Infrared rays can penetrate over an inch and a half into the body, providing relief to structures deep inside. This makes infrared treatment a very helpful therapy for people suffering from arthritis. Since the body responds to the heat by increasing metabolism, heart rate, and cardiac output, treating the entire body with infrared rays is like enduring a workout, which is good for people with arthritis who can't move easily to perform a standard physical workout.
Instructions
1. Decide what type of infrared product you will need to treat your arthritis. There are a wide variety of products on the market to treat arthritis with infrared technology. If you need to treat the entire body, you should opt for an infrared sauna, which will deeply penetrate the entire body and relax joints and muscles. If the arthritis is located in only a specific joint, choose a product that will target only that area. There are a wide variety of gloves, socks and joint bands available to help treat your arthritis pain.
2. Start out slowly when using the new infrared product. While it is safe to use the infrared products for many hours a day, it is a good idea to only use them for a few hours the first day, slowly building up to using the infrared products for the maximum number of hours over a period of time.
3. Use an infrared wand on the injured or sore area to help relieve pain. This is a good alternative to the infrared clothing options, especially if the arthritis is located in a hard to reach joint, such as your hip or elbow. The infrared wands usually have a more intense ray, so you only need to use it for a fraction of the time you would need to wear the infrared clothing.
4. Tailor the infrared product to exactly where you have pain, and adapt the treatment to the times when you have the most pain. For example, if you have rheumatoid arthritis in your hands, wear the gloves when you are performing acts that cause you the most pain. This may be when you are typing, sewing, or performing other repetitive functions with your hands.
Eating disorders are often the end result of a person having a skewed perception of himself. This leads to undereating, overeating and partaking in extreme habits that can lead to very serious health issues. Men women, teens and even pre-teens have been afflicted with eating disorders that should never be taken lightly.
Types
There are a handful of detrimental eating disorders. Bulimia is a disorder characterized by eating mass amounts of food then eliminating it from the body by unhealthy means such as vomiting, taking laxatives or partaking in excessive amounts of exercise. In the mind of a bulimic, this is a guilt free way of enjoying food without suffering weight gain.
Another type of common eating disorder is anorexia. In lieu of bulimia, anorexics do whatever they can to avoid gaining weight. One of the main symptoms of this disorder is going long periods of time without eating. People who fall into this category are often times very gaunt and pale.
On the other end of the spectrum, compulsive overeating is a condition where people can't stop eating a certain food. This would be the case with foods like pizza, popcorn, potato chips and cookies. They have one piece or bite of something and this sets off a trigger that has them spiraling out of control. Food is eaten in such excessive amounts that bloating and actual physical sickness may ensue.
Features
There are a number of disturbing features that accompany eating disorders. Here are a few signs to look for.
Eating really slowly and moving food around on a plate to give the appearance that it was eaten, putting marginal amounts of food on a fork and scraping it off with the teeth only, bringing a napkin to the mouth and secretly spitting food into it. The napkin is the then thrown out later. Another sign of an eating disorder is chronic complaining about weight and having an obsession with calories and exercise.
Impact
There are some famous people who have suffered from or even died from eating disorders over the years. Here is a list of some of them and a brief description of their stories.
Karen Carpenter was a famous musician in the late 70's and early eighties. She went on a water only diet to make herself look more attractive. She ended up losing 20 lbs. and unfortunately her life as well. When she died, she was 32 years old and weighed a mere 80 lbs. Her death was linked to cardiac arrest induced by anorexia.
Christy Henrich was an aspiring U.S. athlete in 1988. When told by a judge to lose to make the Olympic Team, she lost more than the weight. She lost her life as well. She was 22 years old, 60 lbs and her cause of death was multiple organ failure caused from anorexia.
One of the most famous stories in history was the case of Theresa Marie "Terri" Schiavo. In 1990, she had collapsed in her apartment and was rushed to the hospital. She never regained full consciousness and was kept alive by means of a feeding tube for nearly 15 years. Later investigation determined that she was in fact suffering from bulimia. Her husband sued her obstetrician for failing to diagnose this and he won. She ended up dying on March 31, 2005.
Identification
There are a few good organizations out there set up for helping people with eating disorders. One such organization is called NEDA. This stands for National Eating Disorders Association. Famous American Idol judge Paula Abdul happens to be a spokesperson for them. She had battled disordered eating habits since she started dancing at 7 years old. As she got older, it got out of control until she checked herself into the clinic in 1994. She now shares her story to other sufferers encouraging them to seek help.
Treatments
It takes a lot of courage to seek help for an eating disorder. There is a great website that offers a database of referrals for people suffering from an eating disorder. It is called EDReferral.com. See website below. Some treatment options that they offer are individual therapy, group therapy, nutritional support, psychiatric care, outpatient, inpatient and residential. In most cases, the best treatment is a combination of therapy, nutritional counseling and group support.
Expert Insight
People who play sports where a good part of the body is exposed are prone to have eating disorders. This is especially the case with sports like tennis, cheerleading, swimming and figure competitions. It is not gender specific either. Many men get afflicted with eating disorders too. A good case of this would be wrestlers. They are always bombarded with the arduous task of "making weight." It is not uncommon for them to resort to inhumane ways to cut 10 or more pounds in a 24 hour period.
Tags: eating disorder, eating disorders, eating disorders, with eating, with eating disorders
Ear infections are a common and painful problem, particularly among growing children and swimmers. While ear infections are often treated with prescription antibiotic ear drops, a few home remedies can work just as well to relieve pain, kill bacteria and relieve an ear infection.
Instructions
1. Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water, soaking a cotton ball and dropping it into the ear to kill fungus which causes an ear infection. Allow the solution to set for 5 minutes and then tip the head, allowing the ear to drain and then dry the ear as much as possible with soft cotton. Vinegar home remedies should only be used for fungal ear infections, such as swimmer's ear.
2. Use tea tree oil home remedies for bacterial ear infections. If you are certain that the infection is not swimmer's ear, chances are it is a bacterial infection. Again, mix equal parts of tea tree oil and water, dropping it into the ear and allowing it to set for 5 minutes before tipping the head and draining the ear. Tea tree oil can be used in the manner to prevent ear infections of all kinds if you are prone to them, as it helps to kill bacteria and dry the ear canal.
3. Place a few drops of garlic extract in the ear to help stop the pain and kill bacteria. Garlic extract can be purchased in most health food stores or herbal supply stores and should be kept in a cool, dark place. Use the extract two to three times daily, allowing it to set for 3 to 5 minutes and then tipping the head to drain any fluid from the ear.
4. Apply heat to the ear, one of the most common and effective ways to promote drainage and relieve pain. You can use a heating pad, microwave a rice-filled sock or even use a hot water bottle. Only apply heat for 15 minutes at a time, three to four times daily.
Tags: home remedies, kill bacteria, allowing minutes, dropping into, equal parts
You can't begin to relieve pressure point pain until you understand what type of pain it is. Doctors use the term, "pressure points" to refer to areas of tenderness in the body, most commonly in the neck and back. These areas are so delicate that touching them can produce extreme pain, especially in the surrounding areas. Certified therapist Clair Davies explains that pressure points (also known as trigger points) can refer pain to other areas of the body, especially to overworked shoulder and upper back muscles.
Instructions
1. Consider trigger point therapy which uses massage techniques to treat affected muscles. According to Dr. Janet Travell, former White House physician, and her partner, Dr. David Simons, "trigger point therapy" is an effective, state-of-the-art remedy that combines muscle injections, heat therapy, stretching exercises and massage to alleviate pain.
2. Seek acupuncture therapy. According to acupressure expert, Dr. Michael Gach, acupuncture treatments relieve pressure point pain by improving circulation. This encourages a natural flow of oxygen and more nutrients into the tender areas which helps the muscles heal.
3. Find out about shiatsu therapy. Dr. Gach explains that doctors who practice this form of acupressure treatment use their fingertips to apply gentle force to two pressure points simultaneously, producing pain relief within three to five seconds.
4. Treat pressure points that cause head pain by following the advice of Neck Solutions. Bring together your thumb and index finger and move them along your head to find a sore spot. Then learn to stimulate the points by applying pressure with these two fingers. Start by pressing gently until it seems that the pain begins to travel or to subside altogether.
5. Relieve the pain with relaxation exercises. Hospice Net of Nashville recommends relaxation to remove muscle pain but also cautions that you must be willing to wait two weeks from the time you start the exercises before you notice any significant pain relief.
6. Learn use visual concentration or slow rhythmic breathing to control pressure point pain. For example, with your eyes closed, imagine a peaceful place that is free from stress. Then take the palm of your hand and massage the painful muscle firmly. Or you can breathe slowly and deeply, gently tensing the affected muscles at the same time. Then relax completely and exhale.
7. Try using distraction techniques if you have a feeling that the pain has a psychological component or if it's not too severe. Involve yourself in watching a movie or doing an activity you enjoy. If it doesn't stop the pain altogether, distraction may at least help to take your mind off of it.
Tags: pressure points, pressure point pain, affected muscles, explains that, pain relief, point pain
The nerves are the communication system for the body. They relay the brain's messages so that the body can carry them out. They also control bodily functions that you aren't even aware of. So you want to keep your nervous system working properly and undamaged.
What Chiropractic Is
Chiropractic is a non-invasive form of medical care that works on the principal that the body can heal itself in many instances. Chiropractic adjustments make changes to the nerve system functions so that the flow of information between brain and nerves is not interrupted. Chiropractic finds spots in the body where the nervous system has been interfered with and adjusts the body to remove those interruptions.
Adjustments
An adjustment usually involve a quick movement against a part of the body to increase the range of motion for that area. Usually the chiropractor will use nothing more than body weight, gravity and leverage to make the adjustment. This can sometimes make a scary sound, which is only gas and lubricating fluid in the joints moving. If there is any pain at all, it is minimal and fades quickly.
Dangers
There is always a chance that nerves could be damaged in a chiropractic adjustment, but it is rare. According to the American Chiropractic Association, there might be one to two problems per million adjustments and this includes all problems, not just nerve problems.
Cure for Pinched Nerves
However, chiropractic is often the "cure" for a common nerve problem, the "pinched" nerve. A chiropractic adjustment can realign bones that might be putting pressure on the nerve or relieve a problem in the body that is irritating the nerve and causing it to react.
Precautions
The best precaution you can take against having this happen to you is to use a licensed and experienced chiropractor. Most of all, listen to your body. While you might not feel immediate relief of all the symptoms that brought you to a chiropractor, you should not feel worse. If this is happening, then you may have a problem.
Bursitis is caused when the bursa, which are sacs inside the joints, become inflamed. The bursa help to cushion the joint. Repetitive motion and pressure on the joint can cause the bursa to become inflamed and painful. The joint will heal with rest and elevation, but pain relief is an immediate concern until the bursa have healed.
Heat and Ice
Keep your knee elevated and alternate between heat and ice treatment. These two treatments will reduce the inflammation and the pain that results. Painful joints are often stiff, and treating with heat and ice will help to loosen up the joint. Use a heating pad and ice pack to alternate your treatment.
When the inflammation is reduced, begin to strengthen the leg muscles around the joint to provide support and prevent another attack of bursitis.
Pain Medication
Use over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil and Motrin to reduce the inflammation and pain of bursitis. These drugs are very effective for moderate bursitis pain. When the pain is severe, ask your doctor for prescription-strength anti-inflammatory medications to handle the pain. These medications can make it possible for you to regain motion in your injured knee. Use caution when using these medications over a long period. The prolonged use of NSAIDs can increase your risk of heart attack and bleeding in the stomach.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids can offer pain relief when other methods fail. Ask for this treatment when you are not experiencing pain relief with NSAIDs or heat and ice treatment. Corticosteroids are usually reserved for those who are not able to reduce inflammation through other methods.
Alternative Remedies
Your pain may be relieved with alternative medicine treatments. Acupuncture can be used with or without herbs to treat bursitis of the knee pain. Always discuss your use of alternative medicine practices with your doctor before beginning any treatment that uses herbs.
Acupuncture and herbal remedies offer relief from the pain by reducing inflammation in the knee joint. Herbal plasters are pastes made of medicinal herbs and applied to the affected area. There has not been enough study on the use of herbs to treat knee bursitis.
Use alternative medicine as a complementary treatment to the remedies you are receiving from your doctor.
Surgery
Surgery for bursitis is very rare. The procedure involves removing the bursa from the knee joint.
Tags: alternative medicine, reduce inflammation, your doctor, become inflamed, heat treatment, herbs treat
Impacted wisdom teeth are dangerous to keep in the mouth because they will continue to grow into the jaw, causing the jaw to become misaligned, or grow sideways into the other teeth, causing these teeth to press into one another and become crooked. Your dentist or orthodontist will be able to determine if your wisdom teeth are impacted by taking x-rays. He will then refer you to an oral surgeon if there is cause for concern. The oral surgeon will determine, by examining the x-rays and taking more if necessary, whether or not a surgical procedure is necessary. The oral surgeon will then set the date for your procedure, which you will have to take the day off of school or work for for both the procedure and the recovery.
During the Procedure
Your oral surgeon will most likely perform the procedure in her office or a nearby hospital. Depending on the severity of your impacted wisdom teeth and how many teeth are being removed, you will be given either local anesthesia, where only the mouth is numbed, or general anesthesia, where you will be knocked out entirely. The procedure can take between 1 and 4 hours. An incision will be made in the gum, then the tooth will be removed either whole or in pieces, depending on how impacted the tooth is into the jaw. Sometimes, small pieces of the jaw may be removed in order to remove it completely. The severity of the impacted tooth directly correlates to how long your recovery time will be after the surgery. After the teeth are removed, the oral surgeon will stitch up the gums and pack the cheek area with cotton to promote blood clotting.
After the Procedure
Following the surgical procedure, depending on whether you were given local or general anesthesia, you may feel groggy and tired. Even if you do not feel hungry, try to drink liquids like room-temperature water and sports drinks throughout the rest of the day. Do not use a straw to drink, as the suction may damage your stitches. The first few days following your surgery, stick to eating soft, room-temperature foods like cottage cheese and applesauce. It can take between 2 and 4 weeks to heal completely from your wisdom tooth procedure, and the oral surgeon will usually schedule one follow-up appointment to determine how your teeth are healing and remove your stitches if necessary. Most people take 1 to 4 days off of work or school to recover from wisdom tooth surgery.
Safely using a walker will allow you to remain independent.
Many conditions lead to the need of a walker. Whether a temporary condition or a permanent handicap, proper use will allow you the mobility to still be active. It is important to use a walker safely so you can move around comfortably and avoid injury. Assistance may be necessary to build up the needed strength, but eventually the walker will allow you to move independently.
Instructions
1. Start with the walker one step ahead of you. Make sure the base is on flat ground so that the walker is not at risk of falling over. Place your hands on the top of it and if necessary pull yourself to a standing position.
2. Take the first step with your injured or weaker side. Move that foot forward and place your heel down first. Place it at a comfortable spot, where you do not feel like you are leaning forward, stretching too far, or as if you are unbalanced.
3. Bring the second leg forward to complete your first step. Once you put that foot down, you should be in a comfortable position where your legs are not hitting the bars of the walker.
4. Move the walker forward to take the next step. Avoid pushing it so far that your back is arched. You should be able to reach the top bars of the walker comfortably.
5. Use a comfortable distance when taking steps with the walker in a straight line. When going around turns, use smaller steps so you are only adjusting your direction a little bit each time you move your walker forward.
Tags: will allow, bars walker, first step, that foot, walker forward, walker will, walker will allow
Body mass index, or BMI, is probably the most effective way to measure whether someone is of a healthy or unhealthy weight. It actually differentiates between the two much better than simply using a person's weight from a scale (though that number is used to gauge body mass index). When you're looking to calculate the BMI of someone with osteoporosis, you would use the same method of calculation as one would for someone without this condition. However, there is some importance of a person's BMI in relation to osteoporosis. By keeping your BMI between 18.5 and 24.9, you are actually reducing your chances of developing this bone disease.
Instructions
1. Measure your height using a tape measure and jot it down on a piece of paper, making sure you convert feet into inches. You may need the assistance of another person to get an accurate measurement.
2. Weigh yourself on a standard scale and jot this number down in pounds on the same piece of paper as before.
3. Multiply your height in inches into itself. If you're 5 feet tall exactly, you would multiply 60 inches by 60 inches, giving you a number of 3,600.
4. Divide your weight (in pounds) by your multiplied height. If a 5-foot person weighed 120 pounds, she would take 120 and divide it by 3,600, getting a new number of 0.033.
5. Multiply this number by 703 to reach your body mass index (BMI). Using this calculation, the five-foot woman would have a BMI of 23.4, meaning she is of a normal weight.
Tags: mass index, piece paper, this number, your height
A colonoscopy is the best form of finding and removing precancerous polyps and colon cancers. It's an involved process that requires planning preparation. It isn't the kind of procedure you walk in off the street to have done. Because the pre-exam preparation is so involved, it's important to do things right the first time, as you wouldn't want to have to go through it all over again. The following are the best tips for preparing for a colonoscopy.
Talk with the Doctor
Make sure your doctor knows your medical history and is aware of all medications, including over-the-counter, supplements or herbal remedies, you are taking. Also, tell your doctor about any allergies you might have.
Get Ready
A few days before the colonoscopy, start eating fiber in the form of fruits and vegetables, and/or start the liquid diet early. You have to get the stuff out of your system, so you might as well get a head start. Stock up on clear liquids like chicken broth, apple juice and water with electrolytes. Also, treat yourself to the ultra-soft toilet paper and buy some flushable baby wipes. Plan to take 2 days off of work---the day of the test and the day before.
The Big Empty
In order to eliminate all fecal matter from the colon so the physician will have a clear view, your doctor will offer one of three ways to accomplish this. Golytely is a prescription that consists of a gallon jug and powder mix. Patients drink 8 oz. of the mixture every 10 minutes until the drink is finished or your system is empty. Phospho-soda is another emptying formula powder that is available over the counter and comes by itself or in a kit with a laxative and an enema or suppository. The last emptying formulas are Visicol, a 40-tablet regimen, and Osmo-prep, a 32-tablet regimen. If you have any questions, be sure to contact your doctor immediately.
The Day Before
Have round-trip transportation arranged for your colonoscopy. You'll be too drugged up to drive yourself home. You'll start one of the emptying formulas and probably want to stay home to avoid any accidents, as you'll probably spend most of the day in the bathroom. It's a good idea to have a book or plenty of magazines on hand. While you're going through the emptying process, it's important to stay hydrated.
Gum disease is usually either gingivitis, a mild form of the problem that causes bad breath and bleeding gums, or the more advanced condition of periodontitis, an infection that can lead to tooth loss or surgery. Acupuncture offers treatments for gum disease that can reduce pain and inflammation. Nationally certified acupuncturist Mark Shprintz, graduate of the esteemed Emperor's College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, always recommends that his patients seeking care for gum disease also see a dentist.
Causes and Treatments
Gingivitis usually begins with plaque. The Mayo Clinic explains that if patients leave gum disease unchecked, inflammation occurs and can create pockets between your gums and teeth that fill with bacteria. If the problem escalates, you might face procedures such as root planning and soft tissue grafts. Shprintz describes "a window of appropriateness and effectiveness" for treating gum disease with acupuncture. Acupuncture can help deal with gum disease, but acupuncture treatments don't preclude the need to work with a dentist and have recommended surgical procedures.
Acupuncture Approach
Acupuncture uses needles in a system of moving energy through the body to restore balance. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) works to identify a whole pattern of symptoms, which often leads to a diagnosis involving certain channels, or meridians, along the body. These channels often relate to organs. Acupuncture.com notes that tooth and gum disease can point to a deficiency of the kidney and spleen, whereas excess or acute conditions can indicate too much heat in the stomach or large Intestine.
Needle Placements
When treating pain and inflammation, acupuncturists often combine tender or sore points focused at the area of a patient's complaint with other remote or distant points along the same or related energy meridian. For example, to alleviate the pain of gingivitis, an acupuncturist may select points on the face or jaw and also place a needle on the hand between the thumb and first finger to address inflammation. This point in the fleshy area on the top of the hand is called LI4 (large intestine point four). If a patient has swelling and bleeding after dental work, the acupuncturist may pair LI4 with a point on the foot between the second and third toes. This point is called ST44 (stomach point 44), and Shprintz says it's particularly effective in "clearing heat from the stomach meridian." Acupuncturists reach the jaws, teeth and the whole front of the face by treating the interconnected stomach and large intestine meridians.
Differences in Treatment
If a patient's gum disease includes suffering from TMJ (tempromandibular joint disorder) and headaches, an acupuncturist might use a localized approach to decrease pain. In this method, he uses needles on tender points along the joint. Some acupuncturists don't use localized techniques and only practice what's called "the balance method" by solely working along the channels and meridians. Shprintz describes his approach to gum disease as a wheel trying to pull energy away from certain areas of the body to create dynamic movement throughout the system.
Herbal Remedies
Most acupuncturists also use herbs to balance the body's systems when they deal with gum disease. Shprintz says that acupuncturists use these herbs to stimulate the metabolism and raise your body energy. With TCM, prescribing herbs is never as simple as trying one particular herb, for example ginseng, for a particular symptom such as low energy. Acupuncturists work within a spectrum of possibilities to restore balance instead of just pushing the body in one direction.
Tags: channels meridians, Chinese Medicine, deal with, deal with disease, pain inflammation
Chakras are eight points in the human body through which spiritual energy flows, according to Eastern theory, and with concentration you can open up the chakra points and experience your body in new and different ways. While often meant for healing and balance, the chakra can theoretically be used for attack purposes as well. When discussing a chakra attack, what you are doing is attempting to use the natural energy of your chakra to add more force to a physical strike, a technique seen in some Eastern martial arts.
Instructions
1. Learn the chakras and the associated hand positions assigned to each of them. When you concentrate on opening your chakras, your fingers should be held in a certain pattern that helps you concentrate on the specific chakra. You must be able to meditate and to open up your own chakra points reliably before you can direct the energy in them outward. Learn access the points, relax and meditate. Then you can move on to directing chakra energy outward from yourself.
2. Access a chakra point that is appropriate for a style of physical attack. For instance, the heart chakra would be an appropriate chakra to open and focus on if you wanted to direct energy like heat or strong emotion into a punch meant to inflict more damage. Opening the third-eye chakra would be more appropriate if you were attempting to attack for pinpoint precision, such as hitting a target at a very specific location by placing the strike area of a punch into the exact spot where the ribcage ends above the stomach. Concentrate on that chakra and make sure that it's completely open to you and that you are accessing the energy from it.
3. Strike your target. What you're doing is putting the energy of your body, as well as the energy of your chakra, behind the blow. If you're striking with a punch or a kick, it doesn't matter, as long as you can remain perfectly focused throughout and feel the flow of energy from your chakra through the attack.
Tags: your chakra, energy your, Chakra Attacks, chakra points, chakra would, direct energy, energy from
Pheromones are now thought to play a role in sexual attraction.
All animals, including humans, secrete pheromones -- chemical compounds that affect the behavior of other animals. Scientists once believed that pheromones played no part in human behavior. However, more recent studies show that pheromones do affect human relationships, especially in the areas of bonding and sexual attraction; these pheromones may take the form of scents that act on the recipient subconsciously. In short, subtle body odors may affect your appeal to others and their appeal to you. If you raise your own levels of pheromones, you may very well become more attractive to potential partners.
Instructions
1. Exercise to increase your testosterone level. In both women and men, testosterone can increase sexual appetite, and may also increase pheromone levels. It is not clear how people pick up on each other's excreted chemicals beyond scent, but it's hypothesized that testosterone can be absorbed through the skin to trigger testosterone receptors.
2. Take a zinc supplement. Zinc is an essential mineral for the production of testosterone and sex drive. In addition, try eating foods high in zinc, like oysters and meat.
3. Shower less often and use natural body products. Although strong body odor is not necessarily the key to turning on a partner, there should be a balance between preventing odor-causing bacteria and harnessing your natural body scents. Products such as sandalwood essential oil can be applied in lieu of deodorant to get rid of bad smells without obliterating natural pheromones.
Tags: natural body, sexual attraction, that pheromones
Gems and crystals have been sought after for over a millennia for their healing powers and abilities. Because each individual gem or crystal carries with it a different energy, it is important to know which gem is the right one to use for your desired result.
Crystals for Love
Crystals for love help allow love energies to flow into all aspects of your personal life, and include rose quartz, emerald, and rainbow jasper.
Crystals for Power
Crystals for power boost the spirits and help direct the mind to help you achieve greater success in life, and include bloodstone, blue quartz, and sodalite.
Crystals for Luck
Crystals for luck encourage positive energies to follow you throughout the day, promoting good luck in all areas of life. These crystals include citrine, garnet, and pink opal.
Crystals for Mood
Crystals for mood help ease the mind and soothe the soul, aiding in relieving anxiety and depression. These crystals include agate and labradorite.
Crystals for Protection
Crystals for protection help bathe the spirit in protective energies in all of your endeavors, and include sunstone, selenite, and jade.
Tags: crystals include, Gemstones Crystals, Healing Gemstones, Healing Gemstones Crystals, life include
Although not everyone believes in the efficacy of aromatherapy, few people doubt that the right smell can wake you up. Some scents are naturally spicy and pungent enough to stimulate anyone's mind, while others work because of a personal association. With a bit of trial and error, it should be easy to find an oil that works for you.
Instructions
What Oils
1. Use anything with menthol in it to increase alertness. Pretty much any mint extract, as well as most commercially available eucalyptus oil, contains this compound. It opens the eyes, clears out the sinuses, and makes the skin feel cool and tingly. Definitely an invigorating combination.
2. Use any oil that you associate with excitement or wakefulness to increase alertness. If, for example, your grandma used a lot of nutmeg in her cookies and you were always excited to visit her and eat those cookies, try nutmeg. The mental association might wake you up.
3. Use citrus oils to wake up. Citrus has a strong, sharp smell that many people find refreshing.
4. Try out a variety of spicy oils to keep you awake. Basil, bay, angelica, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, clove, cypress, ginger, rosemary, sage, and jasmine are all thought to help increase alertness. See what works for you.
5. Put a drop of essential oil on your neck or your clothing. The smell will gently waft up all day, helping to keep you alert.
6. Use an essential oil diffusers. It will spread the smell of any essential oils you add through an entire room.
7. Add the essential oil to a massage lotion and get a massage.
8. Use an essential oil candle. You can purchase candles scented with many of the more popular oils.
Eucalyptus oil can be used in daily chores or it can be used for its medicinal properties. It is a versatile natural product that should be kept in every home.
General Disinfectant
Eucalyptus oil has natural germicidal properties, and when mixed with water and placed in a spray bottle, it can be used to clean just about anything around the house. From kitchen counters to bathroom sinks, eucalyptus oil makes an effective cleaning solution.
Wound Care
Eucalyptus oil does not just kill germs on surfaces. You can place a few drops on an open wound or nasty insect bite to help prevent germs from causing an infection.
Air Freshener
Eucalyptus oil makes a good air freshener around the house. The smell is very pleasant, and having the oil in a diffuser can kill airborne germs and bacteria.
Aroma Therapy
The smell of eucalyptus oil can invigorate a person and help to stave off sluggishness and exhaustion.
Eliminating Dandruff
Mix a few drops of eucalyptus oil with some coconut oil to make a helpful dandruff treatment. Plus, it smells much better than some of the dandruff shampoos on the market today.
Tags: around house, Uses Eucalyptus, What Uses, What Uses Eucalyptus
Even though the bite of the Hobo spider is initially painless, they one of the most dangerous spiders in the United States. The venom from a Hobo Spider bite can cause nausea, vision impairment, and a lot of skin damage. They are not always fatal, but fatalities have occurred.
Instructions
1. If you think you might have spotted or encountered a Hobo spider, first see if they reside in your area. Hobo spiders are most frequently found in Western states. States such as Oregon, Washington, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana are all places the Hobo spider resides. They are found in the red area on this map.
2. You can also identify Hobo spiders by where you found them. They live on the ground, rarely climbing above ground level, and almost never climbing a vertical surface. They are most likely to be found in the basement of your home.
3. Perhaps the easiest way to identify the Hobo spider is by its appearance. They are brown in color and can vary in size (measured from leg span) from about 2/3 of an inch to 2 inches long.
4. The odd little feature hobo spiders have that other spiders don't is a set of large mouth parts. These two extra ligaments extend out from the head region and appear to be like antennas. This is unique to hobo spiders.
5. If by nothing else, you can identify hobo spiders by their bite. Initially it will be painless, but after a few minutes it will quickly harden. After a day or so the bite will develop into a blister and appear to get worse. This is when you should seek medical attention. If you let it go longer than a day the blister will usually expand until it breaks open. Sometimes severe symptoms can follow including headaches, nausea, temporary vision loss, weakness, or memory loss. If you think you may have been bitten by one, seek medical attention promptly.
Tags: Hobo spider, hobo spiders, identify Hobo, medical attention, seek medical
EDTA chelation therapy is used by some patients as an alternative for various conditions, including blood circulation problems, heart attack, heavy metal poisoning and hardening of the arteries. The treatment developed initially for treating heavy metal poisoning, yielded an added benefit. The presence of EDTA in the circulatory system strips the calcium present in the plaque along the walls of blood vessels.
Instructions
1. Locate a doctor trained in chelation therapy. Many traditional doctors doubt that this technique has any benefit for conditions other than heavy metal processing. Chelation therapy may remove heavy metals that have accumulated in your body. These metals, even in small amounts, can damage your organs.
2. Take vitamin and mineral supplements while you are on chelation therapy. Since the chelating agent remove metal ions from your body, you should supplement the metals that are essential for proper body function. Calcium and iron are two minerals that require supplementation during this therapy. The chelation agent removes calcium and iron, a process that could lead to osteoporosis and anemia if you don't address it.
3. Ask your doctor which form of chelation therapy is appropriate for you. Most doctors administer these treatments in their offices, but there are products which make home treatment possible. You can purchase liquid forms of the chelating agent or a tablet that you take orally.
Tags: chelation therapy, heavy metal, chelating agent, heavy metal poisoning, metal poisoning, metals that
Cupping is an ancient Chinese therapy that treats various illnesses and disorders, including digestion issues. It involves placing oxygen-deprived glasses along specific meridian lines on the body to aid healing.
Instructions
1. Find a reputable practitioner, preferably through referrals. Tell him where your problem lies so your practitioner can determine which meridian lines need attention. In this case, cupping to aid digestion is performed around the navel or other areas along your stomach.
2. Pick a therapy. Consider the different methods used to achieve suction. For instance, some forms of cupping rely on fire while others simply use a suction device. Ask your practitioner whether she will use flash cupping or moving cups.
3. Apply essential oils. Once the procedure is finished, you may notice redness on your skin, indicating that circulation has risen to the surface. Immediately apply analgesics or essential oils to aid absorption into the tissues surrounding the treated area.
4. Make follow-up appointments according to your needs. Let your stomach determine how often you should go. You may find that one session per week is necessary, while others may only use it once a month. Ideally, your digestion will improve to a point that you need only schedule occasional maintenance sessions.
Tags: essential oils, meridian lines, while others, your practitioner, your stomach
The pounding headache in the center of your forehead, a sore throat, a nagging cough and mountains of tissues might be an indication that you have a sinus infection. This malady is very much like a cold with annoying symptoms that can last for weeks. A sinus cold, also called sinusitis, occurs when the nasal passages and sinuses become inflamed. Sinusitis results from an imbalance of the bacteria in your nasal passages that normally fight invading bacteria. The result can be uncomfortable, painful pressure around the eyes and cheekbones, a persistent cough and a near constant stuffy nose. A sinus cold may include fever as well as coughs producing phlegm. Here are some helpful remedies to improve the condition fast.
Instructions
1. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Include warm drinks, such as tea, to help soothe your sore throat. Hydrating your body aids in recovery by helping your system flush bacteria.
2. Use the Neti pot to rinse your sinus passages twice a day. A Neti pot can be purchased at any pharmacy. This sinus cleansing pot uses a mixture of warm water and mild saline to rinse your sinus passages. This all-natural method will help speed along the sinus cold. Make sure to blow your nose thoroughly after rinsing your sinuses. See additional Resources below for information on use a Neti pot.
3. Steam your sinuses using a facial steamer. A facial steamer concentrates the humidity right into your nasal passages as you breathe the steam in and out. To loosen your congestion, steam your sinuses two to three times a day for 15 minutes for best results. A steamer is available at the drug store and costs about $30.
4. Take frequent hot showers, letting the water flow onto your face and head. The steam will help break up your congestion and the hot water will also help ease any headache or facial pain associated with the sinus cold.
5. Place hot compresses on your forehead a few times a day to relieve face and head pain. If the compresses aren't hot enough, fill a hot water bottle with hot tap water and place a wet washcloth on your forehead under the water bottle.
6. Take over-the-counter medications to ease your cough and congestion. Cough syrup that contains expectorants will help loosen your chest congestion. Decongestant will also help alleviate some of the symptoms of nasal congestion. Remember that you want to remove as much mucus as possible, so combine medication use with steaming and the Neti pot to help get rid of your sinus cold fast.
7. Know when to see your doctor. Continued sinus pain requires an examination and treatment by a physician.
Tags: sinus cold, nasal passages, will help, your forehead, your sinus, your sinuses
Natural medicine may be able to lower blood pressure with fewer side effects when compared to prescription medications. Types of natural medicines may include the use of dietary supplements or herbs as well as practicing natural stress relief and breathing techniques that are common in Eastern medicine. People who are thinking about using natural medicine to lower blood pressure should talk to their doctors first.
Types
Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish or fish oil and in supplements, and may lower blood pressure more effectively than some prescription medications.
Types
Extracts from hawthorn fruit, leaves and flowers can be used in liquid or pill form to lower blood pressure.
Types
Two amino acids, L-arginine and L-taurine, are used as dietary supplements and can lower blood pressure after the body converts it to nitrous oxide, which widens blood vessels.
Types
Coenzyme Q10 may lower blood pressure for people who have mildly elevated blood pressure levels. It does not have any significant side effects.
Types
Breathing and stretching techniques such as tai chi, yoga and qigong can lower blood pressure and stress levels when performed daily over a period of several months.
Warning
Dietary supplements and herbs that are sold over the counter in health or food stores may not be appropriately labeled with ingredients or dosage information and instructions.
Coconut oil is an excellent body massage oil. Virgin coconut oil is a solid at room temperature; heating the oil slightly causes it to melt. Coconut oil applied transdermally quickly absorbs into the skin and is especially beneficial to the hair and scalp. It has a positive effect on burns, rashes and cuts. When applied transdermally, the benefit of coconut oil is in its antimicrobial properties. It has been used by traditional healers for many antiviral, antibiotic applications. Doctors are currently considering its use for HIV/Aids treatment.
Instructions
Coconut Body Oil
1. Wear a towel or bathrobe while your skin absorbs the oil. Applying coconut oil to the skin can be a sticky process, so using a towel should prevent stains to your wardrobe. You do not need to process coconut oil to apply it to your skin. Virgin coconut oil will moisturize the skin and protect against bacteria naturally.
2. Make your own blend of body oils from coconut oil. Use the mortar and pestle in a warm water bath to melt the coconut oil with jojoba, grapeseed oil or sunflower oils. Adding beeswax will thicken the mixture further. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the salve to give it an added aromatherapy benefit. The mixture will set as it cools.
3. Blend or whip the mixture into a lotion if you do not use beeswax. Coconut oil is thick and hardens quickly. Combining it with other oils helps to loosen the consistency. The blended lotion will apply to the skin smoothly. Using coconut oil for daily moisturizing is appropriate for all skin types and ages.
4. Use coconut oil as a hair conditioner. It makes the hair stronger by moisturizing the scalp and hair follicles. When applying coconut oil as a hair conditioner, wrap your head in a towel to prevent the oil from staining your clothes or pillowcases. Letting the oils soak into hair for two to three hours makes your hair appear shiny and full.
Borderline personality disorder is a mental-health issue that is often frustratingly difficult to treat. Its symptoms include black-and-white thinking, resistance to suggestions, frequent emergencies, and self-harm or suicidal behavior. These symptoms are daunting, but there are treatments that have been shown to have some efficacy.
Instructions
Psychotherapeutical Treatments
1. Pursue dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT). This therapy focuses on managing emotions, stabilizing relationships and dealing with stress. A good workbook for the client to use is called "Don't Let Your Emotions Run Your Life" by Scott Spradlin. It can be ordered from Amazon.com or any online bookstore.
2. If you are comfortable doing so, attempt to use schema-focused therapy. This therapy attempts to look at the client's life and negate the false beliefs created by earlier events.
3. Practice transference-focused therapy. This therapy utilizes the relationship between the client and the therapist as a symbol for all other interactions the client experiences.
4. Set clear limits and boundaries with the client at all times. The client will fight those limits, but he needs them to feel safe. These limits will also help the therapist not to become burned out.
Medical Intervention
5. Refer your client to a medical provider if there is an accompanying mood problem or anxiety.
6. Encourage your client to maintain proper medication management. Some of the medications the client may be prescribed include antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications and anti-psychotics. Be aware of possible side effects, to better encourage and assist the client with the medication regimen.
7. If the client becomes unstable to the point of being a danger to herself or others, seek hospitalization. Be sure to document and clearly identify the danger to increase the chance of admittance, especially in the case of a resistant client.
Tags: therapy This, therapy This therapy, This therapy, your client
Asthma is a serious disease that affects the lungs and respiratory system. Asthmatics may suffer from an ongoing cough or hoarseness, with occasional or frequent attacks of constricted breathing. Chinese medicine can work with prescribed Western medicine drugs to prevent or treat these symptoms, which are caused by inflammation and tightening of the airways. Acupuncture and herbs can provide continual benefits to the respiratory and immune systems to treat your asthma. Read on to learn more about use Chinese medicine to treat asthma.
Instructions
1. See a licensed physician for diagnosis and prescription medications. Tell him you're planning to use Chinese medicine in combination with conventional medicine treatments.
2. See a Chinese medicine practitioner. Tell her about your asthma triggers and goals for maintenance of the disease. Set up a natural health plan to treat your asthma.
3. Take supplements or eat foods that will strengthen your immunity to allergens. For example, increase your intake of vitamin C and lycopene, which are both found in tomatoes.
4. Overhaul your diet to boost your immune system. Chinese medicine endorses a diet rich in natural and organic ingredients over one full of refined fats and sugars. Eat more fresh vegetables and less salt.
5. Receive periodic acupuncture treatments to address lung function, immune system response and balance of mind and body.
6. Use stress reduction techniques suggested by your acupuncturist or another health care provider. These may include stretching, exercise, heat therapy or aromatherapy.
7. Continue to take any management or emergency medications prescribed by your physician while you get acupuncture or Chinese medicine treatments.
Tags: Chinese medicine, Chinese medicine, your asthma, Chinese Medicine Treat, immune system, Medicine Treat Asthma, medicine treatments
Angular cheilitis is a term for cuts in the corners of the mouth. Some people are more prone to getting lesions in the corners of the mouth, in addition to other places that expand as they move, such as the back of the knee and crook of the elbow. To heal these cuts, you must first understand what causes them and then begin treatment.
Instructions
1. Know that a vitamin B and iron deficiencies can cause angular cheilitis. In addition, you could be allergic to a product such as toothpaste or lipstick. Dehydration can also cause cuts to appear in the corners of your mouth. Finally, you could have a yeast or bacterial infection.
2. Take a vitamin B complex supplement and an iron supplement if your physician says that it's all right. Drink plenty of fluids. You need the equivalent of eight 8 oz. cups of water every day. Go through all of your personal-care products, and stop using any that you started using on your face or in your mouth around the time the cuts appeared.
3. Keep the corners of your mouth dry, and don't touch your mouth with your hands. Avoid foods that could irritate the lesions, such as spicy and citrus foods, and wash your mouth with water after eating. Before you go to bed at night, apply a very thin layer of petroleum jelly to the sores to moisturize the skin and aid healing.
4. Visit your health-care practitioner if the cuts have not begun to heal in about a week. He can determine if you have a more complex underlying condition that requires medication.
Tags: your mouth, corners mouth, corners your, corners your mouth, mouth with
Chelation can be used to treat autism because heavy metal overload (lead, mercury, cadmium, etc), is a major cause of autism and retardation and chelation therapy pulls these heavy metals out of the persons body. Tens of thousands of children and hundreds of thousands of adults have been treated safely with chelation therapy for many decades for various toxic situations. It shows promising affects for autism. Read on to learn more.
Instructions
Use Chelation Therapy for Autism
1. Heavy metals build up within the body over a period of time causes poor health. However they can be mobilized and excreted in a safe and effective manner. Treatment is usually Chelation therapy that pulls arsenic out of your system. According to AutismResearchInstitute.com, Most autistic children who are chelated are chelated orally or transdermally (by gel, through the skin). Children have shown remarkable improvement after chelation was initiated. Formal data collection is just getting underway, but the initial data, on several hundred children is very encouraging."
2. Research. Since 1967 The Autism Research Institute has collected "Parent Ratings of Behavioral Effects of Biomedical Interventions." To date, over 24,500 parent responses have been collected. Chelation is a recent addition to the list of interventions. So far, of the first 470 parents who reported on the efficacy of chelation, 75 percent report "good" results, which is by far the highest "good" percentage reported for any of the 88 biomedical interventions (including 53 drugs) the parents have rated. See www.autismwebsite.com/ari/treatment/form34q.htm for more information.
3. Heavy metals (arsenic, lead, and mercury) like to hide in the brain and are resistant to cleaning out. The liver has to do a hard job processing the toxins during chelation therapy and the process can be tough on your digestive system. It's best to eat a diet of protein and mostly vegetables during treatment. Treatment can be done via IVs or orally. Intravenous treatment can be too rough on your body and some people need to take oral drops instead for a slower but less intrusive treatment.
4. Your chiropractor can be a good treatment resource as they have a test to see how much arsenic or other heavy metals are in your system. By pressing on certain body parts and applying a resistance test, they can tell how your treatment has progressed. Additional 24-hour urine tests may also be prescribed to see what your levels are. Over time, you can rid your system of heavy metals but remember that you must be patient and thorough with the treatment process.
Tags: chelation therapy, heavy metals, your system, Chelation Therapy, Chelation Therapy Autism, have been
A new spa treatment combining a relaxing foot soak with reflexology, the Aqua-Chi, promises to detoxify your body as it helps you absorb healthy negative ions. Spas offering Aqua-Chi sessions say it relieves pain, reduces stress, boosts energy, strengthens the immune system, and improves both memory and skin tone. There are a few side-effects and precautions to take into consideration before considering this spa treatment.
Not for Everyone
The Aqua-Chi combines water with a pulsing current designed to boost and balance the levels of chi in the body. This combination may be unsafe for women who are, or think they may be pregnant. A similar precaution applies to breastfeeding women. People with transplanted organs, pacemakers, or other electrically implanted devices may also want to look into a different type of reflexology treatment. Aqua-Chi treatments are not recommended for anyone with a heart condition, epilepsy, or a history of psychotic episodes.
Shortness of Breath, Dizziness, Nausea
Symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, and nausea occur rarely and last only a few minutes after a session. However, if you already have asthma or are prone to dizziness, take these possible consequences into consideration. Some spas offering the Aqua-Chi treatments recommend that clients only receive the treatment when their bodies are well hydrated, and that they receive a mineral cocktail prior to Aqua-Chi.
Tingling or Discomfort
The more toxins your body holds, the more dramatic a detoxing session can feel. Alternative health experts say it is natural to feel some effects when toxins stored in the body for a long period are flushed out. Resting after a detox session, drinking lots of water, and maintaining a healthy diet will help your body recover from a toxic state.
Tags: your body, Aqua-Chi treatments, into consideration, offering Aqua-Chi
Yellow topaz is an inexpensive, but beautiful gemstone used in jewelry.
Yellow topaz is a variety of the gem topaz that is mined from fluorine deposits around the world. A common and relatively inexpensive stone used in jewelry, yellow topaz is often confused with citrine and smoky quartz. Topaz is also found naturally in a variety of colors besides yellow and is sometimes altered for color enhancement.
History
The name topaz as a classification of gemstones has several possible origins. One origin is likely derived from the ancient Greek island of Topazios, which was once a source of the gemstone known today as peridot. The name topaz may also come from the Sanskrit word "tapaz," which means "fire."
Until the 1950s the name topaz was used to describe many different kinds of yellow stones, regardless of the stone's chemical properties or characteristics. However, the incorrect categorization of stones has largely been remedied.
Topaz Coloration
Topaz is found in a variety of colors. Most topaz naturally occurs in a yellow-orange or colorless hue. However, it can also be blue, green, pink, red and purple.
Many topaz stones are treated with different techniques, such as heat, to enhance or change the stone's color. Yellow topaz is often heated to produce a pink stone, and it can also be irradiated and heated to produce a blue stone. Yellow topaz is often referred to as sherry topaz.
Location and Value
Topaz is found in a multitude of locations and requires a source of fluorine to form. Yellow topaz occurs in large amounts in Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Sri Lanka and Burma. Small amounts of yellow topaz also occur in the United States. Topaz also occurs in other colors in Pakistan, Nigeria, Russia, Zimbabwe and Australia.
As of 2009, yellow topaz, as one of the most common forms of topaz, was valued at approximately $50 per carat. Despite its commonality, yellow topaz is still more valuable than blue topaz, which, as of 2009, was priced at between $1 and $10 per carat. Rare colors of topaz, such as reds and violets, were valued at between $300 and $1000 per carat in 2009.
Uses
Yellow topaz is most commonly used in jewelry and is the birthstone for the month of November. Blue topaz, similarly, is used as the December birthstone. Any color of topaz is also an appropriate gemstone for the observance of a 4th, 19th or 23rd wedding anniversary.
Topaz was also used by many ancient civilizations. The Egyptians associated topaz with the Sun god Ra, and the Romans believed topaz represented Jupiter.
Tags: Yellow topaz, name topaz, topaz often, used jewelry, yellow topaz, heated produce, topaz also
Air purifiers and cleaners are products that are designed to make sure the air you're breathing in your home is free from contaminants. These products come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so its always important to do some comparing before deciding on a particular model or brand. "Air purifier" and "air cleaner" are two terms used to describe the same type of device.
Filtered Pollutants
Different models of air purifiers and air cleaners are designed to filter different types of pollutants out of the air. Gauge exactly what a particular filter or cleaner that you buy will be filtering to know what it can and can't do. For example, some models are specifically designed for odors and gasses, while others are designed to rid your home of pollutants that could exacerbate your allergies.
Air Changes
Air purifiers and cleaners typically can perform a designated number of air changes in a given period of time (usually an hour). Each air change cycle designates a period in which the purifier or filter is at work filtering out obstructions from the air. A unit with a higher number of air changes will work longer and more frequently than a unit with a lower number.
Size
Some air purifiers and air cleaners are designed to be used in a single room. Others cover a much larger area and can be placed in a centralized location inside your home, like a living room. If you are trying to purify and clean the air in your entire home, install a single unit of comparable size or multiple units of the same model in each room.
Wattage
The wattage specification for any air purifier or cleaner unit is directly related to how much electricity that unit will use. The more electricity the unit uses, the higher your energy costs will be for your home. Check the wattage specification on a purifier or cleaner before purchase so that you can anticipate the added costs of running the device over time.
Tags: your home, purifier cleaner, purifiers cleaners, cleaners designed, number changes
Object recognition studies people's perception of how objects are recognized.
Object recognition is a concept pertaining to the visual perception of objects. Object recognition is a subject studied to understand how objects are perceived by people. This concept takes into consideration that people can view objects from different angles and viewpoints and can still recognize the objects. 2-D and 3-D objects are often taken into consideration as well when studying this concept.
Conditions
Object recognition is studied by observing a person's perceptions and recognition of objects with various conditions. Changing these conditions often does not change a person's recognition of an object. Object recognition proves that objects can be different sizes, shapes and colors and a person still recognizes them. Along with that, the orientation of an object does not matter either. Objects sideways, upside-down and backward often are still recognized by people. The lighting and background behind an object is also a technique used in studying object recognition. 2-D and 3-D images as well are still likely to be recognizable by people.
Recognition by Components
Recognition by components (RBC) is a technique that is used for object recognition. If only a few components of an object are shown to a person, will the person still identify the object? In most cases, this has proved to be true, as long as the object is a familiar item. With this same topic, objects surrounded by clutter are also studied to see if clutter makes a difference on object recognition.
Robots
Object recognition has been tested with robots. At the 5th Asian Conference on Computer Vision, an abstract was written based on the findings of robots. Robots performing work require certain environments for them to recognize their job. Through the study of these robots, 2-D and 3-D images were placed in the robot's database. This technique enabled the robots to identify the images they needed to understand. Once the robots understood and recognized the objects, they produced their work easily and more rapidly. In order for robots to complete complicated jobs, the development of advanced object recognition is crucial.
Tags: object recognition, Object recognition, Object recognition, into consideration, perception objects, person still
Foot pain stems from a plethora of ailments like broken bones, arthritis, bunions, calluses, blisters, achy muscles, pulled ligaments and foot disorders like hammertoe. Traditional treatments can range from pain medication to surgery. However, many cases of foot pain can be treated easily and effectively with a home remedy or two.
Soaking
Soaking your feet in warm water can be a therapeutic home remedy for nearly any cause of foot pain. For stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, sprains and aches the heat relaxes away much of the pain. Additionally, heat will increase the blood flow to the painful foot. This aids in tissue repair to relieve injury. For ingrown toenails and blisters, add a little Epsom salt to the warm water. The salt draws out any excess moisture, alleviating pressure and pain.
Supplements
According to the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, foot health is often directly related to calcium intake. To keep your feet healthy, the Society recommends getting at least 1,000 milligrams of vitamin D fortified calcium each day. This will strengthen the bones in the foot, eliminating foot pain related to breaks, arthritis or an eroding of bone. Glucosamine may also be helpful in repairing joint damage in the foot and should be considered.
Rest
The National Institutes of Health suggest that the best course of action for curing foot pain is to simply rest the foot. The most effective type of rest is to stay off of the affected foot and elevate it if swelling is present. However, this is not a reasonable solution for most people. Alternately, it is suggested that you purchase a pair of crutches that allow you to limit the amount of stress you place on the sore foot.
Inserts
Any pain related to the arch of the foot, the ball of the foot or the heel can be easily remedied by placing a special insert into your shoes. For high arches, using a wedge on the inside of the shoe will help support the arch. For foot pain near the toes, a small cushion under the ball of the foot can reduce the stress placed on that small area. Placing a similar cushion under the heel of the foot reduces pain in the back of the foot or plantar fasciitis. For flat feet, you can use an insert created especially to reduce the strain on the ligaments.
Ice
One of the most effective home remedies for foot pain is ice. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, icing a painful foot can temporarily numb the nerve endings that cause pain and relieve the pain. Icing an injured foot can also reduce swelling, which in itself can be painful. However, prolonged exposure to ice can damage the skin and nerves. Limit each icing session to ten minutes.
Tags: foot pain, According American, arch foot, ball foot, cushion under
Dentures can be expensive. If you add to that that people are busy and frequently without dental insurance, it is not surprising that you often find people with ill-fitting dentures.When you find yourself owning a set of outdated dentures and you do not have the money to buy a new set, then it is necessary to find ways to minimize damage to your mouth and gums until you can get a new set of dentures.
Instructions
1. Call several dentists and get an average of what new dentures cost. Understand that ill-fitting dentures can cause oral cancer. Advise the dentist's office how old your dentures are and tell him whether you need full or partial plates. Ask for some idea of the average cost.
2. Set up a savings program to purchase new dentures. Make it a set amount.
3. Begin a program of cleaning the dentures. Remove the dentures at night and place them in a cleaning solution to remove particles of food. Use a solution to disinfect the mouth.
4. Rest the gums at night by sleeping without the dentures.
5. Discontinue foods that aggravate the gums because of the difficulty in chewing them, such as corn on the cob, apples, peanuts, chewing gum and tough steak, to name just a few.
6. Self-treat with a "glue" like Poli-Grip. Put a small amount of grip across the top denture as well as the circle of the bottom denture. Let it sit for several minutes. Understand this is only valuable for the current day.
7. Check with several dentists to ask if they will do a more long-term treatment with professional glue that will last quite a while. Suggest to them that you will buy your new dentures from them if they will give you some assistance. Offer to start prepaying them.
8. Try everything. If all else fails, begin to wear just your top denture plate. With practice you can make this look normal.
9. Stick with your savings or prepayment program and buy your new dentures as soon as possible.
Tags: your dentures, ill-fitting dentures, several dentists, that will, they will
Neti pots are small pot-like containers used to rinse the naval cavity to treat colds, sinus problems and irritations from nasal allergies, according to James T. Li, M.D. at MayoClinic.com. The spout of the neti pot is placed gently into one nostril, allowing you to pour a warm saline solution through the nasal cavity and out the other nostril, removing irritants and debris.
Sneezing
If you experience frequent sneezing after using a neti pot, you may need to adjust the salt level in the water. High levels of salt can aggravate the sinus cavity, causing excessive sneezing.
Nose Bleeds
Pushing the neti pot nozzle far into the nose or not adding enough saline solution to the neti pot can cause a small amount of bleeding to occur. The neti pot nozzle should be gently placed just inside the nostril to prevent injury to the nose. If you experience heavy nose bleeds after using the neti pot, consult a physician right away.
Improper Use of Additives
In Ayurvedic medicine, herbs and essential oils are commonly added to the neti pot solution to treat various health conditions. Improper usage of these additives can cause irritation to the nostrils and nasal cavity. Ginger for instance, a herbal additive used to open the sinuses, is a warming herb that can cause an intensely hot sensation in nasal cavity if the wrong dosage is used.
Use During Pregnancy
According to David Frawley, author of "Neti: Healing Secrets of Yoga and Ayurveda," neti pots can be safely used by pregnant women. It is worth noting though, that some pregnant women have reported that using a neti pot during pregnancy increases the risk of nausea during the morning sickness state of pregnancy.
Saline Solution
Natural sea salt or saline solutions designed for use in a neti pot are the only sources of saline that should be used for nasal irrigation. Table salts or other industrial salts often contain chemicals such as iodine or anticaking agents that can irritate nasal passages.
Swallowing Saline Solution
During nasal irrigation, some saline solution may find its way into your throat or mouth. Swallowing this solution can cause stomach irritation or diarrhea. If the saline solution enters your throat or mouth, you should immediately stop irrigation and spit out the solution.
Excessive Use
Daily use of the neti pot may change the biochemistry of the nose, possibly causing a decrease in certain immune elements that may contribute to more frequent sinus infections, according to an ABC News article published on Nov. 11, 2009.
Tags: nasal cavity, saline solution, your throat mouth, after using, after using neti, nasal irrigation
The Intervertebral Differential Dynamics Therapy or IDD therapy is a treatment for variety of lower back problems available at various centers across the United States. Developed by a team of back specialists, neurosurgeons, orthopedists and physical therapists, it is a nonsurgical and noninvasive treatment that does not involve any pain medication. As you could guess, this is quite a temptation for lower back pain sufferers in search of an effective cure.
What It Involves
IDD therapy involves a physio-therapeutic device, consisting of a harness attached to a motorized table. During the physiotherapy, static, cyclic and intermittent forces are applied only to the affected vertebral disc area. The table is designed to target specific lumbar segments. If needed, heat and vibration can also be applied by most models of the IDD device.
What It Can Cure
According to research performed by the Denver Spine Institute, specific back problems that the IDD therapy has been used to cure include degenerative disc disease, bulging or herniated discs, posterior facet syndrome, sciatica and acute back pain. Additionally, IDD therapy can also promote retraction of herniated discs, reduce pressure on the vertebral joints and promote the rehabilitation and self healing of damaged discs.
Procedure
IDD therapy involves a course of 20 sessions, each of about 30 minutes, covered over 30 to 35 days. This course is only conducted by a certified clinician who specializes in back pain care, so you can be sure that your treatment is in the right hands.
Advantages
IDD therapy is credible, and was clinically validated after six years of extensive study. In addition, it has an 86 to 92 percent effectiveness rate as well, relieving doubt about its ability to cure degenerative discs. There is also the big advantage to IDD therapy in that it is not a surgical or invasive procedure. In fact, treatment sessions are relaxing and pain-free. As a patient, you do not need to curtail your lifestyle or spend sleepless nights wondering about the complications that could be caused by back surgery.
IDD therapy is also much cheaper than traditional surgery. As a patient, you can choose a comfortable finance option that will not hurt your wallet too much. Financing for this procedure is available even if you do not have insurance or only have partial insurance.
Tags: back pain, back problems, herniated discs, lower back, therapy also, therapy involves
The neti pot, or variations of it, have been in use for a very long time all over the world to flush out the nasal cavity and relieve congestion. Thanks to media coverage in the U.S., neti pots are now being put to use in America. It is more soothing and less expensive than many over-the-counter drugs, and it lacks side effects such as drowsiness or upset stomach that result from medications. If you are suffering from congestion and are looking for a natural way of alleviating your discomfort, you may want to try using a neti pot.
Instructions
1. Heat 2 cups of non-chlorinated water to a lukewarm temperature.
2. Add 2 tablespoons of sea salt to the water, stir until it is completely dissolved and then fill the neti pot with the solution.
3. Lean over a sink, and tilt your head to one side so that one of your nostrils is facing upward.
4. Insert the spout of the pot into that nostril, forming a seal, and allow the solution to slowly enter the nasal cavity. Be aware that some of the solution will probably run down your throat. Leave your mouth wide open and hold your breath to avoid inhaling the solution, or open your mouth and make a "K" sound, which closes off the mouth and throat.
5. Hold the neti pot at an angle continuously, even if the solution does not flow immediately. If you are severely congested, it may take awhile, but the solution will begin to flow through one nasal cavity and out the other, cleaning out or loosening mucus as it does so.
6. Pour the entire neti pot of solution through the first nostril, then tilt your head the other way and pour the solution in the opposite nostril.
7. Wait 10 to 15 minutes for the solution to work, and if you still feel congested after that time, repeat the process.
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