Relieve Caregiver Stress

Are you caring for an aging parent, or perhaps caring for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another form of dementia? A bedridden or otherwise-disabled loved one? No matter what the issues or disability of any individual, care giving is a 24-hour job that leaves many caregivers under a lot of pressure and stress. Left unaddressed, stress caused by care giving may lead to illness or injury of the caregiver, as well as inappropriate reactions to anger, frustration and despair. Learn take care of yourself as a caregiver. Know that the stresses of care giving may seem overwhelming at times, but there are ways you can reduce your stress levels, safely and productively.

Instructions

1. Educate yourself. Click onto Internet websites, such as Caregiver Resources or the National Institute on Aging, for information regarding care giving. Consider the Family Caregiver Association website to learn what the stress involved in taking care of a loved one can do to your mental state and even your physical health. Read books on care giving such as "Care for Aging Parents" by Virginia Morris or the "Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide." Talk to others about care giving and its demands on your emotional, mental and physical strength. Learn what others have been through, and ways they addressed the stresses of caring for someone, regardless of circumstances.

2. Research your options. Contact your local public health department and find out if there are care giving resources in your community. Find out about the eligibility of your friend or loved one to access such benefits as meals, in-home care or home health services. Find out if there is a local caregiver's support group that you can attend that will help to provide valuable information and resources for caregivers.

3. Take care of yourself. Yes, this is often easier said than done, but it's very important for caregivers to eat well, get enough sleep and exercise daily. Try, through the help of other family members or friends, to schedule time away from your job as a caregiver every week in order to enjoy things you want to do--go to a movie, spend an evening with friends or just relax.

4. Manage your stress. To do this, you must first be able to identify what it is that is causing you stress. Are you just plain worn out, physically and emotionally? Talk to someone about your emotions, worries and concerns for the future. Ask for family and friends to help in any way they can.

5. Accept that, as a caregiver, there are going to be days when you feel resentful and angry that you are the one relegated to taking care of a family member. If you are a professional caregiver, understand that there are days when you're going to be put through a wringer--emotionally and physically. However, no matter what the scenario, understand and accept these feelings and emotions. Don't wallow in guilty feelings. These emotions are normal. However, if you find it difficult to overcome them, seek professional help or advice.

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Information On Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is one of five different types of hepatitis. Like the others, hepatitis C impacts the liver and can lead to other diseases.

Hepatitis C

There are five different types of hepatitis. Hepatitis C is the result of a viral infection that impacted the liver. It is a chronic illness that often leads to complications and other conditions including fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer.

Symptoms

Hepatitis C is often asymptomatic, meaning that the person does not experience any symptoms. During the acute stage of hepatitis C, symptoms may include lack of appetite, flu-like symptoms, and lethargy. Hepatitis C is considered to be chronic after 6 months. At that point, symptoms may include nausea, insomnia, joint pain, depression and lethargy.

Transmission

Hepatitis C is transmitted through blood. Some of the possible ways to contract hepatitis C include sharing hypodermic needles, blood transfusions, getting tattoos/piercings at unsanitary parlors, sharing razors, toothbrushes or other personal care items. There are many other ways to contract hepatitis C, making it very important to always be cautious.

Theories/Speculation

There is evidence to support the fact that hepatitis C may be transmitted through other body fluids as well. Although no vaccine has yet been approved, scientists are hopeful that they will soon develop an effective vaccination against hepatitis C.

Prevention

There are many precautions that one can take to help reduce the risk of contracting hepatitis C:

- Always use latex condoms during sex, especially if you have multiple partners.

- Do not share razors, toothbrushes or other personal items that may come into contact with blood.

- Only get tattoos/piercings at reputable parlors that have sanitary practices.

- Do not share needles.

- Avoid contact with the blood of others whenever possible.

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Homemade Emergency Neck Brace

The neck is a part of the body that people often take for granted until it sustains some kind of injury. After an emergency--such as a fall (the leading cause of neck injury) or a car accident--the neck needs to be braced to prevent further damage to its soft tissues.

Diagnosis

When a part of the body is injured, such as in a fall or car accident, blood rushes to it and causes swelling. Swollen body parts are also often warm, as well as unusually enlarged by the extra blood--two key signs to look for. If the patient is still conscious, ask him if it hurts when you gently move his head. If there is neck pain, or it seems to be swollen or definitely injured, it's probably best to brace it for safety's sake.

If he doesn't feel any neck pain and his neck doesn't seem particularly swollen, he still may not be out of the woods--he could have a concussion or other serious injury, or his arms or legs may be broken. If it was a serious fall, look the injured person over more carefully before letting him stand up.

Bracing

Making a brace requires some sort of padding and some sort of binding. A towel, a handful of scarves, a blanket or shirt could all be used to wrap around the neck. Wrap loosely, making sure the injured person still can breathe and has circulation. Wrap this padding thickly, so that the neck is held in place by it, and the head is held steady.

Get about 2 feet of binding--rope or shoelaces will suffice. If the patient can hold the towels, have him do so when you go for the binding; if not, hold the towels with one hand and tuck the rope under your fingers. Tie the rope around the neck and towels, but don't garrote your patient--he should be able to breathe normally, but not move his head. He may have trouble swallowing, in which case you can likely loosen the rope very slightly.

Next Steps

If the injured person needs a neck brace, he should almost certainly see a doctor immediately. A medical professional should sign off on the brace before you allow the patient to wear it with any degree of permanency. A brace should remain on the neck long enough to allow the soft tissues to heal, but it is a good idea to work some muscles as long as this does not cause pain.

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What To Eat The First Two Weeks On The South Beach Diet

The shortest phase of the South Beach Diet, Phase One, lasts two weeks. This phase is specifically designed to jump-start weight loss by eliminating those diet-destructing sugar cravings. The elimination of these foods from your daily diet allows the body's blood sugar to stabilize, which will reduce cravings and make it easier to avoid these types of food in the future.

Phase Two comes after the first two weeks of the South Beach Diet. This phase is formulated for long-term weight loss. Once you've reached your healthy goal weight, you'll move to Phase Three (lifetime maintenance).

Protein

The primary goal of Phase One is to provide the body with ample nutrient-dense food. Eating sufficient protein is imperative to ensure the body has fuel to burn as it makes the change from burning simple sugars to burning stored fat. Lean proteins such as extra-lean ground beef, eggs and skinless chicken breast are good protein choices. Unhealthy proteins with trans fats should be eliminated from the diet or eaten in moderation, such as limiting pork bacon to two slices per day. Vegetarians may find protein sources in nuts, beans and soy products such as tofu.

Vegetables

Low-starch vegetables are encouraged in Phase One of the South Beach Diet. Green, leafy vegetables are fiber-dense and filling. Such choices include collard greens, all varieties of lettuce, and spinach. Most vegetables can be eaten in Phase One either as part of a meal or as a snack. Cucumbers can be cut into bite-size slices, peppers added to cooking for flavor, and spaghetti squash used as a substitute for pasta. As a rule, you'll want to avoid starchy vegetables such as potatoes, carrots and corn, because they'll cause blood sugar to spike. All fruits must be avoided.

Dairy

Low-fat dairy can be eaten during Phase One. Soy or 1 percent milk can be consumed during this time, as well as sugar-free, low-fat or fat-free yogurt. Most low-fat cheeses can be eaten, with the exception of Brie and Edam. Stay away from full-fat cheeses.

Snacks

The availability, transportability and convenience of cheese makes it a great option for a snack. Other snack options include nuts, natural peanut butter, olives and guacamole. A number of vegetables can be used for quick snacks as well. Broccoli, mushrooms and cauliflower can be matched with low-sugar salad dressing for a healthy snack, while low-sugar sweet snacks can curb those sugar cravings. Look for sugar-free gelatin, hard candy or popsicles to satisfy your cravings without damaging your diet.

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How Does Seroquel Affect The Brain

About Seroquel

Seroquel is a type of antipsychotic medication mainly used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. A powerful drug, it often causes a series of side effects ranging from heavy fatigue to mental "fog." Like many brain-related medications, it is not concretely understood how Seroquel works, since the technology does not yet exist to microscopically view how the medication affects the brain. However, one can infer Seroquel's general effects on the brain from patients' common responses to it.

Seroquel and Neurotransmitters

It is generally understood that Seroquel affects two major neurotransmitters, dopamine and serotonin. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that carry signals from one neuron to another, so interfering with them can considerably change a person's feelings and behavior. Seroquel's active ingredient, quetapine, is believed to reduce these neurotransmitters because schizophrenia, in particular, is associated with overactive dopamine. Therefore, the patient often experiences fewer hallucinations and other manic dysfunctions stemming from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Seroquel and Symptoms

Because Seroquel considerably affects major neurotransmitters, it can cause many physical and mental side effects, especially in the first few weeks of treatment. Most often, it causes fatigue and grogginess, to the point that the patient sleeps most of the time. In addition, it may cause weight gain, restless legs syndrome (RLS), and skin disorders. However, these side effects can clear up as the body adjusts to the Seroquel dosage. If not, the patient may find success working with a doctor on a higher or lower dosage.

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What Are The Benefits Of Titanium Jewelry

Titanium maintains its shape and shine longer than other precious metals.

Titanium jewelry is easy to take care of, maintains its shine and stands up to daily tests that softer precious metals can't. The element isn't as costly compared with other types of metals, such as platinum. Its attributes and strength also make it more common to see intricately designed pieces made from titanium than those made from silver or gold. Titanium holds its shape better than other metals and will never tarnish or distort.

Durability

It's difficult to scratch titanium. The element is a 6.5 on the Mohs scale of hardness, which measures how easy or difficult a material is to scratch. (A diamond ranks at the top of the Mohs scale, at a 10.) Unlike gold or silver, which can scratch easily with everyday wear, titanium is the most durable material available for jewelry. The element is three times as strong as steel, which means it can withstand more rigorous wearing conditions than other metals. Those who engage in a lot of outdoor activities or who are a bit more harsh on their jewelry will find that a titanium piece lasts longer and remains in better condition through time. It is this strength that makes titanium a top choice for items in other industries as well, including aerospace, sports, medicine and engineering. Many surgical tools and body implants such as pace makers and artificial hips or joints, for example, are made of titanium. This strength is what makes titanium sometimes difficult to work with as a metalsmith but it also, in turn, allows for bolder designs. For example, tension setting rings, which allow a gemstone to sit between two sides of a ring as if it were suspended in midair, are frequently made from titanium. The element's tensile strength (the point at which it breaks) and elasticity allow for less movement in the ring and more security for the stone than other metals.

Allergies/Reactions

Those with sensitive skin usually find they can easily wear titanium. Jewelry allergies usually occur because different metals are mixed to make an item harden--for example, nickel is commonly mixed with silver and gold. The skin reacts with these added alloys, leading to allergies or, in some cases, leaving a green or blackish tint on skin. Titanium needs no other alloys combined with it to harden into a piece of jewelry, and titanium on its own won't react with any substances the body emits, lessening the chance of a reaction. Titanium also does not react with sunlight or chemicals, which can normally cause some jewelry to tarnish. Titanium might diminish in shine (nothing a polishing won't fix), but it will never change colors.

Comfort/Style

Titanium is a refractory metal, meaning it can be individualized to suit a person's style in ways other metals can't. While gold, silver or other types of metals typically remain the same color, titanium can undergo a process called anodization. Anodization involves heating or applying electricity to the titanium to release oxides from within the element, changing its color. What color the ring turns depends on how long and at what temperature or voltage the titanium heats. Anodized titanium comes in colors ranging from yellow, pink, red or rainbow to darker shades such as blue, purple and black. Titanium's lighter weight--it's only a bit heavier than aluminum--means it is more comfortable to wear, whether it's a pair of earrings, a larger necklace or a ring on a finger.

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Balance Board Benefits

Few kinds of fitness equipment challenge your body like a balance board does. Frequent use of it can improve balance, coordination and agility. Even more, the constant movement of your lower body will build strength in your hamstrings, quadriceps and calves. Not only are there physical gains from activity on a balance board, but there are neurological benefits accrued through increased brain activity as well.

Balance

The balance board challenges your balance by constantly changing your center of gravity. By forcing you to constantly shift your balance, your body must adjust its center of balance and grow stronger in order to overcome the instability.

Coordination and Agility

The ankles, knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings must all work together to keep you from falling off the board. While this may take some time, you body will soon learn to adjust to each unstable movement of the balance board in a quicker and more efficient manner.

Proprioception and Body Awareness

The "body awareness" gained from the balance board occurs as a result of the constant need to coordinate multiple body parts in order to stabilize your body. This sense of awareness is called proprioception and is important in sensing the location of your body parts in relation to each other and to your surroundings.

Muscle and Joint Flexibility

Your body is constantly being engaged with the balance board. In particular, your ankles, knees, calves, quadriceps and hamstrings are actively working the entire time you are on the balance board. As a result, these body parts become not only stronger but more flexible from continued use.

Learning Effects

Dr. Jean Ayres, a prominent occupational therapist with the Institute for Brain Research at the University of California at Los Angeles, found that balance-board activity resulted in improved learning abilities. The brain activity that takes place when you stand solidly on the board causes you to train both hemispheres, or halves, of the brain. Because of this increased brain activity, information learned during a balance-board session is retained faster and for a longer period, which can help children and people with learning disabilities.

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First Stages Of Brown Recluse Bites

Bite

Brown Recluses bite humans as a defense mechanism, usually when a foot, hand or arm accidentally gets too close. Despite the powerful cytotoxins and hemolytic (i.e., red-blood-cell-destroying) compounds contained in the venom, the bite itself is usually not painful. Within the first few minutes, though, a vague stinging sensation can arise.

Worsening Pain

Over the next six to eight hours, the myriad enzymes in the venom (most notably sphingomyelinase D) kill tissue and trigger a cascade of immune responses designed to "quarantine" the venom from the body. The patient begins to experience intense pain and itching at the bite site, as well as possible blistering, swelling or pustule formation.

"Bull's Eye" Wound

Meanwhile, the destruction of red blood cells cuts off the supply of oxygen to the skin, creating a zone of gray, oxygen-deprived tissue. The bite appears as a small, bright red dot surrounded by a wide ring of grayish or yellow skin with a light red corona.

Subsequent Symptoms

If it enters the bloodstream through a capillary, the venom will start to affect the entire body (a condition known as "systemic loxoscelism"). If after these skin-related symptoms you experience fever, nausea, dizziness, chills or a rash of red-colored dot on your body in areas outside of the bite (a condition called "morbilliform rash"), it means that the venom is circulating in your bloodstream.

This could quickly lead to seizures, kidney failure or even coma. Rather than waiting to see whether systemic loxoscelis will set in, call 911 as soon as you notice the bull's eye wound pattern.

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How Does Osteoporosis Affect The Body

The National Osteoporosis Foundation reports that 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and another 34 million are at risk for developing the disease. Osteoporosis affects the body in a number of ways.

Background

Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become more porous, making them less dense. The disease is most common in women and more prevalent in people over 50 years of age.

Bone Fractures

As bones lose density, they become more brittle. As a result, a simple fall often results in a broken bone, especially in the hip.

Compression Fractures

Like other areas of the body, the spine is vulnerable to the effects of osteoporosis with patients often developing compression fractures, a condition where the vertebrae collapse onto one another. Compression fractures occur during the course of everyday activities like bending and lifting heavy items.

Appearance Changes

With compression fractures caused by osteoporosis, patients may actually lose height as vertebrae become 15 to 20 percent closer together along the spinal column. In some cases, the fractures also cause kyphosis, a rounding of the spine that is sometimes referred to a humpback.

Pain

As osteoporosis worsens, patients often experience generalized bone pain as well as localized pain in particular areas, such as the back, hips, neck, shoulders and feet.

Loss of Balance

Pain from osteoporosis often causes patients to move more stiffly, which has a negative impact on balance. This often causes falls, which, in turn, cause fractures, creating a cycle of pain to fractures to increased pain within patients.

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Massage An Arthritic Foot

Arthritis is a debilitating medical ailment, possibly rendering people incapable of doing what they once loved to do, or need to do. The pain, alone, can often be too much to bare. Massage therapy, while not curing arthritis, can help people manage the pain and provide a much needed relief.

Instructions

1. Soak a small hand towel in a bowl of hot water for 1 or 2 minutes.

2. Take the soaked towel and use to gently rub the foot that is plagued with arthritis. You can also wrap the towel around the foot and leave in place for several minutes.

3. Remove the towel and sandwich the foot with both hands so that the palm of one hand is on top of the foot and the other is underneath it, just below the toes.

4. Press firmly against the bottom of the foot while sliding your top hand from the toes to the ankle, then back again. Keep repeating.

5. Grab the ankle with one hand while gently cupping the ball of the foot with the fingers wrapped around the toes and your thumb pressed against the ball.

6. Gently rotate the foot counterclockwise, then clockwise, then repeat.

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What Are The Health Benefits Of Saffron Tea

Saffron, a plant indigenous to Europe and Asia, is often harvested for it's dried, red stigmas, which are turned into spices and tea. The spice is quite expensive by weight; according to health.learninginfo.org, it requires up to 400,000 stigmas of the saffron plant to concoct 1 k of the rare spice. Although saffron has lost some popularity due to the discovery of more-common and less-expensive herbs and spices, it is reported to have medicinally beneficial effects.

Menstruation Relief

In past years, saffron has been used to induce menstruation in women who did not have regular periods. The tea has also been ingested to reduce bleeding in the uterus and ease the pain caused by menstruation. According to www.home-remedies.info, this tea is not to be used by pregnant women, as it has been known to rarely cause spontaneous abortion of the unborn baby.

Anti-Depressant

Saffron tea has been used to treat depression. Historically, ingesting large amounts of the tea and spice has been reported to cause feelings of happiness and joy. According to eMedTV, one study suggested that ingesting saffron tea would have as much anti-depressant benefits as taking a particular type of over-the-counter medication.

Cancer Prevention

Saffron contains carotenoids and, according to the Home Remedies website, this attribute has been linked to causing toxic reactions in cancerous carcinoma, sarcoma and leukemia cells in humans.

Heart Healthy

According to OrganizedWisdom, saffron tea has been reported to prevent cholesterol buildup in the arteries, which prevents heart disease.

Abdominal Relief

Saffron tea is used to treat mild to severe abdominal pain and upset stomach. The tea also soothes the membranes in the colon.

Lowers Blood Pressure

Saffron tea contains an agent called crocetin, which lowers blood pressure. Because of this attribute, saffron has been used to help reverse high blood pressure.

Expectorant

Saffron tea has been used to induce vomiting and coughing in order to cause stomach, throat or chest relief.

Other Benefits

According to eMedTV, saffron tea has been reportedly used to treat a number of other maladies, including asthma, coughing, dry skin, shock, gas, heartburn, insomnia and premature ejaculation. EMedTV also states that the tea has been reported to cause hair to grow back when applied topically. Health.learninginfo.org mentions that, historically, saffron tea has been allegedly used to induce clairvoyance and psychic ability. The tea has also been known to be an aphrodisiac and, according to historical myths, induces lust in those who eat or drink the spice in large quantities.

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Symptoms Of Optic Nerve Damage

Damage to the optic nerve is irreversible, and there are several key symptoms that can alert a person that a problem with the optic nerve is present. If symptoms are exhibited, contact a local eye doctor as soon as possible.

Blurred Vision

Blurred vision, a symptom of optic nerve damage, is the result of inflammation of the optic nerve. The nerve is slightly pinched. The blurred vision is a combination of a failure to code impulses for transmission through the nerve, a failure of the brain to get the correct information.

Abnormal Side Vision

Abnormal peripheral or side vision is another symptom of optic nerve damage. The optic nerve is a small disk behind the pupil of the human eye. When it is damaged, the mobility of the pupil is severely limited. The eye can therefore not turn to see from the side.

Interpretation Problems

Interpretation errors are also a symptom of optic nerve damage. When the optic nerve is damaged, it is covered by a white, filmy layer that makes it difficult for the information about what is being seen to be collected and transmitted to the brain.

Constriction

When the optic nerve is damaged, the pupil will not constrict to adjust to difference in lighting conditions. The optic nerve is behind the pupil, and damage can cause the pupil to calcify, which means the light will have a harder time entering the eye.

Decreased Brightness

When the optic nerve is damaged, the inflammation causes disconjuncture in the electric relay processes of the nerve. This means the pulses and information do not get to the brain correctly, and things can appear brighter in one eye than in the other.

Dizziness

Damage to the optic nerve can trigger dizziness due to the blurred vision. When vision is blurred, the person will become unbalanced due to failure to interpret the surroundings.

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Home Remedies For Migraine Relief

Migraines are headaches that usually occur on one side of the head, due to excessive physical and mental stress. These can also be associated with irregularities of the liver, eyes and digestive system. While there is a plethora of doctor-prescribed drugs and ointments readily available at the pharmacy, there are quite a few home remedies for migraine that are equally as effective.

Grapes and Cabbage

Grind 1-cup of fresh ripe grapes inside a blender; do not add water. Eaten twice daily, crushed grapes help provide relief from migraines. You could also crush a handful of cabbage leaves, place the mass in a cotton cloth and keep the compress on the forehead area for half an hour. When the leaves dry out, replace them with fresh ones.

Lemon and Juices

Take the crust or peel a couple of lemons. Grind in a blender and then apply the paste to the forehead region. This is one of the most effective home remedies for migraine relief.

Drinking a mixture of 300-milliliters of carrot juice with either 200-milliliters of spinach juice or 100-milliliter of cucumber juice and beet juice respectively is another beneficial remedy.

Diet

Fasting on only orange juice and water or juices of carrot, cucumber or celery are effective home treatments for migraines. On a regular basis, make sure your meals contain plenty of nuts, seeds, grains, fruits, vegetables, milk, yogurt, honey and buttermilk. Avoid refined products like breads, sweets, cakes, foods with preservatives like pickles. Drink lots of water and replace large meals with a number of smaller meals throughout the day.

Hot and Cold Remedies

Take a warm foot bath or apply a hot compress to your stomach and spine. You can also take a plastic bag of ice, cover it in a kitchen towel and place it on your forehead for relief. Ice helps provide migraine relief by its vasoconstrictor function; a process by which cold temperatures contract blood vessels in the nerve endings. Place your thumbs at the center of each temple on your forehead and rub gently but firmly in a circular fashion for a few minutes or until the pain subsides.

General Measures

Stay away from triggers like monosodium glutamate-rich foods such as canned soups and Asian dishes, nitrate or nitrite-rich foods such as processed meats and preserved foods such as condiments. Try to bring your sleeping pattern under control by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. According to some doctors, having an aspirin a day will also help keep migraines at bay.

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How Does Epsom Salt Relax Muscles

How Does Epsom Salt Relax Muscles?

Ingredients in Epsom Salt

Epsom salt derived its name from Epsom, England, where it was first produced from mineral rich water. Epsom salt is composed of magnesium and sulfate. Magnesium regulates over 325 enzymes in the body. Unfortunately, most people are magnesium deficient. According to the Epsom Salt Council, men have about 80 percent of the magnesium needed to help their bodies function properly and women have about 70 percent of the magnesium needed. Sulfate is necessary to form brain tissue, joint proteins and mucin proteins, which line the walls of the digestive tract. Sulfate detoxifies the body of contaminants.

Purpose of the Epsom Salt Bath

Magnesium is a mineral that you can take as a supplement, but some foods as well as stomach acid can affect the function of the mineral. Sulfate is a mineral that is difficult to absorb from food but is easily and quickly absorbed through the skin. By taking a bath using Epsom Salt, the skin readily absorbs the magnesium and sulfate. As the sulfate is absorbed into the skin, toxins are drawn from the cells. Muscles relax. The magnesium reduces the inflammation in the muscles and relieves pain. The magnesium also helps the body bind serotonin, which is a chemical that promotes a sense of well-being and relaxation. The relaxation you feel, in turn, helps alleviate stress, which drains magnesium from the body and can cause tight muscles.

Use Epsom Salt

Add two cups of Epsom salt to warm water. Bathe three times a week and soak for at least 12 minutes. Do not add any soap; let the bath salts soften and penetrate your skin. Rest for a few hours after taking the bath. For compresses, pour two cups of Epsom salt in a gallon of water.

If you are diabetic, or have high blood pressure or any heart symptoms, avoid the bath soak and use the compress instead. If you have any of these conditions, talk with your doctor about taking baths.

Purchase Epsom Salt

Epsom salt is available at any drug store. It is inexpensive, costing less than three dollars for four pounds. For those who like aromatherapy baths, consider adding a few drops of essential oil, such as eucalyptus or lavender, to your water and bath salts.

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Use Turmeric To Cure Boils

Boils are a common skin infection most often caused by the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Boils usually begin as a tender bump under the skin and then grow larger as they fill with pus and dead tissue. Boils will not heal until they drain. If boils do not heal after home treatment, it is important to seek medical attention because severe complications can develop. Ayurvedic medicine treats boils with turmeric paste to encourage draining. Turmeric is a herb related to ginger. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties. You can easily make turmeric paste to treat your boils at home.

Instructions

1. Stir together the a tablespoon or so of turmeric powder with a small amount of coconut oil. Add coconut oil until you have a thick paste.

2. Spread the paste in an even layer over the boil.

3. Cover the paste with a large gauge pad and secure it with adhesive tape.

4. Change the dressing and apply new paste several times during the day. Wash off the old paste with warm water and a soft cloth.

5. Discontinue the turmeric paste applications once the boil has begun to drain. See your physician if you do not see any improvement within a few days.

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Take Edta

EDTA is availble orally and as an intravenous medication.

EDTA is most commonly taken to reverse heavy-metal poisoning, however there have been some additional benefits reported such as reducing chest pain, shortness of breath and lowering blood pressure. EDTA is taken under the direction of a health care provider and can be given intravenously or orally. Intravenous EDTA is administered within a health care environment and oral EDTA is available for over-the-counter purchase for consumption in the home, but should not be taken without first consulting a health care professional.

Instructions

1. Discuss your interest in taking EDTA with your health care provider. Bring up your questions, concerns and reasons for requesting the medication, as well as any other medications or vitamins you are taking. Your health care provider can provide you with information about the correct medication dosage for your desired outcomes.

2. Pour a glass of water to swallow the EDTA.

3. Place one tablet of the oral EDTA in your mouth and swallow it down with your water.

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Classic Migraine Symptoms

Migraines are excruciatingly painful, debilitating headaches that can affect your quality of life. About 20 percent of migraine sufferers have aura with migraines.

Significance

Classic migraines are now called migraines with aura, which means the pain is preceded by visual disturbances. Aura also can continue or start with the pain.

Symptoms of Aura

Auras are typically visual disturbances, such as sparkling flashes of light, blind spots that can spread, failing eyesight and zigzags across your field of vision.

Non-visual Aura Symptoms

Besides visual disturbances, aura includes any sensory changes, such as smelling strange odors or hearing sounds. Some people have trouble speaking and experience changes in their sensory perceptions.

Symptoms of Migraine Headaches

Migraine headaches are different from ordinary headaches. They may include a moderate to severe throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head, pain that worsens with physical activity, nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.

Warning

Migraines with aura have been associated with a slightly higher risk of stroke. It is very rare, but auras lasting more than an hour could be a sign you are in danger of a migraine-related stroke.

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Avoid Complications From Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Millions of people around the world live with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). This anxiety-based condition causes sufferers to have repeated obsessive thoughts which they cannot control, and these thoughts are usually unpleasant ones. The disorder also causes compulsions, which are physical actions the sufferer feels she must perform to keep bad things from happening to her or her loved ones. While it may seem, on the outside, that obsessive compulsive disorder is merely irritating, it can actually cause some unpleasant psychological side effects if left untreated. Here's avoid them.

Instructions

1. Get out as often as possible and around friends in social situations. Having obsessive compulsive disorder often leads to complications such as social isolation, due to embarrassment over the symptoms. This isolation can then lead to depression. Force yourself to be around friends at least twice a week to avoid this unpleasant side effect.

2. Engage in a hobby several times a week. Hobbies are distracting and can take your mind off of your symptoms. Even if you can't ignore the symptoms completely, engaging in your favorite hobbies will still help you to feel normal and more relaxed. Relaxation can help you avoid complications such as a worsening of symptoms.

3. Get plenty of exercise. Exercise increases the levels of serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a mood-boosting chemical that occurs naturally in your brain and the more of it you have, the fewer symptoms of OCD and its related side effects (such as depression and anxiety) you will have. Brisk exercise for at least half an hour four times a week is adequate.

4. Go about your daily business as if you did not have any symptoms of OCD. You may have to force yourself, due to embarrassment over your symptoms, but it's essential to form a habit of going out on errands daily in order to avoid developing agorophobia (fear of going out of your house) as a side effect of OCD.

5. Get at least 7 hours of sleep each night (8 is better) in order to avoid being susceptible to the depression and anxiety that can come with fatigue. Many people with OCD have trouble sleeping because they can't turn off their minds adequately. Medications can help with this, as can a hot bath or cup of chamomile tea before bed.

Tags: compulsive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, around friends, complications such, depression anxiety

Quinolones Side Effects

Quinolones are a fairly new category of antimicrobial drugs used to treat a wide range of infections. NegGram was the first quinolone approved in the United States for human use in 1962. Since its introduction, second- , third-, and fourth-generations have been introduced. Nine fluoroquinolones have been approved for human use.

Importance

The newer fluoroquinolones are better absorbed and treat a wider variety of gram-negative and gram-positive organisms. They last longer in the system, meaning that only one or two daily doses are needed in many cases. Judicious use is required to prevent mutations that allow for the development of "super bugs;" that is, infections that have become antibiotic resistant.

Conditions Treated with Quinolones

A wide variety of infections are treated with quinolones, including respiratory diseases such as acute sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. Care must be used when treating sinusisitis with quinolones as there is potential to develop bacterial resistance. Quinolones are usually not used as first-line treatments in sinusitis.

Some sexually transmitted diseases respond to quinolone therapy. Other infections which may be treated with quinolones are diabetic foot infections, urinary tract infections, kidney infections and prostatitis

Use in Biologic Warfare

Certain quinolones are used to treat anthrax, with Cipro given after exposure to anthrax to prevent infection. Quinolones also prevent or treat cholera, plague and brucellosis. Few drugs are effective for the threat of biological warfare.

Side Effects

Like most antibiotics, the most common side effects of quinolones include headache, dizziness, and drowsiness. These symptoms occur in about 2 percent to 20 percent of patients. Side effects are usually mild but can be serious in certain populations.

Serious side effects are rare but should be taken into account by the prescribing physician. Quinolones may trigger fatal heart arrhythmias in patients at high risk for arrhytmias. Raxar was taken off the market in 1999 due to its potential for torsades de pointes, a fatal ventricular arrhythmia.

Other serious side effects include seizures, anaphylactic shock and Steven-Johnson syndrome.

Drug Interactions

Serious drug interactions may occur while using quinolones. Many over-the-counter supplements, such as calcium, iron, antacids and nutritional supplements, taken within four hours of quinolone can reduce the concentration of the drug by up to 90 percent.

Many drugs combined with quinolones increase increase drug levels and the effects of that drug. Dosages of many drugs may need to be adjusted when on quinolone therapy. Theophylline levels may become toxic. Digoxin and coumadin levels may be increased and require dosage adjustment.

Tags: with quinolones, have been, quinolone therapy, Side Effects, side effects

Diabetes & Swimming Pools

Swimming is excellent exercise for people with diabetes.

If you have diabetes, you need to be active. Get exercise even though your condition poses unique risks and requires special monitoring. Because swimming reduces the demands that body weight places on joints and the cardiovascular system, it is an excellent exercise for diabetics, who are often overweight.

Benefits of Swimming for Diabetics

The National Institutes of Health recommends a minimum of 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week for diabetics, specifically recommending swimming and water aerobics. Swimming improves cardiovascular fitness, which is important for diabetics, who have an increased tendency toward cardiovascular disease. Swimming is a more balanced exercise than walking, since it works out the lower and upper body. It burns a lot of calories, which helps diabetics control their weight. As major muscles get stronger, they are more effective at absorbing blood sugar.

Swimming Pool Exercises for Diabetics

Water aerobics classes provide a balanced workout for the upper and lower body. Group classes can be fun because of the camaraderie. Swimming laps and using a kickboard are also good pool exercises for the diabetic.

Cautions for Diabetics in a Swimming Pool

Type 1 diabetics should not exercise if they have ketones in their urine or blood as a result of high blood glucose. Type 2 diabetics should exercise if their blood glucose is high, as long as they have no ketones, because the exercise will likely lower their glucose levels.

Because exercise can cause hypoglycemia, diabetics should always wear medical ID bracelets when swimming, and should have food or glucose tablets close at hand to treat any episodes of low blood glucose.

Tags: blood glucose, diabetics should, diabetics should exercise, excellent exercise, have ketones, should exercise, Swimming Pool

Alzheimer'S & Epilepsy

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects at least 5 million Americans and many others around the world. It is a common form of dementia characterized by memory loss. There is no known cure for Alzheimer's, but new research on epilepsy has revealed a startling potential treatment for the neural disorder.

History

Alzheimer's disease was first documented by Alois Alzheimer in 1906. However, after the original diagnosis, little progress was made on treating the disease for the next 85 years. Most of what the scientific and medical communities know about Alzheimer's has been discovered in just the last 15 years.

Significance

Dementia is a general term used to describe memory loss and the deterioration of reasoning and intellectual abilities, to the point where the problem interferes with daily life. When the cells in the brain lose the ability to communicate with each other and the rest of the body, this can lead to Alzheimer's disease.

Misconceptions

Many people think that memory loss and the slowing of motor functions and reasoning abilities is a natural part of aging. While minor memory loss may be acceptable, serious trouble recalling names, familiar faces or recent events can be a sign of serious neural difficulties that are not normal. If left untreated, these issues can lead to major behavioral disorders that can prevent the Alzheimer's patient from living a normal, happy life.

Prevention/Solution

There is no documented cure for Alzheimer's disease. Some scientists believe that essential nutrients like omega 3 fatty acids can help shield the brain from this disorder, but this has not been proven. Others believe that by constantly learning new things, you can give your brain cells "alternate routes" for communication when the original pathways start to deteriorate. However, none of this is conclusive. One of the most recent discoveries about Alzheimer's is exciting: Research appears to indicate that epilepsy drugs may alleviate, and even eliminate, some of the most problematic symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.

Theories/Speculation

While epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease are not necessarily linked, they are both neural disorders. Several drugs that are commonly used to treat people who have epileptic seizures--carbamazepine and similar anti-seizure medications--appear to dramatically reduce aggressive and violent episodes in patients with advanced Alzheimer's. Because Alzheimer's disease actually kills brain cells over time, patients can become increasingly disoriented and frightened, which turns into a cycle of agitation and violence. The drugs appear to calm and even reorient the patients to some degree, which makes them far easier to care for.

Warning

Alzheimer's disease is very difficult to understand and treat. If you or a loved one is already being treated for the disease, then you should never alter any medication without consulting a physician.

Tags: Alzheimer disease, memory loss, about Alzheimer, believe that, brain cells

Beat The End Of Summer Blues

Summer is a season that many people wish was longer. The warmth, extra daylight, vacations and barbecues are just a few of the things that many individuals relish about summer. However, as the saying goes, "all good things must come to an end," and you, along with many others, may feel like you've got the end of summer blues when the season fades.

Instructions

1. Celebrate. Even though you hate to see summer end, it is important to acknowledge it's happening and there's no better way to do that than have a party. This could be a backyard barbecue, a beach party or a picnic. Decorate with reminders of summer, enjoy your favorite summer foods and drinks, and reminisce about the fun you had this summer.

2. Place your summer memories on display. Beating the end of summer blues is easy if most of the images you see around you represent summer. Place your summer pictures in a scrapbook, a decorative picture frame, or use them as a screen saver on your computer. Whenever you are feeling overwhelmed or a little depressed about cold weather coming, glancing at those summer images will help you feel warm and relaxed.

3. Take a whiff of a tropical scent. Smell is our most powerful memory trigger and the smell of coconuts and summer seem to go hand in hand. Infuse your home, car and office with the coconut scent by using sprays, candles or oils. It is also fairly easy to find bath products with a coconut scent. Bathing with coconut-scented products means the scent should linger with you all day, no matter where you are.

4. Exercise outside. As the amount of sunlight you get each day dwindles with the end of summer, a bit of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) may set in. Another good way to beat those end of summer blues is to get your heart pumping in some natural light. Forty-five minutes of exercising outside at least three times a week should do the trick. See if you can squeeze in a lunchtime powerwalk in the park for a midday pick-me-up.

5. Take a "staycation." Taking a local mini vacation provides a sense of freedom similar to that felt during a leisurely summer vacation. Be a tourist in your hometown and enjoy the local museum, art gallery or take a walking tour.

6. Apply facial luminizer, ladies. Keep that fresh summer look around by applying a little shimmer to your face. The light-reflecting particles in the facial luminizer reflect light off of your face, brightening you up and easing imperfections. Even if you have the end of summer blues, your face will reflect the radiance of summer.

7. Clean out the closets and go shopping. The change of seasons is a great time to clean out closets and get rid of any clothes you have not worn in a year. Getting rid of things brings on a freeing feeling for most people that will overpower your end of summer blues. Once you've cleaned out your closets, do some retail therapy to welcome the new season.

Tags: summer blues, your face, your summer, blues your, coconut scent

Adjust Selfclosing Cupboard Hinges

European hinges are hidden hinges and provide a clean look to your cupboard doors. Some European hinges are self-closing. The self-closing hinges shut the cupboard door without slamming the door. If the cupboard door is out of alignment on the opening or the door is not shutting properly, adjustments to the hinge are necessary. Adjusting a self-closing cupboard hinge might require several attempts until you have the door corrected.

Instructions

1. Open the cupboard door 6 inches and slowly release the door. If the door slams shut, the hinge speed requires decreasing. If the door does not close flush against the cabinet dace, you must increase the hinge speed.

2. Look for a small Phillips-head screw on the hinge clip facing you when you open the cupboard door. Turn the screw 1/8-turn clockwise to increase the hinge speed or 1/8-turn counterclockwise to decrease the hinge speed. Hold the door 6 inches from closing and release it to test again. Continue adjustments as necessary.

3. Close the door and examine how it fits across the cabinet opening. The door should fit square over the opening. Open the door once more to make adjustments as necessary.

4. Loosen the screws securing the hinge to the cabinet 1/4-turn with the Phillips-head screwdriver, if the door closes too high or low across the opening. Use the back edge of the door as a guide when adjusting the door up and down. Tighten the screws once you make the adjustment.

5. Find the two screws on the face of the clip joining the cabinet hinge to the door hinge. Loosen the screw nearest the door, if the door sags slightly in the opening. Lift the end of the door up and retighten the screw. Loosen the rear screw to move the door in or out if it is not square side to side when closed. Retighten the screw after the adjustment is made.

Tags: cupboard door, hinge speed, adjustments necessary, door door, door inches, European hinges, increase hinge

Benefits Of Maitake Mushrooms

Maitake mushrooms, used in Japan for centuries because of their health attributes, have more recently been scientifically proven to contain beneficial substances. While best known for their effectiveness against cancer, maitake mushrooms also have shown potential for numerous other conditions.

Features

Maitake mushrooms contain grifolan, a substance that stimulates the activity of macrophages--known as the "heavy artillery" of the immune system.

Benefits

In a non-randomized clinical study published in February/March 1996 Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, a maitake extract was found to be effective against leukemia and stomach and bone cancers. The study had 165 subjects.

Function

In their study "Mushroom biology and mushroom products," researchers Hiroaki Nanba and Keiko Kubo found that a substance in maitake mushrooms, x-fraction, has abilities to regulate glucose levels, which can help people with type 2 diabetes.

Prevention/Solution

Physicians in Japan have found maitake mushrooms to be effective in reducing blood pressure and blood lipids, important factors in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Effects

By stimulating proper digestion and minimizing food stagnation, maitake mushrooms help regulate the stomach and intestines.

Tags: maitake mushrooms

Get Rid Of Darkness Under The Eyes

Darkness under the eyes can be hereditary, but there are other reasons why you may be suffering from dark circles. Finding out why you are having this problem will help get rid of it. Otherwise you will be stuck trying several things in order to find out the solution.

Instructions

1. Take vitamins that consist of B6 and folic acid. You would take these particular over-the-counter vitamins if you are lacking protien. Take one pill twice a day. Other vitamins to take will help with vitamin C or calcium. Improve your eating habits by eating more vegetables and fruits.

2. Get enough sleep. This is the most common reason behind dark circles under the eyes. Get at least 7 to 9 hours a night in order to get the proper rest. If you can't seem to sleep for that many hours then be sure to lay down and rest for the time you missed from your sleep. For instance, if you slept only 6 hours, then lay down for at least one hour during the day or before you go to sleep.

3. Put a wet washcloth over your eyes while you sleep. Make sur the cloth is wrung out and isn't dripping wet. Leaving the cool and wet cloth on your eyes will help give a fresh appearance to your eyes and help eliminate the dark circles as well as any puffiness you may have. Put slices of cucumber on your closed eyes for 10 to 15 minutes a day. Try this mostly in the morning before you start your day.

4. Put a facial masque on your face at night before you go to sleep. This will help reduce puffiness and discoloration on your face. The minerals and oils from the masque will give your skin the freshness and coloration it needs. This is one of the easiest ways to help get rid of any dark circles. You can buy the masques through a cosmetic dealer such as Mary Kay or Avon.

5. Take over the counter or prescription medication if you have allergies. Sometimes allergies will cause dark circles and in order to get rid of them you will need to get rid of your allergies. Therefore, you can go to your doctor in order to find out what would be the best medication to take for your allergy or search through the local pharmacy and ask the pharmacist what they would recommend.

Tags: dark circles, will help, your eyes, before sleep, hours then, order find

Check For Prostate Cancer

The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland that is located just below the bladder. When cancer is present in the prostate, symptoms such as incontinence, frequent urination, difficulty urinating and blood in the urine may occur. However, many times symptoms do not appear until the cancer has progressed, which makes prostate cancer one of the main killers among men over 45. Currently there are no tests for early detection, only tests to detect the cancer once symptoms have presented themselves.

Instructions

1. Get an exam. The most common exams a doctor will do initially is a DRE (digital rectal exam). During this exam, he will insert a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum and check the prostate gland. If it is firm, it's normal. If he feels any lumps, he will generally recommend further testing.

2. Get a blood test. The blood test used to check for prostate cancer is called the PSA (protein-specific antigens). When there are higher levels of PSA in the blood, it can be an indicator of cancer in the prostate. This is because PSA is produced only in the prostate.

3. Undergo an ultrasound. This is a procedure that only takes a few minutes to perform. The doctor will insert a lubricated probe into the rectum. The probe will then emit sound waves into the prostate which will then produce a picture of the prostate on a screen. This allows the doctor to view the prostate and any abnormalities it may have.

4. Undergo a needle biopsy. This involves taking samples of cells from the prostate and examining them under a microscope. This examination allows the doctor to determine if the cells are cancerous or non-cancerous.

5. Give a urine sample. Prostate cells have a Prostate Cancer Gene 3, or PCA3. The cells produce a certain amount of this gene protein; however, cancer cells will produce too much of this protein. When these levels are too high, they flow over into the urine, thus making them detectable through a urine test.

Tags: allows doctor, blood test, check prostate, doctor will, insert lubricated, into rectum, prostate cancer

Pressure Point Work

What is a pressure point?

Natural Medication For Sleep Disorder

Snoring, insomnia and sleep apnea are various forms of sleep disorders. These lead to irritability, fatigue, daytime sleepiness and inability to concentrate. While there are numerous over-the-counter drugs for the problem, any natural medication for sleep disorder can be beneficial as well.

Passionflower and Valerian

Between 30 to 60 drops of passionflower tincture will help your system calm down and induce sleep, in addition to providing relief from nerve pain, muscular spasms, cramps and hysteria. Valerian is another sedative, helpful in bringing down blood pressure and easing tension, menstrual aches and cramps. Twenty drops of valerian tincture in water before bedtime is an effective natural remedy for sleep-related problems.

Jamaica Dogwood and Hops

Chew some leaves and bark of Jamaica dogwood or hops or drop a handful of the same, separately or in combination with each other, in your bath water for relief from sleep disorders. These herbs will help soothe your system, reduce aches and bring down tension and stress, while inducing sleep.

California Poppy and Chamomile

California poppy and chamomile are effective in natural treatment of sleep disorders. Potent herbs for menopausal insomnia and stress, these also aid in healing of wounds and digestion. Two to 4 milliliters of California poppy tincture in half a glass of water and a tea or bath with chamomile leaves, both before bedtime, help fight sleep disorders.

Oats and St John's Wort

Have oats porridge for breakfast or add some dried oats to your bath water for relief from sleep disorders, depression, tiredness and weakness. Another home remedy for sleep disorder is St John's wort. Take orally or mix with bath water for sound sleep.

Wild Lettuce and Skullcap

Chew some wild lettuce or add some leaves of the same to your bath water for relief from sleep disorders, muscular aches, niggling coughs as well as tension and stress. Another natural tonic for excitable nerves is the Skullcap. Chew some leaves or use in your bath to get relief from tiredness, hysteria and sleep-related problems.

Tags: sleep disorders, relief from, bath water, your bath, bath water relief, Chew some

Find Acupuncture Points

Find Acupuncture Points

Over 3000 years ago the Chinese discovered that the body has an amazing ability to heal itself. Eastern medicine claims that our bodies are made up of energy, and acupuncture points are the conduit to that energy and restoring harmony to the mind and body. Acupuncture is when a trained professional inserts very fine, sterilized needles into certain points of your body to help your body mend itself. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

1. Know the fourteen different meridians that your body is divided into. Qi (pronounced chi) carries energy through these regions. When the body is sick, it is believed that the qi is blocked, requiring the use of acupuncture points to help the energy flow again.

2. Trace the kidney meridian pathway though the body. It begins at the middle of your lower neck, runs midsection down the inside of the left leg, and ends on the bottom of the sole of the left foot. Major acupuncture points include just below the breast, at the navel, inside of the knee, along the ankle and at the ball of the foot.

3. Find different acupuncture points for the stomach including four on the head. One is on the left collarbone, the left breast, to the left of the navel and the front of your left hip. Two are on the middle of your topside of the lower leg and two are on the top of your feet, one just above the first knuckle of the second toe and the other directly on the second toe.

4. Use your hand to find potential areas and points throughout the body for acupuncture work. The fingers are like a horse, where the middle finger links to the head, neck and spine, the second and fourth fingers are the arms including hands, wrists and shoulders. The thumb and little finger are legs including hips and ankles.

Tags: your body, acupuncture points, acupuncture points, Find Acupuncture, Find Acupuncture Points, middle your

Case Study Work

Introduction and Background Information

A case study, known as an in-depth detailed examination of an event or occurrence (case), is used in the social science field to move beyond traditional research and survey processes to gain a stronger understanding of the factors, if you will, that determined how and when an event began.

Systematic in its approach, a case study is organized as a way to look at an event, collect data, and analyze information about that event. Built on research and facts associated with an event, a case study is used to investigate an inquiry within the framework of that event and test hypotheses that attempt to explain or define that event. All testing and research is generated in a real-world context and taken out of the laboratory, so to speak, to add an empirical lens to view why an event happened as it did and is recorded within a social context as it is (i.e. Why and how did the event occur? And how and why did the social community respond as it did?)

The Case Study Broken Down

A case study must generate quantitative evidence, produce multiple sources of evidence, and strengthen a previously held or postulated theoretical position.

A case study is broken down into four sections: the design and development of the case study, the implementation of the case study, an analysis of the case study evidence, and the development of a conclusion(s). The report should also offer a reading of the social and extending implications found to exist as part of the case study.

Although the methodology of the case study may vary, it must remain consistent with the facts and succeed in its research of qualifiying factors surrounding the identified event. Methodologies can include in-depth questioning and surveying of selected pooling samples, the implementation of social experiments, or the analysis of historical data, however, the questions must be specific to the event and within the context of the case. In other words, the questions must be specific to the defined frame outlined in the report, as related to location, time, and interest. A case study on road rage in white males between the age of 20 and 33 would need to include questions only related to this group and specifically to road rage, versus rage in general or under a conflicting context situation.

The Report

Before a case study can begin, the researchers must define and give an overview of the case study, determine field procedures, write case study questions, and outline the report. Case study questions are an important and leading component of the process and will drive the field work. The outline should be held against the findings to check that the case study is singularly and effectively defined. A case study should be a singular analysis of one event, not a cross-study of several events related to one topic. In other words, it must be narrowly defined.

Researchers must analyze all findings and report them accurately. If the finding disproves the hypothesis of the case, the research team must explain the paradigm shift and offer a hypothesis to explain its occurence, as evidenced by what the report revealed and other historical data. The case would not become obsolete, it would simply be used to demonstrate that a paradigm shift has occured.

Tags: case study, case study, that event, case study, historical data, must specific, other words

Breathalyzer Test Work

Who Designed the Breathalyzer?

The breathalyzer refers to dozens of types of breath-analyzing products. Smith and Wesson designed the Breathalyzer in the 1950s. They are designed to measure the blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Through this device, alcohol can be accurately measured by using a sample of a person's breath. That's because alcohol is absorbed through the membranes of the mouth, throat and later in the stomach and intestines.

How Does the Breathalyzer Work?

A simple type of breathalyzer is constructed from a straw through which the person blows through to capture a sample of his breath. The breathalyzer device contains two containers. One is made of silver nitrate and water, and the other one is made of potassium and sulfuric acid.

The sulfuric acid removes the alcohol from the breath sample. Alcohol is "trapped" into the liquid solution. That's where potassium dichromate causes it to separate into water, acetic acid, chromium sulfate, and potassium sulfate. Color changes indicate how much alcohol was expelled through the breath.

How is the BAC Measured?

This reaction occurs in one container. The breathalyzer has an electrical system that operates a needle that moves when the chemical reaction is underway. Once it is complete, the person using the device turns a knob to return the needle to its

starting point: the more the knob is turned, the higher the BAC.

Tags: sulfuric acid

Chinese Herbs That Stop Bleeding

A number of Chinese herbs can be used to stop both internal and external bleeding. Because these herbs affect the balance of the chi, the vital force that flows through all living beings, it is a good idea to consult a Chinese medical practitioner before taking some of these herbs.

Yunnan Bai Yao

Yunan Bai Yao is a traditional herbal formula whose exact formula has never been revealed. One of its main ingredients is pseudoginseng. It was used by North Vietnamese soldiers to stem bleeding from gunshot wounds.

Da Ji & Hsiao Ji

Da Ji & Hsiao Ji are both used to stop bleeding associated with excessive chi heat. Da Ji is stronger. Hsiao Ji is weaker. Both are often prescribed for blood in urine.

Quan Cao Gen

Quan Cao Gen is often prescribed to both stop bleeding and help with the skin condition eczema.

Di YU

Di Yu treats uterine bleeding and blood in stools. It can also be applied topically to reduce bleeding and to treat burns.

Bai Ji

Bai Ji stops bleeding in the lungs and stomach and can be used to treat people who are vomiting or coughing up blood.

Tags: often prescribed, stop bleeding, these herbs, used stop

Put Vapor Rub On Feet

Although its effectiveness is debated, there are people who say applying Vicks VapoRub to your feet can stop nighttime coughing. People also use it to treat severely cracked skin and to ease muscle pain. Your body heat evaporates the ointment, which releases the vapors of its active ingredients: eucalyptus oil, menthol and camphor. The remedy is inexpensive, and parents who are reluctant to give their children store-bought medicine may prefer the topical application to soothe coughing.

Instructions

For Coughing

1. Before you go to bed, spread a solid layer of Vicks VapoRub over the bottoms of your feet, from the base of the toes to the end of your heels.

2. Put on two pairs of old socks to keep from getting it on your bedsheets.

3. Reapply the ointment each night until the coughing stops or until your skin heals.

Ease Muscle Pain

4. Spread a solid layer of Vicks VapoRub over the bottoms of your feet, from the base of the toes to the end of your heels.

5. Put on two pairs of old socks to keep from getting it on your floors or slippers.

6. Sit with your feet propped up for a few hours to let the ointment evaporate and to rest your feet. You can also go to bed and let the salve work overnight.

Tags: your feet, Vicks VapoRub, base toes, base toes your, bottoms your, bottoms your feet, feet from

Bone Marrow Treatment For Non Hodgkins Lymphoma

The cancer non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) affects the lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system. Several treatment options exist including bone marrow transplants.

What is Bone Marrow?

Bone marrow produces all of your blood cells and is an integral part of your immune system.

Purpose of Bone Marrow Transplants for NHL

If doctors can give NHL patients very high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation, this increases the chance of a cure. These high doses, however, kill bone marrow. Transplants can replenish bone marrow supply and allow for these more intensive treatments.

Obtaining Marrow for the Transplant

Your doctor might harvest your own bone marrow before you begin chemotherapy or you might receive donated marrow, most often from a sibling.

Transplant Procedure

The procedure involves a intravenous drip that delivers the marrow into your body.

When to Consider a Transplant

You might consider a bone marrow transplant if you have achieved remission but have high risk of recurrence or if the cancer is not responding to other treatments.

Tags: bone marrow, bone marrow, high doses, immune system

Train For Holistic Medicine

Holistic medicine is a branch of health care that focuses on treating the entire person. A practitioner must be aware of how separate systems interact to create disease and treat the person as a whole, considering body, mind and spirit. Holistic health care includes a vast array of approaches.

Instructions

1. Decide which specialty you want to pursue as a holistic health practitioner. Some specialties include homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture, acupressure, and herbalism. Some specialties require a degree, such as homeopathic medicine, while some more narrow areas of practice may offer certificates in the field, such as aromatherapy.

2. Attend a school for your specialty. Some require college degrees: a bachelor's, a master's, or a doctorate. In contrast, other areas of holistic medicine may only require online classes or shorter certificate programs. For acupuncture, you will need to get certified by the National Certification Commission of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

3. Intern for a holistic medicine practitioner in your chosen field. Look for internships through a local college or university. The best way to find internships is through networking with holistic health professionals in your area and attending health conferences.

4. Build a client base. The methods vary depending on the nature of the practice. Advertise. Seek referrals by networking with other health care practitioners. List yourself with Internet sites for holistic health practitioners. Do community service and outreach. Hold discussions or forums about holistic health practices.

Tags: health care, holistic health, holistic health, internships through, networking with, Some specialties

Essential Oil Distillers

About Essential Oil Distillers

Essential oils are used for a variety of products and are also used for aromatherapy. These essential oils can be purchased at a store, but they are cheaper and healthier when they are produced at home using an oil distiller. The process is also fun and interesting to watch.

History

Essential oil distillers were invented by a chemist named Ibn Sina. He invented this device for the creation of drinks and perfumes. This led to the creation of much healthier and more potent perfumes.

Function

Essential oils can be extracted from plant materials using essential oil distiller equipment. These essential oils can be used in aromatherapy in order to improve the health and mood of those inhaling the odors. The distiller is necessary because plants degrade when cooked at high temperatures. Using steam can cook the plant at a lower temperature, causing a separation of essential oils and hydrosols.

Hydrosols

Hydrosols are the water remains of a plant when it is distilled using an oil distiller. These hydrosols can be used to create products such as cosmetics, toiletries, toners and room sprays. They also provide the same benefits as the essential oils but in a less concentrated amount.

Features

Essential oil distillers have part called a bird's beak, which prevents steam leaks. A condenser is used to cool steam, causing the steam to revert back into water. These devices are made out of a variety of materials, ranging from copper to a special type of glass called Pyrex.

Using an Essential Oil Distiller

Essential oil distillers can use any type of plant material aside from powders. The material is placed inside a flask that is connected to the top of the distiller. The bottom part of the distiller is slowly filled with water using a faucet or fountain. The water will start to boil and the steam will rise up into the flask above. This distillation process will take about 20 minutes. Wait for the distiller to cool down and then remove the oil and hydrosols from the distiller and place them in a different container. Be sure to clean the distiller before using it again.

Tags: Essential distillers, essential oils, oils used, These essential, These essential oils, used aromatherapy

Improve Personal Growth

Personal growth is an ongoing process that lasts a lifetime. Discover foster it by using your daily experiences as learning tools.

Instructions

Connect With Your Inner Essence

1. Personal growth happens inside, in your inner self. It isn't something that someone else can give you. You have to diligently create it for yourself. To do so, you have to carve out time to get to know yourself.

Sitting meditation is a common way of going inward, but, depending on your personality, spending several minutes to a couple of hours in quiet contemplation may be more excruciating than self revealing. So, instead of picking out a mindfulness practice from "out there" and applying it to your life, find out what makes you feel you're in alignment with your inner self. For instance, as a dancer, you may find you come closer to your heart when you're moving your body to the rhythm of drums. Or, if you're athletic, you may feel the most connected to your inner essence every time you go out for a jog first thing in the morning, before the rest of the neighborhood wakes up.

Don't dismiss such things as hobbies or not serious mindfulness practice. If you feel spiritually recharged after a particular activity, that's your clue that those actions are part of your path to personal growth. Cultivate them.

2. Dare to dig deeper. Besides making time to connect with your inner essence through a mindfulness practice, also examine how you relate to your daily experiences.

Most of us are in a never-ending cycle of reacting to life's events. For example, if someone cuts you in traffic, you may feel angry, curse or flip your finger at the other driver. Sometimes, without knowing, you let the situation fester, to the point where you find yourself yelling at your spouse or kids, unaware you're still reacting to something that happened in traffic hours ago.

In fact, it doesn't matter how many times you yell at the other driver or your family. Until you find the true source of your anger, you won't be able to resolve it.

So, while you're out there dancing the samba, swimming laps or sitting on your meditation cushion, practice being with your feelings. What is the anger that you felt at a stranger's choice to cut you in traffic really about? A lot of us carry unresolved issues from childhood into our adult lives. We don't realize they stunt our personal growth by keeping us stuck in a past situation. It may be important for you to address such issues so you can heal and move forward.

3. Cultivate self compassion. In your journey to improve your personal growth, you will stumble. You may even fall. That's how we humans evolve. Yet, some of us would like to function like well-programmed machines. Don't fall prey to that self-defeating idea.

On the contrary, practice opening your heart to your own self. As you build your relationship with your inner essence, learn to care for it as you would a loved one. If you feel hurt or disappointed, don't abandon yourself. Use your mindfulness practice time to talk to the part of you that feels sad. Touch it with your warm breath; allow yourself to grieve, so healing can occur.

Personal growth is about making a diligent effort to get to know your true inner essence and to embrace it without judgment.

Tags: mindfulness practice, with your, your inner, daily experiences, inner essence

How Does Karate Help Kids With Adhd

How Does Karate Help Kids With ADHD?

About ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, is one of the most common childhood disorders, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Every day doctors prescribe pharmaceutical drugs for children with ADHD in an attempt to curb symptoms such as restlessness, lack of focus, difficulty controlling behavior and hyperactivity. Regular exercise, a structured lifestyle, healthy nutritious foods (minus artificial flavors and colors) and positive discipline support a child's mental and physical health. Parents are turning to Martial Arts to help their children with ADHD.

Exercise as Medication

Harvard University's John Ratey wrote several books on ADHD. He says, "Think of exercise as medication." For some, he says, exercise may eliminate the need for medication altogether. Exercise turns on "the attention system" as he calls it, requiring that children focus and pay attention. He names Tae Kwon Do as one of the exercises good for kids with ADHD since it requires you to pay close attention to body movements. All Martial Arts have this requirement and some of the key benefits are increased discipline, focus and perseverance. Children learn to do what they have to do no matter how hard it is, pay attention to the task at hand and not to give up. Hopefully they also encounter an instructor who won't give up in them. Behavior changes occur over a period of time with consistent work.

Start Martial Arts

Call local Martial Arts schools in your area and set up an appointment for an introductory lesson. Most schools offer a complimentary lesson, giving you the opportunity to see their school, meet their instructors and watch your child take class. Before class ask them if they work with children with ADHD. Pay attention to how they teach and speak to the children. You may not notice a change in your child's behavior the first day, but make sure the instructor remains calm and patient with your child. Many children with ADHD suffer from low self-esteem and Martial Arts should help with their confidence. A good Martial Arts program emphasizes goal setting with all their students and your child's first goal may be as simple as learning to focus only on the instructor. With this repeated effort you will be amazed at the results.

Tags: Martial Arts, children with, children with ADHD, your child, with ADHD