Natural Health Remedies

Gastresophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a syndrome due to structural or functional incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter, which permits retrograde flow of acidic gastric juice into the esophagus. The underlying abnormality in GERD is apparently inborn and irreversible and the incidence increases with age. In addition to reflux, most cases involve disordered gastric motility and prolonged gastric emptying time. Symptoms include recurring epigastric (area below the breastbone) and retrosternal (behind the sternum) distress, usually described as heartburn, along with varying degrees of belching, nausea, gagging, cough, or hoarseness. GERD is more common in men.

There are certain lifestyle factors that aggravate GERD. Most of these factors affect certain characteristics of the esophagus or the stomach. These factors may either reduce the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure, directly irritate the esophageal mucosa, increase the intraabdominal pressure, promote reflux due to factors related to gravity, or affect the gastrointestinal tract in some mechanism that depends on a lot of factors and varies greatly from individual to individual. The latter, of course, pertains to emotional disturbances.

The LES is the musculature of the junction between the stomach and the esophagus which is tonically active except during swallowing and is responsible for preventing the reflux of food in the stomach towards the esophagus. Certain foods that lower the LES pressure include fats, sugar, chocolate, onions and coffee. Eating large meals also promote reflux. Smoking and alcoholism, the culprits of a wide array of diseases, also reduce the LES pressure. Medications that could lower the LES pressure include theophylline, anticholinergics, diazepam, nitrates, calcium channel blockers and even progesterone — a naturally occurring hormone that can be synthesized artificially for use as a contraceptive.

The esophageal mucosa is a mucus-secreting membrane lining the inner surface of the esophagus. Its mucous secretion helps lubricate the food just swallowed and hence allow easy and quick passage of food towards the stomach. Foods that directly irritate this layer include citrus products, tomato-based products, spicy foods, tea, cola drinks and (again) coffee. Aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tetracycline, quinidine, aldreonates, potassium tablets and iron salts are the medications that may directly irritate the esophageal mucosa.

Intraabdominal pressure, in a layman’s parlance, is the pressure within the belly. When this is increased as when you bend over, lift some weight, strain at your stool and even when you exercise, your GERD symptoms may occur or may even be exacerbated.

When you lie supine (lie face upward) or lie on the right side, gravity tends to pull your gastric contents downward, promoting reflux.

In addition, the likelihood of symptomatic reflux may be increased by obesity, pregnancy, diabetes mellitus, scleroderma, and other connective tissue diseases.

Acid reflux can cause peptic esophagitis, ulcer formation, or esophageal stricture. Metaplastic changes in esophageal squamous epithelium, called Barrett’s esophagus, can progress to carcinoma. So you better read this article again and do what you have to do. What? You don’t think GERD can be fatal? Think again. If you still don’t believe it, just let others read this and you may become a hero — after you die of course.

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Tea has been a favorite drink of mine for years. Long before the media discovered the many nutritional, cleansing, stress-relieving, energy-boosting and medicinal benefits, there were many folks who just enjoyed tea, whether it was hot or iced and whether it was made from loose tea versus a tea bag. Making tea is not rocket science. It’s easy to accomplish, but it requires attention to detail. Keeping in mind, the amount of tea you would like to make, bring cold water (preferably fresh, spring water or filtered water) to a boil. Note: great tea is made with great water! Pour boiled water over fresh, loose tea leaves or a tea bag and let the liquid steep with the tea. Check package directions for water to tea ratios as well as steeping time recommended. Often an iced tea recipe will call for fresh fruit that has been crushed and sweetened. After the tea is steeped, then it’s poured over the fruit (while in a strainer), then cooled with ice and enjoyed! The variety of ways tea (hot or cold) can be enjoyed are limitless.

My friend, Gena, hosts a “Tea” once a quarter and it’s an awesome, relaxing event – for women. Each woman feels like she’s had an afternoon of pampering when she leaves. Gena has a beautiful room in the back of her home dedicated to a vast collection of tea pots and tea cups, linen napkins and tablecloths, silverware, crystal bowls for sugar and cream, and china pieces (everything one would need for a Tea). A “theme” for the Tea is carefully chosen which dictates the decorations for each table and the favors each lady will leave with. The menu usually consists of a miniature sandwiches, various hors d’oeuvres, fruit kabobs, scones with clotted cream, jam or lemon curd and, of course, several mini desserts. This is a highly organized event with a hostess for each of the six tables that will seat from six to eight ladies. Each hostess brings a dish that will feed 36-48 from the above menu and she is encouraged to bring two guests. In addition to the table hostesses, two other ladies volunteer to “meet and greet” guests when they arrive, three additional ladies “plate” the food tastefully, while two extra volunteers carry the plated food to the stations set up near each guest table. This “behind the scene” work is all done before the guests are seated in the “tea room.”

As each guest arrives at the Tea, they are escorted to a table where they pick up their beautifully decorated name tag and sign in for the door prizes to be given out during the Tea. After signing in, the guest might add her name and email address to the mailing list for the notice of the next Tea. This is also on the sign-in table. The guests are then pointed to the kitchen area where tall, crystal glasses of beautifully flavored iced tea are being served with a garnish of fresh fruit. Usually the flavor goes along with the theme of the Tea. Ladies are encouraged to mingle/visit with each other for a few minutes before being seated in the Tea Room.

Elaborating on the themes of a Tea can be quite exhaustive, in that, themes can be about anything from butterflies to starfish to sunflowers. Gena usually has a spiritual topic for interactive discussion – but any topic would work. She will have prepared a story, which she encourages the hostesses to help with. For example, each table hostess may assume a different character, acting and portraying a specific role in the story. After the story is completed, then the guests will be asked to read a previously prepared question, taken from a small crystal glass. Other guests are then free to answer the question briefly. The discussions are spontaneous, fun and lively, after which the names for door prizes are drawn. Door prizes may be donated from different ladies within the group or purchased.

Preparing the Tea for this event is relatively easy compared to the rest of the preparations. Hot tea is served while the guests are seated at their tables. Gena has a large coffee pot (used ONLY for hot water) to keep water hot. In addition, she has an instant hot water dispenser that serves the event very well. The tea leaves are purchased in bulk; then measured out in bags to accommodate each tea pot. The water is poured over the tea bags and allowed to steep. The tea bag is removed and the tea pot is placed on a little candle-lit warmer at each table. As the tea pots run low, they are replaced with a fresh pot of tea. A caffeine-free tea is usually served with dessert, which occurs after the story, discussion and door prizes have been accomplished. From there, ladies tend to linger over a little more tea and further conversation. Memories are created and friendships are extended or deepened…and you eventually leave knowing that you’re someone special.

Perhaps you could have a Tea – whether it’s for two or for forty. Go ahead, order some great tea, invite a few girls over and just enjoy the afternoon!

Glo Johnsen owns the Herbal Tea Garded webstore specializing is herbal teas, tea sets, loose tea and teas from around the world. Visit http://www.HerbalTeaGarden.com to find the tea of your choice.

People have many different ways of dealing with pain. The process of handling and fighting pain is called pain management. Pain is categorized into two types-acute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain is a short-term type of pain like a fever, headache, migraine, stomach pain and the like. Chronic pain, on the other hand involves long-term pains like the ones experienced with illnesses such as cancer.

When it comes to pain management, people with low pain tolerance have a tendency to resort to medicine at the first sign of pain. Some people have a high pain tolerance, put up with the pain, and manage to go on with their planned activities as much as possible. Other pain management options are meditation, rest and in some cases even hospitalization if the pain is very severe. Among these pain management options, there is the old practice that is also used today called hypnosis.

Although some people wonder if hypnosis is truly effective, there are doctors all over the world who use this process for their patients’ pain management. Hypnosis has been found to help patients, which makes it a great approach to pain management that people can highly benefit from.

Some think that hypnosis is for commercial and entertainment use alone and they regard this practice with doubt because of how it is has been portrayed on television. It is important to know that although hypnotism is done mainly by using psychoanalysis, and it is based on solid medical science too.

Hypnosis has been practiced since the 1950s and there are recorded studies that prove the various healing effects of hypnosis for women with eating disorders, athletes with anxiety problems, smokers who thought they could not quit, and people undergoing surgery.

How Does Hypnosis Help People in Pain?

When a person is under hypnosis, he is in a world of complete concentration where the world of his subconscious state of mind is in full use. The conscious state of mind is temporarily overlooked. It is in this condition that the patient’s mind is at its best for understanding and accepting new ideas.

When a person is under hypnosis, he is in a world of complete concentration where the world of his subconscious state of mind is in full use. The conscious state of mind is temporarily overlooked. It is in this condition that the patient’s mind is at its best for understanding and accepting new ideas.

It is in this state where a hypnosis practitioner will suggest and incorporate healing ideas and concepts into the mind of the patient. The ideas suggested to an individual’s mind must be positive, such as “I will get better” or “I will conquer this pain.” When the patient comes back from his subconscious state to his conscious state of mind, the implied ideas will help the patient through the healing process smoothly.

Truly, the great thing about hypnosis is that you have nothing to lose if you try it, and when you experience the healing effects and overcome your pains, you will be happy you gave it a shot.

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Many people, both men and women, experience varying degrees of hair loss. Hair loss can cause extreme embarrassment and even lead to low self esteem. Because hair loss is common there are many natural hair loss treatments to help a person fight hair loss.

Male pattern baldness causes a man to lose all of his hair in a relatively short amount of time. It can take place at any age and is in most cases due to heredity. Female pattern baldness does not cause total loss of hair. A women with female pattern baldness experiences hair thinning from all over the head except the front.

Hair loss is mainly caused by poor nutrition and also folic acid deficiency. Other factors that can cause loss of hair are age, genetics, changes in hormones, stress, excessive dandruff, and even decreased blood flow to the scalp.

One way to naturally treat hair loss is through a healthy and nutritious diet. Foods that you consume impact your entire body including your hair. Foods that contain high levels of protein, low carbs, and reduced fat are important for a healthy diet. Essential fatty acids not only are important for good nutrition but also for healthy hair. Walnuts, soy, fish, and canola oil are sources of essential fatty acids.

Women that experience hair loss may be suffering from a deficiency of vitamin B12. This is a nutrient that hair needs in order prevent damage and hair loss. It is important to include foods that contain vitamin B12 such as poultry, eggs, and lean meats in your diet.

Another natural hair loss treatment is to take a biotin supplement. Biotin plays a major role in the manufacturing of hair. Biotin is vital to new hair growth and also healthy skin and nails. Biotin is present in certain foods that we consume but we would have to consume more calories than the daily recommended intake.

Saw palmetto has shown promising results in helping to treat hair loss naturally. Saw palmetto has been shown to have an impact on enlarged prostates in clinical trials. An enlarged prostate is thought to increase the exact same hormones that are related to loss of hair.

Although saw palmetto may be promising in helping to naturally treat hair loss women should be cautious when using this herb. Saw palmetto halts or reduces androgen activity in the follicle of the hair. Women taking any type of female hormones such as birth control pills or HRT should consult a doctor before using saw palmetto.

As stated above, dandruff can lead to loss of hair. Jojoba oil is a natural way to help treat dandruff and also to help fight against hair loss. Jojoba oil has been used for centuries by Native Americans and Mexicans in controlling dandruff and promoting growth of hair.

Jojoba oil mimics sebum in the scalp and is easily absorbed. It helps to get rid of sebum that clogs the follicles of the hair and provides many essential vitamins such as B and E as well as minerals such as zinc and copper. Jojoba oil can be used by most anyone as a natural hair loss treatment because it is hypoallergenic and is a great scalp moisturizer.

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