There’s a general belief that if you have back problems, then your bed should be as hard as possible, even to the extent of sleeping on a hard board rather than a mattress. That belief is a dangerous fallacy because a bed that’s too hard can be just as bad for your back as one [...]
Some of the symptoms of depression may be the result of a different condition. Low energy level and fatigue may be symptoms of medical conditions, such as low thyroid functioning, which can be diagnosed easily by means of a simple blood test. But there are other conditions as well that can masquerade as depression. A [...]
There are all sorts of problems about epilepsy. Epilepsy is the name given to recurrent ‘seizures’ (also known as ‘fits’, or ‘attacks’), of which the fairly well-known grand mal convulsions are only one type. A whole variety of brain disorders can cause epilepsy, which should perhaps be considered no more than a stereotyped reaction of [...]
During the past 20 years, American apple-growers and farmers have more than doubled their use of insecticides containing organophosphates, carbamates, propoxur or pyre-thins, and, at the same time, have suffered increasingly from aplastic anemia and leukemia. Although there is no proof of cause-and-effect, according to aLancet (2:300) report, the evidence strongly suggests that many of [...]
Symptom A bulge in one of the typical locations: • just above or below the crease of the groin • just above or below the navel • at the navel Home care If you suspect a hernia, take the child to the doctor. Precautions - A strangulated hernia is a medical emergency that must be [...]
Alcohol Both you and your partner need to eliminate alcohol. If your infertility is caused by problems such as polycystic ovaries, fibroids or endometriosis, alcohol can compromise the efficient functioning of your liver and make it less able to get rid of excess circulating hormones. Alcohol will also stop you absorbing essential nutrients like zinc [...]
It’s a myth that tornadoes «suck up» cows, small dogs, and houses into their funnel. So don’t worry about becoming an accessory to the storm if a twister’s heading your way. What you should worry about is getting struck by Bessie, Toto, or even a Toyota, because with winds in excess of 250 miles per [...]
How does the extract work in practice and not just under laboratory conditions? If we consider this treatment in relation to human beings suffering from rheumatoid or osteo-arthritis, then, in general, the first signs of a beneficial reaction will be noticed after about three weeks from the time of commencing the treatment. Before we [...]
Repeated cycles of dieting may actually increase the body’s metabolic efficiency and make it even harder to lose weight. Such cycles may also change the way fat is deposited, with more fat being laid down in the stomach region. There are certain factors that can modify the set point weight to some degree. Exercise has [...]
Stephanie Caviness wanted to slim down. But the 33-year-old Jersey City, New Jersey, woman had a hard time sticking with an exercise routine. So she turned to her computer for help, and she ended up losing 23 pounds. For Stephanie, exercise was nothing new. She had tried it several times in the past as a [...]
A 33-year-old man came to see me because he was depressed, irritable and had many aches and pains. He slept poorly and had little interest in his work, his wife or his hobbies. «Business is terrible,» he told me. «I sit by the phone all day and twiddle my thumbs, waiting for it to ring.» [...]
Due to our sedentary life-styles, we spend a great deal of time sitting down. This leads to the contraction of leg and back muscles. Stretching helps to prevent the muscles of the back and lower legs from becoming excessively tight. This, in turn, helps to relieve the tension and pain that gathers in these muscles [...]
SPINACH LASAGNA 1 lb. whole-wheat lasagna noodles 2 bunches spinach 1 lb. hoop cheese 1 32 oz. can tomato sauce (no salt added) spices to taste Boil and drain noodles. Wash and chop spinach and mix with hoop cheese. Thinly cover bottom of a large baking dish with the tomato sauce. Place a layer of [...]
I treated a patient, a 4 5-year-old accountant, who had gone to his physician for a routine physical. Finding that his blood pressure was a little high, the doctor put him on a diuretic called hydrochlorothiazide. This is a medication designed to lower blood pressure by getting rid of excess sodium and water in the [...]
If Dr Darlington is right, then why did a similar trial, carried out three years earlier, produce such different results? This trial was conducted at Northwick Park Hospital in Middlesex, by Dr Michael Denman, Dr Bruce Mitchell and Dr Barbara Ansell. They studied 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, putting them on diets which excluded various [...]
Can you get by using one of these less invasive approaches? THE ANSWER DEPENDS ON SEVERAL FACTORS… • Condition of the heart. If the heart can pump enough blood despite the blockages, bypass surgery can probably be avoided. Bypass surgery is preferable if the heart has been weakened by heart attack. • Location and number [...]
Patients discuss private matters with their doctors with the implicit understanding that the information exchanged is private. In reality, more and more people are gaining access to these confidential medical records and using the information in ways you never intended. These days, insurance companies, credit bureaus and the like have assembled sophisticated databases that contain [...]
I usually tell my overweight patients to set a target weight, then take 1,000 milligrams (mg) of chitosan 30 minutes before eating lunch and dinner. Once the goal is reached, they can stop taking the chitosan. Taking chitosan does not give you permission to eat whatever you want. But it will give you an extra [...]
This condition {onychomycosis) can lead to warped and discolored toenails. self-defense: Make a paste with lukewarm water and baking soda. Rub it on the affected area daily. Rinse and dry. also helpful: Wear cotton socks…change shoes twice a day…and use antibacterial drying powder and foot deodorant. Avoid garlic and other spicy foods if they cause [...]
In one recent study, the participants who took standardized word- and picture-recall tests scored significantly better several hours after taking a 1,600-milligram (mg) capsule of dried lemon balm leaf than when they were given a placebo. theory: The herb binds to brain chemical receptors, enhancing their ability to send and receive information. What òî do: [...]
An appointment three months after the postnatal visit is usually given to check the coil or give further supplies of contraceptive pills. For physical reasons, the method chosen may be no longer appropriate. Bleeding with a coil or with the injectable contraceptive may be unacceptable, and a decision to stop breast feeding may mean a [...]
Control is an important theme in psychosexual medicine. The matter of who is in control colours many psychosexual problems. Impotence may be a dumb protest against a controlling partner. Desire for sex can evaporate when advances are rebuffed, or one partner demands attention in circumstances that they know are unevenly disempowering. Vaginismus enters self-perpetuating cycles [...]
The patient who brings someone to the clinic may give valuable information about herself. She may feel too immature or helpless to cope alone, or she may anticipate a battle and bring a friend to fight on her behalf. Partners may come out of true caring but they may also come to make sure she [...]
In a specialist psychosexual clinic, those under 20 years comprise less than 10% of the total workload. However, they are an important group. Some patients in this age group are able to tell their doctor openly about the problem (see Miss A., Chapter 12, p. 181). However, others do not find it easy to raise [...]
By this time Mrs H. had stopped taking the Pill as she said it made her depressed. Soon she left home again, returning pregnant a few months later. While discussing what she wanted to do she began to talk about her own childhood, when her mother had often left home, eventually for good when Mrs [...]
Hydrotherapy is an ancient form of healing dating back to 1500 ÂÑ. Sebastien Kneipp, a German physician, instituted health spas throughout Germany and Europe ‘n the 19th century, popularizing water therapy even further. No one can ignore the soothing and relaxing qualities of a hot bath or the invigorating, stimulating effects of a cold dip [...]
We are slowly becoming more conscious of the foods and beverages we put into our body, realizing they have an effect on our health. Likewise, healthy and unhealthy sounds also have an effect on our health emotions, and we should learn to become consciously aware of which sounds are most beneficial to our well-being. Just [...]
European Mistletoe (Viscum Album) Mistletoe, also referred to as European mistletoe or birdlime mistletoe, is noted worldwide as being effective in cancer prevention and treatment. It is an ancient herbal remedy noted for its anti-tumour properties. Mistletoe also facilitates the production of red blood cells after radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Mistletoe supports the body’s immune [...]
N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a form of the simple amino acid cysteine. It is more stable than cysteine, absorbed more easily and is used in a better way by the body. A powerful antioxidant, a premier anti-toxin and immune support substance, it is found naturally in foods. It is a precursor for [...]
Vitamin B3 – Nicotinamide, Niacin Vitamin B3 is essential in maintaining good blood circulation, dilating blood vessels and energy production. It also enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy treatment by tripling the time chemotherapy drugs stay in the bloodstream. Vitamin B3 decreases the toxicity of the commonly used chemotherapy medication, Cisplatin. It increases anti-tumour activity and [...]
