Health Articles

The best treatment for acne involves nutrition and herbs both externally and internally. In addition to these elements, the control of acne requires a thorough and gentle cleanse. Therefore, the following steps are provided to help you to a beautiful clear skin. The best internal treatment for acne is the one that contains herbs. These acne treatments require no prescription and can easily be purchased from any where. But other acne control medications do require a prescription. These can only be used in severe cases. In addition to this, most of the prescription medications have side effects. Some medications like the Accutane, have been found to cause depression. On the other hand herbs are natural, gentle, and effective too. The other part of a good acne control is a lotion or gel to treat blemishes after cleansing your face. This product is mostly able to unplug the pores. It should also fight the bacteria that are the main cause of acne. The lotion should be formulated with a transdermal delivery system. This helps to make sure that all the helpful and natural ingredients are thoroughly absorbed into the skin. The acne skin problem normally takes two to three weeks before the blemish appears. The beginning of acne is the clogging of a pore. The bacteria that are naturally present on the skin begin to multiply inside these clogged pores. The body fights the bacteria and sends white blood cells to the scene and this result in an inflammation. Frequent cleansing of skin is obviously an important step in controlling acne. Because it helps to remove the extra skin cells and oils to keep them from clogging the pores. But do not wash your face too often as it can also leave your face dry and itchy. Skin cleansing is the best method to keep your acne under control. Along with keeping the pores from getting clogged, it will also help the skin to bread. That will result in a more bright and healthy looking face.

Swine flu virus

The World Health Organization has declared it a pandemic and last heard Swine flu has hit India and Turkey. Caused by Influenza virus A subtype H1N1, it spreads when the virus gets airborne – through coughs and sneezes – and also by contact with infected persons and contaminated surfaces.
News results for virus A:
Many City Schools Still Closed by Flu
“Schools have proven to be a major incubator of the swine flu virus, which first surfaced last month at St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, Queens, with 69 confirmed cases. After a brief respite the virus re-emerged and across the city, 18 public schools have been ordered closed in the last week, almost all in Queens…“
Swine Flu Spreads in Japan, Despite Quarantine Inspections
“TOKYO, May 19 – To stop swine flu before it could sneak off airplanes arriving from North America, Japan dispatched masked health inspectors with fever-sensing guns to walk among passengers…”

The symptoms of swine flu coincide with that of a normal flu: fever, coughs, lack of appetite, lethargy, and in some cases, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The H1N1 virus primarily causes infection in swine (hence the name) and spreads to humans coming in close contact with infected pigs – in pig barns, livestock exhibitions etc. It is just a myth that the disease is contracted through pork meat, as proper cooking (at 160°F or more) kills viruses.

The bad news, however, is that there is no known cure or vaccine against swine flu. All we can do is avoid catching the virus, and if infected, assist our body’s immune system to deploy its weaponry and win the battle for us. A few precautions, especially if you are living in an area where incidence of Swine flu has been reported, could protect you from contracting the H1N1 virus:

1) Avoid contact with the infected
You have already noticed how fast common cold can spread. Same applies here. So avoid being in close proximity with infected persons.

2) Be wary of surfaces
When you bring your hand to your eye, nose or mouth, after touching a contaminated surface you are unwittingly allowing the virus entry into your body. Shaking hands, touching public surfaces as when traveling in community transport vehicles etc, can lead to catching the virus. Clean your hands often with warm water and soap.

3) Eat healthy
The immune system is our greatest ally in fighting off the virus. So keep your body fit with a diet rich in immunity boosters like whole grains, colorful vegetables and vitamin-rich fruits. Avoid food loaded with sugar and fat. They slow down the body’s metabolism and compromise its immune system. You can even take advantage of the antibiotic and antioxidant qualities of ginger and garlic by including them in your diet.

4) Sleep well
Good rest will keep your body primed for the fight against viruses.

5) Drink enough water
Drinking 8 – 10 glasses of water a day will keep the body sufficiently hydrated.

6) Avoid alcohol
Now is not the time for that impulsive binge. Alcoholic beverages are known to suppress immune system.

7) Stay active physically
Increased blood circulation and oxygenation while exercising, backs the immune system. It also aids in flushing out toxins and is a proven stress-buster.

Stay stress-free
The contagion may present a formidable picture to you. But don’t fret too much over it. It will only weaken your body and place it more at risk of a virus attack.

However, in spite of painstaking precautions if you still contract the virus, there is some good news. Scientists are of the consensus that the H1N1 infection is a rather mild one, one that can be managed with proper care. Here is what you can do if you develop severe flu-like symptoms.

a) Don’t Panic
Every flu is not a swine flu. But if the indications seem rather severe than usual, don’t hesitate to consult a doctor. Ask him to get yourself tested for swine flu virus.

b) Take the right medication
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. Let your doctor prescribe the one that is appropriate for you.

c) Nurture your health
Good sleep, drinking lots of fluids, a healthy diet and physical activity will keep your body robust in spite of the onslaught of the virus.

d) Don’t spread the virus
You can stop yourself from transmitting the virus to others: when you are sick, stay at home. Cover your mouth when sneezing, coughing etc.

Counter measures have been launched worldwide against the threat of swine flu. Hopefully, with the right measures, it would soon be under control. Meanwhile, let us protect ourselves and others from its incursions.
Zsofia Christopher

Everyone struggles with a worry or fear over something at some point in their life. But when the worrying becomes excessive and the fears are over trivial events or situations, the effects on a person’s mental state can be detrimental and disabling.

No one enjoys the feelings that accompany anxiety – irritability, difficulty concentrating, restlessness, sweating, muscle tension, and trembling. The effects of anxiety such as these are common and typically linked to stresses about work, school, social activities, finances, family, and relationships, and can generally be treated with help from a mental health professional or, in some cases, self-help therapy.

While more severe forms of anxiety can be treated with calming drugs such as Xanax and Valium which leave the patient feeling calm and relaxed, many individuals affected by anxiety have opted for a more natural route when alleviating the stress and tension in their lives. There are a variety of ways one can manage anxiety without medication or professional assistance, including the following:

1) Make a list of specific things that trigger your anxiety. For example: running late to work or school, not having enough money to pay the bills, or being unprepared for a project or task. Once you learn to recognize the patterns that lead to unproductive worrying, you can develop a plan to address them.

2) Practice meditation or other forms of relaxation to calm your stressed and worried mind. Devote 15 to 30 minutes a day to calming techniques and refuse to focus on your worries for the duration of your session. Try a soothing music CD or putting your worries and frustrations on paper in a private journal.

3) Get out and get active. Exercise is a great treatment for excessive worrying and anxiety. Walk or run out your feelings of edginess or restlessness. Lift your spirits by dancing to an upbeat song. Get together with a friend for some tennis or a bike ride. Fresh air and physical activity are excellent self-treatments for anxiety in your everyday life.

Fibromyalgia Treatment Options
The different options for effective Fibromyalgia treatment are still in the development stages. A few of them have shown excellent potential for helping ease the pain and discomfort associated with the disease. However each person reacts to the various Fibromyalgia treatment options differently. It is important to seek the assistance of qualified medical professionals to properly diagnose and treat Fibromyalgia.

It is believed a large percentage of individuals with Fibromyalgia have never seen a doctor about their condition. Instead they continually try different over the counter products that may work for a while but in the end the disease will increase in severity. Chronic pain and fatigue demand more advanced medical properties than what you can get in over the counter products.

None of the prescription drugs offered to treat Fibromyalgia are amphetamines anymore. This is because some of the ones prescribed in the past were highly addictive and led to other issues for the patient to contend with. Provigil is one of the newer drugs on the market used to treat Fibromyalgia. It works to eliminate fatigue even in those with Narcolepsy. There is some testing taking place that will determine if Provigil may be a good option for other problems including depression and bipolar disorder.

The earlier an effective treatment can be identified for an individual with Fibromyalgia the less they will suffer from the disease. Avoiding seeking medical treatment will only result in the person continuing to suffer from extreme pain and tiredness. There is still plenty of research and clinical trials to take place on a variety of other Fibromyalgia treatment options in the works.
If you found this information on Fibromyalgia Treatment useful, you’ll also want to read about chronic fatigue fibromyalgia.

The sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages which causes misery for millions of people around the world.

If you are one of them you can get some comfort from knowing that there are some effective home remedies to alleviate your sinus pain.

Some of the symptoms of a sinus infection include headache or pressure in the eyes, cheeks, nose, or on one side of the head.
Acute sinusitis images
Other symptoms may include nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions, cough, fever or bad breath or even tooth ache.

Anyway, back to the cures for sinus and keeping a healthy sinus system.

How to Cure Sinus & Sinusitis

Apart from a course of antibiotics, sinus can be alleviated by maintaining a healthy sinus system by keeping the sinuses moist & the cilia, the tiny hairs in the nose that propel mucus & bacteria out of the respiratory tract before infection can set in, functioning properly.

An effective way of achieving this is to inhale water vapor a few times a day every day.

Doing this simple thing for about 5 minutes at a time, can be bring significant relief from the sinusitis condition as inhaling steam or vapor from hot water will clear the sinus and nasal cavities, which is the sinus sufferer’s main objective.
Also, by inhaling the vapor this practice will not only reduce inflammation but will also kill the bacteria responsible for the infection.

Adding a few drops of eucalyptus oil, effective in treatment of sinus infections, will contribute to the unblocking of your nasal passages.

When practiced daily this treatment will soothe your nasal cavities, making breathing easier and relieve you headaches & other sinus symptoms.

This practice will help achieve the following;
-Improve drainage of mucus and reduce swelling in the sinuses
-Relieve the sinus pain & pressure
-Clear up sinus infections
How to prevent sinus infections
So before you allow your life to be ruined by the effects of sinus, practice the above sinus treatment every day and you should get significant relief from your sinus infection & pain.

Swine Flu Pandemic?

Unless you are living in “a galaxy far, far away”, you would have heard about the new “pandemic”, Swine Flu. The press has been full of panic-inducing stories of Swine Flu. Deja vu? We had the SARS “pandemic” and the Bird Flu “Pandemic”. Or was it a pandemic?

Don’t get me wrong. I believe that there should be early warnings of potential health treats, be it local or global, so contamination can be minimized, but don’t be drawn into the press-induced panic attacks. The fact of the matter is that all flu can kill. In the US approximately 200,000 people are hospitalised and 36,000 die every year – that is from the usual winter flu, not swine flu. Does it play on your mind or cause you to lose sleep that you might catch the flu every winter? To put this further in perspective, 3000 people die of Malaria every DAY, but it is considered a “health problem” not a pandemic.

Many people who die from flu, die of the following bacterial infections. The majority of deaths from the 1918 Flu was from secondary bacterial infections which could be easily treated today.

The 1976 swine flu “pandemic”, never eventuated but thousands of people were paralysed and 25 deaths were caused by the vaccination.

Flu is a serious disease, whether it be swine flu, bird flu or your common or garden variety that comes around every year. It’s unlikely that you can protect yourself by wearing a mask, but it could stop you sneezing on others if you have it. Flu can last on door knobs and other surfaces for up to 3 days. It can be passed by a kiss on the cheek. If you have any flu, don’t spread it around. Don’t take it out shopping or to work with you where you can infect other people.

Symptoms of Swine Flu include:

High fever
Runny nose and/or sore throat
Cough
Headache
Joint aches and pains
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
Vomiting and/or diarrhea

In other words, the same symptoms of other types of flu.

What can you do to protect yourself?

- Purified Liquid Zeolite stops viruses from replicating by capturing viral particles (this has been dramatically demonstrated in informal trials with Hepatitis C)

- Agari mushroom drops – it is said to increase your natural killer cells by 3000% within 72 hours

- Increase your Vitamin D levels. The best way is sunshine. Another way is Cod Liver Oil. If you take this route, make sure you take it with zeolite to remove any mercury. Another method is via supplement. (remember supplements of D can cause overdose if not taken at the correct dosage).

- Regularly wash your hands with warm, soapy water. This will decrease the chance of spreading the virus to your nose, mouth or other people.

- For all influenzas, increase your immune function. Purified liquid zeolite is an immune modulator. agari mushroom is a powerful immune enhancer. Echinacea, Vitamin C and plenty of water are all recommended. Swine flu has been seen in younger people, not just the young and old, the usual population at risk, therefore an actual viral inhibitor or viral killing agents may be helpful. These are things like purified liquid zeolite, olive leaf extract and grapefruit seed oil.

- Eat and juice fresh fruit and vegetables. Include garlic with this. Garlic is a powerful anti bacterial and anti viral.

- Get enough sleep. It has been shown that dropping from 8 to 7 hours of sleep a night for a week or more can lower the immune system.

- Don’t underestimate keeping well hydrated whether you have the flu or not. That is with water, not fizzy soda pops which have been shown to drop the immune system for 6 hours after drinking them.

The symptoms of Swine Flu are the same as the annual flu. (Interestingly, colds and flu outbreaks tend to happen around the world in times of least sunlight and therefore, least Vitamin D).

So far, the Swine Flu mortality rates are in line with normal influenza, not like bird flu. Bird flu had a 90% death rate, whereas this Swine flu is around 6% (as is normal flu).

At this point, all deaths from the Swine Flu have occurred in Mexico. This flu hasn’t been as severe in cases outside of that area. One possible factor in this situation, is the high pollution already causing respiratory stress in that population.

The best treatment for flu, is don’t get it! Keep yourself healthy. If you should succumb to any flu always keep an eye out for secondary bacterial infections and seek appropriate help. Swine flu is a notifiable disease. Please follow the correct procedures.
By Deborah Howlett

Eliminate Disease and Symptoms by Changing Your Diet
Extensive nutritional research, as well as our own common sense, tells us that what you choose to put into your body can have staggering affects on your health – both good and bad. A common typical example is sugar. You eat too much sugar, you gain weight. Weight gain is a visible affect that we can actually see from an unhealthy diet. What about the foods you put into your body that have a negative affect that you can’t “see?”

Our bodies are complex machines that require healthy fuel (food) to maintain at optimum health. Just think of it this way – If your car calls for unleaded gas, would you put diesel into it, and what would happen if you did? Your car engine probably wouldn’t be running for much longer, or at least not very well. I know this is a silly comparison, but it is true isn’t it?

Within this wonderful machine we all posses, we have natural good bacteria and yeast. Sounds kind of gross when you actually think about it, but it is true. Because your body already contains a healthy normal balance of yeast, when you eat foods rich in yeast, your body is flooded with chemical compounds and chemical toxins produced by an overabundance of the yeast. Some people have a reaction to this that shows up in the form of chronic yeast infections, chronic headaches, and diarrhea/constipation just to name a few.

Research has shown that eliminating yeast rich foods from your diet can dramatically improve your health, as well as diminish or eliminate some or all of the following diseases and symptoms:

*Sugar Craving *Weight gain

*”Hangover” Symptoms
Hangover pills
With more research being done, this list is growing everyday! If you or someone you know suffers from any of these ailments, a yeast free diet can help you, as it did my family. My son used to suffer from an attention disorder. First off it was a complete nightmare to get the diagnosis. Secondly, I don’t know if you have any children, but in the school system here there is a program called D.A.R.E. (to keep kids off of drugs). Great concept, but it didn’t help me or the many physicians my son saw to help him get better. He refused to take his Rx, because he didn’t want to “take drugs.” It was a daily battle with him, and it didn’t make me feel very good when he was accusing me of “making him take drugs.”

Although myself and the physicians tried to explain to him the difference, it was a lost cause. That is when I finally started to do some research of my own to try to come up with another solution to the problem. When I found the Yeast Free Diet, I was a little skeptical that it would actually be a replacement for my sons Rx because it sounded way too easy. Change what you eat, change your health. Yeah, we all know changing your diet helps you to lose weight and feel great, (which this diet also does by the way) but to actually diminish symptoms and actually take the place of an Rx? I’m glad to report that my son and the rest of my family not only feels great, but we are much healthier, and my son no longer needs ritalin (I’m so glad, not only because of the daily battle I no longer have to deal with, but I don’t have to Buy it anymore) and no more expensive doctor visits!

To change your life and for the health of your family and loved ones, The Yeast Free Cook Book contains over 120 delicious recipes that your whole family will love.

4 out of 5 people suffer from lower back pain at least once in their life and many suffer with recurring bouts. I don’t know about you, but when I was younger I thought I could do anything, and I usually could. But ultimately if you don’t take care of your back throughout your life or misuse it, it will catch up to you as it did me.

Through the years of dealing with back pain, I have acquired some really good exercises that help ease your back and help with overall posture.

Exercises for easing lower back pain

- Abdominal crunches, when done properly (by keeping your lower back flat on the floor and supported while crunching), strengthen the abdominal muscles and may decrease the tendency for lower back problems. Many times the pain is made worse by poor posture and flabby abdominal muscles which put more pressure on the spine. I have found these to be very helpful for my back.

- The pelvic tilt has also been very helpful for me to ease tight back muscles, plus it really feels good!
Lower back pain treatment
- Standing arms length away from the wall and leaning your lower back in toward the wall is great for lower back pain. Lean in as far as you can because this will stretch out your vertebrae and can put them back in alignment. This one really, really feels good when you are suffering from back pain. Hold that position as long as it feels comfortable to. You can also do this by placing your hands on a table or counter and leaning the lower back in toward the table or counter.

- In your everyday activities as you are walking around, just suck in your stomach and tighten the abdominal muscles and hold as this really strengthens the abdominals for better posture and support of a healthy lower back.

- Stay active in general. An inactive lifestyle contributes to lower back problems.

- Wear flat shoes or shoes with heels of 1″ or less. Higher heels put strain on your spine by taking it out of the right alignment. Sure wish I would not have worn those high heels while I was younger!

Drug-free applications for relieving lower back pain

There are many over the counter medications to reduce pain, inflammation or swelling caused by back pain. Unfortunately, those come with a high cost – side effects!

Pain Relief Patch – Pain Relief Patch delivers a constant dose of Glucosamine and Chondroitin over a 24 hour period and gives you no need to worry about pain and taking pills throughout the day.

Diclofenac Gel online – is an NSAID, used to treat the symptoms of pain and inflammation.

There are many natural remedies out there that can become a part of your lifestyle that are totally safe. I have found the absolute best topical application that just totally turned my life around as far as relieving my lower back pain.

Protect Yourself From Swine flu virus

Swine Flu has certainly hit the news. You may well have a lot of questions and queries about “Swine Flu”. Should you and your family be concerned about the current pandemic of this dreaded illness – or at least as its incidence and mortality is portrayed daily in the media.

First of all “What is Swine Flu?” Human swine influenza a.k.a “Human Swine Flu” is a form of influenza or the “flu” which usually affects pigs themselves but can sometimes make people ill as well. Some severe cases of this “new” form of influenza have recently come to light and reported in the country of Mexico.

News results for swine flu virus:
Swine flu fears evident as world’s cases top 6000
“”MEXICO CITY (AP) — In China, mask-wearing police cordoned off more hotels Wednesday, quarantining anyone who came in contact with swine flu patients, no matter how mild their symptoms. Not so in Mexico, where the health secretary encouraged tourists to come relax in their favorite vacation spots despite a growing swine flu caseload.”"

Costa Rica blames singers for swine flu spread
“”Costa Rican health officials are questioning how four people who came in contact with a Lexington singing group in April may now have the H1N1 virus, or swine flu.
It is still not clear whether some Canta Mundi chorus members contracted the illness while there, or if they brought it with them, because the three people who had a mild form of H1N1 showed symptoms after their return to Lexington.”"

Next in line is the query as to what precautions both you , your family , friends, co-workers of fellow students can take as to prevent yourselves from becoming ill or coming down with this malady ?

The general precautions that can be taken are first of all that if you do cough – use a tissue, cover your mouth and nose. Take care to wash your hands often with soap and water especially if you cough or sneeze. It has been found in the medical and pharmaceutical professions that alcohol based cleaners are particularly effective in these cases in preventing the occurrence of as well as spread of the disease.

In addition in the prevention and basic treatment of most diseases and their progress and well as eventual recovery from your grandmother could have well told you to eat well, make healthy food choices, be physically active and fit and get adequate rest and regular sound sleep? Keep regular and proper hours.

If you do think that you have, have acquired or in the process of coming down with this current almost trendy influenza disorder what should you do? As with any flu like illness, if you do develop symptoms of a respiratory infection it is best to take the following steps and precautions. First of all don’t spread the influenza viruses unnecessarily or infect others with the affliction. It is always better to make the choice or choices to stay at home, away from school of work than take the chance of spreading the infection unnecessarily to others. This way you will reduce the chances of spread of the ailment in your community overall.

In addition you can reduce the spread of germs by avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth and by washing your hands frequently and regularly.

You may well be concerned about protecting your children. Overall children should take the same general and specific precautions as adults, when it comes to washing their hands regularly and covering their noses and mouths when coughing. Young children may need help with hand washing. There is nothing wrong with that. Children with flu like symptoms should stay home from school, just as a precaution as with adults who fear that they have contracted the malady, whether it is to take a break from school or day care depending on their enrollment and age. To avoid the spread of germs, routinely clean surfaces in areas where children do play.

Lastly you may be concerned all in all that since the disease is called “Swine Flu” , are the pig livestock stock themselves infected and is it safe overall to eat pork. Be reassured that if you cook the pork meat thoroughly then all is safe. There have been no reports at all, and in any manner, of people becoming ill through contaminated food. Viruses (including flu viruses and specifically the swine flu virus in this case), are easily killed by heat. Just ensure that any pork meats that you or your family ingests are thoroughly cooked, with clear juices and no visible juices. The rule of thumb is that pork should be cooked to an internal temperature of 71 degrees Celsius which works out to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Protect yourself, your friends and family from this year’s pandemic – “Swine Flu”.
Syd E. Nohcud

To achieve natural healthy weight loss is not as difficult as one might think. But it does take some effort, the feeling of achieving your goals is one of great satisfaction. Natural healthy weight loss is not something that your going to achieve overnight. The first thing you have to realize is that a healthy rate to lose weight is about 2-3 lbs a week. After you realize that your not going to lose 20 lbs in your first week you need to set some realistic goals. I suggest setting goals every 4 weeks. That way you give yourself enough time to exercise and diet correctly rather than going on a dangerous crash diet that will give you results but can be very devastating to your physical health as well as mental health.
National Institute of Mental Health
Now that we have a very basic idea of what natural healthy weight loss is lets take a look at how you can achieve your goals. First we need to get away from the traditional 3 meals a day. Look at your body as a wood burning furnace, you have to keep adding wood every few hours to keep it stoked. The same applies to your metabolism, you have to eat every few hours to keep your bodies metabolism burning those calories. This means you need to eat 5 – 8 meals a day. If you currently consume only three meals a day the easiest way to achieve this is take those three meals and break them down into smaller meals. This way you aren’t doing any extra work other than eating smaller portions of the meals you have already made. What your trying to do is keep your metabolism burning calories by eating smaller but more frequent meals this will ensure that you are burning more calories throughout the day.

The next step in the process of healthy weight loss is to perform some kind of exercise creating a calorie deficit and in return lose those unwanted pounds. In order to lose weight your looking to burn around 500 calories more a day than you consume. This equates to about 3500 calories per week burned or 1-3 lbs lost. There are many ways you can do this such as running, walking, weightlifting, or bicycling just to name a few. Ideally you want to do some kind of exercise 3-4 times per week to achieve results. Pick something that you enjoy because you will be more likely to get out and do what you need to do. These are just a few thoughts on natural healthy weight loss. I wish all of you good luck with your goals however big or small they may be.