Does antibiotic arthritis treatment reduce symptoms?
Arthritis, a leading cause of disability in people above 55, is a combination of conditions primarily related to damage of the joints of the body. There are seven primary forms of arthritis:
- Osteoarthritis - a degenerative joint disease due to infection or simply due to aging.
- Rheumatoid Arthritis - An autoimmune disease caused by deficient immune system health which starts attacking the body's normal cells.
- Septic Arthritis - An infectious condition.
- Gout - Caused by deposition of uric acid crystals.
- Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis - It mostly affects children and the causes are unknown.
- Still's Disease - Another form of Juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
- Ankylosing Spondylitis - A degenerative inflammatory condition that has genetic undertones.
There is no permanent cure for arthritis and treatment normally involves physical and occupational therapies. Use of steroids to reduce inflammation is temporary in nature and long term use has serious side effects.
A major breakthrough made researchers come across an infectious cause of rheumatic arthritis. Mycoplasma, small parasitic bacteria that lacks a cell wall and can survive without oxygen was isolated from the tissue and exudates of rheumatic patients in 1939.
The discovery presented an antibiotic alternative for treating arthritis, which was traditionally being treated with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) and Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARD) in conjunction with pain killers and steroids.
Results of research have shown promising results of Tetracycline therapy for treating rheumatoid diseases. Minocycline, a Tetracycline antibiotic is the preferred antibiotic to treat mild to moderate occurrences of arthritis. Doxycycline, another tetracycline antibiotic is considered to enhance the affects of methotrexate, a DMARD and a toxic antimetabolite that limits cellular reproduction.
Some of the antibiotics recommended for treating arthritis have serious side effects that outweigh the benefits expected from them. For example Dapsone, an antibacterial drug, is known to cause hemolytic anemia.
Indiscriminate use of antibiotics not only reduces their efficacy but also causes serious harm to the body's ability to cure disease on its own. A minute observation will help us realize that we inadvertently invite most of the diseases ourselves.
Improper diet, sedentary lifestyles, unnecessary dependence on commercial fast foods and dependence that borders on foolhardiness, on antibiotics, cause most of the diseases we suffer from.
There are natural and herbal antibiotics like colloidal silver and garlic, which when consumed regularly can help in preventing attacks from bacteria and viruses. In addition to safety from side effects there is no risk of pathogens using them for their own growth. Apart from the degenerative arthritic conditions, arthritis is mostly caused by dysfunction of immune system.
Herbs for immune system , such as Goldenseal, osha, and Tabebuia (pau d'arco) and flavonoids contained in certain fruits, vegetables, teas, wines, nuts, seeds, and roots, not only boost your immune system but also facilitate elimination of wastes and toxins.
Arthritis is a painful condition that may last lifelong. At best you can reconcile with the disorder and manage the ensuing pain. A natural and active lifestyle can actually help in avoiding many diseases including arthritis. Back to top
Article courtesy of Native Remedies |
Herbal Treatments for Pain Relief
Pain relief from the discomforts of muscle and joint ailments such as arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, carpal tunnel, and rheumatism might be possible with alternative treatments. Arthritis is one of the most common chronic diseases in the world. Arthritis is easily among the most common of the geriatric problems faced by people over the world today. It is characterized by mild to severe pains in the various joints of the bones, especially in the joints of the hands, legs and the back. Arthritic pains are felt more acutely in the fingers. It makes the joints swollen, and if not treated in time, the joints may become permanently deformed.
Herbs can help with healing of neck pain and are good for acute and chronic problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints. Vitamins and minerals can help with arthritis relief by reducing the swelling of tissues and can provide relief from pain. In a cup of warm water, put two teaspoons of lemon juice and one teaspoon of honey. Have this twice a day. It will reduce the severity of arthritic pains. Most topical pain relief products contain one or more herbs as active ingredients which work as an analgesic and counter-irritant disrupting pain signals. Menthol applies to the skin selectively stimulates nerve endings sensitive to cold, producing a sensation of coolness.
Herbs has a local analgesic effect. Methyl Salicylate is the primary constituent in Oil of Wintergreen, a naturally fragrant oil. This chemical relative of aspirin also relieves the inflammation that causes pain and widen blood vessels. Camphor is a penetrating aromatic herb distilled from camphor wood and has a warming property. It alleviates pain, removes swelling, promotes blood circulation and is commonly used topically for contusions, sprains and traumatic injuries. Capsaicin is extracted from red chili peppers and is the substance that makes chili peppers hot. It is used for pain relief by reducing substance P.
Which is found at nerve endings and is involved in transmitting neuralgic and arthritic pain signals to the brain. Pain relief is not instantaneous after application as it is the cumulative depletion of substance P over a period of weeks that brings the full effect. Take two to four tablespoonfuls of castor oil per day. This will help to flush out the toxins collected in the areas of the joints. Also have a cup of strong ginger tea each morning. This keeps the digestive system quite efficient. Other herbal remedies used for pain also include belladonna, chamomile, cloves, devil's claw, cayenne, dong quai, white willow and yohimbe.
About the author:
Juliet Cohen writes articles for Health Problems . She also writes articles for Stye and Sunburn Treatment .
Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com
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Immune system remedies - fight low immunity naturally
If you have problems with immunity, you are most likely to get frequent bouts of cold, flu and some of those minor infections. Antibiotics are indeed the wonder drugs that they are made out to be, but recklessness in their use is not recommended.
It is a misnomer that antibiotics can treat and cure all viral and bacterial infections. Antibiotics do not have any affect on viruses and unnecessary administration can actually be counter productive. It can make your body immune to the drug and lead to bringing down of immunity. A natural antibiotic alternative can go a long way to help in prevent further damage that drugs can potentially cause and relieve symptoms as well.
Your body's immune system is the first line of defense against foreign invaders: bacteria, pathogens, viruses, parasites or anything that can potentially cause disease. The spleen, thymus, lymphatic system and tonsils are all part of this extensive network of organs, tissues and cells including white blood cells, which help in self healing. Herbs for immune system and natural foods should be made a part of your daily routine to strengthen this complex system.
Low immunity is either primary or acquired. Primary conditions are mostly due to a genetic predisposition. Acquired conditions of low immunity are greatly affected by eating habits, lifestyle and overuse of medication for minor ailments like common cold etc.
There is scientific evidence that a natural diet, herbal antibiotics and an active lifestyle boost your immune system health and help in avoiding simple diseases as common cold or life threatening diseases like cancer.
* Vitamin A, C and E are most essential for maintaining immune system health. A handful of almonds daily will provide you sufficient quantity of Vitamin E. guava, oranges and other citrus fruits are a natural source of Vitamin C.
* Garlic is perhaps the oldest cultivated plant in the world and its history as an effective herbal antibiotic and a booster for the immune system dates back to the days when the pyramids were built. It is natural builder of white blood cells, one of the most important constituents of the immune system.
* Carrots and other red, orange and dark green vegetables contain carotenes, which are converted into Vitamin A by the liver. These are extremely helpful for protecting thymus gland. The thymus is a ductless glandular organ at the base of the neck that produces lymphocytes. It plays an important role in producing immunity and preventing atrophies due to advanced age
* Zinc is another element that is essential for immunity. The element is next only to iron in concentration in the body. Its deficiency can impact the immune system in more ways than one. It acts as a catalyst in immune responses for killing pathogens and necessary for white blood cells to perform their functions. Peanuts, peanut butter, and legumes and dark meat of chicken, beef and lamb are excellent sources of zinc.
* Six ounces of natural and fresh yogurt every day keeps the intestinal flora healthy for proper digestion. The yoghurt bacteria convert the lactose in milk into lactic acid, which is perfect for maximizing calcium absorption, vaginal and bladder infections.
* Among the herbs for immune system, Echinacea and the Ayurvedic herb, Ashwagandha ((Withania somnifera) are worth mentioning for their stimulating affect on the immune system.
There is an old saying that says that whenever in doubt: go back to nature. A natural lifestyle and home cooked food coupled with daily exercise will keep many ailments at bay. Back to top
Article courtesy of Native Remedies |
Statin Dangers - This Cholesterol-Lowering Fad Has 7 Side Effects That Can Imperil Your Life
High cholesterol and heart disease kill 1,000,000 Americans every year. That's why your doctor might be telling you to take some form of cholesterol-lowering drugs, the class of drug typically known as statins. While statins do lower cholesterol, they seem to come with a minefield of severe side effects, some of them permanent. You must know what the side effects are so that you can make a proper decision on how to achieve health; after all, it's your life.
1. Cancer. Research is showing statins to be carcinogenic in experimental animals in similar dosages as those given to patients. Some studies are showing a disturbing increase in breast cancer, though there seems to be a lag time of a decade or more between exposure to the drug and clinical detection of the disease.
2. Kidney Failure. Statins have been shown to cause rhabdomyolysis. This is a condition in which there is a breakdown of skeletal muscle, which can result in acute renal failure due to the accumulation of muscle breakdown products in the bloodstream.
3. Heart Failure. Though it may seem to be a paradox, since taking statins is supposedly for heart-health, but studies are showing an increase in congestive heart failure in people taking statins. One report states that a cardiologist studied 20 patients with normal heart function. After six months on a low dose of statins, two-thirds of the patients had abnormalities in the heart's filling phase, when the muscle fills with blood.
4. Liver Dysfunction. Even the drug companies own advertisements acknowledge this!
5. Memory Loss and Cognitive Impairment. Search the web and you'll find countless reports of people taking statins and then suffering from mild to severe memory loss and cognitive impairment. One doctor has found that 15 percent of statin patients develop some side effects pertaining to cognitive function. Duane Graveline, a former astronaut, has written a book, Lipitor: Thief of Memory, in which he describes incidents of complete loss of memory known as "global transient amnesia," in which the sufferer can suddenly forget their own name, where they are, or anything else for that matter. The episode can occur suddenly and disappear just as suddenly. Graveline points out that we are all at risk when the general public is taking statins--do you want to be in an airplane when your pilot develops statin-induced amnesia?
6. Nerve Damage and Numbness. Polyneuropathy, also known as peripheral neuropathy, is characterized by weakness, tingling and pain in the hands and feet as well as difficulty walking. Researchers who studied 500,000 residents of Denmark, about 9 percent of that country's population, found that people who took statins were more likely to develop polyneuropathy. Taking statins for one year raised the risk of nerve damage by about 15 percent--about one case for every 2,200 patients. For those who took statins for two or more years, the additional risk rose to 26 percent. The damage is often irreversible in statin patients, even after they stop taking the drug.
7. Miscellaneous Maladies. There are many reports of other side effects such as depression, pancreatic rot, muscle stiffness and pain, coenzyme Q10 depletion, and the list goes on.
If you have high cholesterol you must get it lowered. But are statins worth the risk? Only you and your doctor can make that decision. Back to top
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| Is there a connection between masturbation and prostate health?
Masturbation has since long been a taboo and associated with numerous myths. Perhaps it was believed that human beings are not entitled to have sexual pleasure unless some one else gave it to them.
With a paradigm change in perceptions and the acceptance of the biological need for sex, such myths have been exploded. Instead, masturbation as a tool for self stimulation and prostate health has become a subject matter of studies conducted all over the world. While there is an inherent risk of infections and sexually transmitted diseases during sexual intercourse, masturbation is a manual stimulation of the genital organs.
It was generally believed that masturbation led to an enlarged prostate. On the contrary, recent studies that have taken into account all types of ejaculation, whether during sexual intercourse, nocturnal emissions or masturbation, point towards a possible link between frequency of ejaculation and good prostate health.
The prostate supplies a major part of the fluid that is discharged as semen. Animal studies indicate that carcinogens found in cigarette smoke tend to accumulate in the prostatic fluid. Masturbation gives the same benefit as a sexual intercourse by allowing the prostate and the seminal vesicles to discharge any accumulated carcinogens in the seminal fluid. It is not a man's ability to ejaculate that matters, but the flushing of the ducts and elimination of cancer causing substances that concentrate in the prostatic fluid.
Prostate medicine works by shrinking the tone of the thin sheet of muscle that encircles the prostate gland. If some one was to feel a prostate gland at the moment of orgasm it would feel as if the muscles around it had contracted causing the gland to shrink. And therefore, prostate medicine and an orgasm have a similar effect on the prostate gland.
The prostate gives a harrowing time to men after they cross forty. The symptoms related to its enlargement and the possibility of cancer can be a torturing experience. The therapy involves a life long treatment with medications and regular monitoring.
In the unfortunate event of prostate cancer, the treatment may involve radiation, chemotherapy and surgery or a combination of any of the three therapies. Substantial benefits can be derived from preventive measures like herbs for prostate enlargement and a diet that includes foods rich in lycopene, selenium and Vitamin E but they are not a cure in their own right.
Even today we do not know for sure whether frequent ejaculation by masturbating has any positive affect on prostate enlargement or prostate cancer or not. If at any time in future a definite link can be established between the two, prevention of prostate enlargement and cancer would be more pleasurable than it is today. Back to top
Article courtesy of Native Remedies |
| Adult ADD Drugs
Adult ADD drugs for treating symptoms of adult attention deficit disorder can prove to be very effective if medication is prescribed in the correct context. However, patients tend to rely more on over the counter medication that can prove to be ineffective and even harmful in many cases.
If adult ADD medication has been prescribed, it is all the more important to follow the instructions of the physician to the last word as even small changes in dosage and the period for which it should be administered can make a vast difference.
Adult ADD drugs need to be administered only after proper analyses of the patient, as adults are likely to be on drugs for other ailments too. Such drugs often result in side effects that duplicate the symptoms of adult attention deficit disorder and can lead to confusion and even worsen the condition.
Prescribing adult ADD medication requires proper communication between the patient and the doctor. The doctor, on seeing a poor response of the patient to the medicine prescribed initially, will work with the patient to find another drug or a combination of drugs to control symptoms. Most of these drugs, however, require closer monitoring during the preliminary phase of the treatment.
Often more than one medicine is required to treat adult ADD, as adults are more likely to have multiple related symptoms like depression and anxiety. As such, treating adult ADD in a cavalier fashion can prove to be very dangerous and more often than not can aggravate the symptoms that it was intended to cure.
While prescribing adult ADD medication, the physician chooses from a variety of drugs available. In many cases medications that act on some of the same brain receptors as nicotine or for lowering blood pressure are used to control ADD symptoms. The physician may also have to consider options of prescribing a single drug, a combination of drug, or of slow or instant release drugs.
Over the past decade or so, options in medication have increased manifold. Stimulant medication like methylphenidate (Ritalin) and dextroamphetamine compounds (Dextrostat, Dexedrine Spansules and Adderall) are more often than not a frequent starting place in the pharmacological treatment of adult ADD. Different individuals require different dosages depending upon their body weight.
Whereas other stimulants, such as, amphetamine and some other tricyclics like Desipramine are known to have a response rate of 60 to 80%, there are non-stimulant adult ADD medications too. Atomoxetine is the first non-stimulant medicine, specifically approved by FDA in November 2002, for treatment of symptoms of adult attention deficit disorder. It strengthens those nerves that use norepinephrine to send messages. Norepinephrine is a catecholamine precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the adrenal medulla and also released at synapses. Atomoxetine does not appear to affect the dopamine systems as directly as do the stimulants.
The need of the day, however, is that physicians require some more serious research on how adults respond to various drugs to enable them to develop second and third line treatment strategies for treating complex symptoms of adult attention deficit disorder. Back to top Article courtesy of Native Remedies |
| Child ADD Testing
Determining whether a child has enough symptoms of ADD and whether child ADHD treatment is required is a tricky task. This is especially so since the problem is more psychological than physical and there is no standard battery of medical tests that can be conducted that will result in a report that can unequivocally recommend ADD treatment.
There are many ADD diagnostic techniques that are available on the Internet to help you identify whether your child is at risk or is already suffering from ADD. These tools are extremely helpful in enabling you to understand the reasons of certain behaviors that you may be observing in your child. None of the tests available on the Internet are supposed to be understood as self-diagnosis tools and should only be used to aid in deciding whether to seek medical attention or not.
Among others, the diagnostic technique used by Daniel G Amen, MD divides the symptoms and factors that need to be considered into various groups. What is studied is the past history, levels of restlessness, impulsiveness, organizational skills, issues with initiation of a task and concentration, negative feelings, issues with relationships, temper, need for constant stimulation, motor coordination skills, levels of energy and frustration. This all-encompassing list of various aspects of symptoms of ADD helps in identifying those that need to seek help.
Items under past history include bed-wetting, behavior problems in school and a family history of ADD and learning disorders. Distractibility, a key symptom of ADD, includes a low attention span, poor listening skills, lack of attention to detail, inability to follow simple instructions of a game. Restlessness exhibits in fidgety behavior like playing with hair, picking skin and biting nails. It also manifests in constant movement from one place to the other including an inability to sit in one place. Being impulsive on this scale involves taking immature and impetuous decisions and lead to an inability to follow any kind of protocol. It also includes lying and stealing as an incontrollable problem.
Poor organization skills include being late all the time, inability to stay on top of tasks that need to be done, misplacing things and belongings and getting overwhelmed with normal tasks that a child that age can accomplish. Problems of initiation and concentration include aspects like procrastination, starting projects but not finishing them and untimely completion of tasks, if at all.
Similarly each of the broad areas listed above have been detailed in this test for ADD and provide cues about the level to which the ADD symptoms manifest. It is important to note that only if more than 20 items receive a score of more than 3 on a 5 point scale should you see a cause of concern. If you feel that your child is a borderline case, there is no harm in soliciting and finding out more about herbal remedy for ADD since these are devoid of any side effects and may help in treatment at the right time without letting matters get out of hand. Back to top
Article courtesy of Native Remedies |
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