Manage High Blood Pressure Naturally

In Chinese Medicine, many of the symptoms of high blood pressure, such as pounding headaches, dizziness, and pressure behind the eyes are often related to a pattern of Liver Yang Rising or Liver Heat. It is important to see a physician for proper diagnosis and supervision of high blood pressure, but acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may also be useful for managing your condition. Certain herbs have been shown to have an anti-hypertensive effect. Certain other herbs have been shown to be useful for controlling cholesterol levels and improving cardiovascular function. Acupuncture has been shown to have a general relaxing effect which can be useful in stress related or essential hypertension. In addition, certain points are commonly used in the treatment of patterns that relate to high blood pressure.

One commonly used herb for symptoms and patterns related to high blood pressure is Tian Ma or gastrodia rhizome. Research in China has shown it to be useful in the treatment of symptoms related to high blood pressure such as dizziness, numbness of extremities, tinnitus, headaches, and pain behind the eyes. It may have a sedative and tranquillizing effect. It has been shown to have usefulness for renal hypertension and essential hypertension. Another useful herb is Ye Ju Hua or chrysanthemum flower, which has been shown to have a prolonged effect of lowering blood pressure through peripheral vessel dilation. It has also been shown to increase blood flow to the heart. Another herb that is used to clear Liver Heat and is commonly used to treat eye problems that may be beneficial for high blood pressure is Xia Ku Cao or prunella. Chinese research has shown that it has a moderate vasodilating effect. These herbs are often used in combination by practitioners of Oriental Medicine in the treatment of patterns related to high blood pressure.

Other herbs may be useful for improving heart and circulatory function. They may also help reduce cholesterol. Shan Zha, or hawthorn berries, have been shown to reduce cholesterol when taken for six weeks or more. It is often used in China to improve circulation and to treat angina pectoris. Another herb that is commonly used in China for cardiovascular problems is Dan Shen, or Salvia. It has also been shown to reduce cholesterol. It also may improve microcirculation in the body. In China, pills of Dan Shen are used in the treatment of angina and in the treatment of coronary heart disease. It also may help promote repair and regeneration of tissues by increasing the body’s metabolism.

Certain acupuncture points are also known to be useful in the treatment of patterns related to high blood pressure. Large Intestine 4 is a point that many people know can help to control headaches. It is on the back side of the hand in between the thumb and index finger. It is also commonly used point for blood pressure related patterns. Another point at the vertex of the head, Du 20, is also commonly used. An acupuncturist or Chinese herbalist always takes an inventory of symptoms, along with looking at a person’s tongue and feeling a person’s pulse in order to determine the specific combination of points and herbs that a person needs. Different people with high blood pressure are treated differently depending on the pattern they present.

During my time in China, I did clinical rounds in the cardiology department at the Chengdu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Modern drugs and diagnostic equipment were used hand in hand with Chinese herbs and acupuncture in order to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmias, heart enlargement, and stroke. I even saw Chinese herbs, such as Dan Shen, being given in intravenous and in injectable form. The conditions were diagnosed using modern science and traditional Chinese diagnosis. Drugs were used for symptom control and for emergencies. As people’s condition improved with the use of Chinese herbs and acupuncture, their doctors slowly adjusted the dosage of drugs that they received. The results I saw were better than either form of medicine could have achieved alone. We do not have the benefit of experiencing such a deep synthesis of modern medicine and ancient techniques yet in the West. Nevertheless, I believe that as people learn more about the benefits of Asian medicine, we may someday come close to achieving a more integrated system of care in the West that will be more clinically effective, more cost effective, and result in fewer side effects.

Simple Tips For Safe Tanning

With summer time fast approaching many people are wanting to darken their pale, pasty skin and create the healthy bronze color that makes them look really great. The thing about getting the skin you want, is to be sure that you follow some very important tips for safe tanning, so that you protect your skin from being damaged during the tanning process.

The most important tips for safe tanning to understand when you are tanning is how to get protection for you skin. You will need to know about SPF, which is the Sun Protection Formula, this is important because when you are using sun screen the higher SPF means that you are more protected. This differs by the persons skin type and the amount of time it take it to burn. You can buy sunscreens in lotions, oils and creams. Do not confuse sunscreens with sun blockers as sun blocks have no SPF rate as they completely block out the suns rays.

The next tips for safe tanning you will need to consider is whether or not you want a outdoor, or an indoor tan. If you are going to tan outdoors you will find that the sun tan and cancer are related and if you are going to tan anywhere make sure you protect your skin, make sure it is very clean, remove all of the make up and perfumes as well as applying the right low SPF sunscreen before going into the sun. Make sure if you have sensitive skin that you find the hypoallergenic products. Another consideration is the time of the day, the best tanning time is when the sun reaches its most intense time which is about 12 pm to about 3pm. Make sure to allow two or three days to pass before tanning again.

If you are interested in tanning indoors, you will find that the tanning is slightly more safe than a natural outdoor tan because the situation is controlled. The best tips for getting a great tan are to use the lamps that have the lowest UVB as they give you a darker and longer lasting indoor tan. Next you will want to use both a DHA (dehydroxyacetone) and a SPF (sun protection formula) lotion, that have the nutrients that your skin needs to have that beautiful bronzed glow. Remember when tanning that you don’t want to stay in the tanning bed for more than fifteen minutes.

Another consideration for people who like tanning but don’t want to go to the tanning salon or lay out in the sun, may consider the body bronzing agents that can be used in the privacy of their own homes. These products come in lotions, sprays, pills and gels, and use the DHA formula that will turn a brown color when you expose it to oxygen. It takes approximately 3 hours to work and the coloring will hang around until the skin cells are shed naturally. Many of these products also come with the vitamins and the moisturizers they need to keep your skin healthy. Just remember these tips for tanning for the best tanning results.

Plastic Bottles and Baby Health

What do you do when you wake up in night with the crying sound of your hungry baby? Obviously, you rush to the refrigerator to pull out the feeding bottle, heat the liquid and head to your baby thinking the plastic bottle the safest choice you got; lighter and unbreakable compared to glass bottles. This article is an attempt to make you think again!

A research performed by Environment California, a Los Angeles based institute, has revealed that the convenient to use plastic bottles may actually be leaching harmful chemicals like lead, bisphenol-A and certain pthalates into the insider liquid. Similar results were found from the study performed by Consumers Union, US Food and Drag Administration and Nagasaki University, Japan. This finding has been established through the research of US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Their study detected bisphenol-A in the urine of more than 95% of people they tested.

Most of the plastic baby bottles are manufactured using polycarbonate, a substance that can be molded easily and is nearly unbreakable. But when you put hot liquids inside these plastic bottles, the polycarbonate discharges toxic bisphenol-A or BPA, which blends with the formula and then ingested by the baby. Excessive BPA exposure has linked with several harmful health effects like impaired immune function, obesity, diabetes, cancer, early onset of puberty, hyperactivity, and many more.

Rest of the bottles is manufactured with polyvinyl chloride, which is commonly known as vinyl or PVC, one of the most toxic plastic from health standpoint. It can contain injurious lead, consumption of which may lead to IQ deficiencies, disabilities, behavior problems and many more. Nipples, teethers and pacifiers are manufactured with soft PVC, which can also cause the same kind of baby health conditions. A study conducted by the Environment California, shows a potential dangerous level of BPA in baby feeding bottles of various well known brands.

As a result of all these studies, consumer advocates and scientists are recommending parents to choose non-polycarbonate plastic or glass made baby bottles. Polycarbonate made bottles can be identified through the rigid and clear surface and a recycling symbol 7 would be marked on the bottom of the bottle. If you are not sure about a bottle, you can consider calling the manufacturer, or simply avoid that bottle in the first place.

If you are bound to use a plastic bottle for any reason, select one that is made of a safer plastic like polypropylene or polyethylene which can be identified by noticing 1, 2 or 5 recycling symbols on the bottle bottom. Never heat plastic bottles in the microwave, on the stove or in hot water since chemicals are more probable to leach into the content when heated. Finally, pick a tempered glass bottle if you can. Yeah it would be a bit heavier, but you will never have to fret about chemical exposures with glass bottles.

How to Identify and Prevent Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

A sign of a loving commitment, a bout of physical pleasure, a moral and emotional minefield – sex is a lot of things to a lot of people. And although humans have played the game of love throughout the ages, the rules keep changing. On the one hand, an enlightened understanding of this instinctive act – which after all, ensures the survival of out species, has eroded the stigma that was once attached to it. On the other hand, social shifts have meant an increase in the incidence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs). To enjoy the benefits of sex, you need not only the right relationship but also the right information.

For all the positive factors associated with sex, there are negatives that everyone needs to know. Intimate contact usually entails the exchange not only of affection but also of bodily fluids. They may contain viruses and bacteria that carry STDs, which can have long-term effects varying from inconvenient to fatal. Some of the most common STDs are syphilis, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, hepatitis B and Aids.

To detect STDs, you need to know the symptoms. If you notice any of the symptoms below and suspect a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), consult your doctor immediately.

• Syphilis – painless chancre, or open sore; enlarged lymph nodes; recurring fever and rash.

• Gonorrhea – Painful urination; discharge from penis or vagina; spotty vaginal bleeding; pelvic pain.

• Chlamydia – painful urination; discharge from penis or vagina; abdominal pain; itching in the urethra.

• Genital Herpes – Flu-like symptoms; painful, recurring genital blisters and sores.

• Genital warts – Irritation and itching in the genitals; soft, flat growths (warts) on the penis or vagina.

• Hepatitis B – Flu-like symptoms; jaundice; nausea and vomiting.

• AIDS – Various infections, including thrush, pneumonia, toxoplasmosis; swollen lymph glands; recurrent yeast infections.

The only surefire way to avoid these diseases is to abstain from sex or to have a mutually monogamous, long-term relationship with a disease–free partner.

Erectile Dysfunction : The Facts

Firstly, What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile Dysfunction (most commonly known as impotence) means an inability to gain and maintain a suffcient erection to achieve sexual intercourse.

Some sufferers can't get an erection at all; others get one but it's not firm enough to fulfil sex; and others can manage penetration for a while, but then lose their erection.

Erectile Dysfunction is not... premature ejaculation which is 'coming too quickly', or delayed ejaculation, which is an inability of the man to reach a climax.

Why does Erectile Dysfuntion occur?

Erectile Dysfuntion is very common, and occurs for a many reasons and at different ages.

Teenagers and young men

In younger men, the most frequent cause is anxiety – especially nervousness about having sex, worrying about getting a girl pregnant, or even about using a condom. These particular men don't need to use any form of ED medication as their anxiety soon wears off after having sex a few times.

Middle age

The popular causes in this age group are diabetes, stress, bereavement (Erectile Dysfuntion is a regular occurance when a widowed man tries to have sex with a new woman for the first time), overworked, and guilt.

Post-middle age

Erectile Dysfuntion becomes more of a problem with increasing age. Nevertheless, 70% of 70-year-old men don't have ED.

The most common problem is due to deterioration in the blood vessels that carry blood to the penis.

I have Erectile Dysfunction, what should I do?

If you have Erectile Dysfuntion you should go and see your doctor about medication. There are lots of ED medication available for you to try. The most popular of these is Kamagra. If you are taking medication that contains nitrates you shouldn't take kamagra. There are alternatives to kamagra available, which you should be able to discuss with your doctor.

Talk to your partner about it. It's best if she knows what you're going through so you can both get through the situation. It's best that she knows rather than feel you don't love her anymore. It's nothing to be embarrassed about - more men than you think suffer with Erectile Dysfuntion