Saturday, March 31, 2007

Essiac - Alternative Cancer Treatment Since 1920s

Why has Essiac been used as an alternative cancer treatment for more than 80 years? Perhaps it is because the frequency of cancer cases has risen significantly over the past several decades, and experts predict its rate will continue to rise.

In 2003 the World Cancer Report, an agency of the United Nations, predicted that cancer rates could further increase by 50% to 15 million new cases in the year 2020. It is commonly believed that increasingly stressful lifestyles and increasing environmental pollution are two of the factors contributing to this rise.

One of the alternative treatments for cancer that has been used the longest is Essiac, an herbal tea that was developed in the 1920s, although it may have been in use for hundreds of years. That is because it is believed that the formula for Essiac was revealed by an old Native Indian healer.

The person who named Essiac was a Registered Nurse in Canada, Rene Caisse. The name Essiac is Caisse spelled backwards. According to Ms. Caisse, she was told about the formula by a woman who claimed it cured her breast cancer. Furthermore, she told Caisse that she was given the formula by an elderly Ojibwa medicine man in Northern Ontario.

Whatever the source for the formula may have been, it utilizes four herbs to produce an herbal tea. Caisse said she used the tea to cure her aunt of cancer. After this success, her aunt's physician, Dr. R. O. Fisher of Toronto, asked Caisse to treat some of his other patients with the herbal formula, and, Caisse related, other medical doctors "were impressed with the results."

Caisse was encouraged to open up a cancer treatment clinic in Bracebridge, Ontario, where she treated thousands of patients with the formula she named Essiac. Although the clinic was closed in 1942, Essiac continues to be available as an herbal dietary supplement. It has been reported that Dr. Charles Brusch, who was President John F. Kennedy's physician, used Essiac successfully on his own cancer.

The renowned alternative cancer treatment researcher, Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D. wrote an article about Essiac Tea in 1992 detailing the scientific research projects that had been done to determine whether it actually was a useful treatment against cancer. Although the tests were not conclusive, Dr. Moss stated that Essiac was "worth investigating" because independent tests of the individual herbs that comprised the mixture had been proven to have significant anti-cancer properties. He also referred to "persistent anecdotal reports" that Essiac was a useful alternative cancer treatment

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Friday, March 30, 2007

Are You Turning 30 But Feeling 50?

When you awake early in the morning for your shower do you look in the mirror and say to yourself, 'Who is that guy?' Looking back at you is this slumped shouldered, puffy eyed stranger with a chest that has slipped below his waist, and muscles that have turned flabby. Welcome to the real life! When we were younger and still in college we didn't give a lot of thought our health. Why should we, we could party all night and play all day. When we stared our first job we didn't think twice about meeting our buddies for cocktails or hustling hot looking chicks. So what if we didn't get to bed until 3:00 a.m.? we were up at 6:00a.m.and ready to go! With a stop a Burger King for their "Enormous Omelet Sandwich" we were ready to face the world. Food was just fuel, so we filled up on what was available and cheap. On weekends we wanted to relax so rather than jog or play basketball as we use too, we would gather at the couch with our good buddies to watch football or basketball, have a few brews, chips and maybe a pizza. We earned it. Sex was still great, although we did think now and then that maybe Viagra might help us maintain the pace. Sex can be almost like work sometimes. It is not long before things seem to change. As we approach our thirties we notice that some of our friends are getting married, others are changing jobs and moving away, and some have just changed their priorities and don't get together as much.

This might be a good time for a reality check? At sometime in our life we need that, usually the earlier the better. Remember when you or your friends use to say they would never end up like their dad, with a pot belly and high blood pressure? Life has a way of sneaking up on us. Just when you think you have the world by the ass everything turns to crap. A good practice is to ask yourself, "what kind of life do I expect ten years from now" Are you going to burn the candle at both ends and hope for luck or are you going to adjust your lifestyle? Are you going to become that man in the mirror who looks back at you and says, "Help me"? That doesn't mean you can't meet with your friends for a drink or watch basketball on the weekend or even give up fast foods. Surely you won't give up sex, that's healthy. In fact, research suggests that a male who has a climax about two hundred times a year actually increases their life span. (Sorry, it didn't say if that was with a partner or not). What you do with your life or career is up to you but think about what it would be like without your health. Maybe you can make some time for exercise and try to make healthier food choices more often. Health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity don't just happen all of a sudden, they build and progress over many years before they pop onto the seen. By the way, did you know that Viagra and similar drugs for sexual impotency are in many cases a symptom of heart disease?

Try to start thinking more healthy so you can increase the quality of the years you have in front of you. Relax a little more and remember, 'no one ever lay on their death bed and said" Gee, I wish I had spent more time at the office".

Here are some suggestions to get you started.

1. Learn to think like a healthy person thinks.


2. Make gradual changes, turning unhealthy habits into healthy habits.


3. Understand that everything you do is a learned behavior. If you have learned to eat unhealthy, you can learn to eat healthy.


4. Rather than thinking about how long you will live, try to die as young as you can at the oldest age possible.


5. Do something unexpected of a kindly nature, every once in a while, for a complete stranger. For example, when you go through a toll station, pay for the car behind you. Maybe you will both have a slightly happier day.

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Tuesday, March 27, 2007

The Prescription Analyzer for Hearing Aids - How it Works

Dissatisfied with your present hearing aid? Does it only work part of the time, or does it only clearly pick up half of the sounds you hear? Before you think about throwing it away, you should test your hearing device with a prescription analyzer to determine what steps to take, if your aid should be repaired or replaced.

When you make an appointment to test your hearing aid with a prescription analyzer, here is how it will work:

Live Speech Mapping

The prescription analyzer will measure the live speech of your spouse or any other family member whom you are having trouble understanding clearly. A probe microphone is placed between the hearing aid and your eardrum, and measures what the hearing aid is actually amplifying. Your hearing aid is then programmed while live speech is being amplified through it. The prescription analyzer measures the change in performance of the aid to accommodate what you were missing.

Video Otoscope

With the Video Otoscope, the analyzer can show you a picture of the of the ear canal as well as ear drum for purposes of looking for wax, disease, tumors, or perforations. This will determine if your ear is the issue.

Hearing Loss Simulator

The prescription analyzer enables the spouse or family member to hear how the person with the hearing loss hears. The analyzer can actually reproduce voices or music while adding the hearing loss. Experience first hand what your loved ones are living without.

The prescription analyzer can simulate what a hearing aid would do for the hearing impaired patient. At the time of testing you can hear exactly how the hearing aid will perform before you decide to try it.

Increasing Performance

Once the results are in from the live speech mapping, the hearing specialist can make programming adjustments, replace any necessary components, or make any physical changes to the hearing aid necessary to increase the performance of that hearing aid.

The prescription analyzer measures the affect of your own voice and tells exactly what to do to relieve any problems you are experiencing due to the sounds of you own voice.

The prescription analyzer measures the battery drain of your hearing aid, telling if your aid is draining too much current. Knowing if the battery drain is correct or not is one of the clearest insights into the overall condition of the aid. It can be determined what, if anything, needs to be done to improve performance.

So before you decide to throw away a hearing aid you think isn't working, contact a hearing specialist to see about a prescription analyzer for your aid. You may discover just a little repair is need to make your hearing device last.

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Monday, March 26, 2007

Essiac - The Facts Behind The Controversial Herbal Tea Essiac

Renee Caisse was a Registered Nurse in Canada when she developed the recipe for Essiac, an herbal tea that has been used as an alternative cancer treatment for more than 80 years. But Nurse Caisse did not claim to have invented the recipe for Essiac.

In 1922, Renee Caisse met an elderly woman who told her an amazing story. The woman said she once had breast cancer, but it was cured by drinking tea made from certain herbs that grew in northern Ontario. Furthermore, she said the formula had been given to her by an old Native Indian healer -- a traditional medicine man.

Years later, when Ms. Caisse's aunt was diagnosed with cancer, Renee remembered the formula she had written down. With the permission of her aunt's doctor, Ms. Caisse brewed a batch of the herbal tea and gave it to her aunt. In her book, "I was Canada's Cancer Nurse," Caisse wrote that, after having been given up by the medical profession as hopeless, her aunt lived for 21 more years after being treated with her herbal tea. She said that her aunt's doctor was so impressed, he asked Caisse to use her formula on some of his other cancer patients.

Caisse went on to set up a clinic in Bracebridge, Ontario, where she used Essiac to tread thousands of cancer patients. One doctor who was particularly impressed by Caisse's work was Frederic J. Banting, who won a Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1923 for the discovery of insulin. In her book, Caisse quotes Dr. Banting as saying "Essiac must actuate the pancreatic gland into normal functioning."

Nevertheless, the medical establishment continues to be skeptical about the efficacy of Essiac. It is against the law to claim that Essiac is a cure for any medical ailment, so the herbal tea is currently being marketed as a dietary supplement.

The esteemed cancer researcher, Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D. reported that Essiac was tested in the 1970s at two well-respected cancer research institutes, both of which concluded that Essiac was not proven to cause any anti-cancer activity in animals. Nevertheless, Dr. Moss said, Essiac "remains worth investigating" for two reasons: on-going anecdotal reports of its usefulness and because the individual ingredients used in the Essiac formula have been proven to possess anti-cancer properties. The four herbs in the original Essiac formula are Slippery Elm inner bark, Burdock root, Sheep Sorrel and Indian Rhubarb Root.

In conclusion, it should be noted that the name Essiac comes from the backward spelling of Renee Caisse's last name.

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Saturday, March 24, 2007

Choosing the Right Office Furniture

The appearance of an office is determined to a great extent by the office furniture within it. If the office has a motley collection of different furniture, none of which fits together or matches, the overall impression of the office is scruffy. This impression is often placed on the business in the office as well, regardless of their effectiveness. If an office has similar furniture throughout, with all items being of good quality and fairly regimented appearance, then the appearance of professionalism and good organisation is presented to any person who enters the office. As with unfavourable impressions, the favourable impression generated is likely to be applied to the business as well.

In addition to the appearance of the furniture and the effect that this has on visitors to the premises, the needs of the staff must be taken into account. Often furniture is provided for employees with no thought to their needs and their comfort, which is a grave, but common mistake on the part of employers. If someone has to sit in one place for the entire working day, then you need to ensure that they are comfortable in the seat that you provide them. Providing uncomfortable office furniture to your employees is likely to impact on their productiveness through discomfort affecting concentration.

For most employers or office decorators, the compromise needs to be struck between what office furniture will look good and what will be comfortable for the employees to use on a daily basis. One thing that is often neglected when considering what office furniture to buy is the size of the employees and the fact that many employees are often very different body sizes. When a person's size differs greatly from the rest of their co-workers they normally need office furniture that is outside the normal range. This is not only the case with office chairs, but also desks since a combination of furniture that is the wrong size can cause severe strain on different areas of the body.

Those people who are decorating offices and providing office furniture need to consider the layout and furniture of areas other than the immediate reception area. It is often the case that people create a good impression in the area a guest enters, but neglects other areas of the office when providing furniture. This can diminish the good impression that has been made in the entrance area to the office. One thing that people often fail to consider is the comfort of office furniture in meeting rooms. This is often due to the fact that people spend less time there than at their desk, but it is still extremely important. It can prevent people from focussing on the meeting they are attending due to discomfort, which could have been easily prevented.

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Friday, March 23, 2007

Stop Sweating - Does Your Kid Have A Sweating Problem?

Excessive sweating starts in junior high school---an awful time to have this problem. Scientists believe that excessive sweating is genetic; it's passed on from parent to child. But even if YOU don't have excessive sweat, your son or daughter might. Kids are self-conscious enough as it is, so they may be too embarrassed to seek help.

Even from mom and dad.

If your kid does have a sweating problem, it's a good bet that she is doing everything she can to hide it. She will:

Take extra shirts to school

Always keep her hands at her sides

Sit in the back of class and avoid participating

Pay more attention to her sweating than to the teacher

Cut class if she is sweating is too bad

Wear oversized black clothes and jackets

Avoid parties, athletic events, and the prom

It's hard to imagine how much sweat comes out of a kid with hyperhidrosis. Some kids sweat so much that their body is drenched in sweat. They get cold from all that sweat. It would be like wearing a sopping wet undershirt underneath a sweater.

When a kid works up the nerve to talk her parents, many parents don't believe that something is wrong. "You're not washing correctly," mom might say. Or dad may just look at his kid like she's a weirdo.

Kids at school may have found out and are taunting your son or daughter all day. When a kid finally tells someone, it's usually because she can't cope anymore.

Tips for kids

  • When you approach mom or dad, give them specific examples. Tell them what happens to you in school. Make a list of times and places when sweating prevented you from doing something fun or being successful.

  • If you're unsure about how your parents will react, get help from another trusted adult---teacher, coach, pastor, guidance counselor, brother, sister. Together, you can have a real conversation with your parents about what's going on.

Excessive sweating is a real problem that often goes untreated in kids, because kids don't have the means to seek treatment on their own. Parents, watch for warning signs; and if your kid approaches you, be sympathetic. Your kid has most likely been dealing with this for a long time without you knowing.

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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Tips For Buying Adjustable Office Chairs

If you are considering purchasing office chairs, it is much better to bypass the one size fits all approach, and make an adjustable chair an important purchase requirement. With many workers spending longer hours at the desk, the way we sit in our chairs and at our desks has become more of an issue. One of the key factors for having better office chair ergonomics, or increased comfort and productivity, is to have adjustable office chairs.

There are several types of seat adjustments to consider that are crucial for proper office chair seating. The first type of adjustment is the height of the chair. This should be adjusted in relation to your desk height, because your arms should be even with the desk. This will reduce strain on your neck and shoulders, and will also greatly reduce fatigue. To accomplish this, you may need to have some sort of footrest beneath your desk, as your feet should be resting on the ground or some other surface.

Another important way to combat strain is to have proper lumbar support. Your lower back should be flush against the chair. This will help keep your shoulders and hips in alignment, along with maintaining the curve of the lower spine. Some of the better adjustable office chairs will have a lumbar support adjustment, where you can move the lower part of the seat forward or back. This is an important feature to look for when purchasing, as keeping your lower back against the seat is one of the best ways to relieve pain and tension while at your desk. In addition, your chair should also have the ability to tilt forward and back, in order to provide proper neck support and increased comfort.

Your chair should also have armrests that can be adjusted. As I mentioned, the height of the arms in relation to the desk is important, and you want your arms and shoulders to be relaxed while working at the computer. You should also have enough height so your forearms aren't on the desk while your are typing, taking pressure off of the wrists.

By purchasing adjustable office chairs, you will have a much healthier workplace environment. When you first set up the chair at the workstation, first make the initial adjustments, which can be refined as more time is spent in the chair. Adjustable office chairs provide the flexibility and adaptability that make them a wise investment.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Acid Reflux and Vinegar - Snake Oil or a Great Home Remedy?

Acid reflux is a painful condition experienced by millions of people every year. In fact, many feel the incidence of acid reflux is on the rise and attribute the increase to the modern high fat, high sugar diet and relatively sedentary lifestyle. Acid reflux is basically severe, recurring heartburn, generally believed to result from increased abdominal pressure. This pressure prohibits the esophageal sphincter muscle from closing off the stomach, and stomach contents (including strong stomach acids) wash up into the esophagus, causing intense pain.

Numerous over the counter and prescription remedies for acid reflux exist , but not all sufferers find relief from medication. Additionally , the side effects of some medications , as well as their expense make them unattractive choices for some afflicted with acid reflux disease. Many people are constantly searching for a more natural , homemade remedy for this issue.

Acid Reflux and Vinegar: A Potential Homeopathic Cure but Proceed with Caution

One of the more popular remedies you may come across on the internet or on message boards , is the use of apple cider vinegar for the treatment of acid reflux. While acid reflux and vinegar may not seem to go together at all , considering the high acidic content of vinegar , there are people who report experiencing relief after drinking it and who will swear by this method.

One hypothesis about why acid reflux and vinegar might be related is a controversial one - specifically , that acid reflux can sometimes be caused by too little stomach acid. not too much stomach acid. This theory holds that undigested food ferments in the stomach in the absence of appropriate levels of stomach acid. Adding vinegar aids digestion and reduces symptoms. Note that no one has tested this particular idea about acid reflux and vinegar.

Of course there are those who aren't concerned as to why acid reflux and vinegar are related to one another but are just thankful for the relief it brings. The hope and desire for an end to the burning sensations are usually enough for most people to try any home remedy , at least once.

The use of vinegar has never been shown to be harmful to people when consumed in reasonable quantities; however there are those , of course , who report that acid reflux and vinegar do not , in fact mix and experience an unfortunate increase in their symptoms.

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Sunday, March 18, 2007

Expectant Mothers & Nutrition

Any expectant mother will want first and foremost to take care of her health and that of her growing baby. Proper diet is a staple to any successful pregnancy and it is vital that you constantly monitor your health… because your baby's health is directly influence by yours!

The quantity of additional calorie intake that expectant mothers need may be a complete surprise. Only something like 300 extra calories per day is recommended by health professionals. That's right, only about 300 extra calories…not the enormous amount calories that many expectant women take in each day, all in the name of being pregnant. Now 300 calories really doesn't sound like much at all… so now I am sure that you are wondering with only 300 extra calories- where did these 30 pounds come from?

Weight gain is to be expected during a pregnancy but it need not be excessive. For many, the problem is that there is more that just those 300 extra calories that leads to that unhealthy extreme weight gain during a woman's pregnancy. The principal problem is the unmanageable urges to eat something. Don't let yourself to give in to your hunger urges… and don't justify your extreme eating by convincing yourself that just because you're mom to be you need a gob of extra calories.

Some of those calories that you need to consume during your pregnancy to carry on a healthy pregnancy should come from protein, approximately 60 grams total per day or about 10 grams per day more than a woman who is not pregnant. Seafood, chicken and lean meats are all good sources of protein, as are dried beans, nuts and cheese. Remember you only need about 1 1/2 ounces of meat to get 10 grams of protein.

Calcium is another necessary element during the course of a woman's pregnancy. Today's, women who are not even pregnant generally don't get enough of the recommended daily amount of calcium intake… so upping your calcium is generally a good idea to begin with. Dairy products are a primary source of calcium you get in your diet. A good strategy is for you to use non fat sources of calcium in your diet, this will help keep your calorie intake under control as well. For instance green leafy vegetables are a potential source for you to get some added calcium for both you and your unborn child.

Assisting your body to fully take in your iron supplements is vitamin D. This makes vitamin D a a working partner with your efforts to keep your iron level in a healthy range. As the blood volume increases during a pregnancy, the call for iron becomes even more important. In fact, the daily recommended dosage of iron for a woman who is expecting versus one who is not actually expecting doubles from 15mg/day to 30mg/day. Be very certain that you don't miss a day without iron… it is a very important element in your overall health during a pregnancy. As a part of your care during your pregnancy, your doctor will be checking your iron levels via lab work to insure that you are maintaining healthy levels.

A good source of iron is red meat, but forget about fish and poultry as well. On the market today, there are also a variety iron enriched cereals that also help to enhance your iron intake.

Vegetarian diets can supply all the needed nutrients, but finding them in the right form can be a bit tougher to accomplish. Vegetarians will need to more closely keep an eye on nutrient levels, but this is commonly a part of a vegetarian lifestyle already, so just stay the course of your continual game-plan and work closely with your healthcare provider to ensure that you are indeed consuming all the nutrients that you need.

Needless to say, any woman who is pregnant should be in contact with her doctor concerning her dietary requirements. It's important to stick to this because each pregnancy is different, and as such, so too will be the body's dietary needs. Even before the pregnancy it is just as important that the woman consciously work with her diet so she can get her pregnancy off to a good healthy start.

The key is to work as a team with your doctor so you can stay healthy provide the best possible growing environment for your future son or daughter.

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Saturday, March 17, 2007

About Heart Attack and Its Warning Signs

Often heart attack is slowly with mild pain and the person in cause doesn't understand what's happening, on the other hand the heart attack might be intense and movie-like. If you suspect you are having an heart attack than you need to call the emergency or 911.

The most common signs are: chest discomfort which may be felt as pain, pressure, squeezing, fullness and which may last for minutes. Other symptoms are: pain in both arms, neck, stomach, back, shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweating. The most common symptoms in heart attack in women is discomfort and chest pain, but it may also appear as well nausea, shortness of breath and back pain. In 5 minutes since those symptoms have begun one must address to the emergency medical service at 911. If you announce the ambulance you'll receive the best care against heart attack and in the shortest time. You should't be driving by yourself unless you have no other option.

The doctor will diagnose the heart attack after studying several tests: EKG a device that gives the graphical record of the heart's electrical activity, a physical examination and knowing the complete medical history of the patient, high enzymes in the blood appear in heart attack, those steps are also helpfull. Cardiac enzymes may be determined later in the intensive care unit and urgent care setting so they confirm or infirm the suspicions.

So, if you address as quickly as possible to a medical emergency or service you have greater chances of receiving the corresponding treatment and the doctor will have the possibility to establish exactly what you suffer from, sometimes heart attack symptoms are very similar to other disease symptoms and may be mistaken. That's why is indicated to present to the hospital and have EKG done and blood analysis and so on. If you get help during that first hour, your chances of recovery are greatly improved. Many heart problems are silent, without symptoms, and go unnoticed until they become the cause of sudden death. And most victims are older men.

Heart attack is one instance where getting treatment promptly can mean the difference between life and death. Heart attacks may vary from person to person, and from heart attack to heart attack. A great mistake is the delaying the treatment and the presentation to the hospital. Heart discomfort is rarely a sharp, stabbing pain. But further ischemia or another heart attack, even a mild to moderate one, may prove fatal because that reserve capacity is no longer there.

Risk factors include some you can't control: your age, sex and genetic predisposition to atherosclerosis and those you can influence, like diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, lack of exercise and obesity.

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

Stretching - Ergonomics And Office Chairs And How They Affect Your Health

Even with a well-designed workstation, when working long hours in your office chair, problems may arise. When problems arise, attention has to be paid to the work at hand and how it is performed daily if the person plans to continue working these long hours. When working long hours in front of a computer or at a particular workstation, you tend to hold the same posture for hours without much movement at all of certain muscles and over-stimulation of others. This leads to nothing but muscle pain and strain.

Movement is critical to ergonomic posturing and keeping good body health when it is required to continue working at a single task for hours at a time. What is important is two things to keep in mind when at work.

First is to get a good ergonomic chair, one that has as much movement as you can afford, some of the more expensive models, which are built for people in chairs for longer than 6-8 hours a day, can almost mimic the body's movements and keep your feet flat on the floor and your eyes at the same level even when reclining. Any chair, as long as it has good reclining positions with tilt tension adjustment will do as long as you remember the second critical ingredient to healthy seating when in your office chair.

#2: It is crucial to your overall body health to take frequent breaks when working in your office chair for long hours. It seems that everyone has a different recommendation for how long and when to take these breaks. The average recommendation by most ergonomists seems to be 5-10 minutes every hour and a half of sitting in a chair. You can also help while working to help to relieve the stress by remembering some simple techniques to help reduce muscle strain.

Try to vary your different daily tasks so that you are not constantly clicking on the mouse for long hours or typing away without using anything else for hours. Also try to refocus your eyes on something other than your computer screen every so many minutes throughout the hour to make sure to lessen eye strain and of course neck strain from being held in one position for too long.

If you can, try to adjust your posture and remember to slightly recline instead of hunching over as the hours progress and your eyes strain to be closer and closer to your monitor.

Stretching your legs while at the office and getting out of that office chair every so often to strech your back as well, can help to lessen the chances of suffering through Carpal Tunnel, Chronic Back Pain or any of the other muscle related office chair injuries that can be avoided with a little practice of better ergonomic movement and constant stretching.

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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Lower Cholesterol Through Ayurvedic Treatments

Cholesterol is quite easily the top of the list of killers among the human race in the world today. An excess of cholesterol can produce extremely fatal cardiovascular conditions such as atherosclerosis, heart aches, heart attacks, high blood pressure, etc. If a person has begun accumulating cholesterol in his or her arteries, then it might well be a way of inviting death.

A common misconception is that all kinds of fats can cause cholesterol buildup. But this is very far from the truth. In fact, only saturated fats and trans-fatty acids are responsible in building up cholesterol in the arteries. Whereas, cholesterol obtained from the monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as from nuts and cool water fishes are useful to the body, and they can bring the level of the harmful cholesterol down.

Even if the cholesterol has built up in the body, it can be certainly brought down using proper herbal techniques, as described in Ayurveda. This article is written with the purpose of enlightening you with some of the most potential remedies that Ayurveda describes for treating cholesterol and also some simple home remedies which also achieve the same task.

Treatment with Simple Home Remedies

Remedy # 1

You cannot even dream of reducing cholesterol without first making a determination to stick to a particular regimen. If your cholesterol levels are high, then you must immediately and strictly obey the following guidelines:-

§ Stop the consumption of all fattening foods, which contain saturated and trans-fatty acids. These include all the hydrogenated oils, creams and chocolates.


§ Increase the consumption of fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel and nuts. Always insist on one bitter dish per meal. It could be fenugreek, bitter gourd or bitter drumstick.


§ If you are overweight, enroll in a weight loss program. Keep yourself active and exercise often, according to the capacity of your body.


§ If you are an alcoholic, stop! If you are a smoker, desist! Alcoholism and smoking are lethal in people with high cholesterol.

Remedy # 2

Oranges are very beneficial to eliminate cholesterol because of their high vitamin C content. Sticking to a diet of only orange juice for a day is really beneficial.

Remedy # 3

Watermelon is very beneficial in treating high blood pressure that has been caused due to excessive cholesterol levels. Cut a whole watermelon and rub rock salt and black pepper on its slices. Then extract the juice of this watermelon and drink it. Within three or four days, the levels of the cholesterol will go down and the high blood pressure will also become normal.

Remedy # 4

Crush some coriander and then put it in a cup of water. Warm it so that the juices of the coriander exude out into the water properly. Then cool it and drink this coriander water. Doing this everyday for about a month will bring the cholesterol levels back to normal.

Remedy # 5

Every morning when you wake up, eat two to three cloves of garlic. If you cannot bear the sulfurous taste of the garlic, then you can roast them in a little amount of castor oil. Eat these cloves by biting them and chewing upon them fast. Eat them on an empty stomach each day. This seems to be a very simple thing to do (apart from the pungent taste of the garlic cloves, of course!) but it is proven even by western scientists to have amazing effects in the treatment of cholesterol.

Remedy # 6

Every night before retiring, have a cup of warm water with five grams of Triphala choorna in it. Triphala contains the three great herbs – amalaki (Emblica officinalis), bibhitaki (Terminalia belerica) and haritaki (Terminalia chebula). All these three have been individually proved to have powers of dissolving serum cholesterol. Amalaki is very rich in vitamin C, which is the best known nutrient for the natural dissolution of cholesterol in the blood.

Remedy # 7

Mix equal proportions of Bishop's weed seeds, cumin seeds and sugar. Grind them to a fine powder in a mixer grinder. Take one teaspoonful of this powder twice a day with water. This is a safe remedy even for pregnant women, and it shows good results in them.

Remedy # 8

Put a single clove of garlic in one glass of milk. Bring it to a boil. Drink this garlic milk when it is still a little warm. Drinking this continuously for a week will surely bring the level of the cholesterol down.

Remedy # 9

Take two teaspoons of honey and mix one teaspoon of lemon juice in it. Drinking this juice twice a day helps to dissolve the cholesterol from the arteries.

Treatment with Special Ayurvedic Methods

Arjuna is the Ayurvedic drug of choice for the elimination of cholesterol. The bark of the arjuna is prescribed to the patient in powder form, or in the form of its various decoctions with other herbs. The general dosage is one gram of powder four times a day. The vehicle to take this drug is either ghee, milk or honey; depending on which dosha is predominant in the body of the person. Ayurvedic doctors may also prescribe Arjunarishta, which is a preparation of arjuna mixed in special butters or ghee.

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Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Aromatherapy: Your Guide to Essential Oils for Healing (A-B) from Aches to Burns

ACHES & PAINS - Chamomile, Juniper, Lavender, Rosemary, Marjoram, Birch, Clary Sage, Clove, Geranium, Ginger, Pepper, Black Spruce

ACNE - Bergamot, Chamomile, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Clove, Eucalyptus, Juniper

ADDICTIONS - Geranium, Rose, Bergamot, Grapefruit, Lemon, Orange, Patchouli

ALLERGIES - Blue Tansy, Spikenard

ANGER - Frankincense, Lavender, Ylang Ylang, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Myrrh, Orange, Rose, Sandalwood

ANOREXIA - Grapefruit

ANTIDEPRESSANT - Geranium, Sandalwood, Bergamot, Frankincense, Orange, Rosewood, Vetiver, Petitgrain

ANTISEPTIC - Bergamot, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Clove, Eucalyptus, Juniper, Lemon, Orange, Patchouli, Peppermint, Ravensara, Thyme

ANXIETY - Bergamot, Clary Sage, Geranium, lavender, Rose, Basil, Frankincense, Juniper, Lemon, Ylang Ylang

APATHY - Rosemary, Frankincense, Geranium, Marjoram, Orange, Peppermint, Rose, Rosewood, Sandalwood, Thyme, Ylang Ylang

APPREHENSION - Frankincense, Sandalwood

ARGUMENTATIVE - Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Orange, Thyme, Ylang Ylang

ARTHRITIS - Black Pepper, Chamomile, Juniper, Lavender, Tea Tree, Cedarwood, Clove, Cypress, Ginger, Lavender, Lemon, Peppermint, Pine, Rosemary, Vetiver

ASTHMA - Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Basil, Clove, Cypress, Fennel, Frankincense, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Myrrh, Myrtle, Peppermint, Pine, Rose, Rosemary, Thyme

ATHLETES FOOT/FUNGI - Tea Tree, Lavender, Clove, Myrrh, Patchouli

BACK PAIN - All the oils

BACTERIA - Tea Tree, Rosewood, Thyme, all the oils

BIRTH - Clary Sage, Geranium, Jasmine, Rose

BLADDER - Lemongrass, Juniper

BLOOD PRESSURE (Low) - Rosemary, Pine, Basil, Fennel, Peppermint, Thyme, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cinnamon, Rosemary

BLOOD PRESSURE (High) - Ylang Ylang, Clove, Clary Sage, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram

BRONCHITIS - Cedarwood, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Basil, Clary Sage, Clove, Cypress, Fennel, Frankincense, Lemon, Marjoram, Myrtle, Myrrh, Orange, Peppermint, Pine, Ravensara, Rose, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Thyme

BRUISES - Black Pepper, Lavender, Rosemary, Chamomile, Clove, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Marjoram, Thyme

BURNS - Lavender, Tea Tree, Chamomile, Clove, Geranium, Ravensara, Thyme

Especial care should be taken when using "hot" oils! Always use "hot" oils in extremely weak dilution of less than one percent for skin application.

Commonly used "hot" essential oils known to have the potential to cause skin irritation, include: basil (Ocimum basilicum), bergamot (Citrus bergamia), birch (Betula lenta), black pepper (Piper nigrum), cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), clove (Eugenia aromatica), ginger (Zingiber officinale), expressed (cold pressed from peel) oils of lime, lemon, orange and grapefruit (Citrus limetta, limonum, sinensis and paradisi), lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates), oregano (Origanum compactum), Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris), Siberian balsam or silver fir (Abies siberica, alba, balsamea), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) and in some cases, tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) and peppermint (Mentha piperita).

If any of these essential oils is applied in a weak dilution of carrier oil on the skin and a hot, red irritation occurs this is the result of a burn to the skin that requires immediate attention. Always have a vegetable carrier oil like Pure Light Coconut Oil or Jojoba available to apply onto the skin in such cases!

Applying a carrier oil will have an immediate effect of calming the skin irritation. Do not wash or rinse the area with water as this will drive the essential oils further into the skin and increase, not diminish discomfort.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult your health care professional about any serious disease or injury. Do not attempt to self-diagnose or prescribe any natural substances such as essential oils for serious health conditions that require professional attention.

PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use certified organic essential oils, or oils that have been tested and are pesticide free.

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Sunday, March 11, 2007

Acupuncture Used As ATreatment

Acupuncture can be used to treat certain symptoms and assist in the recovery from certain conditions, or the recurrence of those conditions. It can be used to reduce complications and to alleviate the need for further surgery or pharmaceuticals. Generally, the purpose of Acupuncture is to restore or jump-start the circulation of energy in a person's body. In Chinese medicine this energy is know as "Qi" (pronounced "chee"). Qi is a concept of Chinese living and relates to "air" or the "life force" and "spiritual energy" of every living being.

According to ancient beliefs, Qi is constantly transferring between the Qi of the body and the Qi of the environment. One of the functions of Qi within the body is to prevent harmful Qi from entering. If the protective Qi is strong, resistance is high and disease is prevented. Before the discovery and use of microscopes - whereby man discovered individual cells - and before autopsies revealed the intricate workings of the human body, doctors and academics could only compare it to the visible world outside of the body. One aspect of civilisation, which was well developed, was the system of water courses, canals, streams, rivers, irrigation systems. They were considered as the givers of life and the human body was accepted as operating in the same way, moving the life-giving fluid in the same way. The fluid was the Qi and the canals and pathways where it flowed were termed the meridians.

There are known to be 500 acupuncture points along the body's meridians, or pathways of energy flow. These areas are stimulated to enhance their receptiveness either by the insertion of needles, which is the common perception of what acupuncture involves, or via massage, herbs and even suction cups. Acupuncture can be used as a treatment or a cure for dozens and dozens of illnesses, diseases and conditions. Some of these conditions have been effectively controlled or cured by acupuncture and others still need to be proven. Notwithstanding this, the benefits to the patient's state of mind can only be positive.

Initial consultation for acupuncture would typically involve an interview where the patient's medical history, current treatments and symptoms can be explored. The next step would involve the taking of the pulse from both arms and an inspection of the patient's tongue. The appearance of the tongue gives the practitioner a good indication of what is going on inside the patient's body. A diagnosis and treatment plan follows. The treatment can last anywhere between 5 minutes and 60 minutes.

The treatment may consist of any or all of the following:

Needling - The insertion of needles into acupuncture points.

Moxibustion - The application of the herb mugwort to produce heat at the acupuncture points. Auricular therapy, which is the insertion of needles into acupuncture points on the ear and can often be worn for a couple of days.

Electropuncture - The introductions of an electrical current through the needles.

Laser therapy - The use of laser light at the acupuncture points for those people who are intimidated by the thought of receiving needles.

The treatment can also entail a dietary supplement using foods with therapeutic properties, the use of an herbal formula, exercise therapy or internal therapy such as massaging.

Costs for Acupuncture Therapy can vary depending upon the practitioner, but generally between $10 and $100 would be considered average. Dietary and herbal supplements can be extra. Some Health Insurance companies do have rebates for this type of treatment.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Treating and Preventing Back Pain

Back pain is a common problem for almost everybody. Any of us, or maybe someone in our family could suffer from back pain or may be suffering from it currently which makes us look for back lumbar support. There are several reasons that may cause back pain, sometimes it manifests suddenly after a person has an accident or a fall or lifts something that is too heavy; there are other cases when it manifests slowly like when the spine changes because of our aging process.

There are some factors that can make the risk of suffering from back pain greater. The first one is the age; back pain is more common when a person is between thirty and forty years old. Other factor is how fit we are, a person who is not physically fit or exercises a lot after being inactive for several days has more chances to suffer painful back injuries than someone who exercises more often. Diet is an aspect to keep in mind, a person who consumes a lot of calories and fats and has an inactive lifestyle may become obese and put stress on the back. Diseases like arthritis and other conditions like pregnancy and kidney stones or infections can also be responsible for back pain.

But maybe one of the most important ones are the occupational risk factors, people whose work involves lifting, pushing or pulling heavy objects and specially when it makes the spine twist or vibrate, are likely to have injury or back pain. Other jobs like a desk job where people are inactive could also cause this pain, specially if they have a poor posture or sit all day in an uncomfortable chair without using a back and neck pillow.

So how can we prevent or treat back pain? Doctors recommend exercising regularly to the back muscles strong. Other exercises like Tai Chi and Yoga or others in which pillows for back pain are used are good ones to try too. A healthy diet is also important because it allows you to maintain a correct and safe weight which helps you avoid putting stress and strain on your back that could cause back injuries. Vitamin D is necessary to keep your spine strong, so you should eat food which contains this vitamin daily.

One of the most important things that doctors tell their patients is to practice good posture, support the back properly during the day and also when you are sleeping. And it is precisely with this that the Sleep Better Pillow can be of great help for you. A regular pillow can not distribute your body weight in a proper way, specially if you are the kind of people who sleeps in different positions (side, back or stomach). But this memory foam sleep pillow can mould itself to your head, neck and shoulders, giving you a perfect spinal alignment all night long. No matter what kind of sleeper you are, this back pain pillow can distribute your weight evenly so that your spine remains always in a comfortably position. This will reduce your back pain considerably or will help you to prevent it in case you do not suffer from it yet.

Friday, March 9, 2007

10 Tips for Self Healing of Colitis and Crohns

There are different ways you can promote self healing colitis and crohns if you suffer from either of these inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Self healing remedies, which are essentially non-drug alternative treatments, are the preferred choice of treatment for many IBD sufferers because most of these remedies are free of negative side effects and encourage the body to heal itself.

The following are 10 self healing colitis and crohns methods you can look into –

1. Diet – Many IBD symptoms are triggered by food products. Therefore, it's a good idea to create a food diary and eliminate the foods that aggravate your condition (I.E. fat, sugar, acid foods) and increase those that lower the risk (I.E. most fruits, vegetables, and foods high in omega-3 fatty acids). Talk to a dietician or your doctor about good food choices and to start a diet plan that works for you.

2. Herbal remedies – There are many herbal remedies for self healing colitis and crohns treatments. Herbs from plant have been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes including treating gastrointestinal disorders such as crohns and colitis. Popular herbal remedies that may be used as treatment for inflammation include: cat's claw, green tea, ginkgo, slippery elm, wild indigo, etc. Herbs may be taken as supplements, added to recipes, in tea, or eaten whole, depending on the herb. It's in your best interest to talk with a professional herbalist.

3. Acupuncture – Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine that involves the insertion of hair-thin needles into specific acupoints in the body to help bring balance back to the body. Acupuncture can help treat painful symptoms as well as, diarrhea and constipation. This treatment should be sought from a professional acupuncturist.

4. Hypnosis – Known as body/mind medicine, this form of self healing colitis and crohns is a treatment that helps to increase relaxation, improve immune function, decrease stress and ease feelings of anxiety. Hypnosis improves conditions by allowing a patient to use their subconscious to gain control over their symptoms. Hypnosis should be sought from a psychologist or psychiatrist.

5. Homeopathy – This is a type of treatment that focuses on treating individuals as a whole. The course of treatment is determined after a person's physical, psychological and emotional makeup is studied. This form of treatment is given by a homeopath.

6. Naturopathy – Naturopathy treats a person as a whole - mind, body and spirit. Naturopathy does not treat the illness, and promotes self-healing by determining what lifestyle changes a person needs in order to achieve and maintain good health. Many alternative treatments may be recommended including acupuncture, homeopathy, massage therapy, herbs, etc.

7. Probiotics – Some research has found that probiotics, also known as good gut bacteria (I.E. lactobacillus) can improve the symptoms of crohns and colitis. By providing the stomach with beneficial bacteria it helps to keep other "bad" bacteria under control and bring more balance to the gut flora.

8. Reduce Stress – Anxiety and stress have been shown to trigger and worsen symptoms related to IBD. Therefore, part of a good self healing colitis and crohns treatment plan is to make sure you find ways to reduce stress. Stress can be reduced through meditation exercises such as Yoga and Tai Chi, and massage therapy.

9. Reduce bad habits – If you have bad habits such as smoking, overeating, and drinking alcohol, it is imperative you put a stop to these habits right away to avoid triggering and worsening symptoms.

10. Joining a support group –Suffering from crohn's and ulcerative colitis can be difficult and embarrassing to live with. It helps to talk with people who understand your physical and emotional conditions. Treating emotional and psychological symptoms of IBD helps to reduce stress and is an important part of the self healing process.

Despite which self healing colitis and crohns remedies interest you, make sure you consult with your doctor before starting any treatment. It is important to first obtain his/her advice, and it is a good idea to allow your doctor to monitor your condition to see how you respond to self healing treatments.