Sleep is one of those universal things that can’t be avoided. Sleep is an integral component of a human being’s physical and mental health, so it isn’t really shocking that there are so many sleep aids out in the market nowadays. However, for those who prefer to take a more naturalistic approach to the whole thing, there are also sleep aids that don’t involve the use of modern pharmaceutical products. Indeed, human beings have been having trouble sleeping since the dawn of human civilization – perhaps longer, some evolutionary scientists believe. So it isn’t really a surprise that some of the less conventional sleep aids people use are truly ancient secrets. Valerian is an herb that has literally centuries of herbal lore and anecdotal evidence testifying its effectiveness. Naturally, that much knowledge is enough to bring it to the attention of modern science, but does not serve as proof that it works. However, modern medical science has found that this particular herb does act as an effective aid for people with sleep problems. Nobody is quite sure how the herb works at the moment, but most experts attribute Valerian’s effectiveness to the possibility that it works the same way modern pharmaceutical sleeping pills work. In other words, the herb may have an effect on the levels of certain neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. Kava, while better known as an herbal treatment for cases of anxiety, has also been listed as part of a long line of alternative herbal sleep aids. Similar to Valerian, no one is entirely sure how kava helps people get to sleep, but there are theories that have been considered scientific and credible. However, it should be noted that kava is known to have side effects associated with its use, particularly on the liver. It has been noted by the Food and Drug Administration that kava can cause severe damage to the liver, especially if it is taken in the form of a dietary supplement. According to their reports and records, roughly 25% of all kava users have suffered from some form of liver damage. Four of those cases required transplants of new livers, according to the FDA. Relaxation is perhaps the oldest and most natural of all sleep aids, though more and more people are having difficulty achieving a state of relaxation. Even in this arena, there are more than a few ancient (and not so ancient) secrets that can help someone get to sleep. Yoga and meditation have both been known to have excellent relaxing effects on both the mind and body, with the former having some exercises and positions that are particularly effective at putting people to sleep. For centuries, Zen meditation has been used by the Japanese to help themselves get to sleep, though the methods that are used to increase environmental and conceptual awareness are more popular outside of the Far East. Visualizing relaxing scenery is a more modern trick that is stereotypically suggested by psychologists that, if done properly, could actually work. Diet can also play a role in helping someone get to sleep. Certain components in food like sugar can make it difficult to get to sleep. At the same time, there are also some nutrients and foods that can help a person get to sleep faster. Among the more popular of these is magnesium, which is a natural sedative. Some vegetables, almonds, legumes, molasses, whole grains, and brewer’s yeast are all known to contain enough magnesium to serve as dietary sleep aids.
Archive for ◊ August, 2009 ◊
Since the introduction of contact lenses years ago, the eye product has gone through various changes and innovations to meet the needs of the consumers. There are now more than ten types of contact lenses each with its own characteristics. You can get a prescription from an eye doctor and decide on your own which specific brand and type of lenses you want. If you find the task difficult, you can also ask the doctor for his suggested brands and contact lens type. The following are the types of contact lenses you can use depending on your needs and preferences: Daily wear soft lenses made of soft polymer plastic, these contact lenses allow oxygen to pass through providing a higher level of comfort than rigid gas permeable lenses. Disposable soft lenses fall also under this category. They are called daily wear contact lenses because they require daily cleaning. Although most daily wear soft lenses are disposable there are also those that can be worn for one whole year. Disadvantages of these types of lenses include: easy absorption of oils and lotions from your hand which can irritate your eyes and also less durability than hard lenses Disposable soft lenses- disposable soft lenses can be worn up to two weeks. They still require daily cleaning but they are not designed to last you months. Daily wear disposable lenses- daily disposable lenses are lenses which you can only use for one day. They are discarded at days end. Although daily disposables are more affordable than yearly lenses, expenses can add up when you buy a year’s worth of disposable lenses. Using daily wear disposable lenses lowers your risk to eye infections. Colored Soft Lenses- Colored soft lenses are perfect for those who want a fresh look. They serve the same purpose as color contact lenses except they do come in different tints. Some colored lenses contain tints not for aesthetic purposes. These light-filtering tinted lenses are for athletes or sports enthusiasts. Extended-wear lenses- Extended-wear lenses are contact lenses that can be worn for several weeks, usually 30 days without having to remove them. They can come in either soft or gas permeable types. They are perfect for busy people who do not have the time to clean their lenses at the end of each day. Daily wear rigid gas permeable lenses- these contact lenses are made of plastic that are not as soft or as absorbent as soft contact lenses but they allow oxygen to pass through them. They don’t tear as easily as soft lenses do but they can take a few weeks to get used to. These type of lenses also require daily cleaning. Bifocal contact lenses are solutions for those who are suffering from presbyopia. Toric Contact Lenses- this type of lenses are used to correct astigmatism. These contact lenses are also bi-focal. And can be made from soft lenses or gas permeable materials. Orthokeratology lenses- these lenses are used for improving vision problems caused by the cornea’s shape. These lenses when worn overnight adjust the shape of the cornea so that the individual can have food eyesight the following day for up to 12 hours.
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Not so long ago, the use of flax became a “buzz word” in health and fitness circles. In fact, even the great Mahatma Gandhi was once quoted as saying that flax is a“wonder seed.” “Wherever flax seed becomes a regular food item among the people, there will be better health.”, Gandhi proclaimed. Some nutritionists, researchers, and scientists believe that it could be the most important health-promoting supplement next to a multivitamin. Nearly every system in the body can benefit from flax seed oil’s natural properties, including the cardiovascular system, immune system, circulatory system, reproductive system, nervous system, as well as the joints. Flax seed oil comes from a blue flowering plant that is grown on the Western Canadian Prairies for its oil rich seeds. Also known as Linseed Oil, flaxseed oil is highly recommended as a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids that are needed to sustain health. Flax seed is composed of oil, fiber, protein and mucilage. Twelve percent of flax seeds is mucilage which makes it a gentle, non-irritating, natural laxative. Flax mucilage is perfect for those who have a sensitive stomach, acting as a buffer for excess stomach acids, soothing ulcers or irritable bowel disorders. Flax seeds are natural skin care components that are very rich in Omega-3 oils, those essential fatty acids that are so important for our health, especially to the skin. There are many skin problems today such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis that may be caused by the lack of omega 3 essential fatty acids. As a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids, flax seed is able to replenish the correct body levels of these fats and so it is a natural skin care gift from nature. A lot of people are also using flax seed oil directly on their skin in order to make it smoother and less dry. Some even report that directly applied flax seed reduces skin inflammations, but much more research is needed before we can know for sure whether this is true, brought on by a completely different factor, or simply a case of placebo effect. Skin products made from flax seed oil can easily become rancid, especially pure flax seed oil where no preservatives have been added. Heat, light and oxygen will break down flax seed oil. To preserve its efficacy, flax seed oil should be placed in an air-tight container that should be kept away from direct sunlight. A spray top bottle with an extra lid is better than a normal bottle with a single lid because the spray construction reduces the possibility of air getting into the bottle. To prevent natural skin care products such as flax seed oil skin from turning bad, you should always store them in the refrigerator. The best flax seed oil skin products are usually those processed at low temperatures in dark environments. Flax oil and flax seeds are being rediscovered as true health foods. They definitely merit being included on any top ten list of natural skin care products that are good for everyone.
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You must know Steroid terms, if you are often dealing in steroids. Sometimes, you come upon Steroid terms that utterly new thing for you, which make things rather difficult for you. There are a number of “slang terms” associated with steroids. Here are some of the useful steroid terms for you. Anabolic Steroid – any of testosterone derivates or synthetically prepared compounds to promote general body growth, to oppose the effects of endogenous estrogen, or to promote masculinization effects is anabolic steroid. Its chemical structure is similar to cholesterol. Androgen – any steroid hormone that promotes male characteristics is androgen. Aromatize – the on take of feminine characteristics or feminization. Atrophy – refers to a state of deterioration usually within the muscle or bodily organ due to a lack of use or health. Bitch Tits – a slang term for gynecomastia. Gynecomastia – an abnormal enlargement of one or both breasts in men is termed as gynecomastia. This condition is usually temporary due to a hormonal imbalance brought on by the use of steroids, however, can occur naturally as well. Freaky – a bodybuilding term used to describe a person who is huge and obviously on steroids Fakes or Basement Drug – Counterfeit or Fake Steroid Virilization – the process in which a person takes on the characteristics of a mature male; also known as masculinization Gear – slang term for steroids, syringes, anything associated with the use of steroids Juice – slang term for injectable steroids Dart, Poke, Ned – slang terms for syringes. Libido – a person’s sex drive Steroid – any of a large number of hormonal substances with the same basic chemical structure produced mainly in the adrenal cortex and gonads. Steroid Cycle – the time in which a certain Steroid is taken Lean Mass – the amount of muscle on a person’s body Testosterone – an androgenic hormone which is used to produce anabolic steroids Estrogen – a natural hormone that promotes the growth and development of female characteristics Creatine – a nitrogenous compound that when combined with phosphate produces ATP ATP – adenosine triphosphate is a molecule used to store and release energy in the muscle. Diuretic – a substance that increases the amount of urine which is released by the kidneys
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There are many days that get started off with a frightful scream or heartbreaking dismay from both men and women. The source of this shock and disappointment is an inflamed greasy and oily clogged up skin pore. Acne is an unwelcome blemish on anyone’s face; it can be quite painful too. If left untreated, acne can leave an unpleasant scar on the face, neck or back. Unlike the common pimple, acne can be inflamed and possibly turn out to be infected. Hormones that go into overdrive during the teen years of a person cause acne, they produce an excess of oil deposits in the glands resulting to this skin blemish. While they are not particularly life threatening or are they extremely painful and disturbing they can leave permanent scars in the affected area. Acne usually happens around the teenage years, from 13 to 19, and usually disappears there after. Different people have different levels or seriousness of acne infection. These will all depend on the amount of oils and dirt the face has. While some have minor infections that can be treated by simply washing the affected area, there are those that necessitate the consultation of a dermatologist or a skin expert. Acne may not seem to be a serious matter for some, but it is an infection that can greatly affect many. There are people with acne who locks themselves up in their rooms waiting for the acne to disappear. It is a serious blemish that they cannot show to the world. Every year, ointments and acne medication has estimated sales of over a hundred million dollars. This just shows how many people are dead serious in eliminating acne.
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Acne is common in teenage and during pregnancy, when it occurs on adults it is a very stressful situation for them, as the society does not approve acne or adults. Some adults feel so embarrassed that they want to hide acne from other people’s sight. Studies have shown some growing evidence on acne, that it can be a hereditary disease too apart from occurring due to hormonal imbalances. It is due to oil production and mismanagement of dead cells exfoliation. Acne lesions in adults are normally seen on the face, but might also occur anytime on the chest, neck, back, scalp, legs, upper arms and even shoulders. Adult acne is very persistent when compared to teen acne, as acne seen in teens subsides over time when the hormones get adjusted. Another major drawback of adult acne is that it leads to permanent scarring. Key Factors That Contribute to adult acne: Hormones are considered as the main culprit and mainly cause skin eruptions or outbreak of acne. But, has anyone thought about the organs that produce the hormones? The actual fact is that the kidneys, liver and skin are the important organs involved in eliminating impurities and waste particles from the body, if anyone of the organs does not work properly and does not eliminate waste out the body, it might result in acne in adults. Acne or the skin eruption is the first symptom of failure these organs are facing. To facilitate the elimination of waste from body water is very important, when water is taken in good quantities the bowels are cleared and the blood too gets rid of its toxic elements. If water content decreases the skin might not do its function of eliminating wastes, or the lungs might not be able to oxygenize the blood due to the impurities of air is breathed and retained in it. Hence, the factors for acne may be air, food, emotional stress, water etc. Natural adult acne treatments: The wastes from the body should be eliminated properly to facilitate it the person should be exposed to pure air, water, natural food habits and, foods rich in antioxidants. A natural face wash made up of clean, warm water with lemon juice can be used to pamper the skin. The lemon has the ability to reduce oil from the skin, hence minimizing acne in adults. Fiber rich food helps in the removal of toxins and wastes from the body by facilitating the bowel movements. Also when using cosmetic products, care needs to be taken not to use oil-based cosmetics.