Make An Orgone Disc

Orgone, also called the chi generator, combines crystals and metals with resin to produce natural, healing energies. Psychologist Wilhelm Reich developed an orgone accumulator in the 1930s as a tool to help patients let go and tackle internal problems. The orgone energy inside the accumulators helped realign a person's internal energies. Physicist, mathematician and magical practitioner Karl Welz developed orgone generators some years later. Though Welz is criticized for using these generators to create negative orgone, his invention has been modified by modern orgone-makers to generate only positive energies.

Instructions

1. Spray the inside of each silicone muffin pan well with cooking spray. Spread the spray in an even layer over the insides of the wells with a paper towel. This also mops up excess oil and prevents an oily finish on the orgone.

2. Place one or two small crystals in the bottom center of each muffin well. The crystals may be the size of a dime to the size of a half-dollar. They can also be long and skinny or round. Quartz is an all-purpose, easily charged crystal that works well in first-time orgone.

3. Put on protective gloves and pour about an ounce of resin for each orgone disc you plan to make into a measuring cup. Add the activator according to package directions or at a one to one ratio, mixing equal parts activator and resin from the kit. Stir the two together thoroughly with the wooden stick.

4. Pour about 1/2 ounce of metal shavings into the resin for every ounce of resin you mixed. For instance, if you mixed four ounces of resin, you need two ounces of metal shavings. Stir the shavings in slowly and thoroughly.

5. Pour enough resin-metal mix into each muffin well to just cover the crystals. As you pour, visualize intentions for healing and balancing energy flowing into the resin and infusing the metal and crystals. Allow the resin to harden in the sun for 48 hours.

6. Press on the bottom of each muffin well to release the orgone discs. Hold each one to your forehead, breathe out and concentrate on the specific intentions for the orgone. This finishes the charging.

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Color Wheel Benefits

Learn use a color wheel.

Interior designers use color wheels when planning the new décor of a room or an entire home. There are many benefits to using a color wheel while making plans, and you can take advantage of the those benefits even if you are not a licensed interior designer or decorator. Buy a color wheel for yourself at a craft or fabric store and let your imagination run.

Learn Use the Color Wheel

Learn to use the color wheel to get the best advantages from it. The color wheel has 12 sections to it. The primary colors are the basis for the color wheel. All the other colors on the wheel are variations of red, blue and yellow by adding the colors on either side of it on the color wheel. Make tints of the primary colors by adding white and make shades by adding black. Secondary colors are what you get when you mix two of the primary colors (for example, red and yellow make orange). The secondary colors are complementary colors because they complement the primary color. Tertiary colors are one primary and one secondary color mixed together.

Helps You Choose Your Base Color

Choose a base color that you want to use in your room. Neutral color schemes are plain and simple. These colors include white, tan, gray and cream. Red is a color of passion and often paired with food. Red works perfectly in kitchens and dining rooms. Make sure to lighten up red with another color because red is dominant and needs breaking up by a lighter color. Blue is the color of calmness. Use blues in rooms where you want a relaxed atmosphere. Yellow is a vibrant color that can go too far. Be careful when choosing yellows. You do not want to blind yourself while painting the room. Use pale yellows to give the effects of the sun. Earth tones contain the brown colors. Use Earth tones in rooms that represent the outdoors or have a lot of stone or brickwork, such as a fireplace.

Helps You Coordinate All the Colors

Use the color wheel to help you coordinate your colors. Use this for the paint to the furniture to the bedding to the draperies. Using the color wheel to coordinate all the colorful elements in your particular room will greatly enhance the end look of the room without a lot of trial and error.

For example, choose green for your base color and you want to add some different colors to the room. Turn the arrows on your color wheel so that one of them matches up with the green. Look at the colors at the other two arrows and use tints and shades of those to make the best color combinations for your room.

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Treat Iodine Poisoning

Iodine is an element that occurs in small amounts in certain foods, especially seafood. Iodine poisoning can occur with medicines that contain large amounts of iodine, such as Amiodarone, Lugol's solution, Pima syrup and tincture of iodine. Patients receiving radioactive iodine for the treatment of thyroid disease also may receive an excessive exposure to iodine.

Instructions

1. Identify the symptoms of iodine poisoning, including abdominal pain, coughing, diarrhea and fever. Some cases also can result in delirium, seizures and shock. Patients will frequently notice a metallic taste, and the urine output can cease completely in severe cases.

2. Note important information when calling emergency services. Provide the patient's approximate age, condition and weight. If you suspect iodine poisoning, determine the amount and time that it was swallowed.

3. Provide milk promptly and continue to give milk every 15 minutes if the patient can drink it. You can substitute cornstarch or flour mixed with water if milk is unavailable. Use this treatment only if the patient is alert and not convulsing or vomiting.

4. Treat iodine poisoning in an emergency room setting. Provide respiration support and treat the symptoms with medication as appropriate. Continue to provide milk and other fluids orally. More severe cases may require gastric lavage with a nasogastric tube. Activated charcoal also is effective in decontaminating the gastric contents.

5. Address complications of iodine poisoning, such as esophageal stricture. Death from iodine poisoning can occur but is unlikely.

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Tell The Difference Between Rhinestones And Gemstones

Tell the Difference Between Rhinestones and Gemstones

Jewelry buyers beware: some fake gemstones have gotten so good, even gemologists are having trouble discerning real stones from their look-alikes. By definition, rhinestones are cut rock crystals, but just about any artificial gem--even glass and paste--can be referred to as a rhinestone. Fortunately, most of those are easy to spot. Less obvious are gemstone veneers, called composites. Sometimes a gem is real, but of a low quality, so it gets manipulated in order to look like a high-quality stone. There are a few things you can do to eliminate at least the most obvious fakes before paying an expert gemologist to inspect and appraise a gemstone.

Instructions

Discerning Fakes

1. Check the price tag and name. If the asking price is too good to be true, the gem is likely to be fake or stolen. Also, be wary of creative names. If there is a descriptor in front of a standard gem name; chances are it's not what the seller claims it is. For instance, a "Bohemian ruby" isn't a ruby at all, it's a type of quartz.

2. Examine the setting. Use a jeweler's loupe with a magnification of at least 10x and three lenses to correct for distortions. If the setting is high and solid, it's likely the stone has something to hide. Ask if there are any flaws beneath the setting. Even real gemstones sometimes have foil backings to bring out more color, but these aren't the highest quality stones so you shouldn't pay top dollar. Look for uneven color from the base to the top of the stone--it might have been dyed. Find out what material is used in the setting; if it isn't a precious metal, the stone probably isn't a real, quality gem.

3. Feel the gem. If you can scratch it with your fingernail or it doesn't feel.like a natural stone, it could be plastic or some other synthetic material. If a setting comes apart when you apply rubbing alcohol to it, it is a glued setting and therefore very unlikely that the gem is real.

Meditation Grounding Techniques

Grounding meditation emphasizes the importance of relaxation being used to regain energy, attention, focus, and eventually personal confidence and inner strength. Grounding meditation is centered around the spine, with focus on imagining where the different parts of your body would meet the ground. Personal goals are important to grounding meditation and relaxation, with the program intended to leave you even more focused and refreshed than an afternoon nap.

Symptoms

If it is time to find a foundation, a center, or you feel the need for a secure escape from a stressful or fearful situation, then it is time for grounding. Some characteristics that appear as symptoms that it is time for grounding include disorganization, decreased concentration, moodiness or emotional flightiness, trouble with problem solving and loss of interest. If any of these problems plague you, a friend or colleague, you may find help from meditation grounding techniques.

Techniques

Find a quiet place if possible, but grounding meditation can also be as simple as a quick break away from your desk if you find yourself inattentive or distracted at work. Stand up straight with your eyes closed and visualize a connection from the ground, through the soles of your feet, up your legs, around your spine and through the top of your head. The key is to visualize all parts of your body touching the ground. A common example of grounding imagery is picturing yourself as a tree with roots, feeling your roots planted into the ground as you relax and focus. Allow the the connection to complete throughout your entire body, waiting for your whole body to feel relaxed. You should return to your normal activities feeling as refreshed as if you had just taken a full nap, though grounding meditation should only take about 15 minutes.

Workplace

Many companies today teach grounding meditation to their employees as relaxation techniques, with the overall goal of keeping team focus and cooperation. Meditation grounding techniques are simple enough that they can be done by pulling your chair away from your desk when you are feeling unsettled or disorganized at work, take a moment to relax and ground yourself, and return to the task at hand refreshed and focused. Personalize your own grounding visualization imagery based on your goals and the task at hand. Individualization is the key to grounding meditation.

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Give A Relaxing Face Massage

Do you want to spoil your spouse and not spend a dime? Spend quality time with your loved one by giving them a relaxing facial massage. Anything that brings the two of you together in an intimate situation that is both relaxing and stimulating to the relationship is always a good thing. So find a comfortable spot, grab some pillows for yourself and spoil your partner or spouse tonight!

Instructions

1. First if your partner or spouse is male you will want to have him Shave. You can not give a face massage effectively if he is unshaven. Although if he has a beard or moustache that is no problem, it just the normal daily stubble you want him to get rid of.

2. Set the mood. Turn the lights down low, turn on the TV or some music. Tell him that he is in store for a real pampering because you love him so and want him to really know how much you appreciate him... pour it on, you want him totally surprised and looking forward to the pampering you are going to give him.

3. Make yourself comfortable. Sit on the bed against the head board with pillows for support, you can also sit on the floor with your back against the couch or wall but you want to be sitting on a pillow.

4. Have your partner or spouse lay down with his body between your legs and his head resting in your lap close to your belly.

5. Start by gently rubbing your hands back and forth across his forehead and then using long strokes you will bring your hands down along the sides of the face and using your thumbs to gently press along the temples and bridge of the nose as your stroke down to the chin. Roll your hands under his chin, down his neck to his chest and across on each side across his shoulders and down his arms as far as you can reach. Slide your hands back up the neck, along the sides of his face to his ears. Now gently take each ear in each hand and rub along the outer edge of the ear using your thumb and forefinger, then bring your hands back up to his forehead and repeat. Do not forget to gently rub your fingers along his eyelids as you run your hands up and down along the sides of his face.

6. Pay particular attention to the scalp, forehead and ears as they are usually the most sensitive and carry the largest part of the body's tension and stress. Use long firm but gentle strokes over every inch if his scalp, face, neck and shoulders.

7. As best you can try to use long smooth strokes and take your hands off his body only when necessary. When you rub along his chin you will also slide your hands back and forth along his chin and neck just as you did across his forehead.

8. Pay particular attention to your partners body language if a particular area is ticklish use more pressure. If he falls asleep.... You are doing his face massage perfectly! You want him to get so relaxed that he falls asleep in your hands. Of course you will have to wake him when your legs finally fall asleep. ..LOL

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Herbal Drugs For Cancer

Herbal drugs are natural drugs, some of which may have the same effects as conventional medicine. It is commonly believed that because herbal medicine comes from nature, it must be safe. However, it is necessary to use as much caution with herbal remedies as with conventional medicine. One type of herbal practice is antioxidant therapy, which helps in boosting and supporting immunity that common conventional therapy often destroys. Another form of herbal treatment has roots in Chinese medicine in which practitioners treat the imbalances brought on by cancer with herbs, minerals and plant extracts.

Antioxidant Therapy and Herbs

Using herbs and plant extracts that contain vitamins A, C and E can help your body inhibit growth of tumors and reduce the amount of toxic tumor agents that grow on normal cells. For liver and pancreatic cancers, chaparral may help with blocking toxins from pollutants, chemicals and drug abuse. For breast cancer, wormwood may help kill cancer cells within 16 hours.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

Whereas Western medicine often looks at the underlying causes of cancer, Chinese herbal medicine attempts to treats patterns of symptoms and complaints. There are a variety of herbs you can try and use them individually or in combination with others. You will, most likely, be encouraged to use them in conjunction with conventional treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. These herbal treatments are said to prevent tumor growth and movement, improve one's immune system and control pain. Herbs that can help you are ginkgo, green tea, astragalus and Siberian ginseng. There is some evidence that these herbs and many others may lower the risk of recurrence and slow cancer growth.

Herbs Taken Internally and Externally

Essiac, which is an over-the-counter herbal formula, can be taken orally in pill or tea form. It features a variety of herbs such as burdock root, sheep sorrel, slippery elm and Indian rhubarb. Burdock root has a high selenium content and is known to be a blood purifier that decreases cell mutation. Sheep sorrel is said to stimulate the endocrine system, which furthers reduction of cancer cells. Slippery elm contains calcium and magnesium and is said to heal problems with internal organs and lungs. Indian rhubarb is said to cleanse the liver and intestines and reduce inflammation in the body.

If you choose to use an external herbal remedy, the extract of sapium sebiferum is a milky substance that can help treat cancerous wounds. Graviola is a fruit that comes from the Amazon. It contains chemicals that you may benefit greatly from since it is believed to control various forms of cancer cells found in lung, breast, colon, pancreas and prostate.

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Locate The Reflexology Adrenal Gland Zone

Locate the Reflexology Adrenal Gland Zone

Your energy levels are regulated by the amount of adrenaline and cortisol in your system. The adrenal glands secrete and regulate the fluids that assist you in stress responses and energy levels. Locating the adrenal gland zone in reflexology benefits you by stimulating these glands through nerves in the palms of your hands and the bottoms of your feet.

Instructions

1. Sit across from the patient. Have her place her feet in your lap. Make sure she is comfortable. Use lotion or massage oil to relax the patient during the reflexology treatment.

2. Pick up one foot and begin to massage the top and the inside of the arch of the foot. The zone for the adrenal gland is located next to the inside edge and the top of the arch of both feet.

3. Repeat the process in Step 2 with the other foot. Remember to rub and apply pressure to the bottom of the foot until the patient's discomfort subsides.

4. Ask the patient to place either hand in your hand with their fingers outstretched. Take your other hand and rub the bottom inside of the thumb. Apply pressure at the area above the curve and the bottom of the hand before the wrist. These are adrenal gland zones.

5. Repeat the reflexology process in Step 4 for the other hand. Apply the pressure until the tenderness and pain the patient feels dissipates.

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Medical Shoe Covers

Medical shoe covers are required in most areas of the health care industry. They help prevent the spread of germs and infection, and also keep a tight lid on organisms from outside of sterile environments that could harm people with compromised immune systems. In order to be certain that you get the best kind of medical shoe covers for your needs, you must be aware of all of your options before you buy.

Function

Medical shoe covers are part of the scrubs uniform, and they are also worn during surgeries to limit the incoming and outgoing organisms in the sterile environment. They are popular in labs that work with hazardous materials or fungal spores that need to be contained within the laboratory setting.

Features

Medical shoe covers envelop the entire shoe with sturdy weave paper. They have rubber bottoms and an elastic band to hold them securely around the top of the shoes. Most of these covers have bottoms with some type of traction, but hospital shoe covers for patients may not if the patients are not independently mobile.

Types

Medical shoe covers come in a variety of custom and one size fits all types. Some are made from fabrics that are bacteria-resistant fibers that prevent bacteria from penetrating them and traveling around on the shoes. Others are simply cloth or fabric and mainly intended to protect whatever you are walking on rather than your shoes or a sterile environment.

Considerations

When you are selecting medical shoe covers, you need to consider in which type of environment you will be wearing them. For example, if they are part of a uniform for work in a lab or doctor's office, then you should select covers that fit tightly and will be easy to walk in. However, if you just need them to cover your feet for a hospital stay, it may be less important that you have rubber soles or lots of traction. Talk to your doctor ahead of time if you are not sure what type of covers are appropriate.

Potential

Medical shoe covers are not just good for keeping environments sterile. They are also great for keeping floors unscuffed during real estate open houses and car upholstery clean during detailing. In fact, medical shoe covers have great sanitary potential as well as being critical to hospital cleanliness.

Warning

When wearing medical shoe covers, make sure that they fit correctly. Even if they have traction, if they are too baggy then you run the risk of tripping on the excess material. Also, should you find yourself in a hazardous environment, be sure to dispose of your medical shoe covers properly to avoid contamination outside of the area.

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Get Chiropractic Care On Workmen'S Comp

The injury must have happened at work to qualify a person for workmen's compensation.

Since the early 1900s the principle of compensations for employees injured at work has become embedded into statute. Though there are some variations between states, the key principles are the same. To be awarded workers' compensation, the injury must have been caused through the employment. The compensation falls into two categories: medical and indemnity. The indemnity part of the award is mainly compensation for loss of earnings while the medical part covers injuries and medical expenses. Chiropractic care is often given for long-term muscle problems. Chiropractors are trained in the muscular, skeletal and nervous systems, and they treat clients without surgery or painkillers.

Instructions

Injury

1. A medical examination will be necessary.

Seek emergency services or physician care to get immediate diagnosis and treatment for your injuries. Inform your employer about the injury. Check that your employer has taken out appropriate mandatory employer's insurance, either with an individual insurer or an insurance company.

2. Cooperate with the investigation that your employer and the insurance company will carry out on the accident. Check that chiropractic care is appropriate follow-up treatment. Try to get an unbiased opinion. Not all physicians are in agreement about the effectiveness of chiropractic care.

3. Check that chiropractic care is covered in your employer's insurance policy. It has been incorporated into many, particularly since the Workmen's Compensation Commission reported that chiropractic care costs insurers less and gets injured employees back to work sooner than other forms of treatment.

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Low Blood Sugar & Smoking

Smoking actually combats hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, on a short-term basis. Because it temporarily raises blood sugar levels, many hypoglycemic smokers find themselves in a vicious cycle because they begin to use smoking as a substitute for balanced eating. This makes smoking more addictive and more dangerous for people with blood sugar problems.

Nicotine and Blood Sugar

When a person ingests nicotine, the body responds by briefly raising the levels of glucose in the blood. This can temporarily relieve symptoms of low blood sugar.

Nicotine Cravings?

Smokers with chronic hypoglycemia may mistake low blood sugar symptoms--like anxiety, racing heartbeat and irritability--for tobacco cravings. Because smoking briefly relieves the symptoms, the person may fail to address the underlying issue.

A Viscious Cycle

A smoker may continuously use tobacco as a substitute for a balanced diet and may smoke more often to relieve underlying symptoms of hypoglycemia. This ultimately results in a worsened condition and an addiction to nicotine.

Weight Loss

Tobacco is notorious for causing weight loss because some people (knowingly or unknowingly) use it as a substitute for food to address low blood sugar levels.

Healthier Choices

Smokers with low blood sugar can carry healthy, high-protein snacks, such as almonds, to eat when they experience symptoms of hypoglycemia.

Tags: blood sugar, blood sugar, blood sugar, blood sugar levels, Smokers with

Pressure Points In Humans

The human body is made up a complex nervous system that sends messages of pain and pleasure to the brain. Pressure points are located along this nervous system that can cause a variety of sensations.

History

The Asian culture is primarily responsible for the discovery and use of pressure points in the human body. The study of reflexology, pressure points in the feet, can be credited to the Egyptian culture.

Function

Pressure points are used to heal, alleviate pain and even inflict pain. Some forms of martial arts use pressure points to subdue opponents.

Identification

Pressure points are clusters of nerves that are scattered throughout the human body. Because these spots are not easily found on their own, you can identify them easily using charts such as those found online at tensionrelief.com.

Location

Pressure points are located in the face, neck, shoulders, back, arms, hands, legs and feet. Some of the more popular ones include the temples, clavicle, feet and the webbing of the hands.

Warning

Some pressure points, including those in the neck, the Adam's apple and under the ear, can cause the body harm by cutting off air flow, inflicting pain or inhibiting blood circulation.

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Best Time To Take Vitamin B Complex

The best time to take a Vitamin B complex supplement is when it is most convenient for you, so that taking the supplement easily becomes a regular habit. It is most beneficial when taken at approximately the same time each day. Since B vitamins are energy-enhancing, you may prefer to make it part of your earlier routine.

Time Frame

Taking a Vitamin B complex supplement should be done during or immediately after a meal. Taking the supplement at about the same time every day is best, because most supplements are designed with 24-hour periods in mind. It will also help you to establish a routine.

Identification

Vitamins are essential substances that the body does not manufacture on its own. Vitamin B is a good health booster, and the supplement will consist of B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid) and B12 (cobalamin).

Function

The B vitamins provide a wide range of important functions, including enhancing the immune system and nervous system, improving the musculoskeletal system, promoting cell growth and division, increasing blood flow, maintaining good muscle tone, maintaining healthy skin and increasing metabolism rates.

Significance

Aside from the essential functions of B vitamins, research shows that they also assist in specific health issues. Some doctors prescribe Vitamin B for patients dealing with stress, for people suffering from depression, for improvement of arthritis symptoms, and for musculoskeletal pain. It may be prescribed as an immune system booster for people with energy-draining illnesses, such as mononucleosis. Certain B vitamins are good for reducing swelling. A combination of B1 and B12 can enhance the effectiveness of pain-killing drug. A B6 deficiency often appears in people with depression or insomnia, and in elderly people, with symptoms of stiff and painful hand joints. Taking B6 can help alleviate these conditions. Also, health care practitioners advise a B12 supplement for people on a vegan diet, because B12 is not found in plant-based foods.

Warning

B vitamins should not be taken on an empty stomach. Without food, the vitamins are not absorbed by the body very well and simply pass through the elimination system unused. They are water soluble and non-toxic, so high doses are acceptable and any unused amounts are excreted in the urine. Logically, however, this means expensive mega-doses of Vitamin B are pointless, and costly Vitamin B injections are as well. A 100 percent recommended daily allowance supplement is fine for most people, and going up to 500 percent is good for somebody wanting extra energy, an immune system boost, or who is dealing with specific health issues which extra Vitamin B might help. Some supplements provide up to 5000 percent of various types of Vitamin B.

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What Is Bergamot Oil

What Is Bergamot Oil?

The use of bergamot oil as a scent for perfumes has a long history. Even though today, we consider a cologne to be a scent that has a lighter concentration of essential oils, in the 1700's the original "eau de cologne" was created from a mixture that contained neroli, lavender and bergamot oil. Today bergamot has a variety of uses, including aromatherapy.

Function

There is a wide disagreement about the origin of both the name and the tree. Experts claim the tree comes from Southeast Asia and was later introduced to Europe. Some believe that Greece was its ancestral home. The name may come from the Turksih phrase "beg-armundi," which means "the lord's pear" or after the town where they first sold bergamot, Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy.

Identification

Most bergamot grows in Calabria, Italy. The tree is only about 12 feet high. The leaves are smooth, and the tree is evergreen. The fruit of the bergamot is pear shaped, but is a citrus fruit. It has flowers, which are star-shaped and blossom in the spring, produces green fruit that ripens and turns yellow. Originally scientists debated how this natural hybrid developed but now most agree that the plant is a cross between the lime tree and the bitter orange. Often people misconstrue the oil of the bergamot for the herb bergamot, which is monarda didyma and named after the bergamot tree because of its citrus smell.

Function

Bergamot oil is in many different commercial products. Earl Grey tea gets its distinctive flavor from the oil of the bergamot fruit. Bergamot is in over one third of the world's perfumes or colognes. Bergamot components are used in treatments for psoriasis. Bergamot plays an important role in aromatherapy. While bergamot oil is the primary use of the plant and comes from the skin, the juice and pulp find use in cooking.

Theories/Speculation

Use bergamot oil in aromatherapy when you feel depressed, tense or just plain stressed out. The oil has antiseptic and antibiotic qualities and is a powerful analgesic. It helps digestion and infection. Bergamot oil is a quicker picker-upper when you feel down in the dumps or just recovering from an illness. When used in burners, it's effective for respiratory problems. Blended in massage oils or put in the bath it's a treatment for PMS. When you blend bergamot oil into a base cream it can be used for acne, psoriasis, cuts, cold sores and even chicken pox.

Warning

The use of bergamot on the skin causes photosensitivity and sometimes rashes. If you use bergamot as a skin treatment or in massage oil, stay out of the sun. Ingesting too much bergamot oil from sources such as Earl Grey tea, can block the absorption of potassium.

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Patchouli Magical Uses

The patchouli plant and oil has several magical properties.

Patchouli is a member of the mint family that comes from Malaysia. It has a strong, memorable odor that some find too strong while others feel evokes emotions of nostalgia, passion and relaxation. Because of the peculiar aroma of patchouli, practitioners of witchcraft use the herb in two forms--dried leaves or essential oils--for many of their spells.

Money and Prosperity

The most popular magical uses for patchouli are the different money spells. Legend has it that Saturn, the god of hard-earned gains and limitations, governs patchouli, and all spells should be cast on Saturday, the day of Saturn.

The first money patchouli spell is a mental spell, which requires users to place patchouli leaves or oil in their wallet and envision the wallet bursting with money.

Another spell is the money growth spell. Members of Free Witchcraft Spells, an online organization providing information for budding witches, directs those seeking monetary riches to gather a healthy potted houseplant, a coin and patchouli leaves. To cast the spell, sprinkle patchouli leaves onto the soil of the potted plant and then press a coin halfway into the soil where the patchouli leaves are. When extra money is gained, remove the coin from the soil and spend it. To keep the spell continuous, users must insert a new coin whenever the old one is spent.

A third spell using patchouli is for prosperity. Users either place patchouli oils or leaves around the base of a green candle or hollow out and fill the bottom of a green candle with patchouli leaves. The candle is then burnt completely.

Love and Lust

Patchouli has a thick, alluring aroma and is commonly used for lust and love spells. Magic users consider it a female plant and an aphrodisiac. Patchouli is said to attract eccentric people and invite lust-filled attractions rather than potential long-term romances. Toni Burnett, a professional spiritual adviser, recommends that seekers of pure love should couple patchouli leaves with rose petals in a sachet.

Patchouli leaves are also used in combination with other herbs and stones in spells to ease a broken heart.

Fertility

Patchouli falls under the earth category for spell-based herbs and is used in many fertility spells. Although it's not the primary ingredient for fertility spells, patchouli is used to anoint candles and added to bathwater to ritually bathe the body for anointing. In most fertility spells, patchouli is coupled with sandalwood incense.

Other Spells

Patchouli is frequently used in combination with other oils and flowers for many different types of spells. According to Lady Morgana's online classroom where she teaches witchcraft to students, patchouli is in spells to gain or develop self-confidence and to obtain protection from a variety of threats. It is even used in spells to receive legal help and positive court rulings.

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What Are The Causes Of Bone Cancer Pain

Bone cancer can be a very serious and very painful condition. See your doctor if you think you are exhibiting symptoms of bone cancer. Treatment is available that may slow or halt the disease's progress.

Causes

An error in a bone cell's DNA is the beginning of bone cancer. The cell grows and divides in an uncontrolled manner.

Symptoms

Bone pain and tenderness in the affected area can be symptoms of bone cancer. Unexplained weight loss and fatigue may also be warning signs.

Types

Osteosarcoma begins in the bone cells, while chondrosarcoma begins in cartilage and is often found on the end of bones, according to MayoClinic.com. Ewing's sarcoma may begin in a bone's nerve tissue, according to MayoClinic.

Risk Factors

Genetic predisposition and exposure to large doses of radiation can increase the likelihood of bone cancer. Paget's disease is a precancerous condition that can lead to bone cancer.

Treatment

Radiation therapy may be used to shrink bone cancer so it can be removed. Surgery can remove some cancers and, if necessary, cancerous limbs.

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What Is Rem Sleep

REM, or Rapid Eye Movement, are rapid movements of the eyes during sleep. This period of sleep occurs in mammals, including humans, and other animals. There are various traits and disorders associated with REM sleep.

History

The REM sleep theory was discovered by Nathaniel Klietman and Eugene Aserinsky in 1952. They classified REM sleep as either classic or phasic.

Features

Characteristics of REM sleep include low muscle tone, rapid eye movements and low voltage electroencephalography (EEG). These characteristics are usually displayed through a polysomnogram.

When REM Occurs

Some people refer to REM as the part of sleep when they have vivid dreams. Depending on age and overall health, the amount of time an individual spends in REM varies. For the most part, humans experience REM for 1.5 to 2 hours of sleep--and there are usually between 4 and 5 periods of REM during each night's sleep.

Sleep Disorders

Narcolepsy is often detected with altered patterns of REM sleep. It usually takes about an hour an a half to fall into REM; however, those who suffer from from narcolepsy tend to fall into REM much faster--sometimes 15 minutes after falling asleep. Other disorders include RBD (Rapid eye movement Behavior Disorder). In RBD, individuals may experience extreme changes in motor reactions while sleeping, such as acting out, twitching or other violent behaviors.

Who Gets REM?

REM sleep occurs in all mammals. The echidnas (spiny anteaters) also fall into rapid eye movement, but only when the temperature reaches 25 degrees C.

Tags: fall into, occurs mammals, rapid movements, sleep occurs, sleep occurs mammals

Tachycardia

Tachycardia is a medical condition in which the heart rate of a person is over 100 beats a minute as opposed to the normal rate which lies within the range of 60 to 100. While in some cases tachycardia is not serious and requires no specific treatment in others it is a major concern that can be extremely dangerous. Tachycardia can be controlled sometimes with medications but in other instances it takes as drastic an action as open-heart surgery to correct it.

Function

The human heart contains four hollow chambers: two upper chambers called atria and two lower chambers known as ventricles. Every beat of the heart starts in the right atrium when a sinus node, which serves as a pacemaker, emits an electrical signal that makes the atria contract. This results with the ventricles being filled with blood. The electrical impulse then causes the ventricles to contract, pulsing blood through the various blood vessels and throughout the body. But when someone suffers from tachycardia these impulses are disrupted and the heart is made to beat too rapidly.

Types

There are different types of tachycardia, categorized according to where they occur in the heart. The most common tachycardia is called atrial fibrillation, in which the atria can beat as many as 400 times in a minute, normally seen in people 60 years old and older. Atrial flutter is much like fibrillation except it seems to be more rhythmic, with chest pain as a result. Supraventricular tachycardia describes a condition that occurs mostly in younger people and results in the heart beating anywhere from 160 to 200 times in a minute. Ventricular tachycardia is a dangerous situation that happens most of the time in a damaged heart and can turn fatal without treatment. Ventricular fibrillation is deadly if not quickly corrected, with the heart unable to pump blood through the body.

Effects

There are certain triggers that can cause a tachycardia in some individuals. These substances can affect the electrical system's function in the heart after moderate to prolonged exposure. Things such as alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and drugs such as cocaine which are classified as stimulants can have this effect on a heart. Some prescription drugs list the ability to cause tachycardia as a side effect and dietary supplements and other medications can result in rapid heartbeats as well.

Considerations

The signs and symptoms that go with a tachycardia episode can include becoming dizzy and being short of breath. A person suffering from tachycardia may be lightheaded and feel their heart racing in their chest, a rather disconcerting and uncomfortable feeling. Chest pain can be accompanied by blurred vision and passing out. Some individuals though may experience no symptoms at all while having tachycardia attacks.

Prevention/Solution

Tachycardia is treated according to how often it occurs and what symptoms it brings. Medications are administered that can slow down the heart rate while others work by blocking or slowing impulses in the heart. Blood thinners can lessen the possibility of strokes and heart attacks when a tachycardia takes place. Electric shock therapy can be utilized to bring a heart back to a normal rhythm. Some drugs have this ability as well. Surgical procedures to treat tachycardia include implanting a device known as a cardioverter-defibrillator to keep track of heart beats and use electrical impulses whenever tachycardia occurs to restore a normal heart rate. Open heart surgery for tachycardia aims to create a situation in the muscle where the heart will not carry stray electrical impulses that cause irregular heart beats.

Tags: heart rate, blood through, cause tachycardia, electrical impulses, from tachycardia

Hire A Massage Therapist

Massage Oils

Massage therapy can provide great relief for basic aches and pains as well as serving as a great way to pamper yourself. You need to find the right massage therapist for the job, though, because not all massage therapists are created equal.

Instructions

1. Start your quest for a great massage therapist by asking around to see if any of your friends or family members can personally recommend someone. A good massage therapist will get a great deal of business through word or mouth since a good massage therapist can be hard to find. All licensed massage therapists should have the skills to deliver a suitable massage, but some are just better than others.

2. If nobody you know can recommend a massage therapist then peruse the Internet or check the local phone book. Find someone who is close by because nothing spoils a delightfully relaxing massage as a long drive through traffic afterward. Once you find a few massage therapists who are close by, start calling them to find out their availability, rates, and to make sure they are fully licensed.

3. You can usually schedule a massage appointment over the phone, although whether or not you actually speak with the therapist who will be massaging you depends on a few different factors, such as if the therapist works out of a spa or out of her home. Regardless of where the massage therapist works, most try to make it easy to schedule the first appointment.

4. If you enjoy your first visit with the massage therapist you should be able to schedule your next appointment before you leave. If you did not find the massage relaxing or stress-relieving, you have two choices. You can either book an appointment with a different massage therapist or you can instead speak with the person who just massaged you in order to figure out a way to get a better massage next time. There are many different styles of massage with varying degrees of pressure, so it may just be a matter of tweaking the massage to fit your needs.

5. There is no rule that says you can't hire more than one massage therapist at a time, but if you can find one therapist who you like then try to stick with him because he'll get to know your back and your tension points really well. Familiarity with your back and the rest of your body will result in a much better massage than other therapists may be able to give you.

Tags: massage therapist, massage therapists, better massage, find massage, good massage, good massage therapist, speak with

Clean A Healing Citrine Ring

Citrine is a type of quartz. The most common colors of this gem are shades of yellow and orange, and it is one popular, inexpensive stone used for rings and other jewelry. According to Gemaffair.com, citrine is said to repel negativity from the wearer, facilitate a better mood and help with any circulatory or digestive problems. Cleaning your citrine ring is easy---it won't require special cleaners. You can use a mild cleaner that is also safe for the ring's band.

Instructions

1. Hold the ring in your hand and pour a drop of a mild, clean rinsing hand soap or dish soap on the citrine. Wet a soft-bristled toothbrush under warm water and gently brush the citrine.

2. Use a cloth, dampened in warm water, to clean the metal band. A mild soap (which will drip off the citrine onto the band) won't hurt gold, silver or other common band materials.

3. Rinse the ring under warm water, shaking it a bit to make sure all the soap gets out of setting crevices. Dry the ring well with a soft cloth. If the band looks a little dull, use the same cloth to buff the band until it is shinier.

Tags: warm water, under warm, under warm water

Death From Mesothelioma

About Death From Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a very dangerous type of cancer that ends in death within an average of just 2 years after diagnosis. This rare disease inflicts about 2,000 to 3,000 individuals in the US each year. Most people who develop this disease do so after inhaling asbestos particles.

The Facts

Though the vast majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by asbestos exposure, approximately 20 percent of all cases are found in individuals who have no history of exposure. When a person develops this disease, malignant cells develop in the membrane that protects most of the body's internal organs, which is called the mesothelium. The cancerous cells spread to other tissues as well as other parts of the body, leading to the death of the patent. The disease is so deadly not because it is particularly aggressive, but because it reaches an advanced stage before it is discovered. More than 90 percent of those who are diagnosed with mesothelioma die.

Type

There are four types of mesothelioma: pleural malignant, peritoneal, pericardial and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis. Pleural malignant mesothelioma is the most common form of the cancer, destroying the tissues surrounding the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects abdominal tissue, and the pericardial type is found in the heart area. Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis affects the testicle lining. Though treatments do exist for mesothelioma, the disease is hard to control and many treatments simply serve to make the patient more comfortable.

Risk Factors

Asbestos exposure is the main risk factor for developing this disease, and people are often exposed to it occupationally. Men are about four times as likely as women to develop the rare cancer, and risk tends to increase with age. Those who work with asbestos or live with someone who does are more at risk, as are smokers. Some studies have found a link between mesothelioma and the simian virus 40 (SV40). This virus is found in monkeys and may have been in polio vaccines given in the late 50s and early 60s, as monkey cells were used in the immunizations.

Identification

In its early stages, mesothelioma causes no symptoms. By the time symptoms are obvious, the disease has been present for quite some time. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include shortness of breath, breathing and coughing accompanied by pain, chest pain and lumps, unexplained weight loss and a dry cough. Peritoneal mesothelioma causes such symptoms as abdominal pain and swelling, bowel changes, unexplained weight loss and lumps in the abdominal area. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms may include shortness of breath and chest pains while tunica vaginalis causes a testicular mass.

Misconceptions

Some people assume a person who hasn't developed mesothelioma in a couple of years after exposure is safe from this deadly form of cancer. However, the truth is that this disease has a rather long latency period. In fact, a person may not show any signs of mesothelioma for about 20 or 30 years after exposure. Surprisingly, there have even been cases that have developed 50 years later. Additionally, many think the length of exposure plays a big role in death from mesothelioma. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Even short-term exposure can lead to the disease.

Evolution

The diagnosis rate of mesothelioma has increased in the past 20 years, despite the fact that the disease is still considered rare. In a given population, the levels of diagnosis depend upon the exposure rates in the preceding decades. Some evidence suggests that rates in the US may have peaked in 2004, coming in at about 15 affected for every 1,000,000 people. From 1980 to 1990, there was a 1,000-person increase in the death rate from the disease. It began at about 2,000 deaths per year and ended at about 3,000 per year in 1990. Today, US death rates tend to be between 2,000 and 3,000 people per year.

Tags: this disease, tunica vaginalis, years after, after exposure, Death From Mesothelioma, form cancer

Reduce Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Many women experience extreme heavy menstrual bleeding, called Menorrhagia. Menorrhagia is caused by hormonal imbalances or uterine fibroids and can be treated with medical care.

Signs of Menorrhagia include:

Menstrual flow that soaks through one or more sanitary pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours

The need to use double sanitary protection to control your menstrual flow

The need to change sanitary protection during the night

Menstrual period that lasts longer than seven days

Menstrual flow that includes large blood clots

Heavy menstrual flow that interferes with your regular lifestyle

Constant pain in your lower abdomen during menstrual period

Irregular menstrual periods

Tiredness, fatigue or shortness of breath (symptoms of anemia)

Instructions

1. Seek Medical Attention immediately. The doctor will be able to examine you and offer solutions to solving the problem. Keeping a log of how many pads/tampons you go through per hour or per day will help your doctor determine the blood flow. Be sure to record the strength of the pad or tampon (regular, super, super plus, etc.)

2. In the meantime, take ibuprofen to help reduce blood flow.

3. Get plenty of rest

Tags: flow that, blood flow, Menstrual flow, pads tampons, sanitary protection

End Stage Of Alzheimer'S Disease

There are seven stages of Alzheimer's disease starting with the first stage, which is assigned to a person who does not yet show any indications of the disease. The seventh stage is the most advanced. Patients in the seventh stage, the end stage of Alzheimer's disease, need constant care until they die.

Significance

The Alzheimer's Association website characterizes the seventh stage of Alzheimer's disease as a "very severe cognitive decline." More than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease, a major cause of death in the United States. Since Alzheimer's disease destroys the cells in its victims' brain, the disease is progressive and incurable, and it causes more than half of the incidents of old-age dementia.

Memory

People who are in the end stage of Alzheimer's disease seem to become detached. They no longer know where they are in space and time. They may have difficulty remembering who their closest friends and relatives are from one moment to the next. It can be very difficult to get them to respond at all.

Language

This social detachment is intensified by a loss of the ability to speak, use and understand language. Not only do people at the end stage of Alzheimer's disease forget what familiar items are called, but they also lose the ability to solve problems or make logical connections between ideas.

Motor Control

The end stage of Alzheimer's disease is when the patient has the least motor control over her own body. As the disease progresses, patients lose their ability to feed themselves. They also lose continence so they eventually need to wear adult diapers. By the end of the disease, patients can no longer walk or even sit upright. They lose their normal reflexes, grow stiff and have difficulty swallowing.

Coping

According to experts on late-stage Alzheimer's disease at the Mayo Clinic, caregivers may experience difficult emotions as they see their loved one become less and less able to function. In addition, the physical challenges of having to lift the patient can become overwhelming or impossible especially when added to the lack of sleep caused by being on call 24/7. Feelings of guilt and the sometimes inevitable need to transition the patient to a nursing home make coping with the disease even harder on the family. Talk with your family doctor or a hospital social worker to find out the options in your community for respite care and residential care if you are a caregiver of a patient with late-stage Alzheimer's disease and need help.

Tags: Alzheimer disease, Alzheimer disease, stage Alzheimer disease, seventh stage, stage Alzheimer

What Happens When You Get Alcohol Poisoning

Faster "In" Than "Out"

Your body cannot get rid of alcohol faster than it can absorb it. This is especially true on an empty stomach, too. When you get alcohol poisoning, both your liver and kidneys essentially become overwhelmed. The liver and kidneys are responsible for removing waste from the body. Each act as a kind of filter. If both filters are inhibited or get "jammed up" in some way, the waste that sits in the blood turns to poison.

Alcohol Can Poison Cells

When you get alcohol poisoning, your nervous system is adversely affected. This causes the body functions to slow. It also results in the body's inability to produce new cells. New cells help regenerate organs, like the liver and kidneys, so they keep working efficiently. When you get drunk, the body loses the ability to recognize impending physiological danger. The effect of pain mechanisms designed to protect the body are intensely reduced. Simply, the blood is poisoned and the organs become damaged before a person even realizes they are in danger. Without new cells, the organs will fail and a person may die from alcohol poisoning as a result.

Disease and Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning can occur in varying degrees. A person can recover from a mild onset, for example. More serious events can cause debilitating disease. For example, when the brain function gets depressed, as a result of chronic alcohol poisoning, decreased blood pressure and profuse vomiting may result. It is not unusual for people who experience persistent and even violent episodes of vomiting to suffer from heart attacks. People like this may even develop ulcers and diabetes. Some studies show a direct correlation between chronic vomiting and cancer.

Tags: liver kidneys, alcohol poisoning, When alcohol, When alcohol poisoning

Dangers Of Vaccines For Children

A vaccine is a public health measure designed to prevent outbreaks of serious and infectious illness. Administration of vaccines provokes an immune reaction in the patient that can provide lifelong protection against disease. Most children have no problems after being given shots by a doctor or nurse. Minor vaccine reactions may occur temporarily following the inoculation.

Swelling at the Site

A child may experience swelling and redness at the site of the administration of the vaccine. Such side effects are common and generally not cause for concern. If the swelling persists for longer than a week, spreads or becomes hot to the touch contact your pediatrician. Gently massage the site with ice to help reduce swelling.

Fever

After vaccination a child may have a fever for several days. Fevers under 104 degrees are generally not a concern. If your child continues to run a fever or has a fever higher than 104 degrees contact your pediatrician. Cold compresses and pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help bring down a child's fever.

Headache

A child may have a headache after being given a vaccine. Headaches are usually mild and go away after a day or two. You can treat headaches with a small dose of children's acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Rashes

Some vaccines may cause a mild rash on the skin. The rash is usually red in color and may have raised bumps on it. A rash can be itchy and unpleasant. Treat it with anti-itch medication. If the rash persists more than two weeks contact your pediatrician for further information.

Seizure

Some children have seizures after being given vaccines. Seizures are rare and almost never have serious consequences. Make sure the child's airway is open during the seizure so he doesn't choke. Check to make sure that the child can breath and is lying on against a soft surface. A child in the middle of a seizure should be carefully watched to avoid injury. If the seizure persists take the child to the hospital.

Some children may react poorly to vaccines. They should not be vaccinated unless a pediatrician believes the benefits outweigh the side effects. Children who can be vaccinated should be to help protect those who cannot be vaccinated from the threat of serious illnesses such as measles and whooping cough.

Tags: after being, after being given, being given, contact your, contact your pediatrician, your pediatrician

Become A Certified Medical Transcriptionist

A medical transcriptionist transcribes dictated material, such as medical procedures, patients' progress, medical histories, and autopsy or operative reports. This is usually done from recordings made by doctors, surgeons, therapists and others in the health field. The work can be done onsite or offsite--even in your home. A certified medical transcriptionist has had the same training as a standard medical transcriptionist but also has passed a special exam.

Instructions

1. Contact your local technical or vocational college to see if it offers a medical transcription training program. Depending on the college, this will be a six-month, one-year or two-year program. Try to enroll in one of the longer medical transcriptionist programs (as would be seen in the one- or two-year certification). This type of program is much more desirable to potential employers.

2. Register for the appropriate classes. Typically, you'll meet with an adviser to plan your educational goals through a selection of courses. These will usually include classes on composition and writing (with some emphasis on grammar, punctuation, spelling and structure), anatomy and physiology, medical and legal terminology and medical transcription training.

3. Pass the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity "Level 1" medical transcription exam to become a registered medical transcriptionist.

4. Work for two years in a variety of specialties requiring a transcriptionist to deal with a wide array of reports and formats.

5. Pass an exam offered by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity to become a certified medical transcriptionist. The certification is effective for three years.

6. Earn continuing education credits during the three-year period in order to be recertified.

Tags: medical transcriptionist, medical transcription, Association Healthcare, Association Healthcare Documentation, certified medical, Documentation Integrity, Healthcare Documentation

Types Of Treatment For Obesity

Obesity develops from consuming more calories than you expend. Doctors define you as obese if your body mass index, or BMI, is more than 30. The BMI is calculated by your height-to-weight ratio. Genetics, diet and inactivity play roles in becoming obese. Obesity increases your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Doctors help you find the right treatment for obesity after an examination.

Doctor's Examination

Health care providers examine obese patients before prescribing obesity treatments. They ask questions about your medical history, diet and exercise routine. Blood tests tell medical professionals if you have thyroid problems that contributed to your weight gain. Blood tests reveal liver conditions, cholesterol and other obesity-related health problems. They measure body composition by doing a skin fold measurement. Your primary care physician may send you to a special facility that has equipment to measure body composition. Health care providers outline a treatment plan after a full examination.

Behavior Modification

Health care providers recommend behavior modification to treat obesity before any medical intervention. This includes changing your diet and exercising. Your physician may provide nutritional guidelines based on your health and caloric needs. You may have a team of professionals working with you and your doctor, including a dietitian or nutritionist. They help you set realistic weight loss goals, learn count calories, read food labels, prepare food and choose healthy alternatives to your old diet. Keeping a food diary helps you see what you are eating and what triggers food cravings. Healthcare providers may recommend a personal trainer or simple exercises that you can do based on your health and size. Counseling may be included in behavior modification treatment. Other behavior modification programs include Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.

Pills and Supplements

Health care providers may combine behavior modifications with supplements, over-the-counter diet products or prescription diet pills. These supplements suppress your appetite and make you feel full faster. Doctors prescribe these treatments to obese patients with no outstanding health problems because the side effects of many of these produces are heart palpitations and elevated blood pressure. Talk to your doctor before taking herbals supplements or over-the-counter diet pills because of the health risks involved.

Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery is a last resort to treat morbid obesity. Morbid obesity is defined as being more than 100 pounds overweight. Men with a BMI of more than 40 and women with a BMI of more than 35 are considered morbidly obese. Health care providers recommend this surgery for morbidly obese patients with health problems who have documentation that they have tried other weight loss methods. Bariatric surgery entails placing a band around the stomach to reduce the amount of food consumed. Gastric bypass surgery involves rerouting the digestive tract. You lose weight rapidly at first and experience health improvements.

Maintenance

Obesity treatments vary for each patient. An obesity treatment that works for you may not work for another person. To maintain weight loss, you have to continue eating healthy, exercising and reducing overeating triggers. According to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital website, approximately 85 percent of people who lose weight gain it back. Maintaining weight loss is a lifelong effort.

Tags: care providers, Health care, Health care providers, more than, health problems, obese patients, providers recommend

Diagnose Menopause

If a woman is in her late 40s to her mid 50s and hasn't had a menstrual period in a year, it is more than likely she is fully menopausal. The Journal of Family Practice notes that the occurrence of amenorrhea, which is the term for missed or absent menstrual periods, is the best predictor that a woman will enter into menopause within the next 4 years.

Instructions

1. Realize that age in and of itself is a useful indicator of peri-menopause and forthcoming menopause. Most women have either completed or at least entered into the peri-menopausal transition by the age of 50, and almost all women have completed the process by the time they are 55.

2. Be aware that during peri-menopause, a woman's follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level may indicate where she is in the transition process. However, keep in mind that the American College of Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Academy of Family Physicians, according to The Journal of Family Practice, do not address the diagnosis of menopause in their various recommendations. Some physicians do not put much stock in measuring FSH levels. The North American Menopause Society explains that FSH and estradiol (a type of estrogen) have limited value when it comes to confirming peri-menopause, because monthly fluctuations of FSH and estradiol can be extreme. Some physicians do not think the testing of FSH levels is very reliable.

3. Test your FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Testing should be done twice, a month apart, to compensate for the fluctuations in FSH levels, according to Menopauseatoz.com. Home testing kits are available.

4. Determine whether you have high levels of FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are characteristic of peri-menopause. The FSH and LH levels get high when estrogen and progesterone levels drop due to aging ovaries and the absence of ovulation.

5. If your FSH level is higher than 25, this may be an indication you are heading toward menopause. Prior to peri-menopause, FSH levels are between 5 and 25 mIU/ml. Once a woman has become fully menopausal, or hasn't had a menstrual period in 365 days, her FSH level will be 50 mIU/ml or higher.

Tags: American College, Family Practice, fully menopausal, hasn menstrual, hasn menstrual period, Journal Family

How Saccharin Causes Cancer

How Saccharin Causes Cancer

What is Saccharin?

Saccharin is a sweetener alternative to sugar that is much sweeter than natural table sugar, so less is needed to sweeten your drink or dish. Saccharin was discovered more than 100 years ago by scientists at Johns Hopkins University. It was particularly a boon to people with diabetes or on diets because it provided with sweetness, but without the calories and glucose, which are sugar's main downfalls. Saccharin became a popular alternative during World War II when sugar was rationed and in high demand. Its popularity continued until the 1970s when a study showed it had a connection to cancer.

Saccharin and Cancer

It was in the 1970s that scientist began introducing high levels of sodium saccharin to mice to check for side effects or conditions that might arise from long-tern use of saccharin. In this study, saccharin was shown to cause bladder cancer in the mice, and the alert was issued that the same could happen to humans. The Food and Drug Administration required makers of saccharin-based sweeteners to place a warning on their packets stating that prolonged use of the sweetener may cause cancer. This caused a backlash in saccharin sales, but it was still used as a sugar alternative.

Saccharin's Redemption

Since saccharin was proclaimed a cancerous material, there have been several other sugar alternatives developed. The link between cancer and saccharin has been researched and the subject of several studies. These studies have shown there is no link between saccharin and bladder cancer in humans, and eventually the FDA rescinded categorizing saccharin as a possible cancer risk. Detractors have said saccharin still poses a cancer risk and should remain on the list, and that the studies showing saccharin as safe were skewed because they were propagated by the diet community. Saccharin has been one of the most studied food additives in history, according to the Calorie Control Council's saccharin site. It has been involved with more than 30 human studies and has been approved by the World Health Organization and more than 100 other countries as safe to use.

Tags: more than, bladder cancer, cancer risk, Causes Cancer, link between, Saccharin Causes, Saccharin Causes Cancer

The Truth Detox Patches

Detox foot pads are popular in Asia for relieving pain and swelling and for detoxifying the body through the soles of the feet. According to a study done by Dr. Devra Davis and reported on MSNBC, detoxifying foot pads contain mainly vinegar and green tea extracts. After applying them to the feet overnight, the user can see brown gunk on the pads in the morning. This, however, is not gunk from your body. It is actually a natural reaction between moisture and the ingredients on the pads.

History

The foot pads are a form of traditional Japanese medicine. As in many forms of traditional medicine, Japanese practitioners used poultices to draw out toxins. According to a report by Dr. Mercola, the original pads used bamboo vinegar that had been fermented for 9 years. The aged bamboo vinegar has an effect on the kidney meridian, located on the feet. Users of the original pads, however, made no claims that they detoxified the body of heavy metals.

Misconceptions

Foot pads do not detoxify the body. The brown gunk on the pads is simply the chemical reaction of moisture plus the substances on the pads. There have been several news reports criticizing the foot pads. According to an article in Wellspring, National Public Radio and 20/20 have done informal studies to show that no toxins were found on the pads after use. They have also shown that applying moisture causes the pads change color and begin to smell bad. John Stossel of 20/20 asked for a report on ingredients from Avon and Kinoki, two manufacturers of these pads, but neither company responded.

Benefits

Some detox foot pads may contain ingredients that could act as a poultice on the skin. One brand contains milk thistle, which, according to Dr. James Duke, author of "The Green Pharmacy," is known to regenerate liver cells. Another contains cayenne, which is a known topical pain reliever. Although none of the pads will detoxify your body of heavy metals, the original pads do work with traditional Japanese medicine. If you follow this belief system, the pads will balance your kidney meridian.

Safety

Although there is no known safety hazard associated with detox pads, the FDA included them in an import alert in May 2007 because they are misbranded. The means that they claim to do something that they do not do. The report by 20/20 as reported by Wellspring revealed that some users found that the adhesive on the pads irritated their skin.

Considerations

There is reason to detoxify the body, but to do so through the soles of the feet in this manner seems inefficient. There is much misinformation regarding the pads, and several websites touting them contained mistakes, including one site which cited the "Marunouchi Era" as the time when the pads first became popular. Marunouchi is a section of Tokyo, not an era. Although poultices may help the body, these pads may not be the best way to apply a poultice.

Tags: foot pads, original pads, that they, bamboo vinegar, body heavy, body heavy metals

Use Preventive Measures For Asthma

Asthma is a chronic lung ailment that includes symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing and mucus production. The airways of people suffering from this disease may become inflamed due to environmental agents, allergies, infections or emotions. Genetics and nutrition also play an aspect in contraction and severity of attacks. There are, however, preventive measures for asthma that can help to lessen the number and severity of asthma attacks.

Instructions

1. Learn relaxation techniques. Current research is learning that the use of relaxation techniques when you feel asthma symptoms coming on can lessen or sometimes eliminate an asthma attack.

2. Remove the carpet in your bedroom and other rooms. Dust, dust mites and allergens can penetrate into carpeting and then work their way back to the surface and into the air. A smooth surfaced floor can be cleaned daily, leaving less of these asthma agitating agents.

3. Eliminate pets from your environment. Pet hair and pet dander are two irritants for many asthma sufferers.

4. Keep the humidity level in your environment below 50 percent. This will help to control dust in the air as well as the growth of fungus and dust mites. Also, when outdoor levels of fungus and air pollution are high, you should limit your time spent outside.

5. Avoid locations where cigarette smoking is taking place. It is an obvious hazard to the asthma condition. In many states, cigarette smoking has been banned in some or all public places. This makes it easier for the asthma sufferer, eliminating worry about entering a restaurant, bar or nightclub not knowing if smoking is allowed.

6. Use probiotics, beneficial bacteria normally found in the gut. In recent studies, it was found that those who took probiotics in the form of cultured yogurt had a reduction in inflammation and allergy symptoms.

7. Reduce egg yokes, meats and shellfish from your diet as much as possible. These foods contain arachidonic acid which causes inflammation. Eating less of these will lower inflammation levels in your lungs.

Tags: cigarette smoking, dust mites, from your, less these, relaxation techniques, your environment

The Use Of Silicon Dioxide In Fat Burners

With new fat-burning supplements being created daily, it's difficult for consumers to keep up with which options are safe and which may contain harmful substances. Though the ingredients in fat burners must be publicly shared, consumers are often unaware of what the purpose of each ingredient is and whether it is necessary. Silicon dioxide is one ingredient often found in fat burners, with little explanation as to why.

Definition

Silicon is the second most plentiful substance in the earth's crust, second to oxygen, and is found in the form of sand and quartz. Silicon dioxide is a mixture of silicon and oxygen, which together make up 75 percent of the earth's crust. Because silicon dioxide is so abundant, it is used for a variety of purposes, including wire insulation, radio and TV signals, wrist watches, window glass, sandblasting and anti-caking in supplements.

Function

The finely ground silicon dioxide found in fat-burning supplements is used as an anti-caking, drying mechanism to keep the moisture out and the supplements dry. Silicon dioxide prevents moisture in the air from soaking into the pills or from the pills sticking together. Because it is naturally low in toxicity, this is the choice for most supplements. Research continues to study whether silicon dioxide is safe to ingest.

Effects

Pure silicon dioxide is harmless, containing no fumes or nutritional value. According to an article from "Whole Foods Magazine," silicon alone contains nutritional values for the body. However, silicone dioxide, which is what is added to pills as an anti-caking mechanism, is indigestible. The silicon dioxide must be swallowed in small amounts, which is an average of 10 mg. This amount will pass through the digestive system, untouched.

Theories/Speculation

Ivan Fraser, a former nurse who experienced these symptoms firsthand, founded a theory that silicon dioxide may cause Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The symptoms Fraser experienced from supplements that contained silicon dioxide were similar to those experienced by women when their breast implants leak, which contain a significant amount of silicon dioxide. No scientific research has backed up this theory, however. Worldimage.com recommends not consuming silicon dioxide in pills because it is used to make glass and electrical components and it might be "carcinogenic to humans," according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

FDA Rule

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that silicon dioxide is found all over the world. Not only is it the foundation of sand on beaches, in bodies of water and in deserts, but it is also found in drinking water, in plants and in animals. Therefore, it is naturally part of the foods we eat. No scientific research has found whether it is a necessary nutrient for our bodies, nor has research found any signs that it causes harm to the body. The rule goes that if supplements contain less than 2 percent of silicon dioxide, they are safe.

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Flying Insects That Sting More Than Once

Bumblebees can sting a person more than once.

Unlike biting insects, stinging insects possess a piercing organ called a sting, which delivers venom. A few can even sting repeatedly. The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reports that more than 500,000 people end up in emergency rooms each year due to insect stings. A typical reaction to an insect sting is redness, pain and swelling at the site. Sometimes, a person may have a serious allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which includes difficultly breathing and a swelling of the tongue.