The international community has agreed that reproductive choice is a basic human right. But without access to relevant information and high-quality services, that right cannot be exercised.  (UNFPA)

Family planning is among the most effective tools for reducing maternal mortality. When women are counseled, educated, and provided with contraceptive options, they are more likely to delay childbearing, have fewer children, and reduce their risk for obstetrical complications. Nevertheless, up to 75 percent of all pregnancies worldwide are unplanned or unwanted, accounting for nearly 300,000 new pregnancies every day.

Many barriers limit women’s access to family planning methods, including gender inequality, myths, and lack of knowledge about available services. The greatest barrier for many women, particularly in poor communities, is lack of availability. Clinics are too far away, user fees are too high, and transportation costs are beyond their means. Making family planning available and affordable to the poor worldwide would reduce maternal deaths and injuries by at least 20 percent, saving the lives of more than 100,000 women every year.  (Partners in Health)

Below are some amazing organizations doing groundbreaking work in the area of family planning and reproductive health.

EngenderHealth

Family Health International

Marie Stopes International

Partners in Health

Planned Parenthood

UNFPA

World Health Organization

By supporting women’s health, we save lives and build stronger communities.

The news from Haiti’s January 12’s massive earthquake is horrific. Estimates of the death toll are staggering and continue to rise. Following is a list of reputable organizations to which you can donate to help (you can even donate via text—it can’t get much easier than that):

• Partners In Health: www.pih.org, 617-432-5256
• Doctors Without Borders: www.doctorswithoutborders.org, 888-392-0392
• Oxfam America: www.oxfamamerica.org, 800-77-OXFAM (800-776-9326)
• Yéle Haiti: www.yele.org or donate $5 by texting “YELE” to 501501
• Unicef: www.unicef.org, 800-4-UNICEF
• American Red Cross International Relief Fund: www.redcross.org, 800-RED-CROSS, or donate $10 by texting “HAITI” to 90999
• International Rescue Committee: www.theirc.org, 877-REFUGEE, or donate $5 by texting “HAITI” to 25383
• AmeriCares: www.americares.org, 800-486-HELP
• UUSC/UUA Joint Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund: www.uusc.org

Source: Integrative Yoga Therapy

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for renewed support for international family planning and reproductive health programs in a speech from the U.S. Department of State.

The event commemorated the 15^th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).  In 1994, 179 representatives from around the world gathered for the ICPD conference in Cairo and agreed to achieve universal access to reproductive health services by the year 2015, a goal reinforced in the Millennium Development Goals.  Cairo was the first global forum that recognized the connection between women’s health, the quality of women’s lives and human progress.  Now, 15 years later, too many women still have little or no access to reproductive health services.  Secretary Clinton’s statement marks a return to U.S. leadership on international family planning.

Clinton emphasized that “reproductive healthcare is critical to the health of women, and that women’s health is essential to the prosperity and opportunity for all, to the stability of families and communities, and the sustainability and development of nations”.  There is an urgency of the need for increased access to women’s health services – every minute of every day, one woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth, and each year six million more suffer injury, illness, or disability.  In addition, Clinton highlighted the ties between equity, rights and health care, stating that “… we cannot accept the marginalization of half the world’s population.”  Women Deliver’s motto, “Invest in Women- It Pays” was emphasized in Clinton’s speech as well, as she told the world that “… investing in the health of women and girls is the smartest investment we can make.”

Watch Secretary Clinton’s speech here.
Read Secretary Clinton’s speech here.

Whether you’re getting a deep-tissue massage or trying acupuncture for the first time, picking the right alternative medicine professional is important to your health.

Here are tips to help you choose wisely:

• Ask for referrals from your doctor, local hospital, or medical school.
• Get a recommendation from a professional organization for the type of practitioner you are looking for. The National Institutes of Health’s Directory of Health Organizations is a good place to start.
• Call your local health department to find out if your state has a regulatory agency or licensing board for the therapy you’re interested in, and then contact that office for referrals.
• Check on the training, certification, or other qualifications of your practitioner. See if he or she will speak with you briefly on the phone for this purpose before you make an appointment.
• Find out how much experience the practitioner has with your health concern and how effective he or she believes this therapy may be for your condition.  Be sure to ask about scientific research, as well.

So what exactly are nontraditional methods?  It goes by many names including naturopathy, complementary, alternative and integrative medicine.  This is because its umbrella covers many practices and products that are not generally taught in medical school or offered by traditional medical doctors.  Alternative medicine uses a holistic approach, seeking to treat the whole individual rather than just the affected part of the body.  These practices includes acupuncture, herbs, taking fish oil, crystal gazing and practicing yoga.  Alternative therapies are used most commonly to treat back pain, arthritis, colds and depression.  The most popular of these therapies found in a study by a National Health Interview Survey in 2007, include the use of natural products, deep breathing, meditation, chiropractic and massage.  The most popular supplements are fish oil, glucosamine, echinacea and flax seed.  Additionally, Americans spend $4 billion on yoga, tai chi and qigong classes.

What do we make of this?  Are people who use alternative medicines wasting their money and are being fooled into thinking they are getting something that is beneficial to them? Others believe that alternative medicine practices, even if not effective, are not likely to harm.  These herbal remedies are often more gentle compared to strong drugs.

There is also the issue of safety.   Many of these herbs and supplements have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, FDA because they are considered food, not pharmaceuticals. You can find a list of supplement alerts on the FDA website.

I believe that it would be unreasonable to study alternative therapies as thoroughly as we do with mainstream medical practices.  Having worked in the clinical research field, studies often take many years and are costly.  If a supplement or practice has potential for risk, then a study may be needed.  But I agree that we don’t need a 2-million-person double-blind, randomized trial to tell someone to eat blueberries because they are low in sugar and high in antioxidants.

For more information CDC Healthier Worksite Initiative

A bit about Soul at Home…

Soul at Home is a store, a studio, a day spa, a wellness center and a gallery. Soul at Home is each of these and all of them under one roof. Our concept has redefined the way we relax our minds, rejuvenate our bodies, and reinvent our personal spaces. Go beyond the ordinary. Experience Soul at Home.

Walk through our doors and be transported. Soft music, flickering candles, and enchanting aromas set the mood. You set the agenda: browse our marketplace, take a yoga class, get a massage, experience healing in our wellness center, read a book, attend a workshop, enjoy a recital. We invite you to be inspired at our home and in your own.