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Rash From Masturbation: Causes, Treatment and Prevention

Everyman has no doubt gotten a little overzealous at some point in his life and masturbated until he wound up with a red penis and a lot of discomfort. Sometimes it’s just high drive, other times it’s boredom, and other times, well, sometimes it’s just because it’s really fun to do. No matter the reason, a rash from masturbation can be quite painful and inconvenient and isn’t just a result from too much self-pleasure. Let’s dive into the cause, how to treat a rash from masturbation, as well as how to prevent one in the first place.

Causes of a Rash from Masturbation

There are several reasons why a man can find himself with a rash from masturbation. Here are a few:

1) Too much solo-time. Too much self-gratification can lead to an angry red rash and chafed skin.

2) No lube. If a man rubs himself raw when self-pleasuring it can be because he forgot to lube up and went dry. This can cause excessive friction on the skin which leads to a rash. This can also lead to long-term nerve damage as well.

3) New lube. Maybe he lubed up, but it was a new lubricant he’d never before use. This could mean he’s allergic or sensitive to the ingredients. Be sure to use a product with as many natural ingredients as possible and be sure to do a patch test on the inner elbow or inner wrist before putting them in more private places.

4) Skipped Clean Up. Some men don’t do an ample clean up after enjoying self-pleasure. This can lead to bacteria build-up, smegma, and infections.

Treating a Rash from Masturbation

Once a red penis arises, it’s good to follow these tips below to clear up that rash and get on the road to recovery.

1) It’s time to call a flag on the play and take a knee. No more activity of any kind for the red member while healing. Continued horsing around can lead to greater pain, infection, and tears in the skin which lead to scar tissue and rob a man of sensation down the line.

2) Give Big Red a thorough, but gentle cleansing. Be sure to use warm water and a mild cleanser like a baby wash or shampoo. Rinse thoroughly as well.

3) Pat dry with a soft towel.

4) Cold compresses can help with discomfort and heat. Simply soak a soft washcloth in cool water, wring out, and then place on the penis. Continue refreshing the cloth as needed.

5) Wear loose, breathable fabrics to give the penis room to breathe and heal.

Preventing a Rash from Masturbation

There are a few common-sense ways to prevent a rash from masturbation. First, practice moderation when self-pleasuring and be aware of its effects on the penis. Second, don’t self-love without some sort of lubricant. Third, be sure to patch-test all-new lubricants prior to putting them on the penis. Conduct a test by putting the product on the inner wrist or inner elbow and waiting to see if there is any reaction after a period of time.

Finally, be sure to have a tried-and-true hygiene routine which includes daily penile care. This means carefully washing the penis with warm water (not hot!) and a mild cleanser. Be sure to wash all areas and get in all the folds and creases. Rinse well and air dry or pat dry with a soft towel. After cleansing the skin, a specially formulated penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin) should be applied. Nutrient creams that are designed specifically for the penis should contain ingredients such as vitamins A, C, D, and E, which are noted for their skin-soothing and healing properties, helping to heal rashes as well as prevent them in the future. In addition, men should look for a product containing a natural skin conditioner such as Shea butter, which red, itchy skin on contact and leaves it hydrated, agile and less prone to future drying and itching. Be sure to repeat this hygiene protocol after every self-love session.

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Swine Flu Prevention

With all the news about swine flu, few people are talking about prevention, other than taking the controversial flu shot.

Is it real prevention? Have dozens of people really become sick or died from the shot? Is is more of a danger than a precaution? There are more questions than answers.

Each of us needs to make our own decision about taking the shot, but whether we do or do not, we should be taking some basic precautions to prevent this, or any other flu.

The first step, of course, is to keep our hands clean. Wash often with anti-bacterial soap, and use hand wipes or gel when soap and water are not available. This is especially important when visiting public places, where we may touch items that have been touched by sick people.

Think of the grocery store as a prime example. Those shopping cart handles feel hundreds of hands up them every day. Some stores offer wipes at the entry door, so use them. But do be careful using them on your own hands if you have any chemical allergies. I gave myself a pounding head one day by being too diligent cleaning my hands with one of them.

Next, also of course, is to try to keep your hands away from your mouth and nose. This is probably the most difficult – most of us are constantly touching our own faces.

Possibly even more important than these preclusions is what we should do when we get home after being out in public.

According to one doctor's column I read, the "Swine flu bug" lives in the throat and nasal passes for a couple of days before it begins to do its dirty work. So we need to take steps to kill it before it gets a chance to make us sick.

That doctor recommended gargling nightly with salt water. Then, either using a netti pot to clean our noses, or doing a swab with a q-tip soaked in salt water.

One last precaution works by washing the bugs into your digestive tract, where they can do no harm. It's also the easiest to do: drink hot liquids. Choose coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or even hot water with a bit of lemon and honey.

Such simple solutions to carry such strong prevention.

What about kids?

Children can learn to gargle – but it may take a few tries before they "get it." I recommend teaching them with plain water.

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Help! I Think I Have a Hearing Loss!

Hearing Loss

Friends and family members have been hinting that you need to have your hearing checked. You took a free online hearing test, but now you're worried because these unofficial test results indicate you have a hearing loss. What should you do?

First, do not panic. Make an appointment with an Ear, Throat, and Nose (ENT) doctor and have your ears examined. An ENT can do an examination and let you know immediately if there is an obvious reason for a decline in your hearing, such as fluid in the ears, an ear infection, or wax build-up. If there is no apparent reason for your hearing loss, the ENT will probably do additional testing and may refer you to an audiologist for a comprehensive hearing evaluation.

Hearing Exam

The audiologist will examine your ear drums and measure the pressure in your middle ear before beginning the test. While wearing headphones, you will listen to a series of tones in different frequencies and decibels, and indicate the ones you can hear. Your responses will be graded on an audiogram.

Words classified as spondees (two-syllable words that have equal stress on each syllable) will be played into your answers for you to repeat. This part of the test determines how well you understand speech. Background noise will be played during a part of the speech comprehension test to measure how well you hear in a noisy environment.

After the testing is complete, your audiologist will be able to tell you if you are listening below normal or not. If you are diagnosed with a hearing loss, your audiologist will tell the type of loss you have and recommend treatment options. There are three types of hearing loss: conductive, sensorineural, and mixed. A conductive loss is caused by problems with the ear canal, ear drum, or middle ear and its tiny bones (the malleus, incus, and stapes). This type of hearing loss is usually treated medically or surgically. A sensorineural loss is also known as nerve-deafness, and is caused by problems in the inner ear. Hearing aids are usually prescribed. A mixed hearing loss is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss.

If the audiologist determines you have a sensorineural loss, you can probably be helped with hearing aids. Conductive losses can not be helped with hearing aids due to damage in the inner ear and outer / middle ear. People with a mixed loss may or may not benefit from hearing aids; the conductive loss should be treated first, then hearing aids may be helpful.

If you've received an official diagnosis of hearing loss, there's no reason to feel embarrassed. If hearing aids will help you, there's nothing shameful about wearing them. People who wear glasses or contacts are not accused of having less than perfect vision, they're simply using assistive technology to see normally. Likewise, hearing aids are assistive technology, but with a huge difference – hearing aids will not give you normal hearing, they will only help you hear better.

Reading deaf blogs will show you that your beexperiences are common to others with a hearing loss. But do not just read information online – meet deaf and hard of hearing people off-line in safe settings. Here are some suggestions:

  • Attend Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) meetings
  • Attend the Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA) meetings
  • Check your local college for sign language classes
  • Go to Silent Dinners and Deaf Starbucks social outings
  • Check meetup.com for gatherings of people learning sign language

Make sure that you begin interacting with people who also have hearing loss. Do not isolate yourself. Your friendships with deaf and hard of hearing people will become very valuable as you accept your silence. In time, you will discover that life can be just as enjoyable as before.

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How to Get Relief For Low Back Pain

Low back pain, also known as lumbago is a somewhat common disorder that most people will likely experience some time in their lives. It is, in fact, the main cause of job-related disability in many western countries. The condition is caused by several potential factors, and all of these factors involve some kind of sprain or strain, pressure, infection, as well as swelling of the muscles. Because back pain can sometimes be a symptom of a serious ailment, it should be taken care of immediately. This article will talk about the symptoms and remedies for sciatica.

Symptoms of lower back pain

Lower back symptoms vary from a shooting or stabbing sensation to a dull ache. The pain might make it difficult to stand up straight or move. The sufferer may experience sudden acute pain, often after sustaining an injury from lifting heavy objects or sports. The condition is chronic if the pain lasts more than 3 months. You should speak with your healthcare professional, if the pain does not go away after 72 hours.

If you experience acute pain after an injury or a fall, you should consult your doctor immediately. Other low back symptoms include pain when urinating or coughing, fever, leg fatigue, and loss of bladder or bowel control. If you experience any of the symptoms listed here together with the back pain, see your physician immediately.

Home Remedy for Lower Back Pain

Low Back pain as a result of muscle strain will generally improve on its own, however there are certain things you can do to lessen the pain. Warm baths or a heating pad might give you temporary pain relief.

When you suffer from lower back pain, you may feel like remaining on your bed all day. However if the pain is as a result of muscle strain, healthcare professionals recommend going back to your usual activities as soon as you can. Studies indicate that taking a bed rest for more than one or two days can actually worsen the pain and may reduce muscle flexibility and tone.

Yoga

If after three months the pain has not gone away, there is evidence that the condition can be effectively rated through yoga. In a recent investigation, individuals who took 3 months of yoga exercises instructional classes had fewer lower back symptoms than individuals who made use of other treatment options. The benefits lasted many months after finishing the classes. Ensure you go to a trainer who is experienced at instructing people with low back pain.

Massage Therapy

Studies indicates that massage might help alleviate chronic lower back pain. After ten weeks, individuals who were given weekly massages experienced less pain than individuals who were given traditional care. The same results were achieved irrespective of the kind of massage that was given.

Medicines

Mild pain can sometimes be alleviated by taking pain relievers, for example naproxen, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen. These pain relievers can be purchased over the counter. If you suffer from chronic pain or severe pain, your physician may recommend prescription drugs. If other treatments fail to provide relief, your physician may recommend surgery.

Even after treating the underlying cause of the pain, it is important that you take precautionary measures in order to prevent the pain from coming back.

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Smoking and Its Effect on Ear Infections

It is common knowledge that smoking has numerous bad effects, both to the smoker and non-smoker who is able to inhale second-degree smoke. More familiar are lung cancer, emphysema and heart failure. However, it is not well known that smoking also affects our ears, and can cause ear infection called Otitis Media.

This ear infection is actually quite common to children. When a child has a virus or a cold, there is a thickening of the mucus on the nose that becomes home to bacteria. The bacteria could travel to the ear canal through the Eustachian tube in the nose. This bacteria could then very well turn into an infection which shows symptoms of fever, fluid on the ear, and earache after a few days. On the average, children experience this 3 times before the age of six. However, if the child is exposed to smoke, say from smoking parents, the average occurrence increases to 8.

Now, how does smoking cause the said infection?

As we are all familiar of, smoke is an irritant to our nasal passage. Since our body is equipped with defense mechanisms, our nasal passage will thicken with mucus in the presence of irritants. As mentioned above, thickened mucus becomes a favorite home to bacteria that could travel and infect our ears. Thus the Otitis Media is triggered by the protective action of our body against cigarette smoke.

Aside from thickening our mucus, cigarette smoke also weakens the immune system. Numerous researchers have proven that exposure to smoke makes the body more susceptible to diseases. Also proven is that this is true not only for actual smokers, but for those who are exposed to exhaled smoke. Thus, even if children, or adults for the matter, do not smoke but are exposed to second-hand smoke, their immune system are still weakened, making it harder to fight off infections.

Now, it is not just the pain and discomfort that this ear infection brings that we must be wary of. Repeated Otitis Media could actually cause gradual loss of hearing to the child. Although this is rare, this is not something that we should risk.

Therefore, for all smokers out there, it important that if you can not stop smoking , at least try to avoid smoking around children . Ear infections may be less evil than lung cancer or emphysema, but since it is children that we are talking about, even the smallest infection should be given much importance.

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Chicken Pox Treatment – How To Get Rid Of Chicken Pox Quickly and Easily From Home

Chicken Pox is a highly contagious disease that usually occurs in children. For the most part, chicken pox occurs in children ranging from 3-4 years old. The older the child, the worse the attacks seems to occur.

Let’s go over some home remedies for treating chicken pox:

o Chicken Pox home remedy treatment can be achieved by using Oatmeal. A bath of oatmeal is considered one of the best natural remedies for relieving the itching sensation caused by chicken pox. The bath can be prepared by cooking two cups of oatmeal in two liters of water for fifteen minutes. Put the mixture into a cloth bag and tie a string tightly around the top of the bag. Allow the bag to float around a tub of warm water. Swish the bag around the water until it becomes turbid. Be careful to make sure the bag does not tear. Now, allow your child to play around in the water, letting the water splash over all the scalds. Leave the oatmeal pouch inside the tub.

o Chicken Pox home remedy treatment can be achieved by using Vitamin E Oil. Rub the Vitamin E oil into the skin and watch for a healing effect. The marks left by chicken pox will slowly fade away by the use of Vitamin E oil.

o Chicken Pox home remedy treatment can be achieved by using Herbal Tea. Herbal tea prepared by any of the following herbs has shown to be effective in treating chicken pox: basil, chamomile, lemon balm, and marigold. Add lemon, honey, or cinnamon into the tea. Drink several times a day

o Chicken Pox home remedy treatment can be achieved by using Brown Vinegar. The use of brown vinegar is known to be one of the most important home remedies for treating chicken pox. Add half a cup of brown vinegar to a bath for best usage and results.

o Chicken Pox home remedy treatment can be achieved by using Baking Soda. Baking Soda is a very popular home remedy used to control the itching resulting from chicken pox. Put baking soda into a glass of water. Sponge the child with some water so that the baking soda dries onto the skin.

Follow the above home remedies and the tips below to relieve the symptoms and effects of chicken pox:

1. All juice diet – Put the patient on an all juice diet for a couple of days. Give the patient plenty of raw fruit and veggie juices. Lemon juice is known to be one of the best juices to give the patient.

2. Well-balanced diet – At first, put the patient on a 100% fruit diet. After the condition seems to be improving, switch the patient to a more well-balanced diet.

3. Well-ventilated room – Keep the patient in a well-ventilated room. Be sure to keep the patient from any direct light.

4. Warm baths with neem leaves – Give the patient a warm bath with neem leaves included in it. Neem leaves should be added to the water for the best results.

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Raising Kids – How to Deal With Chickenpox?

When speaking about chickenpox, the first thing that comes to mind is those itchy rashes on the body. But what really is chickenpox? Chickenpox is an infectious illness which is caused by a kind of virus called varicella zoster. Although the virus can be caught by a grown up, children are usually the ones who are infected by such illness.

Being parents, chickenpox is one of the illnesses we may have to deal with while raising kids. How do you know if your child has been infested by chickenpox?

Slight fever and itchy rash are two common symptoms of chickenpox. At the initial stage, smooth and red spots can be easily seen on the body and face and by the third day, these red spots will become blisters which can be extremely itchy.

How is the virus spread?

Chicken pox can spread through the air via sneezing or coughing from an infected person. A person can also catch the virus if he or she accidentally comes into contact with the liquid coming from a broken blister of an infected person.

Since chickenpox is highly contagious, you have to keep your child away from an infected person to minimize the risk of being infected. A person who has caught the virus is very contagious for the first two days. He or she can also spread the virus for the last 5 days or so before the rash starts to heal and become crusted.

Can your child be prevented from catching the virus?

Fortunately you can get your child vaccinated against catching chickenpox. If your child is between 1 to 12 years old, he or she may only need one shot while a person who is 13 years old and above may have to get two doses.

When a healthy child is injected with the chickenpox vaccine, his or her body will began to build resistance against the virus which causes chickenpox. But being vaccinated doesn’t mean 100 percent immune from catching the virus. In fact, there are still less than 15% of those who have been vaccinated catching the illness when directly contacted the virus. However, the good news is that when a vaccinated person is catch chickenpox, the illness is usually very mild.

Consult your family doctor to find out more information about chickenpox vaccination. It is best advice to get your children vaccinated as chickenpox can be serious when certain complications arise. Bacterial skin infection, encephalitis and pneumonia are just some of the serious complications. So prevention is always better than cure. Get your children vaccinated to give yourself one less worry while raising kids.

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The Gift of Pain

Some time ago I found myself fascinated reading the biography of Dr. Paul Wilson Brand (1914-2003). A world-renowned, extraordinary, gifted Orthopedic Surgeon who unraveled the riddle of leprosy which has plagued the world for centuries.

The son of missionary parents, Dr. Brand spent his early years in the mountains of southwest India. Dr. Paul Brand did not set out to become a doctor. Initially he refused to follow in his father’s footsteps and study medicine, and he trained as a carpenter and builder. This skill he later used in a remarkable way – teaching leprosy-affected people with damaged, insensitive hands how to do carpentry and woodwork without further injuring their fingers and hands. It was in India that Dr. Brand first came across “leprosy beggars”, deformed, blind and crippled by the disease. Deeply affected by the acute anguish and isolation of people afflicted with leprosy, he began to ask the tough questions: “Do the hands and feet of leprosy-affected people just fall off? What causes the terrible deformities of leprosy? Can anything be done to prevent them or restore the damage?”

Very little was known about the true cause of leprosy deformities. It was generally believed that the hands and feet of infected people simply disintegrated or rotted away as a direct result of the disease. A senior colleague, Dr. Robert Cochrane, challenged Dr. Paul Brand to use his skills as an orthopedic surgeon to find out why people with leprosy developed deformed hands, and to try to find an effective treatment. Dr. Brand drew on experience he had gained during WWII with polio-paralyzed and war-injured hands. He undertook extensive research on damaged hands to test muscle strength and sensation. There were many obstacles to overcome – not the least being prejudice and resistance to using surgical skills on people with leprosy, and allowing them access to hospital care. Through his research in South India, Dr. Brand changed forever the world’s perceptions and treatments of leprosy-affected people.

First, he pioneered the startling idea that the loss of fingers and toes in leprosy was due entirely to infection and was thus preventable.

Second, because leprosy as an infection attacks chiefly the nervous system, resultant tissue abuse occurs and the patient loses the warnings of pain. This was a total new idea!

Dr. Paul Brand actually discovered the gift of physical pain, claiming that because leprosy destroyed the sensation of pain in affected parts of the body, pain-deprived people inadvertently injured, destroyed themselves or lost limbs and body parts. He once watched horrified as a person with leprosy reached directly into a charcoal fire to retrieve a potato someone had dropped. He saw one man hard at work in the garden, oblivious to blood running down his hand; Dr. Brand examined the shovel and found a nail protruding just at the spot his hand had been gripping. Foot injuries were easy to explain. If an ankle turned, tearing tendon and muscle, the leprosy patient would simply adjust and walk with a crooked gait. No warning system of pain announced the need to rest the ankle or seek treatment. Dr. Brand discovered that rats and animals would come into the open-air wards at night while his patients slept and caused injury to their body limbs… The patients slept through it all! Later on Dr. Brand was able to connect his research to the most advanced cases of diabetes where people loose sensitivity to pain!

Dr. Brand’s biography made a profound impact on the way I think about pain. Never before, in my wildest imagination I thought I could actually call PAIN a gift… Never before, I understood what the “Hell of painlessness” must be like! What happens to the soul of a person that disconnects from pain through drugs? What is the “painless” behavior like?

Our American culture predisposes us to avoid pain, run away from pain and deny pain at almost any cost. We simply hate pain! Don’t we? We don’t know what to do with someone in pain. We institutionalize that person as soon as possible or avoid them altogether! Yet, pain is a sign of life! Physical pain is a sign of life. Emotional pain is a sign of emotional life.

During the last few months I have experienced the most intense, excruciating emotional pain of my entire life. It doesn’t matter what the source of my pain is for the purpose of this article.

Here is what I have learned about the “gift of pain” in the agony of my own soul:

1. Emotional pain can be a gift from God.

My goodness! If anything, emotional pain has just reminded me how alive I am! How I experience loss says a lot about me! I have often been reminded during these last few months that my intense pain is not abnormal. It simply mirrored back to me the fact that I am a good guy, a passionate guy, a guy with intense feelings about certain things. A guy who cares! Nothing wrong with that. The absence of pain would have meant one of two things. Either, I don’t have a heart or I may have been “drugging” myself to make it through.

2. Whenever I deny initial emotional pain I will most likely lose parts of myself.

Under the influence of “numbing” experiences (drugs, alcohol, entertainment, sex, distractions, etc) I will slowly lose parts of myself I may never recover ever again or may have to be re-constructed in a long period of time. I have faced pain in the past, and I have “run” away from it. In attempting to “numb” my pain, though, looking back, I see how I betrayed people, lost their trust and hurt many innocent people. Some of them will never trust me again! I have had to learn to live with that! This time I chose to experience the fullness of my pain and let it speak to me! The difference? Weeks of excruciating pain while remaining totally alive. The best spiritual experience I have had in ten over years. Perhaps my entire life. Amazing!

3. When emotional pain occurs one can not succumb to those who are not able to deal with their own pain.

I was very careful not to share my pain with people that would tell me, “Well, let me help you alleviate your pain.” Or, “Come on, Harold, move on.” Or, “Harold, you’ll be ok!.” Or, “Harold, you don’t need this BS, anyway!” Or, “Harold, you are a good guy, you don’t deserve that!” Or, worst yet, “Harold, you are hurting, uh? Well, you did it to yourself. You are “one penny too short and one minute too late. Face it up boy!” (Ouch!)

I kept saying to myself, “I will only call or talk to friends that will allow me to experience my pain fully.” I have those friends, and those are the ones I went to. Friends who let me cry. Friends who were OK with my hurt. Friends who did not help me to run away. Friends who did not assist me in alleviating what I was feeling. Those friends are the ones who know that pain can cleanse the soul! It worked! Healing happens faster when you handle pain the smart way!

4. Excruciating emotional pain led me to God.

Pain served a purpose and it led me to the deepest experience of God I have had in my entire life. My mind is fresh and clean. The fear is gone. God did it for me! And those of you who know me, also know I am not a religious guy at all.

5. The gift of pain changed my perception of many people around.

Suddenly I found myself reconnecting with people I had avoided because their pain was too much for me to handle. Suddenly I discovered in them fellow pilgrims! They understood me! Some wonderful things happened regarding relationships in the last few months!

6. The gift of pain reminded me that the most important thing in life is people and relationships.

No money, no prestige, no reputation could have ever alleviated my pain. No temporary success would have done what pain did. No quick “fix” would have dealt with the real issues. It’s like with our bodies. There is so much Tylenol you can take to calm your headache before you begin to wonder what’s really wrong with your head, right? There is so much running away from people you dislike you can do, before you look at yourself in the mirror and wonder what’s going on deep, deep, inside your soul? How many people are you going to hurt in revenge before you realize you’ve got a problem yourself? How many people are you going to blame for your misfortune in life before you realize no one controls your destiny but yourself? How many times can someone numb himself with money, religion, power, work, success before one realizes one needs people and deep abiding relationships?

The gift of pain…

I chose to celebrate pain without knowing what I was doing.

It did not make me better than anyone else. It just turned the light switch back on in my soul and I saw what I never saw before! That’s it!

Looking back, all I would have had to do to experience “painless hell” (emotional leprosy) would have been to run away, get people who would help me alleviate my pain, get busy with life, ignore God, get busy and keep moving on to the next thing. Like on a treadmill! Even go to therapy to obtain a good doses of “analysis paralysis.” (Very often we avoid pain by analysis) The drumbeat of “painless hell” is move on, move, move on, keep going! Don’t stop to think! For thinking is the beginning of pain.

The gift of pain…

Tears of pain cleansed my soul.

Pain made me alive again.

The gift of pain made me see the stars again.

The gift of pain reconnected me with the people I love the most.

The gift of pain made me see our seductive culture of denial with disgust not wanting to be a part of it while helping others get in touch with their pain.

The gift of pain reminded me how alive I am and how good my heart is!

Today, I thank God for the gift of pain.

I know it will protect me from losing what’s most special to me!

The story of the Bible on how Christ healed leprosy has a new meaning for me now. When Christ healed leprosy in the ancient times he actually healed people from the “hell of painlessness” He gave them back the GIFT OF PAIN! They were able to hurt again! Wooww!

The same is true today!

Pain protects us from self-destruction. Imagine how much better our world would be if we would allow pain to transform us into sensitive, compassionate, loving people. If we would allow pain to resolve issues that hurt us and others.

Instead of running away from pain, embrace it! Pain will direct you to God and to others with whom you will connect in the most meaningful way. Pain is one of the most intense expressions of life!

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Signs and Symptoms of Ear Infections

Ear infections, also known as otitis media, are an inflammation of the middle ear. The inflammation often begins as a result of the same infection that causes colds, sore throats and respiratory infections. The infection may be either bacterial or viral.

Middle ear infections are particularly common in the first 2 years of a child's life. Young children are most at risk because the tube that connects the middle ear and throat (Eustachian tube) are tiny. As a result germs from the throat and nose can travel to the ear. If the Eustachian tube becomes blocked the fluid that builds up in the middle ear can not drain effectively into the throat.

Before the onset of the ear infection the child typically had had a cold. Frequently the cold does develop with yellow or green mucous from their upper respiratory infection. The child may then present with some of the following symptoms

  • Unusual irritability or fussiness
  • Tantrums
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Waking frequently at night
  • Waking crying or with screams of pain
  • Pulling on one or both ears
  • Putting their finger in their ears
  • Fever
  • Perforation of the ear drum resulting in drainage of fluid, pus and / or blood
  • Offensive smell from the ear (after peroration of ear drum)
  • Clumsiness / loss of balance
  • Difficulty listening soft sounds

Treatment of Ear Infections Previously the use of antibiotics was frequently prescribed for the treatment of infections. However in most cases this is not required. Recent research has shown that in many cases the infection clears up in the same time with or without antibiotics.

However if your child is very unwell or very young antibiotics may be required to treat the ear infection and it is advised the child be seen by a doctor. If your child is experiencing pain the use of paracetamol may provide relief.

Grommets If a child has recurrent middle ear infections or 'glue-ear' your Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist may recommend grommets are inserted into the eardrum. These tubes help fluid drain from the middle ear.

If your child has had recurrent ear infections it is important that their hearing is monitored. If you notice that your child is not responding to noises in their environment (eg turning the TV up) or is not responding to their name it may indicate they have a hearing injury. This can be done through a referral to an audiologist for a hearing assessment.

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Cityscapes in Modern Art

For many modern artists, one of the most potent symbols of man’s dislocation and separation from nature is the cityscape. For others, the cityscape symbolizes man’s new freedom from the drudgery of agriculture. By the 1930s and 1940s, images of the cityscape had begun to replace landscape art. Additionally, the view from the airplane, or from the Eiffel Tower, or from any of the growing number of skyscrapers around the world, had revealed a flat, patterned cityscape where recession, depth and naturalistic perspective had once reigned supreme.

The slums and wretched conditions were a part of virtually every cityscape and had inspired a new generation of architects to search for ways of building and a means of town planning which they believed would bring about positive social change. The machine was here to stay, and eventually individual artists as well as the influential and socially committed Bauhaus art school proclaimed their positive attitudes towards man’s new cityscape environment filled with both vehicles and machines.

Technology had also created new materials for the architect of the cityscape including steel, concrete and sheet glass, which would result in drastically different designs for public buildings and private homes and grant the much sought-after freedom from the past. Perhaps the anti-individualistic aspects of machine-produced objects could prove to be beneficial rather than harmful. After all, the collective individualism of national pride had resulted in a catastrophic war. A universal, supranational and anti-individualistic style for the new cityscape might help to unite man in a utopian brotherhood.

The materials of the modern age and the new cityscape style went hand-in-hand. Steel frames provided a modular grid which gave an almost unlimited verticality to the new architecture. Reinforced concrete allowed for expressive forms, and sheet glass permitted the creation of pure reflecting prisms described around the world in mystical terms.

The lack of ornamentation in prefabricated designs played a major role in the formation of an art which attempted to become a vehicle for universal values. This lack of ornamentation was further proclaimed as essential for the establishing of the newly spiritualized world order. Adolf Loos (1870-1933), ornamentation’s most virulent critic, insisted that this stylistic change alone would remake society.

According to Loos’ theory, the labor formerly wasted on ornamentation would be unnecessary. Less work would result in higher wages and a shorter workday. Class lines would ultimately be abolished. The simplified designs suitable for mass-production would return the machine to it’s rightful place as man’s servant. The cities of the world would be clean and orderly, with cityscapes built of rectangles and squares.

The aesthetic of mechanical simplicity and right angles in architecture had a direct counterpart in the sphere of painting. Piet Mondrian, a native of Holland, began his mature work with a variation of Cubism which was based on images in nature: the sea, sand dunes, the sky, and trees.

Mondrian’s desire to contribute to the spiritualizing of civilization grew in part from his Theosophical leanings. Like the architects of the International Style, he, too, sought the centrality and essence of an art stripped of peripherals. Beauty was not heavy and monumental like the ponderous public buildings and over-worked paintings of the past, but practical, light and ephemeral.

Mondrian’s striving for spiritual clarification in his work led him to a grammar of shape based strictly on horizontals and verticals. By this means, he achieved a remarkable degree of energy and vibrancy in his art. Mondrian was not threatened by the advent of the machine. The machine had not completely dehumanized man as other artists had prophesied so emphatically. Furthermore, the cities created by industrialization, especially Mondrian’s beloved New York, were not dysfunctional but dynamic and liberating.

Mondrian was part of an idealistic group of artists in the Netherlands known as De Stijl or “the style.” De Stijl’s creed was a combination of total abstraction, a minimum of creative terms, and restriction to the primary colors of red, yellow and blue and the non-colors of black, gray and white. Mondrian’s missionary zeal for a higher level of harmony in art had taken him beyond the bounds of Cubism.

One of Mondrian’s last paintings, “Broadway Boogie Woogie” (1942-3), a large oil on canvas, exemplifies many aspects of his masterful technique. Only the title reveals the reference to the external reality of the cityscape. Mondrian’s interpretation of the New York street grid is joyful and colorful. In Mondrian’s work, the loose spontaneity of other modern artists has been rarefied and ordered.

Man no longer looks at technology as an omnipotent, mystical savior. On the other hand, the dark phantom of man disfigured by his association with the machine has also vanished with the light of the new era.

Man has achieved balance and creativity on a higher level. He is no longer dependent on either the natural world or the manufactured one. Mondrian’s vision is one of abstraction resulting in the revelation of a type of universal electricity which supersedes both organic and mechanical energy.

Mondrian’s grid fills the canvas, but also contains large amounts of space and air. Perhaps the disciplined rhythm of the machine, modern life and the cityscape holds within itself an even greater freedom than the prior vicissitudinous cycles of agrarian living.

The rhythm of Mondrian’s image is accelerated and syncopated, but doomsday fears of life driven out of control by the frenzied pace of the machine and man numbed by repetition, monotony, and noise have not been realized. Man has has adapted to the technological environment and is alive and thriving after all.

Mondrian’s composition is balanced with almost mathematical precision. The space has now been completely flattened. Yet somehow Mondrian’s rectangles and squares flash continuously with a voltage born of almost gymnastic geometry.

Are the squares in Broadway Boogie Woogie intended as symbols of cars or buildings or sidewalks or traffic lights or flashing neon signs? No matter, man has mastered all of the various aspects of his new, technological life. Like a child confidant in a now familiar environment and his own well-developed skills, man can build the future he envisions with the colorful building blocks of his mind and imagination.

Mondrian has reduced life and art to the bare essentials. Variations on a single shape are combined with only three colors and white. He has omitted even the black and gray of other De Stijl artists. Mondrian’s ability to triumph artistically in spite of these restrictions sends a clear and reassuring message of hope.

Although technology has impacted culture irrefutably, the creativity and genius of man has been able to flower even within the narrowest of confines. Technology and subsequent rise of the city has neither destroyed man nor been his savior, but has instead acted as an impetus for the refinement of his ideas about life and his own nature.

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Tea and Baby Boomers – Tea As a Building Block to Maintaining Good Health

The generation of Americans called, for want of a better term, “baby boomers” are getting older and health issues are now a factor in maintaining quality of life.

The “baby boomers” who are classified as those Americans born directly after World War II in the period 1945 – 1950 represent an large segment of the population because of the disruption in the birth rate caused by the dislocation of World War II. As they get older, maintenance of good health and a healthy lifestyle becomes paramount in their existence.

Health Problems

The major health problems today faced by almost all members of the population and particularly “baby boomers’ fall into three major categories:

  • Heart Disease
  • Type II Diabetes
  • Cancer

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the major killer of Americans and affects almost every American family. But the chances of heart problems increase with age. Heart disease includes heart attacks, strokes and other cardio vascular problems. High blood pressure or Hypertension is also a significant cardio vascular problem.

Type II Diabetes

Generally linked to obesity, Type II Diabetes is a major problem affecting the general population and particularly “baby boomers”. It can be fatal in many cases and seriously reduces the quality of life.

Cancer

Cancer comes in many forms and all forms are serious. Although medical treatment has significantly improved in recent times, prevention is still the best cure. Some of the most preventable forms of cancer are colon and prostrate cancer and these two forms are major threats to “baby boomers”

Modern Medicine

Modern medicine, coupled with breakthroughs in research has dramatically improved the odds on surviving all three major health issue faced by “baby boomers”. Nevertheless prevent is the bedrock of a quality lifestyle and good health. No matter how successful the treatment, it is always best to avoid the onset of disease.

What Do All These Major Diseases Have In Common?

Many types of heart disease and cancer can be prevented and type II diabetes can be avoided by maintaining a healthy life style that includes proper diet, regular exercise, reduction of stress techniques and periodic medical checkups. All these techniques are interrelated but proper diet is particularly important because of the contaminants in our environment and the adulteration with harmful chemicals of modern food processing.

Our modern food processing techniques rely of the addition of harmful chemicals and unsafe amounts of sodium and other preservatives in an effort to make our food convenient and appealing. Over the long run these products can degrade overall health and make consumers vulnerable to major diseases.

The inclusion of sugars and other flavorings also increase the chances of type II diabetes.

What is Considered a Healthy Diet?

A healthy diet is considered by most medical professionals as the first step to good health. Most doctors agree that a healthy diet is one that includes greater amounts of fruits and vegetables, high fiber, and reduced amounts of red meat. Processed foods, high sodium foods, sugar based beverages and coffee should be avoided.

Tea is a great substitute as a beverage because it is high in antioxidants and low in caffeine. Tea comes in many varieties and delicious flavor and can be consumed and enjoyed without the use of sugar. Drinking at least 5 cups a day is a good way to elevate good health and a sense of well being. Tea also has been used throughout history to restore health, reduce stress and support stress reduction techniques.

The health benefits of tea are well documented throughout history. Tea emerged over 5,000 years ago as a health drink and the anti-oxidants and polyphenols have helped millions of people restore good health and maintain a healthy life style. Tea also became popular as a pleasant tasting drink any time of the day.

Baby Boomers, start living a health lifestyle through proper diet, regular exercise, reduction of stress and regular check ups. Cure disease by avoiding it in the first place.

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Pus in the Throat – Symptoms and Causes of Pus in the Throats?

While the glands of the throat typically produce one to two quarts of mucous daily, which filters the air and traps foreign matter you inhale, abnormal substance like pus in the throat is a symptom of a wide variety of throat problems ranging from strep throat to bacterial infections. However, one of the most common causes of pus or excess mucous in the throat is the presence of tonsil balls.

These stone-like balls are usually whitish in color and can be both irritating and painful. They tend to form in the back of the throat, on the base of the tongue, or most commonly in the pockets on the tonsils themselves. While they are essentially harmless, tonsil balls can cause a myriad of symptoms ranging from sore throat and pus in the throat to difficulty swallowing and coughing. The stones are caused by an accumulation of calcareous matter and sulfur-based bacteria or debris that can become lodged in the tonsils.

Pus in the throat and the presence of these stones can often be treated with basic home remedies, such as expressing them with a Q-tip, brushing them away gently with a toothbrush, or washing them out of the mouth with pulsating jets of water. In more difficult cases, doctors can use a surgical procedure to rid a person of the stones.

Occasionally, more severe infections can occur in the tonsils, like tonsillitis, and the tonsils must be removed in a relatively routine procedure. If you suffer from pus in the throat or other symptoms affecting the tonsils, such as chronic bad breath, stomachaches, excess phlegm, and the feeling of a lump in the throat, see your general physician for a further diagnosis and treatment.

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What You Do not Know About Georgetown, Penang

History

Hello and 'lu ho boh'- that's' how are you?' in Hokkien, the main Chinese dialect in Penang.

The historic city of George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Before we begin, let me tell you a little about Penang, or sometimes known as the Pearl of the Orient.

Penang used to be part of Malay Sultanate of Kedah, across the sea in the mainland. But in 1786, Captain Francis Light managed to get Penang from the Sultan of Kedah for the British East India Company, together with Singapore and Malacca. He then built what is known today as George Town.

Penang gets its name from the Malay word Pinang which means 'betel nut', and Pulau Pinang literally meaning 'betel nut island'. It was later named Prince of Wales Island, commemorating King George IV. Georgetown was named after King George III. Today Penang is the third largest economy in the country, after Selangor and Johor.

In the World Heritage Committee Session in July 2008, Georgetown, along with Malacca were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Georgetown was voted twice as one of the best cities in Asia. It is also ranked as 10th among the top locations in Asia where Europeans prefer to work and live in, based on its weather, air quality, infrastructure, health services, housing, security and politics.

Sights

Georgetown has some of the best tourist places in Malaysia. Let's get to know a few of them.

Fort Cornwallis

On top of our itinerary is definitely Fort Cornwallis. The largest standing fort in Malaysia, Fort Cornwallis is a star-shaped fort named after the late 18th century Governor-General of Bengal in India, Charles Cornwallis. It was built by Sir Francis Light after it took possession of Penang from the Sultan of Kedah in 1786. The original fort was built with nibong, or palm trunk. A few years later, the new fort was rebuilt with manpower of Indian convicts, and finally completed in 1810.

The fort is intended to defend the island against the pirates and the French because of the Napoleonic Wars. There used to be a deep and wide moat surrounding the fort, but it is now filled due to a malaria outbreak.

Even though the fort was built for defense, it was used more for administrative purposes. In fact, the funny thing is that the fort has never engaged in any battle.

There you will see many old cannons. The largest one, called the Seri Rambai cannon, was a gift from the Dutch to the Sultan of Johor. Later, the Potuguese took possession of the cannon where it stayed in Java until it was located by the British and placed here in Fort Cornwallis.

This fort was gazetted in 1977 as an Ancient Monument and Historic site and today is one of Penang's most famous tourist attractions.

Convent Light Steet

The next interesting attraction is the Convent Light Street, or Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus. It was founded back in 1852 by 3 French nuns who took over the previous government house to start their convent. It originally houses within its walls the Francis Light bungalow, which was build in 1790. It was historically leased out to the East India Company as a government house, before finally settling as a learning institution.

The building was expanded, and eventually housed a chapel, cloisters for the Sisters, an orphanage, a boarding house for students and classes for the school. The Convent continues to serve as a school and has been painstakingly and regularly restored in recent years with funds raised from the public.

St. George's Church

Next is the St. George's Anglican Church along Farquhar Street. Founded by Reverend Robert Sparke Hutchings, it is the oldest Anglican Church in Southeast Asia, which goes back all the way to 1818. It is designed in the Georgian Palladian style, a combination of the Georgian style, which is attribute to King George I and King George IV, and the Palladian style, which is attributed to the Grecian architecture by a Roman called Palladius.

Look at the long Roman columns and pillows and the white washed walls. The original roof was flat, but there was a tiny problem. The weather, or more precisely, the tropical rains made it unsuitable to have a flat roof and it was later made into the present shape. Look out also for the tall steeple that forms the apex of the roof.

There is a pavilion that sits opposite the church that houses a memorial to Francis Light. There is an inscription that reads: "In Memory of Francis Light, Esquire, who first established this island as an English Settlement and was many years Governor. Born in the county of Suffolk in England and died October 21st 1794. In his capacity as governor , the settlers and natives were great attached to him, and by his death had to deplore the loss of one who watched over their interest and cares as a father. "

The church is declared one of the 50 National Treasures of Malaysia.

The Cathedral of the Assumption

Next is The Cathedral of the Assumption on Faquhar Street. It got its name from the Feast of the Assumption, which happened to be the day when the first group of Catholics arrived in Penang in 1786. It was in 1955 that the church became a cathedral according to a decree by the Vatican.

This majestic gray white colored building with horizontal bands is an example of fine colonial architecture.

Eastern and Oriental Hotel

Next is the world renovated Eastern and Oriental Hotel. Once known as the "Premier Hotel East of Suez," it is commonly called the E & O Hotel or Eastern & Oriental Hotel.

The E & O Hotel was one of the few hotels in the region that was managed by the Sarkies Brothers. The Sarkies also operated the Raffles in Singapore, the Strand in Rangoon and the Crag Hotel on Penang Hill. In fact, they are still in existence today and are considered top-notch hotels, except for the one on Penang Hill, which is not functioning anymore.

In 1884, the E & O began its operations and by the Roaring 20s had gained much international recognition for being an opulent establishment through the generosity of Arshak Sarkies, the most flamboyant of the brothers. He would waive off friends' bills and allow some planters to stay for free, which led to people calling the E & O 'Eat and Owe'. Sarkies ran the hotel out of pleasure more than for profit and it ever shown, when the hotel came close to bankruptcy. However, today the business has been revitalized and the E & O continues to retain its charm.

The E & O has had many famous patrons, and they include Sir Noel Coward, Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham, Hermann Hesse, Sun Yat Sen and Charlie Chaplin. Despite having gone through periods of uncertainty and sometimes teetering on the brink of obscurity, the E & O still runs and functions as one of the best hotels in Penang. Weddings, dinners and special occasions are still celebrated here.

If you can not afford to stay there, you can still go to the bar or restaurant and unwind like Charlie Chaplin and Rudyard Kipling did!

Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

Next is the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion. Cheong Fatt Tze was a rag to riches story. Coming to Malaya in 1856 to work in the tin mines at 16, he worked his way and made a fortune trading tea, pepper, coffee and tobacco with the British Empire.

Cheong Fatt Tze had a reputation of a smart businessman and eventually became Consult General for China, and had the position of 'Mandarin of the Highest Order'. He also became the director of China's railway and first modern bank and was nicknamed the "Rockefeller of the East" by the New York Times, who also dubbed him as "China's last Mandarin and first capitalist."

Despite having homes all over Asia, and in particular Indonesia and China due to his business and personal interests, Cheong Fatt Tze still favored this mansion in Penang the most, and consulted feng shui masters in building it. When Cheong Fatt Tze finally passed away in 1916, the Dutch and the British honored this extra man by flying flags at half-mast.

The mansion is open everyday from 11.00am and 3.00pm with tours conducted at these times. The tour is well worth your time and you can marvel at the art of feng shui that went into Cheong Fatt Tze's mansion. Beside the architecture, the mansion is also dedicated to the memory of the man himself.

Apart from the architecture, the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion also has many antiques and old photographs that will give you a glimpse of the lives of genteel Chinese business people then. An interesting fact is that Cheong Fatt Tze's seventh wife was awarded the privilege of living in the mansion with him. The mansion has also been used for filming as well, one of the more famous films filmed here was 'Indochine' starring Catherine Deneuve.

The Cheong Fatt Tze mansion used to also consist of the row of terrace houses across the street, which you can see when you visit. This particular row was where the kitchen, storage rooms and servants' quarters used to live. Maids wearing their usual white shirts and black pants would hurriedly prepare food for their mistress and master.

Christian Cemetery

Next is the Protestant Cemetery. Although it may seem a bit sombre and morbid, walking through the old Protestant Cemetery is a great idea while you are in Georgetown. It provides you with a sense of the hardships that were faced by those who had chosen to make their home here. Some of the tombstones have been restored by the heritage trust, although many inscriptions can no longer be read. Reading the epitaphs on the stones brings a melancholic, romantic feel especially when reading about the lives of the early settlers. Many died from tropical ailments such as malaria and one stone even mentions that the Deceased died from jungle fever.

Most of these people were laid to rest here because it was too far to take their bodies back, and doing that would take many weeks, further deteriorating the bodies. So the Christian Cemetery is the final resting place of many pioneers including Sir Francis Light, Sir Stamford Raffles' brother-in-law and a young officer named Thomas Leonowens. You may be familiar with the story of his wife, Anna Leonowens, who moved to Singapore after Thomas died of apoplexy. Here, she received an invitation to teach English to the children of the Siamese King. A romanticised account of her life in Siam inspired the film called 'Anna and the King' star Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner, and the musical 'The King And I'. The remake of this film in 1999 starred Jodie Foster and Chow Yuen Fatt, and part of it was shot in right here in Georgetown.

Suffolk House

Next is the Suffolk House, or what was once Sir Francis Light's Residency. Francis Light built his home, where he landscaped and constructed the interior to resemble that of a country home of his birthplace of Suffolk, England.

He lived in Suffolk House as it was named, with his life long companion, Martina Rozells and his 5 children. The Suffolk House served as the governor's residency for the first 100 years and was later bought over by a planter, and the house and land became part of the Methodist Boys' School, last used as a canteen for the students.

The Suffolk House won the 2008 UNESCO Award of Distinction. It is one of the two cultural heritage conservation projects in Malaysia to win the UNESCO award in 2008 and this Award of Distinction is the second highest award given by UNESCO Asia Pacific for Cultural Heritage Conservation.

Kuan Yin Teng

Next is Kuan Yin Teng, one of the oldest Chinese temples in Malaysia. It was built in 1801 by early Chinese immigrants. The building is decorated with intricately crafted dragons and two stone lions guard the door. This temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. It is one of the most visited tourist sites in Penang.

The Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi

The Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi is a clan association, one of the many in Malaysia. Built in 1850 by the forefathers of the Khoo family who emigrated from South China, it functions as a clan-house for anyone who has the surname Khoo. A temple was built but a fire razed the entire wooden structure. The local Chinese believed that the gods had burned it down because the structure resembled the Heavenly Emperor's palace. The version you see today was completed in 1906. All around, you can see richly ornamented carvings of the roofs, walls and pillows that reflect the art and architecture of ancient China. At the end of the tour, expect to have a stiff neck.

Queen Victoria Clock Tower

Next is the Queen Victoria Clock Tower. This 60-foot-high clock tower was presented to Penang by local millionaire, Cheah Chen Eok, in 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria.

Wat Chaiyamangalaram

The Thai Buddhist Temple is famous for its 33 meter long reclining Buddha, one of the world's longest. The temple was built on a piece of land given by Queen Victoria to four women trustees as a gesture of goodwill to boost trading relations with Thailand. Look out for the guardian dragons at the entrance.

Kapitan Keling Mosque

Next is the Kapitan Keling Mosque, was built in the early 19th century, by the Kapitan Keling Caudeer Mohudeen. It is the most prominent historic mosque in Penang and features a dome-shaped minaret reflecting Moorish Islamic influence. The Kapitan Keling Mosque is the place of worship of the Indian Muslim community who have lived and worked around the mosque for over two hundred years. Unlike modern mosques that are mainly frequented on Fridays, the Kapitan Keling Mosque is used by worshipers five times a day, seven days a week. If you'd like to visit, you have to be decently dressed and women would have to wear a robe that you can get from the mosque staff.

Food

Every Malaysian claims his or her hometown is the food capital of Malaysia. The people of Penang would claim Penang food is the best in Malaysia, and it is not easy to disagree.

Some of the must trys in Penang is the Penang Kuay Teow, or fried noodle dish with eggs, cockles and vegetables. Ask for it to be cooked less spicy if you can not take spicy food.

Other Chinese dishes you must try are: beef noodle and 'chee cheong fun' or steamed flat noodle topped with shrimp and chilli sauce. You can also try the fried oyster, a popular seafood dish. 'Hokkien mee' is a noodle dish in spicy prawn based soup. You must also try Penang laksa, which is also a noodle dish but this time with fish based soup.

For something sweet, some highly recommended street food are the 'tau sah pneah' which is biscuit with green paste inside, 'muah chee' which are peanut coated glutinous rice balls; and 'bee koh moy' which is a black glutinous rice porridge usually taken as an afternoon dessert.

For Indian Muslim food, the Penang nasi kandar is very famous in Malaysia. It is a rice meal with many types of dishes made using many types of spices. Also, try the rojak pasembur which is a vegetable salad with sweet and spicy sauce.

Other unique delicacies include 'otak-otak' or steamed fish cake wrapped in banana leaves and 'Or Koay' or steamed yam cakes topped with dried shrimp, fried shellots, spring onion and sliced ​​red chilli.

I hope I did not make your stomach growl. Penang is really a food haven, and you must try at least a few local delicacies before leaving.

Transport

Getting around in Georgetown is easy. You can take the bus or taxi. One fascinating mode of transportation is the trishaw, a type of bicycle vehicle, but the trishaw is getting more and more rare. Trishaws were actual modes of transportation in the olden times but today- they cater to tourists and can go up to 30 Ringgit per hour.

Well, this is the end of the guide for Georgetown. I hope you will enjoy yourself visiting the old standing fort in Malaysia, marvelling at some 17th century churches, unwinding in a world famous hotel, touring some Muslim mosques, Buddhist mystices, and old colonial buildings and not forgetting, savoring food in Malaysia's food capital .

Until the next time, Selamat Tinggal and goodbye!

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Premenstrual Syndrome and Candida

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is condition that encompasses a wide array of symptoms that many women experience typically a week before their menstrual cycles but can occur up to two weeks before. The symptoms of PMS are so diverse and far reaching that it affects women both physically and emotionally. Symptoms of PMS include but are not limited to headaches, edema, back pain, abdominal cramps, abdominal bloating, abdominal gas, muscle spasms, breast tenderness, acne, food cravings, mood swings, anxiety, brain fog and depression. Although, I have heard many men and women alike joking about PMS it is no laughing matter to those women who are unfortunate enough to experience its debilitating symptoms month after month. Imagine experiencing symptoms for up to 14 days out of the month every single month. This is a miserable way to exist. There is however hope for those with PMS aside from just treating the monthly symptoms with over the counter pain medicines. This hope lies in the link between PMS and Candida.

Candidiasis is a condition in which yeast (Candida) overgrows in the intestinal system. Candida is usually a benign microorganism that contributes to a healthy microflora of the intestinal system. Candida ideally will work hand in hand with “friendly” bacteria within this system to remove waste and toxins from the body. However, due to numerous external factors Candida can become an opportunistic microorganism which releases toxins and causes the body to become unhealthy. Symptoms of candidiasis are as diverse as those of PMS and that is why it often goes unrecognized. It has been found that many women who experience PMS also experience candidiasis related symptoms. Chronic yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, abdominal gas, abdominal bloating, depression and anxiety are not uncommon. The good news is that this linkage provides hope for alleviating PMS symptoms through treatment of the underlying candidiasis.

The Candida Diet is the cornerstone of treatment for candidiasis. The goal of the diet is to cut off the food supply to the Candida, therefore killing them, an eliminating the toxins they produce from the body. The diet is very restrictive eliminating all forms of sugar, processed foods, quick acting carbohydrates and many other foods that have been shown to feed Candida. It is however an extremely effective method of treating this condition. It can be very difficult to adhere to the Candida Diet because of these restrictions and but these dietary changes have been proven to help many women with PMS overcome their monthly misery. The first weeks on the diet are hardest because there actually may be an increase in symptoms due to the die-off period where large amounts of Candida are literally being starved and killed in your body. The body may have a hard time dealing with the toxins that these dead microorganisms produce initially. This is the reason why it often gets worse before it gets better. If you suffer from PMS and are looking for naturally ways to relieve these symptoms look into the Candida Diet.

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New Ways to Treat Post-Stroke Spasticity

New ways to treat post-stroke spasticity are giving stroke patients, even those in vegetable state, new hope for recovery. The National Stroke Association (NSA) Website has already added Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB) Therapy and Botulinum toxin A (Botox) as part of its list on how to treat stroke patients with spasticity.

Spasticity is a resistance in the muscles to stretch after an injury to the central nervous system like stroke, which makes it difficult for patients to clench their hand, flex their fist, move their arm away from their body, or walk properly. Spasticity is often an underestimated effect of stroke which leads to grave pain for the patient if left untreated.

In the past, stroke patients who suffer spasticity are limited to oral medicines that leave them sedated and with slow, limited developments despite physical therapy. Through ITB and Botox, post-stroke patients with spasticity can gain better recovery with no lethargy as medication is targeted to the specific area of ​​the body needing therapy.

Relevant data reveal that patients with severe spasticity have shown an 89% reduction of spasticity-related pain on top of improving mobility, daily functioning and quality of life. Thus, ITB's dramatic effects to stroke patients has now pushed for a defect investigation on its benefits through the Spasticity In STrokE Randomized Study (SISTERS), an international trial conducted in 20 European and US sites.

SISTERS aim to reduce spasticity after 6 months of treatment that is partnered with physical therapy (PT). Recently, European company Medtronic announced its enrollment of European patients into the study.

Any stroke patient with spasticity is candidate to ITB – from those who can walk and just want to walk better to those who are already in a vegetative state. What actually happens during therapy is that, a catheter is tunneled under the skin of the stroke patient where spasticity is experienced. This then is pushed up until it reaches the spine. Once there, a minimal amount of medication is pumped.

On the other hand, botox, such as the brand Dysport, has already been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat focal spasticity for stroke patients but intensive care is necessary in its application as it comes from the same bacterium that causes botulism. Botox aids recovery from spasticity because it blocks the release of chemical messages that cause the muscles to contract, thereby ending spasms in the affected muscles. However, Botox therapy is repeated every three months which increases the price of stroke therapy.

These two new ways of treating spasticity are great breakthroughs especially since stroke patients with severe spasticity normally do not respond adequately to oral medication and physical therapy. Patients, on the other hand, can choose these treatments on top of medications that use together with it, like NeuroAid which is a price competitive alternative that helps shorten stroke rehabilitation on a longer term. Other ways to treat spasticity, according to NSA, are stretching, injections, and surgery.