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Top Reasons for Hair Loss

Hair loss is normal. Everyday the human body sheds hair as part of the natural hair growth process. 80% of your hair at any given time is in its growth cycle while the other 20% is in its resting cycle. In addition, during this time, it is normal to see 100 or so hairs lost each and every day. It only becomes a problem when the hair loss is higher and the hair that is replacing it is coming in either at a slower rate or not at all. This is when you will start to see the hair thinning or receding hairlines.

There are several reasons why someone would experience excess hair loss:

1. Heredity – Male pattern baldness affects about 25% of males by the time they reach the age of 30. The primary cause is genetic, although there is another culprit also and that is testosterone. This is converted by the body into DHT (dihydrotestosterone), this will stop or slow down the growth of hair. Another side effect of this is that the hair may be thinner or shorter.

2. Alopecia Areata – This can be seen in both males and females. It is defined by a rapid loss of hair in patches. The cause of which is usually due to an autoimmune disorder. In alopecia totalis all of the hair on the scalp is lost, and in some cases alopecia universalis may occur where all the hair on the body is lost.

3. You may find that after an illness, large clumps of hair may fall; this is only a temporary condition.

4. Certain skin diseases can affect the health of the scalp. Some of these include seborrheic dermatitis or dandruff, scalp fungus, psoriasis.

Some other cause may include age, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, childbirth and menopause.

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Daily Life Therapy (Higashi) for Autism

Daily Life Therapy (DLT) method also known as Higashi was developed in the 1960s by Dr. Kiyo Kitahara at the Musashino Higashi Gakuen School in Tokyo, Japan. She developed the method through what she learned from teaching a child with autism in a mainstream education kindergarten class. Her main objective was to develop self-esteem of the autism children and create emotional security for them.

Higashi is a Japanese word which means ‘hope’ and it is a holistic approach to integrate autism children with other normal children to study together in one group. There are a few methods used in this approach such as providing a systematic education by involving group dynamics, modelling, physical activities, art, music, academic, and vocational training.

How DLT (Higashi) works

Behavior management in DLT does not involve the measurement of neglect, punishment, time-out procedures or through medication. DLT is not to treat or to cure Autism Syndrome Disorder (ASD), but is believed to provide other important benefits such as improving the skill of ability, flexibility and function appropriately when they are with internal community and also activities involving family. Activities are group-oriented and highly structured with an emphasis on learning transmitted from child to child through synchronisation and imitation.

The Higashi approach emphasises group learning in the context of a programs which includes vigorous physical activity to develop both strength and concentration. Physical activity is one of the academic curriculum’s of children with autism and it is a challenge for their ability level as well as to increase their interest to engage in activities conducted. Practitioners believe that through exercise, children will be able to control the level of body coordination and at the same time control their behavior. Physical activities such as exercises and games have the positive impact on behavioral, psychological, and physical specifically in individual with ASD. DLT programs are normally using an appropriate instruction, equipment, and daily movement activities such as walking, running, climbing, and jumping to improve gross motor skills which allowing children with autism learn to acclimate to the stimulating world around them.

Among the main principles of Daily Life Therapy (Higashi) are as follows:

i. The focus of curriculum is on movement activities, music and arts.

ii. Children engage in vigorous physical activities throughout the day.

iii. Instructions are group oriented, example all children in the class are taught the same thing and at the same time.

iv. Children learn through imitation, for example they imitate exactly what their teacher do.

v. Routine activities are very highly structured.

DLT using the Higashi approach is an educational program for children with autism based on three interrelated principles: vigorous physical exercise, emotional stability and intellectual stimulation. By using these three core principles of DLT, children with autism learn to naturally focus their attention, diffuse their energy, feel calm and relaxed, and allowing them to learn without the need for medication. DLT also provides other important benefits such as improved coping skills, increased flexibility and improved appropriate functioning within the home community and family events. The ultimate goal of DLT is to archive lifelong inclusion in the community and high quality of life.

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Manipulative Relationships – Control Through Confusion and Compulsion

In any reasonably healthy relationship between couples, there is nearly always some conscious or unconscious manipulation and coercion. However, relationships generally mature towards some form of balance if they are to remain stable and healthy.

In a highly manipulative relationship the balance of power is firmly in the manipulator’s camp. The manipulator resists all attempts to balance the relationship- because they want complete control, sometimes by making their victim think they have some control.

The worst relationships occur when a highly manipulative person enters a relationship with someone highly prone to manipulation.

Awareness of the way manipulation works, and of what makes a victim prone to manipulation, will help people break free from the dance of deception they get caught in.

The trap is opened.

The beginning romantic manipulative relationship is indistinguishable from any other. The manipulator provides frequent positive strokes, especially when their victim acts in the manner they wish to cultivate.

It is difficult to see any difference at this stage to a normal romantic relationship. Both partners are usually attentive to each other, giving frequent assurance and positive strokes. And, they are usually quick to do things for the other.

If not, things are off to a bad start, already.

After a while, the victim has been conditioned to positive reinforcement (remember, people who are more susceptible to manipulation often have low self esteem and are often people pleasers). Hey, and we all like positive reinforcement and affirmation that we are special to someone.

Now, the manipulator usually starts to reduce the positive strokes.

Around this time, the manipulator will also start throwing in some actions to confuse their partner. They will start to smile less and may look bored with the victim. A common tactic is to walk around the house with a frown, making their ‘partner’ feel anxious as to what they might have done. Asking the manipulator will usually get the victim a ‘nothing is the matter…Why?’

The whole point is to confuse the victim and make them anxious.

The victim is now entering the uncertain phase, often things seem to be going well, but now and then, they seem to have started on a roller coaster ride of uncertainty. The stress levels have started to build.

The bait is placed in the trap.

Around this stage, the manipulator often baits the trap. A direct or veiled offer of a substantial reward is made. At work, it could be the potential for promotion or a permanent job. It might be the offer of sex in some relationships, or perhaps the possibility of marriage.

Many men will be familiar with the- come here, go away, come here, go away, come here, go away women that keep them dancing. Similarly, many women have danced to the potential lure of a marriage for years. The reverse of these roles also occur.

And everyone is susceptible to the carrot of higher pay and promotions at work.

The promise of the big reward usually brings renewed effort and enthusiasm. And a renewed belief in the relationship or career in the mind of the victim.

The manipulator can use the big carrot and the big stick now. A hinted threat of withdrawal of the ‘prize’ is occasionally used to bring increased pressure on the victim, to keep them uncertain and compliant.

Now, the victim’s stress levels have increased further. They are uncertain of their relationship and future. The harder they work in their job or relationship, the fewer and fewer rewards they seem to get.

Creating compulsive behavior

By now, the manipulator is well on the way to having the victim well and truly tangled in their strings. The daily grind of manipulation, and the stress and uncertainty in the victim, prevents them from stepping back and seeing the big picture of what is happening to them.

Outside observers will often (but not always) see marked differences in the personality of the victim when they are in the presence of the manipulator, to when they are in a more normal relationship.

However, this is not a clear indicator. Mostly, the manipulator will modify their behavior when others are around, so that the relationship appears more balanced. The victim may not even realize why they are often happier when they are in other company.

Manipulators usually have a fine sense for their victim’s emotional state. If it starts to rise for too long, they will dampen it down. Constantly yo-yoing their victim’s emotions.

By now, the victim may be conditioned by intermittent and random threats and rewards. These are given without any clear link to the victim’s behavior. This type of treatment can create a state of compulsive behavior in the victim.

Scientists have discovered that humans (and animals) can develop compulsive behaviors when they get infrequent and random rewards or threats.

When there is a clear link between an action and a reward, a person usually stops that action quickly, once the reward stops. But, when frequent and consistent rewards for an action is changed slowly to infrequent and random rewards, people often keep the activity going long after they received their last reward.

Another variation for creating compulsive behavior in victims is to use intermittent and often random negative strokes. Yelling, nagging and abuse are common. When the victim is sensitive, and is uncertain what leads to this behavior from their ‘partner’, they walk on eggshells.

Slowly, through intermittent and random use of small positive and negative strokes, and more infrequent use of the big stick and carrot, the manipulator destroys more and more of their partner’s sense of self. And the victim becomes more and more stressed. Without realizing, they are often caught in compulsive behaviors that they would think odd if they saw it being done by others.

Summary

We are all prone to manipulation to some degree, but some much more so than others.

If you are prone to manipulation, the first step to breaking free is to recognize the signs of manipulation in others.

The second step is to begin to understand what makes you susceptible to manipulation.

The third step is to start to understand what is being done to you. Such as, using the intermittent random carrot and stick treatment to confuse, disorient and stress you.

The fourth step will be to learn resistance strategies.

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How Beginners Should Approach Dieting

Life takes on an interesting twist when one day you look in the mirror and instead of seeing yourself, you find an overweight stranger standing where you should be. Unfortunately, most people do not realize that their weight problem has gone out of hand without they put on a lot of weight. Sometimes, life is so busy that you just fail to notice your gradual transformation into something you never found desirable. But there is no need to panic. All you need to do is learn the dieting basics before you commit yourself wholeheartedly to a specific diet plan.

If your ever thought of dieting as being harmonious with living hell, there can be no doubt that you associate dieting with starvation. After all, nothing seems more tormenting than having to give up your favorite foods and stick to some boring foods that are said to be healthy. What you do not know is that you feel this way only because you are not used to eating the boring healthy foods. This is one of the most important dieting basics you can learn. Once you get used to eating them for a while, you will find yourself enjoying them just as much as your favorite foods.

A lot of people fail to lose weight through dieting plans. The reason is not that the dieting plans do not work; they are actually quite well thought out and based on sound reasoning supported by ample scientific evidence. The only problem is that most people jump into dieting headlong without bothering to make up their minds to stick to some simple dieting basics. Anyone serious about dieting should set their goals and plan out exactly how they intend to reach their goals. One also needs to research thoroughly to gain the knowledge needed to avoid the common pitfalls and hurdles lying precariously on the road towards fitness.

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How to Heal by Breath

God is one, but the religions are many. The people of all religions, want to realize God by the five sense organs, but God has given these sense organs only for their restlessness. There are fifty types of breath of which there are forty-nine types for restlessness and one short breath, the finest breath, a faint breath, the one that goes straight to the fontanel when you inhale. With this faint, shortest breath, you cannot get anger, pride, cruelty, sex or any other restlessness.

It is said in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika 4:114, yavat naiva pravishati charan maruta madhya marge-the breath must be very feeble, faint and going straight to the fontanel, where the baby has the softest place on the top of the head. You are to watch very carefully in that place. Then you will feel pulsation. Then you will hear divine sound. Then you will see divine light and you will also get love for God.

God made man and woman in His own image and He breathed into these bodies the breath of His life and He became the soul of the whole universe. So, the supreme almighty Lord remains in every human body. Every human body is the body of the supreme almighty Lord and He has given His love to this body. If you take the shortest breath, you will get calmness, which is godliness, but instead most people are teaching about God by reading books or by singing songs or by dancing, or by rotating or many, many other ways. Although I do not like it, I am not going to criticize anybody.

Suppose, that you all are students going to school, listening to the teachers and after that you go home and prepare your lessons very nicely. Then you will come out successfully. Here people are going to the church but only on Sunday (not seven days a week), the priest will read for only one hour and they expect to get God-realization? That is impossible. You take food daily, regularly and sincerely.

This is why your body is increasing. And through that you are getting everything. Similarly, you should keep your attention on the top of your head and take a very little breath, search Him inside the head and then you will see milk white light, covering the whole body with the divine light.

Calmly search God in the fontanel, surely you will get God-realization. Practice Kriya well.

It is said in the same Hatha Yoga Pradipika 4:114, if the breath is not very feeble you cannot get God-realization: yavat dhyana sahaja sadrisham jayate naiva tattwam – if the meditation technique is not the easiest and simplest, then you cannot get God. He is taking breath and you are watching. This is the simplest technique. Everyone, people of all religions, are breathing. It is why they all are alive. Breath is our life. So you all should watch and see calmly with the short breath whether you are feeling pulsation on the top of your head and by the side of the ear, above the ear; whether you are hearing sound, constant sound. If you only practice this and see constant light all over the world then automatically you will get samadhi stage, pulselessness stage, breathlessness stage. You will get reality, truth. It is possible.

Kriya Yoga is a very specific system of Yoga that was revived in modern times by Lahiri Mahasaya, c 1861. Paramahansa Yogananda brought it into widespread public awareness through his book Autobiography of a Yogi. The system consists of a number of yogic techniques that hasten the practitioner’s spiritual development and help to bring about a profound state of tranquility and God-communion.

Yogananda writes that, “The Kriya Yogi mentally directs his life energy to revolve, upward and downward, around the six spinal centers (medullary, cervical, dorsal, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal plexuses) which correspond to the twelve astral signs of the zodiac, the symbolic Cosmic Man. One-half minute of revolution of energy around the sensitive spinal cord of man effects subtle progress in his evolution; that half-minute of Kriya equals one year of natural spiritual unfoldment.”

The mystic and liberating Yoga technique was almost extinct in the medieval period, when the world was under the influence of religious fanatics and nobody was mature enough to accept the truth. Even Galileo was prosecuted for stating the truth as it was. Later when the time changed and became somewhat more favorable for discussing the truths of life and nature, the general consciousness of mankind begin to develop and there was a general awakening for realizing the hidden and invisible facts of life which science began to discover, then, in 1868, the great Yogi guru, whom we know by the name “Babaji”, again introduced this mystic Yogic art to the society through his disciple Shyamacharan Lahiri. Babaji is ever the same. He was never born and therefore can never die. They call him aja (the unborn). But from time to time this compassionate Lord of irradiant splendor does manifest for humanity to do what needs to be done. Pulling the veil of Maya by his own will he takes a form of Lightless light to incarnate amongst the haunts of men. He guards, guides and enlightens their consciousness as per their evolutionary blueprint. His deathless body of lightless light may take any form through which he can express and show himself to the faithful from age to age. He took the form of Adi Nath Shiva himself of Rudra of the Ancient of days. He then came 500 B.C. as Kal Agni Nath as Dakshin Murti when he initiated himself then he manifest as Gorksha Nath 70 B.C at the time of King Shalivahan and Chowrangee Nath.Then in the same ever present immortal body he manifests as Shiv Goraksha Babaji in the ninth centrury A.D. during the time of Guga Nath who he empowered to have complete mastery over the Nagas and ultimately be worshipped as a Naga God.

The day Babaji initiated Shyamacharan Lahiri and sent him back to the society, from that very day all true seekers of truth found the means to realize the truth of life and death and beyond. Shyamacharan Lahiri demonstrated most of the results of this mystic Yogic art by putting his own example. All his life, he indicated the Yogic way to true seekers and introduced them to the different stages of this mystic Yogic art. After his demise, some lines of his disciples have maintained the practice of this mystic Yogic art.

Among the famous traditions, the tradition of Shri Yukteshwar Giri, disciple of Lahiri Mahasaya, became world famous through his able disciple Paramhans Yogananda. Paramhans Yogananda graced the Father of Indian Nation – Mahatma Gandhi with Kriya yoga diksha, who initiated the entire human race onto the path of non-violence in the blood-soaked century.

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The Origin of Cancer

I have said many times that diseases, in as much as it is not a product of accidents or unwitting external or self poison, is a result of man not being able to come to terms with his conscience. This statement goes beyond one earth life in some cases, although in the present circumstances, with spiritual emergence in the shadow of the real pushing forward a quickened reward system for actions, it is more likely to occur more in one earth life. In this category is included most psychosomatic diseases, and diseases that may result from Pineal gland disorder. This has been captured in the book of revelations as sores being poured on mankind (Rev 16:10-11). Humanity is yet to feel the full impact of this scourge simply because the prophecy puts it at the time of pouring the vials of anger on earth As it is, we are in the midst of the last trumpet.

So much has been said about cancer, both as an artificial disease that Big Pharma encourages its spread because it is financially expedient for them, and also partly because of their allegiance to the New World Order program of depopulation. These conspiracies are not the object of this article.

It is on this premise that I hereby say that Cancer as being treated now with mostly chemotherapy is wrong. Chemotherapy focuses on the cancer cells, to reduce its growth through radiations. But the fundamental issue here is to understand the real origin of the disease, which is a malfunctioning liver. The restoration of the liver to health will automatically eliminate the possibility of cancer attacks. That is why natural fruits and herbs that detoxify the liver are effective for the so-called cancer treatment. A combination of herbs like Graviola, Carrots and others that alternative medicine practitioners may recommend focuses on the liver detoxification. These detoxification may take a longer time depending on the state of the liver, and the patient may be placed on only the herbal diet.

Unfortunately, the preponderance of genetically modified foods and our reliance on them makes it inevitable that these conditions will arise. Drugs for treatment of various diseases and general drug abuse also put pressure on the liver. That is why cancer is currently regarded as a lifestyle disease, a disease that is easily associated with the lifestyles of the high and mighty. But it has also permeated into the middle class.

Besides, cancer may also be as a result of a past life activities whose payment for necessitates hereditary weak liver. Even at that, so many factors will come in as regards cure.

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How to Speed Healing After Surgery or Accident

If you have recently had or are about to have surgery or if you have been injured in an accident you can improve your chances of a quicker recovery. Although surgery is sometimes necessary to help improve your health, or save your life, recovering from it can be very stressful on many levels. There are always factors to consider. Be certain to communicate with your medical team. Ask your doctor if there are any restrictions regarding movement, diet, climate, medications, requirements for at home medical assistance, or complementary therapies. They can help you lay out a recovery plan or wellness program. Beyond the typical recovery routine that may include medications, physical therapy, or visits with a counselor or nurse, your body will need to get all of the supportive nutrients that are required for complete and speedy recovery. The following list will give you some idea of all that can be added to your health recovery regime—with the approval of your physician.

1. Rest and immobilization as required by your doctor.Be sure that your room has adequate fresh air as ionization helps recovery time; having an oxygen rich environment and sunshine are important – again unless restricted by your medical team.

2. Bathing or showering as allowed – at least warm sponge baths to remove toxins being eliminated by your skin.

3. Fill the room with fresh flowers and plants to uplift your mood.

4. Watch TV programs and movies that make you feel good – and if you are allowed to laugh definitely watch movies that keep you laughing and giggling often. Improving your mood is definitely important to healing. In fact, there are now hospital humor programs where personnel are trained to help make you laugh. Laughter is very healing!

5. Allow only those visitors with a positive mental outlook; people that make you feel happy when you see them.

6. Keep your bowels moving. Some medications have side effects that include sluggish bowel movements or constipation. Drink purified water at room temperature unless you are really warm and cool water feels better to you. However, digestion is always best without too hot or too cold water in the digestive tract. Stay away from coffee because caffeine may be dehydrating. Consider the proper diet to help yourself heal well

7. Your diet (again check with your personal physician to be certain these suggestions are appropriate for you) should be filled with foods that are nutrient rich. And every bite and everything you drink should be as valuable as possible. That means that you should eat foods that are whole, grown without herbicides, pesticides, unchanged by man. Avoid processed foods and drinks. Get close to nature. Sometimes baby foods are required if you cannot swallow easily or have compromised digestion or loss of appetite. If not, just follow some of the suggestions below:

Clear broths either chicken, beef or veal are good for healing. Soups that start with a clear brother and contain fresh vegetables as well are important. When you are ill or injured your body will not readily produce the enzymes it needs to complete digestion. We will talk about digestion enzymes a little later.

Having sufficient protein is critical to healing. As protein is assimilated it is broken down into amino acids, often called the building blocks. So, if you are unable to eat foods such as fish, chicken, turkey, veal, portk, eggs, cheese, tofu, beans, nuts and seeds, you may need to purchase protein powders and mix them with soy milk, almond milk, regular milk, or just room temp water. Ionized whey powders are probably the easiest to assimilate in small quantities, but again chew the shake (I know that sounds weird) because it would be similar to eating a steak without chewing it–very concentrated and not easily absorbed even in powdered form if you are ill. Sip on the shakes that you drink–some people enjoy adding fruit like berries or bananas.

Eat more fruits and vegetables for starters. Avoid sugars, too much salt. Avoid snacks and lifeless foods that rob your body of energy. Avoid sodas, alcohol, white flour breads, cereals, pancakes and pastas. Avoid candy and cakes unless just occasional.

Buy organically grown and made foods if possible. Instead of drinking fruit juices eat the whole food. However, if you can get organically grown fruits and vegetables you can make delicious juices (save the pulp for soup) by combining dark green veggies with carrots and beets and pear juice or pineapple or cherry or apple to make it more palatable. Fruits and vegetables are loaded with life supporting nutrients such as antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. If you have a juicer that’s terrific, if you don’t you can just use a food processor or a blender to pulverize pulp and some seeds. Be sure that you chew the juice, do not just swallow it. Your digestive system will work best if you don’t just swallow foods even when “juiced.” Chew to begin the signal to the brain that you will need enzymes for complete digestion.

Beets and beet tops, dandelion greens, parsley, argula, mustard greens, carrots and tops, and fresh lemon juice are wonderful to support liver function. Supporting your liver is extremely important as it will help you to purify your blood. The liver will help to remove toxic residue from anaesthesia and other medications. It helps to flush away waste products of all kinds so it is very important to give the liver all that needs to do its job well.

8. Vitamins/Minerals/other nutrients: Giving your body a multi-vitamin/mineral formula is integral to healing. Concentrate as well on anti-oxidants such as Vitamins A,C,E, + Zinc. Add to that a formula that includes other protective elements such as grapeseed extract, green tea (not if you have high blood pressure because it is stimulating) berries,…many anti-oxidants available today in combination formulas. A separate bone building formula that includes, Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Boron, is important. (ask the doctor again because certain medications may be conflicting here) important to rebuilding bone.

9. Exercise and rehabilitation routinely help to strengthen muscle, ligaments, tendons and bones. Circulation is integral to wellness. Do what you are allowed to do. Check into “rubber stretch bands” to help initiate mobility if allowed –really good and gentle on joints for starters. Rebounders are also good for circulation as you become more mobile. These are mini trampolines and you can gently bounce while watching TV or listening to music–very enjoyable experience and good for you. Let your physical therapist, nurse or aid instruct you here.

10. Homeopathic remedies can also be beneficial to stimulate your body’s immune system and healing response time. Please seek the advice of an MD who practices homeopathic medicine. Go to www.vithoulkas.com to find highly trained classical homeopaths in your area.

11. Stress relief measures such as Yoga, Bio-Feedback, Meditation: Learning how to quiet and clear the mind of stressful thoughts, worries, and fears can add much to your healing program. When your body stops getting disturbing signals from your brain it can more readily attend to physical healing. Do whatever seems to soothe you most. If allowed soaking in a warm tub might help reduce aching muscles and calm the nerves. Aromatherapy is also good for soothing your senses. Try lavender under your pillow, or vanilla candles to bring tranquility. Music is also wonderful for the nervous system. Choose calming classical music, new age flutes and bells, easy listening tunes to help stay relaxed.

12. Massage therapy and acupuncture or acupressure can complement your healing program. Bringing greater circulation to an injured or ill body can speed healing. Ask your physician if this is allowed. Sometimes having circulation cuffs on your legs are recommended by doctors after surgery or injury. This might be a good way to speed healing with limited exertion.

13. Digestive Enzymes help you assimilate and absorb nutrients that are important to healing. A product such as AbsorbAid that has been clinically tested and scientifically proven to increase the absorption of vital nutrients by up to 71% can really help speed recovery time. AbsorbAid is a 100% plant based enzyme formula that works well for most all individuals–if you can eat fruits and vegetables you can take AbsorbAid Platinum. It is so safe the original AbsorbAid has been used in feeding tubes in nursing home trials with excellent results at increasing protein utilization. Amino acids are the building blocks so adding AbsorbAid digestive enzymes can really be beneficial.

14. Visualization: Visualize yourself totally well, doing whatever it is that you most enjoy in your mind first —I used to tell my patients to See, Feel and make it Real! The joy you get from imagining yourself completely well and up doing what you most enjoy can uplift your spirits and speed healing. Guided imagery tapes are readily available today.

15. Prayer and Faith: have a profound effect on healing for many people. When you believe that you will be well it can elevate your body’s responses. There are many documented cases of people healing when they are certain they will! So prepare yourself for recovery and get excited about it!

Wishing you a speedy recovery!

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Six Reasons Why Natural Health Products Are Superior

Products used to restore or maintain good health that are made from natural ingredients, such as, plants, animals, marine life and microbes are called natural health products (NHPs). They are available commercially just like regular drugs in different forms such as capsules, creams and tablets.

Probiotics, Homeopathic, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines are examples of NHPs. NHPs have several advantages over synthetic drugs, which are usually manufactured using artificial ingredients and methods. Here are six advantages of NHPs over synthetic drugs.

1: Unlike Synthetic Drugs, They Have Been In Use For Centuries

The focus during research of synthetic drugs is to identify and isolate the active substances in known natural remedies and to find ways of synthesising them artificially. The other option is to develop new molecules that work in a similar fashion. This makes it easier and cheaper for drug companies to mass produce.

The problem is that these drugs are chemicals, which alter the functioning of our body in a certain way. Even with all the advances in medical science, our body still remains a complex machine that has never been fully understood.

Therefore, the long-term effects of using these chemicals is not known and it takes years before adverse effects are discovered. That is why we read reports about drugs being banned by regulating agencies even though their use was prevalent for many years.

Natural health products, on the other hand, have been in use for centuries and their safety is more or less established or the conditions in which they can cause adverse effects are known.

2: They Treat The Disease Or Underlying Condition And Not Just The Symptoms

Synthetic drugs often give a lot of importance to the symptoms of a condition and that is why they often seem to give immediate relief. Sometimes relieving the symptoms may not be the best idea.

For example, cough suppressants are often prescribed or bought over the counter. Suppressing cough is required in some conditions, but in some others it can prevent chest congestion from getting better. The misuse of cough remedies has forced the regulatory agencies of some countries to restrict their sale. NHPs treat the underlying condition and this results in long-lasting benefits.

3: They Don’t Harm The Body Or Result In Any Major Side-effects

As NHPs are produced from safe substances occurring naturally, there is no risk of any harm at the recommended doses. There are some known interactions and contraindications in certain situations, but these are well known.

Before using some products, it may be necessary to consult a doctor. Side-effects of NHPs tend to be minor in nature and usually stop when the treatment is discontinued. They are also normally safe for all ages at the appropriate doses.

Take cough remedies as an example. Synthetic cough syrups usually contain ingredients, which cause drowsiness. Herbal cough syrups or natural remedies like honey also work well and don’t make you drowsy.

4: They Don’t Make You Dependent On Them

Chemicals in synthetic drugs interfere in the body’s metabolism. In some cases, when they are taken over long durations, the body adjusts itself to nullify the effect. This is known as developing tolerance.

Once a person has developed tolerance, the drug stops producing the required results at the same doses. When such drugs are discontinued, withdrawal symptoms or other undesired results can occur.

Sedatives are common examples of drugs which cause dependence. Once a person gets used to it, it becomes difficult to do without them. NHPs usually don’t cause such difficulties even with long-term usage.

5: Lower Risk Of Allergic Reactions

Synthetic drugs often contain chemical preservatives like parabens and artificial colours. These ingredients increase the risk of allergic reactions. Allergic reaction to NHPs is also a possibility, but the risks are lower.

6: They Are Equally Effective

One concern people have about NHPs is their effectiveness. NHPs not only produce the desired results, the results are usually permanent. With synthetic drugs, the problems very often come back when the drugs are stopped, especially in chronic conditions. However, treatment with NHPs could take more time to produce results unlike synthetic drugs, which give quick relief. The relief with synthetic drugs for chronic problems is usually symptomatic and is short-lived.

In some cases, NHPs are the only way for long-term control of chronic diseases. Asthma and arthritis are examples of conditions where natural health products are usually better than synthetic drugs.

Safe Use Of Natural Health Products

The only disadvantage of NHPs is that they are not as well-regulated as synthetic drugs. While this makes it easier to put new products in the market and increases the availability of NHPs, it also allows fly by night operators and spurious products into the market.

Quality is the most important factor when it comes to natural health products. It is better to pay slightly more for a reputed brand or a reputed store than buying a cheaper product that you are not sure about. Good brands are serious about quality and ensure that it is maintained right from sourcing the ingredients to packaging.

In rare cases, natural products can interact with each other or with other prescription drugs. It is, therefore, important to consult your doctor if you are already taking any medicines or supplements, or are suffering from any medical condition. Buy natural health products from reputed sources and stick to well-known brands.

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Do You Need Corrective Breast Implants?

In certain cases, some people may opt to seek breast enhancement services from insufficiently qualified medical professionals, usually based on cheap pricing of such services. It does not require a brain surgeon for anyone to realize that under-qualified medical practitioners may not offer the best cosmetic surgery service. When things do go wrong, you would then require corrective breast implants to deal with the failed enhancement surgery.

However, even in situations whereby you seek the services of a highly competent plastic surgeon, there is still the risk – although very minimal – of things going wrong. Moreover, a competent surgeon may also recommend a corrective procedure during the normal follow-up visit, after a period of having the implant, merely to reposition it or even to fix in a completely new one.

Which Situations Would Necessitate Corrective Surgery For Your Implants?

A corrective implant would be recommended only when it is required. Two key instances in which corrects would be required are: leaking and wrong size implants.

1. How Leaking Implants Are Dealt With

Since implants normally contain some form of fluid (this could be either a silicone gel or sterile salty water), any breakage would cause the fluid to leak out onto the surrounding breast tissue. If you have such an occurrence, you need not worry about whatever fluid it is causing cancer (based on a November 2014 media release by the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, you would face virtually no risk of cancer due to the implant fluid getting into contact with your internal body tissues).

The only issue you would worry about is the deflated look of your chest, effectively negating the enhanced look for which you underwent surgery. Fortunately, this issue can be effectively handled by replacing the broken implant with a new one. Of course, this new one would also have to be of better quality and the operation handled by a highly qualified professional, to significantly reduce the risk of such a situation occurring.

2. Dealing With Wrong-Sized Implants

A competent surgeon would always make sure that the exact look you want is what you get after breast enhancement surgery. This is why you would always go through intensive counseling before undergoing surgery, so that both you and your doctor can be on the same page with regard to the expected outcomes of surgery.

The occurrence of a boob job appearing either too prominent or subtitle is something that is significantly more likely to occur when seeking the services of an incompetent surgeon rather than a competent one. If this happens, you would be wise to seek corrective surgery from a truly competent surgeon, especially since corrective surgery is even more complicated than the initial breast enhancement procedure itself.

What To Do After Corrective Surgery

In order to avoid recurrence of leaking implants following corrective surgery, you must be extremely careful about how you take care of yourself after surgery. It's so much more important that you get sufficient rest, apart from avoiding any strain on the implants. You would also need to abide by your surgeon's schedule of follow-up visits in order to have your recovery progress examined and ensure that there are no further risks of leakage.

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Natural Stem Cell Replacement and Therapy – The Undebatable Alternative

There has been so much debate over embryonic stem cell research over the past years. Claimants claim this can lead to solutions for various health challenges such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, auto-immune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bone deformities, cardiac tissue repair, Parkinson's, and a whole lot more. Adult stem cells (ASCs) are currently being used for a major of these clinical tests and experiments and there has been remarkable success in some stem-cell therapies. A part of these experiments however, involves the use of ASCs found in non-adult tissue such as umbilical cords, placentas and amniotic fluid.

Opponents of human embryonic stem cell research believe it is wrong to disturb human embryo, much more risk its destruction for any reason. There are other areas where this type of research can be transported out without the need to involve human embryos.

Stems cells have the remarkable potential of developing into different types of cells all through the body. It can serve as a repair system as they are able to theoretically divide without limit and replenish those that die off as long as the person or the animal is alive. As these cells divide, each new cell produced has the potential to either remain as it is, or evolve to a new type of cell with a more specialized function. So stem cells can develop to become new muscle or brain cells, or red blood cells.

To date, there has been no evident proof that embryonic stem cells have actually worked – in fact tests using them in laboratory animals have rejected to tumors.

Dr. H. Reg McDaniel, MD, an anatomical and clinical pathologist based in Texas, has been conducting studies on natural stem cell therapy as an alternative to embryonic therapy and research. He was part of the team that conducted the first government-monitored studies in humans using glyconutrients to improve overall health conditions through nutritional support of normal human biochemistry under gene control. The American Naturopathic Medical Association recognized this work with their annual "Discovery of the Year Award" in 1996.

Since then, Dr. Reg has been documenting evidence that stem cells can be increased in the human body with glyconutrients. According to him, the body has the capacity to do its own natural cell therapy when it received the required amount of glyconutrients, and the numerous free floating cells in the body are assigned to do "therapy" where the body needs it most. This action is ACTIVATED and enabled to do the work by glyconutrients.

From his clinical tests, Dr. Reg observed that after a week of glyconutrient supplementation, the stem cell count in the human body increases from 1 to 500. This means the body is able to produce about 1 trillion of this cell type per week!

A trillion is a thousand billions, so one can just imagine a whole army of new cells ready to get into action where they are needed. Imagine old muscle tissue, ready to wear out, being replaced by healthy new muscle cells to boost up your whole system! And 1 trillion new cells just cost about $ 50 to $ 100 in glyconutrient supplementation. That's against a 200-stem cell injection from questionable sources costing $ 250,000!

Nature's way is always best. The body is an amazing system and it has amazing functions. Natural stem cell therapy is just one of these. True, medical research and technology has brought amazing discoveries and benefits, but there are limits to what we can do. In the end, nature always rules.

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Reasonable Weight Loss – How to Select Your Best Diet

The diet maze is getting bigger by the day, so what can a person do to find a reasonable diet that will give them lifetime weight management. You need a diet that will change your eating habits along with losing the weight you already have.

To select your best diet will take some research on your part. My advice would be to stay with a natural food menu and stay away from the diet pills. Real food in the proper amounts will improve your health and well being.

Learn to eat properly to start with. Never skip breakfast. Your body has gone without food during the whole night and now you expect it to go to lunch time with no ill effects. You body is going into the starvation mode and saving what fat it has to stay alive.

Eat a balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fat at every meal. They all work together, so do not think that you can do without one or the other. A diet that is not balanced will eventually cause you some harm.

A well balanced diet with 3 meals and 3 snacks will help you lose weight and give you the vitamins and minerals your body needs to maintain good health. It will also help you to avoid binge eating, which causes so many people to lose control of their diet and just give up on the whole idea.

A good nutritionist is the best way to find a diet to match your particular needs. People are all different sizes and shapes with different health problems, so your diet should be planned for you and your circumstances. A reasonable diet would be an eating plan for life and not something that just lasts for a few weeks.

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Senior Health Insurance – Where Did It Go?

Once you retire and no longer receive the benefits of a group insurance plan from your employer it cannot be stressed enough how important senior health insurance is.

At one time seniors were able to rely on government help for health concerns that become almost mandatory as a person ages. Medical services such as eye exams, dental care, prescriptions, hospital care and ambulance transport are no longer all available without charges based on provincial medical insurance. Although there are still some coverage for seniors offered by provincial plans, not everything is covered.

At one time it was all so simple, however now we need to take notice and be aware of the situation regarding health care for seniors. To be part of a group insurance plan in the workplace is ideal, but in most cases when one retires,the group insurance coverage also ends. There will be millions of baby boomers retiring now and continuing into the near future, this means more medical services and needs within the senior population.

Timing Be Aware

After the age of 55, it is more difficult to get certain types of insurance, whether it be group insurance at your workplace, or health insurance from private sources that will cost more. After the age of 70 it is very difficult to find any private supplemental health insurance. As time goes by the need for supplemental health insurance becomes more important. Senior health insurance is more expensive in some situations because of the risks the insurance company consider could be involved, for example an extended illness of the insured costing many thousands of dollars, which the insurance company would have to pay, therefore such situations are considered and included in the cost of the policy. We all know that as we age our health becomes more of a concern, therefore getting adequate insurance for possible needs also becomes a concern.

By using good timing and being aware, you can have supplemental insurance that will benefit you when and if you eventually need it. Once you reach the age of retirement, the government will take care of certain medical issues, however, they are limited and supplemental insurance should be high on your list of necessities for all the coverage you may need in case of long term illness, hospital coverage and medication. In addition, you may need long-term therapy, or in home recovery care, these are what supplemental insurance will cover. Speak to an insurance broker about health insurance products that are specifically designed for the needs of seniors. Some plans are meant to take over where the plan from your employer leaves off when you retire so you avoid having a gap when you are not covered.

What you Should Consider

When preparing yourself for retirement and that much-needed extra medical and health insurance, it is a good idea to consider the following:

  • Different provinces have different plans and so you need to inform yourself on what is covered before you purchase supplemental insurance.

  • When you buy supplemental health insurance, the older you are on application, the higher the premiums will be. Once you reach the age of 70 it will be more difficult, if not impossible, to find a supplemental health insurance plan.

  • medical questionnaire and/or exam will be required to sign up for a health insurance plan. Your premium could vary depending on the state of your health.

  • You do not need to buy everything offered; you can make choices on what coverage you want.

  • You can get certain individual medical benefits insurance; or insurance that will cover a number of things such as eye health, dental insurance, hospital coverage and many other options.

  • Whichever plan you choose, you will pay a monthly premium in exchange for those benefits that you have chosen.

The Importance of Senior Health Insurance

By the time we reach the ‘seniors’ word, our bodies have been ravaged by the wars of life, and sometimes harsh results are forthcoming, these are the times when we definitely need health insurance. Supplemental health insurance is specifically for those needs, the things the government medical plan does not cover. There are special types of supplemental insurance specifically for the senior population.

Seniors health insurance is an essential commodity. Speak to an insurance specialist about your options.

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How Best To Lose Weight With Supplements

Learning how to lose weight with the aid of sports supplements can be a very tricky and confusing affair. If you are struggling to discover which supplements to take then you will find all the facts you need in today's short article.

The reason this particular area is often so misleading comes down to marketing. With so many rival companies vying for your cash, you often end up in a situation where products are literally claiming that they will do all of the work for you, just so they can out-yell the competition.

Despite the huge confusion and wide range of substances which claim to be the best of their generation, the undering facts remain quite simple.

Before you are able to truly get the most from what the science world has to offer you as an exercise enthusiast, you must first assess just how serious you are. Have you already set out a decent eating plan and workout routine? If so, supplements will enable you to take your results to the next level. If not, you're probably looking for something that does not exist. Miracle pills have not yet been invented, and probably never will, but there are more than enough companies out there prepared to take your cash if you keep being so naive, so this is the first area to work on if you're in that situation right now.

Below is a quick guide to six of the most proven legal substances for use with any fat loss regime:

* Whey protein

* Creatine

* Glutamine is excellent for recovery

* Caffeine

* The importance of carbohydrates

While some of the things listed are quite popular and are used by a lot of people, we're place a safe bet that around half of those individuals could not tell you why they are using those particular products if you were to ask them. That's because we live in a world dominated by hype. However, learning the facts is not difficult.

Whey protein is primarily a way to help you get more protein into your daily diet without constantly eating lean meat and preparing meals. If you are trying to achieve weight loss goals, look for a protein product which provides you with a low carbohydrate content per serving alongside 20-25 grams of quality protein.

Creatine is mainly known as a strength building product, so you may be surprised to see it here. However, while helping you to increase your explosive strength, which will in turn help you build more lean muscle, your body will be able to burn fat more effectively.

When it comes to muscle recovery there is one substance which stands tall above all others in it's category. That substance is Glutamine. An amino acid, the primary function of Glutamine is improving your body's recovery time after each hard gym session. This enables you to get more from every workout and, as a net result, but off more calories each time you exercise.

Caffeine is the primary substance you will see associated with burning fat because it is included in almost every fat burning pill on the market today. By increasing your resting heart rate you allow your body to burn more calories with the regular daily activities you partake in. This is why you'll often hear caffeine bandied around celebrity gossip magazines as some kind of wonder product.

Carbohydrates have got an unfair reputation over the last ten years. Ever since Brad Pitt declared in an episode of Friends that complex carbohydrates were his enemy, glossy magazines around the globe have been declaring war on any foods containing this misunderstood macronutrient. Simply put, your body needs them. The main issue is sorting them into two types: Slow release and quick release. Quick release are usually found in sugary foods and should be avoided, whereas slow release forms will fuel your body and actually increase results for you.

So, the next time somebody tries to confuse you in the science behind how to lose weight or which supplements to take you now have the knowledge of the top six products science has discovered over the last twenty years. Rather than falling for the next big thing, you can help others to get out of the cycle as well.

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Dracula – 1931 – The Differences Among Characters in the Novel and Those in the Movie

‘Dracula,’ one of the most famous novels ever written, had been produced as a movie in 1931. The movie in itself earned a lot of fame till Frankenstein eclipsed it. However, there are significant differences among the characters in the movie with the original novel.

The primary character Count Dracula remains the same. Bela Lugosi plays the role and does a great job.

Mina Murray of the novel become Mina Seward. And poor Dr. John Seward, the failed suitor of Lucy in the original novel, now becomes the father of Mina. And hey presto, Lucy still remains a friend of Mina.

Jonathan Harker, Mina’s fiance in the novel, remains the same in the movie.

Renefield of the movie is significantly different from Renefield of the novel. In the novel, Renefiled is merely another patient in Dr. Seward’s asylum. He eats and kills creepy creatures. And he beings Dracula inside the asylum of Dr. Seward accepting Dracula’s baits. However, in the movie, he is almost a servant to Dracula. He does some of Dracula’s lease papers, sends them to Transylvania, gets bitten by Draula and that gives him the power to bite and drink the blood of other people. And he eventually gets to bite a real woman before getting thrashed to death by Dracula for leading Jonathan and Van Helsing to where he was living (hiding).

Van Helsing is similar in the novel and the movie. He is still the nice caring person.

And then there is Martin, the person in charge of caring for Renefield. He provides an angle of comedy in the movie and appears in some of the more interesting scenes.

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Diabetic Sleep Disorders – The Effects of Sleep Loss on Diabetes

Diabetic sleep disorders are getting a lot of attention. Most of that is because the link between sleep loss and type 2 diabetes is showing up in shift workers, sleep apnea sufferers and healthy young people with sleep deprivation.

What is most exciting is that researchers have found a genetic link to the hormone melatonin. It may hold a key to a genetic cause for the tendency to have type 2 diabetes.

Diabetic Sleep Disorders and Slow Wave Sleep

Doctors who study and treat sleep apnea have known for many years that there is a connection between slow wave sleep and health. People who have this sleep disorder get very little to no deep sleep. Doctors named this stage slow wave sleep from the EEG readings that they charted.

Treating sleep apnea gives the sufferer a chance to enter REM (dream sleep), and they found that the slow wave sleep that surrounds REM is just as important. During this stage your body heals itself and resets its regulating hormones for appetite, body temperature and even your metabolic rate (how well you burn calories).

During this sleep you actually burn more fat than you do while you exercise. If all those things are true, it is essential to your health to get a good amount of slow wave sleep.

Here's another fact. Healthy young men and women were tested while they were getting less than 5 hours of sleep a night. In just a few days they showed greater insulin resistance. It was another proof that slow wave sleep is linked to lower glucose levels.

Diabetic Sleep Disorders and Obesity

Studies also showed that people who slept less tended to have a higher BMI. Sleep deprivation greatly increases your risk of obesity. And the connection lies in your hormones.

Short sleep time lowers your leptin, the hormone that signals decrease in appetite and speeding up of metabolism when it senses you have fat stores. Sleep deprived people also have higher levels of ghirelin, the hormone that stimulates hunger. The net result is increased appetite and more storing of calories in fat.

So sleep disorders increase your risk of obesity. People who get over 7 hours of good sleep tend to be less likely to be obese.

Some of the causes are due to behavior. When you are exhausted you will eat to stay awake. And you may think that eating will give you more energy when what you have is a "sleep debt" that you need to pay.

Many of us who are type 2 diabetic think we are getting good sleep because we sleep most of the night. So why do we wake up groggy and feel unrested? Sleep doctors will tell us the problem is almost always obstructive sleep apnea.

If you are getting little or no slow wave sleep, you will fight hunger all day and have a very hard time losing weight. Exercise helps, but if sleep apnea is treated you will get more benefit from the exercise.

Diabetic Sleep Disorders and Diabetes Complications

For type 2 diabetics there are other reasons for sleep loss. Diabetic nocturia from polyuria or from medications gets you out of bed in the middle of the night. Neuropathic pain and super-sensitive feet will make it hard to stay comfortable all night. And there is the annoying restless legs syndrome that plagues diabetics more than nondiabetes.

These problems are helped by tight blood sugar control and plenty of exercise. But many type 2 diabetics must also rely on medications for the neuropathy and restless legs. The trouble is that some of those medications have a side effect of inhibiting slow wave sleep.

You need to tell your doctor if while taking the pills he prescribed you are sleepy during the day and have problems with hunger and staying alert. Everyone responds to medications differently, and you may need a lower dosage or even a different medication. Do not give up until you are getting the benefits and still getting all the slow wave sleep you need.

Diabetic Sleep Disorders and Melatonin

There is a genetic link between type 2 diabetes and melatonin, and it has to do with damage at the DNA level. If the melatonin receptor's DNA is damaged, sleep will be affected along with lower metabolism and lower insulin production. All of that means higher blood sugars and worsened sleep. This combination can lead to type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Your beta cells, the producers of insulin, have the protein that makes melatonin in them. So if melatonin is affected, so is insulin. This is new stuff, so how it will change our treatment as diabetics is not clear.

Your biological clock is regulated by melatonin and serotonin. When light levels are low your brain tells your pineal gland to release melatonin, and you get sleepy. It peaks just before bedtime and then fades. Serotonin is stimulated by light and wakes you up. That's why if you have trouble falling asleep at night or waking up in the morning, a 15-minute dose of sunlight will do wonders.

When tested for it, type 2 diabetics have been found to have less melatonin than nondiabetics, but we can not just take it in a supplement. Melatonin pills are given to people who have confused their days and nights from shift work or jet lag, and blind people take them to help their biological clock work better.

So why do not diabetics take melatonin? For one thing it promises to raise blood sugar levels. For another, it is not a good idea to take a supplement of it over a long period of time because of side effects. Finally, taking melatonin has not done anything to help diabetes at all.

So for now you need to make sure you are not depriving yourself of sleep with bad sleep habits. And if you have signs of obstructive sleep apnea, do not ignore them. Once it has been treated your type 2 diabetic medications may be lowered, and you'll stop the complications that go along with diabetic sleep disorders.

There are other things you can do to help with good sleep. And there are superfoods that you can eat at night to help you sleep. You can find suggestions on my blog about sleep.

Pay your sleep debt with more than 6.5 hours a night and diabetes will be simpler to control, your obesity battle will be easier to win, and you will have more energy for the exercise that just might end the need for diabetic remedies. It is what I wish for all of us.