Alternative medicines come in many forms and Ayurvedic is one of them. Many people have not heard of this healing medium as it only came to the fore in 1980 although the practice of Ayurvedic healing is said to be over 5000 years old.

Ayurvedic means life and knowledge. This ancient alternative healing system has been practiced in India for many years although there is now a tendency towards western style medicine in the main cities. But most of the population live in rural areas where it is estimated that 70% still use this form of healing.

The basics of Ayurvedic are broke down into three main categories and those are diet, herbs, and yoga. Certain authorities have warned that some of the herbs used could be poisonous, and there are a host of people saying that this form of alternative medicine is a rip off, and that if anyone should want to go down this route of alternative medicine is that they should double check what they are taking. Not being a scientist or a botanist I feel as though I do not have that sort of expertise to comment any further about the herbs used.

But again with all forms of alternative medicine there will always be people that will say that the unusual does not work although a lot of the websites I visited said that it was good for arthritis and Rheumatoid arthritis. A good point to push forward here would be to mention the fact that one of the more popular food supplements on the market today is Micro Phytoplankton which is nothing but a single cell alga, and who would have said ten years ago that we would be taking this type of food supplement on a daily basis.

Like a lot of alternative medicine cures Ayurvedic medicine is diet based which seems to be the modern trend and when you read all the reports on how diet based cures are having success it’s no wonder that this type of alternative medicine is catching on.

Another thing I did notice about Ayurvedic medicine is that is based on a vegetarian diet which would be on the alkaline side rather than the acid contents of sugar based products and meat.

As for Rheumatoid arthritis that can leave people in such a bad way that they can become bed ridden and in so much pain I do believe from reading reports of them being cured through these diet related cures is a good thing. Perhaps modern medicine has a lot to learn although I do believe that some of the large drug companies have taken out patents on certain of the drugs that are used in Ayurvedic medicine, which to me tells me that there is something there otherwise they would not be taking such measures.

By: Ivan Hince

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Not everyone may have a full understanding of what the term body detoxification means. As most people are used to giving their bodies a good dose of harmful toxins and chemicals everyday with their daily activities, it is no surprise why body cleansing can be handy every now and then. Undergoing body detoxification on a regular basis can prove to be a very crucial move in keeping the body clean not only on the outside, but on the inside as well. We can therefore say that the whole procedure of cleansing the body using different methods is called detoxification. Body detoxification can take different forms and styles, and its benefits will be described in succeeding paragraphs.

What are the methods used in body detoxification?

There are numerous ways that people can choose when going under a full body detoxification program. Some will go about using a single method of detoxification, while some will employ the methods of several body detox programs in order to achieve the best results possible. Whichever methods are chosen, people deciding to get their bodies detoxified are taking the right step towards a better health.

Using foot patches that are specifically designed for detoxification are very common nowadays. These foot patches usually employ natural ingredients like wood and bamboo vinegars, loquat leaves and many other related materials. The detox foot pad works in a quite simple way and is explained in the next paragraph.

The foot patch gets directly placed under a person’s foot. For best results, it is recommended that they be used at night, just before one goes to sleep. These detox foot patches functions in such a way that they attract toxins and other harmful substances in the body and it gets collected in the patch itself. After some time of using it, people have claimed to experience less stress and fatigue, more vigor and vitality, and less of the other negative effects caused by toxin build-up inside the body. These foot patches are a good body detox option considering their convenience and ease of use.

Another great body detoxification method is the use of detoxification recipes which are usually found in cookbooks that are specifically aimed at body detoxification. These recipes are available via the internet, magazines or other media. There are foods that can be mixed and matched in order to help in effectively cleansing the body of toxins and other harmful substances that it has accumulated over time. Try visiting the World Wide Web and you may just find free recipes and other resources which can help you prepare healthy meals that are recommended for body detoxification. Also, consider making a daily or weekly meal plan so that you have a better control of what you are eating while you are on a detoxification program. Using this method can greatly help you in the rejuvenation of your body and overall health.

So why detoxify my body?

There are so many reasons why you should take the step in detoxifying your body. One good reason is to reduce stress which almost everyone experiences everyday. Body detoxification not only involves cleansing on the physical system, but the mental aspect as well. Most body detoxification programs are aimed at stress reduction, and a lot of people have claimed about the wonderful benefits detoxification has done for them.

Alleviating fatigue is also a good reason why most people get into a complete body detoxification program. With the use of previously mentioned detoxification methods like detox foot patches and recipes, fatigue can be effectively reduced if not completely written off. Once people have used these body cleansing programs, they are most likely to feel less fatigue than they had previously, as compared if they have not undergone any type of body cleansing at all in order to remove the toxins that are plaguing their body for a long time.

Another reason for body detoxification is for rejuvenation and restoration of health and well-being in its peak condition. With the elimination of accumulated toxins as a result of everyday pollutants, one will get a much lighter and healthier feeling, inside and out. Your health will have so much improvement once you undergo a good detoxification program.

To sum it all up, the methods of and reasons for detoxification mentioned previously are just one of the many ways and reason why the body must be cleansed of all toxins and other harmful elements. To those who are willing to give it a try, stress and fatigue reduction, increased energy and a feeling of rejuvenation are just one of the few things that await them.

By: Holly Vera

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Imagine life if you couldn’t…

1. Attend a symphony

2. Bungee jump in Queenstown, New Zealand

3. Create a scrapbook

4. Dine at a fine restaurant

5. Explore the ancient Mayan caves

6. Fly in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon

7. Go on an African Safari

8. Host a radio show

9. Invent something

10. Join a gym

11. Kiss the ones you love

12. Love and be loved unconditionally

13. Meet your favorite celebrity

14. Never say never

15. Own an expensive article of clothing

16. Play a Grand Piano

17. Quit a bad habit

18. Ride on a motorcycle

19. Swim with the dolphins

20. Travel to Iceland

21. Understand a new language

22. Visit all 50 states

23. Watch the Northern Lights

24. eXperience the feel of sand between your toes

25. Yodel in the Appalachian Mountains

26. Have a Zest for life

The truth is that if you are diagnosed with diabetes, you may not be able to do some these things. Science and medical studies have proven that diabetes lowers life expectancy by seven or eight years of unsuspecting people. Diabetes steals your life from you, leaves you heartbroken, unhealthy, and exhausted.

Physical activity is well-documented to prevent diabetes and deaths from diabetes. Physically active people without diabetes live longer than men and women who are not physically active with diabetes.

What constitutes as physical activity?:

- Walking

- Water aerobics

- Biking

You have plenty of options, so get creative and start living!

There is no arguing that diabetes lowers life expectancy. Despite that alarming realization, you can learn the facts and some tips to prevent diabetes. You simply don’t have to live with diabetes and the anticipation of a shorter life.

Diabetes is a debilitating disease that affects your life adversely and puts you at risk for the following conditions:

- Cardiovascular disease

- Depression

- Foot ulcers

- Hypoglycemia

- Kidney and nerve damage

- Sexual and Urologic problems

- Stomach nerve damage

- Vision

The complications from diabetes all add up to a shorter life expectancy.

If you don’t want to go through these medical complications or miss out on the ABCs of life, follow these simple tips to help prevent diabetes:

1. Control your blood sugar

2. Eat a healthy diet

3. Exercise regularly

Just doing these three simple steps can help prevent diabetes! Learn the facts and adopt these tips to prevent diabetes.

By: Elle VanHamagansky

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Many people have arthritis symptoms and don’t realize it. It takes a while to get full blown arthritis. It’s something that gradually builds up and before you know it, you have arthritis and are seeing your doctor for medication. Any medication you take does not address the cause of arthritis and will not improve your condition.

If you show any arthritis symptoms, then expect to have arthritis 4-10 year down the road. Typically when people have symptoms, they just ignore them and actual don’t recognize them as arthritis symptoms.

Here is a list of arthritis symptoms that you need to look out for. Each person will show different symptom because of the nutritional make up will be different.

* Dry scalp with dandruff
* Dry skin which shows a whitish in different parts of the body
* Ear has no ear wax
* Fingernails that are brittle or splitting
* Premature color change to gray
* Skin wrinkles in the neck area
* Ringing in the ears
* Complexion color is pale
* Stretch mark which appear after losing weight
* Rectum itching
* Accumulation of dried flakes at the corners of the eyes
* Nose is constantly itching
* Feeling stiffness when getting up in the morning
* Hands and legs get cold and clammy
* Bleeding gums
* Teeth have etch lines
* Varicose veins in the legs
* Being sterile

From this list of arthritis symptoms, you can see that many symptoms relate to your body being dry. One of the causes of arthritis is the lack of essential oils. If you lack oil in your body, you will have dryness throughout your body. You will lack the oil that provides the lubrication to the body joints.

You can have one or many of these arthritis symptoms. If you do, you can start at any age using the oils good for preventing arthritis. You can start eliminating those foods that are detrimental to your joints and health. Some times it takes awhile to eliminate specific foods from you eating habits. So the sooner you start the better.

Without the proper oil reaching your joints, your joints will slowly degrade. The cartilage of your joints will be dry and this causes friction. This friction causes heat that will help in the slow degradation of your joints. Because the cartilage has no blood vessels, nutritional oils cannot be directly delivered its cells. Oils have to be absorbed into the cartilage by osmosis.

Look over this list of arthritis symptoms and decide if you have one or more. Remember, arthritis takes many years to appear after the symptom does.

By: Rudy Silva

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This is an introductory explanation of the different types of oral contraceptive pills that may help you to finally select the one that is best for your body. 50 years on, we have discovered that the oral contraceptive pill for women still prevents pregnancy if it is made up of much lower doses of estrogen and progestin than in the early days. ‘The Pill’ used to contain 50-100 micrograms of estrogen and today it contains only 20-35 micrograms, with researchers trying to reduce this amount further to reduce side effects. Synthetic hormones (estrogen/ethinyl estradiol and progestin) used in contraceptive pills mimic the natural hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) produced by the ovaries, adrenal gland and liver.

Estrogen’s main job in a contraceptive pill is to prevent ovulation (release of an egg from a woman’s ovary). Progestin in the pill, while it does have some intermittent effect on ovulation (about 50% of the time) is relied on mainly to thicken the mucus around the cervix to stop sperm from getting through to an egg.

Contraceptive Pills come in two basic types: single hormone pills (progestin only) and combination hormone pills (estrogen + progestin) Pills are supplied in two basic packs- 28 day pill packs= 3 weeks of active hormone pills +1 week placebo pills and 21 day pill packs= 3 weeks of active hormone pills with no placebo pills.

PROGESTIN only pills (the ‘mini pill’) do not contain estrogen and only have a small amount of progestin in them. Breastfeeding women are often prescribed these ‘mini pills’ (estrogen may cause a reduction in milk supply) as well as women who cannot take synthetic estrogen for medical reasons. Side effects are less than pills containing estrogen and they are not associated with heart disease, however, irregular bleeding /spotting/mood swings may occur. Progestin only pills MUST be taken at the same time each day and are affected by vomiting or diarrhoea.This type of contraceptive pill is not affected by antibiotics.

COMBINATION PILLS- contain estrogen and progestin and can be further categorized as being Monophasic, Biphasic or Triphasic- so what do these terms mean? Pills are put into these categories according to whether or not the levels of hormones they contain stay the same throughout the first three weeks of a woman’s menstrual cycle (in 28 day pill packs, the pills for the fourth week in the pack are placebo or ‘reminder pills’ that are inactive and do not contain any hormones)

MONOPHASIC Pill- is one that contains the same amount of hormones in every ACTIVE pill so you are less likely to have mood swings as your hormone levels do not vary much throughout the month. Popular monophasic pills include:Alesse, Brevicon, Desogen, Levlen, Levlite, Loestrin, Modicon, Nelova, Nordette, Norinyl,Ortho-Cept, Ortho-Cyclen, Ortho-Novum, Ovcon, Yasmin. In 2003 the FDA approved a new packaging of a monophasic contraceptive pill called Seasonale. This pill is taken for 91 days, during which no periods occur -so in one year, women taking this pill will only have 4 periods (for the first year though, expect the same no. of menstrual days as with a traditional contraceptive pill till your body adjusts)

BIPHASIC PIll- is one that contains different amounts of hormones throughout the pack. These pills alter your hormone levels once during your cycle by increasing the dosage of progestin about halfway through your cycle and are thought to better match your body’s natural production of hormones- they contain smaller doses of hormones in total than monophasic pills. However, insufficient evidence has been gathered to favour these pills over monophasic ones, where much more reliable data is available so monophasic pills are preferred. Breakthrough bleeding has been reported as a side effect with these pills. Popular biphasic pills include : Jenest, Mircette, Necon 10/11, Nelova 10/11, Ortho-Novum 10/11. Attempts to decrease side effects led to the three-phase pill in the 1980s.

TRIPHASE pill- is one that contains 3 different amounts of hormones in the ACTIVE pills over three weeks, i.e. a change in hormone levels within the body occurs every 7 days for the first 3 weeks.. The dose of estrogen is gradually increased and in some pills, the dose of progestin is also increased. Whether three-phase pills lead to fewer pregnancies than two-phase pills is unknown. Nor is it known if the pills give better cycle control or have fewer side effects. Look for the ‘TRI’ on the label such as:Ortho Tri-Cyclen, Triphasil, Tri-Levlen, Trivora, Tri-Norinyl, other brands include: Cyclessa, Ortho-Novum 7/7/7.

The Best Pill to Take - All contraceptive pills are effective if taken correctly, with combination pills (containing both estrogen and progestin) being more effective than the low dose ‘mini pill’. Monophasic pills may be the best to start with as they are cheaper and those with lower amounts of estrogen may have fewer side effects (but more breakthrough bleeding)

Always use back up (a condom or diaphragm) for the rest of the month if you miss a pill. Trial and error, side effects and talking to your doctor should help you to find a contraceptive pill that suits your body. Pregnancies occur mainly when women forget to take a pill or take them incorrectly, vomit, get diarrhoea or, in the case of the mini pill, do not take pills at the same time each day. It is very easy to start a pill packet late if you just forget or if you don’t have the next new packet on hand. The most dangerous time to miss a pill is at the end or beginning of a packet because it lengthens the pill free gap beyond seven days which means that you may not have absorbed sufficient synthetic hormones to prevent you from ovulating in the next month.

By: Carole Pemberton

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Foods that contain yeast are very popular in the western world, this is a problem if you suffer from a yeast allergy. In this article we look at what a yeast allergy actually is, as well as its symptoms.

Obviously if you are one of the unfortunate people who suffers from this type of allergy, you cannot eat or drink anything that contains yeast or yeast derivatives. The problem is avoiding foods that contain this substance is very difficult because it is an ingredient in so many foods, particularly baked foods such as bread. It’s not only foods that contain yeast, all alcoholic drinks have this as an ingredient, so they must be avoided, or replaced with non-alcoholic alternatives.

So what are the symptoms? The symptoms of yeast allergy are the same as those that occur as a result of most food allergies, they include: hives, irritability, head aches, muscle aches, fatigue, swelling of the mouth, throat and tongue, amongst several other symptoms.

Yeast allergy symptoms can vary, some people may suffer mild symptoms, whilst others suffer more severe ones. In rare cases these symptoms can actually be life threatening. If you know that you suffer from an allergic reaction to yeast it is advisable that you avoid food and drinks that contain it. The symptoms of food allergies tend to get worse if you continue to eat foods that you are allergic to.

If you think you may suffer from a yeast allergy, or any food allergy for that matter you should seek medical advice, this will reduce the chances of you suffering from another allergic reaction.

Your doctor will carry out tests on you to determine what food is responsible for your allergic reaction, there are three main tests that a doctor may carry out, these include, a blood tests, a scratch test or finding the food you are allergic to by process of elimination.

Blood Test: During a blood test a doctor will take samples of your blood and put samples of suspected allergy foods in them, he will then see the reaction that occurs. If the chemicals that are released by the blood are those that occur during an allergic reaction, than it means you are allergic to the food that is being tested.

Scratch Test: This test is not the most accurate test in the world, but it can be useful, it involves a fine scratch being made on your skin, a small sample of the suspected food is put near the scratch, if the skin around the scratch swells up it means you are allergic to the food.

Process of Elimination: This simply involves eliminating foods from the diet in order to discover which food is responsible for your allergic reaction.

Once the food allergy that you have has been discovered the doctor can recommend the best treatment methods, which normally involves avoiding the food completely and finding alternatives to foods that contain yeast, in the case of yeast allergy.

This article looked at yeast allergy, its symptoms, and diagnosis.

By: Samuel Alby

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Nearly everyone gets acne. No matter what your race or age may be, acne is a universal problem. Over 80% of people between the ages of 11 and 30 have some type of acne breakout in their lifetime. While acne usually dissipates by the time most of us reach our 30’s, some people experience adult acne well into their thirties and possibly longer.

Baby acne is also not entirely uncommon. Baby acne most often occurs a few weeks after your child’s birth. While it may alarm you, the most important thing to remember is: Don’t panic. The condition will usually go away on its own. You can help your baby’s skin by not using creams or oils and try to avoid over-scrubbing their faces. It’s probably safe to say that the acne is not bothering your baby, so try not to let it bother you. Baby acne should go away in 4 to 6 months as your child’s hormones level out.

In case you were wondering, the scientific name for acne is acne vulgaris, which sounds just dreadful but literally means “common acne.” This is the type of acne that affects more teenagers and adults later in life, and is not to be confused with Rosacea. Cystic acne occurs when your skin glands become plugged with oil causing lesioned outbreaks commonly referred to as pimples or zits. Pimples occur on the face, neck, shoulders, back, and chest, but acne on the arms and legs are not unusual.

Many myths are often associated with acne. For example, there is little evidence that chocolate or greasy foods have any involvement in development of acne nodules. Another common misconception is that dirty skin and poor hygiene causes acne, however, it’s normally an allergic reaction to bacteria in your pores that can cause acne and unfortunately, scrubbing won’t solve the problem.

What we know for sure about acne is that it is caused by hormonal changes in adolescents and young adults, but the exact reason why some people get acne and others don’t, or why some people get much worse acne breakouts than others is unknown. We do know that acne is at least partially hereditary, which speaks more to a genetic predisposition and not something that can be physically changed or altered in your every day routine. However, when dealing with existing acne there are acne treatments available to you that will certainly help your active acne.

Since the causes of acne are still somewhat unclear, the treatments for acne vary. It’s good to keep in mind that while some acne treatments really do work, not all acne treatments work the same for everyone. What is successful for controlling acne with one person might not necessarily be effective for someone else. Successful acne treatments and acne products include topical bactericidals, topical and oral antibiotics, hormonal treatments for women, topical retinoids (Retin-A), or oral retinoids (such as Accutane or Claravis). Retinoids work by influencing the lifecycle of the cells related to acne. Solutions for fighting acne while building stronger, healthier skin include IPL Photofacial, Blue Light Therapy, Thermage, Laser Skin Rejuvenation, Chemical Peels, and Microdermabrasion.

By: William Scarmardo

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Your child’s Dental Care begins before birth. Did you know that your child’s teeth can begin the first stage of development in the fetus between the third and sixth month of pregnancy and as soon as 6 weeks? This is when the basic substance is formed. A soon to be mom should practice healthy eating habits early on. Good nutrition is very important during pregnancy for the proper dental care, oral health in the development of a child’s teeth. The right amounts of calcium, vitamin C, vitamin D and phosphorus are needed to be included in a mother’s diet, along with dairy, soy products, leafy greens and fortified cereals. Certain medications should be avoided during pregnancy, like tetracycline, it can cause harm to the substance found in the developing teeth of the embryo.

Your Child’s first visit to the Dentist
It is very important to make sure your child’s first visit to the Dentist is a pleasant experience. We all know how important first impressions are, they can last a lifetime. Your child’s first visit should be between the age of 1 and 2. The dentist can check for the beginning signs of tooth decay and also suggest a fluoride treatment to help prevent decay. You can also discuss with him, thumb sucking, a habit most children develop. He can advise you on some of the methods used to break this habit and help prevent the dangers to the developing teeth. Inform the dentist about any illness or medications your child may be taking. If you don’t understand any of the recommendations, don’t be afraid to ask for a more detailed explanation.

Keep an Active Role
It is very important for a parent to keep an active role in the care of their children’s dental care and oral health, teach by example, by brushing and flossing yourself. Children that maintain good dental care and oral habits through their teens, are more likely to continue brushing and flossing into their adulthood.

Don’t wait for an emergency to arise to take your child to their first visit, this will be an unpleasant experience and that will leave a bad impression on them. It is important for you to keep a positive attitude, do not show fear or anxiety, remember your child can pick-up on these emotions and mirror them. Reassure them that the dentist is friendly doctors, that will help them take care of their teeth, maybe reward them with something special after the visit.

By: Joe Nascimento

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