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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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Rahu The Shadow Planet

Rahu and Ketu are shadow planets and have no physical form like other seven planets. Taurus is its exaltation sign and Scorpio is its debilitated sign. Rahu also acts a catalyst agent to enhance the results of that strong planet with whom it is conjoined.

General charters tics of Rahu:

  • Considered as cruel, significator of bondage, dark complexion, tamsic or arrogant nature, harsh or evil thinking, Rahu also represents Akash element and contributes for fear psychosis and madness.

  • Rahu is a shadow planet hence deals with the shadow actions or psychological aspects of a person. Rahu represents serpent head, it strikes too fast, hence is an indicator of accident. It has secretive deals. People with strong Rahu even try to understand mysticism and secrets of universe.

  • Rahu is responsible for profession in investigation, scientist, computer programmer, lecturer, psychologist, expert in mental diseases, politicians and work related to radio/telephone/ television and astrology.

  • Rahu is responsible for sinking with ship or drawing, pleasure with diseased women, life in a cave. Being a significator of Akash element Rahu is also responsible for journey by aeroplane. Rahu can cause imprisonment if it is placed in 12th house.

  • Rahu like Saturn has separative tendencies hence breaks many houses and even business partnerships. It is responsible for marital or family discord. It is a planet of suddenness hence gives quick and sudden results. In human relations it, it commands the maternal -side and in-laws.

  • On the human body Rahu is indicator of skin diseases, causes abortions, and affects the nervous system, phobia, stammering, leprosy, tumours, serpent bits, amputation, leprosy, giddiness and early child deaths.

Planetary effects of Rahu:

  • Generally Rahu offers the results of the planets with which it is conjoined, or by which it is aspected or by the ruler of the sign in which they are placed.

  • Astrologers consider Rahu as a very strong and powerful and it snatches power of a planet/s to whom it is associated with. All attributes/qualities of that planet/s are being taken by Rahu and the result may happen accordingly in its period.

  • If Rahu placed in benefice houses like 5th/9th and if it is in conjunction with or aspected by lord of Maraka hose such that is 2nd/7th, it causes death in their Dasha, even through the lord of house 5th/9th are highly auspicious or produce raj-yoga.

  • If Rahu is in Maraka houses or in 2nd/7th and if it is conjoined with or aspected by lords of 5th/9th, it does not causes death, but it increases one’s health and contribute for the longer life span of the native.

  • If Rahu is paced in 2nd/7th and if lords of 2nd/7th are conjoined with it or aspect Rahu the latter then gets the power of inflicting death.

  • Rahu place in 6th/8th/12th house and associated with lords of quadrants/trines, the native will enjoy the beneficial results during the transition period or Mahadasa of such planet, but they will also suffer from diseases, undergo many difficulties and meet with accident during Antradasha of lord of 6th/8th/12th planets.

  • Rahu placed in 1st/3rd/4th/7th/9th/10th and benefice or Yogkarak planets conjoin or aspect it, one can expect happiness, health, wealth, children, power, prosperity and comforts of conveyance in their periods.

  • Rahu combine with Sun/Moon or in close conjunction with them produces Eclipse yoga. This yoga affects the digestion and progeny. The native faces many hardships in the life regarding luck, education career and child birth.

Brief description of effects produced by placement of Rahu in different house:

  • 1st — cruel, courageous, dark complexion, faith in religion.

  • 2nd— argumentative, quarrelsome, knowledge in computer or electronics.

  • 3rd— wealthy, wrestler, sportsman, healthy.

  • 4th— unhappy, problem related with mother and property.

  • 5th— progeny problems, abortions, timid, poor intelligence.

  • 6th— winner, no enemy, freedom from diseases.

  • 7th— late/unconventional marriage, diabetic and egoistic.

  • 8th— exile, loose morals, litigation and settlement away from the birth place.

  • 9th— political career, wealthy and expert in many fields.

  • 10th— politics, interest in literature and scholar.

  • 11th — excess flow of income and fame.

  • 12th— imprisonment, saint fame gained outside the country.

BY

GEETA JHA [SPIRITUAL HEALER]

INDIA

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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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The Most Common Birth Defects

Common birth defects could be infections or metabolic. While infections are like carrying diseases like Rubella, Syphilis or HIV, metabolic are congenital structural disorder. Children with infections can not be treated as very common as they occur in one out of thousands of patient, the most common are coming of the structural defects of heart, skeleton, muscles, circulation and urinary or genital. These defects are common in the sense that they occur in one out of a hundred or so. While these figures are subjective and may vary from location to location a defects remains a reason for concern once it develops.

In USA certain congenital defects are common. They include heart defects, Down syndrome and orofacial clefts. Some heart defects are mild in nature where as others could be a cause of early death. It is said that in some places half of all the death among children below the age of one are caused due to heart diseases acquired as a birth defect. It is reported that one third of children born in the USA have congenital heart disease. Orofacial clefts include cleft lip is a disorder that imposes speech and food intake and defects in the roof of the oral cavity. Down syndrome involves mental or cognitive disability. Over a 5000 babies are born with such disease in the USA alone.

Muscle and skeleton defects cause shortcomings in the legs and arms. Such defect is found in one out of every 130 children born. Spina bifida, which is estimated to affect one out of nearly 2,000 babies born can cause paralysis or affect babies with compliance in the bladder. This is caused due to vitamin deficiency during pregnancy.

Eye defects nervous system disorder is found in one out of about 235 births since it is near common defect. Gastrointestinal deficiency that complicates the function of the stomach intestines and esophagus are also some of the not very uncommon birth defects that need serious attention and corrective measures. Hypospadias is yet another common metabolic disorder that has a bearing on the passage of the urine and its excretion point.

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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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Vaginal Pimple Pictures: Why Making A Diagnosis Of Genital Warts and Lumps Using Photos Is Dangerous

Vaginal pimple pictures – Are you worried because you have noticed or felt what seems to be a pimple or boil in the genital area? Or are you more in a panic because you think it’s a genital wart? Stop right there. There’s no need to get your knickers in a twist because whichever it is, it’s treatable. Vaginal acne isn’t something unique to one woman alone, so you haven’t been singled out if that’s what you’re thinking. Vaginal acne is as common as the facial type, and something nearly every woman at some time will suffer, whether it’s a spot on the face or a pimple or two on the vagina.

Pictures of vaginal acne will likely include pimples, spots, boils, lumps, warts and bumps. And while looking at photos is a good way to tell the difference between a genital wart and vaginal boil etc, it is not something you should rely on for a definite diagnosis. Vagina lumps are more times nothing to worry about, but because lumps are a primary symptom of certain cancers, it is dangerous to have photos confirm a condition. Ignore what you see in pictures and do the sensible by letting a doctor tell you what the problem is..

Genital acne is often treated at home successfully, that is providing it is straight forward acne without infection. Infected acne will need antibiotics to clear the infection, as this applies for genital warts too.

What do vaginal pimples look like: They are red raised bumps resembling those found on the chest, neck, shoulders, face or back. A pimple that pops underneath the skin releasing bacteria to local tissues is called a ‘papule’. If it goes deeper it becomes a ‘pustule’ – deeper again you have a cyst. Unlike pimples, cysts are more challenging and treatment possibly more complicated. Depending on what type of cyst it is and its reason for developing on the vagina or wherever, consult a doctor. It’s silly to use photos to identify any type of vaginal abnormality hoping it’ll confirm your suspicions.

What do vaginal cysts look like: Vaginal cysts are round lumps under the skin not known to cause pain, but a cyst is a cyst at the end of the day, so no guarantee discomfort won’t happen. These cysts are best described as small sacs (closed pockets of tissue ) which can contain fluid, pus, or other material. They’re often the outcome of trauma to the vagina or when a gland or duct is clogged. Cysts are non-cancerous and can be the size of a penny or grow to a frightening golf ball size. Cysts don’t have a specific area on the body they appear, they can happen in most places.

Epidermoid cysts, also called sebaceous cysts, are benign and usually the outcome of blocked oil glands. Epidermoid cysts can form on the torso, back and other places, but definitely a common genital cyst.

What do vaginal warts look like: The norm for warts is coming in groups, or singly. They are raised from the skin and coloured pink or white. Warts are caused by an infection of the herpes virus. Herpes is a sexually transmitted disease and passed onto another even if the infected person does not have a current outbreak. There’s no difference between genital warts and vaginal warts because they are in fact the same thing. Warts that develop on the vagina are much like those you get on the hand, but can be smaller. Some are that small it’ll be a struggle to spot them, so now you rely on touch to detect them – especially if in among pubic hair.

What do razor bumps look like: You could say these are the aftermath of shaving. They are raised, swollen, pus-filled, bumps which only appear in areas that is continually shaved over and over, such as the legs, face, underarms and around the genitals. Bumps can differ from single, pimple-like bumps to widespread rashes. Often sore and itchy too. Depending how badly the skin is affected a burning feeling is common. Untreated razor bumps can lead to keloidal scarring.

While most disorders that include vaginal lumps or bumps on the vagina are harmless, is it worth taking the risk if it is something serious all because a picture shows otherwise.

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How the View of Mental Illness Has Changed Over the Past 50 Years

Even though there have been numerous advancements in the way of treating mental disorders in the past 50 years, there is still a certain stigma surrounding the views on mental illness. Many people still mistakenly believe that someone with a mental illness is simply lazy or they will place blame on the parents if the patient is a child. These feelings even radiate through insurance companies that are many times reluctant to pay for necessary mental health treatments. However, science has concluded that mental illness is the direct cause of genetics combined with environmental factors.

Deinstitutionalizing Mental Facilities

Several decades ago in the 1960s, the deinstitutionalization movement brought about an abrupt, 180 degree change in the way patients with mental illness were handled and treated. This movement called for the removing of mentally ill patients from state and private institutions where many times these people received little to no care and treatment. This was done in order to alternatively give patients medications and therapy. When this movement took place, the tides begin to change in regards to the general attitude of those with a mental illness. The idea behind this was to make the public believe these people were members of the community and not just “crazies” in need of institutionalization.

Family Therapy

And research has proven that a patients relationship with their family members can positively or negatively affect their mental illness. Because of this research, family therapy was born and this therapy has allowed those with an illness to stay out of institutions. Today, the treating physician as well as the active family members are directly responsible for integrating people with mental illness into society.

Treatment Centers

Also, if a mentally ill person needs to be hospitalized, there is less of a chance now than before that they will be subject to restraints and isolation. Today’s psychiatry leans toward day treatment centers where there are less staff members and an increased emphasis on group therapy as opposed to individual therapy, which paved the course for halfway houses as well as allowing patients with mental illness to go home at night and still receive treatment during the day.

Problems with Deinstitutionalizing

Of course, there were some negatives that came along with the deinstitutionalizing of metal facilities. There are some people with mental illness who should be put into an institution because they are dangerous to themselves and others. However, because putting them into an institution or a state hospital without their consent is not a legal option, these people have either made their way into prisons or out onto the streets.

Support Organizations

The mental health experts of today understand that those with mental illness greatly benefit from social networks providing care, acceptance, and support even in the most difficult of times. And mentally ill people who receive this kind of support tend to recover faster. Because the individual communities throughout society are not as close knit as they once were, mentally ill patients no longer receive their primary support from family and friends, which finally brought about the explosion of support organizations.

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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.