virus can live, Dweck explains that it’s unlikely you would be at risk if you come into contact with something several weeks after someone with trichomoniasis touched it. Thankfully, Dweck says antibiotics can help conquer this one.
3. HPV
   Although HPV has risen from the sexual health lexicon to become a buzzword of sorts, a lot of people still don’t understand that no s*x is necessary to catch it. “The human papilloma virus is transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, whether someone touches a wart or some of the surrounding skin,” says Dweck. HPV comes in various strains, some of which may cause genital warts and others that can result in precancerous lesions. There don’t need to be warts for you to catch it since the virus can shed even if there isn’t an outbreak. “Warts sometimes show up on parts of the body besides genitals, like fingers,” says Dweck. A doctor can prescribe medication to get rid of the warts or use various techniques like freezing or cutting them off, but the virus may still sit dormant in your system and recur from time to time.

I’m sure there others that we did not cover, but in case we learn anything new we will definitely keep you updated.

Xoxo,

African Queen.

This morning i woke up to the newspaper reading that the Ministry of Health has offered Sh100,000 reward to anyone who will report a case of Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) in any part of the country. That had me thinking, what is this Guinea Worm Disease? This is the first time i’m even hearing about the disease.

Dracunculiasis, also called Guinea Worm Disease (GWD) is an infection by the Guinea Worm. This worm is the largest of the tissue parasite affecting humans. The adult female, which carries about 3 million embryos, can measure 600 to 800 mm in length and 2 mm in diameter. The parasite migrates through the victim’s subcutaneous tissues causing severe pain especially when it occurs in the joints.

HOW IT SPREADS:

Approximately 1 year after a person drinks contaminated water, the adult female Guinea worm emerges from the skin of the infected person. Persons with worms protruding through the skin may enter sources of drinking water and unwittingly allow the worm to release larvae into the water. These larvae are ingested by microscopic copepods (tiny “water fleas”) that live in these water sources. Persons become infected by drinking water containing the water fleas harboring the Guinea worm larvae.

SYMPTOMS ARE:

According to CDC, people with Guinea worm disease (GWD) have no symptoms for about 1 year. Then, the person begins to feel ill. Symptoms can include:

• Slight fever
• Itchy rash
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Dizziness

A blister then develops. This blister can form anywhere on the skin. However, the blister forms on the lower body parts in 80%–90% of cases. This blister gets bigger over several days and causes a burning pain. When the person puts this affected body part in cool water to ease the symptoms, it is thought that the worm detects the temperature change and bursts from the blister to release hundreds of thousands of larvae into the water.

BARRIERS:

The eradication of Guinea worm disease has faced several challenges:

• Inadequate security in some endemic countries
• Lack of political will from the leaders of some of the countries in which the disease is endemic
• The need for change in behavior in the absence of a magic bullet treatment like a vaccine or medication
• Inadequate funding at certain times.

TREATMENT:

There is no vaccine or medicine to treat or prevent Guinea worm disease. Once a Guinea worm begins emerging, the first step is to do a controlled submersion of the affected area in a bucket of water. This causes the worm to discharge many of its larva, making it less infectious.

According to CDC, GWD only occurs in the poorest 10% of world’s population who have no access to safe drinking water or health care. Therefore, GWD is both a disease of poverty and a cause of poverty.

So does that mean that Kenya is a poor nation?

Xoxo,

African Queen.

I have recently noticed that i am developing some really nasty dark spots on my face and this is not a good sign. Many black spots or dark patches can easily be eliminated to restore a glowing facial complexion. So i decided to do some research on what are the causes and the remedies to this, and here is what i have learned so far.

Let us start with the causes:

Hormonal imbalance is one of them. Sometimes, dark spots are due to some blood vessel deformities under the skin where these dark spots appear on your skin. However, excessive sun exposure seems to be the biggest reason behind dark  spots on skin. Dark spots can also be caused by use of low grade cosmetic products or even excess secretion of melanin on the skin (Melanin is the root of what gives color to skin, hair, eyes, plants, oil, animals, volcano’s everything imaginable that is creative and colorful). Pregnancy can also be one of the causes, or even certain medications, vitamin deficiencies, lack of sleep and too much stress.

Now let us look at the possible remedies:

1. Cosmetic creams such as hydroquinone cream, tretinoin cream and azelaic acid cream as well as various skin treatments like chemical peels and intense pulsed light therapy.

2. Lemon juice; Citrus fruits contain abundant amounts of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid which helps slough off the top layer of skin without causing damage. Put some fresh lemon juice on a cotton ball and rub it directly on the affected skin area, Leave it on for 30 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water. You should repeat this twice daily for about two months to notice positive results. If you have sensitive skin, dilute the lemon juice with water.

3. Blend a papaya into smooth paste, apply the mask to your face and neck. Leave it on for about 30 minutes, then rinse well. This is because Papaya fruit contains the enzyme papain. Papain helps exfoliate the skin, making way for new skin cells to emerge. Papaya also contains Vitamin C and Vitamin E, making it a dark spot remover.

4. Buttermilk can also be used as it is helps fade blemishes and black spots but without causing burning sensation. But if you do not have butter milk you can also use milk and soak a cotton ball in it, apply it on your face, leave it on for about 10 minutes and then wash it off. Repeat this procedure twice daily for four to five weeks. You can also prepare a solution by mixing milk and honey and apply the solution to your dark spots, leaving it on for 10 minutes.

5. Vinegar also has a number of recognized healing properties and you can use it also to get rid of the dark spots. Mix an equal amount of vinegar and water and rub on areas with dark spots. You should do that till the dark spots fade away. You can also mix it with honey and rub on the affected areas.

6. Aloe Vera is also another helping factor. Now when i say aloe Vera i mean the actual plant itself and not all the chemicals on the shelves nowadays (no harm intended on the manufacturers though). Aloe Vera is a species of plant that has been used for thousands of years to treat both skin conditions and other health issues. The pure gel from inside the stem can be used directly on the skin to instill its healing properties, it contains all kinds of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and other natural properties that make it perfect for treating most skin problems. Extract the gel from the leaves and rub on the affected areas, you should get a positive result in few days.

They all have one uniting factor, which is they can be mixed with honey.

Now to be perfectly clear, these remedies are just my research opinion and to get professional advise you need to see a dermatologist. Do they work? you might ask me, well i do not know yet, i am still treating my face, so let’s see what the results will be.

Xoxo,

African Queen.