It has been said that laughter is the best medicine, but crying can also be very cathartic.

Judith Orloff, M.D., author of Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself From Negative Emotions and Transform Your Life, writes, “For over 20 years as physician, I’ve witnessed time and again the healing power of tears. Tears are your body’s release valve for stress, sadness, grief, anxiety and frustration.” In a Huffington Post article, Dr. Orloff says she actually encourages her patients to cry.

Read this post in its entirety:

The Healing Power of Tears

The new guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) say that VBAC is a safe choice for most women with a low-transverse incision.

But will the guidelines result in increased access to VBAC?

Read this post and check out the poll:

New VBAC Guidelines: Information and Choice for Women

Photo courtesy photoXpress.com

Read this post in its entirety (includes poll and “Babies are Amazing” video):

So Who Wants Your Cord Blood?

Photo courtesy of photoxpress.com

If you are not familiar with the game, FarmVille is a real-time farm simulation game in which players plant, grow, and harvest crops on expanding farms while interacting with other players they “friend” as neighbors. Millions of players are enjoying the experience of virtual farm life, tending their farms and learning as they go.

Cascadian Farm, a leading brand of organic foods, is partnering with FarmVille to increase awareness and support for organic farming and organic lifestyle, breathing virtual life into organic farming within the online agricultural space.

Read this post and get FarmVille player tips:

FarmVille Goes Organic

Young children, the elderly, and people with serious health conditions are at particular risk of heat stroke. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heat-related illness occurs when your body cannot properly cool itself by sweating. Very high body temperatures can damage the brain and other vital organs. Risk factors include age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use.

At least one person on the east coast has died due to excessive heat exposure this month.

How to avoid heat-related illness…

Read this post in its entirety:

We’re Havin’ a Heat Wave… 7 Tips to Avoid Heat Stroke

Related Reading: Surviving Summer with Multiple Sclerosis

Photo: CDC

As a child walking to school, I irritated my fellow walkers with my quick pace and stubborn refusal to walk at a normal speed. As a young adult I could barely contain my displeasure with slow walkers, slow talkers, slow-moving cashiers, hesitant drivers, etc. Wherever I went, I was surround by the slow-moving masses who were impeding my progress.

Read this post in its entirety:

The Concentrated Strength of Patience

Image from PhotoXpress.com

Last week’s post about an able-bodied woman using a handicapped parking space, then suing over the ticket she received, resulted in spirited conversation in the comments section.

It’s an emotional topic for a lot of people, not the least of whom are those who have the legal right to use the specially marked spaces, but who have an invisible disability. Judgements are often made based on nothing more than appearance.

Read this post in its entirety:

Savoring the Privilege of Walking

Image credit: PhotoXpress.com

A child growing up in the big city might not, but you can help a city child experience the power and the beauty of nature this summer… and it will only take a moment of your time…

Read this post in its entirety:

Help a City Child Experience Nature

Photo: photoxpress.com

A survey released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention says that a growing number of teenagers are using the rhythm method of birth control — that is avoiding sexual intercourse during fertile days.

Read this article in its entirety:

Rhythm Method Popular Among Sexually Active Teens

Photo: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/544232

Alcohol researcher Caitlin Abar from Pennsylvania State University says that how parents deal with teenagers when it comes to alcohol makes a difference.

Her study, as reported by NPR, included 300 teenagers and their parents and found that parents who disapproved of teen alcohol use completely tended to have students who drank less once in college. Teens who have more permissive parents when it comes to teenage drinking had a higher risk factor for later binge drinking.

read article: How to Control Teen Drinking: Parents Matter

Photo used under the Creative Commons Attribution License, with thanks to bradleypjohnson