Info Health. Online Pharmacy

How Vaginal Stimulation Creams Work

So far, it’s mostly men’s sexual pleasure and health that’s been addressed both by prescription drugs and the burgeoning all-natural supplement sector. Fortunately, a few companies are paying attention to women’s needs, and have developed stimulating creams that not only lube but also boost a woman’s sensitivity and ability to orgasm more powerfully.

These work by means of the innovative transdermal delivery system. By combining botanical extracts and therapeutic nutrients with natural skin permeation enhancers such as olive squalane, important ingredients can cross the lipid barrier of the epidermis. The result is greatly enhanced sexual sensations in a woman’s body.

Some creams and ‘natural’ products on the market contain ingredients that have well-recognized health hazards associated with their use; the best choice is a sexual enhancement cream that does not contain harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances or color, or synthetic preservatives.

The exact herbal and all-natural formulation of different women’s creams varies a great deal. However, it’s important that, no matter which product you choose, you pay attention to the details: is the product developed by professionals or naturopaths who have experience in helping women attain ideal sexual and reproductive health? Is there research or documented findings of scientists and herbalists? How have they pinpointed the optimum natural ingredients for clitoral arousal, erection and sensitivity? One we found that meets the criteria for a great, effective women’s cream is Vigorelle™. The makers of Vigorelle™ have developed a formula with ingredients combined in the optimal proportions to improve all sexual stimulation. They have created the opportunity for a woman to achieve orgasm, and have implemented revolutionary technology in L-Arginine HCL, responsible for fast, effective absorption of key herbal ingredients into the female lymphatic system. Vigorelle™ also contains powerful antioxidants such as Vitamin A and C for optimum health and nutrition.

Here are some of the ingredients in an effective women’s topical preparation, along with their effects in the body:

• Damiana Leaf - Folium Turneraceae
  Herb from the subtropics that counteracts chronic loss of sexual power. Damiana has a reputation as a powerful woman’s herb with its progesteronic action and powerful aphrodisiac properties. It acts as a tonic to the central nervous system, urinary, reproductive, digestive, and respiratory systems. Damiana is also useful in the treatment of vaginal dryness.
• Suma Root - Radix Pfaffiae Paniculatae
  Suma root contains an amazing 152 identified compounds containing the nutritive value of 19 amino acids and many minerals and vitamins. Suma is an excellent natural neuroendocrine restorative, metabolic regulator, antioxidant and immune enhancer. Suma restores the endocrine and immune systems, and also increases estrogens and androgens.
• Motherwort - Herba Leonori
  Motherwort is known as a true woman’s remedy. This wonderful herb is a uterine tonic that contains alkaloids with the ability to produce uterine contraction. Motherwort is reputed to release tension caused by emotional and mental stress.
• Wild Yam - Rhizoma Dioscorea Villosae
  Wild Yam is also called Mexican Wild Yam or Colic Root. Balances human hormone production, enhances a woman’s sexual energy. Wild Yam also contains diosgenin, a steroid-like substance that when used in small doses in its natural form, increases fertility.
• Ginkgo Biloba
  Increases moisture retention in the upper layers of the skin, and soothes irritation. Improves circulation and vasodilation. Ginkgo is also an antioxidant useful against free radicals, substances that damage cellular health and accelerate aging from both internal and environmental toxins. Gingko leaf it is one of the best herbs available for promoting blood flow and oxygenation throughout the entire body.
• Peppermint Leaf - Folium Menthae Piperitae
  Helps the absorption of other substances through cell membranes, induces natural lubrication, invigorates the mind, improves the mood and relaxes a tension-filled, anxiety-ridden nervous system.

As you search for the best women’s cream, seek a smooth topical cream packaged in a vacuum sealed pump dispenser by an FDA approved facility GMP (good manufacturing practices) certification. Also consider looking for these features:

• Developed for those who are chemically sensitive and/or health conscious.
• Contains no petrochemical byproducts, artificial colors, flavors and fragrances.
• No propylene glycol and metha or proply paraben.
• Condom compatible.
• Water based.
• pH Balanced.
• Edible non-toxic pleasant flavor.
• Formula that caters to woman’s varying needs.
• Easy-to-use pump for dispensing.
• Can be reactivated by water or body fluids.
• Easy to wash off.

Whether you are a woman buying the product for yourself, or a man obtaining it for a partner, insist on the best, highest-quality product. That means accepting that quality (especially organic) herbal ingredients cost more. Once you sample the benefits of these products we’re sure you’ll agree; it’s worth it! If you are unsure of which product to try, we recommend Vigorelle™ for both its performance and the company’s customer service.

How HGH Supplements Work

Human growth hormone, also called somatotropin, is a protein hormone of 190 amino acids (building blocks of protein) that is created and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It has two types of effects, both of which are highly beneficial to the vital, active human body.

One main type of action of the HGH is its direct effects on other kinds of cells. The growth hormone binds to its receptor on target cells, then creates some particular action. Fat cells, for example, are the target cells of HGH, so they have growth hormone receptors. Once bonded there, the growth hormone causes them to break down triglyceride and suppresses their ability to take up and accumulate circulating lipids — in other words, fat storage is prevented!

HGH also acts to create other indirect effects in the body by causing secretion of IGF-1, an insulin-like growth factor hormone. IGF-1 is secreted from the liver and other tissues in response to growth hormone. This is the action that governs mostly growth-related effects of HGH.

This same effect is also the power behind muscle growth. It stimulates both the differentiation and proliferation of muscle cells, stimulates amino acid uptake and synthesizes protein in muscle and other tissues. This is where HGH’s ability to influence overall muscle and skin tone comes from.

Growth hormone has important effects on:

* Protein metabolism:
HGH causes increased amino acid uptake, increased protein synthesis and decreased oxidation of proteins.

* Fat metabolism:
HGH enhances the utilization of fat — gives your body the ability to break down fat cells more efficiently.

* Carbohydrate metabolism:
HGH is one of several hormones that maintain blood sugar within a normal range.

Because of the abilities of HGH mentioned above, you can soon see that without it, muscle tone declines, fat stubbornly sits in the body and resists metabolism, and hair, skin and nails (all composed of proteins) deteriorate. In fact, scientists now believe that HGH has a role in most healthy functions of the body, including sexual function, proper operation of stomach and bowels, liver, and all glandular systems.

Whether HGH is directly interacting with certain cells, or playing its key part in the correct function of other bodily systems, it’s essential throughout the body for youthful vigor and health.

Problem is, HGH augmentation has traditionally been a benefit reserved for the super-rich: until now, only injections of HGH could have an effect in the body, and at a cost of thousands of dollars per treatment.

More recently, pharmaceutical companies and natural supplement companies have fine-tuned the science of HGH stimulation in the body by means of a Growth Hormone releaser. That is, by natural means, the body can be stimulated to produce and release its own HGH, increasing levels to those of a youthful, vital person.

One such supplement is GenF20™, a supplement from a quality manufacturer. Their product works by using a formula to trigger and stimulate the pituitary gland to produce and secrete more HGH itself. The HGH goes into your body just as nature intended, in other words, through the glandular system — just as it did when you were in your 20s. You see, it is not possible to just make an HGH supplement that would enter the bloodstream by other means than injection, because the HGH molecule is too large to pass through the walls of the digestive system, for instance. But with a “releaser” or stimulator product, your body does the HGH producing itself.

Once stimulated by the supplement, HGH goes to work in the body delivering all the benefits detailed above. If there’s a fountain of youth, this is it, say doctors who’ve reviewed the product. Why not go to http://www.GenF20.com/proof.html and see for yourself.

by Tess Thompson

When a child has ADD ADHD, it is not uncommon for the first person to recognize the symptoms to be the child’s teacher. Many of the symptoms of ADHD can seem more pronounced in a structured classroom setting, when a child is forced to sit still and focus on something specific. Of course, a teacher’s suspicion is not grounds for assumption that your child has the condition. A diagnosis of ADHD should come only after valid ADHD assessment tests and extensive professional evaluation that includes such factors as his or her behavior at school, at home and at play, and that eliminates the possibility that your child is suffering from other conditions, such as depression or anxiety, that can produce similar symptoms.

If you do determine that your child has ADHD and needs special child ADHD treatment, you should be aware of the legal rights your child has to an education that accomodates his or her needs. ADHD children can have difficulty performing well in school and teachers can become frustrated with students who have behavioral problems or who require constant attention. Although you can weigh the benefits of private tutors, homeschooling or “ADHD schools” — special schools for children with learning disabilities (ADHD is not technically a learning disability, but some schools have programs that include instruction for ADHD children), there are laws which mandate that your child receive specialized education within the confines of the public school system as well.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal statute that requires schools to identify children who have ADHD or other learning disorders and to provide special education or provide other services to qualifying students. In order to qualify under IDEA, a child’s ADHD must be found to be severe enough to impair the child’s education. Children who suffer from ADHD may also qualify under IDEA if they have simultaneously been diagnosed with a learning disablity or with emotional problems.

Chidren who don’t qualify for specialized education under IDEA can still find help under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is an anti-discrimination provision designed to protect people with disabilities. It prohibits programs that are federally funded, such as public schools, from discriminating against people with disabilities, and requires schools to accomodate them. Accomodations can include things such as altering test-taking rules or providing help with note-taking.

The Americans with Disabilities Act also prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, but includes organizations which recieve no federal funding. Under this provision, children with ADHD qualify for special help at public and at private schools.

Although these statutes must be legally upheld by schools, some school systems do not accurately train teachers and administrators to recognize the symptoms of ADHD, and they are often unaware of their legal obligations to accomodate children who suffer from it. Your child does have a legal right to these provisions, and you have the right to request them. In rare cases, when a school has been found to lack in sufficient accomodation, the state has paid for children to attend specialized private schools. Many public schools, however, have excellent systems in place, and more and more frequently, teachers are being trained to teach all kinds of students, including those with ADHD.

by Tess Thompson

Although there is controversy surrounding them, stimulants are still the most commonly prescribed type of medication for children with ADD and ADHD. The Drug Enforcement Agency says that stimulant drug production has increased 500 percent since 1991, and over half of the prescriptions for them are written by pediatricians. Stimulants are often effective in treating many of the symptoms of ADD — but are they the best ADD treatment for your child? Many parents are concerned about the side effects stimulants can produce and choose to investigate other options like behavioral therapy and herbal supplements as well. When it comes to making a decision that affects your child’s health, having the facts is essential.

ADD stimulant medications work by increasing the levels of the chemicals epinephrine and norepinephrine in the brain, which helps the brain to transmit signals between nerves. This improves a child’s (or adult’s) ability to pay attention for extended periods of time. But these medications also come with a risk of mild and serious side effects. Some of the most common side effects include headaches, upset stomach and increased blood pressure, all of which may diminish as the body adjusts after the first few weeks of treatment. Other common side effects include decreased appetite (80% of stimulant users report this), nervousness and sleeplessness. Research has also shown that stimulants can stunt growth during treatment, but have not been proven to affect final height. Less common but more serious side effects include hallucinations and feelings of suspicion or paranoia, Tourette’s Syndrome, and suicidal thoughts.

Children on stimulants (Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta are the best-known brands) should be watched closely and their dosages should be evaluated regularly. These medications are most effective when they are administered in the correct dosage for each individual and when they are combined with additional ADD treatments like behavioral therapy and practical and emotional support. Non-stimulant drugs, such as Strattera, can also be effective, but carry a risk of similar side effects.

In light of the risks that prescription medications carry, many parents are interested in exploring an herbal remedy for ADD. There is more than one herb that has been shown to be an effective ADD or ADHD child treatment, and there are a variety of natural remedies on the market that combine many of them. Ginko Biloba, Green Oats, Brahmi, Gotu Kola and Panax Ginseng are some of the best ingredients, and the positive effects of some of them (like Ginko) can become permanent even after discontinuing use.

While stimulant medication is often successful in treating ADD, it can sometimes cause its own set of problems. Weigh the risks and the benefits carefully, and make the decision that is right for your own child. Just as each child exhibits symptoms of ADD differently, each child will react differently to medication and treatment. Patience and thorough research should lead you to a healthy solution for your child.

Everyone should know that when testosterone is metabolized, it produces DHT as one of the by-products, which is what allows your muscles and erections to grow. That is a good thing! However, DHT that doesn’t get burned up during sex or working out is also what is at the root of your prostate problems to begin with.

The fact of the matter is that DHT is always being produced, and a lot of us simply cannot burn it off fast enough–no matter how much we work out in the gym or how much sex we have.

In the case of prostate problems, one camp blames a lack of testosterone while the other camp blames too much of it. I have even heard of a doctor suggesting castration as a means of preventing the spread of prostate cancer because he believed it was the only way to prevent testosterone from acting as fuel for the cancer.

Talb about a case of throwing away both the baby and the bathwater!

I’m sure that we’ve all heard at some point or another the notion that more sex is the solution to prostate problems, citing as evidence the high incidence of prostate cancer in celibate priests. Let’s think about this for a moment: If more sex was really the solution, how come a certain rock-star died from prostate cancer? Also, if prostate cancer is the number one cancer killer of males, were all these murdered males celibate? Not likely…

While plain common sense would indicate that utter sexual abstinence may be harmful over the course of a lifetime, prostate cancer remains the number one cancer-killer of males DESPITE the fact that very few males are either rock stars or priests!

So, prostate cancer has little to do with sexual activity or the testosterone that fuels it. Rather, it is an issue of how we handle the excessive DHT in our bodies. With today’s meat and hormone-filled diets it should be no wonder that our current report card is so poor.

This is why pro-hormone supplementation is replete with warnings that people with prostate problems should not be taking their products. (Bodybuilders love excess DHT which they can direct into their muscle tissue.)

Benign prostatic hyperplasia, often referred to as simply BPH, is an enlargement of the prostate gland that usually occurs in men who are over the age of 50. This enlargement in the prostate gland can cause a gradual squeezing of the urethra, which makes urinating difficult and painful. Many men who experience this prostate problem do not have any symptoms at all and it may not be detected until an annual rectal exam. Men with this prostate problem who do experience symptoms are likely to notice difficulty in starting urination, frequent urination as well as an increased frequency in awakening at night to urinate.

Prostate cancer, another prostate problem, is perhaps the most severe and is one of the leading types of cancers diagnosed in American men. Each year almost a quarter of a million new cases are diagnosed. It is estimated that prostate cancer will affect one out of every ten men. Each year more than 30,000 men die from prostate cancer. Because of the seriousness of this prostate problem, prostate cancer is perhaps the most serious of all the different types of prostate disease. Prostate cancer generally occurs in men who are over the age of 65, although cases in younger men have been reported. There is a high incidence of prostate cancer occurring in men who are shown to have a family history of this type of prostate disease. African-American men are considered to be particularly at risk for prostate cancer and suffer from the highest death rates related to this disease.
—————————————-
Plato Rosinke is a practicing Taoist herbalist since 1991 with a specialty in the male urogenital system.
http://www.prostatesecrets.com

“Prostate cancer is a major killer of men! How is it then that in a poll 96% of men knew nothing at all about the prostate gland. Prostate Cancer is the most common diagnosed cancer in the USA and UK. Next to lung cancer it is the second leading cause of cancer death in men in the USA.”

Women know more about men’s health than men do themselves and that’s a fact. Why is that? Is it because we find it hard to discuss these things? Is it because it’s not macho! From the time that we are young, we are taught that boys have to act tough and shouldn’t cry. You must have heard the saying “Big Boys don’t cry!”

Most of us carry this thought process into adulthood and feel by showing concern for our health, it will be seen as a male weakness. I am guilty of that myself.

I know when my prostate troubles began, I knew absolutely nothing about the prostate. I was one of the 96%. Mainly because it didn’t cross my mind that I’d ever have any problems.

In addition, the prostate is in a “private” area, and it wasn’t something I wanted to examine. Many people, including myself, feel uncomfortable talking about the prostate, since the gland plays a role in both sex and urination.

I have had prostate troubles, survived a cancer scare and watched my sister die from Cancer. Believe me, when I say that when you think you are going to die, it concentrates your mind on what is really important. Suddenly your priorities get focused.

Due to my prostate troubles, I became interested in learning about the prostate and how it affected my health.

I cried the day they took a biopsy and I cried with relief the day I was told it was benign. I cried many times as I watched my sister die.

I got so frustrated having to get up every night 3-4 times due to my prostate troubles and then finding I couldn’t get back to sleep.

What is prostate cancer?

Prostate Cancer develops by the growth of cancerous cells within the prostate gland. Prostate cancer occurs when some of the cells that make up the prostate gland escape from the normal controls on their growth and start to divide, grow and spread in an uncontrolled manner. In its advanced form, it can produce the same symptoms as BPH. (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia)

Warning Signs

Early prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms. When symptoms of prostate cancer do occur, they may include some of the following problems:

A need to urinate frequently, especially at night; Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine; Inability to urinate; Weak or interrupted flow of urine; Painful or burning urination; Painful ejaculation; Blood in urine or semen; and/or Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips, or upper thighs.

Any of these symptoms may be caused by cancer or by other, less serious health problems, such as BPH or an infection (Prostatitis). Only a doctor can tell the cause. A man who has symptoms like these should see his family doctor . Do not wait to feel pain; early prostate cancer does not cause pain.

These are two other main prostate problems

1) BPH - (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) is the abnormal growth of benign prostate cells. In an enlarged prostate , the prostate grows larger and pushes against the urethra and bladder, blocking the normal flow of urine. BPH is often the result of prostatitis.

2) Prostatitis refers to prostate inflammation and infection, which can be brief or long-lasting, mild or severe symptoms can include frequent, urgent and painful urination, erectile problems or pain during ejaculation.

Prostatitis is rampant in the US, affecting at least 80% of American men. Most is without major symptoms. Prostate enlargement, called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) is often the result of prostatitis.

Treatment for Prostate Cancer

The treatment given for prostate cancer depends on how advanced or widespread the disease is. If the cancer is small and only present within the prostate gland, it is possible to treat it with

surgery (radical prostatectomy) radiotherapy (either external beam radiotherapy or brachytherapy) hormone therapy

I sincerely hope that this article can be of use to you, your partner, someone in your family or indeed a close friend.

Health to me is both physical and mental. The two cannot be separated. May I leave you with what I regard the finest bits of advice for life

*************************************** If I were asked to give what I consider the single most useful bit of advice for all humanity it would be this: Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and when it comes, hold your head high, look it squarely in the eye and say, “I will be bigger than you. You cannot defeat me.” ………..Ann Landers ****************************************

I wish you perfect health and piece of mind in all that you do .

Jeff Cuckson
http://www.backtobetterhealth.com

What are Allergies?
The term allergy is used to describe a response, within the body, to a substance, which is not necessarily harmful in itself, but results in an immune response and a reaction that causes symptoms and disease in a predisposed person, which in turn can cause inconvenience, or a great deal of misery.

Allergy is extremely widespread and affects approximately one in four of the population in the UK at some time in their life. Each year the numbers are increasing by 5% with as many as half of all sufferers being children.

What Is An Allergen?
Almost anything can be an allergen; the most common being house dust mites, pollen from trees and grasses, cats, dogs, insects such as wasps and bees, milk, eggs, peanuts. Less common allergens include nuts, fruit and latex. Protein is often regarded as just something that we eat. It is, in fact, an organic compound containing hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen, which form an important part of living organisms. There are, however, some non-protein allergens which include penicillin and some other drugs. For these to cause an allergic response they need to be bound to a protein once they are in the body.

A person’s immune system believes that the invading allergens are damaging and in response the body produces an antibody (”IgE”) to attack them. This in turn leads to other cells (i.e. mast cells) to release further chemicals which together cause irritation, inflammation and the symptoms of an allergic response. Some of the conditions or diseases themselves have already been listed but it should be understood that all the mentioned diseases can be caused by factors other than allergy.

Here are some of the most common symptoms associated with the conditions:

* Sneezing
* Wheezing
* Sinus pain
* Runny nose
* Coughing
* Nettle rash / hives
* Swelling
* Itchy eyes, ears, lips throat & palate (roof of mouth)
* Shortness of breath
* Sickness vomiting, & diarrhoea
* Increase in secretions

Symptoms
A person’s immune system believes that the invading allergens are damaging and in response the body produces an antibody (”IgE”) to attack them. This in turn leads to other cells (i.e. mast cells) to release further chemicals which together cause irritation, inflammation and the symptoms of an allergic response. Some of the conditions or diseases themselves have already been listed but it should be understood that all the mentioned diseases can be caused by factors other than allergy.

Here are some of the most common symptoms associated with the conditions:

• Sneezing
• Swelling
• Wheezing
• Itchy eyes, ears, lips throat & palate (roof of mouth)
• Sinus pain
• Shortness of breath
• Runny nose
• Sickness vomiting, & diarrhoea
• Coughing
• Increase in secretions
• Nettle rash / hives

What Allergy tests are available?
The type of test to be carried out will depend upon your symptoms or condition of your skin and are described as follows.

Skin Prick Testing:
This is a test, which measures specific IgE attached to cells in the skin important in allergies called “mast” cells. This is probably the most commonly used allergy test and is appropriate for inhaled and ingested (eaten) allergies.

* It is usually carried out on the inner forearm (palm uppermost)
* If the patient has bad eczema on the area under test then the test can be performed on the back
* Ideally the allergens to be selected should be in accordance with the patient’s history
* As few as 3 or 4 or up to about 25 allergens can be tested
* The arm is coded with a marker pen for the allergens to be tested
* A drop of the allergen (extract) solution is placed by each code
* The skin is then pricked through the drop using the tip of a lancet -this can feel a little uncomfortable but should not be painful

Positive reaction:
The skin becomes itchy within a few minutes and then becomes red and swollen with a “weal” in the centre (very much like the reaction to a nettle sting). The weal has a raised edge, which slowly expands to reach its maximum size in about 15-20 minutes, clearing for most people within an hour. The size of the weal varies with the average being 3-5 mm in diameter.

Also included in skin testing is a negative and positive control:
The negative control is a saline (salt-water) solution, to which a response is not expected. If however a patient reacts to a negative control, then this will indicate that the skin is, for what ever reason, extremely sensitive and that the results from the allergen challenge needs to be interpreted with the utmost care.

The positive control solution contains histamine, to which everyone is expected to react. Failure to do so could mean that medicines the sufferer is taking could block the response to the histamine and allergens. Patients will be asked to avoid taking anti histamines, cough medicine and some anti depressants (Tricyclic) for about 5-6 days prior to the test.

The skin prick test introduces such a tiny amount of allergen into the skin that testing is quite safe and almost any age group can be tested. However where there has been a clear anaphylactic (shock) reaction to a specific allergen ingested then skin testing may not be appropriate. These tests can be carried out on all age groups including babies although the response will be considerably smaller than in an adult.

Skin prick testing is usually the first test recommended when an allergy is suspected. The advantages are that it is a simple, quick and inexpensive form of testing. It can give useful information in all forms of allergy and provides results within 15-20 minutes. This can be carried out within a hospital or GP surgery environment, by specially trained nurses or doctors.

Blood Test:
The test is carried out on a small sample of blood, which is usually taken from a vein in the arm, using a fine needle and a small syringe, causing minimal discomfort. The sample is then sent to a hospital laboratory and the results are available in 7 to 14 days. The blood sample can be taken at the GP surgery or at a hospital.

These tests are particularly useful when:

* The patient has a risk of an anaphalactic (shock) reaction, which would make skin prick testing too risky.
* When extensive eczema makes skin prick testing impractical.
* When antihistamine medication cannot be stopped because of severe symptoms.
* No skin prick testing facilities are available

Where unusual and rare allergens are suspected, as there are a wide range of UniCAP® allergens now available for testing
Positive Test: - UniCAP is reported in classes of 0-6 where increasing classes indicate increasing sensitivity to an allergen:

Class 0 Negative
1 Low
2 Moderate
3 High
4 –6 Extremely High

Patch Testing:
This test is performed in cases of contact dermatitis (Eczema) where allergy is suspected.

* The allergens are prepared in appropriate concentrations in white soft paraffin (e.g. Vaseline) and are then spread on to discs, 1 cm diameter.
* The discs (which are made of a special metal, cannot themselves provoke a reaction) are placed on the skin, usually on the back, and are kept in place by hypoallergenic tape.
*

The skin is coded appropriately and the patient is asked to keep the skin dry.
* The patches are left in place for 48 hours, after which time the discs are removed, the skin is examined and any redness or swellings are noted. The skin is re-examined after a further 48 hours for any remaining local redness or swelling.

The interpretation of this form of testing is not as simple as it sounds and tends to be carried out by dermatology departments in hospitals. The symptoms of contact dermatitis need to be brought under control before patch testing can be carried out; otherwise the results will be unreliable. Steroid creams need to be stopped for 3-4 weeks before testing as they may suppress the test response.

Any professional interpreting skin, blood or patch tests must first interpret the results in the light of the patient’s history. No test should be read in isolation.
———————————
Source: The British Allergy Foundation

A few weeks ago, I wrote about feeling deserving to lose weight. But this is about a different issue . . .

It is that feeling you get . . . sometimes an almost imperceptible thought before you overeat.

“I deserve it.”

“I have worked so hard.”

“I have put up with so much.”

“I deserve this.”

It is JUST that easy to sabotage yourself.

And it is probably the very best, believable rationalization you can make.

After all, you HAVE worked hard, and tolerated a great deal. You probably have exhausted yourself in the process.

It is SO easy to reach for food.

And so easy to justify it.

To get that instant sense of relief, the sense of giving yourself something . . . to pay yourself back for the endurance of working so hard, doing so much (for everyone else) and tolerating it all.

If you can’t have what you REALLY want (e.g. a lighter schedule, a deep rest, fewer responsibilities, a week at a spa . . .), then it is SO easy to SETTLE for food.

Yes - food is easy.

Life is hard.

Next time . . . think about what it is you REALLY want.

The truth is . . . food is NOT going to solve it.

It’s NOT the answer.

ASK yourself - is this going to solve the problem?

The extent to which you can be honest with yourself and act accordingly is the extent to which you can make progress.

The extent to which you are still convincing yourself that it’s what you really need is the extent that you sell out on yourself.

Ask yourself what you REALLY need. And try to give it to yourself.

Chances are . . . it won’t be chocolate.

Here’s to getting the real thing.

With love, Carol

——————————–
Carol Solomon, Ph.D. is a psychologist and personal coach who specializes in helping people who want to lose weight and eliminate food and weight issues.

She is the author of “Lose Weight Now Stay Slim Forever,” a practical “how-to” manual for learning to lose weight without dieting.

Go To: Lose Weight Now (http://www.stresseating.com/)
to get your FREE copy of SLIM FOREVER.

Copyright 2005 Adam Waxler

If you have just a little weight to lose, and want to take it off fast (say, so you can fit into those great pants for your cousin’s wedding), there are a number of diets that you can use. Most of these wouldn’t be recommended for long-term weight loss, as they substantially restrict your intake of some essential nutrients, so using them habitually may not be healthy. But if you’re normal diet is healthy, and you just want a quick boost to drop 8-10 pounds quickly, or to kick off a new diet with a bang, the Cabbage Soup Diet actually works.

The cabbage soup diet has been around for nearly 30 years. It’s based on the notion that your body actually uses more calories to digest cabbage than the amount that it derives from cabbage. It’s a so-called ‘negative calorie diet’, and includes many foods that, like cabbage, are high in fiber and very low in calories.

The base of the cabbage soup diet is - what else? Cabbage soup. There are several recipes for cabbage soup available. Essentially, the soup is made with onions, peppers, mushrooms, carrots, cabbage, celery and spices to taste. You’ll be eating the soup every day - as much of it as you want.

In addition, there is a seven day routine of foods to supplement the cabbage soup.

Day One: All the fruit you want (except bananas) along with all the soup that you want. No caffeinated beverages or sodas. Drink only water, tea and cranberry juice.

Day Two: Eat all the vegetables that you want, but avoid dried beans, peas and corn. Eat veggies raw, fresh or cooked. No fats, no sauces, no butter. At dinner, you may have one baked potato with butter - and of course, all the cabbage soup that you want!

Day Three: Eat all the fruits and veggies that you want from day two and day three - but NO baked potato.

Day Four: Bananas and skim milk - yes, all the skim milk you want, plus up to eight bananas, along with — you guessed it, all the cabbage soup you want.

Day Five: Eat ten to twenty ounces of beef (or skinless chicken, or broiled fish). Drink at least 10 glasses of water, and eat up to six fresh tomatoes. (if you substitute for the beef today, you may not tomorrow)

Day Six: Eat all the beef, vegetables and cabbage soup that you want. No baked potato. Lots of leafy green vegetables.

Day Seven: You can have all the unsweetened fruit juices, brown rice, and vegetables that you want - and at least one bowl of soup.

That’s it. Remember - this diet is NOT recommended for long term weight loss, or long term use. It doesn’t contain enough complex carbohydrates to be healthy for longer than a few days. But if you just need a jump-start or a quick fix, it’s a good way to pick up the pace for a week.

Cholesterol may differ depending on the lifestyle, gender or the heritage of the individual. Every one of us can do certain things to live healthier, longer lives. One of those alternatives includes maintaining cholesterol at the right level. However, the truth is even young, thin, physically fit people can have high levels of cholesterol, even though chances of higher levels amplify due to certain factors. Lifestyle management can alter some of these factors while others require a more aggressive approach to include cholesterol-lowering medication. Carrying around excess weight usually increases the level of “bad” cholesterol.

The majority people don’t know that there is good cholesterol (HDL) and bad cholesterol (LDL). Unfortunately, those efforts to provide an easy explanation of cholesterol measurement actually misrepresent it. Improving your own HDL-to-LDL ratio practice exercise regularly, jogging, walking and eating balanced diet food that is low fat foods. The main factors in changing your body’s LDL /HDL ratio in your favor. Losing weight can also helpful. There is proof that alcohol, in control, can have some small beneficial effect in raising HDL levels.

A variety of things can affect cholesterol levels and controlling method. Diet. Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food make your blood cholesterol level go up. Saturated fat is the main problem, but cholesterol in foods also matters. Reducing the quantity of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level. Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease. It also tends to increase your cholesterol.

Cholesterol-lowering medications are more effectual when combined with diet. Thus they are meant to supplement, not restore, a low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet. Summary of diet guidelines for lowering high blood cholesterol levels, eat less high-fat food (especially those high in saturated fat) and replace part of the saturated fat in your diet with unsaturated fat. Eat less high-cholesterol food choose foods high in complex carbohydrates with starch and fiber. Reduce your weight; if you are overweight it is must to control cholesterol.

Cholesterol diary follows the results helps to control it. In Medical news items are relevant to treatment of High Cholesterol: Herbal drug, gugulipid, may render some prescription drugs ineffective. And weight loss drug, orlistat, proves itself in experiments. Treatments of High Cholesterol don’t eat some red meat is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, which can raise your blood cholesterol; you do not need to stop eating it or any other single food. But red meat is a significant source of protein, iron, and other vitamins and minerals.