What Does The Medical Term Code Red Mean

Hospitals are the most common users of "code" systems to distinguish among emergency types. Hospitals use this system so emergency workers can quickly identify and react to an emergency. In a hospital, the word "code" is slang for cardiopulmonary arrest, an emergency medical condition in which a person's heart has suddenly failed and the patient needs immediate attention. The most common designation for this type of emergency is a code red.

Cardio Arrest

Cardio arrest, or cardiopulmonary arrest, means the normal circulation of the blood is abruptly stopped due to heart failure. To revive the patient, an emergency medical team must provide a cardiopulmonary resuscitation, more commonly known as CPR.

Designations

Each individual hospital assigns a system to deal with emergencies. "Codes" are the most common, yet the system varies from hospital to hospital. Each hospital decides manage its code system. Most often, code reds are announced over a loudspeaker or through a paging system.

Reacting to code red

Doctor and hospital personnel are trained to react quickly to any code red, especially if the designation of red means a life is in danger. Many hospitals have teams that are trained to work together to respond quickly and efficiently to code reds.

Different code reds

Code reds could also refer to other emergencies, such as a fire, an earthquake or a bombing. Code red could also mean that a hospital has temporarily reached its capacity. This means that ambulances must be redirected in all cases, except when the code-red hospital is the closest facility and a patient's life is threatened.

Heat-related code reds

Code reds are also adopted by some cities to warn residents about dangerously elevated temperatures. A Code Red Heat Alert is one such designation that includes instructions about where a person can find refuge from extreme heat.

Other facilities

School campuses, office buildings, government facilities and veterans hospitals also are known to use code systems or the code red terminology to represent any type of emergency.

Other codes

Code blue or code black are also used by agencies that have jurisdiction in cases of child abductions, bomb threats, terrorist activities, potentially harmful weather or mass casualties.

Tags: code reds, most common, cardiopulmonary arrest, code reds Code, code systems

Back Decompression Treatment

Decompression therapy is an option for many back conditions especially before considering a more invasive treatment like surgery. It requires the use of a specifically-designed table. There is some controversy about whether spinal traction and decompression are truly different treatments.

Decompression Explained

Dr. Rob Gottesman, a Colorado Springs chiropractor, states that decompression therapy creates a space between the discs (jelly-like substance in between vertebrae) through negative pressure. Vacuum-like pressure sucks the disc back into the vertebral column and relieve pressure on spinal nerves.

Benefits

Back decompression may help a bulging or herniated disc in the middle or low back. According to the Fort Wayne Neurological Center, decompression is not just about relieving symptoms but also aimed at treating the underlying condition causing back issues.

Conditions

Pain in the low back, sciatica, bulging or herniated disks, degenerative disk disease, spinal stenosis and more can be benefited by spinal decompression according to the Fort Wayne Neurological Center.

Contraindications

Those who are pregnant, suffering from heart disease, have metal spinal implants, obesity, tumors, back fracture, nerve damage and osteoporosis should probably avoid decompression therapy according to American Spinal.

Other Considerations

Before you consider back decompression find out the costs, if your insurance will cover it, who performs the therapy in your area and what equipment will be used. Do some investigation and cost comparison before deciding if it is the right treatment for you.

Tags: bulging herniated, decompression therapy, Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne Neurological, Neurological Center, Wayne Neurological

What Are The Dangers Of Pco Eye Surgery

PCO, or posterior capsular opacification, surgery is a laser surgical procedure that doctors use to treat secondary cataracts. People may develop secondary cataracts after their original cataracts have been surgically removed. Patients can experience complications after PCO surgery.

Poorer Vision

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, patients with secondary cataracts may develop poorer vision after posterior capsular opacification surgery than they had prior to the surgery.

Blindness

People who undergo PCO eye surgery have a small risk of developing blindness.

Detached Retina

Patients with secondary cataracts have a low chance of developing a detached retina after posterior capsular opacification surgery.

Eye Pressure

People who are severely nearsighted and those with glaucoma may have an increase in pressure inside the affected eye after PCO surgery.

Procedure

A surgeon uses a laser to make an opening in the clouded capsule during PCO surgery, or yttrium aluminum garnet capsulotomy, in order to let light through. Patients should see a doctor within two weeks of the procedure to identify any complications.

Tags: secondary cataracts, capsular opacification, capsular opacification surgery, opacification surgery, posterior capsular, posterior capsular opacification

Remove A Sliver

Slivers may be tiny, but they can be quite painful. Left to fester, a wound from a sliver can become infected. For this reason, you should immediately remove any slivers that pierce your skin. Relax; it's not as bad as you might think!

Instructions

Exposed Slivers

1. Assess the problem. If the area is covered in sawdust or other material which makes it difficult to see, brush it off.

2. Wash your hands, the area around the splinter and a pair of tweezers thoroughly with hot, soapy water.

3. Cover an exposed sliver with piece of sticky tape. Remove the tape, and often the sliver will stick to it, pulling right out of the skin. This is a great method to use on frightened children! If the tape fails, proceed to step four.

4. Place a dab of white glue on the sliver and allow to dry. Peel away the glue and the splinter may come away with it. If not, continue with step five.

5. Remove the sliver with tweezers. To keep pieces from breaking off under the skin, pull out from the same angle it went in. If this method fails, advance to the Embedded Slivers section.

Embedded Slivers

6. Wash your hands, the area around the splinter, a pair of tweezers and a sewing needle with soapy, hot water.

7. Lay the sewing needle lengthwise across the skin, just below the deepest end of the splinter. The two should create a very short letter 'T' shape.

8. Press down on the needle and slowly run it upward. The pressure beneath the sliver and upward motion should begin gradually coaxing it out of the skin. Have patience, this may take several tries. Once enough of it is exposed, remove the splinter with a pair of tweezers.

9. No luck? You may have to pierce the skin. Use the tip of the needle to push from the bottom of the sliver toward the opening in your skin. Sometimes, a tiny push is all that's needed to expose enough to remove with tweezers.

10. Open the skin covering the splinter only as a last result. Carefully do so, one layer of skin at a time until you're able to reach the splinter. If the problem is more than a few layers deep, see a doctor for removal.

11. Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, and apply an adhesive bandage to keep the wound clean.

Tags: pair tweezers, area around, area around splinter, around splinter, around splinter pair

Deal With Bee Sting Allergy

Deal With Bee Sting Allergy

A bee has a barbed stinger that injects venom into their victims. If you're not allergic, a bee sting leaves a painful welt. If you are allergic, you may develop hives, severe itching at the site or even go into anaphylactic shock which, if not treated, is fatal. If you or a family member has a bee sting allergy, you must know treat it.

Instructions

1. Be watchful of children the first time they get stung by a bee. Allergic reactions include hives, itching/ swollen eyes, dry coughing, difficulty breathing, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, swelling of the tongue, dizziness and fainting. Allergic reactions usually occur within minutes after the bee sting, though a reaction can occur 24 hours after the sting.

2. Contact emergency services if someone you know has a run-in with a bee. The sooner the treatment is for a bee sting, the better.

3. Carry epinephrine (adrenaline) with you if you know you have a major bee sting allergy. You inject epinephrine into the skin after a bee sting to combat the side effects. Contact your care provider after getting stung, even if you use epinephrine, since the allergy may return after the drug wears off, or may not be enough to combat the allergic reaction.

4. Consider taking an antihistamine (such as Benadryl) if you know you have a mild allergic reaction to bee stings. Antihistamines will help with hive reactions to bee stings.

Tags: after sting, allergic reaction, Allergic reactions, Deal With, Deal With Sting

Treat Asthma Naturally

Treat Asthma Naturally

Some asthma sufferers prefer to treat their symptoms naturally, without the use of steroid-based medications that can, with overuse, actually worsen rather than heal their condition. A number of vitamins and minerals are known by doctors to reduce the inflammatory effects of an asthma attack, and other holistic treatments can also be very effective in managing asthma.

Instructions

1. Know that asthma attacks introduce large amounts of harmful free radicals (molecules with unpaired electrons) to your body. You can counteract their harmful effects, which doctors believe can lead to a number of serious illnesses, by taking extra doses of Vitamin C and Vitamin E each day.

2. Treat your asthma by using ginseng. This popular Oriental herb has anti-inflammatory properties. Since asthma is, by nature, an inflammatory disease, ginseng can be used effectively to help manage bronchial irritation.

3. Take approximately 50 mg of wild licorice, also known as coleus, in combination with hot water. Done 2 to 3 times per day, wild licorice battles the lung inflammation caused by asthma naturally. Bear in mind, though, that wild licorice can increase the effectiveness of the steroids usually used to treat asthma. This treatment in particular should be thoroughly discussed with your doctor.

4. Use magnesium supplements to open up your lungs' air passages. 500 mg of magnesium, taken daily, can widen your bronchial tubes, facilitating easier breathing and reducing the chances of a severe asthma attack.

5. Eat more fish, nuts, seeds and flaxseed oil. They contain valuable omega-3 fatty acids that have been proven to reduce swelling in the lungs of asthma patients. Salmon and tuna, in particular, are loaded with these fatty acids.

6. Combine alternative treatments with conventional treatments if you simply want to use the former to alleviate and help reduce the severity of outbreaks, but wish to treat attacks using the usual medications. While many advocates laud the benefits of using holistic treatments because they address the root cause rather than just the symptoms of medical problems, they should not be relied upon to provide relief in the event of a serious asthma attack.

Tags: asthma attack, wild licorice, fatty acids, holistic treatments, rather than

Treat Pharyngitis

Pharyngitis, or a sore throat, occurs when the back of the throat becomes inflamed, causing pain, discomfort and scratchiness aggravated by swallowing. Pharyngitis is very common, particularly among children, and often is caused by infection accompanied by cold and flu. With a few tips, you can effectively treat pharyngitis.

Instructions

1. Visit your local doctor and get a strep test which will help to determine whether pharyngitis is caused by a bacterial infection. If your sore throat is indeed caused by infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Viral infections, on the other hand, can be successfully treated with bed rest and home remedies.

2. Crush an acetaminophen tablet into a fine powder and add to a glass of warm water, stirring until the powder is completely dissolved. Gargle with the water for 30 seconds and then spit, rinsing your mouth thoroughly. This remedy can be used multiple times throughout the day to treat the pain and inflammation caused by pharyngitis. While aspirin works as well, never give aspirin to children.

3. Drink marshmallow root tea as often as once every hour to help soothe the pain and scratchy throat caused by pharyngitis. To make herbal tea, pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tsp. of fresh herbs, cover and allow to steep for 15 or 20 minutes.

4. Chew a piece of licorice root, another herb which helps to treat the symptoms of pharyngitis. Licorice root is available in most health food stores and has a pleasant, sweet flavor. Chew the root, swallow the sweet saliva and then discard the root.

5. Get plenty of bed rest and drink lots of fluids as you recover from pharyngitis. Avoid speaking loudly or shouting, as your vocal chords are more sensitive.

Tags: caused infection, caused pharyngitis, infection your, sore throat

Use An Ohmmeter Or Multimeter To Test Water Conductivity Or Purity

Pure water (distilled or deionized) lacks the ions to carry current and will test as very high resistance, 10 MegOhm or above. Most natural, spring or tap water used for drinking or processes have or need those ionic impurities. However, measuring water conductivity is a solid way to measure if an item being rinsed in pure water has been cleaned.

Instructions

1. Measure the distance from the desired testing location to where the DMM can be located. Using the diagonal cutters, cut two pieces of insulated wire, each for the measured distance.

2. Using the diagonal cutters, carefully cut into the insulation about a half inch from the end of one of the wires and twist the wire or cutters to make a circular cut through the insulation without cutting the metal conductor. Use the cutters to pull the cut insulation from the wire. Repeat on the three remaining ends of your two cut lengths of wire.

3. Carefully using the heated soldering iron and solder, press a bared wire end to an electrode and melt solder onto the joint to make an electrical and mechanical connection.

4. Repeat Step 3 with the second cut wire and remaining electrode. You should now have an electrode soldered to one end of each of your cut wires.

5. Use a small amount of epoxy to attach one of the electrodes to the glass (or non-buoyant plastic) disk. Be sure to minimize the epoxy spreading out from under the electrode and do not cover the surface of the electrode with epoxy.

6. Repeat Step 5 with the other soldered electrode, ending with the electrodes a quarter inch apart and the electrodes not touching at any point. Let both epoxied electrodes dry thoroughly before going to the next step.

7. Connect the unattached end of one wire to the positive (+) terminal of the DMM and the unattached end of the second wire to the negative (-) terminal of the DMM.

8. Clean the electrode mounted disk with soap, rinse and then rinse again with isopropyl alcohol before using the electrode disk for the first time. This will limit the contamination introduced by the electrode disk.

9. Switch the DMM to the MegOhm (M and the Omega symbol on the dial) range. Immerse the electrodes in the water being tested.

Tags: diagonal cutters, electrode disk, Repeat Step, Repeat Step with, second wire

Perform A Field Tracheotomy

A field tracheotomy is emergency tracheal surgery to establish an open airway in someone who has suffered extreme trauma to the tracheal area and cannot breathe. Usually this is done on the battlefield or after a traumatic traffic accident. Only trained medical personnel should attempt such surgery.

Instructions

1. Locate the correct spot in the neck which is the lower part of the neck between the Adam's apple and top of the breastbone.

2. Make an incision through the neck and separate the tissues and muscles. The thyroid gland should be visible. Cut down the middle of the thyroid gland and separate. The rings of cartilage can now be seen. Cut between the rings into the tough wall into the windpipe.

3. Insert a tube into the opening which will act as an airway. Anything can be used that is rigid and open at both ends. A ball point pen case or a plastic straw can be used in extreme emergencies in the field.

4. Perform a field tracheotomy only in severe emergency situations as a last-resort procedure. It is only done if the patient's trachea is obstructed and the situation is life-threatening.

Tags: thyroid gland

Set Goals To Recover From Anorexia

Set Goals to Recover From Anorexia

Patients recovering from the physical and mental consequences of anorexia need to set achievable goals. Anorexia is a disease that cannot be eliminated by a single drug or a miracle therapy that eliminates poor perceptions of self-image. A series of short- and long-term goals can help you recover from anorexia while building a healthy amount of self esteem.

Instructions

1. Build up your body's endurance and strength with a reasonable set of exercise goals. You should work out 5 days a week, alternating between light-weight work and cardiovascular exercises. Get a free consultation from a trainer about a gradual increase in exercise that won't harm your progress.

2. Set a goal to increase your caloric intake gradually as you recover from anorexia. Most doctors will agree that a balanced diet consisting of 1,500 calories is necessary in the early stages. In the later stages of recovery, your diet goals should lead you to eat 3,000 calories a day to put on weight.

3. Accomplish the goal of eating small meals each day to build up your body weight while strengthening your confidence. You should consume your daily calorie requirements in five-to-seven smaller meals to keep energy levels high throughout the day.

4. Maintain a journal of positive thoughts about your appearance and actions while you recover from anorexia. You should make at least one entry each day using positive language about something you accomplished to build up your self-esteem.

5. Decrease the number of times you measure your weight during the week as one of your recovery goals. Anorexia patients will measure weight several times a day. You should slowly pull yourself away from the scale until you check weight only once a week.

6. Eliminate the food rituals that are common among anorexia patients. You should gradually remove rituals, such as cutting your food excessively and tasting food without swallowing, that help you avoid eating.

7. Learn the goal-setting methods of fellow anorexia patients in local support groups. You can use the philosophies of other anorexic patients as tools for reassessing your goals and testing your assumptions about anorexia.

Tags: from anorexia, recover from anorexia, anorexia patients, goals Anorexia, Goals Recover

Test For Fibroids

Fibroids are growths of tissue of varying size on the uterine wall. They are usually not cancerous, but should be closely monitored. A doctor may suspect a woman has fibroids when a pelvic examination shows an irregular shape to the uterus or if a woman complains of long, painful periods. Many women have no symptoms, but in some cases uterine fibroids can cause infertility, pelvic pain, and changes in the menstrual cycle. Tests are performed to make the final diagnosis of uterine fibroids so that a physician can determine an appropriate course of treatment.

Ultrasound

An ultrasound is a test commonly used during pregnancy. Because ultrasounds are effective in providing a view of the uterus they can be safely used to check for uterine fibroids as well. Women may be prone to developing uterine fibroids during pregnancy. The benefit of this test is that it is a noninvasive procedure and does not involve exposure to radiation.

MRI

An MRI may be slightly less comfortable than ultrasound testing because the woman must stay within a small cylinder for the procedure. An MRI gives the doctor a better image of the ovaries and reproductive tract. In MRI images, the fibroids will be distinct and clear, appearing darker than the rest of the uterus. Due to the expense of the test, an MRI is usually only ordered by physicians if an ultrasound did not provide a clear enough image of the uterus.

CT Scan

A CT scan is a noninvasive test that takes images of internal organs, tissue, and other parts of the body. A physician may order a CT scan for fibroids if an MRI is not an option because the woman has metal or implants in the body, has claustrophobia, or cannot fast due to a medical condition such as diabetes. Unlike an MRI, a CT scan does not require contrast material, which can cause severe reactions in those with kidney problems. A CT gives a more detailed image than an X-ray and may provide images of similar quality to an ultrasound, but it is a more expensive diagnostic tool.

Hysteroscopy

This test is used only if a woman is having complications, such as infertility, pain, or heavy menstruation. A small camera is inserted in the vaginal opening and passed through the cervix. Although a slightly more invasive technique, it gives the doctor a better view of the fibroids. Some cramping and minor bleeding may occur from the microscope passing through the cervix.

Uterine X-ray

This test is also slightly invasive because a dye must be injected through the cervix. This dye then shows the uterus and fallopian tubes on an X-ray, providing the doctor with information regarding blocked fallopian tubes that would explain infertility. This test can also be somewhat painful and may cause cramping and bleeding.

Other Tests

Additional tests, called endometrial biopsy and dilation and curettage (D & C), are used to obtain part of the uterine lining. Both of these tests are slightly invasive and are only done, if needed, to rule out other causes of heavy or lengthy periods.

Tags: uterine fibroids, This test, through cervix, because woman, doctor better, during pregnancy, fallopian tubes

What Are The Symptoms Of A Paranoid Schizophrenic

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by many abnormalities in the perception of reality. There are five subtypes of schizophrenia laid out by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The best known type is paranoid schizophrenia.

Paranoid Schizophrenia

Paranoid type schizophrenia differs from other types in that the patient experiences delusions and hallucinations, but is less likely to have thought disorder, disorganized behavior, or "affective flattening," a lack or decline of emotional response.

Perceptual Symptoms

Paranoid schizophrenia often, but not always, includes auditory hallucinations (hearing voices), and visual hallucinations.

Delusions

The delusions caused by paranoid schizophrenia often focus on the sufferer believing they are being persecuted or targeted. The mind misinterprets experiences and the sufferer, even with evidence to the contrary, often still believes he is being persecuted.

Personality Symptoms

Sufferers from paranoid schizophrenia are prone to anxiety, quick anger and aloofness. Sufferers also tend to be patronizing to others and verbally - sometimes physically - confrontational. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors also can occur, either as a result of delusions or of despair regarding the illness.

Treatment

There is no cure for schizophrenia. Symptoms are usually treated with a combination of medication, psychotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy. Hospital stays may be needed for intense "crisis" periods.

Tags: being persecuted, paranoid schizophrenia, schizophrenia often, Symptoms Paranoid

What Colors Could Be Used To Ease Depression & Anxiety

Depression is a mental illness. Factors causing depression can be genetic (biological family members who have depression), environmental (situations in your life that are difficult) and biochemical (hormonal and brain neurotransmitter imbalances), according to the Mayo Clinic. Symptoms such as sadness, loss of energy and interest, fatigue, loss of appetite and weight or weight gain may occur. Anxiety is triggered by stress and leads to excessive worrying and apprehensiveness. As a result, physical symptoms such as nausea, headache, tense muscles and trembling can occur. These conditions are generally treated with medication and psychotherapy, but color therapy may benefit treatment.

Diagnosis

A color therapist will help diagnose your psychophysical state by using the Luscher-color-diagnostic, a test developed in the early 1900s by Max Luscher). Your ability to communicate, perform and withstand stress will be examined. The causes of psychological stress will be revealed, which will then enable the physical symptoms to be addressed, according to anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com.

Procedure and Tools

You'll have color and light applied to areas of the body. The proper amount and specific colors are chosen, since too much of one and not enough of another in the wrong place can promote negative results. You'll often see gemstones, colored lights, candles and prisms used along with aromatherapy.

The Seven Colors and Chakras

Chakra is the Sanskrit word for "wheel." Each chakra is represented as a spiral of energy, according to colourtherapyhealing.com, and is related to a specific body area. There are a total of seven colors and chakras; each chakra has its own color. Violet, for example, represents the head; green represents the heart. The colors and chakras are paired based on the belief that these colors cause reactions. For example, if you suffer from depression or anxiety, orange (which is the second chakra and represents the pelvic area or the sacral) would be used to try to improve mood and alertness, according to anxiety-and-depression-solutions.com, and ultimately to try to promote better appetite and rid you of digestive problems.

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Brain Stroke Causes

A brain stroke occurs when a part of the brain is deprived of oxygen. This results in the death of brain cells, which can result in a variety of impairments in motor function, speech, and reasoning. There are a number of possible causes for brain strokes, and these vary depending on the type of stroke being considered.

Narrowing of the Blood Vessels

A major cause of brain strokes is the blockage of a blood vessel that brings blood from the heart to the brain, called an artery. The blood carried by the artery contains the oxygen needed for proper functioning, and a blockage that is massive enough to disrupt blood flow can therefore result in oxygen deprivation. Blockage usually results from a narrowing of the arteries in the brain that can be caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or smoking.

Embolic Stroke

Embolic strokes are also caused by a blockage that occurs within the arteries of the brain; however, this is caused by a foreign body mass becoming lodged in an artery rather than a narrowing of the artery itself. The foreign mass is typically either calcium and cholesterol deposits that line the muscles of the heart and then break free and travel through the arterial system. This is typically called a blood clot. The most common risk factor for this type of stroke is high cholesterol, which leads to an excess of deposits, greatly increasing the chance that some will break free. Calcium deposits may also break off following trauma or damage to the heart, caused by a heart attack or surgery. Other causes can be fat entering the arteries after a bone is broken somewhere in the body, infection of the arteries by bacteria or virus, or cancer of the blood that results in increased blood cells that can clog the artery.

Cerebral hemorrhage

A cerebral hemorrhage, or the bursting of a blood vessel in the brain, can lead to stroke. After the vessel disrupts, the brain will bleed, meaning that areas of brain cells may become deprived of blood or oxygen. The accumulation of blood also leads to swelling of the brain, and its expansion then causes pressure to be exerted upon the brain by the skull, further increasing damage. Risk factors for cerebral hemorrhage include head injury, abnormalities in the blood vessels of the brain that are present at birth, hypertension, and thickening of the blood vessel walls due to age.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage

A subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding caused by a burst blood vessel that results in a build up of blood between the layers of the arachnoid membrane that protects the gray matter, which surrounds the brain. The bleeding affects the brain in a manner similar to cerebral hemorrhages, depriving cells of oxygen and creating pressure. Subarachnoid hemorrhages are typically caused by an aneurysm, which is a weakening of a blood vessel's wall that can cause it to burst. There appears to be a genetic root in whether or not a person is at risk for aneurysm, though this is not yet completely understood by researchers. Inherited diseases like polycystic kidney disease, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Marfan Syndrome, and neurofibromatosis all increase a patient's risk of experiencing an aneurysm. Other risk factors include advanced age, smoking, high blood pressure or cholesterol, and alcohol abuse.

Vasculitis

Vasculitis is a group of diseases that causes blood vessels to become inflamed. This inflammation leads to damage of the arteries, which disrupts blood flow, causing a stroke. As vasculitis is a very rare disease, it is not a common cause of strokes, but for a patient experiencing vasculitis, stroke is a very likely consequence. Many of the diseases which cause vasculitis have undetermined causes, but of those that are fully understood, a list of risk factors for developing vasculitis can be created. This list includes hepatitis B, abuse of amphetamines or cocaine, lymphoma and myeloma cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus.

Tags: blood vessel, arteries brain, blockage that, blood flow, blood pressure

Tips To Prevent Panic Attacks

Going for a walk and talking to people are two ways to reverse the onset of panic attacks.

While panic attacks used to be written off as nerves or people incapable of handling stress, they are now recognized as a legitimate medical condition. Medication is available for sufferers of chronic panic attacks. If you feel that you suffer from a medical condition such as anxiety, seek the advice of a medical professional. If you only suffer from occasional bouts of anxiety, there are at-home preventative measures you can take to keep your panic at bay.

Identify the Cause

Usually panic attacks have a specific trigger. The best way to keep from having panic attacks is to identify that trigger and either deal with it through counseling or self-help methods, or to avoid that trigger. While avoiding certain triggers isn't always possible, at least understanding what is causing your panic will allow you to recognize what is happening sooner at the onset of an attack and change your circumstances to avoid allowing that attack to run its full course.

Learn About the Condition

Understanding as much as possible about what is physically happening during a panic attack can help alleviate some of the feelings of fear that occur during one. Sufferers of panic attacks often feel like they are going to die, pass out or have a heart attack. A panic attack cannot actually cause any of those things to happen, so take a deep breath and remind yourself that nothing bad is going to happen to you physically.

Take Care of Your Body

Try exercising on a regular basis to help ease your anxiety. The hormones released during and after exercise give people a positive "high." Doing yoga or meditation exercises are also helpful for reducing the incidence of panic attacks. Get enough sleep so you are better equipped to handle whatever life throws at you each day. Avoid chemical triggers of panic. Stimulants like caffeine, depressants like alcohol and illegal drugs of both varieties are all known to increase the frequency of or worsen panic attacks. Keep your mind and body clear to help keep your panic attacks to a minimum.

Reverse the Initial Feelings of Panic

If you have taken all of the recommended lifestyle approaches to minimize panic attacks and still find yourself at the onset of one, try to calm yourself back down. Some people drink water or tea to force their breathing to slow down. Others recommend laying down and focusing on slowing the breath, and others force hyperventilation. The fastest way to calm yourself down at the onset of a panic attack is to focus on your breathing and fill and empty your lungs as completely and slowly as possible. This will force your thoughts off of the panic and onto your breath, and physically reverse the fight-or-flight reaction of your body's system initiated by panic. Try different methods of stopping panic and find what works for you at the onset of an attack. Keep the methods that are best for you written somewhere safe and handy so you can get to it quickly if you need to.

Tags: panic attacks, panic attack, panic attacks, your panic, calm yourself, keep your, keep your panic

Kill Nail Fungi With Lemongrass Oil

Using natural solutions to common medical problems has become more popular in recent years. Thousands of people have discovered the healing powers of essential oils. One of these wonderful healing oils is lemongrass oil. Lemongrass is a natural antiseptic, killing bacteria and helping to fight off fungus and infection. Like most medications, however, lemongrass cannot work alone. Mixed with the proper oils, lemongrass can kill fungus on nails.

Instructions

1. Purchase lemongrass oil and a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or grapeseed oil, from a health food store. The carrier oil will limit the harshness of the lemongrass oil; choose an oil based on your fragrance preferences.

2. Mix one ounce of the carrier oil with 12 drops of the lemongrass oil.

3. Wash your hands thoroughly before applying the oil to make sure no dirt or other products interfere with the oil.

4. Apply the oil mixture to the infected nails twice per day until the infection is gone; you can continue to apply after that point for prevention of fungus growth.

Tags: oils lemongrass

Psychological Treatment For Alcoholism

Approximately 17.6 million Americans have drinking problems or are alcoholics, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Effective treatment for alcoholism addresses the psychological aspect of drinking as well as helping alcoholics overcome the physical dependence upon alcohol.

Function

The purpose of psychological treatment for alcoholism is meant to help you learn to modify your behavior and understand the emotional factors that contribute to your drinking.

Types of Psychological Treatment

Psychological treatment for alcoholism often involves cognitive-behavior therapy, which teaches you to change the way you think and behave in specific situations that will help you stop drinking permanently. Support groups like 12-step programs and counseling or talk therapy are used to help you understand your reasons for drinking and receive support from others struggling with alcoholism or a licensed therapist.

Time Frame

When you first begin psychological treatment for alcoholism, you are likely to visit your psychologist or therapist once or even twice per week, gradually decreasing the frequency of your sessions as you make progress with your addiction. If your dependence upon alcohol is very strong, it may be necessary for you to receive daily therapy in a residential treatment program, reports the Mayo Clinic.

Benefits

Often, alcoholics suffer from other mental conditions, such as depression or severe anxiety. If there is an underlying psychological condition that contributes to your drinking, a psychologist will be able to recognize that suggest additional treatments that can help, explains the American Psychological Association.

Considerations

Because alcoholism affects the whole family, psychological treatment like marriage counseling or family therapy is often beneficial not only for you, but for your loved ones, according to the American Psychological Association.

Tags: treatment alcoholism, American Psychological, American Psychological Association, dependence upon, dependence upon alcohol, Psychological Association

Correct Way To Sleep On A Memory Foam Pillow

Urban legend has it that NASA invented memory foam in the 1970s to cushion the astronauts on space flights. While NASA says that it did have a hand in the development of memory foam, Charles Yost is credited with the invention while under contract with NASA in 1966 to use in airplanes. Yost dubbed the viscoelastic foam "temper foam," and marketed it primarily for medical use. The viscosity of the foam allows your body heat to soften the pillow which supports your head differently from conventional pillows and can help alleviate neck and back pain.

Choosing Your Pillow

Obtain a memory foam pillow from a reputable source. There are several companies like Tempur-Pedic who have extensively researched and developed their product for maximum benefit. The best pillow is contoured--flat on one side and curved on the other. The larger of the two curves is designed to cradle your neck.

Be careful that you are getting viscoelastic foam and not eggshell crate designed to look like the expensive pillows. You can tell you are getting the right type of foam if you press your hand firmly into the pillow and the indentation not only looks like your hand, but springs back within a few seconds. You also want a dense foam, as that will provide more support. According to Memory Foam Buyers Guide, you want a foam density of five or six pounds.

Pillow Orientation

Place the flat side of your pillow down and orient the pillow with the larger of the two curves toward the foot of your bed. This will provide maximum support for your head and neck, regardless of whether you sleep on your side or your back. Settle into your pillow and let your head sink in. Even if the pillow seems too hard at first, stay with it and in five minutes or so, you will feel the pillow conform to your head, neck and shoulders due to your body heat. It will take a little while for the foam to change position when you do. As the foam cools, it becomes stiffer.

Tummy Sleepers

It is recommended that you do not sleep on your stomach with this type of pillow, as that can put your head and neck at unusual angles, which can increase neck pain and headaches. According to Neck Solutions, sleeping on your stomach in general can cause you to awaken with a stiff neck and can negatively affect your shoulders, upper back, jaw and vital organs. Using a contoured pillow can prevent your sleeping on your stomach due to general discomfort.

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Use Eucalyptus For Sores

Use Eucalyptus for Sores

Eucalyptus is one of the most versatile healing herbs known to man, as it has anti-spasmodic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Additionally, eucalyptus helps to heal burns and blisters, kill the virus which causes cold sores, prevent and heal infection and more.

Instructions

1. Help to dry, heal and relieve the pain of skin ulcers, such as bed sores, diabetic ulcers and more. Mix a solution of 1 part eucalyptus essential oil and 5 parts water, soaking a cloth or gauze bandage in the water. Apply to the affected area for 30 minutes and then allow to air dry. Apply two or three times daily as needed.

2. Treat sores cause by or accompanied by dry, chapped skin by mixing 10 to 15 drops of eucalyptus essential oil with 2 cups of olive oil. Massage the oil into the affected area whenever needed for soothing relief.

3. Prevent infection and promote healing of blisters, burns, insect bites and other sores. Mix 1 part eucalyptus essential oil and 5 parts aloe vera gel, applying to skin sores two or three times daily.

4. Make a healing mouthwash to help eliminate cold sores inside the mouth. Mix 10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in 2 Tbsp. of water and rinse the mouth for at least 30 seconds, two or three times daily.

5. Eliminate cold sores on the lips by adding 5 drops of eucalyptus essential oil with 1 tbsp. of petroleum jelly. Mix well and store the remedy in a cool, dark place, applying to your cold sores four or five times daily.

6. Get full body relieve from rash, hives or other skin conditions which create sores over a large area of the body by adding 10 to 15 drops of eucalyptus essential oil to a warm bath and soaking for at least 15 minutes.

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Bio Feedback Testing

Biofeedback involves listening to one's own body.

Biofeedback is a type of treatment used by physicians, physical therapists, psychologists, specialists and ordinary people to treat a variety of ailments. It involves identifying and listening to signals given by the body. Biofeedback testing involves the use of machines as well as being trained by specialists to recognize triggering symptoms.

Purpose

Biofeedback testing is a tool used in collaboration between health care professionals and patients to improve health. The use of biofeedback testing and training as a treatment signifies that behavior, thoughts and feelings have a significant impact on a person's health. It enables patients to take responsibility for maintaining their own health.

Training

Biofeedback testing involves teaching patients identify groups of symptoms that cause different ailments. Patients are taught relaxation exercises to cope with stressful events. They examine their day-to-day lifestyle to identify how their own actions may contribute to their own distress. In addition, clinicians use machines that detect a person's internal bodily functions to direct the progress of the treatment. Patients are often accordingly encouraged to change their habits.

Uses

Biofeedback testing techniques are used to treat a variety of conditions. Some of these conditions include migraine headaches, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, epilepsy, paralysis and many other disorders and conditions.

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What Causes High Fsh Levels

A high level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in the blood may suggest poor ovarian reserve or ovarian failure. This means that if a woman has high FSH, the ability of her eggs to fertilize may be reduced. The causes of high FSH may vary according to the individual's condition.

Menopause

FSH stimulates ovulation when a woman is having her monthly cycle. With age, the levels of FSH naturally go down, and the monthly cycles cease, beginning menopause. That is why in older women menopause is the leading cause of reduced FSH levels.

Genetic

Genetic indications like galactosemia may perpetuate high levels of FSH. Galactosemia is a disease caused due to an imbalance in biochemical activity. Galactosemia's effect on the ovary results in the body being unable to recognize FSH, causing its production to be increased.

Turner Syndrome

Women who have had chromosomal problems like the loss of a part or the whole of the X chromosome have high FSH. Chromosomes contain the genes and DNA of every human. These also determine the sex of the human. Females have the XX chromosome, and males have the XY chromosome. In Turner syndrome, when a part or the whole of the X chromosome is missing, a condition occurring in females only, FSH levels may become abnormal.

Endometriomas

Women who have had ovarian surgery to remove cysts may experience high levels of FSH. The hypothalamus causes the production of FSH by signaling the pituitary gland, causing an increase in the ovarian follicles. With the growth of follicles, the estrogen helps the hypothalamus regulate the pituitaries production of FSH. When cysts form on the ovary, follicles cannot be formed, causing low estrogen and high FSH levels.

Environmental exposure

The endocrine system is extremely sensitive, and FSH levels may increase due to exposure to secondhand smoking or smoking cigarettes. Patient conditions requiring chemotherapy or radiation therapy may also cause elevated levels of FSH.

Familial

High levels of FSH may be caused due to familial reasons. Some women simply inherit high levels of FSH from their mothers.

Rare Causes of Elevated FSH

In rare cases FSH levels in a woman may increase after pregnancy, due to lactation and some auto-immune diseases. FSH stimulates the female ovaries so that eggs can be released for fertilization. A normal FSH suggests that the woman can get pregnant, and once she is pregnant, FSH levels may initially increase as the body adjusts to the changing hormonal needs of the body. Similarly, during lactation, hormonal changes may cause elevated FSH levels.

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Cats & Hives In Children

It's unpleasant and alarming to find red, swollen marks on your child. If you have a cat, you may worry that it's causing the rash and could lead to more severe problems. Notice if your child get hives right after contact with the cat.

Urticaria

Urticaria is the medical term for a red, swollen and itchy rash. These rashes can alarm parents because they are bright red and appear quickly. But they usually go away on their own. Rashes can be caused by pets, pollen, low or high temperatures, and food or seasonal allergies.

Cat Allergy

If your child is allergic to cats, he'll develop a red rash when he touches the cat or is near it. Pet dander, which usually triggers the rash, can be found on furniture, bedding and the floor. Symptoms usually subside when the child is not around the irritant.

Other Symptoms

People allergic to cats often have sneezing and itchy eyes as well.

Treatment

Ask your doctor about giving your child liquid antihistamine or using antihistamine cream on the rash. Bathing your child to wash away any dander, thoroughly cleaning your home and removing pets will minimize symptoms.

Tests

Medical tests can determine if cat dander--or other allergens--are irritating your child. Your child should see a doctor if the hives don't go away or there are other symptoms.

Extreme Cases

Call 911 immediately if your child can't breathe, faints, or has swelling of the face or throat.

Tags: your child, allergic cats, your child

Become A Certified Yoga Instructor Online

Familiarity with yoga poses is key to becoming an instructor.

Becoming a certified yoga instructor can be a fun and rewarding career, but it also involves a great deal of training and dedication. The Internet and online training courses make this task achievable for many who would otherwise not be able to fit traditional studio training into their busy schedules. There are a number of things to consider before beginning an online training program.

Instructions

Learning to Teach Yoga

1. Learn about yoga. It is imperative that an instructor understands all aspects of the form of yoga that they are teaching. Some yoga forms involve intense spiritual beliefs and meditation, where others, such as Hatha yoga, only involve the understanding of the physical body movements. The history and physiology of yoga are often covered in online certification courses, but it is always recommended that the student is familiar with yoga before going into the instructor training process.

2. Learn the postures online. There are several websites that begin to teach yoga instructors by first teaching the postures. There are more websites that offer the postures for people looking to learn the styles of yoga. Totalyogapractice.com is a website that offers DVD quality video streaming to your computer. Without understanding and doing the postures, the person looking to become a certified instructor will not understand the limitations of the body. This can lead to injury among the future students.

3. Choose a style of yoga. There are several styles of yoga, and each has its own requirements for teaching. The person looking to become certified should take into consideration his own beliefs and preferences when it comes to styles of yoga. Ashtanga yoga instruction, for instance, cannot be learned online but must be certified through a specific institute in India. Hatha yoga, on the other hand, has very little in the way of belief structure surrounding it, so it is often a more popular form of yoga instruction.

4. Find an accredited online course. Some employers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, require that the fitness instructors they employ also have a bachelor's degree in a related field. This should be a consideration when choosing an accredited online course. The person looking to gain certification and employment in the fitness field may want to check local colleges for distance learning courses leading to a bachelor's degree in fitness, nutrition or many other fitness related fields. If the person looking to certify can find a bachelor's degree program in fitness education or yoga specifically, that may be the best option. There are many accredited schools online that offer certificates or diplomas in certification, but you will want to research them very carefully to avoid fraudulent colleges.

5. Do the coursework and take the certification test. This seems very simple; however most people who fail courses simply didn't do the coursework. The coursework should help you to really understand the questions on the certification test. Classes, after all, are supposed to prepare the students for work in the field. The test is simply a measurement of how well the person looking to be certified understands the material. Some online schools offer follow-along videos to help the person learn what it takes to be a yoga instructor. Aura Yoga Teacher training is an accredited school that offers this service.

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The Best Ways To Deal With Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is much more serious than heat cramps or heat exhaustion, and requires fast intervention. Without immediate medical assistance, a victim of heat stroke could suffer from brain or organ damage, or even death. There are ways to handle a person with heat stroke, and quick action could save his life.

Causes and Symptoms

A person is having heat stroke when his body reaches 104 F or higher. It can happen when in high temperatures or high humidity, from too much strenuous activity or exercise, or if the body is unable to cool itself properly (possibly due to dehydration). Certain medications can also make you more susceptible to heat stroke, so talk to your doctor to find out if anything you are taking could put you at risk. Whatever might cause it, heat stroke is not something to take lightly.

Some of the symptoms of heat stroke include dizziness, headaches, seizures, high body temperature, muscle cramps, fast breathing and a quick pulse, loss of consciousness and weakness, among others. Surprisingly, a person suffering from heat stroke might not be sweating at all, which might be why it occurred in the first place.

Treatment

If you suspect someone is suffering from heat stroke, call for help immediately. The next best thing to do is to try to lower the person's body temperature; if possible, bring him inside to a cool spot, remove excess clothing, and apply lukewarm or cool water to their skin. If you have a fan, turn that on as well, or use something to fan him. Have him lie down, elevate his feet slightly, and apply ice packs to his arm pits and groin if packs are available. Intravenous fluids may need to be administered, and bed rest is often recommended.

Prevention

There are several ways to prevent heat stroke. Stay hydrated, and dress for the conditions you will be in. If possible, try to schedule more strenuous activities for cooler times of the day, and stay inside if it is too hot outside. Be aware of how you feel while you are exercising or out in the sun or in hot conditions, and take regular breaks. Wear sunscreen when you are outside, and a hat and sunglasses when possible. For more ideas on prevent and treat heat stroke, talk to your doctor, and do not hesitate to call for medical help if you or someone else might be suffering from heat stroke.

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What Is Diet Therapy

What is Diet Therapy?

As the saying goes, "You are what you eat." Diet therapy takes this saying to heart and provides people with the right diet for their needs. Diet therapy has been known to improve the symptoms of many ailments--whether the illness is acute, chronic or critical--and is used to promote better health in general, even if a person isn't technically sick. Diet therapy is often considered a complementary form of alternative medicine, though you don't necessarily need a doctor to help you eat well.

Function

Naturally, when a person is sick, she should consume only food that promotes healing and lessens discomfort. Diet therapy is an effective method of healing, especially when utilized as a complementary method of care. Diet therapy is used for people who are trying to increase or decrease their body weight, have a sensitive digestion system that may be prone to allergies, who may not be able to digest certain foods, are trying to produce specific effects in their body (like regulating blood sugar), or are trying to overcome vitamin or mineral deficiencies. For instance, an anemic person will be advised to eat a diet high in iron. A medical practitioner will outline which foods are high in iron and make sure the patient is eating an adequate amount of these foods a day.

Types

Diet therapy can be as basic as outlining which foods to eat and avoid, or it may follow a prescribed method, like following an Ayurvedic or macrobiotic diet. Ayurveda is an ancient Indian practice that works to prevent disease and rejuvenate the body. Ayurvedic principles treat every part of the body, mentally and physically, through diet and meditation. Another diet, called macrobiotics, is often recommended for people suffering from cancer or other chronic diseases because it emphasizes eating low-fat, high-fiber food that is wholesome and minimally processed. In general, diet therapy stresses that patients eat food that is fresh, natural and balanced with a variety of vegetables, whole grains and fruit.

Prevention/Solution

The National Cancer Institute conducted a study showing that 90 percent of cancer in humans can be attributed to environmental causes. Food may be one of these causes. To prevent illness and boost the immune system, eat a diet containing plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and whole grains. Reduce consumption of saturated and unsaturated fats and ditch caffeine and alcohol as much as possible.

Effects

Food has a direct effect on well-being. For instance, studies published in such scientific publications as The Lancet and Science have found a link between children eating a diet high in chemically processed foods and having lowered attention spans. Children with attention-deficit disorder (ADD) are encouraged to eat a natural diet and abstain from petroleum-based additives and food containing artificial food coloring.

To combat depression, patients are encouraged to eat one serving of pasta a day, seek foods high in essential fatty acids, and limit fat to 30 percent of the daily diet. Caffeine, refined sugar and alcohol have been known to contribute to depression and should be avoided.

History

Since ancient times, people realized that food changes the body's ecology. Certain food remedies were devised to treat a host of problems. Limes were used to prevent scurvy, yogurt was used to prevent thrush and yeast infections, and warm milk was used to promote sleep. Even though humans have come a long way with technology, there is no substitute for a good diet and many of these ancient remedies are still used today.

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Help A Hangover With Herbs

The best way to help a hangover is not to drink too much alcohol. But after a big wedding reception or New Year’s Eve party, many people suffer from this malady. The symptoms of a hangover include headache, upset stomach, extreme thirst, diarrhea, and sometimes, in extreme cases, vomiting. You might experience sensitivity to bright lights and to loud noises as well. Sometimes you just want to crawl under the covers and die. None of it is pleasant and a hangover is sometimes referred to as “flu in a bottle.” When you drink too much alcohol of any kind, your liver goes into overdrive to attempt to filter out the toxins that the alcohol introduces to your system. It takes time for your body to return to normal, but herbs can help.

Instructions

1. After the party, drink lots of water. Two 8-ounce glasses of good water, with a little fresh lemon juice added, can help greatly in flushing the alcohol out of your liver.

2. If you know beforehand that you will consuming a large amount of alcohol, you can reduce the chances of a bad hangover by taking ginseng and milk thistle. You can purchase dried root at your natural foods store and simmer them in water for 20 minutes to make a tea. Or take these herbs in tincture or tablet form.

3. A tea you make from dandelion leaf and root, yellow dock root, ginger root and chicory root can help to cool and detoxify your liver. Simmer these herbs in water for 20 minutes and then drink one cup of this tea, cooled, several times throughout the day you are suffering from a hangover.

4. Eat healthy foods, like fruits and vegetables and whole grains the day after you consume a large amount of alcohol. The addition of some magnesium, in the form of a supplement, can also help. Vitamin B6 has also been used to relieve hangovers.

5. If you can force yourself to get some exercise, a brisk walk or short jog can help to get your blood flowing and bring more oxygen to your entire body.

Tags: your liver, amount alcohol, drink much, drink much alcohol, large amount, large amount alcohol

Duct Tape Remedies For Plantar Warts On The Feet

Plantar warts are warts growing on the sole of the foot. This area is known medically as the plantar area. Plantar warts can be caused by any of a number of common wart viruses, but they are all just warts and are treated using standard wart-removal techniques---including the duct tape remedy.

Getting Rid of Plantar Warts

Plantar warts hurt when you walk, run or stand on them. They are not pleasant. A 2002 study found duct tape removal methods to be more effective than cryotherapy. The methods are not particularly quick, and have reliability issues common to all wart removal. According to Pangaea Medicine no method is successful more than 73 percent of the time. The rest of the time, alternate therapies or repeated attempts with a first remedy must be attempted. But duct tape methods have been found to compare with other methods.

How Do I Use The Duct Tape?

Uses For Snowflake Obsidian

Obsidian is formed when lava cools rapidly without crystallization, creating a granitic glass. Obsidian takes on different characteristics as it forms: black obsidian, rainbow obsidian and snowflake obsidian. Snowflake obsidian also includes gray snowflake obsidian and white snowflake obsidian, according to the Robyn A. Harton Creative Crystals and Jewelry website.

Knapping

Tracing as far back as the Neolithic Period, all forms of obsidian were used to make axes, knives and arrowhead, according to the website Metal Clay UK. First using shattered obsidian, the skill of knapping was developed and greatly improved tool making.

Knapping involves striking a piece of obsidian, such as snowflake, at the appropriate angle and point of weakness. The size of the utensil is dependent on the knapping technique and the size of the original obsidian stone. Making axe heads requires using the knapping method around the entire obsidian stone to create an acceptable shape. Use the smaller chips when knapping to create arrowheads and knives.

Metaphysical Uses

Snowflake obsidian is known for its crystal-like properties of the metaphysical variety, according to the Psychic Revelation website. It has associations with other elements, crystals and herbs. Some consider snowflake obsidian to be the crystal version of yin and yang. Believers claim that some of the metaphysical attributes of the snowflake obsidian include a good fortune charm that provides protection when used in a charm bag. The purposed metaphysical uses include improving clairaudient powers and using the stone as a scrying aid when truth seeking, or to aid in concentration and prevent daydreaming; it performs a sort of spring cleaning of the mind. Research into the effectiveness of metaphysical uses of snowflake obsidian has not been performed and these claims cannot be supported.

Jewelry

Snowflake obsidian lends itself well to use in making jewelry, according to the Trinity London website. Considered the astrological birthstone for Capricorn, the native snowflake obsidian can be found in Utah and Wyoming. Used in earrings, bracelets and pendants, snowflake obsidian offers a striking and unusual look to jewelry. Some wearers don obsidian for what the metaphysical benefits they perceive.

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Eliminate Allergies With Ayurveda

Eliminate Allergies With Ayurveda

If you've ever suffered from a severe bought of allergies, you've likely sought out remedies to help minimize symptoms. While some remedies work, many are simply palliative and don't get at the root of the problem. Ayurveda seeks to eliminate allergies by restoring the overall health of the body.

Instructions

1. Eliminate toxins from your body through panchakarma. Ridding your body of toxins facilitates circulation and reduces hypersensitivity to environmental triggers.

2. Consult with your Ayurveda practitioner to select an antioxidant-rich herbal formula or rasayana that will eliminate free radicals from your body.

3. Cook with allergy fighting herbs, such as tumeric, sage, red pepper, cumin and coriander.

4. Balance your nervous system by getting professional hot oil massages. Give yourself brief hot oil massages every morning.

5. Learn the practice of Jala Neti, which refers to nasal passage irrigation. This method flushes impurities from the nose, re-establishing nasal breathing.

6. Maintain a journal of how you feel after eating foods you suspect may be causing your allergies. Eliminate these foods one by one and observe if your symptoms change.

7. Follow the basic principles of Ayurveda, such as getting adequate sleep, maintaining regular sleeping and eating routines and relaxing the body through daily meditation.

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Kill Bedbugs And Scabies

Bedbugs and scabies are two pests that feed on human blood, causing very uncomfortable skin rashes. Scabies can be passed from person to person, as the mites live on humans, but scabies can also survive on furniture, clothing and bedding. Bedbugs hide during the day in beds, clothing and furniture, then crawl out at night to find a human host for food. Touching a person's scabies rash can spread scabies; bedbugs can only be spread through household items. You can use most of the same methods to kill both bedbugs and scabies infestations in your home.

Instructions

Recognize Bedbugs and Scabies

1. Know the habits and symptoms of bedbugs and scabies. The common bedbug hides during the day in mattresses, furniture, walls, bedding and clothes. Symptoms of bedbug bites are intense itching and raised red blotches on your skin. Symptoms of bedbug infestation are a distinct odor, evidence of feeding sites by the bugs' cast-off skins, brown or rusty-colored spots that are their fecal matter, or bloodstains on your sheets.

Female scabies lay two to three eggs a day into the skin of the person in which they are burrowing. Once a female has been mated, she is fertile the rest of her life cycle and can continue to lay eggs as she burrows into the skin. Scabies symptoms may not show up for two to six weeks after exposure to them. During this time you are contagious. The rash, which consists of raised white lines, usually appears on the hands and wrist but can be anywhere on the body.

2. Wash all your household bedding and clothing at the highest temperature possible for both scabies and bedbugs. Place the clean clothing in plastic bags to prevent reinfestation of bedbugs. For scabies, you can place your clothing back in your furniture. If there is an item that can't be washed, put it in the dryer for half an hour at a high temperature. If you can't treat an item in the washing machine or dryer, place it in a sealed garbage bag for two weeks, or take it to be dry-cleaned.

Vacuum all furniture in your bedroom, including dresser drawers, for bedbugs. Lift your mattress, and vacuum underneath it. For scabies, vacuum the bed, couches and chairs that you have recently occupied. For both, vacuum all your carpets and draperies.

3. Place sticky traps where you think bedbugs may travel to find their daytime hiding spots. If you find their hiding spot, spray them with an insecticide.

Bedbugs do not survive well in the heat. Heat your house up to 113 degrees (45 degrees Celsius) to kill bedbugs. You should repeat this process in two weeks if possible.