The Poker Nightcap

Proactive medicine on the other hand aims to maintain homeostasis. That is, it aims to maintain health on the physical, mental and emotional levels. The principle behind proactive medicine is prevention is better than cure. In traditional Chinese medicine, for example, patients used to visit their doctors while they were well and healthy and they paid the doctor for his/her services, however, if a patient became ill the treatments were free. The assumption being that the doctor did not do his/her job properly and therefore the patient become ill. Luckily, this is no longer the case, even in China.

If one of the doctor’s patients died, irrespective of the cause, the doctor was forced to hand a red lantern in his surgery and this would tell all his patients how many of the doctor’s patients had died. Boy, talk about having to be accountable.

Proactive medicine includes advising patients about diet, exercise, stress management and lifestyle choices. It also included the use of preventative forms of medicine, examples include: massage and aromatherapy treatments as well as Acupuncture, Chinese and western herbal medicine. Each of these forms of therapy or medicine acknowledges the fact, that there are ways to strengthen the body’s resistance to disease and maintain health and wellbeing.

The effects of massage for example, have been shown to work on a variety of levels. Physically, massage improves blood and lymph circulation, lowers blood pressure, improves immune and digestive system functioning and increases metabolism. Massage also speeds recovery time for athletes and others with injuries, as well as decreasing pain in many chronic conditions such as tension headaches, back problems and arthritis. Psychologically, massage calms the nervous system, decreases stress and boosts energy levels.

Aromatherapy, used as a proactive medicine, has similar effects to massage, with the additional benefit of the therapeutic properties contained in the essential oils.

In addition, Yoga and Tai Chi, both quite well known in the west these days, are forms of proactive medicine, as they aim to establish and maintain the energy balance of the body. Both these forms of ‘exercise’ are well documented in helping people to regain and maintain a good level of fitness, flexibility and overall health. They have been practiced for thousands of years in both India and China and have well and truly stood the test of time in terms of proving their effectiveness.

Both Tai Chi and Yoga improve overall fitness, balance, coordination, and agility. They have also been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rates, promote relaxation, and release stress and tension. People who practice Tai Chi or Yoga on a regular basis tend to have good posture, flexibility, and range of motion, are more mentally alert, and sleep more soundly at night.

Some other conditions positively affected by Tai Chi and Yoga include: Chronic pain and headaches, arthritis and osteoporosis, heart disease, depression and anxiety, high blood pressure, asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema, and many more. Tai Chi and Yoga thus perform a vital function as proactive medicines, with far-reaching benefits way beyond just physical fitness.

Similarly, the use of meditation and relaxation as proactive medicines are not to be underestimated. Generally speaking, meditation is an experience of relaxing the body, quieting the mind, and awakening the spirit. There are many types of meditation, and each has specific techniques and skills that can be learned. The benefits of meditation are, generally, quite extraordinary. For many people, the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual benefits of meditation might include: higher levels of energy, creativity, and spontaneity; lower blood pressure; increased exercise tolerance; better concentration; decreased depression and anxiety; fewer cravings for alcohol and cigarettes; increased job satisfaction, and better relationships with others, just to mention a few.

In short, proactive medicine is the best approach to establish and maintain a healthy mind, body and spirit.

Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine and together with his wife Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, they have created Natural Skin Care Products by Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 years of combined expertise with you.

Join our Natural Skin Care Newsletter – it’s fun, free and Informative and you receive a free eBook on natural skin care.
© Wildcrafted Herbal Products 2004

Social phobia, also called social anxiety, is a disorder characterized by overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. People with social phobia have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear of being watched and judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated by their own actions.

Their fear may be so severe that it interferes with work or schooland other ordinary activities. While many people with social phobia recognize that their fear of being around people may be excessive or unreasonable, they are unable to overcome it. They often worry for days or weeks in advance of a dreaded situation.

Social phobia can be limited to only one type of situationsuch as a fear of speaking in formal or informal situations, or eating or drinking in front of othersor, in its most severe form, may be so broad that a person experiences symptoms almost anytime they are around other people. Social phobia can be very debilitatingit may even keep people from going to work or school on some days. Many people with this illness have a hard time making and keeping friends.

Physical symptoms often accompany the intense anxiety of social phobia and include blushing, profuse sweating, trembling, and other symptoms of anxiety, including difficulty talking and nausea or other stomach discomfort. These visible symptoms heighten the fear of disapproval and the symptoms themselves can become an additional focus of fear.

Fear of symptoms can create a vicious cycle: as people with social phobia worry about experiencing the symptoms, the greater their chances of developing the symptoms. Social phobia often runs in families and may be accompanied by depression or alcohol dependence.

How Common Is Social Phobia?

About 3.7 percent of the U.S. population ages 18 to 54approximately 5.3 million Americanshas social phobia in any given year. Social phobia occurs in women twice as often as in men, although a higher proportion of men seeks help for this disorder. The disorder typically begins in childhood or early adolescence and rarely develops after age 25.

What Causes Social Phobia?

Research to define causes of social phobia is ongoing. Some investigations implicate a small structure in the brain called the amygdala in the symptoms of social phobia. The amygdala is believed to be a central site in the brain that controls fear responses.

Animal studies are adding to the evidence that suggests social phobia can be inherited. In fact, researchers supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) recently identified the site of a gene in mice that affects learned fearfulness.

One line of research is investigating a biochemical basis for the disorder. Scientists are exploring the idea that heightened sensitivity to disapproval may be physiologically or hormonally based.

Other researchers are investigating the environment’s influence on the development of social phobia. People with social phobia may acquire their fear from observing the behavior and consequences of others, a process called observational learning or social modeling.

What Treatments Are Available for Social Phobia?

Research supported by NIMH and by industry has shown that there are two effective forms of treatment available for social phobia: certain medications and a specific form of short-term psychotherapy called cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Medications include antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), as well as drugs known as high-potency benzodiazepenes. Some people with a form of social phobia called performance phobia have been helped by beta-blockers, which are more commonly used to control high blood pressure.

Cognitive-behavior therapy is also very useful in treating social phobia. The central component of this treatment is exposure therapy, which involves helping patients gradually become more comfortable with situations that frighten them. The exposure process often involves three stages. The first involves introducing people to the feared situation.

The second level is to increase the risk for disapproval in that situation so people build confidence that they can handle rejection or criticism.

The third stage involves teaching people techniques to cope with disapproval. In this stage, people imagine their worst fear and are encouraged to develop constructive responses to their fear and perceived disapproval.

Cognitive-behavior therapy for social phobia also includes anxiety management trainingfor example, teaching people techniques such as deep breathing to control their levels of anxiety. Another important aspect of treatment is called cognitive restructuring, which involves helping individuals identify their misjudgments and develop more realistic expectations of the likelihood of danger in social situations.

Supportive therapy such as group therapy, or couples or family therapy to educate significant others about the disorder, is also helpful. Sometimes people with social phobia also benefit from social skills training.

What Other Illnesses Co-Occur With Social Phobia?

Social phobia can cause lowered self-esteem and depression. To try to reduce their anxiety and alleviate depression, people with social phobia may use alcohol or other drugs, which can lead to addiction. Some people with social phobia may also have other anxiety disorders, such as panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Jay Villaverde is the owner, and customer, of http://www.CardiacPower.com, an alternative health company developed out of the rising need for alternative methods in dealing with heart disease. The site is designed for those seeking safe and effective cardiovascular products.

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Recently, I had the unique privilege to interview Miriam V. Mills, (M.D., FAAP) from the Young People’s Clinic in Tulsa, OK. Dr. Mills is credited for directing the landmark research project (at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine) on the study of Osteopathic manipulative treatment for ear infections in children. The study was first publicized in the MD (allopathic) literature and more recently in the Sept 2003 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Dr. Mills remarked: “Osteopathic manipulative treatment was developed by Andrew Taylor Still (who was himself an MD, but who established osteopathy) over 100 years ago. One of his students, William Garner Sutherland, expanded the manipulative treatments to include the head and related structures, which is called osteopathy in the cranial field. There is not one “technique” that is used, but a variety of approaches, depending on the problem encountered. This has been taught for over 50 years. The experience of most practitioners of these methods find remarkable benefit from them, though there has been little in the literature to document these experiences.

Since the development of osteopathy in the cranial field, other practitioners (including chiropractors, massage therapists, and physical therapists) have utilized some of the same methods, going by the name of `cranio-sacral therapy.’ I cannot vouch for exactly what these methods are, or their effectiveness, as they are not what was studied in my research.”

According to Dr. Mills, the study was performed under controlled, blinded groups of children across four (4) sites in the nation. Of these groups, 32 children were in the control group and 25 were in the treatment group. The study produced phenomenal findings. The culmination of a six-month observation period demonstrated that there was a statistically significant difference in (within treatment group) episodic ear infections.

Of the control group, 8 children reverted to tube installation as opposed to 1 in the treatment group. Dr. Mills explained, “…There was a trend, though not quite statistically significant, to having fewer antibiotics prescribed to children in the treatment group.”

As indicated by Dr. Mills, sessions with children can last from 20-40 minutes, and can take 3-4 sessions every 2 weeks to see a notable difference. In Dr. Mills’ own practice, children are seen periodically over 4-6 month duration to be certain that these children are responding well to the treatment. As children develop and incur physical changes or injuries with relation to body tissues, this observation period is necessary. Dr. Mills further explained that most initial compressions are results from childbirth.

Osteopathic manipulation treatment can range in cost from $75 – $150, depending on individual needs. Dr. Mills also mentioned, “…since many physicians’ services are covered by insurance, this may cover a large part of the cost of osteopathic manipulation…” Ultimately, the patient’s treatment cost is usually his or her copay for office visits.

Collaborative efforts of the research team documented a comparison of children who received conventional medical treatment (with or without manipulation). To Dr. Mills’ knowledge, there has not been a comparison study of osteopathic manipulation (alone) to medical treatment (alone). However, the Osteopathic Manipulation Treatment did present a remarkably decreased need for surgical treatment in the reported study.

Osteopathic Manipulation is a noninvasive treatment that is mild and accepted well. Dr. Mills commented, “…though the children sometimes need to be distracted with toys in order to lie still for the length of time involved. There is no popping or cracking involved in the treatment, when applied to young children.”

Osteopathic practitioners who are involved in the cranial field are doctors or dentists who are most often members of the Cranial Academy (www.cranialacademy.org). Dr. Mills also relayed that nationwide demand for Osteopathic medicine is immense, therefore more interest in this field is prompting physicians to receive adequate training.

Based on these findings, one can only naturally assume that osteopathic manipulation treatment is a welcomed alternative innovation within the medical community. As society is realizing the potential benefits and effectiveness of natural medicine and noninvasive medical procedures, Osteopathic Manipulation is gaining lead-way in modern health treatments – especially for chronic ailment sufferers.

If you are interested in obtaining assistance in finding an Osteopathic Physician who readily practices in the cranial field, feel free to peruse our business directory for an Osteopathic Physician near you today.

To learn more about Dr. Miriam V. Mills’ Practice, go to: www.youngpeoplesclinic.yourmd.com/miriammills.

© 2004 – All Rights Reserved
Osteopathic Manipulation Study – An Interview with Dr. Miriam V. Mills
by C. Bailey-Lloyd

About the Author:
C. Bailey-Lloyd – Author of “Somewhere Along the Beaten Path”

Feel free to visit Media Positive Radio — Providing a positive and uplifting listening experience – All the Time! Featuring the finest music from Independent and Mainstream musicians all focusing on the power and greatness of every individual as well as the collective power of unity and brotherhood.

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Stories are powerful. How many times have you heard a child
beg, *Tell me a story.* Scientists say we are wired to learn
through stories. In fact, the first three polysyllabic words
your child spoke are most likely Mommy, Daddy and story.

Story-telling is an important activity when seeing your
doctor. Your doctor’s question — *How do you feel?* — is
your doctor’s way of saying, *Tell me your story.* Your
doctor can diagnose your medical condition most of the time
just by listening to your story.

Sometimes doctors have difficulty interpreting your story.
That’s because you and your doctor have different
perspectives. Imagine how different Little Red Riding Hood
would sound if told by the grandmother or the wolf.

For example, you may have episodes of abdominal pain and
bloating. You never know if it will be a good day, or if you
will stay home from work with cramping. In your experience,
you have two pains: the abdominal symptoms and the
limitation on your activities.

Your doctor’s goal, which you share, is to arrive at a
diagnosis and eliminate the source of your pain.. If you
have gallstones or an ulcer, you can be cured; so both you
and your doctor will be gratified to see an end to the
unpleasant symptoms. In that case the story you tell and the
story your doctor tells are much the same: *I had an ulcer
and my doctor cured it with medication.*

However, doctors don’t always have a *cure*. You may undergo
an exhaustive series of tests to learn that you do not have
a serious medical condition. Your doctor tells you that you
have *irritable bowel syndrome*, a poorly understood
condition that is not curable, but rather managed.

When your doctor cannot cure you, it can feel as if your
doctor is telling you that your pain is not real. It’s like
a parent saying to a child, *You can’t be hungry. You just
ate an hour ago.* You might even think your doctor has lost
interest in working with you because you cannot be *fixed.*

This is when your story becomes even more important. Even if
your doctor can’t cure you, your doctor can listen to you
and offer recommendations that will enhance the your quality
of life. This will assure you that your doctor cares and
will be there to minimize your suffering. Knowing that
you’re not going through this alone offers comfort.

You can use your story as a way of establishing the caring
relationship that you want with your doctor. Here’s how:

Know your story.

You may know the doctor’s version of your story. *I have the
following medical conditions that has been treated by…*
While this is an important version, I encourage you to tell
your own version of your story. What is your experience of
living with this medical condition? What challenges have you
faced and what have you learned as a result of going through
it? You may have never done this before. You can either
record it in a journal or tell it to a friend.

Ask for the time you need with your doctor.

Telling your story takes time. So ask for it. When you call
to make the appointment ask, *How do I schedule a half-hour
appointment?* Offer to pay for time your insurance company
will not cover.

Understand that you and your doctor tell different stories.

After a brief time of telling your story to the doctor, your
doctor may interrupt and guide the story to a diagnosis. If
it’s important to tell the story your way, say, *I would
like just three more minutes to tell my story my way, then
you can ask your doctor questions.*

Tell your doctor how you’re feeling.

Your doctor may understand how the gastro-intestinal system
works, but you are the expert on what you feel. Your
feelings convey information that is as important as any lab
test or x-ray. If your doctor doesn’t understand how
important something is to you, speak up! If you tell your
doctor about the nausea with your new medication and your
doctor brushes it off and moves on to the next topic, say,
*For me, nausea isn’t just a little annoyance. It’s a big
deal. Are there other medications that will work?*

Recognize the healing power of having someone listen to your
story.

Have you ever had the experience of simply listening to
someone and hearing the other person say, *Thanks I feel so
much better having told you my story. Thanks for listening.*
Some say healing means accepting the past as it is, not
needing to change it.

Pain and illness are part of the human condition. You make
choices that determine if pain will lead to suffering. When
you’re sick, your goal is to restore the quality of your
life. You – not your doctor – know what that means for you.
After all, you’re the one living your story.

Your personal health story, as distinctive as your face, may
be the most important story you ever tell. Dr. Vicki’s
Personal Health Journal is a place to store and organize
your medical records and your account of your story.
http://www.medicalbridges.com/products.html

Copyright © Vicki Rackner MD, 2005

You have permission to publish this article in its entirety
electronically, in print, in your ebook, or on your web
site, free of charge as long as no changes to the content
are made and you include my byline, copyright, and resource
box. Please notify me of publication by sending an email
with a copy of your publication to:
DrRackner@medicalbridges.com Thanks!

Vicki Rackner, MD, president of Medical Bridges, is a board-
certified surgeon who left the operating room to help
employees become active participants in their health care.
She is a consultant, speaker and author of the *Personal
Health Journal*, author/editor of *Chicken Soup for the
Healthy Heart Soul* and author of the lead story for
*Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Soul.* Dr. Rackner can
be reached at http://www.MedicalBridges.com or (425)
451-3777.

With today’s new building procedures, our homes are more dangerous than ever before!

Scientific evidence now shows that the air inside our homes is 2-5 times more polluted than the air outside. And because we spend about 90 percent of our time inside, indoor air quality has become one of the top environmental health threats in the country.

With today’s new construction practices, buildings are no longer made to breathe. Pollutants trapped inside our home can cause chronic symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, skin rashes and itchy eyes. Some pollutants may have more serious effects, including asthma and cancer.

I remember back in the 70’s (when I was just a kid), in an effort to save money on energy, the public utility district was upgrading everyone’s home, at their own expense.

My parents took the PUD up on this offer as well. A contractor came to our home and installed double-pane windows, more insulation (throughout our entire home), insulated all the electrical outlets, and basically did everything possible to turn our home into an air tight cocoon.

While this seemed like a good idea at the time, buildings are now made so air tight that the pollutants produced in the building accumulate and have no way to escape.

Here it is years later, and a major health concern has evolved.

Black mold!

Mold has now become a nationwide epidemic. It’s now responsible for destroying the lives of thousands of unsuspecting victims. And until we find out how to control this menace, the situation is only going to get worse.

If you want to find out how to wipe out the black mold threat in your home, be sure to sign up for this upcoming no-charge, consumer awareness teleseminar.

It’s called…

“The Unadulterated Truth About Black Mold: What You Don’t Know Is Destroying Your Home And Your Health”

Here are just 4 of the strategies that will be revealed on the call…

1. The 5 tell-tale danger signs of black mold… any one of these puts you, your family, and your home at risk

2. How to find out if black mold is the cause of your health problems — without a visit to the doctor’s office

3. The 3-step method to locating mold… that anyone can do, without spending a fortune to hire a professional

4. Why you NEVER want to tell your insurance agent about a water damage or mold problem in your home… until you take this step first

You can get all the details and register for this no-charge consumer awareness service at

http://www.getmoldsolutions.com/black_mold_teleconference.html

About The Author

After showing 22,935 homeowners across America how to wipe out the mold threat in their homes, Kevin Thompson has become known as the Nations Mold Solutions Expert.

Find out how this free teleconference service is changing people’s lives and how you too can wipe out the mold threat in your home and reclaim your health… almost overnight! Go to www.getmoldsolutions.com/black_mold_teleconference.html

kevin@getmoldsolutions.com

Do you like the arthritis pain relief you get from over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pills (like ibuprofen)? But do they “bother your stomach”? Take an honest assessment of your eating habits. Think about your diet before you declare the cheaper NSAIDs off-limits and switch to the more expensive coxibs like Celebrex® or Bextra®. (Each costs about $100 per month!) If you tend to skip meals or eat poorly, any anti-inflammatory will cause indigestion, heartburn or a bleeding ulcer!

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) work by cooling off inflammation wherever it smolders. The theory is: No inflammation, no pain. Inflammation happens because of an elaborate sequence of biochemical reactions in your body. Some of the steps in these reactions lead to good work elsewhere, like controlling normal blood-clotting, and defending the stomach’s lining from the acid within. NSAIDs block these reactions, and could interfere with your body’s healthy housekeeping. This is where their “side effects” come from.

When you swallow an NSAID tablet, don’t imagine that it sits in your stomach and burns a hole on contact. Instead, it is absorbed into your bloodstream, and then floats around and takes effect. One of these effects is arthritis pain relief. On the other hand, it could also hinder your stomach’s ability to protect itself. You can help your stomach and reduce the chance of side effects by eating properly.

A sound diet requires you to eat frequent, small meals and healthy snacks throughout the day. Having food in your stomach will give the acid something to do, rather than digest the stomach itself! It’s not just a matter of “take it with food.” By fueling and replenishing your body with a healthful eating plan, you could also do without fancy heartburn pills like Prevacid® (about $150 per month!)

Good health and a state of “wellness” means you respect the way all of your organs and systems are interrelated. Do everything you can to sustain your body’s vigor and balance in order to ward off anything that threatens it with pain and disease–or threatens your wallet with the cost of brand-name drugs!

Want to learn more? Visit www.knowyourbones.com to order “Making Sense of Arthritis Medicine: Manage Your Symptoms Safely” and discover the risks and benefits of all common remedies!

About The Author

Stephanie E. Siegrist, MD is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon in her 10th year of practice, and author of “Making Sense of Arthritis Medicine.” She’s one of only 3% of U.S. orthopedic surgeons who are women! Dr. Siegrist strives to bridge the gaps that exist in today’s doctor-patient relationship with “Information Therapy!” Complete information about Dr. Siegrist, and the book, are available from her website.

There are many kinds of eczema, and too few people who can tell you how to cure them. Scientists are trying get a better handle on the causes of such eczema as hand and foot eczema, but they may still have years to go before they find a tested and sound way to prevent the condition.

In the meantime, your best bet is to follow the latest advice that health experts offer on the problem.

To get relief from hand and foot eczema and other forms of the condition, it is important to make key lifestyle modifications. These may not necessarily be an eczema cure, but they can help to prevent flare-ups.

First, see your dermatologist regularly for treatment. Second, use the medication that he or she prescribes. They may not be quite as reassuring as an eczema cure, but these steps, can be the difference between keeping the condition at bay, or letting it ruin your life.

What You Can Do First To Help Yourself

Start your assault on your hand and foot eczema by avoiding the many things around your home that can irritate the condition.

Things that can irritate your skin include household cleansers, detergents, aftershave lotions, soap, gasoline, turpentine, and other solvents. Try to steer clear of these things that make your hand and foot eczema flare up.

Of course, it’s also essential to wash your hands only when absolutely needed. Soaps and wetness can cause skin irritation. Dry your hands completely, as well, after you wash them.

The Importance of Wearing Gloves

Other ways to experience a temporary eczema cure involve all the methods under the sun to protect your hands. These include wearing gloves to protect the skin. Put on vinyl or plastic gloves for work it it requires you leaving your hands in water for long periods of time.

Wear gloves and shoes, too, when you think your hands will be exposed to anything that can irritate your skin and bring on hand and foot eczema.

Another potential temporary eczema cure are cotton gloves underneath plastic gloves, as well as cotton socks in plastic or leather shoes. The cotton can soak up sweat from your hands and feet. If even this cotton is getting drenched, then take frequent breaks from your activities or work.

Remove your gloves and shoes to prevent a buildup of sweat inside them. Don’t forget your gloves when you go outside during the winter either. Cold air and low humidity are enemies of your skin and can easily bring on hand and foot eczema by drying out your skin.

Other Eczema Triggers You Should Think About

Besides cold and dry air, stress and other psychological factors can also be an eczema trigger. Learning how to manage your emotions can be an eczema cure all to itself. You may not be able to get at the root cause of eczema by cutting back on the stress in your life.

But controlling your emotions and avoiding stressful situations can be a potent way to reduce the frequency and the intensity of your eczema attacks. Your behavior, then, can be a powerful eczema cure until doctors come up with the ultimate one.

About The Author

Mike Long is a successful web publisher and health afficionado providing valuable tips, advice, and info at http://www.health-information-tips.com.

His many articles provide the reader with well researched products, money saving tips, and valuable topical insight.

www.becheeky.com was launched in 2005 it was set up by two partners. They noticed a huge gap in the online lingerie market and introduced the BeCheeky website with the suggestion that it would be directed distinctly around helping out males splash out on any type of underwear for their girlfriends. Customers undergo calm purchasing from BeCheeky because they give such super personal attention & because of this it gives clients the feeling that they are shopping with a hip boutique with a super personal shopper there to assist with your every step.

The BeCheeky website was such a gigantic success as well as with ladies lingerie that the team introduced men?s underwear to the BeCheeky website as well. BeCheeky is renowned for its assortment of alluring lingerie sets, bras, knickers, boyshorts, corsets, basques, bikinis and swimsuits. What makes them particularly special is that there is a little something for all tastes. Each item that is payed for comes sent out to you in a charming satin sack filled full with confetti for that extremely very special touch. the BeCheeky website are also popular for their own amazing exceptionally special deals which mostly happen on a day to day basis.

The site itself is constantly outstandingly uncomplicated to navigate through with obvious to follow directions to make your choice & payment transaction as painless and as smooth as probable. Once you have chosen your item it is time to make a decision what delivery you would like. There are a couple of different options to choose from, in spite of this this, all delivery means are applauded for their hasty send off 2 posts deliveries to the UK, Europe and the rest of the world. The team offer three varieties of mailing dispatching, standard which will be delivered within 3 days days, next working day and lastly worldwide which routinely takes between 2-3 days days from order date. There is constantly a small charge for deliveries ?2.30 for standard & ?5.95 for the next working day delivery. Find affordable, gorgeous and stylish women’s lingerie and mens thongs from designers such as HOM, Ginch Gonch, Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger.

Insomnia – according to the dictionary is a chronic inability to fall asleep or remain asleep for an adequate length of time. We’ve all experienced this at least sometime in our lives. Insomnia becomes a problem for me when I have too much on my mind so I can’t shut the brain off allowing my body to fall asleep. I keep telling myself that at least getting some rest is good, but who am I kidding. Sometimes I make the mistake of having too much caffeine late at night. I am one of these people that needs at least 7 hours of sleep a night; otherwise I will feel moody, listless, lethargic and just crappy in general. Life is a lot prettier when I am awake to see it.

On a much more serious note, insomnia can cause a breakdown of the immune system, car accidents and even industrial accidents. Billions are lost each year in the workplace from people being absent. I believe in alternatives when it comes to my health. I have never taken sleeping pills from a doctor and I won’t take over the counter sleep aids either. I don’t believe in putting those kinds of pills in my body. I search for other natural aids for relaxing and falling asleep when needed.

Old wives tales are out there regarding sleeping, but the glass of hot milk or a dish of cottage cheese really can assist you with sleep. There is an amino acid in milk that the body converts to a sleep enhancer in the brain. If you don’t do dairy, try a small snack of soy nuts, chicken, turkey, or pumpkinseed inducing the hormone melatonin. You know how you feel after a Thanksgiving dinner, you can blame the turkey. Supposedly, melatonin supplements will not interfere with sleep quality, memory, or next day performance the way that pills do. It also won’t lose its effectiveness in the long run. If you wish, take a melatonin supplement before you go to bed and see if this helps you. You might also try high carbs or bread which produces serotonin in the body. This hormone also relaxes and reduces anxiety. Vitamin B and magnesium assist with sleep as well. Herbs such as valerian are popular in Europe and available in health stores. Valerian improves sleep without causing a hangover effect. Just steep about 300-400 mg of the valerian root in hot water for tea 30 minutes before bedtime. Other popular herbs you might try are skullcap, passion flower, California poppy, and lemon balm. My vote would be to ingest any of those things instead of the sleeping pills. Remember, melatonin and serotonin are hormones and they can sometimes become complicated.

In Feng Shui – the Chinese art of placement; it is taught that changing your bedroom can assist with sleep. Take the television out of the bedroom because it can be like a big “eye” staring at you in the night. That is a little disconcerting don’t you think? If you don’t want to remove it, at least cover it up before you retire. Watching only bad news before you sleep isn’t good either. Try turning the station and see if that helps get you more relaxed for sleep. Bright digital alarm clocks aren’t good right by your head because of the light as well as the EMF’s the electric appliances produce. If you bring a lot of work from the office into the bedroom you are asking for troubled sleep. Too much on your mind does not allow for relaxation. Are there a lot of books around your head? If you read a mystery or thriller at night, it isn’t the best for relaxing and being calm at bedtime. Remove the books or read only calming things at night. Make sure your bed is positioned so that you face the door. You want to easily see who is coming into that door so you will feel less vulnerable. If you have a ceiling fan above the bed, you might think about removing it because those blades aren’t the best thing to have positioned above the bed as you sleep. Logically you know it won’t hurt you, but subliminally it could be keeping you awake.

If your bedroom feels good by the changes you have made, go the extra step and bring fragrance into the room at night. Use aromatherapy and essential oils for a calming experience. You can start with some relaxing scents in a bath. Some of the relaxing oils are: lavender; especially good for sleep, cedarwood, clary sage, neroli, marjoram sweet, palmarosa, patchouli, rose, vanilla, ylang ylang, vetiver, jasmine, bergamot, and all of the camomiles. Pick one up at your health food store and see what you think. If nightly baths aren’t your thing, experiment with mixing the oils and a little water. Spray them into the room and around you before you sleep at night. Place a little oil on a cloth and keep it beside your pillow. Essential oils can stain fabric so don’t put them directly on your pillowcases. I know from experience that a little lavender on a cloth placed by a child’s pillow immediately calms and relaxes the little one that is reluctant to fall asleep.

Taking care of insomnia shouldn’t mean popping sleeping pills for a quick fix. There is the occasional need to assist the body with falling asleep, and try not to fall into the trap of what the commercials tell you and experiment with some easy natural ways to get those ZZZZZ’s.

Beverly Marshall is a successful freelance writer, certified Aromatherapist and Feng Shui consultant. Her many articles offer guidance, suggestions and common sense ideas to change your life. If you are interested in products and information regarding alternative medicine, natural remedies, healthy lifestyles and more; her many articles can be found online.

The training of our eye doctors in this country is very comprehensive there have been major advances in treatment of eye disease and even laser surgery to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism is available today. But it doesn’t really correct the underlying problem of why it is there to begin with. Eye care in this country is symptom oriented. In our training as eye doctors we’re taught that once something goes wrong with your eyes there is not much that can be done to help reverse the condition. Vision problems are multiplying at epidemic proportions in our society. The eye care industry is a multi-billion dollar business. Glasses, contact lenses, and eye surgery are the major tools of that industry and these enter the lives of virtually all of the citizens of the Western world. Aldous Huxley wrote in his book The Art of Seeing”, that if everyone who had deficient vision had broken legs, the streets would be full of cripples.”

Patients come in year after year, their eyesight getting worse. Conventional eye care professionals just give them stronger and stronger glasses. Something is wrong with this picture. Cataracts are present to some degree in nearly all adults over the age of 70 years old. These patients are told, “Let’s wait until the cataract “ripens”(gets worse), and then we can remove it surgically.” Something is wrong with this picture. Patients with macular degeneration and glaucoma are told, ” We’ll watch it and try to keep it under control.” The amount of children in our schools being labeled learning disabled and/or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is increasing every year. Where is the much needed prevention, education and rehabilitation? something is wrong with this picture as well.

People think that eye problems are just a natural course of life’s process, but people’s vision can improve. When people are given so called “corrective” lenses they are being sold a false bill of goods. “Corrective” lenses don’t really correct anything. Most of the time when people get their glasses it usually causes more dependency on them along with the eyes losing some of their natural flexibility. I’m interested in an aggressive prevention program so that many eye conditions can be prevented and corrected.

So what’s is wrong with the conventional treatment for certain eye conditions. Let’s look at nearsightedness and glaucoma.

For example, if you need glasses the eye doctor will prescribe them and you will thank them then pay them for the eye examination and glasses. In a couple of years or sooner the prescription may not be good enough for you to see clearly so you will come back get another examination and probably get stronger glasses and thank them and pay them again.

If you have glaucoma, a similar same thing happens. You come to the office and you may get eye drops to help stabilize the pressure and are told that you will probably be on these eye drops the rest of your life. Where is the prevention, and or rehabilitation?

We have to look at vision the same way that Chinese medicine looks at disease. We look at not if “X” causes “Y “but what is the relationship between “X” and “Y”. The eye is an extension of brain tissue and it reflects what your thinking and feeling. The eyes help us adapt to the world and they give us an indication of how we are adapting to the world. It is the primary way we take in information.

For instance, nearsightedness doesn’t just happen. Did you know that 90 percent of accountants are nearsighted, but less than 10 percent of farmers are? That’s because accountants spend a lot of time focused on up close tasks and farmers are usually looking out across the fields. The brain says “if you make me do close work all day, you will have to give up something” and that something is the ability to see at a distance, so obviously how we use and abuse our eyes affects what happens to them. This concept is not usually taken into consideration by most eye doctors. In nearsightedness, I use the analogy of training for a marathon. If your are going to graduate school, law school, medical school, etc. and there is an extremely large amount of reading that needs to be done, so we need to keep our eye muscles flexible in order to handle the amount of close work more easily. Also proper posture, lighting, taking vision and body breaks and proper nutrition all play a part in helping our eyes.

Now in glaucoma let’s say your 55 years old and you have borderline high intraocular pressure which is a possible early sign of glaucoma. The doctor will test your visual field to make sure your peripheral vision is not affected and if your visual field and optic nerve looks normal and the pressure is borderline. The doctor will usually just say come back in 3 to 6 months and we will watch it and if it gets to high we will give you medication. Again very rarely is there anything given preventively to help lower the pressure.

But many things can help, such as paying attention to the following:

1. Stress- in glaucoma as far back as 1818 researchers linked stress to glaucoma. One study showed that glaucoma patients tend to be perfectionists, nervous, anxiety ridden and/or hypersensitive. In Chinese medicine glaucoma is linked to the liver meridian. The emotion associated with the Liver anger/frustration. I may suggest to a patient with glaucoma, that instead of suppressing anger, feel it, but don’t fear it. I tell them to try meditation, tai chi and psychotherapy and remember to smile.

2. Smoking- avoid smoking, it more than doubles the incidence of cataracts , glaucoma, and macular degeneration, by stressing the nerve cells in the macula and reduces the quality of blood circulation

3. Physical Exercise- research has shown that glaucoma patients who take a brisk 40 minute walk 5 days a week for three months can reduce their eye pressure by approximately 2.5 mm.

4. Diet-fruits and vegetables, drink 8-10 glasses of water per day but not with food-30 minutes before a meal or 2 hours after a meal optimally, avoid sugars, fried foods, alcohol, caffeine.

5. Nutritional supplementation-alpha lipoic acid-200mg, vitamin C-3000 mg, Coenzyme Q10-100mg, essential fatty acidsomega 3’s-1500mg-black currant seed, flax see, cold water fish-salmon mackerel, magnesium- 500 mg-to help relax the smooth muscles that are what regulates the outflow of aqueous humor from the inner eye.

6. Body work-chiropractic, massage therapy, cranial-sacral etc

My philosophy is that people are more than an interesting set of symptoms that must be treated with the proper drug or glasses. We function on several levels; emotional, spiritual, and physical. It is important to take all of these levels into consideration when treating a patient, because merely treating the physical symptoms of the condition does not address how that condition impacts and emerges from all of those levels of your being. So in treating the eye all these factors must be taken into consideration.

Let’s start with nutrition, because more than 25 per cent of the nutrients we absorb from our food go to nourish the visual system. The diet plan I prescribe emphasizes a variety of whole foods, because the body does not use each vitamin or mineral in isolation.

The diet I recommend includes the following: 1) whole grains including brown rice, millet, spelt and buckwheat, 2) sea vegetables such as dulse, nori and hijiki because they are high in minerals, 3) fresh fruits and vegetables such as kale, collard greens and spinach. These greens are especially good for the eyes since they have amounts of lutein, which is a carotenoid that studies have proven helps protect the macula of the eye and the lens of the eye. This is particularly important for macula degeneration.

But no matter how wholesome and pure our food might be, there are factors that affect its nutrient content. How it is grown, how it is stored, and how it is cooked. Your age, health, activity level and stress also can affect what your body needs and how well it uses the nutrients from your diet. This is where supplements come in. I routinely recommend vitamin and mineral supplements to my patients

Besides relieving pain, acupressure can rebalance qi throughout the body. I’ve found acupressure to be very beneficial in the treatment of eye disease and I recommend it since a patient can do it themselves.

Both eye and physical exercise are extremely important in the treatment and prevention of eye conditions because it raises oxygen levels in the cells and increases lymph and blood circulation. From a Chinese standpoint, eye problems mean there is a stagnant energy and exercise helps get rid of the stagnation. This increased circulation revitalizes the organs and glands and speeds up detoxification of the body. I recommend that you gently build up to aerobic exercise for a minimum of 20 minutes per day, four days a week.

The following are some important tips to keep our eyes vibrant and alive.

Don’t keep your eyes focused in one place for a sustained period of time. Change your focus, look up and out a window if possible, just keep your eyes moving, sustained contraction of the eyes leads to contraction of the entire upper body. And don’t stare that also causes tension in the visual system.

Get at least 20 minutes of natural sunlight a day minimum. The eyes are light sensing organs so its important to get sunlight so that they can work optimally.

Quit smoking!!! This is probably the number on eye irritant. Somokers have a 50 to 100 per cent increased risk for every eye disease.

Avoid sugar; it depletes the body of the nutrients the eyes need. And avoid alcohol since it causes stress to the liver, which is where Vitamin A is processed.

For more information on how to keep your eye healthy contact us at http://www.naturaleyecare.com or 1-888-735-8475

Dr. Grossman is one of the leading holistic eye doctors, has been in practice for over 27 years, and is the author of a number of 5 books on natural eye care including the following: co-author of Magic Eye – A 3D Guide (Andrews and McMeel, 1995), Natural Vision Care – An Encyclopedia (Keats Publishing) printed in April, 1999, Greater Vision (McGraw Hill) printed in September, 200, and “Natural Eye Care: A Comprehensive Manual for Practitioners of Oriental Medicine”, which is a 230-page manual describing both the Western and Eastern approaches to preserving eyesight for over 20 specific eye conditions. His newest book was just released in June, 2004 and is entitled Beyond 3D : Improve Your Vision with Magic Eye by Marc Grossman (Author), Magic Eye Inc. (Author)

Dr. Grossman lectures nationally on topics such as Natural Vision Improvement, Vision and Nutrition, Psycho-Emotional Aspects of Visual Conditions, Vision & Learning, Holistic Integrative Visual Therapy, and Chinese Medicine and Vision Care.