Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Herbal Remedies for Cough

The bay berry is very useful in curing throat congestions that causes the coughs. It can even cure coughs that are caused due to chronic bronchitis. Its bark is the effective part which is to be taken in the form of a powder.

The clove tree is a middle-sized, evergreen tree that grows up to a height of 10 to 12 meters. Clove is the dried unopened flower bud having many medicinal virtues.Cloves consist of carbohydrates, moisture, protein, volatile oil, non-volatile ether extract (fat), and crude fiber besides mineral matter, ash insoluble in hydrochloric acid, calcium, phosphorous, iron, potassium, sodium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins C and A.

- Fenugreek seeds are also used in getting relief from coughs that are associated with sore throats. These seeds are boiled in water for half an hour and this solution is used to take gargles. It is very effective herbal remedy for cough.

Garlic is very useful herbal remedy for whooping cough. Garlic and onion chicken soup are also an effective home treatment for cough.

You can also try this simple and effective remedy for cough. Crush betel leaves and make its paste with water and applied externally on the chest. It has very good effects in the treatment of coughs.

Another useful herbal remedy for cough is Butea leaves. It can treat congested and inflamed throats. It is effective in the treatment of coughs and sore throats. The leaves are boiled in water and the solution is used as a mouthwash to get the desired effects.

Precautions from Cough from home

Home Remedies for Cough
ONION
It is very effective in the treatment of cough. The juice extracted from finely chopped onion helps in loosening the cough, and clears chest-congestion. Take 1-2 teaspoon of onion juice and add 1-2 teaspoon of honey into it. Keep this mixture aside for 5-6 hours, and then give a teaspoon of it to the patient at east two times in a day.
- You can also try this very simple and effective homemade cough syrup made from onion juice, lemon juice and honey. Mix 1-2 teaspoon of onion juice with 1-2 teaspoon of lemon juice. Pour little amount of water and allow it to boil, later add 1-2 teaspoon of honey into it. Keep this cough syrup aside for 5-6
GINGER
is also very effective home remedy for cough. Mix ½ tablespoon of ginger paste, and a half tablespoon of Pepper powder. Further add equal amount (one tablespoon) of vinegar and honey into it. Add 2-3 tablespoon of water and keep it aside. Take this cough syrup 2-3 times a day. This is commonly used homemade cough syrup for getting relief from cough.
You can also prepare this easy and effective herbal tea to get instant relief from cough and chest congestion. Add a small piece of ginger cut in small slices, 1-2 garlic seeds, and small amount of lemon juice into the boiling water. Boil it around 15-20 minutes. Strain the liquid and keep it aside. Add a little amount of honey into the solution and give it to the patient. The lemon juice added to it will loosen the cough and make breath easy.
Black pepper has also very significant role in treating cough. It looses the mucous membrane and open chest congestion. Take 2-3 black pepper seeds and chew it. If patient find difficulty in chewing it because of its strong bitter taste, add 2-3 pepper seeds in a glass of milk. Another easy way of taking black pepper is with cumin seeds Take both black pepper and cumin seeds in small amount and add 1/2 spoon of salt to it. Chew it slowly. It is very effective home remedy for cough.

Do's and Don't When Suffering with Cough

1.Avoid cold foods as these can aggravate the throat further. Drink warm water. It will give relief to your infected throat.
2. Avoid consuming any fruits or vegetables that may cause excessive cooling in your body. Do not eat cucumbers, green bananas, papayas and watermelons when suffering from cough.
3. Fiber foods are good. They are easy to digest.
4. Avoid nuts such as groundnuts, cashew nuts, almonds, walnuts and pistachios. They have high oil content.
5. Coconuts are also not preferred due to high oil content in them.
6. Take proper balanced diet and avoid mutton, caffeine, any type of oily and spicy food, sugar, chocolates, etc. Avoid cold drink and ice cream.

Can the Risk of Prostate Cancer Really be Reduced with Diet and Exercise?

Men have a tendency to take care of their bodies on the outside. They go to the gym, lift weights and do various other exercises that will give them a great physique. But what do they do for their inner bodies? This may be one of the reasons that men come down with diseases that are often preventable with a little knowledge. As men, we need to do a little more research and have an understanding of what we can do to protect our inner bodies.
rostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. At firdt the symptoms of the disease are asymptomatic; for this reason it is commonly referred to as the silent killer. Prostate cancer has very few early symptoms and those such as trouble urinating or painful ejaculation are also symptoms of much less serious disease such as enlarged prostate.
he function of the prostate is to close the urethra after ejection. It is also essential for ejaculation. There will be more than 200,000 cases of prostate cancer diagnosed this year that will result in over 30,000 deaths. Maintaining good prostate health requires us to have the necessary information available to us. We would like to review a few things that men can do to assure good prostate health.
A.GET SOME EXERCISE
We are all aware that exercise is good for getting our hearts pumping, lowering cholesterol and protecting us from heart attacks and strokes. But, did you know that exercise can also protect us from some forms of cancer, especially prostate cancer? Research has shown that men who maintain a daily exercise schedule have a 75% less chance of developing cancer and heart disease than men who do not participate in a regular program.
By participating in exercise you get the blood flowing to your vital organs. This has a beneficial effect because it enhances the exchange of nutrients and helps with the elimination of waste products from our cells and tissues. It can also keep our weight under control further reducing the risks of some types of cancers. Stronger muscles also generate better blood flow and circulation to our cells and tissues.
B.EAT A HEALTHY DIET
When we eat a diet high in vegetables and low in saturated fats we are actually reducing the risks of some forms of cancer. Scientists don't know why but men that eat a diet high in red meat are more likely to get prostate cancer. Some feel that there may be fats in red meat that are harmful to the prostate and others feel that chemicals produced during grilling may be responsible. It may also be that increasing the amount of red meat one consumes reduces the amount of fruits and vegetables we eat.
It is recommended that we eat 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Research has shown that men who follow this type of diet have much lower rates of cancer than men who do not. While consuming this many servings a day may be difficult for many, supplementation is also an option. Free radicals in the body have been shown to convert normal healthy cells into cancerous ones. For these reason tomatoes based products are particularly useful. They contain a high amount of Lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant that can reduce the number of free radicals in our bodies.
C.SPEAK TO YOUR DOCTOR
Screening is an important part of prevention. This involves looking for signs of the disease before symptom arise. There are a few ways this can be done now and your doctor will be able to suggest the one that best fits your situation. This is the time when treatment will be most effective. He or she will be able to access any risk factors such as family history or race and put you on a screening schedule suited for your particular situation.
In conclusion, while prostate cancer can be a killer there are things that we can easily do to reduce the risk of us contracting it. The added benefit of some of the things suggested above is that they are also positives to your overall health in general. Just by reducing the risk of chronic heart disease, diabetes and some forms of cancers with some simple lifestyle changes we can all live longer and healthier lives.

Yoga Right for You..?

A lot of women perform yoga exercises not just to lose weight or maintain proper body weight but also because they want to be healthy emotionally and mentally. Yoga is also known to contribute to the decrease of a number of problems during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause.
There is research to prove this, but it’s easy to see the physical, mental, and emotional benefits evident on those women who practice yoga. Yoga Helps You Cope with a Busy Lifestyle If you are still undecided about yoga, then there are a number of things about it that will help you decide. One of these is its relevance to today’s world, even if it is one of the most ancient practices of all times.
Yoga is considered as the perfect solution that helps women cope with their busy days and the resulting mental and physical stress. This is especially true if they are working moms who need to deal with the pressures of both work and home. Sitting behind a desk or even driving a car for several hours every day would already result in a woman’s having shoulder and back problems that will not only affect their lives at the office but also at home when they are dealing with the family and household chores. Choosing the Best Yoga Style Helps Deciding if yoga is really right for you would also require you to choose the yoga style that will fit your lifestyle, personality, and needs. If you are a working mom, your yoga needs might differ from those women who are just working at the office for long hours every day. As such, it is very important to find the perfect teacher or trainer who has the right knowledge about yoga who is not only qualified and accredited but also compassionate and sensitive to what you really need. Yoga Styles: 1)Vini Yoga. This is a personal practice that could be developed through the incorporation of meditation, proper breathing, and posture as well as prayer and rituals. The amount of all these aspects that could be incorporated into your yoga practice will have to be changed though as a woman and her needs change and develop.
Therefore, if you are still a student or a young professional, then the physical aspects of yoga might be more important for you, while older women might focus more on the spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects. 2)Ashtanga Yoga. Also considered as the power yoga, this style is known to be flowing and athletic. Breathing is very important in this yoga style as a woman flows through a series of postures. This is able to generate a lot of sweat and body heat, thus helping women detoxify their bodies. 3)Ananda Yoga. This yoga style makes use of temperate poses. This is gently meditative and perfect for those who would like to practice a yoga style that helps them to look inwards so they can focus on making their emotions better.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Aftermath of 9/11 toxins - Mesothelioma Alert

On September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center towers crashed down, around 3017 persons were reported dead officially. However, the aftermath of 9/11 is still continuing and not many know about it.
Know about Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a deadly form of lung cancer that affects anyone who comes in contact with asbestos. Asbestos dust, when inhaled through the nose or mouth enters the lungs/abdomen and starts corroding the same leading to uncontrollable cellular reproduction. This in turn, leads to mesothelioma. Asbestos is used in building and construction industries as it has high level of fire-retarding qualities. Mesothelioma has no known cure and results in the worst possible form of painful death. The worst part is you don?t need to be exposed to asbestos over a period of time. Even a single exposure can lead to mesothelioma.
The 9/11 Aftermath
During 9/11, the buildings shattered, plastic melted, metals burned and all this has released loads of asbestos dust and asbestos fibers into the atmosphere. However, proper clean-up was not done immediately. While the governments were tending to the dead and injured, the potential dangers to the living was overlooked. People started going to offices and looked around in dismay at the layers of white dust that surrounded them. They just swept it off and carried on with their work unsuspectingly, without realizing the huge amount of asbestos that is bound to exist in that dust. Asbestos clean-up operations by the government were definitely lax.
City Heroes face Mesothelioma risk
The dedicated Ground Zero workers like the firefighters and policemen were not given adequate protection from the toxic substances circulating in the air. These heroes took in all those harmful substances through their nose and mouth. Now, they are facing persistent lung problems. Mesothelioma has a very long latency period, around 20-30 years. That means, it may take around 20-30 years for mesothelioma to be detected after the initial exposure to the asbestos fibers/ dust. So, it may take another 15-20 years before the effect of the asbestos exposure on the city?s heroes is known. Till then, they are at potential risk for contracting mesothelioma and various other diseases.

Keeping Dust Under Control with a Dust Spray

For those with allergies or asthma, keeping dust under control is essential to overall health. It is also a good idea for those without any health problems and a buildup of dust can cause cold-like symptoms if breathed in too much. Additionally, too much dust attracts other nuisances such as dust mites, which live in dust and can spread to other parts of your home. A dust spray can help prevent dust from flying around in the air as you clean, making cleanup much more effective and sanitary. Dust mites do not simply live in the layer of dust across the uppermost shelf in your home. They also live in bedding, couches, carpet, stuffed toys and old clothing, and are similar in appearance to spiders or ticks--although they cannot be seen by the naked eye. There are two types of dust mites, American and European house dust mites. As you may know, much of what we see as dust is actually dead skin that we people shed on a regular basis. Dust mites feed off of dead skin and other organic materials in dust. You may have dust mites and not know it--only people who are allergic will react to dust mites. Dust mites also shed their skin, and people who are allergic react to this dead skin and dust mite feces. Reactions can range from a runny nose to a severe asthma attack. Dust mites can be difficult to get rid of, and they prefer humid environments, so avoid using humidifiers if you have a dust mite problem. For people with sever reactions, measures that are more drastic may be required, such as encasing bedding in plastic covers and removing draperies. For those with less serious reactions, a regular control program can make a big difference. Using a spray for dust mites is one method to keep the problem under control. Dust spray binds the dust, making it easier to clean and remove. It can also be used on multiple surfaces, such as floors, shelves, furniture, window blinds, lamps, picture frames, and more. Dust mite spray allows you to clean all over the house and reduce the chances of dust mites spreading. Because dust spray helps keep dust "together," it can be used with a wide range of dusting tools, which makes cleaning easier because you can use a long-handled duster in combination with a dust spray and not worry about the dust falling back to the floor. Instead, it will be trapped in the duster by the dust spray. Be sure to clean your dusting tools effectively, particularly if you have a dust mite problem and are using a dust mite spray. After dusting, take the tools outside away from the house. Give the tools a good shake to remove the dust from the tool. Avoid banging the tools on the wall or concrete, as this can damage them. Depending on the tool you use, you may be able to wash the duster. Using a dust spray in combination with a synthetic duster can be a great solution to a dust mite problem.
A spray for dust mites binds the dust, and the synthetic cleaner can be washed afterward with warm, soapy water. Be sure to store your dusters in a way that keeps pressure off the dusting head, as this can damage them. Dust spray also works great with dusting cloths, and these can be machine washed afterward. Even when using a dust spray, it is a good idea to use top-down cleaning. Start with the uppermost areas and work your way down. This way, should any dust float downward, you can "catch" it as you work from the upper shelves or taller furniture down to the lower shelves and furniture. To minimize "losing" some dust, spray your tool directly with the dust spray rather than spraying the furniture directly.
The pressure from the sprayer can blow dust away on furniture, but this will not happen when spraying the cleaning tool. To keep dust and dust mites under control, dust with a dust spray every time. Even if there is no visible dust, that does not mean it is not there. Dust mites cannot be seen by the naked eye, so regular cleaning is essential. Also, consider using other preventative measures such as an indoor air filter. A filtered vacuum can also help keep the problem under control.

Effected of more Antibiotics

We are overusing antibiotics so that bacterial resistance is becoming a significant threat. The CDC has estimated that treatment of infections due to resistant bacteria costs more than $4 billion annually. There are many factors associated with increasing resistance.
• Increased antimicrobial use in the community and hospital– Increase in empiric antibioticsâ
€“ Prolonged and broad-spectrum antibiotic coursesâ
€“ Repeated antibiotic coursesâ
€¢ Prolonged Hospitalizationsâ
€¢ Severely ill patient statusâ
€¢ Immunocompromised stateâ
€¢ Increase use of intravascular devices and cathetersâ
€¢ Inadequate infection control proceduresâ
€¢ Antibiotic use in animals and agriculture
The medical community can help curb this problem by offering the patient narrow spectrum or older antibiotics, shorter duration of therapy when appropriate and manipulating the dose of antibiotics. Perhaps even more importantly, doctors need to educate their patients regarding the risk of using antibiotics and spend more time discussing prevention. Patients would be wise to ask if there are any other options to consider, if watchful waiting is an option and if the antibiotic is specific for the condition.Together, we can reduce this significant threat of bacterial resistance.

Relief with Allergies- How

What are Allergies?
An allergies is an abnormal reaction to ordinarily harmless substance or substances. These sensitizing substances, called allergens, may be inhaled, swallowed or come into contact with the skin.Substances that cause allergic reactions, such as certain foods, dust, plant pollen, or medicines, are known as allergens.
What are the Symptoms of Allergies ?
An allergy is actually a malfunction of the immune system, which attacks invaders or antibodies.Allergic reactions can be mild, like a runny nose, or they can be severe, like difficulty breathing.Allergic asthma caused by allergens such as mites and pollens, and stinging insect allergy.Allergic reaction to something that is breathed into the lungs in a person who is susceptible.
What Medications to Treat Allergies?
Medications such as pills or nasal sprays are often used to treat allergies.Many effective medications are available to treat common allergies. AANGAMIK DMG:AANGAMIK DMG is the only pure DMG product that contains no fillers or binders and is therefore pure and non-allergenic.
Allercetin is a Bio-Aligned Formula that utilizes natural homeopathic remedies for the treatment of allergies.
Allergiemittel AllerAide:Allergiemittel AllerAide temporarily relieves minor allergic symptoms such as sneezing, itching, runny nose, watery eyes, eczema, wheezing, and shortness of breath caused by allergies.
How to care with Allergies?
1.Wear a mask whenever dusting or mowing a lawn Stop smoking.2.Keep family pets out of certain rooms, like your bedroom, and bathe them if necessary. 3.Avoid using aspirin, which has been reported to allow food allergens to be more effectively absorbed by the body. 4.Remove carpets or rugs from your room.Install an air-purification system at home.

Treating Allergic Rhinitis-Alternative options


Here in northern California, allergies are a significant health problem leading to fatigue, sick days from work and school, and secondary infections. Allergic rhinitis is a reaction to seasonal airborne allergens. It affects about 7 percent of the population of North America and is a risk factor for 88 percent of asthma patients. We have some excellent prescription medications for treating this, and there are many over-the-counter medications available also. However, BEWARE of the sedating effects of those nonprescription medications!!! Recent studies have shown that an individual on a therapeutic dose of diphenhydramine (Benedryl) is a more dangerous driver than one who is legally drunk on alcohol.

Fortunately, there are also some effective alternative therapies for allergic rhinitis.

Remember: no matter what method you use to treat your allergies, nasal rinsing to clear the mucus membranes of trapped allergens is essential. It only takes about 30 seconds, doesn't hurt a bit when done correctly, and makes all the difference. I recommend Nasopure®, a product developed by Dr. Hana Solomon, a pediatrician who has put together in one simple kit all you need for successful nasal rinsing. There is an excellent article about this on the Nasopure website (www.nasopure.com). If you are regularly using your Nasopure®, and still having difficulties, you can try some of the following remedies without significant side effects.
Vitamin and mineral supplements:
* Vitamin A - 10,000 IU/day
* Vitamin B6 - 50-100 mg/day
* Vitamin B5 - 50-75 mg/day
* Vitamin C - 1,000 mg/day in 3 divided doses
* Vitamin E - 400 IU/day
* Zinc - 20-30 mg/day
In addition some herbs and nutrients can help:
Quercetin has anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory effects if you take it 250mg two or three times a day.
Freeze-dried stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) can relieve symptoms of allergic rhinitis at a dosage of 300mg twice a day.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), also called fish oil, can help asthma patients with allergies by stabilizing the airways. They come in capsules and the total dose of the combination should be 2-4 g/day.

Acupuncture has given many patients significant relief. The Chinese medicine paradigm is very different than Western medicine, so I can not explain the mechanism of action. But I know that it is effective!

See your doctor about allergy symptoms if you are unable to manage them on your own - the nonsedating antihistamines and anti-inflammatory nasal sprays available today are excellent in treating this significant health problem!

Stacey Marie Kerr, M.D. graduated from the University of California Davis Medical School in 1989 and is currently a board certified family physician. Dr. Kerr is a member of the California and American Academy of Family Physicians. She holds a B.S. in Education/Special Education from the University of Missouri, Columbia Missouri. She hosts a website the-doctors-inn.comthat provides personalized answers to medical questions.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

8 Steps for a Woman Dancing with Cancer


1. Submit. Give up. Make room for the miracle.

2. Inform yourself. Listen to your intuition. Examine all the options, but only use what feels
right to you.

3. Accept support. Surround yourself with loving friends, healing music, special colors, prayer
and affirmation. Create a ceremony of healing/wholing and invite your supporters.
4. Anoint your breast(s) with healing herbal oils such as calendula, dandelion, or poke. Visualize
healing energies suffusing your tissues.
5. Maximize the healthy qualities of your diet:
Use organic olive oil and butter to the exclusion of other fats.

Increase your use of beans, especially lentils, and fermented foods such as yogurt,
sauerkraut, miso, tamari, homemade wines and beers.

Include immune building and anticancer herbs in your diet:

Daily use of a nourishing infusion, especially red clover flower or burdock root or violet leaf
infusions.
Daily use of fresh herb vinegars, especially yellow dock, burdock, and dandelion root vinegars.
Frequent use of a long-cooked soup containing seaweed (such as kombu or wakame),
astragalus root, and medicinal mushrooms (reishi, shiitake, puffballs, etc).
6.Increase you exercise level. Take a yoga or tai chi class weekly. Walk daily. Get a weekly
massage. Pamper yourself with activity.
7. Use drugs (chemotherapy, tamoxifen, anesthesia, pain killers) as required but:

consider a short trial of a powerful herb such as poke root before resorting to drugs; and
always combine drug use with complementary herbs. For instance, protect the liver with milk thistle seed tincture.
8.Use radiation and surgery as needed but:

always combine with complementary herbs; and
be willing to set limits that you feel comfortable with - they can't take your lymph glands if you say "No."

Cancer - The Missing Point- on-point best approach:

1. Prevention means adjusting your life right now so that you are living in tune with your design. Cancer is, quite simply, the reaction of cells subjected long enough to an environment they are not designed for. The genetic apparatus loses its bearings, becomes insane, if you will, and regresses to embryonic infancy and just begins multiplying recklessly. What is the proper environment? It is that food, air, water and lifestyle you are genetically designed for. The proper healthy preventive living context is encapsulated in the Wysong Optimal Health Programâ„¢.
2. If you get cancer, don't panic. First thing is follow #1 advice. Learn. Gather as much information as you can from all resources, not just what the medical establishment provides. We try to gather such information for you in: The Wysong Directory of Alternative Resources http://www.wysong.net/page/WOTTPWS/PROD/EDUAIDS/MM028
3. Think about what has happened in your life that has caused the disease. It is caused, it does not just happen. Correct your life.
4. You take control of your own body and you make the decisions. Determine to set right what is wrong and do it. Taking control is essential to not feeling like a helpless victim and sinking into hopeless despair – a sure mindset to speed the disease along.
5. Think long and hard before submitting to unproven cancer therapies. If the doctor cannot prove effectiveness (at least prove that you will be better off with the therapy than without) and if you are not willing to take the risk of all the contraindications, then don't submit because you think it is "all that can be done." It isn't. See #2 above.
All good things in life are hard. In our modern world, good health takes effort and attention. Preventing and reversing disease also takes effort – your effort. Begin today to take charge of your health and be the best you can be. Most chronic degenerative diseases have long latency periods, the time between when the disease begins and it manifests in overt symptoms. Most everyone reading this has such disease brewing within at this very moment. So take advantage of the window of opportunity and give your body a chance by living the life you were designed to live. That will not only prevent disease from gaining a foothold, but reverse disease that is incubating within.
All good things in life are hard. In our modern world, good health takes effort and attention. Preventing and reversing disease also takes effort – your effort. Begin today to take charge of your health and be the best you can be. Most chronic degenerative diseases have long latency periods, the time between when the disease begins and it manifests in overt symptoms. Most everyone reading this has such disease brewing within at this very moment. So take advantage of the window of opportunity and give your body a chance by living the life you were designed to live. That will not only prevent disease from gaining a foothold, but reverse disease that is incubating within.

Cancer - The Missing Point

If one were to judge by television advertising and news reports, it would seem that the “war on cancer” is all but won. What are the weapons being heralded? Drugs, research, tests and exams. They miss the point. “Prevention” is promoted as meaning catching the disease early. Really. That also misses the point. Is it “prevention” if you call 911 when you come home and see smoke billowing from all your windows? Do we just live with a carpe diem philosophy and wait for the doctor to tell us we have a lump in our breast or a swollen nodular prostate? Is the cause of cancer a lack of one of the new cancer drugs? Is the cause of cancer really unknown, requiring endless research? First, let me put to rest the propaganda that the war is being won. Since President Nixon declared the war (1971) and after over 200 billion dollars have been spent on research (remember, one billion is a thousand million), more Americans will die of cancer in the next 14 months than have died in all U.S. wars ever fought combined! (Where are the protest marches?) Soon, cancer will overtake heart disease as the number one killer.
Decades ago, early in the war, there were some dramatic successes such as with Hodgkin's disease and some forms of childhood leukemia. There can be little doubt that debunking (surgical removal) of large cancers brings benefits. But the big killers such as colorectal, lung, prostate and breast cancer remain as threatening as ever. Survival gains are measured primarily in additional months (not years) added to life, not in cures. The placebo effect is by and large ignored. (People getting a sugar pill placebo in cancer studies have been known to lose their hair and some actually cure themselves by simply thinking they will be cured.) A percentage of people can experience remissions spontaneously and from simple lifestyle adjustments, but the cancer therapy is always credited with the cure.
Statistics can always be massaged to create the result desired. This practice is rampant in cancer research. Animal models (euphemism for real living and feeling caged creatures being tortured by the millions) do not prove effectiveness across species boundaries to humans. Neither do laboratory cell lines. That's why all the "breakthroughs" based on tumor shrinkage never pan out. For-profit drug companies and National Cancer Institute grant-based research ignore metastases (the spreading cells of cancer through the body) in their positive reports. Instead they highlight and focus on more easily obtained lab results, such as "tumor shrinkage,” and on easily manipulated clinical data such as "five-year survival."
Twelve new "improved" drugs introduced in Europe between 1995 and 2000 were no better than the drugs they replaced. But the prices were all higher, in one instance by a factor of 350 times. One new "revolutionary" drug, Erbituxâ„¢, found to "shrink" tumors but not extend the lives of patients at all costs $2,400 per week. Avastinâ„¢, another costly chemotherapeutic, by the best calculation, extended the lives of 400 colorectal patients by 4.7 months. Tamoxifinâ„¢ is proven to be effective in decreasing breast cancer. Risk is decreased by about 15% but what is not equally heralded is the fact that it increased the risk of endometrial uterine cancer by about 15%. (Patient Information: Nolvadex, Zeneca Pharmaceuticals)
Are such results worth the financial devastation and miserable life that chemotherapy, radiation and surgery impose? Is that the way to spend one's remaining days? If such therapy does add a couple of months, are those couple of months really worth the poking, prodding, pain, unrelenting nausea, disfiguring, destruction of the immune system and increased susceptibility to other diseases? "Yes" would be a hard answer to justify. In the face of a cancer diagnosis most people just throw up their hands in terror and surrender to the conventional cancer therapy death process. The feeling is that something must be done, and, since "doctors know best," one must begin the "fight" by following the advice of the doctor. But fighting does not mean surrendering to the will of another person who has their own personal agenda and narrowed field of view dictated by the club they belong to. That misses the point. You must do something.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Acne Skin Care Products – Which Is Best?

It's not easy to deal with acne. Acne is not just a skin condition. Rather, it can be a huge stress factor that results in low self esteem and psychological distress. Moreover, if acne is not treated appropriately, the condition can become aggravated resulting in severe inflammations.
There are a variety of skin care products available in the market. They can be classified into 3 categories:General acne care products or Preventive acne skin care productsSpecialized, over-the-counter acne skin care productsPrescription acne skin care products
General Acne Care Products
These products are like preventive acne skin care products that help prevent the occurrence of acne inflammations and breakouts. They can be cleansers, toners, moisturizers, make-up removers that contain anti-acneic benefits and helps heal acne.In fact, preventive acne skin care products should be part of your skin care regimen even if you are not suffering from severe acne. This is because the ingredients fight off acne-causing bacteria on the skin and help eliminate the root causes of acne. Some of their basic functions are:
They control the activity of sebum glands and limit the production of excessive oil that causes skin pores to get cloggedThey prevent sebum from accumulating in the skin poresThey eliminate acne causing bacteria within the skin poresThey exfoliate the dead skin cells from the skin surface which prevents pore clogging
Some Product Suggestions:
iS Clinical Cleansing Complex – It’s a superb cleanser that not only resurfaces and deep cleanses the skin but also works to prevent acne. The best thing about the product is that it helps control acne without stripping the skin off its natural protective oils. It contains antioxidants that fight against free radicals. What’s more… Though it’s a powerful serum it can be used well by people with sensitive skin.
Specialized Acne Skin Care Products
Apart from the general skin care products, there are specialized skin care products available over-the-counter without prescription. They are specialized acne skin care treatment products that identify the prime causes of acne and treat them accordingly. They contain active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, both powerful acne fighting compounds. They eliminate acne causing bacteria and prevent and heal acne.While using specialized skin care products start with one that has a lower concentration of benzoyl peroxide, about 5 %. This allows you to see how your skin reacts to the product. If your acne does not improve, you can start using higher concentrations of product. Also, apply these products on alternate days as you begin; then be more regular as your skin gets used to it.
Some Product Suggestions:
iS Clinical Active Serum
It is a high concentration serum that not only clears off acne and pigmentation concerns but also improves the skin quality. It is anti-acneic and ideal for people who have oily acneic skin and aging is also a concern.
iS Clinical Pro-Heal Serum
It is a breakthrough anti-acneic formula that combines 15% Vitamin C, Vitamin E and vitamin A along with powerful antioxidants and olive leaf extracts. It heals the skin from acne, improves skin integrity and also enhances the skin texture. Moreover, it provides sun protection as well. It contains 0.5% kojic acid to even out skin pigmentation and prevent the occurrence of acne. The zinc sulfate helps reduce acne inflammations.
Prescription Acne Skin Care Products
These products are prescribed by dermatologists who examine your skin condition and depending upon that prescribes spot treatments and other products. They can be oral antibiotics or topical treatments.

Getting Acne Free

For many people becoming acne free is a dream. Many people have problems with their whiteheads, blackheads, or they have infected skin follicles. Just a few years ago it had been believed that acne was caused by improper hygiene, eating the wrong foods and chocolate. However this has become clear that it is not the case.
Acne can be caused from not having enough fluid in your body. Acne can be reduced by being certain that you drink at the least eight glasses of water every day. This helps your digestive system and also your circulatory system and helps your body be in great condition. If your body has the right amount of hydration you will have the ability to ward off infection such as the bacteria found in acne.
Using oil based cosmetics is a huge factor in the cause of acne. Acne that has been caused by oil based cosmetics are usually found in people who only have skin problems when they have used the cosmetics. This is a type of acne that will not have any scaring effect but it is unattractive just the same. If you happen to get this type of acne then stop using the cosmetic that is the problem.
To be free of acne you need to clean often, also to stay acne free. There are products that are available to aid in this but be certain that you use one that is non abrasive. Any product that has salicylic acid can be an aide that is powerful against treating blackheads and any acne that is not inflamed.
Mainly remember to keep your hand off of any acne. If you pop or squeeze you are making breaks in your skin, inviting any bacteria to infest your skin. Any person that suffers from acne needs to quit this horrible habit.

How to Solve Scalp Acne Problems


If you are looking for an efficient scalp acne treatment, then you must know that scalp acne breaks out due to a variety of severities. Acne scalp is normally observed at the hairline and exist in very oily hair. The hyperactive oil gland produces too much oil which lastly merges with dust and ends up in blocked pores. This comes into view in the form of tiny yellowish or white blisters. Scalp folliculitis is a mildest kind of acne and is very common that nearly everybody realized and may be for the reason of stress. The tiny blisters grown are extremely irritated and it turns out to be hard to resist. Eventually that is smashed and this formulates the situation worsen.
For milder form of scalp acne, the most ordinary healing is maintaining the region completely dirt free and clean. For oily hair, using a cleanser and sometimes using dandruff cleansers are too helpful. The part is to be cared with the products that hold salicylic acid. Though, a lot of healthcare centers alarm the people having scalp acne that they must not make use of any product containing benzoyl peroxide because it normally bleaches the hair and one can get an appearance that would not be welcoming. Natural or herbal scalp acne healing includes a careful sanitation and hygiene which removes the bacteria present in the scalp. Creams, herbal products, conditioners and cleansers are considered to be helpful if used in a proper and efficient way. Itchy and small blisters present in the scalp can be cured by simply cleaning the scalp with those natural products that hold potential herbs and other components which are helpful for scalp acne. Sometimes skin experts recommend using a number of anti dandruff cleansers which hold ketoconazole and ciclopirox.
The scalp acne healing comprises some prescriptions, such as mild topical steroidal ointments, antibiotics such as tetracycline, antifungal gels and herbal creams which contain the blend of potential herbs that hold natural skin curing properties. A cruel form of scalp acne features few big hickeys having coatings. This type of condition is called Acne Necrotica miliaris and may end up in very big scars, if not treated properly and that is the reason, why treatment for scalp acne is needed as soon as possible.
So as to cure scalp acne, one can go through the regimens that are depicted in the healing of acne which breaks out anywhere in the body. Cruel types of scalp acne are to be cured only by qualified cosmetologists or dermatologists under strict medical observation. In addition, scalp acne is measured to be an infectious ailment, which is one of the most worrying matters for people. In simple words, the situation is infectious and as a result, a man who is suffering from such situation must not share anything such as towel, brush and most significantly any sort of hair gears with anyone and they must firmly sustain the hygiene and sanitation.
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Monday, February 23, 2009

Hot Tub

In the last decade and a half over 750 deaths have taken place in hot tubs. Of these, a fair amount have been caused by drowning - adults and children.
Even though a hot tub or sauna can be enjoyable places to spend time, please be aware that they can be dangerous appliances. Here are a few things to be particularly aware of:
Long Hair and Hot Tubs
In the last decade and a half over 750 deaths have taken place in hot tubs. Of these, a fair amount have been caused by drowning - adults and children.
Among children one of the main causes drownings is due to a child's hair being sucked into the hot tub's drain cover fittings. When a child with long hair puts his or her head under water, it is possible for their hair to get entangled with the suction drain cover fitting. In many hot tubs, the suction drain cover fitting is on the floor of the hot tub. In the worst case scenario the child's head is pulled beneath the water and before he can disentangle himself, he suffocates. The problem is mainly caused by the placement of these hot tub drain cover fittings. The correct placement of these fitting should be on the wall. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has worked with manufacturers to recall these suction drain cover fittings. Nevertheless, many hot tubs still maintain these older style drain cover fittings.If your child has long hair, an additional safety precaution is to have your child wear a bathing cap to reduce the risk of hair entanglement.

Dangers In Your Hot Tub
Author: Jerry Shearier
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In the last decade and a half over 750 deaths have taken place in hot tubs. Of these, a fair amount have been caused by drowning - adults and children.
Even though a hot tub or sauna can be enjoyable places to spend time, please be aware that they can be dangerous appliances. Here are a few things to be particularly aware of:Long Hair and Hot TubsIn the last decade and a half over 750 deaths have taken place in hot tubs. Of these, a fair amount have been caused by drowning - adults and children. Among children one of the main causes drownings is due to a child's hair being sucked into the hot tub's drain cover fittings. When a child with long hair puts his or her head under water, it is possible for their hair to get entangled with the suction drain cover fitting. In many hot tubs, the suction drain cover fitting is on the floor of the hot tub. In the worst case scenario the child's head is pulled beneath the water and before he can disentangle himself, he suffocates. The problem is mainly caused by the placement of these hot tub drain cover fittings. The correct placement of these fitting should be on the wall. The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission has worked with manufacturers to recall these suction drain cover fittings. Nevertheless, many hot tubs still maintain these older style drain cover fittings.If your child has long hair, an additional safety precaution is to have your child wear a bathing cap to reduce the risk of hair entanglement.
Alcohol and Hot Tubs
The combination of heat and alcohol can lead to catastrophes. Modern hot tubs can be heated to a maximum of 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat expands the blood vessels and increases the body's temperature. Alcohol also expands the blood vessels and increases the body's temperature. The combination may be too much for your body to take, raising your temperature to so high that it results in a stroke or heart attack. An additional danger of alcohol, or course, is that excess drinking can cause drowsiness or even worse a blackout or unconsciousness in which state you can very easily drown For safety's sake, it's best not to drink while in a hot tub.
Prescription Medication and Hot Tubs
Many of the most popular medications cause drowsiness. Aspirin, barbiturates, certain anti-depressants, tranquilizers, many antihistamines, certain cold medications , allergy medications, and many others can be potentially dangerous if they're in your system when you use your hot tub.
Pregnancy and Hot Tubs
If you think you heard that women who are pregnant should not use hot tubs, you're right. This is especially true if the woman is in the first three months of pregnancy where the fetus is at its most vulnerable. If a woman immerses herself in t hot tub with temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, she is potentially increasing the likelihood of a miscarriage.
Vascular Diseases and Hot Tubs
If you have hypertension or any blood vessel problems it may be unsafe for you to use a hot tub due to the effect that immersing the body in heated water has on the blood vessels. To be safe, talk to your physician if you have any type of vascular disease before you use a hot tub.Hot tubs are a great means of relaxation and many families get years of enjoyment from them. Just be sure to take commen sense safety precautions when using them.
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Monday, February 2, 2009

Cancer-self exam

One of the most prominent cases of cancer in women, which we hear today, is breast cancer. Cases of breast cancer have increased at an alarming rate and therefore, it is very important that we know the exact signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Women are the worst victims of this breast cancer, but men are also reported to suffer from this deadly disease.
Breast cancer can be cured in cases when women catch that they are having breast cancer in very early stages when the cancer is unable to reach the lymph nodes. In fact, 80% of all the women suffering from breast cancer are fully cured and they enjoy life as a normal person provided they are treated in the early stages of breast cancer.
Catch the Disease at an Early Stage
The best way to survive from cases of breast cancer is to catch it early on. For this, a woman should regularly perform breast self-exam of her breasts. This helps in finding and detecting breast cancer in the early stages ensuring that with proper treatment, it can be cured. A woman should perform self-exam of her breast regularly, so that she knows how her breasts normally feel. She can easily locate, if there is any sort of change in the anatomy of her breasts in future. This helps in improving the chances for her survival and eliminating the risks of breast cancer.
Consult Your Physician Immediately
As soon as you notices change in your breasts by performing self-exam, you should immediately contact your general physician or healthcare provider. Although most lumps or breast changes are found to be non-cancerous, such preventive measures can help you in determining the exact reason behind the abnormality of your breasts
Fix a Time for Self-Exam
Every woman should conduct regular self-exam of her breasts. It is recommended that she does it every month and particularly after a few days before her period ends. This is because during that particular time, a woman’s breast is found to be less swollen or tender. Doctors also say that a woman
Symptoms to Watch Out For
While performing a self-exam of your breasts, you should immediately contact your doctor if you notice any sort of abnormal lump. Again, you should consult them if any of your breasts shows some other symptoms like nipple retraction or skin irritation, skin dimpling & skin irritation, watery discharge from the nipple and redness on the breast skin or nipple.
Benefits of Regular Self-Exam
Regular self-exam ensures that a breast cancer is found early and there are more treatment choices for the affected person. Woman having breast cancer in the early stages have a better chance of recovery, as the cancer is unable to affect the lymph nodes.
I
t is very important that every woman perform regular self-exam of her breasts, so that the breast cancer can be detected and treated as early as possible.
To Your Health!

Relax and Calm

In today’s hustle bustle world, it seems like we are always running around and the stress of our lives seems to permeate every aspect of our life. Sometimes finding time for relaxation seems impossible. Often stress management seems like a concept that you just can’t get under your belt. You have to work, you have a family, the economy is in trouble, there’s not enough time in the day to get everything done that you need to do. When stress takes over your world it is tough to even see outside of your situation. It seems like you’ll never be able to get your stresses under control.
One factor that you need to master is your own personal discipline to manage your stress. Often, part of the reason that we can’t commit to stress reduction is because you don’t have the discipline to commit to eliminating your stress. To do that, you need to spend time determining where your stress is coming from. You’ll also need to spend some time determining how you are going to best be able to deal with your stress. You will also need to have the discipline to stick with the plan that you’ve put in place. Often that means changing your routine, or committing to new relaxation techniques and stress exercises. If you don’t stick to the plan that you’ve set out, you will not succeed in reducing your emotional stress level.
You must also be incredibly focused to eliminate your stress. However, that focus is something that will stick with you after you’ve eliminated your stress from your workplace or personal life. Often when you are dealing with a great deal of stress in your life you will have trouble staying focused on other tasks without letting your stress permeate your thoughts. However, by finding stress relaxation techniques that work for you, you will be able to regain your focus.
There are many different relaxation methods that you can take advantage of. Meditation is an exceptionally effective way to manage the stresses of daily life. You can explore guided meditation, yoga meditation, or deep meditation just to name a few. By practicing daily meditation, you will be sure to give yourself some time to relax and rejuvenate. By taking this time to relax away your daily stresses, you can be sure that your stressful distractions will fade away into the background.
Finding a balance in your life so that your stresses don’t overwhelm you is tough, but you can find your way to a more relaxed state. You have to decide that you are worth it so that you can find the confidence and discipline to set boundaries for yourself. You also need to decide to put your focus onto your mission of getting your stress level under control. Lastly, you need to commit to exploring some relaxation techniques that you might not have tried before. By giving these relaxation exercises a chance, you might find the key to your stress management. With a little effort, you can find your way to a relaxed, calm, and focused life.

Breast cancer effects in women's health

The Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women. It is found that breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women. Though the cause of breast cancer is unknown, genetic and/or hormonal factors are considered as the primary causes for breast cancer. Age, Personal history of breast cancer, Family history, Certain breast changes, Gene changes, Reproductive and menstrual history, Breast density, Being overweight or obese after menopause, Lack of physical activity, Drinking alcohol are some risk factors for breast cancer. Other possible risk factors are under study. A lot of websites and health articles are there for women to learn about breast cancer symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Breast cancer is women's number one health worry. Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. Other health problems may also cause the symptoms such as breast pain. Still, a woman must seek the advice of the general physician about her breast pain or any other symptom that does not go away, so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
When a woman is affected with breast cancer, it affects their physical and mental health disproportionately. Breast cancer, can affect a woman's self-image and self-confidence. When she comes to know that she is a victim of breast cancer, she undergoes emotional stress, besides the physical and mental discomforts. Some women undergoes emotional burden when disclosing their diagnosis to loved ones.
All the treatment for breast cancer including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and vaccine therapy, has their own side effects. But women with breast cancer experience more side effects from chemotherapy. According to reports, some breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy experience congestive heart failure after some months. But the rate of cardiac toxicity is lower with some recently found chemotherapy agents. Women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer may experience side effects such as infections, low blood counts, dehydration, nausea, fever, etc. Some may even require hospitalization or emergency department care.
The emotional aspects of this disease are unavoidable. One way to minimize the psychosocial aspect of women undergoing surgery for breast cancer is breast reconstruction. This also provides the benefits of good body image and self-confidence to those patients.
Women with breast cancer should learn how to cope with the disease and the effects of the treatment. Women affected with this breast cancer must be allowed to talk to other women who have beaten breast cancer. They must be introduced to the doctors and experts who have saved many such women. Positive thinking is very important for the long-term survival of cancer patients. Robin Hershkowitz, program director for women's cancers at CancerCare, a national nonprofit support-service group in New York, says "Hope is helpful, even if it doesn't add a second to your life, because it adds to the quality of your life." Recovery of breast cancer depends on the type of treatment, emotional status of the patient, and other related factors. Now-a-days, the medical advances in testing, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer has relieved many women. The regular breast screening, understanding the prevention options and treatment options are very important for every woman.
Knowledge of breast cancer risk factors makes women undergo mammography for screening, leading to detection of cancers in earlier stages and a resultant improvement in survival rates. The awareness about prevention and early diagnosis of breast cancer makes women more active in their health and in their health decisions. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and a good sleep are also essential for breast cancer patients.

Information about the cancer

Many mothers in the world died of breast cancer at the age of 54. Her cancer was diagnosed after undergoing a surgical breast biopsy when it was already in its late stage. Although she still underwent chemotherapy sessions, doctors gave her a small chance of survival.
Had her cancer been detected when it was still in its early stage, her chance to survive would have been high. She actually discovered a lump in her left breast three or four years before she passed away but she didn’t go to the doctor for a medical examination. She ignored it and hid it from me and my father. When she found out that the lump was growing, she discussed it with my father but she was still not convinced to see a doctor.
She somehow knew that if she went to a doctor, the doctor would recommend her to undergo a breast biopsy and she was afraid of it. In her mind it would be painful if her breast would be cut open to get samples for laboratory examination. She was only convinced to see a doctor when ulcerations appeared in the lump. It was already more than a year after she first found the lump.
Ignorance or misinformation about medical procedures leads to damaging, if not life threatening problems. Because of misinformation, fear gets in the way for certain diseases or disorders to be diagnosed early.
In our family’s case, misinformation about breast cancer and breast biopsy led to loss of a loved one. It may be too late to save my mother, but just recently I’ve started collecting information about breast cancer and the breast biopsy procedure. I would like to be able to share this information with as many women as possible in the hope that lives will be saved (not only for the patients’ sake but for their children as well).
Breast biopsy is a procedure where sample tissues from a breast where a lump or thickening is found are taken. It is done to determine if the lump or growth is benign or malignant.
Contrary to what my mother thought, this procedure is not only done through surgical means (where an incision is made on the skin to scrape off samples for testing). There are other procedures that are not surgical in nature. These non-surgical procedures can be done in a clinic and can be done fast. Confinement is usually not necessary. These non-invasive procedures do not cause scarring because stitches are not done on the skin.
Breast biopsy procedures are generally not painful. Pain is felt only when anesthesia is injected. Whatever pain is felt can be lessened or alleviated by non-prescription or over-the-counter pain relievers. Risk of complications such as bleeding and infection is small especially in non-surgical means.
Results are obtained within a few days after the procedure. When the result is negative of cancer, the doctor may just recommend the patient to go back regularly for check-ups. Other procedures may not be needed. When the result however shows that the lump is malignant or cancerous, further tests may be done - or for some, immediate treatment may be recommended.
Knowing information regarding a certain disorder or disease like breast cancer is very important. Being correctly informed can be one of our best defenses to survive such disorder or disease. So the next time you are faced with the possibility of being seriously sick, drop the drama and go to a doctor to ask about it or click on the internet and read.