Saturday, August 30, 2008

Symptoms and Causes of Nail Fungus

By Tommy

A nail fungus infection is a very common phenomenon specifically in the spring and summer months. Visible as a yellowish discoloration of the infected nail, fungi based nail infections are found virtually everywhere, especially in the tropical regions.

Nail discoloration, burning, itching and occasional pain in severe cases are some symptoms of this highly contagious problem. Another defining attribute of a fungal nail infection is its recurrence and resistance to treatment despite the use of modern anti-fungal agents and over-the-counter treatments available today.

Nail Fungus Causes

Fungal nail infections are the result of, as is clear by the name, by a fungus - candida, molds, and dermatophytes (multiple kinds of them). Fungus usually grows in moist and dark conditions, which the nail bed provides, especially on the foot. The cause of this is that one's feet are usually enclosed in shoes and socks for a long time and because the feet have higher number of sweat glands.

Another consideration is that this type of fungus grows on the floors of locker rooms and changing rooms next to moist public places such as gyms and swimming pools. This usually results in a fungal nail infection on the feet that is very hard to eliminate, and is very communicable.

Signs Of A Nail Fungus

A noticeable odor, change in the color of the nail, and occasional burning/itching/pain are some ways of manifestation of a fungal infection of the nail. After a while, additional symptoms may be exhibited. For example - The nail may become brittle and easily break off. Also, the nail may dry out and start crumbling. Rapid progress of these symptoms can be prevented by applying lotions and creams topically. Yet, reversal of the symptoms is not possible without fully treating the underlying nail fungus.

How To Treat A Nail Fungus

Nail fungus treatment is usually very hard since the actual fungus is hard to reach underneath the nail for direct action. Even the modern treatments must have up to a year for removing all of the symptoms of fungal nail infections.

Research done to understand and measure the relative usefulness of various treatments has revealed that most of the currently used drugs are an expendable method of treatment that is fairly useless. As such, the current research and development for drugs to treat nail fungus is focused on discovering more potent anti-fungal agents .

There are available today home remedies for fungal nail infection that have been claimed to be very useful at healing the nail rapidly. Commonly used home remedies include green tea, grape-seed extract and grape-seed oil. It should be noted that there are not many studies that showing these to be effective. Alternatively, there are other home remedies, that when applied correctly, can treat nail fungus in under 20 days!

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The 2 Gases Your Body Can't Live Without

By Samuel S. Peters

Twenty per cent of our atmosphere is oxygen. When this gas is united chemically with hydrogen gas, the result is water, our body's most important nutrient.

Water makes up 70%-80% of the body's weight and helps to maintain body temperature, to metabolize body fat, to wash toxins from the body, to make blood the right viscosity, to lubricate and cushion organs, to transport nutrients, and a host of other things needed for the body's health.

We each need at least 64 ounces of water per day. If you are active, you need even more. When you don't get enough, you become dehydrated. Then the body takes the water from any place it can, including the blood.

One result of dehydration is that the body closes some capillaries. This makes the blood thicker, harder to pump, and more likely to clot. This in turn results in high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and possible heart disease. It has also been linked to arthritis, heartburn, and headaches.

Some have estimated that as many as 75% of Americans are dehydrated. Sometimes the body might seem to be saying, "I'm hungry," but it is really saying, "I'm thirsty." A drink of water also might temporarily eliminate hunger pangs and help to keep body weight under control by avoiding snacking.

We get water from the fluids we drink, from the food we eat, and from metabolism. Soda, tea, or coffee are pour substitutes for pure water. In fact, these can actually increase the need for water because the caffeine in them is diuretic. This means it actually forces from the cells the water they contain as well as some essential nutrients.

Dehydration is more than just a little minor problem. It is dangerous! The mind is affected with only a 2% loss of body weight due to a lack of water. Physical performance drops 20%-30% with as little as 5% weight drop because of insufficient water. A 10% drop can make someone sick, and a 20% drop will probably mean death. Of course, since water is this important, you will want to drink water that is pure.

While a lack of water is often the cause of some ailments, drinking water is likewise also the cure. Problems such as ulcers, stress, headaches, high blood pressure, kidney problems, and problems related to cholesterol are often alleviated by drinking pure water. Just 64 ounces a day of the free liquid have decreased the risk of breast cancer by 79%, bladder cancer by 50%, and colon cancer by 45%.

Perhaps your body is craving water right now and you don't even know it. So go get a glass. But be sure it is pure first. Water taken from the tap will probably have impurities. So might even bottled water. Best is the water you purify yourself through a charcoal filter. You can trust it to help you maintain good health.

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Herbal Medicine History

By The Alternate Medic

The history of herbal medicine literally goes back to the beginning of civilization. and although it is really impossible to know exactly when herbal medicine history first began, archaeological remains from early civilizations have revealed that plants were used in burials as well as in various other types of rituals.

In comparison, modern medicine only started around 300 years ago, from around the end of the industrial revolution, prior to that Herbal medicine was the only form of medicine known to man., and it was considered as being an integral part of the overall development of civilization. Herbs have been used by all cultures throughout history, and much of the medicinal use of plants seems to have been developed through observations of wild animals and as well by trial and error.

How To describe Herbal Medicine?

There are many different types of natural medicine that use herbs as a part of their practice, and herbal medicine is considered as being a type of approach that uses plant or plant-derived preparations in order to treat, prevent or cure various different health conditions and ailments.

Herbal medicine is considered as being a complementary type of therapy, one which uses plants or plant extracts in order to treat illness. There are also many well-established medicines that come from plants, for instance morphine, which comes from poppies, aspirin and willow bark and which is used quite commonly in the modern day.

Before you take any herbal medicine yourself, you should be aware of the herbal medicine history and as well you should make a consultation to see an herbalist. This first consultation will typically take around an hour to complete, and during this time they will ask you various questions about your health, including your medical and family history, lifestyle and emotional state.

The Importance of Herbal Medicine History

There is great importance behind herbal medicine history, namely that by understanding the history you will be able to make better use of the various different herbs that are available at your disposal. Herbs offer a variety of benefits that you can use to add to your life, and so you should definitely incorporate them as much as possible.

By understanding about the history of herbs you will be able to put them to the best use possible, and with the advent of more modern methods of medicine, people have fallen away from their uses in food, shelter and medicine, which is incredibly unfortunate, as herbs and other plants still contain the vitamins, essential oils, mucilage, and other natural ingredients that are so beneficial to the mind, body and spirit of man.

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Friday, August 29, 2008

Eat More Chocolate Flavanols

By Harvey Robinson

If you love to eat chocolate there is good news, it is good for you! Chocolate is high in flavanols that have potent antioxidant potential and have been shown to reduce the risk of many diseases.

The quality of the chocolate you eat is important and the darker the chocolate, the more chocolate flavanols it has. The darker, high quality chocolates use cocoa butter and cocoa solids as their main ingredients. Chocolates contain some saturated fats, but some saturated fat in your diet is good for you. Cocoa butter is a fat derived from cocoa plants (Theobroma cacao). Cocoa butter is expensive, the cheaper brands replace the cocoa butter with milk fats and hydrogenated oils. Fat is essential for the body, just make sure it is a good fat and not too much. Milk chocolate is diluted with milk and bleached white sugar, bleached white sugar is not good for your body.

The best for you is unsweetened cocoa, it is one of the purest forms of chocolate. It makes a great hot chocolate with a spoon of honey. Unsweetened cocoa powder is lower in fat and calories and it has more of the dark chocolate flavanols. This is a way to experience the characteristic properties of the cocoa bean, another way is to relish a bar that is 99% cocoa. A 99% or 85% cocoa content does not always mean there is going to be the great flavor you want. The quality of the beans and the way they are processed have the biggest part in determining the quality of the taste.

Flavanols are a group of phytonutrients within the flavonoid family. Flavonoids are a diverse class of phytonutrients found in a assortment of foods. Flavanols are the predominant flavonoids in tea, red wine and dark chocolates.

The workings behind flavanols and how they function in the body are becoming much better understood. Research provides evidence that flavanols may be responsible for preventing blood platelets from aggregating, improving blood flow and vessel function and may help prevent certain cancers.

The cocoa flavanol responsible for a reduction in platelet aggregation has been found and can be synthesized. This means cocoa flavanols can be made by drug companies into a major new class of drugs, based on flavanols, to treat vascular complications associated with diabetes, strokes, cardiovascular disease and a range of other impairments.

Cocoa butter has long been used to add flavor, scent, and smoothness to skin creams, lotions, cosmetics, tanning oils and soaps. There is evidence that eating cocoa flavanols may increase hydration, improve skin smoothness, and help the skin defend it's self against sun damage.

This is great news for all chocolate eaters. Just don?t forget that a little dark chocolate is good, too much is not better, chocolate is loaded with calories. Over consumption of caffeine should not be a problem, chocolate has very little caffeine. A small serving only contains about as much caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee. That is why I eat the chocolate covered espresso beans.

The chocolate you eat should contain at least 70% cocoa and should be dark or bittersweet. I eat nothing less than 85% cocoa. 85% cocoa is not for everybody, it is not sweet and may be a bit bitter for some people. My advice is to eat a small amount every day with your morning tea. It goes great with irish breakfast tea, but if you want to get a real dose of morning flavonoids try 85% cocoa with gunpowder green tea.

That is a great way to start the morning. Make sure you enjoy it, when you enjoy your flavonoids they are even better for you. Let each bite melt in your mouth and think about how good it is for you. Make it your morning meditation. Take a bite and think about how good things are going to happen today, how much you are going to get done and how easy things are going to go. Your day is going to go just like the chocolate melting in your mouth. Now, wash it down with gunpowder green tea and get to work.

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Know How To Get Vitamin B1

By Alison Addy

This article discusses the importance of getting the required amount of Vitamin B1. It also talks about its role in promoting good mental health.

Vitamin B1 As A Treatment Drug

Vitamin B1, which is also called Thiamine, is a very important vitamin in our diet. More importantly, it's a vital ingredient for us to stay healthy. Thiamine has long been very important in the medical health profession. It has been used as parts of treatment for patients suffering from the AIDS virus and HIV. It has also been used by many doctors to help improve brain functions and treat mental health problems.

Research has also shown that a daily diet of Vitamin B1 may be helpful in preventing or stalling the harmful effects from Alzheimer's disease. The number of victims suffering from this degenerative disease is staggering, with more being added each year. The effects of the research being done on Vitamin B1 as a helpful drug for these patients are also phenomenal.

Vitamin B1 For A Healthy Heart

There are other important reasons to maintain an adequate level of Thiamine or Vitamin B1 in your daily diet. In addition to the many other benefits of Vitamin B1, new research has discovered that proper amounts of Thiamine may help to prevent cardiovascular and heart diseases. Many doctors and scientists believe it will help to reduce the heart-related complications with diabetic patients. They believe that increasing the diabetic patient's dosage of Vitamin B1 will reduce the amount of bad cholesterol, which is what usually causes heart disease. Heart disease is a very serious condition. It is, in fact, the number one killer of women. For this reason alone, it's important to check with your doctor to see if you are receiving and adequate level of vitamin B1 in your system.

Vitamin B1 And Our Mental Health

Yet another benefit of Vitamin B1 is the effect it has on our mental health. Taking Vitamin B1 on a regular basis appears to improve our cognitive functions. It has also been show to help a person concentrate better. Increasing the person's ability to concentrate has a lot to do with how it helps ward off many of the symptoms in Alzheimer patients. There is still much research being done on the effects of Alzheimer symptoms. If it could be proven that Thiamine can stop the progression of Alzheimer's, it would be a miracle. A recent study on the benefits of Vitamin B1 state that many psychologists are recommending the vitamin to help patients that have trouble focusing on "tasks at hand" or attention deficit patients.

Excellent food sources of Vitamin B1 are pork, milk, fruit and whole grain products. If your are using meat as your source, make sure it is not overcooked or you will be cooking the vitamins out of the food. If you are concerned about your levels of the vitamin, contact your doctor.

Get information related to liquid vitamins from this website.

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Get Rid of Toenail Fungus: Its Causes, Prevention & Treatment

By Rashel Dan

It is not impossible to get rid of toenail fungus. Although it may take some time, it can be stopped with the application of proper treatment and a few changes in lifestyle.

Toenail fungus or Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails. This happens when fungus lives around and under the nails and feeds on the keratin that makes up the hard surface of the nails. Toenail fungus are harder to treat than fingernail fungus since it is more exposed to the dark, warm and damp environment caused by wearing socks and closed shoes.

How do we acquire the infection? You can pick fungus up while walking barefoot in public wet areas. Such places include public showers, saunas, spas and swimming pools. Having a manicure or pedicure in professional nail salons may also be one cause of toenail fungus, especially if they do not sterilize their tools regularly. Wearing enclosed shoes and nonabsorbent socks made of synthetic materials could also be another reason.

People with a weakened immune system are also more susceptible. Other health risk factors include a history of medical conditions like diabetes or poor circulation. Genetic vulnerability may also be another factor.

Nail trauma can also be another cause. Activities like running or playing sports can easily rupture a nail plate. The moisture that is trapped in shoes and socks can then make its way into the nail cracks, inviting the nail fungus in and making it even harder to treat.

Of course, poor hygiene can cause toenail fungus. Thoroughly drying your feet and toes is very important to prevent fungal growth in your toenails.

Prevention

Never go barefoot in communal wet areas. As much as possible, wear your own protective footwear such as sandals when using public showers, pools and other wet areas.

Remember to always dry your feet. After swimming, showering, or washing your feet, thoroughly dry your feet using a clean towel (your own, don't share). The spaces between your toes are where moisture is likely to be trapped so pay close attention to it.

Regularly trim your nails. Trim your nails straight across and refrain from digging too deep in the corners. Avoid wearing nail polish as it can seal in the fungus. Also, nail polish can prevent sunlight from penetrating under the nail, which makes the dark environment even more preferable to the fungus.

Use clean tools. If possible, do manicures and pedicures by yourself. If it can't be helped, at least use your own tools which you disinfect on a regular basis.

Treatment

You have many options but only a few works. Forgo the home remedies. They are generally ineffective. Oral prescription medication is a no-no since it produces negative side effects that could even lead to death in extreme cases. Topical solutions are safer and more effective to use. It is made of natural essential oils such as tea tree, almond, clove, and lavender, which are known to promote healthier looking nails. They are less expensive, easier to use, and has no known side effects. This is the choice for you if you want to get rid of toenail fungus faster and safer.

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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Facts Worth Reading About Cholesterol

By Jay Coleman

There is both good and bad cholesterol which means that it is important to be able to differentiate between each type and know how it impacts a person' s health and know the ways and means to lower it in case such is required.

The diverse types of cholesterol are LDL and HDL and the preceding is a bad type because when there's excess of it in a person's blood it will build up in the inner walls of his or her arteries which can end up causing the blocking of the arteries and thus causes atherosclerosis that's not a desirable condition.

HDL In Large Amounts Will Prevent Heart Attacks

However, the good form of cholesterol is HDL, which when present in high quantities will actually help in preventing heart attacks, though when the level of HDL is low, it can put the person at risk of experiencing a heart attack.

There's another aspect to cholesterol and that's triglyceride, which is a type of fat that is obtained from the food that you eat and which is also produced in the body, and when there is a high level of triglycerides, you're at risk of having high total cholesterol in which you can get high LDL as well as low HDL, which is bad for your health.

In order to test your cholesterol level, you may require to take a test that is aimed at measuring your lipoproteins which are sorted according to their density. In case of high density, the ratio of proteins compared to fat will be high and high density lipoproteins or HDL is the good cholesterol which does the work required to aid unblock your arteries and which also aids in getting rid of unwanted fat from the body.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2008

True Bone Cancer - One Of The Rarest kinds Of Malignancy!

By Richard H Ealom

INTRODUCTION: True bone cancer (aka primary bone cancer) affects over 2,000 people in the United States each year. Cancer that originates in the bone - primary bone cancer - is rare. Early diagnosis and treatment of this disease increases the likelihood of survival. Children and young people are more likely than adults to develop cancer of the bones. In the past, amputation was common for bone cancer in an arm or leg.

CAUSE: Often, when people have bone cancer, it is caused by cancer that has metastasized ( spread ) from another place in the body to the bones rather than true cancer of bone cells.

TYPES: There are over 100 types of cancer, and each kind is named after the organ or tissue from which it came. Certain kinds of cancers are particularly likely to spread (metastasize) to the bones. It is important to remember that when these other types of cancer metastasize to the bone, they are still named for the tissue or organ where they came from and are not called "bone" cancer.

Many different types of cancer are able to metastasize (spread) to the bones. The most common types of cancer that spread to the bones are lung, breast, prostate, thyroid, and kidney.

There are several forms of bone sarcoma, depending upon the type of bone tissue where the tumor began. The most common forms of primary bone cancer are osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Other, less frequent types include fibrosarcoma, malignant giant cell tumor, as well as chordoma.

SYMPTOMS: The symptoms of malignancy of the bone tend to occur slowly and depend on the form, location, and size of the tumor. Pain is the most frequent symptom of this malignancy and physicians sometimes use radiation therapy to shrink tumors to diminish the pressure, pain and other symptoms they may cause.

TREATMENT: Treatment depends on the form of bone cancer, as well as its location, size and stage. It may involve chemotherapy with multiple drugs as well as radiation therapy and surgery to get rid of the primary tumor.

Treating cancer that has spread to the bones (metastatic cancer) depends on the form of cancer (the tissue where it originated) and the extent of the spread. As with other malignancies, treatment depends on the size, type, location and stage of the cancer, including whether it has metastasized to the lungs or other parts of your body, and your overall health.

Your doctor may suggest using radiation therapy at different times during your cancer treatment and for different reasons, such as before surgery to shrink a cancerous tumor or after surgery to stop the growth of any remaining cancer cells.

A well-coordinated team of doctors - including surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists who are familiar with treatment of sarcomas - is important for increasing the chance you'll be able to have limb-sparing treatment. In some cases, chemotherapy may be the only treatment you need. More often, doctors use it in conjunction with other treatments, such as surgery or radiation, to improve results.

CONCLUSION: In contrast to cancers which have spread to the bone, true bone cancers are tumors that arise from the tissues of the bones. These cancers, called primary bone cancers, are quite rare in comparison to cancers that have spread to the bones.

Pain is the most frequent sign of bone cancer, but sometimes a lump on the bone can be felt through the skin. It is a rare occurence to have a true bone cancer, a tumor that arises from cells that make up the bone.

The treatment and prognosis for the disease depends upon many factors including the kind and extent of the cancer, the age of the patient and overall degree of health . It may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of all of these.

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Tuesday, August 26, 2008

What Is The Cause Of Eczema?

By The Alternate Medic

In many cases eczema is a debilitating condition which is hard to live with as there is no known cure for it at present. However there are ways to minimise the effects the condition can have on your daily life.

Obviously one of the best ways to cope with the condition is to try and find out what the cause of eczema is. Unfortunately, there doesn?t appear to be a single root cause for all cases of eczema (at least none that has yet been found), but there are certain factors which seem to aggravate the condition.

Trying To Find The Cause Of Eczema

As it is a known fact that many eczema sufferers are also prone to suffering from allergies (hay fever is an excellent example of this) ? some doctors believe it is a good idea to take an allergy test.

Unfortunately, an allergy test won't magically reveal the cause of eczema, however, it will reveal what kind of allergens produce an adverse reaction in your body - a reaction that could cause your eczema to flare up.

Dust in the house is a common allergen, so eczema sufferers who test positive for this should consider buying hypoallergenic bedding to minimise the amount of dust mites and other irritants that may be the cause of eczema flare ups.

Therefore, the results of an allergy test can point to irritants you can try to exclude (or at the very least minimise) in your everyday life. By doing this, you may find that the cause of eczema in your own life can be isolated and the effects reduced.

Stress is another common cause of eczema which occurs in everyone?s life at some point or another. Stress can be a big trigger however, not many people realise it can have such a big effect on an eczema sufferer.

If you notice that you become easily stressed and that it affects your eczema then you should find ways and means of reducing your stress, Make some time for yourself each day to simply relax and enjoy something, whether it's reading a good book or reclining in the bath. Meditation is an excellent method of stress release.

Reducing your stress levels won't happen overnight, but if this is a big trigger for you and your eczema, persevering towards a more relaxed lifestyle will yield big benefits in the long run.

As they say ?every cause has an effect?, therefore finding the cause of eczema in your life even though it may appear to be unrelated at first, could lead you to the solution to your problem. Take this source away, and your eczema should improve.

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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptoms

By Mary Maseko

Although it may have been around longer, it wasn't until the 1980's that the condition referred to as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was first described and started to be understood. For every doctor you find that fully believes in the condition of CFS, you will find one who does not so in some ways medical advancement has been very slow in discovering all the facts.

The condition is now seen widely in the United States with most people affected in their early 20's to late 30's although it can affect someone at any age. There are varying degrees of seriousness and it is predominately a condition that affects women.

Some people experience more symptoms than others and those with particularly severe symptoms cannot continue anything like a normal life. Those with serious chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms who are worst hit are unable to leave their bed and are constantly tired, not even able to perform even the simplest of normal routine tasks. Younger people who have the condition generally aren't able to attend school for sometimes months on end which impacts on their physical and emotional wellbeing.

Many other symptoms other than fatigue affect someone with CFS including aches and pains in the joints and muscles, problems with sleeping, lack of any appetite plus other symptoms that may sometimes be associated with influenza but it can also cause depression and anxiety. Whilst the cause is still unknown, there is one common factor and that is the symptoms of chronic fatigue often appear after a viral infection sometimes this is associated with Epstein-Barr Virus.

Although some experts believe it has a connection with a failing in the body's own immune system, however, other theories are being tested like a reaction to specific chemicals for example. What isn't quite understood is how severe some people's condition is where they are stuck in bed for weeks or months at a time and others just for a few days while some CFS patients do not have this problem at all.

However difficult or cumbersome your symptoms are it is important to remember that there are steps you can take to improve your symptoms. The important factor for CFS sufferers to focus on is to remember that there is good treatment to relieve fatigue and suffering with many natural treatments and supplements you can take to increase energy, decrease pain, reduce anxiety and depression.

Particular treatments that focus on cleaning the system by detoxification help to rejuvenate and improve body maintenance. Chronic fatigue syndrome does not have to be for life and it is imperative that new treatments be researched and tried by the victims of this awful condition so they can claim back their lives.

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Monday, August 25, 2008

Back Pain Caused By Allergies

By Max Beartoes

There are many ways that back problems can occur. One of the most difficult to deal with is back pain caused by an allergy. This problem is more common than we would think. Take your back problems serious because if you do not treat it, your back problems can become severe.

Try To Find The Cause

A person dealing with back pain, should take the most important step of finding out what allergies is causing the reaction. There are several different allergies that a person can have but springtime seems to be the worst time of year to get them. Have a doctor do several tests on you to determine exactly what you are allergic to.

You could have any of these allergies plus food allergies:

House dust, house dust mites, animal dander, yeasts, bee/wasp stings, and certain drugs and foods can also cause allergic reactions. Eggs, milk, shellfish, nuts, dried fruits, and certain food dyes can cause food allergies.

Lower Back Pain And How To Deal With It

What is going to happen next is that there are steps that need to be taken to tell what is the best treatment for the person who has the intolerance to the allergens. There are some very effective options, but it will depend if the back pain is acute or chronic.

What happens with sudden acute low back pain, is it comes on all of a sudden and you don't know where it came from. Chronic lower back pain is the recurring type and can last for a couple months to even longer in some cases.

The first step in the treatment plan is usually drugs. Prescription and non-prescription drugs are available for people who have allergies that cause back pain. What drug to take for your back pain will depend on how serious and how long a person has had the back pain.

Commonly used drugs to help back pain are: Advil and NSAID's (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Now when you get to the prescription drugs there are risks in taking some of them. You can have possible side effects, drug interactions with other medications you may be taking, so be careful.

Always read the labels of the medication you are taking even the ones prescribed by a doctor. This will ensure that you have as little cause for an allergic reaction as possible.

Don't forget there are always supplements and vitamins to have better nutrition. A good diet is also important.

It is important to know that there are treatments out there for people who are suffering from back pain caused by allergies. Talking to your doctor and help you to get the right treatment for your particular back pain before it gets worse. If you take care of yourself, you will help to alleviate your back pain from becoming permanent.

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Sunday, August 24, 2008

How To Detox with a Natural Detox Diet

By Clare Denton

Our bodies have a built in natural detox system all of their own, but it never hurts to help detox your body with foods that will also promote your health. I've compiled a list of the top ten body detox foods which you can use to create recipes for your detox diet. You can eat them as part of a raw food detox diet, or juice them for a range of delicious detox drinks.

When buying fruit and vegetables, organic produce is always better for you that non organic if your budget can stretch that far. If not, non organic will be OK, as these foods can be used for a very healthy 7 day detox program and as part of your ongoing detoxification regime.

1. An Apple A Day Keeps the Doc Away.

Apples are a great source of vitamin C but also contain a nutrient called quercetin. Quercetin is an antioxidant that also has the power to help reduce fat and bad cholesterol levels.

Apples also have a compound called pectin, which is a fiber present in citrus fruits and berries. Pectin has chelation properties as it binds to heavy metals such as mercury and lead, and helps your body excrete them. It is also good for helping your body get rid of various food additives and toxins like tartrazine. This toxin has been shown to be linked to conditions and diseases like asthma, migraine and hyperactivity, especially in children.

2. Avocados

Avocados are a real powerhouse of nutrients - rich in folate, fiber, potassium, vitamin E and the carotenoid lutein, beta-carotene and gluthathione. Lutein may be linked to maintaining healthy eyes and vision. An avo is one of a small minority of fruits that actually contain monounsaturated fat.

The natural levels of gluthathione in our bodies decrease as we get older, which is one reason why hangovers get worse as we age. Studies of "older people" have shown that those who had higher levels of glutathione were healthier than those with lower levels. The higher level group were also less likely to suffer from arthritis, which many experts believe is a condition aggravated by excess toxicity in our bodies.

3. Artichokes for Liver Detox

Artichokes are a great tasting zero-fat, zero-cholesterol veg that provide a wealth of vitamins and minerals and phytochemicals including vitamin A, B6, Niacin, folic acid, chromium, potassium, iron and calcium. One powerful detox benefit of artichokes is its ability to increase bile production in the liver. More bile means the body is able to transport more toxins to the bowel for excretion - so a great food for a natural liver detox.

Artichokes are also full of antioxidant nutrients, and play an important role in liver detox. Studies in Germany have shown that liver damage, caused by free radicals, is dramatically reduced when artichoke extracts are present within the body.

4. Beetroot - A Vampires Second Worst Enemy.

Beetroot has been used for millennia (literally) as a blood purifying tonic. Roman civilisations were known to have used it extensively for total body detoxing over 2000 years ago. Beetroot is also believed to chelation properties and may help absorb toxic metals. At a polluted mine in Leadville, Colorado, USA, beets (as well as carrots and bananas) are being used to filter pollutants from the natural water supplies.

The use of beetroot for health benefits dates back several thousand years - it was used in ancient Rome as a blood purifying tonic for a total body detox. It also has some chelation properties by binding with heavy metals.

5. Cruciferous or Brassica Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables include cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, spinach and cauliflower. All these vegetables are very powerful detox foods. Brussels sprouts have been shown to inhibit the uptake of a toxin called aflatoxin, which is linked to liver cancer. Cruciferous vegetables have also neutralised nitrosamines, which are produced by cigarette smoke.

These vegetables contain a nutrient called glucosinolates, which help the liver to produce vital enzymes.

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Anyone Else Need Tips for Using Natural Remedies Safely?

By Keith Woolley

Are you researching information on purchasing a natural remedy to give relief to a minor medical problem, such as a toothache, migraine, headache, or stomach ache? If that is you, you are not alone. A large number of individuals are now turning to "new" natural remedies, also referred to as "home remedies". That said, if this is the first time that you will be experimenting with a natural remedy, you may need reassuring with some safety guidance. If that is the case, please continue to read on, as a few helpful and important natural remedy tips are revealed 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. The good news though is that there are multiple home remedies for different medical problems. For example, a fresh apple each morning, a cabbage compress, and a cold compress are other natural ways that can provide relief from a headache or a migraine. This means that even if you can't find relief right away, there should be another remedy out there that can provide you with relief.

There are many remedies that you many consider. What you will then chose from - you may want to choose the remedy that is most convenient for you? For example, natural remedies that are effective at removing skin warts include castor oil, ripe pineapples, onions, and potatoes. What you may want to do is choose the item that you already have in your home. For example, if you have a bag of potatoes in your cupboard slice up a potato and rub it on your finger wart. Doing so each night for a couple of weeks will help to remove your wart. This method will also prevent you from having to make a visit to the grocery store, as you chose a natural remedy that involved an item in which you already had in your home.

Safety is paramount when examining how to use a natural remedy to cure a minor medical condition. If you consider herbal remedies or vitamins that will provide you with relief, then ask the question - are you also taking prescribed medication? If so, you may want to place a quick telephone call to your doctor or pharmacist or search online. Most times, you will be okay, but there are a small number of prescribed medications that should not be taken with herbal supplements or vitamins. Even though the chance of a dangerous combination happening is very small, there is still no harm in checking first.

In keeping with safety, it is important to know what you are allergic to. For example, if you are allergic to an ingredient that may be listed in a natural remedy, you are advised against using that remedy. Even if the ingredient that you may have a bad reaction to is only a small component, it is still best if you avoid that particular remedy. With that being said, it was stated above how most minor medical issues can be treated with a number of different natural remedies. That is why you should never put yourself at risk for an allergic reaction, especially when you should have a number of other natural and safe remedies to choose from.

As a general reminder, most natural remedies are very safe and an effective way to gain relief or treat a large number of minor medical issues, but you are still advised to proceed with researched caution. Ask the advice of a healthcare professional, or healthfood store if you take prescribed medication and never use a natural remedy that contains an ingredient which you are allergic to or known to have a reaction with.

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Vegetarian Food Pyramid Facts

By Jim John

The vegetarian food pyramid is very similar to the food pyramid that we have all seen. In place of meat it will list the legumes and nuts that are an alternative protein to animal products. It also replaces the fiber category with a vegetable and fruit category at the bottom of the pyramid. This is possible because of the high fiber content of most fruits and vegetables. It is not necessary to add fiber as a separate tier on the pyramid.

You should note that the usual vegetarian food pyramid is not the one you should use for a vegan diet. It makes recommendations for dairy products that will not be used with a strict vegan diet. In its place are foods such as soy items that will replace these dairy items. There is a food pyramid that is designed specifically for vegans and it will usually include bread and grains. These items are missing from the general vegetarian pyramid.

The food pyramid is an excellent reference for those trying to determine their nutritional needs. If you are concerned about getting the right foods in the right amounts, you should take a look at the pyramid and plan your diet accordingly. The vegetarian pyramid gives you serving amounts daily just as the traditional food pyramid does so you will be able to determine if you are getting the right amounts.

The vegetarian food pyramid also helps you determine how much of each type of food your body needs and what is over the limit. At the top of the pyramid for the smallest amounts are fats, oils and sweets. This is the way it should be if you are looking for the healthiest diet available.

The vegetarian food pyramid offers a graphic illustration of the healthy features of this diet. You can be certain of your diet being as healthy as it could be if the vegetarian food pyramid is followed faithfully. This happens to be a good method for dieters who are considering a vegetarian diet to reduce weight by incorporating the food recommendations.

To adopt a vegetarian diet and maintain healthy nutrition levels may sometimes prove difficult since some food items are limited or missing. It remains however a totally possible task. While it takes time and effort to plan your healthy diet, the end result will be a longer and healthier life. Vegetarians are known to be generally healthier than those who consume meat.

The vegetarian food pyramid can be a helpful resource and diet planning aid for those who are just beginning the vegetarian lifestyle. The newcomer will have a greater understanding of the nutritional aspects of the diet as well as being more aware as to what is needed to maintain this healthier lifestyle. The transition towards a healthier diet is easier than ever, due to the amount of information that is available. You will discover that an all around improvement in your health by becoming a vegetarian is delicious and easy.

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Saturday, August 23, 2008

Alternative Medicine Tips: 5 Essential Oils for Happy Healthy Kids

By Melissa Ginger

Our fast-paced lifestyles often leave little time for taking care of our children as well as we'd like. Often, we find ourselves compromising between what would be the healthiest options and what's most convenient. Fortunately, aromatherapy offers both; pure, effective natural medicines with simple, easy-to-use methods. The only time required is learning a little about a select group of essential oils, what they do and how to use them. Here's a quick review of five important oils commonly used with children and infants, and some ideas on how to use them most effectively.

We'll begin with a few tips on using oils with children and infants. There are three primary methods of using oils with little ones: Topical application through massage or applying directly to wounds or sores; Inhalation from a handkerchief, spray bottle, warm bowl of water, the bed sheets, or diffuser; and Baths, which actually combines the topical and inhalation methods. The main difference in using essential oils with children and adults is that children will simply need smaller amounts. There are a few oils that should not be used with children - peppermint, for example, is considered too powerful for the wee ones under two (spearmint is called for instead, which can be helpful with tummy trouble). Ask someone with experience if you are unsure about a particular oil.

The dosages and dilutions used for children are generally significantly lower than those used with adults. Dilutions for caring touch massage can start as low as 1 drop per ounce of carrier (hazelnut is excellent for most applications) for newborns, moving up approximately 1 drop per year, within a range of about 3 drops per ounce. For example, a massage blend for a four year old might contain anywhere from 3 to 6 drops of essential oil per ounce, depending on the oil and the child. Oils like Lavender, Roman Chamomile and Vanilla are exceptionally gentle - more could be used without worry. An oil like Rose, while wonderful for children, is fairly potent, and using a little less may be prudent. The child's weight and overall condition can also be considered; a child that is big for their age could use slightly higher amounts of essential oil, whereas a child that is week from illness could use a little less.

By now you might be wondering "which oils should I be using?" We'll start with vanilla...Everyone loves vanilla, right? It turns out that babies especially respond well to the comforting sweet aroma. While a good vanilla essential oil is a little expensive, only a very small amount is needed to create an exceptionally soothing massage oil for belly, back and foot rubs. Vanilla, being so gentle, can be used in concentrations of up to 1% (that's 10 drops per ounce of carrier). Really all that's needed is a hint of the aroma for it to work wonders. I've received reports of children being instantly calmed by a gentle vanilla massage, then immediately asking for more!

Next up is Chamomile. Roman Chamomile is premier oil calming little ones over two years of age. The oil may be used in a number of ways; aromatherapy massage, in a diffuser or room spray (with this and other oils, dilute 10 drops per cup of water in a clean spray bottle - shake well and lightly mist the air), a drop or two sprinkled on bedding, or in a bath. According to Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt in Advanced Aromatherapy, "Even in very small concentrations, whether alone or in combinations with other oils (Roman Chamomile) has a soothing effect. It's appropriate to massage a few undiluted drops into the solar plexus." It is noted as particularly suited to calming tantrums or bringing calm after nightmares.

True Lavender essential oil (Lavendula angusitifolia) is wonderful for its soothing effects as well, along with a great variety of other healing actions. It is an excellent remedy for small burns, applied directly to the area, undiluted. For small cuts and scrapes, Lavender may be used alone, or in a 50/50 blend with Tea Tree for added antiseptic properties. Lavender supports sleep, and is an excellent choice for diffusing in the evening time. Lavender may also be used in a bath, and is the first choice for a gentle foot rub. For a good night's rest, blend 2 to 1 with Roman Chamomile, diluting as needed depending on the child and application method.

When sour moods are in need of a lift, citrus oils supply the aromas of choice. Tangerine and Sweet Orange are especially liked, and Mandarin has a certain calming effect not found in any other oil. Citrus oils are often cold-pressed from the peels of the fruit; these can be mildly irritating to the skin. Stick to using these in room sprays or diffusers. Steam distilled citrus oils, often made from the leaves or flowers of the citrus trees (like Neroli, Petitgrain, or Mandarin Petitgrain - an especially nice oil for young ones) can safely be used in topical applications like massages and baths. All these oils are known as antidepressants, and might just lift your mood as well as your child's (not to terrible of a side effect!)

And for all those little abrasions of childhood, Tea Tree is highly regarded as a natural antiseptic for cuts and scrapes. Once a wound is washed, it may be covered with a Band-Aid which has a drop of Tea Tree placed on the gauze. Tea Tree may be a bit strong to apply directly to the injury, though when mixed with equal parts of Lavender, Tea Tree will prevent infection while the Lavender will relieve pain and actually speed wound healing. A few drops of the Tea Tree/Lavender mixture can be added to a warm cup of water to use as a cleansing wash. An effective, home made antiseptic spray can also be made: use 2 ounces water, 1/2 half ounce rubbing alcohol, 8 drops Lavender, 12 drops Tea Tree and 8 drops Roman Chamomile. Shake vigorously and store, shaking again before each use. Tea Tree is considered a 'universal antiseptic', with a great many uses in first aid and around the home. At 20 drops per cup of water, it can be used as a non-toxic (if not pungent!) general cleaner which you'll be happy to use instead of many chemical laden household cleaners where your children will be crawling about - and you can mix with lemon oil for a more pleasing aroma.

This is just a brief look at how you can easily incorporate the wonderful healing potential of essential oils into your child's natural health and wellness program. There are many, many essential oils available with an array of healthful effects and pleasant scents. A note about essential oil quality: consider spending a little bit more on your oils, rather than going for the least expensive available. The oil's aroma, and its therapeutic value, may be significantly different. Try to find a company you trust, that offers consistently high quality oils; when you buy a new oil for the first time, they're more likely to carry first-rate oils of each type. As your knowledge and experience grows, you'll find there are aromatherapy remedies for most common childhood ailments. There are many fine books on aromatherapy available, often with several chapters devoted to using essential oils with children. Most importantly, start slowly, be creative, and have fun; aromatherapy can easily become a key component in support of your family's health and wellness.

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How do trigger points (knots) cause lower back pain?

By Stewart Beartoes

Back pain can be produced by numerous factors and quite crucial from all of them is the knots in local muscles. Indications like ulcers, kidney stones, a pinched nerve or injury to the back may all bring about a lower back pain. Trigger points, also recognized as muscle knots and myofascial pain syndrome, can also be the one of the important cause of this kind of back pain. Knowing even a little bit regarding trigger points can resolve pain troubles more effortlessly especially in the patients of sciatica.

A scrap of tightly contracted muscle and a remote spasm affecting a small segment of muscle cells are called trigger points. The small patch of knotted muscle is stagnant and swampy, factually clenching off its individual blood supply, a ferocious sequence called "metabolic crisis." A group of many malicious trigger points is called myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Many trigger points situated in a muscle group can potentially cause magnificent amount of distress to the patient.

It's almost imperative that you are aware of the dangerous affects caused by these trigger points within the human body. Trigger pints can result pain straightly in chronic patients and also with burning breathing, muscle spasm, infection in vertebra, lower spine, hips, and injuries in low spine.

Trigger points are fairly able of existing separately of any apparent fundamental setback. In sagacity, they are a natural and usual fraction of muscle tissue. Trigger points cause difficulties in injuries. Trigger points usually form in response to internal and external damages or truly any other sort of pain and dysfunctions with in the lower back muscle or in the muscles of whole body.

Trigger points can enhance and affect other medical disorders and related problem in a human body for physicians and doctors. For example, trigger points are greatly added reason of pain than the more extensively reported repetitive strain injuries (RSIs), and several further scapegoats for which it is normally mistaken.

The everyday clinical practice of thousands of massage therapists, physical therapists, and physicians strongly pointed out that the majority of our general aches and pains are in fact caused by trigger points, or small contraction knots in the muscles of the body.

Trigger point (back pain knot) treatment is not an overnight remedy for chronic pain but it's a safe way of treatment for some patients. Physiotherapists and chiropractors consider that "structuralism" exercise therapy (massage), and proper joint functioning in case of trigger pints infections are of the most importance. Other types of treatments require analgesics(pain medications), such as NSAIDs or acetaminophen for acute or chronic muscular pain, relaxants are also greatly helpful. Antidepressants may also be prescribed to patients with chronic low back pain knows are also recommended. Intensive multidisciplinary treatments may help in acute or chronic low back pain knots. Acupuncture along with exercise also helps aid chronic pain.

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Friday, August 22, 2008

Good Habits for Good Sleep

By Susan Harris

Sleep may be elusive for you. In fact, it may be getting more elusive as time goes by. Perhaps all you need to change is some habits you may have picked up.

Sleep hygiene is a relatively new concept. It helps you think of caring for yourself in preparation for sleep, just as you might care for your teeth. If you suffer from insomnia, you should take a look at various elements of your sleep hygiene:

*Eliminating caffeine or chocolate. Try this for a few days. The effect of these two on your body can change over time. Taking caffeine or chocolate even in the morning may be able to affect your night-time sleep.

*Exercising in the evening. Exercise for your recommended 30 minutes can get your heart rate up and can keep you awake. Try exercising before 6 p.m.

*Sugar. Sweets taken late in the day can stimulate your system, making it hard to sleep. Even natural sugar, like in orange juice, can be a problem for some people.

*Arguing. Don't argue with anyone after supper. Just make an appointment for an earnest discussion the following ay.

*Brainstorming. If you have a creative project you love to work on, you may be better off giving yourself a curfew, such as 8 p.m. Otherwise your mind may work on the problem all through the night, keeping you awake.

So much for what to avoid. So, what can you DO to improve your sleep hygiene?

*After supper, do calm things on purpose, in a calm manner.

*If you read near bedtime, read news magazines or other items that have no exciting story line.

*If you want to watch TV or video, watch a documentary rather than a thriller or a whodunit.

So, now you have plenty of tips for good sleep hygiene. Try them out. They could be just what you are looking for.

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Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Asthma Treatment From China

By Ellen Mathers

When seasons change my wife is sure to get very sick. What I call prescription drug sick. She says she feels like a one man (woman) manufacturing plant for post nasal drip. She complains that her eyes are red and burn. She looks like a reject from "Night of the Living Dead" and feels like it too. I should know because I too had asthma and allergies but grew out of them before college. Fortunately for her, Great husband that I am, have found her the ultimate solution.

I grew up in rural America on a farm. My allergies were horrible. They just seemed to diminish as I grew older. I was impressed that I did not have to deal with sneezing and coughing I couldn't see straight. I felt as if I was free at last. My wife isn't as fortunate as me.

Could you see yourself in the same situation doing whatever you could to get a natural allergy relief? My better half spends most of her days in a medicated state taking over the counter cure-alls for her chronic allergies. I should buy stock in Kleenex. How can this be good! I know, even without asking, that she would do just about anything to get better.

I got really pumped up when I met a lady while getting a massage, a gift from my wife for our anniversary. I was delighted to learn that acupuncture might provide the relief my wife was looking for.

She swears up and down that it's the absolute best of allergy cures. Once she began this natural allergy treatment, her runny nose and sneezing ceased. This is awesome. You've got to give it up for the Asian medicine that's been around forever, and yet it works better than some we westerners use today. Now my wife wants to have acupuncture done on her regarding allergies.

Also my therapist told me that she took back her life after just a few allergy treatments. She could go to outside events like baseball games and concerts.

As you've probably seen already, acupuncture treatment consists of a professional placing hair-like needle into different meridians of your body. This in turn creates a balance. Blood circulation and chi flow are involved.

So, maybe you've tried 20 different "allergy cures," and they all failed you so far. Okay, now what? Just maybe acupuncture is the answer to your allergy relief. This especially goes for the folks, who are allergic to a number of different things. Get tested for your allergies if you don't already know where they stem from. This can assist you with proper allergy cures.

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More Reasons to Make Vitamin D Part of Your Supplement Regime!

By Keith Woolley

This interesting article highllights just some of the key issues regarding Vitamin D. After careful reading of this article I believe the information could make a big difference in how you think about the exciting research that is currently being published about Vitamin D.

Knowing the latest research can give you a real advantage. Putting it into effect will ensure that you reap the health benefits.

Vitamin D is a major player in ensuring the body's health. It is a member of the fat-soluble group of vitamins which means that it can be dissolved and stored by our body's fat deposits. Is the only vitamin that the body can produce with adequate exposure to sunlight. Vitamin D may also be obtained from food. The form of this vitamin that comes from plants is called ergocalciferol (also referred to as Vitamin D2). From animals, it is called cholecalciferol or Vitamin D3. Vitamin D has key benefits to the body. They include:

Calcium absorption - Vitamin D is a very important vitamin for building strong, healthy bones. In the intestine, Vitamin D helps the body take in the dietary calcium, the ingredient that enables hardness to our bones. With Vitamin D, whatever calcium we take into our body is used properly. Vitamin D also benefits the teeth and gums.

Disease prevention - Since we saw that Vitamin D helps in the absorption of calcium necessary to proper bone growth, it is also important to note that it helps prevent the bone-deficiency disease called rickets in children. Vitamin D also helps prevent osteoporosis, a debilitating bone disease.

Vitamin D has also shown to be very beneficial to the health of the muscles. In a 2003 study that appeared in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, patients who suffered from chronic musculoskeletal pain had a Vitamin D deficiency.

There is also some potential benefits which show Vitamin D's capability to help prevent diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and evenType 1 diabetes. The results in studies published in papers in 2004 are limited at best, but researchers believe the Vitamin might hold some promise. Vitamin D boosts the immune system and prevents inflammation - which probably explains its role against arthritis.

Vitamin D's benefits against cancer - New research suggests that Vitamin D may be beneficial against certain cancers, such as prostate, colon and breast cancer. Blood tests conducted by researchers on the subject over a period of time showed that the lower the Vitamin D levels are, the higher the risk of cancer.

The vitamin's most active form is capable of producing important responses in the body. One of these is the regulation of how cells grow. When uncontrolled, both these processes result in various cancers. Again, the evidence is still in the early stages and more studies will have to be conducted.

If you want to supplement more, you will find extra Vitamin D in foods like salmon, sardines and mackerel. It's also found in cod liver oil and fortified foods like milk and cereals.

Soon you will come to realise that something you have read here will have a beneficial impact on your health. Then you'll be glad you took the time to learn more about Vitamin D. Hopefully you will get enough Vitamin D through your diet, but I consider it so important in my own diet, that I supplement more with Solgar Vitamin D. Solgar is the brand I prefer.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Facts about Gynecomastia

By Caleb Lee

Meaning

It is a medical problem particular to men which results in excess growth of breast, similar to women. The term gynecomastia comes from words of Greek origin ?gyne? and ?mastos? which mean ?woman? and ?breast? respectively. It is the medical term for commonly known ?man boobs?. Some males may develop pseudo-gynecomastia due to excess fat on their body or their being overweight or excess workouts.

Its occurrence

Men of various age groups suffer from this disease. Due to unnatural share of mother hormone in male, the infants can suffer from it. For hormonal alterations at puberty, adolescents may also suffer from it. This is seen in aged people as well, though it occurs more among adolescents.

Reasons for Gynecomastia

Although exact root cause of this is not knon, it is believed to be genetically oriented. The more common cause of it is unbalanced sex hormones like estrogens and testosterone. Other reasons can be use of drugs or steroids or certain medication too.

Symptoms

The main symptom is unnatural development of chest muscle in men, looking like women breasts. In few cases, the development may also cause tenderness of the chest tissues. It is generally painless. However, the severity is judged by the magnitude of extra fat.

Gynecomastia: General Problems

The condition of gynecomastia is not as painful as it is embarrassing. Thus, the problems faced by patients are psychological and social, not physical. The patients feel lack of confidence in social environment. It is more difficult for teenagers who get laughed at by peers and friends.

Gynecomastia: The Diagnosis

Gynecomastia can be diagnosed by performing certain medical tests and physical examination by a doctor. Blood tests and urine tests can mostly confirm existence of this disease. A mammogram can also help do so. It is advisable to consult a endocrinologist i.e. a specialist in hormonal disorder treatments for better results.

Treatment and Cure

In newborns and teenagers, this hormonal disorder gets cured naturally within a couple of years. They do not require any external treatment. Proper chest fat burner exercises and proper diet can also reduce chest fats.

However, for those who need external medication there are gynecomastia supplements like Ultimate gynemax and gynexin alpha formula. Difference after usage is usually evidently noticeable in 2-3 weeks without any side effects. Although there are no harmful effects of these chest fat burners, it is important to make sure that you buy them from reliable sources so you do fall for fake gynexin.

One can also opt for direct operation instead of using these supplements. The surgery generally operates by reducing the excessive tissues on the chest. There are two types of operations ? (i) Lipectomy suction and (ii) Endoscopy. Though these surgeries generally persist not more than few hours, but it does not become painless. Moreover it can leave visible marks on chest.

Associated diseases

Gynecomastia may not be harmful but in some cases it appears as a symptom for other diseases like breast cancer, adrenal gland tumours, liver diseases, and cancer related to lungs or male organs. In such cases, gynecomastia can be cured only by curing related diseases. Thus you must consult your physician in order to eliminate these possibilities.

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Curing Panic Attacks when you're pregnant

By Millicent Feraux

When women are pregnant, they often find themselves not only dealing with their pregnancy but also with anxiety and panic. There is a reason for this happening.

During pregnancy, the hormones in a pregnant woman's body are all working overtime. It is these hormone changes which often cause the panic and anxiety. It is during pregnancy that every part of the woman's body is involved and working differently than normal.

Pregnancy is a naturally stressful time for many women, particularly where the pregnancy is unexpected or unplanned, or where there are health concerns surrounding the pregnancy. When combined with these hormonal changes, pregnancy becomes a common time for panic and worry.

When I was pregnant, I seemed to be most worried about what was going to happen during the birth process and I was also worried about being a good mother. I was lucky as my extra anxiety and panic was considered by my doctor as being normal.

Anxiety and panic attacks are more common in the last months of pregnancy. Some women find however that if they had attacks before pregnancy that they lessen while they are pregnant. No one knows why this occurs. They think it is due to the fluctuating hormones.

If you find you are one of the women to have anxiety and panic attacks while pregnant there are things you can do to help stop them from happening. Medications can be harmful to your developing baby. One of these natural methods of treatment will be more suited for you.

* Relax - your baby and your health come first. Take time out from your day and find somewhere peaceful to rest. Forget the stresses in your life and focus on thoughts you find soothing.

* Relaxation - When you feel yourself getting stressed or anxious, you need to relax. Lie down in a place you think is quiet and cool and try to just relax. You should try to forget about the anxiety or worrying about other things - concentrate only on relaxing. You will find that once you totally relax that the feeling of stress and anxiety can go away.

* Breathe deeply - you will be surprised by how effective focused breathing can be. Try lying down and breathing deeply. Breathe in through your nose; blow out through your mouth. Take your time and keep breathing deeply and slowly until you feel better.

If you suffer repeated panic or anxiety attacks it is important that you seek aid. You are not the first person to be in this position and there are many services standing by to help you promote the health of yourself and your baby.

Men can have anxiety and panic attacks during your pregnancy too. They are about to become a father and that can be scary to them. They may be worried how they will be able to afford a new baby. They may have worries about taking care of the baby.

Men are notorious for not admitting when they are bothered about anything. And it is these un-admitted fears that can lead to anxiety and panic.

If you notice your husband or partner being more anxious or having panic attacks, try talking to him. This should be an enjoyable time for both of you, so help him to deal with his feelings or to get treatment if his attacks are out of control.

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Home Remedies for Menstrual Cramps!

By Shanna Abraham

Most women suffer pain in their lives and sometimes it may feel as if they are being punished for being female. Even if you have irregular cycles, you can still get hit with menstrual cramps, though some women get them worse than others.

The condition of endometriosis (which affects 1 in 10 women) can also increase the pain a woman will feel during this time. There are a few women that seem to suffer no pain at all, whereas many have them so bad they can barely get out of bed for days during their cycle.

The problem is getting a menstrual cramp relief remedy that you can guarantee will work every month. Often the easiest way to help stop this is complaint to just take a pain relief tablet.

You can try any pain relief remedy and they should work but many women swear by Pamprin which was designed just for this reason. Even if you don't like taking pain medication and have always steered clear of pain relief, this may be a time to reconsider.

There should be no guilt about wanting to live a normal life each month so why put up with pain? Often the cramps are just one aspect of the discomfort because they can also be accompanied by nausea and the feeling of eating a very large meal.

After some time of enduring these pains I realized that I was only hurting myself and looked into other menstrual cramp relief remedies. Of course when the complaint is irregular it can be even more annoying because there were some cycles where I felt almost no discomfort at all!

I have tried all sorts including quite recently a heat pad which seems to work but I do have to vary where I position it for it to be effective. If you have tried pain relief pills and don't always find they work then it may be worth you trying a heat pad to relieve your discomfort.

When you have painful and long lasting menstrual cramps each month, you may have to take more action. The problem really arises when time has to be taken form work; no employer likes this every month.

Of course you could try speaking to your doctor to see what thoughts he or she has on menstrual cramp relief remedies, especially if it causing you problems in addition to pain. Quite often it can be a simple case of being prescribed one of the birth control pills as these are effective for many women and this might be something your doctor recommends.

Your doctor will probably have a number of available options to talk to you about because if you are trying for a baby you can't use the pill now can you? Just remember to talk about your health matters with your doctor to see if it is safe for you to be on the Pill, and remember, this isn't an option if you are trying to get pregnant and in that case, you may just have to grin and bear your discomfort. It may take some trial and error but you will find a remedy eventually.

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Monday, August 18, 2008

Is Colon Cancer Caused By Bad Diet Habits?

By Richard H Ealom

INTRODUCTION: Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine also known as the colon, the lower part of your digestive system. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the US, and the leading cause of deaths from cancer among non-smokers.

It is, in almost all cases, a treatable disease IF caught early. Truth: When colon cancer is caught early, it has a 95 percent survival rate. It may be nutritionally based. For example, the incidence is much higher in North America than in China, and the Chinese who migrate to North America have a higher incidence.

EARLY: Most colorectal cancers are predictable by early diagnosis and screening. In fact, screening prevents more deaths due to early detection than breast or prostate cancer screening. Other research is looking at multiple genes involved in colon cancer and at improving screening techniques so more cancers can be detected early.

This includes checking for markers in blood, stool or urine that might provide an easier screening procedure for detecting early signs of colon cancer. In general, when treatment begins at an early stage, greater than 90% of patients survive at least 5 yrs after their diagnosis. However, only about 39 percent of colon cancer is found at an early stage.

SYMPTOMS: Symptoms vary depending on the location of the cancer within the colon or rectum, though there may be no symptoms at all. Symptoms of colon cancer can include severe abdominal pain, blood in the stool or rectal bleeding, unexplained loss of weight, or major changes in bowel habits (recurrent constipation or diarrhea).

In fact, the most common sign is no signs at all, says Emina Huang, MD. But once these symptoms start to develop, it may be a signal of more advanced disease. Fully half of people diagnosed after symptoms start will die. Finding colon cancer before symptoms develop greatly improves the chance of survival.

CONCLUSION: There is no question that the earlier the cancer is found, the more likely the patient can be cured with surgery. Although the cause is yet unknown, there is evidence that the majority of these cancers arise from polyps (benign intestinal tumors).

It has been well demonstrated that if colon cancer is found in the earliest stages, the cure rate could be improved to 90 percent.

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Facts About Upper Back and Neck Pain

By Justin Beartoes

There are many types of back pain. Upper back and neck pain is just one of many. As many of us know, this can happen to anyone at anytime. Neck and upper back pain is just as painful and as troublesome as lower back pain.

What usually happens is some injury or strains are the most common reasons for back problem that occurs in the upper portions of our backs. Sometimes you can get a pinched nerve causing upper back pain and one problem that happens is headaches. When this occurs if can effect concentration, enthusiasm and the mood of a person.

Although upper back pain is not as common as lower back pain but it still affects many people. Let's first discuss what the upper back is made of. The upper back is composted of the thoracic spine. The thoracic spine consists of 12 vertebrae. These vertebrae are connected with 9 of the 12 rib bones. The breast bone is perpendicular to the thoracic spine. Rib bones are also connected to the breast bone. The thoracic cage consists of the breastbone, ribs and the thoracic spine. Thoracic means "chest" All of the upper organs are protected by the chest cage.

Although considered rare upper back does occur. You are going to learn the causes, symptoms and remedies that will help you to understand and relieve the pain.

The body is stabilized with the help of the thoracic spine and the thoracic spine also protects the organs. It is stronger than the lumber spine and the cervical spine. The cervical and lumber spines helps the body move and flex, where as the thoracic spine is present for stability and strength. This is one of the reasons that the injuries are in the cervical and the lumber spinal regions.

The two major causes of neck and upper back pain or thoracic spine pain are mysofascial pain and joint dysfunctional pain. Myofasical pain is a muscular irritation. This results from muscle strains, from sports and other activities, over and under use of the muscle, sudden movements like being thrown forward in a car accident. This primarily affects the large muscles that support the shoulder blades.

Joint Dysfunction is a malfunction of the two joints that connect each rib to the thoracic spine. The ribs are connected to the spine on either side by joints. Any injury to one or even both joints can cause a loss of function and cause severe pain.

Deep tissue massage can treat Myofacial pain, chiropractic manipulation of the spine (chiropractic back pain case studies), physical therapy for the upper back pain and acupuncture or acupressure for the upper back pain. Exercise is the most important element, stretching and strengthening the shoulder muscles. This is instrumental in strength development of the upper back.

Chiropractic manipulation (chiropractic back pain case studies cure) can treat dysfunction of the joints, exercise (aerobic), medication to help relieve the pain and steroid injections to the target sites of pain.

Medical professionals can help you assess and also treat the cause of upper back and neck pain as well as pain management. Other professionals such as physical therapist, orthopedic surgeons and chiropractic professional can also be of assistance.

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Sunday, August 17, 2008

Why Are Blood Pressure Medications So Dangerous?

By Christian Goodman

Medications of high blood pressure is far more dangerous then High blood pressure. The reasons are listed below :

The medical companies are also aware that the medications for hypertension causes serious side effects.

Some of the major side effects are dizziness, headache, fatigue, depression, throbbing of the heart, lack of energy, lack of concentration, impotency, frigidity etc.

What's worse, these medications give rise to the feeling of "false security"

Wearing a safety helmet with an invisible crack on it. It is like taking more risk by trusting the helmet but when something hits you in the head and the helmet breaks and your head along with it.

Hypertension medications neither cure hypertension nor protect you from sudden fatal cardiovascular events - such as heart attack, stroke, embolism, kidney failure and other conditions that are directly caused by high blood pressure. It often doesn't even work to normalize the blood pressure itself.

Around 50 % of the population dies due to these diseases. And people who are using the medications the mortality rate is still higher. But people are put on medications for their life, they think that they are safe , but the safety device doesn't work.

Stress and wrong diet are the reason that medications don't work.

The living standards have been very high in western world. It is not easy to live a good life. Though we have plenty to eat and nice clothes to wear and shelter but the worries and stress have also increased and plagued us so much.

Hypertension is caused by the worrying thoughts running through a normal person mind 24/7. They have tension in their mind and body which doesn't allow them to relax or sleep. This builds an emotional tension.

You definitely need to take a break!

Your mind needs a few minutes focused break every day. And watching TV doesn't cut it. It actually makes it worse. You absolutely do need to give your body and mind a few minutes break from all tension and all worries every single day.

People in the western world are dying due to hypertension. But a focussed break regularly could have saved many life's.

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Friday, August 15, 2008

Things to Consider When You Buy Caralluma Fimbriata

By Therese Zachary

A lot of people want to buy Caralluma fimbriata. It is after all one of the best natural appetite suppressants in the world. There are however a couple of product choices for Caralluma. You would want to buy the best Caralluma product available. What are the things you should consider?

Brand Name

The Caralluma brand name speaks for itself. Although some brands have become too hyped, popular brands retain their quality. Otherwise no consumer would ever consider buying the brand. It would therefore be best to buy a Caralluma brand that enjoys great popularity and a good reputation among consumers. The best way to check for this would be to go to product review sites. These are where you?ll find out just what consumers think and feel about a particular product brand.

Product Ingredients

A brief look at its history will tell you that Caralluma is commonly obtained from India. Before you buy a product, make sure you try to find out first if the product really does contain authentic Caralluma from India or some other valid source. This isn?t the only thing you should check though. You also need to find out if the product of your choice does not contain any other synthetic chemical ingredients mixed with Caralluma. Pure Caralluma is what you should look for. Chemical additives may result in side effects.

Manufacturing Process

A look at the manufacturing process will tell you a lot about the product. A product may contain authentic Caralluma but you need to be certain that the capsules, which are the end products, are manufactured in a clean, controlled and standard way. Ask the manufacturer how their product is manufactured. They should at least have a process for quality control from the moment they receive the raw ingredients to the point when they package the capsules. Elements that may be included in quality control are periodic inspection, continuous monitoring and standard measurements.

Product Presentation

Packaging - Let's face it. You probably wouldn?t buy a product that doesn?t seem presentable. A manufacturer should invest in building product packaging, image and appearance. This shows that a manufacturer is financially able to do so and has enough respect for its customers not to show a slip shod product presentation. It is therefore important to check product websites. Comprehensive content, proper organization and relevant information are among the things you should be looking for.

Purchase Terms

Convenience - You would naturally be more interested in a product that you can buy conveniently. Aside from convenience you also need to be assured that your buyer details are kept safe and private. Make sure that a manufacturer is able to provide you with all of these. You would also be making a good purchase if you settled for a product that offers some guarantees. You at least have some assurance that you can get your money back if something is wrong with the product or if you are dissatisfied in some way.

It's now quite easy to buy Caralluma fimbriata. What you need to make sure of though is your product choice. When you make the right decision about which product to get, you?ll never have to worry about solutions that don?t work or product problems.

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