Wednesday, August 29, 2012

American Ginseng in General and Benefits

American Ginseng or Panax Quinquefolius is an herb and its roots are used for medicinal purpose. It is also known as the Five-leafed Ginseng. It is being used since centuries in curing various ailments and the modern medical researchers have also found this root to be extremely beneficial to the human body in many ways. The peeled Ginseng root can be eaten fresh or in its dried form.
Now let us see some of the benefits of American Ginseng.
• Lowers Blood Sugar Levels: American Ginseng is extremely beneficially for those who are suffering from Type II Diabetes Miletus. Research showed that a person who consumed American Ginseng along with or before consuming a high-sugared drink saw less increases in his blood sugar levels when compared to those who only consumed the high sugar drink. American Ginseng is said to boost tolerance towards carbohydrates. In fact many of the American products advertise Ginseng and lists out its benefits on their labels.
• Benefits for Skin: Ginseng is said to rehydrate the skin and promote new cell growth. This is possible because of the increase in oxygen to the skin. It also increases the circulation of blood and detoxifies the blood as well. All this leads to a healthy and toxin free skin and therefore helps the person have a clear complexion and also look good.
• Helps in Weight Loss: When Ginseng is consumed; it reduces the amount of carbohydrates in the body to convert to fat. Hence, it keeps the weight in control.
• Helps boost immunity: Ginseng improves the functioning of the cell and boosts immunity. Research shows that people who consumed Ginseng contracted colds and fever much lesser than those who didn't. Immunity is boosted because of the increase in white blood cells count.
• Inhibits Cancerous Tumor Growth: American Ginseng has anti-cancer properties that can inhibit the growth of tumor and this fact is illustrated by many medical researches. Cancer risk was much lower in people who consumed it fresh rather than those who consumed it in the form of powder or some other form.
• Stress Relief: Regular consumption of ginseng reduces stress and fatigue and increases the energy levels of a person. It is also an effective remedy for those who are suffering from depression.
The benefits of American Ginseng are numerous but it is always advisable to consult the doctor before consuming it. They give you advice as to how much should be consumed per day. It is important to realize that when consuming Ginseng certain changes in the lifestyle should be made and this is a very important factor if you are consuming Ginseng for controlling your blood sugar levels or blood pressure levels.

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Alternative Treatments for Arthritis

Arthritis has gained quite a reputation over the years as a deadly disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Its spread has been so vast that the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared 2000 - 2010 as the decade of joint health as joints are pre dominantly affected in arthritis.
Millions of dollars are been spent on the research to find a cure for this disease. Conventional forms of treatment and alternative forms are been researched and debated world over. Clinical research is been done on a number of new drugs promising the magic cure.
New evidence from patients using both the conventional form of medicine and alternative forms has thrown new light on the treatment methodologies and side effects after prolonged use of the medicines.
Research has also helped in several medicines taken off the shelf as their use has been found to increase the side effects sometimes even leading to death. Vioxx was one of the most common and popular medicine prescribed for arthritis. Its prolonged use has been found to lead to heart attacks and internal bleeding.
As more knowledge is been gained about the causes, treatments and side effects involved in the treatment alternative or natural cure for arthritis has slowly but surely started gaining the upper hand over conventional medicine.
Causes of arthritis
  • Heredity has also been found to be a major reason for arthritis.

  • Hormonal imbalance, stress and anxiety and a sedentary lifestyle have all been cited as reasons for increase of arthritis incidence the world over.

  • Accumulation of toxins in the body is the main cause of rheumatoid arthritis. The toxins accumulate on the joints and cause swelling and pain.
Ayurveda, homeopathy and traditional Chinese medicines provide a natural cure for arthritis.
What are the various treatment options for arthritis?
  • Treatment of arthritis is a life long process and alternative medicines are a safe bet. Diet and overall lifestyle changes form part of the alternative treatments prescribed for arthritis.

  • Japanese fishermen seem to be less prone to arthritis and studies conducted on them found that high intake of fish were the primary reason for keep arthritis at bay.

  • Green lipped mussel found in New Zealand has also tremendous benefits and it has been found to be more effective than fish oil.
The traditional forms of treatment are not over the counter kind of treatment. They require expert guidance and a complete analysis of the patient's health, lifestyle and diet patterns.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Five Factors That Make Urticaria Treatment

There are some five factors that make urticaria treatment a rather challenging undertaking in most cases. Not a lot of people are aware that the seemingly dreadful name 'urticaria' actually refers to that condition we are all familiar with: the hives. Many people actually accept that it is a condition they can live with, naturally, after exhausting all avenues of treatment that are available to them.
One of the main things that make urticaria treatment such a daunting task is the fact that you can't really blame a specific pathogen or causative agent for it. Even medical professionals deem it to be one of those malfunctions in one's physiology that cannot be fully figured out. It would have been better if there is a specific pathogen identified because the treatment could start at getting rid of that pathogen. That is a huge challenge, but a manageable one. When it comes to dealing with a condition that has all the hallmarks of an autoimmune reaction, things get a bit tricky.
The next factor would be the fact that urticaria is a condition that has multiple triggers. Some people have their bouts with urticaria upon exposure to certain allergens. But it could also be triggered by causes other than allergies or allergy-related. Even a person with an urticaria has no idea what exactly triggers the condition. This difficulty in identification makes it harder to go about treating the condition because you don't know what you're looking for. You cannot really find any universal treatments for this condition. The key here would be to control those triggers, which is why it is important to first identify what they are exactly.
Third on the list of factors that prove urticaria treatments to be a challenge is how one person can be faced with more than one or two triggers for his urticaria condition. Thus, the fact that a trigger has been finally identified doesn't necessarily mean that the condition will be successfully managed. It could be that once you were able to manage one trigger, there would be another one to take its place. Throughout the whole process, it would look as though the person would remain to have a tendency for urticaria. A single person could experience a succession of urticaria triggers.
It could also be that the condition is not diagnosed properly or correctly. Thus, treating urticaria does not go as smoothly as we want. This is always a huge clinical challenge in the management of all conditions.
Lastly, after being subjected to repeated and prolonged treatments, the body could actually start to resist the treatments and cease to become effective, thereby making the urticaria difficult to be healed or cured. You may have a very effective management strategy in place for the identified triggers. However, after a while, these strategies may cease to be effective.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Benefits of an Emergency Dentist

Have you ever had a toothache over the weekend or in the late evening hours? If not, count yourself fortunate. You don't often hear about it, but this scenario does happen frequently. If it should happen to you, you'd better have an emergency dentist's contact information handy in your phone contacts.
Finding such a practitioner isn't difficult. Here are a few things to look for when making your choice.
1. Availability. If your regular practitioner doesn't have emergency hours, explain you're only seeking to add his or her name to your contacts on an emergency basis.
2. Location. Since most traumas and accidents happen closest to home, it's important that the establishment you choose is not far away.
3. Experience. Be sure to check how many years they've been practicing dental care and what sort of treatments they've performed.
4. Credentials. Always check to see if they have a license to practice dental care. You certainly don't want someone who will do you more harm than good.
You may be wondering how you'll go about locating the right practitioner. There are a number of places you can look. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities; your friends, family, coworkers, or neighbors and even a quick Internet search will all give many names to choose from. Their website will also allow you to see some testimonies from their clients.
Set up an appointment just to meet him or her and to ask as many questions as you can think of. Explain you probably won't be a regular client, but you do need to find an emergency dentist who can meet your needs.
Another crucial step you can do is to purchase a dental kit at a drug store. It will be filled with antiseptic, mouthwash, and antibiotics and will help to relieve your pain while you're on your way to the practitioner.
The one huge bonus of finding the right urgent care doctor is reliability. This means you can call them any time of the day or night, and they will be ready, willing and able to help you.
Another very important thing to consider is what they charge. Ask upfront so you won't add that pain to your misery.
Know, too, your regular practitioner may also have a plan in place to take care of urgent care visits. Always ask if this is something he or she provides. It's always nice to stay with the same person who already knows your case history and medical needs. But if you've procrastinated in finding one ahead of time to add to your contacts, don't panic. You can always check your local telephone directory and start dialing. And, if you're fortunate enough to have insurance to cover this type of care, most insurance plans have provisions for urgent or after-hour care. Check your plan to be sure.