Free Medicine

Doctors and scientists from the Irvine university of California have recently discovered a new method of lowering blood pressure. This method is based on electroacupuncture, which seems to have a significant effect in lowering blood pressure. The method has been tested on rats, by inducing low electric stimulation at the front of their legs, and their blood's pressure after the treatment was 40 percent lower than before(their blood pressure had been artificially increased before). This opens new doors for hypertension treatment, maybe it will even replace the traditional medical treatments with this ancient method. These are all the methods that were tested : Needles were inserted into: -pericardium 5-6, and they were rotated every 10 to thirty minutes. While this procedure was performed, the rats' blood pressure was being raised by doctors. -the rats' forelimbs, without any stimulation or twist, for 30 minutes. Also, the pericardium 5-6 was electrically stimulated with frequencies ranging from 2 to 100 hertz. During these tests the changes in blood pressure were continuously monitored, and the results carefully recorded. The most successful in lowering blood pressure were those tests which involved manual and electrical acupuncture, which had serious effects in lowering blood pressure, lasting up to one hour, and ranging from 33 to 36 percent. The best results were recorded at the rats which had been stimulated by electroacupuncture, especially at those treated at the electroacupuncture frequency of 2 hertz. However, the best results were recorded at the rats stimulated at the heart (6-7) and stomach (36-37). Their blood pressure was lowered up to 44 percent for the heart stimulation, and 36 percent for the stomach. An important observation that doctors made was that this electroacupuncture treatment can only lower blood pressure for the hypertensive people, it has no effect for healthy people. We can only that these treatments involving acupuncture will soon be available to everyone, because they represent a very good way to lower blood pressure

Grojan Fabiola, an excellent writer, covering large domains of interests from agriculture to financing, even IT development, is writing now medical articles especially for lowering the blood pressure. So, if you want to find out more about how to lower blood pressure, please click the link http://wwww.lowerbloodpressure.info.

Ayurveda is an ancient Sanskrit word meaning science of life, and actually is a branch of traditional Indian medicine. Using Ayurveda means actually changing not only the way you eat, but also the way that you see yourself and your body. In Ayurveda, you donÕ´ objectivize your body as a Ò´hingÓ¬ but realize your body as a system of energy that is constantly changing. Realizing that 98% of the atoms in your body are replaced completely within less than one year helps you to understand that nothing about your body is static, and if you wish it to change, then change is actually easy. What needs to be done is to retrain the body and its cells to think differently, and to stop responding randomly to external stimuli. This is putting an end to what is called self-referral.

The first step is very simple; when you are hungry then eat, but when you are not donÕ´ eat. Although this seems over simplistic, in this practice is the key to conquering most cases of obesity. Americans eat impulsively more so than any other culture in the world, and that means we eat often when we are not hungry. We tend to eat because we see food we like, or when we sit down to watch a movie, or perhaps when we are sad or feeling depressed. We have learned to use food as a pacifier, a stimulant, and a hobby. The key is unlearning this behavior.

Increasing your awareness of actual hunger, including the time you are actually eating, will help you limit your diet. You should eat only when you feel your tank on empty so to speak. Eat to satisfaction, the point where the sensation of hunger has left, not to the point where you are uncomfortable and cannot eat another bite. Start a log, preferably in a small pocket notepad that you can carry with you to work and use at home, and record each time you feel hungry and when you ate just to satisfaction. Within two weeks time, your body will begin to significantly be retrained to eat only when hungry, and only for nourishment. Once this two week time period has passed, begin to set definite times when you eat your meals: a set time for breakfast, lunch and dinner everyday, without fail. When doing this, make lunch your largest meal, with very small breakfasts and dinners.

The next step would be to eat right for your body type. In Ayurveda there are three basic body types: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The Vata body is one that belongs to a person that is very active and quick, has a very thin build, gets cold easily, tends to speak very quickly and be very talkative, usually has dry skin, and is a very light sleeper. Pitta characteristics include being very orderly, forceful, very intolerant of hot weather, easy to perspire, having reddish, sandy, or blond hair, stubborn, intolerant of spicy foods, very self-critical and critical of others, determined, and impatient. The Kapha body is a person that naturally moves slow, gains weight easily and loses it slowly if at all, tends to be thick-built, is ironically good at skipping meals without discomfort, has a tendency to develop phlegm, needs a full eight hours of sleep to feel rested, sleeps very deeply, tends to have dark thick hair, tends to be very affectionate and understanding, usually walks slowly, and generally enjoys a steady level of energy. Each type of person has different dietary needs. Some people of course share several of these factors equally, and therefore have combination bodies. The descriptions given are only a general guide; for a detailed test, visit online at http://www.ayurvedahc.com/aytest.htm and take the free test to determine your type.

Generally, one who has a Kapha body type has the hardest time with losing weight, so we will concentrate on foods that reduce the Kapha influence. If you consume milk, switch to low-fat milk instead of whole milk, and boiling the milk before drinking it makes it easier to digest. It is best to drink the milk warm, because cold milk increases your Kapha. If you decide you cannot tolerate warm milk, you should give up milk all together. Eat plenty of foods that are spicy or bitter, yet avoid salt. Avoid red meat if you eat meat, and eat white meat chicken or turkey, or opt for fish. Beans are also an excellent source of protein when avoiding or cutting back on meat consumption. Eat plenty of light fruits, such as pears, apples, cranberries, and pomegranates.

Sweeten your foods when necessary with honey instead of sugar, as honey reduces Kapha very well. When choosing grains, barley, corn, buckwheat, rye, and millet are very light grains that are good for your consumption. All vegetables are good to eat, however vegetables that are especially beneficial to reduce Kapha include eggplant, radishes, beets, all green leafy vegetables, asparagus, broccoli, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, pumpkin, and celery. In Ayurveda, food is preferably prepared by cooking, since it makes for easier digestion than eating raw foods, however an occasional salad is not harmful. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, fried foods, packaged foods, soft drinks, and deep-fried foods.

Kirsten Hawkins is a nutrition and health expert from Nashville, TN. Visit <a href="http://www.popular-diets.com/" target="_blank">http://www.popular-diets.com/</a> for more great nutrition, well-being, and vitamin tips as well as reviews and comments on popular diets.

Antiviral Activity of Essential Oils

The body of evidence regarding the effectiveness of natural botanicals against a great variety of viruses is growing. Over twenty years ago, German scientists found extracts of more than 100 species of the Lamiaceae family to have antiviral effects. This discovery lead to and increase in the examination of essential oils in Europe for the treatment of viral infections.

Essential oils from many plant families have now been demonstrated to have antiviral properties. Interestingly, different plant families exhibit varying degrees of effectiveness depending on the virus strain. This is due to the particular molecular structures found in each type of oil, which penetrate physical entities to varying degrees (different tissues, cell walls, mucous membranes, etc). The effect on each virus strain depends also on the virus structure (enveloped, non-enveloped, molecular symmetry, etc.)

Certainly, one of the reasons for oils' effectiveness en vivo is their lipophillic character - essential oils are easily absorbed into mammalian tissues, where they may produce the greatest results. In fact, when studying the anti-viral effects of essential oils, researchers found that normal cells seemed to acquire a special resistance to viral penetration, though the mechanism for this effect is not yet known.

Melissa and the Herpes Virus

One of the Lamiaceae plants studied, Melissa (Melissa officinalis - also known as Lemon Balm), was shown particularly efficacious against the herpes virus (HSV). Doctor Dietrich Wabner, a professor at the Technical University of Munich, has even reported that a one-time application of Melissa oil led to a complete remission of HSV lesions. A cream medication for Herpes outbreaks, who's active ingredient is an extract of Melissa, is now sold in Germany under the name Lomaherpan. Use of Melissa essential oil itself may be just as effective - the oil can be applied directly to the lesions (or diluted to 10% in carrier if sensitivity is noted) to speed healing. Further occurrences can be prevented by applying oil to the area when sensations signal an eminent outbreak - repeating this protocol 3 or 4 times has been reported to cause total remission in some individuals.

Other essential oils found effective against the Herpes virus include bergamot, eucalyptus, lemongrass and tea tree. Related to HSV is Herpes Zoster or 'Shingles', another common virus-mediated skin condition. Application of a 50/50 blend of Ravensara essential oil and Tamanu nut oil has been found extremely effective for reducing symptoms by many people.

Antiviral Components of Oils

The list of essential oils exhibiting antiviral effects is extensive: Melissa (as above), tea tree, juniper, eucalyptus, thyme, palmarosa, lavender, rosemary, clove, laurel, cinnamon bark, anise, rose, lemongrass, geranium, neroli, bergamot, clary sage, and dill. The antiviral effect of an essential oil is due to particular components of the oil - some oils will work just as effectively on a particular infection as another, because they contain similar amounts of a certain component. The components of essential oils showing antiviral activity, and the oils in which they can be found, are as follows?(from K. Schnaubelt, Ph.D. - Advanced Aromatherapy, p. 36):

Anethol - found in Anise
Alpha-Sabines - found in Tea Tree, Laurel, and other oils
Beta-Caryophyllene - found in Lavender, Rosemary, Thyme Linalool, and other oils
Carvone - found in Dill
Cinnamic aldehyde - found in Cinnamon Bark
Citral - found in Melissa, Lemongrass and other oils
Citronellol - found in Rose and Geranium
Eugenol - found in Clove
Gamma-Terpinene - Found in Juniper, Eucalyptus, Niaouli, Tea Tree and other oils
Linalol - found in Lavender and Neroli
Linalyl acetate - found in Clary Sage, Lavender, Bergamot and other oils

Limited In-Vivo Data

Good studies of application of these essential oils in cases of illness are difficult to come by, as infecting people with viruses in the laboratory to subsequently be treated with aromatics would be a difficult process at best. The oils and components above have mostly shown effectivenessin-vitro, though tests also indicate that the anti-viral effect should occur in-vivo as well. As with Melissa, it has been HSV that has been most thoroughly examined, because of the relative simplicity of doing so. But there is nothing particularly special about the herpes virus, and proper oil/pathogen paring should prove as effective.

There are some noted case studies by professional aromatherapists. Of importance in these studies is the oil/symptom relationship. Essential oils from plants of the Myrtaceae family - notably Eucalyptus Radiata and Tea Tree - and Ravensara (also high in Eucalyptol) seem to have helped in cases with respiratory symptoms. For the lower respiratory tract, Hyssop decumbens (from the same plant family as Melissa) has been of interest. Essential oils for such cases may be used either in a diffuser, being taken at regular intervals, or through massage, diluted in a carrier oil.

Conclusion

Because of the difficulty in many cases of illness in determining the exact virus type involved, more specific application cannot be given. Certainly, in cases of HSV, Melissa has been shown effective in a number of studies. For respiratory infections, Eucalyptus and Ravensara have been used with success, and can be safely used as an adjunct to regular medical care. These oils may support one's recovery on a physiologic level - essential oils also play a part in uplifting emotions, which may also speed healing, or at least improve mental outlook during the healing process. For such instances, one may simply find the essential oil or combination that one finds pleasant, calming, and/or uplifting. PLEASE NOTE: In no cases, however, should self-treatment with essential oils be used in place of professional medical care where signs/symptoms of infectious illness are present.

Misty is a naturopath and yoga teacher practicing in Boulder, Colorado, regularly employing aromatherapy with her clients. She is the owner of the Ananda Apothecary, <a href="http://www.anandaapothecary.com" target="_blank">http://www.anandaapothecary.com</a>, with a collection of essential oil resources at <a href="http://www.anandaapothecary.com/essential-oils.html" target="_blank">http://www.anandaapothecary.com/essential-oils.html</a>

Human Growth Hormone, also known as HGH, is a complex molecule composed of 191 amino acids. HGH is released from the pituitary gland of our brain in pulses. HGH is usually released from this part of the brain during the first phases of a deep sleep. HGH is then converted in the liver to make proteins that are vital to repair damaged tissue and bones. This is why HGH is typically injected into patients of burns and those recovering from surgery since it speeds up the healing process. Also because of its healing effects, may body builders take extra HGH in the form of supplements, whether it is through injections, oral sprays, pills, or powder form.

HGH supplements are known to improve strength and training effects, but it is debatable as to whether or not these HGH supplements are safe for your body. HGH is one of the most wonderful substances for longevity, strength and health. However, it has been said that it is only wonderful if you create it yourself the way nature intended you to, rather than putting extra into your body. HGH supplement shots are expensive and they usually don't measure up to the results one gets from a good training program. Through a vigorous and a push-you-to-the-limit work out, you can produce enough HGH to save you several thousands of dollars on injections. Injections and HGH supplements are usually just for people looking for a shortcut, which, depending on who you are, can sometimes be a good thing.

It is only fair to list here some of the results that people who were involved in an HGH test received from taking HGH supplements. Some of these effects took 3 months to show up in those taking the test. Increased muscle mass and strength was the obvious result. Since their bodies were getting more HGH, they were repairing damaged muscles from weight training faster. Obviously, along with more muscle came less body fat. Some reported having more skin elasticity and a better skin texture. New hair growth was reported, but rare (and usually on body parts other than the scalp). An improved sexual function and potency was gained by some (by both men and women) and an improved memory and mood was also reported.

John is a HGH researcher and publishes much of his findings on his blog at <a href="http://www.hgh-energizer-pills.com" target="_blank">http://www.hgh-energizer-pills.com</a>.

Discount vitamin and mineral buying is easy. Just stop by any supermarket or drugstore and you'll find many possibilities likely claiming to be the cheapest, the best and so on. How do you really know which discount vitamin and mineral product is the right one to choose? It's a valid question and an important one, since vitamin manufacturers are not regulated.

And are vitamin and mineral supplements really needed? Numerous studies have concluded that because of soil depletion that has been ongoing for decades, overall nutrient value of foods continues to decline. Less than one out of ten people meet or exceed the USDA food pyramid's daily requirements for consumption of important vegetables and fruits. So taking a quality discount vitamin and mineral supplement daily to help fill in the 'nutrient gaps' that everyone has is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Again, the question is - which one? Is the cheapest one the best way to go?

Here are questions you should ask for any discount vitamin and mineral product you're considering taking:

1. Is the price low because cheap, inferior ingredients are used? There can be huge differences in the quality and costs of individual ingredients. Since your health is the issue, priority should be given to quality since the final product is only as good as the raw ingredients used. For example, most beta carotene used in supplements is synthetic and contains only about 3% beta carotene that costs about $60 per kg. However, a much more effective higher potency natural 98% beta carotene costs about $2,800 per kg. The more effective natural form of Vitamin E d-alpha tocopheryl succinate costs more than the synthetic version called dl-alpha tocopheryl.

2. Are potencies listed actually contained in the product? How do you know that what you're paying for is actually included in the product? And does the manufacturer have a system in place to verify that the ingredients used are what their suppliers claim?

3. Are there impurities in the discount vitamin and mineral product? Cheaper raw ingredients may include other substances, some unwanted, that should not be in the product. Does the manufacturer do heavy metal testing to ensure that there is no contamination with mercury, lead, arsenic or cadmium.

4. Does the manufacturer conform to pharmaceutical standards in their manufacturing processes? High-volume discount manufacturers can cut costs by shortening the mixing time and by mixing at higher speeds. This can mean that the product must be tableted harder, which can result in a vitamin that will be more difficult to dissolve and may pass right through your system.

5. Does the product come with a money-back guarantee? You should be able to get your money back if you are not completely satisfied.

Buying a discount vitamin and mineral is not the same as buying a cheap pair of socks or a shirt - it is about the nutrients and their quality that'll be going into your body. You generally get what you pay for, and there are dozens of discount one-a-day vitamins. However, taking a one-a-day multivitamin is probably a waste of money. It's impossible to fit the necessary vitamins and minerals needed for a quality supplement in a single tablet or capsule - it would be much too large to swallow.

Cheap supermarket supplements are a poor value for the money as they consist of cheaper, lower quality ingredients and will not include other beneficial nutrients that provide documented health benefits. These kinds of discount vitamin and mineral products tend to use high quantities of cheaper ingredients, which can lead to an unhealthy imbalance of nutrients. In the case of nutrients, more is not always better. And the cheapest part of nutritional supplements is the vitamin and mineral part.
There ARE manufacturers that design and make supplements that provide high quality at very reasonable prices. There is one in particular that uses pharmaceutical grade ingredients, many supported by clinical studies. Ingredients are linked to relevant clinical studies on their website.

Taking a quality discount vitamin and mineral supplement should be about better health and energy, freedom from illness, improved sexual vigor and slowing the aging process. Learn as much as you can about what finding the best discount vitamin and mineral supplement really means - before spending your money, be informed about the nutrients and substances you'll be putting into your body every day.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about best women's vitamins at <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/vitamins-for-women.html" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/vitamins-for-women.html</a> and best men's vitamins. David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of <a href="http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com" target="_blank">http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com</a> a website of natural health information.