semmik blog

Genital Warts Natural And Alternative Treatment Remedies

darik — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:20:23 +0000

Have you been diagnosed with genital warts caused by the HPV virus? If so, your physician has probably advised you of the more conventional treatments available such as pharmaceutical ointments, cryosurgery (freezing), electrocautery (burning) or laser treatment. While many people undergo these types of treatments, some opt for a less invasive natural solution by visiting a Naturopathic doctor. While there is no cure for the hpv virus, there are specific natural treatments that may help reduce and eliminate the warts over time.
TOPICAL TREATMENTS
Before resorting to medically invasive treatments many people are choosing to try alternative treatments that may naturally help reduce or eliminate genital warts. Many holistic treatment resources advise that different remedies will work for different individuals so it may take a little trial and error to find one suited to your needs. Experiment with applying the following directly to the infected wart areas:
Goldenseal: considered to have natural antibiotic properties and may destroy many types of viral infections.
Tea Tree Oil: strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial aromatherapy essential oil.
Aloe Vera: healing and soothing properties.
Garlic Oil: or even raw garlic is believed to promote white blood cells ability to fight infection.
Sour Apple Juice: it is believed the beneficial effect is from the magnesium in the apple
Most of these topical treatments have not been clinically proven as an effective treatment for genital warts, but have shown to have positive benefits is related studies or in fighting other types of viral infections. Other notable mentions for natural topical remedies also include; cabbage juice, banana skin, chickweed, dandelion juice, rubber plant, and pineapple juice.
HERBAL IMMUNE BOOSTING SUPPLEMENTS
Antiviral herbal remedies taken internally to boost the body’s natural ability to fight viral infections include the following supplements:
Echinacea: known for its ability to boost the immune system, is important in the treatment of genital warts.
Astragalus: used in Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years, Astragalus is known to improve the body’s ability to fight off viral and bacterial infections, such as the Human Papilloma Virus, by boosting the body’s immune system. Astragalus has been taken as a supplement by people undergoing chemotherapy to help restore their tired immune systems.
Garlic powder tablets: Once used in 1550 BC by Egyptians as an external treatment for tumors, garlic has long since been recognized for it’s medicinal values. Of the many benefits garlic has on the human body, it promotes the ability of white blood cells to fight infection. A natural antibiotic, garlic is effective in countering bacteria, fungus and viral conditions.
Vitamins: Supplementation with high doses of vitamin A, B complex, vitamin C, E, zinc, lactobacillus acidophilus and the amino acid L-cysteine have shown to have immune boosting benefits.
In addition, other noted antiviral herbal supplements include dandelion, greater celandine (cheilidonium), mullein, thuja, houseleek, goldenseal, calendula, lomatium, pau d’arco and wintergreen.
DIET AND LIFESTYLE
It is also suggested that you take a proactive approach in improving your health through lifestyle. By reducing sugars and refined foods, reducing red meat, increasing vegetables and fruit, taking the necessary vitamins and minerals, drinking plenty of water, regular exercise and getting proper rest, you will boost your immune system which will help in fighting off the virus.
EMOTIONAL STRESS
Because genital warts are considered a sexually transmitted disease, diagnosis will often have an emotional impact on the sufferer. Many people will experience a whole gamut of feelings including guilt, fear, rage, isolation and helplessness. HPV is one of the most common viruses in the world with an estimated 20 million sufferers, so as you can see you are not alone. It is believed that emotional health has a direct impact on your physical health. Therefore it is important to work through these feelings. Contact your local STD clinic for a list of support groups available in your area, or there are countless support groups and message boards available on the internet. Through seeing other people’s experiences, you will see HPV is a very manageable virus.
Since most of these natural remedies are considered reasonably safe, they may be worth investigating before turning to invasive and costly medical treatments. Ensure to discuss any alternative treatment strategies with your health care practitioner before starting them. To learn more about conventional treatments for genital warts that have shown to be effective you can visit: http://www.genitalwartsherpes.com/genital-warts-treatment.htm

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Benefits Planning

darik — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:49:23 +0000

It’s never too early to begin planning how health benefit plans will be designed and paid for, and what role you, as an employer, will continue to play in the process.
A culture of entitlement exists when it comes to health benefits, and it is safe to assume that costs will continue to rise. Expect increases that average about 15 percent but may go as high as 50 percent. Maintaining the status quo will not do. There needs to be a synergy between employer-sponsored plans and an employee-pay-all philosophy.
The key to finding a palatable medium between cost and benefits is early planning. There are several things you, as the employer, can do to facilitate this process.
Examine your company’s status.
Look at your bottom line, projected profitability and a projected health benefits budget. Know what you have previously spent and have to spend versus your projected cost. This will provide a better target goal for what you can offer your employees.
Conduct a mid-year assessment.
Measure your health benefits budget against your usage. Capturing your usage mid-year paints a clearer picture of what your cost might be if you stick with an existing plan and/or carrier.
Partner with your existing carrier.
Ask it to provide possible solutions as you begin to plan for your next benefits cycle. Because you already have a relationship, it will be willing and able to help you design a customized plan.
Research the marketplace.
While many things - such as consumer driven health plans, flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) - can help reduce costs, there is no silver bullet. Rates are competitive, so employers should exercise due diligence to come up with a strategy that works.
Explore a wide variety of offerings.
There are many plans you can buy into to fit your needs and pocketbook. The more choices employees have, the more customized health benefits can be. A single employee does not need the same type of coverage as a family. A healthy employee may find peace of mind with hospital-only or supplemental coverage. Some prefer higher premiums and lower or no co-payments. Others would trade a higher co-payment for a lower monthly premium. Kids-only plans are available with some carriers.
Welcome FSAs and HSAs.
Each has its shortcomings; it can be difficult to estimate how much to set aside for health care. And while these spending accounts are gaining in popularity, they are not perfect. An upside of the FSA is portability. The downside is that unused money cannot roll over. The HSA has a rollover, but it is not portable.
Educate your employees.
Part of any strategy should continue to be employee education - notonly as it relates to the cost of care, but also how it relates to the company’s bottom line. As a stakeholder in the company, employees should be wellinformed about the impact health care has on the health of their company. Using health benefits wisely is the best way to ensure an employer can continue to offer them.
Involve your employees.
Share information through news articles and materials from your carrier. Encourage employees to participate in wellness and prevention services, including annual physicals, health risk assessments, plan of treatment compliance and medical management programs. Active involvement will positively impact your cost.
Survey your population.
Do you know how much your employees are willing to share in the cost of having health benefits? There is a school of thought that asemployees increasingly share in the cost of health insurance, health care costs will begin to stabilize.
Increasing cost-sharing can be a painful yet necessary task in responding to skyrocketing health care costs. While affordability is a key element in providing health benefits, the use and employeemanagement of those benefits is vital. Developing and implementing a health benefits contribution strategy that can work for you takes time. Today is as good a day as any to start.

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Getting Kids Moving Help For Overweight Teens

darik — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:17:23 +0000

I recently read about a residential school program for overweight teens with a hefty price tag in excess of $5,000 per month. Whew, that should sweat off a few pounds just thinking about it. These programs rely on the same course as what is commonly recommended; a strict eating plan and increased activity schedule. Hopefully some counseling is offered, and college prep courses are the curriculum. But what of those kids? Are they getting a realistic head-start on a lifetime of healthier habits or are they simply doing what they are told, only to be fed to the wolves when they leave the safe environment of the school?
I tried to find stories of teens who had successfully completed these programs and gone on to healthy lives, and found none. What I did find were some other ideas, in case you feel you are at the end of your rope and don’t know where to turn.
Exercise Should be Fun
First, get your child interested in some type of exercise activity, whether indoor or outdoor. Most overweight kids probably aren’t too crazy about running and jumping up and down but what about bike riding? Another idea I’m wanting to try is hiking with a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite). If you like the outdoors, Geocaching sounds like enormous fun and anyone can do it. Adults are reporting losing 20, 30 or more pounds while they are out exploring the woods and hills in their surrounding area. Learning to use a GPS is educational (math, science, physics) at the same time.
I also recommend all parents get their kids into martial arts if they show any interest at all. Martial arts teaches kids discipline, respect for authority and builds self confidence and self esteem, and it has the added benefit of teaching self defense.
Talk to your kids. Find out what they may be interested in, and then explore the options together.
My son is a good example. He was never overweight but when he was 13 his skin tone was flabby. He didn’t go outside much, preferring to play Nintendo, and was an excellent student so he studied every day. Luckily neighborhood kids invited him to start playing football, and today, five years later he’s a senior in high school playing football and loving life. His body has shaped up nicely (he’s still a young teen but now has muscles and an excellent skin tone). He’s confident, well liked, and I have no worries that he’ll continue with a healthier lifestyle from this point forward.
Before he took up football we bought him a bike which was rarely used. He has a skate board, a mini-scooter, and a pogo stick. We tried karate classes (sadly, he broke his wrist playing at school so had to stop, and then didn’t want to return). Sometimes it takes awhile to find the right fit, but nearly everyone will feel better when they find a physical activity they like.
A search for “indoor sports Vancouver Washington ” (without the quotes) gave me lots of ideas. If you live in the city, get out the phone book and/or search the Internet for indoor activities in your town. Here are a few I found:
Parks and Recreation:
http://www.ci.vancouver.wa.us/parks-recreation/about/faq/eastvancouver.htm
Vancouver Indoor Sports
http://www.indoor-sports.com/facility.htm which offers programs for adults and children
Sports Walking:
http://www.combose.com/Sports/Walking/ (this isn’t a local site)
Books on Sports for Kids
The Ultimate Sport Lead-Up Game Book: The Very Best Skill-Building Games For Grades K-8 by Guy Bailey
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0966972716/
and The Ultimate Home school Physical Education Game Book: Fun and Easy-To-Use Games and Activities To Help You Teach Your Children Fitness, Movement and Sport Skills by Guy Bailey
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0966972740/
I also highly recommended DDR (Dance Dance Revolution), a video game that teaches kids dance steps as a challenge. Since you’re moving while you play, those that get good at the game will also achieve excellent physical shape at the same time. There are clubs all around the world and many web sites devoted to the play and practice.
Finding something your kids will enjoy that keeps them active is all it takes, and if they are reluctant, I can tell you once the blood starts pumping they’ll get jazzed. You may just find something you love as well. Don’t be afraid to try a few different things before you find the right fit, and wait to buy expensive equipment until you know it’s something you and your kids really love. You’ll be saving an equal amount in less food, soft drinks and medical bills down the road. Get up and get moving and your kids will naturally follow your lead.

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Better Than Botox Is There A Safer Substitute

darik — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:16:23 +0000

Rejuvinol Product Purported to have Great Anti-wrinkle Promise.
Women since time immemorial have always looked for ways to enhance and prolong their beauty. This of course becomes more difficult as they age. As women are living longer more productive lives, it is understandable that they want any advantage to put their best face forward.
Exuding confidence and success for today’s women seems to also include looking one’s best . This interest in radiating ageless beauty has given birth to a burgeoning beauty industry focusing on ways to ease the effects of aging skin.
But at what cost is the yearning for the timeless beauty? I once heard my mother tell us “that achieving beauty was painful.” But are today’s women enduring a range of procedures like plastic surgery, chemical peels, and Botox far beyond the bounds of their predecessors?
Botox has become all the rage because of its ability to smooth out some wrinkles. Nevertheless, Botox has recently come under question because of concerns about its toxicity. Furthermore, many women don’t want to undertake the injections necessary in Botox treatments.
Moreover, havoc and health problems are being widely reported in the media recently in association with Botox. A get deal of concern is focused on Botox treatments in the hands of unqualified, unscrupulous, and misleading professionals.
“New Topical Treatment with Anti-wrinkle Benefits Emerges without the Controversial Side Effects of Botox Treatments”
Is there a safer way to have a more youthful facial appearance without risky face lift surgery, chemical peels or Botox Injections? Some women are sharing their success and positive experiences with a topical treatment featuring high quality anti-aging ingredients known as Rejuvinol.
What is Rejuvinol?
Rejuvinol is an anti-wrinkle cream with premium products developed by a company known as Optimal Therapeutics. The ingredients of Rejuvinol are widely purported to have significant wrinkle smoothing and anti-aging effects. From reports that I have read Rejuvinol utilizes a morning and evening treatment to insure optimal results.
For instance many leading doctors open to natural herbal supplements suggest that products like green tea, ginseng derivatives and sun screens may be very beneficial with anti-aging properties. Upon checking the ingredients of Rejuvinol I noticed these products were present.
Perhaps even more significant is the widely noted active ingredient in Rejuvinol known as Argireline. Argireline is reported as having properties resistant to the process of skin wrinkling — especially on the face.
Is Rejuvinol the Answer for Safe Anti-wrinkle Facial Smoothing?
For some like Andrea M. a 37 year old triathelete, living in South Florida, Rejuvinol is a welcome alternative to Botox. She claims “Even though I religiously slather myself with SPF 30 prior to heading outdoors, I still manage to get obvious sun damage, especially the lines around my mouth and eyes. Since I started using the Rejuvinol System three months ago I am astonished to say that the lines have been diminished by at least 60%. I am ecstatic with Rejuvinol.”
With all the controversy, costs, safety issues, and anxiety associated with cosmetic surgery, skin peels, or Botox a product like Rejuvinol is an alternative women should consider. Imagine women being able to get the wrinkle smoothing benefits of Botox without all the associated risks. More information on Rejuvinol can be found at Amazon or www.BODeStore.com.

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Using Blood Pressure Monitors To Maintain Your Health

darik — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:29:23 +0000

Many people today realize the importance of keeping their blood pressure under control. Blood pressure monitors are now available for home use. It’s a piece of medical equipment that can provide both you and your health care provider with an accurate measure of how your blood pressure is responding to diet, exercise and medication. Many medical supplies outlets offer blood pressure monitors that are simple and easy to use.
For some people the thought of going to their Dr.’s office for a blood pressure reading is enough to send their pressure through the roof. That’s one of the advantages of having your own blood pressure cuff right in their own home. They can use the blood pressure cuff at their own convenience and get a more accurate reading.
High blood pressure can be caused by many different factors such as weight, diet and heredity. If you have an elevated pressure then having your own blood pressure monitors available can be very important.

Beginner S Guide To Fitness

darik — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:31:23 +0000

What to do when you are ready to get into shape!
So you are finally ready to turn from your couch potato ways, and trade your T.V. remote in for a dumbbell! Congratulations, and welcome to the wonderful world of fitness! I commend you on your resolve to lose weight and get into shape! Now where do you begin? These days there sure is a lot of talk about diet and fitness, whether it is a new diet pill or piece of exercise equipment. It is enough to make your head spin, and certainly enough to confuse the beginner. Take a deep breath, and follow these simple tips to go from being a fitness beginner to a pro!
TIP #1: GET MOVING
The first thing you need to do, as a fitness beginner, is to start moving! I mean this literally. Get up, and walk out your front door. Now walk down the street. Now turn the corner. Keep going! Do you get the picture? Start introducing your body to fitness by going on walks. These walks will probably start out slow and short, but before you know it they will be brisk and long. Try to work up a sweat as you tour the neighborhood. Make it a habit to wake up early to go on your walk, or consistently go on a walk before you go to bed. These walks will get you to start burning calories each day, and will also begin to build your cardiovascular endurance.
TIP #2: STRETCH
Once you become a pro at walking, you will need to add something new to your routine. Stretch before and after your walks. Start by reaching down to touch your toes and holding it for 30 seconds. You will feel tightness on the backs of your legs, in your hamstrings. Now place your palm against a wall at chest level and turn your body away from it. As you hold this for 30 seconds you will feel a stretch in your chest. Most inactive people have tight hamstring and chest muscles due to prolonged sitting, so it should be your priority to stretch these muscles out. You will be pleasantly surprised at what this will do for your posture!
TIP #3: CLEAN YOUR DIET
Fitness professionals like to claim that 80% of what your body looks like is directly related to what you eat. In other words, if you are eating burgers and fries and visiting the gym everyday, you are still going to look like you are eating burgers and fries! It is time to clean up your diet, so you can continue on your fast track to fitness.

Rule #1: No more fast food. Fast food is cheap, available, and quick, but it is far from healthy. You are better off avoiding it completely.
Rule #2: Eat 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables everyday. Your body needs the nutrients found in these foods, and they will fill you up without empty calories.
Rule #3: Eat 4-5 small meals a day, rather than 2 large ones. This will keep your metabolism high all day, and turn you into a calorie-burning machine!

TIP#4: JOIN A GYM
After you have mastered walking, stretching, and have started to clean up your diet, you are ready to join a gym. Don’t be intimidated or scared of this concept, the gym is a friendly place where people go to burn calories and build muscle! Find a local gym that has a convenient location near your home or work place. The key to making your gym membership worth its monthly dues is to use it consistently. Go to the gym no less than three times a week. While you are there begin a resistance training program as well as a cardiovascular program.
TIP #5: FIND A BUDDY
There is no better motivator to get you to the gym than knowing that someone is there waiting for you. If you find yourself slacking off in your workouts, or skipping the gym, a workout buddy might be just what you need. Find a friend with whom you share similar fitness goals, and become workout buddies. Agree to meet three times a week at the gym, and encourage each other throughout your workout. You will find that this makes workouts motivating and fun.
There you have it, all you need to know to get yourself up off the coach and into a healthy, fit lifestyle! Making the decision to get into shape will be the best one you make in your life, and I wish you all the best. To your health!

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Genital Warts A Common Sexually Transmitted Disease

darik — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:34:23 +0000

Genital warts are also called condylomata acuminata or venereal warts. They are the most easily recognized sign of genital human papilloma virus infection. In women, genital warts occur on the outside and inside of the vagina, on the opening to the womb, or around the anus. In men, they are seen on the tip of the penis, on the shaft of the penis, on the scrotum, and just like in women, around the anus. Genital warts often occur in clusters and can be very tiny or can spread into large masses in the genital or anal area. They do no appear until two to four weeks after infection and sometimes months pass before they become visible. They do not usually hurt, but they can be very itchy. Genital warts are like raised, flesh-colored lesions or can be cauliflower-like appearing growths around the anus or genitals. Some early signs that one can be suffering from genital warts is the itching of the penis, scrotum, anal area, or in vulva, increased vaginal discharge, and abnormal vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse, which is not usually associated with menstrual period.
People with many sexual partners are more at risk to have genital warts. And also those people who do not practice safe sex. Genital warts are very contagious and can easily spread during oral, genital, or anal sex with an infected partner. But these do not develop right after contact, Development of genital warts usually occurs within three months of contact. In order to avoid being infected, use condom during sexual intercourse because this can partially protect you against genital warts. Keep in mind always that total abstinence is the only foolproof way of avoiding genital warts and other STDs. Also stick to one sexual partner who is disease-free. But if you suspect that you are already infected, you should contact your doctor immediately for early diagnosis.
Genital warts can be diagnosed by a doctor or other health care worker by seeing them on a patient though a clinical examination. But there are some genital warts that are so flat and almost become invisible to the naked eye. These “invisible” genital warts can be detected though by a doctor. This is done by swabbing the skin with acetic acid, and the genital warts will then show as white patches on the skin. For women, in order to detect genital warts in the cervix, they should take a Pap smear test. In a Pap smear, a laboratory worker examines cells scraped from the cervix under a microscope to see if they are cancerous. If a woman’s Pas smear is abnormal, she is very likely to have HPV infection.
Early diagnosis of genital warts is very important so that these can be treated soon and to avoid spreading the infection to others. It is important that both partners are treated and to make sure you follow the treatment. Genital warts are easy to treat when they are small and few by swabbing with the cell poison, podophyllum. In some cases, this condition can be referred to a skin specialist to remove the genital warts under local anesthesia using surgery, freezing, or laser treatment.
Remember that anyone who has previously been infected with genital warts runs the risk that they will return now and then for the rest of their life. So you should always be on the look out and practice safe sex.

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Can Exercise Harm You

darik — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 02:05:23 +0000

When you exercise, your brain releases chemicals called endorphins that produce a feeling of euphoria - the so called “runner’s high” that people can become chemically addicted to.
Without it, you feel irritable and out of sorts till you exercise again. So you go on exercising, never stopping to listen to what you body is saying. And what its saying is, “Stop.”
The reason exercise addicts keep pushing themselves probably lies in what happens when they don’t work out. Psychologists at the University of Massachusetts at Boston studied the psychological consequences of being unable to exercise. They compared 30 male and female runners who had been laid low by minor injuries for at least two weeks, with a similar group who continued to run. Those who could not run displayed more signs of depression, anxiety and confusion, and they were far less happy with themselves and their bodies. Like other addictions, exercise, they say, appears to have withdrawal symptoms.
Of aches and pains
Over indulgence doesn’t harm only the mind, but the body as well. Initially, the exercise will do what it’s supposed to, give you a fit body but once you cross the line, it can get lethal. Muscle damage, osteoarthritis, heart problems they’re all waiting to make an appearance.
The body has its limitations and if you push it beyond that limit, you will harm yourself.
Obsessive exercise tends to happen among new exercisers, people who have only just started working out. So keen are they to get fit that they overstep the limits.
The initial signs of unaccustomed exercise can be exhaustion, but that leads to a build up of fatigue. This can do “irreparable harm to the body.”
It isn’t only muscles that are at risk, so are bones. Some “recreational” athletes push themselves to the point of injuries such as shin splints or stress fractures, then refuse to rest, causing greater and perhaps permanent damage.
Even a morning walk is not without risk. Too much walking can lead to osteoarthritis.
When you’re walking, you are working against gravity. So more than exercising your muscles, you are harming your knee joint. A lot of patients who walk up to an hour everyday come up with complaints of aches in the knee. In fact, jogging also harms the knees. Too many sit-ups can also hurt. More than 10 a day can weaken the spine. Moderation, as usual, is the key.
You should begin gradually, and combine different types of workouts, something that obsessive exercisers forget. A complication factor with people who get hooked to exercise is that they tend to perform the same workouts day after day, further increasing the chances of permanent damage.
Thinking right
Never work out so much that you feel completely exhausted at the end of it. About 45 minutes to and hour, four to five days a week, should be your limit. Your workout should leave you feeling fresh and energetic. And make it a pint to take a day’s break every week. This is important because your body needs to relax and rejuvenate.
The key to achieving this lies in your attitude. Exercising is the way to healthy life. So if you do it only to please yourself when you stand on the weighing machine, you defeat the whole purpose of the exercise. Felling healthy should be the priority. So stop fighting with your own body and you’ll be a happier person.

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Getting Rid Of Gallstones Naturally

darik — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:58:23 +0000

The gallbladder is a small pear-shaped organ that sits on the right side of our bodies just beneath the liver. Its primary function is to store and secrete bile. Bile is a yellow-brown fluid produced by the liver, which helps us digest fats. Our liver produces up to three cups of bile a day. Our gallbladder can store up to a cup of bile as it awaits a fatty meal.
When we eat, our gallbladder contracts and pushes bile into the small intestines where it helps with the digestion of fats. Bile is made up of water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, proteins and bilirubin. Under certain conditions, substances in the bile, especially the cholesterol or bile pigment (bilirubin) can harden into stones - gallstones.
Gallstones can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a golf ball. We can develop one large stone or a multitude of smaller ones. Many people with gallstones have no symptoms at all. Others go through life relatively symptom free, experiencing minor symptoms such as abdominal bloating, intolerance to fatty foods, belching, intestinal gas and indigestion. For others, however they may suffer what is called a gallstone “attack”. Gallstone attacks often follow a fatty meal. Symptoms of an attack include steady, sever pain in the upper abdomen that can last from 30 minutes to several hours. Sufferers may also experience pain in the back between the shoulder blades or under the right shoulder. A gallstone attack is often accompanied by nausea or vomiting. If symptoms such as sweating, chills, a fever or a yellowish color to the skin or whites of the eyes occur, it is important to seek medical assistance.
There are a number of factors that increase your risk of having gallstones. Those at a higher risk include women, especially women who are pregnant, on hormone therapy or taking birth control pills, people over 60 years of age, Native and Mexican Americans, overweight individuals and individuals who fast or go on crash diets and lose a lot of weight quickly.
It is important to recognize that if the gallbladder is loaded with stones, there is very little room to store bile and fat digestion may become impaired. In turn, the unused bile can back up into the liver causing liver congestion. If this is the case, it is important to evaluate your liver’s health prior to cleansing on your gallbladder.
Recommendations For Wellness
The traditional treatment for gallstones is to have your gallbladder removed. There are, however, a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of producing gallstones or experiencing a gallstone attack.
Reduce your consumption of saturated fats typically found in red meat and pork, while increasing the amount of fresh fruits and vegetables you consume.
Start a diet and exercise program, but avoid crash dieting which can increase your risk of gallstones. Both diet and exercise can help you reduce your risk of producing gallstones.
If you are taking birth control pills or are on hormone replacement therapy, speak with your doctor regarding your risk of forming stones or have them check your gallbladder for the presence of gallstones regularly.
Studies indicate that coffee increase the flow of bile and may help to decrease the risk of gallstones. If you decide to add a little coffee to your health plan for this reason, make sure you only consume organically grown coffee beans.
Supplement with vitamin C. Vitamin C is needed by the body to convert cholesterol to bile acids in the body.
Lecithin has been shown to help break down and transport fat molecules and may help dissolve gallstones. Studies indicate that it is helpful in protecting us from gallstone formation.
Safflowers can be used to thin body fluids as well as aid in the digestion of oils.
Nature’s Sunshine Gall Bladder Formula can be used to help stimulate circulation, improve liver function and aid in the production of digestive fluids.
Do a gallbladder flush. During a gallbladder flush, 1-2 cups of olive oil are consumed to simulate the gallbladder into releasing bile. This increased demand on the gallbladder to release bile works to push the stones out.
If you think your liver is congested, or if you have been having minor symptoms of gallstones for a long period of time, it is important to support and cleanse your liver for a period of time before doing a gallbladder flush. Try taking herbs such as milk thistle, dandelion or a liver cleanse formula.

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Getting Serious About Discount Dental Plans

darik — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:09:23 +0000

The pain is all but unbearable at this point and you are going to have to see the dentist. But, they did it again, didn’t they? Your employer has once more resorted to changing carriers in your dental insurance and now you are stuck with less coverage, higher deductibles, and reduced benefits. Unfortunately, you have already exceeded the maximum allotment for your dental hygiene this year and you don’t even want to know how much it is going to cost you out-of-pocket to get that tooth taken care of properly, do you? Maybe you don’t have dental insurance which is all the more reason for to read on because one way or another, those teeth need taken care of now!!
Maybe you are thinking that a dental plan is the last thing you need with all the other things flying at you every day in this fast-paced world. But nothing could be farther from the truth! People clip coupons just to save a few pennies on a jar of peanut butter but a dental plan could save them hundreds of dollars over the course of a year! But how does a dental plan work? Isn’t it the same thing as dental insurance?
A dental plan is membership based but unlike dental insurance which usually requires a monthly deduction from your paycheck, there is only a one-time fee for year round savings. Any dental plan has a list of participating dentists that you can go to for services but unlike dental insurance where you are often limited to dentists in your zip code, you can see any participating dentist and receive the discounts-anywhere! And while most dental insurance covers nearly all preventative procedures, they limit disbursements on many of the treatments that most of us in the “real world” really need like fillings, extractions, root canals, dentures, and even crowns! Why should cutbacks in your employer’s plan mean cutbacks in the amount of care your teeth really need? After paying the annual fee and depending on the plan you choose, a dental plan can save you anywhere from 10-60% on the procedures you need now! Whether you have dental insurance that has been cutback to the point of almost being useless or even if you are paying for everything out-of-pocket, a dental plan is the only way to go to receive top-notch care but at reduced costs! It is NOT a question of whether a dental plan is right for you but only a question of which plan is best for you and your needs!
Copyright 2005 Paul Sanford

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