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Throat Thrush – Symptoms and Treatment

Throat thrush is a form of oral thrush which occurs in the throat. Also known as oral candida, it is a yeast infection which occurs when the naturally occurring candida yeast starts to grow in excess and can not be effectively managed by the body.

Thrush can cause and uncomfortable burning sensation in the throat, but because of its positioning it can be quite difficult to determine what might be causing this sensation. Throat thrush will also be accompanied by small white spots which you may be able to see by looking into a mirror to the back of your throat. While these spots will cause no discomfort, they do have a tendency to bleed when scraped, making it quite unsuitable for a throat thrush sufferer to eat certain hard foods which may cause a scratching sensation.

The candida fungus which causes throat thrush is present in about 50% of the population, although many will never suffer a full blown throat thrush outbreak. Throat thrush can occur at any time but is often a symptom of a weakened immune system and that means it regularly occurs when the suffere is feeling run down, has suffered from flu or any other immune system weakening disease.

If you are suffering from throat thrush, or have suffered from yeast infections previously, you will be glad to know that help is at hand. New homeopathic remedies have been identified as the most effective treatment to both ease occurring yeast infections and prevent further yeast infections from reoccurring.

Yeastrol has been shown as the most effective treatment for throat thrush, as well as thrush occurring in other parts of the body. It is simple to use, being a spray which is taken in the mouth daily. The special formulation rebalances your body's immune system to properly control the yeast overgrowth.

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Safe Food Handling For Gluten Allergies

When considering safe food handling for gluten allergies there are a number of areas to be considered. Food preparation and storage at home is the easiest to deal with and will depend on whether you are catering for one or two family members or the whole family. If the whole family is to avoid gluten then cross-contamination of utensils and cooking pots does not become an issue. You may want to consider purchasing new containers and pots depending on your level of sensitivity.

Also, the age of the gluten free person will have an implication for how store foods in the fridge for example, so they do not accidently eat foods containing gluten that are safe for other members of the family. Eating out can be problematic as although many cafés and restaurants are offering gluten free options or variations on their menus – it is unfortunately questionable how many of them are fully aware of the issues of cross-contamination or even just exactly what ingredients are really gluten free – sadly I do hear of and have personally suffered due to this problem in the past.

In just a few hours, or even less, and without spending much money, you can organize your kitchen so that everyone in the family can easily find either the regular or gluten free foods they want. If some but not all of the family are to be gluten free it can be a challenge, especially if trying to keep younger family members safe. I would suggest cleaning out a lower kitchen cupboard that they can easily reach, and a lower refrigerator shelf, and stock them with gluten-free foods they can just grab. Check these areas regularly to make sure no wheat-based foods have been placed there, and keep these areas well-stocked with foods and snacks your child likes to reduce temptation to eat wheat-based foods. This arrangement will allow your gluten intolerant child to take food for snacks.

Put all your wheat-based foods in the upper kitchen cupboards and upper fridge shelves, even if you have other young children who are not gluten intolerant. Far better that they should eat gluten free foods than that your gluten intolerant child should eat wheat-based food. When you're around, you can hand them wheat-based snacks from the upper cupboards or shelves as long as they know not to share with their gluten-intolerant sibling. For most families, duplicates of a few kitchen items will make life much easier, and will keep your gluten intolerant family members safe:

• Having a separate butter dish for the gluten-intolerant eater.
• A second toaster forasting gluten free breads, bagels, English muffins, etc.
• If family members are not scrupulous about cleaning mixers, blenders, measuring cups & spoons, and other kitchen tools and appliances, get a duplicate for the gluten intolerant member.
• Line oven racks, toaster ovens, and roasting pans with aluminum foil, so wheat-based pizza crusts, spills, and other wheat-based products do not contaminate gluten free foods in the oven. Baking pans and trays can be lined with baking parchment or aluminum foil to prevent contamination.
• Buy new kitchen storage containers for gluten free flours and mixes and label them clearly.
• Separate sifters are necessary for gluten free blends as it is nearly impossible to remove all flour passages so the risk of cross-contamination would be too high.
• A dishwasher is ideal for effective cleaning of all dishes, if you use the sink although a separate dishcloth is a good idea and should be replaced daily.

Dining out should be fun and not impossible for those following a gluten free diet. Restaurant and hotel managers and staff want you to dine in their establishment, so they want to give you the best dining experience possible. Gluten intolerance as well as other food allergies are becoming increasingly common as more and more people seek diagnosis and many restaurants are starting to see the benefits of offering gluten free options on their menus. When you plan to go to a restaurant you could try phoning ahead to see what their gluten free options are like, do try to contact the manager or the chef during the daily slow times. Ask if any dishes are currently gluten free or if they can easily be modified to be gluten free. Be sure to explain cross-contamination, so they know to use clean utensils, oils, pots, griddles and pans.

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Anxiety Attacks Treatment – How to Cure Social Anxiety in Teenagers

Are you looking for the effective anxiety attacks treatment? Social anxiety affects about 5.3 million people in the United States. The average age of onset of social phobia is between age 11 and 19 – the teenage years. How to cure social anxiety in teenagers?

Most teens get a little nervous in social situations, like public speaking or working in groups. Teens with social phobia are very busy in situations like these. Their anxiety may make them avoid everyday social activities, and can make social interactions very uncomfortable.

According to a group of American and German researchers, social anxiety disorder is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic factors and child-returning methods. Extremely embarrassing events in childhood are also thought to be contributing factors. It does appear to run in families, and children of anxious parents are more likely to develop the anxiety themselves. Children who have been overly protected or rejected by their parents, too, are more likely to develop social anxiety.

Anxiety Attacks Treatment. How To Cure Social Anxiety in Teenagers

There are 3 Methods for Anxiety Attacks Treatment: Medication, Exposure Therapy and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

It is the most frequently used form of psychotherapy for the treatment of anxiety.

– The goal of cognitive therapy is to change unwanted and disturbing thinking patterns. The individual examines his or her feelings and learners to separate realistic from unrealistic thoughts.

– The goal of behavior therapy is to modify and gain control over unwanted behavior. The individual learns to cope with difficult situations, often through controlled exposure to them.

The Attacking Anxiety and Depression Program

The program is based on cognitive-behavioral modification.

– It is Anxiety Self Treatment method

– It will teach you to recognize the thoughts, behaviors, and reactions causing your distress and then show you how to change these negative, anxiety-producing habits.

– The program is very deliberate, step-by-step, week-by-week, showing you how to begin dismounting your old destructive patterns and replacing them with more healthy, compassionate habits.

This is the best effective Anxiety Attacks Treatment.

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Mountain Arnica – The Healing Qualities Of The Herb Revealed (Part 2)

The article deals with the healing qualities of mountain arnica and useful guidelines on how to use the herb when dealing with various health problems.

  1. Arnica root and blossoms are used to make tincture and extract, which are included in various compound remedies intended for external use to deal with burn, skin inflammation, inflamed veins, slowly healing wound, bruise and joint pain.
  2. An infusion, decoction and tincture made of arnica blossoms are used internally to treat gastrointestinal diseases, ulcer, bloody diarrhea, stomach ache caused by carrying and lifting heavy objects, cardiology disease, female disease, bone damage and cold in folk medicine of various nations. Arnica is used in case of nervous disease, stroke, paralysis caused by contusion, inflamed veins, concussion of the brain, arteriosclerosis, tiredness, enlarged veins, stenocardia, myocardial weakness and grippe. The decoction should be made by infusing 10 grams of blossoms with a glass of boiling water. Take a tablespoon of the decoction 2-3 times a day after meal. The tincture, in its turn, is made by infusing the herb with ethanol at 70 percent concentration (proportion 1:10). Take 30-40 drops of it twice a day before meal by washing it down with half a glass of water.
  3. In terms of external use, you can use the herb in case of dislocation, wound, bruise, cold sore (it has to be undamaged), hair loss, skin diseases, furunculosis, rheumatism, low back pain, gout, toothache, injury caused by hit, bone fracture and neuritis. The herb is proven to stop bleeding from the nose and uterus. Arnica together with oak bark can be used for compresses to treat dislocation, wound, bruise and hematoma. When using the herb externally, you should use the decoction or watered tincture. When making a gargle, mix a teaspoon of the tincture with a cup of water or make the decoction by infusing 2 grams of blossoms with a cup of boiling water (it is a daily dose).
  4. Concentrated tincture or large quantities of the tumor suppress the activity of your central nervous system, but small quantities – tone it up. Therefore, you should strictly observe the indicated dose and the guidelines given by your doctor. When using concentrated arnica remedies internally for a long time, you can actually poison yourself.

Mountain arnica is a herb native to the mountains of middle Europe. The plant can be found in places with increased humidity of air. It loves hornbeam and coniferous forest glade, thin brushwood and mountain meadow at 500-2800 meters above sea level.

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What is Pancreatitis?

When your pancreas is inflamed you have pancreatitis. The pancreas is located behind the stomach close to the duodenum at the upper small intestine and is a large gland. Digestive enzymes are secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine through the pancreatic duct. The proteins, fats and carbohydrates in foods are digested by these enzymes. Glucagon and insulin are released into the bloodstream by the pancreas and is a very important function of the pancreas.

When all is running normally the enzymes are not active until they enter the small intestine. Sometimes the enzymes become active in the pancreas. These enzymes actually try to digest the pancreas.

Chronic pancreatitis will not go away on its own and will result in the destruction of the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis us a short term, suddenly occurring attach that usually resolves itself. But either condition can result in complications that are serious. Such complications include bleeding, infection and tissue damage. The accumulation of tissue debris and fluids may turn into pseudocysts. Also toxins and enzymes have a chance to enter the bloodstream and may cause harm to the kidneys, lungs, heart and other organs.

Gallstones are normally the cause of acute pancreatitis as well as over indulging in alcohol consumption. But these are not the only causes of acute pancreatitis. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis include upper abdominal pain that lasts for a few days. The pain could be severe and constant in the abdomen or even in areas of the back. Other times the pain may be intense and sudden beginning mildly and worsening when food is consumed. Other symptoms include tender and swollen abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever and rapid pulse.

Acute pancreatitis can cause dehydration and low blood pressure. A sever case may cause the failure of the heart, kidneys or lungs. Shock and death may be a result if there is bleeding in the pancreas.

Blood tests help to diagnosis if you may have acute pancreatitis. If you are in an acute attack your amylase and lipase levels will be three times higher than normal or even higher. Lipase and amylase are the enzymes in the pancreas. Other blood levels that may be affected include calcium, glucose, magnesium, bicarbonate, potassium and sodium. Sometimes you may undergo a CAT or abdominal ultrasound to look for gallstones or other inflammation of the pancreas.

If there are not complications in the lungs or kidneys the pancreatitis will usually resolve itself on its own. Otherwise treatment may include admission to the hospital to have necessary fluid levels replaced through an IV. If pseudocysts develop and are the size to interfere with the healing process of the pancreas they may be drained or surgically removed.

An attack that is acute and where the pancreatic or bile duct is not blocked by gallstones will usually last only a few days. Sever cases may require IV feeding for three to six weeks to help the slow healing process of the pancreas. This treatment is called parenteral nutrition. If you have a very mild case of pancreatitis then parenteral nutrition is usually of no benefit.

If you were admitted to the hospital upon discharge you will be advised not to consume alcohol or eat large meals. When all symptoms of the acute attack are gone the physician can then try to determine the cause. This will help to prevent future attacks. Sometimes when the cause is unclear more tests will be required.

Complications of acute pancreatitis can include breathing problems including hypoxia. Hypoxia is a condition where the tissues and cells of your body do not receive adequate oxygen. If infection results then surgery may be required to remove any damaged pancreatic tissue.

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Indications and Contraindications for Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound therapy is a popular method of treatment for chiropractors, physical therapists, and other medical care providers. It involves transferring sound waves with frequencies greater than the human sound spectrum (above 20 kilohertz) into a patient. The energy that is transferred with the sound waves can be used to treat focused, isolated areas of tissue to help with relieving pain in affected areas of the body and to speed the recovery process for injured muscle or other tissues.

When to Use Ultrasound

Therapeutic ultrasound can be used to create a deep heat effect for relief of pain, muscle spasms and in cases where joints have been tightened over a prolonged period of time – joint contracture – as in cases such as spastic cerebral palsy or in work-induced environments.

Some of the most common medical problems that warrant the use of ultrasound therapy are adhesive capsulitis (“frozen shoulder”, or pain and stiffness in the shoulder caused by inflammation), calcific bursitis (the calcification of bursa sacs due to prolonged inflammation, usually in the shoulder), inflammation of the skeletal muscles (myositis), and soft tissue injuries from sports or other causes. Ultrasound therapy is also used to treat tendons that have been shortened from untreated scar tissue or past injuries. Ultrasound can be used to overcome capsular tightness or scarring, which often result from surgeries such as breast augmentation.

Contraindications

There are many situations for which the typical ultrasound therapy treatment using equipment such as the Intelect Legend or TranSport series from Chattanooga is not recommended. Ultrasound should not be used to treat local pain without the patient first receiving a thorough diagnosis, and the cause of the pain has been confidently determined. It should not be used when there are cancerous lesions on or near area to be treated. If a patient shows symptoms of carrying serious infectious diseases or in cases where the patient should be avoiding excess heat or fevers, it is not advised to use therapeutic ultrasound.

Other conditions governing the use of ultrasound therapy include avoiding particular parts of the body that may be susceptible to negative side effects from the treatment. It should not be used in areas where bones are growing. If a patient uses a pacemaker, it is not recommended to use this kind of treatment in the thoracic part of the body, as the pacemaker may be affected in those cases. Ultrasound devices should not be used where a fracture is healing, it should not be applied close to a patient’s eyes, and it should not be used over the uterus region of a pregnant woman. Therapists should be careful not to use ultrasound in patients who suffer from vascular disease and who have ischemic tissue. In this case, cells could die because of the blood supply’s inability to keep pace with the increased metabolic demand from tissues affected by the treatment.

Other situations that prohibit the use of ultrasound therapy include the spine area of patients who have had spinal surgeries such as Laminectomy, anywhere on a patient where anesthetics are being used, or any kind of disposition to bleeding excessively.

Competent medical professionals should be well-informed of when ultrasound therapy should be used, and under what circumstances it should be avoided.

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Colonoscopy – The Necessary Step in Preventing Colon Cancer

I recently received a letter from a patient talking of a sad, but all too common situation that ends in tragedy. She told me that she attended a funeral of a 45 year old woman she knew, no history of colon cancer – the true epitome of physical and mental health. Unfortunately, she underwent a routine colonoscopy (although it may not have been as routine as she says) and found that she had stage 3 colon cancer.

She continued by saying that her grandmother had also recently died of colon cancer and that her father had had to have polyps removed regularly. Her concern was that now that she herself is 50 years old expressed dire interest in getting a colonoscopy. Our hope is that this one is in fact in time.

It is an absolute tragedy to hear of stories such as this one. It is unfortunate that it often takes such misfortunes to teach us all lessons in life. Being a gastroenterologist, I regretably witness such events frequently. However, I must admit that the most rewarding part of my work is that I have been given the ability by the all mighty to prevent such disasters on a daily basis. The routine colonoscopy is perhaps one of the most poorly understood and even feared procedures by the general population. Patients often present to my practice with stories of awful experiences that their friends or acquaints have recalled. Myths about the preparation, the procedure itself and complications leave patients fledged and anxious to the point that they put off going for the test.

The reality is that a colonoscopy is a very simple, safe and effective procedure. I always tell my patients that the worst part of the test is the preparation on the day before the test, and if done correctly, is not that bad at all. The procedure itself is absolutely painless and is usually quite comfortable. The entire procedure may easily be completed within 30 minutes. A short acting intravenous anesthetic is administered to the patient immediately before the procedure. The true benefit of a colonoscopy is that that is not only a diagnostic tool, but more importantly it is therapeutic. This means that if a polyp (abnormal tissue growth) is identified, it may be easily removed at the same time, so preventing and even curing a potential cancer from ever developing.

Most of my patients are relieved when the risks and benefits of the procedure are carefully discussed with them. But as the famous saying goes, the proof is in the pudding. It is always a pleasure to be asked the same question from my patients who wake up immediately after the test, "when are you going to start the procedure?" Egypt "That's it?".

Typically, people that should undergo colonoscopy are all people over the age of 50 years and those who have first degree family members (parents or siblings) that were diagnosed with colon cancer. Specific rules apply in various cases and can be discussed with a specialist. The most important concept to understand is that colon cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death in the United States and it is also completely preventable. Consider the infinite merit of referring loved ones for a colonoscopy.

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Home Remedies For Oral Thrush

Oral Thrush is caused by a fungus called candida. Candida is actually a yeast infection in the mouth. It is commonly targeted at newborn babies and toddlers. However, this infection can also happen on adults too.

thrush typically appeared as white or cream colored spots. The infected area may bleed when the white flakes are scraped. They may also get discomfort when chewing or swallowing food. You may also see rashes at the corner of the mouth. Normally, babies or children may appear to have no or mild signs of discomfort but it is best to treat thrush early as it may spread to other parts like digestive tract.

There are several kinds of treatments for oral thrush. It can be treated with drops, yeast gel, tablets or lozenges that contain nystatin or miconazole. Home remedies for oral thrush is one of the good treatments for eliminating the root cause of the problem, preventing the symptoms from recurring again.

To speed up the process of curing thrush, it is best to take good control of your blood sugar level. Avoid eating too much sugary food and go for high fiber diet food. If you wear denture, leave the dentures out for at least 6 to 8 hours and disinfect every day. Make sure your dentures are not overly fitted or loose. A good oral hygiene is definitely a must in getting rid of the oral thrush.

In order to prevent the thrush from getting worse, it is best to seek proven and effective home remedies for oral thrush. This infection can persist for months or the chances of the symptoms repeating again can be quite high if it is not properly rated.

Today, more and more patients have their yeast infection solved with natural home remedies because it is safe from drugs, effective and cheap.

Get your instructions on How to cure oral thrush naturally and eliminate this problem forever.

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Hepatitis C – To "Treat" Or Not to "Treat"

It is estimated that three to four million Americans are infected with hepatitis C (HCV), a blood borne virus that attacks the liver of its host, and many of them are not even aware of it. The US spent nearly six billion dollars in 1997 for the treatment of HCV, and the costs have continued to skyrocket. The main treatments that are available are expensive, only marginally effective and loaded with nasty side effects. The horizon is littered with bewildered hep C patients, newly diagnosed – often taken from blissful ignorance (asymptomatic) to shock and horror in a moment's notice – who are asking the dreaded question, should I go "The Treatment"?

According to the many natural practitioners who oppose "treatment" of HCV with harsh and expensive drugs, it is technically not the chemical interferons that do the acute damage; it is the body's massive inflammatory response to the drugs. The long term damage may be related to the undering of a patient's baseline immunity, which makes them more susceptible to opportunistic infections and often to flare ups of the virus that are worse the second time around. Often the first test recommended to a hepatitis C patient is a liver biopsy. Although a liver biopsy is certainly the most definitive way to confirm the patient's genotype and determine the level of deterioration of liver tissue, it is a perilous and invasive procedure that further traumatizes and inflames the liver.

Natural practitioners prefer to monitor blood studies, particularly liver transaminase enzyme levels, which are generally elevated when significant liver tissue damage is taking place. Physicians also typically monitor the level of viral replication that is taking place in the blood, commonly referred to as the viral load and measured by a test called a PCR – RNA. These and other marks can help reveal how well a patient is dealing with the virus without inflating further harm or adding stress to an already challenged organ.

The natural approach to treating HCV – or any other chronic illness for that matter – involves strengthening and balancing the immune system, internal cleansing of the body, reducing systemic inflammation and the promotion of healthy metabolic pathways. A comprehensive nutritional support program is needed to support the body's ability to absorb and assimilate nutrients and eliminate toxins and wastes.

Natural treatment of hepatitis C typically addresses stress management, regular exercise and a healthy diet consistent chiefly of the foods that were given through the wisdom of our Creator to sustain us. Dietary protein is often limited to reduce stress on the liver, although some protein is needed for liver tissue regeneration. Any underlying nutritional deficiencies are identified and treated, as are any secondary infections which can further burden and compromise the immune system. At its best, natural treatment also takes into consideration that being made in the triune image of God, we must address the trinity of our nature (mind, body and spirit) if we wish to be made whole.

There are numerous natural medicines and techniques that are employed in treating viral infections like hep C, from herbal antivirals such as cat's claw to intravenous vitamin C, hydrogen peroxide or photoluminescence therapy. In addition to antiviral strategies to keep the viral load down, various herbs and nutrients are given to help protect the liver and encourage regeneration of liver tissue. Milk thistle, dandelion, turmeric, schizandra, artichoke and blupeurum have all been shown to have strong liver protective properties. All of these proven nutrients may be found in one cutting edge liver support formula.

Whatever the threat, however, there is no more fundamental a way to support and restore the immune system than to support the master gland of immunity, the thymus gland. Glandular extracts of thymus have a long history of use to restore integrity to overtaxed immune systems.

Persons diagnosed with hepatitis of any kind should always be screened for iron overload to rule out hemochromatosis, a very common genetic disorder that precedes elimination of dietary iron. The combination of viral hepatitis and hemochromatosis is extremely dangerous because the virus thrives in an iron rich environment and high iron levels are toxic to the liver in the first place. Diagnosis of the genetic disorder is confirmed by the presence of both elevated serum iron levels and a high transferrin saturation percentage. Natural treatment of iron overload involvents periodic phlebotomies (therapeutic blood-letting), often along with the administration of inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), a commercially available oral iron binding agent.

A diagnosis of infection with hepatitis C is not a death sentence. It is, however, a wake up call to begin to treat one's temple with care and respect, and to seek to understand how our daily choices impact our quality of life. The ancient Hebrew prophet Hosea lamented that " my people perish for lack of knowledge ." (Hosea 4: 6) In today's information age, knowledge is more accessible than ever before, but one needs considerable differentiation to separate the wheat from the chaff.

As natural health seekers, we need to ask for and receive wisdom and understanding from God as to how the enemy attempts to steer away our health and vitality, for " there is a way that sees right to a man, but its end is the way of death " (Proverbs 14:12). Recognizing that you are a target of lies and a prisoner of your habits and choices is the first step towards transforming your health.

The Apostle Paul urged us to " not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind " (Romans 12: 2). That means much more than do not drink, smoke and cuss. We must learn to " present our bodies as living sacrices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service " (Romans 12: 1). That means abstaining from fast, fried or processed foods, sodas, refined sugar and flour, chemical sweeteners and preservatives, hydrogenated oils, trans fats, and most certainly with an HCV challenged liver, alcohol. It means limiting protein intake and exposure to chemical or emotional toxicity, hormones, antibiotics and pesticides.

We must remember that virtually everything that enters our body, whether by mouth, nose, lungs, or skin must be processed by the liver. Other than the brain, it is far and away the most critical of all internal organs in terms of systems management. The liver is intimately involved in the metabolism of fat, sugar, protein and hormones. Foods, toxins, even our thoughts have a substantial effect on the liver, so we must guard our liver well in our daily choices … all the more so if we are dealing with a chronic illness like hepatitis C.

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Potassium Citrate Dietary Supplements

Potassium Citrate is used extensively as a dietary supplement. It is also seen to be highly effective in the treatment of conditions like kidney ailments.

It is a mineral that is essential for the body and thus, it is important to ensure that the right levels are maintained through. An average person requires anywhere between 2000-4000 mg of potassium citrate on a daily basis. Our body derives its requisite of potassium citrate from food. It is naturally present in foods like banana, cauliflower, orange juice, tomatoes, raw carrots and cabbage, beetroot, yam and papaya. It is important that the body's needs of potassium citrate be adequately met.

Deficiency of potassium citrate in the body may manifest in many forms like irritability, weakness, anxiety, depression, pain in the joints, constipation and irregularity in heart beat, water retention, headaches, growth problems and even high levels of cholesterol. Thus, a supplement is advisable in cases of extreme deficiency so as to be able to maintain a balance. It is essential that the supplement be taken under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

Potassium citrate is very useful in farming ailments related to the kidney. Potassium citrate has the unique property of being effective in maintaining the requisite balance in the uric acid levels. Thus, it is used by medical practitioners for the treatment of conditions like urinary calculi or kidney stones. Potassium citrate is also seen to be useful in improving muscle and nerve functions.

Potassium citrate supplements of any kind are not advisable in the case of patients suffering from any ailment related to the kidney. It can actually have very drastic adverse effects. People using anti-inflammatory drugs are also advised to keep off potassium citrate supplements.
Precautions to be followed before starting on a course of potassium citrate supplements:

o It is essential to inform your medical practitioner of any past history of kidney related illnesses or heart ailment.

o High blood pressure patients and those having any kind of allergy must also intimate the doctor in advance.

The medical practitioner must be consulted immediately in case of an overdose or any abnormal symptoms noted while using potassium citrate.

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The 10 Most ANNOYING Marketing Buzzwords

Calling all marketers! Get ready to disrupt (yup, that’s one of them) your digestive tract with marketing clichés that will make you puke. These marketing buzz terms are polluting creative minds everywhere – and there might even be scientific evidence linking these cringe-worthy catchphrases to Millennials’ intense feelings of “I don’t want a desk job”. It’s certainly possible. However, for everyone else, can we make a pact?

As fellow marketers and creative professionals, let’s kindly retire (or extinguish) these irritating phrases so we can all evolve past this “noise” cluttering our industry. Are you with me?!

1. Disruption

First, let’s be clear. “Disruption” is really more of a business term. It describes a market condition that takes place when an existing market collapses and a new one emerges. It’s actually very similar to “Disruptive Innovation” which happens when a new market comes to fruition entirely. Uber might be a great example of both – depending on how you look at it.

However, when this “Wall Street” phrase ended up leaking all over Madison Avenue, “disruption” and “disruptive” became overly used, watered down terms that essentially started to mean nothing.

Certainly “Creative Disruption”, might have a place, as it refers to exposing business model flaws and promoting big changes in consumer behaviour (in the creative sense). However, I can’t help but wonder whether some Agency Account Director just throws out “disruptive” terms just to win some big account. I mean, come on. Disrupt what? Isn’t it our job as marketers to change consumer habits and get noticed?

2. Growth hacking

Okay, I realize that “hacking” is supposed to mean “coding” in this sense (not cutting down), but this phrase sure does sound like an oxymoron to me!

Popularized by Sean Ellis and other techies in the early 2000s, the term was meant to describe non-traditional ways to achieve growth through experimental marketing strategies and emerging technologies. READ: this is also a glorified way of describing underpaid “bootstrappers” (oh, but with equity of course!) trying to unlock the key to “crowd culture” (yawn).

Perhaps growth-hacking was a relevant, meaningful term 15 years ago, but not today. Most marketers are expected to (magically) achieve growth with technological brilliance and creativity because it’s our job. Sound like a lot of pressure? Well, welcome to marketing.

3. SoLoMo

Oh no-no. If your ears have not been scarred yet by this irritating term (in what seems like “slow-mo”), it means “Social-Local-Mobile” as if this is some genius concept or secret to being relevant. So, please, don’t use this catch-phrase. Ever.

4. Actionable Insights

Actionable? As opposed to “Well, we learned something today, and we’re not going to do anything about it”.

I mean, am I missing something? Where does one look for “actionable insights”? Is this something people need in addition to regular insights? For example, if I’m comparing landing page performance in The Marketing Manager, and I see one campaign outperforming the other, I think I know what action to take. Do you?

5. Seamless Integration

If you work in the tech sector, I bet you are emphatically nodding your head “yes”. This godawful term is about as common and meaningless as your vendor saying “we have an API” when asked “does your product do (xyz)?”.

In fact, let’s just throw in some puzzle pieces to truly visually convey (because we’re idiots) that our software seamlessly integrates (puke) with boredom and clichés. After all, we need to “scream” that each piece of our ho-hum app actually functions when interfacing with some other random technology.

And while this style of tech marketing seems awfully common (more like ubiquitous), to me, it feels rather ironic. After all, I’m pretty sure that puzzle pieces have jagged, noticeable edges. Don’t they?

Besides, there is no such thing as “seamless” integration. It takes work and maintenance for two tools to “talk” to one another – and you (the consumer) get to pay for it. There you have it.

6. Turn-key (and everything “key” in general)

Let’s face it. If someone offers you a “turn-key”, “off the shelf” solution, does it make you open your wallet? Personally, it makes me turn into a glazed-over zombie. Why? Because even if something is difficult, a brand will either never admit it or up-sell you the “turn-key” solution (rigor mortis setting in).

Now of course, I understand that this term was once synonymous with “effortless”. Nevertheless, it has since evolved into a useless adjective that lazy marketers use to describe some blah-blah-blah with blah-blah-blah. That being said, I propose we lock up this useless adjective (pun intended).

In fact, as long as we are stuck on cliché doorway analogies, can we please also stop saying [anything]gate to describe a conspiracy theory? Maybe I’m being unreasonable, but I would love it if people could coin something new. After all, the key (cringe) to creative marketing is to explain concepts meaningfully. That’s why “turn-key” is no longer descriptive; tell me WHY something is so effortless – in an engaging, concise way. Does this sound difficult? Well it is. That’s why creative people have jobs.

7. Content Is King

Yawn. “Content is king” and “(whatever) is queen” sounds like a big, gay party – but everyone’s really bored with it.

It’s no mystery. Live sports and fan favorites like “The Walking Dead” keep Cable television in business. After all, those Cable bills are expensive! Perhaps that’s why this cringe-worthy, irritating phrase simply won’t die; decision-makers in the media universe are ignoring the fact that modern consumers are stingy with their time. How else can we explain this endless sea of boring content?

Maybe I’m wrong, but here is my understanding of modern consumers (who all have built-in A.D.D)

AWESOME content = I will only tolerate ads if they cannot be blocked. And if I really hate ads, I will PAY to have them blocked – so please stop forcing these painful pre-rolls and what feels like 10-minute commercial blocks on me.

BORING content = I hate you for wasting my time – also known as “get out of my in-box” syndrome while emphatically clicking “spam”.

Assuming that the media gods disagree with me, I believe this painful phrase will continue to exist.

8. Advertainment

Speaking of “content is crap”, marketers make up stupid terms like “advertainment” to seem like they’re solving some really big cultural problem – but they’re not.

“Advertainment” is essentially just an annoying way to explain “branded content”, product placement or flat-up fantastic marketing in disguise. I understand the concept, but here’s the problem: if you call your own work “advertainment”, you sound like a pompous fop.

Don’t get me wrong – some marketers have managed to make advertising very entertaining, including Red Bull with their adrenaline junkie videos, and AMC with their Walking Dead and Mad Men apps (also known as “gamification” – which theoretically could make this list).

Nevertheless, does “advertainment” really solve a problem? I guess so, but can we please not call it that?

In all seriousness though, if you are a marketer that somehow figured out how to move product without annoying people, congrats. This is an achievement. I’m serious.

9. Ecosystem (to describe everything)

Are we a bunch of ants stuck in a science class diorama demonstrating seamless integration (see term #5 above)? Silicon Valley seems to think so.

We hear this word a lot, especially when some “thought leader” (yawn, could also make this list) is ill-prepared to answer a tough question in a meeting.

“Well you see [insert CEO name here], our next step towards changing consumer behavior patterns is to move the social conversation to the Internet-of-Things ecosystem,” said the slightly hungover marketing executive recovering from last night’s vendor bender.

Look. We’ve all been there, but the use of the word “ecosystem” is starting to feel out of control. Somehow, everything can arguably be an ecosystem, including that Chia Pet they sell in Walmart. Do you see what I mean? Germination. Photosynthesis. Whatever. And it all brings me back to where I started: my seventh-grade science class.

10. Snackable Content

Doesn’t this phrase make you want to vomit? Personally, I find it nauseating, but here’s some “food-for-thought”: the term “content consumption” is actually the mothership concept that spawned this ugly-duckling buzz term. All it means is that time-starved consumers prefer concise headlines, bullet points, easy-to-read lists (unlike mine), and pretty much the opposite of heavy, homogenous-looking text. Makes sense.

Nonetheless, isn’t it amazing how unappetizing this trite phrase sounds? I actually almost puked (in a good way) when Grant Higginson of Welby Consulting tweeted it to us during our “Tweet the most annoying marketing buzzword to win a drone” contest. Needless to say, he won.

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Healing Ulcers and Colitis Naturally

Ulcers are painful and debilitating conditions that silently affect thousands. Ulcers can cause pain anytime of the day with no forewarning or trigger. The pain can start as a gnawing feeling and ever exacerbate to a burning sensation making eating agonizing. The pain may come and go and effect sleep and everyday life.

Health is the processes of elimination and nutrition working cohesively. Health is perfect harmony within the body; perfect elimination of waste and, the building and functioning of cells. When neither of these processes is altered or hindered, illness is the result.

How Ulcer Develop

Diseases are an insidious process and consist of several stages. The first stage is the weakening of the nervous system that controls the processes of nutrition and elimination. When these processes are weakened the conversion of raw materials to living structure are hindered and the elimination of cellular waste is checked.

The waste that is produced within the body is toxic. When these toxins accumulate, cells are weakened, congested, and damaged. This leads to irritation of the tissue and ever inflammation. The inflammatory process is a self-healing mechanism where an increase of fluid is sent to the area in an attempt to remove waste and repair cell damage.

Inflammation becomes chronic when waste is stagnant due to poor elimination. When waste is not removed it continues to wreak havoc on the cells, creating ulceration of the tissue. If the ulcer heals without proper elimination of waste, a weak form of tissue develops that is more prone to the development of chronic disease.

Anything that weakens the nervous system and inhibits elimination may cause the development of ulceration. This may include any lifestyle habit, environment, medication, and / or stress. The cause is always chronic and perpetual.

The Stress Factor

Stress is a healthy and natural process that is meant to enable our bodies with the power and strength needed to save our lives during life-threatening situations. During the stress process blood is rushed to the muscles in the arms and legs, hormones are released to give the extra needed strength and energy, and digestion and elimination come to a complete halt.

When a person is under chronic stress from worry, fear, or anxiety, the eliminative functions are hindered and waste accumulates. This is often when a person will begin to exhibit ulcer related symptoms.

Food Management

When a person first begins to experience symptoms it is best to rest and water fast for a couple of days followed by simple easy to digest foods. Fasting and resting may difficult to some due to obligations such as work, managing a household, and raising child; in these cases simple to digest foods should be implemented. At times some may find that even easy to digest foods may cause pain, in these cases eliminate these foods and eat those that do not create discomfort. One may also find mono-meals (meals consisting of one food) very beneficial.

Simple to digest foods consist of sub-acid fruits such as bananas, mangoes, grapes, melons, or pears. Fruits are the easiest to digest foods and may provide some relief. If vegetables are consumed one should eat green leafy vegetables and fruit vegetables such as cucumbers, bell peppers, orange or yellow tomatoes, or squashes. Some may even find sweet potatoes bearable.

One should avoid hard digesting foods such as meats, dairy, starches, fried foods, and some of the denser vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, or kale. Anything that may cause irritation to the digestive tract should be avoided at all costs such as spicy foods, cooked tomatoes, barbecue sauces, ketchup, black pepper, mustard, vinegar, oils, and alcohol.

Helpful Herbs

The best herbs for ulceration are slippery elm and marshmallow root. These are best taken in a powder form. Some have found they only need a teaspoon to one tablespoon in water to reap the benefits when taken three to five times a day. These herbs create a texture similar to mucus when wet and coat the lining of the intestines, providing protection while the tissue is able to heal.

These herbs may help to eliminate the pain but they still do not address the cause. They should be implemented with a cellular detoxification program, to assist the body in healing and preventing any further tissue damage that may lead to worsening illnesses in the future. The suppression of symptoms without the removal of cause is a recipe for disaster in the near or distant future. The body is only capable of healing when the required elements of health are provided and the cause has been removed.

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Calendula – The Healing Qualities Of The Herb Revealed (Part 2)

The article deals with the healing qualities of calendula. It describes simple guidelines on how to use the herb when dealing with various health problems, such as, hepatitis, gastritis, acne, boil and many more.

  1. Calendula remedies should be used as anti-inflammatory remedies to treat gastritis, stomach ulcer and duodenal ulcer. Calendula facilitates the secretion of bile. The plant is said to be of great help in case of hepatitis, inflammation of gallbladder and inflated bile ducts. Mix equal quantities of calendula blossoms, chamomile blossoms and yarrow tops, and use the mix of the herbs to make a compound tea. The tea should be used in case of digestive disorders. When dealing with renal diseases and diseases of gallbladder, you should mix 7-8 tablespoons of calendula tincture, a glass of viburnum juice and half a glass of honey, and drink the remedy.
  2. Remedies made of the blossoms are intended for external use, as well. Calendula infusion and decoction should be used to rinse your mouth in case of gingivitis and tonsillitis. In addition, you can mix a teaspoon of the tincture with a glass of water and use it as a mouthwash to deal with the diseases mentioned above. Moreover, these remedies can be used to treat conjunctivitis and sty.
  3. Calendula blossoms, tincture, emulsion, gel and fresh juice are used to treat various wounds, frostbite, burn, eruption of the skin, furuncle, acne, eczema, inflammation of eyelid, edema and lymphadenitis. Compress and bandage can be used in case of inflammation of a vein, sunburn and fungus diseases.
  4. In order to treat boil and wound, you can make calendula salve on your own. Pestle 5 grams of the blossoms and mix them with fresh lard, vaseline or lanolin to get the salve. You can use calendula tincture instead of the blossoms. Salve can be made using juice, as well. Juice calendula tops and mix 4-6 grams of fresh juice with 30 grams of butter. Salve can be used to deal with herpes. Put it on the inflamed vein, swollen glands, boil and furuncle. This remedy is proven to treat skin itch and inflammation. In addition, you should mix 1-2 tablespoons of calendula juice with a glass of milk or broth and drink the remedy.

The herb is widely used in veterinary medicine. It is used to produce various homeopathic remedies, as well. Blossoms are used to obtain carotenoids, which, in their turn, are used in perfumery and the production of food to color cheese and other products.

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Common Reasons for Initiating Dialysis Treatment

Dialysis is a long-term treatment that often consumes significant amounts of time, energy, and resources. While dialysis is sometimes required to sustain life, it is typically reserved for patients who suffer from advanced and irreversible kidney failure. The decision to administrator dialysis is not one that should be taken lightly and it is very important that individuals consult with a knowledgeable physician before agreeing to receive treatment. Licensed medical providers who specialize in nephrology are able to review an individual's unique medical state and outline the reasons for why they feel that dialysis is the appropriate course of action. In addition, patients are encouraged to develop a basic understanding of the different indications for dialysis so that they are better able to appreciate the physician's logic.

In general, an individual requires dialysis treatment once their kidney function has fallen below 80 – 90% of normal capacity. At this level, the body begins to accumulate excess amounts of water and waste that eventually becomes toxic. A physician will often look for five common signs that an individual is suffering from kidney failure and may be in need of dialysis treatment. The mnemonic 'AEIOU' is often used to remember the five common acute indications for dialysis. They include acidemia, electrolyte imbalance, inoxication, overload, and uremia. Acidemia is an abnormal level of acid in the blood, an electrolyte imbalance which can result from the inability to filter the blood normally, and the ingestion of toxicating types of compounds can cause kidney failure and result in the need for dialysis. An overload of fluid that is not resolved with diuretics may indicate kidney failure and uremia is the buildup of waste products.

Although the five acute causes of kidney failure listed above can result in the need for dialysis, chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and a number of different developmental diseases are far more common in treatment facilities. In cases of chronic illness, medical personnel will monitor the patient's glomerular filtration rate in order to determine if renal function has been reduced to the point where treatment is required. Physicians will also keep close watch over these patients to see if things like pericarditis, pleuritis, neuropathy, metabolic disorders, fluid overload, or hypertension develop. Chronic renal decline coupled with these types of concern conditions are almost always a sign that dialysis treatment needs to be initiated.

Patients who end up on long-term dialysis therapy most commonly suffer from chronic diseases that can be monitored for a prolonged period of time to determine if renal failure is occurring. The most popular metric for staging kidney failure is glomerular filtration rate (GFR). An individual's GFR is indicative of their ability to remove water and waste from the body. A GFR between 90 and 99 is considered stage 1 renal failure. Patients between 60 and 89 are in stage 2 renal failure. Once a patient reaches stage 2 they are likely to experience signs and symptoms associated with kidney damage. Those between 30 and 59 are said to be in stage 3 renal failure while among 15 and 29 are classified as stage 4. Anything below 15 is considered stage 5 renal failure and may require dialysis, a transplant, or both.

The kidneys are an extremely important component of human health that can suffer severe damage from a variety of different medical conditions. Those who are faced with the prospect of long-term dialysis treatment can improve the odds of experiencing positive health outcomes by remaining compliant with their treatment protocol and taking time to understand their illness. An informed approach to disease management is often the best way to combat the frustration and anxiety that can develop after long periods of dialysis treatment.

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Do Diuretics Cause Diabetes?

Diuretics are often prescribed for eliminating excess fluid as a means to lower blood pressure – they are also used to reduce the swelling in hands and feet (edema).

There are two things wrong with that.

1. Dehydration is very dangerous, and chemical diuretics flush out more fluid than you can afford to lose.

2. Diuretics flush out more than water – they flush out no less than 16 essential vitamins and minerals.

These happen to be the very vitamins and minerals that your body requires to maintain a healthy blood pressure. In addition, deficiencies in these vitamins and minerals will make other diseases worse.

For instance, a deficiency of Manganese can produce high cholesterol, high blood pressure, rapid pulse, tremors, and pancreatic damage. A deficiency of zinc can cause high cholesterol, decrease the immune system, and give you a propensity to diabetes. And that's just two. Each and every vitamin that chemical diuretics flush out is essential to your health.

For every action there is a reaction.

The health & fitness column in the local newspaper recently borrowed a question from a gentleman who had high blood pressure for years, and recently his doctor changed his medicine and put him on diuretics. The result: High blood glucose.

The doctor answered that diuretics like HCTZ (hydrochlorothiazide) can raise blood sugar and trigger diabetes in some people. They can also raise uric acid levels and bring on a gout attack.

He remarked that Atenolol, which this man had been prescribed, is a controversial treatment because of questions about its effectiveness.

My own research indicates that the damage from diuretics can be even more far-reaching. They can, among other things, RAISE your blood pressure to dangerous levels. In addition, they can bring about the edema that they are designed to reduce.

Many doctors tell their patients to reduce the amount of water and other fluids that they take in. This is a mistake that can be deadly. First, dehydration leads to a whole host of other ailments that you do not need. (But hey, you can get a pill for them!) Second, it turns out that water is the best diuretic of all – because part of the reason why your body wants to retain water is dehydration. Some would also tell you to eliminate salt – another mistake.

Dr. David Tanton, in "A Drug-Free Approach to Healthcare," advises that the best way to reduce edema and control blood sugar levels is to help your body flush out the toxins. In his book he explains why he recommends drinking ten 8-ounce glasses of water daily, along with 1 teaspoon of Celtic sea salt.

Other natural healers agree, because water and Celtic sea salt will keep your blood and kidneys clean, and maintain the oxygen levels in your heart and other vital organs.