“But then, your Grandma would give me a big spoonful of honey afterwards to make the bad taste go away,” my mom would always add, “and I looked forward to the honey every day.” So, after begrudgingly complying with the inevitable and swallowing my medicine, Mama would produce for me a cinnamon candy to banish the aftertaste.

Nowadays, the practice of forcing noxious cod liver oil on children has come and gone, thank goodness! A parent may still require a child to take it along with other vitamins, but cod liver oil is now processed in capsule form; tasteless gelatin globs that may be easily swallowed with no lingering aftertaste.

I always believed the honey lure was just to get a child to agree to ingesting the thick, smelly fish oil. But after a conversation with a friend a few years back, I now know that the honey was also being utilized as a folk medicine.

And a fine one at that.

I’ve been plagued with pollen allergies since I was a small child. Not terrible ones, not the kind that require prescription antihistamines, but enough to be annoyed by sneezing and a woefully stuffy head as everything begins to bloom. As I became older in years, the allergies matured right along with me becoming a bit more pronounced as each year passed. As I neared my forties, I noticed that a good part of my Springs and Summers were spent sneezing while equally aggravated by post-nasal drip. Consigned to taking Sudafed by the boxfuls, I faithfully self-medicated. But a few years ago, I stopped all together taking chemical medicines for my allergies.

Because I rediscovered the real reason for a spoonful of honey a day.

My abovementioned friend clued me in to a very interesting practice: in order to fortify one’s body against pollen allergies, simply eat a spoonful of honey each day. Not store-bought honey; the honey must come from within a fifty mile radius of your home. Beginning to get the picture? Just like getting a flu shot helps to control the effects of a flu virus, eating honey from your area helps to fortify your own body against the effects of the pollen in your area. The bees in your locale collect the very pollen that goes into making local honey. In a beautiful partnership with nature, your body profits from that natural cycle.

I scoffed at first but the procedure made sense. So I located some local honey, began my regimen in the late Autumn of a spoonful of honey a day, and -come Spring- my allergies were almost non-existent.

I was amazed.

I remain amazed!

If you suffer from pollen allergies, try this simple and proven method. Granted, it has not cured my allergies completely -I still find that I sneeze on a few days when the pollen count is extremely high- but this simple system has me barely even noticing what used to plague me seasonally. It certainly works for me and everyone with which I’ve shared this plan.

And, believe me; success does taste sweet!

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland right below the bladder. Its main job is to release an alkaline liquid called the seminal fluid. The fluid consists mostly of sugars (fructose) and enables the spermatozoids (baby sperm) to function properly.

An enlarged prostate is actually caused by hyperplasia. It doesn’t mean swelling, just an increase in the number of cells. BPH symptoms can be prevented and its progress stopped with the proper diet and regular checkups. The process leading to an enlarged prostate gland starts with low blood levels of testosterone. Prostate cells depend on testosterone to work properly so they release an enzyme (5-alpha-reductase) to transform what’s left of the testosterone into a hormone 10 times stronger called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

But the guy with low-testosterone is ill-adapted to the DHT hormone, which stimulates the growth of new prostate cells and new hormone receptors. DHT is so potent that at a certain point, it becomes toxic. The prostate cells try to get rid of it by secreting anotherenzyme (aromatase) that transforms both DHT and testosterone into estrogens. Estrogens add to the BHP problem by reducing the free testosterone in the blood, creating a vicious cycle.

Benign in medical terms means not cancerous. So BPH and cancer are two different conditions. A guy can hve prostate cancer and not BPH. The best way to kjnw whether you have one of these is to see your doctor at least once a year for a check-up.

Two basic tests can be done for you. The first and most dreaded one is the rectal exam.

It’s not comfortable but is not normally painful. This test distinguishes between a normal prostate, BPH, cancer and prostatitis. In BPH, the prostate is not tender or painful and doesn’t have any bumps. If the prostate is painful, you probably have prostatitis, an easily treated infection. If there are bumps, it may be cancerous and needs to be investigated further.

The second test is called prostate-specific antigen (PSA). It’s a blood test that looks for a marker or sign that indicates the presence of cancerous cells. The test isn’t very specific because PSA can be high in other conditions such as prostatitis. A sudden increase is considered serious and you’ll likely be referred to a specialist.

So what can eating right do for you?
Three nutrients are known to benefit the prostate: zinc, vitamin B6 and magnesium. Zinc and vitamin B6 are needed for proper hormone metabolism and zinc reduces the formation of DHT. Magnesium relaxes the sphincter of the urethra. This is useful because in BPH, this sphincter tends to contract, increasing urinal symptoms.

Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes, has 60 times the antioxidant power of betacarotene or Vitamin A, and can reduce tumor size and significantly reduce the risk of cancer. Natural lycopene is also found in pink grapefruits, and has greater effectiveness than synthetic lycopene.

Eating well is important when you’re being treated for cancer-or even if you’re just trying to reduce your risk. If you have cancer, some foods may upset your stomach. Choose foods that appeal to you and don’t cause such upsets. Also, eat smaller, more frequent meals so you’ll get a steady supply of energy.Try to avoid fatty meats, whole dairy products, and other foods with a lot of fat. Your diet should include a variety of foods with low fat, for example, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. These are high in fiber and vitamins wich helps eliminate toxins out of the body. Some studies also suggest that eating lots of very well-done meat (steak, bacon and hamburgers) can increase your risk for cancer, so you should try to eat less of these foods.

Snacking on pumpkin seeds and stinging nettle tea decrease the enzyme that creates dihydrotestosterone (the 5-alpha reductase). They also reduce inflammation and may dislodge the DHT from its cellular receptors which stops its effect on cell growth in the prostate area. Tea from the African plum tree is also recommended to inhibit the second enzyme called aromatase and almost completely squash the 5-alpha reductase.

Other foods, such as soy and flaxseed oil are also useful. Soy reduces the impact of the hormones in the vicious prostate cycle, and flax seeds are known for their effect on hormonal-dependent cancers because they contain lignans that block the hormones. Selenium, a mineral, is also recognized for its effect on cancer.

Tendinitis is the inflammation of a tendon, usually due to injury. Tendons are fibers which attach muscle to bone and lie in a sheath for easy and smooth manoeuvering. Well known as tennis elbow, tendonitis can affect any tendons of any joint. The shoulder and the Achilles tendon at the heel are at high risk for tendon injuries.

An inflamed tendon becomes painful with use and tender to touch. The pain can range from mild to severe, depending on the extend of the injury. Although swelling is minimal, range of motion is often limited, since an inflamed tendon often affects nearby structures, including the sheath guiding the tendon.

Unfortunately, tendons heal slowly. This is especially true for tendonitis that develops as a result of a repetitive injury where it can take months to completely heal. When tendonitis recurs or lasts, it creates susceptibility for calcium deposits to form. This results in bone spurs which are most common in the Achilles tendon.

Overstretching or partially tearing tendon fibers form overuse and unaccustomed motion causes continual pain until the condition becomes serious. Injuries are more likely if the muscle and joints have not been warmed up before strenuous exercise. Other sources of tendonitis are internal inflammatory conditions in the joints such as rheumatoid arthritis, gout or Reiter’s syndrome.

A diet including whole grains, nuts an seeds, vegetables and raw fruits which is rich in  nutrients and vitamins. Yellow vegetables and fruits such as carrots and cantaloupe are good sources of vitamin A. Fish, sweet potatoes, bananas, avocados, squash and beans contain Vitamin E are also important.

These nutrients and bioflavonoids repair connective tissue and reduce inflammation. Whole grains (whole wheat bread, barley, oats, couscous, quinoa, millet) and various seed and nut oils, such as evening primrose oil, olive oil, canola oil and almond oil for the anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.

If the inflammation is acute and painful, the enzyme bromelian found in delicious pineapple is a great snack between meals because it is a strong anti-inflammatory, reducing swelling and pain.

Vitamin B12 will help to improve muscular function, so legumes, tofu, dark leafy green vegetables, cruciferous veggies like broccoli and cauliflower, fish and eggs should also be consumed.

Try to lower the amount of red meat and eggs eaten during the time of recovery since these are acidic, and promote inflammation even though are high in iron. Their high calcium content also increases the risk of spur formation, so consume vitamin C with your other veggies instead of the more-easily absorbed calcium from meat and dairy products.

You should not take this medication if you have epilepsy or other seizure disorders or an eating disorder such as bulimia and anorexia. When taking the medication, it may be necessary for the dose to be adjusted or special tests to be performed to ensure your safety. That is to say that you should check with your physician prior to purchasing the medication. Let your doctor know about any prescription or over-the-counter medications that you are taking before you take this medication. The medication is known to produce successful and effective results, but it could also cause mild to moderate side effects. Mild side effects include headache, joint pain, back pain, and upset stomach. These usually last for a short time and go away on their own.

If you experience moderate side effects like breathing difficulties or if common side effects persist for some time, you should stop taking the medication and speak with your physician as soon as you can. Due to the increasing popularity and successful results of the medication, it is now available for purchase online as well. It is simple to purchase Wellbutrin by placing an online order. All you have to do is complete an order form online. It is interesting to note that online pharmacies offer medications at reasonable prices and provide detailed information regarding the medication that you are purchasing. Online stores strive to make the online ordering process as easy and as smooth as possible so they offer flexible payment methods.
DrugsBoat.com is the best online site for purchasing Wellbutrin at the lowest cost.

Do not conclude that no one needs to be concerned over drug-drug interactions. Certain very specific combinations present real and drastic hazards. For example, a few years ago a young woman died because, while taking an antidepressant of a type called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, she was given an injection of a common analgesic for severe pain, Demerol. This took place in a hospital, according to the orders of a physician. This particular lethal interaction had been established many years before, with many published case reports for documentation.

However, such dread interactions are relatively few; it is hoped, or at least wishfully thought, that most doctors do retain an awareness of them.

As a final example, consider interactions with alcohol. Many, many prescription medications carry warnings against use with alcohol, often prominently labeled on the pill bottle. This is especially true for psychiatric medications, most of which have at least the potential for causing sedation. Warnings against combining them with alcohol stem from a commonsense concern over additive sedative effects.

Often, patients who drink to a modest extent have worried about this. Few who drink a lot would worry; unless they decided to just throw the medication away without using it, they would be compelled to continue drinking. A warning on a pill bottle will not cure alcoholism. When patients do worry enough to ask, I have explained, to their surprise and relief, that this warning does not mean that there exists a potential interaction such that, taking even a glass of wine while on this medication, would mean they might just drop dead!

If you are waiting for me to reach a single-sentence conclusion about all this, give up waiting. Neither I nor any other doctor will reassure you that you can take St. John’s Wort with other medications. This excess of caution stems not so much from concern for the safety of the patient as from concern for the (financial) safety of the doctor giving such unconventional advice.

Do you recall how I began this dry article by promising you a hair-raising story? Here it is.

Not so many years ago, I admitted to hospital an elderly man coming from a nursing home.

I noticed he seemed to be on quite a lot of medications. I counted them. There were 25, to be exact. In some cases, the medications being co-prescribed represented variants of the same agent. For example, the physician had prescribed this patient no less than four different benzodiazepines, sedative drugs which are prone to cause confusion and falls in the elderly.

My Chief asked me to write up this case for him. He passed it on the state Board of Medicine.

Months later, I learned that the physician responsible for this extraordinary “polypharmacy” had his license to practice suspended.

Such a situation did not really surprise me. Everyone knows that physicians supposedly taking care of patients at nursing homes visit them infrequently and briefly. When called by the nursing staff after hours, most such physicians have no intention of driving to the nursing home to examine the patient and figure out the problem and treatment, which could take hours. It is much, much easier to prescribe a new medication over the phone. Sedative medications are especially helpful for “quieting” patients and calming staff. If the nurse replies the patient is already getting a certain sedative, it is easy to think of a similar sedative to add, one with a different name.

Is it any wonder that “na?ve” consumers search for “Alternative[s to conventional] Medicine? Perhaps they are less na?ve than physicians would like them to be!

Drug-drug interactions occur with virtually any drug you can name. By “drugs,” I include over-the-counter as well as prescription medications. There are so many drugs, and so many combinations of drugs, that no complete account of possible interactions exists or may ever exist, given the steady output of new drugs by pharmaceutical companies.

Anybody familiar with the statistics of combinations will realize how rapidly the number of possible combinations multiplies as the number of possible elements in those combinations increase. But think a little further: not only may any two drugs taken together yield effects that you wouldn’t expect from those of either drug alone, but the same point holds true even more when three drugs are used together, and likewise four, and …

I hope I’ve made my point: the number of possibly significant interactive combinations is astronomical, to the extent that no one can do controlled studies to test all of them for safety.

So, what kind of testing for dangerous interactions do pharmaceutical companies have to do to pass the strict criteria of our public guardians at the Food and Drug Administration?

Virtually none.

In fact, most drug study protocols specifically exclude use of other drugs while the subject/patient takes the drug under study. Often they also require some weeks of time (”wash-out”) from whatever the subject was taking before the study. Usually they allow, and may even record, use of everyday remedies like aspirin or Tylenol while patients are on the study. However, never do they actually look for interactions of even these common agents with the study drug. As for interactions with “vitamins” (often used in a vague way to refer to everything outside of the mainstream medical curriculum, including herbal remedies), even if subjects had the courage to report taking such “quack” remedies to a regular doctor, the researcher would probably not know what they were talking about, nor would the protocol have provision for identifying these “other” medicaments.

Well, you might ask, isn’t it unlikely that common, over-the-counter drugs will have any serious interactions with other drugs. Isn’t that why the FDA allows them to be sold without a prescription, because they are so safe?

I hope that those of you with young children know better. Aspirin overdose, especially when the aspirin is flavored to taste good, has killed many. But do you realize that Tylenol overdose has extraordinary liver toxicity, and Tylenol even without overdose can have similar catastrophic effects in combination with alcohol? Psychiatrists often have to deal with the aftermath of Tylenol overdoses, people who fail to kill themselves, but put themselves into such a grave medical condition that they face a much slower and more agonizing death in the hospital.

There are two exceptions to the usual failure to consider drug combinations in conventional research on new drugs. One is with drugs to be used for conditions in which they will almost invariably have to be used along with some other drug; for example, a drug used to treat diabetics must be examined for the possibility of an interaction with insulin. The other is when a combination is being studied for possibly greater therapeutic effect, such as the addition of lithium to an antidepressant for people with antidepressant-resistant depressions.

How then do we learn about drug-drug interactions? The same way we learn about extremely infrequent or delayed but dangerous side effects of a single drug, after the fact, when enough catastrophes happening to enough people to draw medical and governmental attention.

Does our medical ignorance about the myriad of drug-drug interactions sound terrifying? If it was that bad, doctors, who risk lawsuit over severe adverse drug effects, no doctor would dare prescribe a medication to anyone who is taking, was recently taking, or might in the future take, some other prescription or over-the-counter medication or even “vitamin.”

Normally, as bone is lost it is replaced by new bone growth. When you are young, the amount of bone formed is greater than the amount of bone lost. The rate of bone growth changes with age, and by menopause your body is less able to stay ahead of the rate of bone loss. During childhood, bones grow quickly and reach their full length during the teenage years. Bones become thick and strong reaching their peak mass between 25 and 35 years of age. The hormone estrogen is the predominant factor, which stimulates bone growth in women. From 35 years to menopause, bone mass slowly declines as the supply of estrogen declines.

Some women are more prone to developing this disease. Hereditary factors play a role in the development of osteoporosis. If you have a family history of osteoporosis, your risk is greater. It is more common in women of Caucasian or Asian descent, especially those with a thin or petite body frame. Unfortunately, you cannot change your body’s estrogen loss or your genetic history, but there are things you can do to help keep your bones stay strong.

The lifestyle habits you practice early in life can make all the difference. To help prevent osteoporosis, as teens and young adults it is important to maximize your peak bone mass by getting enough calcium, vitamin D and exercise. The phrase, “you are what you eat,” was never more true. Your body needs calcium to keep bones strong. Calcium is a vital component of the bone structure and it is essential for adequate bone development. Vitamin D is important to maintain adequate calcium absorption from the GI tract.

The best source of calcium is food. Dairy products offer the richest source of calcium and adequate dairy consumption is extremely important during childhood and adolescence. Other calcium-rich foods include green vegetables, such as broccoli, collard greens and kale. Canned salmon (with bones), tofu and dried beans also provide a rich supply of calcium to your diet. In addition, some foods like orange juice are fortified with extra calcium.

If you are not able to ingest calcium-rich foods, taking a calcium supplement may compensate for any deficiencies of intake. Teens and young adults between the ages of 11 and 24 have the period of most rapid bone growth and require approximately 1,200 to 1,500 mg. of calcium per day. From 25 years of age to menopause, the body requires 800 to 1,000 mg. of calcium per day. After menopause, calcium requirements are individualized depending on the use of estrogen replacement therapy. Most women in this age group will require between 1,200 and 1,500 mg. of calcium per day. Consult your physician for your specific calcium needs.

As previously mentioned, Vitamin D is also important for adequate calcium absorption. Most women should be getting between 400 to 800 international units of Vitamin D per day. Like calcium, Vitamin D can also be obtained from foods like milk and oilier fish, such as mackerel, salmon and herring. Your body uses sunlight to produce its own Vitamin D. A little sun exposure goes a long way. Sun bathing is not necessary.

Vitamin D supplements are also available. Many products combine Vitamin D with calcium. Compare products or ask your doctor for suggestions.

The mineral boron may also help to prevent calcium loss. Including foods like apples, pears, grapes, nuts and green leafy vegetables in your diet will supply an adequate amount of boron. Boron supplements may be excessive or toxic, so they should be avoided.

Certain substances can contribute to the risk of developing osteoporosis by interfering with calcium absorption. Protein, salt, caffeine and alcohol, in particular, are known as, “calcium robbers,” and large amounts should be avoided. They accelerate the rate of calcium loss when consumed in large amounts. Smoking should also be avoided because it can negatively interfere with estrogen levels.

Increasing your level of weight-bearing exercise can help prevent osteoporosis. Women with an inactive or sedentary lifestyle show an increased risk of developing weak bones. Recent studies have shown that strength-training exercises help to increase bone mass. Weak muscles promote weak bones, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. More than cosmetically appealing, muscle building and shaping are also good medicine.

The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. Bone loss is something that all women should be concerned about; it doesn’t matter what age you are. The foods you eat and your level of physical activity today can affect your health later in life. By making the correct choices now you can help ensure a better quality of life for tomorrow.

Wishing you good health!

Blood pressure is usually measured on the upper arm on the inside of the elbow.  A major artery, the brachial, runs through the hollow of the elbow.  The brachial artery takes oxygen rich blood away from the heart to muscles and cells.  A blood pressure cuff, called a sphygmomanometer, is inflated on the upper arm and a stethoscope placed over the brachial artery.

The stethoscope enables your physician to calculate two important figures:  the systolic and diastolic.  Systolic pressure is gauged when the heart beats and puts forth the highest pressure on the artery walls.  Diastolic pressure is determined while the heart rests and fills with blood between beats and the lowest strain on the arteries is present.  For example, a normal reading is 120/80.  The number on top is the systolic and the number on the bottom is the diastolic.  Both these figures are critical to an accurate assessment of blood pressure.

Blood pressure fluctuates daily and is dependent on the type of activities you are engaged in.  Blood pressure will be lower when you are sitting and higher if you are physically active.  Moods can also affect blood pressure.  Nervousness and excitement will elevate blood pressure.  Several readings over a period are necessary to correctly calculate your blood pressure.

High blood pressure is also referred to as “hypertension”.  Consistent readings in excess of 140/90 are considered hypertension.  High blood pressure can remain undetected for years without symptoms but, meanwhile, cause organ damage.  Low blood pressure is known as “hypotension”.  Low blood pressure readings are often between 110/60 and 90/50.  Low blood pressure differs from high blood pressure in that low blood pressure symptoms develop to signal the condition.

An estimated 33 percent of adults up to 65 years of age in the United States have hypertension, with about 66 percent of those over 65 years afflicted.  Of these, only one-third receive medical treatment to control the level of their blood pressure.

Your heart beats every second of your life.  If you have hypertension or hypotension, you are at risk from potentially lethal complications.  It is vital your blood pressure is monitored on a regular basis.  While automated blood pressure machines in pharmacies are not completely reliable, they do serve the purpose of alerting you of the need to seek your doctor’s advice.

Prescription drugs without prescription to control the level of yourr blood pressure.

If you want to understand, read this… Today, antibiotics are the drugs that doctors prescribe most frequently. These medicines are ordered so that they can cure an infection. The antibiotic will work to attack or kill the bacteria causing your infection.

Researchers were surprised to discover the first antibiotic, which they observed as a result of mold growth.

Antibiotics are effective against bacterial infections only and are of no use in combating viruses.

Many different classes of antibiotics exists, so I will describe a few of them in this article. Don’t forget, though, that this list is not a comprehensive one. One class of antibiotics is known as the penicillin class, which includes amoxicillin. The cephalosporin class includes cephalexin, and the last class is the macrolide class, which contains drugs such as erythromycin.

The majority of antibiotics have two different names, and the brand name is chosen by the drug manufacturing company. The drug also has a generic name, which is the name that is based on its component chemicals and drug classification.

All antibiotics do not work against all illnesses. Sometimes a physician may order an antibiotic for you that wasn’t intended to cure your illness. That antibiotic will not cure you. The antibiotic prescription must be able to treat your illness in order to be effective.

Sometimes, you will be ordered to take an antibiotic for ten days, but you start feeling better after perhaps only four days. Be sure that you take the antibiotic until it is finished so that the infection will be completely healed.

The risk of taking antibiotics too often is that you have an increased chance for developing antibiotic resistance, so someday you may develop a serious infection and an antibiotic won’t be able to fight it.

You may have an allergy to a certain antibiotics, such as penicillin, for example. When you need an antibiotic again, your physician will be sure not to order an antibiotic from that drug class.

My hope for all of you reading this is that you make it through both the fall and winter without needing antibiotics. It is nearly autumn, however, so be aware of these facts in the event that you do become ill.

A couple of major forms of treating depression exist. The first is psychotherapy, which employs psychological tactics to get to the bottom of the problems and alter ailing emotions, behaviors and relationships. Biomedical therapy, rather than psychotherapy, usually of the antidepressants class, has turned into the most sought after treatment for depression. Newer medications include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft, as well as drugs that target different or combined neurotransmitters, such as Wellbutrin and Effexor.

Society has made these drugs into the butt of a lot of jokes. Although many believe that a person who takes antidepressants will be transformed from a severely depressed person into one who is self-assured, extroverted and productive, in reality their role is to help relieve symptoms of depression thereby allowing the person to begin functioning normally again.

Like some drugs taken to cure sickness, antidepressants cause headaches, bad nerves, sleeping difficulties, appetite loss, and sexual troubles. The fact that these antidepressants work well has made them tremendously popular, even with their side effects. Across the globe, there are twenty million Prozac users, with five million of them Americans. The Journal of the American Medical Association recently became aware of a study that involved 159 outpatients and that demonstrated that using Zoloft long-term prevents severe, chronic depression from recurring.

The diminishment of psychotherapy, a long proven productive method of treating depression, was also raised as a matter of alarm. After studying 700 patients suffering from major depression, it was found that treatment plans that use a combination of drug therapy and psychotherapy produce the best results.

When used as prescribed, and along with psychotherapy, antidepressants are useful as a remedy for depression. While serious side effects exist, the benefits are more substantial than the negatives.