Common Causes Of Migraine Headaches

With the fast paced lifestyle we all lead nowadays, it's not
uncommon that more and more people are getting migraines as
a result of the stress. This greatly affects our productivity,
not to mention our quality of living. Thus, modern medicine
has tried to come up with a battery of drugs to battle this
growing pandemic.

But even with recent medical and technological advances,
most doctors and scientist still can't identify the specific
factors involved in causing migraines. Some argue that it
has to do with the amount of serotonin in our brains. They
claim that when serotonin levels drop, the sudden imbalance
can lead to a migraine.

A migraine usually presents itself with a number of symptoms.
People often experience light sensitivities, with some saying that
they can see colors or spots in their vision. Others claim
that their scalp feels soft to the touch.

Mood swings are also a common symptom of migraines. People
can go from happy to sad, calm to angry, right before a
migraine hits, making it uncomfortable for the suffering
person and the people around them.

Most migraines usually come and go, but one that lasts for
days may be a sign of a more serious problem. Most stem
from personal bad habits, such as stress and an unhealthy diet.
Sleep and drinking plenty of fluids usually help, but you
can also take a few of the dozen or more over the counter
medicines designed to help relieve migraines.

With all that said, it's important to reduce the amount of
stress in your life. Not only is it unhealthy, but it is
one of the most common causes of migraine headaches. If
you do get a migraine headache attack, just try to relax and
find a quiet place to lie down. Pick some place dark, to
cut the effects of light sensitivity, and apply a cold
compress to your head, while gently massaging your scalp
every so often.

Food sensitivities are also known to trigger migraines.
Dairy and those containing dairy products, such as milk and
coffee, can also trigger migraine headaches, as well as food
additives like MSG. Excessive consumption of these foods
react with a person's body chemistry, triggering the onset of
a migraine headache.

Daschle Withdraws as HHS Secretary Nominee

Perhaps now that Tom Daschle has withdrawn his nomination people with gain a reprieve form the impetus to mandate electronic health care records.

Electronic records will be much more costly than proposed, they are not secure and will be much able to be shared, and more easily shared with numerous parties beyond the health care provider and the patient.

I will be a guest on Dr. Katherine Albrecht's radio program on Monday 9 February at 4 PM EST discussing this topic.

By Deborah Flapan
Medscape Medical News 2009. © 2009 Medscape

February 3, 2009 — Tom Daschle withdrew his name today from consideration for Department of Health and Human Services secretary.

News recently surfaced that Mr. Daschle owed about $140,000 in back taxes. He quickly paid the taxes and called his failure to pay "completely inadvertent," according to The New York Times.

The withdrawal appears to be a surprise to many on Capitol Hill and in the White House; it comes a day after Senate Democrats and President Obama pledged their support to Mr. Daschle.

In a statement announcing his decision, Mr. Daschle said that healthcare reform requires "a leader who can operate with the full faith of Congress and the American people, and without distraction.

"Right now, I am not that leader, and will not be a distraction," he said.

President Obama said in a statement that he accepted Mr. Daschle's withdrawal "with sadness and regret."

He added, "Tom made a mistake, which he has openly acknowledged. He has not excused it, nor do I. But that mistake, and this decision, cannot diminish the many contributions Tom has made to this country."

Anabolic Steroid Alternatives - How To Naturally Increase Testosterone Levels

Testosterone is the infamous male hormone that causes and maintains several physiological processes including muscle growth. Increasing the body's testosterone levels has been shown to rapidly build new muscle tissue. For decades, bodybuilders the world over have used synthetic testosterone called steroids to accelerate their muscular development and maximize the efficiency of their workouts.

The only problem with this approach to muscle gain is that synthetic testosterone like steroids have many side effects associated with prolonged use including severe emotional swings a.k.a "roid rage", hair loss, development of excessive body hair and body acne, as well as potentially life threatening kidney, heart, and liver problems. In other words, while steroids can help you achieve huge muscle mass gains these gains come at a terrible price; your health and well-being.

The amount of testosterone circulating through the body can naturally be increased by training in a certain way coupled with adhering to a strict diet appropriate for gaining muscle. Testosterone actually occurs naturally in both men and women just as the female hormone estrogen also occurs in both sexes. But testosterone of course occurs at much higher levels in men than in women.

Here are few ways to naturally increase your testosterone levels without resorting to taking steroids:

1. Leg exercises - Exercises that focus resistance on the legs like squats and deadlifts will actually stimulate the body to produce more testosterone than normal. If you make it a habit to exercise your legs twice per week you should experience higher levels of testosterone within a couple of weeks.

2. Intensify Your Workouts - You should perform your workout routines in such a way that you can't do additional reps at the end of each set. This means that when you have finished each set you should not be able to do one more rep. A set should never consist of more than 10 reps total and 6 is more or less ideal for boosting testosterone levels and maximizing muscle gains.

3. Zinc Supplements - Zinc is an inexpensive and naturally occurring mineral that is found in all kinds of things including cold medicine and even pennies Zinc also occurs naturally in oysters, beans, nuts, whole grains, dairy products, and several kinds of seafood. A couple of zinc caplets a day is all you need to start boosting your testosterone levels.

4. Reduce Alcohol Consumption - In addition to loading your diet with hollow calories and carbohydrates, alcohol has a tendency to reduce zinc levels which has the corresponding effect of reducing testosterone levels.

5. Monosaturated Fats - Not all fats are bad for your health. Monosaturated fats are actually good for you and typically have the effect of boosting testosterone levels in men. These kinds of fats can be found in high concentrations in most vegetable oils, nuts, and seeds

6. Avoid Stress - Depending on what you do for a living, avoiding stress may be easier said than done. But studies have shown that reducing stress levels has the effect of increasing testosterone production. If you can not reduce your stress level attempt to get at least 8 hours of sleep per night as more sleep will help you better deal with stress and thus increase your testosterone production.

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Melatonin Offers Protection from Fluoride Damage

There are still many people today that are fooled by the fluoride myth that it is protective of your teeth and saves you from getting cavities. Probably nothing is so far from the truth.

Most municipal water systems that are fluoridated use fertilizer waste to add fluoride. This adds other heavy metals as well. Most knowledgeable doctors do not permit their patients who are pregnant to drink fluoridated water.

It has been known for decades that fluoride does not protect against cavities and it cause many related health problems.

Modern fluoride based drugs like anti depressants, anti biotics and osteoporosis drugs create damage of their own.

It is best to be aware.

For more information you may check posts here or refer to PFPC.

Melatonin Protects Against Free Radical Damage from Fluoride

The hormone melatonin can protect against the damage that excessive fluoride causes to brain cells, researchers report in a new study.

Fluoride becomes toxic at higher doses and induces some adverse effects on various organs, including the brain. Past studies have shown that melatonin, a hormone produced by the pineal gland, can promote the survival of brain cells. Melatonin also is associated with healthy blood pressure levels, retinal and liver health and enhanced immunity. Therefore, scientists set out to determine if melatonin could protect the brain against the free radical damage caused by fluoride.

The researchers divided 24 rats into four groups. During the 28-day study, one group served as the control, another group received only fluoride, a third group received melatonin plus fluoride and a fourth group received fluoride plus a pineal protein derived from buffalos. The activities of antioxidant enzymes and markers of free radical damage in the brain tissue were measured to assess the level of oxidative stress.

Fluoride administration significantly increased brain levels of a marker of free radical damage and markedly reduced activity of a number of antioxidant enzymes compared with the control group. When melatonin was administered to the animals, however, it decreased the marker of free radical damage and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The animal-derived pineal protein had a similar effect.

The researchers wrote, “Together, our data provide direct evidence that buffalo pineal protein and melatonin may protect fluoride-induced oxidative stress in brain of rats through mechanisms involving enhancement of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system. Therefore, this study suggested that pineal protein and melatonin can be useful in control of neurotoxicity induced by fluoride.”

Reference:
Bharti VK, Srivastava RS. Fluoride-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rat"s Brain and Its Amelioration by Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Pineal Proteins and Melatonin. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Jan 22. Published Online Ahead of Print.

I LOVE BANANAS!!!

A friend of mine sent me this piece on bananas, and since its my favorite fruit, along with strawberries, I found it brilliant and thought it a good idea to share it with you. Read on and be amazed:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!
This is interesting.

After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit.

It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.


Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS:
Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.


Brain Power:
200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.


Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.


Overweight:
and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.


Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD):
Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking &Tobacco Use:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels.. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:
According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!


So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time! I will add one here; want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe....polish with dry cloth. Amazing fruit.

What's your take on bananas, and if its not your favorite what fruit is?

The Causes And Treatment For Greasy Hair

By Jennifer Summers

Greasy hair can look oily and dull, and have a lank and
lifeless appearance. It can look flat and heavy, and it
never seems to stay clean and fresh. It takes on a stringy
appearance within a few hours of shampooing and refuses to
stay full and fluffy. Does this describe your hair? Do you
ask the question, why is my hair greasy? Greasy hair can
cause social embarrassment as others may judge that the
sufferer has poor hygiene and does not wash their hair
frequently enough, even if they actually wash it every day.

The grease found in hair is called sebum and is oil that is
produced natural by the body. Each of the hairs on your head
has a gland called the sebaceous gland immediately under the
skin, this gland produces sebum. Oil in greasy hair protects
each strand from split ends and dryness, and is in fact a
sign of healthy hair. Sebum is made as lubrication for the
skin and hair, providing a protective barrier and preventing
drying. Sebum is the body's own natural moisturizer.

Greasy hair is excess of sebum in the hair and comes as a
result of an over production of sebum (oil) from over active
sebaceous glands, stimulated by hormones called androgens.
Androgens are male hormones that are present in both men and
women, but are higher in men. Androgens do two things:
First, they enlarge the sebaceous glands in the skin.
Second, they cause these glands to increase oil production.

Fluctuating hormones can cause greasiness as hormones play a
part in sebum production. Greasy hair is most common in
women because of either pregnancy or monthly cycle, older
women going through the menopause, and teenagers
experiencing puberty. Stress can be a contributory factor in
greasy hair as it is known to affect hormone levels. People
with fine hair on their head may experience excessive greasy
hair as they have more hair follicles and more sebaceous
glands producing more sebum.

There are several external causes of greasy hair. Washing
your hair too frequently can cause more sebum to be produced
as frequent washing can strip the hair of oils. To combat
this sebaceous glands excrete sebum. Sebaceous glands can be
stimulated through vigorous scrubbing of the hair and scalp
while washing. Touching your hair can also stimulate
sebaceous glands, along with vigorous hair brushing which
carries oil throughout the hair. The over-use of styling
products can cause hair to look greasy as the products can
build-up at the roots. Everyday environmental pollutants can
also cause hair to look greasy.

There are also many internal causes of greasiness too. I have
already mentioned fluctuating hormone levels, but one of the
main culprits when it comes to internal causes of greasy
hair is diet. Western diets that tend to be greasy, high in
fat and sugar, processed and containing additives can
be a major cause of greasy hair as the high fat content
increases oil levels in and on the skin. Hormones can be
found in meat in the western diet, adding to the unbalanced
hormone levels. A diet lacking in vitamin B can also
contribute towards greasy hair.

The best way of avoiding, preventing, treating and getting
rid of greasy hair is to treat it from the outside and the
inside. On the outside: steer clear of brushing your hair
too frequently, and too vigorously. Avoid using a
moisturizing shampoo as this can leave some oil in the hair.
An extra cleansing or clarifying shampoo that has a mild-ph
is the best shampoo to use for greasy hair. When shampooing,
massage you hair and scalp lightly and do not scrub your
hair and scalp.

For the best results, the longer you leave the shampoo in,
the better. If necessary, rinse your hair and shampoo again.
The question of how often to wash your hair is as unique as
the individual. The ideal frequency is 1-2 times per week,
but to find your own balance start with washing everyday,
then reduce that to find a good balance of washing and oil
production. If you use a hairdryer when styling your hair
don't let it get too hot as heat will stimulate more oil
production. When it comes to conditioning your hair, again
use a conditioner designed for greasy hair. Apply
conditioner to the mid and ends of your hair, but not the
roots.

With the inside: do all that you can to reduce and eliminate
any and all stress. In your diet, consider using a vitamin B
supplement. Make sure you eat plenty of whole grains, seeds,
nuts, leafy green vegetables, salads and fresh fish. Reduce
the amount of fatty foods that you eat, avoiding greasy,
fried and fatty foods as much as possible. Reduce the number
of white flour based foods in your diet, foods like
pastries, pasta and bread. Lastly, avoid sugar and sugary
foods like biscuits, cakes and soft drinks.

Heal Yourself With Aromatherapy

Have you ever considered aromatherapy for your health and
well-being? Well before you go into it, lets take a look at
what it is and what it is not.

First off, aromatherapy is considered a science and art of
healing and maintaining the subtle energy balance of the
human body. This art has been in practice for many
centuries.

They date as far back as the ancient Egyptians to the
classical Greeks. Though technically they are not recognized
by the medical establishment as a hard-core science, their
healing track-records are proven. They range from
alleviating headaches to curing certain diseases.

If course as with all things, not all aromatherapy are
created equal. The effectiveness and efficacy of this
ancient art really depends on the skill of the user and the
quality of the oils used. It must be said that aromatherapy
is not a cure-all. What it does is that the aromatherapy
oils help the body to heal itself.

Huh? I know you might be a little confused here. Let me
explain. Unlike medical science, where administered drugs will
cause certain effects in the body, aromatherapy oils
actually have an indirect effect on the human body.

It stimulates certain natural functions of your body which
knows how to heal and repair itself. The efficiency of the
aromatherapy oils depends a lot on how well the blood-stream
circulates in the body. The faster and smoother it
circulates, the greater the effect it can have.

Certain oils like the lavender can be soothing and helps the
body to unwind while other types can aid in other bodily
problems like indigestion or insomnia. If you wish to fully
benefit from the many wonders of aromatherapy, than you
should seek out a quality store that stocks good essential
oils.

Aromatherapy oils are basically taken from the extracts of
trees and plants. Ancient tribes knew the benefits of these
plants as they experimented and cataloged its uses and
properties. These oils were then passed down orally or
written in texts to let the next generation know of it.

Alternatively, you can also visit an aromatherapy therapist.
What the therapist will do is do a basic diagnosis of your
health issues. Than he or she will select certain essential
oils that will have the best effects for your custom needs.

Remember, certain oils may not be suitable for some people,
so take care to only approach qualified aromatherapy
therapists for advice. I hope the above article has given
you a clearer picture of what aromatherapy is and clear up
any common misconceptions of it.

The general rule of thumb is: Look for professionals who
know what they are doing. Stick with this advice and you
will be fine. Now go and bathe yourself in that nice
aromatherapy bath!