Against a background of tasteful pastel which signals from the off that we are in the land of discretionary spending on faulty female anatomy the ProFaM website makes its unique bid for womens money. Ovarian tissue storage! And not only for fertility-related reasons. Whod want a menopause? Will you be ready? the website challenges. You never know what the future holds, so freeze the biological clock and prepare for the future.

For many women, alas, the offer will be empty. The ProFaM clockstopping technique requires young ovarian tissue and costs up to 7,000 for removal (storage and reinstatement extra). Age 25-30 is optimal, the doctors say. Once reinstalled, the tissue is supposed to function as natural HRT.

The average age at menopause is 51. To defer the menopause theoretically at least, via this method women need to pay for an operation before theyve thought about middle age, or experienced its social construction as an affliction, or, probably, considered volunteering as guinea pigs in non-essential experiments. Nobody knows how long, how well or how safely thawed ovarian tissue will function once its replaced in a much older body, because it hasnt been done yet.

We believe we are now in a position to offer the opportunity to postpone the menopause seems to be the closest ProFaM gets to closing the argument for costly speculative surgery. Its a bit like persuading very thin people to pay for an untrialled weight loss technique they might not need for a quarter of a century, if ever. And what if, one day, menopausal ceased being an insult? Meanwhile, ProFaM needs healthy and affluent young women to pay up.

Step forward Savannah Fishel, 22, the daughter of Dr Simon Fishel, a co-founder of ProFaM. In BBC interviews that may prefigure the corpororations new non-inquisitorial style, father and daughter last week together made the case for using Fishel ovary-harvesting services, presumably, in Ms Fishels case, at a discount.

Maybe we've all been a bit unfair to Gwyneth Paltrow and vaginal steaming

Ive seen menopausal problems manifest themselves in family members, Ms Fishel offered, by way of objective scientific reasoning. The technique sounded, the BBC reporter hazarded, a bit experimental? One for the fertility expert. Its experimental with a group of patients we want it to benefit, Mr Fishel said. But in its own element, each element of it is not experimental, no. You couldnt help wondering at this point if we havent all been a bit unfair to Gwyneth Paltrow. Is vaginal steaming so much more disreputable than minced ovary with still indeterminate menopause-postponing powers?

It was left to another doctor, Dr Melanie Davies of Fertility Preservation UK, commenting separately, to confirm that Fishels technique is unproven, to warn against healthy women going through surgery that would not otherwise be needed, and make the case, instead, for conventional hormone replacement therapy.

More usefully for the Fishels, the BBC illustrated its report with one of those stock pictures of a tormented middle-aged woman who has stepped away from normal, happy people into private, menopausal hell. Unless Savannah Fishels dynastic loyalty can substitute for peer-reviewed studies, sustained aversion to the menopause is likely to be as critical to ProFaMs prosperity as are misogyny and gerontophobia to buccaneering aesthetic surgery, and the cultural pressure to reproduce to the sale of unpromising IVF.

Conversely, too much awareness about the significant number of women who are either unafflicted or only temporarily troubled by the menopause or immeasurably more affected by other life events could be disastrous for a business posited on a narrative of female biological doom. There cant be enough doom, or gloom, where no compelling argument exists. Have women realised, for instance, that female longevity is not the unqualified bonus they may have thought? As women, for the first time in human history, are living so much longer in the post-fertile phase, Fishel likes to argue, they may be suffering much longer.

But perhaps women define suffering and indeed their reasons for existing differently? Though one in four women, as a study suggested, report severe menopausal symptoms, that suggests three out of four dont. Some actively exult. US research suggests that their experience will relate to prevailing cultural attitudes. In societies where age is more revered and the older woman is the wiser and better woman, menopausal symptoms are significantly less bothersome, Yales Dr Mary Jane Minkin has said. Should young women, not knowing into which category they will fall, pay, insurance style, for future interventions they may not want?

Mercifully for Fishels embryonic industry, a growing and welcome openness about the menopause seems to favour his version, in alighting predominantly on its potential to cause distress, as opposed to its potential compared with other middle-aged afflictions manageability. To hear Dawn Butler, before the election, advancing Labours case for dedicated menopause rooms and menopause leave, was to wonder why any woman should be expected to work through an enveloping fog of heat, mood changes, cognitive decline and misery. Not to mention why these arrangements should be more urgent than, say, carers leave or bereavement rooms.

If Labours menopause policy did raise awareness, it probably did just as much to consolidate the view that this process is a scary, debilitating illness that regularly defies all treatment. Earlier media rejoicing about Fishels evidence-light scheme had already indicated the degree to which the menopause is pathologised as a relentless biological curse on women, who await their saviour.

Whether it is ethical for UK clinicians, in the absence of long-term trials, to monetise this kind of thinking is for professional bodies to decide. Maybe private ovary-freezing is no less respectable than other offers of inessential but encouraged self-optimising surgery?

As a lay person I would only add that one of the unexpected benefits of a post-fertile existence turns out to be the protection it offers against ambitious male gynaecologists.

Catherine Bennett is an Observer columnist

The rest is here:
The menopause isnt so scary that young women need to sign up for costly surgery - The Guardian

U.S. Finasteride Market size may witness significant gains owing to its global dominance in alopecia treatment industry. North America generated over 2 billion revenue in alopecia market in 2015. Government approval to use finasteride in men hair loss treatment and other health problems accompanied by better results from other alternatives are influencing factors to foster regional growth.

Get sample copy of this research report @https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/732

Positive outlook on pharmaceutical sector accompanied by increase in per capita income particularly in China and India should fuel Asia Pacific industry growth. As per industry estimates, around 20% males in China are suffering from hair loss due to hormonal changes which may stimulate China finasteride market demand.

Leading companies in the finasteride market

Major application in the finasteride market includes treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), male pattern baldness, hormone replacement therapy. The product is demonstrated effective in men; it has contrary effects on female and children thus it is recommended to be not in touch with the medicine. In BPH, the prostate gland becomes larger in older men which causes problems with passing urine as it is situated near bladder.

Finasteride Market addresses hair loss, brought about by change in consumer eating habits, sedentary lifestyle and rise in stress levels. Blocking the male hormone testosterone and conversion into androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for hair loss is intrinsic property responsible for global finasteride industry size growth.

Oral drugs market valuation was over USD 500 million in 2015and may exceed USD 990 million by 2024. The segment is gaining popularity due to its safe as well as minimum dosage intake with increased drug efficacy properties. Rising stress level among people due to change in lifestyle has led to early male-pattern baldness. Increase consumer disposable income coupled with presence of easy scalp treatment process may drive finasteride market demand.

Make an inquiry for buying this report @https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/732

Original post:
Finasteride Market to trace exponential gain till 2025; boosted by the alopecia treatment industry - Technology Magazine

February 3, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) There were, understandably, quite a few readers who read my column last week on a convicted pedophile who was released after identifying as a woman with no small measure of incredulousness. The story seems unbelievable, and even though I cited multiple other examples of similar incidents, some people simply do not believe that the transgender phenomenon can lead to this level of cultural insanity.

Unfortunately, another example of this new reality turned up in the Toronto Sun only a few days later in a story broken by Brad Hunter. Convicted child sex killer Michael Williams, a psychopathic and horrendous murderer who earned the nickname Pyro after attempting to set a dying victim on fire, has discovered the fact that he, like many other male prisoners convicted of brutal crimes against women, can play the transgender cardand our government and prison authorities will literally be obligated by their ideology to treat him as a woman.

For context, Williams was one of several perpetrators who raped 13-year-old Nina Courtepatte at a golf course near Edmonton when he was 17. After the rape, the young girl was strangled, stabbed, and then smashed to death with a hammer, at which point, Williams earned his nickname by attempting to set her alight.

His crimes were so heinous that even Canadas soft-touch criminal justice system handed down an adult sentence of prison for life, with Judge Franklin noting that: She died in the darkness of night on a cold, hard field without any comfort but rather in the company of Michael Williams and others who tormented, beat and raped her in a vicious and senseless act of violenceMichael Williams seemingly felt nothing.

Now 32 years old, Williams has announced that he is joining Canadas transgender community. According to Hunter: Prison sources told The Toronto Sun he is having the time of his lifeWilliams self-identifies as a woman although one source said his nod to the fairer sex is cursory at best. He is now sitting in segregation at Kent awaiting transfer to FVI (Fraser Valley Institute womens prison), one source said. He was at FVI before but got transferred back to Kent because he got caught having sexual relations with female inmates.

In fact, Williams isnt even attempting to actually change his gender, because todays trans activists demand that we believe somebody is precisely what they say they are, despite any and all evidence to the contrary. Williams has donned a bra and a crop-top to make his transition somewhat convincing, but only takes hormone replacement therapy drugs two weeks a month so he can maintain an erection. No sane person, of course, needs to ask what he needs that for as he heads to a female prison. And as the Toronto Sun reported earlier, the criteria for a male jailbird to declare themselves trans is woefully thin. Five questions. Thats it.

Its not as if Williams has been a model prisoner, either. Hes been shuttled around the prison system several times for what has been dubbed maladaptive behavior, and the Sun reported that he was determined to be at high risk to offend violentlyI fear for the women that will soon be [exposed] to him. We need to stop this. Williams, of course, is playing the transphobia card and claiming that hes being victimized in mens prison because of his transgender identity. His cause has attracted the attention of one of Canadas most notorious activists:

In a tweet, trans activist Morgane Oger characterized a trio of sex assaults allegedly committed by Williams as false allegations. Oger encouraged the sex killer to seek a transfer to FVI which has reportedly been turned down. She tweeted: Trans women are simply unsafe in mens prisons.

At Williams 2007 murder trial, Judge Janet Franklin noted that he may not feel remorse for decades.

In case it was unclear, Michael Williams, a child rapist who tortured his victim before she finally died, is the trans woman that Oger feels is unsafe in the mens prison he ended up in for brutalizing a 13-year-old girl. Williams is now heading for a prison where women will find themselves locked in with a cruel man who is enacting a laughable charade that pathetic ideologues are forced to play along with because they have bowed to the transgender agenda and now cannot find a way to stop awful things from happening. Women will probably get hurt. We know this.

But according to trans activists like Morgane Oger, this child rapist is a woman, too.

Jonathons new podcast,The Van Maren Show, isdedicated to telling the stories of the pro-life and pro-family movement. In his latest episode, he interviews Brian Fisher of Human Coalition about the innovative wayHuman Coalition has saved over 14,500 babies from abortion. Fisherbecame involved with a pregnancy resource center as a donor and volunteer over 20 years ago. Quickly, Fischer began using his business experience and way of looking at everything to evaluate the pro-life movement.

You can subscribehereand listen to the episode below:

Originally posted here:
Child rapist having the time of his life preparing for womens prison after claiming to be trans - Lifesite

The menopause is something every woman knows she will eventually have to deal with. At what age, how long for and what symptoms she will have, however, vary widely. Thats what makes this stage of life so difficult to define, because one woman is nothing like her mother, her sister, her aunt or her friend. Everybodys body and hormonal balance is individual, but we must understand the basics in order to figure out how to best tackle our own reality.

The only experience Dubai resident Anna Yates, 66, had of the menopause before she started going through it had been that of her mothers. She was completely doolally for a couple of years, she says with a laugh. We never knew what she was up to next she used to do all sorts of crazy things. That included going to court for shoplifting when she accidentally put a loaf of bread in her own bag rather than the trolley. Fortunately she had a good doctor who went with her to court to say: Look, this womans going through the menopause, so she doesnt know what day of the week it is, never mind where her bread is.

Thankfully, for Britain-born Yates, who has been going through menopause for the past 15 years, her experience was not like her mothers. I was not looking forward to it, but it was nothing like that for me. The most inconvenient symptoms she experienced were spotting and night sweats. It was much easier than I expected it to be.

The menopause is the time that marks the end of a womans menstrual cycles. Menopause happens to every woman, but very few actually know much about it, says Alexandra Collishaw, a physiotherapist and clinical lead at Dubai clinic OptimalTherapy. Collishaw has worked in Dubai since 2011 and specialises in womens health physiotherapy, treating complaints such as pelvic floor issues, reduced muscle strength, and aches that can be common during menopause. We hear stories about hormone replacement and hot flushes, but that is about as much as most women know.

Menopause can start, on average, between the ages of 40 and 58, she explains. It starts with the perimenopausal stage, which can last between two and 15 years. This is when a womans menstrual cycle becomes irregular. Once you have gone without a period for 12 months, then you will be diagnosed with having reached the menopause stage. This is associated with hot flushes, poor sleep, weight gain, incontinence, night sweats, emotional changes, dry skin, decreased libido and vaginal dryness, joint pains, headaches and memory loss, says Collishaw, adding that some of these symptoms will also be present when perimenopausal. You are post-menopausal when these symptoms start to fade away and you start to get your energy back.

Yates, who is a psychotherapist and hypnotherapist, believes her relatively easy experience of The Change has a lot to do with the lack of stress in her life. My body wasnt so busy making stress hormones and so it could make the hormones to help me get through the menopause, she explains. There are some women who sail through the menopause because theyve got very easy lives. If youve got a stressful life, chaotic husband, crazy kids, stressful job, youre so busy making the hormones to cope with that.

Dr Tara Wyne, clinical psychologist and director of wellness clinic The Lighthouse Arabia, agrees that mental health can have a huge impact. I think going through the menopause is primarily associated with a sense of loss; not having a menstrual cycle means being unable to conceive and a critical shift in identity and status, she explains. Women often catastrophise and imagine the worst outcomes, like significant weight gain, loss of sexuality and many other visible and humiliating symptoms. Dr Wyne adds that women can often feel inferior to or jealous of others who can still reproduce and having no control over this phase of life makes them fearful. Lack of acceptance of this phase can result in a less resilient coping response and a much greater sense of impact than is strictly necessary.

The other reason Yates found it so easy to cope was because she used hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which can come in the form of pills, patches or creams. At first, she took the regular HRT treatment, but then, seven years ago, her gynecologist put her on bioidentical hormones man-made hormones derived from plant oestrogen designed to be chemically identical with those the human body produces. I was told I could stay on it forever if I wanted to, but I thought Id be sensible and try and carry on without it, says Yates, who was concerned about reports that show oestrogen increases the risk of getting breast cancer.

Over the years, HRT has caused controversy, but not all of it is true, says Dr Aagje Bais, a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Mediclinic Arabian Ranches. There was this big study done when they found people using it had increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial cancer and cardiovascular disease, she explains. But we found out that by really analysing the data [that] these ladies were over 60 years of age and used HRT for longer than five years It is a balance and you have to find what is suitable for you.

Everybody responds differently to the menopause, everybody has different symptoms

Dr Aagje Bais, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist, Mediclinic Arabian Ranches

Importantly, says Dr Bais, women need to know that they dont have to suffer through uncomfortable symptoms. Everybody responds differently to the menopause, everybody has different symptoms. Some people say it is what it is and thats fine, but a lot of females struggle and it gets in the way of their day-to-day activities. In this case, you should do something about it. However, this also depends on affordability, as many insurance companies operating in the UAE exclude HRT and menopause treatments in their health coverage.

Depending on the troubling symptoms you have, there are a range of treatments to opt for, she adds. One of the most recent interesting advancements in medicine for menopause is vaginal laser treatment, which has been used for vaginal atrophy, she explains. You have dryness, urinary tract infections, infections, bleeding that can all be treated quite easily with laser treatment. [It] has had some good results so far. Of course its not been on the market that long, but as far as I can see, people are happy with the effects.

Another recently announced treatment by British company ProFam that caught the medical industrys attention promises to delay the onset of menopause by as many as 20 years. However, it will be a few years before this kind of procedure, which involves performing keyhole surgery to remove a small piece of ovarian tissue, is available in the UAE.

Yates, for one, highly recommends seeking medical advice when its necessary. If youre struggling, then look for help, she says. If the first doctor you go to says get on with it, then go somewhere else. Wait until you find a doctor who is sympathetic with the challenges of going through the menopause not all doctors are.

Some women prefer to go through it alone and tackle this natural biological process without medicine. Paula Newby, 60, an entrepreneur who lives in Dubai, has been going through the menopause for the past 10 years. Before she started, shed had her uterus removed, so her doctor suggested oestrogen patches instead of full HRT to manage her menopause symptoms as they have a lower cancer risk, Newby explains. I tried them, but I didnt sense there was any real impact. Im not a pill-popping person. If I dont need something, I dont take it I come from a family who generally dont reach for the medicine cabinet very quickly. We tend to crack on and get on with it.

So, Newby turned to natural remedies, such as evening primrose oil and the herb, black cohosh. Im afraid I was too impatient with those. They take a while to take effect. Instead, she reduced her alcohol and coffee intake, adopted a primarily vegetarian diet, and started intermittent fasting, which shes found has helped enormously. Ive battled through, really.

Dr Marilyn Glenville, a leading nutritionist in the UK who specialises in womens health, is a big proponent of diet and lifestyle change when it comes to managing nasty symptoms. The more you can look after yourself, especially during those early perimenopause years, the more comfortable and easier the transition through the actual menopause can be, Glenville explains. The menopause is a time of change and the female hormones are going to be fluctuating up and down at this stage. What you eat as you go through [it] can make the difference between having a difficult or easy menopause.

Research has shown that eating oily fish, which contains omega-3 essential fatty acids, could delay the menopause by three years, Glenville says. They stimulate antioxidant capacity in your body and antioxidants help to slow down the ageing process in general and that would include your ovaries, too.

Eating a good amount of legumes, beans and soya products, which are phytoestrogens, are also thought to help delay onset, cushioning the effects of the hormone roller coaster women go on and helping to balance hormones, she adds. On the other hand, eating a diet high in refined carbohydrates can cause you to reach the menopause a year and a half early. This is because foods such as white rice and white pasta can cause problems with blood sugar and lead to insulin resistance, she explains.

Collishaw, who recently completed a postgraduate course focusing on the menopause, also has plenty of advice for women going down the all-natural route. Ensuring that your levels of vitamin D and vitamin B are optimal can assist in improving your liver function, which is important in optimising your hormone balance, she explains. Vitamin C can help to improve your gut microbiome thus helping with mood by optimising the gut-brain axis.

Curcumin has been reported to help aches and pains, sage with hot flushes and rosemary for brain function so these may all be things to introduce into your diet along with the polyphenols, such as dark berries, to help modulate inflammation in the gut.

Whether you use pills or not, Newby says she feels strongly that these things need to be talked about in a more open forum so that women, when they get to a certain age, are going in with their eyes open. When they do find themselves waking up to start the day and feeling terribly emotional and tearful, they dont have to feel like theyre going mad.

Collishaw agrees that education is key, as a study by BodyLogic MD Survey in 2018 found that only 19 per cent of perimenopausal women were moderately aware of menopause expectations, she explains. That same study showed the 53 per cent of women who were not informed, felt angry about what was happening to them. We know that knowledge is power and acceptance, and an understanding of menopause often leads to feelings of healthiness and relief So it is vital that we get the information out to ladies about what is happening, and empowering them so that they can control their own symptoms and make informed decisions regarding areas such as hormone and supplement therapy.

I encourage women to be radically self-compassionate, understand that menopause may cause some struggle and suffering, but that they should meet this with kindness

Dr Tara Wyne, clinical psychologist and director of wellness clinic The Lighthouse Arabia

Dr Baiss advice is simple: Discuss it. Discuss your situation with someone who you trust or you like a doctor or a friend or family to see how other people experience menopause and do realise everyone is different. They might have some tips on how they dealt with certain complaints.

Above all, dont be shy and dont feel ashamed, she advises. There are solutions. Sometimes its not easy to find the right solution and it takes time, but there are always solutions.

From a mental health standpoint, Dr Wyne echoes this sentiment. I encourage women to be radically self-compassionate, understand that menopause may cause some struggle and suffering, but that they should meet this with kindness, a lack of judgment and acceptance that this is part of our journey and our identity. Women need to uphold that their life experience can still be enriched and we can still be of great value and experience joy, despite menopause.

And thats whether you accidentally steal a loaf of bread or not.

Updated: February 2, 2020 11:28 AM

Read more here:
Hot flushes and HRT: everything you need to know about the menopause explained - The National

While cancer is a much-hyped topic, we often seem to overlook another common cause of deaths cardiac problems. In fact, this is one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. In order to elaborate on this matter, while spreading awareness and knowledge, the third International Conference on Cardiac Intervention was held on 26 January, 2020 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka.

The conference brought together doctors from national boundaries and overseas. It was a highbrow conference, with interesting debate sessions and thought-provoking discussions. To shed light on womens cardiac health Dr Abi Al-Hussaini, one of the brilliant minds in this field, and an attendant of the conference, shared her scholarly insights. She is a consultant cardiologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, and Royal Brompton Hospital.

Women are most susceptible to three cardiovascular diseases, which are broken heart syndrome, also known as takotsubo, postpartum cardiomyopathy, and spontaneous coronary artery dissection.

Among these, takotsubo mainly effects postmenopausal women, and women in their perimenopause. This seems like a heart attack and causes damage to the bottom of the heart, in the muscles. The cause for this is likely related to hormonal changes and stress. The bodily changes women go through, such as hormonal changes, monthly menstruation, peri and postmenopausal conditions all play a massive role in developing cardiovascular diseases. Although most cases can be treated within six weeks, early diagnosis is imperative.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection also mimics a heart attack, and is mainly caused by stress. However, unlike takotsubo, this one shows a dissection or tear in the arteries of the heart inside an angiogram. This condition normally affects women from their 20s to 50s. This ailment is hard to diagnose and treat. Because a heart condition in younger women is uncommon, many doctors initially assume it is muscular pain or indigestion. Whenever women face chest pain that lasts longer than usual, they should seek medical attention.

New mothers are vulnerable to postpartum cardiomyopathy, as the heart becomes dilated after delivering a baby. Within a few weeks, symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and palpitation, usually occur. Multiple pregnancies can potentially be a risk factor. Thus, if a mother has had this malady once, another pregnancy will be risky. While there is no optimum number of pregnancies, risks and complications usually start after the third pregnancy, especially in aging mothers.

Although statistics suggest that only about 1-2 percent of all mothers are afflicted with this disease, the figures may be higher, given that many cases go undiagnosed. Furthermore, this condition is challenging to treat because the mother is usually busy with nurturing the new born and getting along with motherhood.

Treatment options include certain medications, but this will impact breastfeeding, mostly bringing it to a halt. Moreover, the most suitable treatment plan can vary from person to person. While some women may require a hormone replacement therapy, not getting pregnant in the future may be right for others.

When asked about preventive measures, Dr Al-Hussaini lay emphasis on the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in order to prevent further complications such as heart failure and heart rhythm abnormality. Other than that, women should routinely get their blood pressure, cholesterol profile, diabetic condition, BMI, and weight checked. Any noticeable variance must be brought under control through stringent measures.

Luckily, all these conditions can be somewhat prevented through lifestyle changes. Moderate exercise on a regular basis for 30-45 minutes is an option. This can be brisk walking, cycling, or doing house chores that make one sweat.

Having dinner early and eating a balanced and healthy diet with lots of vegetables, some protein, and meagre fat is advised. This is essential because as women age, their metabolic rate goes down, making it easy to put on weight. Wearing an air mask while outside will provide some protection as well, especially while roaming in the streets of Dhaka, given its poor air quality.

Additionally, taking care of our mental wellbeing is as important as maintaining good physical wellbeing. Women pose a higher risk of depression and stress related disorders. Doing stress relieving activities along with everything else is necessary. Practicing a hobby, socialising, taking days off, finding time for oneself all contribute to lowering the level of stress.

Lastly, when questioned about giving a final advice to women regarding their cardiac health, Doctor Al-Hussaini replied that getting diagnosed early is always the best treatment. One should make sure that they are aware of risk factors, and even if the symptoms start early, they should not be ignored.

Despite the fact that women are busy running errands and doing household chores, it is essential that any unexplained abnormality in the body be given prompt medical attention. Women in Bangladesh seem to believe they are bound to become weak and fragile at a certain age. This is normal during their 70s or 80s, but before that, if women have trouble continuing daily actions, it should be considered a cause for concern.

More:
Putting the spotlight on womens cardiac health - The Daily Star

Japanese water therapy involves drinking several glasses of room-temperature water every morning when you first wake up.

Online, its claimed that this practice can treat a host of problems, spanning from constipation and high blood pressure to type 2 diabetes and cancer.

However, many of these claims have been exaggerated or are not supported by science.

This article reviews the benefits, risks, and effectiveness of Japanese water therapy.

Supposedly, Japanese water therapy gets its name from being widely used in Japanese medicine and among the Japanese people.

It involves drinking room-temperature or warm water on an empty stomach after waking to cleanse the digestive system and regulate gut health, which according to proponents can heal a variety of conditions.

In addition, advocates of Japanese water therapy claim that cold water is harmful because it can cause the fats and oils in your food to harden in your digestive tract, thus slowing down digestion and causing disease.

The therapy includes the following steps that should be repeated daily:

According to practitioners, Japanese water therapy must be done for different periods to treat different conditions. Here are some examples:

Though drinking more water may help with constipation and blood pressure, there is no evidence that Japanese water therapy can treat or cure type 2 diabetes or cancer. However, drinking more water may bring along some other health benefits.

Japanese water therapy involves drinking several glasses of room temperature water when you wake up each morning. Adherents claim that this practice can treat a variety of conditions.

Though Japanese water therapy is not an effective treatment for many of the conditions its been claimed to improve, drinking more water can still result in some health benefits.

Additionally, following this therapy protocol may result in weight loss because it can cause you to restrict your calorie intake.

Using Japanese water therapy includes drinking several glasses of water per day, helping you stay adequately hydrated.

There are numerous benefits to adequate hydration, including optimal brain function, sustained energy levels, and body temperature and blood pressure regulation (1, 2, 3, 4).

In addition, drinking more water may help prevent constipation, headaches, and kidney stones (5, 6, 7).

Most people get enough fluid by simply drinking to satisfy their thirst. However, if youre very active, work outdoors, or live in a hot climate, you may need to drink more.

Practicing Japanese water therapy may help you lose weight via calorie restriction.

First, if you replace sugar-sweetened beverages like fruit juice or soda with water, your calorie intake is automatically decreased potentially by several hundred calories per day.

Additionally, sticking to regimented eating windows of only 15 minutes per meal, after which you cant eat again for 2 hours, may restrict your calorie intake.

Finally, drinking more water may help you feel fuller and make you eat fewer overall calories from food.

All this said, research on the effect of water intake on weight loss is mixed, with some studies finding positive results and others seeing no effects (8).

There are several health benefits of being adequately hydrated. In addition, drinking more water may help you lose weight through calorie restriction.

Japanese water therapy is associated with potential side effects and precautions.

Water intoxication, or overhydration, can occur when you drink an excessive amount of water in a short period of time. Its caused by hyponatremia or low salt levels in your blood due to salt being diluted by excessive fluid (9).

Its a serious condition that can result in death, but its rare in healthy people whose kidneys are able to quickly get rid of excess fluid. People at increased risk of hyponatremia include those with kidney problems, endurance athletes, and people who abuse stimulant drugs (9).

To be safe, dont drink more than about 4 cups (1 liter) of fluid per hour, as this is the maximum amount that a healthy persons kidneys can handle at once.

Another downside of Japanese water therapy is that it can be excessively restrictive due to its guidelines on the timing of meals and eating within a 15-minute window.

If youre trying to lose weight, excessive calorie restriction can lead to rebound weight gain after finishing the therapy. Restricting calories reduces the number of calories you burn at rest and causes spikes in the hormone ghrelin which increases feelings of hunger (10, 11).

Whats more, there is a risk of overeating or eating too quickly within the allotted 15-minute eating windows, especially if you feel more hungry than normal by the time youre able to eat. This can cause indigestion or lead to weight gain.

There is a risk of water intoxication, or hyponatremia, from Japanese water therapy. Additionally, excessively restricting calories while practicing the therapy may lead to rebound weight gain once you finish the practice.

Japanese water therapy is touted as a cure for a variety of conditions from constipation to cancer, but there is no evidence to support this.

The therapy supposedly cleanses your gut and helps regulate gut health, but no existing research confirms this. Water intake has a much smaller effect on the balance of gut bacteria than other factors like diet (12).

Furthermore, there appear to be only few upsides to avoiding cold water. Cold water does decrease your gastrointestinal temperature and may slightly increase blood pressure in some people, but it will not cause fats to solidify in your digestive tract (13, 14).

Before you consider using Japanese water therapy to treat a condition or disease, you should discuss it with your healthcare provider.

Its also important to note that Japanese water therapy should not be used as a replacement for medical care from a licensed healthcare professional.

Although there are some benefits to being adequately hydrated, Japanese water therapy has not been shown to treat or cure any disease. It should not be used as an alternative to medical care from a healthcare professional.

Japanese water therapy involves timing your meals and water intake, supposedly cleansing your gut and healing disease.

However, scientific evidence does not indicate that it works.

There are several benefits to adequate hydration, but Japanese water therapy cannot treat or cure any medical condition.

If youre dealing with a condition with which Japanese water therapy is claimed to help, you should consult your healthcare provider.

Continue reading here:
Japanese Water Therapy: Benefits, Risks, and Effectiveness - Healthline