Blacks, Native Americans use more home remedies
SPECIAL TO THE C HRONICtfc
While use of home remedies
is common among people 65 and
older, blacks and Native
Americans tend to make much
greater use of them than whites,
according to a study from Wake
Forest University School of
Medicine.
And the explanation seems
to be cultural differences rather
than access to health care, eco
nomic hardship or health status,
said Joseph G. Grzywacz. Ph.D.,
and colleagues, writing in the
January-February issue of the
American Journal of Healtlv
Behavior.
"Culturally-based beliefs
about health and appropriate
strategies for maintaining health
may provide better explanations
for ethnic difference in home
remedy use," said Grzywacz,
assistant professor of family and
community "medicine.
The researchers analyzed use
of two kinds of home remedies:
food-based, including teas, plant
extracts and baking soda: and
"other.: such as over-the-counter
creams and ointments, petrole
um products and plant-based
substances such as aloe. The
home remedies were used both
for chronic diseases' and symp
Minorities are mixing up their omremedies to fee! better.
toms ot mure acute illnesses.
"Ethnic differences in beliefs
about I He meaning of illness,
appropriate approaches for
health management, and individ
ual responsibility for health may
explain why black and Native
American elders are more likely
to use home remedies than white
elders," Grzy wacz said.
He noted that other studies of
younger adults show that blacks
view conventional medical treat
merits "less favorably" than
w hites and believe home reme
dies are a viable form of treat
ment for minor ailments.
The current results stemmed
from a study called ELDER
(Evaluating Long-Term
Diabetes Management among
Elder Rural Adults), which eval
uated differences in self-care
strategies, including use of home
remedies and other complemen
tary and alternative therapies, in
Huff
from pagfAl
lades. A few of them include
beiftg the featured artist of the
African-American Arts Festival
given by the United Arts
Council of Greensboro, Artist
of the Year in_2001 for the city
of Greensboro, and in 1997, she
won the National Women of
Achievement Award for
Excellence in the Arts.
Beyond the grave, not only
will her artwork live, but her
generosity, as well.
Huff was described as a giv
ing soul.
Miriam McCarter spoke
greatly of Huff by explaining
that ? everything there is a sea
son. "Today is a time of harvest
for a life well lived." McCarter
said. "Even in silence, she
speaks to us today, establishing
the Earnestine Rainey Huff
Scholarship Fund, to be admin
istered by the Winston-Salem
Bljfk Chamber of Commerce.
To everything there is a sea
son."
Known as a hard worke/ and
a person of change, if she cjidn't
like the environment around her
or the words someone had spo
ken, she set out to make things
right or better for everyone.
Thy\\as the theme of the many
stones people told about her
lifeV
She was once a member of
the Winston-Salem Appearance
and Beautification Committee.
Many people remembered her
joy in gardening. Randon
I'hou* by Todd Luck
Earnestine Rainey Huff's funeral was well-attended.
Pender, a member of the
Winston-Salem Black Chamber
of Commerce, recalled a visit to
Huff's house in the springtime.
Pender noticed the growing gar
den and remarked to Huff how
she had 50 tulip bulbs she need
ed to plant. Laughing, Pender
recalled how Huff responded.
"Fifty bulbs. Fifty bulbs.
Honey, I planted 400." Pender
exck^jned, re-creating Huff's
excitement toward the situation.
Leaving behind a great lega
cy, Huff departed this Earth on
Dec. 26, after battling thymo
ma, a rare form of cancer foynd
in the thymus gland, located
behind the breast bone.
"She has left us a legacy,"
Mendez said, "a legacy that the
children can pick up. a legacy
that will inspire generations
that are born, a legacy that will
encourage us to get in the strug
gle, not stand on the sidelines,
but get involved and make a dif
ference."
Huff, one of 13 siblings, was
a native of College Park, Ga.
She resided in North Carolina
for mSre than 30 years, moving
to Winston-Saldtoi in the late
'70s. Her marria^ to James in
1972 yielded two children:
Quentin and Jasmine.
Huff attended, Atlanta
College of Art, Georgia State
University, and Shaw
University in RaleigK.
Her artwork is scheduled for
display in the Diggs Gallery at
Winston-Salem State
University on Jan. 14. It will be
a part of an exhibit titled
Blurring Racial Barriers. '
Immunizations
? from pagi AS
? Tetanus diphtheria - One
dose every 10 ypars after receiv
ing the primary series of three
doses.
? Influenza (flu) - One dose
during the fall of each year, for
all healthy adults 50 years of
age and older. The vaccine may
be administered at an earlier age
for individuals with . certain
medical conditions and occupa
tions.
? Pneumococcal - One dose
at the age of 65. If given before
the age of 65. another vaccina
tion must be given in five years.
The vaccine may be adminis
tered at an earlier age for indi
viduals with certain medical
conditions
? Hepatitis A - a series of
two shots given 6-12 mpmhs
apart. The vaccine /rtay be
required for individuals with
certain medichl conditions and
occupations
? Hepatitis B - Childhood
vaccination for this disease had
decreased the need for this vac
cination as an adult. However,
adults requiring catch-up immu
nizations and those with certain
medical conditions and occupa
tions are encouraged to get this
vaccination.
? Measles, mumps, and
rubella (MMR) - Adults, horn
before 1957 are considered to
be immune from measles^ and
mumps. However, rubella
immunity should be verified
through serum titers or vaccina
tion, especially in women con
sidering pregnancy. Two doses
of MMR are recommended for
adults with recent contact with
the diseases as well as for those
vaccinated between 1963 and
1967.
? Varicella - Two doses
given four weeks apart are rec
mmended for adults with unre
able clinical history of varicel
? Meningococcal vaccine -
Recommended for adults with
certain medical, occupational,
or lifestyle risk factors. Talk
with your drtctor to determine
[a.
the need for this vaccine.
Only your doctor can deter
mine which vaccines are appro
priate for you and when you
should receive them. Therefore,
it is important that you visit
your doctor regularly to ensure
that your immunizations are up
to date.
Remember, knowledge is
power, hut it is what you do
with it that makes all the differ
ence !
-** Contribution by Ramon
Vclez, M.D., professor of medi
cine, Wake Forest University
School of* Medicine, Primary
Care and Preventive Medicine
Sendee Line Coordinator, VI SN
6: and Ais ha Bobcombe, B.A.
h'or more information about
the Maya An gel on Research
Center on Minority Health, visit
our Web site at HYPERLINK
"http'JJ ww wwfubmc.edu/ minor
i t v h ' e a I t li
http ://www. wfubmc.edu/minori
ty health. Or. for health infor
mation call (336) 713-7578.
Diet
from [xi t>e AS
about 44 percent carbs.
The low-fat group lost, on
average. 4.8 pounds in the'
first year, then regained most
of that weight. The non-diet
group stayed at about the
same weight over the seven
years.
The women were part of
the Women's Health Initiative,
a research project of the
National Institutes of Health
that involves thousands of
postmenopausal women
across the country. Other WHI
studies have uncovered the
risks ef taking hormones.
Weight loss was not the
original focus of the study.
Howard said. Other findings
on the low-fat diet's effect on
heart disease and cancer will
be released this year, she said.
But researchers" realized,
their data could answer
charges made by popular diet
promoters who drew a link
between obesity and recom
mendations of low-fSt eating
plans by health organizations
and the government l.ow-fal
diets promote foods like
grains and pasta, which are
mostly forbidden by low -carb
diets.
"The Zone" diet author Dr.
Barry Sears, after reading the
new study, said he stands by
his belief that the recommend
ed low-fat. high-carb diet
caused Americans to gain
weight.
He noted that women on
the low -fat diet in the study
lost only a fraction of a pound
per year, on average, and they
added. 1.6. centimeters ?
about a half:inch ? to their
waist circumferences. The
ijther group added 1.9 cen
timeters.
"I was struck by what the
study didn't say," Sears said.
Dansinger, who co
authored an editorial that
accompanies' the study, said
Iw- research has shown that
diets like Atkins and The Zone
work, but are hard to stay on.
"People who succeed at
maintaining a dramatic weight
loss have changed their mind
set and priorities and have
ma^le exercise and healthy
eating among the top priori
ties in their lives." he said
elderly adults with diagnosed
diabetes. The participants all
came front Robeson and Harnett
counties, two largely rural coun
ties in North Carolina with a
high proportion of ethnic
minorities.
"We found that the majority
of older adults usre some type of
home remedy for health purpos
es," Grzywacz and his col
leagues said. Nearly half of the
white seniors in ELDER use
home remedies. "Home remedy
use was substantially greater
among elders of ethnic minority
groups."
In trying to determine why,
the researchers considered other
possible factors such as avail
ability of care, economic hard
ship and health disparities.
When the) adjusted for socioe
conomic inequalities between
blacks and whites, "ethnic dif
ferences in home remedy use
became larger rather than small
er."
"Home remedy use is wide
spread among elder adults
regardless of ethnicity, suggest
ing that older adults find some
benefit in these practices and
they play ail important role in
elders' overall strategy for health
management," Grzywacz said.
"The persistence of ethnic
differences in home remedies"
after controlling for health dis
parities and other similar factors
"suggest that cultural explana
tions likely hold more promise
for explaining ethnic differences
in home remedy use among
older adults."
The research was supported
by grants from the National *
Institute on Aging and the
National Center for
Complementary and Alternative
Medicine.
Among the other members
of the large School of Medicjne
research group were ThotriSs A.
Arcurv Ph.D., professor of fam
ily and community medicine;
and Ronny A "bell. Ph.D. , asso
ciate professor, Wei Lang, Ph.D.,
assistant professor, and Sara A
Quandt, Ph.D., professor, all of
the depart mpnn>f public health
sciences.
%
BestH&th
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center
L
J
January 2006 Events
7*
Events are held at BestHealth in Hanes Mall or area YMCAs. Registration required unless otherwise noted.
"& To register, call Health On-Call' at 336-716-2255 or visit www.besthealth.com.
To become a BestHealth member, call 336-765-8804 or visit our web site.
Inclement Weather Policy: When Winston
Salem/ Forsyth County Schools close due to
weather, BestHealth events are canceled.
16 MON - Teen Speak Out
6 p.m. Free group session for ages 13-17
to discuss the successes and challenges ot
anxiety, depression, ADD and ADHD.
Sponsored by the Mental Health Assoc.
Info: 768-3880.
I7TUE - Parkinson's Disease
Support Group
1 f a.m. Join other patients and their fami
lies to increase leaning and strengthen the
network of resources across Forsyth Co.^ST
v w
17 TUE - Belly Dancing
6 to 8 p.m. Instructor Paula Stump pro
vides information on toning and firming ?
muscles as well as diagrams of steps.' Dress
comfortably to participate.^?
18 WED -Tai Chi for a
Healthy Heart
2 p.m. Alan Graham and Sandy
Seeber of Three Treasures Tai ^ ^
Chi introduce techniques
to strengthen your body .
and give your heart a healthy /
boost.
18 WED - Folic Acid for
Motns-to-Be *
6 p.m. Dr. Heather Mertz of WFUBMC
Obstetrics & Gynecology presents facts on
preventing birth defects, the importance of
folic acid, and how a woman can prepare
her body for pregnancy and childbirth.
19 THU - Yoga Demo
11 a.m. Valerie Kiser, RYT and certified
yoga teacher, demonstrates yoga anyone can
do to improve balance, flexibility, strength,,
and stress management. Dress comfortably
to participate
19 THU - Clinical Research & You
6 p.m. Cheryl Byers of WFUBMC explains
the importance of research studies, the
super-vision and standards of care involved,
and the risks and benefits to subjects and
scientists alike.
21 SAT - Burn Survivor Support
Group
2 p.m. For anyone affected by a burn trau
ma: survivors, spouses, children, caregivers.
Cospon$^red by WFUBMC Trauma
Services.
23 MOM - Caregiver Support Group
1 p.m. Cosponsored with the Hospice Sc
Palliative Care Center. Meets monthly. *B
23 MON - Coping with the Death
of a Spouse
2:30 p.m. Cosponsored with the Hospice
& Palliative Care Center. Meets monthly.
24tue - Travel Preview with
Allways Tours
1 1 a.m. F.njoy a preview of iravel plans
with Allways Tours and register early for
an upcoming trip.^y
24tue - Savory Stews
6 p.m. Chef Penny LaBrecque creates
tasty stews using original combinations of
healthy foods. Recipes and samples provid
ed. For Best Health members only.
25 WED - Motivation Mike Wells
Style
1 1 a.m. Local attorney and motivational
speaker Mike Wells presents "What Will
Rogers Might Tell Us Today!r55F
25 WED - Staying Healthy Alter
Chronic Illness
5:30 p.m. Learn to maintain your energy
and protect your health in this experiential
workshop wfrh reverend Rosalyn Bruyere,
a worjd famous energy healer. Sponsored
by the N.C. Triad Affiliate of the Susan G.
Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
26 THU - Share Organs, Share Life
2 p.m. Hear from Beth Hinesley of
Carolina Donor Services about how lives
are improved and saved every day thanks to
the process of organ and tissue donation!
?
26 THU - Wrinkles Away
6 p.m. WFUBMC otolaryngologist Dr.
Neal Goldman discusses non-surgical facial
treatments to enhance appearance.^?
26 THU - Natural Remedies
for Children
7:30 p.m. Dr. Danielle Rosa, guest pediatri
cian and student of naturopathic medicine,
explains how shfr incorporates natural thera
pies such as diet, exercise, deep breathing,
and herbs into her practice.^?
YMCA Locations
O* NORTHWIST NORTH CAROLINA
16 MON - The Weight Qilemma
1 1:30 a.m. Dr. Barbara Nicklas of
WFUBMC Geriatric Medicine focuses
on reasons for and significance of weight /
changes with aging and misconceptions^
about weight loss. Held at Davie .County
Family YMCA, Mocksville.^SP
17 TUE - Lettuce Is Not Enough!
6:30 p.m. Get weight loss and wellness
tips for improving physical and emotional
health from Ideal author Jackie Stanley.
Held at Central f amily YMCA.^f
24tue - Raising Emotionally
Healthy Children
6:30 p.m. Terri Mcrrit^, LCSW, discusses
childhood development, positive discipline,
communication and mental health issues.
rTo register for /vents, receive general health care information, or to schedule
a physician appSjptment, call: HeaHfi On-Calf' at 716-2255 or 800-446-2255.
Unless otherwise staled . BestHealtti programs are for idtiftsTfyctiildren under age 12. please.
Wake Forest University Baptist
M E D 1 C A I < t V I E R