One of the oldest forms of magic and meditation involves the use of crystals and stones. Crystals and stones have long been believed to possess mystical powers.Certain stones and crystals have always been sought for their magical or psychic properties because they hold energy. Because crystals and stones hold energy it is crucial that new stones brought into your home is cleansed. Follow these quick guidelines to see if your stones or crystals need cleansing and do so when necessary.
Instructions
Cleanse Stones and Crystals
1. Hold the stone or crystal and sense the vibrations. Try to get a sense of the stone's resonance. Ask your self does it feel heavy? If so does it seem like a positive weight or like a negative weight.
2. Trust your feelings. If you sense a heavy, unpleasant feeling or if you just feel the impulse to clean it then trust you feelings and cleanse the stone.
3. Cleanse heavy stones and crystals by placing them in a bowl of salt water and leave them overnight. Salt is an earth element and when balanced with water it helps to bring the crystals back into balance. Dispose of the water and clean the bowl the next morning.
4. Cleanse gentler stones or crystals by using pure spring water and place the stones in direct sunlight. Sunlight has a purifying effect. Plus the effect of light on the gentler stones and crystals can fill them with positive energy.
5. Use smudge sticks or incense. All hard or soft stones and crystals can be cleansed with incense or smudge sticks. Smudge sticks and inceses can be purchase at speciality stores. Make sure the smudge sticks use sage because sage has the best cleansing ability.
Tags: smudge sticks, stones crystals, crystals stones, gentler stones, gentler stones crystals, hold energy
A walking cast can be made of fiberglass or plaster. It is rigid and fits like a bulky boot. It is applied from below the knee to the toes. Sometimes it has a wedge or reinforcement under the foot to make it easier to walk. The cast may be on for a matter of weeks or even months, so it must be taken care of. Directions from the physician should be followed carefully.
Wait to Walk
When a plaster cast is used, do not walk on it until it is completely dry. The plaster may take a couple of days to dry completely. In contrast, fiberglass casts dry in a matter of hours. Casts cannot bear weight until dry. The doctor may advise not walking on the cast until the broken bone has a chance to adjust to the cast and inflammation and pain are reduced.
Redness and Itch
The skin around the cast might become red or puffy. Call the doctor if this happens. If you have uncontrollable itchiness inside the cast, also contact your doctor. Scratching with a coat hanger or stick is not advisable. Doctors do not advise putting powder or deodorant into the cast but may have suggestions for relieving itch.
Moisture
The cast must not get wet. It will soften the plaster and cause the padding to be uncomfortable and unsanitary. When you shower or walk in the rain or snow, it must be wrapped in several layers of plastic. Drug stores have plastic sheets designed to cover casts when exposed to moisture.
Where to Walk
Do not walk where there is dirt, sand or gravel beneath your feet. It can get into the cast, causing you to become unbalanced and fall. It can also get stuck inside so the cast has to be reapplied. These substances also make the cast dirty and uncomfortable.
False eyelashes turn an ordinary eyeball into an extraordinary eyeball. These little items are great to get that 1960s sex kitten look, imitate Cleopatra or use for any number of Halloween costumes. Apply fake eyelashes with a gentle touch.
Instructions
1. Prepare the eyelid. Cleanse the lid of any vestige of makeup, dried skin or last night’s sleep. Swipe a cotton pad dabbled in eye makeup remover across the lid. Rinse thoroughly with cold water. Pat dry with a soft towel.
2. Apply the glue. Set your false eyelashes out on a clean surface and squeeze a thin line of glue along the base. Use a toothpick to distribute the glue evenly. Don’t let the glue gob or glob over the edges. Also don’t let it touch the actual lashes or they will clump together.
3. Press the eyelash base gently to the eyelid. Starting at the inner corner of the eyelid, carefully place the eyelash strip behind your natural lashes. Press gently as you move along, securing the eyelashes in place. Get as close as you can to the edge of the lid without any overhang.
4. Test the placement. Blink your eyes several times and check out your placement in the mirror. If your false eyelashes are impeding eye movement or look crooked, remove them, clean off the glue with the eye makeup remover, wash off your eyelid and start again.
5. Separate the lashes. Once your fake lashes are securely in place, use a toothpick or the sharp edge of a big, fat safety pin to carefully separate the lashes. This assures they are not clumped together and are softened to mix with your natural lashes.
When a person is close to death and requires thorough medical attention, hospice care is a useful tool that can make a difficult situation much easier to deal with. Due to their nature, some illnesses do not require full time hospital care but instead create a need for specialized attention. This is especially true if the patient refuses extensive or invasive treatment options and has an illness that causes discomfort without the proper the medications or regular check-ups. Hospice care provides these needed things in the comfort and safety of the person's home or living environment.
Nurse Care
The nurse is the most significant part of hospice care. Evaluation and treatment of the patient occurs on a regular basis to ensure that there is no irritation or uncomfortable feelings. The nurse also works as an intermediary between the patient and loved ones, lightening the burden of care and making the upcoming passing easier to understand. Rather than wait to see a doctor, the nurse takes over during the hospice care stage when the patient's death is imminent and is always available to assist.
Supplemental Help
Once the patient enrolls in hospice, he or she will receive all types of supplemental care. A social worker will visit the home to make an assessment and to make sure that caregivers are treating the patient properly. Professionals will evaluate the patient to see if any additional services are required such as physical therapy. If the patient has difficulty eating which is often the case at the end stages of life, a nutritionist will stop by to create a plan. Most hospice organizations also employ an interfaith minister to counsel the patient and his or her family.
Required Items
Once signed up for hospice care, everything the sick person needs comes from the agency. Wheelchairs, walkers, commodes and other accessories that make the person feel cared for are available for use. A hospital bed can be brought into the individual's home to make the patient comfortable. This component of hospice care makes the experience easier for everyone involved since there is no need to worry about purchasing hard-to-find or expensive items.
Prescriptions
Hospice care for the dying also includes all necessary prescriptions. Medications for a person close to death often vary from week to week since symptoms can worsen or change overnight. Hospice checks the patient to see if new medications or an adjustment to the existing ones needs to occur. The hospice agency has their own pharmacy that provides the prescriptions, typically in two-week intervals. Hospice also gives the patient's family a medical package full of emergency medications designed to make the final moments of the person's life as serene as possible.
Assistants
In addition to the nurses and therapists, hospice also supplies assistants and volunteers. These additional people help to care for the patient by spending time at the home so that the family and regular caregivers can get a break. The assistants take care of maintenance responsibilities such as bathing, feeding and cleaning the patient's area. Volunteers visit with the patient, read to him or her and provide relief for the families. Most hospice agencies typically offer at least four hours per day of this type of care.
Tags: close death, home make, hospice care, Hospice Care Dying, Most hospice
So it's that time of the month and--big surprise--you're feeling like a beached whale. You are so bloated that you may as well be pregnant. Is your scale broken? Why on earth does it indicate you've gained five pounds? Yikes! Unfortunately, water retention and bloating are of the side-effects of being a menstruating woman. But there are steps you can take, before and during your period, to reduce water retention and make you feel like your old self, or at least close to it. The bottom line? The best way to flush out excess water is to replace it.
Instructions
Drink up!
1. Drink water. Lots of water. It doesn't have to be plain water -- you can drink decaffeinated hot and iced tea (green tea boosts metabolism and is very healthy) or fruit or vegetable juices. Try to stay away from carbonated drinks--the air will make you gassy.
2. Eat food that is made up primarily of water, such as lettuce, celery, cucumbers, watermelon, summer melons and berries including strawberries, blueberries, raspberries. The more water in your body, the faster the bloating will be gone.
3. Avoid caffeine. No matter how tired you are, consuming caffeine will make you not only more bloated, but extra irritable during your period. Caffeine acts as a diuretic except, for some reason, during your period. Avoid coffee, espresso, black tea, and chocolate and you will feel much better.
4. Avoid food that is high in sodium. Salt will make you retain water. You can check the sodium content on food items and see that the big 'no-nos' include, but are not limited to, soy sauce (even the "light sodium" ones have too much for your own good), teriyaki sauce, hot sauce, chicken wing sauce, microwave popcorn, pickles, olives and preserved or fermented vegetables or tofu.
5. Stay away from foods that are prone to causing gas. There is nothing worse than adding to your bloat--with MORE of it! This includes, but is not limited to, all kinds of cabbage, Brussels sprouts, summer or winter squash (zucchini), apples, pears, plums, peaches or too much melon.
6. Exercise! Get your body moving and you will feel more energized and refreshed.
7. Ask your ob-gyn to prescribe diuretics if you have extreme water retention during your menstruation period. Take them as instructed and do not make it a habit.
Tags: during your, during your period, water retention, will make, away from, food that
Healthy arteries are smooth and open, allowing blood to flow through easily. However, arteries often become blocked or clogged, preventing the blood from traveling through them and slowing the journey of the oxygen-rich blood to the heart. In severe cases, this can cause strokes or heart attacks.
Radix Astragali seu Hedysari
The Astragalus root is effective in dilating the coronary artery and surround capillaries. It also invigorates vital energy and the spleen and is effective in treating skin ulcers.
Radix Ophiopogonis
The Ophiopogon root has demonstrated increased coronary flow and improved myocardial contractability in guinea pigs. This multipurpose root is also effective in nourishing the stomach and lungs and decreasing blood sugar.
Fructus Psoralea
The Scurfpea fruit, grown in China, is known to dilate the coronary artery significantly. It also invigorates the kidney and spleen.
Radix Angelicae Sinensis
Also known as the Chinese angelica, this root's primary function is to enrich blood. It dilates the coronary artery, increases coronary flow and decreases oxygen consumption. It also protects the liver from damage.
Flos Carthami
Commonly known as safflower, this flower promotes blood circulation. It has been shown to increase coronary flow and reduce blood pressure in dogs.
Other Herbs
Other herbs used to treat heart blockage are Polyporus Umbellatus, Fructus Schisandrae, Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata and Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae.
Tags: coronary artery, coronary flow, also invigorates
Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that affects many people. A person suffering from narcolepsy feels a sudden onset of sleep and is extremely sleepy all through the day. There is no known cure, but there are some steps a person can take to improve the condition naturally.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has been shown to decrease sleep problems by restoring the flow of chi (energy) through the body.
Yoga and Meditation
Since yoga and meditation are stress relievers; by practicing them it should help to relax your body and invoke healthy sleep patterns.
Light Therapy
Light therapy conditions your body to sleep when it's supposed to. By doing this, you can move your sleep patterns around to when you need to sleep.
Avoid Naps
By avoiding naps during the day, you should be very tired at night, which should enable you to get a full night's sleep and feel rested the next day.
Use the Bed for Sleep Only
You need to condition your mind that the bed is for sleep only. This means no reading or watching TV in bed. Once your mind makes this correlation, you should sleep soundly and restfully.
is a very serious and sometimes even fatal reaction of consuming excessive amounts of alcohol within a short time frame. Drinking too much alcohol within a short period of time can have dangerous consequences such as affecting an individual's heart rate, breathing, gag reflex and can even, in certain causes, trigger a person entering into a coma or dying. There are various different treatment options for alcohol poisoning.
Drugs and Treatment Options
Alcohol poisoning treatment requires support as the person's body eliminates all of the alcohol. This type of treatment generally entails oxygen therapy, intravenous administration of fluids to stop dehydration from occurring, close monitoring and vigilance and airway protection to stop choking or breathing issues.
Kidney Dialysis
Individuals who have ingested non-drinkable alcohol such as isopropyl or methanol alcohol might require kidney dialysis. Kidney dialysis is a mechanical technique for eliminating waste and toxins from the body. Kidney dialysis speeds up the removal of the alcohol poisoning from a person's bloodstream.
Considerations
Most home remedies for taking care of alcohol poisoning are rather ineffective. Some of them can even be dangerous. Cold showers, drinking black coffee, sleeping it off and walking it off are all believed to be home remedies for getting sober, but they have no proven effectiveness.
Prevention/Solution
If you are around someone who you think might be experiencing alcohol poisoning, call 911 to get emergency medical attention. You must remain with the individual at all times and try to keep them lying down (also make sure they do not sit upright). Try to tilt the person's head over to the side to keep them from choking. Also, to make sure they do not lose consciousness, try to keep them awake the entire time. A good way to do this is by asking them questions and constantly speaking to them.
Symptoms
To get someone treatment for alcohol poisoning, be able to recognize the possible signs and symptoms that someone is, in fact, experiencing this condition. Some common alcohol poisoning symptoms include semi-consciousness or complete unconsciousness, clammy, cold, bluish or pale skin tone, slow breathing or long lapses in between breaths.
Tags: alcohol poisoning, alcohol poisoning, keep them, alcohol within, alcohol within short
Wands have figured in the religion, folklore and magical and ritual practices of many cultures throughout human history. The wand is a battery, absorbing the magical intent and energies of the wielder, storing and concentrating them, and releasing them at his direction. You can find ready-made wands for purchase from a number of outlets catering to the delver into the arcane arts. But the most powerful magic wand will be one that you create yourself. Creating wands can be a lifetime endeavor and a complex undertaking. Here are some tips on create a simple, basic magic wand.
Deciding on the Purpose
First, decide for what purpose you want to create a wand. Is this for general use? Healing? Blessing? Attracting? Banishing? You can create a wand for general magical or ritual usage or for a specific purpose. Many people have a variety of wands created for specific ends. Focusing at the beginning on what the wand is to be used for will make it easier to make certain later decisions.
Choosing the Materials
Wands can be made from any number of substances but are traditionally crafted from wood. For the beginner it is perhaps best to purchase a dowel of hard wood from a hardware outlet. This should between 12 and 20 inches or so in length, and about 3/8 to ¾ of an inch in diameter. You will also need something with which to write or inscribe any symbols you wish to incorporate, as well as any crystals, stones or minerals that you want to use. Color can be added with acrylic paints, colored markers or other permanent coloring materials. Copper or silver wire can be used to attach talismans or be practical and decorative in its own right when wrapped around the wand.
Constructing the Wand
This will be a highly individual and personal endeavor. Symbolism that speaks to you or your tradition may be very different from elements that speak to another. The symbolism that you incorporate speaks to the unconscious, the deep mind. This is of prime importance in magical practice. So decorate your wand with symbolic elements that resonate with its purpose and your own background or tradition. Draw or inscribe runes, sigils, words of power or images. These can be simple, elaborate or a combination. Once you have done this, give the wood a coat of wax, shellac or varnish to seal and protect it. At this point you can attach metals, gemstones or crystals that symbolically reflect the purpose of the wand. Use epoxy or wax for this, or you can use copper or silver wire. Give your magical imagination and creativity free rein. Remember, this is your personal tool and it must speak to you to be effective.
Consecrating and Charging the Wand
Again, this will be a deeply personal exercise, in accordance with your background, tradition or spiritual and magical practice. This is not a one-size-fits-all exercise. Using whatever ritual you like or are familiar with, consecrate and bless the wand and charge it by filling it with magical energy, being sure to hold the purpose of the wand firmly in your consciousness. After this is completed store the wand, wrapped in silk, in a safe and private place.
Tags: background tradition, create wand, elements that, from number, Homemade Wands, magic wand, magical practice
White sage (artemesia ludoviciana) has been used for centuries by various Native American tribes for both medicine and ceremonies and is still used extensively today. Here is an overview how it is used in a healing ritual by Cecelia Garcia, a healer from the Chumash tribe of the Santa Barbara area of California.
Instructions
1. Cecelia's white sage healing ritual starts with praying over fresh white sage cultivated in a special garden, then picking one branch.
2. One sage leaf is placed in a one liter bottle of purified water for 30 minutes to permeate the water before the patient drinks it. The same leaf can be re-used for four bottles of water for the course of one day. After that, the leaf deteriorates and is not usable.
3. Another way it is used is to place a small leaf in the mouth and suck on it to soothe the throat..
4. White sage is also used as a hot tea. Place one fresh leaf in one cup of water at room temperature into a stainless steel or glass pan. Heat the water only until it just starts to boil. It must not come to a full boil, or the effect is lost. Drink the tea.
5. The healer can also use white sage in a prayer ceremony for one person or a group of family and friends gathered with the patient. Small branches of freshly dried branches unbound by yarn, string or twine are placed in an abalone shell or fireproof bowl and set on fire. Everyone prays in unison and the smoke sends the prayers to God to invite Him into the healing process.
A variety of herbs can be used to make your own all-natural lotions and shampoos. Rosemary is an herb people use in hair products because of its scent and availability. Rosemary oil shampoo is believed to treat hair loss by stimulating hair growth.
Instructions
1. Use either fresh or dried rosemary to make your shampoo to treat hair loss, depending on what type you have available. Store all fresh herbs in a covered container in a warm place.
2. Remove the leaves from each rosemary stem and place them in the storage container. Allow the container to sit overnight or for at least a few hours before using it, so that the leaves have time to dry. If you try to use rosemary leaves before they have dried, the moisture may make the oil appear cloudy and could cause dangerous mold to grow.
3. Place the rosemary in a medium-sized pot. The quantity will determine the strength of the scent. Add enough grapeseed oil to cover the rosemary completely. Use a glass, iron or stainless steel pot when working with oils to avoid any chemical reactions from substances like aluminum or copper.
4. Put the medium-sized pot inside or on top of a large pot of water. Heat the large pot slowly for 3 hours, allowing the oil mixture to become infused with the rosemary. It is important to use low heat, because overheating may burn the oil and destroy the mixture.
5. Strain the oil mixture from the pot into a clean glass jar or container. Allow the mixture to cool overnight while storing it in a cool, dark location.
6. Massage the rosemary oil into your hair while showering. Rinse and repeat as necessary. Rosemary oil helps treat hair loss and can add a nice shine to brunette hair.
Bladder CIS, also known as carcinoma in situ, is a unique form of cancer that spreads cancerous cells all over the lining of the bladder. CIS is not easy to treat because it can be difficult for a surgeon to differentiate between the normal areas of the bladder and the tumor-infected areas. Alternative herbal remedies can help prevent further growth of cancer cells.
Parsley
Parsley is a popular herb that contains cancer-fighting properties such as flavonoids and polyacetylenes. These anti-inflammatory agents aid in blocking the growth of several types of cancerous cells. Parsley is especially effective in helping individuals with bladder CIS, as parsley can penetrate the bladder wall and inhibit cancer-forming tumors. Inquire with your physician or health care professional as to the amount of parsley that would be beneficial to you.
Green Tea Extract
Green tea extract contains powerful anti-cancer properties and can be helpful when dealing with bladder cancer. It can inhibit cancer cells and stop the spreading of the cells by keeping them confined, making them easier to treat. This works because green tea's active ingredient, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, interferes with the movement of malignant cells. For best results, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, consume two to three cups of green tea daily, or take 100 to 750 milligrams of standardized green tea extract once daily.
Maitake
Maitake, a fungus that alternative medical practitioners have used for centuries, has a cancer-fighting agent that can increase immune cells and reduce the formation of tumors. Dr. Sensuke Konno and colleagues at New York Medical College found maitake-d extract powerful in dealing with bladder CIS cells, reducing the growth and spread of cancer cells significantly in laboratory tests, according to Konno's article in Alternative Medicine Review (March 2007). Take three maitake-d capsules of 240 milligrams daily or as recommended by your health care provider.
Tags: cancer cells, with bladder, cancerous cells, cells Parsley, dealing with
A fifth of Americans Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a painful disorder of the gut. This condition has a range of embarrassing and uncomfortable symptoms which include: excessive gas, nausea, bloating, abdominal cramping and irregular bowels.
Instructions
1. Analyze your eating habits to find the cause of your pain. While IBS is not caused by the foods you eat, they can increase or trigger attacks of pain. Keep a diet journal that records the food you eat as well as how those foods make you feel afterwards.
Many IBS-sufferers have wheat and dairy intolerances, so you might consider eliminating them from your diet to guage the impact. Ensure you do not lose out on nutrients by taking vitamin supplements.
2. If diarrhea is a problem, remove foods and drinks containing caffeine, high fat levels and sweeteners from your diet. These are all known laxatives that, to be honest, your body can do without. Instead of a cup of coffee, have the recommended eight glasses of water a day to ensure you don't suffer dehydration.
3. Constipation can be alleviated by introducing soluble fibres into your diet. Foods such as whole grains and fresh fruit and vegetables are rich sources of fibre and vitamins.
4. IBS can often be worsened by high stress levels. Combat stress by learning relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation. Some sufferers find that hypnotherapy offers relaxation and helps them deal with stress more efficiently. Shiatsu massage or an abdominal massage will relax both mind and body.
5. Consider introducing dietary supplements. While offering full benefits, these natural remedies avoid traditional medicine's side effects.
Aloe vera juice, sourced from the aloe plant's inner-leaf gel, can help relieve discomfort by reducing intestinal spasms, abdominal pain and bloating.
Probiotics, the 'friendly bacteria', flourish naturally within the gut. Over 300 varieties inhabit the intestines: some good and some bad. Illness, antibiotics and stress can shift the balance between good and bad which is believed to lead to bowel trouble. Live bacteria yoghurts as well as probiotic drinks and yoghurts can help your body redress the balance.
6. Herbal remedies, given by natural health practitioners, can help relieve symptoms. Many use peppermint, an ingredient long known for its digestive healing properties. Its properties as a carminative herb mean that it can eliminate excessive, painful and embarrassing gas. It reduces abdominal pain and bloating of the gut by easing intestinal muscle contractions. Peppermint can be taken in many forms: tea, oil, inhalant or capsules. The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota advises IBS sufferers to only take enteric-coated peppermint capsules to reduce the risk of heartburn. Trained herbal practitioners do not make a practice of prescribing peppermint on its one as a cure for IBS, so it is worth visiting a clinic for further advice.
7. The Orient's healing traditions offer cures for IBS through therapies such as acupuncture. The World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health Consensus Panel both consider acupuncture an appropriate treatment for IBS-related conditions including: cramps, constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Within just four weeks of treatment, many trained practitioners see their clients reducing their pain and symptoms significantly.
8. Hypnosis and self-hypnosis are often successful with IBS sufferers for several reasons. It is a stress-related disorder, in that stress can trigger painful spasms in the bowel, so a session with a therapist can help to encourage relaxation from day-to-day tensions. It also teaches the sufferer ways of reducing and dealing with IBS-related pains of virtually any intensity. A long-term benefit of this treatment is that it encourages new ways to reduce daily stress by programming the subconscious with positive responses to stress triggers.
Tags: abdominal pain, your diet, abdominal pain bloating, from your, from your diet, help relieve, pain bloating
Many surgical instruments are made from stainless steel. The list below is a small sampling of the instruments used during surgery. When using these and the various other instruments during surgery there has to be someone in the room that keeps up with every instrument to make sure that none is left inside the patient. If this were to happen serious complications could arise, including death.
Dissectors
A scalpel is a sharp dissector that is used for cutting muscle and skin during surgery. Curettes are blunt dissectors that are used to scrape debris and tissue during a biopsy.
Probing Instrument
An anal probe is used to find and identify parasites, digestive problems or organ damage.
Retractors
Senn retractors are most often used in hand or foot surgery. They are double ended; one end is L-shaped and the other end has three bent prongs.
Grasping and Holding Instruments
Clamps are used to hold or secure things to keep them from moving or separating. Forceps are hinged instruments that are used to hold objects that fingers may be too big to grasp.
Suction
Suction devices are used to remove blood and other fluids from the surgical area. This helps doctors see what they are doing during surgery.
Researching anti-aging treatments is the first step toward loving your skin again.
Several factors contribute to saggy skin. The lines, folds and wrinkles you experience may be caused by lower collagen production, years of sun exposure, gravity, rapid weight loss or smoking. If you have noticed that your skin looks a bit droopy, there is a range of treatments to help restore the skin's elasticity. Treatments for sagging skin can be as simple as topical creams or more advanced efforts, such as laser or surgical procedures. To understand what is best for treating your skin, you will need to closely examine its condition and determine the level of care it requires.
Instructions
1. Examine your skin in a mirror with natural lighting. Check for creases or drooping around the eyes and on either side of your mouth. Look for sagging along the jaw line and around the neck area. If sagging is barely noticeable, a quality moisturizing system from a respected cosmetics company may provide sufficient results. Invest in a system that includes a separate daytime and nighttime moisturizer, as well as a cream specifically formulated for the eye area. The day moisturizer and eye cream should contain a minimum of SPF 25. The face moisturizers should also contain alpha hydroxy acid or beta hydroxy acid, which provide some visible tightening of the skin. While using the system, be sure to wear a hat and sunglasses outdoors. Drink plenty of water and consume a healthy diet. Try the program for six to eight weeks to see if there is a noticeable difference in skin's elasticity.
2. Visit a licensed esthetician if your skin shows no improvement after eight weeks of intense moisturizing. Estheticians are not medical doctors and can only recommend cosmetic procedures that may improve the appearance of your skin. Estheticians can perform facials, skin peels and moisturizing spa treatments. Should you decide to research more advanced procedures, your esthetician may be able to recommend a dermatologist.
3. See a dermatologist if the esthetician's services are not sufficient or if you prefer a medical doctor. Discuss such noninvasive procedures as laser resurfacing, infrared and radio-frequency treatments and collagen injections. Laser resurfacing gently vaporizes the skin's tissue to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It can be used on troubled spots or the entire face. Infrared and radio-frequency are used to heat up the skin to restructure the damaged collagen, thus tightening skin and reducing wrinkles. Collagen injections involve injecting such fillers as collagen, hyaluronic acid, or fat cells under the skin to tighten it. Depending on the type of fillers used, treatments can last from a few months to a few years.
4. Find a plastic surgeon to perform a face-lift, a surgical procedure that will tighten the areas around your eyes, mouth and jaw line. The plastic surgeon uses excess facial fat to smooth out wrinkles. Unnecessary fat will be removed and skin will be sculpted into new contours during this procedure.
Tags: your skin, eight weeks, hydroxy acid, improve appearance, more advanced, plastic surgeon, skin elasticity
Noise pollution affects everyone, yet this problem is largely ignored by most people. Upon hearing loud noises and sounds, we might be irritated but feel at a loss to do anything about it. Noise pollution comes from various sources including traffic, airports, industries, factories and highly populated urban areas. However, these are not the only ways we can be affected by noise pollution. A loud musical event such as a rock concert, occupational noises, and large crowds are just as detrimental to humans, especially with repeated exposure.
The effects of noise pollution on humans is being studied all over the world. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends a "safe noise level" of no more than 55 decibels. Decibels are units that help to express how loud sounds are. For example, sounds that are inaudible range from 0 to 10 decibels; noises that are loud enough to damage your hearing are 150 decibels.
Noise pollution affects sleep, eating habits, mood, concentration and body functions such as respiration and heart rate. When humans are unable to sleep due to noise, they get insomnia. Insomnia causes mood swings and can affect performance in all areas of your life, as well as negatively affect your health. Loud noises cause stress, increasing respiration and heart rate. Then your body begins to secrete hormones such as adrenaline, which prepare us for fight or flight. This response puts unnecessary stress on the body. As a result, your blood pressure increases, leaving you vulnerable to heart disease. Stress also contributes to lowered immunity, which can lead to infection and illness. Some scientists are now suggesting that psychiatric disorders are related to noise. This theory is still under investigation and is highly controversial.
The most significant way that people are affected by noise is through hearing loss. This is easy to measure and widely studied. It is known that young people today experience hearing loss at early ages because of the loud music they listen to while wearing headphones and attending concerts. Therefore, teenagers are likely to hear 25 percent less than their parents or grandparents do.
The effects of noise pollution are also relevant to each individual. Some people are not bothered by particular sounds as much as others might be. This is because some are more sensitive to auditory stimulation. It is not understood why certain people become more aggressive when exposed to loud noises, but it probably has to do with how much noise you are used to hearing. For example, a rural dweller who is used to the quiet sounds of nature would probably be agitated if he to spend the night in a city.
The EPA regulates businesses and areas for noise pollution. However, there are ways that you can control your environment. Noise-blocking devices such as earplugs and headphones cut out sounds that may affect your sleep, work or personal time. You can also buy CDs that play monotone- or nature-type sounds and use this as soothing background music. Another way to reduce noise is to get involved with local organizations that shape new business development and regulate present industries and noise problems in your area.
The two small glands that are on top of the kidneys are called the adrenal glands. The glands work together with the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands to produce hormones that are responsible for a variety of body functions. Tumors can develop on the adrenal glands, causing various symptoms.
Facts
Adrenal gland tumors might not cause symptoms at first, but as the tumor grows, excess hormone production will begin. Two of the major types of hormones produced by the adrenal glands are catecholamines and corticosteroids. The increase in different hormones is what leads to many symptoms. In part, the symptoms that occur are related to which hormone is produced in excess.
Types
The adrenal gland is divided into two main areas. Both areas can develop tumors. Tumors in the adrenal medulla cause the production of catecholamines, such as epinephrine. Symptoms of this type of tumor might include chest pain, dizziness, shaking and high blood pressure. Tumors in the adrenal cortex cause an increased production of corticosteroids, such as cortisol. This can cause mood changes, weight gain, water retention and increased body hair. In addition to symptoms related to excess hormone production, general symptoms of a tumor include abdominal pain, loss of appetite and weight loss.
Considerations
Because hormones might be released into the bloodstream only intermittently and hormone levels are not constant, some symptoms might come and go. For example, if epinephrine is produced and an increase in heart rate and high blood pressure develop, symptoms might subside as the hormone level decreases in the bloodstream. It's impossible to predict when or to what extent hormone levels are released into the bloodstream and when symptoms will increase.
Diagnosis
Because some symptoms of an adrenal tumor are similar to those of other conditions, such as heart problems, a doctor must make a correct diagnosis. After a physician evaluates the symptoms, blood tests might be ordered to detect higher-than-normal levels of hormones, such as epinephrine. A CT scan or an MRI might be done to view the kidneys and look for tumors on the adrenal glands.
Treatments
If an adrenal gland tumor is causing symptoms, even if it is benign, treatment might be needed. Because one of the symptoms is high blood pressure, medication is often given to help lower your blood pressure. Beta blockers might also be prescribed to help regulate your heart rate. Surgery to remove the tumors might be needed if medication does not relieve symptoms. Adrenal tumors that are cancerous might require additional treatment to ease symptoms, such as radiation and chemotherapy.
Tags: adrenal glands, blood pressure, high blood, high blood pressure, excess hormone, excess hormone production
Slimming pills or diet pills can be an effective way to speed weight loss. However, many pills that claim to aid weight loss are full of "fillers" rather than the active ingredients that make weight loss possible. Or worse, they have dangerous additives that do more harm than good to your body in the long run. When shopping for slimming pills, check for the following ingredients on the label before you buy.
Appetite Suppressants
Most slimming pills claim to help you eat less by giving you a "full" feeling and dulling hunger pangs. One way they do this is by including fiber in the pills, which will lead to a full feeling. The other is with ingredients like green tea extract; hoodia gordonii, a natural plant extract; or chemical compounds like phenylpropanolamine. (see References). Appetite suppressants, whether man-made or naturally occurring, may be effective in the short term. However, they can lead to side effects like high blood pressure, nervousness or heart problems.
Diuretics
Many slimming pills contain caffeine, which is a natural diuretic that causes rapid weight loss by ridding the body of excess water. The effects of diuretic ingredients are temporary. They do not aid the body in burning fat, but only encourage temporary weight loss by causing frequent urination. Pills with these ingredients may be good for a quick fix, but as soon as you stop taking the pills, the water weight will return. In addition, the pills can cause dehydration. Even worse, the body will attempt to make up for the loss of water by attempting to store more water once the ingredients have left the body, making an individual even heavier than they were before.
Metabolism Boosters
Often, slimming pills include stimulants that speed up the body's processes and therefore the metabolism. Caffeine is the number one stimulant. Yerba mate, guarana, and L-carnitine are other common metabolism boosters. These ingredients can indeed boost metabolism by stimulating the release of hormones into the bloodstream. But eventually, the adrenal gland, which is responsible for making and secreting hormones, will not be able to keep up with the demand and the body will not be able to regulate its hormone production and release properly.
Ephedra
There has been much controversy in the United States over the use of ephedra in diet supplements, with bans on its being placed and lifted multiple times (see References). While it is illegal to sell a formula containing ephedra alkaloids, weight-loss products with ephedra extract (sometimes known as "Mormon tea") are still on the market. The symptoms of the original ephedra products included hypertension and heart problems leading to heart attacks, strokes and death. For this reason, individuals with a tendency for high-blood pressure or heart issues may want to refrain from taking any product that includes ephedra extract (see References).
Laxatives
In order to promote quick weight loss, many slimming pills include ingredients with a laxative effect, such as phenylalanine, bisacodyl and the natural plant extract Senna. Because laxatives encourage bowel movements and emptying of the intestines, an individual will weigh less after taking pills with laxatives. However, as with diuretics, the weight will return with the pills are stopped, and can cause cramps and irritation to the digestive system while the ingredients are in the body.
Tags: weight loss, slimming pills, body will, ephedra extract, full feeling
Clean rooms are facilities often used in manufacturing and scientific research where air particles are kept to a minimum. To be precise, a typical office building contains anywhere from 500,000 to 1 million particles in a cubic foot of air. Clean rooms allow for anywhere between 100 particles to 10,000 particles per square foot depending on the type of clean room. Certain precautions have to be made for cleaning clean rooms. For instance, there are specific suits that must be worn along with strict rules, such as no cosmetics, jewelry, perfumes, colognes, aftershave or even lip balm. Personal items such as wallets, purses, keys, lighters, matches and cigarettes must be left outside the clean room. Cleaning such a room is quite meticulous and leaves little room for error.
Instructions
1. Change the tacky mats every two hours.
2. Clean stainless steel pass-throughs with designated disinfecting cleaners.
3. Move any light furniture away from walls. Clean the walls. Put all furniture back in its proper place.
4. Restock bathroom or wash-area facilities. Clean with designated cleaners.
5. Empty all trash receptacles and place outside the room. Re-line all trash receptacles appropriately.
6. Sweep and mop all floor areas with proper cleaning solutions. Let floor dry.
7. Wipe down all other surfaces with approved disinfecting wipes.
8. Vacuum all carpeted areas and rugs.
Tags: clean room, trash receptacles, with designated
According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 3.5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, the most frequent cause of the cognitive disorder dementia among the elderly. A progressive, irreversible and eventually fatal brain condition, Alzheimer's gradually impairs mental functions, such as remembering and thinking, ultimately creating an inability to perform basic daily tasks independently.
History
The name Alzheimer's disease comes from Alois Alzheimer, the German doctor who first defined the medical condition after encountering a 51-year-old patient in 1901. The woman, called Frau Auguste D. in Alzheimer's subsequent case study, suffered from progressively worse memory problems, difficulty producing and understanding language and untrue suspicions of her husband's faithfulness.
After she died from the disease, in 1906, Alzheimer conducted an autopsy that showed vessels filled with substances (later named amyloid plaques), damaged brain cells, tangled groups of fibers (later named neurofibrillary tangles), and a shrunken cortex, the part of the brain responsible for cognitive functions like memory and speech. The condition was officially named Alzheimer's disease in 1910 on the suggestion of German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin.
Symptoms
Alzheimer's disease typically begins with minimal signs of occasional confusion and memory lapses. Eventually, the symptoms increase in frequency and degree, until the person develops dementia, a term used to classify cognitive impairments that are great enough to interfere with daily life. Common Alzheimer's symptoms include memory loss, difficulty speaking and understanding both written and spoken language, disorientation, personality changes and poor judgment.
Causes
Although Alzheimer's disease is more prevalent among people over age 85--almost half of Americans in that group have the disease--aging is not a cause of the condition but rather a risk factor. The exact elements that cause the disease to emerge are currently unknown; however, scientists think a mixture of environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors trigger Alzheimer's.
After the onset of Alzheimer's disease, two types of damage affect the 100 billion neurons (nerve cells) in the brain, slowly killing them and interfering with the neural networks that perform distinct functions. The first is related to plaques, where deposits of the protein beta-amyloid, which aren't usually harmful, accumulate between neurons and begin to disrupt communication between cells in the brain. The second involves tangles, where fibers made of the protein tau become entangled inside of dying brain cells.
Risk Factors
Age, genetics, sex and lifestyle are four major risk factors for developing Alzheimer's disease. The disease is most common in people older than 85, and it affects approximately 5 percent of adults between age 65 and 74. People who have an immediate relative, such as a parent or sibling, with Alzheimer's are more likely to develop the disease, as are women, simply because they tend to live longer a time. Those who have conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and inadequately treated diabetes are also at higher risk, as well as individuals with less education or a milder form of cognitive problems.
Treatment
Despite the lack of a cure for Alzheimer's and the disease's severity, it's possible to treat some of the symptoms to improve a person's quality of life. Two prescription medications that can decrease the rate at which cognitive functions decline are cholinesterase inhibitors, which increase the amount of neurotransmitters found in the brain, and memantine (Namenda), which helps protect cells in the brain from the damaging chemical glutamate.
Pulmonary heart disease is also known as cor pulmonale. COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and pulmonary embolisms are the main cause of this type of heart disease. Pulmonary heart disease damages the right side of the heart. Understanding what pulmonary heart disease is and what it does to the heart muscle is essential in adapting lifestyle to gain optimal quality of life, mobility and independence.
Lifestyle
Anyone diagnosed with pulmonary heart disease may be required to undergo some lifestyle changes. If you smoke, stop. If you don't exercise, start. Excessive use of alcohol is not recommended, but some doctors may suggest a small glass of red wine every day to gain benefits from flavinoids and antioxidants, but such may also be found in foods. Exercise may help strengthen the heart muscle and increase stamina and strength for some. Preventing further heart damage is the key to living with pulmonary heart disease. Controlling blood pressure and watching cholesterol levels are also important for anyone suffering from heart disease.
Exercise
Exercise is important when living with pulmonary heart disease. Early exercise routines suggested by your cardiologist may include range of motion activities, walking or mild stair climbing that helps increase strength and endurance. The monitoring and maintaining of an exercise program may be overseen by family physicians or cardiologists and is vital for cardiac rehabilitation.
Diet
Individuals diagnosed with pulmonary heart disease must maintain a well-balanced, low-sodium diet that also limits fat intake. Heart-healthy foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, B-complex vitamins, antioxidants and flavinoids are recommended. Heart healthy food choices include but are not limited to salmon, black or kidney beans and oatmeal. Almonds and walnuts are suggested as well as dark, leafy vegetables.
Mental Outlook
Many individuals diagnosed with pulmonary heart disease experience sadness and depression. Seeking advice or treatment for stress, depression and daily challenges of living with heart disease is an important aspect of overall heart disease treatment plans. Physicians often suggest counseling for patients diagnosed with heart disease to offer an outlet for psychological side effects for those newly diagnosed in order to help provide strategies to cope with limitations or concerns.
Tags: heart disease, with pulmonary, diagnosed with, pulmonary heart, with pulmonary heart
Turmeric (or Indian saffron) is a spice most often used in Indian cooking. It is bright yellow in color and comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant. Turmeric flesh has a hard, brownish skin. Turmeric has been used as a condiment, textile dye and healing remedy. For use in alternative medicine, turmeric root is dried and then formed into powder, capsules, teas or liquid extracts.
Cysts
Cysts are growths covered with a membrane and appear on the surface of organs, muscles and skin. While they generally are not harmful, they can be unsightly. Cysts often have a bloated appearance because they often are filled with air or fluids. They can be removed surgically if necessary, or they can be treated topically. Because turmeric contains a chemical called curcumin that has anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric powder paste can be used topically in the treatment of cysts.
Preparing Turmeric Paste
Turmeric paste is made by putting 3 tbsp. of turmeric powder and 3 cups of water in a small saucepan. Place the mixture over medium low heat; allow it to boil until it becomes a thick paste. Boil it for at least eight minutes, adding water if needed. Boiling releases the essences of the turmeric, which are needed for their healing properties. Once the paste is made, it can be stored in a refrigerator for about two weeks.
Applying Turmeric Paste
Cool the paste completely before use. Apply a light coating of it to a cyst, covering the cyst completely. Use caution because the paste's yellow color can stain fabric. Cover the coated cyst with gauze. Reapply the paste each day as needed. Turmeric use for cysts generally is recommended for one month.
Tags: paste made, Turmeric Paste, turmeric powder, yellow color
Suntheanine is a type of supplement derived from the amino acid L-theanine, which is often found in tea. Suntheanine is commonly used to aid in relaxation. However, ongoing issues with anxiety should be properly addressed with a medical professional.
Purported Benefits
According to Total Health Magazine, drinking suntheanine in green tea will promote relaxation without causing drowsiness like some traditional medications. The magazine reports that suntheanine helps to relieve anxiety and stress, alleviate PMS symptoms and allow for better concentration and sounder sleep.
Dosage
Total Health Magazine recommends a dosage of between 50 and 200 mg but explains that there is no limit on the number of servings. Total Health also claims that the effects of suntheanine can be felt within thirty minutes of consumption and can last for six hours.
Considerations
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given suntheanine its Letter of No Objection in regard to safety. However, this does not mean that suntheanine is endorsed by the FDA as an effective form of medical treatment. According to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the health benefits of green tea extracts have not yet been scientifically proven. Consult your doctor before using this or any other supplement.
Tags: Total Health, Health Magazine, that suntheanine, Total Health Magazine
Detox tea is a revitalizing tea designed to cleanse the body. According to Mother Nature Inc., detox tea is made with Chinese purification herbs that have been used for thousands of years to remove toxins from the body. Because of this, drinking detox tea may be beneficial for your liver, lungs, blood and kidneys.
Function
In the modern world, we're exposed to many pollutants like caffeine, smoke and food toxins. According to Mother Nature Inc., these pollutants accumulate in the body and cause our overall health to decline. Drinking detox tea helps to remove these toxins from the body. It does this by supporting "the internal cleansing process by adjusting the fire and air energies," according to the Daily Plate.
Features
According to the Daily Plate, detox tea is made from with "a combination of herbs and spices, which have been used for centuries in India." The actual ingredients are cinnamon, liquorice, ginger, dandelion, fennel, anise, juniper berries, burdock root, coriander, cardamom, parsley, sage, cloves, turmeric root and black pepper. Also, detox tea is caffeine free and contains a laxative, according to Vital Health Partners.
Benefits
In order to get any health benefits from detox tea, you'll have to drink a lot of it. According to Mother Nature Inc., you should drink two cups, followed by additional cups throughout the day as needed. Alternatively, steep four tea bags in three cups of water, keep warm, and drink over the course of one hour. Doing this will promote "clear, healthy skin, increase the flow of energy (chi) to the body and mind, and promote calmer, more positive and peaceful emotions."
Warning
Claims that drinking detox tea is good for the liver, lungs and kidneys are difficult to verify. According to Mother Nature Inc., these claims have not been verified by the Food and Drug Administration, and because of this, no one should rely on detox tea to treat or prevent disease. Also, despite the fact that detox tea is advertised as a health food, drinking it will not help you lose weight, according to Vital Health Partners.
Considerations
Even though detox tea may not offer any actual health benefits, it's still worth considering. After all, it's not expensive, and according to Vital Health Partners, none of the ingredients are likely to cause any unhealthy side effects. Moreover, according to the Daily Plate, detox tea contains no calories, fat, sodium or carbohydrates.
Tags: According Mother, According Mother Nature, Mother Nature, according Vital, according Vital Health, Daily Plate
Purine is a compound found in nucleic acids, heterocyclic compounds made of imidazole rings and pyrimidine. When purine is metabolized, it creates a crystalline compound including uric acid, caffeine and xanthine. It is this uric acid that is the cause of gout, a painful arthritic disease. Purines are found in many foods.
The Kidneys
The kidneys eliminate uric acid. The lack of that function or lessened function of the kidneys causes a build-up of uric acid from purine. It is the build-up of the purine which causes gout sufferers more pain and more gout symptoms.
Purine-Rich Foods
Gout caused by purine-rich foods is actually considered the most painful of the rheumatic conditions. Gout affects an estimated 5 percent of all arthritis cases. Some purine-rich foods include beer and other alcoholic beverages, anchovies, sardines in oil, fish roes, herring, yeast, organ meat, legumes, mushrooms, spinach and cauliflower.
Beneficial Food
There is food that is beneficial for those who suffer from gout. It is suggested to have a diet containing cherries, fresh cherry juice, any dark berries, flax or olive oil and fatty acids found in certain fish like salmon.
The AMA on Gout
The American Medical Association (AMA) identifies 4 distinct stages of gout: asymptomatic symptom; acute gouty arthritis; intercritical gout; and chronic tophaceous gout.
Controlling it
Purine-rich foods are only one part of the battle for people who suffer from gout. It is important to keep up with the medications prescribed by a doctor. Regular exercise and the intake of plenty of water also will help lower gout sufferings.
Tags: uric acid, from gout, suffer from, suffer from gout
Acupuncture originated in China thousands of years ago. Its popularity in the U.S. has grown considerably over the past 20 years. Acupuncture is the insertion and penetration of very small sterilized stainless steel needles through your skin at precise points on your body. Several studies suggest that acupuncture may help relieve lower back pain.
Acupuncture & Back Pain
The Mayo Clinic says some studies suggest that acupuncture can help diminish pain and may even reduce nausea that's caused by chemotherapy. Some people who suffer from lower back pain say acupuncture eases their symptoms.
A 2007 National Health Interview Survey found more than three million adults used acupuncture as an alternative or complementary treatment for back pain.
Study
According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) a study involving 638 adults with chronic lower back pain found acupuncture or simulated acupuncture treatments (shallow needling on parts of the body not considered key acupuncture points), more successfully controlled lower back pain that standard care.
The study was led by Daniel Cherkin, Ph.D.,of Group Health Center for Health Studies in Seattle. The findings were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
The NCCAM says the results of the study are valuable to patients and practitioners seeking a reasonably safe and effective remedy for back pain.
Anaylsis of Studies
Researchers from the University of Maryland school of Medicine and the Peninsula Medical School, Plymouth, U.K., examined more than 30 studies conducted worldwide on acupuncture as a treatment for low back pain.
They found acupuncture offered a significant reduction in pain in the short-term (three weeks) and this relief appeared to be maintained over the longer term. However additional studies are underway.
The study results will be published in the April 19 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Acupuncture Therapy
Acupuncture therapy generally involves a series of weekly or biweekly treatments. It's common to have up to 12 treatments in total. Depending on where the needle is to be placed, you will lie face down, face up or on your side.
You may feel a split second sharp sensation when the needle is inserted, followed by a deep achy feeling when the needle reaches the targeted depth. The needles are left in place from 5 to 20 minutes. The entire acupuncture session lasts approximately about 30 minutes.
Benefits & Risks
When performed correctly, acupuncture is safe and has few side effects. It may be a good alternative if you don't want to take pain medications or they do not adequately manage your discomfort.
The most widespread side effects of acupuncture are bleeding, bruising or soreness at the needle sites. In very rare cases, a needle may break or an internal organ might be harmed.
Tags: back pain, lower back, lower back pain, Acupuncture Back, Acupuncture Back Pain
Urinary tract infections can develop in the lower and upper urinary tract, and while they're more common in females, this condition can also affect males. The symptoms of a urinary tract infection can persist for several days. And in some instances, infections become chronic or recurrent. Doctors generally prescribe antibiotics to fight the infection, and the infection generally clears within 7 to 10 days. However, there are self-treatment options for urinary tract infections.
Identification
Urinary tract infections are easy to identify. Symptoms can develop rapidly, and the first sign of an infection is typically painful or burning urination. The urine may appear cloudy, and in some cases, the urine may have an unusual odor. Other telltale signs include blood in the urine, an urgent need to urinate and pelvic discomfort.
Drink Water
Urinary tract infections are caused by the growth of bacteria in the urinary tract. Bacteria enters the urethra, multiplies and spreads. To treat a urinary tract infection without antibiotics, drink between 8 and 10 glasses of water a day to flush toxins and bacteria from the urinary tract. Avoid alcohol and sodas.
Take Pain Relievers
Urinary tract infections often cause abdominal discomfort, pelvic pain or back pain. Take an over-the-counter pain medication to stop inflammation and ease the pain. Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory and an effective treatment for pain associated with urinary tract infections.
Use Heat Therapy
If you want to treat the condition without medication, use a heating pad to ease pain caused by a urinary tract infection. Take a hot bath or apply a heating pad to your pelvis, abdomen or back for 10 minutes, and then remove for 10 minutes. A heating pad can also ease pelvic pressure and alleviate discomfort.
Eat Cranberries
Cranberries promote urinary health because they contain a bacterial anti-adhesion property, which stops bacteria from growing and multiplying in the urinary tract. Drink several glasses of cranberry juice to flush bacteria from the urinary tract, or take cranberry supplements available at a local health food store.
When faced with a life-threatening situation such as cancer you would be foolish to perfunctorily dismiss a viable treatment option, even if it is not a mainstream approach. For instance, Chinese acupuncture has long been used as a supplemental treatment against the ravages of cancer.
But what is acupuncture, what should a first-time acupuncture patient expect from the procedure, and how can this process help fight cancer? Read on and find out.
What Is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture has been practiced throughout China and other Asian countries for more than 4,000 years. It is based on the belief that the human body is governed by 12 channels and eight meridians through which energy flows: Where this energy flows smoothly, health is maintained; where there are obstructions due to pathological causes, the energy flow is interrupted, allowing disease to fester. Acupuncture seeks to stimulate various points on the body to manage and correct improper energy flow, restoring health.
How Is Acupuncture Performed?
During treatment, tiny needles are inserted into various acupuncture points throughout the body. A skilled acupuncturist will be able to discern, from observing symptoms, which channels and meridians are blocked and how best to restore the body's natural condition. A typical session lasts anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes, with the number of required sessions dependent on the severity of the problem. Heat, light electrical stimulation and manual stimulation can also be used during treatment.
Can Acupuncture Help Fight Cancer?
Numerous studies have indicated the positive effects that acupuncture treatment can have in the fight against cancer, as it improves immune system function and helps decrease pain, nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. It has also been shown to offset other treatment-related side effects, including fever, coughing, night sweats and weight loss.
Additional Cancer-Fighting Properties
Individuals who have recently had cancer growths removed from their body can use acupuncture to reengage the immune system and help guard against a recurrence. Dr. Wang Fuda, who has devoted much of his professional life towards helping cancer survivors, believes an immediate and prolonged series of treatments after removal of a tumor is the key to guarding against a relapse. See the "Acupuncture vs. Cancer" link at the bottom of the page for more information about Fuda and his work.
Considerations
Scientifically speaking, acupuncture heralds a number of benefits for those suffering from cancer. Although some might have a psychological aversion to non-traditional forms of treatment where data may not be convincing, one would be foolish to dismiss acupuncture as a viable alternative without investigating its potential benefits.
Tags: Acupuncture Cancer, energy flow, energy flows, immune system, would foolish
Thyroid cancer in children is rare, according to Alberto Pappo, M.D. of the Texas Children's Cancer Center. An enlarged lump in the neck near the thyroid gland is usually the first symptom, and temperature sensitivity, heart palpitations, and fluctuations in weight can also be warning signs.
Types
According to Pappo, there are four types of thyroid cancer that can affect children: papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic.
Symptoms
According to WebMD, only half of all cases of thyroid cancer in children have enlargements in the neck. The other half have painless, non-inflamed metastatic cancers that may present no symptoms at all.
Significance
Children represent around 5 percent of all cases of thyroid cancer in the U.S. Thyroid cancer accounts for less than 2 percent of all childhood cancers, according to WebMD.
Outcome
According to Pappo, the survival rate for children with thyroid cancer is around 95 percent, although the rate rises with age and the recurrence rate is three times more likely in children than in adults.
Warning
Although a lump in the neck is not necessarily cancerous, it should be examined by a physician as soon as possible to determine its cause and to begin any necessary treatment as soon as possible.
Tags: cancer children, According Pappo, around percent, cancer children rare, cases thyroid, cases thyroid cancer
Anyone who plays sports--whether child, adult, man or woman--should consider wearing a mouth guard. A split lip will heal over time, but a split tooth never heals, and if it's an adult tooth, then you're really in trouble.
History
Boxing was the first sport to introduce the usage of "gumshields" or "tooth guards," as they were called back then. Unfortunately, the primitive mouth guards were nothing more than a thin piece of rubber that wore out rather quickly. They may have provided some protection, but not enough to consider using today.
Types
There are two basic types of mouth guards you can purchase: over-the-counter from your local drugstore or sporting goods store or custom-made from your family dentist. Nearly 90 percent of mouth guards are purchased over-the-counter, most likely due to their affordability. If you decide to use custom-made, speak with your dentist or athletic trainer about the necessary thickness of the mouth guard--light, medium or heavy.
Features
A mouth guard that fits properly will be protective, comfortable, tear-resistant, tasteless, odorless and resilient. The problem with buying a mouth guard over-the-counter is that it can be bulky, hinder breathing and cannot protect nearly as well as one that has been custom-made.
Benefits
When you purchase a custom-made mouth guard, although expensive, you can be sure it will be better at protecting your teeth, plus it will fit comfortably without cutting the inside of your cheeks or gums. The custom-made mouth guard will be molded accurately to fit your teeth, leaving little room for error. It will also have the sufficient thickness needed in the specific area of concern, and your dentist or trainer will work with you and the mouth guard until everything feels right.
Considerations
In 1995, Dr. Raymond Flander conducted a study of injuries occurring during sports games, and he found that when the players wore mouth guards, only 0.7 percent of the injuries were orofacial, whereas when the mouth guards weren't worn, orofacial injuries occurred 34 percent of the time.
Custom-made mouth guards are designed to properly protect you where you need it the most, and they are made to slip right onto your teeth with very few problems. It may take some time to get used to wearing a mouth guard, but if you get the right one, you'll understand its importance.
Tags: mouth guard, mouth guards, your teeth, custom-made mouth, custom-made mouth guard, from your
Diet patches are becoming more and more popular. There are a variety available to help you lose weight. They can be attached to various parts of your body and function by helping your body burn fat, stimulating your metabolism and also suppressing your appetite. Most patches can be used regularly for a number of weeks until you have reached your desired weight. Here's how natural diet patches work, so you'll understand why sticking them on your body helps you to lose weight.
Instructions
1. Look at the ingredients listed on your diet patches. Most natural diet patches contain one or a combination of four ingredients. The most common is chromium. Chromium balances blood-sugar levels by regulating the function of insulin and helping with the uptake of glucose into the cells. The most popular use of chromium is as a weight-loss aid. It works by increasing lean mass while depleting fat stores.
2. Know that guarana is another popular ingredient. This substance is extracted from a caffeine-containing plant native to South America. The part of the plant used is the powdered seed. Its caffeine content ranges from 2.6 to 7 percent. It does stimulate the nervous system, but it is understood to be the least likely of all plants containing caffeine to induce anxiety.
3. Look out for bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus), another key ingredient. Manufacturers of diet patches claim that bladderwrack is able to burn fat because of its high iodine content. Iodine is used by the thyroid gland to make various thyroid hormones that regulate many metabolic processes related to energy use and growth.
4. Look for the ingredient garcinia cambogia, also known as brindle berry. The extract from this yellow, Indian fruit is reputed to prevent the conversion of carbohydrates into fat by inhibiting the action of the enzyme citrate lyase.
5. Keep a look out for other natural diet patches, such as those that use green tea. It is believed that green tea may help the metabolization of body fat. In this way it not only helps with weight loss, but also reduces the risk of other diseases that can ultimately lead to colon cancer.
Spinal tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors usually do not cause a lot of problems but any kind of tumor near or on the spine is cause for concern since it can impact the nerves, leading to pain, neurological issues, and even paralysis. A cancerous tumor can cause all of these problems and more. A biopsy is necessary to determine what kind of growth it is.
Symptoms
Back pain is the most common symptom, particularly in the middle of lower back. The pain might spread to the hips, legs, feet and arms.
Other symptoms can manifest depending on where the tumor is and whether it is benign or malignant. You might lose sensation, feel muscle weakness, particularly in the leg, and have trouble walking. Sensitivity to pain, heat and cold often decreases. Bowel and bladder function can be affected as well. Varying degrees of paralysis in different parts of the body occur depending on which nerves are affected. Different kinds of spinal deformity, like scoliosis, can occur
Types of Tumors
Spinal tumors are grouped by their location in the spine.
Extrdural (vertebral) tumors: The majority of tumors that appear on the vertebrae are due to cancer from another part of the body spreading to the spine or, less commonly, cancers originating in the bone.
Osteoid osteomas, osteoblastomas, and hemangiomas are benign tumors that cause chronic pain, curvature of the spine, and neurological complications.
Intradural-extramedullary tumors form in the spinal cord's arachnoid membrane, the roots of the nerves that branch out from the cord, or at the base of the cord.
Intramedullary tumors also affect the spinal cord and occur inside the supporting cells. The most common kinds are astrocytomas and ependymomas. The former affects children and adolescents while the latter affects adults.
Causes
Researchers are still not clear on the exact origin of spinal tumors. They have discovered they contain abnormal genes but the causes of these abnormalities are still undetermined.
It appears that spinal cord tumors sometimes run in families and result from certain heredity conditions. Neurofibromatosis 2 causes benign tumors to form near or on the nerves linked to hearing, which causes a gradual loss of hearing in one or both ears. These tumors sometimes spread to other parts of the spinal cord. Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a rare hereditary disorder that produces blood vessel tumors that affect multiple parts of the body, including the spinal cord.
Monitoring
If doctors discover a spinal tumor that is benign, small, and not causing symptoms, careful monitoring is all that may be required. This particularly applies to people who are poor candidates for surgery or radiation treatments. A doctor will schedule periodic scans to check growth.
Treatments
Surgery is the preferred treatment for a tumor that can be removed with minimal nerve damage.
Radiation is used for tumors that cannot be fully removed through surgery or cannot be surgically removed at all. Tumors that have spread from other parts of the body are also treated with radiation.
Chemotherapy is not usually effective for cancerous spinal tumors but has proven effective in some cases. Your doctor will determine if this is an appropriate treatment.
Tags: spinal cord, parts body, benign tumors, doctor will, most common
A calendar can help keep your monthly food consumption and budget on track.
There are several reasons you might be compelled to create a monthly food chart. For instance, perhaps you are participating in a diet program and want to keep your proportions on track. Another situation that might require a monthly food chart is for those who are trying to stick to a budget. For example, you could create a food chart that makes not of what you ate and how much you spent in the process. Whatever your reason for creating a chart, creating one is simple with ordinary household materials.
Instructions
1. Hang a calendar on the wall in a place you will see on a daily basis. Make sure you choose a calendar that has large enough spaces for each day, so you have plenty of room to write or hang stickers. Many calendars will have a section on the bottom to write notes, which would be very helpful for monthly planning. On each day of the month, make note of the information that you want to chart.
2. Have a list of goals in mind for each month. Before charting, identify why you need to document your food in this fashion. If the intention is to lose weight, set goals for yourself and note how you plan to measure these goals. For example, if you want to lose ten pounds, set a date by which you want to achieve this goal and indicate it on the chart.
3. Make sections on your chart to include different information. For each day, include the food you ate, how much you spent, how many calories you consumed and your current weight. Create a color or symbol-coded key to keep your chart in order. For example, numbers written in green could indicate the amount of money you spent on food that day.
4. Write notes throughout the day when you do not have access to your chart. It is unlikely you will be standing by your chart at all times, so it is helpful to jot notes throughout the day so you will not forget. Alternatively, you could keep a monthly planner on hand instead of hanging a calendar on the wall.
Tags: your chart, food chart, keep your, calendar wall, each month, monthly food, monthly food chart