Fitness Beauties

Ah-choo! Oh, that awful achy feeling when every muscle and bone in your body just hurts. You can't sleep, you have no appetite and you certainly can't afford to be under the weather for even just a few days. Cold and flu season will be upon us again and there is no better time to protect yourself than right now with a strong immune system.

What is the immune system? Very simply, our immune system is like a shield that protects our body from the germs, bacteria and viruses that can cause illness. The weaker the immune system, the more vulnerable we are to getting sick. The stronger the immune system, the more we protect ourselves from getting sick. This isn't to say that we won't ever catch a cold, but with a strong immune system, we will also be better able to fight off any illness faster.

So, how do you build a strong immune system? There are several things we can do to make sure our immune system stays healthy and becomes strong.

The first is nutrition. You know the saying, garbage in, garbage out? It's the same thing with our bodies. Bad eating habits result in poor nutrition, which cannot give our bodies the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients it needs in order to stay strong. There's nothing wrong with a cheeseburger or ice cream on occasion, but moderation is the key.

Unfortunately, even the best nutritional habits are challenged to provide the body with all it needs to build a really strong immune system. Nutritional supplementation, such as vitamins, minerals and immune boosters are important to help fill in the blanks that even the best nutrition can't.

Exercise is another great way to help build a strong immune system. You don't have to join a gym or hire a personal trainer to exercise. Ever notice how much better you feel after a nice long walk? Regular bike rides; walks, gardening, and yes-even housework are all great forms of exercise that will help contribute.

There are also certain things to avoid. Excessive stress and smoking are ! just two things that can really compromise and weaken the immune system. I know from experience when I was in a high-stress work environment, I felt terrible and became sick more frequently.

Building and maintaining a strong immune system is not something that happens overnight and that we can forget about in just a few short months. It is something that we must continue to strive for our entire lives. We will be less apt to get sick. We will be able to fight off illness better and we will be able to lead a much higher quality of life for the long term.

Get started today and create real smart health for today and tomorrow.

Copyright 2005 - Patty Gale

About the Author:

Patty Gale is a successful entrepreneur who specializes in the personalization and customer care for all of her clients. She exchanged her suits, hose and heels to work from home in her jammies and is on a mission to empower others to do the same.

She can be reached at http://www.Immune-System-Boosters.com

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With its alien-looking flowers, egg-shaped fruit and wandering tendrils, passionflower is one of the most unusual plants you'll ever come across in the U.S. Known botanically as Passiflora incarnata, passionflower is native to the southeast and mid-south regions of the United States. This climbing vine that so entranced Spanish missionaries in the 1600s can grow 30 feet long, inhabiting fence rows, woodlands and backyards alike.

Traditional Medical Uses for Passionflower

Native Americans crushed passionflower's lobed leaves and applied them directly to the skin to ease bruises, cuts and other wounds. Infusions made from the leaves were used to treat ear infections, strengthen the blood and relieve stress. And until 1978, when the FDA pulled its support of the herb, it was included in many over-the-counter sleep aids.

Passionflower Today

In 1978, the FDA re-classified passionflower as a Class II herb, citing a lack of substantiated evidence that passionflower was effective as a sedative. But passionflower is still widely used in Europe where passionflower extract is frequently combined with extracts of other natural sedatives like valerian, chamomile and lemon balm.

Today's herbalists use passionflower as a digestive aid, as a stress-reducer and as an insomnia treatment. Passionflower can be used fresh but it's more frequently dried for use in pills, teas and extractions like tinctures and infusions.

Current Research

Though passionflower is widely used, it's not been widely studied. But the few studies that have been done are encouraging. A European study of people with generalized anxiety disorder found that passionflower was as effective as prescription medications as relieving anxiety.

And another study looking at treatments for congestive heart failure found that an extract of hawthorn and passionflower improved symptoms like shortness of breath.

Other unproven uses for passionflower include opiate detoxification, ADHD and seizures.

Lisa B! arger is a traditional naturopath specializing in natural health education. To learn more about Ms. Barger's belief in Empowerment through Education or to take a free online natural health class see her website, http://www.LisaBarger.com

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Following an intense exercise plan and trying to stay fit has been a goal you have entered into your New Year's necessary goals list for as long as you can probably remember. But, for one reason or another your plan has not yet been successful and you can count multiple instances when you began exercising with the willingness to keep it a long-term practice this time, but failed to do so, although you thought you would manage to stay motivated and be totally committed to your exercising plan as you have promised yourself. Getting back on the workout track by creating your own simple reference guide of why you want to succeed is not only easy, but it can actually be extremely rewarding for your figure and mindset.

Begin by grabbing an empty notebook and a pen. Sit uninterrupted in your favorite spot, close your eyes and visualize your perfect self. What is missing from your current state to become that dream representation of what you think you should look like? If you are able to answer this question, this process will be even simpler. Open your eyes and start writing what you want in general. If you wish to look thinner, for example, write I want to loose weight. On this page of this personal guide you may write as many goals as you wish. Turn the page and begin writing the details of your goals; their objectives. Start by identifying the three most important goals and begin noting down exactly what you want to do with each one of them. Keep your objectives specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and most importantly, timed! If your goal is to loose fifteen pounds, then you will probably need 10 to 15 weeks; given the fact that most bodies can loose 1 to 2 pounds per week if a healthy diet and exercise is followed consistently. If you are afraid of putting down exact weight measurement for each week, then using activity goals, like exercise three times a week can be less frustrating.

Next you should do some soul searching and discover the why that is hiding behind your objectives. Bei! ng true to yourself and identifying how come and you believe that loosing weight will bring a change in your life that will make you feel happier is as important as following any step that can lead you to your end goal. True motivation comes from within in such instances and you have to be sincere with the reasoning of your goals. You can even write down the changes you and others will be able to witness by following your kind of fitness plan to attain your goal and succeed in realizing your objectives. Turn the page and by using your five senses, write down exactly what you hope to gain at the end of this effort and what you will be able to see, hear, feel, taste and smell. Upon completing this step you can begin your next notebook's page by listing the sources that will help you attain your goals and find the most recommended methods for your case to complete each one of your goals. Then you have to identify what you have to do today or tomorrow to get started and remember that once you have set your goal you have to pay attention to each smaller step in the way so as to lead you towards its realization.

By planning your next steps beforehand you will feel more motivated to reach each step and ultimately your final goal. But be very careful during the research phase after the completion of this notebook guide and exactly before selecting the method you wish to choose to accomplish each objective. You will need credible sources of information and fitness experts should provide the necessary advice which then you have to follow diligently if you wish to see your original dream come true.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Fitness, Cooking, and Nursing

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Recent Trends

Four out of ten Americans were using alternative-medicine and not telling their doctors(1). Chinese herbal medicine helped people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome(2). A ketogenic diet decreased intractable seizures in children(3) But according to other researches, Echinacea extracts did not prevent upper respiratory infections(4) and chiropractic manipulations did not improve episodic-tension-type headaches.(5)

These researches may have had their own flaws. But according to another article published in British Journal of Medicine, double standards exist in judging traditional and alternative medicine.6 In a conference in integrated medicine in London, Dr. Iain Chalmers said, ?critics of complementary medicine seemed to operate a double standard?. It is thought that 60% of orthodox treatments have not been scientifically proved.(6)

In 1999, a series of articles was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) under the title-ABC of Complementary Medicine. Catherine Zollman and Andrew Vickers authored these articles. In an article in this series published in BMJ of 11 September 1999, the authors defined Complementary Medicine as ? ?a group of therapeutic diagnostic disciplines that exist largely outside the institutions where conventional health care is taught and provided. Complementary medicine is an increasing feature of healthcare practice, but considerable confusion remains about what exactly it is and what position the disciplines included under this term should hold in relation to conventional medicine?.(7)

According to another article published in BMJ of 25 September 1999, an UK survey of use of Complementary medicine estimated that in1993, 33% of the population had used some form of Complementary medicine. 55-65% of those who consulted complementary practitioners were female, a similar proportion to users of conventional healthcare. The other highlights of this survey were:

?The highest users were those aged 35-60 years.

?Children made up a rela! tively s mall proportion of users of complementary medicine.

?Users of complementary medicine tended to be in higher socio-economic groups and had higher levels of education than users of conventional care.

More people used complementary medicine in the south of England than in Wales, Scotland and the north of England.But evidence suggested that this reflected access to availability of complementary practitioners rather than any fundamental regional differences in public attitude or interest.(8) On acupuncture, the authors wrote: - ?There is good research evidence that acupuncture has effects greater than placebo. Randomised trials have found that true acupuncture is more effective in relieving pain than ?sham? technique such as inserting needles away from true points.? ?Studies showing that acupuncture can affect anaesthetised animals provides further evidence that its effects probably cannot be explained purely in psychological terms.?(9)

?The best known evidence about a herbal product concerns St. John?s wort (Hypericum perforatum) for treating mild to moderate depression. A systematic review of 23 randomised controlled trials found the herb to be significantly superior to placebo and therapeutically equivalent to, but with fewer side-effects than antidepressants such as amitryptyline.? ?Eighty seven adults and children refractory to conventional first and second line treatment were randomised to a crossover study that compared a preparation of about 10 Chinese herbs with a placebo consisting of herbs thought to be ineffective for eczema. Highly significant reductions in eczema scores were associated with active treatment but not with placebo. At long term follow-up, over half of the adults (12/21) and over 75% of children (18/23) who continued had a greater than 90% reduction in eczema scores?.(10)

Studies on Homeopathy

An evidence of the efficacy of homeopathic medications was published in BMJ.

The paper was authored by Morag A Taylor and associates. It concluded that ho! meopathi c dilutions differ from placebo. This study was done on fifty patients suffering with perennial allergic rhinitis. The results showed significant nasal airflow improvement compared with the placebo group(11). An earlier paper authored by Andrew Vickers and Catherine Zollman in BMJ quoted an article in Lancet in favour of homoeopathy. The authors of this article in Lancet were quoted as: - ? the results of our meta-analysis are not compatible with the hypothesis that the clinical effects of homoeopathy are due to placebo.? ?Laboratory studies have reported biological effects of homeopathy medicines on animals, plants and cells, some at ultramolecular dilutions.?(12)

Mind-Body Connection in Modern Medicine

On another note, there are many researches published in journals of modern medicine that corroborate mind-body connection. Role of emotional distress and the origin of cardiac illnesses are an accepted fact in modern medicine. In a recent research conducted by Dr. Ketterer and colleagues from Henry Ford Health Sciences Center in Detroit, it was recommended that ?chest pain should be considered a marker of emotional distress.? ?Reducing emotional distress may benefit the (healthcare) system as well as the patient by spontaneously decreasing emergency room visits, diagnostic tests and hospital admissions.?(13)

A study done in the Cancer Institute of New Jersey by Dr. Pandya and associates concluded that conventional mind-body therapy has been poorer with valuable non-invasive way to manage coronary disease. Yoga practice is valuable in coronary disease by improving resistance to stress.(14)

People with diabetes are twice as likely as non-diabetics to suffer from depression, according to an analysis of 25 years of data authored by Dr. Patrick J. Lustman of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. ?Two of every three cases of depression in diabetes go untreated by primary care physicians?.(15) He recommends that both conditions need to be treated together.

In a st! udy publ ished in Digestive Diseases and Science authored by Dr. Svein Blomhoff of National Hospital, Oslo, it was demonstrated that there is a clear connection between mind and body. Emotional responses have an impact on intestinal reactivity in-patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and in normal controls.

?The close interaction among mind, brain and gut? indicates that ?gut motility may be a dynamic indication of level of stress or emotional state.?(16)

Non-Physical Treatments

Psychotherapy is helpful for patients with intractable dyspepsia. One study was done by Dr. Elspeth Gutherei of the Manchester Royal Infirmary and was published in Gastroenterology in the year 2000.(17) In the same issue, Dr. David H. Alpers of Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, advised gastroenterologists to pay attention to psychological diagnostic and therapeutic tools and to learn to apply them to patients in functional bowel disorders.

Results from some controlled trials of ?distant healing? show that such forms are positively effective. A study by Dr. John A Astin and associates at Kernon Hospital Mansion, in Baltimore Maryland, concluded this finding. 23 trials including five trials of prayer, 11 studies of non-contact therapeutic touch and seven trials of mental healing and spiritual healing were studied.(18)

Conclusion

There is ample evidence in modern medical literature that suggests that there are links between physical illnesses and emotional and mental distress. Research evidence shows that there is learning involved in ?observation.? Every ?scientific? discovery starts with ?observation.? The observation is then followed by ?scientific research.?

Complementary therapies are following the same pattern of knowledge as modern medicine has followed. Practitioners can make themselves more aware of the scientific basis of medicine by reading and researching on modern medicine. Complementary medicine will need to become more scientific sooner rather than l! ater.

References:

1.Journal of the American Medical Association (1998) 280:1549-640
2.Journal of the American Medical Association (1998) 280:1585-90
3.Archives of Neurology (1998)55: 1433-8
4.Archives of Family Medicine (1998) 7: 541-5
5.Journal of the American Medical Association (1998) 280:1576-9
6.British Medical Journal (1998) 316:1694
7.British Medical Journal (1999) 319:693-696
8.British Medical Journal (1999) 319: 836-838
9.British Medical Journal (1999) 319:973-976
10 British Medical Journal (1999) 319: 1050-1053
11. British Medical Journal (2000) 321: 471-476
12. British Medical Journal (1999) 319: 1115-1118
13. Journal of Behavioural Medicine (2000) 23:437-44
14. Comparative Therapy (1999) 25(5): 283-93
15. Diabetes Care (2001) 24: 1069-1078
16. Digestive Diseases and Sciences (2000) 45: 1153-1165
17. Gastroenterology (2000) 119: 661-669, 869-871
18. Annals of Internal Medicine (2000) 132: 903-910

Pradeep K Chadha is a psychiatrist who specialises in helping patients with meditation and imagery using little or no medication. He is the author of The Stress Barrier-Nature's Way To Overcoming Stress published by Blackhall Publishing, Dublin. He is based in Dublin, Ireland.His website address is http://www.drpkchadha.com

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Those coping with multiple sclerosis (MS) have access to more ways of managing the effects of their disease than ever before.

One ?new? way of relieving the symptoms of MS isn?t new at all; it is a form of keeping the body fit that is thousands of years old. I?m taking about yoga, as the title of the article implies.

There have been a number of scientific studies that have shown yoga to be an effective treatment for MS, and this benefit has been acknowledged by numerous well-known organizations, including The National MS Society, The American Yoga Association and The American Academy of Neurology, to name just a few. Mainstream health care professionals are now endorsing the idea that the regular practice of yoga is an effective therapy for treating the symptoms of MS.

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) obviously believes in the value of chair yoga. They have extended a grant so that Liz Franklin?s Yoga In Chairs? classes can be offered to those with MS at no cost to them. They are also funding scholarships so that yoga instructors can be trained to teach chair yoga classes for MS.

Here?s what some of the people taking these special chair yoga classes sponsored by the MSF have said about the program.

I have been taking Liz Franklin?s class for a few months now. I have noticed more mobility with less pain and I have learned how to truly relax in order to regroup and pursue daily tasks. Liz takes an active interest in what is bothering us as a class and offers solutions and poses that might help us. She is truly a joy. I look forward to this class every week. From my point of view this class has been a blessing. I also plan on informing my doctor how much this class has helped me.? - Paula L.

...Yoga has made a rather significant difference in my Multiple Sclerosis symptoms. I have noticed that following a yoga session, normally the next day, my ability to walk is improved. My balance problem is better and the stiffness in my arms and legs is quite improved! . I have also noticed some improvement in my mental attitude.? - Bill J.

?I was concerned about being able to ?do yoga?, but the way Liz teaches the exercises she makes it easy to succeed and the benefits are great! By being able to breathe more deeply, to having more muscle flexibility and just knowing that even with MS I am able to succeed with an exercise program have helped me mentally and physically. The exercises are easily incorporated into my daily life. They give me more energy and help me feel better about myself.? - Kay H.

Just over a year ago I could barely walk. My doctor recommended yoga. However, I found traditional yoga too strenuous and required too much effort getting up and down. Yoga in Chairs has provided me with all of the benefits of yoga without the physical stress of getting up and down. I now walk with ease. I have regained muscle strength, increased flexibility and feel so relaxed after class.? - Mary H.

?I am really enjoying Yoga in Chairs. I was a little worried at first that I would not be able to do everything but I have not had any problems. Liz has made me feel very comfortable in the class and has also made me feel that if I can?t do everything that is OK. She is a very positive and calm influence. I do feel more relaxed and less stressed after the class. I have a lot of muscle spasticity in my back and the stretching and moving has helped so much. It?s a great class!? - Gaye B.

?I was skeptical at first but with each week I feel more into the program. The class seems better as we go and I am enjoying it more as time goes on. Thanks!? - Lori B.

?I have enjoyed Yoga in Chairs. It makes me feel relaxed. I?ve learned some valuable exercises from class. Liz has some wonderful handouts. She is a very knowledgeable instructor and makes it seem so easy. By taking this class I am more aware of how I carry my stress and the importance of letting it go. - Marcia S.

Your class has been very beneficial for me both physically and mentally. I am a new! ly diagn osed MS patient and quite honestly, I was quite unsure of what physical limitations that I might face. Yoga has shown me that I can exercise on a regular basis and it has helped me with my flexibility and my balance has improved. While I don't spend an hour a day practicing yoga, I use some of the stretching techniques every morning actually before I get out of bed and I have also been able to use some of your exercises at work as stress-busters. I have also found that my lower back doesn't ache nearly as much when I do my faithfully do my morning stretches and exercises. - Kerri R.

I have also had sleep issues for quite a few years and while yoga has not eliminated them, it has certainly helped me on my focus and my ability to relax, thus helping me with my sleep. It has also helped me to open my mind and heart to other ideas - physically, emotionally and spiritually. - Mary R.

Having only started this class in the last few months, it has already been beneficial and helpful in various ways. I am more aware of my posture and the means to improve it, plus I am more conscious of ways to relieve stress and to relax both fully and/or for moments. I am grateful for this class - Vicky M.

And from one of the student?s chiropractors: ?The patient started a yoga class, at which point I noticed a rather significant difference in not only how she was feeling subjectively, but also her objective findings in regards to her muscle tone and her gait. I feel that the yoga class that she was attending has been very beneficial in the treatment of her condition and has afforded her a higher quality of life.? - Frank F.

Chair yoga alone won?t relieve all of the symptoms of MS. However, most people who are coping with MS will see a benefit from practicing this gentle way of staying fit.

If you are considering trying chair yoga to relieve your MS symptoms ask your doctor if it would be right for you.

Mark Franklin enjoys telling people about Liz Franklin's Yoga In Chairs? because he kn! ows it i s helping people live healthier, happier, and longer lives. If you want to find out about Liz' special style of chair yoga, visit http://www.yogainchairs.com

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Surgical castration by orchidectomy

Surgical castration is the simplest and cheapest way to treat metastatic prostate cancer. The obvious disadvantage is the psychological effect of the loss of the testicles.

LHRH-analogues

LHRH-analogues and oestrogen achieve a medical castration by stopping the testicular production of testosterone. LHRH-analogues are injections that have to be given monthly or three monthly for the rest of the patient's life. They are effective but very expensive.

Oestrogen

Oestrogen can be taken orally on a daily basis. It has a high incidence of thrombotic complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction.

Anti-androgens

Anti-androgens oppose the action of testosterone by blocking the androgen receptors. The incidence of erectile dysfunction is less than with surgical or medical orchidectomy because testosterone levels are maintained in the bloodstream. Anti-androgens alone are probably not adequate treatment for metastatic disease. Total androgen blockade by a combination of steroidal anti-androgens and LHRH-analogues or orchidectomy has not been shown to be better than LHRH-analogues or orchidectomy alone. However, non-steroidal anti-androgens yields slightly better results than castration alone.

Locally advanced disease without metastases.

The overall results of treatment of patients with disease beyond the prostate are not good. Some patients with early disease beyond the prostatic capsule, and no evidence of metastases, benefit from radical treatment. The most widely used treatment regimens consist of a combination of radiotherapy and hormonal treatment.

Treatment options for locally advanced and metastatic disease.

?Early hormonal treatment
?Watchful waiting with hormonal treatment once symptoms develop

Disease that has spread to the seminal vesicles and beyond is not real curable.

Prostate cancer is dependent on the male hormone testosterone. 80% of patients will respond to hormonal tre! atment t hat deprives the tumor of testosterone. This response usually involves the shrinkage of metastases and symptomatic improvement for the patient. The response to hormonal treatment is not a cure but can last for many years in some patients. The average duration of response is 2 years. Most cancers eventually escape hormonal manipulation. This is referred to as hormone independent disease and is usually followed by death within a few months.

Controversy exists regarding the timing of hormonal treatment. Most studies indicate a survival benefit for early rather than late hormonal maneuver. Testosterone deprivation has side effects like erectile dysfunction, breast enlargement and osteoporosis. The earlier hormonal treatment is instituted the greater the chance of complications. Once again treatment has to be individualized to the needs of the specific patient.

With our next information - we will inform you about the ?Staging and grading of prostate cancer? - so you should have a look on this site in the next 2 weeks! If you have any question sends us your e-mail.

Fritz Frei make it easy to check out the important details about the diagnoses and test's of the Male - Prostate-Cancer. To receive more information's about all cancer -questions - Links and last research NEW's - visit the http://www.cancer-info.info

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Fortunately, nail fungus medications are something you can easily find today. But in other times, the only viable treatment for nail fungus was surgical removal, a rather tricky procedure. Nail fungus medications are recommended by doctors after a proper diagnosis, and comes in two types: oral and topical. These medications are part of long treatments because nail fungus is not something you can get rid of overnight.

Oral Treatment

Oral nail fungus medications are the best option in terms of effectiveness. It works as an internal process. Intake of the dose is mostly daily, depending on what the doctor recommends. Oral nail fungus medications include Itraconazole (Sopranox), Fluconazole (Diflucan), Terminafine (Lamisil. These medications are taken between 3 months but it takes several months to a year to fully heal the nail for the fungus and prevent it from reappearing. Other oral medicines like Griseofulvin and Nizoral can take up to 18 months for the full treatment.

These type of nail fungus medications help a new nail grow. These new nail is free of any fungal agent in it. Our nails act as a powerful barrier to nail fungus but once the fungus is in, the barrier has the some power but against us.

Of all these medications, doctors mostly recommend Fluconazole. A medicine developed as a result of AIDS research.

Topical Treatment

Topical nail fungus medications are recommended as a complimentary aid to oral treatment. They can help when directed appropriately. These creams are applied directly on the nail. By itself they have little power and is very hard your nail will be fully healed with topical creams.

Topical creams use special chemicals and ingredients that help pass through the nail and reach the fungus.

Remember that this information is just for you to know the available nail fungus medications. You must not take any medicine without consulting with your physician first. Many of these medications have side effects, such as nausea, ! diarrhea , rashes and liver enzyme abnormalities. So please, be careful.

Paolo Parodi is an expert author who writes for Nailfungusremedies.com. Where you can find more information on nail fungus medications, prevention issues and answers to you most common questions.

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