Home Remedies For Blisters On Tongue

You may develop blisters on your tongue for many reasons: The most common causes of tongue blisters include allergies to food and medicine, upset stomach, vitamin deficiency, dental work, hormonal changes, a compromised immune system and mouth injuries. Viral infections, herpes simplex, anemia, aphthous ulcers, hand-foot-and-mouth disease and other chronic infections may also produce blisters on the tongue, according to the Mayo Clinic. Home remedies provide a safe and effective way to relieve the pain associated with most tongue blisters.

Home Remedies

Blisters on your tongue typically last for seven to 10 days, whether you treat them or not. Home remedies and other medications can relieve some of the pain caused by the blisters. Some remedies also promote faster healing. Regardless of what caused the blister on your tongue, home remedies can make the blister more tolerable while it heals.

Try a salt water or baking soda rinse. Add a 1/2 tsp. of table salt or sea salt to 1 cup of warm tap water, and mix thoroughly. Rinse your mouth with this solution several times daily. According to the Mayo Clinic, a salt water rinse soothes the mouth and reduces the inflammation and pain caused by tongue blisters. Salt also contains properties that can kill bacteria and prevent infection, Ayurvedic Cure reports. Alternatively, add 1 tsp. of baking soda to 1 cup of warm tap water to rinse your mouth. Swish the solutions around your tongue and mouth for a few minutes to receive the full benefits of the remedy.

Make a paste for the tongue blister. Mix 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder with 1 tbsp. of pure honey. Apply the paste on your tongue with your finger. Allow the paste to penetrate your tongue for at least three minutes. For an alternative to honey, use a paste consisting of 1 tsp. of warm water and 1 tbsp. of turmeric powder. You can also create a paste made of baking soda and water: Mix 1 tsp. of warm water with 1 tbsp. of baking soda. Using a clean cotton swab, apply the mixture to your tongue blister for about two minutes. Avoid swallowing these mixtures.

Reduce pain and inflammation with the help of liquid remedies. Mix equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and warm water, and apply it to your tongue blister for about 2 minutes using a clean cotton swab. Apply plain peppermint essential oil, garlic oil, vitamin E oil, antiseptic mouthwash or witch hazel directly to your tongue blister using a cotton swab. Repeat these remedies several times daily as needed.

To prevent further irritation or infection, avoid eating acidic and spicy foods. Also avoid eating extremely hot (as in temperature) foods. Eating ice pops, ice cream, and ice chips can make tongue blisters more tolerable, according to the Mayo Clinic. Drink more cold milk and beverages, and increase your water intake.

Medical Treatment

The National Institutes of Health recommend seeking medical attention if sores and blisters last longer than two weeks, if they are accompanied by other symptoms, or if you notice them after beginning new medications.For recurrent or severe tongue blisters, your doctor may recommend a topical oral anesthetic or an over-the-counter acetaminophen pain reliever. Tongue blisters and sores caused by herpes simplex virus may require antiviral medications. Talk to your doctor before using any remedy to treat your tongue blister if you have a compromised immune system due to HIV, herpes or cancer.

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Home Cures For Ra

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissue. Although there is no cure for RA, detecting the disease early and attacking it with multiple treatments can delay joint destruction. Your doctor can provide a game plan for treating RA. One treatment suggestion he may give you is to combat RA at home. There are many things you can do at home to fight the progression of RA.

The Damaging Effects of RA

The cause of RA is not known, and is most predominant in women age 40 to 60, according to the Mayo Clinic. It affects joints in the fingers, wrists, knees, ankles and feet most often, but can become life threatening if it occurs in the cervical spine. There are symptoms to look out for if you suspect you may have RA: joint tenderness, warmth or swelling, pain or stiffness lasting more than 1 hour in the morning or after long rest, joint inflammation, fatigue, possible fever and a general sense of not feeling well. Talk to your doctor if you are suffering from these symptoms or you feel you may be one of the 1.3 million Americans who suffer from RA.

Effective Home Treatments

Regular Exercise: Slowly and gently building up the muscles around the affected joints can help to fight fatigue and reduce pain. Begin by starting a walking regimen. Swimming also is a great exercise. A physical therapist can give you many more simple exercises that can be done at home. Don't exercise tender or sore joints, and if new joint pain is felt, stop immediately. If the pain persists for a few days, contact your doctor.

Apply Heat and Cold Therapy: Heat can ease pain and relax muscles, while cold reduces swelling and spasms. Start by taking a hot bath or shower for 15 minutes, then apply a cold pack to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes. If desired, you can alternate between a heating pad and ice pack, keeping each on for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not use cold treatment if you have poor circulation or numbness.

Change your Lifestyle: Find different ways alleviate stress such as meditation or deep-breathing exercises. Talk to your doctor about assistive devices such as grabbing tools to make picking up things easier or a cane to help you get around. Find different ways to perform daily tasks such as picking up objects with your forearms rather than fingers. This may seem awkward at first, but after practice can become routine. Eat a healthy diet to maintain proper weight and quit smoking.

Try a natural concoction: Although no scientific evidence supports the efficacy, many people have reported success using gin-soaked raisins. Fill a bowl with raisins, then enough gin to cover the raisins. Allow the gin to evaporate--which should take about a week. Eat nine raisins per day.

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Relieve Ovulation Pain With Acupressure

Ovulation pain is the pelvic pain that some women experience during ovulation. Ovulation generally occurs about midway between menstrual cycles, and usually occurs in the lower abdomen and pelvis, either in the middle or to one side. This pain can range from a mild to severe and usually lasts from minutes to hours. Most physicians will prescribe an over the counter pain medication, but there is another way to help this pain without the aid of medications. The following acupressure techniques help by releasing endorphins (the body's natural pain relievers) which naturally reduce pain. These acupressure techniques help with other premenstrual symptoms, as well.

Instructions

Relieve Ovulation Pain With Acupressure

1. Sit in a comfortable position or lie down, close your eyes and breathe deeply as you massage each of the pressure points.

2. Find the CV6 pressure point, which is positioned one to two inches below the belly button. Apply firm deep strokes of pressure into the abdomen. There will be pain at first, but the pain will eventually start to ease up. Continue applying this pressure for about one minute, or until the site develops a numb feeling.

3. Find the B48 pressure point that is centered in the middle of each of the buttock muscles. Start with the left buttock and apply firm and deep strokes of pressure upward toward the top of the body. Continue applying this pressure for about one minute, or until the site develops a numb feeling. Repeat the firm deep pressure on the other buttock, again for about one minute.

4. Find the ST36 pressure point on the front of the left leg. The best way to find this point is to feel around the front side of your leg, right below the knee, for a slight impression. At this spot, you should apply the same firm, deep pressure going in a downward motion toward your foot. This point should be stroked for about a minute. Repeat this motion in the same spot on the other leg.

5. Find the P6 pressure point by feeling on the inside of the left leg, about two to three inches above the bone on the inner part of the ankle. Start by applying the deep firm strokes of pressure this time in an upward motion toward the knee of that leg, continuing for about one minute. Repeat this same motion on the inside of the other leg.

6. Find the Liv3 pressure point which is located on the top of the foot, in the meaty, webbed part between the big toe and the second toe. Start with the left foot by applying deep firm strokes of pressure in an upward direction toward the ankle of the foot. Continue this motion for about a minute, then repeat on the right foot.

7. Each pressure point should be stroked with firm, deep pressure for about one minute. Most will experience some pain at first, but the pain should ease up after a while. The sites should be stroked until there is a numbed feeling at that spot.

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Anti Aging Skin Treatments

There is no shortage of anti-aging skin treatments. If you are pro-plastic surgery, there are various procedures that you can choose from. If you're afraid to go under the knife, there are lotions, creams and serums galore, some of which may work quite well. You can also change your lifestyle habits and, subsequently, your appearance, from the inside out.

Options

Options for treating aging skin include full face lifts, eye lifts, mini-face lifts, lower face lifts, Botox, injectable fillers, eyelid surgery, brow lifts, skin resurfacing and rejuvenation, according to Plasticsurgery.org.

Injectables

Injectable fillers will plump up your face and lips; soften lines, creases and wrinkles; and diminish the appearance of scars.

Specific Remedies for Specific Areas

If you have droopy eyelids you may want to consider having a blepharoplasty, which can repair sagging upper and lower eyelids, making you look rested and younger. Many people opt for Botox injections, according to Plasticsurgery.org. Botox is botulinum toxin and when injected can reduce or even eliminate crow's feet, forehead creases and frown lines. Individuals often have thick horizontal or vertical lines or bands on their necks. The bands, when horizontal, are similar to the circular bands that you see on a tree trunk. The bands can be treated with Botox as well. In all of these cases, however, Botox is only a temporary fix.

Protection

If you are disinterested in going under the knife, then make a serious effort to maintain your skin. Don't subject it to the sun, wear a sunscreen and a hat when you're outdoors, and don't smoke. According to Mayoclinic.com, ways to maintain healthy, albeit aging, skin include avoiding long, hot baths and showers because the hot water takes the oils out of skin, which will dry your skin. Dry skin is not youthful looking. Strong soaps also will strip the oils out of your skin. Use soaps that are moisturizing and gentle but still do the job and get you clean. If you tend to be allergic, avoid products that can irritate your skin and result in red, crusty, itchy unsightly patches and swollen eyes. Use oil-based products to remove your make-up and remember not to tug on your skin, particularly around the eyes where your skin is delicate and tends to wrinkle. Heavily moisturize your entire body after bathing while your skin is still damp. Lubricated skin looks healthier, feels healthier and will have a glow to it. Some anti-aging skin care products that used to be exclusive to dermatologists are now available to the public by prescription, including Royal Gold, Ceramide C, Revitol, Avotone, OHT Peptide 3 and Kinerase, according to skin-care-reviews.com.

Vitamins

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and fights free radicals that can cause damage, even cancer, to your skin. Consider taking a Vitamin B supplement. Biotin, which is a member of the Vitamin B family, is considered especially good for skin and hair health. Don't drink too much alcohol, which can dehydrate your skin.

Herbs

According to health-and-beauty-advice.com, there are herbs that will slow down the aging process, including the aging of your skin. You might consider eating reishi mushrooms, polygonum root, schizandra fruit, lycium fruit and gynostemma. Schizandra reportedly removes toxins from your liver. This helps an individual look younger and feel better. Gynostemma has an anti-inflammatory effect on your body.

Exercise

Exercising is one of the main keys to keeping your skin and entire body, including your mind, youthful and functioning at top capacity. Exercising results in the release of endorphins, the feel good stuff, and helps us cope better with the life's stresses. When you are stressed, it shows up on your face. Exercising speeds up your metabolism, helping you to maintain an ideal weight, increases circulation in your body and benefits lung function.

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Be Hopeful

In our own lives and in the lives of those around us, it is everywhere: suffering, sadness, anger, hunger, heartbreak, hatred, destruction, disappointment. Sometimes it all seems hopeless. In the face of all of this pain, can we really be hopeful? The answer is: yes, we can. And we must! It is my hope that these tips will help you to be hopeful.

Instructions

1. Commit. Hope is not something that blooms in a person's heart and mind accidentally. A hopeful outlook on life requires daily devotion, attention, action and hard work. You cannot cultivate hope without commitment.

2. Embrace hopelessness. "What?" you're asking. "You just said to commit to cultivating hope. This doesn't make sense." You're right. It doesn't make sense. It's a contradiction. Life is full of things that don't make sense, full of contradictions. You cannot have hope without hopelessness, and the truth is, no matter how devoted, hardworking and hopeful you are, life will not go the way you want it to all of the time. Part of being hopeful is letting go of your attachment to specific outcomes and accepting that sometimes, certain situations are hopeless. You won't get everything you hope for. You might not even get 1 percent of what you hope for. Once you embrace this idea, you are free to get on with being hopeful about what you really can control, namely your perspective.

3. Get grateful with a gratitude journal. Every day, write down five things for which you are grateful. They can be very simple things. It doesn't matter what you write on your list just as long as you actually make your list--every day! This may seem like an overly simple exercise, but it is an extremely powerful tool for improving the quality of your thoughts and the quality of your life.

4. Discipline your mind. We tend to think that we have little or no control over our thoughts, as if thoughts, free-thinking, free-moving individuals who come and go from our minds as they please. It's as if thoughts visit our minds like unpredictable, overbearing guests, holding us captive until they decide to part and leave us to pick up their mess. This is not the case. Your thoughts are yours, and if you want your thoughts to be positive, you must discipline your mind. Think of another way: good parents don't let their children eat candy all day, stay up all night or skip school whenever they feel like staying home, nor do good pet owners allow their dogs to jump on strangers, eat from the table or wreck havoc on the neighbor's yard. Your mind requires the same discipline and boundaries. To allow your mind to run wild with hopeless thoughts is like letting your child or puppy run free without rules. When a hopeless thought arrives, notice and observe it, but do not grab onto it or associate with it as though that thought encompasses the totality of your being. Just because you have a hopeless thought, doesn't mean you are a hopeless human being. Once you detach from that hopeless thought, what can you do to shift it to one of hope?

5. Take a spiritual journey. At the foundation of many religious traditions and spiritual practices are existential questions such as: "Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? How am I best to live in the world?" Wrestling with these questions might not always make us feel hopeful, but it will help us to realize that we--as individual human beings--are just one small part of a very big, mysterious, inexplicable universe. There are forces at play in our lives that we cannot see or comprehend. I have found that recognizing my own smallness and humbling myself through spiritual practice has liberated me to feel more hopeful by trusting in a divine order that is way beyond my individual drama taking place here in this material world.

6. Help others. Volunteer your time to plant trees in your city, clean your grandmother's garage or teach underprivileged children build bicycles. Helping others will give you a larger perspective on the human condition, and as is the case with developing a spiritual practice, helping others helps you to feel connected to a something bigger than yourself. It also helps you feel hopeful simply because you are taking action. Taking action with the purpose of helping others nearly always leads to more hope for everybody involved.

7. Surround yourself with hopeful people. It's simple but true; thoughts and attitudes are contagious. The more hopeful the people around you are, the more hopeful you will be.

8. Trust that everything will be fine. It won't be painless. It won't be easy. It will be far, far, far, far from perfect. That is just how it is. But it is going to be just fine. You are doing fine. We will all be fine.

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Medications To Treat Stress

Stress, medically referred to as anxiety, can dramatically reduce one's enjoyment of life. Symptoms of stress can also increase blood pressure, lead to poor eating habits and sleeping problems, and can even exacerbate reliance on alcoholic beverages. However, there are medications available for stress, whether it is the result of a temporary condition or a more pervasive mental illness, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or generalized anxiety disorder, according to MedlinePlus.com.

Xanax

Benzodiazepine drugs are one of the most common ways to treat stress and anxiety, according to MedlinePlus. Xanax, chemically known as alprazolam, is a government-approved method of treating stress. The medication is available in both brand and generic form as pills, orally disintegrating tablets, extended-release pills, and liquid solution. Xanax does have some abuse potential and thus its prescriptions are monitored by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA.) Xanax works by changing brain chemicals that cause stress and anxiety.

Valium

Valium is another benzodiazepine used to treat stress and can also be helpful for accompanying insomnia, according to the Mayo Clinic. Valium is chemically known as diazepam and is available as a pill, disintegrating tablet, extended-release pill, liquid solution, or injection. Shots are usually given only in hospital settings, as Valium does have abuse potential, like any other benzodiazepine. Side effects possible with Valium, and sister benzodiazepine drugs such as Xanax, include unsteady walking, tiredness, and slurred speech.

Paroxetine

Paxil, chemically known as paroxetine, is an antidepressant that works to increase the amount of serotonin in the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Paxil is an SSRI and, unlike benzodiazepines, it can take as long as eight weeks for the medication to reduce stress and anxiety. However, Paxil usually costs about $4 throughout the United States and it is not considered potentially addictive. Side effects possible with Paxil include decreased sexual ability and desire, sleepiness, and stomachache.

Trazodone

Trazodone, which is also marketed under the brand name Desyrel, is an antidepressant that works as a mood elevator to reduce stress, anxiety, and accompanying depression. Trazodone can be taken with other drugs, such as Paxil and Xanax with monitoring, and is also helpful to reduce insomnia associated with stress. As of August 2009, the medication usually cost about $4 in the United States. Trazodone is not considered a potentially addictive drug. Side effects possible include dry mouth and unpleasant taste.

Ambien

Ambien, chemically known as zolpidem, is a sleeping pill that is sometimes prescribed in cases of severe stress, according to the Mayo Clinic. It can be prescribed with antidepressants and benzodiazepines. However, Ambien is considered a potentially addictive medication and its use is monitored by the DEA. Ambien also should not be used regularly and only in cases of severe insomnia, resulting from stress. Daytime sleepiness is possible when using Ambien and other sleeping pills.

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What Is A Fill Lapband Surgery

A Lap-Band fill---a minor procedure that allows your doctor to customize the fit of your band---occurs during routine office visits and takes only 10 to 15 minutes, according to the NewHope Bariatrics (NHB) website.

Frequency

After an adjustment period---four to six weeks after surgery---you have your first fill procedure. Most patients have five to eight fills during the first year, reports NHB, and occasional fills over the years.

Adjustment

Using a thin needle, your doctor will access the band through your port to inject or remove saline. The goal of an adjustment is to reach the optimal "green zone" for portion control and weight loss.

The Green Zone

The green zone refers to the ideal fit of the band, explains NHB. Patients in the green zone have the correct amount of fluid in their bands, feel satisfied after small meals and are losing an appropriate amount of weight.

Cures For Painful Foot Bunions

Bunions develop as the result of poor balance and forces put on the front of the foot as well as shoes that are too tight and narrow to accommodate the toes. Surgery is the only real "cure" for bunions, but this is not a guarantee that the bunions will not come back. If you continue wearing high heels that are too narrow, you could develop another bunion.

Bunion Definition

A bunion is a bony bump that forms on the joint right at the base of the big toe. As this bump enlarges, it forces the alignment of the big toe to go out, which, in turn, forces the alignment of the second and third toes to go out. In time, the poor alignment of your toe can become painful. Some causes of bunions include an imbalance in the forces exerted on your foot joint as you walk and poorly fitted shoes. These include shoes with a heel more than two inches high and shoes with pointed toes.

Symptoms

Bunion symptoms include a bump on the outside of the big toe, thickening of the skin at the base of the toe, swelling, redness and soreness around the joint of the toe, pain that is persistent or intermittent, restricted movement of the big toe, and corns/calluses developing where the first and second toes begin to overlap. The smaller toes can be affected by the pressure of your big toe, which might cause your toenails to begin growing abnormally. Your smaller toes could also develop a claw-like appearance (hammertoes).

Expectation of Surgery

Your surgeon will perform surgery (bunionectomy) in order to relieve pain from the misalignment of your big toe. He will also remove excess bone growth; he may also remove some soft tissue and realign the ligaments in order to straighten your big toe with no guarantee that you will be completely pain-free after surgery. If your deformity is severe, your surgeon may need to combine surgical procedures. A bunionectomy usually takes approximately one hour; depending on the type of surgery you may need, it could take longer. You will be given a regional anesthetic that will only affect your foot and you may be sedated during surgery.

Types of Surgery

The surgery you may need will depend on your specific foot deformity. Your surgeon may decide to remove a part of the bone that is bulging out. He may have to realign the soft tissues or ligaments around your big toe joint if they have been forced out of proper alignment by the growth of your bunion. You may have a small wedge of bone removed from your toe. You may have some bone removed from the end of the first metatarsal (the bone that connects to your big toe). At this joint, your metatarsal bones and big toe are going to be reshaped. Your surgeon may fuse the big toe joint. He may also fuse the joint where the metatarsal bone joins with your mid-foot. You may wind up having an implant of all or part of an artificial joint inserted into your foot if the damage to your foot is severe enough.

Post-Surgical Recovery

Your recovery period will range from six weeks all the way up to eight months, depending on the degree of surgery you underwent. You may need one year to fully recover. You can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain management unless your doctor prescribes a prescription pain killer. After you go home, you have to keep weight off of your foot for a period of six to eight weeks and keep your foot elevated higher than your heart for several days. You may be given a special shoe or boot once you reach this stage of recovery. While you still have stitches in your foot, you have to keep the stitches dry when you bathe or shower. Your stitches will be removed in one to three weeks. If your surgeon inserted pins during surgery, these will be removed in three to four weeks. Your doctor may allow you to return to some of your normal activities in approximately six to eight weeks.

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Do Yoga Nidra Meditation

Yoga Nidra meditation is a very powerful method of relaxation. The ultimate goal of the relaxation technique is to reach a state in which the mind is very deeply relaxed, yet still conscious. This goal is achieved by slowly scanning the body with the mind.

Instructions

Perform Asanas

1. Perform some yoga asanas to release tension from the body. These may be restorative poses such as Child and Reclining Bound Angle Pose, or vigorous poses such as Sun Salutations.

2. Lie down in Savasana, also known as Corpse Pose. To achieve this pose, lie on your back and spread your arms and legs outward. Rotate your limbs and torso until you feel that your body is relaxed and in symmetry.

3. Keep the mind calm, and do not move your body. Focus your mind on the tips of your toes and then slowly move your awareness to each individual toe. Focus your mind on the soles of your feet, then on the tops of the feet and ankles. Become conscious of any physical feelings you experience as your mind moves from one part of your foot to another.

4. Move your awareness upward to your lower legs. Focus intensely on your lower legs, becoming aware of any sensations that you feel there. Become aware of the muscles and bones in your lower legs. Continue to move your mind upward to the knees, then to the thighs. Use your mind to relax the muscles in your thighs.

5. Focus your awareness on the pelvic region. Feel how your body is pressing down into the floor in this area. Move your awareness around the pelvic bones and the lower abdomen. Then become aware of the entire abdominal area. Soften and relax your abdomen. Move your consciousness around from the pelvic bones up toward the bottom of the rib cage.

6. Move your awareness to the lower back. Become aware of any sensations which you feel there. Then move your consciousness upward again to the middle back, and then to the upper back. Bring your awareness up to the shoulders.

7. Move your mind slowly downward along your upper arms, to your elbows and then to your lower arms. Relax your arms. Become aware of the wrists, then the palms and the backs of the hands. Move your awareness to your fingers, then to the tips of the fingers. Focus on each individual finger separately in your mind. When you're done, move your awareness back up your arms to your shoulders.

8. Become aware of your neck and throat. Move your awareness upward to the jaw, the mouth, the cheeks, the eyes, the temples, the forehead, and then up to the top of the head. Allow your consciousness to remain at the crown of the head for several seconds.

9. Repeat this meditation in reverse, guiding your awareness slowly back down your body to the tips of the toes. Scan the body up and down in this manner multiple times if you like.

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Check The Side Effects Of Medicine

Check the Side Effects of Medicine

Whenever you are prescribed medicine, you should always check for possible side effects. There is a wide variety of side effects for any given medication, ranging from mild to severe. Checking the side effects of medicine can be achieved in a few steps.

Instructions

1. Check the side effects of medicine online. It's easy and fast to find that information online and you don't need to be computer savvy to do so. Go to the Drugs.com website and along the top navigational panel, click on the first letter of the medication. After you click on the first letter, you'll see a listing of all medications that begin with that letter. Find the name of your medicine and click on it. On the resulting page, you'll get a lot of information on the medication, including its possible side effects.

2. Ask your doctor about side effects when he/she prescribes the medicine. Your doctor should have the latest information regarding the medication you are being prescribed.

3. Discuss side effects with your pharmacist. Your local pharmacist can tell you the side effects on any medication that your receive. Most pharmacists are happy to help and can give you detailed information.

4. Read the information that comes with your medication. Oftentimes, medicine will be accompanied by a pamphlet that lists known side effects.

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Ayurvedic Remedy For Asthma

Ayurvedic medicine originated thousands of years ago in India. The term Ayurveda comes from the Sanskrit for "the science of life." Ayurveda treats conditions through natural elements, deriving medicine from all things found in nature, including mud, plants, animals and their parts. In treating a patient, an Ayurvedic doctor first determines which of three doshas is the patient's primary dosha and how these doshas are balanced. As there are three doshas, Ayurvedic medicine treats three forms of asthma.

Asthma and Associated Doshas

Generally, asthma is considered a Kapha dosha aliment, associated with water. Asthma of this form produces clear or white phlegm and when coughing, a rattling (or crackling) sound can be heard in the wheeze. Asthma associated with the fire dosha, Pitta, produces yellow phlegm. Patients with this form are often hot with fever, may sweat and be irritable. They are most likely to exhibit symptoms around noon and midnight. The third form, Vata dosha asthma, is characterized by dry coughing, dry skin and dry mouth. Patients may be constipated and crave warm liquids.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Asthma

In dealing with asthma, the Ayurvedic practitioner is likely to employ a variety of treatments. This includes dietary and lifestyle changes to include exercise and meditation. Massage and even sunbathing may be prescribed along with herbs and small amounts of metal minerals, such as gold or iron. The practitioner may suggest the patient's body be cleansed of impurities in a process called panchakarma, which focuses on digestive as well as respiratory systems. With this may come enemas or medical oils deployed in a nasal spray.

Ayurvedic Medicines Used in Treating Asthma

Two commonly used preparations are Chyawanaprash and Agastya Rasayana. Chyawanaprash contains the fruit amla, which is an extremely high source of vitamin C. The remedy is often recommended for overly thin people. Agastya Rasayana is commonly given to patients who are also constipated. Both remedies increase the duration the patient goes without an asthma attack. Other herbs commonly used in treating asthma include: piper lungum, which builds up resistance against inflammation and aids in keeping the respiratory tract from constricting; adhatoda vasica, which manages the allergic disorders associated with bronchial asthma; and thylophora asthmatica, an anti-inflammatory, which acts like an expectorant.

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Know If I Sprained My Ankle

A sprained or twisted ankle is caused when the ligaments that hold the ankle together are stretched beyond their means. Although this is a common injury that the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons states that more than 25,000 cases happen a day, it can be very debilitating and unfortunate. If you have any one of these symptoms, you most likely have an ankle sprain.

Unable to Put Pressure on it

If you are unable to be put weight on your foot, then you could have possibly sprained it. The pain will depend on the severity of the sprain. If you are able to walk a little with a limp, then you have a light sprain. If you cannot walk at all, then you have a severe sprain. To reduce symptoms, ice and keep the foot elevated for as much as possible. If the pain continues after a few days and does not subside, then you most likely have a sprain that needs professional medical treatment.

Color and Appearance

Look at the area where your ankle is primarily affected. Is the color a dark blue or is the complexion of the skin normal? The darker blue the color, the more the severe the sprain. Look at the size of your foot. If the ankle is sprained, it will swell right after the injury and especially during icing it. It is not hard at all to tell if your ankle is swollen as it will look much puffier than your other ankle. If your ankle does not reduce in swelling within a day, then it is sprained.

How Did it Happen?

How did you cause the injury? The act of the injury will give you the most help on whether or not you actually sprained it. Did you come down on an uneven surface? Although sprained ankles usually occur during physical activity, it is not uncommon for them to happen by simply walking down the street. If your ankle came down in any sort of uneven way -- whether by stepping on someone's foot or in a hole -- you most likely have suffered an ankle sprain.

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Get An Ion Cleanse Foot Detox

The history of the ion cleanse foot detox stems back many years when it was discovered that illness exists more frequently when the body is more acidic. The purpose of the ion cleanse is to change the polarity of the atoms and pull toxins out of the body. Many spas, chiropractors and holistic healers use the ion cleanse to both change the bodies Ph and remove toxins. Read on to learn get an ion cleanse foot detox.

Instructions

1. Clean your feet. Before you leave to get an ion cleanse, make certain that your feet are clean. You remove your shoes and socks in order to get the foot cleanse.

2. Prepare to give your medical history. If you are pregnant, lactating, epileptic, have a pacemaker, on blood thinners, or have a transplanted organ you should not get a ion cleanse foot detox. Children can get an ion cleanse but it is not recommended for those under four.

3. Expect muscle testing. Many of the practitioners administer a muscle test prior to giving the detox treatment. The test identifies weaknesses and confirm whether an ion cleanse is necessary and if so the amount of time that your feet should remain in the water.

4. Wait for the technician giving the ion cleanse foot detox to fill a lined pan with warm water and add a bit of sea salt. Remove all jewelry, watches, cell phones and put your feet in the warm water for a treatment. The practitioner giving the treatment then hooks a small machine to the edge of the pan and turns it on.

5. Stay calm if you feel an initial tingle or pressure on your toenails when the machine starts. This lasts a few seconds and is not particularly uncomfortable.

6. Watch as the water changes slightly. Initially the water changes color slightly due to the minerals in the water and the salt. This has nothing to do with the waste that it draws from your body.

7. Read a book. Changes occur in the water as the toxins are pulled through the pores in your feet. Clumps of mucous, parasites, bits of metal and other toxins change the color of the water dramatically. Check the color of the water after the ion cleanse foot detox. The different colors indicate the area of the body that produced the waste.

8. Wait for the foot rinse followed by a short foot message with scented lotion and a vitamin mineral drink. Not all practitioners apply the lotion or give a nutritional supplement. The lotion contains herbs that are absorbed through the open pores in the feet. The supplement aids in replenishing any mineral and vitamin shortage.

Tags: your feet, cleanse foot detox, foot detox, cleanse foot, cleanse foot, color water

Stage 3 Breast Cancer Symptoms

There are four stages of breast cancer, and those stages are further divided according to the cancer's severity. The third stage of breast cancer has a number of common symptoms; if you notice any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. If caught early, stage 3 breast cancer is treatable.

General Symptoms

Redness, swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, a thickening of the skin, breast or nipple pain, nipple discharge and unusual lumps can all be symptoms of breast cancer.

Stage IIIA

Stage IIIA breast cancer is usually defined as a tumor found near the lymph nodes that is larger than 5 cm. Occasionally, however, no tumor is seen or felt in stage IIIA breast cancer. If the lymph nodes in the breast region, near your inner armpits, are swollen, call a doctor.

Stage IIIB

Stage IIIB cancer involves a tumor of any size that has spread to tissue near the breast. Stage IIIB also includes inflammatory breast cancer, a rare but aggressive form. It is noticeable by swelling or inflammation. Your skin will often have the same texture as an orange peel in the nipple area, and extreme changes in skin color are also common.

Stage IIIC

Stage IIIC breast cancer is an invasive stage of breast cancer. If a tumor exists in the breast, it could have spread to the breast skin, under the armpits, under the breast bone or up to the collarbone. Be alert for skin near the breast area that seems abnormal in color, texture or swelling.

Treatment

Common therapies used to fight breast cancer include radiation, chemotherapy, lumpectomy and mastectomy.

Tags: breast cancer, stage breast, Stage IIIB, IIIA breast, IIIA breast cancer, lymph nodes

How Iui Works

What is IUI

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a relatively inexpensive form of assisted reproduction that helps a woman conceive. IUI is an outpatient procedure similar to a pap smear.

Some IUI patients use fertility medications such as Clomid or hormone injections to stimulate egg production, in which case follicle development should be tracked by ultrasound and blood work. The IUI is done when the size of the follicles indicates maturity and blood work indicates hormonal readiness.

If no fertility medications are used, a woman tracks her natural cycle and notifies the doctor when her OPK (ovulation predictor kit) is positive.

Timing is important and patients should carefully follow all directions from their doctors.

How IUI Works

IUI is for women with clear fallopian tubes who ovulate or can be made to ovulate with medication. Women may be asked to undergo a hysterosalpingogram, a test that ensures the fallopian tubes are open prior to an IUI cycle. IUI also bypasses cervical mucus in situations where it is a problem.

For men, IUI is used in cases of low sperm count, decreased mobility or with sperm donors.

It is common to try IUI before moving to IVF. The exact number of IUI cycles depends on a couple's medical history and should be discussed with their doctor.

How IUI Works

The IUI procedure takes just a few minutes and involves a speculum, a catheter and sperm. The sperm are washed and sterilized to prevent pelvic infection. Then, a catheter is threaded into the vagina and deposits the sperm directly in the uterus to await the egg.

Men will be required to provide sperm. If low sperm count or decreased mobility is an issue, there may be additional requirements in advance of the IUI to improve quality.

Once the IUI is complete, patients may return to regular activities. A pregnancy test can be taken in 2 weeks to confirm the IUI result.

IUI Success Rates

The success of an IUI cycle is dependent on a couple's health and history, but the American Pregnancy Association puts IUI success rates at 10 to 20 percent. Younger patients have higher rates of IUI pregnancy than older patients.

IUI Cost

Cost varies by region and country, but expect the IUI to cost between $300 and $500. If fertility medications are used, the cost goes up to several thousand dollars.

IUI Risks

IUI is a safe procedure, with a less than 1 percent chance of pelvic infection. For IUI cycles using fertility medications, there is a risk of ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome. Patients should notify their doctors if they experience fever, unusual pelvic or abdominal pain, difficulty breathing or sudden weight gain after the IUI.

IUI patients under the age of 30 and also using fertility medications have an increased risk of multiples. This risk can be managed by close ultrasound supervision of follicle development. If a large number of follicles respond, there is a risk that a doctor will cancel the IUI.

Tags: fertility medications, blood work, count decreased, count decreased mobility, decreased mobility, fallopian tubes, fertility medications used

How Do Ambulances Respond To Emergencies

Call an Ambulance

If you or someone you know is involved in an accident or having a medical emergency, you will need to call for an ambulance. In the United States and Canada, the number to use is 9-1-1. Other countries have different codes. This number should only be used in actual emergency situations. Calling this number will put you in touch with a professional team that will respond to your call and send out whatever personnel are best to handle your situation. In order for them to do their job, it is important to not hang up until the operator says it is OK to do so, unless you are in a life-threatening situation. The operator will need to collect enough information to help the ambulance personnel be as prepared as possible upon arrival.

Your Call Is Received at 911, 999 or Other Emergency Call Center

When you call your country's emergency number you are connected to a network that will respond to your emergency. Your call will be answered by a dispatcher who will determine your location, the nature of your emergency and whether an ambulance should be sent. If an ambulance is needed, the dispatcher will contact your local authorities and request that an ambulance be dispatched to the scene. Help is often dispatched while you are on the phone and when the dispatcher is still collecting information.

A Professionally Staffed and Stacked Ambulance Is Sent

One or several professionals such as an EMT (emergency medical technician) or paramedic who has been specially trained to deal with emergencies will arrive in the ambulance. The ambulance is stocked with supplies to manage many types of situations. They often have oxygen, first aid supplies, defibrillators, cardiac monitors, IV equipment, medications for pain, allergy and respiratory conditions, and communication devices to allow them to call a hospital or doctor for additional instructions if needed. If you or another victim is in a life-threatening situation, they can administer care while you are being transported. This is why it is best to never drive yourself or another victim to the hospital. The ambulance has all of the necessary equipment to support you until you can get full medical care.

You Will Be Examined and Treated

When the ambulance arrives you and any other victims will be evaluated and provided with the appropriate care. The emergency personnel will ask you questions about what happened and obtain information on your past medical history as well as current symptoms. They will take your vital signs (heart rate, blood pressure, rate of respiration and general appearance) and make that information available to the physician who will be treating you. You will be offered transport in the ambulance to the hospital. If a victim is a minor and no parent or guardian is there, is unconscious, or is deemed unable to make appropriate decisions, he or she will automatically be taken to the hospital. If you are conscious and able to communicate your needs, you can accept or decline the transport to the hospital. It is your decision as to how much care you receive. You can refuse to be treated at the scene. You can choose to be treated and examined at the scene but then decline any further care. If the ambulance does transport you, you will be taken to the emergency room and released into the care of the hospital staff.

Tags: another victim, dispatcher will, life-threatening situation, respond your, that will, that will respond

Exercises To Relieve Lower Back Muscle Spasms

Generally, when people experience acute lower-back spasms, the last thing they want to do is exercise to relieve the pain. The usual response is to take it easy and avoid any physical activity. But, after a couple days of rest, this procedure can actually delay the healing process and prolong the lower-back spasms. However, gradual and controlled active back exercises executed properly can alleviate discomfort and realign the spine.

McKenzie Exercises

Before you attempt any form of exercise, you should always consult your physician or physical therapist, first. McKenzie exercises were developed by a New Zealand physical therapist who discovered that by doing specific spine-lengthening exercises, you could reduce pain, due to a lack of disk space. These extension exercises can also reduce the pain of a herniated disk by reducing pain caused by the impinged nerve.

For people with a radiculopathy (herniated disk), this form of exercise may reduce the leg pain that often accompanies this condition by moving the pain from the leg to the back. Back pain is more tolerable and the patient might be able to continue to exercise, avoiding surgical removal of the disk. In addition, people with degenerative disk disease can benefit by doing McKenzie back exercises by relieving pressure off the disks. However, elderly people with osteoarthritis or lumbar stenosis should avoid these exercises.

To begin the McKenzie roll-up exercise, lay flat on the floor and face down. It is important to remember to keep your hips and legs relaxed as you keep contact with the floor. Keep you hands parallel to your shoulders, palms resting on the floor. Take a deep breath and exhale. Using your hands, pull yourself up making sure that the lower half of your body remains relaxed. Hold this position until you need to take another breath. Then, slowly lower yourself onto the mat. Repeat this exercise ten times.

Other Back Exercises

The back flexion exercise is performed on the floor. Lye on the floor and bring both knees to your chest while flexing your head forward so that you're curled into a ball. Hold this position for 8 to 10 seconds. Repeat this exercise 8 to12 times.

The gluteus stretch is done on the floor face up. Bend the right knee to your chest and bring your left leg over the right leg, resting the ankle on the knee. Brace your right hand on the outside of your right thigh and put the left hand on the inside of the right thigh. Using both hands, locked, pull forward. Hold for thirty seconds for maximum effectiveness. Repeat on the other side. Repeat the entire exercise three times and do three to six times each day. You should feel the lengthening of you hamstrings and glutes. But, this shouldn't upset your lower back symptoms.

For the piriformis exercise, lay on the floor, face up. Bring your right knee up. Using your left hand, pull it towards your opposite chest. You feel the stretch in the piriformis in the right glute. Hold the position for at 30 seconds, anything less will not be effective. Do this exercise three times and repeat three to six times daily.

Tags: three times, floor face, people with, reduce pain, this exercise

Natural Sleep Remedies For Toddlers

Chamomile has been used for centuries to help people sleep.

Many toddlers make a fuss over going to bed at night. But sometimes, a toddler really is having trouble falling or staying asleep. There are some natural sleep remedies available, as well as some things you can change in your daily routine to help your toddler sleep at night.

Herbal Remedies

Several herbs have been used for centuries for their sleep-inducing or calming properties. Chamomile is perhaps the most well-known. California poppy, lavender and peppermint are also helpful and can be taken in tea form. There are also natural products that contain an assortment of herbs to help your toddler fall asleep. As when giving any supplement to your child, ask his doctor beforehand.

Aromatherapy

There are scents that can help calm a toddler's mind and relax her enough to help her sleep. Lavender is a common oil used in aromatherapy to help with sleep, and has a pleasant, familiar scent. Chamomile and sage can also be used. There are oil lamps and warmers that can be used, as well as candles and sprays. Some companies sell sprays with a mixture of calming oils. Besides the relaxing effects of aromatherapy, these scents will also help when, after a few days, your child begins to associate these smells with bedtime. You can also purchase baby shampoos and body washes that contain these scents, and use them during a before-bed bath to help your child wind down.

Foods that Help with Sleep

A glass of warm milk, long a popular before-bed snack, actually does help. Milk contains L-tryptophan, a sleep-inducing amino acid. Some foods that also contain L-tryptophan are turkey, cheese, nuts, beans and eggs. Consider having one of these foods for dinner.

Other Things To Do

Don't let your child watch television or play video games before bed, as these can get your child excited and make it hard for her to sleep. Make her bedroom as dark as possible. Get black-out curtains for the windows if her bedtime comes when it's still light out. A small nightlight is all right if she's afraid of the dark. Avoid rough, loud or very active play in the few hours before bedtime. Coloring, reading books and playing with a dollhouse or other similar quiet activities are recommended. Avoid caffeinated drinks from the afternoon on. Also avoid giving sugary snacks or drinks in the hours before bed. Dessert can consist of some fruit slices.

Tags: your child, help your, been used, been used centuries, help your toddler

Use Aloe Vera To Make Herbal Cosmetics

Aloe Vera - close-up of an Aloe Vera Leaf

Aloe Vera (aloe barbadensis) has, quite appropriately, been called the "first-aid" plant. The sap of this wonder-plant is loaded with a wealth of natural healing properties that are especially beneficial to our skin. Aloe Vera's emollient, moisturizing qualities make it a popular ingredient in cosmetics, sun tan lotions, facials and shaving creams. Read on to learn use Aloe Vera to make herbal cosmetics.

Instructions

Make Your Own Aloe Vera Gel

1. Use a paring knife to slice off the leaf's spikes. Peel off the leaf's outer skin.

2. Put the peeled Aloe Vera in the blender and blend it to a pulp.

3. Measure out 1/4 cup of pulp. Crush the Vitamin C tablet to powder (you can use a spoon). Add it to the blended Aloe Vera. Puncture or open the Vitamin E and squeeze the contents into the mixture. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.

4. Store the gel in a clean jar and refrigerate. Use your Aloe Vera gel as a remedy for irritated skin, cuts, burns or wounds. You can apply it several times a day.

Make a Soothing Aloe Vera Body Oil

5. Pour all the ingredients into a clean, sterilized bottle.

6. Shake to mix thoroughly.

7. Store for up to a month.

Make a Moisturizing Aloe Vera Shampoo

8. Pour all the ingredients into the bottle and shake to mix well

9. Wet your hair and apply a liberal amount of the shampoo, working it into a lather.

10. Leave it in for a few minutes an then rinse it out with cool water. Always shake well before using to ensure the ingredients are thoroughly mixed

Make a Moisturizing Aloe Vera Shower Gel

11. Pour the water into a bowl. Stir in the shampoo.

12. Add the rest of the ingredients, mixing well.

13. Pour into the squeezable bottle.

Tags: Aloe Vera, ingredients into, ingredients thoroughly, Make Moisturizing, Make Moisturizing Aloe, Moisturizing Aloe, Moisturizing Aloe Vera

Use Ear Drops

Many people balk when prescribed ear drops. They recall past mishaps. The ear drop medicine rolled down the cheek instead of the ear canal. The cold drops caused pain when they entered the ear. Too many drops were released in use. However, by following a few simple steps these problems can be avoided.

Instructions

1. Ready the ear drops. Roll the bottle back and forth between the palms to warm the contents. Shake the bottle to mix the ingredients. Unscrew the top. If the dropper is a separate unit, squeeze the bulb to pull the medicine into the dropper.

2. Get in position. Lean the head to one side with the afflicted ear facing upward. With one hand, carefully pull the ear lobe away from the neck to extend the ear canal.

3. Hit the target. With the free hand, hold the tip of the bottle or dropper directly over the opening of the ear without touching the ear. Gently squeeze the bottle or dropper bulb to release the drops. Let go of the earlobe.

4. Remain in position for several minutes. Lightly rub the side of the face in front of the ear. This helps the medicine travel down the ear canal.

5. Clean up. Sit upright. Wipe away any seepage from the ear with a tissue. Secure the top on the bottle. Clean hands to remove any residual medication.

Tags: bottle dropper

Exercises After A Bunionectomy

Surgery is sometimes necessary to improve the condition of a foot with bunions. It is a serious surgery that requires physical therapy and almost constant exercise to prevent the joint from becoming stiff. By doing these exercises as recommended by your doctor, you will hasten recovery and maintain full range of motion in your affected toes.

Flex your toes

Use your hand to flex and manipulate your toes. With your doctor's permission, beginning in the third and fourth weeks, flex your toe upward as far as you can comfortably. Then move it in the opposite direction. Do this two or three times a day. At five weeks, increase the frequency of this exercise. Also gently separate your big toe from your other toes and hold for a few seconds.

Weight bearing

Lift your heel off the floor, putting your weight on your toes. This will force your toe to flex upwards. Hold this pose for 10 seconds. If your toe can't tolerate 10 seconds at first, then start with three to four seconds and work your way up. This exercise is safe to begin at six or seven weeks after surgery.

Massage

Massage the toe and scar area with Vitamin E oil to soften the scar tissue and ease stiffness. Rub the foot in the direction of the leg to move any swelling out of the foot. You can massage the bottom of your foot by rolling it on a tennis ball or rolling pin.

Toe curls

To encourage your toe to curl, you can practice picking up items with your toes. You can pick up a pile of socks one at a time with your toes. You can practice picking up a towel while watching television. Once you can pick up towels and socks, try picking up pencils and marbles.

Tags: your toes, practice picking, with your, with your toes, your doctor

Types Of Seaweed

Seaweed is an abundant plant that can be found throughout the world's oceans. With over 9,000 species, it is also a highly varied plant. Seaweed is incredibly useful to humans, functioning as food and as well being used as in industries such as agriculture, health and cosmetics.

Types

Though there are thousands of species of seaweed, there are only three major types. These are green, red and brown seaweeds.

Geography

Seaweed is found all over the world but at different depths. Green seaweed grows near shored in shallow water, brown seaweed at depths between 50 and 75 feet, and red seaweed up to 879 feet deep.

Identification

Green seaweed resembles branching fronds or irregular sheets, brown seaweed resembles long strips of masking tape, and red seaweed often presents itself in fern-like strands.

Use as Food

Green seaweed provides food for an array of sea creatures, especially the sea lettuce species. Humans eat seaweed as well; red types are seen in Japanese cooking and also in some European dishes.

Other Uses

All types of seaweed can be burned to remove minerals from it (also called kelp). Kelp is used in fertilizers, beauty products and reagents for dietary deficiencies in humans and farm animals.

Tags: Green seaweed, brown seaweed, seaweed resembles

Zoll Battery Storage Temperature

Zoll batteries are used in defibrillators and other hospital equipment.

Zoll Medical Corporation produces equipment designed for important tasks like saving lives. Therefore, products like batteries need to be stored at the right temperature to ensure they work properly when needed.

Operating/Charging

The range of temperature optimal for a Zoll smart battery depends on whether it is being used or not. The proper operating temperature is 0 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. The optimal charging temperature is narrower, ranging from 15 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius.

Storage

The proper storage temperature for a Zoll smart battery is the broadest of the three ranges. A Zoll battery can be stored from -40 degrees Celsius to 70 degrees Celsius.

Significance

Zoll smart battery modules have a microprocessor that indicates the amount of time remaining before the battery needs to be recharged. A storage temperature that is too high or too low may affect the life of the battery.

Tags: degrees Celsius, Zoll smart battery, Celsius degrees, Celsius degrees Celsius, degrees Celsius degrees

How Does Psychology Work

Psychology: The Basics

Psychology is the study of the human mind's thought processes, behavior. Psychology is largely scientific and involves theories, processes and experimentation in order to get a better understanding of how people's minds work. With society constantly changing and technology vastly improving, psychology will be a never-ending study. Regardless of how you approach it, psychology isn't limited to couches, nor is it limited to labs. Psychology works because people believe that once you study the mind's behavior you begin to learn more about others and, most importantly, about yourself.

Beyond The Couch

Some largely attribute psychology to "head shrinking" and people lying on couches telling their life stories to a stranger, but there is much more to the field than that. For example, behavioral psychology can study behavior among humans and animals. Academic psychologists can focus on testing people's intelligences in various aspects of study or fields. The main test that determines a person's general IQ score, the WAIS III, can only be distributed by psychologists with a master's degree or higher. Industrial psychologists focus on people's mindsets, behaviors and interactions around the work place.

Psychotherapy

How psychology works for counselors is defined by even more theories and studies. Psychotherapists specialize in "talk therapy" to help people solve whichever problems they need solved. Psychotherapists can sometimes use cognitive behavioral therapy to help a person solve issues. That involves laying out a person's thought processes and life events out on paper or from a "logical" perspective and developing step-by-step plans to reach a certain goal. Psychoanalysts would look into a person's relationships with their parents and unconscious thoughts (and sometimes unconscious "collective" thoughts) to reach goals. Postmodern psychotherapists would analyze a person's current situation and relationships and attempt to help change behavior by observing and sometimes "joining" in as an ally, enemy, family member or friend to point out various details that can be eye opening to a patient. Could you imagine being in a psychologist's office and in the middle of your speech he gets up and walks out of the room for a few minutes just to break up your natural rhythm? It can happen in a postmodern psychotherapist's office.

Group Therapy

Group therapy is also a way that psychologists can help people. They manage small groups of people and facilitate discussions so that others can benefit from their own shared or different experiences. They learn ask questions for the benefit of the group and help create guidelines that groups can agree on. For example, people who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder have shown to benefit more from group therapy than any other because PTSD suffers feel that no one can understand the trauma-except maybe others who had the same experience.

Tags: help people, psychologists focus, therapy help, thought processes

Information Leukemia

Leukemia is a form of cancer that affects a person's blood or bone marrow. An abundance of white cells in the bloodstream is characteristic of leukemia. There are different types of leukemia, with some forms more prevalent among adults. Several different methods are used to treat patients with leukemia.

Types

Patients can be diagnosed with four different types of leukemia. Two are considered chronic forms that tend to grow slowly over time. There are also two acute forms of leukemia that grow rapidly. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) affect the body's lymphocytes. Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) affect the body's myeloid cells.

The Facts

Leukemia can affect people of any age. While it is more common for adults over the age of 60, young children can also be diagnosed with leukemia. The most common type of leukemia found in adults is chronic lymphocytic, with 15,000 cases diagnosed every year. Children are more commonly diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia. While chronic myeloid leukemia is typically only found in adults, acute myeloid leukemia can be found in children as well.

Symptoms

Symptoms will vary depending on the severity and type of leukemia. Chronic leukemia might not produce any symptoms. In many cases, chronic leukemia is discovered by chance through routine blood work. Acute leukemia may produce a variety of symptoms including headaches, confusion, weak muscles and even seizures. All forms of leukemia can cause people to feel overly tired. Unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats and painful joints can also be symptoms.

Diagnosis

Blood work is used to diagnose leukemia. Doctors will perform several tests to determine the amount of platelets, red cells and white cells that are in the blood. Doctors might also look for abnormalities by examining cells within the blood under a microscope. Biopsies of the bone marrow are a common method of confirming leukemia cells are present. Diagnostic tests might be performed over the course of treatment to determine how well the body is responding.

Treatment

Treatment options will vary depending on the type of leukemia and a person's overall health. Both acute forms of leukemia should be treated immediately. Chronic types of leukemia may not require any treatment initially. Once symptoms are noticeable, a doctor will typically begin treatment. Chemotherapy is a common treatment method. This treatment uses drugs administered orally, or through an IV, to kill the leukemia cells. Radiation therapy is another common treatment method. It exposes certain areas of the body affected by leukemia to high doses of radiation in an attempt to kill the cancerous cells. Doctors might also perform a stem cell transplant in order to administer more aggressive treatment.

Tags: myeloid leukemia, diagnosed with, forms leukemia, lymphocytic leukemia, type leukemia

Gastric Bypass Surgery Vs Lap Band

Bariatric, or weight loss, surgery, can help obese people quickly lose weight -- heightening self-esteem and easing serious medical conditions associated with excess weight such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular conditions and sleep apnea. Gastric bypass and gastric banding surgeries are two popular types of weight loss surgery, and each procedure has its pros and cons.

Bypass

Most gastric bypass surgeries are Roux-en-Y bypasses, in which a surgeon cuts the stomach into two parts and attaches the upper, smaller part directly to the small intestine. The smaller stomach can hold less food, restricting the amount of food you eat, and can also absorb less calories.

Considerations

Gastric bypass causes quick weight loss and the weight loss usually stays off. However, since you have less ability to absorb food, you're at risk of vitamin deficiency if you don't eat correctly, and if you eat sugary or high-carbohydrate foods, you'll experience "dumping" (gastrointestinal distress and weakness). The process is irreversible.

Banding

In gastric banding, a surgeon places a band around your stomach. This makes your stomach smaller and forces you to eat less (food must also be soft before it is swallowed).

Considerations

Unlike bypass surgery, gastric banding is reversible, and the surgery involved is less invasive. However, weight loss is slower than with bypass surgery and you are more likely to put weight back on.

Similiarities

With both bypass surgery and gastric banding, patients must adjust their diets and exercise after the procedure.

Tags: weight loss, gastric banding, bypass surgery, bypass surgery gastric, less food

Remedy For A Cat Bite

Cats can bite all the way through a human finger or sink their teeth into human flesh all the way to their gum line. Cats bite when they are scared, in pain, confused, when giving birth or just while eating food. Deep penetrating puncture cat bites require a doctor's care and immediate antibiotics. Infection begins immediately and red lines begin to radiate from the bite.

Call Your Doctor

Call your doctor immediately for deep penetrating cat bites. Seventy-five percent of cat bites inflict Pasteurella multocida and septica. Cat bites contain a complex mixture of bacteria, which includes organisms not usually identified in clinical microbiology laboratories. Some cat bites inflict streptococci or staphylococci, but rarer bacteria are often found in cat bites.

Your doctor will usually prescribe a combination of antibiotics for the infection and give you a tetanus booster if necessary. If you were bit by a wild feral cat, you may need anti-rabies treatment.

Clean the Wound

Wash the wound thoroughly with antibacterial soap and warm water to remove as much saliva and bacteria as possible. Run clean water over the wound to rinse. If possible, wash the wound a second time with a povidine or bacitracin solution. Apply antibiotic ointment to the wound and surrounding area to prevent bacteria on the skin from getting into the wound.

Stop the Bleeding

Apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth. Elevate the wound above heart level to stop the gravitational flow of the blood. Bleeding should stop within 15 minutes. Bleeding removes some of the saliva and bacteria from the wound.

Bandage the Wound

Apply sterile gauze to the wound when the bleeding has almost stopped. The bandage should be tight enough to hold pressure on the wound to prevent further bleeding. The bandage also protects the wound from contamination. When the bleeding has definitely stopped, bandage the wound with clean gauze or a clean dry cloth. Tape the bandage with adhesive medical tape. A band aid might work.

Begin Antibiotics

Start your antibiotics immediately. The antibiotics should start to overcome the infection in about 24 hours. The red lines radiating from the wound should disappear within 48 hours. The pain will subside in about two days and the wound will heal in about a week. Take every antibiotic. Do not stop taking the antibiotics when the pain subsides.

Beware of Complications

Fever, abscesses, swollen lymph glands or swelling at the wound site with drainage requires another visit to the doctor or the emergency room. Bites to the hand are more complicated as the hand has many bones, tendons and joints with less circulating blood. Severe osteomyelitis or septic arthritis can occur in the hand, wrist or elbow. Cat bites to small children are extremely dangerous. A child putting his face on the cat may even result in a fractured bone from a bite.

Tags: bites inflict, Cats bite, clean cloth, from bite, from wound

How Does Myoplex Work

Whey-Based Protein

Oil Diffuser Instructions

Homemade oil diffusers waft wonderful scents in the air.

Oil diffusers are a lovely way to fill your home with a favorite scent. Bamboo skewers or diffuser reeds in an oil mixture gradually absorb the oil, diffusing the aroma into the air. Homemade oil diffusers and the scented oils in them are inexpensive to make and uncomplicated to create. They are popular gifts for any occasion, but particularly housewarming parties or newlyweds.

Instructions

1. Choose a small glass bottle with a narrow opening at the top. You can use opaque, clear or colored glass, as this will not affect the release of the fragrance.

2. Add about 12 drops of your favorite essential oil to ¼ cup of carrier oil in the glass bottle. Excellent carrier oils are safflower, sweet almond or mineral oil.

3. Dribble several drops of vodka into the oil mixture. Alternately, you can use a spritz or a few drops of your favorite perfume containing alcohol. This will scent the oil as effectively as the essential oil.

4. Stick four to six bamboo skewers or diffuser reeds into the bottle with the oil mixture. Let them sit in the oil for at least an hour.

5. Remove the skewers or reeds and turn them upside down to replace them into the oil. This will give the mixture an excellent headstart on diffusing the scent into the air.

6. Replenish the supply of oil as needed. This is an ideal time to experiment with different scents or make a large supply of the scented oil to store in a jar with a lid.

Tags: bottle with, diffuser reeds, drops your, drops your favorite, glass bottle, Homemade diffusers, skewers diffuser

Gall Bladder Polyp Treatment

Some physicians believe that gallbladder polyps can herald the beginning of gallbladder cancer. There are just as many, however, who do not agree, since that connection is extremely rare. Polyps on the gallbladder are nodules that protrude from the organ lining. While some polyps are actually tumors, which can be either benign or cancerous, others are cholesterol deposits that stick to the organ wall. Treatment option depends upon the type of polyp identified.

Laparoscopic Gall Bladder Surgery

Polyps less than one centimeter in size are not usually cancerous and can be removed through laparoscopic surgery. This involves making small incisions into the abdomen through which carbon dioxide is pumped to extend the surgeon's viewing area. Several laparoscopic video devices are eased into the incisions and hooked to a video monitor to show the operative area. Polyps can be removed without additional surgery unless cancer is identified.

Laparoscopic surgery is a popular choice because it is safer than open surgery, the post-operative pain level is lower, recovery time is shorter, and a quick return to normal activity is anticipated. It can often be performed on an outpatient basis.

Cholescystecomy (Gall Bladder Removal)

Polyps larger than one centimeter in size are often cancerous. In some cases, the cancer spreads from the lining into the gallbladder and beyond. In such instances removal of all the affected area is necessary by surgical cholescystecomy. While in some cases that is sufficient treatment, in others chemotherapy follow-up may be required.

A cholescystecomy is open surgery requiring a two- to four-inch incision in the upper abdomen of the right side. The tissue surrounding the organ and the lymph glands are sent to the lab for biopsy until all of the cancer is believed to be removed from the area.

What to Expect Before, During and After Surgery

A physical exam and x-rays are required before surgery. Once they are complete, the surgeon will outline the procedure to be used and answer your questions.

Colon cleansing is usually required, and patients may be instructed to follow a strict diet for several days prior to the procedure. The surgeon may halt use of anti-inflammatory drugs, blood thinners, diet pills, St. John's Wort and vitamin E. Patients will be asked to shower prior to surgery, using antibacterial soap.

During surgery patients are given a hospital gown to wear, and the the surgical area is sterilized. An IV is started to keep the body hydrated and to provide a mechanism through which medications can be injected if necessary. An anesthesiologist will administer anesthesia and monitor the patient throughout surgery.

After surgery, incisions are stitched or stapled closed, and a sterile dressing is applied. Outpatient clients will be allowed to go home once anesthesia has worn off and vital signs return to normal. Hospital patients can expect one or two days in inpatient care.

Tags: Gall Bladder, centimeter size, identified Laparoscopic, open surgery, return normal

Avoid Deadly Poisons

Poisonous materials exist everywhere in society. Many poisons are known, but some are a mystery to most people. It is beneficial to everyone to be savvy about potentially poisonous materials. Here’s potentially save a life and avoid deadly poisons.

Instructions

1. Perform an online search. A simple search will reveal listing after listing of deadly poisons. Commit the information to memory and share the information with family and friends.

2. Avoid exotic delicacies. Many of them have unknown toxins in them. The puffer fish, for example, is a rare dish served in Japan. The fish contains tetrodotoxin that is poisonous when ingested. The toxin exists even after the fish is cooked and causes major paralysis.

3. Don’t eat exotic mushrooms. Specifically, those mushrooms from the death cap family of mushrooms contain amatoxin. Eating these mushrooms can lead to unbearable pain and death. Make sure common varieties of mushrooms are prepared for meals.

4. Stay away from pesticides. This is a given, but because most people encounter them in yards and other common areas, it is necessary to take extra precautions when dealing with pesticides. Make sure children are not in the vicinity of their use and directions for use are followed to the letter.

5. Read the labels. Often poisons are completely avoidable if labels are read to avoid unnecessary exposure or hazardous interactions. Avoiding deadly poisons may be as simple as taking a few minutes to read about any foreign items that are encountered on a daily basis.

6. Know that poisons are potentially everywhere.

Tags: deadly poisons, Make sure, most people

Ionic Cleansing

Ionic cleansing is a type of alternative medical treatment that utilizes atomic principles to draw toxins out of the body. The goal of ionic cleansing is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of body and mind by decreasing concentrations of metals, poisonous chemicals and excess nutrients in muscles and organs. The treatment has been sanctioned by the FCC as safe and enjoys an enthusiastic following; however, the medical benefits of ionic cleansing have yet to be proved by the mainstream medical community.

Toxins

The toxins that ionic cleansing focuses on extracting are believed to build up in the muscles and organs of the body over time. Toxins enter the body through several points, predominantly the lungs and stomach. The lungs are a key entry point for toxins that are found in breathable air, such as nitrogen, methane and the waste chemicals found in smog. Similarly, most food that is consumed, particularly processed or chemically treated food, brings powerful toxins into the body like pesticides, complex salts, ammonia and chlorine.

Dangers

The accumulation of these toxins in the tissue of the body is accused of causing a variety of health problems, from insomnia to cancer. A major claim of ionic cleansing enthusiasts is that the increased number of harmful agents in the body causes the slow breakdown of the immune system and prevents the body from fighting off disease, infection, and parasites. Believers in ionic cleansing also claim that these toxins increase the number of free radicals in the body, thus hastening the aging process and shortening the length of an individual's life.

Function

Unlike other forms of cleansing that utilize dietary supplements or special diets, ionic cleanses are applied in the form of a foot bath. Users place their feet in a tub of water containing the ionic detoxifying device for 30 minutes. The ionic detoxifying device is an electrically powered appliance that runs a mild positive and negative current through the water to magnetize the ionic particles in the water. These ions are absorbed into the body through the skin and bond with the toxins to neutralize them and their negative effect. These neutralized toxins are then drawn to the feet by gravity and leave the body through the pores in the feet. Sea salt is often added to the water to assist in the conduction of the current and increase the efficiency of the process. A full treatment regime is between 12 and 14 sessions, and each session costs between $25 an $50 depending on the provider.

Results