The Mania of Bipolar Disorder: What Goes Up. . .

Depression gets a lot of press, in books, articles, on talk shows. On the other hand, mania gets very little attention. In the various books dealing with bipolar disorder, there are lines, sometimes paragraphs, and very rarely, a few pages devoted to dealing with someone who is manic. Furthermore, much of what is written is counsel about hospitalization.

However, in this day and age, it can be very difficult to hospitalize anyone, particularly someone who is as clever and persuasive as a manic person can be. What, then, is a caring person to do, when someone important to him or her is in the full swing of a manic episode?

Dealing with a person who is manic is confusing at best. He or she is constantly testing everybody?s limits, manipulating others? self-esteem, exploiting others? vulnerabilities, and projecting responsibility.

The people who love that person can get heaved off balance. They need resources for ballast. While the manic person is flying high, so full, so convincing, so strong, it does not seem possible that he or she will ever crash, especially if it goes on and on. However, eventually the mania will run itself out, and what almost always follows is a deep and dark depression. This is when the potential for suicide increases dramatically and is also when the support person will need a great reserve of strength.

Unfortunately, however, by the time the manic person crashes into depression, the family member is exhausted and lost, and may miss making appropriate decisions in response to their loved one. From a one-down position, powerless in the face of their loved one?s mania, they are suddenly thrust into a position of needing to respond with direction and authority to their loved one?s depressed passivity.

The resulting feelings of impotence, guilt, confusion, and self-blame can only weaken a caring person and make that person more susceptible to the impaired reasoning and countless accusations of the person who is manic. What follows are some th! oughts a nd recommendations for how to survive the manic episode of a loved one.

1. A person who is manic can be quite persuasive especially about his belief that there?s nothing wrong with him. You may find yourself with dangerous doubts about whether your loved one is sick at all. Remember that this is an illness, one with potentially fatal consequences

2. You must be solid within yourself and confident in the knowledge that you are dealing with someone who, although seeming in control, although insisting he has total command of himself, is in actuality quite out of control, if not of his present situation, then of the direction his situation is likely to take him. Remember that his judgment is impaired about what is best for him.

This can feel very disloyal, yet is probably the kindest, most responsible attitude you can have. With this attitude, when it becomes necessary, when your loved one plummets, you will be able to assume the responsibility needed. Believing him, trusting that he knows what is best for himself is like trusting a five-year-old to know that playing in the street is dangerous and can get him killed.

3. If you give in to your doubts, you may be drawn into your person?s reality, which can only lead to your feeling more crazy and self-doubting. It is vital to remain shielded as best you can against such feelings. Knowledge and awareness are the best tools, along with professional guidance and support from people who care about you and understand what you?re going through.

4. Do not try to deal with mania by yourself.

5. Find a psychiatrist who knows mood disorders, and form a strong alliance with that person.

6. Join a group for people dealing with the mania of someone they love. If your spouse or partner has bipolar disorder, find a group for couples who have dealt with the mania of one of them.

10. Read, go to lectures, and study bipolar disorder. Become a member of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and the Nati! onal All iance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and receive their mailings.

Judy Eron is a licensed clinical social worker and the author of the recent book, WHAT GOES UP. . .Surviving the Manic Episode of a Loved One. She is a national speaker on the subject of dealing with the mania of bipolar disorder. http://www.judyeron.com

The Emotional Impact of Diabetes

Unless someone is diabetic, or very close to someone who is, they do not realize how life changing this disease can be. I believe one of the reasons this is, is because so many people are diagnosed with diabetes; that somewhere down the line, the seriousness of the disease, in people?s minds, have diminished.

Diabetes is a very serious and scary chronic illness. It is totally life changing for those diagnosed. Eating becomes literally a matter of life and death. And the way a person is use to eating is usually changed drastically.

The emotional stress one goes through seems to get ignored and lost in the endless information and directions of how to now live your life. This is not just merely staying alive ? it?s trying to stay alive without ending up blind, on kidney dialysis, with severe nerve damage, or amputation, just to name a few.

My life was drastically affected by diabetes twelve years ago when my son, who is now 23, was just eleven years old, and diagnosed with juvenile diabetes.

He has always been hyperactive, so even when he was sick, he was active. I started to notice he was looking a little pale and losing weight, even though he ate constantly. I made him a doctor appointment for the next opening, which wasn?t until a month away. All of a sudden he started wetting the bed. The urine had a very strong odor. He also started complaining of headaches. At first I thought the complaints, was just an excuse for the eleven-year-old to stay out of school. But when they became so severe, I knew they were real. The second day his headaches were so severe, he stayed home from school. He presented no other symptoms, but he slept all day long. This was enough to definitely make me realize something was extremely wrong. I got out my diagnosis health encyclopedia books and after a few hours, I came down to two diagnosis, kidney trouble or diabetes, (this was before I became a nurse, so I was going only by his symptoms and the words on the page). It was about 6:30 at night, when I ! told my husband something was terribly wrong and I was taking our son to the emergency room.

When we arrived at the emergency room, my son had a hard time keeping his eyes opened. We were finally called to the back, where they started running several tests. Sure enough he was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. His blood sugar was well over 600. Normal blood sugar levels range from 90-110. The reason he was sleeping so much was because he was trying to slip into a diabetic coma. The doctor said that if I didn?t bring him in when I did, he would have went into a coma that night. They admitted him to ICU and kept a vigil on him for three days as insulin was delivered through IV. That was the day our lives changed forever; especially my eleven-year-old son?s.

It was over-whelming. Three main meals a day and three snacks a day; mandatory, with a minimum of two shots daily for the rest of his life. To say we were under stress, would be putting it mildly. My son put on a brave face, but about the fourth day after he was diagnosed, I had a heart to heart with him. The poor baby thought he had brought the diabetes on himself and was being punished for something he said. Meanwhile, my nine-year-old at home was going through her own personal hell. After speaking to her, I found out she was scared to death that he was going to die, and that she was next. This came from two children whose parents did talk to them and tried to explain everything to the best of their ability.

Our lives became rigid, at first -- as we tried to cope with the changes. My son, Eddie, could not just run off and play at his friend's house whenever he wanted, or was allowed. He had to make sure he was home to take his shots on time, to eat the regular meals and the snacks in-between. He was a hard player, he had to learn that if he didn't eat like he was supposed to, wheather he was hungry or not, he would end up getting shaky. If he did not get something in him quickly to raise his blood sugar, he may slip so low that an ambu! lance wo uld have to be called to save his life, if I wasn't there with an emergency glucagon (intra-muscular sugar water) shot -- as he would get extremely lethargic and not be able to communicate, or to understand what was going on around him.

All these changes he was going through, made him feel like he was different than the other children. He was afraid to spend a night for quite some time after being diagnosed; because if his sugar went up too high at night, it could cause him to wet the bed. Something that an eleven-year-old would be horrified to do in front of his friends. We also had to make sure if he did go spend the night with a friend, that they had plenty of food. (Though, his back pack would be packed with extra food for snacks, it couldn't contain the main meals.) We also had to let the parents know he was diabetic, where they could keep an extra eye out. This would sometimes turn into a nightmare, as Eddie did not want to go around announcing he was diabetic. He also didn't like being treated differently if a mother was handing out sugared drinks or sugared snacks to the other kids.

As a mother, seeing him go through all of this, tore my heart out. When I did let him leave, I had to worry not only what every mother worries about when her children go off by themselves, but I had to worry if his sugar dropped too low, would he be able to make it home bin time/b to get something to eat? Even though he carried emergency glucose pills for low sugar, it does not work all the time. (Depending on how low his sugar is and if he is able to chew, and has enough sense to take them.) When your sugar drops extremely low, you are not aware of what you're doing. Many people have been suspected of being high on drugs, when it is their sugar causing the strange behaviour. It's a very scary thing to see, even more so do go through. I also had to worry if he would go off and drink sugar drinks and go to the store and get candy. This was not a simple concern, this could actually kill or disable him. Wh! en your sugar gets too high, you are damaging your organs -- and if you start spilling ketones, it becomes a very dangerous situation. It causes ketoacidosis which causes nausea, sometimes severe with projectile vomiting, stomach pains, confusion and drowsiness; because their body is over-worked and worn out. It's literally starving to death. They are also in danger of slipping into a diabetic coma. High sugar often does develop into Diabetic ketoacidosis -- (DKA) which is a life-threatening blood chemical (electrolyte) imbalance that develops in a person with diabetes when the cells do not get the sugar (glucose) they need for energy. As a result, the body breaks down fat instead of glucose and produces and releases substances called ketones into the bloodstream. Severe diabetic ketoacidosis can cause difficulty breathing, brain swelling (cerebral edema), coma, or death. This is also the time when diabetes is doing the most harm to all the organs -- which can lead to heart failure, kidney failure, blindness, neuropathy -- and the list goes on.

Eddie, who is now 23, has kept his sugar under good control, (not tight, sadly -- but good) where he has not had to be hospitalized too often. He mainly has to go into the hospital when he gets a bad illness, such as the flu or stomach virus. When a diabetic's body is stressed with illnesses, it causes the blood sugar to go erratic. High blood sugars read off the chart, even when they have not been able to eat -- then their blood sugar may suddenly drop to a dangerous low. It also makes it more difficult to control because they are not able to eat, or maybe even drink. For diabetics, this is not an option. They are hospitalized where they can receive I.V fluids, and keep a close check on their blood sugar readings. Which sometimes means being pricked in the fingers up to 8 times a day, for several days in a row.

Diabetes causes such a wide array of secondary illnesses. Including stunting growth in a growing child. Eddie lost a whole year of growing. When he ! was 13, he had the bones of an 11 1/2 yr. old. He was put on intra-muscular testoterone shots at home. Which he took a lot better than most adults would, every night for six months.

It hurts me now, as it has since the day he was diagnosed, to know that he may soon be experiencing some very bad health problems because of the diabetes. Problems start to arise mostly after being diabetic for five years. We are living on borrowed time with decent health -- as he now has had diabetes for twelve years. When he says his chest hurts him, I don't think, Oh no, he may be getting bronchitis. I think, Oh Lord, please let it be something as simple as bronchitis. When he tells me his feet hurt and his whole body aches -- I know it may be a sign of neuropathy. At 23 he experiences pains and aches no young adult should have to face. But I praise God for each day that goes by where he is still able to work and live life as close to a young adult as he possibly can. God has spared us from him having any serious conditions. I know that may change any day, but I can relish in each day it does not.

Then there are the emotional changes diabetes puts them through. The anger, restlessness, nervousness, inpatience -- imagine it, and it is effected. It plays roulette with their hormones, causing their emotions and temperment to go into extreme modes. Sadly, this seems to be most of the time. All this happens in all diabetics, but I am concentrating on Type 1, Juvenile Diabetes. Type 1, Juvenile on-set, varies from Type 2, adult on-set, because with type 1, your pancreas does not produce any insulin at all. With Type 2, it produces insulin, but not sufficient enough, or at a normal rate.

These emotional issues are just as important to deal with as the physical disease itself. The emotional needs must be addressed. Not only the needs of the person diagnosed, but the whole family, and if it?s a child, this includes the parents and siblings.

If you are living with diabetes, please make sure you get the emotional help! you so need and deserve. It?s absolutely a necessity. You may have to live with diabetes, but make sure you have it under control, and that it does not control you. After all, it?s a matter of life and death ? both physical and emotional.

Tracey Wilson is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writers. Many of her writings can be found at http://www.writing.com/authors/intuey.

Distance Healing with Reiki

As a little boy, I was greatly moved by the story of Prometheus, the Greek God, who defied heavenly laws to bring light and fire to mankind. I was amazed at the compassion the prompted him to court suffering for the sake of others. I would feel very sad that he was eternally bound over for this great act of compassion.

I have wept many silent tears for him. When I first learnt Reiki and began practicing I felt as if Prometheus had handed over a special gift of light to me personally?a light so soft, gentle, compassionate and healing that I am constantly moved by its beauty and grace!

Reiki is a compassionate energy. It flows from source to destination in an involuntary, uninterrupted wave. It is faster than human thought and is innately intelligent. There are no obstacles that can retard the flow of the energy. An expressed wish for Reiki is all that it demands and once that exists the person is immediately enveloped in the warmth of the healing energy.

Distance healing in Reiki is based on the principle that Reiki transcends all limitations of time and place. Unlike Prometheus, Reiki cannot be bound even by the Gods. Reiki can be transmitted to a person living in Mars or Jupiter or you can send Reiki to a situation that you anticipate will happen in the future. Often healers use proxies provide themselves with points of reference for the different chakras. They may use the photograph of the person, a teddy bear or even their own Knees and upper thighs to position their hands over the chakras of the absent person. If they are doing Reiki to a situation, they may project the situation in their minds eye or visualize it in front of them and do Reiki to it. Yet others make affirmations on pieces of paper, which they place in a Reiki box and send energy to the affirmation. This kind of distance healing is made possible by invoking appropriate distance healing Reiki symbols.

If you are serious about learning Reiki, check out www.discover-reiki.com

Case Study

!

Ms NS lives all alone in a large City. She had never married and did not have any relatives who could live with her and care for her. Her friends have all passed over. She is 87 years old and did not want to go into an old age home and is vehement about maintaining her independence. She spends her time assisting the local church in its social activities. She visits the parks in the evening and spends the time watching the children at play. She has no friends and hates visitors of any kind. It is as if she has closed the doors on all human contact other than those she chooses to indulge in. She has an income that has allowed her to lead a leisurely life and an apartment to call her own. She has a daily help who does her cooking and cleaning for her.

Everything was fine so long as her health was good. The day she fell ill, she lost confidence in herself and became very depressed. For the first time she became aware of an intense need for companionship. She realized that she had alienated herself from her relatives over the years and she could not recall even one person who would come to her aid in times of need. She lay in bed worrying about little things that she would normally have taken in her stride. She could not eat or sleep and was constantly vomiting and purging herself. She was in constant pain and she could feel her condition worsening day by day. The Doctor, who came in to attend on her, suggested that she go to the hospital for treatment. Ms.NS could not bear the thought and refused to even entertain it. She even repelled his suggestion that she should go into hospital for taking some of the required tests. She insisted on him treating her ailment at home. She informed him that she had never been ill and this discomfort she is experiencing could not be anything very worrisome. However, the Doctor was worried. He could feel a bulging growth in her abdomen and he wanted the tests done for confirming or negating his suspicions. After a lot of threats and persuasion Ms. NS ! agreed t o go into the clinic for the tests. The tests were positive. A tumor clearly showed up in the scans. Though the tumor was not cancerous, it was large and growing and it would give her considerable pain if it was not removed immediately. An operation to remove the tumor was recommended. Ms.NS was shattered. She tried to push away the reality of her illness and rapidly descended into maudlin self pity. She would sit for hours in her chair dazed and uncomprehending. She would refuse to see visitors and would allow the Doctor in after a lot of argument. A Nurse, who was assigned the task of persuading Ms.NS to undertake the operation, was an advocate of Reiki. She suggested that Ms.NS should be coaxed into having a Reiki treatment first. Maybe it would help her accept the situation better and get her to agree to an operation. The Doctor was not very happy with the situation, but agreed to talk to Ms.NS about it.

Ms NS was hoping and praying for a miracle and their description of Reiki gave her a feeling that it was some kind of magic that would help her avoid an operation. It would also help her postpone the need to take a decision about going into the hospital for the operation. She also liked the idea as she did not have to go out to the clinic to undertake the treatment. She had only to lie down in her home at a specified time and relax. She was doing that all the time anyway. A Reiki practitioner was located by the Nurse. A 21 day one hour session daily was agreed to and considering the recalcitrant nature of the patient distance Reiki treatment was recommended. The practitioner decided to use a teddy bear as a proxy for the patient.

Day one: Ms.NS was very excited about the magic that was going to be performed on her. She promptly went to lie down at the specified time. Ms.NS felt a slight tingling warmth in her body as the treatment began. She savored the feeling wonderingly. Gradually her muscles began to relax and she slipped into deep sleep. She woke up after two hou! rs feeli ng relaxed and strangely peaceful. She was not very sure whether the ?magic? was working or she was just imagining it. Anyway she had slept peacefully after a long time.

Day two to four: Ms.NS found the one hour specified very soothing and she was eager that the magic should work. During the treatment the warmth seemed to be intense in some parts and not in others. While describing the sensation she said the warmth began at her feet and traveled up her body till it reached her head. She could immediately sense that the treatment had begun as the warmth seemed to be associated with the treatment. Later the practitioner confirmed that she had the habit of starting her Reiki treatment from the soles of the feet contrary to the normal practice of beginning with the ears and head.

On day four, the practitioner was held up by another patient and was fifteen minutes late in starting the treatment. She was planning to ring up Ms NS and inform her that she had been delayed and to apologize for the same, when the phone rang. She was surprised to receive a call from Ms.NS demanding why she had not started the treatment in time!

Day five to ten: Ms.NS was very comfortable. She was feeling more positive towards life and had recovered from her lethargy. The painful cramps in the stomach had also considerably reduced and she had even begun to feel hungry. She was now eating two meals a day and keeping it down. She could take active interest in all that was happening around her. She even spent some time talking to her maid about her family. She read the papers and even watched TV for sometime. On the tenth day she ventured for a short walk to the park and helped a little girl dress her doll. She was absolutely certain that Reiki was magic and it had brought her new friends and relationships along with health.

Day eleven to twenty one: Ms.NS was gradually recovering her strength. She faithfully adhered to her Reiki treatment and informed the Priest at the local church that she was h! aving ?t reatment by magic? and she was feeling great. She was convinced that the magic had removed her tumor and she would not require an operation. She donated lavishly for the local blind school and spent time with the children there. She felt so good that she wanted to resume her normal routine, but the Doctor advised her against it. He insisted that she should resume normal activities only after she has had her operation. Ms.NS called him a fool and refused to believe that she had a tumor in her stomach. She told him that the ?magic? had rid her off the tumor and she would have no operation done on her for a non existent problem. In despair the Doctor called in a colleague for another opinion. The second Doctor examined the test results and concurred with the diagnosis. He wanted to examine the patient before he gave the final verdict. When he saw Ms NS, he could not believe that it was the same person whose results he had seen. He began to doubt the results and suggested that another set of tests be carried out to confirm the correctness of the results. Ms.NS became stubborn and refused to come in for the tests. However, the second doctor intrigued her by remarking that the tests were being done to prove that the magic had worked. She thought about it for some time and then agreed for the tests. All tests proved negative. The tumor that was clearly visible in the scans of the first test was no longer present in the second set.

Ms NS has not learnt Reiki. She tells everyone she meets that she was cured by a Witch Doctor. This is not the case with the Doctor. He feels humbled and acknowledges in the spirit of Hamlet that there a many things in the heaven and earth that he knows nothing about. He has enrolled himself for the first degree course in Reiki and recommends it as a supplementary treatment to all his patients. His friend still holds the belief that the first tests had been mysteriously wrong in diagnosis and that Ms.NS had probably never had tumor. However, he is willing ! to wait and watch the impact of Reiki on his friend?s patients and even recommends some of his terminal patients for Reiki in the spirit of experimentation.

Reiki is an energy that flows towards those who are ready and willing to receive it. When a patient downs his defenses and demands a cure, he opens himself to receiving and benefiting by Reiki energy. Ms. NS for reasons of her own was completely open and receptive. She was completely conscious of the impact of the energy flow in her body and unconsciously became a container that captured and retained the energy in her body. It helped remove the negativity in her life and the tumor that had manifested as a physical evidence of her negative reactions to life. Reiki clearly requires both the healer and the person being healed to give and receive the energy unquestioningly.

If you are serious about learning Reiki, check out www.discover-reiki.com

Warmest regards,

Peter Tremayne
Learn Reiki In 7 Days! - www.discover-reiki.com

Peter Tremayne has published an ebook - 'Discover-Reiki' written by Reiki Master Stephen Leigh.

The ebook is a simple, step by step guide for anyone wanting to learning Reiki from the comfort of your own home.

Proclear Compatible Toric Lenses: Could They Be A Godsend For You

Could the Proclear compatible toric lenses be a solution for you?

Here is more information that may help you to make that decision.

Toric contact lenses are known for requiring an extra long time for fitting from your doctor giving them a by and large bad rap, and then when you finally do get your prescription your toric lenses still may not fit entirely right on your eye which unfortunately may leave them feeling more uncomfortable than the usual soft contact lenses.

Now if that isn't enough, they also usually cost a lot more than regular lenses.

Ok, now that may have been the case in the past, but now that Proclear compatible toric lenses are on the market. These lenses bring only the positive points to wearing toric lenses.

The Proclear compatible toric lenses allow you to have unmatched comfort when wearing your lenses, all day long.

The secret to this rare comfort is the special PC Technology put into every Proclear lens. Now let's be clear on this, PC technology does not have to do with computers.

In this matter, PC technology is a novel material called phosphorylcholine (PC), an element found in the membranes of human cells. Are you still following me here? These PC molecules are so essential in the body, and in your eye, because they collect water around themselves.

In essence, that means that Proclear lenses are always comfortable and moist , even after a days worth of wear.

Which means that Proclear compatible toric lenses are the perfect fit for people who have had problems with comfort and toric lenses in the past.

In plain fact, for contact wearers who experience problems associated with dry eyes these lenses are the only ones that can boast a special FDA claim that they offer improved comfort.

There are no other regular brand of plastic soft lenses can make this claim, but even more importantly for people with astigmatism, no other toric brand can definitely make this claim.

Proclear compatible toric lenses can give ! you the clear sightedness and comfort that you would only find previously in your eyeglasses. Now, if you are tired of wearing glasses, Proclear can be a godsend.

These lenses will open the door to a world without glasses that you may once have felt locked out of. Take off those glasses and put on Proclear, and you will be able to see clearly for hours every day before even thinking about taking the lenses out.

So if you are still wearing glasses or are using toric lenses you are not happy with, ask your doctor about Proclear compatible toric lenses. You will be glad you did.

Simple reports reveal everything you need to know about contacts and how to choose the right ones for you. Visit Your Discount Contact Lenses website today for more Free Info.

Why A Positive Attitude Helps In Coping With Arthritis Pain Part 1

Think Positive To Relieve Arthritis Pain.

My name is Cathy Posner and I live in Wauchope which is on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Australia. I was born in 1957 and in late 2004 was told that the aches in my joints were Rheumatoid Arthritis.

My husband, Ray has a very positive approach to everything and I guess that has rubbed off on me, so rather than sit back and let things progress I decided to see what I could do for myself.

Let me give you an example of Ray?s positive attitude. In September 2003 he had to have open heart surgery to replace his aortic valve. We live on 160 acres so before he went into hospital he slashed a walking track so that he could regularly exercise when he came out of hospital.

Not only that he left the tractor set up for slashing. Four weeks after surgery, even though he was not allowed to lift anything heavier that a 2 liter bottle of milk (about 4 pints) he got the OK to slash the paddocks as long as he did big easy turns at the end of each run. (Actually I think he secretly enjoyed having me open the car door for him and carry the groceries.)

So, as you can see, in his mind there was no way that he wasn?t going to get back to a normal life as quickly as possible, but within the guidelines of what the Doctors told him.

Now when you live with someone like that it?s hard not to take a positive approach.

How can having a positive attitude help you in your fight against the pain and difficulties arthritis can cause?

I know some of you already reading this have a positive approach so please bear with me.

As I was saying Ray?s positive attitude helped him in his recovery. I don?t know how much pain he was in but I can imagine it was considerable. After all you don?t have your sternum sawn in half and rejoined without pain.

In fact for some time he had to clutch a folded towel to his chest whenever he coughed or went to the bathroom but he never complained once.

He just got on! with li fe within the restraints set by the Doctors and in fact even started a new business while he was recovering.

OK you might ask ?how does this relate to me?? I know pain can be an all consuming, overpowering feeling but you need to get your mind off it.

If you sit back and wallow in self-pity your days and nights will drag, you will become depressed (or even more depressed) and your pain feeds upon itself ? your mind magnifies the intensity of your pain and you feel even worse.

If this describes you and my comments offend you then I am sorry but hopefully what I am about to say will be a ?wake up? call for you.

What are the benefits of having a positive attitude? Well to start with your mind can be trained to focus on things other that your pain. When it does, your pain is shut out creating a sense of feeling better. This feeling feeds on itself in the same way that if you allow yourself to focus on your pain, it seems to get worse.

Can you learn to have a positive attitude? Of course you can. If you are still breathing you have the ability to learn. And really it is not so much ?learning? but altering the state of your mind.

All you need is the desire to help yourself, to get relief from your pain and overcome obstacles that your arthritis creates for you.

May I suggest some things you can do?

How is your lifestyle? Do you look after yourself? Your wellbeing is very important to how you feel and influences how you think.

Diet and Exercise are important to your overall health. If you are not eating correctly and doing some exercise within your limits, you are not helping yourself in your fight to get arthritis pain relief.

To read more about diet, foods that can help, foods to avoid and to get some great tips on getting started with exercise simply click on the link at the end of this article and then follow the links on the home page.

I recommend you read a book on Positive Thinking. There are some excellent publica! tions av ailable and most will give you the tools you need.

Sit down and relax. Think back to when you didn?t have the inconvenience and pain of arthritis. Pick a point in time when you were doing something that you enjoyed.

Now focus on that thing. Experience it again. Feel the emotion associated with it. Live it. Breathe it. Be there ? in your mind be that person that you were then.

Do this 2 or 3 times a day for 5 to 10 minutes at a time. Tip: if you sit down and find you go to sleep, try standing up.

This technique helps to reprogram your subconscious to think ?pain free? and you should find that your pain decreases or may actually ?go away?.

You can also use this anytime your pain starts to get the better of you. Just go back to that time when you were pain free and allow your mind to again experience that feeling.

This really works. But don?t just do it once ? you must do it every day, without fail and you will soon see the benefits.

Cathy Posner

Cathy Posner is an arthritis sufferer and lives in Wauchope, New South Wales, Australia. Her website is as a result of personal research and where arthritis sufferers can find up-to-date advice and information on arthritis pain relief.

Need Content?

You may use this article on your WebSite, or Newsletter providing you include all links and this biography.

http://www.get-arthritis-pain-relief.com/index1

Important Tips For Treating Acne On Your Baby

Would you believe that a new born infant might experience acne? Yes, it can and does happen and is pretty normal actually, thus there?s no need for you to be alarmed. In most cases baby acne is not a major problem. Usually baby acne clears up by itself without the need of any over the counter medications or treatment from a dermatologist. Baby acne is mainly caused by natural oil getting trapped in the hair follicles. In most cases you would find baby acne appearing on the cheeks but it is also found on the forehead and chin.

If you find that your infant has acne, you don?t have to do anything out of the ordinary. All you have to do is bathe your baby as usual with baby soap. You will certainly need a soft and clean washcloth, and the soap has to be hypoallergenic. Most likely the baby acne will vanish in a couple of weeks. However, if the baby acne persists then it is imperative that you consult a doctor.

In most baby acne cases the acne can be treated by using over the counter medication. A majority of these products contain benzol peroxide. This is the component that is the most common in a number of the lotions and creams provided by the different major manufacturers. What is important to note though is that the amount of benzol peroxide varies in the various products. You want to use a product that has a high percentage of benzol peroxide. Yes, you will most definitely need to test it out on your infant?s skin to see if they experience a reaction to it or not.

If it turns out that there is no improvement in the condition of your baby?s acne then you must consult their regular doctor. The doctor would be in a better position to provide you with necessary advice and proper medications. It is not necessary to directly visit a dermatologist. It is best to first consult your regular pediatrician.

When it comes to a child having acne, you should understand that you cannot stop it from happening. Although, what you can do is take steps to reduce it and not let i! t scar t he face of your child. Getting your child to wash his or her face twice a day with warm water, a soft face-cloth and a mild soap (hypoallergenic) is a very effective means of controlling acne. If the child is a girl, tell her to avoid makeup with oil base and also to use makeup in moderation. She should also use makeup with a ?noncomedogenic? label. This label means that the makeup product won?t exacerbate the acne. Lastly, she should never go to bed without removing her makeup because her skin needs to breathe.

We hope these suggestions were useful to you and your baby?s acne.

Paul Heitman is the owner of http://www.facing-acne.com. The website contains information and resources on acne cures so you can learn more about acne and how to control it. Sign up for the free 7 part mini-course while you?re there.

How to Get a Great Massage

One of the things I see often in the massage profession are people getting massages from massage therapists and they complain afterwards that it was mediocre or even worse.

The key to getting a great massage is that you have to ask for one! Massage therapists should also be doing their best to give you a great massage by getting your feedback and asking specific questions.

Often as a client, you may find yourself hesitant to ask for what you want because you don't want to hurt that persons feelings or you are afraid of making unreasonable demands...or whatever it is that keeps you from speaking up and asking directly for what you need.

Being honest won't hurt a Great massage therapists feelings! Being direct won't hurt a Great massage therapists feelings either. As much as you would like to have the therapist read your mind - it just doesn't happen. To get a great massage is like a dance - the massage therapist responds to your body. The more in tune you are with your body and your needs, the better the chance for a Great Massage Everytime.

Here are some things to know:
1. How much pressure do you like to have applied? This will vary per body part and the amount of pain or tightness you have. Pain usually means that something is tight. Often the tightness is not where the pain is so the massage therapist will need to work on other areas that cause the pain.
2. Do you want extra time on a certain body part like the back or neck? Head or feet? Hands/forearms? You have to tell the person directly what you need worked on. Knowing this requires that you tune into your body and know your body.
3. Tell the therapist if you are too hot, too cold or it is too bright or too dark in the room. Tell them if you hate the music and better yet tell them what kind of music you like or ever way better yet- Bring your own CD to play during the massage.
4. Undress to the level of your comfort no matter what the therapist requests...and tell them about your ne! eds for privacy and safety.
5. Try not to talk too much during your massage and stay tuned into what you are feeling. Try not to drift off to sleep either. Staying aware of the touch is what heals.
6. Breathe deeply and regularly. Focus on your breathing. Feel how your body lies on the table and feel where it touches and where it doesn't. Feel what other parts of your body moves or doesn't move with each breath.
7. The no pain - no gain slogan does not have to be applied to massage therapy. Staying in communication with your therapist can allow them to access deeper layers of muscles without pain!
8. Arrive on time or a few minutes early. Why are you rushing to get relaxed?
9. Getting a massage should be all about you and YOU only. If your therapist is getting in the way- let them know. If they are talking to much or not doing something that feels great let them know!

Knowing your needs may require that you try different massage therapists with different styles and techniques. You will often have to find out what you don't like to know more about what you do like!!

Julie Onofrio, LMP www.thebodyworker.com

Read This Article if You Want to Stop Mad Cow

Mad Cow disease of BSE is not very funny and we must defeat this problematic disease. The best way of course that cattle ranchers have found to prevent this is to not feed slaughtered cow parts back to the cattle in there feed. Secondly cattle ranchers are always on the look out for early signs of the disease to prevent its spreading. This has worked very well and our beef supply is safe. Some people have decided not to eat beef, yet that most likely is a mistake because human brains need the protein and being a vegetarian is hard enough, but trying to get the protein without eating meat is even tougher. Many beefeaters say this is why all the liberals are so stupid, because they lack the protein in their diets to see beyond their petty and vindictive, bogus and hokum filled, ridiculous and rhetoric riddled research claiming that meat is bad for you.

With new technologies cattle ranchers are developing better tracking systems of our American Beef from cradle to grave similar to other industries which continually monitor where their products end up from the time they are created until the sold on the shelf or used and then disposed of. The American Beef Association now has a good handle on this problem and is keeping our beef supply safe and healthy. As technology progresses and the prices come down we will see cattle with biometric sensors, RFID tags and computer tracking systems. The Beef supply is safe in America and it will only get safer in the future thanks to new technology. Think on this.

Lance Winslow - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Should You Train Before Bedtime?

A Japanese study found that if you exercise at night you will be less tired the next day. Apparently it increases testosterone levels.

Whether this is the case or not I'm not sure. However, I do know that in my own (and other peoples) experiences it depends on what type of exercise you do.

For those of you who have trained physically hard in the couple of hours before bed and then ingested the necessary food afterwards you may well have found it hard to drop off for a good nights sleep.

I know, in the past, this was the case for me.

Think about it. It stands to reason!

You perform hard physical training, get your body into an 'alive' state with blood pumping and sweat pouring, and then expect it to quickly shut down and allow you those precious eight hours sleep a night!

NOT likely!

If this sounds like you, or you would simply like a way to unwind before bed while improving internal health, then keep reading.

All that is required from you is an acceptance of a more holistic approach to exercise. Yes, physical training where you sweat and work hard certainly has its place, but a knowledge and application of other less movement based training protocols is of immense value if good health is your objective.

What type of exercise am I referring to? Well, for a start, one that calms and centres the mind and focuses on slow, relaxed, breathing.

If you desire (and need) more quality sleep then doing jumping jacks and pumping iron is not the answer!

Joking aside, here is an easy to access relaxation exercise you can use before bed to ensure you drift off into a restful slumber.

1. Lie on your back and focus on your breathing. Try and allow your mind to clear.

2. Establish your energy centre just below your belly button. Breathe into this point.

3. Focus on gentle full breathing.

4. If you find it hard to drift off due to worries, anger, sadness or any other emotion then try to focus on your energ! y NOT on the emotion.

5. Try to calm your energy down by addressing your breathing. If you focus on what is bothering you it only serves to bring more attention to it.

6. Tell yourself you will wake up energised.

7. Continue your gentle, unforced, relaxing breathing until you drift off.

Try this type of internal approach to getting better sleep each night for a week and feel the relaxing benefits for yourself!

(c) Tim Webb 2005

Tim Webb is a fitness instructor, Ju Jutsu instructor and competitor. He specialises in easily accessible deep breathing exercises that combine breath and mind together. His site http://www.BreathForSuccess.com offers a product that provides deep breathing exercises for invigorating yourself, relaxing, and highlights how your breath can be tied in with your goals to move you towards them in record time!

Ayurveda The Indian Traditional Healing System And Way Of Life

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an ancient Indian system of healing incorporating a number of different techniques such as dietary therapy, herbal medicine, meditation and massage.

Background and History

Ayurveda means 'science of longevity' and it originated around the 6th century BCE. Originally a Hindu system, it soon spread across religions. Its principles were said to have been passed down to humankind from by the gods, originating with Brahma, the father of all gods.

By the Middle Ages the system was extremely well developed, with great universities teaching all aspects of Ayurveda. However, it began to suffer as India was invaded, with the final straw being the colonization of India by the British, who bought scientific Western medicine with them. Thankfully, the Indian Congress realized how important Ayurveda was and supported it and in 1921 Mahatma Gandhi opened the first new college for ayurvedic medicine. This began the revival in the old ways, and now ayurveda is practiced alongside Western medicine in India. Ayurveda has become increasingly popular in the West since the 80s, due to such figures as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, and Dr. Deepak Chopra MD.

How does it work?

Ayurveda holds that we are born in a state of perfection and poise, but soon lose this due to bad diet, temperament or living conditions. The ancient texts talk of 3 basic constitutions or 'doshas' - Vata, Pitta and Kapha. These are balanced in health, but become unbalanced in illness. Vata controls movement and communication and relates to the nervous system. Pitta is connected with fire and water, and it regulates heat and digestion and the metabolism. Kapha is responsible for stability and moisture and relates to the structure of the body.

In order to prevent or treat illness these three doshas must be balanced and this can be achieved by changing your lifestyle or diet, by massage, meditation, yoga, or herbs, among other things. An experienced Ayurveda therapist will choose the best treatment fo! r each s pecific case.

Ayurveda is truly a holistic system, more of a way of life than just a healing therapy, and incorporating every strand of human existence. Still very common in India, it is relatively unknown in the West, and certainly not as well known as traditional Chinese Medicine, with which it shares some broad similarities. This is a shame, as it has much to offer.

The author maintains an A-Z of complemetary and alternative medicine at http://www.therapy-info.com

Essential Points You Need to Know About Migraine

Migraine is one of the most common excuse people use when they can?t attend a meeting or miss a class for students. In fact, it is an overused excuse next to insomniac. But this kind of headache is not a joke. It is necessary to find out the essential information about migraine so that when the time comes that the excuse becomes true you will not freak out of what you are feeling.

What it is and what it has?

Migraine is the kind of headache that occurs repeatedly. There is an estimated 11 individuals who get migraines in 100 people. A person with migraine experiences excruciating pain on one portion or side of the person?s head.

Migraine is classified according to the occurrence of aura and otherwise. Aura is a range of neurological disturbances such as visual irregularity. This serves as a sign that migraine is yet to occur. A person may experience vertigo, numbness which last approximately 20 minutes or less. This type is also called classic migraine that includes symptoms such as weakness of leg or arm, itching hands or face, confusion,

A common type of migraine does not occur with an aura. Some individuals only experience preceding symptoms such as mental confusion, mood swings, fatigue, and others. This type lasts to a maximum of 4 days.

Speaking of visual irregularity, one type of migraine is the ocular migraine which may result to vision loss or difficulty. But do not worry because its symptoms only lasts a while and doesn?t pose harm to the eye only that it affects your daily lifestyle.

Migraine signs include the following: severe headache, one-sided and frontal headache, nausea, vomiting, weakness, light and sound sensitivity, throbbing headache, eye pain, etc.

Triggering factors

Migraine can be triggered by many factors but all of these do not yet have scientific explanations. It includes allergic reactions, perfume odors, stress, irregular sleep patterns, meal skipping, alcohol, caffeine, pills intake, headaches due to tension, foods with tyra! mine, ch ocolate, peanut butter, banana, dairy products, and many more.

There are also drugs that can trigger migraine. These include nitrates, theophylline, reserpine, nifedipine, indomethicin, and cimetidine. So watch out for these if you know that you have the tendency to have migraine.

The Writer is the webmaster and owner of Medical Health Articles which has more than 1000 articles on all kind of health diseases and Auto Glass Repair Pittsburgh

When Your Body Doesn't Cooperate With You

If you re-read the title of this article I think you will see that embedded in it are two interesting beliefs:

1. That you are not fully in control of your physical body and,

2. That you likely think that you and your body are two separate things.

I would like to suggest that belief 1) above is in fact the result of belief 2).

Let me explain.

We have become so seduced by religions, over the history of humanity, into thinking of ourselves in terms of a body and spirit that these two things have essentially become separated from each other.

I think you recognize that the YOU that wants your body to remain healthy and youthful often has ultimately very little control over the YOU that is your body and that ages and eventually loses it's functionality over time.

Does it feel natural or even desirable to you to be experiencing such a disconnection between these two YOU's?

Would YOU prefer to have these two YOU'S living in harmony together?

Isn't it interesting that they seem to have two different journeys?

In my work with individuals it has been my experience that this disconnection or misalignment is:

1. Not natural to us.

2. That it is the result of many faulty beliefs that we carry within us about who we are.

3. That these faulty beliefs can not only be exposed but they can be eradicated permanently from one's consciousness, and that by do so,

4. One can re-experience the alignment and harmonious unity of body and spirit as one entity, YOU.

Why would anyone wish to pursue this?

Well if you consider what it feels like for the two' YOU's to be on separate journeys I think there you will find the motivation to consider another option.

If you would like to re-establish the harmonious unity that you have likely been searching for throughout your life you may wish to visit the web link below and listen to the very special message I have posted for you there.

Dr. Nick Arrizza is trained in Chemical Engi! neering, Business Management & Leadership, Medicine and Psychiatry. He is an Energy Psychiatrist, Healer, Key Note Speaker,Editor of a New Ezine Called Spirituality And Science (which is requesting high quality article submissions) Author of Esteem for the Self: A Manual for Personal Transformation (available in ebook format on his web site), Stress Management Coach, Peak Performance Coach & Energy Medicine Researcher, Specializes in Life and Executive Performance Coaching, is the Developer of a powerful new tool called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) that helps build physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being by helping to permanently release negative beliefs, emotions, perceptions and memories. He holds live workshops, international telephone coaching sessions and international teleconference workshops on Physical. Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Well Being.

Business URL #1: http://www.telecoaching4u.com

What Diet Your Skin Needs: Find Out!

There is no denying the fact that appropriate diet not only benefits your health, but also your SKIN. A stressful life (inadequate care) and unhealthy eating are two major reasons for poor skin and various skin problems like rashes, dry skin, black circles under your eyes, pimples, acne, pigmentation etc. There are other secondary reasons too which can affect your skin like at the time of pregnancy when there is hormonal change or genetic problem i.e either you have oily or dry skin because of your genes. But more than 70% of the affected skin is due to the primary reasons and one of the major primary reason is inappropriate diet.

Different skin needs different type of diet. But there are few general rules for healthy skin which are universal for everyone.

Here is the list of the rules:

a) Water, the magical drink, acts as the best medicine for the skin. It not only refreshes you and make your skin glow but also purifies your body which makes the body run most effectively. Read the benefits of water and how it helps your skin glow just a click away at http://www.weightloss-health.com/WaterBenifits.htm.

b) Vitamins are as essential to skin as oxygen to body. Some vitamins do a world of good to your skin. These vitamins are mandatory for glowing and healthy skin.

List of Vitamins essential for your glowing skin and their sources (natural):

1) Vitamin C : It can be easily found in all citric fruits like orange etc.

2) Vitamin A : Sources for Vitamin A are papaya, orange, egg yolk etc.

3) Vitamin B : It is found in all leafy vegetables along with fruits. Other sources are Whole grains , brewers yeast etc.

4) Vitamin E : It is found in oilseeds, vegetables like broccoli , nuts etc.

Trust me, it isnt that difficult to maintain a healthy skin. All you need to take care of it properly and make sure you eat well. You can always consult your skin specialist for the right diet and simply follow it.

More on healthy food ( http://www.weightloss-he! alth.com /healthy%20food.htm ) and free healthy recipes ( http://www.weightloss-health.com/Recipes.htm ) of all kinds .

About the Author

Jasdeep: for http://www.weightloss-health.com your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Health.

Also get free tips and tricks on weight loss, diet and muscle Building at Healthy Diet Tips, Myths and Facts

If you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and LIVE link to our website.

Alzheimer's: Creating a Safe Soothing Place for Your Loved One

Alzheimer's disease causes more than memory loss. Patients develop visual agnosia, the inability to identify objects and people. They develop auditory agnosia, the inability to process sounds, and other agnosias as well. These mental failures are painful to witness.

You can't change the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, but you can create a safe and soothing place for your loved one.

Perhaps your loved one has moved in with you. Even if your loved one is in a nursing home you may influence - and perhaps change - the living space to meet his or her needs. These action steps are a starting place. As your loved one's disease progresses you will think of other ways to help.

1. REMOVE CLUTTER. Too much clutter is upsetting and makes it harder for your loved one to find things. Clear off the bureau, bedside table, and other surfaces. You may wish to buy open boxes for storage. I bought a bathroom shelf for my mother, the kind that goes above the toilet and is held in place with springs. Open shelving made it easier for her to store and find things.

2. CLEAR PATHWAYS. Remove scatter rugs and make sure there are no doorway obstructions. Shorten or wind up long electrical cords that could trip your loved one. Move furniture away from the middle of the room if your loved one uses a walker.

3. ARRANGE FURNITURE. The furniture arrangement depends on the degree of your loved one's dementia. Plan the arrangement on paper first. I arranged the furniture in my mother's studio apartment. The couch was across from her bookshelf, which held Mom's treasures. Her small eating table and chairs were in front of the window so she could enjoy the view. After you have arranged the furniture leave it in place.

4. USE VISUAL CLUES. The Canadian Government, in an Internet article called At Home With Alzheimer's Disease, says you should mark the door of the AD person's apartment in a very distinct way, perhaps with a photograph, a wreath, or a flag of some sort. I hung a he! art wrea th on the door of my mother's apartment. Thanks to the wreath, Mom always knew which door was hers. Experiment with other visual clues, such as a picture of socks on the front of a sock drawer.

5. INCLUDE FAMILIAR THINGS. Alzheimer's: Soothing the Transition on Moving Day, an article on http://www.MayoClinic.com, says it's important for the Alzheimer's patient to have some familiar things. Familiar belongings can trigger feelings of ownership and boost your loved one's sense of security, the article notes. My mother felt secure in her studio apartment because she had her own bedroom furniture, eating table, and favorite chair.

6. CHOOSE CALM COLORS. Nancy L Mace and Peter V. Rabins, MD, authors of The 36-Hour Day, say brain impaired people may be less able to distinguish between similar color intensities. Your loved one may not be able to tell the difference between light blue and light green, for example. Bright colors may be upsetting. That's why The Greater Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer's Association recommends soothing pastel shades such as peach, pink, beige, ivory, light blues, greens and lavenders.

7. MARK SPACE WITH COLOR. The contrast between light walls and dark hand rails will help your loved one to distinguish space. The authors of The 36-Hour Day suggest painting stair risers and treads in contrasting colors. Mace and Rabins also say you should outline doors, mantlepieces, and other things the person bumps into with bright tape in a contrasting color and color intensity.

8. BE CAREFUL WITH PATTERN. Patients with AD see and hear things that have no basis in reality, according to the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center in San Diego, CA. This point is made in an Internet story from The Greater Illinois chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. Apparently the residents of one nursing home thought the vines on the wallpaper were snakes and they kept beating the walls. At this time of life plain fabrics and wallcoverings are better choices for your loved on! e.

9. HAVE ENOUGH LIGHT. Accidents can happen in dimly lit areas or areas with lots of shadows. Make sure the is enough light, especially in the bathroom. Put a night light next to the bed and mark the way to the bathroom with additional night lights. The 36-Hour Day, says putting reflective tape around the bathroom door may also help your loved one at night.

10. CUT THE GLARE. Buy flat paint instead of gloss to cut down on glare. The floor should also have a non-glare surface. You may also reduce glare by hanging sheer drapes at the window and installing blinds. Use soft light bulbs in lamps. If your loved one is severely demented, close the curtains at night and cover up mirrors.

11. PREVENT WANDERING. Hang small posters on the doors to keep your loved one from wandering. You may also hang beaded curtains in open doorways. Install door and window locks in unusual and/or hidden places. The Canadian Government, in its publication At Home With Alzheimer's Disease, recommends two locks - a chain lock and a dead bolt - on exit doors. If you have a door that opens onto a busy street hang a red STOP sign on the door.

12. ADD LIFE. A growing plant can give your loved one weeks of pleasure. Before you buy a plant, however, make sure it isn't toxic. Provide a watering can if your loved one is still able to water the plant. (Check for spills later.) Watching fish is also pleasurable for those with Alzheimer's, but if you buy fish you should care for them. Your loved one may also benefit from pet therapy.

These action steps will help your loved one to feel safer and calmer. As his or her dementia progresses you will have to take more action steps. The best action step you can take is to keep saying I love you.

Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson.

http://www.harriethodgson.com

Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. She is th author of two Alzheimer's books, Alzheimer's: Findi! ng the W ords, (a communication guide) and The Alzheimer's Caregiver. Her 24th book, Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief, written with Lois Krahn, MD, is available from http://www.amazon.com.

Importance of Body Care and Diet in Ayurveda

Ayurvedic contains the detail instructions about body care and personal hygiene. Chewing of various spices and nuts is recommended for the clarity of voices, a pleasing taste, and fresh smells in the mouth, gargling with sesame oil be said to enhance the strength of the jaws. Sesames oil also gives depth to the voice and even results in the face becoming plump. Regularly oiling of the hair and the ears, and the periodic oil massages are a part of the normal recommended body care. Massage makes the physique smooth, strong, and charming, and prevents the onslaught of age. Scents and garlands of flowers are said to spread fragrance in the body, and enhance longevity and charm.

An India psychiatrist was surprised to find the following description of a tongue scraper, the like of which he had not seen in use in any other country.

Tongue scrapers which, should be curved and sharp edge, are to be made of metals like gold, silver, copper, tin and brass. The dirt deposited at the root of the tongue obstructs expiration and give rise to a foul smell: so the tongue should be scraped regularly.

Where as the diet is concerned, ayurveda provides the general description of food that promotes health and other, which should be avoided. It say that the food that should be allowed to the patients accordingly to the nature of the malady, and those which should be banned. Some medicines are to be taken with certain specific foods such as buttermilk. Certain drugs and formulations are administered to the patient in conjunction with certain food, falling which; the drugs do not have any curative effect.

Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food is discussed in ayurveda. Non-vegetarian diets are particularly recommended in diseases like consumption where the wasting of flesh is evident.

The emphasis that ayurveda lays on diet of the patient is apparent from the old dictum: ?The patient does not require any medicine if he has the wholesome diet and he does not require any medicine either, if he is ! not on a wholesome diet.? If a person?s diet is wholesome, he will not need any medicine because he will not fall ill and if the diet is faulty, he will not require a medicine because it will not help him without proper diet. So the conclusion of this is that one must have proper diet.

Natasha

Keep Your Heart Healthy Naturally With Cardio EZ

Cardio E-Z

An oral chelation supplement that was developed by Dr. Donsbach in 1997, Cardio E-Z is a product that is used to help with cardiovascular and heart health. It contains several vitamins and antioxidants such as EDTA, CoQ10, etc., in order to help maintain a healthy heart.

There are several vitamin components that make up Cardio E-Z, and among them are Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Calcium, Magnesium, Coenzyme Q10, and Gingko.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that commonly goes by the name of ascorbic acid. It is a water-soluble substance that helps with bodily functions. Being an antioxidant, vitamin C helps neutralize oxidative stress or free radical damage in the cells. In other words, vitamin C boosts the body?s antioxidant defense against diseases like heart disease.

Aside from this, vitamin C in Cardio E-Z can also help in the body?s process of healing wounds, as well as in the production of skin, tendons, blood vessels, etc.

Vitamin E

A fat-soluble substance and likewise, an antioxidant, vitamin E is also able to help with heart disease. This is because cell damage by free radicals is the root cause of cardiovascular disease. Being so, vitamin E as an antioxidant can also combat free radical attacks, and thereby help with heart disease.

Vitamin E is also found in Cardio E-Z. There was a study conducted wherein 121,000 women were tested with vitamin E. Those who took vitamin E supplements had a 40% lower risk for coronary artery disease compared to those people who did not take the vitamin E supplements.

Niacin

Niacin or Vitamin B3 is manufactured inside the body in small amounts to help with bodily functions such as metabolism, cell respiration, the secretion of stomach fluids, and the nervous system. However, there are some people who are deficient in niacin, which sometimes leads to dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia.

Vitamin B6

A water-soluble substance, vitamin B6 is important to the body. It a! ids in t he metabolism of protein, as well as in the functions of the nervous system and the immune system.

Calcium

Calcium plays an important role, especially in the bones. It also helps with the body functions involving the muscles and the nerves.

Magnesium

Magnesium is also found in Cardio E-Z. Magnesium is used not only in over 300 chemical reactions in the body, but also in keeping the heart healthy. It also helps with the cardiovascular health by keeping the heart rhythm steady.

CoQ10

A very potent antioxidant also known as ubiquinone, Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is found naturally in the body. It aids in cardiovascular health, such as with congestive heart failure.

Ginkgo

Gingko is one of the oldest herbs used in traditional medicine and is recognized for its health benefit on the circulatory system. Not only can it help with preventing clumping in the arteries, but also with the brain and the blood oxygen levels.

Peter Salazar's source for quality supplements is http://www.utopiasilver.com

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Acupuncture Traditional Chinese Treatment

Acupuncture forms part of traditional Chinese medicine. Included are Chinese herbalism, tai chi and chi kung. It is believed that traditional Chinese medicine originated around 2500BC and is one of the oldest forms of treatment. Acupuncture did not really become well known in Western countries until the 1950s, except for the few Chinese practitioners treating Chinese patients in those countries such as Britain. Today, even some orthodox physicians are trained in acupuncture and are incorporating it with western medicine and achieving great results.

Acupuncture is centered on Tao philosophy, like the other forms of Chinese medicine. It is based on the philosophy that a vital energy (force) flows along invisible channels in the body with the inseparable opposing forces of yin and yang, which govern each person. 'Yin' is a masculine, active and positive force and 'yang', a female, passive and negative force. When this energy (chi) freely flows through these invisible channels (meridians) and the yin and yang are balanced, the result is health. If the yin and yang are unbalanced and the chi is blocked, the results become noticeable in the form of illness. The purpose therefore of acupuncture is to correct these imbalances and unblock the meridians, allowing the chi to flow freely once again in the body restoring the patient to physical health. Another form of acupuncture called auricular therapy is based solely on the external ear, which contains its own acupuncture points. This type of therapy is very useful for acute conditions.

People suffering from allergies, asthma, bronchitis and other conditions may benefit by acupuncture. Acupuncture is also helpful in relieving pain. Acupuncture aids the body to release its very own pain-reliever, known as endorphins, which has effects similar to morphine. The success of the acupuncture also depends on the responsiveness of the patient. Some people seem to be more responsive than others especially children that receive treatment.

! During t he initial consultation the practitioner will ask questions about the patients history, the present complaint, life style, diet and exercise routines and emotional health. Skin colour, the state of the nails, eyes and tongue, body odour and careful examination of the pulse points form part of the diagnosis. The human body contains 59 meridians and about 1000 pressure points. To treat imbalances the acupuncturist will stimulate the pressure points that occur along the meridians. Inserting fine, solid needles into the skin, applying heat and fingertip pressure form part of stimulation. The points involved are usually found on the forearms, hands, feet and lower legs. Sometimes all three methods of stimulation may be used. Treatment may include recommendations on diet and exercise.

Always ensure you choose a fully trained and registered practitioner when seeking acupuncture treatment. Inform the practitioner of any orthodox treatment you may be receiving before diagnosis or treatment in acupuncture. Acupuncture is most often used in conjunction with Chinese herbalism, as it can be contraindicated with some forms of complementary therapy. Parents should always consult an acupuncturist who has had special training in the treatment of children, before embarking on a diagnosis in acupuncture. The treatment for children will consist mainly of fingertip pressure (acupressure) to the relevant acupuncture points, rather than applying the more traditional method of needles.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Acupuncture

Acne: Natural Hot Pepper Face Wash May Cure Acne

Nearly 60 million Americans experience bouts of acne, and more than 20 million of them end up with acne which may cause scarring. There are many remedies for acne and currently a company created another one, the world?s first chili pepper based face wash that has guaranteed to wipe out acne within a few short days, and without the burning sensation associated with hot peppers.

A great part of remedies work, however, they take weeks and even months to make any noticeable difference. A lot of these products are also mixed with chemicals; they are expensive and generally require a daily regimen.

Capsaicin, the active element in hot peppers has been shown to be an inportant acne fighter. According to experts, it works through a thermal heat action that helps to open pores and increase blood flow to the surface of the skin. Capsaicin has powerful antimicrobial properties that help distinguish harmful bacteria that's hiding within the layers of skin.

Capsaicin also helps to desensitize sensitive skin by affecting a series of tiny nerves. Capsaicin may also be beneficial for relieving chronic topical pain associated with certain circulatory conditions.

The golden product is called ?Capsiderm?. Unlike arthritis creams -designed to relieve chronic muscle and joint pain- this new product is designed specifically to fight acne and tighten wrinkled lines on skin?s surface.

There are immediate results within the first day or two of use. According to the company, most acne conditions will disappear completely within the first week ? even severe cases.

Article written by Hector Milla, editor of http://www.acnetreatmentstips.com , a website pointing the best acne treatment tips , visit his weblog for daily news about acne at http://www.acnetreatmentstips.com/blog/ , thanks for publishing this article in your website or ezine keeping a live link.

Sedu Flat Iron 5 Reasons to Start Using it Right Now

Do you feel the need to make a change in your life? Join the revolution. Join women from all over the world that have been using the Sedu flat iron. Design your favorite Sedu hair style one day and change it the other day. You can have the look of Jennifer Aniston or the look of Jennifer Lopez (both have sedu hair styles), You can have the Sedu look. You can have your look.

Still not convinced? Check out these 5 reasons to start using the sedu flat iron right now:

1. The straightening effect is achieved without pulling of hair or causing any damage to the hair.

2. Shorter work time for a longer period ? The time needed to straighten the hair is much shorter than with all the other hair straighteners and the hair stays flat and smooth for much longer.

3. The use of new advanced technology like the patented ceramic plates and the infrared heat technology brings the best outcome in the market ? A flat, smooth and shiny hair.

4. The sedu flat iron is so popular and is getting so many great reviews that it has become a brand name to flat irons in general. It got a great review on the ?Allure? Magazine and some women call it the ?Jennifer Aniston hair straightener? or the ?Jennifer Lopez hair straightener?.

5. Sedu hair styles ? You do not have to create anything from scratch. There are a lot of sedu hair styles you can choose from ? from Jennifer Aniston sedu hair style to Jennifer Lopez sedu hair style. Just name it.

However, you must remember that the Sedu flat iron is only one element of your hair care. Keep taking care of your hair color, hair moistness and hair length to get the perfect hair style.

We at 911 corp. have made a research to find the best place to gat the sedu flat iron from. Find it out only on the Sedu flat iron site.

Lower Back Pain Remedies Chinese Style

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), with its 2500 year old history, offers many lower back pain remedies - lower back stretches, lower back strengthening exercises, massage techniques, acupuncture, herbal remedies, liniments, sticking plasters and others. Some require a trained TCM practitioner to administer them, while others can be easily learnt and applied by anyone. This article introduces the latter - simple, effective lower back pain remedies and stretches for lower back pain that YOU can apply yourself to relieve and prevent lower back pain.

Lower Back Stretches

Breath slowly, smoothly and deeply through your nose while doing the exercises.

Exercise 1. Lie on your back on a firm bed or the floor. Gently bring your knees up until they're above your abdominal area. Spread your knees a little and grab the inside of your shins just below your knees, or the inside of your ankles if you can. Inhale. As you exhale let your knees naturally fall further out to the side with gravity. Focus your mind on your lower back (closing your eyes helps). Feel your inner thighs stretching and your lower back relaxing. Hold the position for a few minutes as you continue to breath slowly, smoothly and deeply. This exercise stretches and relaxes your iliopsoas muscle which connects from your lumbar vertebrae to the inside of your hip joints. Tension in this muscle often causes and/or aggravates lower back pain.

Exercise 2. Lie flat on your back on a firm bed or the floor. Bend your knees and slide your feet up till they are near your backside. Inhale. As you exhale, flatten your lower back by gently pressing it into the bed or floor. Hold for several seconds, then let your lower back return to its natural, curved position. Repeat 3 or 4 times, several times a day.

Exercise 3. Lean across a table and grab the far edge with both hands. Your torso should be on the table and your legs hanging from the edge. Inhale. As you exhale, let gravity naturally pull your legs down toward! s the fl oor. Feel your lower back stretching. Hold the position for several minutes as you continue slow, deep breathing. Focus your mind on your lower back (closing your eyes helps) and imagine the pain releasing with each exhalation. Repeat several times a day.

For more lower back stretches as well as lower back strengthening exercises, try these:

http://chinese-holistic-health-exercises.com/back-stretching-exercises.html

Lower Back Pain Remedies

1. Ginger & Sesame Oil Liniment

Mix together equal parts of pure sesame oil and the juice from grated ginger. Heat in a pot till warm. Apply a small amount to the painful area and rub it in for a couple of minutes. It should be applied to unbroken skin only. Ginger and sesame oil liniment is a superb, easy-to-make, home remedy for back ache and other aches and pains. It warms, circulates your blood and stops pain. You can safely apply it several times a day, particularly after showering and before bed. Make sure you pull your clothing down over your lower back immediately afterwards to keep the area warm. Also, while it's normal for your skin to become hot and turn red after you apply the liniment, if a rash develops discontinue use.

2. Lower Back Self-Massage

Can be done standing or sitting. With fists clenched (not too tightly), use the backs of your hands, including your knuckles, to vigorously rub your lower back up and down for several minutes, 3 or 4 times a day. Rub close to your spine and also the sides of your lower back - where ever you experience pain and stiffness. Self-massage is a highly beneficial lower back pain remedy you can do anytime, anywhere to relieve AND prevent lower back pain. Massage warms the area, moves the blood and directly stimulates your kidneys, which helps to maintain a strong, healthy lower back.

Tip: To greatly enhance the effects of the above lower back pain remedies and lower back stretches, combine them. For example, lie down and do the first 2 stretches, then stand up ! and do t he lower back self-massage, then apply some Ginger & Sesame Oil Liniment. You know your body best though, so experiment till you find what works best for your particular situation. For more lower back pain remedies and lower back stretches visit the authors website.

Matthew Scott is a professionally trained Chinese medicine practitioner from Australia, living in China since 2000. His website http://chinese-holistic-health-exercises.com offers classic, time-tested exercises & techniques to stretch, strengthen, energize, relax, & ease pain.

Holistically Healing Heartburn

Millions of people suffer from the symptoms of heartburn every day. Those with acute cases of heartburn may have a condition called acid reflux or gerd (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

Any form of heartburn is an unpleasant experience, to say the least. The splashing up of stomach acid into the esophagus and throat can be quite painful and potentially dangerous. In extreme cases, where the esophagus is continually damaged by the reflux of stomach fluids, a condition called Barrett?s Esophagus can develop. This condition is a precursor to esophageal cancer.

Barrett?s Esophagus occurs when chronic acid reflux or esophagitis is not controlled. Through constant inflammation and damage, the normal cells that line the esophagus called squamous cells turn into specialized columnar cells. Columnar cells are not normally found in human beings and can become cancerous.

The physical cause of heartburn is the improper functioning of the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). This ringed muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, relaxes in order to allow food to enter the stomach. This muscle then retracts in order to keep the digestive fluids where they belong. It is when this muscle is too relaxed or damaged, that the stomach fluids can escape up into the esophagus thereby causing acid reflux.

There are many possible causes of acid reflux. The foods that we eat play an important role. Food that is too acidic can aggravate this ailment. Not chewing food properly, eating meals that are too large and lying down within three hours of eating can all contribute to acid reflux.

Certain foods and beverages can cause the LES to become lazy. These culprits include smoking, drinking alcohol and prescription drugs. Raw onions and garlic, fried foods, chocolate and foods that are too spicy can also cause the LES to relax.

There are two ways to treat this condition. They are the allopathic medical and the holistic approaches to disease. The allopathic medical way is to prescribe c! ertain d rugs such as H2 receptor antagonists, which include Tagamet and Zantac, or PPI drugs (proton pump inhibitors) like Nexium and Prilosec. These medicines slow down the production of stomach acid and are the two main types of pharmaceutical acid suppressors.

This pharmaceutical approach is dangerous in that it impedes the proper digestion and assimilation of food. There are also numerous harmful side effects associated with these drugs. Drugs only treat the symptoms of a disease or condition. They are not intended to cure. If the drug companies created drugs that cured they would soon go out of business.

The alternative way to treat acid reflux is holistically. Holistic by definition means considering a whole thing or being to be more than a collection of parts; Treating the whole person rather than just the Symptoms of a disease.

Using alternative remedies, which are natural and have no side effects, is certainly the safest and most effective approach. These treatments are also far less expensive than drugs. Holistic treatment, unlike drugs, can actually cure the condition or disease.

In order to develop acid reflux, we must first have an acidic system. By treating the whole body, acid reflux will disappear. What we eat and drink determines the PH of the body.

Vegetable juices, like raw potato, celery and cabbage are very alkaline in nature and are helpful in correcting an acidic stomach. Papaya juice contains the digestive enzyme papain, which has a soothing effect on the stomach and aids in the breaking down of protein.

Slippery Elm, bladderwrack and marshmallow, belong to a category of herbs called demulcents. These herbs aid digestion by decreasing inflammation and by soothing the affected areas. They form a protective barrier against stomach acid and other digestive irritants.

There are many holistic ways to cure acid reflux. Meditation can be of great help. Start by doing deep breathing exercises for ten minutes. Keeping the eyes closed, visuali! ze you s tomach, LES, esophagus and throat as young, pink, tender and perfect. Continue to breath and picture yourself in perfect glowing health. See yourself eating slowly in a relaxed atmosphere, enjoying your food. Picture the food being digested and assimilated in a perfect manner. Feel all the parts of your body working in perfect harmony together.

Yoga can also be very beneficial to the body as a whole. Loosing weight and regular exercise are important as well. Drinking copious amount of pure water not only flushes the system of toxins, but dilutes stomach acid during periods between meals.

The holistic approach to healing is the medicine of the future. We can all be a part of that future now.

? 2006 Wind Publishing

For more information on how to heal acid reflux the natural way, go to: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

Mr. Richey is a self-educated expert on how to cure acid reflux disease, by natural means and has written an extensive report entitled, REFLUX GONE FOREVER, Natural Acid Reflux Remedies.

For more information on how to heal acid reflux the natural way, go to: http://www.refluxgoneforever.com

How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need?

Is your child getting enough sleep? How can you tell and what can you do about it?

The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) released a survey which estimated that one-third of toddlers and preschoolers and nearly one in four school aged children aren't getting enough sleep.

The consequences for lack of sleep are hardly unknown to parents who have themselves been victims of sleepless nights during the early childhood years. But what are the specific problems that affect children who are lacking sleep?

SLEEP AND MEMORY:

In studies with adults it has been shown that a lack of sleep affects attention and arousal. We are all aware of the problems caused by drowsy drivers who have been at the wheel too long and veer off the road or cause deadly accidents.

In a study with children who were restricted in sleep they did not score as well on memory, attention and learning tests the next day.

SLEEP AND BEHAVIOR:

In an article on children and sleeping problems by Today's Parent there was a quote from John Bates, a developmental psychologist. In two studies trying to find a link between sleep deficit and behaviour problems he stated that it could be that sleep deficit causes the behavior problems or it could be that behaviour problems, and all that goes along with that, could make it harder for children to settle down for sleep, or that some unknown problem is causing both the sleep and behaviour problems.

Whichever is the case he still claims that in some cases they have had success and achieved dramatic behavioral improvements simply by increasing a child's sleep.

Although this should not be considered a solution for serious behavior problems, if your child seems unduly irritable, over-active or cranky you may find putting them to bed an hour earlier will create a drastic improvement.

HOW MUCH SLEEP DO THEY NEED?

Each individual has their own needs, but generally speaking the NSF suggests children three to five should get 11 to 13 hours of sleep (inclu! ding nap s); five to 12 year olds need 10 to 11 hours and teens 13 to 18 should try to get 8.5 to 9.25 hours per night.

If you suspect a problem related to sleep then consider whether you notice if the problem is connected. Is your child more irritable and cranky late in the day? Is she often hard to waken or difficult to get to sleep in the first place? Does she waken frequently during the night?

If you feel the issue is sleep related and putting your child to bed earlier is not working, talk to your doctor about other steps you can take. It is a long term benefit to diagnose sleeping problems early on.

Author: Mickael Kerenterff. For more information, please visit my website at http://www.SweetSleepSecretsRevealed.com where you can grab a free e-course about Sweet Sleep Secrets. You will discover How to Finally End Your Insomnia and Wake Up Feeling Refreshed and Energized All Day Long!

What About Acne Medications?

Acne is a universal problem. Contrary to what most teenagers (and even some adult acne sufferers) might believe, it is not a symptom of poor facial hygiene. While nearly everyone suffers from and are eager to get rid of acne, a surprising number of the sufferers lack the basic information in order to help them deal with the problem in a rational manner. Which is why, the field of acne cure is filled with myths, falsehoods and much more. The trick to finding the ideal acne medications is pretty straightforward. One must consult a qualified and experienced dermatologist for a proper diagnosis and subsequent treatment. This is because no two varieties of acne are caused by the same factors and as such, the acne medications differ greatly. Not knowing about acne is one thing. But using the wrong acne medications is an altogether different matter. The wrong acne

medications will not only be inefficient in getting rid of acne, it could also result in permanent scarring.

Acne medication is primarily of three types. The first kind of acne medications is the wide array of lotions and creams that can be found in just about any pharmacy of drugstore. While these are sometimes sufficient to treat and cure milder forms of acne, those with more acute acne will have to go in for professional counseling and diagnosis. This leads us to second type of acne medication which consists of prescription drugs. Prescriptions drugs are highly individualized in nature and are often prescribed by a qualified dermatologist only after having ascertained the nature and cause of individual acne. These could range from simple azelaic acid creams, through Benzoyl Peroxide to Accutane for severe cases of acne. However, do remember that these acne medications should always be taken only upon the recommendation of a qualified medical professional. They should not be treated like over the counter drugs and treated lightly.

The final kind of acne medication is traditional or home made remedies. ! While mo st people believe that this kind of acne medication is of no real use, studies have revealed that homemade acne remedies are sometimes very effective in curing simple cases of acne. Most of these acne medications contain a combination of herbs and plants which are ground up and applied on the affected area. Maybe it is because of the properties of those plants, or even due to sheer belief, but this sort of acne medications has shown surprising results. However, no guarantees can be made. Again, it would be a good idea to consult a qualified medical professional before sampling any of this sort of acne medication.

Keith Londrie II has put up three informative web sites so that you can learn more about acne and it's control. For more information please visit http://acneinformation.info/ as well as http://acne-solution-treatments.info/ and http://stop-your-acne.info/ for more detailed information.

Fibromyalgia What A Veterianrian Would Say

In the veterinary industry, fibromyalgia is known as ?stiff lamb disease? or ?white muscle disease? in lambs, calves and pigs. In this industry fibromyalgia cures are possible because of supplementation with trace minerals, particularly selenium and Vitamin E.

Ask any farmer living in an area where there is a low level of selenium in the soils and they?ll tell you that they give newborn and pregnant animals a nutritional supplement containing selenium and vitamin E.

If you apply this same ?farm logic? to humans then perhaps fibromyalgia cures might just be possible with some simple supplementation and dietary changes. If you want to verify this (like I did), go and ask a farmer how they treat their newborn lambs or calves and then come back and finish reading this article! You could also run a Googlsearch for ?stiff lamb disease? - you'll find references full of Vitamin E and selenium.

In humans the disease is also known as adult-onset muscular dystrophy, and while the condition is not fatal it?s thought by some to be a multiple deficiency disease involving widespread free radical damage and aggravated by a high intake of fried foods and vegetable oils.

It?s important to note that many vegetable oils (such as olive oil), which people regard as safe, turn into damaging free radicals when they are heated. It?s always safer to cook with butter on low heat and totally avoid margarine.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms
Before we get to Fibromyalgia cures we'll discuss the symptoms. Firstly, Fibromyalgia is characterised by widespread pain and fatigue. Pain in the soft tissue is the main fibromyalgia symptom; other symptoms include: intense muscle pain, fatigue, headaches, sleep disturbances, joint pain, numbness and tingling, problems with concentration and memory, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, sensitivity to cold and bladder problems.

Fibromyalgia Treatment
While scientists continue their search for fibromyalgia cures, here are the key points of a fibromyalgia natu! ral trea tment involving diet, lifestyle and supplements . . . Diet and Lifestyle:

Totally eliminate all vegetable oils and fried food as well as sugar ? this only causes more free radical damage to an already damaged body biochemistry.

Regular exercise and stretching may help with sleep and with easing muscle pain. The exercises must be low impact and just enough to get your heart rate up a little and the muscles warmed up ? about 20 to 30 minutes is fine. Finish with light stretching movements for about 10 minutes. Gentle yoga is very beneficial for fibromyalgia and is thoroughly recommended ? it allows you to stretch, train your muscles and relax at the same time!

Massage ? find a good massage therapist, book a few sessions with them and have them teach you how to self massage and stretch as part of an approach to fibromyalgia cures.

Fibromyalgia Supplements
The key to natural fibromyalgia cures and natural treatment lies in giving back the body the missing nutrients so that the body can repair itself:

• Supplement with Essential Fatty Acids ? about 9 grams per day to make up for the reduction in your intake of oils.
• The Antioxidants Selenium & Vitamin E are important nutriets to assist with neutralizing and repairing free radical damage associated with the disease.
• Plant derived minerals are a 98% absorbable form of Selenium and other trace minerals important for repair and nutrition and will be very helpful.

Copyright Paul Newland - http://www.global-longevity.com

Paul Newland is a health writer, sports training consultant and martial arts instructor and runs the Global-Longevity.comwebsite. He is the author of The Fibromyalgia Guide and numerous health information books and guides, including the Wellness Report available Free through Global-Longevity.com.

Nail Fungus: An Unsightly Problem

Nail fungus is not a nice thing. It is an unsightly and nasty infection that can invade either your fingernails or toenails. It is more likely that people will have toenail fungus, simply because for a large part of the year, most of us have socks and shoes on, which are ideal for growing fungus because they are dark and usually moist to a certain extent. Our toenails and fingernails are pretty effective barriers against damage and infection. However, once an infection has set up shop in your nail bed, that barrier can work against you as you try to get rid of the fungus. What was so good at protecting the skin under your nail is now protecting the fungus as it takes up residence.

When you first start to get a nail infection, the edges or base of your nail shows the first signs. At that point and throughout the infection, you can have some discomfort, itching, or pain in the skin around the edge of your nail. As it gets worse, your cuticles can bleed and even detach themselves from the nail. You may also notice pus developing along with the bleeding. Your nail may also turn a nasty yellowish green, yellowish brown or any color in between. Usually the nails start to thicken and become lined or grooved and develop little holes.

Nail fungus can be contagious. It loves moist places and especially moist places where people walk around in their bare feet. You can pass on or receive nail fungus in showers, bathrooms, locker rooms or even by using someone else's nail file!

Another culprit in the spread of nail fungus can be nail salons. If the instruments are not sterilized correctly or if the nail files are passed from person to person, it could spread infections. Also, applying artificial nails and darker nail polishes don't allow the air or light to penetrate to the nail bed, which creates a safe haven for fungus to grow. Nail polish remover can also dry out your nails and cuticles, leaving them susceptible to infection.

Once you have a nail infection, hopefully it wi! ll clear up rather easily. There are many over the counter products that you can apply to the nail. Sometimes they won't work, so you may have to end up going to a doctor for a prescription. They can provide a prescription for potent medicines, including antibiotics and specialty drugs.

Nail fungus is unsightly, unhealthy and most of all embarrassing. However, if you do happen to be unlucky enough to have your healthy nails take a turn for the worse, there are options out there. As with any infection or sickness, you can start out taking simple precautions against the fungus, but if it gets into your nails or keeps spreading once you have started treating it, don't give up hope. Make an appointment with your doctor and he should be able to help you get it under control and out of your life for good.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Nail Fungus

The Many Faces Of Mascara

After finding the right foundation shade, choosing mascara is probably the next most challenging beauty task. Sure, there are less color options, but quality of the product is what will make the difference in the way you look.

Volume building, lengthening, clump-free, hypoallergenic? Will your eyelashes look longer, become curlier or fuller? Will the mascara go on smoothly without clumps and stay on without flaking for many hours to come? In other words, will it live up to the promise, or all these words are nothing more than money-making tricks? In most cases, you will know the answer only after you trade your hard earned money for the little pretty tube.

Lengthening Mascaras

These usually do make your eyelashes a tiny bit longer. This is achieved by the addition of ingredients that build up on the tip of the lashes. Actually, any mascara will visually lengthen the eyelashes. In most people (at least those who feel they need mascara), the tips of eyelashes are lighter and sometimes invisible. When you apply mascara, you show off the real length of your eyelashes. What a nice surprise! If that is still not enough, a lengthening mascara will help.

Volume Building Mascara

If you desire fuller lashes, this is the kind of mascara you need. The effect is provided by the higher concentration of waxes in the formula. They encapsulate each lash, making it more prominent.

Waterproof Mascara

As the name suggests, waterproof mascara stays intact even in contact with water. Synthetic polymers, included in the formula, instantly freeze around each lash, creating a water resistant barrier. There is a downside, though. Waterproof mascaras usually make eyelashes pretty stiff. In addition, waterproof mascara will rarely perform for more than 3 months, becoming flaky afterwards. Choosing a mascara that is truly water resistant can also be tricky, and the price is not always the true indicator of quality.

Hypoallergenic Mascaras

Hypoallergenic mascaras are formulated! to redu ce the odds of triggering an allergic reaction. Fragrances are known to be the most aggressive allergy causing components in cosmetics, so they are excluded from hypoallergenic formulas. In some people, ingredients other than fragrances may create problems. Testing is always a good idea to avoid puffy, itchy and watery eyes. Apply a small amount of mascara to the back of your ear. If the area does not get inflamed or itchy after a few hours, the product is safe for the eyes.

Colorless Mascaras

Colorless mascaras are designed for weak or damaged eyelashes, but healthy lashes will certainly benefit as well. Sometimes these mascaras are made with vitamins, vitamin B in particular, and plant extracts. They are used as a base coat under color mascara to add length, thickness and volume. In addition, they are great to shape your eyebrows.

Do you need all the different kinds of mascaras? Of course, not. These days, manufacturers try to combine several features in one tube. However, it is difficult to be perfect all around. A mascara may perform better adding length, but not so good at building volume, or vice versa. It may resist water well, but won?t curl as expected. And who needs the perfect curl if it can?t provide the water resistance you need?

Try and error method is probably the only sure way to find a mascara that is right for you and for your eyes, but it may become expensive. Don?t despair. Look at it from another angle: with the ever-changing variety of products, search for the perfect mascara will never be boring.

About The Author

Natalie Katsman is a co-founder of http://www.natural-aid.com where you can find fine quality aloe vera products for beauty and well-being and subscribe to HealthySkin Newsletter filled with beauty tips, recipes and information on herbal healing, skin care and cosmetic chemistry.