What's With Hepatitis B?

There is no other way to explain all the hype Hepatitis B has been generating from all over the globe. The figures attached to it are too overwhelming to not be given much notice. Hepatitis B's prominence in the world's health care concerns is too big to miss. With about 350 million people worldwide infected and about one third of world's population being exposed to the virus, Hepatitis B boasts of an unwanted and unwelcome super stardom. To make this claim more founded, let figures in America speak for themselves. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) places the number at 140,000 to 320,000 cases of acute (short duration) hepatitis B occurring each year. At the other side of the globe, the figures reflect 15 to 20 percent infection rate among adults in southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Hepatitis B ranks as one of the many possible infectious diseases of the liver. Other types are Hepatitis A, C, D, and E. Hepatitis is basically the inflammation of liver. The hepatitis virus attacks and destroys the parts of liver cells. As common knowledge has it, the liver is one of the most important organs of the body. The liver is responsible for the production and secretion of the bile, an important element of digestion and metabolism. The liver is also responsible for glycogen storage, plasma protein synthesis, and drug detoxification. It is also responsible for regulating the many high-volume biochemical reactions of the body. You can just imagine then how detrimental it is to have a malfunctioning liver.

Hepatitis B, originally serum hepatitis, is the infection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV). A member of the Hepadnavirus family, HBV is but one of the very few known non-retroviral viruses. Non-retroviral viruses are the kind that replicates through reverse transcription. Once the virus enters the body, its double-stranded DNA genome transfers to the nucleus of liver cells. Actually, the body is equipped with antibodies to combat the virus, but these antibodies are not enough to eliminate the infection already present in the infected liver cells. The continuous replication of the virus and the continuous production of the antibodies are believed to be the reasons for the development of complex immune diseases.

The primary mode through which the Hepatitis B virus can be transmitted is exposure to contaminated bodily fluids. Specific types of this mode are unprotected sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, use of contaminated syringe and needles, mother-to-child transfer, and others. Bodily fluids like breast milk, saliva, and urine (low concentration) are also known agents of transmission. Other modes of transmission are tattooing, body piercing, acupuncture, and bites from infected insects like tropic mosquitoes and bed bugs.

Infection from HBV comes in two stages: acute (self-limited) or chronic (long-standing). Acute Hepatitis B manifests through symptoms like loss of appetite, nausea and abdominal pain, jaundice, skin rash, pain and swelling of the joints, and low-grade fever. Chronic Hepatitis B, on the other hand, is either asymptomatic or chronic hepatitis associative.

The older the person at the onset of infection, the higher the chances are of clearing the infection. Full recovery and the development of protective immunity is seen among 95 percent of patients who got infected as either adults or older children. For patients at the age of one to six, the chance is at 75 percent. The chance of recovery is only 5 percent for newborns.

Anti-viral treatments are not given to Hepatitis B of acute stage since the infection is very likely to resolve on its own. For chronic Hepatitis B, the available antivirals are lamivudine, adefovir, and interferon alpha. Lamivudine is a nucleaoside drug which functions as an impostor. It closely resembles the biochemical units of the virus' DNA and tricks the HBV to hasten replication. Lamivudine is safe to use by patients with advanced cirrhosis. It can also improve liver biopsies and patients get less liver scarring and inflammation. Interferon alpha, on the other hand, enhances the production of white blood cells for higher fighting power against infection. Interferon alpha also works by further stimulating the immune system to get rid of the virus.

Prevention from HBV contamination lies mainly in avoiding the modes through which it can be transmitted. Practicing protected sexual contact, using safe and sterilized needles, and keeping a healthy lifestyle are the most basic preventive measures. There are also vaccines that make use of immunological methods to prevent Hepatitis B.

For more valuable information on infectious diseases and medical advances, please visit http://www.healthsnippets.com

Bird Flu: Human Infection

Bird flu is a disease caused by a specific type of avian (bird) influenza virus, the so-called H5N1 virus. This virus was first discovered in birds in China in 1997, and since then has infected 125 people in Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia, killing 64 of them. It is spread by infected migratory birds (including wild ducks and geese) to domestic poultry (primarily chickens, ducks, and turkeys), and then to humans.

Some infected people have developed abnormal clotting profiles resulting in excessive bleeding?which was a frequent clinical symptom in the deadly so-called Spanish influenza of 1918-19, which killed more than 100 million people worldwide. Indeed, bird flu shares a number of disturbing characteristics with the 1918-19 influenza virus. These two viruses have, in fact, recently been shown to be similar genetically. And in a recent laboratory experiment with mice, the 1918-19 virus was found to produce 39,000 times more viruses four days after infection than the regular seasonal human flu strain. The 1918-19 virus killed 100 percent of the mice that were infected with it, compared to none of the mice infected with the regular flu strain. With a current ?case fatality rate,? or death rate of approximately 50 percent in humans, bird flu is obviously also a very deadly disease.

There are only a few reports in the medical literature describing the clinical features of bird flu in humans. The clinical spectrum of H5N1 infection ranges from asymptomatic infection?where the person doesn?t even know he or she is infected?to fatal pneumonia and multiple organ failure. Some infected individuals develop liver or kidney dysfunction, and there were two children who died from the virus that came to medical attention because of diarrhea and seizures related to encephalitis (infection of the brain). However, the most common presentation is one of fever, cough, and trouble breathing. Approximately 70 percent of patients also have diarrhea, and a few patients have had only gastrointestinal symptoms (such as stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhea) and no breathing problems.

Deaths have generally been in normally healthy people. The first report in the medical literature of deaths from bird flu was on 12 patients living in Hong Kong. Their median age was nine years, with a range of one to 60 years. All presented with fever, and eight had symptoms or signs of upper-respiratory infections (five had clinical and X-ray evidence of pneumonia when first diagnosed). Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, including stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, were present in eight patients. There were a total of five deaths (one died with Reye?s syndrome, which is associated with taking aspirin in children).

In a study of 10 patients in Vietnam with laboratory-confirmed avian influenza (H5N1), the mean age of the patients was 13.7 years. For eight of the patients, there was a clear history of either direct handling of poultry (chickens or ducks) or exposure to sick poultry in the week before the onset of illness. All presented in January 2004 with cough, shortness of breath, and fever, and seven had diarrhea; none had myalgia (muscle aches)?which is often found in the regular seasonal flu. Notably, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) was administered to five patients, four of whom died (treatment was probably started too late for the medication to be effective?it must be given within 48 hours after onset of symptoms to be effective). In total, eight of the patients died, for an 80 percent case fatality rate or death rate.

As is apparent from the descriptions above, the presenting symptoms of individuals with bird flu are very similar to the symptoms of the normal seasonal flu. Infections caused by either the bird-flu virus (H5N1) or the seasonal influenza virus can be completely asymptomatic?that is, cause no symptoms at all. Fever, cough, malaise (feeling ill), and gastrointestinal symptoms are common to both infections. Excessive bleeding occurs only with bird flu, but currently this symptom doesn?t appear to be common. Difficulty breathing is more common with severe cases of bird flu, not seasonal flu. Runny nose and sneezing are found only with colds (or allergies).

The cough in either type of infection is what is referred to in medicine as ?nonproductive??meaning there is no sputum brought up when coughing, or if any sputum is brought up, it is white in color. This type of cough is characteristic of upper respiratory viral infections. As either type of infection progresses or worsens, tissues may be damaged, disrupting the normal structure and function of the infected cells. This in turn may allow bacteria to grow and also cause damage. When this happens following a viral infection, it is referred to as a ?secondary? bacterial infection. When this occurs, the color of the sputum characteristically turns yellow or green. If this happens, antibiotics are indicated to treat the bacterial infection. (Antibiotics are not indicated in the treatment of viral infections, because they don?t work.)

It is safe to assume that during a bird-flu pandemic, most individuals who become infected with the bird-flu virus will either be asymptomatic?having no symptoms?or their illness will not be severe enough to require hospitalization. The small percentage who do become seriously ill will have to be hospitalized, and treated with either of the two antiviral agents available, oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). A smaller subset of that group will develop life-threatening complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which requires treatment with a mechanical ventilator, a respirator.

Some individuals may develop other serious complications such as liver failure, kidney failure, neurological problems?such as seizures, paralysis, psychiatric problems such as delirium or psychosis, or bleeding problems. However, it is reasonable to predict that most people infected with the virus will not die and will not have significant residual symptoms, although a small percentage will.

Bradford Frank, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A.
The Frank Group
P.O. Box 138
Lakewood, NY 14750
http://www.AvoidBirdFlu.com

Bradford Frank, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A. Dr. Frank graduated from the University of Colorado with a B.A. in chemistry and his M.D. degree. He completed two residencies, one in family practice and one in psychiatry. He is board certified in psychiatry as well as addiction medicine and geriatric medicine, and is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, N.Y. He has a master?s in public health (M.P.H.) from Yale, where he specialized in infectious diseases, and an M.B.A. from Northwestern?s Kellogg School of Management.

Dr. Frank is president of The Frank Group, a diversified company that includes a business-contingency planning consulting firm. He has expertise in the areas of business-contingency planning, emerging infectious diseases, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), avian influenza (?bird flu?), weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, epidemiology, and various public health issues.

Can Genital Herpes be Avoided?

Many kinds of diseases, especially sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like genital herpes, can be avoided if a person is conscientious enough in practicing health habits. For genital herpes, the adage ?an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure? is appropriate. In fact, there is no vaccine against genital herpes.

Abstinence is definitely the most effective way of avoiding genital herpes and any other STDs. Having no sexual contact with anyone assures you that you will never be exposed to genital herpes.

However, abstinence can never be the choice of many people. And so, the next best thing is fidelity. It means that you must maintain a strictly monogamous relationship with a partner who has no genital herpes. This must be a two-way street. That is, you don?t have multiple sex partners, and your partner doesn?t maintain other sex partners. Having several sexual adventures may turn out to be nightmares in the end.

Unfortunately, finding one true love could be a trial and error process for some people. And so, to avoid genital herpes, the third best thing is being responsible. That is, you must practice safe sex.

Before starting a sexual relationship with a new partner, talk about STDs. It is probably not the most scintillating and romantic topic you could think of, but it is a vital one. Find out if your potential sex partner may have been exposed to the HSV virus. Having blisters and sores in the genital area and in the lips and mouth are hazardous signs. But you must also remember the fact that a person infected with HSV or any STD may never show any symptom. Thus, find out about your potential partner?s lifestyle, health history and sex history. If you are the 100th partner, think twice before consulting to a more intimate relationship. Prowess acquired due to experience may not always be a good thing.

Safe sex also means the use of condoms. Condoms, even if used properly, do not entirely prevent the transmission of genital herpes. But they do reduce the risk of acquiring STDs. Sometimes, the sores of genital herpes spread to the anus, the buttocks, and the thighs. These areas could not be covered by condoms. If your sex partner has genital herpes and the sores are limited to a small area, then either male or female condoms can be used. But let us reiterate that condoms do not offer 100% protection.

If pregnant, do everything in your power to avoid HSV infection, so that you do not endanger the health and life of your newborn.

If you are already infected with genital herpes, then have mercy and give others the chance to avoid your disease: avoid any sexual contact.

Chris Locker is writing articles about herpes for the genital herpes site and hemorrhoids articles for the hemorrhoids treatment site.

Spill Control: Preventing Exposure to Contaminants

In today's work environment, professionals who come in contact with blood and fluid waste products run the risk of exposure to potentially infectious hazards. In my particular industry, aviation, the chance of someone coming into contact with an unknown substance can be great, particularly for in-flight crew. There are a variety of products on the market that can help prevent or limit your exposure including the two featured herein.

One product to consider to help promote a safe clean up is SAFETEC?S Red-Z. Red-Z works by simply sprinkling the encapsulator on spilled blood, urine, vomit or other potentially hazardous waste and the fluid is encapsulated in seconds. Just scoop-up the granulated gel and dispose in accordance with facility policy.

VIONEX Antimicrobial Towelettes provide significant germ killing effectiveness with a sturdy, textured towel for thorough scrubbing. The towel is saturated with enough germ killing and cleansing solution to cover the hands and more. Use VIONEX towelettes to safely and effectively remove blood and body fluids from any skin surface. Each towelette is individually pouched to assure effectiveness and they are easily carried and available when you need them.

VIONEX towelettes meet OSHA's standard for use as an antiseptic towelette. You can choose VIONEX No Rinse Gel or the Towelette, when soap and water are not available.

While this article is not an endorsement of either product, items such as these can go a long way in offering to you effective protection.

Copyright 2005 -- Matthew Keegan is The Article Writer who writes on a variety of topics including: advocacy, automobiles, aviation, business, Christian themes, family, news, product reviews, travel, writing, and more. Samples from his portfolio are available right online.

Eye Health Alert: The 2006 Eye Infection Outbreak

Rare eye infection suddenly appearing everywhere

Fungal Keratitis sounds like something you pick up at the gym but in reality its no laughing matter. A rare infection that can cause blindness it is increasingly appearing all over the United States and the world.

Originally thought to appear only after contact with rare plants or in extremely sick individuals, it has suddenly begun appearing among contact wearers.

The infection occurs at the cornea which is responsible for most of the eye?s optical power. Symptoms can include: blurred vision, pain and redness that does not improve when the contact lens is removed, increasing sensitivity to light, and excessive tearing or discharge. The condition if left untreated can lead to blindness or permanent vision problems.

Depending on severity, the infection can be treated with antibiotics, topical anti-fungal treatments, surgery, or in some cases a corneal transplant..

It is estimated that some 30 million Americans wear contacts but the infections only began appearing in the last few years and according to the Centers for Disease Control could be linked to the lens solution Renu with MoistureLoc.

The product, manufactured by Bausch and Lomb, was named in an April 2006 report by the CDC after they found that in 30 cases they investigated 26 had been using that product.

While it was pulled from store shelves only days later, it is unknown how many Americans who used Renu with MoistureLoc may have put themselves at risk of an infection.

While Bausch and Lomb has defended its product, within days of the initial CDC report they removed that it from store shelves nationwide under pressure by the government and other organizations.

More and more infections are being reported so if you or someone you know has been infected please visit mycotickeratosis.com for more information ?

The advice and information contained within this article is not meant as health advice and should not be considered as such. This article in no way shape or form constitutes a medical consultation.

For More Information Please Visit
Eye Health Resource Page

Men Too Have A Fear

In this world, there is only one thing that can bend every man on his knees-- loss of sexual supremacy. You can take everything away from a man but never his phallic ego. The distinctive dynamics of man's sexuality is what essentially differentiates them from women. All sons of Adam can give up a life in the paradise but can never do without their most precious sexual dominion. They can wage and fight all wars, battle all beasts and demons, and conquer any land. But the thought of losing their sexual supremacy can make their raging hormones slow down. Men can sit down on the negotiating table, and bargain and compromise for whatever it takes to keep hold of their manhood. You can throw any hurt or injury on a man's body and tear up most of his psyche and he definitely would not care less, but lambasting what is in between his legs and its interconnections to the other aspects of his existence will give him a run for his life.

Impotence and sterility are two of the most common ailments dreaded by men. But another major threat is prostate cancer. It is so dreadful that it can take away not only sexual powers but life as a whole. In the United States, prostate cancer claimed 30,200 lives of the 189,000 recorded cases in the year 2002. Currently, it ranks next to lung cancer as the leading cause of death among American men, who are the ones hit the most by this reproductive cancer. Europeans come next, and Asian men are the ones least inflicted.

Prostate cancer, literally, is a kind of disease wherein cancer develops in or around the prostate region of a man's reproductive system. This disease happens when prostate cells mutate and multiply uncontrollably. Just like other types of cancer, cells of this kind of cancer have the capability to spread or metastasize from the areas near the prostate, thus reaching the other parts of a man's body. Spreading of cancer cells mostly reach the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer causes much pain, specifically difficulty in urinating and in having an erection, among others.

Men over the age of 50 have the highest probability of being inflicted with this cancer. What is distinctly alarming with this kind of cancer is that most men afflicted with it never show symptoms, and hence, the cases are not diagnosed as prostate cancer. They eventually die of other causes mistaken to be not from prostate cancer.

Sadly, the core reason for the development of prostate cancer is still unknown. Studies have only gone as far as identifying factors that could trigger the development of cancer cells in the prostate. First factor being linked is aging. Statistical data over the years have shown that the risk of developing prostate cancer is highest among men above the age of 40, and the risk even gets higher as a man grows older. The other factors related to the risk of developing prostate cancer are genetics, race, and quality of lifestyle. Genetic predisposition is seen to have a very high correlation to having prostate cancer. Men with relatives who had prostate cancer are very likely to have one also. Race is not actually a direct factor but studies have found out that trends of cancer cases vary from region to region. The changes in a man's environment is also found to be capable of altering genetic predisposition. For example, Japanese men have relatively low records of acquiring prostate cancer but studies have shown that Japanese men working or living in America or Europe have high risk factors. As in other kinds of cancer, the quality of lifestyle is also being pointed to as a significant factor in the chances of developing prostate cancer. Smoking and chemical abuse among men is highly suspected to be a triggering factor for cancerous cells to develop in the prostate region. Industrial pollution, diet with high saturated fat content, and other environmental toxins are also likely to have a link, albeit not direct, to prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer develops in two stages: the early stage and the late stage. In the early stage, unfavorable symptoms can call enough attention from men. Usually, the strangest thing being felt at this stage is difficulty in urinating-- something most men easily ignore. Then the difficulty and pain in urinating aggravate as the tumor in the prostate region grows bigger. It is only at this time that a lot of men take time to pay attention and seek medical assessment. By the time the cancer reaches the later stage, the cancer cells had already spread in other areas of the body. Prostate cancer cells usually travel to the surrounding lymph nodes, pelvic bone, lower spine, the lungs, and the liver. Signs and symptoms of a possible ailment in the areas already reached by the cancer cells are common observations for prostate cancer cases in the late stage.

Prostate cancer, unfortunately, is still inevitable these days. Diagnosis has been made easier but choosing the right treatment still remains a daunting task. The kind of possible treatments for prostate cancer cases vary in three classifications: treatment for organ-confined cancer, treatment for locally advanced cancer, and treatment for metastatic cancer. For the organ-confined and locally advanced treatment options, surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal therapy, cryotherapy, or any combination of these is done to remove the tumor. While no cure for metastatic cancer case is available at present, measures like chemotherapy and hormonal therapy can be administered to at least slow down the growth and spread of more cancer cells.

Prostate cancer really poses a big threat for all men. The sexual, emotional, and social repercussions of having one is something every man is so wary about. However, it is something we must all accept as a reasonable weakness or fear in the same respect that we recognize women's fear of losing their breasts from cancer.

For more valuable information on infectious diseases, medical advances, please visit http://www.healthsnippets.com

Arthritis Yes It Can Be Cured

There are over 100 types of arthritis. It is a disease that limits everyday movements such as walking, standing or holding onto a key and trying to open a door. The effects of arthritis range from slight pain, stiffness, and joint swelling, to crippling discomfort.

Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent form of arthritis. An estimated 20.7 million Americans are affected by this disease.

According to Dr. Hulda Clark ??in osteoarthritis the joints have bacteria living in the deposits left there? More research is necessary to explain this. My suspicion is that there are toxins, like mercury, thallium, cadmium, lead, as well as solvents, distributed through the body, lowering immunity and allowing the tiny larvae to reside there. Once the pathway (routing) to these organs has been established, it continues to be used by other parasites as well. Soon a variety of parasites, their bacteria and viruses, and pollutants are all headed toward these organs?.

Osteoarthritis causes the breakdown of cartilage which is what protects the ends of bones from rubbing against each other. As the disease gets worse, along with the loss of cartilage bone spurs and abnormal bone hardening will develop, and create severe pain as there is no more cushioning for the bones. As a result, bones become more brittle and susceptible to fractures.

There are two types of osteoarthritis: primary and secondary. Primary OA is arthritis due to an unhealthy aging process. Secondary osteoarthritis is not so common, and is caused by, injury, previous congenital joint misalignment, trauma, infection, surgery, or prolonged use of medications.

Causes of Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is can be brought on by general wear and tear on the body through the process of living, excess weight, and a lifetime of inadequate diet. Additional causes can be skeletal defects, genetic factors, and hormonal deficiencies (as evidenced by the many women who get osteoarthritis after menopause), toxins, and microbes. There are still other environmental and even dental factors that have also been found to bring on the disease.

Biomechanical changes, especially excessive tissue acidity, can also contribute to the development of osteoarthritis. This is why watching your pH for your acid, alkaline levels is so important, (you can get more information on pH, and acid and alkaline at www.drclarkuniversity.org click on books and products, then the University book store, then click on Alkalife). When joints lose their full range of motion due to stress, injury or lack of activity, the cartilage is decreased. As a result, motion is hindered and the and pain ensues. The body replaces the deterioration in the joints with calcium, which then forms hard, inflexible deposits, which cause joint stiffness.

There are some things you can do to avoid this disease or remove it from your life. One would be to follow Dr. Clark?s recommendations, some of which are below, and more information about her treatment and suggestions can be found in her book the Cure For All Diseases, found at www.drclarkuniversity.org

?Arthritic deposits contain a large amount of phosphates combined with calcium. This calcium came from some other bone, such as the base of your spine or the wrist. Here the bones are getting weaker due to this calcium loss. Calcium was taken out of your bones for the simple purpose of neutralizing the excess phosphate in your diet. Reduce phosphate consumption (meats, soda pop, grains) by half, eating fish, milk, vegetables and fruit instead. Drink three cups of milk a day. If you are allergic to milk, do several liver cleanses, switch brands of milk, use milk digestant, and use it in cooking and baking. Cheese and cottage cheese are not substitutes for milk (the calcium stayed in the whey). Dairy products must be boiled before consuming and should be no less than 2% butter fat. It takes bile to make calcium absorbable, yet bile with less than 2% butter fat does not trigger the gallbladder to empty it's bile at mealtime?.

When joints are painful it is a simple matter to kill the bacteria with an electronic zapper. Treat yourself with a zapper daily until the pain is gone, (more info on the zapper at www.drclarkuniversity.org and in the Cure for All Diseases). Maybe it will stay away, but chances are the bacteria will have a steady source of toxins to become re-infected. Pick up the Cure for All Diseases to learn how not to re-infect yourself.

Michele Michaels has been active in raising awareness for alternative and natural methods of curing and treating all manner of illnesses.

Popular Home Remedies For Nail Fungus

When you contract nail fungus infection, you need to take action immediately with proper treatment. There are different treatment options out there, one of them is the use of home remedies for nail fungus.

Home remedies have been around us forever as a result of people looking for a cure. These are recipes that are passed generation from generation because in most cases they do work. Yes, in most cases. They are based on empirical results, not scientific experiments.

Here are some popular home remedies for nail fungus:

-Soaking the nails on a solution, usually containing chlorine bleach, Listerine mouthwash and/or hydrogen peroxide. This treatment should be applied daily, and with any nail fungus treatment, it takes months to restore the nail.

-Application of Vick Vaporub and essential oils directly on the skin. On all of this treatments if the nail is filed, it will work better. One of the better essential oils for this kind of application is the tea tree oil, commonly found in Australia. There is scientific evidence to this oil?s antifungal action, and penetration. Also, as the solution, this home remedy for nail fungus should be applied daily.

-Vinegar. Household vinegar has been reported as a working method to treat nail fungus. You need to direct apply it twice or more a day, daily.

-Pure Oregano Essential Oil. Another essential oil that is very popular because of its properties. This oil is antiseptic, anti fungal and analgesic. A powerful combination for a home treatment.

These are just some of the most known home remedies for nail fungus. You need to keep in mind that they do not work for all people; their effect depends on various factors. I have provided you with the basic information you need on home remedies for nail fungus, this is not meant to replace a visit to the doctors that will help you decide what is better for you. Nail fungus treatments are long and you need professional help to deal with any side effect.

Paolo Basauri, is an expert author who writes for Home Remedies for Nail Fungus A site specialized in nail fungus information and tips for treatment and prevention.

How to Empower People with a Serious Illness

Serious illness is more than a crisis of the body; it is a crisis of the soul. Many patients react to a serious disease by becoming paralyzed by fear. Resistance quickly crumbles, and is followed by depression and despair. Yet others marshal the inner resources needed to overcome the crisis.

How can people be empowered to mobilize their innate resources for health and healing? The twin keys to unlocking the door are Comprehension and Communication.

Comprehension means first understanding that the outcome of most common diseases?cancer and heart disease?is rarely inevitable. Your illness need not be your fate. Every doctor has seen patients with a life-threatening illness make a miraculous recovery after they were thought to be beyond hope. But because medical science is unable to explain these extraordinary occurrences, their importance is often ignored. Medicine is so enamored of the apparent infallibility of science that it has become blind to other possibilities. Remarkable recoveries are dismissed with the derisive term, ?anecdotal,? a code word for meaningless.

Countless times, I have observed two desperately ill patients lying side by side in the Intensive Care Unit, seemingly in identical clinical circumstances. At the critical juncture, one would start to show signs of improvement, and go on to live, while the other would go downhill, deteriorate, and die. The cause of that divergence has always been a profound mystery to me, and one of vital importance. Clearly, the importance of a patient?s state of mind is a critical factor in determining the outcome of a life-threatening illness. Self-empowerment is possible, and it does matter. Research has validated what doctors have always known: the will to live is as potent a force for healing as any pill or procedure.

Comprehension also means becoming learning everything you can about the disease afflicting you. Get online. Do the research. Becoming more knowledgeable is vital to becoming an active participant in your own care. Become informed. Educate yourself about your illness, using the internet, library and resources like the Library of Congress, American Heart Association and Cancer Society.

Communication begins with your doctor. Let him or her know that you plan to be an active partner in combating your illness. Ask questions. Find out about alternative approaches?their risks and benefits. And never hesitate to get a second opinion.

Communicating with your loved ones is also vital. Friends and family members are often skittish around sick people. They often tend to avoid meaningful interactions. This can reinforce a patient?s sense of loneliness and isolation. Open up to them about your feelings. Tell them how you would like them to be with you. Encourage them to express their heartfelt feelings by taking the lead and letting them know what?s going on within you.

Most importantly, communicate with yourself. Learn to use simple relaxation techniques as well as journal writing to re-enforce your self-belief, keep you centered and aware of what?s happening within you. Relaxation and/or meditation techniques are easy to learn. They simply involve becoming quiet and visualizing a beautiful scene from nature or, repeating a word or phrase that is meaningful to you such as God or Peace, or simply focusing your attention on your breath. Journal writing is a powerful way to express inner feelings.

If you would like to become inspired by patients with life-threatening illnesses who found the inner strength to combat their afflictions, I suggest you read my recent book, Courageous Confrontations. It tells the stories of seven patients whose will to live imposed new realities on their disease. Often they survived, not because of their medical care, but despite it. These wonderful people prove that all of us have the power to impose new realities on illness. Your crisis can be an opportunity to change the quality of your life, as well as your relationship with yourself and others.

Richard Helfant, MD is a Harvard-trained cardiologist. Courageous Confrontations, Dr. Helfant's latest work, is an inspiring book about patients who found the inner strength to combat a life-threatening disease.

Fit for Life A NoNonsense Look at Fitness

Now, more than ever, becoming fit for life should be your mantra. Obesity is becoming more and more a problem. According to the F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America (2005) report, about 119 million Americans, or 64.5% of adult Americans are either overweight or obese. Consequently, a rise in obesity-related diseases such as type II diabetes, breast and colon cancer, gall bladder surgery and cardiovascular diseases has been seen. So do you really want to be come an obesity statistic or would you rather take that step now to be fit for life?

Fit for Life - It Starts with Small Steps

The simple truth is this - you are overweight because you consume more food /energy than you burn off. However, instead of thinking of how difficult it will be to lose ALL those pounds, start with small, realistic steps. You lose the first pound and the rest will follow.

?Do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, it will always be better than NOTHING. It would be great if you can find a fitness buddy but if not, fine; don't be afraid to go on your own. After all, it is your body that will stand to benefit anyway.

?If you started walking and started seeing the first pounds melt away, change your routine. Boredom has killed many a fitness enthusiast so although you may be elated at the first pounds lost, doing the same thing over and over again will kill your enthusiasm soon enough.

?Challenge yourself a little bit - for 3 days a week at 30 minutes a day, do some weight training exercises. Start light; just use a set of dumbbells (even filled up water bottles will do!)

?Now you are ready to cross-train! Mix and match your fitness routine. Walk, run, jog, skip, whatever keeps you going.

Of course, all this activity is for nothing if you come home panting and then start grabbing a bag of chips. Remember, being fit for life is also a lifetime commitment to opting to eat healthy food!

?Do not deprive yourself of anything. It is human nature folks. If you tell yourself you can never have chocolate cake again... yes, you'll end up wanting chocolate cake... NOW.

?Start taking a look at what you put on your food or what you are eating with it. Sure cauliflower and broccoli are healthy but you are dipping them in cheese sauce, you are just sabotaging your own diet. Start going back to basics. Think of it this way - nude food is good!

?You know what? You really are, what you eat. If you are too busy to cook and grab a bag of chips and chug it down with cola, don't ask other people why you feel 'heavy' and 'down'.

?Drink people, drink! It is said that by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated. Of course, don't gulp down soft drinks go for flavored water instead if 8 to 10 glasses of 'plain' water is too much for you.

Copyright 2006, Brad Howard

Have you ever wondered what The Secret to weight loss is? Let me assure you, it's not what you think. Brad Howard knows, and he's willing to tell you...for a price. Of course, it's not what you think here either. There's really only one way to find out... http://www.mindoverbodymatter.com

Never Underestimate Measles

By late 20s or later, most of us may have already forgotten that time in our childhood when we were forced to be absent from school because of measles. I particularly remember missing a stage performance in the drama club's major presentation because of measles infection. I was bedridden for a couple of days because of high fever. My mom imposed a strictly-in-your-room-only policy so as not to get worse and to get the longest rest I can. Measles, more than an infectious disease, is more commonly remembered by most of us as a memorable period in our childhood. Rashes all over the body makes us feel like we have been bewitched or cursed by some unseen evil forces; having measles is one nightmare to (hopefully not) remember.

Rarely known as rubeola, measles is more popularly known as a disease characterized by fever, runny nose, red eyes, cough, and an uncontrollable skin rash spread. The virus paramyxovirus of the genus Morbillivirus is the main culprit behind this irritating disease. The term measles is of middle English origin maselen, which means many tiny spots. It is in reference to the rash, which is the most obvious manifestation of being infected with measles. Rubeola, on the other hand, is in reference to the reddish color of the body rash.

The duration of measles varies from one case to another. Others who have it longer than the usual would often times call it in reference to its duration: seven-day measles, eight-day measles, and so on and so forth.

Measles is extremely contagious-- the reason moms impose solitary confinement-- through respiration. Being exposed or having direct contact with fluids from infected people's oral cavities and nasal cavities is the most commonly known mode of transmission from one person to another. Being one of the highly transmittable and infectious diseases, epidemics are reported to be occurring at least every two to three years. Epidemic concentration is very high in areas where there are no enough immunization programs. However, despite having a very wide immunization scheme, America is still not free from measles epidemic, especially in preschools and communities of high children population. In 2002, at least 600,000 deaths from measles all over the world were recorded by the World Health Organization. Although the figure is way smaller than, say, cancer or other deadly diseases, measles is not a matter to be taken for granted. It's highly contagious character is already a solid reason people must take proactive measures on how to avoid it and limit its spread.

Before rashes appear, symptoms like cough, red eyes, runny nose, and fever would manifest. About two days after, Koplik's spot (spots in mouth area) appear, along with soar throat and inflamed airways. Up to five days later, rashes then begin to appear from head all the way to the toes. Rashes start as abnormal bumps, which eventually get bigger and more annoying. As they go down, rashes in the face usually subside. Bleeding and bruising happen in cases of severe primary or secondary infection. The disease's end comes with the ending of rashes' spread.

Measles per se is not necessarily deadly. It only becomes fatal when certain complications are not avoided. Bacterial infections such as ear infections, pneumonia, and tuberculosis are the common complications. If not attended immediately and properly, measles infection may deteriorate the body's immune system and lead to continuous complications. The brain can also be affected and get inflamed (encephalitis) and may lead to more harmful events like convulsions, coma, or even death. Other complications can be in the form of abnormally low platelet count (making a patient more vulnerable to secondary infections) and the very dreadful Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, wherein mental abnormalities and motor deficiencies are milder effects than the usual death.

Unfortunately, there exists no cure to measles. The treatments available are aimed at treating the symptoms alone and not the viral infection, specifically. To fight off the fever, higher fluid intake--12-16 glasses everyday-- is highly recommended. For runny nose and cough, a good room humidity level is helpful. Humidifying the air can help get rid of the cough. When one is infected with measles, the eyes are usually at a great risk of acquiring secondary infections due to itching and discharges. Keeping the eyes clean by washing them with clean water and avoiding high intensity-light exposure can help avoid eye infections. For overall recovery, a blissful bed rest is highly needed. The best way parents can save their kids from the perils of measles is having them immunized with the MRR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Immunization should be given sometime at 12 to 15 months of age (first dose) and at age 4 to 6 years (second dose). Consultation of experts throughout childhood is also advised.

For more valuable information on infectious diseases and medical advances, please visit http://www.healthsnippets.com

Can you Defeat Alzheimer's Disease with Exercise?

No one knows the answer to this, but some very promising research coming out of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, CA sounds exciting.

Now this research was performed on mice and mice are not humans. However, there are many similarities on the cellular level of all of us in the animal kingdom.

And there have been many studies on mice that have helped the development of research on understanding how the human body works.

This study took older mice (the equivalent of 70 years old in human life) and trained them to do an underwater task.

There was also a group of younger mice (about 20 years old in human life) that was trained on the task as well.

Then they divided the older mice into two groups. One group did exercise on a running wheel every day for 30 days. The other group did no exercise.

The younger mice group also exercised every day for 30 days.

At the end of the 30 days the underwater task was repeated.

The older mice group that did not exercise flunked miserably. None of them remembered how to do the task.

On the other hand all of the younger mice did very well.

The important part of the study was the fact that the older mice that exercised performed the task just as well as the younger mice.

On analysis the researchers found that the older mice that exercised had significantly more new cells in the hypothalamus. This is the part of the brain that helps with memory and the ability to learn new tasks.

Now does this mean that exercise will help replace the cells in the hypothalamus that Alzheimer?s and other brain destroying diseases destroy?

Again, no one knows yet. However, this is exciting news.

So if you haven?t gotten out there and started exercising yet, do so now. A new year is coming up and now here is another reason to motivate you to get out there and do something.

Does it have to be jogging or lifting weights or going to the gym? No, just start moving and do it every day.

However if you would like a simple 7 minute routine that will keep you motivated and help build those brain cells, just check out this web site: http://www.getrealfitnessrevolution.com.

Mike Pickering has been teaching health and fitness for over 35 years. Read his latest articles such as: What diet is best for you ? celery and carrots or cake and ice cream? Find out the shocking answer in your Free three part report The Confusion Over Diets. getrealdiet@aweber.com

Protect Yourself Against the Flu Vaccine!

The vaccine industry insists that their vaccines against the flu serve as the key to a healthy winter. Although there has not been a serious flu epidemic for 38 years, their vaccines are prescribed to millions of people each year. You may wonder why perfectly healthy people are injected with a normally harmless bug whose strains mutate from year to year? Although flu vaccines can never be accurate, encouraged by their employers, millions of employees submit to a flu jab each year, trying to avoid the loss of working days.

Influenza always starts in the Far East, and then spreads to the West in early winter, reaching its peak during February and March. It may come in either of three types, A, B, or C. During the last several years, type A has been the dominant version. What makes vaccination against the flu so unsuccessful is that the strains of the flu virus are different every year and the so-called protection lasts for only six months. So each autumn you require a new vaccination for a different virus. The trouble is, drug companies have no way of knowing in summer which new strain of the flu virus is going to hit the Western Hemisphere during the winter months. The vaccine producers grow the vaccines, consisting of live viruses, in hen?s eggs, which when injected into the body can cause side effects such as redness and soreness at the injection site and a mild form of flu. Very serious complications arise in people who are taking immune-suppressing drugs or who have a heart condition. If you are allergic to eggs, having a flu-shot may also endanger your health.

For the average healthy person, coming down with the flu is not serious at all. On the contrary, it can build up natural immunity even against future encounters with new strains of the flu virus. The very reason why nature creates these new forms of virus every year and spreads them with accurate timing is to ensure continued ecological balance and strong immunity in plants, animals, and humans alike. Anyone prone to repeated infections is likely to have a toxic liver with many hundreds of stones accumulated in the liver and gallbladder. Gallstones, which harbor many types of infectious bacteria and viruses, are a constant source of immune suppression. Cleansing the liver of all gallstones is about the best prevention against any type of infection. People who have cleansed their liver in this way have reported that they never catch a cold or the flu anymore.

Flu virus vaccines used until 2002 contained ?live? viruses and produced so many serious, adverse reactions that new vaccines had to be concocted. The new formula for flu vaccines is called the ?subvirion,? which basically is a mutilated virus ?blended, spliced and macerated? until just bits and pieces of the original virus are left. This in no way makes the virus less dangerous. In fact, the antigens or foreign proteins in the vaccine, for which the body is forced to produce antibodies against, are still as poisonous and harmful as live virus.

Besides the subvirion, there are plenty of other substances added to the flu vaccine, most of which you would never want to consciously ingest. These include:

* Hemagglutinin antigens that cause clumping of the red blood cells, leading to cardiovascular disease. * The enzyme neuraminidase, which cuts out neuraminic acid from the cell membrane, weakening all of the trillions of cell membranes in the body. * White crystalline substance called allantoin, a toxic animal waste product. Due to its high nitrogen content, allantoin is used as fertilizer; leads to kidneys and bladder stones. * Gentamicin, a broad spectrum antibiotic, is added to each embryonated chicken egg to inhibit the growth of bacteria (vaccine is grown in chicken eggs). * Formaldehyde (carcinogenic), used as a preservative and to inactivate the virus. * The toxic chemicals, tri butylphosphate and Polysorbate 80, USP. * Resin, to eliminate ?substantial portions? of tri butylphosphate and Polysorbate 80 * Thimerosal, a mercury derivative, to preserve the vaccine cocktail. * Polyethylene glycol, a relative of ethylene glycol (antifreeze); often used to poison dogs and other predators of sheep. * Isocctylphenyl ether, a compound of ether; has anesthetic properties; a teratogen, causing abnormal prenatal development. It also induces testicular atrophy in animals.

The vaccine producers are unable to guarantee that the vaccine will protect you against the flu. So they carefully tell you that the vaccine ?reduces the likelihood of infection; or if you do develop the disease it will be a milder case.? Some express the same uncertainly about their product in this way: ?It is known definitely that influenza virus vaccine, as now constituted, is not effective against all possible strains of influenza virus.? Why would you want to entrust your health to a cocktail of poisonous chemicals when even a somewhat weakened immune system stands a far better chance to protect you against harm from a bout of influenza. Our body?s sophisticated immune system, which has evolved over millions of years, can certainly do a better job of protecting you against the flu than anything made-made. All it needs is some basic care taking on your part. With each new flu shot, on the other hand, your immune system becomes more depleted and side-effects become more pronounced and severe. And, you may still get the flu anyway. The following list includes the possible consequences you can expect if you go down the road of vaccination:

The most frequent side effects of vaccination:

* Soreness at the site of the vaccination *Pain or tenderness * Erythema * Inflammation *Skin discoloration * Induration * A mass or lump *Hypersensitivity reactions incl. puritus and urticaria * Fever * Malaise *Myalgia *Arthralgia *Asthenia *Chills * Headache *Lymphadenopathy *Rash * Nausea * Vomiting * Diarrhea * Pharyngitis *Angiopathy *Vasculiltis * Anaphylaxis in asthmatics, with possible death * Anaphylactic shock, with possible death

Vaccination certainly does not create immunity. You cannot become immune by ingesting poisons that destroy the immune system. Studies by a group of Italian scientists showed that the flu vaccine reduced the occurrence of clinical episodes of influenza by only 6 percent in adults, and effectiveness tended to decrease with age. They concluded that universal immunization wasn't warranted. Stated simply, hand washing and other hygienic and nutritional measures are far superior to the flu vaccine in effectiveness. When cared for hygienically, and by eating nutritious foods and keeping one?s intestines and liver clean, influenza never becomes a deadly disease. Getting vaccinated against the flu, on the other hand, is a sure way to sow the seeds for new illnesses in the body. All vaccines are poisonous, and as such act like time bombs that will explode in due time.

Why People Get the Flu

Flu jabs lower natural immunity by injecting alien and toxic substances directly into the blood stream. No other animal in the world takes recourse t such unnatural, superficial and crude means to defend itself against invading viruses. The normal route of contact with a viral particle is via the lungs. The vast majority of the population has a normal, healthy immune system and is perfectly capable of dealing with the invaders without getting sick. But if the body?s infection fighters have temporarily gone ?on strike? for reasons other than the lack of a vaccine, the flu virus can gain unrestricted access into the body and cause an infection.

Regular vaccination (of any kind) is one of the major causes of depleted immunity. The yearly-administered flu jabs burden the immune system and cells of the body with foreign toxic material without giving them a chance to remove them again. The toxic viral particles can remain latent in the cells and gallstones for as long as 20 years; when they emerge they can cause serious cell damage. With each new vaccination the immune system becomes more and more restricted in its effort to neutralize the live virus that suddenly appears in the blood. It may produce antibodies for the virus (although in many cases the immune system fails to do even that), which is finally subdued, but this encounter leaves the host?s immune system unnecessarily tired and weak.

Besides immune damage, vaccines of all kinds produce alterations in genetic material and thereby cause a whole range of malfunctions in the body. Vaccines may even be the cause of the increasing incidence of malignant diseases in children. Mass immunization programs have created such weak immune systems that they are even susceptible to such harmless viruses as the one causing the flu. We may have gone as far as to replace mumps and measles with cancer, leukemia, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Flu vaccinations are mainly targeted at the older generation and young children. In the United Kingdom, about 10,000 people, most of them are of very advanced age, (supposedly) die from flu-related illnesses. It may, therefore, sound reasonable to vaccinate the older people to protect them against the flu virus. But there is no total protection even among those vaccinated. Around 20 percent or more of the elderly people who get the vaccine still get a more virulent strain of flu, and many others get a lighter form of the flu. The same is true for the people in the same age group who haven?t been immunized. The weak and elderly people are more likely among those who die from the flu, regardless whether they have been immunized or not. The bottom line is that there is no real advantage in having a flu jab. And certainly, given the frailty of so many of the oldest members of society, there is absolutely no reliable way of telling whether the flu or something else may lead to their death. According to several studies released in February 2005 and reported by major news media such as CNN, the death rate in and out of the flu season among the elderly remains unchanged. In a statement commenting on the results of the new research, a CDC spokesman reiterated they still hold the strong belief that vaccinating the elderly and young is necessary. It is scary to entrust the life of millions of adults and children in the hands of people who base their decisions on mere personal belief, instead of on facts. As we have seen with AIDS (chapter 12), statistics can be manipulated in ways that support theories which have only one objective, to keep the medical business going. When a person who is about to die anyway also catches the flu, he will be automatically listed as a flu victim. This statistical deception will justify the use of vaccines in the rest of the elderly population, and the children.

Instead of giving the elderly population vaccines ? in the misguided belief that this would take care of them ? we could help them much more by improving their general resistance to disease through good diet, social engagements and exercise programs. Many old people don?t have adequate nutrition and suffer from depression; both these factors work as powerful immune suppressants. Others don?t have a warm home or they live alone. Research has shown that these are the major risk factors for illness and death in the older generation. A series of liver cleanses alone can strengthen natural immunity, improve digestion, retard the aging process, restore health, and foremost of all, enhance mental functions. In developing countries, where the elderly play an important role in society, general illness is low, provided there is enough food available. In these countries it is more likely that old people die from malnutrition than from a strain of virus.

There are an increasing number of reports that indicate a worsening of high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, and Parkinson?s disease as well as an increase in all kinds of allergic complaints in adults who regularly receive flu jabs. In 1976 an extensive flu vaccination program in America led to a massive outbreak of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disease affecting the nervous system. The outbreak, known as the ?Great Swine Flue Fiasco,? paralyzed 656 people and 30 elderly persons were found dead within hours after they were vaccinated. Compensation claims were enormous, which helped slowing down the program, but only for a while.

What about the other high-risk group, young children? Japanese researchers have shown that infants under one year of age fail to even generate a good antibody response following the vaccine. There is no point pumping children full with vaccine poisons, except enriching the pharmaceutical companies. Seniors, of course, are one of the core target groups for the flu vaccine program. So every year we're told how older people are particularly vulnerable to the flu. We're also told that government officials are holding their breath over their fear of a devastating flu pandemic. We're even told that about 36,000 people die of flu related complications in the United States each year, and most of those deaths are elderly people. The reality of the matter is quite different, though. How many people do you think died of the flu last year? Less than 175, according to Sherri J. Tenpenny, D.O., an internationally known leader in vaccine research! And yet, the official line propagated by media campaigns is to be prepared for another wave of deadly flu epidemic, killing thousands of people each new season.

The latest scare campaign about a possible bird-flu pandemic that recently swept the mass media and was written about in the a February issue of the New Yorker magazine is not justified, according to most research experts in the field. That 180 million people are projected to die from the bird-flu if it spreads is based on guess work, without any real scientific proof. It is like forecasting the long-awaited massive earthquake in California. At this time, there is no reason to believe that such a pandemic will occur.

In the Name of Prevention

The pharmaceutical companies producing the vaccines seem to have a more powerful effect on the population than the scientists have who invented them. As early as 1980, Dr Albert Sabin, one of the world?s leading virologists and pioneer of the polio vaccine, spoke vehemently against the use of the flu vaccine, claiming that it was unnecessary for over 90 percent of the population. This, however, has not discouraged the vaccination industry to endorse vaccination for all in the name of health and protection against disease.

What makes matters worse is that there has never been a properly controlled clinical trial with the flu vaccine. Because we don?t know anything about it?s its long-term effects, we may be unknowingly producing generations of people with debilitated immune systems and chronic diseases. Flu vaccination is an unproved and unscientific practice and there is nothing in the scientific literature that can certify or guarantee its safety. The most effective way to fight infections, including the flu, is to prevent it. There is no substitute for a health-increasing regimen. Vaccination, on the other hand, offers no real protection. Injecting the body with foreign and poisonous viral material is counterproductive to improving our well being. Dr. John Seal from the American National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases warned that we have to assume that every flu vaccination can cause the Guillain-Barre Syndrome. In this sense, prevention is not better than cure.

Help From Mother Nature

For those who are concerned about the flu and its possible effects, there is a remarkable herbal extract (andrographis paniculata) that has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic (traditional Indian) therapies and traditional Chinese Medicine. It is used to treat everything from isolated cases of the sniffles to full-blown outbreaks of influenza. Apparently, Andrographis is believed to have halted the spread of the 1919 Indian flu pandemic.

There is scientific evidence to support that theory. Researchers at the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth in the UK conducted a survey of medical databases, herbal manufacturer information and World Health Organization reports to select seven studies that met the criteria for double-blind, controlled trials. The combined studies tested the use of andrographis as a treatment for respiratory tract infection in nearly 900 subjects. In all seven of these studies, subjects who took andrographis after the onset of cold symptoms reported faster recovery, compared to subjects who took placeboes or medication.

Researchers concluded that andrographis may be effective in treating uncomplicated infection in the upper respiratory tract (throat, sinuses and ears). According to previous laboratory trials andrographis extract doesn't actually kill the organisms that make you sick ? at least not directly. Instead, the herbal compound boosts your immune system and stimulates natural antibodies.

Animal research also showed that andrographis may help prevent myocardial ischemia (inadequate blood circulation in the heart caused by coronary artery disease), inhibit the formation of blood clots, lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, lowered systolic blood pressure, and protect the liver against damage.

Kan Jang is a brand of standardized extract of andrographis that has consistently outsold all other cold medications in Scandinavia for 13 years running. The Swedish Herbal Institute, the formulator of Kan Jang, recommends that you take one tablet four times daily to fight colds or the flu. Kan Jang can be purchased at dietary supplement stores and through Internet sites.

Excerpt from the book Timeless Secrets of Health & Rejuvenation (488 pages, 8/1/2 x 11)

Copyright ? 2005 by Andreas Moritz

Andreas Moritz is a medical intuitive, practitioner of Ayurveda, Iridology, Shiatsu and Vibrational Medicine. He has authored four books on health and healing: ?The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush?, ?Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation,? ?Lifting the Veil of Duality,? and ?It?s Time to Come Alive (all books are available through http://www.ener-chi.com or http://www.amazon.com

Andreas also is the artist who created the oil paintings for a new innovative approach to healing through energized art, called Ener-Chi Art. His latest healing tool for clearing emotional blocks and fear is called ?Sacred Sant?mony ? Divine Chanting for Every Occasion.? For more information contact Andreas Moritz, visit his web site http://www.ener-chi.com or contact him at tel. 1-864-848-6410, Greer, South Carolina, USA, E-mail andmor@ener-chi.com.

Coping With Genital Herpes

Ideally, you should not have any sexual contact once you have HSV infection. This would not benefit you, but it would help the rest of mankind.

Once you have been diagnosed as positive with genital herpes, it would be quite pointless to identify the source, since you may have had it for years already and the first outbreak only happened recently. What you needed to do is to take steps so that you may still live a relatively normal life. People with genital herpes do live normal lives.

And one of the first things to do is to have a capable health professional who is experienced in treating HSV infection. It is also important that you are able to communicate openly with your doctor. Don?t choose a doctor that you will feel uncomfortable with. HSV infection is a sensitive disease and can bring you several emotional problems. You do not need a doctor to add to your burden.

Another important thing to do is to learn about the disease. You must understand how it is transmitted so that you can avoid spreading it to other people and prevent complications. Specifically, avoid touching the infected area no matter how itchy or painful it is. And when you do, wash your hands immediately. Otherwise, you run the risk of infecting your lips, eyes and even your brain.

If you already have a partner, discuss the situation with him or her. Chances are your partner may also have genital herpes but the symptoms just don?t show. There will be emotional trials for both of you regarding your relationship, but you must stay mature above it all.

Together with your doctor, you may consider taking the acyclovir treatment. This can lessen the severity of the herpes blisters and can hasten the healing of the sores. You may also find out the periods in which you are most contagious. Some are most contagious at the time when the blisters begin to appear and others are most contagious either the week before or after the appearance of the blisters. You may also decide whether you will take the acyclovir when needed (as the blisters are about to appear) or will take this medication everyday (called suppressive therapy).

Most important of all, if you have genital herpes, you must tell your new sex partner about it, before you have any intimate contact. The decision to take the risk must be left to them.

Grace Palce is writing articles about herpes for the genital herpes site and hemorrhoids articles for the hemorrhoids treatment site.

What Should We Do To Achieve Optimal Health

If you really want to achieve optimal health, you have got to get a move on, at least a couple of times per week. There is little argument in the scientific community regarding exercise complementary role to diet in the prevention of numerous diseases and chronic conditions. Simple walking on a regular basis can help prevent osteoporosis in some women, and some form of cardiovascular exercise helps to strengthen the heart muscle and many of your other muscles for the long haul ahead. Keeping active in the here and now helps ensure that you will be able to remain active when you are older.

How do diet and exercise work together to promote health? If you are exercising, but eating a high-fat diet, plaque can still develop in your arteries, and you are still at risk for numerous types of cancers. Conversely, if you take the step to cut your fat, you are still taking in a couple thousand calories per day. If your daily exercise consists of walking from the car into the office in the morning, you are not burning off too many of those calories. You may lose a few pounds, but you won't want to keep yourself on such a restrictive diet, and you may find yourself slipping. Eventually, you will probably gain all that weight back, losing your grip on better health. What's more, as we age, our metabolism slows, meaning that your body will be using even fewer of those calories if you don't do anything to work them off.

We know that not all of us are cut out for the health club scene and not all of us are gifted athletes. This matters very little, as there are many more physical activities in life than hitting the basketball court. For those who want to include exercise in their lifestyle but don't want to train for a triathlon, walking is a sensible alternative. A thirty-minute walk every day or a one-hour walk three or four times per week will cover about eight miles and, more important, improve muscle tone and burn up about 1,000 calories. Add a low-fat vegetarian diet to that, and you have got a start at a formidable plan to be healthy.

The only way you will stick with an exercise program is to find something that you like doing. If you like to jog every morning, by all means do it. But if you'd like something more low impact, you don't have to look very far to find it. Do you like to dance? Do you like to play tag with your children or take your dog on long walks around the neighborhood? Once you get into an enjoyable routine of exercise, it will be something that you look forward to on a daily basis. And weight loss won't be the only indication that your body is undergoing a change. You will look better, you'll feel better, and you will probably be able to handle the stresses of your day better. Exercise is not only healthful for the body, but it is also therapeutic for the mind.

For more bodybuilding, health articles, resources, tips and cooking recipes from around the world:

www.101bodybuilding.com

www.desserts-recipes.com

www.101cookingrecipes.com

Multiple Sclerosis and Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis

It may not be main stream yet to say that most if not all disease is caused by one toxin or environmental factor of one kind or another. However, those that have been researching and investigating alternative health methods are well aware of this. And, those that have actually used them to cure, cancer, MS, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, etc., are even more acutely aware, of this fact, they are convinced and healthy.

I know of my best friend who had Ovarian Cancer, and now does not, cured it using Dr. Hulda Clark?s methods. She is not the only success story by a long shot, and cancer is not the only disease that has been cured using Dr. Clark?s methods, again by a long, long shot.

It is criminal that instead of making this known throughout the world our government, FTC, FDA, work hard to keep this from the public. The AMA, pharmaceuticals, etc., lobby the government hard to make sure they keep this from the public.

People die, they lose their quality of life, children lose their parents and parents lose their kids and all in the name of greed. Most of this is unnecessary. Below, I have taken this from Dr. Hulda Clark?s book Cure For All Diseases, which you can purchse from the www.drclarkuniversity.org or www.drhuldaclark.org, I wanted to give a taste of how different, simple and inexpensive are other ways of getting and staying healthy.

For more information on this and other diseases, the zapper, the parasite program and other cleanses, go to www.drclarkunversity.org

From The Cure For All Diseases, by Dr. Hulda Clark

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the brain and spinal cord. It is called lateral sclerosis if the disease is mainly in the spinal cord. It is caused by fluke parasites reaching the brain or spinal cord and attempting to multiply there. Any of the four common flukes may be responsible. Kill them immediately with your zapper and the herbal parasite program. They cannot return unless you re-infect yourself. Stop eating meats, except fish and seafood. All meats are a source for fluke parasite stages unless canned or very well cooked. Pets and family members are undoubtedly carriers of the same flukes, although they do not show the same symptoms. Give away your house pets. Don't kiss your loved ones on the mouth. Make sure your sex partner has also been freed of fluke parasites.

The most important question you must be able to answer is why did these parasites enter your brain and spinal cord? When the brain contains solvents, it allows flukes to multiply there. The solvents, xylene and toluene are common brain solvents always seen in MS cases. Evidently these solvents accumulate first in the motor and sensory regions of the brain, inviting the parasites to these locations.

Xylene and toluene are industrial solvents used in paint and thinners. It is also a pollutant of certain carbonated beverages (I found it in 7-Up(TM), ginger ale and others that I tested). Stop drinking them.

All MS cases I have seen also harbor Shigella bacteria in the brain and spinal cord. These come from dairy products. They are manure bacteria. Be absolutely meticulous about sterilizing dairy products. Even one tsp. un-sterilized milk added to scrambled eggs could re-infect you. Not even heavy whip cream or butter is safe without boiling. Kill bacteria every day with a zapper. Shigellas produce chemicals that are toxic to the brain and spinal cord. Eliminating Shigellas brings immediate improvement.

The other pollutant associated with MS is mercury from dental metal. The mercury that is constantly released in the mouth does not all get excreted by the kidneys or eliminated by the bowels. Some of it travels up to the brain and gets into the spinal cord as well. You will be able to eliminate and excrete more mercury by doing a kidney and liver cleanse. The mercury itself may be polluted with thallium which is even more toxic. For this reason mercury removal should be done extra thoroughly to be sure no thallium has been left behind.

From the book The Cure for all Diseases Page 204.

Michele Michaels has been active in raising awareness for alternative and natural methods of curing and treating all manner of illnesses.