How Specific Treatment And Exercises Helps Lower Back Pain

Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by Florentina Ryan on 03-09-2008

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by Florentina Ryan

Tips and Remedies To Remember: Part-5 Back pain - can be avoided by simple cautionary measures, usually, by making slight modifications to things we do every day. *Standing -When standing upright, your chest must be forward, head up, shoulders must be straight, and your weight should be evenly distributed between your feet, with your hips tucked in. Avoid staying in the same position if you have to be standing for long periods.Move around and change your positions regularly. *Sitting- Avoid prolong sitting, Sit for as little as possible,even if for only short periods of time.Get up and walk around often, short walk across a room will be very effective.Sit with a support positioned by putting a rolled towel or firm pillow in the curve of your back if working in a sitting position for a long time, Keep your hips and knees at right angles. Replace the chair or get a stool to rest your feet on if your chair is too high.

*Lifting- avoid lifting heavy objects, or lifting different sizes or shapes which make them awkward to move. When lifting avoid lifting with your back, keep the object close to your body and let your legs do the work . *Exercise program keeps the muscles strong and flexible and can prevent many back injury. Designing your own exercise do so with the aid of your physician, physical therapist, or a qualified trainer.

*Sleeping- Invest in a solid, firm mattress and box spring that will support your body without sagging. You must sleep in a position where the curve in your back can be supported and guarantee you of a better sleep and rest. * Controlled Breathing -Control your breathing slow and steady for a couple of minutes. You must focus on rhythmic, controlled breathing, hold inhaled breaths in for about three seconds, exhale and repeat to help focus from back pain allowing the body to respond naturally on its own. Repeat as required to help the body relax.

*REST- for a couple of days.Pick a couple of your most comfortable breathing positions above and use them regularly throughout the day. Get up and move around a little, walking and arching your back a little will be beneficial.Add some light stretching activities like gently pulling knees, one at a time, to your chest and etc.

*Swimming- in a heated pool relieves pain, loosen the muscles and get rid of the toxins in the body that produce pain and inflammation.There is less stiffness, more flexibility and tend to require less pain killer. Riding a light stationary bike or sitting in a comfortable chair for brief periods may be effective. Medications- only take drugs that are prescribed by your doctor and only when needed.

Ask about the availability of other back pain remedies including herbal treatments, be aware, that these alternative products are not thoroughly tested. *Cold -applied to the back pain after first 24-48 hours to reduce the swelling or inflammation by constricting the blood vessels and therefore reduces pain. *Heat- can be used once the swelling has subsided, is very soothing. Use heat before physical activity.

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Acupuncture - A Primer

Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by Bi Kun tan on 25-08-2008

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by Bi Kun tan

The benefits of acupuncture to the human body have been understood and supported in Eastern medicinal practices for centuries. With the amount of negative press in the popular media and criticism regarding this procedure, many find themselves skeptical of the treatment. For many people, what can be expected from acupuncture, including its side effects and limits remains unknown.

Procedures of Chinese acupuncture are actually well refined, as they have been practiced for many years. Even in today’s medically advanced world, the practice has been determined as a safe, effective treatment for some people with disorders that have been a burden for years. Here is an outline of what can be expected from the acupuncture procedure as well as limits and side effects:

Acupuncture starts with the use of sterile needles, today made almost exclusively of stainless steel. The needles sterilization is done with ethylene oxide, which can be used on the needles without damaging their construction. The needles are coated on the top with a wire that allows for a better grip by the acupuncturist when placing them about the body.

Using an acupuncturing reference model that likely includes a diagram of needle insertion locations on the human body based on the type of treatment, the acupuncturist will start the procedure by placing needles in the patient’s skin. A particular treatment may require a cluster of a couple dozen needles in a few places on the body, while a full body treatment may require the placing of hundreds of needles.

The process of heating needles after their placement in skin, also known as Moxibustion, may be required for various treatments. Burning herbs, commonly located on the end of the needle extending from the skin, will be used to heat the needles after insertion. This is used to provide therapy for internal tissue in contact with the needle.

Due to the nature of the treatment, acupuncture is considered an invasive treatment, and can come with some risks. The main risk of the treatment is minor bleeding from the site of puncture, seen in about 3 of every 100 patients. Often, this can be stopped within a minute of removal of the needle, but differs from patient to patient.

The treatment does include other less common risks, such as hematoma, where bruises appear below the skin at the site of treatment, dizziness due to fear of needles or anxiety, and extremely rare instances of nerve injury, brain damage, lung and kidney damage resulting from incorrectly placed needles, as well as a slight chance of miscarriage with very specific treatment.

Despite the risks, acupuncture has benefits to the body. Though it cannot relieve every disorder, it can be used to relieve common tension headaches, some tension in lower back pains, nausea and vomiting, and some lower symptomatic forms of fibromyalgia. Because of these known benefits, and some other perceived ones, like the relief of stress and tension throughout the body, acupuncture is a viable treatment option. Knowing what you can expect from the acupuncture procedure as well as the side effects and limits can benefit you as a patient in the long run.

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Cleanse Your Colon Naturally

Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by Virginia Sutherland on 24-08-2008

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by Harold Ulvaeus

Many people rely on food alone to cleanse the colon. While this may be a good alternative to invasive medical procedures, such as colon hydrotherapy, it is better to combine a colon cleansing diet with other types of colon flushing remedies. There are a great number of foods that cleanse the colon, and when consumed in conjunction with each other, they can have a greater positive effect.

Fasting With Natural Juices. A very effective way of cleaning the colon with foods is to have none.No food will assist the body to purge itself of accumulated feces in the colon. Fasting with juices will supply all the nutrients the body needs without adding anything to the colon.A juice fast will also help to detoxify and support other organs in your body besides the colon. Before undertaking a fast do consult with your physician.

Vegetables. Leafy green vegetables such as kale, broccoli and spinach has shown to have a positive effect on the colon. Maybe you were not too thrilled when your mother insisted you eat your spinach, but the truth is that even if broccoli doesn’t thrill you, there are an abundance of recipes to be found that will make any vegetable into a delicious, mouth watering side dish. Fresh spinach sauteed in some olive oil with fresh garlic make a very tasty and healthy addition to your meal.

Fruit. Fruits are some of the best, and most delicious foods to keep the colon clean. The various types of fibers do not only work as a broom, but do also help with constipation and to promote regular bathroom habits.

Whole Grains. Whole grains found in wheat breads and wheat pastas can help to cleanse the colon as well. You can incorporate any type of whole grain into your diet in conjunction with other foods that cleanse the colon for maximum effect. Sprouted grain breads are the best, and they are heart healthy too!

Besides adding some foods healthy for your colon, avoiding some of the less desirable ones should be part of your programme. Some foods to avoid are fried foods, and those high in fat. Fast food, pizza, hamburgers and french fries should be consumed in very small amounts, if at all. Use healthy oils for cooking such as olive oil, and canola oil instead of butter and other lesser quality vegetable oils.

High calorie foods devoid of nutrients such as ice cream, cakes, cookies and candy should be avoided as well. By avoiding some unhealthy foods, adding some healthy foods, and getting regular exercise you’ll come along way in keeping your colon clean.

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The Surprising Connection between Antibiotics and Yeast Infection

Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by Linda Allen on 24-08-2008

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by Linda Allen

Studies done recently in medicine indicate that there’s a connection between the appearance of a medical problem known as the yeast infection or candidiasis, and the intake of antibiotics. So many of my clients want to know if yeast infections really are caused by the intake of antibiotics. To answer such a question requires going much further. You should note that hidden causes of yeast infection include many complex factors and are not just the simple result of antibiotics.

Candida is the main agent that causes candidiasis - it is a single cell microorganism, a fungus, which is always present in your body. Usually the human organism contains candida in small and harmless quantities. Candida is balanced by beneficial bacteria and a correctly functioning immune system. However, these normal proportions can shift out of balance. Candida then gets out of control and in turn the intestine becomes a breeding ground for candida to multiply. Candida that is typically present in the intestines then starts to rip the membranes of the intestines to invade the blood circulation, and this causes the yeast infections symptoms which are all too obvious.

The vulnerable environment in the digestive tract is also the result of long-term use of antibiotics. This is one of the reasons for yeast infection which on the whole is complex and the result of many factors. Nonetheless, there are two reasons for this:

1. Antibiotics kill beneficial bacteria and weaken your immune system. They also kill any other bacteria inside your gut. To control candida you must have a strong and correctly working immune system.

2. The other effect on the human body is the wrecking of the “pH” balance. The pH balance is the way we describe the relationship between negatively charged ions and positively charged ions. It is the same difference between alkali being formed and acid being formed. The more acidic the pH context becomes, the more risk there is that candida will multiply beyond bounds.

For the reasons mentioned above, you should avoid or at least minimize wherever possible the use of antibiotics. It should be noted that we are often exposed to antibiotics and not only during medical treatments for problems. Dairy products which are non organic are filled with antibiotics among with other chemical products. For this reason such dairy products should be replaced with healthier options like milk products from goats and sheep.

As well as relieving the outer symptoms, there is a solution to eliminate all the infections that are the result of candida. Did anybody tell you that there is a holistic treatment which is all natural and which can eradicate the internal reasons of yeast infection?

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What Are The Health Benefits Of Cinnamon?

Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by Kalynn Amadio on 24-08-2008

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by Kalynn Amadio

Cinnamon has been revered throughout recorded history. Actually, cinnamon was so highly regarded among the early nations that it was thought of as a suitable gift for the most esteemed rulers, kings and queens.

As An Antioxidant

Experts do not yet agree on the health benefits of cinnamon, though it is agreed that cinnamon is full of antioxidants. The plant from which cinnamon is derived, C. zeylanicum, contains a host of various antioxidants making it a potentially viable food usable for managing oxidative stress. This could mean that cinnamon has a role to play in treatment of several chronic diseases associated with free radical damage. One of the easiest ways for people to utilize cinnamon in their diet is by making tea from its bark.

Some of the particular antioxidants that make up the Health Benefits of Cinnamon are caffeic acid, camphene, coumaric acid, epicatechin, gamma-terpinene, isoeugenol, linalyl-acetate, mannitol, methyl-eugenol, myrcene, phenol, proanthocyanidins and vanillin.

Pregnant women shuold not seek to consume large quantities of cinnamon in any form, tea or herbal supplement.

Diabetes Alternative

As an inducer of insulin response, cinnamon could prove an effective treatment of people with Type II diabetes. Studies thus far have shown that cinnamon has some significant pharmacological potential in the treatment of Type II diabetes. But the actual plant used in most studies has been the related Cassia plant. Cassia is covered later in this article.

In 2003, a study published in Diabetes Care, outlined a test group of sixty men and women. The participants were given doses of 1, 3 or 6 grams of cinnamon daily in a pill form. This would be the equivalent of about one fourth to one teaspoon of cinnamon.

Forty days later, all 3 test quantities of cinnamon lowered fasting blood glucose levels by 18 - 29%, triglycerides 23 - 30%, “bad” or LDL cholesterol by 7 - 27%, and cholesterol in total by 12 - 26%.

Cinnamon and Cassia

The name cinnamon is the proper term for Ceylon cinnamon which is alternately called “true cinnamon”.

The related plant, Cassia (Cinnamomum aromaticum), Cinnamomum burmannii and Saigon Cinnamon (Cinnamomum loureiroi), are usually promoted as true cinnamon, or sometimes differentiate from true cinnamon as “Indonesian cinnamon”, “Chinese cinnamon” or “Vietnamese cinnamon”.

True Ceylon cinnamon is produced only from the thin inner bark of the plant and is not considered as strong or harsh as cassia. Cassia is usually noted as having a stronger flavor than true cinnamon.

In US supermarkets, powdered cinnamon sold is really cassia. Cassia is the “cinnamon” normally found in supplements. It physically contains a compound known as coumarin.

Coumarin is found in other plants like celery, chamomile, sweet clover, and parsley. Coumarin is a toxic element and European health agencies have of late advised against consuming large amounts of cassia. Coumarin is known to cause liver and kidney damage when consumed in high concentrations. True Ceylon cinnamon has insignificant amounts of coumarin.

Check with your health care professional before making any changes to your diet.

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5 Signs & Symptoms That You May Have Bronchitis

Filed Under (Alternative Medicine) by Paul Tamens on 13-08-2008

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by Paul Tamens

Do you believe you may have contracted bronchitis? You aren’t the only one. Do you know that every month there are over 10,000 searches by people on the internet for bronchitis related content? In order to get over this illness, it is important that you understand how to identify whether you have bronchitis or not.

Bronchitis occurs when the air passages in the lungs experience inflammation as a result of bacteria, viruses or outside influences such as smoking. This inflammation results in 5 visible signs & symptoms that you can identify to let you know whether you are suffering from bronchitis.

Bronchitis comes in two forms. Knowing the difference between the two is vital in terms of treatment. They are acute bronchitis and chronic bronchitis.

Acute bronchitis is the first type of bronchitis. The source of this type of bronchitis is usually bacteria or viruses. The symptoms of acute bronchitis usually last a few days or a few weeks at the most.

The second type of bronchitis is chronic bronchitis. This version of bronchitis takes place as a result of pollution, particularly smoking. This form of bronchitis, unlike acute bronchitis usually last several months and in some cases can last for even several years.

The first sign & symptom of bronchitis is a violent mucus filled cough. The cough that you experienced is filled with mucus build up and you are forced to expel it using a strong and persistent cough. The mucus build up is usually a yellow or green color and this build up is one of the primary signs & symptoms of bronchitis.

The second sign of bronchitis is throat and chest discomfort. When the mucus builds up in the body, it creates pressure in the chest region causing chest discomfort. When it is forced up by the coughing, this creates pressure in the throat region. It can even create a burning sensation in both regions.

The third sign of bronchitis is breathlessness and fatigue. A person who is suffering from bronchitis will in many cases go through periods where it is difficult to breath, especially when he or she is coughing heavily and repeatedly.

The constant coughing and breathlessness experienced by someone who has bronchitis results in fatigue in which the person feels sluggish and tired. The breathing difficulty may also be accompanied by a wheezing sound when attempting to breathe.

Sometimes when you are suffering from bronchitis a fever may set in. This is common if the cause of your bronchitis is due to bacteria or viral buildup. One way that the body fights off these microscopic invaders is to raise the overall temperature of the body, causing the fever. The fever may also include signs of chills and fatigue.

The fifth sign is a headache. The headache can come from many causes, the constant coughing and wheezing, the mucus buildup, the side effects of a fever or chill. Pain in the head region is certainly common when it comes to symptoms of bronchitis.

As with any medical condition, you should consult a medical professional if you are experiencing these signs or symptoms. A medical professional can recommend the best approach towards treatment.

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