Horny Goat Weed may offer Viagra alternative: study (Reuters)
September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
Reuters - A Chinese herbal remedy called horny goat weed is a promising alternative to Viagra for impotent men, Italian researchers said on Monday.
Source:Horny Goat Weed may offer Viagra alternative: study
(Reuters)
Link Between Vaccine and MS Unproven (HealthDay)
September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
HealthDay - TUESDAY, Sept. 30 (HealthDay News) — Children vaccinated against
hepatitis B probably are not at an increased risk of developing multiple
sclerosis (MS) unless they were inoculated with a particular brand of the
vaccine, according to a new study.
Source:Link Between Vaccine and MS Unproven
(HealthDay)
Medication Options to Treat Insomnia
September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If insomnia has been an ongoing problem for you, you might be willing to try just about anything simply to get a little sleep. But before you get desperate, make certain you realize how each alternative works.
Most people who experience a few nights in a row of insomnia will head straight to the pharmacy to get an over the counter remedy. You might get some relief from a sleep aid at first, but they won’t give you long term results because they don’t fix the problem.
A sleeping aid doesn’t constitute an insomnia cure. It could assist you at first, yet you need to ascertain the reason why you’re experiencing sleep problems. In the long run, it’s not very healthy to be dependent on a pill to get a good night’s sleep.
Lots of people get hooked on medications and aren’t able to fall asleep if they give them up. Others have undesirable side effects, or experience complications due to interaction with their prescription meds.
Antihistamines, a familiar remedy for allergies, is a common ingredient in over the counter sleeping aids. They make you sleepy and help to make sure you remain asleep.A number of individuals report increased sleepiness the following day, so it may interfere with your sleep cycles. Side effects could include constipation, dizziness, memory loss, blurred vision, and dry mouth. If you become dependent on them, you will require increasingly larger doses to get the benefits.
The doctor might give you something more potent such as a non-benzodiazephine. This helps you feel sleepy by stepping up the natural chemical process of your brain. Using a sleeping aid for ongoing insomnia relief is generally safer than using over the counter remedies; but it can lead to dependencies.
It’s uncommon these days, but your doctor could prescribe a tranquilizer if your insomnia is serious enough. This causes drowsiness by slowing your nervous system. This is a short term solution that could lead to feelings of grogginess the day after.
You might be prescribed antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications that act as sedatives if your doctor believes it’s the best alternative for you. These are common, but don’t have the same possibilities for addictivion as other prescription drugs.
If you want to avoid the medical choices and select something more natural, you could look at an herbal remedy for your insomnia. There are herbs that have been shown to encourage a good night’s sleep, such as chamomile, which is often served up as tea.
Melatonin, valerian root and SAMe are also considered to be effective herbal insomnia treatments. Be sure you take the correct dosage, since too much of a good thing can sometimes lead to uninvited side effects.
The Cleansing Power of Burdock Root
September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If you have ever walked through an open field and ended up with socks or pant legs covered with burrs, you have already met burdock. Officially Arctium lappa, the root, seeds, and leaves of this pant are very medicinal! A native of Europe, Asia, and North America, the burdock root has a gummy consistency and tastes sweet while the leaves are bitter, similar to dandelion. Some liken the stalks to the taste of celery.
Some of burdocks secret ingredients include calcium, arcigen, essential oil, chlorogenic acid, inulin, flavonoids, mucilage,lactone, polyacetylenes, resin, potassium, tannin, and taraxosterol. It contains vitamins C and B3 (niacin), as well as significant amounts of chromium, magnesium, copper, and iron. The trace amounts of organic mercury in the root make it ideal for mercury detox formulas.
Not just the roots contain medicinal substances. In fact, historically, the seeds of the burdock plants were crushed to make an oil to relieve pain from arthritis, and for treating rheumatism, eczema, ulcers, acne, gout, and psoriasis. The burdock seeds contain healthful fatty acids. The oil from the seeds can be used to increase perspiration. This cleanses the body for influenza, liver disorders, or gallbladder, and to activate the kidneys. The leaves or leaf tea has been used in treating poison ivy or poison oak. Some just like to eat the leaves like lettuce and the root as a vegetable.
The most popular western use of burdock root and seeds is as a primary herb in blood purifier formulas. Just how this works is uncertain though it seems to be related to its diuretic properties. It has many nutrients like iron, inulin (a carbohydrate), and beneficial oils. Also, burdock root can be used as a gentle laxative and help rid the body of uric acid. Some active ingredients of burdock are polyacetylenes, that are known to be effective antibacterials and antifungals.
Traditionally, burdock root has been used as a remedy for measles, arthritis, tonsillitis, viruses like colds, throat pain, and as a diuretic. The Chinese used it as an aphrodisiac, and believe it to be effective in treating barrenness and impotence.
Treating dandruff and encouraging healthy hair growth are two more applications of this herb. A simple massage of the scalp with burdock root oil does wonders. Burdock contains arctigenin, a substance effective in slowing cancerous tumor growth, and Essiac and Hoxsey, both chemicals used in cancer treatment.
Burdock is available in teas, pills, ointments, or as Bur oil. It is very safe whether taken internally or externally, but be sure the burdock you have is pure. Because of its likeness in appearance to belladonna, a lethal plant, some have claimed burdock is not safe when it was really mixed with this look alike.
If you have abnormal blood sugar levels, use it cautiously. It may work too good. Should pregnant women use burdock? Some say no, because may cause uterine contractions. Others disagree. Because it is such a powerful cleanser, it is best when used in combination with other herbs. If you want to use it by itself, start with small amounts. Also, it may not work immediately as a blood cleaner. Give it three months to do its work.
Does Treadmill Walking for Weight Loss Really Work?
September 30, 2008 | Leave a Comment
If you think losing weight is complicated, it doesn’t have to be. Treadmill walking for weight loss is an easy way to help you burn calories and lose inches. Many overweight individuals find it hard to schedule time to get up and move.
After spending all day behind a desk, the thing people want to do as soon as they get home is just collapse on the sofa and watch TV because they are so worn out from work. I’m sure you will agree that this isn’t a very healthy lifestyle, but luckily there is a fantastic quick solution which can really help improve things.
If you don’t want to join a gym, you can invest in a treadmill that will easily fit anywhere in your home and provide you with the workout you need to lose weight. There’s no difficult equipment to learn how to use either. You just get on and walk!
The majority of us seem to do less and less exercise as we get older. Most people forget how mobile they used to be in their younger days, and it’s easy to fall into the habit of not exercising. But each of us knows how to walk, so there’s no need to worry about using a home treadmill properly, or wondering how many reps we should do as is the case with other types of equipment.
Aside from the treadmill itself, all you need is a little motivation to get yourself going. Weight loss can be intimidating for many people. Before you know it you’re counting calories, measuring food portions, and trying to figure out if you burned more calories than you ate!
Using your treadmill for exercise means you can forget about all of these things and just concentrate on losing weight. Studies have shown that even a short 10 minute walk each day can greatly improve your health.
Naturally, the more you walk the better your health will be. To start seeing great weight loss results, aim to achieve about 2000 steps per day, which should take you around 20 to 30 minutes - of course this depends on how fast you walk.
Walking provides many health benefits aside from losing weight. It helps prevent heart disease, lowers your blood pressure, and assists in controlling your diabetes. It will even help boost the clarity and concentration in your mind.
For those who use treadmill walking as their primary method of weight loss, a pedometer can be an excellent purchase as it allows you to easily monitor the number of steps you take each day, and it has been shown that people who monitor their progress usually become more active and get maximum results.
If you need to, start your treadmill walking routine slowly, and build up to a longer time, a faster pace, and a higher incline. All of these adjustments will contribute to your overall weight loss and better health.