Attention Deficit Disorder - how does it affect your child's schooling and education?

Attention Deficit Disorder - how does it affect your child's schooling and education?
Teaching a child with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) can
be a difficult task. Many schools have identified the
problem and addressed the issue because substantial
developments have been made to recognize the problem.
However there are still some schools lagging behind.
Unfortunately these schools are not well placed to help
individuals diagnosed with ADD.

The way ADD influences a classroom is observed well before
any individual diagnosis is completed. It may be observed
(for example) in a boy, following his classmates to snatch
their books, or in a young girl sitting in the corner and
playing with her hair, with her mind focused somewhere
else. It is usually the teacher who first recognizes that
a student is having difficulty focusing on class
activities. However identifying the problem is just the
first step, and the most difficult part is changing the
inattentive or hyperactive attitude.

Treatment of the disorder starts when everyone acknowledges
it and a diagnosis is carried out. It's important to
decide whether medical intervention is required, since that
would determine a course of treatment. There are a number
of schools, which quite inhumanly emphasize that the child
suffering from ADD be given medicines. Some schools
though, take a more logical approach and comply with the
wishes of the child's parents.

Whether your child is able to cope with the situation will
often be determined by the type of school he or she attends
and how proactive they are. In an ideal environment, your
child should attend a school that understands the
effectiveness of working together with parents, taking
stock of your particular circumstances and respecting your
decisions. Regrettably some schools lack this
open-mindedness. Communities that are small and
financially disadvantaged (compared to other communities),
have the habit of being far too conservative and are often
not able (or willing) to cater for children who have
special needs.

ADD often makes children difficult to instruct . . .
generally they are chaotic and difficult to control. For
these reasons many schools refuse to accommodate such
unruly children. Nonetheless, you need to ensure your
child is not treated as a second-class citizen.

There are certain schools who will very promptly strive to
put the child with the disorder in corrective classes, even
if the child's level of intelligence is not suitable to
that form of action. In many cases, this step is taken so
as not to disrupt normal class schedules and other
children. However, as a parent, you should not accept an
unjustified negative categorization of your child.

Finally remember that as parents it's essential that your
child knows you are always there for him or her. If any
decision taken by the Class Teacher or School Principal
disadvantages the well-being of your child, you should
discuss it with them and come-up with a plan that ensures
the very best outcomes for your child.

----------------------------------------------------
Garry Macdonald & Kieran Smyth have established a website
providing little known information about attention deficit
disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD). To learn the insider secrets about ADD or ADHD, go
to http://www.adhdsecretsuncovered.com .

Hot Tub Benefits of Ownership

Hot Tub Benefits of Ownership
Having a Hot Tub provides many benefits and these have been
known to man since time Immemorial. For many thousands of
years that magical liquid water has been a great relief for
many of the ailments that the fabric of life brings to us
mortals. In Times long ago in Egypt, Rome, Greece & Spain
it was a very normal practice to enjoy long hot soaks, not
only was it considered to be a ritual but much more than
that it was regarded as a health cure known to bring relief
from the aches, pains and stress of life.

The word Spa comes from the famous celebrated Belgian
health resort, which has a natural Hot Spring and it is
said by some to be short for "solus par aqua," and as
Solus stands for Health and par for and aqua water then we
seem to get in the English language "health through
water." In ancient times, there were small water pools,
which had warm water piped into them from natural hot
springs. We still have those today but these often smell of
sulphur and are not always pleasant. The belief sometimes
expressed but which I do not accept is that it is only
natural hot springs that have any beneficial healing effect
as the chemicals in these pools are supposed to have
magical cures, but it is in fact simply just the warm
water that does the trick! A modern Hot Tub Spa with the
latest fully adjustable water and air jets is in my view
much superior to a natural hot spring.

A Modern Hot Tub does not have that thousand-year-old
setting but it is undoubtedly wonderful therapy, and the
water is better for your skin. As soon as one is immersed
in a Hot Tub and as you begin to enjoy the warm spa water,
it causes two very beneficial physiological events to take
place in your body.

Firstly of these, which is a scientific fact, is that it
makes the capillaries in the body to increase thereby
providing an increased blood flow to through your body and
of course to your skin. Naturally, an increased blood flow
blood means better circulation and of course with goes the
life force that makes up the Human Body with the nutrients
that we need to maintain life.

Secondly, it slightly increases your heart rate, which adds
to the increased blood flow throughout your whole body. As
we are made up mainly by water something like in excess of
90% is water, the fluids in our bodies are neutral (or
nearly neutral) in weight. Our fluids then identify with
the water in the spa (natural buoyancy) which means that
the pressure of gravity on our circulatory system is
reduced. This has the effect of making the distance between
your heart and your feet much less. Although in truth, of
course, this is not the case.

The blood that the Chinese medicine doctor's call stagnant
(really slow) is now able to move much more freely and it
does so because of open capillaries (heat), and buoyancy
(water).

There is one very important thing that one should do to get
the full benefit and that is to let go and just relax. Then
the beneficial benefits of Hydrotherapy and Hydro massage
help to provide respite and healing. Simply the blood flow
is now in your body and not in your head, and your mind can
start to slow down and relax and be in a much more peaceful
state.

----------------------------------------------------
The author Jacuzzi John (JJ) supplies premium quality
American & European Hot Tubs from Estepona on the Costa Del
Sol in Spain and his web site is at http://www.spas4you.com
email info@spas4you.com

Why Hoodia Diet Pills Guarantee Weight Loss

Why Hoodia Diet Pills Guarantee Weight Loss
Many people are aware that hoodia diet pills are derived
from the Hoodia plant. This is a succulent, and there are
more than 20 varieties of the hoodia plant, but our
interest is focused exclusively on the Hoodia Gordonii,
which alone contains the magic ingredient, a new molecule
named P57 by the team that discovered its amazing qualities.

The plant is native to South Africa, particularly the
desert regions of the Kalahari. The indigenous tribes were
aware of the natural ability of this plant to reduce normal
appetite. This was very useful to these tribesmen, who
would often have to undertake hunting trips that could last
for many days, until they found the game they were after.
They would more often than not set off carrying no food,
and so would chew on the plant to stave off their natural
hunger pangs.

Although this practice of the Kalahari tribespeople was
recorded by a Dutch anthropologist in the 1930s, it is only
recently that the pharmaceutical companies started to take
an intense interest in this appetite-suppressing plant.

They eventually concluded that anyone ingesting the P57
molecule would see a reduction by up to 2000 calories in
the amount of food demanded by the body's natural appetite.
In other words, the body was tricked into feeling full with
a greatly reduced amount of food.

So, as non-scientists, we must accept that the case is
proven. Hoodia Gordonii does indeed suppress the appetite,
and, for most of us, if our appetite is reduced then we are
far less likely to over-eat. And, providing we are sensible
and still eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of liquids
along with the hoodia, and take a little exercise, then we
almost certainly should lose weight.

The trouble is, once word got out about this wonderful and
effective weight loss product, there was a huge demand, and
this led to many unscrupulous parties getting involved in
this booming market. Like some other well known "life
enhancing" pharmaceuticals, the Internet was soon awash
with many websites offering a wide range of hoodia products.

The consumer was rightly confused with the variety of
hoodia products, and rightly surmised that many of the
claims made were fraudulent. In many cases, the product was
based on a hoodia plant, but not on the Hoodia Gordonii,
the only one with the magic active ingredient, so it would
not suppress the appetite.

In other cases, the genuine hoodia powder was adulterated
with several other chemicals, which would reduce its
effectiveness, and possibly lead to undesirable side
effects. Remember that the hoodia plant is 100% natural,
and so does not have any nasty side effects.

The old maxim of "Buyer Beware" applies here as in so many
instances. If you think that you would benefit from the
appetite suppressing qualities of this wonderful plant,
then you must ensure that you purchase only pure hoodia
gordonii from a reputable company with the requisite
certification. If they do not offer proof of certification,
then go elsewhere.

----------------------------------------------------
For more tips and advice about the Hoodia Gordonii products
pop over to
http://hoodiagordoniidietpills101.com
Discover a trusted and reliable source of 100% authentic
hoodia . Check their certification!

Home Remedies For Pimples - Greatest Pimple Plague Busting Tips

Home Remedies For Pimples - Greatest Pimple Plague Busting Tips
When it comes to spots and acne the right home remedies for
pimples are actually very effective, when an outbreak
attacks you. Are you fed up and down-in-the-dumps because
you can't get rid of those beastly spots that plague you?

Are you losing self-confidence and self-esteem because of
them? Well, at least you are certainly not alone. Ugly acne
spots are the curse of most teenagers and a good few
adults, too.

But you can do a lot by following some simple guidelines
along with the use of readily available home remedies for
pimples.

To eliminate the problem, let's look at what acne pimples
are, what causes them and finally some great remedies and
tips to help heal and eradicate them.

Acne vulgaris makes its presence uncomfortably known to
you, by forming not only pimples, but also blackheads,
superficial sebaceous cysts and if untreated, scars on the
skin. They mostly break out anywhere on the face, temples,
chest or back.

Some of the causes are over-consumption of sugar, fried
foods and excessive starch. This gives rise to what is
known as internal dampness in Chinese medicine, which
eventually erupts as cysts, blackheads and pimples.

Chronic constipation can be a major contributing factor as
the digestive system becomes more clogged up, causing
toxins to be re-absorbed into the bloodstream.

As the skin is an alternative eliminative channel closely
linked to the bowels, any constipation can give rise to the
body using the skin as a secondary excretory outlet for
toxins, hence the outcrop of pimples and spots appearing on
it.

In addition to these, are the raging hormones of teenage
years which add to the clogging of oil glands.

To improve this situation, you will need to eat more
healthily, introducing plenty of fresh fruit and
vegetables, that with their natural fiber content should
propel the digestive system to eliminate more waste through
the bowel. Reduce chomping on junk food - sweets, cakes,
chocolate and other high sugar carbohydrate foods. They
clog up the system and have you noticed, you want to keep
eating them?

Foods rich in zinc or taking a zinc supplement has often
brought about a dramatic improvement. A good indication of
being deficient in zinc, is the presence of white flecks on
your finger nails. It is best to take advice from a
nutrition therapist before taking zinc as too much can
cause a reduction of copper in the body.

I have found that the topical use oatmeal on the affected
skin is very effective. Make a paste from fine oatmeal and
warm water and smooth this onto the skin, leaving for as
long as possible. This not only soothes the angry skin in
the area of acne outbreak, but it also draws out the toxins
via the skin pores, helping to unclog them and allowing
them to 'breathe'. Daily or weekly use of oatmeal paste
can bring about a very noticeable improvement. I consider
this to be one of the best home remedies for pimples.

There are many simple as well as effective treatments you
can use which are both safe and non-toxic, without having
to resort to some of the more invasive chemical
over-the-counter treatments.

----------------------------------------------------
Discover more really great home remedies for pimples that
will soon have your skin healthy and glowing again. Helen
Wall has been an acupuncturist and complementary therapist
for 25 years and shares her knowledge at
http://www.chinesemedicineadvisor.com

Supplements for joint pain

Supplements for joint pain
We all know the importance of mineral and vitamins in our
body. Body joint movements and healthy joint functions are
very important aspects. We all want to take proper care of
them. There are a number of essential vitamins that the
body needs to function properly and it is possible to take
these in the form of a vitamin supplement. The majority of
people do not have a balanced diet and they may be lacking
in certain vitamins which means that they require a vitamin
supplement to ensure that they do not have a deficiency of
an essential vitamin. Certain vitamins are absolutely
essential for the joint health. A health practitioner is
the best person to give advice on any vitamin supplement
that a person should take. It is important to seek
professional advice before taking any vitamin supplement.
This is because there are some vitamins that can be toxic
if too much is consumed and a vitamin supplement may not be
appropriate if there is enough of the vitamin already in
the food a person eats.

Joint pain is a big problem especially in America. The
acceptance of joint support products by consumers has been
increasing due to their proven effectiveness, as well as
their ability to promote and maintain joint health with
little or no side effects. Currently joint pain, disability
and restricted mobility affect more than 40 million
Americans. As the U.S. population ages, it is expected that
this number will double within the next decade. These
symptoms, once considered an unavoidable consequence of
aging, are now being successfully treated by joint support
products. There are various categories of products and
usually they contain glucosamine, MSM etc. which help in
covering the damage. It's also advisable for the joint pain
sufferers to supplement their diet with minerals and
vitamins supplements. Some categories of people may require
more types of vitamin supplement than others. Vegetarians
are often deficient in certain vitamins that are only found
in animal products, for example, and a vitamin supplement
is the ideal solution to this problem. Vegetarians do need
to be aware that some vitamin supplement manufacturing
processes involve animal products and it is important for
them to read the labels. A large number of synthetic
vitamin supplement products are available which will enable
a vegetarian to take them without contravening their
dietary beliefs or needs.

Children may sometimes show symptoms of vitamin
deficiencies. Contrary to the popular belief many younger
people can also suffer form joint pain. They will often
need a vitamin supplement, especially if they show any
symptoms of joint pain. Many young people do not eat a
sufficient variety of foods in their early years and a
vitamin supplement can help compensate for this natural
deficiency. Breast feeding for children has long been
recommended as a source of all the essential nutrients but
women who choose not to or are unable to bottle feed may be
concerned as to whether their baby needs a vitamin
supplement. The large majority of baby milk formulas
contain additional vitamins to prevent the need for a
vitamin supplement to be given. It is important to discuss
any concerns over the need for a baby or child to take a
vitamin supplement with a health professional to ensure
that the correct solution is found.

Vitamins are not only for those suffering from joint pains.
Elderly people or those suffering from certain diseases or
illnesses are other groups of people that may need to take
a vitamin supplement. The body may often need a vitamin
supplement to compensate for a person not being able to
consume the recommended daily allowance of certain vitamins
through their normal diet.

----------------------------------------------------
Andy Rogers writes about health and fitness. His site at
http://www.kenblueswell.com/ specifically talks about the
joint pain relief and various remedies possible for it.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetic Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy is one of the more painful problems
that occurs with the progression of diabetes. Neuropathy
is another term for nerve damage, and in this case, it is
nerve damage resulting from inadequate blood supply to the
nerves. The blood supply becomes restricted by
atherosclerotic plaque formation in the small blood vessels
that supply the nerves, and this is a common result of
increased blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides)
associated with diabetes.

Diabetic neuropathy typically first involves the feet, and
may later involve the hands, creating the "stocking and
glove" pattern of symptoms. As the nerves degenerate from
lack of blood supply (and therefore a lack of vital oxygen
to the nerve tissue), various symptoms of nerve damage
begin to arise. The symptoms of diabetic neuropathy may
include numbness, burning pain, tingling, and stabbing pain.

Because diabetic neuropathy is tied to poor blood flow (and
resulting decreased oxygen) to the nerves, symptoms tend to
be worse at the extremes of activity level. When someone
with diabetic neuropathy is inactive for an extended period
of time, such as when sleeping, overall blood pressure and
circulation decreases, resulting in decreased blood flow
and oxygen supply to the nerves, and increased neuropathy
symptoms. This often results in restless sleep, or a
complete inability to sleep due to pain.

On the other end of the activity range, when someone with
diabetic neuropathy exerts him or herself, overall
circulation is increased, but there is increased uptake of
oxygen by the large muscles. This means that less oxygen
is available in the smaller blood vessels that supply the
nerves in the feet and hands. This is why it is usually
necessary for people with diabetic neuropathy to rest
frequently any time they have to walk or exert themselves.

In addition to pain, the loss of nerve function in the feet
begins to interfere with balance and coordination when
walking. Balance is controlled by nerve signals from the
feet, visual cues from the eyes, and from the vestibular
system in the inner ears. While normal balance can
typically be maintained when one of these 3 systems is
partially diminished in function, major losses in one
system, or partial losses in two or all 3 can dramatically
interfere with balance when standing or walking. Since
diabetes not only causes loss of nerve function in the
feet, but also tends to eventually interfere with vision,
and because older diabetics often have other age-related
losses in the visual and vestibular senses, a major loss of
balance can result. The loss of balance is often one of
the more debilitating aspects of diabetic neuropathy, and
many times causes falls and other accidents that result in
injuries.

Medications are available that can decrease the pain of
diabetic neuropathy, but do little to improve actual nerve
function, nor help with neuropathy-related balance
problems. There are some natural treatments; however, that
do appear to improve nerve function in many cases. Of
course, the first line of defense is simply making the
necessary lifestyle changes to try to reverse diabetes
and/or to prevent it from getting worse, including diet and
exercise. Beyond that, there are nutritional supplements
and other interventions that have shown promising results
in recent studies in actually improving nerve function in
cases of diabetic neuropathy.

Probably the best of these natural treatments is
alpha-lipoic acid. Numerous studies have shown significant
improvements in diabetic neuropathy with both oral and
intravenous supplementation of this nutrient. Alpha-lipoic
acid is a strong anti-oxidant which is beneficial to
cardiovascular health, but also appears to have a direct
effect on healing diabetes-related nerve damage.

Another promising treatment is magnetic therapy,
particularly using magnetic shoe insoles for diabetic
neuropathy in the feet. It should be noted that there is a
large range in magnet strength used in magnetic insoles,
and it appears that the effectiveness of magnet therapy
improves with higher magnet strength (higher gauss rating).
Preliminary studies have shown good results with magnetic
insoles, and it is speculated that magnetic gloves might
produce similar results in neuropathy of the hands.

While it may not be possible to completely eliminate
diabetic neuropathy, there is much that can be done to
improve the situation with natural remedies in the majority
of cases.

----------------------------------------------------
For more information about help for diabetes and other
conditions, including resources for alpha-lipoic acid and
magnetic therapy, please visit Dr. Best's natural remedies
blog at http://BestHealthAndWellnessInfo.com/go/diabetes/ .
Dr. Best is a holistic healthcare provider in San Antonio,
Texas.

Food Toxics and Health Hazards

Food Toxics and Health Hazards
Food toxicology is a health issue. You should worry about
toxic chemicals in your food simply because certain
chemical contaminants have been implicated in major health
hazards, ranging from cancer to birth defects to asthma.

Understandably, high doses of toxic chemicals can be
lethal. But how safe are low doses of these toxic
chemicals? If high does are dangerously deadly, why should
you be exposed to even the low doses?

Nearly all the food you consume may contain a trace of
heavy metals, pesticides, and toxic chemicals. Some of
these contaminants are not added to your food: they are
naturally occurring contaminant substances due to the
environment. However, most of them are added by food
manufacturers to make your food more lasting, more
appealing, and more palatable.

Most food manufacturers give their products a face-lift or
makeover to make them look fresher or of higher quality.
For example, cold cuts, hot dogs, and beef jerky are all
dyed red to make them look fresh and tantalizing. Even
children's candies, popcorns, and cereals are heavily dyed
to make them more fun and enticing to young children.

Studies in rats and animals have shown that certain food
dyes are toxic and carcinogenic. Certain food colors were
banned, and certain food dyes have been approved by the FDA
due to insufficient evidence to prove a cancer risk.

Although artificial food colors may not pose a major health
risk, other than susceptibility to allergies, there is no
regulatory limit on how much a food manufacturer can use in
a food product, that is to say, self-regulatory, which in
some cases mean "no regulation."

It is sometimes difficult to avoid food colorings totally,
given that so many food items in the supermarket are
colored to some degree. However, if you are concerned with
your health, maybe you should pay more attention to food
labels, and select products that use the natural color
agents derived from beets, carrots, and spices, instead of
those chemical food dyes.

In addition to food dyes, food toxics can also derive from
dietary hormones, which are growth-enhancing hormones found
in most meats. Residues of these hormones may affect how
children mature sexually.

There has been much controversy over growth-enhancing
dietary hormones in animals. Canada and some European
countries believe that hormones and their metabolites in
beef can be toxic and mutagenic; however, the United States
insists that the hormones in beef are safe. There you go!

As a wary consumer, simply eat less beef, or buy only
"certified organic" beef. Chicken and pigs are not fed
growth-enhancing hormones. Another alternative is to get
protein from beans and grains.

Of course, farmers apply millions of pounds of pesticides
to the crops you eat. However, the risk from pesticides is
relatively low to make food toxicity a major health
concern. The best way to avoid pesticide toxicity is to buy
organic produce. In addition, peel vegetables, such as
carrots and potatoes, although their skins are most
nutritious; this is a decision you have to make regarding
the trade-off. It should be noted that washing the produce
will not do much to get rid of the pesticides, which are
already in the peels and the vegetables.

But do these food toxics, even in small does, compromise
your food safety? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is
supposed to be responsible for food safety. Given that it
is a complex and difficult job, does the FDA rise to the
occasion? A consumer may be at a loss as to what to eat or
not to eat. The bottom line: Always eat natural and go
organic.

----------------------------------------------------
Stephen Lau is a researcher and writer. He has published
several books, including "No Miracle Cures" on natural
healing; "How to Teach Children to Read" on activities and
games to teach children reading skills; and "Blueprint for
Success in Affiliate Business."
The author has also created many websites on health, eating
disorders, mental depression, golf, and smart money
management. For more information, go to:
http://www.stephenlau.name

You've just been snubbed . . . What now?

You've just been snubbed . . . What now?
So, you've just been told that you've missed out on leading
that new, exciting project. Or you find that two of your
colleagues are getting a promotion over you. Or the
presentation you made to the board last week didn't seem to
go over as well as you had hoped. All of these events (and
probably one or two you are thinking about as you read
this) can lead us to feel demoralised. The problem then
escalates. The disappointment we feel from this one event
spills over into everything else we do. Not only do we
feel bad, but others around us start to notice our lethargy
and things like our negative talk too. How can we get
ourselves out of the despondent feelings and negative
behaviour brought about by disappointments such as these?

There are two things that will help. Firstly, we need to
understand the three factors that are working when we are
highly motivated. This is important so that we can aim to
get them back into our life when things aren't going so
well. Secondly, a list of helpful tips to get us started
back toward normality.

All the work done by the sports psychs over the last 20
years to help athletes perform at their best, has been
really helpful for us mere mortals as well. For instance
through their research, we now know that when we are
performing well (and highly motivated):

- We are being mentally stimulated, i.e. our mind is being
used in a way that challenges and stimulates us (e.g.
business, pleasure, creative)

- We are emotionally well balanced, i.e. we feel happy
within ourselves and we have satisfying personal
relationships with friends and loved ones

- We are physically fit - eating, sleeping and exercising
well.

So, the tips to get motivated should apply to getting our
mind, emotions and body quickly back into shape. Here they
are . . .

1. How to get your mind fit again:

- List on a sheet of paper the three or four things you do
really well.

- Then, jot down some answers to these questions: 'If
things were going well for me now, what would I be doing?"
"Which of my strengths would I be using?"

- Take each one of your answers and write out an action
plan. Write it as "My goal is to ... The next steps I will
take immediately to move toward my goal are ..."

- Next, some mental practice. Make yourself comfortable,
either sit or lie down. Close your eyes, take a few deep
breaths. Allow your imagination to flow freely. Picture
yourself as you take action to achieve your goals.
Visualise them coming true in every detail. How do you
feel? When you open your eyes write down any thoughts that
come into your head.

- Do the first thing on your list now! Over the longer
term, you might consider having a chat with a supportive
friend, or reading a stimulating book, or even perhaps
taking up a new and creative hobby.

2. How to get your emotions into balance:

- Immediately look for someone else who is doing something
well (business, sport, study etc). Tell them in detail what
a great job they are doing. Praising what others are
doing, not only makes them feel good, it has a reciprocal
effect. You will feel better as well.

- Tell your loved ones that you love them. Build the
bridges, now!

- Share a laugh with someone you know. For example, watch
a favourite comedy movie or video with someone. Laughter
is a fantastic medicine. Recent studies in Japan have
shown that patients who laugh more get better more quickly
than those who don't.

3. How to get physically fit:

- Start some exercise straight away. If you are not into a
lot of exercise, start with a short walk. Remember the old
Chinese saying "A journey of 1,000 miles starts with the
first step".

- Be regular with your chosen exercise. Physical exercise
is not only good for your body, it stimulates the brain.
In fact, it's been shown that we can get the same stimulus
from physical exercise that can be achieved with drugs.
Besides, it's cheaper and better for you.

Getting one's motivation back again is all about building
energy. Next time you find yourself a little demotivated,
keep in mind that you need to re-energise your mind,
emotions and body.

----------------------------------------------------
Bob Selden is the author of the newly published "What To Do
When You Become The Boss" - a self help book for new
managers. He also coaches at the International Institute
for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland and the
Australian Graduate School of Management, Sydney. You can
contact Bob via http://www.whenyoubecometheboss.com/

A Sufferer's Experience of Migraine and Belladonna

A Sufferer's Experience of Migraine and Belladonna
My migraine was initially diagnosed when I was 36 years
old. As with many migraine sufferers the debilitating
attacks occurred weekly, affecting my ability to function
and lead a 'normal life'.

To find relief and help, my first port of call was to my
General Practitioner who was most unsympathetic, implying
that three young children, moving house and working were
bound to have a detrimental effect on my health and the
combination of stresses had 'chosen' to manifest in the
form of migraine. When I asked for suggestions for relief,
anti-depressants were offered as the 'best course of
action'. The GP also intimated that in time the migraines
would probably disappear; if not a hysterectomy may be the
answer!

There was no discussion regarding my medical or family
history, side effects that I may experience or the
potential for addiction to the anti-depressants. The whole
visit was over within five minutes, I left the surgery
reluctantly clutching a prescription. Hopefully this was an
atypical experience, and GPs these days are more
sympathetic.

I decided to carry out research into the side effects these
anti-depressant drugs could induce. I was horrified to find
that the symptoms I suffered, headache, nausea, difficulty
concentrating etc. could be further aggravated, and there
were other potential side effects such as sexual
dysfunction, hair loss and abdominal pain. My immediate
instinct was to throw the prescription away; in no way did
I want all those chemicals inside me, potentially doing
untold long term damage to my body. Neither did I want a
hysterectomy, as my migraines did not coincide with monthly
hormonal changes.

After alternative advice from family and friends to change
my diet, cut out all known triggers such as cheese,
chocolate, caffeine, alcohol and have more sleep, I decided
to look into complementary therapies and a friend
recommended me to try homeopathy. The use of homeopaths was
not as widely known as it is today and many people inferred
that their practices were somewhat dubious.

Unperturbed and determined to find someone to help me I
used the local telephone directory to seek out registered
homeopaths, finally arranging an initial consultation with
the one who seemed the most genuinely interested and
concerned with my plight during our introductory telephone
conversation.

When I arrived, the homeopath began explaining in detail
the 'like-for-like' principles of homeopathy. She was not
at all offended or alarmed by my questions about her
training and qualifications, the answers to which were most
reassuring.

My life and medical history were discussed in depth,
including family history of migraine and my sister's
epilepsy and the thoughts I had that my headaches were an
indication of me developing the same, which terrified me.
We also discussed my present and past emotional states and
the holistic approach to finding suitable relief.

During the consultation I explained that my migraine
usually started at the back of the head and spread
predominantly to the right temple, accompanied by a
pounding, throbbing pain and was worsened by light, noise,
jarring and cold hands and feet. From this and careful
questioning about other life and family factors, the
homeopath concluded that Belladonna would be beneficial for
me.

She told me that Belladonna is also known as Deadly
Nightshade. I was somewhat alarmed by this and expressed my
concerns over using such a toxic and sometimes fatal plant.
The homeopath carefully explained that the doses of
Belladonna that I would be taking were very diluted but
confirmed that it should only be used when prescribed by a
qualified practitioner, and should NEVER be used as a
self-help measure, for example picking it from the wild.

As an aside, Belladonna means 'beautiful eyes' in Italian
and preparations of it were used in days gone-by to dilate
the pupils and make women appear more alluring and sexy.

But apart from that, I was interested to learn that the
therapeutic use of Belladonna has been known for over 500
years and it has proven beneficial in many different
homeopathic remedies. It was also reassuring to find out
that many non-prescription cough syrups sold over the
counter contain atropine which is obtained from Belladonna.

My homeopath explained that should Belladonna not be
beneficial there were other homeopathic remedies such as
Sanguinarine, which is used to treat migraines with similar
symptoms but accompanied by vomiting, which rarely happened
in my case. Therefore it was agreed that Belladonna be
prescribed initially.

I was recommended to take the Belladonna in tablet form
twice a day, three in the morning and three at night over
five days and return for further consultation within 7
days. She also advised me to exclude cheese, chocolate,
caffeine and alcohol for the time being, while keeping a
headache diary to enable triggers to be identified and
discussed during future consultations.

I continued visiting the homeopath on a weekly basis for
several months, all the while continuing to take daily
doses of Belladonna which were gradually reduced. The
homeopath always made the visits productive and as she
found out more and more about me, my life-style and
triggers, she noticed that I have a tendency to clench my
jaw and grind my back teeth when subjected to topics of
discussion that were upsetting or made me angry. She
advised me always to sleep with my mouth slightly ajar to
prevent muscle tension. This is something that to this day
I consciously make an effort to do not only when drifting
off to sleep but when I begin to feel tense. The
improvements in the severity, intensity and frequency of my
migraines were astounding and gradually they disappeared.

I strongly recommend that anyone who suffers from migraine
attacks should consult with a homeopath as I'm sure they
will find the experience and their professionalism as
'life-changing' as I have.

To repeat: Belladonna is another name for deadly
night-shade, and should NEVER be self-administered. Use it
ONLY under the supervision of a registered and qualified
practitioner.

----------------------------------------------------
Joy Healey qualified as a nutritionist in 2000, at the
prestigious Institute for Optimum Nutrition in London. Her
dissertation topic was migraine.
For immediate delivery of an ebook full of further
recommendations for natural, alternatives approaches to
treat and prevent migraine visit:
http://www.natural-migraine-alternatives.com

8 tips for losing weight the healthy way.

8 tips for losing weight the healthy way.
Around 150 million Americans were overweight or obese in
2008. In the UK at least a third of the population is
either overweight or seriously obese. More and more
children are having their life expectancy reduced because
of obesity. Obesity continues to be a serious problem and
is predicted to reach epidemic levels by the year 2020.

Here are some diseases that you are likely to suffer from
if you are carrying a lot of extra weight:

1. Heart disease- the biggest killer of all.
2. Stroke
3. Diabetes- too much sugar can cause problems.
4. Cancer
5. Arthritis- your joints can't take too much weight.
6. Hypertension

Losing weight helps to prevent and control these diseases.

The quick weight loss methods which have made their
creators millions of dollars do not provide lasting
results. They may help you lose weight in the short term
but in the long term they're of no use. More often than
not, dieting methods which involve dietary drinks, foods
and supplement or pills do not work. They make their
producers lots of money but do not really benefit you. I
will, however, talk about these in other articles.

It is better to rely on a healthy weight loss option which
will provide lifetime results. You have to set realistic
targets and not expect to lose a lot of pounds in a short
time frame.

Here are 8 tips on how you can lose those unwanted pounds
the healthy way:

1. Do not starve your self.

The key to a healthier way of losing weight is: Do not diet.

You may seem happy and feel that you are losing unwanted
weight on your stomach and thighs by skipping meals. But
remember that this will not last long. Your body cannot
cope with having insufficient food to fuel the energy that
you use up everyday.

If you get used to skipping one or two meals a day, your
stored calories will be used up instead of the energy that
should have been provided by your meals. So if you just eat
one huge sandwich in one day, it will end going straight to
your problem area , whether that's your stomach, your hips
or your buttocks.

2. Start your day right.

Dieticians always say that breakfast is the most important
meal of the day. Have a healthy meal in the morning to
jump-start your metabolism. Smoothies, fruit are really
great. See my previous articles on superfoods to see
exactly why.

3. Eat small, healthy meals frequently.

Five small snacks per day is better than three big meals.
Eating more frequently, and in small servings, can prevent
over-eating. This will also increase your metabolism and
make calories burn faster.

4. Decide on how much weight you want to lose.

Keep your target sensible. In the long run, it is
virtually impossible for you to lose 30 pounds in 2 weeks
,that is unless you want to make yourself really ill ! Have
a mindset that you want to eat healthy for the rest of
your life.

Once you have decided on a weight loss plan or program,
stick to it and make sure that you follow your own set of
dieting rules.

5. Drink lots of water.

One of the ultimate superfoods water is an essential for a
healthy diet.Your body needs sufficient water to burn fat
and keep your cells hydrated and healthy.

6. Avoid too much sugar.

Plan your meals around lots of fruits and vegetables, some
bread, rice or pasta for that carbo fix that you need, plus
lean meat and protein rich-foods. Sweets, sodas and
pastries should be an occasional treat only.

7. Watch your fat intake.

Fat is not the culprit to being overweight. You need this
to keep your weight at the proper level.

Some fats are healthy. Olive, peanuts and canola oil have
them, tuna, salmon and mackerel have omega-3 fats. They are
great for the heart.

8. Exercise. One clear message here. Do not overdo it. Do
not waste money on gym membership until you're confident
enough to do so. Take exercise everyday using everyday
situations. Leave your car if you are only going a few
blocks from home, take the stairs instead of the elevator,
jog, cycle or skate. Use these activities and other home
chores if you don't want to go to the gym.. Make sure that
you do this regularly and you will not even notice that you
are already shedding pounds with these day to day
activities.

It does not matter how much weight you plan or need to
lose. What is important is that you set realistic goals for
yourself.

Go slow. If you have already lost 5 or 6 pounds, give
yourself a break then try to lose the next 5 pounds.

Eat healthy, drink lots of water, have enough sleep and
exercise. This will give you a higher chance of losing
weight and improving your health, which would result in a
new, healthier you. Finally do not become obsessed with
weighing yourself. Check the scales once a week- no more.
Become obsessive and losing weight will just become a
chore. Remember you're changing your lifestyle as well as
your weight !

----------------------------------------------------
Paul Costello is the vice principal of a high school , a
writer and a father. He is interested in diet and health
and has a great web site at :
http://www.ultimatedieting.info

How To Avoid Wasting $$$ Hand Over Fist On Fitness Equipment

How To Avoid Wasting $$$ Hand Over Fist On Fitness Equipment
Find Out Everything You Need To Know About Fitness
Equipment. Do You Need It? Or Are You Better Off Investing
Into A Fitness Trainer?

Fitness equipment in your home will not produce the same
fitness results that a qualified personal trainer can
offer for around the same price as the expensive fitness
equipment, if not cheaper. Since a piece of fitness
equipment is nothing more than an object, it is unable to
compete with the advantages that an actual fitness trainer
can provide. This equipment will not assist you in the
proper techniques for losing weight and getting into better
shape. Additionally, fitness equipment will become useless
once you achieve your desired level of health.

As a resident interested in improving their health, you
need to establish a proper fitness plan. A successful
fitness plan will not revolve around hefty fitness
equipment but on the knowledge that a fitness trainer can
provide to you.

Fitness Equipment Is A Temporary Solution To Better Health

The fitness equipment, regardless of what type of equipment
it is, only has limited use. There is not one piece of
fitness equipment that will assist you in completing all of
your fitness goals.

As mentioned earlier, this equipment is also expensive and
has a tendency to collect dust after you have reached your
fitness goals (or when you have decided to give up on
reaching your fitness goals, as many people who purchase
fitness equipment do).

Equipment For Fitness Will Not Plan Your Entire Workout

Regardless of the price that you pay for your fitness
equipment, it will not plan your entire workout. It will
not tell you everything that you need to do to succeed at
your individual fitness goals.

Only a proper personal trainer can guide you to
successfully completing your fitness goals, even if they
seem impossible to tackle.

Invest Smart By Rethinking Your Fitness Equipment

In reality, there is not much of a difference between the
price of fitness equipment and the price of hiring a
personal trainer. While both options could be considered
expensive, you will receive more from your local fitness
trainer than you will with fitness equipment that you have
to force into your home.

Your Mental Health

Fitness equipment will not help you in maintaining your
mental health. Even though you are trying to achieve a
higher level of physical health, you will only receive the
best results when you are mentally prepared for the
enduring workout sessions that you will face.

A fitness trainer can assist you in keeping your morale up
while the fitness equipment will encourage you to give up
on your fitness goals, if anything.

Improving Your Social Life

By investing in the services of a fitness trainer against
purchasing fitness equipment at your local store, you can
improve your social life. By working out a a fitness
center, you will meet individuals with similar fitness
goals.

These people will want you to succeed in your goals as much
as they wish to succeed in their own.

You will have someone to talk to (in your personal
trainer) when you have questions regarding your fitness
plan. A piece of fitness equipment is unable to carry on a
conversation with you, leaving you with a lonely workout
session.

So, In Conclusion..

Fitness equipment will do you little good unless you are
using the fitness equipment of a fitness trainer that you
have hired. Your fitness trainer, just like any human,
will always be more valuable than a mechanical device.

As I'm sure you've seen numerous people line up at health
clubs or gyms on the treadmills and other machines and
avail to no results.

----------------------------------------------------
Zach Hunt is a fitness equipment expert, personal trainer
and owner of Physzique, a fitness coaching service in
Spokane, WA. Go here:
http://www.spokanefitnesscoach.com/index.html
or you can go here for more tips:
http://www.spokanefitnesscoach.com/articles/fitness-equipmen
t-spokane.html

What is the Best Way to Build Muscle Fast?

What is the Best Way to Build Muscle Fast?
What is the best way to build muscle fast, using
free-weights or machines? If you wanted to gain weight and
build muscle as fast as naturally possible, what should
your workouts look like? Well, if you want to build a mass
of muscle fast and effectively, free-weights are hands down
MUCH more effective then machines in general.

Why? The main reason is because free-weights require
complete strength and coordination of the weight, so your
muscles are forced to work harder. If your muscles are
working harder, then typically this results in more growth.
If the motion of the exercise is supported and guided
through its path, such as with machines, then your muscles
have much less stress when lifting the weight.

When you train with free-weights, your body must adapt to
the range of motion on its own. This is why whenever you
try a new exercise you have never done before it feels
awkward or more difficult, even with light weight. Since
your muscles have to adapt to this range of motion, you
develop a more overall solid level of strength, resulting
in of course bigger strength gains which means bigger
muscles.

This is not to say that machines are altogether useless for
gaining muscle mass. They play their part for some
exercises that you can't use free-weights for such as the
lat-pulldown machine for your back. However, since you are
probably more concerned with the best way to build muscle
mass fast, I'm going to keep it simple like always:

STICK TO FREE-WEIGHTS!

Gaining strength in barbell and dumbbell exercises,
especially compound exercises such as squats, deadlifts,
bench presses, bent-over rows, shoulder presses and a few
others will always build much more solid, hard, muscle mass
then machines, period. A muscle mass building workout MUST
contain mostly free-weights.

If you have been using mostly machines for a while and
havn't seen any results worth bragging about, then perhaps
this is where the fault is. I would personally recommend
that to those who are looking for the best muscle mass
workout program for fast results eliminate machine
exercises completely.

In a nutshell, machines are good for pumping and isolation
exercises, and free-weights are for gaining muscle weight
fast and packing on serious pounds of muscle in record
time. If you are a true hardgainer and have a really hard
time gaining weight and building muscle mass fast, then it
is absolutely vital that you stick with mainly
free-weights, most of the major compound exercises, eat
plenty of clean food emphasizing on protein and carbs, get
plenty of rest, keep your workouts short and simple, and to
be careful not to overtrain.

With these key factors in mind, you should have no trouble
gaining weight and building muscle mass as as fast as
naturally possible.

----------------------------------------------------
Derek Manuel is the author of the best-selling, "How to
Gain Weight and Build Muscle for Hardgainers". If you want
to learn how you too can gain 20 to 30 pounds of solid
muscle in as short as 8 weeks, or if you just want more
quality information on how to gain weight and build muscle,
please visit http://www.hardgainers-weight-tips.com