Many people nowadays are turning to “organics” and “naturals” otherwise known as herbals. The rising popularity of herbal supplements has created a new fad if not a new health lifestyle. But before you join the bandwagon, here are some things you need to know about this mean, “green” dietary supplementing machine.
What is the difference between a drug and a dietary supplement?
According to the definition set by food and drug administrations in different countries, drugs are chemicals that can prevent, prolong the life, treat other effects of a health condition, improve the quality of life, and/or cure ailments and diseases, or alter the function of any part or chemicals inside the body. These drugs have approved therapeutic claims.
For example, paracetamol is a drug given to bring down the body temperature in fever. Ascorbic acid is indicated for the treatment of scurvy. Iron supplements are given to treat mild cases of anemia. Read more...
Epsom salts are often used to cleanse and exfoliate the skin, making it soft and invigorated. They also has been used by many to ease sore and stiff muscles.
Supplies:
* 1 cup Epsom salts
* Water
* Towel or sheet (optional)
* Shower
Directions:
Pour one cup of Epsom salts into a small bowl, adding just enough water to make a paste. This is a messy job, so after you undress stand over a towel or sheet, or simply stand in the shower instead (without the water running). Smooth a thin layer of the paste onto your skin over your entire body. If you have a partner who can help, that’s great, but if not then cover as much of yourself as you can.
Wait until the mixture has dried; it forms a white film. Then shower or, better yet, soak in a warm bath and let the salt help ease your sore and tired muscles, too! Do not use soap to wash off the salt, as you may clog your pores. Read more...
How about a “morning after” pill for loud concerts? Researchers recently identified supplements so helpful at preventing and healing noise-induced hearing loss that we may very well see pills and snack foods marketed with that premise in the not-too-distant future.
Long viewed as a hazard for people exposed to prolonged high-decibel sound (such as workers around jet engines or jackhammers, battlefield soldiers and rock stars), excess noise contributes to more than one-third of the 28 million Americans suffering from some degree of hearing loss.
RESEARCH RESULTS SOUND PROMISING
I spoke with scientist Colleen Le Prell, PhD, associate professor, department of communicative disorders, University of Florida in Gainesville, to find out more about the research her team recently conducted, which showed that a simple blend of common nutrients may help reduce hearing loss.
Herpes Virus: HSV1 causes cold sores. It spreads by direct contact with fluids of a cold sore or skin eruption from someone who carries the virus. HSV2 genital herpes, is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by a strain of the herpes simplex virus.
This virus enters the body through small cuts in the skin or mucous membranes.
Pregnant women can also pass this virus to their babies during vaginal delivery. Both men and women can become infected. The condition requires careful management. Once an individual is infected by the virus it remains in the body, usually dormant, until some other factor such as stress, sun, infection, or weak immunity, triggers an outbreak.
Experts do not know exactly what causes the virus to lie dormant for long periods and then abruptly awake. Many think that a weakened immune system is the cause. Therefore, it would be wise for you to keep your immune system strong and under control with a well-rounded diet, lots of rest and relaxation, and regular exercise. This program below assists in acute outbreaks and long term care for HSV1 and HSV2. Read more...
When adults are diagnosed with ADD, they have oftentimes carried the same symptoms throughout their life, although other disorders should be ruled out first. Discover how adult ADD can be confused with anxiety with help from a licensed mental health counselor in this free video on adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
We all can experience a little bit of acid reflux if we eat a big meal and then immediately bend over, or lie down flat on our back afterward and then all of a sudden feel that acid coming back up our throat; especially if we just finished a large meal that contained foods high in fat, had lots of acid in them or were very spicy. There are several causes for acid reflux.
Individuals may experience acid reflux because they have a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter muscles which are the ones responsible for closing and opening at the lower end of the esophagus and preventing food from the stomach from coming back up the esophagus.
If these muscles weaken, the lower esophageal sphincter muscles cannot close properly and food that should be emptying into the stomach can come back up.
Acid from the stomach may also come up with the food that has started to be mixed in the stomach causing the sensation of burning as it comes back up into the esophagus. Read more...
Osteoporosis is a chronic medical condition where the body loses bone mass faster than it can be dealt. Interestingly, there are two opposing forces which will lead to osteoporosis.
On the one hand, bone is built in response to stresses such as weight-bearing and muscle strength. On the other hand, bone is also lost in response to hormonal activity and lack of weight-bearing stress on the bones.
In young adults the difference between bone growth and loss is on the positive side. This means that up until an individual reaches age 30 they are laying down more bone van is being destroyed.
After 35 bone is lost progressively faster than it is being built. Over the past 15 years researchers have been on a quest to discover medications and therapies that will either hinder the loss of bone or increased bone building activity, all in an effort to decrease the negative effects for individuals who suffer from osteoporosis. Read more...
A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is a medical condition where bacteria has invaded the urinary tract and begun to grow. The urinary tract consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
Most often the bacteria enters series from either through migration from the wrecked him or her during sexual intercourse. The bacteria then begins to grow in the urethra and can migrate up to the bladder and even into the kidneys.
A urinary tract infection can develop into a very painful condition and a major cause of the stress in your life. If it is not contained in the early stages is likely to spread to the kidneys which will become a serious health issue.
Permanent kidney damage can be caused by bacterial infections which go untreated. This permanent damage can negatively affect the health of an individual and we need to the complete shutdown of the kidneys. Read more...
Daily life with an Autistic child can be a challenge to say the least. What should you do if you are traveling for vacation, or another purpose? Lets look at some things a parent can do when traveling with their Autistic child.
1. Plan ahead. If at all possible plan trips far in advance. This gives you time to talk with your child and get them used to the idea of traveling.
You can explain to them where they will be going, and some of the things they will be doing while away.
2. Bring items from home that your Autistic child likes. Bring their favorite toys. Bring along their pillow and blanket they use each night. Try and keep as many items that are familiar to your child with you while traveling. This can help your child to relax in their new environment.
3. Bring all their necessary medications. You do not want to be away from home and not have their medicine. Get the prescriptions refilled before the trip to make sure you do not run out. Read more...
Are you interested in using a natural remedy to seek relief from a minor medical problem, such as a headache, migraine, or a toothache? If you are, you are not alone. A large number of individuals use natural remedies, also commonly referred to as home remedies.
With that being said, if this is the first time that you will be trying a natural remedy, you may be looking for some guidance. If that is the case, please continue reading on, as a few helpful and important natural remedy tips are touched on below.
Although natural remedies do work in most cases, it is important to know that you may see a variance.
For example, there are some individuals who claim that drinking grape juice, namely the juice directly from ripe grapes, is a great way to relieve the pain associated with a headache or a migraine. Yes, this approach may work for others, but that does not necessarily mean that that same natural remedy will work for you. Read more...
Essential oils are wonderful. They are natural, easy to use and can really spice up your life! In fact, people have been using essential oils for centuries – long before you could walk into a pharmacy to purchase expensive medications.
People from all over the world have discovered wonderful uses for these great essential oils. If you have never tried essential oils before, then it is time you learn what you can do with them.
You may think that essential oils are only for people that use them in spiritual ceremonies, or for people who shun traditional medical care. This is not true. Essential oils can do so much more for you that they are certainly worth a try. Here is a look at three great uses for essential oils.
Using essential oils for your health: Even people who do go see a doctor on a regular basis, can get a lot of use out of essential oils. Even very common and widely available oils are handy to have around the home for your health. Tea tree oil is probably the most popular. You can use tea tree oil to soothe skin irritations, fight acne and skin blemishes and even help do away with bug bites. Read more...
Physical symptoms that arise due to hypothyroidism usually include weight gain, dry hair, constipation, overwhelming fatigue and dry skin. Learn about hypothyroidism as a result of a thyroid that has stopped functioning with help from a physician in this free video on hypothyroidism. Expert: David Cathcart Bio: Dr. David Cathcart has been a physician at Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, Mo. for over 20 years. He operates the occupational medicine clinic. Filmmaker: Johnny Cathcart…
Individuals experiencing acid reflux should start out on the road to manage acid reflux by making lifestyle changes that would be healthier and prevent acid reflux. After making lifestyle changes it is then important to look at dietary changes that would benefit the individual with acid reflex.
Lifestyle changes include avoiding alcohol and smoking. We mainly smoke and drink while we are among friends. It therefore stands to reason that to cut out those two things we need to be serious about avoiding the pain or discomfort that the acid brings us enough to avoid parties or other situations in which drinking and smoking is very much a part of.
Regular sleep habits make it easier to know when to stop eating. You should stop eating 2 hours before your regular scheduled bedtime.
Relaxation techniques should become a part of the lifestyle you are embracing in order to make a reduction in the occurrence of acid reflux. Read more...
You can’t go through a checkout line in a grocery store or major discount chain without seeing them. There’s versions for kids, versions for your purse and keychain, decorative versions for around your house and of course all of the good ol’ household cleaning solutions.
Nowadays, if you have an aversion to germs, you can spray them, spritz them, gel them, scrub them, mist them, zap them and wipe them away – in 2 seconds flat, even! What is it with our apparent fascination with trying to create a germ-free world? (One word: marketing)
Did you know that there are now ‘condoms’ for the handles of exercise equipment at the gym? Or cutting-edge, pocket-sized germ zappers which use ultraviolet light? How about the vacuum with the germ-destroying light? There’s even a sorta cute little hot pink apparatus called “Go Girl” to let women pee standing up when they’re out and about so they don’t have to go near the public restrooms! (Makes ya wonder exactly WHERE they will use this, but, you get the idea) Read more...
Emphysema is a respiratory disease that continues to get worse over time. It makes it hard to breathe and causes an individual to feel as if they are constantly short of breath.
The tiny air sacs and airways in the lungs lose their elastic qualities and this in turn makes it hard to completely exhale the air from the body.
Normal lungs work like a balloon and bring in vast amounts of fresh air and then release equal amounts of Co2. When emphysema is present some of this carbon dioxide is left in the lungs and each breath becomes more difficult. As this terrible medical condition becomes worse breathing starts to come at great effort and physical activities take a great amount of energy.
Emphysema usually develops over years and there are treatments that can slow it’s progress. Some symptoms that you should be on the lookout for include: consistent shortness of breath, headaches, constant coughing, fatigue, wheezing, difficulty concentrating, tightness in the chest, irritability and a distended chest. Read more...
A yeast infection can be cured naturally without the use of drugs or even a doctor’s visit. You can cure a yeast infection with items found in your home.
But before you try any of these natural cures, you need to be certain that what you have is a yeast infection.
There are other vaginal infections that can mimic the symptoms of a yeast infection. So if this is your first vaginal infection or if it accompanied by a foul odor, you should see your doctor for a diagnosis.
If you are positive that what you have is a yeast infection, then you can try a natural, holistic medicine cure for your yeast infection. These cures are inexpensive and will product less side effects than prescription or over the counter medicine.
The first natural cure for a yeast infection is douching with apple cider vinegar. Just mix a table spoon of apple cider vinegar in a quart of water. This method will relieve the pain and itching almost immediately. Read more...
Urinary incontinence is a condition that affects more women than it does men. The number of individuals who suffer from urinary incontinence has prompted manufacturers to develop products which help these individuals to remain socially active without fear of an odor. A urologist or primary care physician will differentiate between the four or five different types of urinary incontinence before they are able to make an effective recommendation for treatment protocols. Because this condition has a high success rate most individuals will find that with treatments they are either cured or their symptoms are improve significantly.
In some cases simple lifestyle or behavioral modifications will be enough to make significant changes. Some women find that certain foods or fluids will irritate their bladder and cause further difficulty with stress incontinence. At other times it may be necessary to only reduce fluids before bedtime. Read more...
There have been commercials on television recently showing what life is like for a child before they contract meningitis. Many people don’t even consider this to be a possibility and don’t realize the dangers of meningitis. What is it and what are the risks associated with it?
Meningitis, an infection of the fluid around the brain and in the spine, can be a very serious condition. At times it is deadly. Many people are still unaware of this condition and how dangerous it can be. The condition can develop rapidly, often within just a few hours of being around someone with meningitis, or it can take up to two days.
There are two forms of meningitis: bacterial and viral. Neither is a good condition to have, but bacterial meningitis can result in brain damage and even death. Many symptoms of meningitis are similar to other illnesses – nausea, headache, high fever, and vomiting – so a parent might mistake them for something else. However, add the symptoms of being very sensitive to light and having a stiff neck, and an immediate trip to the doctor is in order to get diagnosis and treatment. Read more...
Pour 2 cups boiling water over 3 tablespoons dried primrose flowers and leaves. Let stand, covered, about 15 minutes. Strain and sweeten. Drink warm or hot. Use 1 heaping Tsp of dried chamomile flowers for each cup of boiling water. Steep 10 minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey.
The definition of urinary incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine related to another physical stress or more underlying medical condition. For example, individuals who have benign prostatic hypertrophy can suffer from urinary incontinence which is related to the weakening of the bladder muscle and the constriction of the urethra.
Stress incontinence is another cause of urinary incontinence and is thought most common cause in women. The leakage of urine and is usually prompted by a physical movement or activity that puts additional pressure or stress on the bladder. These types of movements or activity can include lifting something heavy, coughing, sneezing or laughing. Stress incontinence is not related to psychological stress and has its roots in changes in the physical structure of the individual.
Women who are experiencing stress incontinence will notice your leaking when they cough, sneeze, laughs, stand up, with something heavy or are exercising. Your leakage may not happen every time you do one of these activities, but pressure increasing activity will only increase the risk of unintentional loss, especially when the bladder is full. Read more...
Women experiencing menstrual cramps may be willing to try almost anything to avoid having cramps each month. Did you know you could treat menstrual cramps with nutrition? If you’re tired of having cramps every time you have your period, how can changing your diet hurt? Learn how diet affects the severity of your menstrual cramps.
* Eat a diet consisting of a variety of foods. Low fat, high fiber diets appear to combat the salty or sweet foods women typically crave during their menstrual cycle. Besides helping avoid cravings, you’ll also have more energy and a more stable mood.
* Ensure your body is getting all of the vitamins and minerals you need by taking a multivitamin each day. Minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium are particularly important before and during your monthly cycle.
* Eat more foods containing omega-3fatty acids such as salmon, mackerel, albacore tuna, swordfish, and lake trout. You may also want to add walnuts, Brazil nuts, and olive oil. These foods help stabilize your mood and have an anti-inflammatory effect. They also reduce the effect of cramps because they block the production of prostaglandins. Read more...
Chronic pain, and especially back pain, is the number one complaint that leads patients to the offices of osteopathic physicians. Unlike medical doctors who focus predominantly on the symptoms and treatment thereof, the doctor of osteopathy is likely to dig deeper to see if the root cause of the back pain can be discovered and treated. The treatment options do not usually depend heavily on pain medication but instead focus primarily on musculoskeletal manipulation of the patients body, thus seeking to induce self healing.
The ultimate goal is the eradication of the pain itself, but in so doing the recurrence of the pain is also stymied. Patients must understand that this form of treatment likely requires a number of treatments that translate into office visits, and therefore the patient must be willing to bear the financial burden of the copayments most likely associated with these doctors visits. Additionally, patients must be weaned away from the philosophy of doctor healings and instead recognize that they play a vital art in the healing of their own bodies. Read more...
Overflow incontinence is a symptom which both men and women can experience as a result of other underlying medical conditions. Millions of women experience in voluntary loss of urine called urinary incontinence which can range from a few drops to a large amount. Women experience urinary incontinence twice as often as men but overflow incontinence is more common in men who also suffer from benign prosthetic hypertrophy.
Depending upon the underlying medical condition the symptom is caused by the inability of the bladder to completely empty each time an individual urinates. Small amounts of urine left inside the bladder leads to irritation of the bladder wall which can result in contractions of the bladder wall and urinary incontinence. While urinary incontinence is more prevalent in women overflowing continence is more prevalent in men.
Individuals who are suffering from overflowing continence feel as though the bladder is never empty and often have to get up during the night to urinate. At times they are on able to urinate even when they feel the urge to go. At other times your and will continue to dribble from the urethra even after they have stopped voiding. Read more...
Just because the weather is turning colder, it doesn’t mean you have to give up your outside exercise routine. The temperatures may be lower, but following these cold weather running tips may make running during the winter months something you can continue to do and enjoy.
When you go out to run in cold weather, it’s important that you remain warm and dry. This means you’ll want to start with dry clothing in layers. The layers, made of different fabrics, will allow the sweat and moisture to be wicked away from the skin which will help keep you dryer and warmer.
Start with a thin synthetic material like polypropylene rather than wearing cotton, as cotton holds the moisture next to the skin. Polar fleece can be added next to help keep you warm with an additional insulation layer. Finally, use a breathable nylon material for the outer layer. This will protect you against wind and precipitation but will let out sweat and heat so you don’t become overheated. Read more...
In the normal urinary tract system the bladder serves to store and eventually expel urine using a complex and exquisitely orchestrated system. The coordination of urination is regulated by both the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system. The term neurogenic bladder applies to a urinary tract system that malfunctions because of a neurologic problem that was initially an internal or external.
The symptoms of a neurogenic bladder will depend upon this site of the neurologic insults. In other words, if the neurological system was damaged centrally the symptoms will be different than those of an individual who suffered a peripheral neurologic damage.
The brain is the center of control for the entire urinary tract system. Inside the frontal lobe is located a center that sends signals to the detrusor muscle or that muscle which controls the release of urine from the body. Certain types of diseases in the brain, including stroke, cancer and even dementia, can result in the loss of voluntary control because of the damage to the neurological system in the brain. The signal that originates in the brain must pass through the brain stem and the spinal cord before reaching the bladder. Read more...
The history of yoga is long and steeped in tradition. Contrary to what some people may believe, yoga was not developed as the newest way to slim down so they could fit into a smaller pants size.
The history of yoga goes back 5,000 years. It originated in India, and the first time the word yoga was found in written form was in the Rig Vada, one of the sacred texts used by Vedic priests. Yoga is a means of achieving spiritual enlightenment.
Originally, yoga techniques were passed down from teacher to student through word of mouth. These techniques had never been written down until the Indian sage Patanjali wrote down a systematic method of yoga in the Yoga Sutras. Patanjali is considered to be the father of yoga.
According to Patanjali, there are eight limbs of yoga, which lead to the ultimate goal of enlightenment.
Yama – abstaining from violence, stealing, lust, greed
PDD-NOS is a diagnosis given when a child does not meet all the criteria for Autism, but they show several of the signs. PDD-NOS or Persuasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified is diagnosed with several different types of assessments. We will look at these different types of assessments needed for PDD-NOS.
Medical Assessment
The medical assessment will examine the child completely to rule out any health conditions that could be causing the symptoms the child is experiencing. Some health conditions can cause similar symptoms as those in Persuasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified.
Educational Assessment
The child will be tested in several different educational areas. They will be assessed on what skills they have appropriate for their age. They will be assessed on daily living skills. These skills include dressing, bathing, eating, etc. These skills can be assessed by testing, or interviewing the parents, and teachers.
Interviews with Child’s Parents, Teachers Read more...
There is actually one problem far greater in the severity that men would rather not admit to other than not being able to get an erection. For many men that is urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine and is actually a symptom of an underlying medical condition and not a disease in and of itself.
The urinary tract system is made up of four major organs. The first is the kidneys where the urine and is produced and stored for a short period of time. When it’s time urine travels through the ureters into the bladder where the body stores the urine until it’s ready to be expelled. At this time a complex orchestration of neurotransmitters and muscular contractions begin so that the urine can travel through the urethra and out of the body.
Urinary incontinence can happen at different ages and for different reasons. Men have a much lower risk of developing urinary incontinence but a much higher risk of developing overflow incontinence. In either case it is important to address the underlying medical condition in order to affect a successful treatment protocol. Read more...
Treatment for osteoporosis actually begins in the teen years using an ounce of prevention. This is definitely one case where that ounce of prevention before the age of Tony is truly worth a pound of cure at 55 years.
Although prevention is the safest option the Federal drug administration does have several medication options which are available for treatment which currently appear to have a low side effect threshold.
Many of us would like to be able to take a quick hello and how the problem fixed. But, if all that is done is to take a pill and the results will be much less than satisfactory. Treatment for a complex condition requires more than a pill and requires a bit of complexity. Aside from the medications that are approved for treatment of osteoporosis there are other measures which should be instituted to receive the full benefits. Read more...
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There is one way to tell if you have bad breath and that is to lick the back of your own hand. Now, let it dry for about several seconds. Now, smell the spot, is there an odor? You can also smell what comes up on your floss when you place it between your back teeth and floss. If there is an odor to it, then you might have bad breath.Xerostomia is a medical condition in which a person has chronically dry mouth. Other things can contribute to the condition of dry mouth such as medications that have a side effect of drying out the mouth such as antihistamines, antidepressants, diuretics, narcotics, anti-anxiety medications and also blood pressure drugs.
Many people nowadays are turning to “organics” and “naturals” otherwise known as herbals. The rising popularity of herbal supplements has created a new fad if not a new health lifestyle. But before you join the bandwagon, here are some things you need to know about this mean, “green” dietary supplementing machine.
