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Do you suffer with one of the many health problems out there? Are you getting fed up with the traditional forms of health treatment? Are you looking into the different forms of alternative health therapy that are available? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, this article may be of interest to you. In the article, I am going to write about some of these alternative therapy treatments which I, my family and friends have tried in the past. I hope you enjoy the read.

My wife has had many problems with her own health and also suffers from regular bouts of depression. She is quite a stressful person and at times finds life to be fairly tough. A couple of years ago she decided to find a different approach to ones she had previously tried. The first option she tried was reflexology. She was not entirely sure if she really wanted a stranger messing about with her feet but was more than pleased with the experience on her return. She could not believe how relaxed and chilled out it made her feel.

I have also found myself struggling to cope with the pressures of every day life. I now have turned my hand to meditation. This is not I am sure for everyone but it has certainly helped me to think in a more positive and clearer way. It took me quite a long to meditate in what would be known as the correct way as I originally could not seem to concentrate or relax enough.

My mother prefers to go to a womens wellness centre rather than to the doctors. She has not spoken too much about this to me but it obviously helps her as she has now been going there for years.

Tai chi is a very popular form of alternative therapy for many people. Tai chi is also very good at reducing peoples stress levels and is something I also considered before I took up meditation.

A friend of mine always raves on about yoga and the many health benefits that this has bought her. To me it all seems like a lot of hard work, however she insists that it isn’t. In a way these things are like horses for courses. Some people prefer to do one thing and others prefer to do something entirely different.

My brother who also finds it hard to relax, it must run in my family I suppose, has found hypnotherapy to be very useful. He has been a smoker for many years and two years ago decided it was time to quit. He was very determined, which helps of course but by attending hypnotherapy sessions, also gave him that extra edge. He, from what he tells me has not smoked even one cigarette for the past eighteen months.

These are just a small number of the many alternative health treatments out there. It is worth pointing out that even though they have been successful in helping the above people, they may not work for everyone. In my opinion it is worth giving different things a try as it may just change your life.

Stephen Hill helps to promote a number of websites including:

herbal health therapy

phobias and fears

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As many as 30,000 U.S. women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer this year. In 2006, between 15,000 and 16,000 women are likely to die from this silent killer. Ovarian cancer is the 5th leading cause of death among women, and it is responsible for about five percent of all cancer deaths. Chances are your doctor may have misdiagnosed you. That is often the case. A recent British study found 60 percent of all U.K. general practitioners had misdiagnosed their patients.

Three-quarters of British doctors surveyed incorrectly assumed that symptoms only occurred in the late stages of ovarian cancer. Based upon that information, it should be no surprise that Britain has one of the lowest survival rates for ovarian cancer in the Western World – of 6,800 cases diagnosed each year, more than 4,600 die.

A similar discovery was made by University of California researchers, who announced last year, “Four in 10 women with ovarian cancer have symptoms that they tell their doctors about at least four months and as long as one year before they are diagnosed.” According to their study of nearly 2,000 women with ovarian cancer, the researchers discovered physicians:

• First ordered abdominal imaging or performed gastrointestinal procedures instead of the more appropriate pelvic imaging and/or CA-125 (a blood test that can detect ovarian cancer).

• Only 25 percent of patients, who reported ovarian cancer symptoms four or more months before diagnosis, were given pelvic imaging or had CA-125 blood tests.

Patients with early symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed. Abdominal imaging or diagnostic gastrointestinal studies are less likely to detect ovarian cancer. According to the American Cancer Society’s website, “The most common symptom is back pain, followed by fatigue, bloating, constipation, abdominal pain and urinary urgency. These symptoms tend to occur very frequently and become more severe with time. Most women with ovarian cancer have at least two of these symptoms.”

By the time a woman reaches the fourth stage of ovarian cancer, her first-line treatment is often Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Cisplatin as the specific chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. In the first stage, cancer is contained inside one or both ovaries. By stage two, the cancer has spread into the fallopian tubes or other pelvic tissues, such as the bladder or rectum. When the cancer has spread outside the pelvis area into the abdominal cavity, especially when tumor growths are larger than two centimeters on the lining of the abdomen, then ovarian cancer has reached stage three. The fourth and final stage of ovarian cancer is reached when the cancer has spread into other body organs, such as the liver or lungs.

If detected early, survival rates can be as high as 90 percent. Detected in the advanced stage, the survival rate falls to between 30 and 40 percent. Various imaging tests such as computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and ultrasound studies can confirm whether a pelvic mass is present. A laparoscopy can help a doctor look at the ovaries and other pelvic tissue to in order to plan out a surgical procedure, or to determine the stage of the ovarian cancer. A biopsy, or tissue sampling, would confirm if there is cancer in your pelvic region, and would help determine how advanced it is. An elevated CA-125 blood test typically suggests the cancer has progressed to the advanced stage.

About 50 percent of ovarian cancer patients are already at an advanced stage by the time a correct diagnosis is made. Only 10 to 14 percent of women with advanced cancer are likely to survive more than five years.

Evaluation of Therapies

While research shows drinking black (or green) tea or taking the herbal supplement gingko biloba may be useful, as a preventative measure, or to reduce risk, a woman has few choices when her cancer has moved to the advanced stage. In the first stage, a woman faces surgical removal of the tumor, and possibly one or both ovaries, to increase her chances of survival. Beyond that, her choice is chemotherapy.

One major problem with chemotherapy is the side effects. The more advanced the cancer, the weaker one may be, reducing the survival rate potential. Survival rates have not changed very much over the past fifteen years. Chemotherapy can increase survival time by as much as 50 percent. But, quality of life suffers. The side effects and increased toxicity, accompanying chemotherapy, reduce how one spends the prolonged survival time.

Some of Paclitaxel’s minor side effects, as reported by Medline Plus, may include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, change in taste, thinned or brittle hair, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, changes in the color of nails, and/or tingling in the hands or toes. More serious side effects may include mouth blistering or fatigue. Some alarming side effects could include unusual bleeding or bruising, dizziness, shortness of breath, severe exhaustion, chest pain, or difficulty swallowing. The most common side effect of Paclitaxel is a decrease of blood cells.

Carboplatin has its own list of side effects. It can reduce platelet production, which can interfere with your blood’s ability to clot. You may become anemic, feeling tired or breathless. Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and a general feeling of weakness are common with this chemotherapeutic agent.

The latest breed of drugs, such as Eli Lilly’s Gemzar, are hardly getting praise. On March 10th, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it was skeptical of the benefits Eli Lilly’s Gemzar, which was being used with Carboplatin to treat ovarian cancer patients. The FDA felt the 2.8 months increased survival time, provided by the Gemzar/Carboplatin combination failed to offset the treatment’s increased toxicity.

In January, the New England Journal of Medicine reported on a remarkable new delivery system of chemotherapy, called the “intra-abdominal, or intraperitoneal, chemotherapy. Those who received the “belly bath” as it is now being called by the media can survive 16 months longer than those receiving intravenous chemotherapy. The major drawback is that 60 percent of the women in the study were unable to complete all six cycles of this chemotherapy. Those who did survived longer, but only two in every five women were able to advance to the end phase of the therapy.

One novel approach, now in Phase III trials at more than 60 research centers across the United States, is OvaRex ® MAb, a murine monoclonal antibody, a type of biotech drug derived from mouse cells. It is being tested by highly regarded United Therapeutics, based in Silver Springs, Maryland. Their lead drug Remodulin, an injection which treats pulmonary arterial hypertension, is currently being marketed inside and outside the United States. More than $32 million has been spent researching, and on the development of, OvaRex and may have it available on the market by 2008.

OvaRex was developed in Canada by a company called ViRexx Medical Corp, and first tested in that country. According to Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Chief Executive of ViRexx, “The whole study has been set up with the FDA. This is a study where the drug has been given fast track approval and orphan drug status.” Dr. Tyrrell is also on leave (until OvaRex become commercially available) as a Professor of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Alberta, and Director of the National Centre of Excellence for Viral Hepatitis Research.

OvaRex was tested in Canada, prior to the current Phase III trials in the U.S. “There have been a number of patients that have received OvaRex,” said Dr. Tyrrell, “We’ve had really no adverse effects from these patients.” Dr. Tyrrell explained the procedure, “After being injected intravenously, OvaRex binds to an antigen circulating in the blood.” An antibody’s general purpose is to neutralize an antigen. After an OvaRex injection, the murine monoclonal antibody binds to the CA-125 antigen.

In a way the body is tricked. But, the body is tricked in order to help “save” itself from the harmful antigen. When the OvaRex antibody is bound to the CA-125 antigen, the new combination is identified as a harmful unit. Before then, the antigen wanders through the body, without alerting the body’s defense systems, the dendritic cells, to attack and destroy the harmful antigen. Because the body is trained to identify and zero in on a foreign protein, in this case a mouse protein, it alerts the dendritic cells. Until then, the dendritic cells “tolerate” the cancerous cells. The tolerance is what permits the cancer to spread throughout the body.
OvaRex seeks to break that tolerance. The murine monoclonal antibody is designed to target and bind exclusively to free floating CA-125 antigen.

The dendritic cells refuse to tolerate the foreign protein. When the antibody binds with the free-floating antigen, the dendritic cells recognize the complex (antibody plus antigen) as being foreign and engulf the new unit. The dendritic cells break down the key proteins of this unit, presenting all parts on the cells surface. At the point, the body’s killer T-Cells are alerted to fight the internal threat to the body. Once activated, the T-Cells will replicate and create more killer T-Cells. Any tumor cells expressing the CA-125 antigen is targeted for destruction. The army of T-Cells move to attack the ovarian cancer tumor.

The principle behind OvaRex is to re-program the immune system to harness the body’s defenses to prevent the growth and spread of the ovarian cancer. Will it cure ovarian cancer? “In most cases, it will be a delay,” explained Dr. Tyrrell. “However, I think that, and everyone hopes that, often in some of these tumors, you’re making incremental progress through careful clinical trials and adding new therapy. Each thing we do that improves the outcome when you start to look at the long term benefits of these, we hope that one day we will be able to cure this disease. We think this is a step. This has the potential to be an important step at helping to stimulate immune response to achieve a better outcome. Hopefully, one day we can improve that to where it is a cure.”

James Finch contributes to StockInterview.com and other publications. His archived articles on a variety of topics can be read at http://www.stockinterview.com Readers can always email him directly: jfinch@stockinterview.com.

Visitors should view the animated video about OvaRex MAb, mentioned in this article by visiting this website, http://www.virexx.com/ and clicking on the ANIMATION at the top right of the webpage.

Vanadyl sulfate is a form of vanadium, a trace mineral. In Europe, vanadium is often used as a natural treatment for diabetes.

Vanadium has been found in human studies to imitate the effects of insulin in our bodies. This ability may allow some of those with diabetes, a natural method to help lower blood sugar, take less insulin, or in some instances stop taking insulin altogether.

Vanadium is believed to assist in the transfer of sugar in the blood (glucose) into muscles, similar to the function of insulin. It is also believed to increase insulin sensitivity in the muscles. This is important to Type 2 diabetics especially, in that one factor in the development of diabetes can be insulin resistance.

This transfer of glucose into muscle tissue has also been touted by weightlifters and body builders. Vanadium allows the body to store more energy in the muscles, therefore decreasing the need for conversion to triglycerides, for fat storage.

Diabetics should consult their physician prior to taking Vanadyl sulfate. They should also monitor their blood sugar regularly when taking a vanadyl supplement because of the potential to lower blood sugar and decrease insulin needs.

The effects of vanadium have been shown to last for weeks, even in the absence of further supplementation. Therefore, it is suggested that it be taken in cycles.

It is probably best to take vanadyl sulfate supplements for about three weeks and then discontinue their use for about three weeks. By utilizing this valuable adjunct to the treatment of diabetes in this manner, a diabetic can improve sugar control, and avoid any potential toxicity.

diabetessites.com

Dr. Mark S. Johnson is a practicing doctor of chiropractic medicine, specializing in nutrition and exercise rehabilitation. He is a fellow of the Academy of Forensic and Industrial Chiropractic Consultants, a Qualified Medical Evaluator for the State of California, and a specialist in disability evaluation.

Ayurveda recommends foods for people according to their primary body type. The reason this is done is because it is believed foods can be both healing, and the source of imbalance and difficulties. By eating foods according to our Ayurvedic body type, the belief is that we will accumulate less Ama, or waste, in the body.

In Ayurveda, people are classified according to three principles, vata, kapha, and pitta. But it’s important to understand that although we may be dominant in one principle, we actually have all three present in our body. The others are in a smaller ration. Most people will actually be a combination of two of these principles, with the third only playing a minor role. But because we all contain the three, any of them can get out of balance.

Pitta

Characteristics of Pitta dominant body types

* determination
* strong willed
* good digestion
* initiative
* energy
* passionate about many things

Ayurveda’s Pitta constitution is calmed by cooling foods, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. Bitter green vegetables like watercress, parsley, collards and most greens suit pitta. Fruits that suit pitta body types include sweet berries, sweet apples and apricots, coconut, figs, mango, sweet oranges and pineapples, plums, watermelon, pomegranates, and prunes.

Other cooling foods include most dairy products, though sour cream, hard cheeses, and yoghurt don’t really suit pitta due to their being too high in fat, salt, or sour. But dairy that suits pitta includes milk, cottage cheese, soft cheeses, and ice cream!

Grains that suit pitta body types include barley, basmati rice, and wheat (unless you are allergic or gluten sensitive).

Pitta body types generally like a lot of protein, and they probably need a little more than the other Ayurvedic body types. Spices that are cooling in nature are also important. These include coriander, cumin, mint, parsley, dill and fennel. Garlic should be avoided though as it is too heating.

In terms of sweets, Pitta body types should use maple syrup, barley malt, brown rice syrup and honey that is 6 months or less old, preferably raw.

Things that can imbalance Pitta body types:

* excess heat, hot climates, and hot times of day
* humidity
* vacations and times when there is increased mobility
* excess oil in the diet
* too many hot foods, including spicy foods. But this can also mean too many cooked meals
* excess caffeine, salt, red meat and alcohol

Vata

Characteristics of people with a dominant Vata body type:

* flexibility
* quick mind
* creative
* always on the go – mentally and physically

Dietary choices that support vata aim at grounding this energy-in-motion. Routine is also very helpful, though not naturally something vata body type people will create! Vata people benefit from meditation, warmth, soothing music, taking breaks, and resting (again, not a natural vata inclination!).

With regards foods, vata body types should include warming spices, including ginger and cloves, anise, cayenne, cinnamon, garlic, horseradish, caraway, mint, mustard seeds, parsley, cooked onion, paprika, rose water, vanilla, tarragon, thyme and rosemary.

People with the vata body type should minimize raw food, including salad, though salads should not be eliminated completely as they provide valuable nutrients. But vata should ground the salad with a dressing made from oil and vinegar, and be aware of the weather at the time of eating it. Being more sensitive to cold, vata’s should have salads on warmer days.

Icy cold drinks are not balancing for vata – in fact quite the opposite. Sugar also throws vata types off balance, though vata are lucky in that they can enjoy other sweets.

Vata generally love fruit, and it suits their ayurvedic constitution. The exceptions are apples, pears, cranberries, watermelon and dried fruit. Vata types should go for sweet and moist fruit, like mangoes, nectarines, bananas, coconut, fresh figs, peaches, and strawberries.

Cooked grains like oatmeal, basmati rice, and brown rice, are very grounding for the vata ayurvedic constitution. Beans (legumes), on the other hand, are not! Beans are cold, dry, and heavy – not the attributes that support vata.

Things that can imbalance vata dominant body types include:

* a lot of travel, especially by plane
* loud noises
* constant stimulation
* drugs, sugar and alcohol
* cold climates (especially extremely cold ones) and cold food
* frozen and dried food

Kapha

Characteristics of people with a kapha dominant body type:

* strength
* stamina
* endurance
* groundedness
* calm
* fluid

Kapha body types are not suited to a high protein diet like the Atkins diet. Not only should they avoid too much fat, but also, excessive heavy protein. The kapha quality is already heavy, and although this doesn’t sound great, it is what provides Kapha body types with a wonderful stability and strength.

Kapha should have light and low fat protein. Beans, with the exception of soy and soy products, are great for kapha. Soy milk is preferable to dairy though, for kapha. Beans help move kapha’s energy, and digestive system, a bit. Barley is also excellent. In terms of meat, chicken and turkey suit kapha.

Kapha body types should have plenty of vegetables, including bitter vegetables, peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, eggplant, lettuce, onions, potatoes, mushrooms, corn cobs, peas, beets, and celery.

Dairy is heavy and cooling, and it does not suit the Kapha ayurvedic body type. Light and crispy food, like corn tortillas and popcorn, suit kapha. Kapha people should make sure they have variety in their diet, as kapha body types have a danger of falling into a rut more than others.

Asian and Latin American style meals are great for kapha. They are spicy and light, free of dairy, and have plenty of vegetables in them.

Things that can imbalance Kapha body types:

* inertia
* too much fat in the diet, including oil we cook with!
* dairy products
* not enough stimulation and challenge
* not enough variety
* not enough exercise
* too much bread, iced foods and drinks, and sweets

References: Amadea Morningstar and Urmila Desai, The Ayurvedic Cookbook

For some great articles on ayurveda, including home remedies, click here. For more articles on nutrition, click here. Rebecca Prescott runs the website www.articlehealthandfitness.com which accepts submissions of health, fitness, and beauty articles.

The structure molecular of teas is now ever more so being studied by numerous scientists in the world. The use of teas in medicine, although a long tradition in Asia, is still a new field in the West.

Here are some of the most recent findings on the Green Tea potent substance Polyphenol, and new effect against cancer,

According to the Reuters Press Agency, Spanish and British scientist discovered a new secret of green tea preventing cancer. Researchers of the Spanish Murcia University and British Innes Centre discovered that in the green teas there is a kind of green tea polyphenol (EGCG), it can prevent the cancer cell unify with DHFR in growth.

Professor Thornley of Innes Centre said that , they had first discovered that the green tea polyphenol could prevent DHFR; this kind of enzyme is the goal matter for anti cancer drug.

Green tea polyphenol has in green teas (only when in its natural form) five times then the other types of teas. It is now a scientific fact that Green teas can indeed reduce the occurrence of certain types of cancer. Professor Thornley said that the polyphenol in green teas has the same molecular structure of the cancer drug, Methotrexate.

DHFR, is both crucial for the healthy cell and the cancer cell, green tea polyphenol has a very effective result to restrain DHFR.

I do recommend everyone with Cancer family history to have between three to five cups a day. Please avoid the use after night hours.

Dr Wei Feng

In Nature

www.in-nature.com

The AARP used to be the American Association of Retired Persons.

The AARP is known for representing and speaking on behalf of aging populations based in the United States.

It is involved in all kinds of activities such as:

negotiating reduced rates for prescriptions, housing, tourist attractions, automobile rentalsm motels and hotels.

It is at present involved politically with the Medicare Prescription Drug Program.

The AARP was founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus and hopes to have 70 million members in the next ten years due to the increasing age of the US population.

It is interesting that the AARP is fighting the proposed changes to Social Security.

The AARP has changed its role over the last few decades so as to reflect current living standards and the way in which we now approach age with dignity and purpose.

On its website discounted trips to Hawaii and Alaska are advertised as well as news specifically geared to seniors, such as employment news, legal advice, health and fitness information and other interesting items.

At present some of the hot button items the AARP is working with are:

Prescription Drugs;

Prescription Drugs over the last 5 years have increased much more rapidly in costs than the rate of inflation and as such are a heavy burden on Seniors.

The AARP makes available the results of studies of changes in manufacturers’ prescription drug list prices for 200 brand name and 75 generic drugs most widely used by Americans age 50 and over.

Social Security;

President Bush seems to think that there will not be enough money in the future to pay for Social Security benefits for Seniors at today’s level.

His private accounts plan would allow workers to invest up to one third of their payroll contributions in the Stock Market.

Based on Stock Market results for the time President Bush has been in office this would have resulted in a loss for the average Senior taking inflation into account.

And the indexing plan that Bush embraced at his April 28 press conference would preserve the present defined-benefit approach only for low-wage workersthose currently earning less than about $20,000. For everyone else, 70 percent of workers, the system would be flipped upside downso that the more you earn and pay in, the more your benefits are cut.

Consumer alerts;

Last year Americans spent more than $20 billion on anti-aging products of which a sizeable amount was for so called “snake oil” products such as “human growth hormone ” pills which sold for $80 per bottle per month and promised to cure anything that ails you. The US Food and Drug Administration does’nt regulate over-the-counter products so it is buyer beware.

J Shipper is very interested in Social issues affecting Seniors and Health in general. Check out these interesting sites for more information: www.aarp-now.info
www.life-extension-now.com
www.youwillquit.com

According to a new study, diabetes and Alzheimer’s diseases are more related than everybody thought. Some researchers believe that Alzheimer’s could be a form of diabetes, because findings show that insulin production in the brain declines as Alzheimer’s disease advances.

Through a series of experiments, a group of researchers discovered that the brain produces insulin and that this substance produced by brains of patients with Alzheimer’s illness tends to fall below normal levels.

For the neuropathologist at Rhode Island Hospital and professor of pathology at Brown University Medical School, Suzanne M. de la Monte, “insulin disappears early and dramatically in Alzheimer’s disease and many of the unexplained features of Alzheimer’s, such as cell death and tangles in the brain, appear to be linked to abnormalities in insulin signaling. This demonstrates that the disease is most likely a neuroendocrine disorder, or another type of diabetes”.

During the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, brain levels of insulin and its related cellular receptors fall precipitously, as her group of researchers explained. They believe that Alzheimer’s might be a new form of diabetes since the evidence shows insulin levels continue to drop progressively as the Alzheimer’s disease becomes more severe.

The team led by de la Monte also found that low levels of acetylcholine are directly linked to this loss of insulin and insulin-like growth factor function in the brain. Acetylcholine is a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

The researchers team autopsied the brain tissue of 45 patients diagnosed with different degrees of Alzheimer’s called “Braak Stages” and compared those tissues to samples taken from individuals with no history of the disease.

Article written by Hector Milla editor of www.mydiabetessupply.com, a website about diabetes testing supply, or you may read their last article :: Information on Diabetes Drugs Called Glucovance (Glucovan) :: at www.mydiabetessupply.com/1/information-diabetes-drugs-called-glucovance.html. Thanks for using this diabetes article in your website or ezine keeping a live link.

BPH, or benign prostate hyperplasia, is a standard medical term commonly used for an enlarged prostate. In simple terms this means the prostate gland, a mass which encloses the urethra and lies beneath the bladder, swells and can compromise or stop the stream of urine. As many men age, the prostatic gland grows and as a result may produce ailments such as urination difficulties, reduced urinary stream, and even the retention of urine within the bladder. Frequent urination interrupting sleep and inflammation of the urinary system are other problems which may arise from a swollen prostatic gland. Prostatic Enlargement – Available Solutions

A swollen prostate gland is considered a frequent condition of males in their sixties. Current Guidelines are that males in their fifties are tested by their personal physicians each year, irrespective of the presentation of symptoms, to aid in maintenance of better prostatic wellness. Get medical intervention at once if blood is discovered in the urine or you are unable to micturate. Surgery and drug therapy are common interventions for prostate gland enlargement. However, surgical procedures may lead to further symptoms some of which are erection problems or even loss of bladder control. Hypertension treatments and drugs to shrink the abnormal prostate gland can also be suggested to improve prostate gland function, however, medicine will often result in unwanted side effects. So which herbal alternatives are recommended?

Got a Swollen Prostate Gland? The Holistic Way to Gain a Healthier Prostate

To aid in the reduction of the many symptoms caused by prostate gland enlargement and in addition to encourage better prostate gland health, various natural treatments will help manage the symptoms. African pygeum reduces inflammation, alleviating a lot of the symptoms. The herb African Pygeum has been utilized extensively for many years in Europe as a treatment for better prostate gland health, it is a product of anAfrican plant. Dietary changes for example reducing the consumption of fats may help, so will getting more excercise more frequently, frequency of ejaculations may ease the pressure in the prostate, it is also best to try to avoid staying seate d for a long time. Symptoms are frequently made more severe through taking antihistamines or decongestant drugs bought from the pharmacy, use these medicines with caution. Further hints include not drinking close to going to bed to cut down on trips to the bathroom overnight, and reducing alcoholic beverages and coffee and tea intake may also prove helpful. There are very many additional alternative treatments taken to improve prostatic function – such as the herb saw palmetto, Borago officinalis oil, the chemical element selenium, and also lycopene, which can be found in tomatoes. Before commencing that alternative treatment regime please talk over your intention with a doctor.

Natural herbal remedies are drawing the attention of many traditional medical practitioners to rapidly recognize the ability of the hundreds of thousands of known herbs that have the ability to treat and prevent various human and animal illnesses, as well as properties that can enhance mental attitude, appearance, and performance.

Many centuries of experimentation by many cultures, for example Indian herbal medicine(Ayurvedic), Chinese herbal medicine, and western herbal medicine have created many uses for plants either singularly or in compounds, and sometimes animal by products to prevent and treat various conditions and illnesses.

A natural remedy can be anything from tea, to complex preparations of herbal compounds used in hospitals and clinics. These formulas come in many forms such as capsules, pills,ointments, and gels.

You may be using some of the common herbs as a food in your home such as:

* Garlic–natural antibiotic and helps reduce cholesterol

* Cinnamon–lowers blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides

* Ginger–prevents motion sickness and lowers risk of blood clots

* Chamomile Tea–calms nerves and help relieve digestive problems

* Peppermint–Treats many digestion and gastrointestinal problems

These common herbs may be mixed with other proven natural products to achieve a particular result.

Traditional medicine is very useful for diagnosis, emergencies, trauma and surgery, but often does not cut it for preventing disease from occurring.

The time and wait needed to visit a doctor to get a prescription, and the ever growing cost of medicine is allowing an opportunity for many people to try to get help from natural products.

Many traditional medicines are showing many adverse side effects. Natural, is not necessarily safe, and may have unwanted side effects just as with conventional medicines, however a large ever growing number of the population has been using herbals, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for many years with very favorable results and no adverse effects.

Natural herbal products are now available for use by adults, children, and pets to remedy countless conditions from Angina and Arthritis, to skin care remedies, thyroid treatment, urinary tract infection and an unlimited number of other disorders.

Many new products have been compounded to remedy conditions other then disease, such as smoking cessation, removing unwanted hair, eliminating wrinkles and many other conditions.

One of the many natural herbal remedies could be your answer.

For quality information, and natural herbal remedies that are produced under pharmaceutical conditions to ensure the highest degree of potency and consistency. http://www.aa1info.com

Joe Rote has spent 18 years in the health field, and is the webmaster of http://www.aa1info.com that will point you to high quality information, and natural herbal remedies that are produced under pharmaceutical conditions to ensure the highest degree of potency and consistency.

Smoking is very dangerous to your health. Most smokers feel that there is nothing that they haven’t tried in order to quit. However, they may not be aware of the many natural means available which others have used to finally end this very destructive habit. It is possible to quit smoking, if you devise a plan, cleanse and support the body and use natural methods to curb nicotine cravings.

Most, if not all, people in the United States believe that smoking is unhealthy. Why then do people smoke? The answer lies in the addictive nature of nicotine. Over 80 percent of smokers declare that they want to quit and plan to do so at some point. Even heroin addicts admit that nicotine is truly the hardest drug habit to kick. (Haas, p.964)

Almost one-third of cases of pancreatic carcinoma can be attributed to cigarette smoking. Most lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoking. (Smokers are five to ten times more likely to suffer from lung cancer than nonsmokers). The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the earlier you started smoking, the greater the risk of lung cancer.

Children of smokers have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory infections and lung cancer.

“Children of smokers have a much higher incidence and severity of asthma, bronchitis, colds and ear infections. They also have impaired lung development and reduced lung function tests.” American Journal of Public Health, p. 209, Feb. 1989)

If you eat a balanced diet, drink a lot of clean water and take a vitamin supplement daily, you may feel that you are generally healthy. However, if you smoke, this is typically not the case. Heavy smokers do not get as much of a benefit from a healthy diet. Blood levels of Vitamin C are much lower in smokers. Zinc, Vitamin A and folic acid are often depleted in the bodies of smokers.

Now that we have covered just a few of the negative effects of smoking on the body, let’s figure out how to quit – and without drugs! It may come as a surprise to you that there is a way to be free of this horrible addiction without using prescription medication for help.

Let’s now cover some ideas on how to actually go about quitting.

Have you tried to quit before and failed? Did you quit for awhile and then start again? You may feel that because you tried and failed, that it proves that you can’t quit. However, this is not the case. In reality, you get points each time you attempt to quit. You inevitably learned something each time you tried, which gets you that much closer to being successful in quitting. Most quitters did not do it on their first try. So just think of it as your “practice” run! (3)

A main part of your quit smoking plan, is to figure out which interventions you will use when you are hit with a craving to smoke. Try to avoid being around other smokers. Learn some deep breathing exercises that you can use to de-stress. Exercise is also a great way to limit stress and keep you busy.

Something to consider once you have decided to quit smoking, is how to get the toxins out of your body. One theory is that many dependencies originate in the liver. Cleansing and detoxifying the liver is a crucial first step toward breaking free of these addictions. Detoxifying the liver will reduce the cravings for nicotine. (ESP, p. 279)

You can use echinacea to help flush the nicotine out of the lymph system and lungs. Vitamin C is a great chelator of toxic substances in the body. (Which means it will “grab” the offenders and flush them out through the waste system). A usual dose of C is 1000 mg four times per day. N-Acetyl-cysteine 1000 mg, two doses of glutamine 1000 mg, four capsules of Evening Primrose Oils and 20 Sun Wellness Chlorella tabs are a good regimine for removing nicotine toxicity from the body. (Page p. 548)

It is important during your detox and quitting time that you “avoid junk foods and sugar that aggravate cravings” (Page p.548) Ginseng can help you to normalize sugar cravings, as can stevia, stevioside or FOS. Trace mineral and mineral deficiencies can play a part in some addictions. Magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc should all be included in the diet when trying to quit smoking. (ESP, p.279)

The main concern when quitting tobacco are the cravings! There are many choices when it comes to this issue. Essential oils, vitamins and herbal teas are all on the list of items in the “cravings” category.

Eating a diet which promotes body alkalinity is said to show less desire for tobacco. To calm your nerves, try Magnesium 800 mg daily, stress B-complex 100 mg daily, valerian/wild lettuce drops in water. (Page, p.548) Young Living Essential Oils offers a blend called “Peace and Calming” which, some people have reported, was all they needed during their quitting time.

Oil of clove is also reported by many people to be extremely effective in their war with nicotine cravings. In Stanley Burrough’s “Master Cleanser” book, he states “For those who wish to quit smoking, place a small amount (of clove oil) on your finger – place it on back of the tongue and you immediately lose your desire to smoke. This is an easy way if you really want to quit.” Peppermint oil has also been reported to be effective. Just a touch of it on the tongue, in the same manner as you apply the clove oil will do it.

Single oils which may be helpful in smoking cessation in addition to clove and peppermint, are cinnamon and nutmeg. Other blends of oils recommended for reducing addictive behavior are Harmony, Thieves, Exodus II, Peace and Calming, JuvaCleanse and JuvaFlex. These can be directly inhaled or diffused, applied topically on the temples and/or back of the neck four times daily, or used as a warm compress over the liver.

Quitting smoking is not an easy task to undertake. However, if you give your body the right tools, you can repair the damage done by smoking, you can reduce your cravings and YOU CAN QUIT! Try some of these simple, natural and effective helpers. Nature is the best medicine, so believe in yourself and watch it happen!!

Some resources for people who would like more information:

Young Living Essential Oils, http://www.fragrantfamily.com/sadiesgift
Easyway by Allen Carr order at www.half.com or www.amazon.com
American Lung Association, www.alamn.org (then click “quit smoking”)
Committed Quitters, www.committedquitters.com
National Cancer Institute, www.smokefree.gov
The Stop Smoking Center, www.stopsmokingcenter.net
The Master Cleanser by Stanley Burroughs, order at www.half.com or www.amazon.com

Bibliography:

1. Haas, Elson. Staying Healthy With Nutrition . Berkeley: Celestial Arts, 1992.

2. Essential Science Publishing(2004). Essential Oil Desk Reference, 3rd Ed., www.essentialscience.net

3. American Lung Association pamphlet Quitting For Life, 2003

4. Linda Page, Ph.D. Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self-Healing for Everyone, 12th Edition. Healthy Healing, Inc., 2004

5. Retrieved March 4 , 2005 from http://www.getoutraged.com/facts_top_pg2.html

Renee Suchy has been a Health Unit Coordinator for seven years, and is currently working toward earning both a Bachelor of Natural Health Studies degree and a Doctor of Naturopathy degree. She has also been studying aromatherapy for over a year. You can visit her site for therapeutic grade essential oils at http://www.fragrantfamily.com/sadiesgift