http://www.healthguidance.org en-us http://www.healthguidance.org N/A admin@healthguidance.org Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:09:25 MST 20 http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/66/Natural-Treatment-for-Tourette-Syndrome.html Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder that involves involuntary muscle twitching, violent jerking of the body, odd noises and obscene languages. Usually, people suffering from Tourette syndrome are treated with the help of pharmaceutical medicines, but it has also been seen that there are a number of herbal remedies that can be put into use to get relief from this disorder and also the symptoms associated with it. There are certain steps that can be followed to help the people who are not only suffering from Tourette's syndrome but also for anyone who is afflicted by some kind of neurological disorder or malfunctioning of the neurotransmitters. Avoiding the use of caffeine, sugar, refined foods and white flour can help the person minimize the symptoms. Also, identifying sensitivity to food and food allergies can also prove to be helpful. People suffering from this syndrome can switch over to organic food to help them get all the natural and vital nutrients and vitamins without any chemicals. Another important thing should be avoided is the use of any herbicide or pesticide in the house. It is of equal importance to replace any chemical based personal care product with environmental friendly products. Identifying nutritional deficiencies and providing supplements along with a balanced diet can be a savior. It has been seen that supplements like niacin, vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, magnesium, and selenium have been quite helpful to people suffering from this syndrome. If there is an incidence of hypoglycemia, then it should be identified and a diet that brings relief from this syndrome should be put into use. People suffering from Tourette's syndrome are prone to developing candida overgrowth. It is important to keep a check and take steps that can reduce this condition. The tremors and tics associated with the syndrome can be controlled by giving the affected person some tea that has been made from passionflower, chamomile, skullcap, wood betony and lady's slipper. These herbal supplements provide vital minerals and vitamins that can help the muscle and the nerves relax. To make this tea, you can add one teaspoon of each of these herbs in a cup of boiling water and strain it after a boil. This can be given three times a day to see the best effects. Another herbal treatment that can be done is by taking a tincture of St. John's Wort or valerian root that can help relieve the muscle tension and also relax the nerves. You can add 20 drops of either of the extracts in a cup of water and have it daily. It is important to include avocadoes and wheat germ in the diet of the person suffering from Tourette's syndrome. These foods are rich in supply of niacin and have the ability to stop tics appearing during the syndrome. This should be given in association with a regular balanced diet. Taking evening primrose can help alleviate the tremors. It can also help by normalizing the important functions of the nervous system. One can take up two capsules each of 500mg three times a day. Also, the person can drink herbal teas that help in calming the senses. Green tea and eucalyptus tea have been found to be quite effective in relieving stress and keeping the person away from tension, which can trigger an attack. Jason Ladock Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/65/How-to-Get-Longer-Eyelashes.html Most girls love having longer eyelashes because it can give a unique beautiful look on their eyes. Eye is the window of every person's soul that's why girls love having their eyelashes longer. If your eyes are your best feature you can highlight the beauty of your eyes more by having longer eyelashes. Artificial eyelashes are sometimes very expensive and not all women can afford having false eyelashes. But today, there are a lot of ways on how women can have long beautiful eyelashes. If you want to know more of this, it is better keep on reading and you will be surprised on how effective this steps are: • Most women uses eyelash curler, your eyelash will look longer and will stand out if it is curled properly. There are two types of curler today the electric curler and the usual curler that women carry on their purse. • If you are not satisfied with just curling your eyelash, you can put vaseline or any types of balm. Moisture can add thicker and longer effect on your eyelashes. It can also moisturize your eyes. • To make it look thicker and longer make your eyelash black by using black mascara. Dark effect on your eyelash can draw more attention and can make your eyelashes look longer. • You can also use vitamins for your eyelashes. You have to use serums which contain the vitamin keratin. Keratin strengthens and can make your eyelash thicker. You can apply this keratin substance by using your hand or fingers every day. By strengthening your eyelashes can make it grow longer and healthier. • Use other types of make up to make an illusion of having longer and thicker eyelashes. You can use a dark pencil make up to outline the inner rim of your top eyelid. You can make your eye look darker thus, creating an illusion of having longer and thicker eyelashes. • Some household product or homemade products can help strengthen your eyelashes even without using expensive vitamins. You can find this useful product around your house that can make your eye appear longer. One example of this is olive oil, by applying an olive oil to your eyelashes everyday for several weeks your eyelashes will grow longer than before. You can measure your eyelash to actually see the result. • You last result is eyelash extension. If you are not contented by the length that have made by using these methods you can result to having an eyelash extension. Today, there are different sizes and colors of eyelashes, make sure to choose the one that will blend the color of your face. Remember that although mascara can make your eyelash look longer and thicker, you still have to look for mascara that has a volume indicator. This kind of mascara can make your eyelash look thicker because you choose the thickness of the mascara. For girls, please do not use methods that can harm your eyelashes, it is better to have short eyelashes than having no eyelash at all. Jason Ladock Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 MST http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/63/How-to-Impress-a-Girl.html For many guys attracting and impressing a girl is a very easy task. But many guys think this is the most difficult thing in this world. To be able to attract a girl can be tedious some time. A girl uses her heart in all the decisions. It becomes very essential for a guy to treat her well and respect her. Girls get impressed with those guys who can treat them like princesses. They just require that their boyfriend or husband should take care for them. A guy should know what to say and how to say in front of a girl. If you have confidence and you are charming then there is no difficulty in your way. The most important thing that has to be kept in mind is that you do not have to be egoistic. You should never bring your ego in between your conversation with a girl. It is a big turn off. Girls run away from those guys who are arrogant and have a big ego. If you have looks but you do not know how to speak well. Then it can prove out to be negative for you. The way you start your conversation with a girl is the deciding factor. If you are an average looking guy but you have powerful communication skills then your way through a girl's heart is confirmed. Nice conversation can really break the ice. Some tips that can help you in attracting a girl are: 1. You should not show the girl that you are keenly interested in her the first time you meet her. Girls in such cases become very high headed and then they prefer to stay away from that boy. If a guy will show very less interest in a girl then she will try to be with him more because they become curious to know why the guy is behaving this way. 2. Always talk to a girl by maintaining an eye contact. This shows your confidence and girls get attracted to you very easily and naturally. So this is a very easy way to attract a girl. 3. It is recommended that a guy should be a good listener. One should talk about them but the entire conversation should not be just about you. So this thing should be kept in mind. 4. A good laugh can do wonders for you. If you can make a girl laugh then she will fall for you instantly. Every guy cannot make them laugh. It is not like you have to behave like a joker. Instead a good humor, jokes can serve the purpose for you. 5. Behave nicely and sweetly. Do not badly treat her. Respect her and soon you will win her heart. All these suggestions and tips are followed nicely then you can surely win your girls attraction. Women are very emotional so be nice to them and try not to hurt their sentiments. These are some easy ways to a women's heart. Javier Hernandez Wed, 10 Jun 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/62/Eye-Disorders-Night-Blindness-Plastic-or-Cosmetic-Lid-Surgery-Chalazion.html Night Blindness (Nyctalopia) Actually this is a misnomer. It is not really blindness but a deficiency and really means a prolonged time is taken to get accustomed to darkness. The commonest cause is vitamin A deficiency which may be due to dietary deficiency or chronic liver disease or may follow pregrancy. In cases of glaucoma, sometimes night blindness may be the only reason why the patient visits the doctor. Retinal disorders, pigmentary disturbances and choroidal disturbances may also lead to night blindness. In essence, if the night vision was normal previously, and has become affected, it usually indicates some pathological changes have occurred, and a visit to the doctor is essential for sometimes it may be the only symptom in some problematical diseases. Plastic or Cosmetic Lid Surgery After a certain age, the skin of the face and eyelids starts drooping. Face-lifts are useful to tighten (or tauten) the skin, the scars being concealed behind the ear or hairline at the neck. Eye-lifts are along the same lines. Baggy pouches above and below the eye can be easily corrected by cosmetic surgery, giving a youthful look. In some people the eyelids get tired carrying the weight of the extra skin and droop on top, causing visual problems and strain. The operation is comparatively simple. Hospital stay is usually for a day. The cosmetic results in the hands of an expert are extraordinarily good. Surprisingly an eye-lift makes the entire face look far younger. The scars are buried in the normal folds and even careful examination after 3 months will reveal no sign of any surgery at all. Chalazion (Tarsal Cyst) A chalazion is a painless cyst in the upper or lower lid, 4-6 mm in size, though often larger. It starts as a slightly painful swelling which rapidly resolves leaving a hard cyst behind. A fair number of these cysts, which may be multiple, go away with simple massage over the cysts daily. However, some do not and may need minor surgery. The surgery is done from the inside of the lid, leaves no scars, and properly done, is almost painless. Dustin Flores Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/61/Eye-Disorders-Trachoma-White-Ring-Around-the-Cornea.html Trachoma This is a chronic contagious disease of the cornea and conjunctiva due to a large sized virus. Children are usually affected more easily though there is no age limit. Trachoma is more widespread in the economically depressed groups in dry dusty climates. The infection is usually spread by contamination with conunctival discharge through fingers, towels or flies. Trachoma gives very few symptoms: a little watering, some foreign body sensation and slight stickiness of the lids. The problems lies in the complications it produces in later stages, both in the lids and the cornea, even leading to blindness. The treatment in the earlier stages is elementary and if done, is curative. In mild cases sulpha drops and a tetracycline eye ointment suffice. In severe cases, long acting sulpha given orally is effective. Trachoma is one of the classic reasons for yearly eye checks. It can be easily missed till complications start, by which time it may be too late. White Ring Around the Cornea (Arcus Senilis) This is due simply to old age, though it may start even in the late 30s. It is a deposition of fat, in the shape of a circular band a millimetre wide, and except for its cosmetic appearance it is not of any significance and never affects sight. Unfortunately there is no way to remove the ring, which stays permanently. Dustin Flores Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/60/Premature-Aging---Akala-Jara.html Akalajara or premature aging or early onset of aging comes to those who don't follow the proper diet and behavior regimen. The main reasons for this are1 (cha.chi.1/2/3) Diet - Amla, Lavana, Katu rasa ati sevana (More intake of sour, salt, pungent, foods), Laghu, Sushka saka and mamsa (Dry meat, vegetables and very light food), more intake of gingely, rice varieties, more intake of sprouts, incompatible diet, unsuitable diet, excessive dry and alkali food, heavy foods, untimely eating, irregular food habits. Behavioral - Sleeping in the day time, excessive indulgence in sex, excessive indulgence in alcohol, excessive exercise, extreme fear, anxiety, anger, depression, lust, physical exertion. With these improper diet and behavior makes people prone to early aging. Excessive intake of katurasa (hot and spicy) food induces excessive influx of calcium ions in neurons which damage them. Laghu ruksha ahara means the food deficient in micro nutrients like magnesium, zinc etc. Excessive exercise induces damage to mitochondria and DNA of muscle cells. Timely sleeping in the night time bestows health, longevity, happiness, strength, etc. night time is awaking in the night time cause the vata to get vitiated and induces dryness to the body. Untimely sleeping causes lot of ill-effects on the body; it may even take away the longevity and health (caraka sutrasthana 21/38-40). We all know how mental faculties like fear, anxiety, and depression affect the body and cause many psychosomatic disorders. These are all the precipitating factors for early aging. Rasayana2 The word rasayana contains two words rasa and ayana. Rasa means the body fluid which is responsible for the nourishment of the entire body. Ayana means to channelize in a proper way/ to bestow/. This rasa circulates in the entire body, penetrates into minute channels and nourishes the body. This rasa should be of good quality should be in adequate quantity, it should be properly circulated to provide the nourishment the cells need and it enables healthy long life.  This rasa circulates in the body and transforms into dhatus. If it is deficient qualitatively and quantitatively it hampers all the dhatus leading to various diseases. Rasayana is defined as Caraka defined rasayana as a way to attain excellent rasadi dhatu and it imparts healthy long life, good memory and other benefits.2 Chakrapani defined that if rasayana taken by healthy persons it bestows strength to the ojus and dhatus of the body.3 Gangadhararay in his commentary jalpakalpataru defined that the therapy which prevents jara (old age itself is disease) as rasayana.4 Sushruta defined rasayana as a measure that prolongs longevity, improves mental faculties, develops positive health, and provides resistance and immunity against diseases.5 Dalhana defined that rasayana is a measure to yield excellent pharmacokinetics and it restores the youthful healthy long life.6 Sarangadhara defined that the therapy which prevents from aging and disease is rasayana.7 The benefits of rasayana (rejuvenation) therapy are- the promotion of memory and intelligence; immunity against disease and decay; the preservation of youth, luster, complexion and voice; the maintenance of optimum strength of the body and sense; it confers the capacity or the achievement of what is said; and the command of the respect and regard of people and the promotion of bodily glow.2 So to prevent the old age and to attain healthy long life, rasayana therapy is the best choice. To prevent the akala jara achara rasayana is the best rasayana therapy. Achara Rasayana8 Achara rasayana is a mode of living behavior and conduct. It envisages a code of conduct to lead stress free life which in turn fetches longevity. The persons who wish to live longer and stay away from diseases should follow these principles. (Ca.Chi.1/1/7) Speaking pleasant and truthful words always, Maintaining mental peace, Should have control over the mind and mental faculties, Should be Courageous, Reciting the mahamantras and should be interested in purification therapies, Tapahsampannata, Should always associate with donations and righteous things, Kindness towards all includes animals like cow etc., Respectful and friendly attitude towards the elders, teachers, parents, learned ones and god, Knowledge of yukti(rational thinking), Awareness of time and place, Belief in god., Healthy habits and thoughts, Philanthropy, Regular use of ghee and milk. Things to be avoided - anger, violence and jealousy, indulgence in liquor and sex, fatigue due to excessive strain, roughness in words, cruel and sinful acts. References 1. Charaka chikitsa 1/2/32. Charaka chikitsa 1/1/83. "Svasthasyorjaskaram yattad rasayanam ucyate" - Charaka chikitsa 1/1/8 Ayurveda deepika4. "Yajjaravyadhi vidhwamsi bheshajam tad rasayanam" (jaraiva vyadhiriti jara vyadhi tad vyadhiharana shabde ravyapte") - Charaka chikitsa 1/1/8 jalpakalpataru 5. Sushruta chikitsa 27/1, su.su.1/76. Rasadi dhatunamidamapyayanam athava bheshajasritanam rasaviryavipaka prabhavaparamayurbalaviryanam vayasthairyakaranamayanam labhopayo rasayanam" Sushruta chikitsa 27/1, nibandha sangraha7. "Yajjaravyadhi vidhwamsi bheshajam tad rasayanam" sarangadhara samhita8. Charaka chikitsa 1/4/31-369. Su.chi.27/6 Dalhana10. Ca.su.25/44 Dr.V. V. Lakshmiprasuna, M.D. Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/59/What-Is-Alzheimers-Disease.html This is one disease that is feared by everyone. Consequently, many people fear that may have Alzheimer's because they forget things frequently or can't remember where they put a certain item. If you don't know the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's, this article will help ease your mind. Does this happen to you often? You had your car keys in your hand but now you can't remember where you laid them down.You've searched and searched for your reading glasses - only to discover you're wearing them.You go to another room in the house and can't remember why.You meet an old friend on the street and can't remember their name. Sound familiar? If it does, you're not alone - and you don't have Alzheimer's. The above scenarios are more often than not due to being busy and having too many things on your mind. In other words - multi-tasking. Alzheimer's isn't losing your car keys. It's having your car keys in your hand and not being able to remember what you use them for. Alzheimer's isn't not being able to find your glasses. It's not knowing what reading glasses are. Alzheimer's isn't going into another room in the house and not knowing why. It's going into another room and not knowing where you are. Alzheimer's is not forgetting an old friend's name. It's never knowing that you ever knew them. As you can see, there is a significant difference between plain, old forgetfulness and Alzheimer's disease. That's the good news. The bad news is that Alzheimer's is sneaky. It can be working on your brain before symptoms ever show up. There are three stages to Alzheimer's. Early-stage Alzheimer's Memory loss starts being noticed but the person can compensate and still perform daily duties. The person becomes: Easily confused Repeats questions and stories in the same conversation Can't remember personal history Has trouble doing routine tasks like preparing dinner, grocery shopping, or paying bills Disoriented to time and place Develops "strange" behaviors such as forgetting to eat or eating non-stop, hiding objects of little value Mid-stage Alzheimer's During mid-stage Alzheimer's, there is a noticeable decline in the functioning of bodily functions. The person's appearance changes noticeably as they can no longer dress and bathe themselves. They start to wander, have hallucinations, and become paranoid. Late-stage Alzheimer's This stage is marked by complete deterioration of the personality and loss of control over bodily functions. It requires total dependence on others for even the most basic activities of daily living. They no longer recognize family members and spouses. They need help with all daily activities. All communication skills have been lost and they speak very little if at all. They can't write or comprehend reading material. They lose control over all body functions. Knowing the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's is important to either give you peace of mind and being reassured that you don't have it or by being able to diagnose it in it's early stages. Jason Ladock Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/58/Prevention-of-Alzheimers-Disease.html Many people fear getting Alzheimer's disease with good reason. Losing the ability to think and perform daily activities can be very frightening and there's nothing people would like more than to find a way to prevent this from happening to them. A cure has not been discovered, but medical professionals have discovered some developing patterns in people who do not get Alzheimer's. These patterns not only include lifestyle changes but involve the use of different drugs over a period of time. Research on these drugs is not conclusive and due to the fact that people react differently to different drugs, no drugs or medications should ever be taken without medical consultation. Some of the drugs that are being studied are: Anti-inflammatory drugsAspirinIbuprophenCelebrexCholesterol lowering drugsCholinesterase inhibitors These inhibitors do not prevent Alzheimer's but have been used to slow down the disease. They help slow down memory loss and the loss of the ability to learn which are two symptoms of Alzheimer's. NMDA This medication is classified as a "receptor antagonist" and slows down mental decline. Patients who took this medication were able to perform daily activities such as dressing and eating longer than patients who didn't take the drug. There are many pros and cons when dealing with medications. What works for one Alzheimer's patient may cause serious side effects in another. Talk with your doctor about trying different medications while your loved one is being closely observed. Never try medications without the knowledge and consent of a doctor. Because drugs can have potentially dangerous side effects, many people are opting for alternative treatments of Alzheimer's. Some of the alternative treatments are considered to be memory enhancers such as: AcupunctureAcupressureCounselingPsychotherapyMusic therapyAroma therapy Some patients are seeing improvement in maintaining and improving their memory by using some of these treatments. Other alternative treatments include herbal remedies and nutritional supplements. As always, before taking any supplements, be sure and consult with your doctor. Herbal remedies may be natural, but they can have negative interactions with any other medicine that a patient is taking. Your doctor can let you know if it is safe to try these types of treatments. Every day, new information is being discovered for the prevention and cure of Alzheimer's. Perhaps one day soon, we can be rid of this dreaded disease. In the meantime, trying different treatments may have positive results for you or your loved one. Javier Hernandez Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/57/Choosing-a-Pet-Bird-for-Children.html If you're thinking about getting a pet bird, you have many things to think about before you make your decision: expense, care, size, time needed, and species. If you have children and the bird will be their pet, this is one more consideration you need to add to your list. Different bird species have different personalities and some are better suited for children. Here are some birds that make the best pets for children: Canaries Ever heard the term, "Sing like a Canary"? There's a reason. These birds sing beautifully and will sing for you for hours. If listening to a bird sing for hours doesn't appeal to you, you may not need one of these birds. If you do like the singing, you may want to choose a male bird as they tend to sing better and more often than females. Besides singing, Canaries are beautiful birds that are around five to eight inches tall. They come in "canary yellow" but can also be found in shades of red and orange. If you choose a Canary, you will need a large cage. These birds need room to fly in their cage to exercise their wings. You also need to take into consideration that female Canaries can live for five to six years and males can live up to ten years. Parakeets Parakeets or Budgies are a very popular bird. They are also a social bird and you need to get more than one so they will have company. This will keep your bird healthy physically and emotionally. These birds also live ten to fifteen years so you may have this bird even after your child has grown and moved away from home. This is definitely something you need to consider. Finches Finches are another sociable bird that needs to be bought in pairs. They are active little birds that are good if you want birds primarily for watching - not playing with. These birds also need plenty of room in their cage so they can fly. They will need approximately an 18" square cage for one bird, larger for two or more with plenty of perches available. Parrotlets This bird is quickly becoming a very popular species. It is smaller than regular parrots and comes in a variety of beautiful colors. It is less demanding of your time and doesn't require another bird for company. As long as you keep this bird's cage stocked with plenty of treats and toys, it is pretty content. Of course, you still need to play and interact with this bird but it is good at keeping itself and your child entertained. This bird can live from 15 to 20 years so be sure you are ready for this kind of commitment before you consider purchasing one. There are many species of birds to choose from, so do some research. Read about different bird personalities, their temperaments, their demand for attention, noise level, expense, and life span. The Canary, Finches, Parakeet, and Parrotlet make good choices for children and will probably be your best bet. Javier Hernandez Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT http://www.healthguidance.org/blogs/56/Secret-Anti-Aging-Tips.html How would you like to know two of the most effective anti-aging secrets there are? How would you like it if you found out that not only could you afford them, but they were free? How would you like it if you found out that anybody could do it and they are available to everyone? You would? Okay... they're not secret. They're well known facts but they are ignored by most everyone. They are the most effective tactics against anti-aging there is and they are free. Anyone can do this and it is available to everyone. Can you guess what the "secret" is? Keep reading... Yep, if you guessed water and sleep, you're right. I would say you're the winner but if you're not taking advantage of these two most effective anti-aging tricks available, you're not a winner. I would say you are smart if you guessed water and sleep, but if you know this and still aren't taking advantage of it... well... So here's the lowdown. Water Everyone needs water. Your body is made up of 70% water. You breathe out about 2 1/2 cups of water every day. You lose a pint every night when you're sleeping. You lose two to four cups per day through perspiring - this is without exercising. You lose about another six cups by using the bathroom. Enough facts? Have I convinced you that you need water? So, you're wondering how much water you need - right? The standard recommendation is eight 8-ounce glasses per day. A better guideline is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. Say you weigh 140 pounds. You would need to drink approximately 70 ounces of water. What will drinking this much water do? First, if you aren't drinking this much water on a daily basis, you are probably dehydrated. So when you start drinking your water, you'll notice that your skin will begin to look clearer and you'll also notice that fine lines and wrinkles will smooth out - a big plus. Drinking the right amount of water is also good for your entire system - not just your face. Once you start drinking the right amount, it will begin to flush out toxins, wastes, and pollutants - generally cleaning up your body. Your body will thank you! Sleep You need eight hours of sleep per night. Now, I can hear you snickering about this one. Let me guess. You're thinking, "Yeah, right. I would LOVE to get eight hours of sleep every night. Show me how to do that." Well, everyone is busy. Trust me - it's not just you. So you have a choice to make. Sit down (in that spare time you have), and make a list of everything you do each week. Now, I want you to critically examine everything you do. What did you do that was totally unnecessary?What did you do that took longer than it should have because you didn't prepare and plan ahead of time?What are you doing that family members can and should be helping you do? Laundry, loading and unloading the dishwasher, fixing their own lunches, vacuuming, dusting, etc.What are you doing that other people can take over? (committee positions etc.) Take time to think this out because it really is a matter of life and death. People that don't get adequate sleep not only age early, they die early. They have heart attacks at an early age. Getting enough sleep is great for making you look younger, but... we're talking about some serious stuff here. Let's get our priorities straight. So now you know. The two big secrets to anti-aging are... what? Yes, getting enough water and enough sleep. Very simple. You can do it. Javier Hernandez Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 MDT