Archive for March, 2008

Saw Palmetto Hair Loss Treatment

By far the most common type of baldness (alopecia) in males is called male-pattern baldness or androgenic (androgenetic) alopecia. When this condition develops, the hair is lost in a well-defined “M” pattern (hence the name.) Women also suffer from androgenic alopecia; in females this condition is known as female-pattern baldness.

Hair loss develops when the level of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the scalp is too high. Dihydrotestosterone binds itself to the hair follicles, decreasing the amount of nutrients they can extract from blood. The follicles gradually shrink and the hair growing from them becomes thinner. If nothing is done to treat this condition, the hair disappears completely.

To prevent and treat hair loss, the level of DHT in the body must be decreased. This can be accomplished in different ways. There are prescription drugs designed to inhibit DHT (such as finasteride also known as Propecia.), which block conversion of free testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. Being synthetic substances, prescription drugs for treating hair loss often have serious side effects, such as gynecomastia and even erectile dysfunction.

Saw Palmetto (a palm plant native to North America), on the other hand is a herbal DHT inhibitor. It has similar mechanism of action to finasteride, but it doesn’t affect the rest of the organism and thus have no side effects associated with finasteride and other prescription drugs.

4 Tips For Parents Receiving a Scary Diagnosis

It is always, always terrifying when your child is ill and has had to undergo a barrage of medical tests. Waiting for the final diagnosis is stressful. When the final diagnosis is made it can be either a great wave of relief, or it can send parents into a tailspin of uncertainty. Here are 4 tips for parents who have just been thrown into that place no parent wants to go.

1. First, take one step at a time. You have without a doubt been given more information than you can absorb at one time, especially if the diagnosis is complicated. Ask questions. Ask for a second opinion if feel in your heart that something else should be done.

2. Don’t run to the internet right away. What you may find may be general, may scare the wits out of you, and may not apply to your child’s situation. The internet has an abundance of good resources and should be used later, after you have had time to absorb all that your physician has said and a treatment plan has been laid out.

Back Pain - Treatment of Lower Back Pain

While lower back pain can be caused by a multitude of things, some of them very serious, the overwhelming majority of lower back pains are caused by muscular strains and spasms. Many times, the injury occurs first thing in the morning when you get out of bed and begin your daily activities before your muscles are properly stretched out. Injury then, can happen from otherwise innocent maneuvers such as bending over to tie your shoelaces or toweling off after a shower, or even turning to wipe your backside after toileting. You can cause you back additional strain by poor posture, poor body positioning and mechanics when bending or lifting, and lack of exercise. Other causes of lower back pain include: urinary tract infections, a slipped or herniated disc, stress, fever, arthritis and kidney stones, to name a few. Once you have determined that you are suffering from a simple “pulled muscle” in your back, you can follow the recommended therapy below to help you get better, fast!

Treatment and Expectations: The most important thing to maintain in treatment of simple lower back pains, is to maintain the natural curvature of the lower back. This can be achieved with a little back support to the lumbar area as shown in the accompanying diagram. Generally, there are three rules to follow:

Herbs for Depression - Natural Depression Cure

Depression and anxiety are so common in the modern world, and no single drug offers an effective cure. However, there are many herbal remedies for depression that can help you. Find out what herbs for depression are the most effective and how to use them

Most Asian countries are famous for their use of medicinal heeling herbs. One reason is climate - warm and humid it promotes plants growth and it is also traditional way of living using healing herbs to fight diseases where even modern drugs don’t work. Herbs that help with depression are no exception - you can find many Chinese medicinal herbs to cure depression and relieve stress. The Western world has also caught on the usage of medicinal herbs as a treatment for many illnesses including depression and anxiety, because it is safer and more natural.

Why should you use herbs for depression?

Asthma Attack Treatments - Using Hypnotherapy to Cure Asthma

Through hypnotherapy, any asthma attack can be treated accordingly. As a serious respiratory disease, asthma attacks can be very lethal and proven to be very handicapping. Because of these, asthma attack treatments should be treated seriously by the patient. Otherwise, it may even lead to various complications within the human body system.

For any physical symptoms of asthma disease or attack, drugs can be a great help for a quick relief. Nevertheless, drugs can possibly bring undesirable side effects to the patients.

As an asthma attack treatment, hypnotherapy can be very effective and safe alternative to the patients. Since asthma can be a very chronic condition that greatly affects the respiratory system of the human body, hypnotherapy is safe to use. Asthma attacks can be very dangerous since they reduce the oxygen flow coming in and out of the lungs.

Once the airway passage becomes lined up or inflamed with mucus, an asthma attack occurs. In most severe cases, these symptoms may happen several times everyday or every week. Nevertheless, asthma attacks may also vary accordingly to the kind of asthma condition present with the person.

Diabetes - How to Lose Weight If You Have Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the curses of the 21st century. Type2 diabetes is a condition in which the body does not produce enough insulin to absorb the glucose levels in the blood. As a result, the level of sugar in the blood is higher than the permissible levels. Prolonged high levels of blood sugar can damage all the internal organs of the body. Type 2 diabetes, if uncontrolled, can lead to a number of deadly diseases.

Most people do not seem to realize the relationship between diabetes and food habits. Not surprisingly, more than 90% of people diagnosed with Type2 Diabetes are overweight! Recent food habits combined with easy, sedentary lifestyle is considered to be at the root of Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetes has no cure. But, it can be managed very effectively. Since there is a close relationship between food habits and diabetes, it is obvious that changes in diet can help you manage diabetes. In fact, people with borderline diabetes can easily get rid of the excess blood sugar levels simply by losing enough weight. Even if you are diabetic, you can bring blood sugar levels under control by losing weight. According to the American Diabetes Association, reducing your weight by a mere 10 pounds can drastically change your blood sugar levels.

Shop Smart for a Healthy Lifestyle

A big part of enjoying healthier eating is buying healthier foods, and that means making smart choices where it matters most – at the supermarket. Choosing the freshest, healthiest foods is an important first step toward making healthy and delicious meals your whole family will love.

In general, most supermarkets are laid out with the healthiest, most nutritious foods around the perimeter of the store. That is where most stores locate their produce section, their dairy section, their meat counter, and the like. Of course, the middle aisles of the grocery store also contain nutritious foods, such as canned and frozen vegetables, whole grain cereals and more.

And of course each shelf of the grocery store also contains both good and bad choices for healthy eating. For instance, the cereal aisle is home to both the healthy, home grain cereal, and those cereals that contain more sugar than corn. In many cases, the difference will be obvious from the packaging, while at other times you will need to read the nutritional information carefully to ensure the food is healthy for your family.

Arthritis Home Remedies - 8 Remedies Recommended By Users

In this article I will tell you that Home Remedies for Arthritis which are suggested by most of the users. First take a look at what is Arthritis.

Arthritis is a name specified to more than 100 types of mild to crippling joint problems that cause swelling, pain and rigidity.

Different kinds of Arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis: It is caused by chips and break in the smooth cartilage that cushions the joints. When bone surfaces have too minute cushioning, they stroke together and may grow bang, called spurs that irritate nearby tissue

Rheumatoid arthritis: It result when the inside layer of the capsule around a joint develops into inflamed and thickened, causing swelling, ache and rigidity. It can also inflame the eyes and lungs.

Gout: it generally affects men over 40 years of age and is caused by elevated blood levels of uric acid, one of the body’s waste products, which forms crystals in the joints. The immune system attempts to protect the body in opposition to these crystals and the joints become inflamed and painful.

Below are some of the Home Remedies for Arthritis recommended by users:

Aqua Aerobics

If you were looking to change up your aerobic routine, I would suggest you try water aerobics. Also known as aqua aerobics or aqua-fit. Water aerobics is similar to any other kind of cardio exercise. You run, do jumping jacks, perform arm movements and kicks, except you are in the water.

Benefits of Aqua Aerobics Include:

-Resistance from the water

-Easy on joints

-Easy on muscles

-Allows a greater range of motion (ROM)

-Prevents overheating during exercise

-Increased cardio endurance

-Increased flexibility

-Increased muscle tone

-Privacy if you are uncomfortable jumping around in a room full of people

-Water massages the muscles. You will finish your workout feeling great and also, sweat free!

Water aerobics is perfect for older adults who deal with muscles and joint conditions such as arthritis, back pain, and recent surgeries. The movements are much slower than land aerobics and the social atmosphere is wonderful for making new friends. Many facilities cater classes to the OA population by regularly introducing classes designed to help along the healing of hip and knee replacements, as well as stretch classes.

Depression Hotlines

Everybody feels angry at one point or another. That is normal. Feeling anger is a normal emotion and it is not a problem. However, it is your response in handling your anger that becomes a problem. For example, in some situations anger motivates us to make necessary changes in our lives. However, there are times when your anger can turn into aggression. When anger is turned into yourself, you might undergo stress, self-harm, or low mood levels. When anger presents you with a situation which you cannot cope with and you feel like there is nobody you can run to, you can call depression hotlines.

Depression hotlines are companies which employ empathetic professionals. These people are trained to help you with your problems. Depression hotlines counsel you with problems such as anxiety, family, school, sexuality, loneliness, alcohol, depression, and suicidal tendencies.

If you prefer person to person contact or help, professionals on depression hotlines are provided with information on social services of mental health or health. You can easily call them and ask for information and they will be glad to help you out.