BODILY SYMPTOMS OF STRESS: BUTTERFLIES
Thursday, April 23, 2009 | 2:26 am“It is usually just a light movement in my stomach. Light. Like a flutter of a butterfly. But a butterfly is nice, and this is not a nice feeling. Not pain. Not hurting. But disagreeable. Nasty. Worrying. Yes. The worrying part of it is the worst. The tests were all OK. But it is worrying. You can’t get away from that. Then if you feel it, and it’s worrying, you can’t concentrate on what you should be concentrating on. Keep thinking of my stomach.
‘Then sometimes it’s worse. Not just light. But heavier. Stomach turning over. They say your stomach can’t turn over. But I can feel it. Sometimes makes me feel as if I want to be sick. I am sure there is something wrong.
‘When it’s very bad it is really heavy. A weight in my stomach. A weight and I can feel a lump. A heavy lump. There must be a tumour. If you can feel it, for certain it must be there. Cancer does not always show in the tests.”
In stress, the activation of the brain cells may spread out so as to involve groups of cells which control various bodily functions. In this case the autonomic nervous system has become activated. This part of our nervous system regulates the movement of our stomach and bowel. Increased rhythmical contractions of the muscle in the walls of the stomach are felt as a fluttering feeling. If the process becomes further aggravated, ‘here may come about a generalized contraction of muscle in the walls of the stomach. This can be felt as something hard, and gives rise to the feeling of a tumour and possibly cancer.
As in the case of palpitation of the heart, the trouble is made worse by the increased perception of sensation, so that we become aware of movements which would normally not be of sufficient significance to be registered in consciousness.
*42/98/5*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Anti Depressants-Sleeping Aid)
PREVENTIVE MEDECINE: WAYS TO LOWER BLOOD CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | 10:34 pm• Eat less cholesterol. This is somewhat contentious because various studies conflict on whether or not it is worth while restricting the intake of such foods. Egg yolks, butter and liver are especially high sources. The NACNE report on healthy eating recommends no curtailing of cholesterol-rich foods but anyone eating a lot of any of these three and who has high blood cholesterol would probably do well to cut them down or out.
• Polyunsaturated oils used for cooking or as spreads also have an effect on blood cholesterol levels. In one study in Minneapolis twenty-four healthy volunteers were put on a high-cholesterol diet. When polyunsaturated fats were added both total cholesterol and the harmful LDL component fell. HDL remained high. Of the oils tested, un-hydrogenated soya oil and corn were best. Other studies have found that corn flour oil has similar effects.
• Yoghurt may be helpful. One researcher believes that the special bacteria used to ferment yoghurt also produce a substance which blocks cholesterol production in the liver. Eating yoghurt has been found to reduce cholesterol in the blood. Milk (even skimmed) raises blood cholesterol, however.
• Chromium has been found to lower cholesterol levels in rabbits fed on a cholesterol-enriched diet. The rabbits fed with chromium also had only half as many plaques on their coronary arteries as did rabbits in the control group. In humans, brewer’s yeast (a rich source of chromium) raised HDL levels in one study.
• Vitamins Ñ and E are valuable too. In a study of forty people with coronary artery disease carried out in India it was found that those whose diets were supplemented with 2 g of vitamin Ñ had an average drop of 12 per cent in their cholesterol levels. In a UK study vitamin Ñ was found to raise the helpful HDL cholesterol fraction. The researchers found that many heart-disease patients had both low vitamin Ñ and low HDL levels. A dose of 1 g vitamin Ñ a day brought both levels up towards normal.
Vitamin E also raises HDLs. A daily dose of 800 Ø increased the HDLs of forty-three volunteers and had the greatest effect in those whose HDLs were lowest to start with.
• Get plenty of exercise. When carrying out the vitamin E study the researchers noticed that joggers and long-distance runners in their sample had very high HDLs before supplementation with the vitamin. Several other studies have found that exercise helps keep cholesterol at normal levels. Even moderate exercise, such as a brisk walk, seems to be effective.
• Stop smoking. A Swedish team found that smokers tended to have low HDL levels. When a group of smokers gave up they all experienced ‘rapid and pronounced increases in HDL concentrations’. The levels rose by an average of 29 per cent within two weeks and remained high throughout the observation period.
*126/72/5*
—admin | no comments
(posted in General health)
FOOT DISORDERS TREATMENT
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 2:07 amFungal Growths
The affected areas are treated with latex or strong Papaya leaf tea. Compresses or washing with Papaya vinegar may also be used.
Fungi
These include foul smelling perspiration and smelly feet: Bathe affected areas twice daily, first with dead water for about ten minutes and follow up after about five minutes with living water. Repeat daily for about three weeks even after it disappears, otherwise the condition will appear again.. Shoes and socks may be treated with dead water. See athletes foot.
Gout
Kombucha: through the last century it has been well known that drinking kombucha tea is an excellent remedy for gout. Apply a compresses with a kombucha culture to relieve the pain.
Pain: make up a powder of the kernel of the mango stone mixed in mustard oil. This eliminates pain. Use fresh guava leaves and pulp on the affected parts this also eliminates the swelling and pain. Essential oils: see ease aches
Cold feet
Sprinkle cayenne pepper in your soaks. Changing foot baths (hot / cold) are the best treatment.
Fatigued feet
place crushed elder berry leaves into shoes.
Grind fern leaves to a powder, add to fullers earth, powder your feet also sprinkle powder into your shoes. Fresh lemon juice softens and relieves tired feet Apple cider vinegar will restore vigour to the feet. Sprinkle a mixture of 1 tbsp. bi-carbonate soda and 5 drops lavender oil into shoes. To soothe and refresh the feet soak in a foot bath with lady’s bedstraw infusion.
*103\81\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Skin Care)
SKIN DISORDERS: WASP STINGS AND WRINKLES
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 2:04 amWasp stings
Food: place fresh cucumber slices onto stings. It has a powerful drawing effect drawing out the poison sting and reducing the swelling.
Herbs: apply fresh aloe-vera gel as a poultice.
Kombucha: apply the kombucha tea or vinegar to the sting.
Old skin cells make wrinkles deeper.
Papaya: apply the fleshy side of the skin from a green Papaya. Latex and papaya powder are used to reduce old dead skin cells and to make the skin smoother.
Food: massaging the skin regularly with a mango stone keeps the complexion firm and glowing. Pinenut meal is exceptional for stopping the skin from drying out. Apply a mask of the meal and goats milk to the skin before retiring each night, then remove the mask in the morning with cool water. Equal parts of lemons and oilve oil made into a lotion and massage into the skin.
Kombucha: use a kombucha culture as a sponge to gently massage your skin. Then rinse and splash on a little diluted kombucha tea.
*75\81\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Skin Care)
SKIN DISORDERS
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 2:01 amMost skin disorders do not have a single cause and can be created by toxins accumulated in the blood. This may be due to the weak functioning of one of the eliminating organs, such as the liver, colon, lungs or kidneys. Faulty digestion, especially constipation is also often at the root of a poor skin condition. A tendency to certain skin problems can also be inherited, among these are dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis and acne. Poor nutrition and eating habits also contribute to skin reactions.
Remember: The skin is the mirror of our health. Herbs used traditionally to improve the skin are herbs supporting digestion and blood cleansing.
The following herbs are used in mixtures aimed at promoting general well-being:
Amaranthus, birch, chamomile, echinacea, elecampane, evening primrose, fenugreek, heatherscotch, horehound, lady’s bedstraw, liquorice, madder, new jersey, oat, pansy, plantain, sarsaparilla, sorrel, St. John’s wort, stinging nettle, walnut, wild pansy, wild Oregon, grape.
Skin trouble Herbal teas are chamomile, peppermint, lime, lemongrass, rose hip, dandelion, elder flower, heartsease, fennel seeds, ladies mantle, liquorice root and yarrow.
Check your diet to see if it has a good source of vitamins and minerals. Vitamin’s A, B, C, E zinc, kelp and spirulina are essential. Natural blood cleansing minerals such as iron, sulphur and potassium are found in radishes with their green tops, parsley, celery, young dandelion leaves, spinach, carrots, water cress, green pepper, and spring onions. As constipation is generally a key factor in most skin problems, the following herbs are beneficial for treating and detoxifying the blood -dandelion, burdock, yellow dock, echinacea, chaparral, sarsaparilla, nettle and red clover.
Stress is also one of the major factors causing skin problems, therefore regular exercise in order to stimulate the circulation, plenty of fresh air and sunlight are all essential. Skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne all heal faster with regular exposure to sunlight. Aches and pains also diminish with the comforting warmth of the sun.
*50\81\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Skin Care)
ABSORPTION OF THE SKIN
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 | 1:56 amIn general, the skin is impermeable. Water for instance, will not go through it. When the molecular structure of an oil or an emulsion is fine enough to cross the epidermal barrier, then the active ingredients can be carried not only through the epidermis but deep into the skin and sometimes throughout the body via the blood stream. There are three main routes of skin penetration, through the hair follicles into the sebaceous gland, through the sweat glands and through the unbroken stratum corneum.
Although the skin is an intact outer layer of the body, it is in fact indented by hair follicles with their sebaceous (oil) glands and by the pores of the sweat glands. These pockets are normally resistant to bacterial attack (except in certain cases where they show as pimples, boils, blackheads or acne). They will allow the entry of special drugs and chemicals into the body. These chemicals may be absorbed in order to combat infections of the skin (e.g.. antiseptic creams and ointments) or they may be used as skin conditioners to help overcome dryness or damage.
*23\81\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Skin Care)
PROBLEMS WITH PARASITES: LOUISA’S STORY
Monday, April 20, 2009 | 6:05 amLouisa was about 46 when she began to be troubled by unsightly red blotches on her face. She worked as an assistant in a dress shop and it was important that she looked smart. She found that she was having to wear more and more make-up to cover these blemishes. Before deciding on the best treatment, the doctor asked her about her health generally. It emerged that she had suffered from mild diarrhoea and wind for some years, but had not thought it worth bothering the doctor about these minor problems. She had also been feeling very tired, and had some pain and stiffness in her joints, which she thought was ‘just her age’. Checking through her notes, the doctor saw that she had been treated for
vaginal thrush on several occasions. The doctor had no idea what might be causing the red blotches, but he did have a suspicion that the other symptoms might have a common cause. He put Louisa on a diet which excluded all sugar and most starch. She found this very difficult to keep to, as she had a sweet tooth and loved cakes. But she persisted, and after two months her bowels were functioning normally, she felt far more energetic, and her joint pains had vanished. It seemed that the doctor’s hunch had been right: all these problems had been due to Candida. At about the same time the red blotches on her Louisa’s face also disappeared – which the doctor put down to coincidence.
*246\180\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in Allergies)
SKIN, CRACKED, RED, AND DRY ON HANDS AND FINGERS
Thursday, April 9, 2009 | 5:35 amDescription and Possible Medical Problems
Advertisements for hand creams and moisturizers make a big deal out of the great things these products will do for your hands. You’ve seen the before-and-after pictures: the red, scaly skin in the “before” shots; the baby-soft, smooth skin that looks almost too good to be true in the “after.” Oh, yes, and the smile.
Sometimes the advertisement mentions in tiny print that the photos were not retouched; of course you can assume that all the other ads that don’t mention this fact do play around with the photos to make the hands in the “after” picture look almost too good to be true.
Your hands probably start to become dry and cracked in late fall and then stay that way for the rest of the winter, due to the dry air and cold.
Though they don’t reflect on the state of your health, dry, cracked hands can be painful.
Treatment
When your hands become dry, red, and cracked, you probably wish someone would come along and retouch your hands the way it’s done in the before-and-after pictures. In the real world, of course, it’s not as easy as that, but it does come close.
Most people slather on hand cream when their hands become dry. And that’s good—but you can go one better by putting moisturizer on your hands after you wash them, while they’re still damp. This will help keep your hands moisturized by sealing the water into your skin and forming a protective layer between your hands and the elements. Some people also wear gloves whenever they go out, which is another way to protect your hands.
*536\167\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in General health)
BODY SIGNAL ALERT KNUCKLES, PAINFUL, STIFF, AND SWOLLEN: TREATMENT
Thursday, April 9, 2009 | 5:34 amRheumatoid arthritis is manageable to a certain extent. If you think you have rheumatoid arthritis, you should see your doctor, who will do a blood test to determine if you have an antibody called rheumatoid factor in your system.
If you do have rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will work with you to design ways of coping with the disease. The best program for rheumatoid arthritis includes rest and non-weight-bearing exercise such as walking, as well as certain medications you can take when the pain becomes severe. This medication may include aspirin, which reduces the inflammation and eases the pain, and corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone.
In-rare cases, your doctor may suggest cytotoxic drugs, which are used to treat cancer, or a procedure called plasmapheresis, in which a pint or so of your blood is taken out and put through a centrifuge to separate the plasma from the blood cells. The cells are then combined with new plasma and returned to your circulatory system. The purpose is to give the immune system an extra boost at a time when it may really need it.
The most important thing to do, however, is to learn to accept the disease and to do whatever’s necessary to treat your symptoms when the disease does flare up.
*528\167\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in General health)
BODY SIGNAL ALERT HANDS, NUMB: TREATMENT
Thursday, April 9, 2009 | 5:32 amIf you think you have carpal tunnel syndrome, I recommend a conservative initial treatment, including rest, splinting, hot soaks, and antiinflammatory medication. If these initial methods don’t work, injections of corticosteroids will help relieve the swelling of the flexor tendons.
Too many people—and doctors—opt for surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, but I feel this should be viewed as a last resort. Surgery should generally be reserved for cases that fail to respond to conservative measures. The standard operation involves cutting the transverse carpal ligament, which creates more room in the tunnel for the tendons and median nerve that pass through it. Some surgeons go for a synovectomy, which opens up the sheath that surrounds the nerve, though I think it’s unnecessary. Opening up the transverse carpal ligament is usually enough to relieve the pressure on the nerve.
*521\167\8*
—admin | no comments
(posted in General health)