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Archive for October, 2009
AllergiesOctober 27th, 2009

A sore throat is an acute inflammation of the lower pharynx. This inflammation usually affects the mucous membrane and causes it to discharge secretions similar to sputum. In some cases, the throat can be very dry that coughing to discharge the secretions can be harsh on the throat. The tonsils and the soft palate may also become inflamed and cause pain when swallowing. A burning sensation and a tightness in the throat are also common occurrences when one has sore throat.
Some common causes of sore throat include colds, allergies, and habits like breathing through the mouth. A sore throat can also be an indication of a more serious disease if it is severe and chronic. However, for mild and random sore throats, the following sore throat relief ideas work effectively:
Consider the cause of your sore throat.
Determining the cause of your sore throat is necessary before you can administer the proper cure and relief treatment. If colds and flus are prevalent in your office or any place you frequent, these viruses are probably the cause of your sore throat. Excessive shouting and eating foods that are too spicy can also cause sore throats. However, if you suspect that your sore throat is caused by something more serious like strep throat, you must have it checked by your doctor.
Take prescription or over-the-counter painkillers.
Your doctor can prescribe prescription medication for your sore throat. Depending on the severity or the perceived cause, he or she can prescribe plain painkillers or one with antibacterial properties. You can also use over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or naproxen to relieve the pain in your throat. You can also take an analgesic to reduce inflammation like aspirin and acetaminophen. Just be sure to inform your doctor of any medication you have taken or are currently taking. This way, you can avoid over-medicating and possibly adverse drug interactions.
Suck on throat lozenges.
Lozenges with zinc, menthol, benzocaine, or phenol are ideal to suck on since they can numb the throat. Menthol hard candies are also good substitutes if you cannot find lozenges. Sucking on lozenges promote saliva production which prevents dryness and scratching in the throat. Saliva production also reduces the chances of bacterial infections in the throat.
Gargle mouthwash or salt water frequently.
The alcohol in the mouthwash has antiseptic properties which can cleanse the throat if there are bacteria. It also disinfects scratches and lesions in the throat which might be caused by dry coughing. Salt water works the same way and is cheaper in comparison. Simply combine a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Gargle the mixture several times a day. This will increase the blood supply to the area by washing away mucus and dilating capillaries, thereby enabling better circulation of infection-fighting antibodies.
Eat a soft or liquid diet.
Instead of meals that require you to swallow solid food like meat, opt for soups, yogurts, and mashed vegetables to avoid irritating your throat further. Supplement this diet with lots of water and natural fruit juices to facilitate the development of antibodies. Remember to avoid too much spices in your meals as these can aggravate your sore throat.
Acute Inflammation, Adverse Drug Interactions, Antibacterial Properties, Aspirin, Burning Sensation, Colds And Flus, Common Colds, Mucous Membrane, Naproxen, Occurrences, Pain Relief, Prescription Medication, Secretions, Soft Palate, Sore Throat Pain, Sore Throat Relief, Sore Throats, Throat Lozenges, Tonsils, Zinc
SupplementsOctober 23rd, 2009

Anxiety is very wide spread today because of our busy lifestyles and poor eating habits. I myself have struggled with anxiety and panic attacks for about 14 years. I have tried lots of different ways to cope or possibly cure my anxiety and thought I should share a few things that have worked for me.
One thing I learned is that the adrenal glands are very important in understanding anxiety. They are responsible for dealing with stress to the body in whatever form it takes. That means both mental and physical stress. In order to help your anxiety, you need to improve your adrenal health. Anxiety is almost always a sign of adrenal fatigue or overload.
The first thing you need to do is support your adrenal glands with the supplements below:
Vitamin C (2,000-4,000 mg/day)
Vitamin E w/mixed tocopherols (800 IU/day)
Vitamin B100 complex
Pantothenic acid (1200-1500 mg/day)
Magnesium citrate (800-1200 mg)
Liquid trace minerals
Adrenal Glandular
Two excellent herbs that will support your adrenal glands and give you immediate relief are ashwagandha and Siberian ginseng. Ashwagandha has been shown to have a sedating effect on the body and helps to rebuild the digestive and nervous system. I especially like using it to help me fall asleep when I’m feeling restless at bedtime. Siberian ginseng has been used traditionally to stimulate and nourish the adrenal glands and increase mental alertness. I like taking this in the morning.
I have also benefited from adding salt to my diet. First thing in the morning and before that time of day when you’re the most tired, put 1/8 to 1/2 teaspoonful of sea salt or Celtic salt into an 8 oz. glass of water and drink. I know you’ve been told salt isn’t good for you but if your adrenal glands are not functioning up to par you most likely have a sodium deficiency. Sea salt or Celtic salt are so much better for you than table salt and also supply up to 80 other minerals.
Adrenal fatigue can also cause low blood sugar or hypoglycemia, so eliminating all sugars from your diet will help tremendously. Instead of three meals a day eat five to six smaller meals or snacks throughout the day to keep your blood sugar balanced and you will feel better. Make sure these snacks are healthy foods with an equal ratio of fats, proteins and complex carbs.
You will do much better on a high protein diet along with healthy sources of saturated fats such as butter, coconut oil, and olive oil. Eliminate or reduce the amount of coffee you drink as it stimulates the adrenals and can cause further stress. For the same reason also avoid chocolate.
If you find yourself in the middle of a panic attack, here are some tips to help you get through it.
First thing you need to do, believe it or not, is relax. Sit down or lay down immediately. Begin to breath in very slowly and then exhale very slowly. Tell yourself that everything is alright. I thought this sounded so simplistic the first time I heard it, but it works. If you respond to the panic attack you begin to fuel the attack and make it worse.
As most panic attacks are caused by a dive in blood sugar you should then drink a glass or two of diluted fruit juice (all fruit no sugar). This will quickly bring your blood sugar back up to normal and you’ll feel a lot better. Eat something after the juice that has a combination of protein, fat and complex carbs. This will make sure that your blood sugar will not drop again right away.
I have found that supporting my adrenal glands with the above supplements, herbs and diet has stopped my panic attacks completely and has improved my anxiety greatly. I’m enjoying how calm I feel and I’m loving it.
Adrenal Fatigue, Adrenal Glands, Anxiety And Panic Attacks, Ashwagandha, Dealing With Stress, Eating Habits, Ginseng, Glass Of Water, Health Anxiety, Low Blood Sugar, Magnesium Citrate, Mental Alertness, Pantothenic Acid, Physical Stress, Sea Salt, Siberian Ginseng, Sodium Deficiency, Table Salt, Trace Minerals, Vitamin B100
AllergiesOctober 20th, 2009

If you really want to get relief from sore throat then you are at the right place because in next 15-20 minutes I will tell you how to get relief from sore throat with very simple and effective home remedies for sore throat.
But if the condition is severe then contact your doctor immediately, do not waste time on internet, and remember always Health is wealth
A sore throat is a common and minor condition in which the back of the throat becomes irritated in most cases (90% of them) is cause by a virus, such as the one that causes colds and flu or the bacteria that cause strep infection. In cases of bacterial or viral infections most antibiotics are useless and should not be taken.
Other major causes of sore throat are: medication, surgery, radiation, dust, smoke, chemicals and gum infection, allergies.
Simple home remedies for sore throat
1. liquefy 2-3 teaspoons of salt to one glass of water, gargle this salty water in your throat and on the infected area.
2. Cut an onion into strips, press the spicy juice out, add one spoon of honey and drink the mixture.
3. Blanch some hypos leaves and drink the leaves in olive oil, strain and swallow.
4. Reduce to pulp one ginger root, add to this 1/3 cup of boiling water and one tablespoon of sugar. Drink when it’s slightly humid. One of the most well liked sore throat home remedies
5. Blend an uncooked egg yolk, one tablespoon of sugar and one tablespoon of brandy Swallow after every 15 minutes as this will give relief.
6. Blanch some lemon verbena leaves and swallow.
7. Cook garlic cloves and dried peeled onion in boiling water until garlic gets soft and then eat for get relief from sore throat.
8. Mix 1 cup of hot milk, 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of honey then swallow.
9. Eat 1 tablespoon of honey several times a day to get relief from sore throat.
10. Make salvia tea and drink;
11. Put ginger root in a glass of humid water, stay 5-10 minutes and drink. Continue this number of times a day for sore throat relief.
12. Blanch 2 teaspoons of fresh/ dry hyssop leaves to 3/4 cup of hot water; add 1 spoon of honey, gurgle and drink for relief from sore throat.
13. Dip 1 whole pear in vinegar for one day, grain, filter and drink the remaining liquid.
14. Combine 2 tablespoons of sesame oil and one tablespoon of honey and take one spoon of this mixture 3 times a day for sore throat relief.
15. Betony is a helpful astringent which decreases inflammation. Make a tea and utilize as a gargle for sore throat relief.
16. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to 1 cup of boiling water; blend well and gargle while mixture is extremely warm. This bring more circulation to the area and assists in to decrease away the infection. To this prescription you can add 4 parts echinacea, 1 part garlic bulb, and 2 parts peppermint leaves to 1 part cayenne. This is a well liked sore throat home remedy
17. A good home remedy for sore throat is to add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to 1 cup of boiling water; stir well and sip bit by bit.
18. Prepare a tea adding 1 or 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile blossoms to a pint of boiling water; steep and drink a cup each few hours.
19. Add 30 drops of echinacea/goldenseal mixture to one cup of warm water; drink every two hours.
20. Good home remedy for sore throat relief. Take small ginger root and peel the skin. Slice the root into thin coins and put the pieces into a small pot of water. Boil the pieces to prepare tea. The tea should turn a yellowish color. Add three tablespoons of honey to sweeten the taste in tea. Sip the hot tea slowly by slowly. This tea provides a sharp tingle to the throat after sipping it.
21. Crush one tablespoon of mustard seed and mix with the juice of half a lemon, one tablespoon of salt, one tablespoon of clear honey, and 1 1/4 cups of boiling water. Leave this mixture for 15 minutes and use as a gargle.
22. Myrrh It can be prepared into a tea. To prepare the tea add 2 sprigs of plainly chopped parsley, 3 whole spice cloves, 1 teaspoon of crushed myrrh, and 1/4 teaspoon powdered goldenseal to 1 pint of boiling water. Steep. Blend occasionally while cooling, then strain and use as a gargle for sore throat relief.
23. Boil some pomegranate peels and drink as a tea. It will give relief from sore throat as the pomegranate contains astringents
Antibiotics, Boiling Water, Colds And Flu, Egg Yolk, Gargle, Garlic Cloves, Ginger Root, Glass Of Water, Gum Infection, Home Remedies For Sore Throat, Hot Milk, Lemon Verbena, Olive Oil, Salty Water, Sore Throat Home Remedies, Sore Throat Relief, Tablespoon, Teaspoons, Uncooked Egg, Viral Infections
SupplementsOctober 13th, 2009

If you need help for anxiety, then you might feel like you are at the end of your rope. You are tired of negative thoughts and fears controlling your life, but don’t know how to stop this vicious cycle. In this article, you’ll learn some important strategies that will help. Although no one lives a life that is completely free of fear and worry, there are steps that you can take to release their hold on you, so you can lead a happier and more peaceful life.
People who need help for anxiety and go to see a doctor are often given prescription medications. Although these drugs can help, they do not heal the cause of anxiety, so you will have to keep taking them. Additionally, these drugs can have side effects that can worsen your suffering and cause you to seem emotionless and flat. Of course, the big problem with drugs is that all they do is mask the symptoms instead of addressing the problem head on.
There is a movement in this country to take a skills-not-prescription-pills approach that teaches people strategies for overcoming depression and and anxiousness. Thoughts give rise to feelings and although you cannot stop the stream of thoughts, you can become aware of them, so they will not direct your life. A good behavioral therapist can teach you this skill. Of course, this is a skill that is learned progressively over time and it’s something that you must develop the discipline to apply constantly in your life because even people who do not have a disorder may suffer from occasional bouts of anxiousness or feelings of mild depression. The key here is to learn how to control your mind, rather than allowing it to control you.
Still, there’s a catch 22 here because if you’re anxious all the time, if you’re always waiting for the other foot to drop so to speak, then it is difficult to learn new skills. People learn best when they are relaxed and calm and focused in the present moment. This is why it’s a good idea to take a natural remedy that will create a sense of relaxed awareness and relieve you of anxious thoughts. Used in conjunction with behavioral therapy or some kind of awareness training, this can help you get your life back on track.
Look for a natural remedy that has ingredients that work like Passion Flower and St. John’s Wort. These ingredients have been used for centuries to soothe anxious feelings and relieve the blues. When taken with a proper diet of lean protein, healthy greens, fresh fruit, whole grains and lots of clean, refreshing water, your brain will begin to heal the damage caused by years or even decades of living in constant fear. If you need help for anxiety, natural remedies are one of the safest and most effective methods used today. In fact in progressive countries like Germany, natural remedies are used more often than prescription drugs.
So here’s the solution: take a look at your diet and make sure you’re eating healthy food, start taking a natural supplement for anxiety and give it a couple of weeks. Once you start feeling more peaceful, find a therapist or take some sort of awareness program that will teach you how to let go of thoughts and feelings that rob you of the joy and serenity that you deserve.
You only get one life. Take action now.
Behavioral Therapist, Catch 22, Cause Of Anxiety, Discipline, Drugs, Fear, Fears, Feelings, Mild Depression, Natural Remedy, Negative Thoughts, Occasional Bouts, Overcoming Depression, Peaceful Life, Prescription Medications, Prescription Pills, Present Moment, Rope, Safe Solution, Vicious Cycle
AllergiesOctober 13th, 2009

For the younger set a sore throat often means a day off from school, a television tuned to the Cartoon Network, and an extra bowl of ice cream. It almost makes the suffering seem worthwhile. Grown-ups, of course, don’t have the time for such pampering. We go about our daily business, thinking we can tough out the rawness, burning, and scratchiness that make it painful to talk, much less swallow food. But by day’s end, the sore throat has left us virtually speechless. We do tend to think that sore throat as kid stuff. But the fact is that every year about 40 million adults come down with one. Usually it is a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection. But it can also be instigated by irritants such as stomach acid, tobacco smoke, smog, dry heat, dust, pollen, and other allergens. Overuse is also a factor. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to relieve your soreness.
1. Address Any Allergies
Common allergies can cause postnasal drip, which irritates the throat. A throat that is itchy, not just painful, points to an allergic condition. If you have an allergy, an over-the-counter antihistamine may help relieve your symptoms. Antihistamine can have a drying effect, so be sure to increase your fluid intake while you are on the medication. They can also make you drowsy.
2. Line Up A Lozenge
Not all throat lozenges are created equal. The best ones contain glycerine. It keeps the throat tissue well-hydrated. You may find these lozenges at health food stores or specialty drugstores. It is also recommended avoiding lozenges that contain either mint or menthol. Both ingredients tend to be drying and are bad for the larynx.
3. Treat Your Beak
A stuffed-up nose can force you to breathe through your mouth, which irritates your throat. So taking an over-the-counter decongestant may help ease your sore throat as well.
4. Get Steamed
You can also keep your throat tissue moist with the help of steam. It is recommended that you run hot water in your kitchen or bathroom sink, then drape a towel over your head to trap the steam and inhale. Or you could just turn up the hot water in the shower to create a steam bath.
5. Have Some Tea, Honey
Tea with honey is a traditional sore throat remedy. You can boost its therapeutic benefits with this spicy twist. Stir into your tea 1 tablespoon of honey and the juice of half a lemon, then add ground red pepper to taste. The pepper probably has a mild anesthetic effect. It also stimulates the immune system.
6. Turn Down The Volume
If you must talk, then refrain from using your voice in an unnatural way. Do not try to talk over the loud noises. And do not try to project your voice at a pitch that is out of your range.
7. Think Twice About Gargling
Gargling can actually aggravate and prolongs a sore throat. Doing it once or twice with salt water might make you feel better by increasing blood flow to the throat area. But doing it regularly, especially mouthwash, can be very irritating. If you opt for an occasional saltwater rinse, then it is recommended to have a solution of ¼ teaspoon of salt in ½ cup of water. Just be sure to only rinse with, not swallow, the salt water.
Allergens, Allergic Condition, Antihistamine, Bacterial Infection, Beak, Cartoon Network, Decongestant, Drip, Drugstores, Dry Heat, Glycerine, Health Food Stores, Kid Stuff, Larynx, Lozenge, Sore Throat, Stomach Acid, Throat Lozenges, Tobacco Smoke, Ups