Dry Beans and Peas: Natural Weight-Loss Food

If you had to pick one food to be stuck on a desert island with, it would have to be beans. They'd provide you with almost complete nutrition and you wouldn't have to worry about offending anyone.

Yes, beans can be gassy, but there are ways around that. So don't let their "explosive" nature scare you away from some of the best lean protein around.

When your diet's based on protein -- and fiber-rich beans and other complex carbohydrates -- you're more likely to feel full sooner. In addition, a diet high in fiber can reduce your risk of developing diabetes and help lower blood cholesterol levels, which can reduce your risk of heart disease.

Complementing beans with grain foods, like rice, makes them a great substitute for higher-fat protein sources like meats. Beans are also filling enough to stave off hunger. The low-fat, high-fiber nature of a bean-centered diet means chances are good that you'll lose weight eating this way. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating 3 cups of beans per week.

 

 

Nutritional Values Fiber Content of Selected Dry Beans & Peas (grams per 1/2 cup serving, cooked) Kidney beans: 6.9 Butter beans: 6.9 Navy beans: 6.5 Black beans: 6.1 Pinto beans: 5.9 Broad (fava) beans: 5.1 Great Northern beans: 5.0 Black-eyed peas: 4.7 Chick-peas (garbanzos): 4.3 Mung beans: 3.3 Split peas: 3.1 Black Beans, Cooked Serving Size: 1/2 cup Calories: 113 Fat: <1 g Saturated Fat: <1 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Carbohydrate: 20 g Protein: 8 g Dietary Fiber: 8 g Sodium: 1 mg Thiamin: <1 mg Folic Acid: 128 mcg Copper: <1 mg Iron: 2 g Magnesium: 60 mg Manganese: <1 mg Phosphorus: 120 mg Potassium: 306 mg

Health Benefits
Not only are beans low in fat and high in quality protein, but they also have the added bonus of soluble fiber's disease-preventing qualities. The soluble fiber in beans dissolves in water, trapping bile acids in its gummy goo. This lowers blood levels of damaging LDL cholesterol, especially if LDL cholesterol levels were high to begin with, without compromising the level of protective HDL cholesterol.

Because beans are singled out for their soluble fiber, you may not realize they also provide substantial insoluble fiber, which helps combat constipation, colon cancer, and other conditions that afflict your digestive tract. How?

 

 Insoluble fiber absorbs water, which swells the size of stool, puts pressure on the intestines, and moves everything along faster. To help combat the gas problem -- caused by indigestible carbohydrates -- let your body get used to eating beans. Start slowly, eating only small amounts at first, and try to eat them when you know you'll be active afterward; it helps break up the gas.

Beans contain several types of phytochemicals. They are rich in lignans, which may play a role in preventing osteoporosis, heart disease, and certain cancers. The flavonoids in beans may help reduce heart disease and cancer risk. Phytosterols, also in legumes, help reduce blood cholesterol levels.

As for vitamins and minerals, beans are a bonanza of folic acid, copper, iron, and magnesium -- four nutrients that many nutrition experts agree we don't get enough of. Indeed, most dry beans and peas are rich sources of iron -- ideal for people who don't eat meat.

 

The nutritional content of most beans is very similar to the black beans we've chosen as a representative example. (Soybeans are in a class by themselves, so are listed separately.) Exceptions? White beans have almost twice the iron of black beans, while kidney beans are somewhere in between. And fiber does vary. Most differences, however, are minor.

 

somE usefuL tipS

 Almonds: To remove the skin of almonds easily, soak them in hot water for 15-20 minutes.•

 Ants: Putting 3-4 cloves in the sugar container will keep the ants at bay.•

 Biscuits: If you keep a piece of blotting paper at the bottom of the container, it will keep biscuits fresh for a longer time..•

 Butter: Avoid the use of butter. If it is essential to use, use a butter containing low saturated fat or with plant stanols (which avoid absorption of cholesterol by our body) or similar substitutes.•

 Apples: Apply some lemon juice on the cut surface of the apple to avoid browning. They will look fresh for a longer time.•

 Banana: Apply mashed banana over a burn on your• body to have a cooling effect.

 Bee and Scorpion Sting Relief: Apply a mixture of 1 pinch of chewing tobacco and 1 drop of water. Mix and apply directly and immediately to the sting; cover with band aid to hold in place. Pain will go away in just a few short minutes•

 Bitter Gourd (Karela): Slit Karelas at the middle and apply a mixture of salt, wheat flour and curd all round. Keep aside for 1/2 an hour and then cook.•
Stuffed Karela

 Celery: To keep celery fresh for long time, wrap it in aluminium foil and place in the refrigerator.•

 Burnt Food: Place some chopped onion in the vessel having burnt food, pour boiling water in it, keep for 5 minutes and then clean.•

 Chilli Powder: Keeping a small piece of hing (asafoetida) in the same container will store chilli powder for long time.•

 Chopping: Use a wooden board to chop. It will not blunt the knife. Don't use a plastic board, small• plastic pieces may go with the vegetables.

 Coriander/Mint: You can use dried coriander and mint leaves in coarse powder form in vegetable curry or chutney, if fresh ones are not available.•
To keep them fresh for a longer time, wrap them in a muslin cloth and keep in a fridge.

 Cockroaches: Put some boric powder in kitchen in corners and other places. Cockroaches will leave your house.•

 Coconut: Immerse coconut in water for 1/2 an hour to remove its hust.•

 Dry Fruits: To chop dry fruits, place them in fridge for half an hour before cutting. Take the fruits out and cut them with a hot knife (dip it in hot water before cutting).•

 Dough/Rolling pin: If the dough sticks to the rolling pin, place it in freezer for a few minutes.•

 Egg peeling off: Make a small hole in the egg by piercing a pin before boiling it. You will be able to remove its skin very easily.•

 Egg fresh: Immerse• the egg in a pan of cool salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh; if it rises to the surface, it is certainly quite old.

 Garlic: Garlic skin comes off easily if the garlic cloves are slightly warmed before peeling.•

 Ghee: Avoid the use of ghee. If it is necessary, substitute it with canola oil. Even for making halwa, you can partly substitute it with oil.•

 Green Chillies: To keep the chillies fresh for a longer time, remove the stems before storing.•

 Green Peas: To preserve green peas, keep them in a polythene bag in the freezer.•

 Idlies: Place a betel (paan) leaf over the leftover idli and dosa batter to prevent them sour.•
Do not beat idli batter too much, the air which has been incorporated during fermentation will escape.
If you add half a tsp of fenugreek seeds to the lentil and rice mixture while soaking, dosas will be more crisp.


 Fruits: To ripen fruits, wrap them in• newspaper and put in a warm place for 2-3 days. The ethylene gas they emit will make them ripe.

 Frying: Avoid deep frying. Substitute deep frying with stir frying or oven bake. Don't pour the oil, but make a habit of spraying the oil in the utensil for cooking. Heat the utensil first, then add oil. This way oil spreads well. You will use less oil this way.•

 Left Over: Don't throw away the foods left over. Store them in Fridge. Use them in making tasty dishes.•

 Lemon/Lime: If the lemon or lime is hard, put it in warm water for 5-10 minutes to make it easier to squeeze.•

 Lizards: Hang a peacock feather, lizards will leave your house.•

 Milk: Moisten the base of the vessel with water to reduce the chances of milk to stick at the bottom.•
Keep a spoon in the vessel while boiling milk at medium heat. It will avoid sticking the milk at the bottom of the vessel.
Adding half a tsp of sodium bicarbonate in the milk while boiling will not spoil the milk even if you don't put it in the fridge.

 Mixer/Grinder: Grind some common salt in your mixer/grinder fro some time every month. This will keep your mixer blades sharp.•

 Mosquitoes: Put a few camphor tablets in a cup of water and keep it in the bed room near your bed, or in any place with mosquitoes.•

 Noodles: When the noodles are boiled, drain all the hot water and add cold water. This way all the noodles will get separated.•

 Onions: To avoid crying, cut the onions into two parts and place them in water for 15 minutes before chopping them.•
Wrap the onions individually in a newspaper and store in a cool and dark place to keep them fresh for long time.

 Oven: Watch from the oven window to conserve energy because the oven temperature drops by 25 degrees every time its door is opened,•
To clean the oven, apply a paste of sodium bicarbonate and water on the walls and floor of the oven and keep the oven on low heat for about half an hour. Dried food can easily be removed.

 Paneer: To keep paneer fresh for several days, wrap it in a blotting paper while storing in the refrigerator.•
Do not fry paneer, immerse it in boiling water to make it soft and spongy.

 Papad: Bake in microwave oven.•
Wrap the papads in polythene sheet and place with dal or rice will prevent them from drying and breaking.

 Pickles: To prevent the growth of fungus in pickles, burn a small grain of asafoetida over a burning coal and invert the empty pickle jar for some time before putting pickles in the jar.•

 Popcorn: Keep the maize/corn seeds in the freezer and pop while still frozen to get better pops.•

 Potato: To bake potatoes quickly, place them in salt water for 15 minutes before baking.•
Use the skin of boiled potatoes to wipe mirrors to sparkling clean.
Don't store potatoes and onions together. Potatoes will rot quickly if stored with onions.

 Refrigerator: To prevent formation of ice, rub table salt to the insides of your freeze.•

 Rice: Add a few drops of lemon juice in the water before boiling the rice to make rice whiter.•
Add a tsp of canola oil in the water before boiling the rice to separate each grain after cooking.
Don't throw away the rice water after cooking. Use it to make soup or add it in making dal (lentils).
Add 5g of dried powdered mint leaves to 1kg of rice. It will keep insects at bay.
Put a small paper packet of boric powder in the container of rice to keep insects at bay. Put a few leaves of mint in the container of rice to keep insects at bay.


 Samosa: Bake them instead of deep frying to make them fat free. Don't fry the filling potato masala.•
Preserve the samosas in freezer. For eating, take out of the freezer two hours in advance and bake them over low temp.

 Sugar: Put 2-3 cloves in the sugar to keep ants a•t bay.

 Tadka: Use sprouted mustard seeds (rayee) and fenugreek (methi) seeds for your tadkas. Both of them when sprouted have more nutritional values. Also this add flavour to the dish and can be more beneficial, besides giving decorative look to the dish. Submitted by MS Itisha Madhav•

 Tomato: To remove the skin of tomatoes, place them in warm water for 5-10 minutes. The skin can then be easily peeled off.•
When tomatoes are not available or too costly, substitute with tomato puree or tomato ketchup/sauce.
Place overripe tomatoes in cold water and add some salt. Overnight they will become firm and fresh.

 Tamarind: Tamarind is an excellent polish for brass and copper items. Rub a slab of wet tamarind with some salt sprinkled on it on the object to be polished.•
Gargles with tamarind water is recommended for a sore throat.

 Utensils: Use nonsticking utensils. Use thick bottom utensils, they get uniformly heated. For electric stoves, use flat bottom utensils.•
Add a little bit of common salt to the washing powder for better cleaning of utensils.

 Vegetables: Don't discard the water in which the vegetables are soaked or cooked. Use it in making soup or gravy.•
To keep the vegetables fresh for a longer time, wrap them in newspaper before putting them in freeze.
Chop the vegetables only when you are ready to use them. Don't cut them in too advance. It would spoil their food value.

 Sink (Blocked): To clear the blocked drain pipe of your kitchen sink, mix 1/2 cup sodium bicarbonate in 1 cup vinegar and pour it into the sink, and pour about 1 cup water. In an hour the drain pipe will open.•

 Soup Salty: Place a raw peeled potato in the bowl, it will absorb the extra salt.•

 Yoghurt (Home Made): To set yogurt in• winter, place the container in a warm place like oven or over the voltage stabliser.

 Yogurt: If the yogurt has become sour, put it in a muslin cloth and drain all the water. Then add milk to make it as good as fresh in taste. Use the drained water in making tasty gravy for vegetables or for basen curry.•
To keep the yogurt fresh for many days, fill the vessel containing yogurt with water to the brim and refrigerate. Change the water daily..

 

Home health remedies

For a Fever

 

Kristy said: When a child has a high fever, chop up onions, put them on the child's feet and then cover with socks. Kinda smelly, yes, but it works. My grandmother swore by it, and when my 9 year old daughter recently ran a fever of 103, I did this, and her fever broke in an hour, and did not return.

 

Dry Feet Remedy

 

Desiree said: Cover your feet with a lot of lotion, whichever kind you prefer, then cover with a pair of thick socks overnight. When you wake up your feet will be softer.

 

Cold Sore Cure

 

Maggie said: Apply an ice cube at the first sign of a cold sore or fever blister. Stops it in its track! The outbreak is minimal and they seem to be less frequent over time. Apply off and on for about 15 minutes, for a few minutes each time. The trick is to get the ice to it quickly when you first notice it coming on.

 

Make Gas Go Away

 

estella2977 said: For indigestion or gas, a tablespoon of baking soda in a glass of lukewarm water works better than any antacid I've ever tried. It's gross, but it's worth the wincing at the taste.

 

Help Hiccups

 

fallen5729 said: Try a spoonful of vinegar or lemon juice. It works for me every time!!

 

Jeanetta said: Simply swallow about a half teaspoon of sugar, It stops them every time.

 

Cut Coughing

 

Tracey said: I have no idea why this works, but everyone I know swears by this: Whenever you have a persistent cough, rub generous amount of Vick's VapoRub on your feet, then cover with socks. The cough is gone almost immediately. This works especially well at night. I just got over pneumonia about a week ago, and this worked for my cough better than the cough medicine I was taking.

 

Stop Sinus Pain

 

Bonnie said: When sinus pain won't go away, try a teaspoon of regular table salt in 6 ounces of warm water. Breathe it in through your nostrils. The salt dissolves any mucous build-up. (Ever put salt on a slug? Same thing happens with built up mucous in your nasal passages.)

 

Banish Headaches

 

solomeeeo said: To relieve a headache, soak your feet in a basin of warm water at the same time apply a cold compress to your head. It really works!

 

Robb said: Gatorade has electrolytes magnesium and potassium and are necessary for the control of blood pressure which is effected by headaches and vice versa. I have kept both in my kitchen for when I have minor headaches due to weather changes and every day stress factors.

 

Beat Breakouts

 

Scripty said: Plagued by boils and acne, I found eating brocoli helps get rid of it almost over night (especially if you do this right away after a break out occurs!). Also vitamins with lot's of "B" does the trick too!

 

Laurie L. said: For my rare acne outbreaks I resort to hemorrhoid cream (new tube, mind you). It relieves the irritation/soreness and the blemish is gone within a couple days (sometimes overnight).

 

miamialexis said: Honey works wonders on acne, put a little dab on the pimple and cover overnight with a bandage, wake up the next day pimple free.

 

Paula Sanders said: If you have a pimple or a boil that needs to come to a head try this. Crack open a raw egg and gently remove the membrane from the shell. Quickly (before it dries out) lay it over the top of the boil or pimple and the next morning it will be ready to open (sometimes it is already open) with much less pain.

 

Stop Ears from Popping

 

Ryan said: Here's a tip for when your ears are popping:

 

Pinch your nose and exhale against it. The air will be unable to go out, and the pressure will push against the pressure in your ears.

 

Scuba divers use this trick to keep pressurized as they go deeper and deeper underwater.

 

It takes a little bit of practice-- do it too hard and you'll over-pressurize the ears, which is just as annoying but harder to fix.

 

For Pain Down There

 

Margaret said: To relieve hemorrhoid pain apply a generous amount of "Vicks" salve. (Menthol salve of any brand will work but I like Vicks) It feels great. It may burn a little at first but in seconds you begin to feel cool RELIEF. My mother told me to do this. I was reluctant, but desperation won! I am so glad I listened.

 

Home Cures for Burns

 

Donna M. Lambert said: In the good old days just plain tea bags would and still do to soothe a sunburn. make a cup of tea, drink the tea and use the tea bag on the burn.

 

John said: Try soy sauce. Yes, no scars and a quick heal, also, fast pain relief!

 

Solaida said: I burned my thumb taking something out of the oven and my grandmom scraped a peeled potato and placed it where the burn was. No blister no redness no pain after a while.

 

Marilyn Fonken said: So you can handle the pain from a burn, such as hot oil while frying, put some white regular colgate tooth paste. This help your pain after a few seconds. It always works for me.

 

Jay Said: For sunburns, put honey on the burned area. As it pulls the fever from the skin it will turn to water. Keep applying until it stops turning to water. It prevents blistering.

 

Suzette said: Use vanilla extract on it a couple of times a day and it will soothe and keep from scaring. Keep doing this until you don't see the scar anymore. Use this for any kind of burn.

 

Soothe Sore Throat

 

Desiree said: Drink about a 1/4 cup of pickle juice. Takes the sore throat away immediately. If it is a severe sore throat you may need to repeat this once or twice.

 

Ruth Bomhan said: for sore throat, I gargle about every 45 minutes or so with one tablespoon of clear Karo corn syrup dissolved in glass of warm tap water....works for me

 

Jay said: Soak a tea towel in very hot water. Ring it dry and wrap it about the neck. Cover it with a bath towel. When the towel gets noticeably cool resoak the tea towel.

 

Suzette said: Use a tablespoon of 1/2 vinegar and 1/2 honey. The vinegar will kill the infection and the honey will soothe your throat.

 

Best Decongestant

 

mom said: When your nose is really stuffed, try dropping a glob of vapor rub into a hot shower just before you get into it. the rub melts and turns to steam and opens up that nose.

 

For all who love eating Maggi ...

DO NOT IGNORE THIS ……. Especially those fond of Maggi……

"CORRECT WAY OF COOKING NOODLES"
The correct way to cook instant noodles without harming our bodies and
health. `Normally, how we cook the instant noodles is to put the noodles
into a pot with water, throw in the powder and let it cook for around 3
minutes and then it's ready to eat.

This is the WRONG method of cooking the instant noodles.

By doing this, when we actually boil the ingredients in the powder,
normally with MSG, it will change the molecular structures of the MSG
causing it to be toxic.

The other thing that you may or may not realize is that, the noodles are
coated with wax and it will take around 4 to 5 days for the body to excrete
the wax after you have taken the noodles.

CORRECT METHOD :

1. boil the noodles in a pot with water.
2. once the noodles is cooked, take out the noodles, and throw away the
water which contains wax.
3. boil another pot of water till boiling and put the noodles into the hot
boiling water and then shut the fire.
4. only at this stage when the fire is off, and while the water is very
hot, put the ingredient with the powder into the water, to make noodle
soup.
5. however, if you need dry noodles, take out the noodles and add the
ingredient with the powder and toss it to get dry noodles.

Dietician's Note: If you buy plain hakka noodles which you make initially
need to boil in water and discard the water. This will soften the noodles
but to prevent it from sticking we need to add a tbsp of oil and also the
noodles are deep fried partially to make it crunchy and then dusted with
flour to prevent it from sticking while boiling.
Hence when you buy the noodles they are already made unhealthy and this is
the type we use to make stir fry noodles and the regular maggi too is made
the same way plus they add MSG/ ajinomoto and other chemical preservatives.

A large number of patient with the ages ranging from 18-24 years are ending
up with pancreatitis either as a swelling or infection of the pancreas due
to regular consumption of instant noodles.... If the frequency is more than
3 times a week, then it is very hazardous…

Please share this info and help save a life...

 

H.I.V facts

HIV - Facts - 

·         HIV can never survive in any other liquid* medium also other than blood or semen (& please for God sake .... never in Pani Puri wala pani)

·  Even if one drinks an HIV infected blood (or semen) of someone (ingest through Gastro Intestinal track), the virus can not survive in the acidic pH of stomach*. Highest extent of acidity is 0 (practically not possible) so imagine 1 as pH which is in our stomach. (This pH can burn your own finger in less than a second if you dip in that acid).

·  Exposure of less than 1 second in AIR KILLS the HIV virus* (hence story of needle pricks in Cinema theatres is a crap). Even if blood from a wound (of infected person) dries up (*blood clot*), *the virus dies*and can not infect anyone else

·  HIV transmission is *ONLY* an *INFECTION* i.e. entrance of virus in one's body. It *DOES NOT MEAN AIDS*.

·  An HIV-infected person (after entrance of virus) can progress to a condition of AIDS only after *8 to 10 YEARS *(not in 15 days as in the Pani Puri story)

·  It is *not HIV (virus) that kills a human* .....the virus attacks immune cells (cells that fight against foreign pathogens/antigens) and hence a person's ability to fight against infections & diseases slowly diminishes and person ultimately dies of a disease which could be as simple as TB

·  Most importantly, HIV is no longer a dreadful disease ... it is "*CHRONIC MANAGEABLE DISEASE*" just like Diabetes or Hypertension.

·  If there is anything you need to be careful from to prevent HIV is Unsafe sex*, *Blood transfusion* (check before taking) /Blood donation (use sterilized needles only) and any *blood contact during an accident *or so where amount of bleeding is very high.

 

The Holy Quran on fasting

"O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so that you may become righteous. 

"The prescribed fasting is for a fixed number of days, but whoso among you is sick or is on a journey shall fast the same number of other days; and of those who are able to fast only with great difficulty is an expiation - the feeding of a poor man. And whoso performs a good work with willing obedience, it is better for him. And fasting is good for you, if you only knew. 

"The month of Ramadhan is that in which the Quran was sent down as a guidance for mankind with clear proofs of guidance and discrimination. Therefore, whosoever of you is present at home in this month, let him fast therein. But whoso is sick or is on a journey, shall fast the same number of other days. Allah desires to give you facility and He desires not hardship for you, and that you me complete the number, and that you may exalt Allah for His having guided you and that you may be grateful. 

"And when My servants ask thee about Me, say: I am near. I answer the prayer of the supplicant when he prays to Me. So they should hearken to Me and believe in Me, that they may follow the right way. 

"It is made lawful for you to go in unto your wives on the night of the fast. They are a garment for you, and you are a garment for them. Allah knows that you have been acting unjustly to yourselves, wherefore He has turned to you with mercy and afforded you relief. So you may now go in unto them and seek what Allah has ordained for you; and eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread of the dawn. Then complete the fast till nightfall and do not go in unto them while you remain in the Mosques for devotion. These are the limits fixed by Allah, so approach them not. Thus Allah make His commandments clear to men that they become secure against all evil." (2:183-187)

 

25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green

Green tea has increasingly become a very popular drink worldwide because of its immensely powerful health benefits.
It is extraordinarily amazing what green tea can do for your health.
And if you're not drinking 3 to 4 cups of green tea today, you're definitely NOT doing your health a big favor.

Here Are The 25 Reasons Why You Should Start Drinking Green Tea Right Now:

1. Green Tea and Cancer

Green tea helps reduce the risk of cancer.
The antioxidant in green tea is 100 times more effective than vitamin C and 25 times better than vitamin E.
This helps your body at protecting cells from damage believed to be linked to cancer.


2. Green Tea and Heart Disease

Green tea helps prevent heart disease and stroke by lowering the level of cholesterol.
Even after the heart attack, it prevents cell deaths and speeds up the recovery of heart cells.


3. Green Tea and Anti-Aging

Green tea contains antioxidant known as polyphenols which fight against free radicals.
What this means it helps you fight against aging and promotes longevity.

4. Green Tea and Weight Loss

Green tea helps with your body weight loss. Green tea burns fat and boosts your metabolism rate naturally.
It can help you burn up to 70 calories in just one day.
That translates to 7 pounds in one year.


5. Green Tea and Skin

Antioxidant in green tea protects the skin from the harmful effects of free radicals, which cause wrinkling and skin aging.
Green tea also helps fight against skin cancer.


6. Green Tea and Arthritis

Green tea can help prevent and reduce the risk of rheumatoid arthritis.
Green tea has benefit for your health as it protects the cartilage by blocking the enzyme that destroys cartilage.


7. Green Tea and Bones

The very key to this is high fluoride content found in green tea.
It helps keep your bones strong.
If you drink green tea every day, this will help you preserve your bone density.

8. Green Tea and Cholesterol

Green tea can help lower cholesterol level.
It also improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol, by reducing bad cholesterol level.


9. Green Tea and Obesity

Green tea prevents obesity by stopping the movement of glucose in fat cells.
If you are on a healthy diet, exercise regularly and drink green tea, it is unlikely you'll be obese.

10. Green Tea and Diabetes

Green tea improves lipid and glucose metabolisms, prevents sharp increases in blood sugar level, and balances your metabolism rate.


11. Green Tea and Alzheimer's

Green tea helps boost your memory.
And although there's no cure for Alzheimer's, it helps slow the process of reduced acetylcholine in the brain, which leads to Alzheimer's.

12. Green Tea and Parkinson's

Antioxidants in green tea helps prevent against cell damage in the brain, which could cause Parkinson's. People drinking green tea also are less likely to progress with Parkinson's.

13. Green Tea and Liver Disease

Green tea helps prevent transplant failure in people with liver failure. Researches showed that green tea destroys harmful free radicals in fatty livers.


14. Green Tea and High Blood Pressure

Green tea helps prevent high blood pressure.
Drinking green tea helps keep your blood pressure down by repressing angiotensin, which leads to high blood pressure.


15. Green Tea and Food Poisoning

Catechin found in green tea can kill bacteria which causes food poisoning and kills the toxins produced by those bacteria.

16. Green Tea and Blood Sugar

Blood sugar tends to increase with age, but polyphenols and polysaccharides in green tea help lower your blood sugar level.


17. Green Tea and Immunity

Polyphenols and flavenoids found in green tea help boost your immune system, making your health stronger in fighting against infections.

18. Green Tea and Cold and Flu

Green tea prevents you from getting a cold or flu.
Vitamin C in green tea helps you treat the flu and the common cold.

19. Green Tea and Asthma

Theophylline in green tea relaxes the muscles which support the bronchial tubes, reducing the severity of asthma.

20. Green Tea and Ear Infection

Green tea helps with ear infection problem.
For natural ear cleaning, soak a cotton ball in green tea and clean the infected ear.

21. Green Tea and Herpes

Green tea increases the effectiveness of topical interferon treatment of herpes.
First green tea compress is applied, and then let the skin dry before the interferon treatment.

22. Green Tea and Tooth Decay

Green tea destroys bacteria and viruses that cause many dental diseases.
It also slows the growth of bacteria which leads to bad breath.


23. Green Tea and Stress

L-theanine, which is a kind of amino acids in green tea, can help relieve stress and anxiety.

24. Green Tea and Allergies

EGCG found in green tea relieves allergies.
So, if you have allergies, you should really consider drinking green tea.


25. Green Tea and HIV

Scientists in Japan have found that EGCG (Epigallocatechin Gallate) in green tea can stop HIV from binding to healthy immune cells.
What this means is that green tea can help stop the HIV virus from spreading.

 

 

How to Dehydrate Fruits

Introduction

Dehydrated fruit can be a wonderful snack and a healthy alternative meal replacement. Dehydrating has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the easy nature of its preparation. Follow a few easy steps to dehydrate your fruit using the best method and heating for the correct length of time.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Steps

 

Step One

Choose the fruits that you want to dehydrate. Bear in mind the fruits that are easiest to dehydrate are bananas, apples, cherries, peaches, apricot, pineapples, pears and strawberries.

 

Step Two

Properly clean the fruits and avoid using soap or other harsh products. Simple water should be sufficient. Slice the fruits of your choice into quarter inch pieces for easy dehydration.

 

Step Three

Pick the most convenient method of drying available to you. Know that the most common methods are sun drying, oven drying and using a dehydrating machine.

 

Step Four

Preheat the oven, if oven drying, to under 200 degrees if possible. If you are using a dehydrator, then the temperature should be at least 150 degrees.

 

Step Five

Place the fruits on a window sill if your preferred method is sun drying. However, allow for two to four days for proper dehydration and watch for bugs and adverse weather conditions.

 

Step Six

Allow your fruit to dehydrate anywhere from six to 16 hours, depending on the level of heat of your method of dehydration. Check your fruit for moisture to determine how long to continue to dehydrate. It should be leathery with no moisture or softness on any of its parts.

 

Step Seven

Store your dehydrated fruit in an air tight, moisture free container. Use plastic freezer bags or jars as they typically shut out air the best.

Tips & Warnings

• Dehydrating is best when using a dehydrator because it is more energy efficient.
• Arrange the fruit in single layer on trays to make for easier dehydration.
• For fruit leather, puree your fruit. Pour the fruit puree about a quarter inch deep on special fruit leather drying sheets or drying trays that have been lined with plastic wrap. Dry at 135 degrees until pliable. The center should be dry.

Medical benefits of fasting Ramadan

Medical benefits of fasting Ramadan

Fasting Ramadan is an obedience to Allah the Almighty, Who said in His Honourable Book; "O believers, prescribed for you is the fast, even as it was prescribed for those that were before you- haply you will be Allah fearing." (2: 183)

( يا أيها الذين آمنوا كتب عليكم الصيام كما كتب على الذين من قبلكم لعلكم تتقون )

Fasting is a prescribed duty, and a private relation between man and his Lord, which Allah has guaranteed to reward for it.  It was narrated in the Qudsi Hadith that Allah says; "Every act of the son of Adam is for him, except fasting.  It is meant (exclusively) for Me and I give reward for it."

            In 1994, the first conference on health benefits of fasting Ramadan was held in Casablanca, Morocco.  Around 50 research papers from all over the world incorporating the health benefits of fasting Ramadan were discussed by Moslem and non-Moslem researchers.

   

 Of the health benefits of fasting Ramadan are :

• Giving rest to the digestive system.  Ramadan is the period of rest for the digestive system, which is responsible for the metabolism process of food.  Consequently, the liver also takes rest as it is the main factory of food metabolism.  To achieve this benefit, Moslems should adhere to the tradition (sunnah) of the Prophet by abstaining from having too much food after breakfast.  The Prophet (PBUH) said; "The son-of-Adam never fills a bowl worse than his belly. Some bites are enough for man to prop his physique.  Had he wished otherwise, then one third for his food, and one third for his drink, and one third for his breath."    It is of benefit to the body that the break of fasting starts with some dates (as indicated in the Prophetic tradition).  Dates are rich in Glucose and Fructose, which have a great caloric benefit specially for the brain, and are useful in raising the level of sugar gradually in blood, thus reducing the feeling of hunger and the need for large quantities of food.
• Moderate loss of weight.  During fasting, the consumption of sugars decreases, and so does the level of sugar in blood.  This makes the body rely on providing the needed calories for metabolism by burning  sugar stored in the body.   Glycogen stored in the liver, and fats in tissues are decomposed and transferred into calories and energy needed by the body.  This results in moderate shortage of body weight.  Therefore, fasting is considered of great value for overweight persons and stable non-insulin diabetes.
• Decrease of cholesterol level in blood.  Several studies proved that cholesterol level in blood during fasting, as well as the rate of precipitating on the walls of arteries have decreased.   This in turn reduces the chances of cardiac and cerebrovascular accidents, and prevents the raise of hypertension.   Shortage of fats in blood helps reduce stones of gall and choledocus.  The Prophet (PBUH) said; "Fast! You will be healthy."
• Rest of renal system.  Some studies revealed that abstaining from drinking water for about 10-12 hours is not necessarily bad; it is rather useful in many cases.  Concentration of liquids in the body causes moderate dehydration that the body can tolerate, as there is a sufficient liquid reserve, and as long as man has no complaint of renal lithiasis, both kidneys get rest of the process of waste disposing.  The prophetic tradition mandates that Suhur (a meal before the dawn) be delayed and Fotoor (the breakfast meal) be expedited, thus reducing the time period of dehydration as much as possible.   Shortage of liquids leads in turn to moderate decrease of blood pressure that the normal man can tolerate and be of use to those complaining of hypertension.

Educational and psychological benefits.  Fasting Ramadan is useful as it has a restraining power over the soul's whimsies, and an urge to abandon bad habits, specially when the smoker is obliged to abstain from smoking even if for a temporary period, on the hope such abandon will be permanent.   This is also applied to drinking too much coffee and tea.  The psychological benefits are numerous.  The fasting person feels complacent, attains mental and psychological rest, refrains from all that disturbs the integrity of his fasting, and maintains the proper behaviour controls, that all reflect positively on the general community.  The Prophet said; "Fasting is restraining.  When anyone of you is fasting, he should refrain from obscene language or any acts of ignorance. And if anyone slanders him or quarrels with him, he should say; 'I am fasting, I am fasting.'"  Several studies revealed that crime rate in Islamic countries decreases during Ramadan .

Miracle of honey !

Miracle of honey !

• Allah the Almighty says;
  "Your Lord revealed to the bees: "Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow." From inside them comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect"  (16: 68)

(وأوحى ربك إلى النحل أن اتخذي من الجبال بيوتاً ومن الشجر، ومما يعرشون، ثم كلي من كل الثمرات فاسلكي سبل ربك ذللا ، يخرج من بطونها شراب مختلف ألوانه فيه شفاء للناس، إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يتفكرون) النحل 68

• Although honey is one of the most important products of the bee, yet it is not the only product. Honey wax, propolis, nectar, bee toxicant are cases in point of other products that proved by experimental science to be of medical benefits.
• Honey has more than 80 materials of sugar vitamins and 15 materials of sugars, particularly fructose, glucose, minerals, amino acids and about 5% of unclassified materials.
• "containing healing for mankind" is an explicit verse indicating that honey is a treatment as well as a nutrient.

 

 

  Benefits of honey:

 

• Alleviating inflammation of cornea if used locally on the eye.
• An antibiotic if used locally in situ of wounds and burns, and it is used for healing of wounds :
• - When used in treatment of wounds, thanks to its ability to absorb moisture from the air, honey facilitates healing process and prevents scarring. This is because honey stimulates the growth of epithelial cells that form the new skin cover over a healed wound. In this way, even in case of large wounds, honey may eliminate the need for tissue transplantation.
• - Honey stimulates the re-growth of tissue involved in the healing process. It stimulates the formation of new blood capillaries and the growth of fibroblasts that replace the connective tissue of the deeper layer of the skin and produce the collagen fibres that give strength to the repair.
• - Honey has an anti-inflammatory action, which reduces the swelling around a wound. This improves circulation and thus hastens the healing process. It also reduces pain.
• - Honey does not stick to the underlying wound tissues, so there is no tearing away of newly formed tissue, and no pain, when dressings are changed.
• -Thanks to its aforementioned antimicrobial property, honey provides a protective barrier to prevent wounds becoming infected. It also rapidly clears any existing infection from wounds. It is fully effective, even with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Unlike antiseptics and antibiotics, there is no impairment of the healing process through adverse effects on wound tissues.
• - Some studies showed that honey is a good treatment against the  hospital infection bacteria "superbugs" (MRSA) .
   
• As honey does not accommodate bacteria, this bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named "the inhibition effect." There are various reasons of this anti-microbial property of the honey. Some examples are: the high sugar content that limits the amount of water microorganisms need for growth, its high acidity (low pH) and composition which deprive bacteria from nitrogen necessary for reproduction. The existence of hydrogen peroxide as well as antioxidants in the honey prevent bacteria growth.
•  Antioxidant: Everyone who wants to live a healthier life should consume antioxidants. Those are the components in cells that get rid of harmful byproducts of normal metabolic functions. These elements inhibit destructive chemical reactions that cause spoilage of food and many chronic illnesses. Researchers believe food products rich in antioxidants may prevent heart problems and cancer. Strong antioxidants are present in honey content: Pinocembrin, pinobaxin, chrisin and galagin. Pinocembrin is an antioxidant that merely exists in the honey.
• A treatment for gastric and duodenal ulcers, as honey decreases the secretion of hydrochloric acid to a normal rate, thus helping to heal such ulcers and alleviate the related pains and reduce resultant cases of vomiting and colic.  For the treatment to be effective, honey should be taken dissolved in warm water one or two hours before meals.
• A treatment for involuntary urination at beds.  Such a disease that could often be a result of psychic or neurotic cause. So, if the child is given one small spoon of honey before sleeping, this will have a positive effect, as honey is sedative for the nervous system, thus helping the cyst to relax and expand during sleep.  Concentrated sugar also helps to absorb water from the child body.
• It supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation. It also functions as a protection against capillary problems and arteriosclerosis.
• A treatment for colds, flu and pharyngitis.
• A treatment for cases of chronic hepatitis, as honey increases the liver stock of the glycogen material through the increase of blood glucose, thus helping the liver to function properly and relieve it from more burdens.
• A treatment for insomnia and a sedative for nerves, as it contains some sedative and tonic substances as sodium and potassium at a reasonable rate such..
• A treatment for alcoholic poisoning.   Honey is one of the main nutrients prescribed in hospitals and clinics of alcoholic addicts, as it protects the liver from alcoholic poisoning. Fructose and vitamin B group in the honey helps oxidize the alcohol remaining in the body.
• A treatment for cough.
• In cosmetics, a mixture of honey with lemon and glycerin is considered of the best old medical prescription for the treatment of skin cracking and roughness, the inflammation and wounds of lips, sun stroke, and dermal pigments..  Many ointments and creams contain honey as a main element for the treatment of skin diseases.
• A treatment for muscular spasm of sportive exercises or facial spasms and eyelids muscles, which disappear after having one big spoon of honey for three days after each meal.
• Many researches have been done to look at the benefits of natural honey .. !
   

It was narrated by Al Bukhari and Moslem on the authority of Abu Saeed Al Khudari that  A man came to the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and said, "My brother has some abdominal trouble." The Prophet said to him "Let him drink honey." The man returned to the prophet and said: "O Messenger of Allah! I let him drink honey, but it caused him more pain."  The prophet said to him; "Go and let him drink honey".  The man went and let his brother drink honey, then returned back and said; "O Messenger of Allah, it did not cause him except more pains." 

The Prophet then said, "Allah has said the truth, but your brother's abdomen has told a lie. Let him drink honey." So he made him drink honey and he was cured.

It can easily be seen from this information that honey has great "healing" properties. This is undoubtedly one of the miracles of the Quran Allah, Who is Exalted in Power, has revealed.
 

Another interesting point regarding the female honey bee , Allah (SWT) says in the holy Quran : 

(Your Lord revealed to the bees: "Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow." From inside them comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect )  ( 16:68-69)

(وأوحى ربك إلى النحل أن اتخذي من الجبال بيوتاً ومن الشجر، ومما يعرشون، ثم كلي من كل الثمرات فاسلكي سبل ربك ذللا ، يخرج من بطونها شراب مختلف ألوانه فيه شفاء للناس، إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يتفكرون) النحل 68

In the honey bee colonies where each of the many bees is assigned a specific task, the only exception is the male honey bee. The males do not contribute to the defence of the hive or its cleaning, gathering food, or making the honeycomb and honey. The only function of the male bees in the hive is to inseminate the queen bee. Apart from reproductive organs, the males possess almost none of the features possessed by other bees and it is therefore impossible for them to do anything but fertilise the queen.

The worker bees carry the entire load of the colony. Although they are females like the queen, their ovaries have no maturity. This renders them sterile. They have several duties: cleaning the hive, maintaining the larvae and the young, feeding the queen bee and the males, producing honey, constructing the honeycomb and repairing it, ventilating the hive and safeguarding it, gathering supplies like nectar, pollen, water and resin, and storing these in the hive.

 

In Arabic, there are two different usages of verbs. By means of the usage, it is possible to determine whether the subject is a female or a male. As a matter of fact, the translated verbs into English (underlined words) used for the honey bee are used in the feminine verb format in the Quranic verses.

Based on this, the Quran indicates that the honey bees that work in the making of the honey are females.

 

We should not forget that it is impossible for this fact to have been known about the honey bees in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Yet, Allah has pointed at this fact and shown us yet another miracle of the Quran.

Natural Weight-Loss Food: Dates

Dates are among the most ancient of fruits, growing along the Nile as early as the 5th century B.C. Perhaps the Egyptians knew dates' sweetness hit a bounty of nutrients. Dates are nuggets of nutrition that satisfy a sweet tooth, making them ideal snacks to stave off hunger. True, dates provide more calories than most fruits, but they make a great substitute for processed sweets,
like candy, to help you stick to your weight-loss routine.

California dates are sodium-free, fat-free, cholesterol-free, and a good source of fiber -- all of which are important factors in keeping the pounds off. Learn about this sweet fruit and how it can help slim your waistline and improve your overall health.

Health Benefits

Loaded with fiber -- both soluble and insoluble -- dates are able to fill you up and keep your bowel habits regular. They are an excellent source of potassium and provide numerous other important vitamins and minerals -- quite a powerhouse packed in a tiny, portable package.

Nutritional Values Dates, Dried Serving Size: 10 dates Calories: 234 Fat: <1 g Saturated Fat: na Cholesterol: 0 mg Carbohydrate: 61 g Protein: 2 g Dietary Fiber: 6 g Sodium: 2 mg Niacin: 1 mg Pantothenic Acid: <1 mg Vitamin B6: <1 mg Calcium: 32 mg Copper: <1 mg Iron: <1 mg Magnesium: 36 mg Potassium: 541 mg Vitamin K: 2.2 mcg

Selection and Storage

Most supermarkets stock fresh dates in the produce section and keep dried dates near raisins. For both types, look for plump fruit with unbroken, smoothly wrinkled skins. Avoid dates that smell bad or have hardened sugar crystals on their skins.

Packaged dates are available pitted, unpitted, or chopped. Dried dates keep for up to a year in the refrigerator. Fresh dates should be refrigerated in tightly sealed containers; they'll keep up to eight months. If stored in the kitchen cabinet, they'll stay fresh for about a month.

If dates dry out, they can be "plumped" with a little warm water, fruit juice, or for fancier dishes, your favorite liqueur. Don't store dates near strongly flavored items such as garlic. Dates tend to absorb outside odors.

BRAIN BUILDERS and BRAIN DRAINERS

FOODS FOR THOUGHT: FOODS THAT BUILD AND FOODS THAT DRAIN THE BRAIN

Some foods help the brain work better, some foods drag down brain performance. Be smart and feed your children foods that will make them smart (and also eat these foods yourself, too).

BRAIN BUILDERS	BRAIN DRAINERS
·  Avocados ·  Bananas ·  Beef, lean ·  Brewer's yeast ·  Broccoli ·  Brown rice ·  Brussel sprouts ·  Cantaloupe ·  Cheese ·  Chicken ·  Collard greens ·  Eggs ·  Flaxseed oil ·  Legumes ·  Milk ·  Oatmeal ·  Oranges ·  Peanut butter ·  Peas ·  Potatoes ·  Romaine lettuce ·  Salmon ·  Soybeans ·  Spinach ·  Tuna ·  Turkey ·  Wheat germ ·  Yogurt	·  Alcohol ·  Artificial food colorings ·  Artificial sweeteners ·  Colas ·  Corn syrup ·  Frostings ·  High-sugar "drinks" ·  Hydrogenated fats ·  Junk sugars ·  Nicotine ·  Overeating

 

WORKOUT AT WORK!

Some exercise is always better than none. Here are ten tips to help you get your workout at work:

 1.  Park farther away from the office, or get off public transportation at an earlier stop, and walk the rest of the way.

 2.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator, especially if you've got only a few floors to climb.

 3.  Go for a walk during lunch. One way to do this is to skip your usual salad spot on the corner and find one a little farther away. If you bring your lunch to work, use the time you save buying lunch to take a walk around the block.

 4.  Deliver messages by hand instead of by phone or e-mail, and walk over to co-workers when you need to chat with them.

 5.  Instead of meeting in the office or over lunch, take it to the streets (or park) for a walk — or even to the gym.

 

 6.  Take frequent breaks to get up and walk around.

 7.  Find a gym near your workplace and exercise for 20 minutes during your lunch break or just before or after work.

 8.  Use your headset or cell phone and walk around while talking on the phone.

 9.  Stretch occasionally while sitting at your desk.

10.  Participate in workplace-sponsored sports activities or athletic fund-raising events.

Natural removal tips for Wart

 

 

 

Wart is a firm abnormal elevated blemish on the skin and is caused by a virus. Tumor of the skin caused by infection with the human papilloma virus. Firm, flesh colored, dome-shaped, scaly papules or nodules usually appear on the hands and fingers. Warts are common, and are caused by a viral infection, specifically by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They typically disappear after a few months but can last for years and can reoccur.

 

Apply the white milk from the green leafy weed that grows in your garden and in your lawn, "ragwort". Dot the white milky liquid on the wart every day, it will eventually turn black and fall off.

The second was painting clear nail vanish, one coat every day, over the wart and the same thing happens.

If it's a small wart, you could use Eucalyptus oil and cover it with the oil overnight for several weeks

Treatment is aimed at destruction of the warty growths rather than elimination of the virus.

Subclinical infection probably is lifelong, and there is no cure. Most partners are likely to be subclinically infected with HPV, even if they do not have exophytic lesions.

Garlic for Warts and Moles: Here is a very successful routine for removal of these unwanted growths called moles, or warts. Take a button of garlic, slice or cut in two, and placed the cup area over a wart of mole. Tape it on, and as it dries out put a fresh piece. Many users have reported good results.

Loop electrocautery excisional procedure (LEEP) after colposcopic biopsy has become a standard procedure for cervical lesions particularly for the ones with neoplastic features.

Removal of a very large mass of warts is a painful procedure, best performed under either general or spinal anesthesia.

 

Carbon dioxide laser is an efficient method of treating primary and recurrent anogenital warts because of its precision and rapid healing without scarring.
Primary cure rates as high as 91% have been reported.

Go to a beauty parlour where they do threading. Ask the person to use the thread and tie it under ur wart. She should be able to tie a knot between ur skin and wart. With this the blood will not pass through the wart and it will fall withing 7-10 days.

Cut a slice of fresh garlic and tape it over the wart. Keep it covered for 24 hours. The wart will turn black and fall off. If it doesn't work the first day, repeat. garlic is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and totally awesome.

Crush an aspirin. Apply a drop of water to the wart (for stickiness) and apply aspirin powder generously. Put a bandage on it. Repeat twice a day until gone.
While over counter wart removal products are used as a way to remove the warts, there is a problem. The wart would keep coming back so that it can remove fully.

Laser Surgery - This treatment involves a high intensity laser light that is carefully directed on the affected area to destroy the wart.

 

Do You Panic Before Sex?

Followings to help you relax

 

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Sex is supposed to be one of the highlights of the human experience but highlights can turn into high anxiety faster than you can say, turn off the lights! With each new partner, the roar of panic can rear its ugly head. If you think you can make your new person wait until you have calmed down - not an option.

Just ask anyone who has decided to wait for a few weeks, or months. The more time to think it through, the more scary scenarios come to mind, the more meaning is thrust upon the act and the more panic you have to deal with!

What if it's bad? What if it's good? What does this mean? What will I do? Will they like what I do? Will I like what they do? Performance anxiety can be crippling. But someone's got to be doing something right because you're about to do it again. Chances are, most of those nights were pretty hot and heavy. But this can be of little comfort when you are wiping your sweaty palms on your tidy whiting hoping it will all go okay this time.

If you are one of those people who panic at the disco - here are some tips to keep you in the mood and out of your head.

Body love
Always remember, your body looks better than you think. No one looks like people in the magazines - not even the people in the magazines! Living in an age of photo-shopping, airbrushing and digitizing has clearly distorted our ideas of beauty and perfection. Even though most of us have seen god and goddess-like bodies on TV doesn't mean that anyone is expecting these in the bedroom. The truth is, there are a lot of imperfect bodies having great sex. And you can be one of them!

Think back on all the lovers you've ever had, chances are, the partner with the most outward beauty wasn't the one with the most pizzazz in the sheets. Your new partner was into you before you took your clothes off, showing your skin is only going to turn the heat up. The dirty truth is that most men like more meat on their women and most women like to be better looking than their men! So, yes, the model boys and girls in the magazines are pretty to look at, but don't let that stop you from getting your groove on.

It's just sex
Having sex doesn't mean you're getting married. It's sex. It's a natural physical act that has been happening since Adam and Eve. You don't have to reinvent it with new gymnastics or jungle sounds or take it to a spiritual realm beyond our dimension. It's fun and great and has health benefits. However, it's not the ultimate answer to whether or not you are going to spend the rest of your life with this person. That's not to say that couples don't bond when they are having sex. Yes, of course that is part of it. But just because you are having sex doesn't mean you are more of a couple than you were the day before you were having sex. And if you are having sex to "prove" you are a couple, you may be in for a very painful shock!

If you have questions about your relationship, then ask your partner. Don't answer doubts in your mind with mind-blowing sex. Because no matter how great the sex is, if the relationship isn't growing outside of the boudoir, you can't make it happen in the dark.

Don't ask!
Remember, sex becomes very unsexy under interrogation. One terrible symptom of sex panic is the desire for repeated reassurance from your new partner of how good you are in bed. There is really nothing less sexy than analyzing the sex you just had. The only reason you are doing it is because you are insecure. And insecurity won't go away from one quick answer of "It was great!" (which, by the way, is the only right answer to give - because that just leads to the worst question ever, "Am I the best?" of which, again, the only answer is "Yes" - unless you are not planning on having sex with this person again in the near future).

The problem here is that the memory of fantastic sex from the weekend you found yourself in a land of threesomes and trees made of money may actually be the best sex of all time - for that time in your life. But sex with someone you care about can't be compared to the raging hormones of adolescence because it's just a different landscape. This isn't to say that you can't have great sex after your twenties - in fact just the opposite as you get to know your body and your partner's - but asking to compare your real relationship in the present to treasured memories from years past is just going to put everyone in a very bad mood. And that's not a turn on at all.

If you're still freaking out, then it's time to have some fantasy fun. You need to lay down and imagine this encounter going very, very, very well. Remember that sexiness starts and ends in your head. The great times you've had in the past were because you are sexy! So open your eyes, smile and bring that sex energy with you everywhere you go. It's not just for the specified time under the sheets. Sexiness is a 24/7 deal. So practice feeling good and attractive all the time. Then, when the sex panic strikes, it'll be a walk in the park. Naked. With someone you adore. See, you're smiling already.

 

Dinacharya in daily life

In order to keep the tridoshas in a state of healthy equlibrium and digestion & metabolism (agni) in proper order, Ayurveda prescribes for each individual a specific daily routine ( dina – day & acharya – behaviour). The various stages to this daily routine, influenced by the specifics of your prakriti, that will enable you to make the most out of your life, are :

 

Arising

 

Since our biological clocks are attuned to the rising and setting of the sun, it is obviously better to awake at sunrise in perfect synchronisation to the natural clock. An ideal time to let the body cells soak in the strength of a tempered sun to be charged for the day. Drinking a glass of luke-warm water helps flush out all toxins accumulated overnight in the body.

 

Natural Urges

 

The last portion of the night being ruled by vata – involved in the process of elimination – dawn is the best time to eliminate the body's physical waste. Proper elimination also helping remove the kapha that naturally accumulates overnight. Defecation once or twice daily is the best. Preferably not immediately after a meal. But urination then is wise. Examine your eliminations each morning and if you notice any disturbance indicating poor digestion, go on a fast. It will allow the body rest to correct the system before disease sets in. Never suppress the natural physical urges as elimination, hunger, thirst, sleep, sneezing, yawning, vomiting, flatus and ejaculation, for it will lead to discomfort and even disease.

 

Cleanliness

 

Thorough washing of the limbs, face, mouth, eyes & nose purifies the bodies sense organs. Best done with a bath in clean water, it should accompany brushing of the teeth (should be repeated after every meal), scraping off a toxicated coating of ama from the tongue, occasional gargling of salt water with a pinch of turmeric to keep gums, mouth & throat healthy, proper cleaning of the nose and the ears and washing the eyes with warm water held in mouth for moments (saliva being very good for the eyes). Keep your hair trimmed, nails filed and wear clean clothes. Feel free to use perfumes in moderation and feel good.

 

Exercise

 

Either passive like massage or active like aerobics or both as in yoga postures, regular exercise increases the body's stamina and resistance to disease by facilitating the immune system, clearing all channels, promoting circulation & waste disposal, and destroying fat. Done regularly, it can reduce anxiety but become addictive. Depending on age & body type, kaphas can go for heavy exercises, pittas should do it in moderation and vatas should perform yoga and not aerobics. Never exert more than half your capacity, during illness, just after a meal and without rhythmic breathing. Swimming, walking and even laughing are excellent options.

 

Massage

 

Necessary for every person, a regular self-massage with herbal oils is usually adequate but needs to be supplemented with professional attention occasionally. It makes the skin supple, controls vata by reducing its cold, dry, light, rough & erratic qualities, enhances blood circulation, encourages quicker removal of metabolic wastes and relaxes the body. Follow the normal direction of hair growth, use a little extra oil over the body's vital parts, massage the scalp and head at least weekly and just the soles of your feet if short of time.

 

Meditation

 

Ideal for disciplining the mind and removing stress & strain, it is best done after a quick bath to cleanse yourself. Critical in satisfying the mind's hunger, when done well it is so nourishing that even the body can survive on less. Control of desire, or mental hunger, is the key to longevity and immortality. Anything can be meditation so long it is sincere and heartfelt. The simplest and healthiest involves the sun and its golden colour is deemed the most nourishing and productive.
While this routine acts as a critical shield of defence against the destabilising influences of an external environment, by using selective choice in some of the other factors mentioned below you can easily improve upon the condition of your total health.

 

Clothing

 

In shielding from extreme temperatures, it tends to reflect the temperament of the wearer in a society showing growing preponderance of the same. Should always be light & airy, and made of natural fibres as cotton, wool, linen or silk. Always wear clean, and never anyone else's except that of a saint. Since energy is brought into the body through the crown of the head and exits from the soles of the feet – extracting abnormal heat from the system – the polluted energy usually collects in the footwear. So avoid wearing other's footwear, try not to take shoes into the house and walk barefoot whenever possible. And wooden sandals are more healthy than animal skin or rubber shoes.

 

Employment

 

Since work consumes at least one-third part of our lives and success or failure in your profession affects self-confidence, self-worth, it is important that the nature of work should match well with your prakriti.

Vata people love work that requires sudden bursts of intense energy. But it tends to exhaust them also. So to balance it off, despite their dislike, they should be in routine jobs, slightly repetitive. Need a soothing home and work environment to smooth out their rough edges. They need adequate rest, specially in the afternoons. And should avoid places where the air is exceptionally cool and dry e.g. the freezing cold inside electronics manufacturing outfits or exceptionally dusty fertiliser mills. The ideal jobs must have enough excitement to hold their interest and sufficient routine to avoid imbalances.

 

Pitta people are very practical, making good administrators but not original thinkers. By nature aggressive and self-promoting, these realists see everything as a contest that has to be won. Insisting on being in the forefront of all activity, they cram as much work as they can, demanding perfect functioning from their bodies all the time. They do not take delays and obstacles to their plans well and must seriously try to be fair to and keep their professional and private lives separate. They should avoid work that is physically irritating or involves heat (as welding or metal casting) and listen more to others. They should ideally have sufficient challenge to keep them occupied without the stress of severe competition.

 

Innate Kapha stability and balance makes them great administrators. They must make a conscious effort bring in change or variety to their otherwise staid and routine lives. And ensure that even if work is not physically active, leisure is. Slow to get going in the morning, competition is good for them although they may find it stressful.

 

Choice of Pet

 

Often an extension of their owner's personalities, pets should ideally be chosen so as to have a therapeutic effect on your doshic imbalances.

Vatas get along famously with dogs, the canine's loveable, sloppy, open-heartedness reassuring and stabilising their cold, fearful, fickle nature. Some do well with small, furry high- strung animals as guinea pigs that arouse the maternal instincts in the owners.

The cat is the Pittas favourite. With strongly held opinions on most subjects, the feline presents continuous challenges, even with its movements.

Kaphas in turn prefer birds, the avian's light chirpiness helping offset some of the dosha's natural ponderousness. For some large dogs prove beneficial as the canine encourages them to exercise along with.

 

Choice of Partner

 

Ayurvedic wisdom suggests that like types make better mates because of similar mental processes, attitudes and sexual proclivities. Unfortunately, two people of similar dispositions are likely to have the same defects too. Choosing the right partner who will stimulate, inspire you to evolve into better individual thus becomes very important.

 

Sleep

 

 

A state of physical inertia with mental relaxation, sleep promotes proper growth of the self. Night is the natural time to sleep and mid-day catnaps should not be more than 15 minutes long except for the very young, very old, very weak and those intoxicated, diseased, exhausted or traumatised. Avoid having a full meal just before retiring to bed. Sleeping on the right side is the most relaxing and good for yoga. On the left, it is most digestive and increases interest in food, sleep and sex. Sleeping on the back indirectly and on the stomach directly encourages disease. Sleeping with crown of the head facing east and feet into the west promotes the best meditative sleep. Washing the hands, feet & face just before improves sleep. Never sleep in the kitchen and go to bed only to sleep. 6 to 8 hours of daily sleep is essential. The ideal form of sleep is yoga – a state of complete physical inertness with retention of mental alertness & awareness.

 

Base your diet-according to ayurveda

Choice of Food

 

In planning the diet it is necessary to know which food to have or avoid based on ones personal doshic constitution or imbalance. For easy reference therefore some of the acceptable and avoidable items for each doshic type has been listed below :

 

Fruits
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
apples dates figs (dry) pomegranate raisin pears	Avocades grapes lemons bananas sweet oranges plum figs (fresh) mango	apples(sour) berries(sour) cranberries strawberries banana lemon peaches	apples(sweet) berries(sweet) coconuts dates figs avocados sweet melons plums pomegranates	bananas dates grapes water melons sweetners melons mango coconut	apples berries cranberries pomegranates dried fruits strawberries in small amounts

 

Dairy
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
cheese cow's milk powdered yogurt	dairy fresh, whole un-homogenized milk ghee little butter white meat (chicken, fish or turkey – baked or broiled) chicken broth	yogurt sour cream	fresh ghee fresh whole un-homogenized milk	milk clarified butter cheese	just a little dairy goat milk and ghee in moderation

 

Grains
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Barley corn cereals granola millet tapioca	white or brown basmati rice wheat oats quinoa	Corn millet oat(dry) quinoa polenta	white or brown basmati rice, wheat barley oat bran oats wheat or wheat bran	Bread(with yeast) oat(cooked) wheat white rice cane	barley buckwheat cousous millet muesli oats oat bran small amount of wheat

 

Meat
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
turkey rabbit pork lamb	white meat (chicken, fish and turkey - baked or broiled) chicken broth	meat chicken ducks eggs pork salmon sardines	baked or broiled chicken, turkey or white fish in moderate amounts	beef buffalo chicken duck	fresh water fish shrimp rabbit venison small amount of white meat

 

Vegetables
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Cabbage(raw) Cauliflower(raw) Peas Potatoes Spinach Eggplant Mushroom Raddish(raw) Spinach Tomatoes(raw)	beets cauliflower(cooked) leeks carrots asparagus cilantro fennel and a little bit of garlic green beans greens chillies okra parsnips pumpkins radishes( preferably cooked)	Beet greens Carrots Garlic Green Chillies Onion Peppers Prickly pear Radishes Spinach Turnips	asparagus broccoli cabbage cucumber cooked onions sweet potatoes sprouts squash and a small amount of okra and cauliflower	Cucumber Olives Potato Pumpkin Spaghetti Squash Tomato(raw)	asparagus beets bitter melons broccoli beet greens cabbage garlic fennel carrot horseradish leafy greens leeks lettuce okra cooked onions spinach sprouts squash turnip and a small amount of artichoke, burdock root and brussels sprouts

 

Spices
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Carawas	Ajwan Almond extract Aruise Basil Bay leaf Black pepper All spices are good. cilantro, cummin, corriander and fennel seeds, turmeric and asafoetida(hing)	Ajwan Anise Asafoctida Basil Bay leaf Garlic Ginger Mace Pippai Mustard Seeds	Black pepper cardamom coriander seeds cinnamon cilantro fennel seeds fresh basil dill turmeric and a small amount of cumin and fresh ginger	Salt	chillies, ginger, cinnamon, clove, fenugreek and bay leaves Ajawan Arvise Asafoetida Bay leaf Caraway Cinnamon Dill Mace Nutmeg Saffron

 

Nuts
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
None	small amount of almonds pecans and sesame seeds	Almonds Cashew Peanuts Pinenuts	sunflower seeds and almonds in moderate amount	Almonds Black Walnuts Brazil nuts Filberts Hazelnuts Peanuts Pine nuts Walnuts	small amount of almonds , charole

 

Follow a seasonal routine

In Ayurvedic literature the year is divided into six ritus (seasons) – varsha (monsoon), sharada (autumn), hemanta (winter), shishira (late winter), girshma (summer) and vasanta (spring). The effects of these ritus on the three doshas and the suggested lifestyle for each is as indicated below :

 

Monsoon :

 

Diet	Conduct
Digestive power weakens and bodily vata is aggravated. It is advisable therefore to be moderate in your diet. Come rains, tuck into astringent, bitter and pungent food along with wheat & rice.                    Never forget to boil & cool your water. And if possible, add a little honey.	Go for oil massages and regular baths. Do not indulge in daytime sleeping. Avoid moving in the sun, and excessive physical exercise Do not indulgence in excessive sex.

 

Autumn :

Diet	Conduct
Yummy dishes with astringent, bitter or sweet tastes are for you to enjoy. Have lots of rice, barley, wheat, along with curd, cabbage, cheese, milk.                Avoid meat, yoghurt.	This is the right time to go through purgation & blood letting treatment. ) Avoid excessive sunbathing Do not expose yourself to easterly winds.

 

Winter :

Diet	Conduct
Dig into piping hot, oily, sour & salty food along with rice. Also plenty of cow's milk & cane juice.                 Drink warm water and it will improve your life span. Avoid light food to pacify vata .	Don't expose yourself to cold. Go for an invigorating oil massage followed by tepid water bath. Cover your body with sufficient warm wraps Indulge in intense sexual pleasure.

 

Spring :

 

Diet	Conduct
Kapha that has already accumulated is liquidified by the heat and disturbs your digestive system. Avoid heavy, oily, sour & sweet food & drinks that may aggravate kapha. Take in barley, wheat, rice, scrup, & bitter vegetables.	Go for vigorous exercises, and oil massages. Cut down your smoking habit. Avoid day-time naps.

 

Summer :

Diet	Conduct
Take in plenty of fluids. Avoid dehydration. Avoid food with pungent, acid & salt tastes. Tuck into sweet, cold & oily foods. Meat of birds & animals are good for you.	Avoid excessive physical exercises & excessive sex. Avoid sunlight and harmful UV rays. Enjoy the cool breeze of your garden & fragrance of flowers. Try to take a short nap.

 

Kitchen remedies: For little reasons. For every seasons

 

AILMENT	REMEDY
Acne	Grated cucumber applied over the face ,eyes and neck for fifteen minutes are very much beneficial for acne and blackheads.
Asthma	Take a teaspoon of fresh ginger juice mixed with a cup of fenugreek decoction and honey to taste. This mixture acts as a excellent expectorant in the treatment of asthma.
Backache	Garlic is the most important home remedy for backache. Two or three cloves should be taken every morning. An oil prepared form garlic and rubbed on the back will give a good result in backache.
Bad Breath	Wash your mouth with lime juice mixed with water. This will prevent bad breath.
Bleeding external	Apply ice cube or sandalwood paste.
Bleeding internal	Drink a glass of warm milk with a 1/2 teaspoon of saffron & turmeric powder.
Boils	Betel leaves are a valuable remedy for boils. A leaf is gently warmed till it becomes soft. It is then coated with a layer of castor oil.
Burns	Add coconut oil to the paste of fresh gel of aloe vera blended with a pinch of turmeric Powder and apply.
Cold	Boil teaspoonful of ginger powder or eucalyptus leaves in one quart of water & inhale the steam. Congested nose? Apply eucalyptus oil to the sides of your nose! Or inhale a pinch of calamus root powder in each nostril !
Constipation	Don't forget to take in a glass of hot milk with a teaspoon of clarified butter at bedtime. Or Drink a glass of boiled water with one teaspoon of flax seed.
Cough	Add a pinch of salt with two pinches of turmeric powder to one glass of warm water and gurgle. Or chew a clove with a piece of rock candy. Take basil decoction or basil juice with honey. If your cough has been troubling you for long, try this : Take a half teaspoonful of ginger powder, a pinch of clove with a pinch of cinnamon powder and honey in a cup of boiled water and drink it as tea.
Ear ache	Use 3 drops of garlic oil in your affected ear. Make a mixture of a teaspoon full of onion juice with a half teaspoon of honey. And use 5 to 10 drops into affected ear.
Ears (ringing)	Use 3 drops of clove oil in your effected ear.
Exhaustion (heat)	Consume a glass of coconut water or grape juice. Or Churn out a juice of three dates with eight ounces of water and drink.
Eyes burning	Apply castor oil to the soles of the feet. Or put 3 drops of pure rose water into the affected eye. Apply aloe Vera gel.
Gas	Consume a cup of water with a pinch of baking soda & lemon juice.
Gums (bleeding)	Massage the gums lightly with coconut oil. Squeeze a half lemon into a cup of water and drink.
Headache	Dilute a paste of ginger powder (half teaspoon) with water & apply to the Forehead. A burning sensation may persist. But it's not harmful. Temporal headaches: It's related to Kapha. Hence apply ginger paste to the forehead and Sinuses. Occipital headaches: It is because of the aggravated Pitta in the stomach. Make tea with cumin & coriander seeds in a cup of hot water & consume it. Also apply a sandalwood paste to the temples Sinus headaches: Indicate toxins in the colon. Take one teaspoon of flax seed at bedtime With a glass of warm milk. At the same time, apply ginger paste behind the ears.
Hemorrhoids	Down a cup of aloe vera juice thrice a day. Take two parts honey with one part castor oil.
Insomnia	Card is very useful in insomnia. The patient should take plenty of curd and massage in on the head. This will induce sleep. Honey is a very useful in Insomnia. It should be taken with water ,before going to bed ,in doses of two teaspoons in a large cup of water.
Menstrual cramps	Have a tablespoon of aloe vera gel with two pinches of black pepper thrice a day.
Muscle Strain (upper part of the body)	Apply warm ginger paste with turmeric to the affected area twice a day. Try to avoid it. As it disturbs the nervous system, specially the intelligence.
Overeating	Consume a cup of warm water squeezed with a half lemon juice & a pinch of baking soda. Or roast fennel & coriander seeds (one teaspoon each) with pinch of salt.
Pain (external)	Blend 2 teaspoon of ginger powder with 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder with enough water. Warm the paste and spread it evenly on a piece of cotton cloth. Then the gel is ready for a ginger compress.
Rash	Apply the pulp of cilantro leaf to the affected area. Or drink coriander tea.
Lack of Sleep	Gently massage the soles of the feet with sesame oil. Rub oil into the scalp. Introduces 5 to 10 drops oil into each ear. Drink a cup of piping hot cow milk with rock candy or honey.
Excess Sleep	Take black coffee, gotu kola or calamus root tea at bed time. Go for an early dinner and eat less.
Swelling	Drink barley water or coriander tea For external. Swelling : Apply two parts of turmeric powder with one part salt to the affected area.
Toothache	Apply 3 drops of clove oil to the affected teeth.

 

Natural removal tips for Wart

A person can spread the wart virus by touching an infected area with their hands, then transferring infected skin cells a healthy area like the eye causing eyelid warts.

 

Children are more susceptible to the wart virus as in eyelid warts, because their immune system is not fully developed, and they are in contact with the virus in their daily lives. Skin to skin contact with an infected person can spread hpv eyelid warts. Using clothing, towels, shoes, and toys that have been in contact with the infected area of another person will spread the wart virus as well.

 

Procedures for removing eyelid warts are costly, and can leave scaring without a guarantee that the eyelid wart will return. Laser procedure is a treatment that can be used to remove the eyelid warts effectively, with a 95% success rate. Insurance providers are reluctant to pay for this procedure stating that it is not cost effective, because the eyelid warts may return.

 

Base your diet-according to ayurveda

Choice of Food

 

In planning the diet it is necessary to know which food to have or avoid based on ones personal doshic constitution or imbalance. For easy reference therefore some of the acceptable and avoidable items for each doshic type has been listed below :

 

Fruits
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
apples dates figs (dry) pomegranate raisin pears	Avocades grapes lemons bananas sweet oranges plum figs (fresh) mango	apples(sour) berries(sour) cranberries strawberries banana lemon peaches	apples(sweet) berries(sweet) coconuts dates figs avocados sweet melons plums pomegranates	bananas dates grapes water melons sweetners melons mango coconut	apples berries cranberries pomegranates dried fruits strawberries in small amounts

 

Dairy
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
cheese cow’s milk powdered yogurt	dairy fresh, whole un-homogenized milk ghee little butter white meat (chicken, fish or turkey – baked or broiled) chicken broth	yogurt sour cream	fresh ghee fresh whole un-homogenized milk	milk clarified butter cheese	just a little dairy goat milk and ghee in moderation

 

Grains
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Barley corn cereals granola millet tapioca	white or brown basmati rice wheat oats quinoa	Corn millet oat(dry) quinoa polenta	white or brown basmati rice, wheat barley oat bran oats wheat or wheat bran	Bread(with yeast) oat(cooked) wheat white rice cane	barley buckwheat cousous millet muesli oats oat bran small amount of wheat

 

Meat
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
turkey rabbit pork lamb	white meat (chicken, fish and turkey - baked or broiled) chicken broth	meat chicken ducks eggs pork salmon sardines	baked or broiled chicken, turkey or white fish in moderate amounts	beef buffalo chicken duck	fresh water fish shrimp rabbit venison small amount of white meat

 

Vegetables
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Cabbage(raw) Cauliflower(raw) Peas Potatoes Spinach Eggplant Mushroom Raddish(raw) Spinach Tomatoes(raw)	beets cauliflower(cooked) leeks carrots asparagus cilantro fennel and a little bit of garlic green beans greens chillies okra parsnips pumpkins radishes( preferably cooked)	Beet greens Carrots Garlic Green Chillies Onion Peppers Prickly pear Radishes Spinach Turnips	asparagus broccoli cabbage cucumber cooked onions sweet potatoes sprouts squash and a small amount of okra and cauliflower	Cucumber Olives Potato Pumpkin Spaghetti Squash Tomato(raw)	asparagus beets bitter melons broccoli beet greens cabbage garlic fennel carrot horseradish leafy greens leeks lettuce okra cooked onions spinach sprouts squash turnip and a small amount of artichoke, burdock root and brussels sprouts

 

Spices
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Carawas	Ajwan Almond extract Aruise Basil Bay leaf Black pepper All spices are good. cilantro, cummin, corriander and fennel seeds, turmeric and asafoetida(hing)	Ajwan Anise Asafoctida Basil Bay leaf Garlic Ginger Mace Pippai Mustard Seeds	Black pepper cardamom coriander seeds cinnamon cilantro fennel seeds fresh basil dill turmeric and a small amount of cumin and fresh ginger	Salt	chillies, ginger, cinnamon, clove, fenugreek and bay leaves Ajawan Arvise Asafoetida Bay leaf Caraway Cinnamon Dill Mace Nutmeg Saffron

 

Nuts
Vata		Pitta		Kapha
No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
None	small amount of almonds pecans and sesame seeds	Almonds Cashew Peanuts Pinenuts	sunflower seeds and almonds in moderate amount	Almonds Black Walnuts Brazil nuts Filberts Hazelnuts Peanuts Pine nuts Walnuts	small amount of almonds , charole   By: Saraswati

 

WRIST PAIN

WRIST PAIN

 

Definition

Chopping vegetables, angling for trout, falling during an athletic activity — there's practically no end to the ways you can hurt your wrists. In fact, hand pain and wrist pain are among the most common musculoskeletal complaints that doctors see.

 

The causes of wrist pain can range from repetitive stress injuries to sprains, fractures and diseases such as arthritis. Because so many factors can lead to wrist pain, and because the wrist is a complex structure, diagnosing the exact cause of long-standing wrist pain can be difficult.

 

For most people, wrist pain can be diagnosed and treated. The type of care depends on the cause and severity of the wrist pain.

 

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of wrist pain vary by the type of wrist pain you have.

 

Ligament sprains and tears
A sprain is an injury to a ligament — the fibrous tissue that connects bones. Ligaments are composed of a number of individual fibers, and the degree of injury depends on how many of the fibers are damaged and whether they're completely torn or just pulled apart. A mild sprain will generally cause minor discomfort and swelling, whereas a severe injury or complete tear can lead to:

• Significant pain and swelling that becomes worse with use
• Bruising
• Inability to use your wrist normally
• A painful popping or clicking

 

Tendinitis
Tendons are thick, fibrous cords that attach muscles to bone. Tendinitis, which occurs when tendons become inflamed or irritated, can cause the following symptoms just outside the affected joint:

• Pain
• Mild swelling

 

Though tendinitis is most common in your shoulders, elbows and knees, it can also affect your hips and wrists.

 

Fractures
Because the bones in the wrist are small and intricately arranged, they're prone to fractures. Though a broken wrist bone is usually quite painful, it's possible to have a fracture and not realize it. In addition to pain, symptoms may include:

• Swelling
• Discolored skin
• Limited ability to move your wrist
• A deformed or crooked wrist, sometimes with the bone protruding through the skin

 

Repetitive strain injuries
Any repetitive motion can stress and inflame your joints or worsen an existing injury, especially when done forcefully and for long periods of time without rest. Such motions can range from assembly line work to hitting a golf or tennis ball or typing on a computer. Repetitive strain injuries cause the following symptoms in muscles, joints, tendons and nerves:

• Pain
• Inflammation
• Dysfunction (sometimes)

 

Carpal tunnel syndrome
One of the most highly publicized wrist injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed as it passes through a narrow passageway (carpal tunnel) in your wrist. Symptoms may include:

• Tingling or numbness in your hand or fingers, especially when you're holding a cup, driving a car or reading a newspaper
• Pain radiating or extending from your wrist up your arm to your shoulder or down into your palm or fingers, particularly after forceful or repetitive use
• A sense of weakness in your hands and a tendency to drop objects
• Chronic loss of feeling in some fingers in advanced cases

 

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the breakdown of cartilage that cushions the bones in your joints. Over time, the loss of cartilage can cause:

• Joint pain, swelling and stiffness
• Limited motion and weakness in your wrist joint

 

Rheumatoid arthritis
Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic disease that can cause problems throughout your body. It usually starts in small joints in your hand and wrist, leading to:

• Joint pain and swelling
• Loss of motion and strength in the affected joint
• Joint deformity
• Fatigue and a general feeling of being unwell

 

Causes

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Your wrist is a complex joint made up of eight small bones (carpal bones) arranged in two rows between the bones in your forearm (radius and ulna) and the metacarpal bones in your hand. Tough bands of ligament connect the carpal bones to each other and to the forearm bones and metacarpals. Damage to your ligaments, bones or the cartilage that cushions your joints can cause pain and affect your ability to use your wrist and hand.

 

Common causes of wrist injury and pain include:

• Ligament sprains and tears. Most ligament sprains or tears result from the kind of high-impact injuries that happen when you fall forward onto your outstretched hand. They can also occur when you push a heavy object or brace yourself against the car dashboard during a sudden stop or collision. The ligament that's most often torn is the scapholunate ligament, which connects the scaphoid bone, on the thumb side of your wrist, to the neighboring lunate bone.

 

• Cartilage tears. The triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) is a small piece of cartilage and ligaments on the small-finger side of your wrist, just below the ulna. The TFCC can tear when you fall on your outstretched hand, swing a bat or racket, or twist your wrist sharply.

 

• Fractures. The bones in your wrist can break for many reasons, but they're most likely to fracture when you land on your outstretched hand in an accident; fall from a roof or ladder; are in a car collision; or receive a direct blow to your wrist. But the same injury may not break the same bone in every person. For instance, teens tend to have growth plate fractures — a break in a part of the bone that's still growing — whereas adults who fall the same way might break the scaphoid bone on the thumb side of the wrist.

 

• Repetitive strain injuries. Any activity that involves a repetitive motion — from hitting a tennis ball or bowing a cello to driving cross-country — can inflame the joints in your wrist, especially when you perform the movement for hours on end without a break.

 

• Carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when there's increased pressure on the median nerve, which passes through the carpal tunnel, a passageway in your wrist. Studies have failed to pinpoint the exact cause of carpal tunnel syndrome, though they have ruled out the commonly held notion that typing on a computer is to blame. Several studies have found no relationship between using a computer up to seven hours a day and a risk of carpal tunnel.

 

• Osteoarthritis. In osteoarthritis, the problem lies in the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints. Over time, the cartilage deteriorates and its smooth surface roughens. If the cartilage wears down completely, you may be left with bone rubbing on bone — damaging the ends of the bones and causing pain in the joint. Arthritis that affects the metacarpal-carpal joint in the thumb is particularly common.

 

• Rheumatoid arthritis. Some researchers suspect that rheumatoid arthritis is triggered by an infection — possibly a virus or bacterium — in people with an inherited susceptibility. Although the disease itself is not inherited, certain genes that create an increased susceptibility are. People who have inherited these genes won't necessarily develop rheumatoid arthritis. But they may have more of a tendency to do so than others. The severity of their disease may also depend on the genes inherited. Some researchers also believe that hormones may be involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

 

• Kienbock's disease. Like all living tissues, your bones require a constant supply of blood for nourishment. In Kienbock's disease, the blood supply to the lunate bone is cut off, and the bone slowly dies. The exact cause isn't known, though it may begin with a fall or a series of injuries to the hand or wrist. Kienbock's is often overlooked because its initial symptoms resemble those of a ligament strain. Untreated Kienbock's can lead to arthritis and disability.

 

• Other diseases. Most wrist pain comes from arthritis or an injury to your wrist joint, but certain systemic diseases can also affect the bones and tissues in your wrist. These include diabetes, gout, Paget's disease, leukemia, scleroderma and lupus erythematosus.

 

Risk factors

You're a candidate for wrist pain whether you're very sedentary, very active or fall somewhere in between. Still, certain factors can make you more prone to wrist problems, including:

• Certain sports. Professional and amateur athletes of all sorts — basketball, football, hockey and tennis players, pitchers, and golfers — are prone to wrist injuries. But wrist problems are also showing up in more children and teens, especially those who snowboard, rollerblade and skateboard. According to some estimates, nearly 80 percent of young gymnasts have chronic wrist pain.

 

• Age. Older adults are more likely to have osteoporosis, which makes bones brittle and more susceptible to fractures, than younger people are. They're also more likely to fall and to develop arthritis.

 

• Repetitive work. Almost any activity that involves your hands and wrists — even knitting and cutting hair — if performed forcefully enough and often enough can lead to disabling wrist pain.

 

• Pregnancy. Some women develop carpal tunnel in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy because of hormonal changes. Shifts in the balance of estrogen and progesterone cause the body to retain more fluid, which increases swelling in the carpal tunnel.

 

When to seek medical advice

Not all wrist pain requires medical care. Minor strains, for instance, usually respond to ice, rest and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. But if pain and swelling last longer than a few days or become worse, see your doctor. Delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor healing, reduced range of motion and long-term disability.

 

Get emergency care if your pain is severe, your wrist looks misshapen or bone protrudes through your skin. An exposed bone can lead to a life-threatening infection if not treated promptly.

 

Tests and diagnosis

Some wrist injuries can be diagnosed with a medical history and careful examination of the painful area. For example, your doctor can often detect an injury to a ligament simply by examining your hand. Ligament injuries don't always show up on imaging tests.

 

In other cases, though, you may need further tests. These may include X-rays, sometimes using a contrast material (arthrogram), or more detailed images from a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). If the results are still inconclusive, your doctor may perform an arthroscopy, a procedure used both to diagnose and treat joint problems.

 

Different tests may be needed to evaluate the degree of carpal tunnel syndrome, including:

 

• Electromyogram. This test measures the tiny electrical discharges produced in your muscles. A needle-thin electrode is inserted into the muscle, and its electrical activity is recorded when you're at rest and when the muscle is contracted.

 

• Nerve conduction study. In this variation of electromyography, a small shock is passed through the median nerve to see if electrical impulses are slowed in the region of the carpal tunnel.

 

Complications

Wrist injuries can sometimes lead to long-term problems, including:

• Ongoing stiffness, aching, numbness or disability. You may have ongoing stiffness, pain or aching even after your injury has healed. These problems sometimes go away, but they may be permanent if your injury was severe. You may also have some deformity in your wrist or limited range of motion. Be sure to talk to your doctor about exercises that might help prevent some of these problems.

 

• Arthritis. Fractures that extend into the joint can cause arthritis years later. If your wrist or hand starts to hurt long after a break, see your doctor for an evaluation.

 

• Poor healing. Some wrist fractures — such as scaphoid fractures — may take longer to heal because of poor blood supply to this part of your body or because treatment wasn't started quickly enough. Not immobilizing the fracture properly can also delay healing. And fractures are less likely to heal if you smoke.

 

• Bone death. Because the scaphoid and capitate bones both have poor blood supplies, they're especially prone to avascular necrosis, which occurs when a lack of blood causes the bone to deteriorate and die.

 

• Nerve or blood vessel damage. Trauma to your wrist can injure adjacent nerves and blood vessels. Seek immediate care if you notice any numbness or circulation problems.

 

Treatments and drugs

Treatments for wrist problems vary greatly, depending on the type, location and severity of the injury, as well as on your age and overall health.

 

Ligament sprains and tears
Minor sprains generally heal on their own with ice, rest and anti-inflammatory medications. More severe sprains or ligament tears may need:

• Splinting. Torn ligaments may be splinted for three to six weeks to allow them time to heal.
• Surgery. When the ligament is torn and the joints no longer line up, your doctor may suggest surgery to either repair the ligament or pin the bones together to improve alignment while the ligament heals.

If a great deal of time has passed since the initial injury, the ligament may need to be replaced with a tendon graft that's usually taken from the same wrist. In cases of long-standing instability or arthritis, two or more wrist bones may be fused together to stabilize the motion between the bones and reduce pain.

 

Cartilage tears
You can treat some cartilage injuries yourself with rest, ice and anti-inflammatory drugs, but complete tears may need to be surgically repaired. This can usually be done using local anesthetics, small incisions and a fiberoptic scope fitted with a tiny camera and surgical instruments.

 

Fractures
If you have a broken wrist bone that's properly aligned, you may wear a cast for six weeks to three months or more. You'll have regular X-rays to monitor your progress. If the bone doesn't seem to be healing, your doctor may recommend wearing an electrical stimulator, which looks something like a large bracelet, to encourage the bone to heal.

 

Other options include:

• Screw fixation. In this procedure, a screw is inserted through the broken bone to help hold it in place. Your doctor may suggest screw fixation instead of a cast because it can lead to a faster recovery and less downtime.

 

• Removal of dead tissue (debridement). If your bone doesn't heal even after casting and electrical stimulation, your doctor is likely to suggest surgery. One approach is to remove the old scar tissue between the two halves of the broken bone — a procedure called debridement — which allows the fresh surfaces to try healing again.

 

• Bone graft. A graft involves using bone tissue from another site in your body or a graft substitute and placing it in the fracture to stimulate healing. A metal pin or screw may be inserted to hold the graft in place. Though minimally invasive procedures can hasten healing and minimize scarring, they still pose certain risks, such as damage to nearby blood vessels.

 

Repetitive strain injuries
For mild to moderate symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain injuries, your doctor may suggest:

 

• Wrist splinting. A splint that immobilizes your wrist while you sleep may relieve minor numbness and tingling.

 

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, others) and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may help reduce pain from repetitive strain injuries caused by inflammation.

 

• Corticosteroids. Your doctor may inject the carpal tunnel with cortisone to relieve the pressure on the median nerve.

 

When pain and numbness are more severe and splinting doesn't reduce your symptoms, surgery may be the best option. Several procedures are used, but all involve cutting the transverse carpal ligament (flexor retinaculum) that's compressing the nerve.

Surgery usually causes marked improvement, but it can take several weeks or months until you have full use of your hand and wrist, and you may have residual numbness, pain, stiffness or weakness. Be sure to discuss all possible outcomes with your doctor before your surgery.

 

Prevention

It's impossible to prevent the unforeseen events that often cause wrist injuries, but these basic tips may offer some protection:

 

• Build bone strength. Getting adequate amounts of calcium — at least 1,500 milligrams a day for adults — and vitamin D can help prevent fractures.

 

• Prevent falls. Falling forward onto an outstretched hand is the main cause of most wrist injuries. To help prevent falls, wear sensible shoes. Remove home hazards. Light up your living space. And install grab bars in your bathroom and handrails on your stairways, if necessary.

 

• Use protective gear for athletic activities. Wear wrist guards for high-risk activities, such as football, snowboarding and rollerblading. If you're new to extreme sports, consider getting professional instruction, and know your limits.

 

• Pay attention to ergonomics. The market is flooded with devices such as ergonomic chairs, keyboards and mice that claim to take the stress off your wrists when you're at the office. Using some of these devices, taking regular breaks, keeping your wrists in a relaxed, middle position when you type, and improving your posture can make you more comfortable and help protect your wrists.

 

Home Remedies for NAIL BITING

NAIL BITING

 

 

Ta-dum. Yes, it often begins with boredom. Or impatience. Or fidgeting. Then a nibble. And the next thing you know, your fingernails look like the Mad Nail Nibbler went on a binge.

 

If you are among the millions who regularly bite their nails, you know the Mad Nail Nibbler all too well. And you've probably said to yourself (how many times?) "I wish I'd stop biting my nails!"

 

Anyone can be a nail biter--and it often begins in childhood. Forty to 50 percent of all children regularly pick and chew their nails and cuticles, though many of them manage to kick the habit by the time they get to be adults. But nail biting can also get started in adulthood--sometimes out of the blue.

 

"While nail biting in some people may be a nervous reaction to stress, those who engage in it generally are not nervous individuals," according to R. Gregory Nunn, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and president of R. G. Nunn and Associates, a private clinic in San Diego. "Nail biting is a learned behavior that usually results from factors that have nothing to do with stress. Ironically, one of the most common causes is the physical condition of the nails."

 

"If the nails become irregular or damaged, it promotes attempts to try to smooth them, and biting is one such means," says Nathan H. Azrin, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychology at Nova University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. "But biting just worsens the condition of the nails and encourages further biting."

 

How, then, do you resist this urge to indulge in a five-finger feeding frenzy? Just sink your teeth into these proven tips.

 

First, pretend to bite your nails. That's right. And do it in slow motion in front of a mirror, so you can actually see all the movements that are involved.

 

"Most nail biters begin by running their thumb along the nails' edges, feeling for irregularities, before bringing the hand to the mouth," explains Dr. Azrin. "We want them to identify the initial parts of the movement. It's much easier to interrupt it at the initial stage than to wait until the finger is nearly in the mouth." Other signals: rubbing your face or cupping your hands just before you bite.

 

Keep a daily record. Build up your awareness by noting when nail biting occurs--that is, how often, when, where and with whom. Your goal is to identify all the situations in which you are more likely to engage in the habit, then consciously remind yourself not to bite your nails in those situations as you enter them.

 

Grip, grab and clench. You can't bite your nails if your hands are involved in other activities. So if you realize you're getting the urge to bite, immediately do something else with your hands. If you're sitting on a sofa, for instance, grab the armrest. If you're reading, hold the book firmly. And if you're in a meeting, gently grab your knee. Just hold on for a couple of minutes and the urge will pass.

 

File your nails daily. "Keep your nails well trimmed and short, especially for the first few weeks," says Trisha Webster, a hand model with the Wilhelmina Modeling Agency in New York City. "Use an emery board instead of a metal file or scissors--it is gentler and won't weaken your nails."

 

She recommends filing your nails into a rounded or oval shape. "If you file your nails straight across," she warns, "they will have two sharp points that are tempting to bite."

 

Baby them. "Soak or massage your nails with baby oil, olive oil, vitamin E oil or a gentle dish detergent at least twice a day to replenish lost moisture, stimulate growth and prevent cracking and chipping," says New York City skin care specialist Lia Schorr, author of Lia Schorr's Seasonal Skin Care. "Also, use a moisturizing hand lotion several times a day to keep the skin around the nails healthy and attractive."

 

Make your nails less tasty. Schorr and Webster both suggest coating your fingers with hot pepper or lemon juice: Any nontoxic, bitter substance will make you think twice about putting your fingers near your mouth. But make sure you also keep your hands away from your eyes.

 

Go undercover. When you're at home, suggests Schorr, try wearing some light cotton gloves. They're surefire protection against nail biting.

 

Dress up your digits. Once the appearance of your nails has improved, don't hide them--show them off! Dr. Azrin and Dr. Nunn both suggest wearing rings and jewelry and putting your hands on top of a desk or table rather than hiding them underneath. After you've given up nail biting, you should begin to feel comfortable extending the fingers rather than cupping them. If you draw attention to your fingers and receive compliments, that's a wonderful incentive to keep up the good work.

 

 

Home Remedies for ASPHYXIA

ASPHYXIA

 

Asphyxia – In ability of sufficient oxygen to reach the brain

Asphyxia - the failure or disturbance of the respiratory process brought about by the lack or insufficiency of oxygen in the brain. The unconsciousness that results sometimes leads to death.

Asphyxia can be caused by injury to or obstruction of breathing passageways, as in strangulation or the aspiration of food (choking) or large quantities of fluid (near-drowning or drowning).

The aspiration of food or fluid can result in a shrunken and airless state of the lungs that is known as atelectasis, a condition that aggravates hypoxemia. Asphyxia can also be caused by suffocation, the inability of sufficient oxygen to reach the brain, as in carbon monoxide poisoning.

Neonatal asphyxia can result from the presence of analgesics or anesthetics in the mother's bloodstream, strangulation by the umbilical cord, maternal hypotension, or a number of other causes.

Emergency resuscitation measures require rapid and efficient response. One method of reestablishing normal respiration is cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a particularly effective way of dealing with victims of cardiac arrest and near-drowning.

http://articlebank1.blogspot.com/2007/11/asphyxia-in-ability-of-sufficient.html

 

Asphyxia By Submersion, Drowning

Death in this case is not caused by the stomach and air passages being filled with water, but ensues in consequence of the person being plunged in a medium unfit for respiration. In no case where the body is recovered immediately after drowning, should the means of resuscitation be left unemployed. Life has been revived even in cases that were submerged half an hour.

 

TREATMENT. --

 

1st. Treat the patient instantly, on the spot, in the open air, freely exposing the face, neck, and chest to the breeze, except in severe weather.

 

2nd. Send for the nearest medical aid, and for clothing, blankets, etc.

 

3rd. Place the patient gently on the face, the forehead resting on his wrist. This empties the mouth of fluids, and allows the tongue to fall forward, which leaves the entrance to the pipe free.

 

4th. Turn the patient slightly on his side, and apply ammonia, snuff, or other irritating substances, to the nostrils; then dash cold water on the face, previously rubbed briskly until it is warm. If there be no success, instantly --

 

5th. Replace the patient on his face, and turn the body gently, but completely, on the side and a little beyond, and then on the face, alternately; repeating these measures with deliberation, efficiency, and perseverance, fifteen times to the minutes. When the patient reposes on the chest, this cavity is compressed and expiration takes place; the pressure is removed when turned on the side, and inspiration occurs.

 

6th. When in the prone position, make equable but efficient pressure along the spine, augment expiration, and remove it before rotation on the side, to facilitate inspiration.

 

7th. Induce circulation and warmth, while continuing these measures, by rubbing the limbs upward with firm pressure and with energy, using handkerchiefs, etc.

 

8th. Replace the patient's wet clothing by such other covering as can be instantly procured, each bystander furnishing a coat or waistcoat. Meantime, and from time to time, let the surface of the body be slapped freely with the hand, or let cold water be dashed briskly over the surface, previously rubbed dry and warm.

 

Let the patient often inhale diluted pure hartshorn, as this stimulates the respiratory organ.

 

Home Remedies for OSTEOARTHRITIS

OSTEOARTHRITIS

 

 

Definition

Osteoarthritis, sometimes called degenerative joint disease or osteoarthrosis, is the most common form of arthritis. Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage in your joints wears down over time.

 

Osteoarthritis can affect any joint in your body, though it most commonly affects joints in your hands, hips, knees and spine. Osteoarthritis typically affects just one joint, though in some cases, such as with finger arthritis, several joints can be affected.

 

Osteoarthritis gradually worsens with time, and no cure exists. But osteoarthritis treatments can relieve pain and help you remain active. Taking steps to actively manage your osteoarthritis may help you gain control over your osteoarthritis pain.

 

Symptoms

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Osteoarthritis symptoms often develop slowly and worsen over time. Signs and symptoms of osteoarthritis include:

• Pain in a joint during or after use, or after a period of inactivity
• Tenderness in the joint when you apply light pressure
• Stiffness in a joint, that may be most noticeable when you wake up in the morning or after a period of inactivity
• Loss of flexibility may make it difficult to use the joint
• Grating sensation when you use the joint
• Bone spurs, which appear as hard lumps, may form around the affected joint
• Swelling in some cases

 

Osteoarthritis symptoms most commonly affect the hands, hips, knees and spine. Unless you've been injured or placed unusual stress on a joint, it's uncommon for osteoarthritis symptoms to affect your jaw, shoulder, elbows, wrists or ankles.

 

Causes

Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in your joints deteriorates over time. The smooth surface of the cartilage becomes rough, causing irritation. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, you may be left with bone rubbing on bone — causing the ends of your bones to become damaged and your joints to become painful.

 

It isn't clear what causes osteoarthritis in most cases. Researchers suspect that it's a combination of factors, including being overweight, the aging process, joint injury or stress, heredity, and muscle weakness.

 

Risk factors

Factors that increase your risk of osteoarthritis include:

• Older age. Osteoarthritis typically occurs in older adults. People under 40 rarely experience osteoarthritis.
• Sex. Women are more likely to develop osteoarthritis, though it isn't clear why.
• Bone deformities. Some people are born with malformed joints or defective cartilage, which can increase the risk of osteoarthritis.
• Joint injuries. Injuries, such as those that occur when playing sports or from an accident, may increase the risk of osteoarthritis.
• Obesity. Carrying more body weight places more stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knees. But obesity has also been linked to an increased risk of osteoarthritis in the hands, as well.
• Other diseases that affect the bones and joints. Bone and joint diseases that increase the risk of osteoarthritis include gout, rheumatoid arthritis, Paget's disease of bone and septic arthritis.

 

When to seek medical advice

If you have swelling or stiffness in your joints that lasts for more than two weeks, make an appointment with your doctor.

 

If you're already taking medication for osteoarthritis, contact your doctor if you're experiencing side effects from arthritis medications. Tell your doctor if you experience side effects such as nausea, abdominal discomfort, black or tarry stools, constipation, or drowsiness.

 

Tests and diagnosis

If your doctor suspects you have osteoarthritis, he or she will examine your affected joint and ask you questions about your joint pain. To better understand the cause of your pain, he or she may also recommend:

• X-rays. X-ray images of your affected joint may reveal a narrowing space within a joint, which indicates that the cartilage is breaking down. An X-ray may also show bone spurs around a joint.
• Blood tests. Blood tests may help rule out other causes of joint pain, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
• Joint fluid analysis. Your doctor may use a long needle to draw fluid out of the affected joint. Examining and testing the fluid around your joint can determine if your pain is caused by gout or an infection.
• Examining the joint with a tiny camera (arthroscopy). In some cases, your doctor may recommend arthroscopy to see inside your joint in order to determine the cause of your pain. During arthroscopy, small incisions are made around your joint and a tiny camera is inserted to see inside your joint. Your doctor watches a video screen to look for abnormalities within your joint.

 

Complications

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that worsens over time. As many as a third of people with osteoarthritis will eventually experience significant disability. Joint pain and stiffness may become severe enough to make getting through the day difficult, if not impossible. Some people are no longer able to work. When joint pain is this severe, doctors typically suggest joint replacement surgery. For those who aren't able to undergo surgery, pain medications and assistive devices can make daily tasks more manageable.

 

Treatments and drugs

There's no known cure for osteoarthritis, but treatments can help to reduce pain and maintain joint movement so that you can go about your daily tasks. While medications and joint replacement surgery are key components of treatment for osteoarthritis, your doctor will likely recommend you try all other possible solutions before you consider those options. Eventually the pain may become severe so that medications and surgery may be necessary.

 

Initial treatment options for mild osteoarthritis
For mild osteoarthritis pain that is bothersome, but not enough to have a great impact on your daily activities, your doctor may recommend that you:

 

• Rest. If you're experiencing pain or inflammation in your joint, rest it for 12 to 24 hours. Find activities that don't require you to use your joint repetitively. Try taking a 10-minute break every hour.

 

• Exercise. With your doctor's approval, get regular exercise when you feel up to it. Stick to gentle exercises, such as walking, biking or swimming. Exercise can increase your endurance and strengthen the muscles around your joint, making your joint more stable. Avoid exercising tender, injured or swollen joints. If you feel new joint pain, stop. New pain that lasts more than two hours after you exercise probably means you've overdone it.

 

• Lose weight. Being overweight or obese increases the stress on your weight-bearing joints, such as your knees and your hips. Even a small amount of weight loss can relieve some pressure and reduce your pain. Aim to lose 1 or 2 pounds a week, at most. Talk to your doctor about healthy ways to lose weight. Most people combine changes in their diet with increased exercise.

 

• Use heat and cold to manage pain. Both heat and cold can relieve pain in your joint. Heat also relieves stiffness and cold can relieve muscle spasms. Soothe your painful joint with heat using a heating pad, hot water bottle or warm bath. Heat should be warm, not hot. Apply heat for 20 minutes several times a day. Cool the pain in your joint with cold treatments, such as with ice packs. You can use cold treatments several times a day, but don't use cold treatments if you have poor circulation or numbness.

 

• Work with a physical therapist. Ask your doctor for a referral to a physical therapist. The physical therapist can work with you to create an individualized exercise plan that will strengthen the muscles around your joint, increase your range of motion in your joint and reduce your pain.

 

• Find ways to avoid stressing your joints. Find ways to go about your day without stressing your joints. An occupational therapist can help you discover ways to do everyday tasks or do your job without putting extra stress on your already painful joint. For instance, a toothbrush with a large grip could make brushing your teeth easier if you have finger osteoarthritis. A special seat in your shower could help relieve the pain of standing if you have knee osteoarthritis.

 

• Apply over-the-counter pain creams. Creams and gels available at the drugstore may provide temporary relief from osteoarthritis pain. Some creams numb the pain by creating a hot or cool sensation. Other creams contain medications, such as aspirin-like compounds, that are absorbed into your skin. Read the label so you know what you're using. Pain creams work best on joints that are close the surface of your skin, such as your knees and fingers.

 

• Try braces or shoe inserts. Consider trying special splints, braces, shoe inserts or other medical devices that can help reduce your pain. These devices can immobilize or support your joint to help you keep pressure off it.

 

• Take a chronic pain class. The Arthritis Foundation and some medical centers have classes for people with osteoarthritis or chronic pain. Ask your doctor about classes in your area or check with the Arthritis Foundation. These classes teach skills that help you manage your osteoarthritis pain. And you'll meet other people with osteoarthritis and learn their tips for reducing joint pain or coping with your pain.

 

Treatment options for moderate osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis pain that persists despite initial treatment may require medications in addition to initial treatment options. Don't assume that taking a medication is all you need. In order to get the most from your treatment, continue exercising when possible and resting when you need to. If you're overweight, continue working to lose weight.

 

Medications that may be useful for moderate arthritis include:

• Acetaminophen. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can relieve pain, but doesn't reduce inflammation. It has been shown to be effective for people with osteoarthritis who have mild to moderate pain. Taking more than the recommended dosage of acetaminophen can cause liver damage, especially if you consume three or more alcoholic drinks a day. Ask your doctor for guidance on limiting or abstaining from alcohol if you take acetaminophen regularly. Acetaminophen can also affect other medications you may be taking, so be sure to inform your doctor if you're taking it.

 

• NSAIDs. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Over-the-counter NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). Stronger versions of these NSAIDs and others are available by prescription. NSAIDs have risks of side effects that increase when used at high dosages for long-term treatment. Side effects may include ringing in your ears, gastric ulcers, cardiovascular problems, gastrointestinal bleeding, and liver and kidney damage. Consuming alcohol or taking corticosteroids while using NSAIDs also increases your risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

 

• Tramadol. Tramadol (Ultram) is a centrally acting analgesic that's available by prescription. Tramadol has no anti-inflammatory effect, but can provide effective pain relief with fewer side effects - such as stomach ulcers and bleeding - than those of NSAIDs. However, tramadol may cause nausea and constipation. It's generally used for short-term treatment of acute flare-ups. Your doctor may recommend using tramadol in combination with acetaminophen to increase pain relief.

 

Treatment options for severe osteoarthritis
If you've tried other treatments but are still experiencing severe pain and disability, you and your doctor can discuss other treatments including:

• Stronger painkillers. Prescription pain pills, such as codeine and propoxyphene (Darvon), may provide relief from more severe osteoarthritis pain. These stronger medications carry a risk of dependence, though that risk is thought to be small in people who have severe pain. Side effects may include nausea, constipation and sleepiness.

 

• Cortisone shots. Injections of corticosteroid medications may relieve pain in your joint. During this procedure your doctor numbs the area around your joint and then inserts a needle into the space within your joint and injects medication. It isn't clear how or why corticosteroid injections work in people with osteoarthritis. Your doctor may limit the number of injections you can have each year, since too many corticosteroid injections may cause joint damage.

 

• Visco-supplementation. Injections of hyaluronic acid derivatives (Hyalgan, Synvisc) may offer pain relief by providing some cushioning in your knee. These treatments are made of rooster combs and are similar to a component normally found in your joint fluid. Visco-supplementation is only approved for knee osteoarthritis, though researchers are studying its use in other joints. Injections are typically given weekly over several weeks. Pain relief may last for a few months. Possible risks include infection, swelling and joint pain. People who are sensitive to birds, feathers or eggs shouldn't undergo visco-supplementation treatments.

 

Surgery for osteoarthritis
Surgery is generally reserved for severe osteoarthritis that isn't relieved by other treatments. You may consider surgery if your osteoarthritis makes it very difficult to go about your daily tasks. Surgical treatments include:

 

• Joint replacement. In joint replacement surgery (arthroplasty), your surgeon removes your damaged joint surfaces and replaces them with plastic and metal devices called prostheses. The hip and knee joints are the most commonly replaced joints. But today implants can replace your shoulder, elbow, finger or ankle joints. How long your new joint will last depends on how you use it. Some knee and hip joints can last 20 years. Joint replacement surgery can help you resume an active, pain-free lifestyle. In smaller hand joints, it can also improve appearance and comfort and may improve your joint's mobility. Joint replacement surgery carries a small risk of infection and bleeding. Artificial joints can wear or come loose, and may need to eventually be replaced.

 

• Cleaning up the area around the joint (debridement). Your surgeon may recommend removing loose pieces of cartilage and bone from around your joint to relieve your pain. Debridement is most useful if you're experiencing a locking sensation from a torn cartilage or loose debris in your knee joint. Debridement is typically done arthroscopically, meaning only small incisions are made in your body. A tiny video camera is inserted through the incision to allow your surgeon to see inside your joint. The surgeon uses special surgical tools to clean out any debris pieces from your joint.

 

• Realigning bones. Surgery to realign bones may relieve pain. These types of procedures are typically used when joint replacement surgery isn't an option, such as in younger people with osteoarthritis. During a procedure called an osteotomy, the surgeon cuts across the bone either above or below the knee to realign the leg. Osteotomy can reduce knee pain by transferring the force of the joint away from the worn-out part of the knee.

 

• Fusing bones. Surgeons also can permanently fuse bones in a joint (arthrodesis) to increase stability and reduce pain. The fused joint, such as an ankle, can then bear weight without pain, but has no flexibility. Arthrodesis may be an option if you experience severe pain in your joint, but can't undergo joint replacement surgery.

 

Lifestyle and home remedies

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Osteoarthritis pain may flare from time to time. In order to prevent and cope with these flares in pain and stiffness, try self-care techniques. Try to:

• Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet emphasizing fruit, vegetables and whole grains can help you control your weight and maintain your overall health, allowing you to deal better with your arthritis. However, there's no special diet effective for treating arthritis. It hasn't been proved that eating any particular food will make your joint pain or inflammation better or worse.

 

• Take your medications as recommended. By taking medications regularly instead of waiting for pain to build, you will lessen the overall intensity of your discomfort.

 

• Use assistive devices. Assistive devices can make it easier to go about your day without stressing your painful joint. A cane may take weight off your knee or hip as you walk. Gripping and grabbing tools may make it easier to work in the kitchen if you have osteoarthritis in your fingers. Your doctor or occupational therapist may have ideas about what sorts of assistive devices may be helpful to you. Catalogs and medical supply stores may also be places to look for ideas.

 

• Avoid grasping actions that strain your finger joints. For example, instead of a clutch-style purse, select one with a shoulder strap. Use hot water to loosen a jar lid and pressure from your palm to open it, or use a jar opener. Don't twist or use your joints forcefully.

 

• Spread the weight of an object over several joints. Use both hands, for example, to lift a heavy pan. Try using a walking stick or cane.

 

• Maintain good posture. Poor posture causes uneven weight distribution and may strain ligaments and muscles. The easiest way to improve your posture is by walking. The faster you walk, the harder your muscles must work to keep you upright. Some people find that swimming also helps improve their posture.

 

• Use your strongest muscles and favor large joints. Don't push open a heavy glass door. Lean into it. To pick up an object, bend your knees and squat while keeping your back straight.

 

• Choose appropriate footwear. Wearing comfortable cushioned shoes that properly support your weight is especially important if you have arthritis in your weight-bearing joints or back.

 

Coping and support

Medications and other treatments are key to managing pain and disability, but another major component to treatment is your own attitude. Your ability to cope despite pain and disability caused by osteoarthritis often determines how much of an impact osteoarthritis will have on your everyday life. Talk to your doctor if you're feeling frustrated. He or she may have ideas about how to cope or refer you to someone who can help. In the meantime, try to:

 

• Keep a positive attitude. Make a plan with your doctor for managing your arthritis. This will help you feel that you're in charge of your disease, rather than vice versa. Studies show that people who take control of their treatment and actively manage their arthritis experience less pain and function better.

 

• Practice relaxation techniques. Hypnosis, guided imagery, deep breathing and muscle relaxation can all be used to control pain.

 

• Know your limits. Rest when you're tired. Arthritis can make you prone to fatigue and muscle weakness - a deep exhaustion that makes everything you do a great effort. A rest or short nap that doesn't interfere with nighttime sleep may help.

 

Alternative medicine

People who aren't helped by medications for osteoarthritis pain sometimes turn to complementary and alternative medicine practices for relief. Mainstream doctors are becoming more open to discussing these options with their patients. But, since few of these treatments have been extensively studied in clinical trials, it's difficult to assess whether these treatments are helpful for osteoarthritis pain. In some cases, the risks of these treatments aren't known.

 

If you're interested in trying complementary and alternative medicine therapies for your osteoarthritis pain, discuss these treatments with your doctor first. He or she can help you weigh the benefits and risks and tell you if the treatments will interfere with your current osteoarthritis medications.

 

Some common complementary and alternative treatments that have shown some promise for osteoarthritis include:

 

• Acupuncture. During acupuncture, tiny needles are inserted into your skin at precise spots. Practitioners believe the needles free or redirect your body's energy in order to relieve pain. Studies of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis have been mixed. Most studies haven't found a benefit, though some have found some short-term relief of pain. Acupuncture can be safe if you select a reputable practitioner — ask your doctor to suggest someone. Risks include infection, bruising and some pain where needles are inserted into your skin.

 

• Ginger. The ginger plant is best known for its use in cooking, but some research has found ginger extract may be helpful in reducing osteoarthritis pain. Limited studies have been conducted with ginger in people with osteoarthritis, and results have been mixed. Side effects of ginger supplements can include heartburn and diarrhea. Talk to your doctor before taking ginger supplements, since they can interfere with prescription medications such as warfarin (Coumadin).

 

• Glucosamine and chondroitin. Studies have been mixed on these nutritional supplements. Some have found benefits for people with osteoarthritis, while others haven't. Tell your doctor if you're considering taking these supplements. Don't use glucosamine if you're allergic to shellfish. Chondroitin sulfate may affect blood levels of warfarin if you're taking that medication.

 

• Magnets. Some people believe placing magnets near your affected joint can relieve osteoarthritis pain. Some small studies have found magnets can provide temporary pain relief, though others haven't found any benefit from magnets. It isn't clear how magnet therapy might work. Still, a variety of magnetic products, such as bracelets, are available. Magnets appear to be safe.

 

• Tai chi and yoga. These movement therapies involve gentle exercises and stretches combined with deep breathing. Many people use these therapies to abate stress in their lives, though small studies have found that tai chi and yoga may reduce osteoarthritis pain. More study is needed to understand whether tai chi and yoga can relieve osteoarthritis pain. Talk to your doctor if you'd like to give tai chi or yoga a try. When led by a knowledgeable instructor, these therapies are safe. But don't do any moves that cause pain in your joints.

 

Home Remedies for DRY SKIN & WINTER ITCH

DRY SKIN & WINTER ITCH

 

As winter approaches, our bodies turn toward flannel, our attention turns toward cheap Florida airfares, and our skin takes a turn toward something resembling Melba toast.

 

You can blame that toasted skin on the warm, toasty air that heats our homes, schools and offices. When it gets cold, we naturally warm up the house. The problem is, unless you add humidity to your surroundings with a humidifier or pans of water near radiators, a heated room has only about 15 percent relative humidity-as dry as Death Valley. And that turns our skin dry, flaky, scaly and usually itchy (and always bothersome).

 

Plus, there are other irritants to make matters worse--wind, cold, soaps, water (which dries skin when it evaporates), even added stress. Put it all together and your epidermis can dry out quicker than Aunt Gizelda's holiday fruitcake.

 

Dry skin and winter itch share a lot of symptoms with eczema and dermatitis, and some of the remedies for those problems can bring relief. But the key to making the winter season a merry one, itch-wise, is keeping your birthday suit well protected.

 

Here's how.

 

Keep skin moisturized. Probably the most important thing you can do to prevent and treat dry skin is to moisturize daily with a cream-based moisturizer, advises Sheryl Clark, M.D., a dermatologist at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center in New York City. "An oil-free moisturizer is recommended for those who tend to break out. Also, those with sensitive skin should choose a moisturizer without perfumes or lanolin." The brands most highly recommended by experts include Eucerin, Complex 15, Moisturel, Aquaphor and Aquaderm-all available over the counter.

 

But don't get soaked. You don't need expensive skin creams to keep skin moisturized. "Nothing beats plain petroleum jelly or mineral oil as a moisturizer," says Howard Donsky, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the University of Toronto and author of Beauty Is Skin Deep. In fact, he acids that virtually any vegetable oil or hydrogenated cooking oil--from Crisco oil to sunflower or peanut oil--can be used to relieve dry skin. But note: They do feet greasier than commercial moisturizers.

 

Don't be too hyper about your hygiene. "Bathe in cool to tepid water as briefly as possible and no more than once a day," according to Michael Ramsey, M.D., clinical instructor of dermatology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "Cleansing lotions are more gentle than soaps, and they're just as effective at removing dirt," adds Leonard Swinyer, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. And don't use a washcloth--just your fingertips. If you must use soaps, stick with mild brands such as Dove, Aveeno or Basis.

 

Add some oil to your bath. Make the most of your tub time by adding a bath oil rich in moisturizers--even when you apply creams after bathing.

 

Again, there's no need for the fancy stuff: Plain ol' castor oil is an excellent, low-cost choice. "It's one of the few oils that will disperse in water, and it won't leave a ring around the tub," says Varro E. Tyler, Ph.D., professor of pharmacognosy at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, and author of The Honest Herbal.

Make your own bath oil by mixing 1/2 cup of castor oil with ten drops of sandlewood-, pine-, rosemary- or mint-scented oil and storing it in a closed jar. Add one teaspoon of the mixture each time you bathe. For those who prefer store-bought brands, Alpha Keri body oil, Geri-Bath and Nutraderm bath oil are highly recommended.

Caution: Be careful in the bathroom, because these oils can make tubs and floors extremely slippery.

 

Dry yourself damp. After bathing, pat your skin almost dry-never totally dry with a towel. While the skin is still damp, apply your moisturizing lotion. "It's more effective to apply moisturizer to damp skin immediately after bathing than to put it on totally dry skin, because the moisturizer is what holds the water in," says Kenneth H. Neldner, M.D., professor and chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock. "A couple of pats with a towel will make you as dry as you want to be before you apply the lotion. You're trying to trap a little water in the skin, and that's the fundamental rule in fighting off dryness." If you have dry hands, he advises keeping some moisturizer near each sink in the house and using it as needed.

 

Be wary of wool. Clothing made of wool--or any other fuzzy or heavy material--can be particularly irritating to excessively dry skin, says Stephen M. Purcell, D.O., chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and assistant clinical professor at Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. "The last thing itchy skin needs is to have something scratchy over it. Cotton is probably the best material to wear, since polyester blends can also be irritating to some people."

 

Shave before bedtime. Shaving is tough enough on your tender skin, but meeting the cold reality of Old Man Winter right afterward makes your dry skin even worse, adds Dr. Swinyer. Unless you're hampered by severe five o'clock shadow, shave before bedtime, when your puss won't be subjected to such a drastic change in temperature.

 

And avoid eye-opening after-shaves. Their high alcohol content is too drying and zaps remaining moisture during this mean season, adds Dr. Swinyer.

 

Wear baggy, loose-fitting clothing. In addition to being more abrasive, tighter clothing traps perspiration, which softens the outer layer of skin, breaks down its protective barrier and worsens dry skin, says dermatologist Rodney Basler, M.D., assistant professor of internal medicine at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. But looser-fitting clothes, particularly in "breathable" fabrics like cotton, allow perspiration to be absorbed naturally.

 

Home Remedies for DENGUE FEVER

DENGUE FEVER

 

Definition

Dengue fever is a disease — ranging from a mild to severe — caused by four related viruses spread by a particular species of mosquito. Mild dengue fever causes high fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. More severe forms of the disease — dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome — can additionally cause severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and death.

 

No specific treatment for dengue fever exists, and most people recover. But if you have a severe form of the disease, you need hospital care.

 

Fifty million to 100 million cases of dengue infection occur worldwide each year. Most cases of dengue fever occur in urban areas of tropical and subtropical regions. A few cases have been reported in the United States — particularly in Texas, along the border with Mexico, and in Hawaii.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of dengue fever usually begin four to seven days after you've been bitten by a mosquito carrying a dengue virus. These signs and symptoms can vary, depending on the form of the disease. More severe forms of the disease usually begin the same way as the mild form (dengue fever), then become worse after several days.

 

Dengue fever signs and symptoms typically include:

• High fever, up to 105 F
• A rash over most of your body, which may subside after a couple of days and then reappear
• Severe headache, backache or both
• Pain behind your eyes
• Severe joint and muscle pain
• Nausea and vomiting

 

Dengue fever rarely causes death, and symptoms usually get better after five to seven days.

 

Dengue hemorrhagic fever — a more severe form of the disease — can also cause:

• Significant damage to your blood and lymph vessels
• A decrease in the number blood cells that help your blood clot (platelets)
• Bleeding from the nose, mouth and under the skin, creating the appearance of bruising
• Death

 

Dengue shock syndrome — the most severe form of the disease — may also cause:

• Blood vessel fluid (plasma) leakage
• Heavy bleeding
• A sudden drop in blood pressure (shock)
• Death

 

These signs and symptoms usually appear between the third and seventh day of illness, after fever has improved. They may be preceded by severe abdominal pain, frequent vomiting and disorientation. Two percent to 5 percent of those with a severe form of the disease die. Modern supportive hospital care decreases this risk.

Recovery from dengue fever may include a long period of listlessness, fatigue and even depression.

 

Causes

Dengue fever is caused by any one of four dengue viruses spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. These mosquitoes thrive in and near human habitations where they breed in even the cleanest water.

 

Mosquitoes transmit the virus back and forth between humans. When a mosquito bites a person infected with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito's bloodstream. It then circulates before settling in the salivary glands. When the infected mosquito then bites another person, the virus enters that person's bloodstream, where it may cause the serious illness.

 

You can become infected with dengue fever more than once. This happens when you're exposed to a different one of the four dengue viruses than one to which you were previously exposed. Infection a second time is typically what causes the more severe form of the disease — dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Risk factors

 

If you live or travel in tropical areas
Living in or traveling to an area where dengue fever viruses are present puts you at risk of the disease. These areas include many tropical and subtropical areas around the world, for example:

• Central and South America
• Southeast Asia
• The Caribbean
• Africa
• India
• The Middle East
• The South and Central Pacific

 

Particularly high-risk areas include tropical Asia, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Dengue virus transmission may occur year-round, although the risk is highest during a recognized dengue fever outbreak.

 

If you've had dengue fever before
If you've had dengue fever before, you can get it again if you become infected with another one of the four dengue viruses. Having antibodies to a virus in your blood from a previous infection usually helps protect you. But in the case of dengue fever, it actually increases your risk of severe disease — dengue hemorrhagic fever — if you're infected again. So previous infection with a dengue fever virus increases your risk of a more severe form of the disease. This most often occurs in children.

 

If you're young, white or female
If you are younger than age 12, female or white, you are also at greater risk of the severe form of the disease — dengue hemorrhagic fever.

 

When to seek medical advice

If you have any signs or symptoms of dengue fever, see your doctor, and explain that you've recently traveled to a region in which the disease is known to occur.

 

Tests and diagnosis

Diagnosing dengue fever can be difficult. That's because its signs and symptoms can be easily confused with those of other diseases, such as malaria, leptospirosis and typhoid fever. Still, diagnosis of dengue fever is typically done by evaluating your signs and symptoms along with your medical and travel history. To diagnose your condition, your doctor will likely ask about these. In addition, your blood may be tested for evidence of a dengue virus.

 

Medical history
Your doctor will likely ask about your medical and travel history and any exposure to mosquitoes. Be sure to describe international trips in detail, including the countries you visited and the dates, as well as any contact you may have had with mosquitoes.

 

Blood tests
Laboratory tests, usually using a sample of your blood, are needed to confirm a diagnosis of dengue fever. If you have dengue fever, your blood may reveal the virus itself. If not, blood tests known as hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) also can detect antigens, antibodies or nucleic acids specific to the viruses. These tests may take several days.

 

Complications

Most people with dengue fever recover within five to 14 days.  Some, particularly adults, may feel listless, tired and even depressed for several weeks to months after being infected.

 

If severe, dengue fever can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, which can cause heavy bleeding, shock and — in about 2 percent to 5 percent of those with these conditions — death. Those who survive may experience liver, blood vessel and brain damage, as well as seizures.

 

Treatments and drugs

No specific treatment for dengue fever exists.

 

If you have a mild form of the disease, your doctor will recommend making sure to drink enough fluids to avoid dehydration from vomiting and high fever. You can also take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) for pain and fever. Avoid aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve). These can increase the risk of bleeding complications.

 

If you have a more severe form of the disease, treatment consists of supportive care in a hospital. Such care includes intravenous fluids and electrolyte replacement, maintaining adequate blood pressure and replacing blood loss.

If you have any form of dengue fever, you may also be kept away from mosquitoes, to avoid transmitting the disease to others.

 

Prevention

No dengue fever vaccine exists. If you are living or traveling in an area where dengue fever is known to be, the best way to avoid dengue fever is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that carry the disease.

 

To reduce your exposure to mosquitoes:

• Avoid unnecessary outdoor activity when mosquitoes are most prevalent, such as at dawn, dusk and early evening.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks and shoes when you go into mosquito-infested areas.
• Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing. Patch screens if necessary, especially where there will be night-time exposure.
• Use bed netting if available.
• Apply permethrin-containing mosquito repellent to your clothing, shoes, and camping gear and bed netting. You can also buy clothing made with permethrin already in it. Use repellent with a 10 percent to 30 percent concentration of DEET to your skin. Choose the concentration based on the hours of protection you need — a 10 percent concentration of DEET is effective for about two hours, whereas higher concentrations last longer. Keep in mind that chemical repellants can be toxic, and use only the amount needed for the time you'll be outdoors. Don't use DEET on the hands of young children or on infants under 2 months of age. Instead, cover your infant's stroller or playpen with mosquito netting when outside. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, oil of lemon eucalyptus, a more natural product, offers the same protection as DEET when used in similar concentrations.

 

Natural removal tips for Wart

Wart is a firm abnormal elevated blemish on the skin and is caused by a virus. Tumor of the skin caused by infection with the human papilloma virus. Firm, flesh colored, dome-shaped, scaly papules or nodules usually appear on the hands and fingers. Warts are common, and are caused by a viral infection, specifically by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They typically disappear after a few months but can last for years and can reoccur.

 

Apply the white milk from the green leafy weed that grows in your garden and in your lawn, "ragwort". Dot the white milky liquid on the wart every day, it will eventually turn black and fall off.

The second was painting clear nail vanish, one coat every day, over the wart and the same thing happens.

If it's a small wart, you could use Eucalyptus oil and cover it with the oil overnight for several weeks

Treatment is aimed at destruction of the warty growths rather than elimination of the virus.

Subclinical infection probably is lifelong, and there is no cure. Most partners are likely to be subclinically infected with HPV, even if they do not have exophytic lesions.

Garlic for Warts and Moles: Here is a very successful routine for removal of these unwanted growths called moles, or warts. Take a button of garlic, slice or cut in two, and placed the cup area over a wart of mole. Tape it on, and as it dries out put a fresh piece. Many users have reported good results.

Loop electrocautery excisional procedure (LEEP) after colposcopic biopsy has become a standard procedure for cervical lesions particularly for the ones with neoplastic features.

Removal of a very large mass of warts is a painful procedure, best performed under either general or spinal anesthesia.

 

Carbon dioxide laser is an efficient method of treating primary and recurrent anogenital warts because of its precision and rapid healing without scarring.
Primary cure rates as high as 91% have been reported.

Go to a beauty parlour where they do threading. Ask the person to use the thread and tie it under ur wart. She should be able to tie a knot between ur skin and wart. With this the blood will not pass through the wart and it will fall withing 7-10 days.

Cut a slice of fresh garlic and tape it over the wart. Keep it covered for 24 hours. The wart will turn black and fall off. If it doesn't work the first day, repeat. garlic is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and totally awesome.

Crush an aspirin. Apply a drop of water to the wart (for stickiness) and apply aspirin powder generously. Put a bandage on it. Repeat twice a day until gone.
While over counter wart removal products are used as a way to remove the warts, there is a problem. The wart would keep coming back so that it can remove fully.

Laser Surgery - This treatment involves a high intensity laser light that is carefully directed on the affected area to destroy the wart.

When and How to Stop Breastfeeding

When breastfeeding your child it can be sometimes quite an issue to stop breastfeeding, especially if your child is accustom to being breastfed, it is important that you try not to upset the balance by simply stop breastfeeding. You have to take small steps towards shifting from breast milk to normal milk.

 

 Breast milk is good for a child at early stages but eventually it gets to a point in which is does not matter whether or not the child takes breast milk or regular milk. But it is very important that when you are changing from breast milk to regular milk that you transition it slowly so that there are no upsets along the way.

 

 

A good way to start when stopping breastfeeding is to breastfeed less. Still breastfeed your child of course, but cut down their daily intake. Just make sure that when you are doing it you are making sure that your child is happy and not feeling uncomfortable as a result. If you continue to do this, eventually your child will get used to it and feel at ease with the current regime of feeding.

 

 

You can then move onto the next step, this is a great step for moving away from breastfeeding. Try and lessen the amount you breastfeed your child, but also try to put some breast milk into a bottle and use it to feed your child. This is a very effective method as it shows your child that it can get the same milk without breastfeeding. It may take some time for your child to adjust to this but after time I can guarantee that it will come into effect and your child will begin to readjust itself.

 

 

This then leads onto the next step, this is a big step since it is the transition from breast milk to regular milk, of course it is completely up to you as to whether you give your child breast milk or regular milk, but this is an optional step if you want your child to have regular milk instead of breast milk. When feeding your child the bottled breast milk you should try and slowly adjust and switch between regular milk and breast milk, mixing it together has been known to work sometimes, and by lowering the amount of breast milk you can in effect just give your child regular milk without it noticing a big difference. There are many tactics and strategies you can use to approaching this situation, but always remember to take it nice and slowly to ensure that there are no hiccups along the way.

 

 

Then, hopefully after this process you will have successfully moved away from breastfeeding. Of course, you can still feed your child breast milk if you prepare it in a bottle in advance, but it will eventually get to a point where you will find it easier to use regular milk. It is common that too much breast feeding can lead to discomforts in the breast especially if you breastfeed your child on a daily basis. So hopefully, no matter what your current situation is, this guide should hopefully have helped you.