Archive for September, 2010

PostHeaderIcon Hepatitis B Treatment Could Be Possible With a Magic Pill



A newly discovered pill by an Australian scientist could make possible Hepatitis B treatment as the pill is expected to cure the problem. It is a silent killer and you may have to live with the disease for long. This is as close as scientists have been able to come in discovering a cure for hepatitis. It is one of the most common infections of the liver and there are millions the world over suffering from the problem.

Deceptive symptoms

The liver gets inflated as a result of the infection and your liver stops working automatically. It is not easy for anyone to know if they have to undergo hepatitis test or not as the symptoms can be very deceptive and people often mistake it for common liver problems or even jaundice. You can experience headache, coupled with vomiting, pass dark yellow colored urine, dehydration, yellowing of the skin and eyes when you have hepatitis B.

The virus is the primary cause and you can be affected with hepatitis transmission by living with a person affected with the virus. The virus is usually transferred through blood and so it is called a blood urine virus. Having sex with an infected person or sharing a needle with someone having the virus can result in hepatitis transmission and it is one of the major causes of hepatitis. People who have multiple sex partners are known to be infected with the virus.

Tattooing is another way of getting infected as the body piercing tools are not always clean and patients on dialysis can also be infected. It is a disease that can happen to anyone as the virus gets transferred through the blood. Newborns are at risk of contracting hepatitis from their infected mothers. A hepatitis test will reveal the problem, but you can prevent by using a condom during sex and avoid having sex with multiple partners.

Easy transmission of virus

Avoid using used needles and keep all sores and cuts covered and hepatitis test is usually conducted on pregnant women to identify any traces of the virus. All infants are administered hepatitis B vaccines as well as those who are 11 or 12 year olds. Infection can also be transmitted to adults from razors, needles or toothbrushes. But a magic cure for hepatitis pill has been discovered by Australian scientists.

The problem of hepatitis is weird as many people are also immune to the virus and don’t develop hepatitis even after coming in contact with the virus. The virus can pass through any membrane of the body.

More time and research will be needed to counter the virus as studies are underway and the combination of many pills have been behind the discovery of the Australian drug that is expected to be used for hepatitis B treatment.

PostHeaderIcon Arthritis Bracelets Can Help Cure Arthritis



In the next few paragraphs, we will explore new ideas and thoughts that may help you achieve your goal and decide what is best for you.

Arthritis is a public conundrum for many people. There are over 100 different class of arthritis, and many people are seeking customs to help with this sorrowful state. For some, rotary to alternative class settling is the answer they have been looking for.

Arthritis ornaments: How Do They Work?

It is thought that copper can relieve the bind of arthritis. This is a very old, tradition that incorporative the idea that if the body absorbs copper, it will fade the bind caused by arthritis. While not a proven remedy, many people have tried to use arthritis wristlets and feel it is a viable answer to their bind.

As we take a closer look, keep in mind all of the useful and important information that we have learned so far.

Arthritis wristlets can be found in almost any strength food keep or on-line. These arthritis wristlets are not proven to be efficient in the settling of arthritis. That being said, it should also be avowed that not greatly explore has been done into the use of copper, both in the arthritis wristlets or as a settling sketch.

Further the arthritis wristlets that are made out of copper, there are even some spaces that will retail copper salve to rub on the skin. Keep in intellect when purchasing a copper wristlet that these can also trip the skin green. Again, nobody of these settlings has had any clinical studies done to show if they actually work or not.

Another form of arthritis wristlets is the evaluate , which is ionized and is assumed to help with the bind of arthritis. A guest that was actively marketing this wristlet was investigated and fined for sham advertising. Beware of companies that request unbelievable victory tariff in falling bind with arthritis wristlets.

Alluring arthritis wristlets are yet another settling for arthritis. These are again based on century old theories that embroil the use of magnets to get the body in evaluate. The mesmeric are thought to use the North and South poles mesmeric fields to form a evaluate that will re-indict the body to settle. There is, again no exact scientific column to column this request, but there are people who feel better while bearing mesmeric wristlets.

The idea behind arthritis wristlets is nothing new and is steeped in myths. Whether or not this class of intervention has a lasting produce on a guise with arthritis is very not known. There doesn’t look to be any adverse effect for most people with these classes of wristlets, and if relief is supposed to strike, then there looks to be no wisdom to try this fold remedy for bind relief.

If you thoroughly examine each part that we have discussed, you will see a common thread of which to explore.

PostHeaderIcon Hepatitis A – How to Prevent It



Hepatitis A is a very highly contagious infection of a person’s liver and it is caused by a virus. It isn’t considered as dangerous as other viral types of Hepatitis, but it does cause severe pain and inflammation that affects the human liver’s abilities to function properly.

The most likely way of contracting Hepatitis A is through food or water that has been in close contact with someone who has already been infected. People that are infected may appear to be normal while not knowing that they are already sick from the virus. It is said that some people don’t even develop any signs or symptoms, while others may feel like they have a severe case of the ‘flu.

Some symptoms of Hepatitis A are fatigue, nausea, dark urine, muscle pains and itching. Some people even experience their skin changing to a yellowish color, also know as “jaundice”. It is said that you can have the virus for a month or more before you even start noticing any types of symptoms. But, when they do appear, they come suddenly, which makes people feel like they are coming down with a case of the ‘flu.

Some of the likeliest ways of contracting Hepatitis A are traveling to or working in places that are at high risk, from involvement with sexually active gay men or using drugs, whether injected or non-injected . Blood transfusions can also present a risk and have been widely blamed for some cases. Some people have been known to contract the virus from working in a research type setting with the virus present.

Practicing good hygiene is one of the best ways to protect yourself, together with avoidance of high risk situations. However, the safest way to avoid contracting the virus is to get a vaccine shot, or immune globulin. Immune globulin is said to only protect you for a short time, while the actual vaccine can protect you for up to twenty years or more. Another type of vaccine known as Twinrix is specifically designed for people who are eighteen years or older. Twinrix is said to be just as effective as the regular vaccines HAV and HAB. But it is noted that some side effects are included with this shot. Soreness around the injection area, headaches and fatigue often follow after the shot although such side effects are usually gone with a 48 hour time frame. Following all safety precautions when traveling to a foreign region is also a must, remembering to always peel and wash any fruit or vegetables before eating and avoiding uncooked food.

There is really no specific treatment for Hepatitis A. People are advised to receive adequate nutrition, so they can avoid any type of permanent liver damage. When nausea is a problem, they are advised to eat small snacks throughout the period instead of large meals which could make them sick. Easily digested foods are the safest bet. It is said that people who are infected usually tolerate food better in the morning than later in the day. Doctors generally advise their patients to avoid drinking alcohol at all costs during the main phases of the virus. Even after full recovery, they are told not to mix alcohol with any type of medication, mainly Tylenol, because this can cause major damage to the liver.

Experts say that sufferers should regain their energy after the signs and symptoms disappear. The liver should also heal within one or two months. It is noted that some people experience relapses over six to nine month periods.

PostHeaderIcon Aspartame & Disease – Could a Simple Sweetener Be Causing You Pain and Suffering?



Having a serious illness is bad enough, but at learning that Aspartame may be the cause for diseases such as Lupus, M.S, Fibromyalgia and Cancer is downright bewildering. In this article we will look at the claims against artificial sweeteners and allegations that it’s causing serious disease.

Let’s start with exactly what Aspartame is, common symptoms and disease claimed to be associated with its use, the Aspartame – diet relationship, and sweet, healthy alternatives.

What is Aspartame?

Aspartame is a sugar substitute that was discovered in 1965. It is 200x more sweet than natural sugar and is marketed as a product to help our never ending quest to be slim.

The chemical make up of Aspartame

Aspartame contains 50% phenylalanine. According to the 1976 Grolier’s Encyclopedia, ‘cancer cannot live without phenylalanine’.

Many advocates of Aspartame claim that phenylalanine is an amino acid and safe. However, this is true when amino acids work in the appropriate context and proportion to all other substances in the body. In this case, one amino acid dominates (as with regular Aspartame consumption) and the result is the ‘seizure threshold in the body is lowered’.

Another 40% of Aspartame is aspartic acid. This has been linked with creating lesions in mice brains and other lab animals resulting in brain tumors. This ingredient is also known to break down into a substance known as methanol, 10% wood alcohol by weight, plus formaldehyde, formic acid and DKP or diketopiperazine, (a brain tumor agent).

When Aspartame reaches 85 degrees (or higher), it breaks down into the above components. Since our body temperature is 98.6 degrees on average, it takes about 10 minutes after ingesting to start its toxic transformation.

Aspartame and Disease

Many people believe methanol toxicity creates symptoms similar to many dangerous diseases (see below) and have been diagnosed in error as a result of Aspartame reactions.

Dr. Janet Hull, a nutritional expert says: “As a nutritionist, over ninety percent of my clients experience some form of health problem associated with Aspartame: weight gain, hair loss, severe medical ailments, eating disorders, mental disorders, and fatigue.” After eliminating its usage, health has for some returned back to normal. Dr. Hull claims “Eight out of ten of my clients have health symptoms that disappear when they stop using Aspartame.”

Aspartame side effects are indicative to your genetic individuality and physical weaknesses. It is important to identify which side effects (if in fact any) Aspartame is creating within you.” Side effects can be immediate, occur gradually or be acute reactions.

If you are a high-use Aspartame user consuming quantities of diet sodas, coffee with sweeteners, or regularly consume foods made with this product it may be an idea to consider a change to your diet practices.

However, due to the quantity of foods now including Aspartame, it is important to become an avid reader of food labels as well. NutraSweet, Equal, and Spoonful are all common brand names for Aspartame that you’ll want to watch for in addition to ‘low calorie’ and ‘diet’ products.

Keep in mind, although many of the diseases associated with Aspartame are not necessarily fatal, methanol toxicity is.

Aspartame has been linked to trigger, or mimic the following illnesses:

Epilepsy Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Epstein-Barr Post-Polio Syndrome Lyme Disease Fibromyalgia Lupus Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) Hypothyroidism Grave’s Disease Meniere’s Disease Alzheimer’s Disease ALS

Aspartame and diet – Just how effective is it?

Although Aspartame is marketed as a product helpful for weight loss, according to the American Cancer Society it actually may cause people to gain weight. Why? Because Aspartame users often experience carbohydrate and sugar cravings, which then lead to an over-consumption of food.

In addition to these enhanced cravings, the chemically altered sodium (salt) is believed to be stored in fat cells in the hips and thighs. Not exactly what diet seekers are looking for!

Common symptoms claimed to be linked with Aspartame:

Some other side effects that may be linked to Aspartame use you should be aware of also include:

Headaches/migraines Loss of balance Memory loss Dizziness Depression Anxiety and panic attacks Mood disorders Hearing impairment Fatigue Nausea/vomiting Speech problems (slurred speech) Seizures Joint pain Muscle pain Chest pain Arrhythmia Menstrual complications
If you’re an avid Aspartame user and have noticed any of the above issues or symptoms stated above, it may be helpful to eliminate Aspartame from your diet and work with a health expert to see if any of your symptoms show any improvement.

Since many doctors do not consider this product a health danger, working with an alternative health expert such as a naturopath may prove beneficial in determining if Aspartame is a causal factor in your symptoms.

Here is a list of common foods to watch out for that may include Aspartame:

Jello’s and puddings, frozen foods, iced tea, Crystal Light, Kool Aid, cereal, baked goods, hot chocolate, dried fruit, chewing gum, multi-vitamins (children’s and adults), chewable aspirin, …and that’s just a few for starters.

Remember, there are thousands of foods made with this product in our grocery stores, so consider taking an extra few minutes and start to keep track of the food you may want to avoid if you’d like to eliminate this chemical from your diet and note any health changes or benefits.

Some sweet solutions to Aspartame

If you want to sweeten up your foods, a few of the most common healthy alternatives include: blackstrap molasses, stevia, honey, evaporated cane juice, fruit juice, rice syrup, small amounts of licorice root, and barley malt.

There are also several good resources for additional products you can easily access as in addition to these items.

If in doubt… see how YOU feel

I am not a medical doctor or liscenced health specialist. I have however, turned around a so-called ‘incurable’ disease myself (Lupus) and believe that we all have a personal responsibility for our own health and must not rely on doctors alone. Even within the medical community it is common to see conflicting information on what we should or shouldn’t do as it concerns our health and what is safe.

There is currently a strong movement calling for natural, healthy alternatives for foods, treatment of disease and lifestyle options that are challenging the often inefficient and ineffective methods of the medical and pharmaceutical approach.

I hope you take it upon yourself to consider your own ‘Aspartame’ health test and see if you have any improvement in any condition or unwanted physical symptoms you may be experiencing in your own life. What matters most are ‘results’ that may affect the future of your health.

PostHeaderIcon Understanding Herbal Menopause Treatment



Nowadays we have familiar to the hormone replacement therapy or HRT as it is continually accepted in society as a menopause treatment. However many women do not choose this method as a treatment in the first place. Most of them are preferred to take some herbal treatment for menopause that greatly appear to them as softer options.

As the herbal menopause treatment has considerably a long history of usage, it often clinically the only interference needed. As most naturopaths and herbalists greatly prescribed herbal treatments for menopause rather than HRT, the use of the menopause herb has been continually increasing. Most of the herbs and supplements are now applied to administer the switch from the reproductive to the post-reproductive phase of the woman’s life.

As the great appreciation of the herbal menopause treatments, a number of simple herbal formulations that usually suggested as a beginning for most women are now available and lining on the shelves of several health food outlets anywhere in the world. And one of those herbal treatments for menopause that stand out as being worldly renowned in pharmaceuticals formulations are St. John’s Wort and black cohosh.

Since the early days, St. John’s Wort has known as the best herbal menopause treatment. During the menopausal periods, this herb has been applied traditionally for the treatment of anxiety and mood disturbance. Some clinical studies have proven this claim and have demonstrated the efficacy treatment since the early days. So far, there is no known side effect that cause by this herbal menopause treatment.

Beside black cohosh as the other herbal menopause treatment that is proven effective, it also has been proven that it has an oestrogenic effect. There is also no know side effect for the use of this menopause herb just like St. John’s Wort. However the British Herbal Compendium suggests that this herbal treatment for menopause must not exceed six months and it should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation phases.

From the information above, you may understand why herbal medicines have much to offer specifically in women for the treatment of menopause symptoms. Many women prefer herbal menopause treatments to relief their symptoms of menopause. Many patients and practitioners are now much confident in a broad array of effective therapeutic involvements since the further discoveries are noted in this area of herbal treatment.

PostHeaderIcon Acute Bronchitis Antibiotics – 4 Reasons You Must Use Them



In America alone, a number of cases of URIs, otitis media, sinusitis, pharyngitis, and acute bronchitis are diagnosed every year. Accordingly, a number of prescriptions are written to cure these disorders. According to studies conducted on the subject, around 70 percent of children and adults receive unnecessary antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis every year. In spite of an abundance of literature recommending the non-use of antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis, clinical studies reveal records of physicians prescribing antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis.

Experts on infectious diseases say that the number of patients showing resistance to antibiotics is on the rise as a result of this unnecessary use of antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis. If this practise continues, people all over the world will face serious medical problems.

There is a vast difference between acute bronchitis and COPD. Antibiotics are often used to treat the latter condition. Using antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis is not recommended because many cases of acute bronchitis are viral. Purulent sputum, a characteristic of viral bronchitis, provides ample proof that the condition is definitely viral in nature and is not bacterial. When the right treatment, support, and care is given, acute bronchitis lasts only for a maximum of seven days. In case of symptoms worsening after seven days, the use of antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis is permitted even though it is still considered non-viral.

The use of antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis is not required in all cases. However, some cases, such as the following, have to use antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis:

1. If cough persists, patients might have to use antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis. Only a fraction of patients suffering from viral bronchitis develop long-lasting cough. Antibiotics can be used even if the use of bronchodilators for 48 hours does not cause any relief. Bacteria causing persistent cough are mycoplasm pneumoniae, chlamydia pneumoniae, and bordetella pertussis. All three are easily destroyed by antibiotics such as macrolide. Azithromycin is usually prescribed because it has fewer side effects than erythromycin. You will have to take a five-day course of azithromycin, which will cost you $38.

2. If the symptoms of bronchitis is aggravating, the patients must be re-examined to determine if there is any bacterial infection. Usually, acute bronchitis is virus-caused and it disappears after a week. However, if you are getting worse instead of better, you need to consult your doctor at once.

3. Patients with cystic fibrosis are usually infected by staphylococcus aureus, also known as gram negative bacteria, and therefore, require antibiotics. COPD patients often require antibiotic therapy to treat streptococcus pneumoniae and haemophilus influenzae.

4. An outbreak of viral influenza can complicate the treatment of acute bronchitis. It is during the flue season that adults usually suffer from bacterial complications. If your condition gets worse instead of disappearing after 7-10 days, you will have to use antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis.

Other than these four exceptions, on no other account should antibiotics be prescribed to treat acute bronchitis.

The patient has to be educated about using antibiotics to treat acute bronchitis. Often patients do not know anything about antibiotic use. Since medical practitioners have the required expertise in this regard, they should take it upon themselves to educate the public about the right use of antibiotics. Patients should know that antibiotics are not required for all illnesses. Once they know, they will not ask a doctor for antibiotics unless it is absolutely essential.

Patients should not expect antibiotic prescriptions whenever they visit a doctor. You medical expenses will be cut down if your treatment plan does not include antibiotics. You can use those savings to purchase vitamins or nutritional supplements that make your body vital enough to withstand bacterial infections that lead to conditions such as acute bronchitis.