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Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Natural Treatment for Acne Problems

Natural Treatment for Acne Problems

Pimples on the face, the neck or the back are specific to Acne. As Acne generally appears during puberty when the physic aspect counts a lot, it can be very disturbing to teenagers and can even offer some risks to those affected by it.

The pimples are forming mostly due to a hormonal unbalance that leads to an excessive sebum secretion and the clogging up of the skin pores. The sebum that accumulates inside the pore can get mixed with the bacteria that are found on the skin and so a big red, painful pustule appears on the skin. Sometimes these pustules can transform into comedons or cysts filled with liquid. These are the most dangerous forms of Acne and must be treated very carefully as they can leave scars on the skin and permanent psychological damage to a teenager.

If Acne is not found in a severe form it can be treated with the help of natural products. Aromatherapy can be successfully used for resolving pimples. Some of the essential oils like the juniper tree one (be careful not to use it if you are pregnant) and the Lebanese cedar oil (avoid it during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy) help the excessive sebum secretion normalize. Lavender oil and geranium oil have healing and antiseptic properties and the petit-grain and the daisy essential oils are good for reducing inflammation.

This is how you can use the essential oils: add two drops of juniper tree oil and Lebanese cedar oil in a water cup filled only by half with water. With a cotton wool apply on the Acne affected skin areas the solution every two hours. You can combine juniper tree oil with one spoon of jojoba oil and apply the composition on pimples.

If you have Acne on your body you can add a few drops of these essential oils to your non-perfumed body lotion and use the composition before going to bed. In the morning you will see that the inflammations made by pimples on your skin would have reduced.

Besides Aromatherapy you can try fitotherapy. Fitotherapy is about using herbs and plants for healing your body. Here is a special recipe for healing Acne skin. Mix up equal quantities of dandelion roots, bur, nettle, borage and Echinacea and prepare an infusion from all these herbs. Drink up one or two cups a day from this infusion.

Boil 2 or 3 teaspoons of dried sweet basil in a cup of water. Let this infusion get cold and then with cotton wool apply on the skin the solution but only after you have cleaned the skin properly. You must not clean the skin with alcohol lotions; you should use a gentle oil-free cleanser.

If you like using natural products then you can clean you face once a day by bending over steamy water for 5 to 10 minutes. Then dry your face skin and wipe it with rose water or marigold water.

These natural remedies are suitable only for those who do not have severe Acne. For those who natural solutions are not helpful they should go to a dermatologist and request an anti-Acne cream.

How Vitamin D May Help In The Battle Against Cancer

How Vitamin D May Help In The Battle Against Cancer

Vitamin D's importance in maintaining strong, healthy bones through its interaction with the essential mineral, calcium, is well known. But the vitamin is also vital for the health of the nervous and immune systems, in regulating insulin levels and blood pressure, and even as a possible protector against certain common cancers.

The best known and most serious disease associated with vitamin D deficiency is rickets, which arises when the deficiency causes blood calcium levels to fall too low, and the body to respond by stripping the bones of calcium leading to loss of bone density and malformation.

Interestingly, studies have shown that the geographical pattern of the incidence of rickets is very similar to those for both breast and colon cancer, suggesting a possible (though not fully understood) link between vitamin D deficiency and these diseases. One 5 year study which grouped 120,000 people by levels of vitamin D intake reported that men in the highest intake group had a 29% lower incidence of colon cancer than those in the lowest intake group and similar results have been observed in breast cancer research. Relatively high blood levels of active form vitamin D have also been associated with a lower risk of pre-cancerous growths (polyps) in the colon whereas lower levels of vitamin in the blood have been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.

Vitamin D is known to be essential for a healthy immune system and has been shown to be particularly important in helping prevent auto-immune diseases - those in which the body's immune system attacks and destroys its own cells, wrongly having identified them as invaders. Type 1 (insulin dependent) diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis are examples of serious diseases which fall into this category and a number of research studies suggest that a generous intake of vitamin D may be a significant mitigating factor.

Blood levels of vitamin D have also been shown to be inversely correlated with blood pressure, and some research suggests that high dose supplements of vitamin D of (1,600 IU per day) may help this, although orthodox medicine, as ever, is cautious about definitively acknowledging any direct causal link.

The traditional view was that adequate supplies of vitamin D can be synthesised in the skin upon its exposure to sunlight. But the problem is that a large proportion of the population in the affluent world lives in latitudes which provide very limited sunlight for six months of the year. People commonly work indoors and tend to use high factor sunblocks on the rare occasions on which they might expose significant areas of skin to the sun.

It is a cruel irony that this concern about skin cancer may lead to the ill-health associated with vitamin D deficiency and may even increase the risk of other cancers. But in these circumstances the usual assumptions about vitamin D production in the body appear questionable at best, if not downright complacent. And the situation is even worse for the elderly, who may not only enjoy even less exposure to the sun than the young, but are less able to make use of that which they do obtain.

Moreover, there are relatively few good natural food sources of vitamin D, and the best source, oily fish such as sardines, mackerel and salmon is one which many people, and perhaps children in particular, often find unpalatable. The situation has improved somewhat with the fortification of milk, orange juice, bread and some cereal products, but it may still be difficult for individuals to ensure they obtain a sufficient intake of the vitamin, particularly because the amounts added to different foods and drinks are very variable.

Since the amount of vitamin D required from food will vary greatly depending on the amount of exposure to sunlight enjoyed by the individual, it has not been deemed possible to determine a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin D. But the Food and Nutrition Board has suggested 200 IU (5mcg) for infants, children, and adults up to 50, rising to 400 IU for the 50-70s, and 600 IU for the over 70s, as an "Adequate Intake" of the vitamin from food on the assumption that none is being obtained from sunlight.

Orthodox opinion, however, seems to regard these suggestions as too conservative. And even for those individuals fortunate enough to enjoy regular exposure to good quality sunlight, the intake of 400 IU (10 mcg) of vitamin D as part of a multi-vitamin and multi-mineral supplement is recommended. For the over 65s, those with less than optimal liver or digestive health, those living in less advantageous climates and those who spend the majority of their time in indoor occupations a supplementary dose of a further 400 IU, for a total of 800 IU is strongly advised.

For maximum effect, however, vitamin D supplementation should be always be combined with adequate dietary calcium - supplemented if necessary to achieve an intake of 1,000 - 1,200 mg per day of this essential mineral.

Concerns and Expectations During Pregnancy

Concerns and Expectations During Pregnancy

A woman's life would not be complete if she would not have the experience of conceiving a child. Although there are some women who, under certain health circumstances, cannot bear one, there are now new ways of becoming pregnant. Artificial insemination, for example, is an artificial process of giving fertilization which is done by placing the sperm of the man into the female's cervix or uterus rather than by natural copulation. Other women prefer adoption, but this kind of process usually takes time and money.

Being pregnant at the right time could be beneficial for the couple in many ways. Pregnancy often makes them even closer together, and this would be the turning point where they would feel and begin their own family. It also connects the couple in a very special way, and through getting pregnant they may develop more values regarding life and marriage.

Pregnancy is especially hard on the part of the woman. This is the time where they have to be extra health conscious by eating the right food, having proper exercise, ample rest, and sometimes getting what they want. Think of eating strawberry shortcake at 3 a.m.? These requests can be a bit unreasonable, but to make the pregnant woman feel better, her husband would have to give way...and make a way.

During the course of pregnancy, the woman might feel various complications that are considered normal when pregnant. Cramps during pregnancy can be mild to severe, depending on the mother's health status. During the first trimester, women can experience cramps during implantation, which usually happens from eight to ten days after the ovulation period. Another cause for cramps would be the stretching of the uterus. The woman's body will prepare for the baby by expanding and stretching the uterus, therefore causing mild cramps. Unfortunately, cramps can be accompanied by bleeding or spotting when there is a possibility of a miscarriage. Other causes of cramping during the first trimester would be due to gas pains and constipation, often leading to feelings of discomfort. In the course of the second and third trimester of pregnancy, cramps can also occur during pre-term labor and during early labor. These cramps are often accompanied by back pain.

Another common complication among pregnant women would be to experience nausea and vomiting. It occurs when a combination of physical changes and hormone levels take place during early pregnancy. This condition usually begins around the sixth week of pregnancy, and can happen at any time of the day. Although most women experience nausea and vomiting until the twelfth week of pregnancy, queasiness can also come and go during the nine month period. In most pregnant women, such feelings of nausea and vomiting affect their health, especially when it comes to eating. It is important not to skip meals even if one feels sick and queasy, so that the right amount of nutrients are given to the unborn child.

In controlling nausea and vomiting, keeping track of the woman's diet is crucial. When waking up, try to eat a few crackers and rest for fifteen minutes before getting out of bed. Eating small meals can help in avoiding an empty stomach, and cold meals are recommended, since food odor can sometimes be annoying for pregnant women. Eating pickles, pretzels, bread, cake, watermelon, nuts, or mushroom soup can help in relieving the feelings of nausea. Getting plenty of rest, taking time off from work, fresh air, and even acupuncture can also relieve a pregnant woman from nausea and vomiting. By having regular check ups with the OB Gynecologist, pregnancy can be fairly easy for both husband and wife.

Back Pain after Shoulder Surgery:

Back Pain after Shoulder Surgery: A Problem After A Problem

There are a lot of people that experience back pain after shoulder surgery and it can be so severe that it causes them to be unable to sleep for whole of the night. Of course, this may be an out-of-the-way case nevertheless it has been found to have an effect on a number of persons. The reason may lie in muscular problems though it may also occur after undergoing shoulder surgery. It can be so brutal that even taking medications as well as using heating pads may prove useless in treating the situation.

After a shoulder surgery you might expect that your whole trouble has come to an end but this is not true always. Sometimes you might experience back pain after shoulder surgery and in some cases there may be reappearance of your past back pain, which may no doubt be less than prior to having had the surgery, but is present nevertheless.

Steps You Need To Take In curing Back Pain after Shoulder Surgery:

After you had your shoulder surgery if you are still experiencing pain then you might be thinking that What should you do? The first thing you ought to do is talk to your doctor who will guide you correctly and may be able to prescribe some form of medication to help in reducing the pain you're experiencing. There are also a few things you can do of your own to help relieving back pain. However, before you try anything, make sure you discuss the procedure with your doctor to make sure you aren't doing anything worse and thus making more damage than good. When you are recovering from surgery, you want to make sure you are allowing yourself to heal properly and you don't want to do anything that will exacerbate the problem.

Effective And Simple Remedies to Reduce Back Pain After Shoulder Surgery:

Buy an analgesic and inflammatory solution or gel which you can easily get from your local grocery store. This kind of lotion is often found in spas (specifically for massages) and you can massage it into your back muscles. This will definitely help you in providing immediate relief from back pain

Another effective home remedy is placing a heating pad on your back for a few minutes at a time. The heating pad should not be on for too long, because too much heat can be dangerous. Of course, another soothing option is to get a massage to get instant relief.

Use ice packs on the your back for about 10 minutes and then leave the area for extra thirty minutes devoid of the ice packs, and then repeat the whole sequence once more. Using ice helps in cooling and reducing inflammation that get drained by your back muscles while they spasm. To avoid the possibility of getting mild frostbite, do not use ice straightforwardly on the skin.

These are just a few ways to solve your trouble. Your doctor may have more, so you should ask him or her what you should do when the pain becomes intolerable.