According to Dr. Stephen M. Pribut, "Ankle injuries are one of the most common athletic injuries." Most runners will experience an ankle sprain at some point in their career. Even if you are running for pleasure or fun, an ankle sprain can throw a serious wrench in the works. You can injure your ankle further if you try to run or even walk on an ankle that has not healed completely and properly. However, you risk your ankle becoming stiff if you stay off of it for too long. Only you and your doctor can decide when to start running on your ankle again.
Instructions
1. Walk down a flight of stairs. If you are able to walk down the stairs without much pain, you can begin walking on your ankle. Walk on your ankle gently for several days. First, start by walking around the block. If you still experience no pain after walking the next day, double the distance. Continue increasing the distance until you feel comfortable walking with no pain afterwards.
2. Run short distances. If you are able to walk without pain, you may begin jogging slowly while wearing an ankle brace around the block. You can purchase an ankle brace at your local drugstore (see Resources). Wrap the brace tight enough to feel support on your ankle, but not so tight that you can't rotate it. Warm up your ankle by rotating it in circles before running.
3. Jump up and down three times. If you are able to jump up and down as high as you possibly can three times without pain, you should be able to run at full speed for short distances without pain.
4. Run for longer distances. After approximately one week of running short distances, you can increase your distance as long as you feel comfortable running on your ankle. If you feel any pain while you are running, stop immediately and do not push yourself or try to work through the pain.
5. Treat any ankle pain with ice. It is normal to feel some pain and stiffness after running longer distances on a recent ankle injury. Wrap several ice cubes in a washcloth and place it on your ankle for approximately 15 minutes. Repeat as needed.
Tags: your ankle, short distances, without pain, able walk, After Ankle, After Ankle Sprain
Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride (or Hcl) is a commonly prescribed muscle relaxant and antidepressant. While the drug carries some potential for abuse, it is regulated as a prescription drug, but not classed as a controlled substance. Risk for dependency is decidedly low, as is danger of overdose, although special care should be taken to never mix Cyclobenzaprine Hcl with any monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or MAOI, for risk of hyperserotonemia. Any questions related to contraindications between medications should be addressed to your physician or pharmacist.
Uses
Cyclobenzaprine Hcl is commonly used both as a muscle relaxant and a maintenance medication in the treatment of depression. Recent studies have also shown that the medication has some efficacy as an alternative "female Viagra." The most common prescriptive use of is as a muscle relaxant. Additionally, Cyclobenzaprine Hcl has been successfully prescribed to treat patients suffering from fibromyalgia.
Common Brand Names
Cyclobenzaprine Hcl is currently marketed under the brand names Flexeril (available in 5 and 10mg tablets), Fexmid (7.5mg tablet), and the extended-release, daily-dose medication Amrix (15 and 30mg capsules). Cyclobenzeprine Hcl with the corresponding formulation would be the generic equivalent. (i.e. "cyclobenzeprine hcl 5mg tab" for Flexeril 5mg tab.)
Potential Drug Interactions
Cyclobenzeprine has been known to interact negatively with alcohol and any central nervous system depressants, tricyclic antidepressants and, as mentioned above, any monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Discuss current medications with your physician or pharmacist to reduce the risk of a negative drug interaction.
Abuse
Cases of abuse involving Cyclobenzeprine Hcl are not uncommon, though the drug is not considered by the DEA to require regulation further than that which applies to basic prescription drugs. Cyclobenzeprine Hcl is non-narcotic, and therefore not a scheduled class of controlled drug.
Common or Possible Side Effects
Side effects associated with the use of Cyclobenzaprene Hcl include agitation (common in elderly patients), blurred vision, depression, drowsiness, dryness of mouth, headaches and severe dizziness.
A magnetic mattress pad is generally about 3 inches thick and is used as a supplement to place on top of your ordinary mattress. The mattress pads contain approximately 100 magnetic strips sewn inside the mattress pad. These mattress pads are supposed to increase blood flow by attracting the iron in the blood to the magnet, allowing the user to experience more open capillaries and a more active circulatory system. Magnetic mattress pads are especially recommended for senior citizens who have decreased mobility and may not be able to experience normal blood flow in their bodies.
History
Magnetic mattress pads are based on magnet therapy, which is sometimes called magnetotherapy or magnotherapy. According to by Dr. William H. Philpott, the author of "A Brief History of Magnet Therapy," a medical text written in 2,000 B.C. in China entitled "The Yellow Emperor's Book of Internal Medicine" featured a section on applying medical stones to the body to cure certain ailments. Magnet therapy has also been used in ancient Greek, Swiss and English medicine, and was used in the United States beginning in the twentieth century.
Features
According to magnetic mattress pad manufacturers, their product can improve a variety of illnesses, including back pain, joint pain, post polio, insomnia, fibromyalgia, circulation problems, lupus, migraines, bone density issues, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, incontinence due to stress, erectile dysfunction, peripheral neuropathy, nicotine addiction and emphysema. Although using magnet therapy is not approved as a treatment for any ailments by the F.D.A., many doctors recommend using magnet therapy in conjunction with other treatments.
Considerations
According to a report made by Stephen Barrett on the website Quack Watch, the state of California has sued the company European Health Concepts, Inc., a Florida-based producer of magnetic mattress pads. The attorney general has received hundreds of complaints from buyers of the magnetic mattress pads, claiming that they do not cure or help the ailments listed in their advertising. After promising a money-back guarantee, most unsatisfied customers had problems getting any money back from European Health Concepts.
Benefits
Although magnetic mattress pads may not particularly cure any ailment or disease on their own, most doctors do not deny the benefits of increased blood flow in the circulatory system. Even if no noticeable effects are noted among patients who sleep on magnetic mattress pads, there may be some negligible benefits to owning one. Whether or not magnetic mattress pads will extend a person's lifespan or overall well-being is not proven, but it is recommended by doctors to periodically sleep without the mattress pad for several nights to determine the benefits.
Warning
Magnetic mattress pads are not an official cure for any illness or ailment. If you are experiencing any severe medical symptoms, see a doctor immediately. Do not count on magnetic mattress pads to cure your symptoms. If you have been sleeping on a magnetic mattress pad and you have any negative symptoms such as nausea, fatigue or a rash, discontinue using the mattress pad. Magnetic mattress pads are not manufactured to be a substitute for going to the doctor. If you are experiencing severe health problems, it is imperative to seek your doctor's advice on whether or not to sleep on a magnetic mattress pad.
Tags: mattress pads, magnetic mattress, mattress pads, blood flow, magnetic mattress, magnetic mattress pads, circulatory system
When it comes to sculpting the body, the use of weights is almost always looked upon as the answer. But in reality, the body itself is one of the best training devices ever invented, and we all have complete access to it any hour of the day. With that being said, there are various forms of mat exercises that factor well into this equation. They are the byproduct of yoga, Pilates and conventional body weight exercises.
Instructions
1. Work your shoulders. The shoulders can be done by holding various positions isometrically. Two examples of this would be plank poses and downward-facing dogs. A plank position is the top point of a push-up. To do a downward-facing dog, lift your hips up in the air and shift your weight back on your heels so your body is in a V shape. These also double as good ab exercises.
2. Work your arms. One fantastic exercise to sculpt the arms is called a chaturanga. To perform this exercise, start in a plank position. From here, slowly lower your body down towards the floor until you are hovering just a few inches above it. Keep your elbows bent and tight against your sides. This also contributes to the core and chest.
3. Get out the scissors. This exercise is a spin-off of a Pilates move. It is called an alternating scissor kick. Lie on your back on the mat with your legs straight and extended. Lift your head and legs up off the floor and place your arms down by your sides. Now alternate lifting your legs in the air in a scissor motion. To enhance the exercise, pump your arms up and down while lifting your legs.
4. Draw some circles. Lie on your right side. Stack your feet on top of each other. Now lift your left leg up in the air and draw big circles. Do a series of circles one way, then turn around and do the same number of circles the other way. Switch sides and repeat. This exercise works the core, hips and glutes.
5. Hug your knee. Lie on your back and extend your arms over your head with your legs straight. Lift your upper body and legs off the floor a few inches. From this position alternate hugging your knees to your chest. Every time you alternate, extend your arms back over your head. This works the core.
6. Swim for it. Lie on your stomach with your arms straight over your head and your legs straight behind you. Lift yourself up in the air by contracting your back muscles. Now alternate lifting your opposite arm and opposite leg. This is similar to a swimming motion.
7. Row your boat. Start off lying on your back. Bend your knees and lift your feet up so your shins are parallel to the floor. You should now have a 90-degree angle of the hips, knees and ankles. Come up into a crunch position and extend your arms out straight and down by your sides. This is called a boat pose. To make this exercise harder, extend the legs up in the air.
Tags: your arms, your legs, your back, your head, extend your
Wild-caught salmon is an adrenal fatigue support superfood.
If you are experiencing symptoms of adrenal fatigue, then you are probably battling extreme exhaustion, insomnia, strong carbohydrate cravings, allergies and light and noise sensitivity. Although you should strictly adhere to your doctor's treatment plan, you can follow the recommended adrenal fatigue support dietary plan to help you better manage your symptoms.
Fruit
Go lightly on your fruit consumption. Fruits contain high amounts of potassium and fructose, which are unfavorable to your already exhausted adrenal glands. When you do eat fruit, eat organically grown grapes, plums, cherries, papaya, kiwi, apples, mango and pears. Avoid figs, dates, raisins, bananas, grapefruit and oranges.
Vegetables
Incorporate six to eight servings of a wide variety of vegetables into your daily eating regimen. You will want to include many foods that are naturally richly colored, such as avocados, olives, seaweed, kelp, celery, zucchini and green beans.
Include the Taz adrenal support recovery soup into your diet. This soup, from Dolores S. Downey, has been proven to increase energy in adrenal fatigue sufferers.
Combine one medium onion, one sliced zucchini, one cup chopped celery, one cup chicken broth, one cup tomato juice, one pound green beans, one cup spring water, two tablespoons raw honey and one teaspoon paprika in a large pot. Simmer the soup for one hour or until vegetables are tender. You can season the soup with pepper, if desired.
Protein
You will want to build up your adrenal glands with premium-quality fish, poultry, red meat, eggs and dairy products and avoid processed and packaged cheese and meat products. Chicken, turkey and fatty fish such as wild-caught salmon are considered to be superior adrenal fatigue foods. Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, walnuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and legumes, are also very beneficial supporting protein sources for this condition.
Salt
Surprisingly, some adrenal fatigue symptoms are caused because of a lack of salt in the body. Therefore, if you do not have high blood pressure, you should add Celtic or sea salt to your diet to help you combat adrenal fatigue. However, you should not over salt your food to fulfill this need. You will want to exercise only a moderate salt increase.
Food Combining
You should combine meals that contain protein, complex carbohydrates and fat to ensure that you will be provided with a level energy stream throughout the day. For example, a small meal of wild-caught salmon, baked sweet potatoes and raw avocado salad would be an appropriately combined meal for adrenal fatigue support.
Water
You will want to be sure to drink at least eight glasses of filtered or spring water throughout the day. You can also drink non-caffeinated herbal teas and fresh vegetables juices, but avoid soft drinks, coffee, alcohol and fruit juices.
Broadly speaking, AIDS is diagnosed when cell-mediated immunity is lost, meaning the immune system can no longer successfully combat HIV or other infections. There are three diagnostic criteria, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, for an AIDS diagnosis.
T-Cell Count
HIV attacks cells of the immune system (lymphocytes) called CD4+. A count of lower than 200 per cubic milliliter of blood is the primary diagnostic criterion for AIDS.
T-Cell Percentage
Taken as a percentage of lymphocytes, a CD4+ percentage of less than 14 is a diagnostic criterion for AIDS.
Opportunistic Infections
Before the cause of AIDS was known, the presence of opportunistic infections, which occur only in people with severely compromised immune systems, was the only way to diagnose AIDS. The presence of these conditions, such as thrush, cytomegalovirus, Kaposi's sarcoma, pneumocystis pneumonia and many others, remains a diagnostic criterion for AIDS.
Significance
No matter which criterion is used, a diagnosis of AIDS means that the immune system, which had previously been able to control HIV alongside other infections, is no longer able to do so (cell-mediated immunity is lost). Too many CD4+ have been infected by HIV for the immune system to continue to function normally.
Treatment
Treatment with antiretroviral drugs often delays the onset of AIDS. Almost all untreated HIV cases will progress to an AIDS diagnosis.
Tags: immune system, criterion AIDS, diagnostic criterion, diagnostic criterion AIDS, AIDS diagnosis, cell-mediated immunity, cell-mediated immunity lost
An occupational medicine doctor is a doctor who helps prevent and manage illnesses, injuries or disabilities sustained by workers while on the job. Occupational medicine doctors also try to encourage health and worker productivity through a safe work place. If you need to find an occupational medicine doctor, there are some simple steps that you should follow.
Instructions
1. Contact your primary care physician for a referral to an occupational medicine doctor. If your primary care physician has recommended that you visit an occupational medicine doctor, they will likely have a recommendation for you. In addition, if you need to visit an occupational medicine doctor, your employer may have a suggestion of a local doctor for you as well.
2. Speak to people you know well about your need to find an occupational medicine doctor. You may want to talk to your family members, friends, or coworkers, if you feel comfortable doing so. They may have additional recommendations of local doctors for you as well.
3. Check out the website for your insurance company. If your insurance company does not have a website or a search feature online, call the customer service number for assistance. You can find out which doctors are covered under your insurance plan.
4. Search the Internet for occupational medicine doctors in your are by zip code or city and state. You can search by the doctor's last name if you have a doctor in mind. You can also search for occupational medicine doctors on the website for the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
5. Find out if the occupational medicine doctor you have chosen is board certified. Occupational Medicine doctors are board certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine (ABPM). You can contact this medical board to see if a doctor is certified.
6. View websites online to see reviews of occupational medicine doctors. Some websites have reports for various doctors, including occupational medicine doctors, that include patient reviews of the doctor, as well as comments on the doctor. Some of these websites provide this service for free, but others charge a nominal fee.
Tags: occupational medicine doctor, medicine doctor, occupational medicine, medicine doctors, occupational medicine
A weed that flourishes in Florida forests, purslane is a leafy plant that is often eaten and cultivated in gardens. The plant's leaves and stems can be cooked or eaten raw. Like other green leafy plants, purslane is loaded with nutrients.
Nutritional Benefits
Purslane is low in cholesterol, and a great source of Omega-3 acids, beta carotene, fiber, antioxidants, Vitamin C (which can be found in the stems) and other vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants and Omega-3 acids are said to prevent cancer. Thus, some people regard purslane to be a cancer-preventing herb.
Other Assets
Purslane can be used in cooking to thicken sauces. It's a healthy additive to a dish because of its high nutritional content, and because it is also low in fat and high in protein.
Disease Prevention
Aside from its potential cancer-preventing properties, purslane is also used to stave off diabetes and heart disease. Although purslane should by no means serve as a treatment for these illnesses, they are considered by some to be an herb that can have preventative qualities.
Features
The purslane plant is a leafy weed with reddish stems. It has a peppery taste that can compliment many types of dishes.
Gourmet Qualities
"Foodies," or gourmands, love purslane for its flavor and crunchy texture. It also holds its shape when cooked, unlike most other leafy greens such as spinach.
Increase Psychic Ability And Psychic Powers With Crystals
Crystals can be used to enhance your intuition and psychic abilities. This article tells you how and why.
Instructions
1. Enhance Psychic Abilities Using Crystals
This article will attempt to explain use crystals to enhance your psychic abilities. It will also explain how and why it works.
First, though there are some simple truths you must understand and accept in order to fully gain the most from your psychic work with crystals.
2. 1) Crystals retain psychic information.
2) Crystals emit psychic information.
3) Psychic information in transferred through emotion, desire and visualization.
For the purpose of explaining the use of crystals in the enhancement of psychic ability, I am only referring to clear, crystal quartz points. Not tumbled quartz rounds or cabachons.
Crystals are found within the earth and the areas where they are uncovered is the first clue as to the type of energy that particular point has. All crystals develop over eons and that development is directly affected by where they develop. If a quartz developed within the holy confines of a Buddhist monastery, think how the inherent energy of that crystal would differ from a crystal that developed next to, say, a concentration camp. Remember, crystals store psychic information and psychic information is transferred through emotion, desire and visualization. Every single emotion within the energy field of development is recorded within the crystal as it forms!
3. Back to the here and now, you're in your local New Age gift shop and you see a bin filled with quartz crystal points. You reach in and rolled the cool points around in your fingertips. You're like,"yeah, I want one of these," and your phone rings. You see that it's the friend you've been avoiding because she hurt your feelings. Your thoughts turn to the incident and you become angry or sad, all while your hand is still in this bin of crystals. You've just transferred your psychic impressions into everything you're touching!
4. The next person comes along and may feel angry or sad as she feels the crystals. She's confused because she thought crystals were supposed to feel "good", but she's picking up the psychic impression you just left behind. She feels sad, now, thanks to the emotion you transferred, and she transfers a little more sad energy into the bin, and walks away. I've noticed in such stores that you'll often see a few people using their own psychic or healing energy to clear and cleanse the open stock crystals. They are doing this out of love, for the crystals and for the eventual recipients, I think. Besides, the whole place feels better when all those crystals are "clear".
5. Okay, now we know that where the crystal develops and the retail source it comes from directly affects the properties. The first cannot be changed. If a crystal is created within a negative psychic environment, it is what it is and nothing can be done to alter its inherent properties.
The second, the infusion of psychic impressions after the crystal is fully developed, can be altered. This process is often called "cleansing" or "clearing". I use the two terms as one and the same.
6. To clear your quartz crystal of psychic impressions introduced after it has been unearthed is very simple and it can be done in more than one way. I'll briefly describe the methods I prefer and use myself.
1) Rinse your crystal under clear, running water. Well water is the best, but city water works, too. As you hold the crystal under the flow of water, you may feel the energy becoming "thinner". Often, the energy of a crystal begins as feeling almost thick, like it has a sticky texture around it. You probably won't "see" it but you can most likely feel it. Allowing the water to clear it tends to remove lower psychic vibrations - the psychic vibrations that we feel most easily - such as sadness, fear, anger. As these lower frequencies are literally washed away, the higher frequency vibrations are more readily felt. And because these higher frequencies require a heightened sense of psychic awareness to feel, they may feel "thinner" as opposed to the "thickness" of the lower vibrations.
2) Another method I like is to cover the crystal in sea salt, or even epsom salts, and allow it to stay there, undisturbed, for 24 hours. Notice that I didn't say cover it in salt water. Doing this may break down the crystal, making it weak and vulnerable to scarring or pitting. By placing the crystal in sea salt, you are in effect allowing any negative psychic impressions to be drawn out, naturally, and to be absorbed by the salt. When you're done, throw the salt away - I do not recommend reusing it.
3) Set the crystal in the sun for a few hours. You may even be able to physically see the difference in the clarity of the stone after doing this. It's pretty exciting. Now that you have a crystal that is clear, it is ready to "work" for you.
7. 1) Hold the crystal in one hand and cup it with the other. It does not matter which hand you use or if you're left or right handed.
8. 2) Focus on the emotion or desire that you want to impart within the crystal. If the crystal is to increase psychic abilities say to yourself something like,"My psychic abilities increase ten-fold every time I pick up this crystal" or "I enhance my psychic abilities by holding this crystal". What you say isn't nearly as important as the desire and pure emotion you back the words up with. FEEL what you want and visualize it or see it entering the crystal. If you can't visualize very well then just imagine it and know that it is happening. Remember: psychic impressions are always conveyed via emotion and desire and visualization. "Visualization" is called "imagination" in some psychic training courses. They are the same. So, if you can't visualize easily then just imagine that it's happening. Your emotion and desire will make it so.
9. 3) Be specific. Always keep the affirmation or psychic impression in the now and keep it positive. "I increase my psychic abilities" is specific, now and positive. "I will be more psychic one day" is specific, but it's in the future (will be and one day) and it isn't very positive by stating that what you want can only occur in the future. One day never gets here because the universe only exists in the here and now. This affirmation process is commonly referred to as "charging" the crystal. "Charging" just means "programming". You are "charging it" or "programming it" with your own psychic impression.
10. 4) Use the crystal! Are you reading a book about psychic development? Hold the crystal as you read - you'll psychically transmit what you're reading into the crystal. And, of course, you will be able to more readily recall the information, by way of psychic impression, or memory, when you use the crystal. Need to make a decision and can't decide? Hold your psychic-infused crystal and ask yourself what you should do. Keep it simple, especially in the beginning. "Do I choose "A" or "B"?" You'll receive the answer in way of feeling or thought or emotion. Pay attention. This is your psychic self working with you and for you by way of the crystal.
11. Each time you use your psychic crystal, you are increasing its vibratory field and making it an even more powerful psychic tool.
12. To the JackA$$ who flagged this post as Plagarized: I have several "pen names" on the internet. THIS IS MY ARTICLE. I wrote it and would stand in front of ANY judge or jury to declare it MINE.
Shingles is a painful condition involving blistering rashes. Also known as herpes zoster, shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus which also causes chicken pox. The symptoms of shingles in women are the same for others with shingles.
Pain
Burning, tingling pain on one side is usually the first symptom of shingles. The pain and burning can be severe.
Rash
Rashes, or red patches, may show up on your skin, then small blisters which break and form small ulcers. The rash typically goes from the spine to the front of the stomach or chest.
Face
When shingles affect the nerves in your face your symptoms may include pain, rash and muscle weakness in the face.
Eyes
Symptoms of shingles affecting the eyes include vision problems, drooping eyelids and a loss of eye motion.
Other symptoms
Other symptoms of shingles in women include fever, chills, headache, hearing loss, problems with your sense of taste, swollen lymph nodes and genital lesions.
Tags: Other symptoms, shingles women, symptoms shingles, symptoms shingles women
Bypass surgery is a procedure in which surgeons take a vein from another part of the body---typically the chest, leg or arm---and use it to bypass a vein or artery in the heart that has become narrowed or blocked. A blockage can be caused by plaque, which is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances. The goal of bypass surgery is to resume normal blood flow to the heart. The Cleveland Clinic estimates that 800,000 heart bypass surgeries are performed each year.
Lifestyle changes
Lifestyle changes following heart bypass surgery are crucial, since the surgery will not prevent recurrence of coronary artery disease. Doctors will prescribe medications and suggest that patients quit smoking, treat high blood pressure and diabetes, exercise, eat healthfully and bring down cholesterol levels. Patients will also be asked to participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Patients will have several post-operative doctor visits following surgery. This phase of recovery typically lasts about two months. Most patients can return to driving three to eight weeks after surgery.
Sleeping
It is not uncommon for patients to experience sleeping abnormalities after heart bypass surgery. Sleep problems are caused by the effects of anesthesia, discomfort from the surgery and healing, and the stress of such an enormous procedure. Some tips for overcoming difficulties sleeping include taking pain medication about a half-hour prior to going to bed. It is recommended to follow the same ritual every day and to avoid daytime naps. Those who have had invasive heart surgery may experience more stress following their operation. It is important to manage this stress because it could lead to depression. If sleeping difficulties persist for two months or more, consult your physician.
General tips for recovering from surgery
It is not unusual for patients to experience swelling in their legs, especially if the graft was taken from that area. Keeping the leg elevated will alleviate swelling, and wearing special TED leg hose also improves circulation and manages swelling. Some people also have constipation, which can be treated with a gentle laxative. Patients will also be more aware of sounds or sensations coming from their chest. It is perfectly normal to hear a clicking sound a few days following surgery, which will dissipate in a week or so. Any feelings of pain or discomfort are also very normal for any person recovering from surgery with a healing incision. Pain medication will help ease discomfort and promote sleep. Patients who experience problems, pain or discomfort for more than six to eight weeks should contact their doctor or detail their complaints at follow-up appointments.
Tags: from surgery, heart bypass, Patients will, bypass surgery, eight weeks, following surgery
Garlic is a potent, broad-spectrum, herbal antibiotic. Whether applied topically or taken internally, it has been proven to kill a wide range of bacteria. Garlic owes this powerful antibiotic effect to allicin, a volatile oil that also gives this versatile herb its strong pungent flavor.
Instructions
1. Chew on a raw, peeled cloves of garlic. The allisin will be absorbed directly into your system through your tongue. If the taste is too strong, chop a clove into smaller pieces and swallow these as you would tablets. Take 3 to 5 cloves a day.
2. Use garlic honey as an antibiotic cough syrup. Peel and crush 4 garlic cloves. Blend the crushed cloves with a tablespoon of honey. Take one teaspoonful 3 times a day. Garlic honey is great as a sore throat remedy too.
3. Use garlic oil as antibiotic eardrops. Crush 5 garlic cloves. Place the crushed garlic in a jar and add 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil. Let steep for three to five days at room temperature. Strain and store the garlic oil in the refrigerator for up to six months. Put 2 to 3 drops into the infected ear and loosely plug it with a cotton ball. Use this three times a day for up to 4 days.
Use Garlic Tea as an Antibiotic
4. Place the water and cloves in a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
5. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the honey and lemon juice. Strain into a warmed teapot.
6. Sip half a cup three times a day. You may drink it hot or cold. Refrigerate the remaining tea
Tags: cloves garlic, Garlic Antibiotic, garlic cloves, three times
Starvation is the restriction of food, resulting in malnutrition. This condition can be the effects of famine, war, anorexia nervosa or bulimia. There are many unpleasant physical side effects that may result from starvation.
Anorexia
Anorexia is one of the most common causes of starvation, especially among adolescent girls. Some of the symptoms of this eating disorder are constantly thinking of food, toying with food, hoarding food, loss of interest in sex and mental function is impaired.
Bulimia
Many people suffering from bulimia eat quickly, "wolfing down" their food. Shortly thereafter, they vomit everything that was consumed. Severely restricting calories may lead to this kind of behavior. This can be a natural response of the body, when on a starvation diet.
Physical Effects Of Starvation
The following are physical symptoms that may be a result of starvation: decreased resting metabolic rate, drop in sex hormones, loss of monthly menstruation, bone loss, constipation, sleep disturbances, hypothermia, loss of lean body mass and changes in brain chemistry that increase food cravings.
Emotional and Cognitive Effects Of Starvation
The cognitive effects of starvation are difficulty concentrating, apathy and poor judgment. The emotional effects of starvation may be depression, anxiety, irritability, anger, changing moods, psychotic episodes, withdrawing from friends and family and changes in personality.
Warning
Starvation can have long lasting effects on the body. It is important to seek treatment from a qualified medical doctor, in order to recover fully from these effects.
Balance energy with crystals by working with chakras or energy centers. Crystals balance chakras by stimulating chi (energy) throughout the body-mind. When working with crystals, cleanse and charge the stones properly for maximum effectiveness. Select crystals to match the vibrational balance you want to create. Medical uses of crystals are strictly folklore and should not be considered legitimate medical care.
Instructions
Working with Crystal Energy
1. Cleanse your crystals. The website, EnergyHealingInfo.com describes the process. Run cool water over crystals as you hold them in your hand. Place crystals in a non-metallic bowl, covering with purified water. Add a tablespoon of sea salt. Swirl the water to mix the salt. Place the bowl on the ground with access to moonlight---preferably a full moon. Allow the bowl to sit for at least 24 hours or even from full moon to full moon. Rinse the crystals under running water. Air dry.
2. Charge crystals with your body's energy during a full moon. Carry the stone in your pocket to charge. Do not place in a pocket with any metallic objects. The New Age series, "Enhancing Your Mind, Body, Spirit "provides instruction for charging crystals. Light a stick of incense and a red candle to represent the elements, air and fire. Pass the crystal through the smoke to charge with the energies of the air. Pass the crystal through the candle flame to charge with fire's energy. Sprinkle purified water from a shell or earthen bowl onto the stone, charging it with water's energies. Next, place the crystal in a small amount of soil. Visualize the earth's energy charging your crystal. Finally, rub frankincense or sandal wood oil over the stone to charge it with your energy. Keep your charged crystal wrapped in small piece of silk.
3. Protect yourself from stress with amethyst. According to "Enhancing Mind, Body, Spirit," ancient Egyptians carried amethyst when they traveled to protect them from deceit. Once you have cleansed and charged your amethyst crystal, carry the stone in your pocket. Hold amethyst in your hand while meditating to promote clear thinking and to stimulate intuition. "Enhancing Mind, Body, Spirit" suggests holding an amethyst stone to your head to ease migraines or depression. For migraines, rub a bit of lavender essential oil on the stone for lavender's soothing properties.
4. Work with carnelian to promote good luck and to inspire hope. Red carnelian has been used by Muslims and Buddhists as a symbol of peace and happiness. "Enhancing Mind, Body, Spirit" recommends using carnelian to promote health. Place carnelian at the base of your spine (sacral chakra) reduce back pain or to improve digestion.
Tags: Body Spirit, full moon, Mind Body, Mind Body Spirit, charge with
Patients who are experiencing rectal bleeding with known metastatic cancer have a very serious medical condition. Rectal bleeding is usually indicative of colon cancer, and the presence of metastatic cancer indicates that the cancer has progressed beyond the colon and has invaded other organs. This presents a poor outlook for the patient, and treatment options become simply palliative treatments.
Significance
Rectal bleeding from a cancer presents a particular dilemma for patients. Due to the metastatic cancer, there is no surgical cure by removing the tumor. However, due to the rectal bleeding, surgical options should be considered. Patients who have lost a significant amount of blood do not tolerate non-surgical treatment options such as chemotherapy due to the depressed blood level. Patients may receive a blood transfusion, but this will not alleviate the problem because the patient will continue to lose blood. The only option for the patient is to have the bleeding cancer surgically removed in order to stop the rectal bleeding.
Identification
When a patient presents with rectal bleeding and metastatic cancer, it is imperative that the type and location of the cancer be identified. In most cases, a CT scan will reveal the location and size of the tumor. It may also show the areas affected by the metastatic cancer, which may be helpful in recommending treatment options.
Size
Determining the size and the extent of the spread of a cancer may determine treatment options to stop the rectal bleeding. Large tumors invading surrounding organs and anatomic structures may make surgical intervention an ill-advised treatment. Surgical intervention to remove these tumors may, in fact, cause the demise of the patient. Smaller tumors that have not invaded other structures may be removed safely.
In cases where the tumor appears small, a colonoscopy may be performed to attempt to stop the bleeding and obtain tissue for pathologic identification. When successful, the colonoscopy may alleviate the need for an operation.
Function
Surgical removal of the colon cancer will stop the rectal bleeding. It may also prevent the colon from becoming obstructed by the tumor. However, it will not stop the progression of the metastatic cancer. From a functionality standpoint, the operation will allow the patient to continue normal oral intake and return to normal colon activity. This will allow the patient to maintain proper nutrition while undergoing other non-surgical treatments for the metastatic cancer.
Considerations
Treatment options for rectal bleeding and metastatic cancer will ultimately be decided by the patient and the family. It is most important that they acquire as much knowledge as possible in order to make sound decisions. The best source of information will come from multiple sources. It is important that patients seek the advice of several physicians with different specialties. These physicians may include the following:
• Primary care physician -- usually the first contact, who is very helpful in referring the patient to other specialists.
• Oncologist: A physician who specializes in all cancers, including metastatic cancer.
• Gastrointestinal physician: Specializes in the gastrointestinal tract and can also perform colonoscopy if needed.
• Surgeon: Physician who specializes in surgery who may determine if an operation is safe.
• Oncology surgeon: A surgeon who specializes in cancer operations. An excellent source of a second opinion for the surgeon.
• Radiation oncologists: A physician who specializes in radiation treatment for cancer.
Other sources of information may be found on the Internet or local support groups. The more information that can be obtained, the more it will help the patient and family make an informed decision about treatment.
Tags: metastatic cancer, rectal bleeding, stop rectal, stop rectal bleeding, treatment options, allow patient, cancer will
Improving the appearance of your skin without spending a lot of money.
Skin tends to sag and develop wrinkles with age. However, there are ways to maintain a youthful luster and rejuvenate your skin. Some people spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to achieve beautiful, younger looking skin. But you can improve the appearance of your skin at home. The key is selecting the right skin care products, developing a skin care regimen and treating your skin with care.
Instructions
1. Wash your face daily. Applying facial cleanser and toner to your face helps remove impurities and unclogs pores, which results in healthier blemish-free skin. Discard harsh facial products that can dry and dull your skin.
2. Use an anti-bacterial body wash. Bacteria and germs can trigger body acne. Purchase a bath or shower gel with an added anti-bacterial to reduce skin blemishes.
3. Exercise more. Regular exercise helps increase blood circulation and reduce stress, which can result in fewer blemishes. Increased blood removes toxins and water weight, which can reduce cellulite. Set aside 30 to 60 minutes a day and devote this time to fitness.
4. Eat a healthy diet. Adopt healthier eating habits and include more fruits, vegetables and protein into your diet. Healthy foods can help you achieve a youthful appearance, whereas a high-sugar diet robs the skin of collagen and elasticity.
5. Apply sunscreen. Use lotion after each shower or bath to help the skin retain moisture, and use sun protection before going outdoors to protect the skin from sun damage.
6. Stop smoking. According to the Mayo Clinic, smoking cigarettes can trigger wrinkles, weaken collagen and reduce blood flow to the skin. Use the nicotine patch or gum to help you give up this habit.
Tags: your skin, appearance your, appearance your skin, skin care, your face
Pernicious Anemia makes you feel exhausted and weak because you lack regular levels of the vitamin B-12. You can't be cured, but you can improve your life drastically. Follow these steps to treat pernicious anemia and start feeling better.
Instructions
1. Get a monthly B-12 needle to help you overcome the anemia. Injections put the B-12 right into the blood. You will need B-12 shots for the rest of your life. Get your shots the same time each month and try not to miss a shot.
2. Watch your diet. Check if you are eating enough foods that contain B-12 vitamins.
3. Get plenty of rest. Anemia will make you very tired.
4. Visit your doctor regularly to ensure your anemia is getting better. Make sure there is no further damage to your heart or nerves.
5. Get your blood tested periodically to make sure your B-12 shots are solving the problem. You may need to get the shots more often if your body flushes the B-12 too fast.
6. Tell your doctor if you still feel anemic, exhausted, have tingling hands or any other symptom of pernicious anemia.
7. Find out the underlying cause of your anemia. Sometimes the pernicious anemia is just an indicator of another illness.
8. Visit hematology websites to find out the latest news and treatment for pernicious anemia. Stay informed.
Hormone levels become irregular at different periods during a woman's life. Most often hormone levels fluctuate before a woman enters menopause and when she becomes menopausal. To ease symptoms of menopause, it may be recommended that you regulate hormone levels.
Instructions
1. Set up an appointment with your physician. If you are going through menopause, you need to go in to see your doctor about ways to make the transition easier.
2. Find out about hormone replacement therapy. There are medications used to treat menopause symptoms by replacing the estrogen or progesterone found in a woman's body.
3. Research the risks of hormone replacement therapy. Many hormone replacement therapies carry an increased risk of developing breast cancer. There is also a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
4. Have a sexual relationship. Studies have shown that a healthy sex life can help naturally regulate a woman's hormone levels.
5. Eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can ease menopausal symptoms and regulate hormone levels.
6. Use herbs. Macca root is one type of herb that is believed to regulate a woman's hormone levels. It is said to stimulate a woman's pituitary gland into producing higher levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone.
Arthritis in the fingers can be caused by two different scenarios, which are both diagnosed and treated in a similar fashion. However, a full set of tests are required to properly identify the cause of the arthritis, which will then allow the doctor to properly treat the symptoms.
Types
The main types of arthritis that affect the fingers are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Causes
Osteoarthritis of the fingers is caused by degeneration of the joints from overuse or injuries that did not heal properly. Rheumatoid arthritis is actually an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks the joints.
Symptoms
Symptoms of arthritis in the fingers include pain and inflammation. Arthritic fingers may also swell and feel warm to the touch, become weak and unable to grip, or become deformed.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing arthritis involves a physical examination, complete medical history and a series of X-rays. Blood tests may also be done to check for the antibody "rheumatoid factor" to properly diagnose or rule out the possibility of rheumatoid arthritis.
Treatment
Anti-inflammatory medication or an injection of cortisone into the finger joint to control pain are the most common nonsurgical treatments for arthritis in the fingers. Physical and occupational therapy may also be prescribed, and in very severe cases, surgery may be necessary to fuse the joints together, decrease pain and prevent deformities in fingers afflicted with arthritis.
Lap-Band surgery is an abdominal surgery in which the doctor places a silicone gastric band around the patient's stomach in order to make the stomach smaller. This restricts how much food the patient can eat and leaves the patient feeling satisfied and full after eating smaller portions than the ones that created this sensation before the surgery.
Significance
Lap-Band surgery is considered a less invasive surgical alternative to gastric bypass for drastic weight loss.
Requirements
Patients who get Lap-Band surgeryshould have a BMI of at least 40 or they should be 100 or more pounds overweight. They should have made a sincere effort to lose the weight before resorting to surgery.
Warning
Lap-Band surgery is considered a major surgery. Patients are at risk of complications such as infection, allergic reactions and a tear in the wall of the stomach.
Considerations
Patients who drink a lot of alcohol, high-calorie sodas or milkshakes are often advised against Lap-Band surgery. Liquids can flow past the band and into the rest of the stomach, prevent the person from losing weight.
Reversal
The Lap-Band can be removed from the patient's stomach if the patient has an adverse reaction to the band.
Tags: Lap-Band surgery, Lap-Band surgery considered, patient stomach, should have, surgery considered
Lyme disease is easily avoided and easily treated if caught early, but when a patient contracts the disease through the bite of a deer tick, the sometimes painful symptoms can last for weeks or even months.
How Lyme Disese Is Contracted
The bite of an infected deer tick triggers Lyme disease and its symptoms. If you are bitten by a deer tick that carries Lyme disease and the tick attaches to your skin, the bacteria can travel from your skin into your bloodstream--usually within 48 hours. If the tick remains on your skin long enough to become swollen, bacteria may have been transmitted.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Lyme disease vary from person to person, and several factors play a role in how the symptoms manifest themselves, including the part of the body where the bite occurred. Yet several symptoms are fairly universal in most cases of Lyme disease. A rash may follow the appearance of a small bump. The initial bump or bite mark may feel warm. Redness may follow over a few days, then a rash may spread as wide as 1 foot in diameter. The rash may take on a target, or bull's eye, appearance.
In addition to the bite mark and rash, the infected person may experience flulike symptoms, including headache, fatigue, chills, body aches and fever. If the infection goes untreated, the larger joints may become swollen and painful. This inflammation can last weeks or months after the initial infection.
Inflammation may spread to other parts of the body, including the membranes around the brain, which can result in meningitis. More severe symptoms may include neurological impairments such as loss of memory and marked difficulty in concentration.
Treatment
The most common treatment for Lyme disease is antibiotics, particularly in the early stages. In some patients, some symptoms can still be present long after antibiotic therapy is complete. These symptoms may be autoimmune responses in which the body continues to fight the infection. Joint inflammation, muscle pain, fatigue and neurological symptoms may linger as a result.
Tags: Lyme disease, deer tick, your skin, become swollen, bite mark, last weeks
Liquid can occur in the ears from many different issues. Luckily, it can be drained easily. Follow these simple steps to drain the liquid from your ears. If this does not work, seek the advice of a professional.
Instructions
1. Pull any and all hair back and out of the way of the affected ear.
2. Press a clean cloth against the ear, and then lay down. The liquid inside should drain slowly and be caught up in the cloth. This may take awhile, so be patient, and give it at least 15-30 minutes to drain completely.
3. Wipe the inside of the ear after it has drained to clear any liquid that has been caught inside. Be careful you do not go into the ear canal. Gently clean the inside of the ear using a Q-tip to help clear the liquid from the ear.
4. Use an over-the-counter ear wax removal. This will help rid the ear of wax, which may cause some drainage. Purchase from any pharmacy, drug store, super-center or grocery store. Follow the directions on the package carefully.
5. Repeat the above steps until all the liquid has drained completely from the ear. It may take a couple times to fully remove all of the liquid from the ear.
Needle tips are less than half the size of conventional ball points.
Pentel, a Tokyo-based company, continually strives to supply the world with pens and stationary. Since entering into business in the early 1970s, the company has always held a commitment to quality, earning themselves a Deming Prize in 1976 for quality improvement in the manufacturing of writing instruments. This quality improvement continues today, recently with the introduction of Energel ink and needle tip pens, which are currently available to writing enthusiasts and perfectionists around the globe.
Concept of Energel
Pentel's Energel ink is comprised of a combination of liquid and gel ink to provide users with a smooth, bright ink, free of any blotting while writing. However, perhaps the best aspect of Energel ink is that dries almost immediately, leaving behind a trail of ink that does not smudge. This element is very attractive to left-handed individuals as well as those whose hands drag across the page as they write.
Thinning Down the Ball Point
For the most part, ball point pens range from .5 mm to 1.2 mm in diameter. Pentel's needle tip pens are definitely on the smaller side of the scale, measuring in at .5 mm. This is as thin as many mechanical pencil tips. These pens are designed to create the thinnest possible lines to give handwriting a precise, neat look. The diminutive size of the ball point also assists the ink in drying quickly, as no excess ink is delivered onto the paper.
Downside
Though Pentel has clearly recognized the growing need for manufacturing ecologically-friendly products (as shown by the creation of their Recycology product line), the ink cartridge in Energel needle tip pens is not replaceable. This is unfortunate news for those who grow attached to pens, but knowing that the pen itself is made from 50 percent recycled materials makes the information a little easier to stomach.
VESIcare reduces the muscle spasms of the urinary tract and the bladder in your body. VESIcare treats overactive bladder symptoms, and reduces the urge and frequency of urination and urine leakage. An overactive bladder contracts when your bladder isn't full, causing your bladder muscle to overwork itself. When your bladder overworks itself, it causes you to have a sudden urge to urinate and experience bladder leakage. Usually, your bladder gets full, the bladder muscles contracts and you empty your bladder. VESIcare controls the bladder muscle and reduces frequent urination problems. According to the MayoClinic.com, if you are prescribed VESIcare by your doctor and take the recommended dose, VESIcare will be effective in treating your overactive bladder.
Function
VESIcare works because it contains solifenacin succinate, which acts as a muscle relaxant. This medication relaxes the involuntary muscle that is found in the wall of your bladder. The muscle that is located in the wall of the bladder is called the detrusor muscle. Overactive bladder occurs when the detrusor muscle contracts, and it causes an uncontrollable spasm. VESIcare relaxes the detrusor muscle by blocking cholinergic, which are the receptors found in muscle cells. This stops acetylcholine from activating these receptors. VESIcare works because it prevents acetylcholine, and helps relax the muscle in the bladder wall. This decreases the involuntary contractions and increases your ability to control your bladder.
Warning
WebMD.com has a list of possible side effects when taking VESIcare. When taking VESIcare, you can experience dry mouth, blurred vision, indigestion and constipation. If any of these problems persists, contact your doctor immediately.
Tags: your bladder, bladder muscle, detrusor muscle, overactive bladder, muscle that, taking VESIcare, VESIcare works
Approximately 80 percent of Americans experience back pain in their life. Back pain can occur for many reasons including standing or sitting for long periods at a time, an injury, being overweight, or it can occur because of a disc problem which can require medical professional help. This article is going to focus on more general back pain experienced by most people. Low back pain can occur when the ligaments in the back become weak. Ligaments hold the spinal cord in place, and when a muscle weakens, vertebrae can get out of place and cause pain. The pain can be debilitating. Read on for some steps that can be taken to relief some or all of the pain experienced.
Instructions
1. When pain occurs with back muscle spasms, try using an ice pack, a gel pack, or even a bag of frozen peas (not to be reused), and gently place on the painful area for 20-30 minutes for the first couple of days. This will help reduce any swelling.
2. Take an anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprophen to relieve pain. Perhaps a muscle relaxing medication may be needed. There are medications on the market that do not cause drowsiness. Please check with a physician. Sometimes higher doses of an anti-inflammatory are needed to ease the pain. Contact your physician to get a prescription that will not upset your stomach.
3. If an injury has occurred, try using a heating pad set at a low temperature for 20-30 minutes. Don't fall asleep with this or a burn could occur.
4. Rest on a firm mattress on your back with your knees elevated. Using one thin pillow or no pillow is also helpful. Some are more comfortable resting on their sides with their knees bent.
5. Go to a professionally-trained massage therapist to help relieve the pain. They know ease the tension in your back and ease your pain.
6. Wear a back belt or brace to support your back and keep it from further injury.
Tags: your back, 20-30 minutes, back pain, pain experienced, pain occur, relieve pain
Clean an exfoliating gauze sponge as often as every other day to prevent unwanted bacteria growth. Any type of sponge can harbor unwanted and harmful bacteria. Exfoliating gauze sponges are often used on the soles of the feet, which can be very dirty. Most manufacturers state that they use antibacterial materials, but any material that is constantly damp is a breeding ground for bacteria. The best way to prevent this is by regularly cleaning your exfoliating sponge.
Instructions
1. Place your exfoliating gauze sponge in a bucket or the bathroom sink. Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the bucket and add approximately 4 cups of cool water to submerge the sponge. White vinegar is a natural antibacterial agent and you can use it to clean your sponge every other day.
2. Wash your sponge with a drop of mild detergent and rinse out with cool water as an alternative to the white vinegar. Hang outside or in a well-ventilated room to dry completely. Damp sponges are more likely to grow unwanted mold and bacteria.
3. Wash your sponge with cold water.
Place your exfoliating gauze sponge into a washing-machine mesh lingerie bag to wash every week or two. Wash with other clothing on a delicate cycle. Air-dry outside or in a well-ventilated area.
4. Wash the sponge in the dishwasher at a normal or hot setting once a month if it becomes very dirty or if it falls into the toilet. This helps remove any wanted pathogens.
5. Bleach kills bacteria.
Soak your exfoliating gauze sponge in 4 cups hot water and 1/4 cup of bleach as an alternative to your dishwasher. Bleach is strong and may damage your sponge. Only use it if it came into contact with something very dirty or if you used the sponge to clean dirty feet.
Tags: your sponge, your exfoliating, exfoliating gauze, exfoliating gauze sponge, gauze sponge, very dirty
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is a common problem that affects both children and adults. If you are the parent of a child with this condition, you know how stressful it can be to help a child cope with the symptoms. Difficulty concentrating and following through with tasks can create big challenges both at school and at home. Following are helpful tips so that you can help your child deal more effectively with his condition.
Establishing Routines
Children with ADHD need a regular routine most days of the week. Maintain set times for going to bed, waking up and eating meals. Children function better with sufficient sleep, so make sure that your child is getting a minimum of eight hours each night. If your child has difficulty going to sleep, adhere to a consistent nighttime routine that will help your child prepare for bedtime.
Daily structure with scheduled activities is also important for a child with ADHD. Have your child complete his homework at a set time every day. Sometimes a child does better if the homework is completed in small segments of time with short breaks in between. Regular physical activity and fresh air can help an ADHD child achieve better focus, so get your child outside to play every day.
Effective Communication
One symptom of ADHD is a child who does not appear to listen when spoken to. Ensure that your child is heeding your directions by requiring eye contact while you are speaking to him. Have him repeat instructions back to you to ensure that he is listening. Use short, concise sentences to relay instructions and don't pile on too many steps at once. Instead, give your child one or two steps at a time and make sure that those steps are completed before moving on to the next.
Kids with ADHD generally respond well to a checklist for their morning and evening routine. Post the list in the bedroom or bathroom so your child can refer to it. A chore chart allows a kid to collect stickers when he completes tasks. A reward system is an excellent way to encourage a child with ADHD to stay on task and finish his chores.
Building Organizational Skills
Someone with ADHD has trouble staying organized. You can help your child regain order by establishing simple organizational systems. Create a homework box that contains all the supplies he needs to complete assignments. Go through completed homework together at the end of the night and put papers into the backpack before your child goes to bed. Give him a spiral notebook to write down assignments and make notes to himself.
Stock your child's bedroom with labeled containers that make it easy to put things away. Use a hanging shoe organizer on the back of the door to keep things off the floor and desktop. Keep a clock in your child's room and more throughout the house to help keep track of time. Teach your child to lay out school clothes the night before so he can get ready more efficiently in the morning.
Tags: your child, with ADHD, child with, help your, help your child, ADHD child
When roses drop their petals, they reveal their green seed pods. Called hips or haws, these turn red as they mature. With sixty times the amount of vitamin C than lemons, hips help prevent colds, flu and infections.
Said to strengthen body tissues, build and maintain a healthy vascular system and prevent damage to capillaries, rose hips are thought to destroy infectious ailments when taken daily as a prophylactic.
Research has shown them to be effective in treating heart disease, arthritis, strokes and cancer.
History
Rosa canina are herbaceous shrubs from temperate regions throughout both hemispheres.
Likely first cultivated in ancient Persia, hundreds of species are now grown worldwide for their flowers, but the seed pods have a vital place in medicine, perfumes, soaps, foods and cosmetics.
In the first century A.D., Pliny recorded 32 disorders that responded well to rose preparations. First mentioned about A.D. 470 in Chinese medical literature, rose hips are still used for chronic diarrhea with stomach weakness.
Native Americans used rose hips to treat muscle cramps. The contain flavonoids; antioxidants that protect against aging and stress.
Vitamin C
Rose hips were used during WWII in England to make a syrup high in essential vitamin C, which cannot be manufactured by the human body. Vitamin C helps prevent and treat infection, the common cold, flu and pneumonia.
The lack of vitamin C causes potentially fatal scurvy. A Japanese study showed the risk of stroke in those with high levels of vitamin C was 29 percent lower than those with low levels.
The Nurses' Health Study of more than 85,000 women over 16 years, suggests that higher vitamin C intake may be cardioprotective.
Benefits of tea
There is no way to tell how much rose hips are in supplements or other forms. Brewing fresh or dried hips into tea yourself guarantees the content.
Pick the hips once they've turned red. Use the whole pod, including the seeds, when brewing, then strain before drinking.
Drink three to four large cups daily for two weeks at the start of each flu season.
Simmer five to six tablespoons of rose hip seeds for thirty minutes in one quart of water and strain. Drink two cups of the tea daily as a mild diuretic and to relieve rheumatic pain.
The tea retains its effectiveness for twenty-four hours.
Rose Hip Remedies
The BBS News reported in 2007 that in a six-month trial in Denmark and Germany, LitoZin containing rose hips increased activity and reduced joint pain in rheumatoid arthritis, a potentially crippling affliction of the joints.
The components of rose hips form a strong antioxidant that boosts the immune system and is effective against cold and flu.
Rich in pectin---a fiber that improves blood cholesterol, heart health and blood predigestive efficiency---rose hips also promote fullness and can diminish hunger cravings.
Oil made from rose hips contains natural trans-retinoic acids used to treat wrinkles, age spots, hyper-pigmentation, scars and skin burned from the sun or other sources.
Cost
The University of California at Berkeley cautions that vitamin C pills labeled "with rose hips" may contain little or no hips, since health supplement content is not regulated.
Rose hips probably contain beneficial phytochemicals (such as bioflavonoids), but no studies establish how these benefit your health or the amount you should take.
Hips are a concentrated natural source of vitamin C, but 250 to 500 mil day is a recommended dose and 500 mil of rose hips would be the size of a horse pill, says the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, which questions whether consumers need to pay ten times more to get vitamin C from rose hips than from synthetic pills.
Tags: rose hips, rose hips, Benefits Rosehips, cups daily, from rose
When breast cancer spreads or metastasizes, the brain is often affected. Different therapy methods are available including proton therapy. Side effects may occur. Proton therapy centers are available at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Mass General Hospital, Indiana University, the University of Florida, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX and at the INTEGRES Cancer Campus in Oklahoma City, OK.
What Is Proton Therapy And How It Works
Proton therapy is a form of radiation therapy that uses proton energy. Protons are positively-charged particles found in atoms. Proton therapy works by the process of ionization, whereby changes occur in the molecules of cancer cells through exposure to the proton therapy. This includes those that have spread from the breast to the brain.
These changes are especially evident in those cells that contain DNA or genetic material, When the DNA is damaged through these changes, cells cannot perform their functions, in particular their ability to undergo division or proliferation processes. When this occurs, the development of enzymes occurs in an attempt to rebuild the DNA areas that were damaged.
Proton therapy allows for radiation to be delivered in higher doses than are possible in conventional radiation. When this occurs, damage to the cancer cells evident in the brain metastasis is more extensive, thus preventing the enzymes from being able to repair DNA injury adequately enough.
Cancer cells exposed to proton radiation cannot repair themselves as well as normal cells, resulting in more permanent damage to cancerous cells and their subsequent death.
Who Can Receive Proton Therapy
You will need to ask your oncologist if you are a good candidate for proton therapy. He can make the determination based on how much brain metastasis is present, as well as other determining factors.
In addition, you may also need to check with your insurance company to see if proton therapy for brain metastasis as a result of breast cancer is covered. Some insurance companies do not cover it.
How the Treatment is Given
Early visits for proton therapy will most likely be devoted to preparation for the treatments, rather than a time to receive actual treatment, although this is possible. In any event, you will be placed into a machine called a simulator, and x-rays will be taken. These will be developed and read, and the films marked so that the doctor can pinpoint the location of the brain metastasis.
The places on your head will be marked in some way so that doctors will know where to direct the proton beam. These markings will be done in such a manner that they will remain over the course of the treatment.
From there, a set-up session will occur, where you will be placed on the table where the machine is located to make sure that the machine is accurately aligned. Afterwards, either at the same time or on another day, the actual treatments will be given.
You may go for treatment every day except on weekends for several weeks. Afterward, follow-up visits will be necessary. These are important and you should keep any and all follow-up appointments.
Side Effects
Side effects can include tiredness and skin irritation at the site(s) where the radiation beams enter the body. Because the beam can be targeted so closely to the brain metastasis, side effects are usually minimal.
Warning
Proton therapy exposes patients to neutron radiation from scatter foils and other components of the equipment. Some evidence may suggest that this exposure could cause a secondary malignancy, which is cancer that is caused by chemotherapy or radiation. This new cancer is not related to the previous one, and may not appear until some time has passed.
While ginger may be delicious to consume, it's also beneficial to use when dealing with body pain. Doctors believe that ginger's oils and phenol compounds are responsible for its pain-relieving abilities. This homeopathic remedy can be carried out in several ways, most of which involve ingesting warm to hot ginger, to make your aches disappear.
Instructions
1. Purchase a pill containing ginger to relieve your pain. You will most likely find ginger in pill form in an arthritis joint and muscle pill, although ginger pills also are sold on their own.
2. Relieve gas, indigestion and nausea by eating up to 4g of fresh ginger root a day. Ginger can be purchased from your local supermarket in the produce section.
3. Soothe your arthritis pain by rubbing ginger oil directly onto the pained joint. Ginger oil does not normally burn or harm the skin, but if you experience any rash-like symptoms, wash off the ginger oil and consult your doctor immediately.
4. Use ginger to help get rid of a sore throat. Steep 2 tbsp. of shredded ginger in hot water and drink. If you do not enjoy drinking ginger ale, add a drop of ginger oil to a bowl of hot water and place your face 2 feet over the bowl.
5. Treat your body pain with ginger after having surgery. Take 1g of powdered ginger root with water after you wake up. Do not use this remedy to treat body pain if you have a weak stomach, however, as it sometimes induces vomiting.
Tags: body pain, ginger root, Ginger Treat, Ginger Treat Body, Treat Body Pain
To live a life that is manageable, with minimum chaos, the person struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) must choose to do anything possible to take care of herself. Importance should be placed in eating healthy, sleeping enough and on a regular schedule, exercising and taking care of personal hygiene. This is basic but often gets lost in the daily difficulties of BPD.
Support
The individual who suffers from BPD can be much more successful in combating this illness if she chooses to surround herself with supportive people. These people must be able to set limits yet consistently affirm the individual. They must be willing to be available within their limits, since fear of abandonment is a driving force in BPD.
Seek Professional Intervention
Professional intervention in the form of therapists, case managers and/or psychiatrists is a vital part of treating BPD. Most persons challenged with this disorder also have mood difficulties, which can be greatly helped through medication. They also struggle with emotion regulation, which can be dealt with through learning thinking skills. A very effective treatment is called dialectical behavioral therapy and is offered in most mental health centers and therapy offices.
Clarifications and Warnings
BPD is a personality disorder. These disorders tend to be lifelong and pervasive. Therefore, recovery is not necessarily the same as curing. Recovery involves learning to manage the symptoms so that they do not impede daily functioning.
Science has shown that healthy people don't breathe through both nostrils at the same time; instead, they alternate between each side of the nose every couple of hours. Yogis have known this for thousands of years and so developed the practice of alternate nostril breathing, or "Nodi Sodhana," as a way to promote health and overall well-being.
Purpose
The body's nasal cycle is linked to brain function: when one nostril is obstructed, brain activity decreases on the side of the brain opposite it. The purpose of alternate nostril breathing is promote health and balance by oxygenating both sides of the brain equally, so creative and logical thinking are both at their prime.
Technique
Alternate nostril breathing is exactly what it sounds like: breathing through one nostril at a time and alternating between sides. The practice starts when you use the thumb on your right hand to close your right nostril. Then inhale slowly and deeply through your left nostril (aim for a count of four). Next use the pinky and ring finger on your right hand to close your left nostril, while releasing your right nostril. Exhale slowly through your right nostril (aim for a count of eight). Now, inhale through your right nostril (to a count of four) and then alternate again by releasing your left nostril and using your right thumb to close the right nostril once again. Exhale (count to eight). That completes one full round of alternate nostril breathing.
Benefits
Alternate nostril breathing is believe to increase energy, sharpen thinking, improve brain function, reduce stress, enhance relaxation, improve sleep quality, clear energy channels, improve overall well-being, decrease or lessen disease and illness, make for more effective breathing and clearer lungs and create general feelings of revitalization and inner harmony.
Considerations
Breathing should never be forced through a blocked nostril so don't practice alternate nostril breathing if you have a cold, allergies or anything else that makes breathing through your nose difficult. Also, be careful not to hold your breath if you have high blood pressure.
Potential
Although the point is to breathe through both nostrils evenly for balance and to be healthy, alternate nostril breathing can be used to target specific needs. Breathing through the right nostril will promote sharper thinking and more energy, while breathing through the left nostril will calm you and increase creativity.
Tags: your right, right nostril, nostril breathing, alternate nostril, alternate nostril breathing, left nostril, through your
The Atkins Diet can be an effective way to lose weight and keep your blood sugar low. Contrary to its "all meat, eggs and butter" reputation, the diet encourages the intake of healthy carbohydrates that are low on the glycemic index .
Significance
The Atkins Diet focuses on reducing carbohydrates for weight loss and promoting health. When carbohydrate intake is controlled, blood sugar levels are generally lower. The diet also encourages exercise, which further helps control blood sugar levels.
Function
When you eat carbohydrates, they are converted to glucose for energy. Any unused energy is stored in your body's cells as fat by the chemical messenger insulin. By consuming fewer carbohydrates than you need for energy, you keep blood sugar levels low, minimize the release of insulin, and encourage the burning of fat from your body's energy stores.
Considerations
If you are using the Atkins Diet to help control your blood sugar levels, you need to monitor your levels closely to avoid hypoglycemia, which is a blood sugar level that is too low. If you are taking medications, they may need to be adjusted or even discontinued; always check with your health care provider before making changes in your diet or medication. If your blood sugar goes too low, try drinking a glass of milk and eating a protein snack.
Misconceptions
Many people think the Atkins Diet does not allow any carbohydrates. In reality, the diet provides healthy carbohydrates in the form of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and whole grain products that are low on the glycemic index . A diet completely free from carbohydrates is not healthy nor recommended.
Expert Insight
The induction phase of the Atkins Diet is very challenging. If you are not an experienced low-carb dieter, you might find it easier to gradually decrease your carbohydrate levels.
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