Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus known as HBV. It is contracted through body fluids, such as from sharing an infected needle during intravenous drug use or through sexual contact. Hepatitis B can either be acute, meaning that the disease will run its course without any lingering consequences, or chronic, resulting in liver failure, liver damage or cirrhosis. Here are the steps to treat acute hepatitis B.
Instructions
Treating Acute Hepatitis B
1. Contact your doctor immediately if you feel you may have been exposed to HBV. An injection of hepatitis B immune globulin within 24 hours can often prevent the onset of the disease.
2. Rest frequently and avoid alcohol during the recovery period, which could last for several months..Typically, no medication or other treatment is prescribed, although you may wish to discuss with your doctor the possibility of taking a natural herb called milk thistle, sometimes used to speed up the recovery time for liver ailments.
3. Follow up with your doctor during the recovery period to monitor your progress and to ensure against developing other afflictions.
4. If diagnosed with a rare form of acute hepatitis B known as fulminant, or acute yellow atrophy, the prognosis is much grimmer. Fulminant hepatitis B attacks the liver quickly and in adults usually leads to coma and death in just a few hours. The only known treatment is a liver transplant. Patients who do survive generally make a complete recovery.
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In Traditional Chinese Medicine, menopause is seen as a means of conserving a woman's Qi after her child-bearing years are over. The resources that were once used in the preparation of the uterus for a pregnancy and subsequent shedding of blood now may be retained. Symptoms of menopause are therefore caused by underlying problems with the Qi.
Instructions
1. View menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats as primarily caused by a constrained liver Qi and kidney yin or yang deficiency, although the heart, liver and spleen are often involved.
2. Use acupuncture to balance the Qi and strengthen internal organs. The acupoints to be stimulated depend on whether the symptoms are primarily caused by a deficiency of kidney yin or yang.
3. Detect evidence of kidney yin deficiency. These symptoms include a bright red menstrual flow, back aches, dizziness, hot flashes, insomnia, sweating and tinnitus. The skin may be dry and the tongue should have little coating. The stools should be hard and dry with scant yellow urine.
4. Identify signs of kidney yang deficiency. These symptoms include a dark menstrual discharge with blood clots, the loss of appetite, a dull complexion, cold extremities, listlessness and edema. The tongue may be pale and sometimes tender. Urination is frequent and occasionally accompanied by a clear vaginal discharge.
5. Initiate treatment with acupuncture while a woman is still on Hormone Replacement Therapy. Women with thyroid disorders and those undergoing chemotherapy will need additional treatment.
Tags: kidney yang, deficiency These, deficiency These symptoms, kidney yang deficiency, Menopause With, Menopause With Acupuncture
It can be shocking to find out that a friend or relative is a drug abuser. You may have suspected that something was wrong but didn't think it would be substance abuse. How do you know if someone is a drug abuser? There are different types of drugs, therefore the signs and symptoms of drug abuse may vary. Normally there are certain signs that can indicate possible drug abuse.
Physical Signs
The detectable physical signs of drug use include, among others, dilated pupils, bloodshot eyes, nasal irritation and needle marks on the skin.
Behavior
Changes in behavior such as irritability, restlessness and hyperactivity can be an indication of drug abuse. People who are drug abusers may appear jittery, moody, depressed or unusually talkative.
Personal Hygiene
Drug abusers may neglect their appearance and personal hygiene. They may often appear disheveled or unkempt.
Teens in School
There may be noticeable signs of drug abuse in teens such as a drop in school grades, lack of interest in activities as well as excessive absenteeism and tardiness.
Workplace
Similar signs such as absenteeism and tardiness often occur with adult drug abusers in the workplace. There may also be a change in attitude as well as a change in relationships with friends and co-workers. Productivity and work performance may be poor.
Paraphernalia
Drug paraphernalia are often the most concrete indication that someone is a drug abuser. Short straws, needles, a pipe or even a lighter being in the possession of someone who does not smoke cigarettes can be a sign of drug use.
Tags: drug abuse, drug abuser, absenteeism tardiness, signs drug, someone drug
Cerebral strokes can be either ischemic or hemorrhagic. Ischemic is the formation of a clot that has either formed in the blood vessel of the brain known as thrombosis or that has moved from another part of the body to the neck or brain, which is called an embolism. A quick response time is essential to recovery from a stroke. Often, brain tissue can be preserved if treatment begins within 3 hours of a stroke.
Dizziness
A loss of balance and sensation of dizziness can be a symptom of a cerebral stroke.
Loss of Vision
A loss of vision, often in one eye, is a sign of a cerebral stroke. Partial vision loss or dimness is also possible.
Numbness
A numb feeling of arms, legs, or face on one side of the body can be an indicator of a cerebral stroke.
Weakness
Weakness in an arm, leg or facial muscles located on only one side of the body is a symptom of a cerebral stroke.
Loss of Speech
If you experience difficulty speaking or understanding speech, or cannot speak, you may be suffering from a cerebral stroke.
Dental veneers are shell-like tooth covers made from ceramic material. Dental veneers are used to correct minor and major dental inconsistencies. Most people opt to get dental veneers to help slow the aging process by giving their teeth a less worn look. Others opt to get dental veneers to correct minor injuries to their teeth.
Their Use
Dental veneers are mainly used for three reasons: Wear and tear, genetics, and worn enamel.
Worn enamel---Enamel is the hard, white covering over teeth. It is there to protect the dentin (main part of the tooth's structure), which encases the pulp. Genetics, consumption of caffeinated drinks and smoking can cause the enamel to wear down or become discolored overtime.
Genetics---Some people are born with dental problems such as uneven teeth or gaps. These gaps can expand with age.
Wear and tear---As you age, your teeth naturally start to wear down. Once your enamel starts to wear down, it's more susceptible to getting cracks and chips. Wear and tear also result in your teeth becoming uneven.
Benefits
Dental veneers are used for cosmetic reasons but can also be used to correct dental problems. Cosmetically, dental veneers can give a whiter appearance to discolored teeth, correct misaligned and/or gapped teeth and give the teeth a more uniform appearance. Dental veneers are also used for people who have more serious dental problems such as major chips and cracks as well as severe discoloration that cannot be corrected with general cleaning. For smaller complaints such as minor cracks in the teeth and small chips, your dentist will often suggest a bonding procedure instead, as it's less expensive.
Composite Resin or Porcelain Veneers
The two materials used the most in manufacturing dental veneers are composite resin and porcelain. Composite dental veneers can be fabricated in your mouth at your dentist's office. Composite and porcelain veneers can be sent off to a dental lab to be manufactured by a dental technician. Any dental veneer that is manufactured in a lab has to be bonded to your teeth with different types of cement resin. Although expensive, most people want to have porcelain veneers as they are more durable and last longer.
Costs
Porcelain veneers are more costly than the less expensive composite resin veneers. As of 2009, the price range for porcelain veneers was between $900 and $2,500 per tooth. The price range for composite resin is between $250 and $1,500 per tooth. The price depends on the location of the dental office (what state it's in), the skills of your dental technician, and the number of teeth you need to have done. Ultimately, a considerable amount of the cost boils down to what type of veneer you choose. Porcelain veneers last 10 to 15 years and composite resin veneers last five to seven years.
Procedure
You will be given local anesthetic for pain management and for some dental practices; you will be offered a form of audio/visual therapy for relaxation. Next, your tooth will be reshaped with a hand-held bur (rotational cutting instrument) to ensure a good fit. A mold will be made to ensure correct shaping of the dental veneers. This mold may be sent away to the dental lab so the veneers can be professionally created.
The whole procedure is completed within two visits or in some cases a period of six weeks and requires no recovery time.
Raising children is a time of falls and scrapes, bumps and bruises. No matter how well you watch over your children accidents can and do occur. A good rule of thumb with children is to always expect the unexpected. It also helps to have basic knowledge to care for minor wounds and to know when medical care is necessary.Stay calm when an injury occurs. Most parents tend to panic when a child falls or is otherwise injured. It is a normal reaction. But when you panic you are unable to properly assess your child's injuries. If you panic so will your child. It is important to keep your child calm while you treat the injury or seek medical attention.
Instructions
Treat Scrapes and Cuts
1. Rinse under cool water to remove to debris and excess blood if bleeding.
2. If bleeding apply pressure until bleeding subsides.
3. Wash with soap and warm water.
4. Cleanse with a cotton ball and hydrogen peroxide.
5. Cover with band-aid or gauze bandage.
Treat Animal Bites
6. Apply pressure to stop bleeding.
7. Wash the wound with soap and warm water.
8. Cover with a bandage.
9. Seek medical attention.
10. Animal bites should always be treated by a physician even if the animal is familiar to you. Provide as much information regarding the animal as possible to the medical staff.
Treat Burns
11. There are three degrees of burns. If a first degree burn occurs there will be pain, redness of the skin and possibly slight swelling.
12. When a first degree burn occurs run the affected area under cool water to ease the pain and burning sensation.
13. Cover with a sterile gauze bandage.
14. In second degree burns blistering of the skin occurs. Do not treat a second degree burn but seek medical attention.
15. In third degree burns there may be blistering and also charring of the skin. A third degree burn is a medical emergency and needs immediate medical treatment.
Treat Falls
16. If your child falls quickly assess the damage. Check for bumps, bleeding and swelling.
17.If the child is unconscious call 911 immediately. If the child is conscious talk to him/her to see if he knows who and where he/she is.In the case of head trauma it is always best to see a physician even if there are no outward detectable symptoms of injury.
18. Swelling of a limb may indicate sprain or fracture.X-rays may be needed to properly ascertain the injury. Seek medical attention.
19. Any injury to the eye(s) requires medical attention. It is best not to treat at home. See a physician.
Tags: medical attention, degree burn, your child, Cover with, burn occurs, child falls
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic painful inflammatory disease of the urinary bladder associated with urinary frequency and urgency and moderate to severe pain when the bladder begins to fill, when urination is postponed, when eating certain foods that irritate the bladder and during times of physical exertion or emotional distress. You may have a small bladder capacity and glomerulations (small open ulcers) on the inside of your bladder. McPhee and Papadakis, in "Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment" and the National Kidney & Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) outline treatment options.
Lifestyle Changes
Acidic urine increases pain in some people, so you may benefit from a low acid diet. Highly acidic foods include those fermented or aged (cheese, yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk), spices, chocolate, meats, poultry and fish (especially organ meats and eggs), corn, beans, and fruits (plums, cranberries). You should avoid alcoholic beverages and those containing caffeine (cola, tea, coffee), which are irritating to the bladder. Smoking may increase bladder irritation and pain, so you should stop smoking. You may benefit from bladder training to increase your bladder capacity. This involves scheduled urination, increasing the time between urination to stretch your bladder and reduce urgency and frequency.
Medications/Treatments
The cause of interstitial cystitis is unclear and symptoms vary among individuals, so you may need to try different treatments. The over-the-counter dietary supplement calcium glycerophosphate (Prelief®) makes urine more alkaline and may help to relieve your pain. You may need analgesics (pain medications) to control your pain, including aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. In some cases, tricyclic antidepressants (Elavil®), commonly used to treat chronic pain, or calcium channel blockers may reduce your symptoms. The first FDA-approved drug for interstitial cystitis is pentosan polysulfate, but it can take six months before relieving symptoms.
Trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses small pulses of electricity to the nerves to reduce pain. Special electrodes are placed on the back, the lower abdomen, or inside the vagina for treatments twice daily. You can also have a permanent nerve stimulation device implanted under the skin if your pain is severe and responds to TENS. You may also try alternative medical treatments, such as acupuncture and relaxation techniques.
Bladder Distention/Instillation
Diagnostic testing includes distending (over-filling) the bladder with fluid, and this alone provides relief of symptoms for some people. Bladder instillation requires a catheter (plastic tube) inserted into the bladder to fill the bladder with medicated fluid (dimethyl sulfoxide---DMSO), which is retained for about 15 minutes and then emptied through urination. You may need a bladder instillation once or twice weekly for up to 8 weeks with repeat instillation as needed to control pain. If DSMO instillation reduces your pain, you may learn to do the bladder instillation at home.
Tags: your pain, your bladder, benefit from, bladder capacity, bladder instillation, bladder with, nerve stimulation
Birth control pills are 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.
The pill has been the first choice of women to help prevent unwanted pregnancy since 1960. Birth control pills are highly effective at preventing pregnancy and are relatively easy to get. Your doctor can prescribe them at a simple check-up, which makes them a good choice for preventing an unplanned pregnancy.
Types of Birth Control Pills
There are two types of birth control pills: combination pills and "minipills." Combination pills contain both estrogen and progestin while "minipills" contain progestin only. Each pill is highly effective in preventing pregnancy. Combination pills adjust a woman's hormone levels to prevent a monthly spike in estrogen that causes ovulation. The "minipill" simply blocks ovulation hormones to prevent pregnancy. Both pills thicken the lining of the cervix, which blocks sperm from passing through.
Pros of Using Birth Control Pills
Both types of birth control pills have advantages such as a 99 percent effectiveness rate, regular menstrual cycles and less facial acne. Other advantages may include a decrease in menstrual cramping as well as a decrease in bloating. There also may be a decrease in premenstrual (PMS) moodiness, headaches and tension.
Cons of Using Birth Control Pills
Cons of using birth control pills may include a sickening feeling in your stomach, breasts may be sore to the touch, and your sex drive may decrease significantly. If you develop high blood pressure, are feeling dizzy or lightheaded, or experience extreme pain in your lower abdomen, you should contact your doctor immediately, as these may be serious side effects of the medication.
Alternatives to Birth Control Pills
Male condoms, spermicidal lubricant and female diaphragms are all effective birth control methods. Lesser known alternatives include the NuvaRing (a vaginal ring inserted for three weeks at a time) and the Ortho Evra patch (a patch worn on the hip that allows hormones to pass through). The effectiveness of each alternative varies and should be discussed with your doctor before use.
Tags: control pills, birth control pills, effective preventing, effective preventing pregnancy, preventing pregnancy
PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, is a physical condition that usually recurs during a particular phase of the menstrual cycle. When PMS irritability cannot be managed with lifestyle changes, medications can be prescribed.
Causes
According to Dr. Larry Altshuler in his book, "Balanced Healing," PMS may be caused by hormonal imbalances, dietary deficiencies and genetics. There may also be a deficiency in a brain neurotransmitter known as serotonin.
Oral Contraceptives
Oral contraceptives can be used to relieve the symptoms of PMS. Oral contraceptives help by stopping ovulation and stabilizing hormonal swings.
Antidepressants
According to the Mayo Clinic, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been successful in reducing the symptoms of PMS. SSRIs help reduce symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems and food cravings.
NSAIDs
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be beneficial if taken before or at the onset of menstruation. NSAIDs can help ease cramping and breast discomfort.
Medroxyprogesterone acetate
Medroxyprogesterone acetate, Depo-Provera, is prescribed for severe PMS. The injection can be given to temporarily stop ovulation.
Over the years tactics centering on addressing childhood behavioral issues have undergone a steady evolution. From the reactionary responses of the past that employed authoritarian strategies, the genre has moved forward to use new, more constructive, philosophies when dealing with the behavioral issues of kids in the classroom. Utilizing research-based solutions that employ a proactive, consistent, structured, and positive response, schools now have a better chance to permanently correct the behavior of a misbehaving child. Together, these tactics comprise what is called a Behavioral Intervention Plan.
Facts
Behavioral Intervention Plans, also known as BIPs, are strategies developed by qualified school personnel that are designed to address specific and repeated behavioral issues by a student. BIPs are commonly developed by a school's IEP (Individualized Education Plan) team and can usually be found in the student's IEP folder. The BIP will identify the specific nature of the student's behavioral issue and delineate a course for the teacher to take to either prevent the issue or deal with it when it occurs.
Function
The common theory behind a BIP centers on the notion that a child's disruptive behavior inside the classroom is simply a way for that child to have his specific and unique needs met. To that end, the BIP seeks to address those needs in a constructive manner that does not negatively affect the learning environment for the rest of the students.
Significance
When dealing with a child who has behavioral issues, the importance of an effective BIP cannot be overstated. Students with behavioral issues that are not appropriately dealt with are not getting their specific needs met. Therefore, the longer a behavioral problem exists, the more the student may become disengaged from the learning process as a whole. Furthermore, students with behavioral issues can have a negative influence on the learning environment for an entire classroom, thereby negatively affecting the academic performance of their classmates.
Features
Although each BIP is specifically tailored to the requirements of the student in question, some common intervention tactics are often used. For example, when crafting a BIP for a child who has a high energy level and who tends to have behavioral issues after quickly completing her work, a daily preemptive intervention may be something as simple as giving her the task of helping her classmates after they finish their own work. For students who have difficulty staying on task, assigning a responsible classmate as a peer mentor sometimes helps keep the student in question focused throughout the lesson.
Time Frame
As with any goal-driven set of strategies, behavioral intervention plans must be reviewed at regular intervals to assess a child's progress. This is important to determine which tactics are producing the desired results, and which ones need to be altered accordingly. The BIP review intervals are usually determined by either the school or the IEP team based on school policies for such matters and the specific nature the BIP itself. It's common for BIPs to initially be reviewed quarterly, then annually in cases where a child has settled into a positive behavioral pattern.
Tags: behavioral issues, with behavioral, with behavioral issues, Behavioral Intervention, behavioral issues have
Catalase is an enzyme found in the cells of animals, plants and aerobic bacteria. An enzyme is a large organic molecule synthesized in cells and made to act as a catalyst in a reaction. Each type of enzyme performs a specific function, and the function of catalase is to convert a potentially harmful by-product into usable elements.
Function
Catalase, like most enzymes, is a protein. It is found in perixisomes, which are membrane-bound organelles of cells. Catalase has an important biological function: it catalyzes the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide, a toxic substance to organisms, to water and molecular oxygen, which are both harmless and useful.
Structure
Catalase is a dumbbell shaped structure with four polypeptide chains, each containing over 500 amino acids. Catalase also has four heme groups, which are made up of protoporphyrin rings containing a single iron atom. These rings are nestled within the four chains.
The Importance of Catalase
Hydrogen peroxide is a by-product of many biological functions of organisms. All aerobic organisms use oxygen for respiration. The reduction of oxygen into water is sometimes incomplete, and an extra electron from a metal ion can be transferred, causing the formation of peroxide. However, most of the hydrogen peroxide is created during the production of ATP in the mitochondria.
Although peroxide is toxic to living cells, the reaction to break it back down to water and oxygen happens quickly and efficiently. Catalase is known as one of the most efficient enzymes, having a turnover number close to 200,000 events/second/subunit. Without catalase to increase the rate of the reactions, hydrogen peroxide would remain, damaging cells.
Factors Affecting the Activity of Catalase
Catalase and its rate of activity are affected by many factors, including temperature, pH, salt concentration, amount of substrate and the presence of inhibitors or activators.
Temperature is an important factor in all biochemical reactions, as high temperatures cause denaturation of enzymes. As the enzyme denatures, it changes the conformation, causing the substrate to bind less efficiently, therefore decreasing the reaction. However, until that maximum temperature (which is different for each type of catalase) is reached, the reaction will increase as the temperature increases.
The pH, the measure of acidity or hydrogen ion concentration with a solution, is measured on a scale of 0-14. As a solution becomes more acidic (below 7), the enzyme can gain a hydrogen ion from the solution and as the solution becomes more basic (above 7), it can lose a hydrogen ion. Either of these extremes can reduce the rate of the reaction as it changes the chemical bonds of the catalase.
There are two types of inhibitors: non-competitive inhibitors, which bind somewhere other than the active site, and competitive inhibitors, which bind to the active site of the catalase. Copper sulfate is a known non-competitive inhibitor of catalase, and cyanide is a known inhibitor.
In general, as the amount of hydrogen peroxide increases, the rate of the reaction will also increase. However, enzymatic reactions follow the Michaelis-Menten equation, which reflects that every reaction will reach a saturation point, meaning that at some maximum reaction rate, the addition of more substrate will cease to have an effect.
Other Uses of Catalase
Because catalase is present in just about all living organisms, it is one of the most studied enzymes. This has led to scientists finding other functions for this efficient enzyme. Catalase is used to treat the inside of food wrappers. The catalase prevents oxidation and therefore helps preserve the food. Catalase is also used during the process of cold sterilization, which is a process to preserve milk and cheese by treatment with hydrogen peroxide. The catalase is used to remove any remaining traces of the hydrogen peroxide.
Tags: hydrogen peroxide, reaction will, active site, becomes more, Catalase also, inhibitors which, inhibitors which bind
Almond oil is a popular oil for cooking, but also has a number of medicinal properties which make it the perfect oil for both internal and external use in herbal remedies. Light and sweet with a pleasant nutty aroma, a few tips can help you use almond oil as a natural medicine.
Instructions
1. Add sweet almond oil to both fruit and vegetable salads as a healthy and nutty addition to dressings and vinaigrettes. Almond oil contains healthy fats, making it a great alternative to the fats in meat and dairy products. Adding 2 tbsps. of almond oil to your fresh salads is also the perfect natural medicine for constipation, as the oil has a gentle laxative effect.
2. Calm a cough and heal respiratory tract infections with this healing natural medicine. Add 1 tsp. of almond oil to 1 cup of fresh orange juice and drink three times a day. Orange juice and almond oil will help to eliminate mucus and remove toxins from the blood.
3. Clear clogged ears by mixing equal parts of garlic juice, almond oil and glycerin. Administer the solution like ear drops twice a day until the condition clears.
4. Use almond oil as a moisturizer or massage oil to help prevent wrinkles, promote elasticity, lessen problem pimples and blackheads and treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Almond oil can even be used to help soothe burns and prevent infection of cuts, scrapes and other injuries.
5. Add a few drops of almond oil to your shampoo and/or conditioner to help combat dandruff, itchy scalp and dry, frizzy hair. Almond oil will help to smooth problem hair and add brilliance and shine to dull hair.
Tags: Almond Natural, Almond Natural Medicine, almond your, hair Almond, juice almond, natural medicine
Cancer cells form when there is an abnormal development or mutation of a cell's DNA or gene coding. When a cancer cell forms, it begins to thrive off of the body's resources like a normal cell would, except a cancer cell is not working for the body but against it. Brain cancer cells can appear as tumor masses around various parts of the brain. The types of brain cancer are usually named after the location of the tumor.
Indirect Cause
There are two major categories for brain cancer: primary and metastatic. Primary brain cancer comes from cancerous tumors that originated in the brain or skull. Metastatic brain cancer is derived from other cancers in the body. Those cells have spread to the brain and formed. When metastatic brain cancer is diagnosed, it means that the original cancer has already progressed to advanced stages that are often incurable.
External Causes
As with most cancers, there are no direct causes that scientists can identify. However, there are external contributing factors, such as carcinogens. For brain cancer, one chief identifying contributing factor is exposure to vinyl chloride. According to the Oncology channel website, vinyl chloride is a carcinogen that is usually a byproduct of plastic factory products such as piping and wire coating. It is also present in tobacco smoke.
Genetic Factors
Brain cancer can also derive from bad genes in the brain cells. A genetic mutation of a tumor suppressor gene can severely impact a cell's ability to keep tumors from developing at all. Some diseases that mutate or even remove these genes increase the chances of brain cancer development. These diseases include retinoblastoma, neurofibromatosis type 2, and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.
Treatment
Unfortunately, most treatment for brain cancer is very limited and acts only to relieve symptoms. Statistics show that more than two-thirds of diagnosed patients die from the disease. Surgical treatment can be performed to remove tumor masses that are not too close to the brain's intricate functions such as nerve function and operating the senses. Radiation therapy that is highly localized has been known to greatly reduce tumors in sensitive brain areas; however, the loss of pituitary function is highly probable.
Cumin seed is a popular kitchen spice, but is also an age-old natural medicine. But that's not all, as you can also use cumin seeds as a nutritional supplement or home remedy for many common ailments.
Instructions
1. Keep cumin in your kitchen spice rack and use it in soups, salads, stews or to flavor meat. Not only do cumin seeds taste great, they are rich in antioxidants and have shown to have anti-cancer properties. There is evidence that the daily consumption of cumin seeds greatly reduces incidence of liver and stomach cancer.
2. Benefit from your favorite spice in other ways as well. Cumin seeds are thought to slightly increase metabolism while improving the absorption of vitamins and minerals. Cumin seeds also stimulate the production of enzymes which help the body to break down protein, fat, sugar and starch and help the liver to flush toxins from the body. In addition to other full-system benefits, cumin seeds boost the immune system and protect you from common contagious illnesses.
3. Drink tea made from cumin seeds to ease digestive disorders, as it helps to reduce gas, soothe indigestion, ease diarrhea and even calm nausea and morning sickness. To make tea, add 1 tsp. cumin seeds to 1 cup boiling water and reduce to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and cover for 10 minutes before drinking.
4. Make cumin seed tea and drink two or three times a day to help calm the symptoms of a cold or respiratory disorders as well. Cumin helps to reduce a fever, calm a cough and fight infection which causes a cold.
5. Apply cumin seeds to the skin to help heal boils, soothe insect bites and prevent infection in minor wounds. Prepare a paste by crushing the seeds with a mortar and pestle, adding just enough water for a smooth consistency. Apply directly to the affected areas and allow to dry.
Tags: cumin seeds, Benefit From, Benefit From Cumin, Cumin Seed, From Cumin, From Cumin Seed
Yoga includes physical postures, meditation and breathwork or pranayama. Any of these elements can be used for anger management. This article will focus on breath work.Pranayama is a general term to describe all yoga breathing exercises. Prana means life force and yama means to direct it. Below are 2 different kinds of yoga breathing exercises that have been simplified to make them easier and more practical to do. Each pranayama can help you manage anger effectively.
Instructions
1. Try this easy yoga breathing exercise to help you dispel anger. Inhale through the nose and making a "ha" sound, exhale out the mouth and stick out your tongue. Repeat 2 to 3 times. This allows your breathing to become deeper and help release physical tension in the lungs and chest. This is a variation of "lion's breath." It will simply release the anger without drama or trauma.
2. Resume normal breathing by inhaling and exhaling through the nose. Without being forceful, take a few breaths where you pause slightly at the top of the inhale and then exhale. If you feel dizzy or light-headed, stop the breath work and simply return to normal breathing.
3. Now, try to do several more rounds of the pausing breath work with slightly longer pauses between the inhalations and exhalations. Inhale for a count of 4, pause for a count of 2 and exhale for a count of 4. Repeat 2 more times. Stop the breath work if you become dizzy or you feel you are working beyond your lung's capacity. If you experience any physical discomfort, simply return to normal breathing.
4. You have completed breath work for day one. For the next 30 days, repeat the lion's breath and an easy 3 rounds of pausing breath work. As long as you are able to do the pausing breath work without any discomfort, continue your routine.
5. Once you have comfortably practiced this breath work for at least a few days, put it to the test: the next time you sense you are going to lose your temper, take a lion's breath. Then, do the pausing breath work: inhale for 4, pause for 2, exhale for 4. Even doing this for one round will help you displace your anger long enough to deepen your breathing.Practicing this breathing exercise will help you learn to pause. When you are able to pause in a confrontational situation, you will be more likely to be responsive, not reactive.
A black eye is the result of a facial injury or head injury. It occurs when blood and other fluids begin to collect around the eye, causing swelling and discoloration of the injured site. While in many instances it is considered to be a minor injury or a bruise, it is sometimes indicative of a more serious injury that requires medical attention.
Identification
Pain, swelling and discoloration are the most common symptoms of a black eye. However the site may be only slightly discolored in the beginning, progressing at a later time to a darker shade. At its worst, the skin will turn a dark violet color and then change to yellow or green as the site begins to heal. While the discoloration becomes worse, so too does the swelling of the affected area. On occassion, the eye may be swelled shut or blurred vision can occur.
Effects
A black eye is generally caused by an injury to the eye or nose. If an injury to the nose has occurred, both eyes may become swollen and discolored because a nose injury will cause fluid to collect under them simultaneously. There are also certain surgical procedures performed on the face, such as jaw surgery or a facelift, that will cause a black eye to develop. In addition, a basilar skull fracture will cause both eyes to swell.
Considerations
While a person may think that a black eye is nothing to worry about, it is usually a good idea to be examined by an opthamologist if it has been sustained due to a head injury. There are also specific symptoms to watch for so that you know when you may need to contact your doctor. These include forgetfullness, behavioral changes, a change in vision, nausea/vomiting, and dizziness. Also, if the pain does not go away and is severe, or if the person experiences any signs of infection such as redness, the site being warm to touch or any kind of pus-like drainage, these may be signs of a more serious injury.
Warning
If a person experiences a loss of consciousness, if they are unable to move the eye itself, if there is loss of sight or if there is blood or clear fluid coming from the nose or the ears, they need to take themselves to the hospital right away. Hemophiliacs or people taking blood thinners for various health reasons also need to seek immediate medical attention, regardless of any symptoms of a more serious injury being present.
Prevention/Solution
Using ice to decrease the swelling is the most common treatment of a black eye. By constricting the blood vessels, ice aids in the decrease of fluid build-up, as well as providing relief through cooling and numbing of the affected site. For the first 24 hours after the black eye has occurred, apply a cloth wrapped ice pack to the site every twenty minutes within a one hour time frame. If no ice is readily available, a pack of frozen veggies will work just fine. To avoid obtaining a black eye, make sure your home is clear of debris on the floor which could cause someone to trip and fall. Wearing protective head gear is a good idea if you are participating in any kind of contact sport. Perhaps most importantly, avoid getting into fistfights where you may be forced to absorb a punch to the eye area.
Misconceptions
For many, many years it was thought that using a raw piece of meat like steak was acceptable treatment for a black eye. There is, however, no proven scientific evidence to support this. Rather, it could pose more of a health risk due to the bacteria on raw meat coming into contact with mucous membranes or an open area subject to infection.
Tags: more serious, more serious injury, serious injury, will cause, both eyes, good idea
While it was initially thought that chemotherapy itself did not directly effect metabolism, newer studies show that chemotherapy may be the cause of weight gain. This effect is seen more prominently in women undergoing ongoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. There are other factors that may also contribute to this weight gain such as an increase in food consumption, as well as decreased physical activity levels as indirect results of chemotherapy and cancer.
Previous Studies
Earlier research had confirmed that women being treated for breast cancer often exhibited signs of decreased metabolism or that they at the very least seemed to gain weight. Most evidence pointed to the fact that women were eating more to counteract the nausea that often comes as a side effect of chemotherapy. While this is just as likely, there is now evidence that in addition to this increase in food intake women undergoing chemotherapy were also suffering from slower metabolic rates as a direct result from the chemotherapy.
Metabolism
Metabolism is an overarching term for a network of enzymes and hormones that digest food and convert it into energy for the body to run on. Various factors can affect your metabolism, including genetic predisposition, thyroid problems, level of fitness, regular exercise, diet, weight and overall health.
Metabolism and Weight Gain
Your metabolic rate determines how efficiently your body burns calories, and thus effects weight loss and weight gain. A faster metabolism will cause you to burn more calories, and a slower one will burn fewer. If chemotherapy is responsible for changing the metabolism of women with cancer, it could be a factor in weight gain.
Recent Research
In more recent studies of women with breast cancer, their resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured before, during and after chemotherapy to see if it changed in correlation with the administration of chemicals.
This research has shown that chemotherapy does in fact have the potential to decrease the RMR of women that participated in the study. The chemicals in their body were found to in fact change the metabolic requirements needed to burn calories and lead to weight gain
Other Factors
Chemotherapy alone is not completely responsible for weight gain in women. More correlative factors are at work, especially the onset of nausea. It is advisable to have a full stomach in order to prevent nausea when undergoing chemotherapy. Additionally, women experiencing the discomfort of nausea as a result of chemotherapy, as well as dizziness and loss of coordination, are likely to decrease their levels of physical activity. Both of these factors can lead to weight gain while on chemotherapy but not necessarily because of a change in metabolism.
Tags: weight gain, breast cancer, that chemotherapy, increase food, lead weight
An estimated 16 million Americans suffer from diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association. About 25 percent of those will have foot problems as a result of the diabetes, and many will need special and expensive footwear. The Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Bill helps people buy the shoes they need.
Eligibility
For Medicare to pay for diabetic shoes, you must have diabetes as well as significant foot problems associated with the disease. These problems include amputation, foot ulceration, periphereal neuropathy, deformity of a foot or poor circulation in a foot.
Certifying Doctor
Your doctor must certify that you meets the criteria and need special shoes, inserts and modifications.
What Medicare Provides
Medicare will partially pay for one pair of off-the-shelf diabetic shoes with additional inserts or modifications. Or, if needed, you can get one pair of custom-made diabetic shoes with extra inserts.
See a Shoe Specialist
A qualified diabetic shoe specialist, such as a podiatrist or orthotist, must fit and supply the shoes. Your doctor cannot sell the shoes unless he is an area that has a lack of health care providers. If this is the case, Medicare will need to approve him selling the footwear.
Shoes May Not be Free
Medicare will usually not pay the full cost of the shoes. You must meet your annual deductible first. After that, you generally pay 20 percent of the cost. If the shoe supplier is in network with Medicare, meaning he has agreed to accept a lower payment, you will most likely owe only a small amount and, in some cases, nothing.
Parkinson's is a progressive neurological disorder that mainly affects motor functioning. Onset is usually in an older population, but it can also affect people as young as 30 years old. The main symptoms are tremors or rigidity in the trunk or limbs, slowness of movement and postural instability. While no cure has been found for Parkinson's, a great deal of research is ongoing, both in seeking a cure and discovering new ways to treat the symptoms of the disease.
The Facts
It's not clear what causes the poor production of dopamine in the brain that leads to PD. Some people have a form that appears to be distinctly genetic, while in others it is obviously a result of environmental factors. Researchers believe it is generally a combination of both. This makes finding treatments, much less a cure, quite challenging, though both are being aggressively pursued.
Standard Treatments
L-dopa or levodopa --- most commonly in combination with carbidopa --- is still the most commonly prescribed medication for PD. Initially produced in the 1960s, levodopa dramatically reduces the motor symptoms of Parkinson's. However, patients eventually become inured to its effects and have to take increasingly larger doses, which can cause serious side effects.
Other medications that are frequently used to delay the need for L-dopa are amantadine, anticholinergic medications and selegiline. In general, doctors recommend starting with these latter drugs for younger "early onset" patients and with levodopa in the older "late onset" patients.
New Treatments
Deep brain stimulation --- developed in the early 1990s but only approved for PD in 2002 --- is quickly becoming the newest treatment of choice for PD symptoms, especially for those people who can no longer tolerate the side effects of L-dopa. In this treatment, electrodes are surgically implanted in a specific area of the brain and attached to an external device, whose settings can be regulated to block abnormal movements caused by PD.
Alternative Treatments
Among the alternative treatments for symptoms of PD are acupuncture and massage. Others include: Mucuna pruriens -- an herb used in Ayurvedic medicine in India is thought to mimic the effects of L-dopa without causing the side effects; broad beans -- researchers found that these are an effective natural source of L-dopa; and botulinum toxin A -- this may help reduce the tremors associated with PD.
Be sure to tell your health practitioner if you are taking herbal or other supplements as some could interact adversely with other medicines.
Ever Newer Therapies Being Researched
Gene and stem cell therapies are high on the list of future possible treatments for PD. This research really seeks to correct PD's basic chemical defect by improving dopamine production in the brain.
The National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) has a running list of other possible treatments for PD or its symptoms. These include dietary supplements, natural substances, antibiotics and investigational drugs.
Warning
PD can be devastating, affecting not only motor functioning, but also cognition. Because there is no definitive test for PD, it is frequently misdiagnosed; so it's important to find a doctor who is familiar with the disease such as a neurologist or geriatric medicine specialist, if you suspect you or a loved one have PD.
Tags: side effects, effects L-dopa, most commonly, motor functioning, onset patients, possible treatments, treatments symptoms
Asthma is a condition that can cause wheezing, chest pain, coughing and other symptoms related to difficulty breathing. Asthma is a result of an immune response to certain things in the air. Chest pain can be relieved temporarily by using a bronchodilator, such as albuterol. Long-term treatment and management requires reduction of trigger exposure and regular use of other types of medications to slow down the immune system.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a condition in which the airways become constricted and inflamed and may also become coated with mucus. This usually happens as a result of being exposed to certain things in the environment, also known as triggers.
How Asthma Happens
When the airways in the respiratory system are exposed to certain things in the air, it triggers the immune system. This causes the airways to swell, which makes the area for air passage smaller, making it harder to breathe.
Asthma Symptoms
Because of the increased difficulty in breathing, people experiencing asthma may feel a sense of tightness in their chest which may become painful. Asthma can also cause wheezing and sudden, uncontrollable coughing as the lungs become irritated.
Asthma Treatment
The most effective way to treat asthma is to identify what is causing the attacks and to limit exposure to them. This can include pet dander, aspirin, and dust. Otherwise, short-term asthma relief can be achieved using a type of drug called bronchodilators. One of the most common ones is albuterol.
Long-term Prevention
To prevent chest pain as a result of asthma in the long term, certain medications can be prescribed. Most of these work to suppress the immune system to help prevent the inflammation that causes the chest pain and tightness in the first place. Such medications must be taken regularly, and a doctor should be consulted before starting a new medication regimen.
Inside your body is an immune system that is ready to defeat any single threat to the body's existence. If you are healthy, the immune system is successful, working hard seven days of the week. You cannot live without your immune system. Learn about boosting your immune system to improve your body's ability to fight disease. Read on to learn more.
Instructions
Eat Healthy and Low-Fat Foods
1. Learn to like foods that boost your immune system like apples, oranges, leafy greens, broccoli, cantaloupe, brown rice and olive oil. Take a look at your food intake by listing the types of food that you eat each day. See if you can consume healthier food.
2. Eat vegetables, whole grains, beans, fruit, leafy greens and roots to build your body's ability to protect itself from becoming sick. Include fish and poultry in your diet because these foods give the body strength.
3. Stay away from high-fat desserts. Having a desert occasionally on special occasions is okay. Avoid deserts every day of the week or even three times a week. A consistent intake of high-fat diet food guarantees a decline in the body's immune system and eventually the start of a serious illness.
4. Cut down on dairy products, large quantities of red meat and eggs because these foods contain fats that are not easily digestible. Reduced fat in your diet will help reduce the changes of wearing the body down so it's defenses are weak.
5. Evaluate your eating habits in about two weeks to determine your progress on eating healthier foods.
6. Study and understand the importance of balancing your intake of vitamins and minerals. Too much of a good thing can cause an imbalance and thus the vitamins and minerals cannot perform their jobs to help protect you.
Consider Medicinal Herbs, Spices and Cancer-Fighting Foods
7. Take garlic because it is the powerful health enhancer. Many natural-health practitioners deem garlic as the cure-all plant. Its strong properties protect and stabilize the immune system when taken over a long period.
8. Drink green tea and black tea because they contain antioxidants, bioflavonoids, tannins and indoles. All of these antioxidants have proved to fight cancer.
9. Commit to learning about the use of medicinal plants from a traditional outlook. For centuries plants have been a natural resource for curing or easing body ailments due to the reduction of the immune system. Getting back to medicinal plants brings you closer to the natural process to help keep the body healthy.
Exercise to Build a Defense System
10. Walk 4 times a week, or if you are in better shape, jog 4 times a week for at least 30 minutes. Sweating and keeping the body moving and functioning beyond the normal daily routine boosts the immune system.
11. Start exercising if you don't exercise now. Keep in mind the benefits that result in simple starting an exercise program.
Tags: immune system, times week, your body, your immune, your immune system, because these
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is known as a neurological condition accompanied by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs. This urge to move is usually associated with uncomfortable sensations described as creeping, gnawing, creepy-crawly or itchy. RLS symptoms usually occur when you are lying down. RLS symptoms usually improve when you begin to move your legs, and worsen when you stop. RLS symptoms are worse in the evening, especially when you are lying down for long periods. While medications exist, there are several changes you can make to your diet to help manage your RLS.
Avoidance
According to health site Diet-and-health.net, consuming caffeinated beverages will most likely delay and intensify your symptoms later in the day. It is best to avoid any caffeine-containing products such as chocolate and drinks such as coffee, tea and sodas. Drinking alcohol has been shown to increase the intensity and length of symptoms for most people. Avoiding alcohol is your best solution.
Minerals
Many people suffering from Restless Leg Syndrome show signs of iron deficiency and anemia. You can raise your iron levels by taking iron supplements (10 mg daily) or adding foods rich in iron to your diet. Iron-rich foods consist of cereals, beans, spinach, liver and tofu. Restless Leg sufferers also show a magnesium deficiency, known to increase neuromuscular excitability and cause RLS. You can take a daily magnesium tablet (400 mg to 1000 mg) or add foods such as nuts, peas, bananas, avocados and whole grains to your diet.
Fatty Acid Nutrients
You can also add essential fatty acids to your diet. Fatty acids let more calcium and oxygen reach your leg muscles. You can take a specific form of vitamin E known as Vitamin E2 (2 g to 3 g a day) and Calcium Lactate (600 mg daily) as supplements to help improve circulation. Foods rich in Vitamin E are hazelnuts, almonds, popcorn and wheat germ. You can add calcium lactate to your diet by consuming more dairy and soy.
Folic Acid
If a doctor determines that your RLS is caused by a circulatory problem, you might benefit from adding more folic acid to your diet. Folic acid and B12 help strengthen and elasticize vessel walls. You can take between 5 mg to 50 mg of folic acid per day through food or supplements. RLS may be an early indication of a folic acid deficiency, which if often hereditary. You can add foods rich in folic acid such as eggs, lentils, sweet potatoes, cabbage and oranges to your diet.
Tags: your diet, diet Fatty, folic acid, folic acid, foods rich, lying down
After decades of debate, addiction is being addressed as a chronic health problem. Understanding why people become dependent on alcohol and other drugs depends on which school of thought prevails in dealing with them. Many different factors are blamed, yet most rehabilitative efforts focus on the severe psychological and physical dependencies that define addictive behavior.Weaning users off their chosen substance requires constant follow-up, along with the recognition that multiple relapses may occur before sobriety becomes a permanent life choice.
Root Causes
Alcohol and drug dependency have less to do with moral failures than root causes stemming from the abuser's environment, family background and socioeconomic status. Environments in which addiction is a way of coping with life stresses--such as losing a job in areas with high unemployment, for example--may leave children more vulnerable. People with family histories of addiction and mental illness are more likely to develop substance abuse problems themselves, helpguide.org notes. In many social settings, peer pressure is a common problem, especially for teenagers, and young adults. People may also turn to opiates or prescription drugs to manage chronic pain, or deal with the stresses of recovering from surgery, helpguide.org states.
Types
Physical dependence refers to how the body acclimates itself to a particular drug. As an addiction takes hold, greater doses are needed to recreate the euphoria that users once achieved with lower amounts. This is because nearly all drugs flood the brain's reward system with dopamine, a neurotransmitter that affects feelings of pleasure. The user learns to repeat the experience, which only deepens physical dependency, according to a National Institute on Drug Abuse fact sheet. This situation often poses the hardest barrier to treatment, since the desire for the euphoric feeling, or "high," often persists long after the user has gotten off the drug.
Dependency Levels
Clinicians must take different dependency levels into account for their treatment plans, according to helpguide.org. Alcoholics experience higher levels of psychological and physical dependence, which are combined with severe health problems that can include blackouts, dizziness and liver damage. On the other hand, LSD and marijuana induce greater levels of psychological than physical dependence, since both drugs affect memory and perception. Cocaine and methamphetamine yield abnormally high energy levels within their users, who experience sleeplessness and increased heart rates. By contrast, opiates such as heroin and morphine are notorious for slowing down alertness and respiration to near-fatal levels, requiring a more intense level of medical attention.
The Downside Of Dependency
Withdrawal results in powerful physiological changes when the drug is discontinued. Most long-term users cannot quit without help, because the brain's chemistry has been altered so radically. Areas of the brain affecting critical thinking, judgment and impulse control may also be negatively affected, making it that much harder to quit.
Myths About Treatment
The dynamics of drug treatment are often less understood than those of dependency. One of the most pervasive myths, according to the Partnership For A Drug-Free America, is that treatment needs to be voluntary to be effective. In reality, users referred to programs through the legal system may be more likely to complete them and adhere to their conditions. Similarly, the organization notes, different "rock bottom" moments may motivate users to seek treatment. School administrators and teachers can exert powerful influences on teenagers, while pressure from bosses, spouses and friends may persuade adult users to seek professional help.
Tags: Alcohol Drug, Alcohol Drug Dependence, Drug Dependence, levels psychological, more likely, psychological physical, users seek
The common wart (also known as verucca) is a member of the human papillomavirus (HPV) family. These growths, or rough cauliflower-like areas on the skin, are in actuality a virus. They can easily spread through taking a shower in a public place (such as a gym or dorm) without sandals or even through using the same towel. Although they are pesky, there are several ways to have them removed.
Liquid Nitrogen
Although this method is not a do-it-yourself one, it will cure most warts. Your doctor will apply liquid nitrogen to your wart in a series of two or three visits in an effort to freeze the wart. In some cases, it can be quite painful. Most warts will simply fall off after that time period. If not, further treatment is necessary.
Cantharidin
Another method your doctor may use is applying canthardin on your wart. This treatment is completely painless at the time of treatment, but you will feel pain and blistering afterward. You will make an appointment to see a doctor for a follow up visit, where he will remove the rest of the wart.
Do-It-Yourself
The duct tape method is a tried and true DIY wart cure. Although it may not work for all warts (such as warts that are too large or deep or with too many in a concentrated area), it is still worth a shot. Simply look for an over-the-counter wart treatment that contains salicylic acid. Apply it to your wart and then apply duct tape. Each time you take a shower, slowly take the tape off and pumice the wart with a pumice stone. Dry it off after your shower and reapply the treatment and duct tape until the wart is gone.
Surgery
Often a last resort, a quick surgery might be necessary to completely remove the wart, especially if it is large or deep or resistant to other treatment. Your doctor will deaden your skin with a topical anesthetic (which usually does involve a needle). After letting it set, he will then use a laser or a surgical knife to cut the wart out. He will then bandage the area. If it is on your foot, you may have to wear a special shoe or rely on crutches for a couple of days after the procedure.
Tags: duct tape, your wart, doctor will, large deep, will then, Your doctor
A healthy spine is dependent on strong core abdominal muscles. Research has shown that most spine problems are preventable even though so many people seem to suffer with such ailments. There are changes you can make in your habits that will improve your chances of maintaining a healthy spine.
Instructions
1. Eat properly. Nutrition is the number one preventative steps you can take to maintain a healthy spine. Good nutrition keeps you from becoming overweight. Too much body weight puts stress on the spine. Empty calories do not support nerves, organs and muscles. All of these body parts support a healthy spine.
2. Breath. Posture muscles are the same ones you use to breath. Therefore, breathing exercises will strengthen your spine. Fill your lungs completely, through the nose. Hold the breath for a count of 5 to 10. Release the breath through the mouth.
3. Drink water. Because our bodies are comprised of 70% water, becoming dehydrated can stiffen our spine rather than keeping it pliable. You should drink 6 to 8 cups of water per day to maintain body hydration.
4. Exercise. Strengthening your abdominal muscles will hold your back straight and strong. Weak muscles in these areas allow back injuries to occur more easily.
5. Monitor twisting motions. Be aware of your spine’s mechanics. Sudden or unnatural turns and twists can cause injury.
6. Stretch. Sitting at the computer or any job tends to compress the discs in the spine. It’s important to stand and stretch intermittently in order to avoid eventual disc problems.
Tags: healthy spine, abdominal muscles, muscles these, your spine
Taking MSM daily results in longer, stronger, shinier hair.
Your hair is primarily composed of sulfur and protein (keratin). Adding more sulfur to your body with supplements like Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), is a healthy, safe way to increase hair growth.
Definition
MSM is organic sulfur, found naturally in every plant and animal cell and in all of your body's living tissues. MSM is a food, easily absorbed by your body. (Ref. 1.)
Expert Insight
According to a study at Oregon Health Sciences University, all study participants experienced increased hair growth after six weeks while taking MSM. (Ref. 2.)
Benefits
As sulfur, MSM stimulates your scalp's circulation, which nourishes your hair follicles. Sulfur is also called "the beauty mineral," because you need sulfur to keep hair beautiful and glossy. (Ref. 1.)
Dosage
To increase your hair's strength, shine and growth, take MSM supplements daily with Vitamin C. There isn't an established RDA for MSM, since it's considered safe. But a common dosage is 1,000 to 3,000 mg daily, in capsules, tablets or powder. Drink extra water when taking MSM.
(See Reference 1)
Warning
Consider taking MSM if you're vegan or vegetarian, since your diet may result in a sulfur deficiency. (Ref. 1.)