Curing Athlete’s Foot with Home Remedies

December 26th, 2008

Athlete’s foot is an itchy, parasitic fungal infection of the skin of your foot, usually between the toes, which causes scaling, flaking, itching and cracking of the skin. It is typically caused by a mold (but in some cases a yeast) that grows on the surface of the skin and then gets into the cracks between the toes. Although the malady more commonly affects males than females, it’s estimated to be the second most common skin disease in the United States, after acne. The fungus thrives in warm, damp environments, such as the locker rooms, health clubs, public showers and indoor swimming pools.

Prevention of athlete’s foot can be achieved in many ways and should be practiced especially in public places. The first place to start prevention is to use a antibacterial and anti-fungal soap such as GymSoap. Always wear shower shoes or sandals in locker rooms or public showers and baths. Be sure you wash your feet with soap and dry thoroughly especially between your toes.

Some of the personal prevention measures you can take include wearing well-ventilated shoes, wear cotton or moisture wicking polyester socks, use foot powder, change shoes every day and replace old sneakers. These are just a few of the ways to prevent or keep your athlete’s foot in check

Natural treatments are my favorite way to prevent and cure athlete’s foot. Here are some that I’ve used or heard about working:

White Vinegar-Make a solution of one part of vinegar and four parts of lukewarm water. Soak the infected foot in that solution for half an hour twice daily.

Tea tree oil-After you have soaked your feet in the vinegar water, rub tea tree oil on your toes and wherever you have athletes foot.

Aloe Vera-I find that this worked about as well as anything I tried. Make sure your feet are dry and massage it into the affected areas. It will stop the itching also.

Hydrogen Peroxide-Apply with a Q-Tip or cotton swab after washing or soaking your feet. Allow to dry. If you wish, you may follow with an application of apple cider vinegar.

Eucalyptus oil-apply a few drops to the affected areas two to three times daily. It will kill the fungi and relieve the itching.

Tea-Fill a large bowl with a quart of boiling water and add six tea bags. Soak your feet for up to an hour. The tannic acid in tea kills some of the fungus and is soothing for painful, itchy feet.

Baking soda-Using baking soda as a powder on your feet and between your toes after you shower and dry your feet and toes thoroughly is helpful.

Household bleach-Wash your socks and towel with bleach in the water. Wipe out your shoes with a bleach water mixture and let dry, then spray well with Lysol and let dry. Also use Lysol on the tub, shower, and foot tub. Do not dry - spray till wet and let air dry.

Corn starch-is effective in soaking moisture, so keep your toes and fee dry by sprinkling corn starch on them.

Garlic-Either crush or blend a couple cloves of garlic. Then rub it into the skin where you have athlete’s foot. It will take 2 to 3 days to heal all of the dry dead skin but works great.

Boric acid-Sprinkled in your socks will prevent athlete’s foot, especially if you’ve had infections before. Don’t use this to treat the problem though.

Hair dryer-Athlete’s foot thrives in moist and your hair dryer can aid in the drying the feet after bathing or between baths if you feet become moist.

Epsom salts-Some podiatrists recommend soaking the feet in a solution of Epsom salts in warm water.

Yogurt-To help ease the symptoms, you can put plain yogurt on the affected area as often as you want. A small amount of yogurt will surely soothe itchiness and redness.

Alcohol and Aspirin-Dissolve about 5 aspirin in 1/2 cup of rubbing alcohol and rub over your feet after showering or bathing, the aspirin will soak into the skin due to the alcohol mixture.

Antiperspirant/deodorant-regularly apply stick antiperspirant/deodorant to the feet, especially between the toes.

Vicks Vapor Rub-has also been touted as cure. Rub it between your toes or other affected area.

Listerine-applied to the infected area is said to cure athlete’s foot also.

The next time you or someone you know has athlete’s foot try some of these remedies instead of spending your hard earned money on OTC or even prescription drugs that don’t work as well. Some of these natural cures I’ve never tried but they sound like they would work. Many of them have been used for years so someone you know probably has some information on them. Even if they don’t work they won’t harm your health if you use them as suggested. If you think they might be a problem don’t try them.

Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athlete’s

http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=18&page=4

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Angular Cheilitis-The Symptoms and Cures

October 3rd, 2008

Angular cheilitis is commonly known as mouth corner cracks and like the name implies usually occurs at the corner of the mouth. While its not life threatening it is painful and can be damaging to your self esteem as it’s visible to everyone.

The symptoms are deep cracks or splits at the corner of the mouth which bleed when the mouth is opened. In extreme cases ulcers or a crust may form and Candida fungus could cause an infection. Some of the ways you can tell if you have angular cheilitis is if you have cracks in the corners your mouth along with redness, swelling and tenderness in the area. Sores or ulcers which bleed and even release pus can develop without some preventative measures. Other symptoms include pain while eating, talking or smiling and can re-open the sore making them receptive to infections from the Candida yeast. The continuous cracking and healing of the cracks in the corner of your mouth may start to itch adding another problem to the others you are already trying to deal with.

It’s not known for sure what causes angular cheilitis although it has been suggested it may be caused by iron or vitamin deficiency although much of the time it appears to be caused by simple things like licking your lips too much, being out in the cold weather or chapped lips from the wind or sun. In children or babies bottle feeding, sucking on a pacifier or sucking their thumb could also contribute to angular cheilitis. Normally these things can be kept from turning into cracks in the mouth corners by using petroleum jelly, lipstick or lip balm. My favorite cure for chapped and cracked lips has always been Aloe Vera. We grew it in the backyard and used it for curing just about everything on the outside of our bodies.

Cheilitis may also be caused by a lack of vitamins B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine), or B12 (cyanocobalamin) along with a deficiency in iron or an immune system that has been weakened by something such as HIV. Toothpastes and cosmetics have also been known to cause this lip problem. Even some foods or drink such as orange juice can make the problem worse. If there is lack of B vitamins it can be cured by either supplements or by focusing on foods rich in B vitamins such as dairy products, cereals and leafy vegetables for B2. For B3 and B6 eat foods such as beans, rice, fish, eggs, etc.

A doctor or a dentist can diagnose angular cheilitis depending on what is causing the problem. When it’s a case of no dentures or poor fitting ones then the dentist can probably take care of that. Elderly people experience angular cheilitis frequently because due to the loss of teeth they end up with over closure of their mouths causing liquid to form in the corners of their mouth which could develop into angular cheilitis. Many times symptoms for a toothless person can be halted with dentures. In the case of a vitamin deficiency or some other medical condition then a doctor can test and treat you for these things in order to cure the angular cheilitis.

Angular Cheilitis http://www.angular-cheilitis-center.com/wise-cracks-about-angular-cheilitis.htm

Angular Cheilitis http://www.healthy-skincare.com/angular-cheilitis.html

Angular Cheilitis http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/angular_cheilitis.htm

To learn more about getting rid of your angular cheilitis in as little as 3 hours click on Angular Cheilitis!

Qassia

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10 Tips For Avoiding Peanut Allergy Reactions

September 25th, 2008

It has been estimated that up to 1 percent of the population of the United States or as many as 3 million people suffer from peanut allergies. More people in America suffer from peanut allergy than any other food allergy and for some of them exposure to even a very small amount could be fatal. Peanut allergies result in 80% of the life-threatening case anaphylactic shock or serious allergic responses every year. Although it doesn’t cause death very often it’s still very dangerous and if you or someone you know is suspected of being allergic to peanuts they should see their doctor at once.

It appears that peanut allergies start at a young age and for most people it lasts a lifetime. Even though 20-25% of those afflicted grow out of it, for the rest of them it’s a very serious problem. Even the tiniest contact with a peanut or peanut product could cause major problems for many sufferers.

A strange thing about peanut allergies is that the first time someone is exposed to a peanut they don’t have a problem, but the second time they could have a reaction. The reason is the first time the immune system develops antibodies to fight the proteins in peanut products and the next time the body recognizes these proteins they are attacked by the antibodies which produces a allergic reaction, according to an article in Peanut Allergy.

The American Peanut Council states there isn’t a cure for peanut allergy and no treatments to eliminate or reduce peanut allergy attacks. You can only treat the symptoms of a reaction once it happens. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and The American Peanut Council agree the only way to prevent an allergic reaction is to strictly avoid any peanuts or peanut products.

According to National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease and American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology allergy reactions start and proceed quickly even though fatalities are rare. They say that in severe cases epinephrine (such as adrenaline) must be used to keep sufferers from going into anaphylactic shock. When given in time it could reverse the condition by increasing heart rate, squeezing the blood vessels, relaxing lung muscles and halting swelling in the throat and face. Once the drug is given the patient must immediately follow-up at a hospital.

Tips to help you and your loved ones avoid peanut allergy problems:

1. Read all the labels on the foods you buy especially ones that are a combination of ingredients. If you have any doubts don’t use it. You can also take down the manufacturer’s information and contact them. Check with the Peanut Allergy Website or someplace similar to see if they have additional information.

2. Learn all the different names for peanuts and peanut products, as these vary throughout the world. It probably a good idea to avoid foreign packed foods as they don’t always label all ingredients, especially if it’s a small amount.

3. Contact the person in charge of meals at your child’s school and ask them to not serve any food with a peanut product in it. You may be able to get a list of what they buy and check it yourself.

4. Make sure the restaurants you frequent have a peanut product notification policy. It will likely take some work to find restaurants you feel safe in going to. Talk to managers and chefs to see if they will cooperate with you.

5. You may want to avoid all nuts, as many times peanuts are sold as another type of nut or mixed in with them.

6. If there is peanut butter in your house or where you visit, be very careful about sharing food or utensils where there could be cross contamination.

7. Be care in kissing someone who may have been eating a peanut product. Be especially watchful about children. Try to make everyone aware of your problem so they don’t feel slighted if you don’t kiss them.

8. You need to keep in mind that even a very small amount of peanut product could potential kill you or someone you love.

9. If you suspect that you or someone you know has a peanut allergy, don’t deny the symptoms, have a check up.

10. Wearing a peanut allergy identification medical bracelet might save your life.

Here’s some good news for peanut allergy sufferers. On July 25, 2007, Medical News Today reported that the North

Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University announced that a scientist there, Dr. Mohamed Ahmedna, had invented and developed a way to make peanuts completely allergen free. A 100% lack of allergens in whole roasted peanuts was proven in initial testing and severely allergic human serums showed no reaction upon exposure to processed peanuts. The process purportedly doesn’t affect the taste or quality of the peanuts so a number of food companies have shown interest in licensing the method. It was also reported the process for using peanuts as an ingredient in food product is made simpler.

While the news about a safe peanut is great, it’s likely to be available sometime in the future, so in the meantime be very diligent in all matters that relate to peanuts or peanut products.

Peanut Allergy http://www.peanutallergy.com/

Peanut Allergies http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peanut-allergy/DS00710

Allergen Free Peanuts http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/77666.php

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Cure Acne With All Natural Treatment and Remedies

September 22nd, 2008

Acne is an affliction suffered by an estimated 80% of people from ages 12-24. Teenagers are the most apt to get it as it is mostly caused by high level of hormones which are produced during puberty. This leads to the production of large quantities of sebum (oil) which can clog the pores and form pimples, which is the beginning of acne. Other causes of overproduction of sebum are hormonal changing medicines, being overweight, stress or a poor diet which can all contribute to imbalance and cause acne in both men and women. Women will often suffer from acne during pregnancy due to the hormonal imbalance.

The main effects from acne are scarring, but sometimes the worst effect is psychological, especially in teenagers. Many teens are already socially insecure and when they have acne it can lead to depression and even suicide. I can remember the trauma in our home over it, but luckily my wife knew how to fix it so it turned out well.

Most all of the cures on the market both natural and medicinal concern the skin. This is usually the first step in fighting acne and after you clear it up you need to figure out how to cure the cause of it. There are dozens of natural treatments for clearing up the skin. Many different fruit and vegetables are used to cure acne such as tomato pulp, lemon juice, potatoes, cucumbers, fresh garlic, etc. More cures include cumin seeds, basil leaves, honey and cinnamon, turmeric, etc.

Other items used as cures include rose water, lavender oil, tea tree oil and aloe vera. We grew aloe vera in the backyard and my wife used it to cure everything. When it was mixed with a little tea tree oil it did a great job curing my daughter’s acne.

A place to start curing the cause of acne is with a healthy diet. Eat mostly unprocessed foods with a large part of your diet being fruit and vegetables, especially raw ones as fiber is an important part of an acne diet. Try to drink 8 glasses of water a day to flush toxins out of the body.

Several different vitamins are very important in the prevention of acne. Vitamin A can prevent acne by reducing sebum production. It is also necessary to maintain and repair the tissue of the skin and can also help rid the body of toxins. A deficiency of it can cause acne. Vitamin A is found in carrots, broccoli, cabbage, apples bananas, berries and many other fruits and vegetables. Vitamin B6 is another one that should be taken and it can be found in many of the same fruits and vegetables as Vitamin A.

Zinc is an element that is recommended as it is an antibacterial agent. A low zinc diet could actually cause acne. Zinc is found in almost all fruits and vegetable with these having significant amounts: blackberries, kiwi fruit, peas, corn and sweet potatoes along with others.

Chromium is excellent for healing infections on the skin. Its present in many fruits and vegetables but you may have to take a supplement to make sure you are getting enough.

Foods to avoid include refined sugar, meats, poultry, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, nut butters, soft drinks, candies, fried foods, refined and processed foods along with milk products and hydrogenated vegetable oil to name a few.

Lifestyle changes should include not wearing makeup or if it’s necessary make sure its water based. Do not pick, squeeze, rub or touch your blackheads and pimples as you may cause infection to spread under your skin. Wash your pillow case every other day as it absorbs oil from your skin. Clean your face thoroughly to remove dirt, dead skin cells and bacteria to keep them from clogging your pores.

Exercise will increase blood circulation and take oxygen to all the cells in the body plus the sweating will help eliminate toxins. Quit smoking to stop Vitamin C being destroyed along with damage to skin tissue. Give up alcohol to stop the expansion of blood vessel which cause red spots and makes the skin itch. Use sun block when outdoors to protect your skin from further damage. Last but not least get plenty of rest as stress could help promote an acne attack.

Sources:

Natural Acne Treatments http://www.natural-acne-treatments.com/tea-tree-oil-acne.html

wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acne_vulgaris

Ayurvediccure http://www.ayurvediccure.com/homeremedies_acne.htm

About Skincare http://healing.about.com/cs/skincare/a/uc_acneguide.htm

Prevent or get rid of your acne using natural treatments. Request your Free Report “5 Secrets To Clearing Your Skin”or or go to Holistic Cure to learn the secrets to curing acne holistically! Visit Natural Cures blog to get information on treating acne plus information on many other ailments

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Prevent Heartburn & Acid Reflux With Simple Lifestyle Changes

September 18th, 2008

Most people don’t realize that their lifestyle is the primary cause of their heartburn. Although it’s mainly caused by the foods and drinks they consume, some of it is caused by other things that can be changed to prevent the acid reflux and heartburn. Over the years I finally realized that with a few changes and eating the recommended foods that are natural cures I was able to cure my heartburn and acid reflux.

Here are a number of simple lifestyle (mostly common sense) changes I made which helped me cure my heartburn and acid reflux. I recommend you give these a try before taking any medicine.

The list of foods and beverages that cause heartburn is quite extensive and likely includes many foods you love. You may have to give up some of them or at least cut way back on them. Not all of the same foods and drinks trigger heartburn or acid reflux the same symptoms in everyone. You should keep a diary of what you eat to find out which food and drink affects you.

The foods and beverages I’ve listed here affect almost everyone to a degree. Some of them only affect a person when combined with others. Onions, garlic, tomatoes and citrus fruits are all heartburn triggers. High fat foods like cheese, meat, avocadoes, salad dressing, etc. can also cause heartburn or acid reflux. All deep fried foods or ones fried in oil should be avoided. Spicy foods of all types can also cause problems. Beverages such as coffee, hot chocolate, citrus fruit juices and carbonated beverages should be avoided also.

Along with avoiding the foods and beverages that can cause heartburn or acid reflux there are a number of others changes you can make that are good preventative measures. These are the ones I used to cure my heartburn and acid reflux.

Just because you’re eating the right foods doesn’t mean you should overeat. Too much of any food could cause heartburn. Try to eat smaller portions at meal time and better yet eat four or five smaller meals instead of the three big ones.

Always sit down to eat and then eat your meal slowly, putting your fork down between bites. This way you will feel full with out eating as much food. The amount of food you eat is more important than the kind you eat.

Drink the recommended amount of water to dilute the acid and to prevent dehydration while exercising. It will also fill you up so that you don’t eat too much.

Never go to bed or lay down with a full stomach, wait at least two to three hours after eating. I either walk or ride my stationary bike after eating which helps with my digestion.

Trying to lose some weight will also help relieve some heartburn symptoms. Just by following these suggestions and not even trying to diet I lost 20 pounds, which was a bonus to losing the heartburn.

Either quitting or cutting down on smoking will help as nicotine can weaken the sphincter that controls the opening from the esophagus and stomach allowing acid to enter the esophagus from the stomach.

You should stay away from alcohol. If you need to unwind after a hard day, do some exercise in place of a drink. If you’re at a party you can drink soda water with a slice of lemon.

Wait at least two hours after a meal before exercising. Even though I walk or ride my bike right after eating, I would wait if I was going to lift weights or do something strenuous.

If heartburn or acid reflux is a problem when you go to bed, raise the head of your bed (put blocks under the legs) to make your head and chest higher than your feet. Don’t try to use pillows because your head will be at an angle that can make your heartburn worse by putting pressure on your stomach.

I found that utilizing these tips and eating the right foods keeps me heartburn and acid reflux free. I do slip once in a while but I’m able to cure it quickly due to my good foundation in prevention.

Sources:

Heartburn http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/

Cleveland Clinic http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/acid_reflux/dd_overview.aspx

Lifestyle http://www.revolutionhealth.com/conditions/digestive/acid-reflux/lifestyle

If you would like more information on curing acid reflux get your FREE Acid Reflux Newsletter and for getting rid of heartburn learn more about Holistic Heartburn Cure

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Using Natural Treatments To Prevent Or Cure A Panic Attack

September 16th, 2008

Your first panic attack should be a learning experience that will help you control attacks in the future. Sometimes people with a panic attack go to the emergency room thinking they are having a heart attack as the symptoms are similar and come on suddenly. You’ll feel things like sudden periods of extreme fear, anxiety, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, rapid heart beat, hyperventilation, tingling sensation, nausea, etc. When they learn that it was a panic attack and knowing the difference they can start taking control of their future attacks. This is important because often a panic attack will keep you from even functioning.

Panic attacks are caused by many physical, mental and emotional triggers. Genetics may play a part and females are more apt to get them than men. Allergies or sensitivities to food, drink or chemicals can trigger an attack along with memories or trauma. Alcohol and drug can also cause panic attacks and disorders. Serious and upsetting experiences along with everyday events could trigger an attack.

Panic disorder may lead to “situational avoidance,” where the sufferer feels they have to avoid every place or situation in where attack has occurred and might not even leave their house which could be a very serious disruption to a normal life.

Control subjects were less likely to have panic attacks then patients with panic disorders after both drank a high amount of caffeine, according to results of a small study by Isabella Nascimento, MD, and colleagues at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

People who had went to a doctor for treatment told me that they were usually told they should avoid caffeine in colas, coffee, chocolate and tea.

I’ve talked with several people who gave me the following natural treatments they have used to cure or avoid panic attacks without using medicine.

Deep Breathing

One of the best forms of panic attack relief is to simply take deep, slow breaths to prevent hyperventilation. By getting hyperventilation under control you avoid things such as the dizziness and lightheadedness which happens because there is too much oxygen being taken to the brain at one time.

Exercise

This appears to be a one of the best ways of dealing with a panic attack once it’s started. An adrenaline rush usually accompanies an attack and the exercise can bleed it off according to people who use it.

Aroma therapy

After listening to a number of people talk about using aroma therapy to combat panic attacks it appears there are two schools of thought. The first swears by using smells that bring back pleasant memories, such as baby powder, certain flowers, farm animals or barbecuing. The others said that aromas from essential oils or candles were the best.

Meditation

This is a way that several people said helped them from having attacks or by being able to stop them once they started.

Think happy thoughts or take your mind off your problem

Others told me that once an attack started they tried to empty their mind of anything but pleasant things that they had done in the past and it appeared to help them. They also said taking your mind off the attack with things like counting backwards from one hundred was helpful.

The above ways are used by ordinary people to cure or get over a panic attack. In some cases they just can’t do it themselves and need professional help. Below is some information on several different natural methods used to cure people with panic disorders.

Getting Professional Help

Hypnosis

DianeUlicsni, director of The Hypnosis Center in Lake Oswego, Ore., suffered from chronic panic attacks for many years. She finally found relief through hypnosis and is now a board certified hypnotherapist. She says that hypnosis — recognized by the American Medical Association since 1958 as a form of treatment — is one approach that is non-drug and can greatly ease or even cure panic attacks.

Laugh your panic attacks away?

That’s a good strategy, says Steven Sutanoff, PHD, a clinical psychologist in Irvine, Calif., and past president of the American Association for Therapeutic Humor. He uses humor visualization with his panic attack patients, telling them to imagine themselves in a situation where they’ve laughed uncontrollably. When they have a panic situation, they are able to return to the picture of themselves laughing.

Cognitive Behavorial Therapy

James D. Herbert, PHD, associate professor of clinical psychology at MCP Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, says that cognitive behavioral therapy is his choice for treating panic disorders. Cognitive-behavior therapy is made up of two parts: One is to identify and modify the thinking patterns that produces anxiety (cognitive therapy), and lessening anxiety by exposing the patient to fearful scenarios (behavior therapy).

If you suffer from panic attacks try some of the treatments listed above. They have worked for people I talked with and maybe they’ll work for you too.

Sources

Natural Panic Attack Treatments http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/natural-panic-attack-treatments?page=1

James D. Herbert, PHD, http://www.academyofct.org/Library/InfoManage/Guide.asp?FolderID=153&SessionID=

Prevent or get rid of your anxiety attacks and panic attacks using only natural treatments. Request your Free Mini-Series or Free Video Session. to learn more! Visit our Natural Cures blog to get information on treating panic attack along with dozens of other illnesses.

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How To Get Rid of Cold Sores In Three Easy Steps

August 14th, 2008

Author: Denny Bodoh

Want to know how to get rid of cold sores? Then this article was written just for you. In just a minute you will discover how to get rid of cold sores, fever blisters and oral herpes with medically approved cold sore treatment methods.

Learning how to get rid of cold sores using these basic steps is actually quite simple and effective. And it could save you quite a bit of money.

You see, there are a lot of wild claims for cold sore treatment methods and products that just do not perform as promised. You buy it and eventually throw it away.

Before you are able to truly learn how to get rid of cold sores, you should know exactly what they are.

The cold sore itself is formed by the total destruction of millions of close cells. These cells are destroyed as the final part of the herpes simplex virus replication process.

Nearly everyone (90%) carries this virus. It is normally dormant and hiding in the root cells of your facial nerves closest to the original infection spot.

Since it is very contagious, tough, and extremely good at hiding, you will carry this herpes virus for life.

Stress is the common trigger that usually activates the herpes virus. Stress changes your body to a slightly acid state and weakens your immune defenses.

The sole purpose of the virus, once awakened, is to create new copies of its own kind. It does this by wiggling to the surface along the nerve fibers and forcing millions of cells into being virus factories.

Once the cells are full, the herpes virus kills the cell to release all the new virus. As mentioned earlier, all these destroyed cells forms the cold sore ulcer.

The healing period begins at this point as your body creates new cells and skin to heal the massive destruction.

The speed of the healing process is dependent on your current health, and the availability of necessary nutrients.

These include vitamins, minerals and proteins from your diet.

Here, now, is how to get rid of cold sores - in three easy and basic steps. No matter what else you do, you really should use these as part of the total plan.

1. FIRST COLD SORE WARNING SIGNS

This is subtle but very important. At the very beginning of a new cold sore event, you will sense some discomfort in the target area. This may include itching, tingling, burning and dryness.

Many people miss these warning signs and thus end up with a full-blown cold sore.

If you apply ice or other cold object during these early warning signs, you can delay the cold sore - or sometimes stop it cold.

If you are able to get rid of cold sores at this early stage, it is a real blessing because you avoid the two or three

weeks of discomfort and healing.

2. KEEP THE COLD SORE AS CLEAN AS POSSIBLE

Even without your help, your body knows how to get rid of cold sores. It creates a thick fluid to wash away the offending virus. This fluid continually weeps from the sore, just teaming with contagious virus particles.

Your body knows that the cleansing of the wound is extremely important for healing.

This is where you can really help it along.

You should use tissues or paper towels soaked in alcohol, wine, or peroxide to cleanse the wound of additional virus.

This will also help sanitize the area to prevent spreading the sore to a new location, such as your eyes.

3. COLD SORE HEALING TAKES TIME

During the healing phase, ice is not any longer a good cold sore treatment. It may reduce discomfort, but it really slows down healing. Now you must apply heat.

You can do this using throwaway paper towel dipped in hot water and applied to the sore. Or you can do what many do and use hot, wet tea bags.

The tea contains healing nutrients the will speed recovery. And they are cheap and convenient.

But, do not heat up in a microwave oven. This destroys the nutritional and healing properties. Use boiling water instead.

You will want to do 10 to 15 minute sessions with the heat.

As you can see - how to get rid of cold sores is actually quite simple using these medically sound and time proven methods that have worked for thousands of others.

There are other tips, tricks and tactics you can use to get rid of cold sores, but these are the basics by which everything else will work much better.

You see - the key isn’t how to get rid of cold sores, but how to do so effectively and permanently.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-get-rid-of-cold-sores-in-three-easy-steps-

520036.html

About the Author:

Cold Sores a pain? Check out Denny Bodoh’s popular web site bursting with excellent articles on Cold Sores. Take away some amazing Cold Sore cures and remedies you can use right now.

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Insomnia Eye Opener: Over $100 Billion Is Lost To Exhausted And Tired Workers

August 5th, 2008

Author: Sherry Harris

Did you know lack of sleep resulting in exhaustion is one of the most serious health- related problems in the workplace. It has also been shown that sleep deprivation is a major cause of under-productivity, absenteeism and workplace accidents. You know the routine…

You wake up at the same time every morning, you get dressed in your work attire, you sit in traffic, and then stare at a computer screen for hours while at your desk. You are beginning to feel unproductive and extremely lazy. You feel that maybe your life needs a change, but before you start searching through the want ads, you might want to implement a change in your lifestyle first. Your attitude toward your job could have a great deal to do with your sleeping, or lack thereof. If you are tossing and turning every night, this could put you into a funk when you wake up every morning, and so going to work might seem like even more of a chore.

Employers Take Notice
According to the National Sleep Foundation sleep deprivation and sleep disorders are estimated to cost Americans over $100 billion annually in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave, and property and environmental damage. Sleep in America poll found that 51% of the American workforce reported that sleepiness on the job interfered with the amount of work they got done. One out of four adults had difficulty getting up for work two or more days per week.

Insomnia Effects On Employees
Tired employees can experience more difficulty in concentrating on what they are doing, listening to what others are saying, solving problems on the job, making decisions and relating to their co-workers. Constant exhaustion will make simple tasks seem quite tedious to the point where you might not want to do them at all. Your overall performance suffers simply because you are not able to fall asleep, or stay asleep, every night. Your grogginess will slowly but surely begin to catch up with you, and your coworkers and supervisor will surely see this lackluster effort. It is time to tackle the problem before it gets out of control, and ends up getting you fired.

Find out the reasons behind your insomnia, and then you can determine if you still are feeling burnt out at your job. Perhaps it is the stress of your work situation that is causing you to wake during the night. Or maybe you feel that you spend so much time there that you have no time for yourself. First, you must begin to relax so that you are able to allow yourself to fall asleep, and take it from there.

On your day off relax. Try some of the tips from the free e-book “Best Practices Guide: 101 Amazingly Simple Ways to Beat Insomnia”.

1. Make sure your bed is large enough, and comfortable. If you are disturbed by a restless bedmate, switch to a queen- or king-size bed. Test different types of mattresses. Try therapeutic shaped foam pillows that cradle your neck or extra pillows that help you sleep on your side. Get comfortable cotton sheets.

2. Make your bedroom primarily a place for sleeping. It is not a good idea to use your bed for paying bills, doing work, etc. Help your body recognize that this is a place for rest or intimacy.

3. Keep your bedroom peaceful and comfortable. Make sure your room is well ventilated and the temperature consistent. And try to keep it quiet. You could use a fan or a “white noise” machine to help block outside noises.

4. Hide your clock. A big, illuminated digital clock may cause you to focus on the time and make you feel stressed and anxious. Turn the clock so you can’t see it or put it in a drawer.

5. Keep a regular schedule. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time everyday, even on the weekends. Keeping a regular schedule will help your body expect sleep at the same time each day. Don’t oversleep to make up for a poor night’s sleep - doing that for even a couple of days can reset your body clock and make it hard for you to get to sleep at night. Even if you haven’t slept well.

6. Incorporate bedtime rituals. Listening to soft music, sipping a cup of herbal tea, etc., cues your body that it’s time to slow down and begin to prepare for sleep.

7. Relax for a while before going to bed. Spending quiet time can make falling asleep easier. This may include meditation, relaxation and/or breathing exercises, or taking a warm bath. Try listening to recorded relaxation or guided imagery programs.

After you allow yourself to feel calm, you can head to bed for the entire night and wake up with a better outlook. You might find that it really is time to start looking for a more stimulating work environment. But make sure you exhaust every effort to fall asleep, and don’t just simply remain exhausted.Don’t allow insomnia to get the best of you. Get your body and mind on the right track to enjoy a full night of deep sleep. Break the cycle of a negative attitude and mediocre performance at work.

Go to sleep, enjoy the time you have to relax, wake up, and tell yourself that you are willing to give it another chance. Once you are free from the dark cloud of insomnia, you might realize that you actually do enjoy your job. And if not, you will certainly have more energy to begin the search for a new one.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/insomnia-eye-opener-over-100-billion-is-lost-to-exhausted-and-tired-workers-509450.html

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Magnetic Therapy For Pain Proven Effective

August 3rd, 2008


Author: Andy West

Good news for those who want a drug-free way to treat discomfort. Magnetic therapy for pain does work. Although holistic and alternative health practitioners have sung the praises of magnets for pain relief for years, Western medicine has been slow to embrace the therapy until recently. Now studies done at major universities are proving that proper use of certain types of magnets has several therapeutic effects on the body that, taken together, reduces pain significantly.

Scientific studies shed light on the effectiveness of magnetic therapy. At New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York, diabetic neuropathy; the burning, tingling sensation in the legs and feet experienced by many diabetics, was alleviated in over half the patients who regularly applied polarized magnets made of the rare earth metal neodymium.

Studies at Baylor University in Houston Texas showed impressive results relieving chronic pain in patients with both Post Polio Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. In these studies, the reduction in pain was equal to or better than what the participants in the study had previously felt with prescription or over the counter medications.

How does magnetic therapy for pain work? There are several different actions taking place in the body when therapeutic magnets are applied to the body. Of course, the magnets have to be strong enough to have the appropriate effect. Medical magnets are far stronger than the standard magnets you find in offices or homes. They also need to be made of the proper materials (such as the rare earth metal neodymium), which means purchasing them from a supplier of medical grade magnets. If a magnet meets these standards and is applied to an area of the body that is in pain, several things will happen:

The capillary walls in the area will relax. This will boost blood flow to the area, increasing healing in the area and bring needed warmth to the area. The warmth of the increased blood flow will help ease the pain and soothe the area as well as release toxins that have gathered in the area of the painful area and flushing them away. Increased blood flow also helps with relaxation and improved restfulness and sleep, all important to reduced pain levels.

Muscle spasms will decrease. Although the mechanism for this is unclear, magnets clearly reduce the amount of muscle spasms when applied to a painful area. Repeated muscle spasms aggravate pain by tightening muscles and joints; as the muscle spasms decrease, the muscles can relax and tightness decreases, allowing the area to unwind and get rid of the built-up levels of tension in them.

Electrochemical reactions in nerve cells are impeded. This is one of the most amazing ways that magnetic therapy for pain works. The magnets actually prevent cells from transmitting certain pain messages to brain cells. Although the pain signals are there, they are never delivered to the brain to be “interpreted” as pain, so you never get the message to feel it.

There is no other pain relief system that works on all three levels, by working on the blood vessels, the muscles and the nerve cells. It’s an amazing combination that is particularly effective yet without side effects. It’s also one of the best reasons to try magnetic therapy for pain. The treatments works on various levels but you don’t have to worry about being groggy, having a reaction or not being able to function because of dizziness, nausea or any other side effects so common to many other treatments for pain.

With so much scientific evidence now solidly behind the effectiveness of magnets for pain therapy, you should talk to your doctor about giving it a try.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/magnetic-therapy-for-pain-proven-effective-506632.html

About the Author:
Andy West is a writer for QuadraBloc, a unique, therapeutic, non invasive, non pharmacological alternative for pain management. For more information on magnetic therapy for pain, visit Quadrabloc.com.

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Back Muscle Pain

August 1st, 2008

Author: Apurva Shree

Back muscle pain is an extremely common form of back pain. Nearly 80% of adults suffer from moderate to severe muscular back pain at some time in their lives. Muscle Pain is rarely serious, but can be extremely painful to endure.

Our back is made up of many muscles, both deep and superficial. These extensors, flexors and oblique muscles help in the functioning of the spine.

Back ache develops primarily due to damage or injury of these soft tissues around the spine. The pain also occurs at times due to swelling of the joints or other structures in the spine.

Types Of Back Muscle Pain

Muscle Strain is when the muscle is over stretched or torn. The actual muscle fibers are damaged. Muscle fibers are chains of muscle cells that are grouped together to form a muscle. In a muscle strain, the muscle fiber links are separated or even broken, causing muscular damage.
Muscle Sprain is when ligaments are over stretched or torn. Ligaments are very tough, fibrous connecting tissues. The ligaments connect the muscles to their attachments In a muscle sprain, these chains are separated or torn, causing ligament and muscle damage.

Most Common Causes

Most of the times, backache is encountered by people indulging in activities that involve a high level of physical movement, for example- sports professionals. However, it would be wrong to limit the reasons to only strenuous physical activities. Performing some physical activity after a long period of time or while performing some sudden activity also causes damage to the spinal tissues and thereby causes back pain.

Other common reasons may be: stress, anxiety, sleepless nights; lifting heavy objects, sudden movements such as bending; vitamin deficiency, dehydration, sitting or driving in a hunched position for a long time, sleeping on extra soft or extra hard mattresses, wrong sleeping positions, improper work stations, obesity, pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and a sedentary life style at times could also result in backache.

Given that there could be various causes, you may have to introspect in order to understand the true cause so as to get an exact solution for your condition.

Theres Still Hope

Treatment for back ache is as varied as its causes. There is no common prescription that fits all conditions. Each one needs to be individually evaluated and a suitable treatment arranged.

Some encounter the symptoms because of vitamin deficiency and vitamin supplements may help alleviate them. In other cases, it may be due to a muscle spasm. These pains are the most difficult to bear and ice and heat treatments provide quick relief.

The good news is that such pains are surely not life threatening and there are various solutions at home to help oneself attain relief. If the ache persists, see a doctor and get treated at an early stage.

Useful Piece Of Advice

Since the mind and the body are inseparable, they work together in all that they do. Most muscular pains are the direct result of internal stress and tension. Emotional and psychological stress causes physical tension to build up in our muscles. Tense muscles are also more susceptible to injury.

Try to relax and spare your self from back muscle pain.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/back-muscle-pain-muscle-game-504607.html

About the Author:

Back muscle pain is an extremely common form of back pain. Nearly 80% of adults suffer from moderate to severe muscular back pain at some time in their lives. For more information visit back pain symptoms

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