There are a number of medications, including nasal sprays, that your doctor may prescribe to alleviate an asthma attack. If you have been diagnosed with asthma, ask your doctor about a common backlash effect that is a side effect of such medications. It’s well documented that such medications may initially bring relief, but eventually bring on acid reflux, another troublesome condition, which may, in the long run, make your asthma worse!

As for dietary considerations, discuss these with your physician as well. Starchy foods, food additives, preservatives and certain dairy products are best avoided in an asthmatic diet.

Although it’s debatable that asthma can be cured, there are a number of natural cures for asthma that have proven to be quite effective in significant numbers of asthma sufferers. Here are eight.

1.Apple cider vinegar is one of the best natural cures for asthma. Use 1 tablespoon, diluted in a cup of water. Drink this once or twice daily, with a meal, at bedtime, or both. A number of asthma sufferers find great relief in the first day of use. While providing relief from asthma, apple cider vinegar combats the acid reflux backlash effect and allergies.

2.While your lips may pucker, a tablespoon of lemon juice, taken an hour before meals can help your breathing problems.

3.Bromelain, which naturally occurs in tropical fruits such as pineapple, is a natural anti-inflammatory which helps to open constricted airways. If you haven’t got a source of fresh pineapple, go to your health food store. Bromelain tablets are natural cures for asthma which are highly effective in a segment of asthmatic patients.4.Your morning coffee may be one of your best friends. Theophylline and theobromine are two naturally occurring components in coffee, which qualify as natural cures for asthma. They are natural bronchodilators. When you feel an attack coming on, reach for a cup of Joe!

5.Elecampane root is the Queen of bronchodilators. You can buy this at any herb shop. Three to four capsules of elecampane root can work wonders in just a few days.

6.Keep a one ounce bottle of oil of eucalyptus on hand. When you feel an attack coming on, just take a whiff of this bronchodilator for quick relief.

7.Garlic and horseradish open up your airways in no time. Consume these with relish!

8.Asthmatics are commonly deficient in vitamin B-12. As a supplement, this nutrient is unsurpassed.

These eight natural cures for asthma can change your life. Always consult your physician, especially when taking prescription medications.

The interesting thing about hypnosis to quit smoking – or any other addiction hypnosis for that matter – is that it works mostly because people believe in it. Being hypnotized does not stop your body from physically craving nicotine, and it doesn’t stop you from having positive associations with it. The key is that, when you are under hypnosis, you believe that you will is not your own. If the hypnotist tells you that you no longer like to smoke, you will unconsciously decided to play along rather than contradict what he is saying. It’s kind of a silly system my opinion, but it really does work.

The hypnotist explain all of this to me the first day. It was funny to me that going into my hypnosis to quit smoking, he would tell me that hypnosis was not real, but he explained that it helped put people at ease. People have so many superstitious beliefs about the power of hypnotism that sometimes he runs into tough cases who are sort of afraid to go under. By explaining how he does hypnosis to stop smoking, he is able to establish a more even, cooperative relationship with his patients. This makes them feel more comfortable with him, which in turn makes them better hypnotic subjects.I had assumed that being hypnotized meant that you always forgot what happened, but apparently this is not the case. His hypnosis to quit smoking started with a standard induction where he made me feel sleepy so that I was unable to open my eyes. I was still aware of what was going on, but somehow I just didn’t feel like moving. I remembered everything – that induction, the suggestions he gave me to quit craving cigarettes, and the process of waking up. Yet even though I remembered it, it still worked on me. Since then, I haven’t craved another cigarette.  I don’t know if it works for everyone, but It certainly worked well for me. If you are trying to give up cigarettes, hypnosis to quit smoking really is worth trying.

Interestingly enough, these foods do more than benefit your prostate health. From a holistic standpoint, the healthier you are overall, the better your whole body functions, including the prostate.

At the top of the list is the soybean. The traditional diet in Japan includes plenty of soy and it’s well documented that the incidence of prostate and breast cancer among the Japanese is quite low. Tofu, which is sold in blocks like cheese, comes in various textures, from soft to extra firm. Tofu does not have much of a taste on its own, but readily absorbs the flavor of other foods with which it is cooked. Try dicing some extra firm tofu and soaking it in a chicken, shrimp or vegetable broth. Toss the tofu with some steamed rice and veggies.

There are so many soy products to be found in the supermarkets today, it’s not difficult to make soy a regular part of your diet. Try a soy burger – it does taste like beef, but unlike beef, which you should cut down on if you want to promote prostate health, a soy burger promotes prostate health. Soy milk is another great choice for your prostate’s well being. While several studies suggest that dairy products have a detrimental effect on prostate health, regular consumption of soy milk appears to reduce your chances of prostate problems.

If you just don’t care for the taste of some of the many soy products available, visit your health food store and purchase powdered soy, a concentrated source which is available in capsules.While you’re at the health food store, pick up some extract of Saw Palmetto, or Saw Palmetto berries in capsules. A recent study of more than 1000 men, conducted over a six month period, compared Saw Palmetto with a standard pharmaceutical used to treat prostate problems. The conclusion was that both were effective, but the Saw Palmetto produced less side effects than the pharmaceutical. In another analysis of 18 independent studies, a VA medical center concluded that Saw Palmetto was an effective treatment for prostate problems.

You’ll want to douse your entrees generously with garlic at every opportunity. Many clinical studies have demonstrated that men who eat garlic regularly have far lower incidences of both prostate and bladder cancer. If you’re one of those who dislikes garlic and/or garlic breath, get back to the health food store and pick up some capsules of Kyolic(TM) garlic. This Japanese product does not produce garlic breath and doesn’t upset the stomach.

Lycopene is a compound found in red fruits and veggies, such as apples, tomatoes and red bell peppers. Lycopene is an antioxidant (cancer-fighting) which comes with a bonus. Several studies have shown that a lycopene rich diet results in better prostate health. In particular, red fruits are found to promote prostate health.

So what’s for dinner? How about some chicken flavored tofu, in a fried rice dish with some sweet red bell peppers? For dessert, have a dish of strawberries!

While there are medications to slow the progress of rheumatoid arthritis, there are none available today for osteoarthritis. Your physician may simply prescribe pain medication to deal with the pain and leave it at that. As anyone with osteoarthritis knows, taking pain pills on an ongoing basis is no way to live.

However, many recent studies irrefutably demonstrate that magnesium supplements can not only reverse bone loss, but can actually rebuild your bone tissue. When magnesium supplements, in a 2:3 balanced ratio of calcium-magnesium are taken, bone density has increased by up to a startling 11% in just nine months!

Osteoarthritis is just the beginning. Osteoporosis is the next phase, where bone and joint tissue deteriorate, eventually resulting in fractures of bones and frequently, hip joints.

At first glance, it may seem reasonable that, as we age, conditions such as osteoarthritis are to be expected. The fact is that, as we age, certain nutrients are not as readily absorbed. Magnesium is just one of these. Magnesium deficiency effectively disables the hormone calcitonin, resulting in calcium being deposited in soft tissue and not into your bones.

Diet has much to do with osteoarthritis. Eating foods rich in calcium produces strong bones, right? To a point. You must also balance your calcium intake with magnesium in sufficient amounts. Otherwise, excess calcium stimulates the hormone , parathyroid (PTH), which tells the body to pull calcium out of your bones and deposit the excess in soft tissues. This process is also implicated in arteriosclerosis. Magnesium supplements restore a balanced hormone response, and thus, bone loss.

Let’s look at the diets in several areas of the world and compare the rates of arthritis and osteoporosis to prove the case for magnesium supplements as a natural remedy.The typical South African diet supplies a healthy 2:3 ratio of calcium to magnesium and these people have one of the lowest rates of arthritis and osteoporosis. The typical American diet, rich in calcium, is typically in a 10:1 calcium-magnesium ratio and we have one of the highest rates of osteoporosis and arthritis in the world! In Asian and African cultures, these conditions are relatively unknown. The bottom line is that when calcium intake is high and magnesium intake is low, these debilitating conditions are rampant.

What’s the answer? Decreasing your calcium intake and taking a daily magnesium supplement of at least 600mg, can produce dramatic results, in just nine months.

If you suffer from osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, or both, talk to your physician and see if magnesium supplements aren’t a valuable remedy that gets you off those pain pills soon! Bring this info with you!

You need to be proactive in managing your condition. It is, after all, your life. There are some excellent doctors, as well as some who are not so excellent as you might suppose. When faced with a serious diagnosis, it behooves you to find out if your doctor is board certified. The doctor who is board certified in his or her specialty is undeniably more qualified than one who is not. Board certification means that the physician has undergone more extensive training and is required to be up to date on the latest research and therapies. If your doctor is not board certified, think seriously about seeing one who does have these additional qualifications.

It’s quite common for patients to request health advice from their friend or neighbor, who suffers from the same condition. Your friend or neighbor naturally feels empathetic to your plight and genuinely desires to give helpful health advice, if only to allay your fears. The trouble with this strategy is that every patient has a unique health history. Their program of treatment may well be contraindicated in your case. Emotional support can be quite helpful, but they are not competent to dispense legitimate medical health advice.

Let’s say you have a friend who works at the health food store and seems to know much about helpful therapies for your condition. While well-meaning, do not mistake this so-called expert as someone who is qualified to give you the best health advice. On the other hand, if your friend is a certified Master herbalist, you can be certain that the health advice they offer will be accompanied by a statement that makes you understand that such conditions should never be treated with herbs or supplements that have not been approved by your doctor. There is a great potential for severe interactions with prescribed medications. This is responsible health advice and you should heed their remarks. This person might give you a lead on a naturopathic physician for further guidance.Pharmacists often know more than doctors about the medications you’re taking. When your doctor prescribes medications, do yourself a favor and consult with your pharmacist to ask about interactions and potential side effects of multiple drugs taken together. Make your pharmacist aware of every medication you take, especially if you are prescribed an additional med later on down the road.

Make an appointment with a qualified nutritionist to go over dietary concerns. Nutritionists often work in concert with a patient’s doctor to formulate a detailed nutrition plan for better management of your condition, with better results. Again, this is health advice you can use, in a proactive effort to improve your health.

Go online for additional health information on your condition. Look for research papers in medical journals, which always have bibliographies, indicating the source of the information given. Print those which you feel bear discussion with your doctor.
While there’s plenty of health advice available, it’s up to you to distinguish between that which is credible and that which is not. Stick with the real experts.

When you start looking into the wrinkle treatments available to help, you find that there are literally hundreds of products and medical procedures, most of which cost an arm and a leg. How do you know which really do the job as promised? What about price? If one wrinkle treatment cream costs $20 and another costs $100, is the more expensive cream going to be most effective? What’s the magic ingredient in that $100 jar?

The fact is, there are several things you can use as effective wrinkle treatments that are free, or close to it. Here are some suggestions to get you out of that wrinkle induced funk.

The appearance of wrinkles is an indication that your skin no longer produces sufficient amounts of natural oils. Dead skin cells, naturally sloughed off to make way for a new skin layer, should be removed from your skin on a weekly basis. This is easily accomplished with a $3 tube of exfoliant from the drugstore. For wrinkle-age skin, look for ones with natural plant based ingredients. Ones with pineapple extracts are an excellent choice, strong enough to do the job, but not so strong as to leave your face in an abraded, tight condition of redness. You’ll see immediate results with your first use. A good exfoliant leaves your skin looking smoother and clearer, diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and enlarged pores. The exfoliant also acts as a toner, tightening your skin without making it hurt!Now, in between your weekly exfoliant, it’s time for a little egg on your face! Once a week is sufficient, scheduling the egg wrinkle treatment halfway through the week. Beat up one egg and spread this gently all over the face. The protein is absorbed directly into your skin, feeding and gently tightening the skin in one shot.

Once you’ve exfoliated, you’ll want to apply some oil to moisturize the skin. An old time remedy is – are you ready – a tablespoon or so of mayonnaise! Granted, this is heavy duty oil, but that’s one reason it’s so effective. The mayonnaise wrinkle treatment is definitely not for day wear. Plan this wrinkle treatment for a time slot which allows you to have 30 uninterrupted minutes of mayonnaise on your face. To apply, gently slather it all over your face and neck. To remove, use cotton balls to remove the majority, then follow up with a warm, soft washcloth to remove the rest. See how much better you look already?

Here are five foods that, eaten regularly, are time tested ways to reduce high blood pressure. Most have several other components that provide additional benefits to your general health, as well as other health conditions that may be associated with high blood pressure. Be sure to consult with your physician and discuss the appropriateness of each of these foods to your specific health picture. Augmenting your medication with these dietary ways to reduce high blood pressure may require more frequent testing of your blood pressure. Your doctor may want to adjust your prescription dosage accordingly.

Garlic is perhaps your most valuable ally in reducing high blood pressure. Garlic contains allium, the active property in effecting a reduction in HBP. Onions also contain allium, although not in as high a concentration. Both garlic and onions reduce high blood pressure, ‘bad’ cholesterol and can prevent blood clots. Garlic is also a natural antibiotic, effective against an array of pathogens. There are so many ways to incorporate garlic and onions into your diet, so load up! Many clinical studies have found that just a couple of large cloves each day can cut your risk of heart attack in half!

Cucumbers – good in a salad seasoned with those garlic and onions – help lower your blood pressure, are good for your digestive tract and can also relieve the symptoms of rheumatism. Cucumbers also have a mild diuretic effect, so mention this to your doctor.

Artichokes are yet another of the effective ways to reduce high blood pressure naturally. If you’re overweight, this is a good addition to that salad plate as well. If you are diabetic, artichokes can help regulate blood sugar levels and provide plenty of that fiber you need.Celery is an old time remedy for high blood pressure, so let’s add a few stalks to our growing salad dish. Like cucumbers, celery is mildly diuretic, reducing water retention. Celery is good for diabetics in regulating blood sugar, as well as reducing water retention.

Certain mushrooms have long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as one of the ways to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In particular, shiitake and maitake mushrooms are found to be especially effective in this regard. Shiitake mushrooms are usually available fresh in larger supermarkets. Both are also available in dried form and are easily reconstituted in water. A mix of these mushrooms makes a delicious soup, or salad accent. Other notable benefits of eating these mushrooms include boosting the immune system function, fighting off viral conditions and as a preventative and treatment for cancer.

Discuss these food choices with your doctor. Eat a salad a day which includes these ingredients. Bet you never imagined that a bowl of salad might be one of the best ways to reduce high blood pressure, while admirably addressing a variety of other health conditions. To your good health!

While both conventional (also referred to as Western or allopathic medicine) and alternative medicine are based on science, conventional physicians do not have a background in natural plant medicines, or other alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, aromatherapy or therapeutic massage. Conventional medicine approaches illness from a symptom based perspective and manages treatment mainly with pharmaceutical (prescription and OTC) medicines. Allopathic physicians are not well-versed in nutrition. While they are certainly familiar with the idea that good nutrition plays a large role in everyone’s general level of health, they seldom prescribe nutrients as a treatment.

Alternative medicine regards symptoms as a manifestation of the root cause of  disease, resulting from an imbalance or deficiency within the entire body system. The naturopathic physician takes a whole body, also known as holistic, approach to the treatment of disease, drawing from an array of natural treatments and nutritional therapies to get all of the body systems in optimum health, thus treating the root cause of the condition. The alternative physician seldom prescribes pharmaceuticals.

Both conventional and alternative medicine bring results. However, conventional medicine treats the symptom and not necessarily the cause. Pharmaceuticals may be used to reduce high blood pressure, for example. One problem is that the prescribed medication is suppressing the symptom, but not fixing the root cause. Another problem arises when potential side effects of the medication produce yet another problem.

Some people feel safer taking a pharmaceutical, believing that these substances must be far more sophisticated and effective than a simple plant or nutritional supplement. Relative value, as with any product, is often largely dependent on its cost. We can all attest that prescription medicines are certainly not cheap! This higher-cost-equals-better logic can be refuted, as in the following example.Let’s say you have pneumonia. Your doctor prescribes an antibiotic. Assuming it works (the doctor may have to switch you to another during the course of treatment), it does such a thorough job, it kills off all bacteria, good and bad alike. This negatively impacts your natural immune response. By the time you’ve finished off the prescription, you feel like you’ve been run over by a truck. If you’re a woman, you usually finish off the illness with a yeast infection!

Alternative medicine would use a natural respiratory antibiotic, such as elecampane root, adding a measure of pleurisy root, as the treatment. This combination will eradicate even a severe case of pneumonia, in less time than required with the pharmaceutical antibiotic. Other differences between the conventional and alternative medicine strategy include no side effects, no yeast infection and a thorough restoration of respiratory function. Elecampane not only kills the pneumonia, but has a tonic action on the entire respiratory system. You’re in better health at the end of treatment.

Alternative medicine won’t fill the bill if you’ve got a broken leg. It needs to be set and you’ll need some serious pain meds for a few days. However, for most chronic health conditions, alternative medicine offers solutions that can frequently reverse illness and help you regain your health. Then, you don’t need the meds!