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Herbs for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a serious autoimmune illness affecting the joints and bones and other organ systems of the body. Damage to tissues results when the immune system mistakes the body’s own tissue as foreign and attacks them. Free radicals are part of the cascade of effects that cause inflammation and eventually can destroy joints. While there are excellent prescription medications used to successfully treat RA, many people prefer to use an all natural approach or to supplement the standard therapies.

Many herbs have been identified as having usefulness in treating the symptoms of RA and many are antioxidants and anti-inflammatory in nature. We will look at some of these herbs and discuss their use in RA holistic care. Even though herbs and supplements may be all natural, they still can be potent and may also interact with prescription medications. An RA patient should always discuss the matter with their health care provider before adding or subtracting anything in their treatment plan, natural or otherwise. It is a mistake to assume that herbs are automatically safe and free of side effects.

Among the herbs identified as helpful in RA are: Angelica, Bogbean, Borage oil, Boswellia, Bromelain (from pineapple), Cat’s claw (Also called Devil’s claw), Chaparral, Evening primrose oil, Feverfew, Galangal, Ginger, Cayenne creams and lotions, Curcurmin (from turmeric), Pokeweed roots, Alfalfa, Gotu kola, Honeysuckle, Hops, Licorice, Lingum vitae, White poplar, Linseed, Morinda, Mustard, Oregano, Sarsaparilla, Sesame seed oil, Stinging nettles, Wild Yam, Black cohosh, Celery, Willow, Wintergreen, Yucca.

And this list, long as it is, is just part of the herbal formulary often used to control the problems associated with RA! In fact, one old remedy for “rheumatism” which was the catch-all term for all joint pain and aches was willow bark tea. Willow bark contains salicylates, compounds related to aspirin and to several current pharmaceutical anti-inflammatory drugs. There is no question that this could have been helpful for RA sufferers.

Cat’s claw or Devil’s claw is another old and often used remedy. It is normally used in a dose of 250 mg of a standard extract taken twice a day. One small study has been done showing relief of RA symptoms when compared to a placebo. Cat’s claw must be taken with food and cannot be taken by women who are pregnant or who could become pregnant. Upset stomach is the most commonly reported side effect, but is lessened when taken with food. Cat’s claw has anti-inflammatory properties.

A widely used compound for topical pain relief is a cream compounded from cayenne pepper extracts. This reduces pain and inflammation by stimulating circulation in the area of a painful joint and is also useful for osteoarthritis. A user must be careful to wash hands carefully since the cream can burn the eyes and mucous membranes. It’s also important to note that hot packs and heating pads should not be used over areas covered with cayenne products. Many people also use this product to treat the pain from a previous case of shingles effectively. It is available without prescription.

Curcurmin is a product extracted from the yellow spice turmeric that is being studied for several medical purposes including RA pain and stiffness. Widely used in curries, turmeric is also used as it is for RA and other uses. Curcurmin has both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help to fight the free radicals that play a part in joint destruction in advanced rheumatoid arthritis.

An Indian herb called Boswellia has also been shown to decrease inflammation in the body. It is taken in a dose of 150 mg three times a day. While it would take a book to list every dose and herb used for RA symptoms, it is easy to see how big a choice there is for natural products. The resources given below are a great introduction to the use of herbs in RA, and the Arthritis Foundation has published a book that is a guide to herbal therapies.

For more information visit the websites:
http://www.arthritiscures.us/common-symptoms-for-rheumatoid-arthritis/common-symptoms-for-rheumatoid-arthritis.htm
Common Symptoms for Rheumatoid Arthritis
http://www.arthritiscures.us/templar-arthritis/templar-arthritis.htm
Templar Arthritis
http://arthritiscures.us/arthritis-Rheumatoid/arthritis-Rheumatoid.htm Arthritis Rheumatoid

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Breathing For Exercise Energy: Jump Starting Your Heart

Many people will give excuse after excuse for not exercising during the day. While the number one excuse is not having enough time, the second excuse used most often is not having enough energy. Energy will remain low as long as the mind is in the avoidance mode. Once you convince yourself that exercise is fun and you WANT to do it, the exercise will return, like MAGIC! In order to jump start those energy levels, exercise breathing can help.

Exercise breathing is like a warm up for the lungs. It gets the body moving and the lungs working in a similar way to how they will be working during the fitness routine. Once the lungs are moving briskly, the heart will kick in and the energy levels of the body will rise.

If you have ever noticed during an exercise routine that after the first 10 or 15 minutes, the exercise does not seem so hard and the energy levels needed to continue are there you understand the forces behind exercise breathing. There are four steps to breathing for energy and they are:

* Take deep breaths. Kind of like stretching the lungs, you want to begin your exercise breathing with long inhales and slow exhales. These will warm up the lungs for the volume of oxygen they are about to experience. These slow breathing exercises should be repeated for 10 to 15 repetitions.

* Rate your energy level. As you are deep breathing, mentally rate your energy level. This will give you a guideline by which to compare your energy level after the breathing exercise. As you slowly breath in and out, notice any changes in energy level. Toward the end of the warm up, you should feel a bit more energized than before you began.

* Moving to abdominal breathing. Now you will move the breathing exercises to the abdomen. As you breath in, fill the abdomen with air and do not move the shoulders. This is all about the tummy. Count the amount of seconds it takes to fill the tummy and exhale at the same rate. You want to breathe in and out just deep enough to not become dizzy from the process. We are not filling a balloon here, just warming up the body. Continue this exercise for three minutes.

* Rate your energy level again. After the three minutes, there should be a marked change in energy level. Your lungs are now warm and ready to move to the music of exercise. This practice can be used at any time during the day when you need a boost of energy, but especially when you are too tired to exercise. These tips can be repeated as a cool down after exercising.

Breathing is the ideal way to give your body back that little spark it needs to move on with the daily exercise routine. Life is all about balance and when we balance our workouts to include our entire body, they will help us to become a healthier person all around for now and tomorrow.

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Breathing For Exercise Energy: Jump Starting Your Heart / Author : http://www.webwire.com

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Your Cosmetic Questions Answered

It is not quite as old as dirt but most certainly some of it comes from dirt. What is it? It is cosmetics and it is a multi-billion dollar a year industry that has people craving more and more colors, varieties and products to enhance their already natural beauty. But have you ever wondered what cosmetics really are or what they are made of? Perhaps you have always wondered what shade fit you best but were afraid to ask.

Well… this article is for you. In this article we will cover some of the basics of cosmetics such as the history, which is as rich and diverse as the colors, as well as some of the more popular questions where cosmetics are concerned. Before you know it you will be a make-up and skin care aficionado and will be itching to get to the store to try out new colors, textures and styles of cosmetics.

What types of cosmetics are there?

The basics of cosmetics are the skin care protection lines such as bath products. There are bath salts, bath gels and soaps. Then there are skin protections such as body lotions.

Next up are the hair care products such as gels and hair coloring. The most familiar use of the term ‘cosmetics’ comes to us in the form of make-up for which there are mascaras, lipsticks, foundations, blushes and many, many more types.

What are some of the more popular brands?

The most popular brands of make-up are the ones you find in retail stores and shopping stores such as Wal-Mart, Target and Walgreens. These are the ones that most people come into contact with on a daily basis. They are relatively inexpensive and most people can afford them without breaking the bank. Some manufacturers include Revlon, Cover Girl, and Almay.

Are cosmetics tested on animals?

Yes, some cosmetic companies still test on animals as a way to test whether or not the cosmetics are safe to use on humans. The testing labs test for skin irritation, eye irritation, toxicity, phototoxicity and mutagenicity.

If you want to ensure that your make-up is not used to test on animals, you need to check out the company’s website and the packaging. Most will say that their products are not tested out on animals.

What is the deal with Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter shades?

The Spring, Winter, Summer, Fall business is simply color pallets that are grouped together in shades of warms or cools that look best on a person depending on their skin tone. Someone with red hair and pale complexion may look better with more earthy tones of Fall whereas a brunette with medium skin tone might look good in Winter color tones. It really depends on your skin color and your hair color.

Visit Mike Selvon portal to learn more about cosmetics. Your feedback is much appreciated at our skin care blog where a free gift awaits you.

Your Cosmetic Questions Answered / Author: MIKE SELVON

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New Treatment for Fibromyalgia (FMS)

Fibromyalgia is also called as FMS. Fibromyalgia is a disorder classified by the presence of chronic widespread pain and tactile allodynia. The disorder is not directly life-threatening. While fibromyalgia is one of the most common diseases affecting the muscles, its cause is currently unknown. Fibromyalgia is a clinical syndrome defined by chronic widespread muscular pain, fatigue and tenderness.

Fibromyalgia affects predominantly women (over 80 percent) between the ages of 35 and 55. The degree of symptoms may vary greatly from day to day with periods of flares. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points places on your body where slight pressure causes pain.

Fibromyalgia is agreed upon as one thing—a disease entity or a painful entity. In fact, fibromyalgia really is a calamity. Tender points are places on the neck, shoulders, back, hips, arms or legs that hurt when touched. Every muscle in their body shouted out in pain. Treatment programs are most effective when they combine patient education, stress reduction, regular exercise, and medications. In addition, they felt devoid of energy as though someone had unplugged their power supply. The pain is biological, psychological, and social. It affects all parameters, including even a spiritual or religious component. Many medical conditions can cause pain in different areas of the body, mimicking fibromyalgia.

Cause of fibromyalgia
Genetics
Sleep disturbances
Dopamine abnormality
Changes in muscles metabolism
Abnormal levels of Substance P in their spinal fluid
Symptoms of Fibromyalgia
abnormal sleep architecture
heightened sensitivity
fatigue
sensitivity to noise and temperature
mood changes
musculoskeletal pain
Environmental change
physical problems
memory problems
anxiety and depressive
irritable bowel syndrome
Diagnosis for Fibromyalgia
However, blood tests for TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) and ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) values can differentiate these diagnoses from fibromyalgia. The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is made purely on clinical grounds based on the doctor’s history and physical examination.

Treatment for Fibromyalgia
Medication, while important, is not the only treatment. Patient education, exercise, self-management skills and alternative therapies help treat fibromyalgia symptoms.

Low doses of sedating antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline and trazodone) have been used to reduce the sleep disturbances that are associated with fibromyalgia.
Considering nontraditional treatment options for your fibromyalgia pain.
Some topical remedies ar used for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
Current studies indicate the best pharmacologic treatment for treating pain (and improving disrupted sleep patterns) is low doses of tricyclic compounds including cyclobenzaprine and amitriptyline .
Muscle relaxants, anti-epileptics (such as Neurontin and Lyrica) and other drug categories may be prescribed as well. Each issue of the Fibromyalgia Network Journal contains information about new treatment options, as well as advice about how to make use of existing medications to minimize fibromyalgia symptoms.
Prevention for Fibromyalgia
Schedule time to relax each day. Deep-breathing exercises and meditation will help reduce the stress that can bring on symptoms.
Do exercise regularly.
Stress reduction might include simple stress modification at home or work, biofeedback, relaxation tapes, psychological counseling, and/or support among family members, friends, and doctors.

New Treatment for Fibromyalgia (FMS) / Author: Sander Bel

Sander Bel writes articles for depression treatments. He also writes for home remedies and anxiety depression.

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Aromatherapy and its Benefits

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that makes use of the body’s sense of smell to help boost your mood, relieve stress as well as encourage better health. Aromatherapy uses volatile liquid plant materials called essential oils, and other compounds from plants for the purpose of healing.

Various fragrant substances are used during aromatherapy sessions, such as aromatherapy soy candles, and each smell can produce a different result. For example, peppermint and eucalyptus scents are often used to help stimulate the body for people who are feeling sluggish. Lavender and chamomile can have the opposite effect as it helps a person relax.  Lemon and rosemary are effective at revitalizing a tired body.

Our sense of smell is very powerful.  In fact, the body can distinguish around 10,000 different scents!  As a scent is inhaled, the smell travels across the olfactory nerves located inside the nose and then up into the part of the brain that controls our moods, our memories and our ability to learn. This area is called the Limbic System and when stimulated it releases endorphins, neurotransmitters and other ‘feel-good’ chemicals. In other words, aromatherapy triggers various responses in the body.
 
Aromatherapy also works by absorbing the essential oils that have been extracted from plants, fruits, herbs and flowers into the blood stream. This method is perfectly safe and if you’ve ever rubbed a fragrant lotion, cream or ointment into your skin or received a massage, you’ve already indulged in this type of aromatherapy.

Fragrances used in aromatherapy are many and are commonly added to:
 
- Lotions
- Inhalants
- Gels
- Candles
- Bath salts
- Vaporizers
- Perfumes, and
- Room sprays

Aromatherapy oils extracted from naturally occurring materials are unlike synthetic fragrances and perfumes which can cause allergies and irritation. Essential oils are safe to use for every one and evidence of its use has been found as far back as Ancient Egyptian civilizations.

Benefits of Aromatherapy

You don’t have to pay someone a fortune to do it - it is something you can learn to do at home

Many people seek out professional massage therapists or visit expensive spas for their aromatherapy sessions. While this is a great way to indulge if you can afford to, it’s easy to learn how to do aromatherapy right in the comfort of your own home. ? All you need are some candles, essential oils or bath oils and a burner or diffuser. ? You will also want to find a comfortable space for your aromatherapy session where you can totally relax.

There’s nothing unhealthy about it - Aromatherapy is a completely natural approach that will improve your health.

Aromatherapy is a great alternative to other treatment options such as prescription medications and caffeine. When used properly, there are no or very few side effects.  Some of the side effects that can emerge are due primarily to a person’s sensitivity to certain ingredients that they might have an allergic response to. Most people are aware of their particular sensitivities so you can easily avoid those.

Aromatherapy is great for alleviating minor discomforts before they become a big deal!

While aromatherapy isn’t going to cure a major illness, it is very effective at:
 
- alleviating minor aches and pains in joints
- improving the functionality of the immune system
- relieving the symptoms of menstrual cramps
- improving your skin tone
- relaxing muscles (something you can do every day if you want)
- lowering blood pressure
- clearing congestion
- improving circulation to the scalp which helps reduce dandruff and helps promote healthy hair growth
- relieving tension that causes headaches, and
- improving sleep

For more information about essential oils go to The Reference Guide for Essential Oils http://www.diffuserworld.com/detail.aspx?ID=93

Aromatherapy and its Benefits / Author: Cathy Taylor

Occupation: Marketing
Cathy Taylor is a marketing consultant with over 27 years experience. She can be reached at Creative Communications: creativecommunications@cox.net or by visiting www.howtoconquermenopause.com www.everythingmenopause.com, and www.everythingandropause.com
http://www.everythingmenopause.com

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