Friday, August 22, 2008

Get Rid of Kidney Stones- Dissolving Kidney Stones with Natural Phosphoric Acid

You have wondered this for weeks, "How can I get rid of kidney stones?" And you are finally at the front gate of discovering the most simple, most effective and most affordable way for dissolving kidney stones naturally. No expensive surgery or treatment required!

Can you believe that over 20 million Americans suffer from a disease that is preventable and naturally curable in most cases? Though to the medical industry's benefit, most people do not know how simple it is to prevent and even dissolve kidney stones. And unfortunately, these people suffer from pain and aching in the back; sudden spasms; abdominal pain; groin pain; bloody urine; fatigue; fever and chills.

You are experiencing the same amount of pain as a woman in labor! Are you ready to get rid of kidney stones naturally and say good bye to the misery of pain?

What Doctors Want You to Know!

So how do you pass those stones in your kidney? Like most disorders, kidney stone treatments might vary from person to person based on the severity of the problem. Most kidney sufferers will simply wait out the pain and hope that the stone may pass with a water flush. Doctors typically suggest drinking 2 to 3 quarts of water per day to flush your stones. Seems like expensive advice?

Other sufferers might have larger stones which are hardened that require medical treatment. If this is the cases, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL) is often a doctor-favorite because of its simplicity. ESWL uses sound waves to break up kidney stones into smaller pieces thus allowing a simple flush to pass the kidney stones. Though costly, this treatment has been proven effective.

Two less common surgeries are Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy and Ureteroscopic Stone Removal. Both treatments are significantly costly and are also surgical treatments where doctors will use incisions to manually remove the kidney stones from the organs.

Though doctors will get your stones out; your body is able to do it for free if you provide it with the proper natural acids to dissolve the calcium kidney stones. About 80-90% of kidney stones can be passed naturally!

What Doctors do NOT Want You to Know- Phosphoric Acid!

Most of us believe the myth that soft drinks cause the formation of kidney stones. This is FALSE! However, soft drink consumers typically have a higher tendency to form kidney stones because of consistently lower water intake.

The problem behind soft drinks is NOT that they cause kidney stones. The problem with soft drinks is that they leave you feeling hydrated (not thirsty) and you typically drink less water than your body needs to run efficiently. With less water filtering your body and kidneys, calcium deposits form in the kidneys and BAM! Kidney stones are formed! But, you can get rid of kidney stones just as easy as you formed them by dissolving kidney stones with natural phosphoric acid. Like I stated earlier, 8 out 10 kidney stones can be dissolved with this treatment.

Research Concludes Phosphoric Acid Naturally Dissolves Calcium-Based Kidney Stones

Recently, researchers conducted an experiment on 1000 kidney stone sufferers who drank at least 5 ounces of soft drinks per day. During the 36 month trial, half of the men stopped drinking any form of cola, soft drink or soda. While the other 500 drank their soft drink of choice (all containing phosphoric acid).

After the 3 years, researchers were baffled! The men who drank the soft drinks containing phosphoric acid were one-third less likely to experience a recurrence of kidney stones. The researchers expected exactly the opposite.

Could phosphoric acid in soft drinks be naturally dissolving future kidney stones from forming?


Research leads to remedy! Can phosphoric acid dissolve formed kidney stones? Research does not lie! Therefore, many researchers also experimented with a natural remedy (phosphoric acid) to dissolve and pass kidney stones. Again, researchers were speechless because it worked! To learn more about a doctor-approved, step-by-step, guaranteed natural home-remedy (using phosphoric acid) to get rid of kidney stones in hours, please visit us!

Laugh Your Way to Pain Relief

A man rushed into a veterinarian's office carrying his limp, lifeless dog. The vet examined the animal and told the man the dog was dead. The man asked if there was any way the doctor could revive the dog. The doctor left the room and returned with a cat, who sniffed the dog from head to tail then looked up at the vet and meowed.

"Sorry," said the doctor. "There's nothing I can do."
"Thanks for trying," said the man with a sigh. "How much do I owe you?"
"Three hundred and fifty dollars," replied the doctor.
"Three hundred and fifty dollars! Just to tell me my dog is dead?"
"Well," said the doctor, "it was $50 for the office visit. The other $300 is for the CAT scan."

Whether the above joke made you laugh or groan, it lightened your mood. And if you had been in pain, many scientists agree, it would have eased the hurt—at least temporarily.

A fresh take on an old idea

The notion that laughter is good for the body has been around for thousands of years—certainly as far back as the Old Testament. Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Seventeenth century English physician Dr. Thomas Sydenham remarked, "The arrival of a good clown exercises more beneficial influence upon the health of a town than of twenty asses laden with drugs." Or as Groucho Marx put it, "A clown is like aspirin, only he works twice as fast."

How do you get a sweet 80-year-old lady to say the F word? Get another sweet little 80-year-old lady to yell *BINGO*!

The value of laughter in helping to relieve pain began to attract significant attention in the 1980s when Dr. Norman Cousins in his book Anatomy of an Illness described how watching Marx Brother movies and reading humorous books and articles helped him recover from a life-threatening tissue disease.

Cousins made it a point to enjoy a hearty belly laugh several times a day. He claimed that a few minutes of laughter gave him an hour or more of pain-free sleep. As a result, many pain centers around the country began to use humor therapy to reduce the level of pain medication needed by patients.

There was even a movie made about real-life doctor Patch Adams, a physician who was totally committed to making his patients laugh as an essential part of his treatment.

How does laughter reduce pain?

Clinical staff consistently note that the primary benefit of humor therapy is that it serves as a diversionary tactic—that is, it takes a patient's mind off the pain.

A study published in the Journal of Holistic Nursing reported that patients who were told one-liners after surgery and before painful medication was administered perceived less pain when compared to patients who didn't get a dose of humor as part of their therapy.

Why don't bunnies make noise when they have sex? Because they have cotton balls.

Another study, this one published in the Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, found that young girls with burns who were shown cartoons during very painful hydrotherapy said they felt less pain than similar patients who were not exposed to cartoons during the same procedure.

A second theory of how laughter helps relieve pain is that it triggers the release of endorphins, the chemicals in the brain that can make us feel good.

Natural healing

Around the same time that the Cousins book appeared, the departing editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Franz Ingelfinger, noted that 85 percent of all human illnesses are curable by the body's own healing system. Building a positive focus in your life—which includes a regular dose of laughter—can play a key role in supporting the body's ability to do just that.

Laughing, in fact, has been shown to increase the body's natural killer cells and T-cells, which are types of cells that attack foreign material in our bodies. Laughter also keeps away negative emotions such as anxiety and depression, which tend to weaken the immune system.

Why are they called "hemorrhoids". They should be called "asteroids"?

Research on stress-related hormones and humor has shown that laughter reduces at least four of the hormones associated with the stress response, including epinephrine, cortisol, dopac, and growth hormone.

Some studies have indicated that laughter improves lung capacity and with improved lung capacity come improved oxygen levels in the blood, thereby alleviating ischemic pain or pain do to lack of oxygen-rich blood.

Internal jogging

According to Dr. William Fry from Stanford University, one minute of laughter is equal to 10 minutes on the rowing machine. Laughter is a kind of "internal jogging" that exercises our heart and reduces blood pressure in the same way as does standard aerobic exercise. This kind of laughter exercise is well suited to sedentary people and those who are confined to a bed or wheelchair.

What did One saggy boob say to the other saggy boob? If we drop any lower people are gonna think we are nuts!

If you keep the Huh Huh Huh - going for long periods of time and increase the number of times you do it while at the same time shrugging your upper body you will keep the oxygen flowing to the cells that need it and you will be giving what you body need to begin to reduce your pain and speed healing.

And here's a final fascinating fact: Researchers at St. Paul Ramsey Medical Center in Minnesota say that tears of laughter remove toxic substances that normally build up during periods of emotional stress…So, whether you prefer Dirty jokes, Redneck jokes or Funny Photos the Internet has provide us with an unlimited number of resources not to mention the ton of emails that you get from your friends that they think are funny and they just have to send to you for some reason thinking that you have the time to read it and that you have nothing else to do. Maybe just read on a week and see how you feel.

If you do read a joke or see a funny photo and it does put a smile on your face learn to keep that smile going longer and feel how good you feel when you keep your head up and a smile on your face.

Life will always be full of challenges but we should always be driven to seek those thing that give us Joy and Piece, so if a joke can give you 30 seconds of joy, read a joke and keep smiling.

6 Gallstone Remedies Your Doctor Don't Want You To Know

Gallstones form when liquid stored in the gallbladder hardens into pieces of stone-like material. The liquid, called bile, is used to help the body digest fats. Bile is made in the liver, then stored in the gallbladder until the body needs to digest fat. At that time, the gallbladder contracts and pushes the bile into a tube called the common bile duct that carries it to the small intestine, where it helps with digestion.

Bile contains water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, proteins, and bilirubin. Bile salts break up fat, and bilirubin gives bile and stool a yellowish color. If the liquid bile contains too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin, under certain conditions it can harden into stones. Gallstones during its initial development show no signs or symptoms. In the initial stage, gallstones are not calcified. They are also of negligible size. Therefore they are rarely detected through x-rays. However, sometimes, in its early stage, the presence of gallstones can result in allergic symptoms in some people. When the gallbladder of these people are x-rayed or scanned, the gallstones may not show up. You may then think that you have no problems as there are signs of gallstones. However, gallstones may actually be lodged in the tubes in the liver.

There are two types of gallstones, cholesterol stones and pigment stones. Cholesterol stones are usually yellow-green and are made primarily of hardened cholesterol. They account for about 80 percent of gallstones. Pigment stones are small, dark stones made of bilirubin. Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. The gallbladder may develop just one large stone,or hundreds of tiny stones, or any combination of large and small stones.

Now that you know what gallstones are, how can you naturally prevent gallstones? Here are six natural suggestions:

1. Eat Food Rich In Magnesium- A diet rich in magnesium appears to reduce the risk of developing painful gallstones, according to the experts. You should take 400 mg of this marvelous mineral daily. Raw cacao contains one of the highest sources of magnesium in any food. Magnesium acts as the relaxing counterpart to calcium and it also helps to balance brain chemistry.

2. Increase serving of Fruits and Vegetables- By increasing your consumption of water-soluble fiber, you can naturally flush your body with fiber. This is a good way to flush cholesterol which could cause gallstones.

3. Drink Coffee- Recent research indicates that coffee increases the flow of bile and may help to decrease the risk of gallstones. Be sure to only buy regular coffee (not de-caf) and possibly organic coffee. For those who know they need to kick the coffee habit, Yerba Mate offers a good substitute. A highly mineralized South American food, Yerba Mate tastes somewhat similar to coffee, but instead of depleting the adrenal glands, it nourishes them with B-vitamins, 15 amino acids, 11 polyphenols, and provides more magnesium and chlorophyll. Whereas coffee provides a caffeine jolt, mate's energy comes from the B-vitamins, blood purifying properties and a component called mateine.

4. Reduce Intake of Saturated Fats- You should decrease the amount of saturated fats you consume (namely red meats and pork). This will greatly decrease the chance of developing cholesterol-based gallstones (almost all gallstones are composed of cholesterol).

5. Take Vitamin C- Vitamin C is needed by the body to convert cholesterol to bile acids in the body. When you take moderate amounts of vitamin C, between 500 and 1500 mg a day, vitamin C works to build the immune system and also greatly reduce the risk of having gallstones.

6. Start Exercising- Exercising will naturally help you to stay healthy. By having a regular exercise schedule you can actually prevent future gallstones from forming.

Allergies Type 2

Allergies Type 2 is also called antibody-dependent allergy. It is when antibodies combine with healthy cells in the your body and then your immune system attacks the health cells. Type 2 usually start in early childhood and are caused by repeated exposure to high concentration of pollen, dust or mold in the environment. Hyperactive children are at risk of developing this disease.

Food and environmental pollutions are the most common cause of allergies type 2. Symptoms include mental confusion, depression, memory loss, personality changes, anxiety, migraine headaches and hyperactivity.

A 23 year ongoing study has noted that 95% of the American population has a type 2 allergic reaction to as least one type of food. Symptoms are usually mild and are difficult to associate with the allergies type 2 diseases. Since different foods break down at different rates it is very difficult to associate specific foods to reactive symptoms unless you are hypersensitivity.

Arthur Coca is a well-known immunologist that has developed the Coca Pulse Test that you can use at home to determine if you have food allergies. If your pulse rate increases for than 20 beats per minute after eating they you may be suffering from an allergic reaction to some type of food.

Simply removing the cause of the allergies type 2 will result in a dramatic improvement of all symptoms. The most common allergenic foods are dairy, soy, citrus, peanuts, wheat, fish, eggs, corn, chocolate, and tomatoes.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Allergies Type 2 such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Glucosamine, Antioxidants, Allergy Aid, and Quercitin.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food. Vitamin B is needed to form red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system.

Beta Carotene protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It also helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Many find Pantothenic Acid to be very helpful against allergy symptoms. It is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory and may give some relief from allergy symptoms.

Substances called antioxidants can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body.

Allergy Aid supplies 9 beneficial Herb's to help provide temporary relief of respiratory allergies. The natural action of these specific Herb's help to open bronchial tubes and ease breathing.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing allergy symptoms.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.


Penicillin Allergy

If you have a Penicillin Allergy then you suffer from allergies Type 1 what is also called Contact Allergies. The immune system overreacts to the beta-lactam molecule found in penicillin. Why the immune system thinks this molecule is harmful to the body is not very well understood and more testing is needed.

The overuse of the penicillin 40 years ago for bacterial infections resulted in an increased frequency of allergic reactions to the drug and also created what is known as antibiotic resistance bacterium. Penicillin and Amoxicillin were routinely given for bacterial infections such as ear infections, sinus and upper respiratory infections. Different types of penicillin such as Amoxicillin, Ampicillin, Dicloxacillin, Nafcillin, Penicillin V, and Penicillin G were given to target different infections.

Since then many new drugs have been developed to treat bacterial infections and a true allergy to penicillin should not be a problem when treating for infections. Penicillin is a beta-lactam antibiotic while Amoxicillin is an amino antibiotic. Children may be allergic to Penicillin but may not be allergic to Amoxicillin or visa versa, however care must be taken when using a related type of penicillin for anyone who has reported a history of allergic reaction to penicillin. It is recommended that an alternative class of antibiotic be prescribed.

Some types of penicillin will cause reactions that are not normally associated with allergies to penicillin. They include dark or amber colored urine, yellow eyes or skin, and pale stools. If you notice any of these symptoms after taking any antibiotic you should notify you doctor immediately. If you are allergic to penicillin, reactions on rare occasions may cause severe stomach cramps, bloating, vomiting, seizures, pain, unusually bleeding or bruising, or bloody diarrhea and should be treated as quickly as possible.

Testing for allergies to penicillin are usually performed with a skin test. The skin is scratched or injected with a small amount of penicillin usually on the forearm or back. If you are allergic to penicillin you will develop a red, raised bump and possibility hives. Only specialized allergy centers are able to perform skin test.

Treatments for allergic reactions include antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) to relieve the itching and rash. More severe reactions will require treatment with an oral or injected corticosteroid. For life a threatening emergencies then injection of epinephrine administrated at a hospital.

If you are allergic to penicillin then it is best to avoid penicillin and similar antibiotics. Tell you doctor about you allergy and he will give you antibodies that are completely unrelated to penicillin.

If you have any type of allergy then you should wear a medical alert bracelet that describes your allergy. These items are available over the counter at most drugstores.

Mild cases of Allergies Type 1 can be treated with common products such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Glucosamine, Antioxidants, Allergy Aid, and Quercitin.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food. Vitamin B is needed to form red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system.

Beta Carotene protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It also helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Many find Pantothenic Acid to be very helpful against allergy symptoms. It is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory and may give some relief from allergy symptoms.

Substances called antioxidants can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body.

Allergy Aid supplies 9 beneficial Herb's to help provide temporary relief of respiratory allergies. The natural action of these specific Herb's help to open bronchial tubes and ease breathing.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing Penicillin Allergy symptoms.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Allergies Type 3

Allergies Type 3 is also called immune complex allergy. It is when allergens invade the immune system and can cause injury to cells throughout the body. Antibodies form in the blood and are typically deposited in the tissues of the skin, kidney and joints.

Rheumatoid arthritis is considered an allergies type 3 disease. The immune system attacks the joints causing a disabling and painful inflammation of the joints. It can lead to loss of mobility and pain because of the destruction of the joints. Within 10 years of diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis 60 percent of patients were unable to work.

Serum sickness develops as a result of exposure to antibodies from animals. Lab animals are given a disease, and when the concentration of antibodies in the blood of the lab animal reaches the desired level the animal is bled. The blood is allowed to clot, then the serum is remove and refined into an Antiserum. Antiserum is used to vaccinate humans for many diseases and prevent infections. If the immune system mistakes the proteins in the antiserum for something harmful then the human body produces antibodies, which attacks the proteins.

Symptoms can take up to two weeks to appear and may include a rash, joint pain, fever, swelling of the lymph nodes, and a decrease in blood pressure.

Allergies Type 3 is also caused by foods. Antibodies bind directly to the food as it enters the bloodstream. Delayed reactions to the food may occur anywhere from two hours to up to 48 hours before symptoms appear. Delayed-onset food allergies are rarely self-diagnosed. To detect the allergic foods a health professional who is smart about food allergies and a good laboratory is needed. Over 100 allergic symptoms and well over 150 different diseases are associated with delayed food reaction allergies.

Mild cases of Allergies Type 3 can be treated with common products such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Glucosamine, Antioxidants, Allergy Aid, and Quercitin.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food. Vitamin B is needed to form red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system.

Beta Carotene protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It also helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Many find Pantothenic Acid to be very helpful against allergy symptoms. It is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory and may give some relief from allergy symptoms.

Substances called antioxidants can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body.

Allergy Aid supplies 9 beneficial Herb's to help provide temporary relief of respiratory allergies. The natural action of these specific Herb's help to open bronchial tubes and ease breathing.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing allergy symptoms.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

Dust Bunnies Allergy

If you are allergic to dust then you suffer from Allergies Type 1, also called Contact Allergies. Dust come into contact with your lungs and your hypersensitive immune system kicks in causing your life to become a nightmare. You can develop hives, shortness of breath, bronchial spasms and other symptoms.

Having a Dust Bunnies Allergy is very hard to live with in today's environment. Every one of those vile and evil creatures must be hunted down and destroyed. They live under furniture, behind doors, in the corners of rooms, on ceiling fans, on curtains, on window screens, and along the baseboards of every room. They are sneaky little buggers and they multiply like - well like rabbits.

You need not have what you would consider a dirty house to suffer from dust allergies. Some of the more common overlooked ideas for dust management are as follows.

1. Carpets.

After you have vacuumed your carpets get down on your hands and knees, in a well lit room and slap the carpet with your hand. If you see dust rising into the air then you need a better vacuum cleaner. Most vacuums will blow the smaller particles of dust back into the air through the exhaust. You will need to get a vacuum that has some type of HEPA filter that traps microscopic particles of dust from being blown back into the air.

2. Ceiling Fans.

Ceiling fans not only trap dust on top of the fan blades but will also stirs up any dust in the area when turned on. Clean them weekly and if you must use them be sure to have a good HEPA type of Air Purifier in the area.

3. Curtains.

Run the vacuum over all curtains every week and wash them in the washing machine ever couple of months. If you have curtains that require dry cleaning, replace them because the chemicals used during the cleaning process can lead to problems with someone who has allergies or asthma.

4. Dusting.

Do all you dusting with a damp cloth. Using a dry cloth will only stir up the dust into the air.

5. Window Screens.

Take the window screens down and give the a good hosing four time a year.

6. Aerosol Cleaners.

Why put more pollutants into the air by using Aerosol Cleaners or deodorizers.

7. Kitchen Cabinets.

Most of us believe that are kitchen is the cleanest room in the house. When was the last time you cleaned on top of the kitchen cabinets? If you haven't cleaned up there in a while it will not be a pretty site.

As a last resort you could go to the World Center for Disease Control and see if you could stay in one of their Bio-hazard rooms.

Common Vitamins and over the counter products can help with Allergies such as Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Pantothenic Acid, Glucosamine, Antioxidants, Allergy Aid, and Quercitin.

Vitamin A is a known antioxidant and can assist the human body in the healing process. Vitamin A is stored in the liver and fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. DO NOT take more than the recommended dosage of Vitamin A.

Up to one-third of older people can no longer absorb Vitamin B from their food. Vitamin B is needed to form red blood cells and keep nerves healthy.

Vitamin C is nature's protective nutrient, essential for defending the body against pollution and infection and enhances the bodies immune system.

Beta Carotene protects the mucus membranes of the mouth, nose, throat and lungs. It also helps protect Vitamin C from oxidation, which enables it to perform at optimum efficiency.

Vitamin E protects the lung tissue from inhaled pollutants and aids in the functioning of the immune system.

Many find Pantothenic Acid to be very helpful against allergy symptoms. It is another form of nontoxic B vitamins. Pantothenic Acid is critical in the metabolism and synthesis of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Glucosamine is an anti-inflammatory and may give some relief from allergy symptoms.

Substances called antioxidants can neutralize free radical by pairing up or binding with the free radical elections thus inhibiting them from damaging cells in the human body.

Allergy Aid supplies 9 beneficial Herb's to help provide temporary relief of respiratory allergies. The natural action of these specific Herb's help to open bronchial tubes and ease breathing.

Quercitin is a well known flavonoid. Flavonoids are powerful antioxidants and can reduce inflammation boost the immune system and strengthen blood vessels and improve circulation. Quercitin is also known for its ability to block the release of histamines, thus reducing or preventing Dust Bunnies Allergy symptoms.

Always consult your doctor before using this information.

This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed as medical advice.

5 Anti-aging Tips Every Women Must Know.

1. Relax
Think you are stressed out? Your body would react negatively to the stress and the end result of chronic stress is premature aging. Your DNA is affected over time. The part of the DNA associated with aging, the telomere, protects the DNA from damage. Well your telomeres fray away with aging and with the protection gone, the cell dies. Stressed out individuals display more badly damaged telomeres as compared to their peers who are better able to cope with stress.
If your work is too stressful, maybe a less stressful job might be in order. If you are overwhelmed at home, consider getting help from friends or relatives, or hiring help.
Find ways to cope with stress. Release tension with a run or a swim or go out for a walk to get away from it all, temporarily.

2. Quit smoking

Cigarette smoke ages your body prematurely in too many ways to list in this one article. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Stay away from smoking areas and keep away from smokers when they puff their cigarettes as second hand smoke is just as damaging.

3. Use Sunscreen at all times
Go for an SPF15 for full protection. The sun's UV rays damage your skin at cellular level. Though your body rapidly repairs the damage, if the damage is too much, your skin gets red and blisters form as you develop a sunburn. Even a tan is a sign of skin damage as the darkening of the skin wit melanin is a defense mechanism against sun damage. UV rays damage the skin's collagen

Sunblocks have chemical or physical sunscreens to block off the UV rays. SPF or Sun Protection Factor tells you how much longer you can stay in the sun before you burn. For example, an SPF 4 sunscreen allows you to stay in the sun 4 times longer than if you had gone without any protection.

For optimal protection, go for at least SPF15, and reapply frequently if you sweat a lot or get into the water.

4. Eat your fruit, veggies and nuts.

These are rich in antioxidants. To cut the long story short, we are constantly bombarded by free radicals. These could be the by product of oxidation within the body, through the body's natural processes, or could be due to environmental factors.

Either way, free radicals wreak havoc on out bodies. Free radicals are unstable and steal electrons from their neighbors, rendering them unstable too, leading to a chain reaction. In this way, cell membranes and even the DNA of cells get damaged which in turn, speeds up the aging process.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals by donating electrons to them and stabilizing them, even while they stay stable themselves. In this way, antioxidants eliminate the threat.

By eating your fruit and veggies and some nuts, you get the antioxidants your body needs to beat those free radicals.

5. Sleep at least 8 hours every night.

When you sleep, your body repairs itself most effectively, producing new cells to replace the old, worn out cells. By depriving yourself of sufficient sleep, you do not allow your body to regenerate itself properly and end up aging more quickly than you should. No doubt, this regeneration of cells is ongoing even when you are awake, but when you sleep, the natural renewal process is at its peak. When you don't get enough sleep, your body produces more stress hormones that interfere with your skin's collagen production. Collagen is what supports your skin and as collagen levels decrease your skin begins to sag and wrinkles form. Look at yourself after a sleepness night. Lack of sleep gives you puffy eyes and dark rings which makes you look much older.

So grandma was right after all. Eat your veggies, stay out of the sun and sleep early every night to preserve your youth.

Herbal Remedy To Ease Nicotine Withdrawl

If you're a chronic smoker who's tried to quit smoking, learn which herbs can help you reduce the number of cigarettes smoked, even after treatment is stopped. Learn how the brain is affected by nicotine, how it hard-wires you to addiction. One herbal remedy can be taken whenever you crave a cigarette. And another is for use in conjunction with an acupuncturist.


One of the difficulties in trying to quit smoking is that smokers become physically dependant on nicotine. Smoking affects the parts of the brain that relate to reward and pleasure. It increases the amount of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, and the nature of nicotine is that it creates a cycle of positive reinforcement within your brain that makes you want more.

Scientists have found that when you withdraw from chronic nicotine use, it results in changes in these neural pleasure pathways. And the effect on the brain is similar to what someone addicted to cocaine, opiates and other drugs experiences. Hence, depression and anxiety are common.

Fortunately, some resourceful modern herbalists began applying traditional knowledge to a modern problem. In Ayurvedic medicine, common garden variety oats (but not oat straw), is used to treat opium withdrawal. The herbalist Anand, using a tincture (an alcoholic extract of the herb), applied this same reasoning to nicotine withdrawal, with significant results.

In a group of 26 heavy smokers, he gave an oat tincture, and in another group of 26, he gave a placebo. The group who took the oat tincture smoked less cigarettes, and this effect remained for two months after they stopped treatment. The herbalist Weiss theorizes that it is the sedative effect of oats. Oats contain as active constituents the indole alkaloid, gramine, and the alkaloids avenine and trigonelline. Oats are described in herbal medicine texts as helping create a feeling of well-being whilst simultaneously acting as a tonic to the nervous system. But unlike narcotics, these are mild, non-habit forming effects.

My herbal teacher, Ses Salmond, suggested the following formula for those trying to stop smoking. In a 50ml bottle, mix the following herbal tinctures:

  • 15ml green oats
  • 10ml white horehound
  • 10ml mullein
  • 5ml golden seal
  • 10ml peppermint


Take 6 drops on the tongue whenever the craving to have a cigarette is felt.

Acupuncture is also an excellent support option. HerbMed offers the following herbal option, to be used on appropriate acupuncture points. Mix oil of cloves, oil of wintergreen, an extract of evodia fruit, an extract of sichuan lovage rhizome, and msg, and apply to specific acupuncture points. Unfortunately, they don't say which acupuncture points, but this may be determined by what each person presents with.

Resources: 1. www.herbmed.org/herbs/herb36.htm#Category24Herb36
2. Class notes by Ses Salmond
3. C Fisher & G Painter, Materia Medica Of Western Herbs For The Southern Hemisphere
4. R Weiss, Herbal Medicine (Beaconsfield Arcanum, 1988)
5. drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/Tobacco.html

Herbal Remedy To Ease Nicotine Withdrawl

If you're a chronic smoker who's tried to quit smoking, learn which herbs can help you reduce the number of cigarettes smoked, even after treatment is stopped. Learn how the brain is affected by nicotine, how it hard-wires you to addiction. One herbal remedy can be taken whenever you crave a cigarette. And another is for use in conjunction with an acupuncturist.


One of the difficulties in trying to quit smoking is that smokers become physically dependant on nicotine. Smoking affects the parts of the brain that relate to reward and pleasure. It increases the amount of the neurotransmitter, dopamine, and the nature of nicotine is that it creates a cycle of positive reinforcement within your brain that makes you want more.

Scientists have found that when you withdraw from chronic nicotine use, it results in changes in these neural pleasure pathways. And the effect on the brain is similar to what someone addicted to cocaine, opiates and other drugs experiences. Hence, depression and anxiety are common.

Fortunately, some resourceful modern herbalists began applying traditional knowledge to a modern problem. In Ayurvedic medicine, common garden variety oats (but not oat straw), is used to treat opium withdrawal. The herbalist Anand, using a tincture (an alcoholic extract of the herb), applied this same reasoning to nicotine withdrawal, with significant results.

In a group of 26 heavy smokers, he gave an oat tincture, and in another group of 26, he gave a placebo. The group who took the oat tincture smoked less cigarettes, and this effect remained for two months after they stopped treatment. The herbalist Weiss theorizes that it is the sedative effect of oats. Oats contain as active constituents the indole alkaloid, gramine, and the alkaloids avenine and trigonelline. Oats are described in herbal medicine texts as helping create a feeling of well-being whilst simultaneously acting as a tonic to the nervous system. But unlike narcotics, these are mild, non-habit forming effects.

My herbal teacher, Ses Salmond, suggested the following formula for those trying to stop smoking. In a 50ml bottle, mix the following herbal tinctures:

  • 15ml green oats
  • 10ml white horehound
  • 10ml mullein
  • 5ml golden seal
  • 10ml peppermint


Take 6 drops on the tongue whenever the craving to have a cigarette is felt.

Acupuncture is also an excellent support option. HerbMed offers the following herbal option, to be used on appropriate acupuncture points. Mix oil of cloves, oil of wintergreen, an extract of evodia fruit, an extract of sichuan lovage rhizome, and msg, and apply to specific acupuncture points. Unfortunately, they don't say which acupuncture points, but this may be determined by what each person presents with.

Resources: 1. www.herbmed.org/herbs/herb36.htm#Category24Herb36
2. Class notes by Ses Salmond
3. C Fisher & G Painter, Materia Medica Of Western Herbs For The Southern Hemisphere
4. R Weiss, Herbal Medicine (Beaconsfield Arcanum, 1988)
5. drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/Tobacco.html

Easy Tips For Teenage Acne Treatment

Acne is a part and parcel of growing up. Ninety per cent of teenagers develop acne. The fortunate ones only get a few isolated outbreaks and then grow out of it. For some unfortunate souls, there are serious outbreaks of acne that do not cease even well past puberty. Acne occurs as a result of all the chemical and physical changes that the body undergoes during puberty, but it does not have to be something that you have to live with on a daily basis. These easy tips for teenage acne treatment will ensure that you spend the most interesting times of your life with beautiful, smooth skin.

Cleanliness. Cleanliness is the single most important defense in your fight against acne. Dirt clogs the pores of the skin and leads to acne and blackheads. It takes only a minute to wash your face with soap and water. We know that you have a busy schedule but this little precaution will really serve you in good stead in the fight against acne. Another little point, pick a good, neutral, face soap that is not harsh on your skin. Look for the word 'non-comedogenic' on the label.

Water. One of the best cures for acne is plenty of water. Water keeps the skin hydrated yet oil free and helps to flush out toxins from your body. Drink at least eight to twelve glasses of water a day. Next time you feel like reaching for a tall glass of soda, substitute it with water instead. It is healthier, sugar free, and good for acne.

Hands off. Picking at pimples and pustules is not only a disgusting habit, but also results in the formation of scar tissue and increases the incidence of acne. So keep your hands off any pimples that do develop. Do not pick or pop zits. I know it takes some effort but leave them alone and they will dry and fade away naturally. Fingering them will only aggravate the problem.

Exercise. Exercise also plays an important role in the fight against acne. Proper exercise not only helps to control the effects of the raging hormones that are released during puberty, but also makes the body expel toxins in the form of sweat. One of the best forms of exercise for acne treatment is Yoga. Yoga involves a lot of inverted postures that help blood rush to the face. This helps to nourish skin and stimulates removal of toxins.

Treating Your Acne Successfully

While there is no cure for acne, there are treatments available to help control breakouts. Treatment of acne is divided into three categories: topical, systemic and procedural. The course of treatment used for someone's acne is determined by the type and severity of the acne.

Knowing your grade of acne can aide in choosing the most beneficial treatment plan. Grade I and Grade II - mild to moderate acne - is most often treated with over-the-counter products. Grade III and Grade IV acne, considered moderately severe to severe, or cystic acne, must be treated by a dermatologist.

Individuals suffering with acne should not be discouraged if it takes several different types of treatments before finding the one that works best for them. As with treatment of anything, consistency is the key to a successful outcome.

The first step in fighting acne is to see a dermatologist, or a medical doctor who specializes in the science of skin, its treatment and diseases. A dermatologist can offer many suggestions for treatment of your acne, as well as advice and support. Dermatologists work with patients to develop a treatment plan that can include topical and systemic medications. For those who suffer from Grade III or Grade IV, a dermatologist is a must in treating your acne. Severe acne of this type does not respond to over-the-counter drugs.

Topical Acne Treatments

Creams, ointments or mineral essential lotions fall into the category of topical acne treatments. These are used in the treatment of mild to severe acne and are available over the counter and by prescription depending on the type and strength. Over-the-counter topical treatments include salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, and resorcinol. Patients with severe acne typically receive a prescription for treatments including azelaic acid, topical retinoids and topical antibiotics.

Systemic Acne Treatments

Working internally, systemic treatments may be taken orally, as in a pill or injected into the skin. Systemic treatments are used in the case of moderate acne, when topical treatments aren't enough, as well as for severe and cystic acne. Systemic treatments are available by prescription only and are often used in conjunction with topical treatments. Systemic acne treatments include oral antibiotics, hormonal treatments, and isotretinoin (sold in brand names such as Accutane).

Procedural Acne Treatments

In the treatment of mild to severe acne, a dermatologist, health care practitioner, or esthetician may choose to use procedural treatments that are meant to be supportive and used in conjunction with topical and/or systemic treatments.

- Comedo extractions - Comedo extractions involve gently coaxing plugs of sebum and cellular debris from the pore and are often performed by estheticians during a facial. Removing blackheads, milia, and soft closed comedones can help decrease the overall number of breakouts. Cysts or serious lesions may only be extracted by a dermatologist through surgical methods.

- Light chemical peels - Despite the name, light chemical peels do not "peel" the skin. Instead, they deeply exfoliate the skin using an alpha-hydroxy, beta-hydroxy, or glycolic acid. Light chemical peels improve acne by removing dead skin cells and helping to clear pores of debris. Estheticians may incorporate chemical peels into a facial for those with mild to moderate acne. Those with more serious acne should have their dermatologist perform the chemical peel.

- Microdermabrasion - This treatment may be performed at a skin spa or your dermatologist's office. A machine is used to rapidly discharge super-fine crystals over the skin's surface, blasting away dead skin cells. It is not painful. A microdermabrasion treatment deeply exfoliates the skin, loosening debris from within the pore. It is best for those who have non-inflamed acne, with many blackheads and/or whiteheads.

- Phototherapy - Phototherapy is the term used to describe any treatment utilizing laser or light. They work by killing P. acnes, reducing inflammation, or shrinking the sebaceous glands, depending on what therapy is used. Phototherapy can be used to treat all stages of acne, from mild to very severe. A dermatologist can help you decide which treatment, if any, would be most effective for you.

- Corticosteroid injections - Cysts are serious lesions that damage skin tissue. Dermatologists can inject a cyst with corticosteroid, reducing inflammation and the chance of scarring. Corticosteroid injections speed healing of the lesion to just a few short days.

Exactly What is Psychotic Depression?

A person suffering psychotic depression often experiences hallucinations and delusions. Many times, there may be an illogical response to these episodes as often occurs with any type of psychosis. These responses are often violent in nature and may lead to self harm or harm to other people.

A significant indicator does serve to identify that a person is suffering this particular order of depression. Those who suffer from it are completely aware that their delusions and hallucinations and the voices they hear in their head are not real. This differs from schizophrenia in that a person who suffers from schizophrenia does not realize that their psychosis is not real.

Simply because a person suffering from psychotic depression realizes their delusions are not real does not does not indicate that these illusions will prove harmless. Being aware of this, it becomes extremely important for these people immediately seek the help of a qualified professional who can diagnose and treat the condition so that no harm comes to the person or other individuals.

The Severity of Psychotic Depression

Suffering from depression can be a very serious and sometimes very subjective determination. Analysis by professionals and peers alike can offer a diagnosis of the condition of the individual that sometimes are questioned. Contrary to what many people commonly believe, straightforward and clear diagnosis of depression is not a simple condition that manifests itself in clear textbook fashion. Research will indicate that there are varying degrees of depression and for some individuals the level of depression they are experiencing can be severe enough to be classified as psychotic depression.

At this point, the depression they suffer can is considered serious enough to promote thoughts and actions leading to a point where they are a danger to themselves and others. Needless to say, psychotic depression requires immediate help from a professional experienced in mental disorders and treatment.

Public Attitudes towards Depression

Unfortunately there seems to be an apathetic and dispassionate attitude by the general public towards psychotic depression. It is often viewed as amusing and entertaining to observe the antics of a psychotic. There seems to be a false impression that this type of psychotic depression presents no real danger to society. This is not to imply that they feel these people are living a healthy life but it merely indicates a level of acceptance of the fact and lack of desire to help these people to get free of the condition.

General public ignorance of the condition has lead to a lack of clear and definitive understanding of depression that is based on a depth of knowledge. It is viewed too often as a social behaviour issue as opposed to a serious mental state. If you or someone you know is experiencing delusional behaviour, this may well be a sign of psychotic depression. Seek the help of a professional immediately.

Preventing Eating Disorders

Many articles have been written about eating disorders in news and media. Eating disorders are fast becoming a common issue with the young nowadays. Many of our young are not shielded by the influence of the media. Eating disorders can cause death. Thus, it is important to find out ways on how to prevent eating disorders.

The media has a major impact on the development of eating disorders. It sets unrealistic expectations on what it considers a beautiful body image to be. With the constant bombardment of ads, the mental development of you or your child gets distorted. Some families do not realize this danger and use the television as a babysitter and as couch potato. This is not wise as children can be quite impressionable. Hence, you can do more to prevent eating disorders from an early age.

The media often prefers to use thin models. However, it is found that the body weight of an average female model used is about 25% less than her ideal weight. Many models strive to achieve a thin look in order to get modeling jobs. They would go for plastic surgery or become anorexic themselves. Even if they are not thin enough, photos of models hat appear on print media such as magazines are usually airbrushed to correct any perceived flaws. In this manner, a beauty standard is set that in reality may be quite unattainable.

An average person is exposed to images at least 400 to 600 times per day. The images come from advertisements from the media. One out of eleven of these advertisements is actually for a beauty product. Hence, one way to prevent eating disorders is to cut down your exposure to these ads.

Your child may be subjected to peer pressure while in school. He or she may be teased about his or her appearance. If your child has a low self esteem, he or she may feel compelled to starve or through developing bulimia.

Statistics indicate that one out of seven college-aged females has a problem with bulimia, and one out of a hundred has a problem with anorexia. Eating disorder sufferers need psychotherapy as the causes are often deeply rooted on a psychological level. If nothing is done to help them, their eating disorders can escalate out of control. The sad truth is that one out of every ten people with an eating disorder eventually dies due to the damage caused to the body.

Preventing eating disorder is clearly an issue that everyone can do more for. The media needs to play a more responsible role with the body images that it portrays as beautiful. In the meantime, as a responsible person, you should not lay all the blame on the media either. You will need to take proactive measures to prevent our future generations from hurting their bodies through eating disorders.

Joining A Gym - Why Cant I Workout On My Own?

Gyms today have become very popular owing to the great physical and psychological benefits they offer to people. However, one should be cautious while choosing a gym.

Only a few people can afford to buy the expensive fitness equipment such as multi station treadmills, stair steppers and stretching bars that are found in gyms.

Today most hi-tech gyms offer a variety of exercise activities ranging from racquetball and tennis courts to Olympic sized swimming pools, saunas, spas, rock climbing and even jai lai courts that are in vogue these days. Jai Lai is a Spanish high intensity racquetball game that is played with a curved racquet.

It isn't possible to enjoy all these facilities from home unless one is very wealthy. Another advantage of going to the gym is that you can seek professional advice from the experienced fitness professionals and trainers. They can guide you during weight training sessions as well as offer useful dietary information and health tips.

Even members of the gym can be extremely knowledgeable. Those who are particular about maintaining optimal health and remaining fit and trim often make the time to hit the gym so don't be surprised to find doctors, nutritionists and aerobics instructors among the clientele.

Another reason why gyms are a good option is because they provide you with an opportunity to socialize and exercise together with friends or in groups so that the exercise routine doesn't seem monotonous. This helps to build social contacts and encourage oneself to exercise on a daily basis.

There are however certain drawbacks of attending gyms as well. The biggest disadvantage is that gym membership is quite expensive. One can pay per session, per month or on a yearly basis. Paying per session usually works out to be rather expensive but can be a good option for people who are just visiting the city.

The most commonly used membership is per month but this too can range anywhere between 30 to 300 dollars depending on the facilities offered by a particular gym. Sometimes gyms offer a trial work out period free of charge to attract prospective members.

Another problem is motivating oneself to actually go to the gym. In today's fats faced society people lead such busy lives that they seldom have the time to goto the gym leave along exercise.

Gym equipment can at times seem rather unappealing if they are messy. Although most gym members are courteous enough to wipe the equipment after using it, nevertheless is important to look for a gym where the staff are alert enough to ensure that members keep the equipment clean.

Therefore one must weigh all the pros and cons and then decide whether they would like to join a gym or not. It is always recommended that one tries out a few gyms on a trial basis before finally committing themselves to becoming members of a specific one in the long term.

5 Hair Loss Treatment Techniques That Work

Fortunately for us, balding is a condition that can be treated in most cases, but unfortunately, the sheer amount of techniques developed for this purpose can be confusing at best.

Obviously, treatment will also depend on what exactly causes the hair growth problems: for example, if one is suffering from some form of cancer and undergoes chemotherapy, he won't be able to fight the hair growth problems with regular treatment methods.

Let's take a look at 5 of the most popular baldness treatments, together with what different types of the condition they're best at working with.

1.Growth Stimulators - True, growth stimulators don't work against hair growth problems, but they can help you ease the growth/loss negative ratio so that your baldness does not become too visible too soon.

Although growth stimulators are not the best solution to your problem, you can use them in conjunction with another type of treatment that specifically works against hair loss, with great results.

2.DHT Inhibitors - Male pattern baldness is caused by a hormonal dysfunction in testosterone, which gets binded to 5-Alpha reductase, an enzyme that converts the hormone to DHT, or dihydrotestosterone.

When the level of DHT outweighs the level of testosterone in the body, hair loss is likely to occur. DHT inhibitors work against this binding process, stopping DHT from forming and cutting down baldness before it can occur. Used in conjunction with hair growth stimulators, DHT inhibitors are quite effective.

3.Anti Androgens - Another factor that causes baldness is the binding of testosterone to androgen receptors, a combination that damages the hair follicles and causes them to weaken. Androgen binding occurs further down the road, whereas 5-Alpha reductase binding is the first chemical combination that takes place in the hair loss condition.

Usually, a combination of anti androgens and DHT inhibitors works best, but if DHT can handle your hair loss problems alone, there's no need to go the extra mile and use this third treatment method as well.

4.Anti Inflammatory Treatment - Your scalp and hair follicles can get hammered by several factors, including itches, inflammations, flakes, scratches and rashes. All these can work together and thin down the hair follicle, eventually making it weaker.

Anti inflammatory treatments may include lotions for the scalp or special anti-dandruff shampoos that can eliminate these factors, allowing your hair to grow unhindered.

5.Super Oxide Dismutase - A hair follicle is virtually a foreign tissue from our body's point of view and as such, tissue cells will try to fight it out of the system using super oxide.

Usually, this super oxide isn't strong enough to cause hair growth problems but in some cases it may do so and you'll want to reduce it with the help of SOD's, or super oxide dismutase treatments.

Aside from reducing super oxide levels from your body, SOD's also positively affect hair growth, so basically they're a 2-in-1 package for people suffering from hair loss. Combined with an anti inflammatory treatment, SOD's can literally cure you of your condition.

Walking Down The Path To Better Health

Man is distinguished from other animals by a myriad of characteristics, but perhaps the most obvious difference is that man walks upright. Whether you believe you are a product of a higher being or evolved from other life forms, walking has enabled humans to easily move about the earth. In combination with a well developed brain humankind has conquered many challenges and developed a host of modern marvels.

Walking enabled man to survive in the past and it remains true today. Walking provides the means to live longer and there is virtually no expense involved, save for a pair of shoes - walking barefoot in many environments may pose a health risk. It can be accomplished at slower speeds for the elderly or at a much quicker pace for the younger and for both the health benefits are tremendous.

Walking provides the opportunity to achieve better physical and emotional health. The old adage of a sound mind in a sound body is certainly a benefit of walking. The emotional benefits of walking are as significant as the physical aspects. It provides a bit of an escape from everyday stresses. It provides a time to think if walking alone or to discuss issues, events, and daily occurrences if one is accompanied.

Walking provides the opportunity to be an observer. In a park or country setting, one can simply enjoy the abundance of nature or in a more urban setting there is the activity of day to day living that surrounds us. In either case the focus is often removed from ourselves and gives our own mind the time to reflect and evaluate. Events are occurring outside our direct sphere of interest and consequently the mind is often rejuvenated, refreshed and invigorated.

The physical benefits of walking are numerous. Our limbs are engaged in an activity that man was designed to do. Our muscle structure is enhanced as well as our internal organs. Our hearts may beat a bit faster thus improving our respiratory and circulatory systems. Digestion is benefited and fat is burned while improving our flexibility and endurance.

High blood pressure and high levels of cholesterol plague many and the simple act of participating in a walking program offers the opportunity to reduce blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels in most people. If one wants to live longer with a better quality of life the simple act of walking is the path to follow.

Smoking Addiction - its Components and Causes

The addiction to smoking, which implies addiction to the substance nicotine, has several components. The better one is aware of these components and understands them; the better is the chance for succeeding in stopping the smoking habit. Here is a survey of the components that addiction to smoke consist of.


THE SOCIAL COMPONENT

To some extend the habit of smoking is a product of socialization. Socialization is simply the tendency to repeat patterns of behaviour one sees other persons in the society exhibit. Socialisation is one major way children and young people learn social skills. Children and teenagers learn skills necessary to live and work in the society by a socialisation process. Unfortunately also bad habits and bad ways of thinking are learned the same way.

If one is living or working together with other smoking individuals, one will more or less automatic adopt these individuals’ smoking habits. If one then tries to break out of the social structure, one will feel anxiety for not being accepted any more by the social group one is a part of.

If the other individuals also make moves to threaten or freeze out an individual trying to break this bad social standard, the difficulty of breaking out of the habit will be even greater. The threatening actions may not even be very serious to frighten a person from braking out of such a socially standardized habit, and may not even be meant as a threat.


THE NEED FOR SUCKING AND CHEWING

Every person has a need for sucking and chewing. This need is necessary in early infanthood, but it also persists into adult life to some degree. Some persons use cigarettes or other smoking devices and the smoke as a means to satisfy this need. There is a hypothesis that this need is greater by some adults then by others because this need, or some other similar basic need, has not been fully satisfied in early infanthood.

If you want to stop smoking, you can try to satisfy this need by other means, for example by always keeping something in your pocket that you can put in your mouth to chew at when the need for smoke appears.


AUTOMATIC REPEATING

When a person have done something many times and frequently enough, there will be created a pattern of automatic repetition of that particular behaviour. This is especially true if the particular action is done in a distinct recognizable situation.

The pattern of automatic repetition also has the effect of making a person feel safer in the daily life and routines.

Such a pattern of automatic repetition is always a component in the smoking habit. It you want to quit smoking, you should make an investigation to find out in which situations and which environments you usually take a cigarette.

Then try to avoid these situations or environments where you use to smoke, or to deliberately alter these situations.


NICOTINE USED AS A SELF MEDICATION

Nicotine has a tranquilizing effect upon nervous feelings. At the same time it has some anti-depressive effect, at least in the short run, and it makes a person feel more awake. A person suffering from nervousness or from depressive symptoms may feel that the smoking helps him against his mental symptoms.

However, gradually there will be a need for steadily higher doses of nicotine to give these good effects, and if there is a lack of nicotine in the body, the nervous or depressive feelings will be greater than before.

This gratification, but with the need for steadily higher doses to get the good effects is a major incentive for the smoking habit. You should consider if this anti-depressive or tranquilizing effect is a reason for your smoking. Then you should try to find other ways to achieve the same effect. Engaging in some sport or outdoor life will often make you feel less depressed. If the depressive feelings are more serious, some appropriate treatment can be necessary.


THE PLEASURE COMPONENT

There is to some degree a plain and direct pleasure connected with smoking. This pleasure is in itself a good effect. This good effect is probably in most cases too small compared to the painful effects of smoking, but will give a temptation for an individual to continue the habit. However, also this pleasure effect will gradually be difficult to obtain without increasing the doses.

If the plain pleasure of smoking is a main reason for your habit, then you should try to find other sources of pleasure instead, for example some good food, some good music or some erotic action.


THE GENETIC COMPONENT

Not all people get equally easy dependent of nicotine. There are factors yet not fully understood that make some people more easily addicted than others. Perhaps some persons have receptors on their nerve cells that more easily get trigged by nicotine than others, or perhaps some people have more receptors with the ability to get trigged by nicotine, and this is inherited in the genetic code.


THE NERVOUS MECHANISMS WORKING BY ADDICTION

The normal brain has signal substances with a tranquilizing effect, and substances with a stimulating effect upon nerve cells. Like most narcotic substances, nicotine act like a signal substance by fitting into receptors on some brain cells.

Nicotine attaches itself to some receptors and thus gives the nerve cell having these receptors a signal. The cells getting such a signal from nicotine will react by secreting another signal substance, dopamine that influences still other cells. Dopamine will tranquilize some brain cells and stimulate others, and the total effect of this is the pleasurable effects of smoking.

However, when nicotine steadily induces dopamine release, the brain will gradually decrease the production of dopamine when nicotine is not present, and the brain will feel a steadily greater need for nicotine to work normally and feel well.

Yoga Provides Relief and Health Benefits for Certain Health Issues

Yoga has been shown, throughout its ancient practice, to provide innumerable health benefits to those who practice it. More recently Yoga has been shown to benefit people with specific health issues, such as fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, and scoliosis.

Fibromyalgia is a condition originating in the body's connective tissue, causing inflammation and soreness in the tendons and ligaments. In addition to the pain, resulting from fibromyalgia, sufferers can experience sleeplessness and poor quality sleep, often times resulting in a chronic fatigue. This leads to depression and anxiety in many people. Many times, these problems are aggravated by drugs prescribed to fibromyalgia sufferers; they become avoidant of movement and grow increasingly weak.

Yoga benefits fibromyalgia in several ways. As Yoga exercises increase core muscle strength, there is a reduced amount of fatigue and a decrease in muscle pain. Greater levels of endurance and stamina lead to a less depressed physical and mental state. Yoga has also been shown to improve sleep and concentration levels. Also, while some higher impact types of exercise can sometimes worsen symptoms for sufferers, Yoga is low-impact and strengthens connective tissue, while allowing a more free range of movement.

What instructors need to be aware of is that because of the nature of this condition, there is a certain level of pain almost consistently. While this discomfort exists, students must learn how to work through this and to also know their personal limits. It is up to the student to know when to rest, and the instructor must recognize that students with this condition will have more limitations. Yoga should not leave the student worn out and sore. However, long term practice, with gradual progression, should relieve some of the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

For many, yoga reduces high blood pressure and lowers stress levels. High blood pressure is damaging to the heart and arteries. The heart must work harder at pumping, and the arteries resist damage from a more forceful blood flow. Long term high blood pressure puts one at risk for heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

Yoga asanas relieve in several ways: by combating the causes, relieving the symptoms, and balancing the nervous systems that control stress levels. Yoga also helps to retain the elasticity of blood vessels, and this reduces the potential for injury in those with high blood pressure. Breathing and meditation activities help reduce stress levels, which, in turn, balance out the body - as stress is managed in healthier ways.

Instructors encourage persons, with high blood pressure, to practice supine and sitting positions, as well as forward bends and inversions. However, as with any exercise, it is important to know whether the person has their blood pressure medically under control in a healthy way. If not, the student should bring down their blood pressure before practicing inversions specifically.

Scoliosis is a condition of curvature in the spine. The effects of scoliosis are severe, causing imbalance in the body by shifting the body's center of gravity, as well as rib displacement. There are four major curves that can exist in this condition. Depending on whether the scoliosis is of the structural or functional type, the condition varies in severity. The condition may be very painful, but for many with this health issue, yoga helps.

Emphasis should be placed on postural alignment for students with scoliosis, and it is very important to stretch and strengthen muscles that support the spine. This helps relieve pain and stiffness that comes with the condition. The feet and legs are focused on, enabling the legs to offset pressure on the spine, by carrying some of the weight. Also, the position of the feet are given special attention for the sake of balance.

Core body strength needs to be built in the area of the abdominal muscles, to prevent back muscles from overworking, causing tightness, and pain. Last, but definitely not least, is breath. Due to the curvature of the spine, often the lung on that side will not get as much breath. Becoming aware of this and working to inhale evenly on both sides will open up the chest and cause more balance and evenness from within. With Yoga, students with scoliosis, learn how to be balanced again from the inside out.

While any of these conditions create debilitating conditions in the lives of their sufferers, yoga offers relief and treatment for causes and symptoms, without side effects. In tandem with medical care, Yoga students, suffering from these conditions, become more aware of their bodies and gain great relief. Pay attention to the individual needs of students with these conditions, and guide them to balance again.

Ayurveda & Natural Health - What's My Mind & Body Type?

Using a natural health approach to healing can be a maze of confusion for a lot of people. There's a lot of information "out there".

Ayurvedic medicine can be very helpful for healing chronic health problems, all you need is a little bit of knowledge and guidance.

The first step is to determine your constitution, or "dosha" as it is called. Every one has a predominant type. They are called: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Summer is the time when people who are primarily Pitta in their nature may find themselves out of balance with ailments or illnesses that are the result of too much heat in the body.

When this happens you will find yourself heading into fall and winter with more imbalances as the heat intensifies and aggravates the dryness of winter.

12 QUALITIES OF PITTA

~ HOT Good Digestive fire, strong appetite, body temperature tends to be higher than normal, hates heat, gray hair with receding hairline or baldness, soft brown hair

~SHARP Sharp teeth, distinct eyes, pointed nose, tapering chin, heart-shaped face, good absorption and digestion, sharp memory, and understanding, irritable.

~LIGHT Light to medium body frame, does not tolerate bright light, fair, shiny skin, bright eyes.

~OILY Soft oily skin, hair, does not like deep fried foods, (which may cause headaches)

~LIQUID Loose liquid stools, soft delicate muscles, excess sweat, urine, and thirst.

~SPREADING Pitta spreads as rash, acne, inflammation, all over the body or on affected areas, pitta types want to spread their name/fame.

~SOUR Sour acid stomach, acidic pH, sensitive teeth, excess salivation.

~BITTER Bitter taste in mouth, nausea, vomiting, repulsion toward bitter and cynical behavior.

~PUNGENT Heartburn, burning sensations in general, strong feelings of anger and hate.

~FLESHY Tending towards good old "smelly feet", socks, body odor.

~RED Red flushed skin, eyes, cheeks, and nose,

~YELLOW Yellow eyes, skin, urine, may tend to over production of bile and those types of disorders.

Again, these just give you a general idea of how these qualities may show up in the body. Any of them starting to sound familiar? Are you starting to put the pieces together?

If you see some of your more common characteristics on this list you can be certain that you have a fair amount of Pitta as your predominant constitution. If you are experiencing any of these "negative" qualities there is an imbalance. The main healing principle in Ayurveda is "like attracts like". If there is too much heat in the body you must apply cooling principles to draw the heat out and return to balance. This can be done with food, diet, and herbs .

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Natural Health Remedies Helping Your Body Heal Itself


Alternative Health

There are many reasons why people are starting to turn to natural health remedies instead of the conventional prescription drugs. If you went out onto the street and ask lots of people what they think of natural and alternative therapies then you’d get varying answers. Some will talk about what they’ve read in a magazine or watched on TV whilst others might have personal stories to tell.

Although I have been lucky enough not to have dealt with any real health ailments in my life, I have taken a keen interest in health supplements, food, exercise and all of these types of topics. The reason is because of what I’ve had to witness from my own parents.

My mum was officially diagnosed with Multiple Scleroses (MS) 13 years a go. There were many different tests done at the time including a lumber puncture and brain scans. When the doctor told her that it was MS he effectively said for her to go home and forget about it. If you have ever watched anything on tv about ms or read about it, you will know that it is a degenerative condition which leaves people in wheelchairs, or even in much worse conditions. Simply going home and acting like everything is normal is not at all possible. Because of the lack of help from conventional medicine, my mum and dad both read considerable amounts of information about this condition via books. They read about nutrition, exercise and natural health supplements. They also had consultations with natural health practitioners (including Jan de Vries) who said that it wasn’t as bad as MS and it was actually ME. They are both 2 of th e many different types of autoimmune condition.

I won’t go into a great amount of detail about what natural health therapies that were used but there were many vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids (evening primrose oil and fish oil). Although she still gets tired and has to take a nap every day, she has never needed to use a wheelchair or anything like that.

My dad’s health problems were back pain and digestion problems. First of all he hurt his back whilst taking heavy carrier bags from the shopping trolley and placing them in the boot of the car. Carrying the heavy weight whilst twisting round caused him major pain. His doctor told him to go home and rest but my dad wasn’t happy with this medical advice. So he got lots of books on back pain and they said that he should exercise. This advice is now common practice but at the time my dad’s doc wasn’t happy about him going against his professional opinion.

The other health problem related to digestion. My dad had put anti freeze into the car but realized he put in too much. SO he got a straw and sucked some out and then spit it out before he swalled any. Unfortunately some of this got into his system and it made him very ill very quickly afterwards. It’s thought that it damaged in the inside of his stomach causing food and nutrients not to be absorbed as well as they should. Luckily after a lot of different health advice and supplements he is now able to eat properly again. When he had this condition he couldn’t eat a single thing with yeast or wheat in it. Now is body had recovered.

It’s funny that when a doctor can’t see with his own eyes what is wrong with a patient they think that the patient is a hypochondriac. The doc had asked about his symptoms, when the occurred and if there was any pattern. My dad wasn’t sure so he decided to take a diary of everything he had eaten along with how he felt. The doctor said that he was thinking way too much about his condition and that he should stop. Instead of looking for proper treatments, he wanted to give my dad antidepressants.

Although you should always take the advice of a trained medical practioner, you can also ask if you can receive alternative treatments. Here in the UK, my gran gets accupuncture for nothing on the NHS because of her joint pain. Luckily there are more and more natural therapies being used and they aren’t seen as being mumbo jumbo. Unfortunately I think we still have a long way to go before your doctor will look at alternative therapies before prescribing any drugs.

HEALTH PRINCIPLE 1

In the early morning there must be regular exercise for atleast half an hour to every body. It will give your much better relax through the day. But drink atleast 1 liter of water before going to exercise. It is most benefit to the body to get sweat and to thrown away all the bacteria from our body.

After this exercise get fresh bath and relax for few minutes. Eat some solid breakfast like fruits, corns, egg, some healthy drink dont go for spicy breakfast. You can do Meditation and Yoga also. It will give you better relaxation to your mind.

HEALTH PRINCIPLE 1

In the early morning there must be regular exercise for atleast half